Part 18 Summary

Stanzas 203, 204 - Charles wakes up, the angel keeping watch blesses him, and Charles removes his armor. The soldiers remove theirs as well, and return to the battlefield. There he reveals his intention to find Roland's body. He recalls how Roland once described how he'd be found if he were killed in battle - beyond the battlefield, his head turned to face the enemy. This is a clear echo of Stanza 174, when Roland positioned himself for death in exactly the manner Charles recalls. Charles begins his search.

Stanzas 205, 206, 207 - Charles crosses a meadow where the flowers are stained with French blood, comes upon the stones where Roland attempted to destroy his sword and discovers Roland's body. He collapses in grief. As Charles recovers himself, Naimon and several other nobles join him. Charles says his farewells, praising Roland's great deeds. He collapses again, and again...