How we cite our quotes: (Stanza.Line)
Quote #4
"If God wills that I should return from there,
I'll take such great vengeance on you
That it will last you all your life." (20.289-91)
Now the treachery is clear. Ganelon is mad as a medieval hornet that Roland volunteered him as ambassador to Marsile and publicly swears that he will be revenged. But Ganelon is a slippery fish. How much does he have planned already?
Quote #5
But Ganelon took him by the fingers of his right hand,
He leads him into the garden up to the King.
There they negotiate the wrongful act of treachery. (38.509-11)
Gasp. If you were a faithful medieval Christian, the image of Ganelon taking the wicked pagan Blancandrin by the hand would fill you with horror. What is this good Christian knight doing making friends with a pagan? Side note: the fact that they're planning Roland's downfall is also bad.
Quote #6
He dreamed he was at the main pass of Cize,
He was holding his ashen lance in his hands.
Count Ganelon seized it from him
He twisted and brandished it so violently
That its splinters fly toward heaven.
Charles sleeps, he does not wake up. (56.719-24)
Even though Charles doesn't get it at first, the meaning of this dream is pretty obvious, right? What kind of dude messes up your lance? Answer: one you can't trust! Gabriel is clearly sending Charlemagne a coded message here to look out for Ganelon's betrayal.