s: Here, in her petulance, with laugh and jeer.


s: Makes answer to the dame, in angry tone,


s: That handsomer than her she deems the crone.


s: And that she this would prove upon her knight


s: With pact that she might strip the bonnibell


s: Of gown and palfrey, if, o'erthrown in fight,


s: Her champion from his goodly courser fell.


s: -- In silence to have overpast the slight


s: Would have been sin and shame in Pinabel,


s: Who for short answer seized his shield and spear,


s: And wheeled, and drove at her in fierce career.


s: Marphisa grasped a mighty lance, and thrust,


s: And stretched him so astounded in the dust,


s: That motionless an hour the warrior lies.


s: Gave orders to strip off the glorious guise


s: And ornaments wherewith the maid was drest,


s: And with the spoils her ancient crone invest;


s: And willed that she should don the youthful weed,


s: Which her had thither borne, and -- bent to post


s: On her old track -- with her the hag will speed,


s: Who seems most hideous when adorned the most.


s: Three days the tedious road the couple beat,


s: If you the stranger's name desire to hear,


s: Now grieved and angered, as unvenged of one,


s: The warrior would have done, had rendered vain.


s: Vainly the young Zerbino, through the glade,


s: Had chased that man of his, who this despite


s: Had done him, who himself so well conveyed


s: Away and took such 'vantage in his flight,


s: The horizon and bedimmed the morning-light,


s: That he escaped Zerbino's grasp, and lay


s: Concealed until his wrath was past away.


s: Zerbino laughed parforce, when he descried


s: That beldam's face, though he was full of rage;


s: For too ill-sorted seemed her vest of pride


s: With her foul visage, more deformed by age;


s: The prince, exclaimed, "Sir warrior, you are sage,


s: Whom none, I ween, will grudge you should escort."


s: Older than Sibyl seemed the beldam hoar,


s: (As far as from her wrinkles one might guess),


s: Looked like an ape which men in mockery dress;


s: And now appears more foul, as angered sore,


s: While rage and wrath her kindled eyes express.


s: Than to proclaim her old and foul to sight.


s: To have sport of him -- as she had -- an air


s: Of wrath the maid assumed upon her part,


s: And to the prince, "By Heaven, more passing fair


s: Is this my lady than thou courteous art,"


s: What thou hast uttered comes not from thy heart.


s: Put on to masque thy sovereign cowardice.


s: "And of what stamp would be that cavalier


s: Who found such fair and youthful dame alone,


s: Without protection, in the forest drear,


s: Nor sought to make the lovely weft his own?"


s: -- "So well she sorts with thee," replied the peer,


s: " `Twere ill that she were claimed by any one:


s: Deprive; God rest thee merry with thy prize!


s: "But would thou prove what is my chivalry,


s: As to tilt with thee for this prize of thine.


s: Or fair or foul, let her remain thy fee;


s: Well are ye paired, and safely would I swear


s: That thou as valiant art as she is fair."


s: Shalt try to bear from me the dame away.


s: Thou shouldst behold, nor seek to gain the prey."


s: To her the prince, "I know not wherefore wight


s: Striving for victory, where, for his pains,


s: The victor losses, and the vanquished gains."


s: "If this condition please not, other course


s: Which ill thou canst refuse, I offer thee,"


s: (Marphisa cried):  "If thou shalt me unhorse


s: In this our tourney, she remains with me:


s: Then prove we now who shall without her be.


s: Premised, if loser, thou shalt be her guide,


s: Wherever it may please the dame to ride."


s: "And be it so," Zerbino cried, and wheeled


s: Swiftly his foaming courser for the shock,


s: And rising in his stirrups scowered the field,


s: Firm in his seat, and smote, with levelled stock,


s: For surer aim, the damsel in mid-shield;


s: And at the warrior's morion thrust so well,


s: She clean out-bore him senseless from the sell.


s: Much grieved the prince, to whom in other fray


s: The like misfortune had not chanced before,


s: Who had unhorsed some thousands in his day:


s: Now shamed, he thought for ever.  Troubled sore,


s: And mute long space upon the ground he lay,


s: And, when 'twas recollected, grieved the more,


s: That he had promised, and that he was bound,


s: To accompany the hag where'er she wound.


