One version of the story (Turpin’s) relates that the blast brought, not Charlemagne, but the sole surviving knight, Theodoricus, who, as Roland had been shriven before the battle, merely heard his last prayer and reverently closed his eyes.  Then Turpin, while celebrating mass before Charlemagne, was suddenly favored by a vision, in which he beheld a shrieking crew of demons bearing Marsiglio’s soul to hell, while an angelic host conveyed Roland’s to heaven.

Turpin immediately imparted these revelations to Charlemagne, who, knowing now that his fears were not without foundation, hastened back to Roncesvalles.  Here the scriptural miracle was repeated, for the sun stayed its course until the emperor had routed the Saracens and found the body of his nephew.  He pronounced a learned funeral discourse or lament over the hero’s remains, which were then embalmed and conveyed to Blaive for interment.

Another version relates that Bishop Turpin himself remained with Roland in the rear, and, after hearing a general confession and granting full absolution to all the heroes, fought beside them to the end.  It was he who heard the last blast of Roland’s horn instead of Theodoricus, and came to close his eyes before he too expired.

The most celebrated of all the poems, however, the French epic “Chanson de Roland,” gives a different version and relates that, in stumbling over the battlefield, Roland came across the body of his friend Oliver, over which he uttered a touching lament.

“’Alas for all thy valor, comrade dear! 
Year after year, day after day, a life
Of love we led; ne’er didst thou wrong to me,
Nor I to thee.  If death takes thee away,
My life is but a pain.’”

                                              Chanson de Roland (Rabillon’s tr.).

[Sidenote:  Death of Roland.] Slowly and painfully now—­for his death was near—­Roland climbed up a slope, laid himself down under a pine tree, and placed his sword and horn beneath him.  Then, when he had breathed a last prayer, to commit his soul to God, he held up his glove in token of his surrender.

“His right hand glove he offered up to God;
Saint Gabriel took the glove.—­With head reclined
Upon his arm, with hands devoutly joined,
He breathed his last.  God sent his Cherubim,
Saint Raphael, Saint Michiel del Peril.
The soul of Count Rolland to Paradise. 
Aoi.”
Chanson de Roland (Rabillon’s tr.).

It was here, under the pine, that Charlemagne found his nephew ere he started out to punish the Saracens, as already related.  Not far off lay the bodies of Ogier, Oliver, and Renaud, who, according to this version, were all among the slain.

“Here endeth Otuel, Roland, and Olyvere,
And of the twelve dussypere,
That dieden in the batayle of Runcyvale: 
Jesu lord, heaven king,
To his bliss hem and us both bring,
To liven withouten bale!”

                                                      Sir Otuel.