Turcs. This is of course a mistake for Saracens or Moors. The word occurs in the original poem, Jubinal copied it, and Hugo copied Jubinal. The original, it maybe noted, had 'trente mille Turcs,' Jubinal cut them down to 'vingt mille.' Hugo's 'vingt mille' is another detail which shows that his poem is based on Jubinal's adaptation.
preux. The Old French adjective meant 'valiant.' At the present time the word is only used in the phrase preux chevalier. Preux as a noun is rare, but de Vigny has 'Charlemagne et ses preux.'
je ne farde guère: I speak without affectation. Farder used absolutely in this way is rare.
rendus: knocked up, overdone.
arbalètes, crossbows.
L. 80, For the metaphor compare the Chanson in Les Châtiments, Livre VII
Berlin, Vienne étaient ses maîtresses;
Il les forçait,
Leste, et prenant les forteresses
Par le corset;