Rollant devised some sport: he raised a pole, and hung a shield there, and had his band ride with spears at the shield.

Geirard and Oliver, his nephew, were staying in the city with a great host. One time they rode out of the city with ten thousand knights to see the sport. Rollant had arranged ten thousand well-armed knights under the walls of the town.

Geirard now rode forward, in his arms, and struck down the game, to put them to shame. Rollant then rode at them with his troop, and struck up a great battle. Oliver rode at the man called Lambert, and knocked him off his horse to the ground. Geirard was a good knight; he drew his sword and killed many men, and pursued others. But Rollant began to call out in a firm voice and rallied his troops so that they attacked and waged a great battle. Rollant slashed the man who bore Geirard's standard from the back of the helmet to the nape of the neck, so that his sword went into his nose.

Then Karlamagnus armed himself and all the army, getting ready to atack. But when Geirard saw that, he rode back into the city, and Karlamagnus and his men pursued them; nineteen knights of the army of Karlamagnus fell, and eleven of Geirard's. Oliver took Lambert prisoner, and carried him off into the city; they separated at evening, and each of the two sides bore off their men to be buried. King Karlamagnus thought it was a great pity that Lambert was taken.

Early in the morning, Geirard arose and called Oliver, his nephew, and said, "You shall go to King Karlamagnus, taking Lambert of Berfer with you, to ask pardon for us. I wish to submit to him, for I am his vassal and he dubbed me a knight and gave me power and wealth; I do not want to hold his kinsman here."

He went and bore this message to the king. Karlamagnus answered that Geirard was a proven traitor. Oliver became very angry, and said there was no man he would not challenge to single combat to prove that he was no traitor. Rollant was so enraged against Oliver that all his veins quivered, and he swore that Geirard had broken his faith. Oliver answered: "I shall deal with you in a hideous way in this matter: let us try each other."

They agreed to a duel under the city walls of Viana. Earl Lambert called Namlun aside and said that he thought that this was unfortunate, "for Rollant is the nephew of Karlamagnus, and Oliver the nephew of Geirard; it would be better if they made a settlement and Geirard held Viana and all his possessions and power from King Karlamagnus."

Namlun said that this was well spoken. He prepared to go to Viana and speak to Geirard.

Then both Oliver and Lambert went to Geirard, who asked what they had arranged. Oliver said that he had been called a liar and a truce-breaker. "And I am going to resist this accusation, and have arranged to fight the nephew of King Karlamagnus in single combat."

Lambert answered, "Let this folly be," says he; "you have a sister named Adein. Give her to Rollant, and be friends; submit to Karlamagnus and give him the city."

Geirard said that he should go back and call off the duel; "for if Rollant is put to death, Karlamagnus will not like it, and if I lose my nephew I will never be happy again. Let him take Adein, my niece, to wife, and be friends; she is the daughter of Earl Reinbald of Kaliber [Calabria -vz]. I shall hold Viana and all honor from the king, and will be his vassal."

Earl Lambert went to Karlamagnus, and asked him to call of the duel, with the condition that Rollant should marry the duke's niece, Adein, and that they become friends with Oliver, "for they are both good warriors."

Namlun said that this was a good settlement.

The king then replies, "See to it that my nephew is well honored."

Namlun answered, "You should go to the battlefield, when they are prepared to fight and have come to the field; take their spears, for you have the authority to do this. Then go to Viana, and make a sound settlement."

Lambert now went and told Geirard this plan, and he agreed to it. The next morning Rollant and Oliver both armed themselves and came to the field. Then King Karlamagnus himself rode up and took the spears from them, and went into Viana. Namlun and Lambert then led Rollant and Oliver before the king, and they both kissed him, and swore brotherhood to each other. Rollant also swore to Adein that he would have her to wife, if God granted that he lived to do so; and she swore to marry Rollant, and Geirard and Oliver also agreed to this.