Chapter Rodogune to Roland of R by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Rokeby, a poem in six cantos, by sir Walter Scott (1813). The time referred to is immediately subsequent to the battle of Marston Moor, Yorkshire (1644). Rokeby is a mansion near Greta Bridge, in Yorkshire, and the poem abounds in descriptions of the estate.

(The tale is about the love of Wilfrid Wycliffe for Matilda, heiress of the knight of Rokeby.)

Rokesmith (John), alias John Harmon, secretary of Mr. Boffin. He lodged with the Wilfers, and ultimately married Bella Wilfer. John Rokesmith is described as “a dark gentleman, 30 at the utmost, with an expressive, one might say a handsome, face.”—Dickens: Our Mutual Friend (1864).

(For the solution of the mystery, see vol. I. ii. 13.)

Roland, count of Mans and knight of Blaives. His mother, Bertha, was Charlemagne’s sister. Roland is represented as brave, devotedly loyal, unsuspicious, and somewhat too easily imposed upon. He was eight feet high, and h ad an open countenance. In Italian romance he is called Orlando. He was slain in the valley of Roncesvallês as he was leading the rear of his uncle’s army from Spain to France. Charlemagne himself had reached St. Jean Pied de Port at the time, heard the blast of his nephew’s horn, and knew it announced treachery, but was unable to render him assistance (A. D. 778).

(Roland is the hero of Théroulde’s Chanson de Roland; of Turpin’s Chronique; of Bojardo’s Orlando Innamorato; of Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso; of Piccini’s opera called Roland (1778); etc.)

Roland’s Horn, Olivant or Olifant. It was won from the giant Jatmund, and might be heard at the distance of thirty miles. Birds fell dead at its blast, and the whole Saracen army drew back in terror when they heard it. So loud it sounded, that the blast reached from Roncesvallês to St. Jean Pied de Port, a distance of several miles.

Roland lifts Olifant to his mouth and blows It with all his might. The mountains around are lofty, but high above them the sound of the horn arises [at the third blast, it split in twain].—Song of Roland (as sung by Taillefer, at the battle of Hastings). See Warton: History of English Poetry, v. 1, sect. iii. 132 (1781).

Roland’s Horse, Veillantif, called in Italian Vegliantino (“the little vigilant one”).

In Italian romance, Orlando has another horse, called Brigliadoro (“golden bridle”).

Roland’s Spear. Visitors are shown a spear in the c athedral of Pavia, which they are told belonged to Roland.

Roland’s Sword, Durandal, made by the fairies. To prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy when Roland was attacked in the valley of Roncesvallês, he smote a rock with it, and it made in the solid rock a fissure some 300 feet in depth, called to this day La Brêche de Roland.

Then would I seek the Pyrenean breach
Which Roland clove with huge two-handed sway,
And to the enormous labour left his name.
   —Wordsworth.

A sword is shown at Rocamadour, in the department of Lot (France), which visitors are assured was Roland’s Durandal. But the romances say that Roland, dying, threw his sword into a poisoned stream.

Death of Roland. There is a tradition that Roland escaped the general slaughter in the defile of Roncesvallês, and died of starvation while trying to make his way across the mountains.—John de la Bruiere Champier: De Cibaria, xvi. 5.

Died like Roland, died of thirst.

Nonnulli qui de Gallicis rebus historias conscripserunt, non dubitarunt posteris significare Rolandum Caroli illius magni sororis filium, virum certe bellica gloria omnique fortitudine nobillissimum, post ingentem