In the pauses of the battle the combatants talked together, and Ferracute, relying upon his adversary’s keen sense of honor, even laid his head upon Roland’s knee during their noonday rest.  While resting thus, he revealed that he was vulnerable in only one point of his body.  When called upon by Roland to believe in Christianity, he declared that the doctrine of the Trinity was more than he could accept.  Roland, in answer, demonstrated that an almond is but one fruit, although composed of rind, shell, and kernel; that a harp is but one instrument, although it consists of wood, strings, and harmony.  He also urged the threefold nature of the sun,—­i.e., heat, light, and splendor; and these arguments having satisfied Ferracute concerning the Trinity, he removed his doubts concerning the incarnation by equally forcible reasoning.  The giant, however, utterly refused to believe in the resurrection, although Roland, in support of his creed, quoted the mediaeval belief that a lion’s cubs are born into the world dead, but come to life on the third day at the sound of their father’s roar, or under the warm breath of their mother.  As Ferracute would not accept this doctrine, but sprang to his feet proposing a continuation of the fight, the struggle was renewed.

“Quath Ferragus:  ’Now ich wot
Your Christian law every grot;
Now we will fight;
Whether law better be,
Soon we shall y-see,
Long ere it be night.’”

                                  Roland and Ferragus.

Roland, weary with his previous efforts, almost succumbed beneath the giant’s blows, and in his distress had recourse to prayer.  He was immediately strengthened and comforted by an angelic vision and a promise of victory.  Thus encouraged, he dealt Ferracute a deadly blow in the vulnerable spot.  The giant fell, calling upon Mohammed, while Roland laughed and the Christians triumphed.

The poem of Sir Otuel, in the Auchinleck manuscript, describes how Otuel, a nephew of Ferracute, his equal in size and strength, came to avenge his death, and, after a long battle with Roland, yielded to his theological arguments, and was converted at the sight of a snowy dove alighting on Charlemagne’s helmet in answer to prayer.  He then became a devoted adherent of Charlemagne, and served him much in war.

Charlemagne, having won Navarre, carried the war to the south of Spain, where the Saracens frightened the horses of his host by beating drums and waving banners.  Having suffered a partial defeat on account of this device, Charlemagne had the horses’ ears stopped with wax, and their eyes blindfolded, before he resumed the battle.  Thanks to this precaution, he succeeded in conquering the Saracen army.  The whole country had now been again subdued, and Charlemagne was preparing to return to France, when he remembered that Marsiglio (Marsilius), a Saracen king, was still intrenched at Saragossa.