Chapter Roland to Romance of the Rose of R by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Roland to Romance of the Rose

Roland (The Roman). Sicinius Dentatus is so called by Niebuhr. He is not unfrequently called “The Roman Achillês” (put to death B.C. 450).

Roland and Oliver, the two most famous of the twelve paladins of Charlemagne. To give a “Roland for an Oliver” is to give tit for tat, as good as you received.

Froissart, a countryman of ours [the French], records,
England all Olivers and Rowlands bred
During the time Edward the Third did reign.
   —Shakespeare: 1 Henry VI. act i. sc. 2 (1589).

Och! Mrs. Mustardpot, have you found a Rowland for your Oliver at last?—T. Knight.

Roland de Vaux (Sir), baron of Triermain, who wakes Gyneth from her long sleep of 500 years, and marries her.—Sir W. Scott: Bridal of Triermain (1813).

Rolando (Signor), a common railer against women, but brave, of a “happy wit and independent spirit.” Rolando swore to marry no woman, but fell in love with Zamora, and married her, declaring “she was no woman but an angel.”—Tobin: The Honeymoon (1804).

(The resemblance between Rolando and Benedick will instantly occur to the mind.)

Rolandseck Tower, opposite the Drachenfels. Roland was engaged to Aude, daughter of sir Gerard and lady Guibourg; but the lady, being told that Roland had been slain by Angoulaffre the Saracen, retired to a convent. The paladin returned home full of glory, having slain the Saracen. When he heard that his lady-love had taken the veil, he built Rolandseck Castle, which overlooks the convent, that he might at least see the lady to whom he could never be united. After the death of Aude, Roland “sought the battle-field again, and fell at Roncevall.”—Campbell: Th Brave Roland.

Roldan, “El encantado,” Roldan made invulnerable by enchantment. The cleft “Roldan,” in the summit of a high mountain in the kingdom of Valencia, was so called because it was made by a single back-stroke of Roldan’s sword. The character is in two Spanish romances, authors unknown—Bernardo del Carpio and Roncesvalles.

This book [Rinaldo de Montalban], and all others written on French matters, shall be deposited in some dry place…except one called Bernardo del Carpio, and another called Roncivalles, which shall certainly accompany the rest on the bonfire.—Cervantes: Don Quixote, I. i. 6 (1605).

Rolla, kinsman of the inca Ataliba, and the idol of the army. “In war a tiger chafed by the hunters’ spears; in peace more gentle than the unweaned lamb” (act i. 1). A firm friend and most generous foe. Rolla is wounded in his attempt to rescue the infant child of Alonzo from the Spaniards, and dies. His grand funeral procession terminates the drama.—Sheridan: Pizarro (altered from Kotzbue, 1799).

John Kemble and two friends were returning to town in an open carriage from lord Abercorn’s, and came to a toll-bar. As the toll-keeper and his daughter were fumbling for change, Kemble cried out, in the words of Rolla to the army, “We seek no change, and least of all such change as they would bring us” (act ii. 2).—Rogers: Table Talk (1856).

Rolliad (The), a series of political satires, the first of which was devoted to colonel (lord) Rollo (1784). Others satirized the poet Tickell, George Ellis, general Burgoyne, Brummel, Boscawen, the bishop of Ossory, and so on.

Rollo, duke of Normandy, called “The Bloody Brother.” He caused the death of his brother Otto, and slew several others, some out of mere wantonness.—Fletcher: The Bloody Brother (1639).

Roman (The), Jean Dumont, the French painter, Le Romain (1700–1781).

Stephen Picart, the French engraver, Le Romain (1631–1721).