- Charlemagne takes it to the field with his beard on display; out of respect, the other Franks bear their beards as well, so it's a sea of Frankish facial hair.
- They march until they reach Spain.
- Baligant's men return to him and report that they've seen Charles and his fierce men. Baligant orders the trumpets to be blown to warn his army of the great Frankish courage they're facing.
- Now the pagans dismount and arm themselves. Baligant buckles on his sword which he named after Charlemagne's Joyeuse.
- He straps on his heavy ornamented shield, gathers his spear named Maltet, and mounts his war-horse. In addition to his "very large crotch," he is broad and well-made, with curly white hair. The poet notes that he, like many other pagans, would be a good knight if only he were Christian. When he spurs his horse, it leaps over a fifty-foot ditch, filling the pagans with admiration and hope. Charles can't possibly prevail against this stud.
- Like Baligant, who is handsome and knowledgeable about his religion, his son Malprimes is also intimidating in combat. But he is a little anxious that they'll never get to meet Charlemagne in battle.
- Nonsense, says his daddy, he may get good press in the chronicles, but now that his nephew Roland, the finest knight of France is dead, he won't be able to withstand a renewed attack. Yeah, the messengers mentioned Charlemagne's ten divisions stuffed with fighting men, but 20,000 of the best were struck down at Roncevaux. The rest aren't worth anything.
- With this encouragement, Malprimes asks for the honor of striking the first blow. Baligant says sure, grants him various kings to fight with him, and promises him a large portion of his land if he is successful. This land previously belonged to someone named King Flori, but he never actually took possession of it.
- The Emir marshals his thirty divisions, each composed of men from a certain region. Many are briefly described. The men from Misnes are bristled like pigs while the men from Occian le Desert have iron-hard skin and don't need armor.
- Despite these frightening features, all thirty divisions ride towards Charlemagne looking like good and warlike knights.
- Carried in front are standards featuring a dragon, Tervagant, and Mohammed, along with a statue of Apollo. Ten Canaans whip up religious fervor by commanding that anyone who wants protection in the battle must pray humbly to their gods. The French, who may or may not be able to hear them, retort back that this battle is in their God's name.
- Baligant directs his son and two kings to the front ranks but keeps the Turks, the men from Ormaleus, the giants from Malprose, and the men of Occiant back with him. He promises to decapitate Charlemagne if he ever meets him in hand-to-hand combat.
- The two vast armies meet in an open field. The pagans shout "Precieuse!" and the Franks come right back with "Montjoie!" The sound of the oliphant rouses the Franks into a glorious fury.
- The sun glints brilliantly off the jeweled helmets and spears. To his brother Canabeus, King of Floredee, Baligant points out the evil and terror of Charlemagne's ten divisions, with their white beards flashing in the sun.
- As he calls to his men to follow, Baligant rushes forward, shaking his spear at Charlemagne.
- At this sight Charlemagne inspires his knights with a fiery speech: the religion of the pagans is worthless. They may have an army but so what? God isn't on their enemy's side. Spurring his horse, he rushes to battle with the Franks behind him.
- Rabel and Guinemant, filling in for Roland and Oliver, lead their men. Rabel kills Torleu, a Persian king and Guinemant does equally well with Lycian.
- Malprimes, on the other hand, is making hay among the Franks. He fights so hard that Baligant notices and tells his knights to follow his son's example. Never was there a more violent battle.
- Spear shafts snap and shields smash under the heavy blows.
- Baligant cries out to his men that if they fight well he'll find them beautiful wives and reward them with feudal lands. The pagans, now mostly dismounted, draw their swords and fight as well as they can.
- Charlemagne also encourages his men by recalling how well they've fought in the past, how many lands they've conquered and how many kings they've deposed. For all this they will be rewarded with lands and wealth.
- Additionally, they should fight to avenge their friends and relatives who died at Roncevaux. 20,000 Franks hear these stirring words and hurl their lances at the enemy.
- Duke Naimes kills Malprimes only to take an equally violent blow from Baligant's brother, Canabeus. Naimes would have died if God hadn't sent Charlemagne to kill Canabeus in the nick of time. The sight of Naimes's free-flowing blood fills him with grief, but Naimes rallies and promises to keep fighting as long as he's still living.
- The emir kills Guinemant and three other valuable Franks. Despite these casualties the Franks fight on and the battle rages until nightfall.
- Emir calls on his gods to preserve him in the terrible howling and crashing of the war. He promises to make their images pure gold if only they grant him victory.
- But in the middle of his prayers, his friend Gemalfin appears with the bad news that Malprimes and Canabeus are both dead. Charlemagne, however, is alive and kicking, beard as white as ever.
- The emir almost dies of his fury. He calls Jangleu of Outremer for advice: will the Franks or the pagans be victorious? Jangleu also has bad news.
- He tells Baligant that Charles and his men are too fierce and too worthy to be defeated. But even though their gods will never save them, he urges Baligant to call for more divisions anyway.
- Taking a style cue from Charlemagne, the Emir pulls out his beard. No matter what happens, he doesn't want to hide. He blows a bugle to gather his forces and mounts the wildest attack yet on the Franks, breaking Charlemagne's ranks and killing 7,000 of his knights at once.
- Count Ogier the Dane, a leader of the Frankish army, gathers other knights to him and speaks bluntly to Charles: he won't be worthy to wear a crown unless he turns the heat up on these wicked pagans.
- All of them fight valiantly. Ogier kills the man holding the dragon ensign, and when Baligant sees his standard fall, he begins to realize that Charlemagne might be in the right.
- It's unclear whether he thinks Charlemagne's cause is right or whether he just realizes that his fighting is right (in other words, that the Franks will win). Many of the pagans skedaddle.