Rokesmith (John), alias John Harmon, secretary of Mr. Boffin. He lodged with the Wilfers, and ultimately married Bella Wilfer. John Rokesmith is described as “a dark gentleman, 30 at the utmost, with an expressive, one might say, a handsome face.”—Dickens, Our Mutual Friend (1864).
*** For solution of the mystery, see vol. I. ii. 13.
Ro´land, count of Mans and knight of Blaives. His mother, Bertha, was Charlemagne’s sister. Roland is represented as brave, devotedly loyal, unsuspicious, and somewhat too easily imposed npon. He was eight feet high, and had an open countenance. In Italian romance he is called Orlan´do. He was slain in the valley of Roncesvalles as he was leading the rear of his uncle’s army from Spain to France. Charlemagne himself had reached St. Jean Pied de Port at the time, heard the blast of his nephew’s horn, and knew it announced treachery, but was unable to render him assistance (A.D. 778).
Roland is the hero of Théroulde’s Chanson de Roland; of Turpin’s Chronique; of Bojardo’s Orlando Innamorato; of Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso; of Piccini’s opera called Roland (1778); etc.
Roland’s Horn, Olivant or Olifant. It was won from the giant Jatmund, and might be heard at the distance of thirty miles. Birds fell dead at its blast, and the whole Saracen army drew back in terror when they heard it. So loud it sounded, that the blast reached from Roncesvallês to St. Jean Pied de Port, a distance of several miles.
Roland lifts Olifant to his month and blows it with all his might. The mountains around are lofty, but high above them the sound of the horn arises [at the third blast, it split in twain].—Song of Roland (as sung by Taillefer, at the battle of Hastings). See Warton, History of English Poetry, v. I, sect. iii. 132 (1781).
Roland’s Horse, Veillantif, called in Italian Velian´tino (“the little vigilant one”).
In Italian romance, Orlando has another horse, called Brigliado´ro (“golden bridle”).
Roland’s Spear. Visitors are shown a spear in the cathedral of Pa´via, which they are told belonged to Roland.
Roland’s Sword, Duran´dal, made by the fairies. To prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy, when Roland was attacked in the valley of Roncesvallês, he smote a rock with it, and it made in the solid rock a fissure some 300 feet in depth, called to this day La Brêche de Roland.