- Charlemagne is waiting for Ganelon, who assures him of Marsile's sincerity: he is going to convert to Christianity and become a Frankish vassal. To explain why he doesn't have Marsile's uncle, the emir, with him, he lies that the emir fled Spain with 400,000 men and died in a storm.
- Charlemagne hears the news with joy and the super-excited Franks start the march back home, unaware that Marsile's army is simultaneously marching towards them. Treachery!
- In a dream Charlemagne sees himself riding through the Cize mountain pass with a spear. Ganelon grabs it and snaps it into shards.
- Then he dreams he's in his chapel at Aix being attacked by a bear and a leopard. Not to worry though because a hound comes leaping out of his palace and attacks both. Despite this nocturnal violence, Charlemagne does not wake up.
- In the morning Charlemagne asks for recommendations for the position of rearguard leader. Predictably Ganelon suggests Roland. Charlemagne reacts with fury but Roland is a mensch and courteously accepts.
- At least, that's what happens in stanza 59. In stanza 60, Roland's reaction is re-described as angry and full of contempt. Stanza 61 changes it up yet again, showing Roland graciously asking Charlemagne for the bow he's holding, but letting Ganelon have it in a sly dig by claiming that he at least won't drop it.
- Duke Naimes notes that Roland is enraged (siding with stanza 60) but thinks he'll make a great commander.
- A worried Charlemagne wants to give him half the Frankish army to ensure his protection, but Roland waves these away and only accepts 20,000. In the next three stanzas he names the men who will accompany him, which include all Twelve Peers.
- The Franks march back to France and start weeping when they return to their lands and families. At first it seems like this is joyful crying, but actually everyone is pretty down about Roland's fate back in the rear, Charlemagne most of all.
- As he rides with Duke Naimes, Charlemagne confesses that his dreams have not been cheery. He realizes now that Ganelon has doomed Roland to great danger.