- Unfortunately, this is just the beginning for Roland's rearguard. Marsile now rides up with twenty more regiments of fearsome Saracens, deafening the field with 7,000 bugles. Roland again recalls Ganelon's treachery and vows with Oliver that they will wield their swords against the pagan hordes so bad songs won't be sung of them.
- The other Franks are losing heart, probably because the fields are crawling with Saracens. Archbishop Turpin revives their spirits by promising them glory in paradise. What's more, if they cower now, who will write rousing songs about their exploits?
- In stanzas 114 through 119 we get three similar scenarios: a Saracen kills a French knight; the Franks are saddened; another French knight, in righteous rage, kills the Saracen.
- The pagan Grandoine breaks this pattern by mowing down five Franks at once, filling the other Franks with dread. Luckily Roland is nearby to split his entire body in two.
- The Franks gain on the Saracens, spilling their blood on to the grass, until finally they break ranks and start running back to Spain.
- But Marsile observes the carnage and starts to fight back harder with his fresh army. It's a little unclear what his army has been doing for the previous stanzas—just hanging out?—but they get things going now with a bad dude named Abisme.
- But even his awesome shield, studded with precious stones, is no match for the fierce Archbishop, who spears him dead.
- Roland admires his moves to Oliver, who reminds him to get on with the battling. Although during the next four assaults they kill at least 4,000 Saracens, in the fifth they are overwhelmed. Only 60 French knights remain.
- Roland grieves over all his dead men and tells Oliver he has finally decided to blow his horn. Oh how the tables have turned.
- Now it is Oliver who argues that summoning help would be dishonorable. He can't resist an I-told-you-so: if Roland had taken his advice before, none of these men would be dead. The slaughter is Roland's fault. In fact, Oliver is so angry that he says if ever they return alive to France, he is breaking Roland's engagement with his sister.
- Roland wonders innocently why Oliver is so mad, giving him the opportunity to say exactly why. Roland acted without sense. If he hadn't been too stubborn to blow the horn, Charlemagne would have come with reinforcements to save them all. Now he and Oliver will die and France will never again be glorious.
- Archbishop Turpin rides by to break up their argument. He agrees that the oliphant should be blown now. It won't save anyone but it will bring Charlemagne hurtling back for some bloody revenge and allow the dead rearguard Franks to be buried in holy ground.