Previous
Count Roland
Count Ganelon is also called Guènes in the poem. He is married to Charlemayn’s sister and is therefore Roland’s stepfather. He also has a son named Baldwin. Ganelon is a treacherous and seemingly insecure figure who mistrusts and envies his powerful stepson. When Charlemayn sends Ganelon to Saragossa as a messenger on Roland’s suggestion, Ganelon angrily plots with Blancandrin to betray and kill Roland, claiming that the young knight is prideful and has it coming. In Saragossa, he further convinces King Marsilion to ambush the rear-guard of Charlemayn’s army, knowing this will mean Roland’s probable death. Ganelon’s treachery is proven when he tries to dissuade Charlemayn from riding to the rear-guard’s rescue. He is later brutally executed when the death of his friend and champion, Pinabel, is regarded as proof of his guilt.
Count Ganelon (Guènes) Quotes in The Song of Roland
The The Song of Roland quotes below are all either spoken by Count Ganelon (Guènes) or refer to Count Ganelon (Guènes). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Laisses 16–31
Quotes
“There’s none,” quoth Guènes, “who merits such ill words,
Save only Roland, for whom ’twill be the worse.
But now, the Emperor in the cool shade conversed;
Up came his nephew all in his byrny girt,
Fresh with his booty from Carcassone returned.
Roland in hand a golden apple nursed
And showed his uncle, saying, ‘Take it, fair sir;
The crowns I give you of all the kings on earth.’
One day his pride will undo him for sure,
Danger of death day by day he incurs,
If one should slay him some peace might be preserved.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Laisses 32–52
Quotes
The Paynim said: “I marvel in my mind
At Charlemayn whose head is old and white.
Two hundred years, I know, have passed him by.
In lands so many he’s conquered far and wide,
Lance-thrusts so many he’s taken in the strife,
Rich kings so many brought to a beggar’s plight—
When will he weary of going forth to fight?”
“Never”, said Guènes, “while Roland sees the light;
’Twixt east and west his valour has no like,
Oliver too, his friend, is a brave knight;
And the twelve Peers, in whom the King delights,
With twenty thousand Frenchmen to vanward ride:
Charles is secure, he fears no man alive.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Laisses 128–137
Quotes
Quoth Charles: “I hear the horn of Roland cry!
He’d never sound it but in the thick of fight.”
“There is no battle”, Count Ganelon replies;
“You’re growing old, your hair is sere and white,
When you speak thus, you’re talking like a child.
Full well you know Roland’s o’erweening pride […]
Now to the Peers he’s showing-off in style. […]
Ride on, ride on! Why loiter here the while?”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Song of Roland LitChart as a printable PDF.
Count Ganelon (Guènes) Quotes in The Song of Roland
The The Song of Roland quotes below are all either spoken by Count Ganelon (Guènes) or refer to Count Ganelon (Guènes). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Laisses 16–31
Quotes
“There’s none,” quoth Guènes, “who merits such ill words,
Save only Roland, for whom ’twill be the worse.
But now, the Emperor in the cool shade conversed;
Up came his nephew all in his byrny girt,
Fresh with his booty from Carcassone returned.
Roland in hand a golden apple nursed
And showed his uncle, saying, ‘Take it, fair sir;
The crowns I give you of all the kings on earth.’
One day his pride will undo him for sure,
Danger of death day by day he incurs,
If one should slay him some peace might be preserved.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Laisses 32–52
Quotes
The Paynim said: “I marvel in my mind
At Charlemayn whose head is old and white.
Two hundred years, I know, have passed him by.
In lands so many he’s conquered far and wide,
Lance-thrusts so many he’s taken in the strife,
Rich kings so many brought to a beggar’s plight—
When will he weary of going forth to fight?”
“Never”, said Guènes, “while Roland sees the light;
’Twixt east and west his valour has no like,
Oliver too, his friend, is a brave knight;
And the twelve Peers, in whom the King delights,
With twenty thousand Frenchmen to vanward ride:
Charles is secure, he fears no man alive.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Laisses 128–137
Quotes
Quoth Charles: “I hear the horn of Roland cry!
He’d never sound it but in the thick of fight.”
“There is no battle”, Count Ganelon replies;
“You’re growing old, your hair is sere and white,
When you speak thus, you’re talking like a child.
Full well you know Roland’s o’erweening pride […]
Now to the Peers he’s showing-off in style. […]
Ride on, ride on! Why loiter here the while?”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
