Jerusalem, and the land
where God meekly suffered death, complain
that on this side of the sea He has few friends
who do anything further to help His [sacred] person.
If each man were mindful of the Last Judgement
and of the holy place where He suffered torment
when He pardoned Longinus for His death,
they would be very reluctant to relinquish the cross,
for he who takes the cross with a pure motive
denies it the moment he relinquishes it
and, like Judas, he will lose Paradise.
Our shepherds guard their sheep badly
when they sell each one to the wolf for money,
but sin has so taken hold of all of them
that they have forgotten God for silver.
What will become of the luxurious goods
which they acquired, most wickedly, from the
false levies which they took from the crusaders?
Know well that they will be punished for it,
if loyalty, God and faith do not lie.
They have taken back both Acre and Bethlehem,
which each man had promised to God.
Who, henceforth, will dare to speak of God
in any sermon, whether in market place or church,
or to proclaim any blessing or pardon,
[if he does nothing without a gift or without money]
to help Our Lord to conquer and regain
the land where He paid
the ransom for us with His blood?
My lord prelates, it is neither handsome behaviour
nor virtuous so to retard the help due to Him.
One can plainly see that you have made
God into Roland and yourselves into Ganelon.
There is no moderation and no sense in any man
who knows this and does not help to avenge those
who, for the sake of God, are over there in prison,
and to bring their souls out of peril.
Since one must die here, we should not be concerned
about pain, frustration, shame or trouble;
everything we do in God’s name is for Him.
He will give each one such a reward
as a man’s heart cannot appreciate,
for he will have paradise as a payment; never did
anyone have such a noble gift in return for so little!