s: Turning about to him the victoress cried,


s: The more that she is thine I am content,


s: Now in my place her champion and her guide.


s: But do not thou thy plighted faith repent,


s: So that thou fail, as promised, to attend


s: The dame, wherever she may please to wend."


s: She spurred her horse, and vanished in the wood.


s: Cried to the crone, "By whom am I subdued?"


s: And, knowing 'twould be poison to his ear,


s: And that it would inflame his angered blood,


s: Which from thy lofty saddle laid thee low.


s: "She, for her matchless force, deservedly


s: Usurps from cavalier the sword and lance;


s: Her strength against the paladins of France."


s: Such shame Zerbino felt as his mischance,


s: Little was wanting (so his blushes spread)


s: But all the arms he wore had glowed as red.


s: He mounts, and blames himself in angry wise,


s: Within herself the beldam laughs, and tries


s: The Scottish warrior more to sting and heat.


s: And he, who knows that there is no retreat,


s: Stands like tired courser, who in pensive fit,


s: Hangs down his ears, controlled by spur and bit.


s: And, sighing deeply, cries, in his despair,


s: "Fell Fortune, with what change dost thou repay


s: My loss!  she who was fairest of the fair,


s: Who should be mine, by thee is snatched away!


s: With her whom thou hast given to me this day?


s: Rather than make like ill exchange, less cross


s: "Her, who for virtue and for beauteous form


s: Thou on the rocks hast wrecked, in wintry storm,


s: As food for fowls and fishes of the sea;


s: And her who should have fed the earth-bred worm


s: Preserved beyond her date, some ten or score


s: Of years, to harass and torment me more."


s: So spake Zerbino, and like grief displaid,


s: As he had suffered when he lost his queen.


s: Perceived 'twas him of whom, in the thieves' hold,


s: This was the hag who 'scaped out of the cave,


s: Zerbino's heart, was long detained a slave;


s: Who oft had told how she her native shore


s: Had left, and, launching upon ocean's wave


s: Her frigate, had been wrecked by wind and swell


s: And gentle features had pourtrayed so well,


s: That the hag hearing him, and now more near,


s: Discerned it was the youth for whom, whilere,


s: Had grieved at heart the prisoned Isabel;


s: Whose loss she in the cavern more deplored,


s: Than being captive to the murderous horde.


s: The beldam, hearing what in rage and grief


s: Zerbino vents, perceives the youth to be


s: Deceived, and cheated by the false belief


s: And though she might have given the prince relief,


s: What would have made him joyful she concealed,


s: And only what would cause him grief revealed.


s: "Hear, you that are so proud," (the hag pursues)


s: "And flout me with such insolence and scorn,


s: You would entreat me fair to have the news


s: I know of her whose timeless death you mourn;


s: But to be strangled would I rather choose,


s: Whereas if you had made me kinder cheer,


s: Haply from me the secret might you hear."


s: Who flies the approaching robber to arrest,


s: If the thief proffer piece of bread or bone,


s: Of offer other lure which likes him best;


s: Humbled himself, and burned to know the rest;


s: Who, in the hints of the old woman, read


s: That she had news of her he mourned as dead.


s: And with more winning mien to her applied,


s: And her did supplicate, entreat, conjure,


s: By men and gods, the truth no more to hide,


s: The hard and pertinacious crone replied,


s: "Nought shalt thou hear, thy comfort to assure.


s: But lives a life she would exchange for death.


s: "She, since thou heardest of her destiny,


s: Within few days, has fallen into the power


s: Of more than twenty.  If restored to thee,


s: Think now, if thou hast hope to crop her flower."


s: -- "Curst hag, how well thou shapest thy history,


s: Yet knowest it is false!  Her virgin dower


s: Secure from brutal wrong, would none invade,


s: Though in the power of twenty were the maid."


s: Questioning of the maid, he when and where


s: She saw her, vainly asked the beldam hoar,


s: To what she had rehearsed would add no more.


