Roland

One great medieval work is The Song of Roland. This Old French epic poem follows the adventures and doomed life of the Christian hero Roland, who served Charlemagne and fought Muslims in Spain. The big battle is based on the 778 a.D. Battle of Roncevaux. It was composed around 1040 to 1115 in the Middle Ages.

This little excerpt is a beautiful little show of how the medieval Europeans saw the world, how they wanted to see themselves and others. It's a great look at history and is also lovely verse.

Here's a little excerpt; read it all here:

VIII

  Merry and bold is now that Emperour,
  Cordres he holds, the walls are tumbled down,
  His catapults have battered town and tow'r.
  Great good treasure his knights have placed in pound,
  Silver and gold and many a jewelled gown.
  In that city there is no pagan now
  But he been slain, or takes the Christian vow.
  The Emperour is in a great orchard ground
  Where Oliver and Rollant stand around,
  Sansun the Duke and Anseis the proud,
  Gefreid d'Anjou, that bears his gonfaloun;
  There too Gerin and Geriers are found.
  Where they are found, is seen a mighty crowd,
  Fifteen thousand, come out of France the Douce.
  On white carpets those knights have sate them down,
  At the game-boards to pass an idle hour;—
  Chequers the old, for wisdom most renowned,
  While fence the young and lusty bachelours.
  Beneath a pine, in eglantine embow'red,
  Stands a fald-stool, fashioned of gold throughout;
  There sits the King, that holds Douce France in pow'r;
  White is his beard, and blossoming-white his crown,
  Shapely his limbs, his countenance is proud.
  Should any seek, no need to point him out.
  The messengers, on foot they get them down,
  And in salute full courteously they lout.