'Roland d Roncevaux. By Joseph Bedier. (Clarendon Press. 2s. net.)—Professor
Bddier's Romanee Lecture, delivered on June 4th, was a brilliant analysis of the Chanson de Boland, the first of the spies of chivalry and one of the products of the great period, between 1080 -and 1130, when France displayed her spiritual• and intellectual vigour to the full. Professor &Mier discusses the question .why Roland, being faced with an over- whelming array of infidels, refused either to retreat or, as Olivier proposed, to sound his horn Olifant in order to bring Charlemagne to the rescue. Professor Wier confesses that the- experience of the war has taught him that his earlier interpretation of Roland's conduct was imperfect. Roland was not merely vainglorious or -obstinate in deciding-to fight against apparently hopeless odds, when his comrades wanted him to summon_ help. " Without his knowing it, without their knowing it,' he personifies their sub'.conseious desire." He foresaw -the victory that he did in fact achieve. The rear-guard was annihilated at Ronce- vaux, but Roland, dying, remained master of the field. The Saracens had fled, after their third attack, and Charlemagne returned to find that Roland had- gained the day. Professor Bedier concludes that Roland " le preux " acted rightly, as so many did in the Great War, in the spirit of C,orneille's line :-
" Faites vote devoir et laissez faire aux dieux."
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