s: The prince in the beginning spoke her fair,


s: And next to cut her throat in fury swore.


s: But prayers and menaces alike were weak;


s: Nor could he make the hideous beldam speak.


s: At length Zerbino to his tongue gave rest,


s: Since speaking to the woman booted nought;


s: Scarcely his heart found room within his breast,


s: Such dread suspicion had her story wrought.


s: Her in the midst of fire he would have sought;


s: But could not hurry more than was allowed


s: By her his convoy, since he so had vowed.


s: They hence, by strange and solitary way,


s: Rove, as the beldam does her will betoken,


s: Nor climbing, nor descending hill, survey


s: Each other's face, nor any word is spoken.


s: Had turned his back, their silence first was broken


s: What followed the ensuing strain will say.


s: Of asp appears to bear, contends.  O'erthrown,


s: Through cause of that despised and odious crone,


s: He wounded sore, and writhing with the smart,


s: The beldam's treason to the prince makes known,


s: Whose scorn and hatred hence derive new force.


s: Towards loud cries Zerbino spurs his horse.


s: No cord I well believe is wound so tight


s: Round chest, nor nails the plank so fastly hold,


s: Nor holy Faith, it seems, except in white


s: As by one speck, one single blemish tainted.


s: As well if given in grot or forest hoar,


s: Remote from town and hamlet, as if plighted


s: Nor needs the solemn sanction of an oath:


s: It is sufficient that we pledge our troth.


s: And this maintains as it maintained should be,


s: Quitting his road with that old crone to steer;


s: Although this breeds the youth such misery,


s: As 'twould to have Disease itself as near,


s: Or even Death; but with him heavier weighed


s: That his desire the promise he had made.


s: Of him I told who felt at heart such load,


s: Reflecting she beneath his charge must go,


s: He spake no word; and thus in silent mode


s: Both fared: so sullen was Zerbino's woe.


s: I said how vexed their silence, as they rode,


s: Was broke, when Sol his hindmost wheels did show,


s: Who in mid pathway met the crone and peer.


s: The hag, who the approaching warrior knew,


s: A bar of vermeil tint, transversely dight,


s: -- Her pride abased, and look of haught despite --


s: The knight they were encountering, who had slain


s: And was advised, the traitor would be fain


s: "Woman, while guarded by my arm (he said)


s: I will not thou shouldst any danger dread."


s: As nearer now, the stranger knight espied


s: That face, which was so hateful in his sight,


s: With menacing and savage voice he cried,


s: "Either with me prepare thyself to fight,


s: Or arm thee not on that old woman's side,


s: Who by my hand shall perish, as is right.


s: If thou contendest for her, thou art slain;


s: For such their portion is who wrong maintain."


s: Yet if the knight persists, he will not flee --


s: But bids him well consider first how ill


s: 'Twould sound, that he, a gentle knight and good,


s: Should wish to dip his hand in woman's blood.


s: This and yet more he vainly says; nor stand


s: They idle long; from word they pass to deed;


s: Enough of ground, encounter on the mead.


s: Not fired in some rejoicing, from the hand


s: Discharged, so fast the whistling rockets speed,


s: To hurtle in mid space with rested spears.


s: And for the youth's left flank the stroke intended;


s: But his weak lance was shivered by the blow,


s: But vain was not the spear-thrust of his foe,


s: Who bored his opposite's good shield, and rended


s: His shoulder, by the lance pierced through and through,


s: And from his deathlike face the vizor raised;


s: And he, as wakened out of sleep profound,


s: Then cried, "It does not me, in truth, confound,


s: Who seem'st the flower of errant chivalry.


s: "But it with reason grieves me this is done


s: Whose wicked cause I know not why you own,


s: An office ill according with your might:


s: And when to you the occasion shall be known


s: Whene'er you think on it, you will repent


s: How she by you was saved, and I was shent.


s: "And if enough of breath, although I fear


s: She in all guilt transgresses every bound.


s: Set out from Holland's isle, our natal ground,


s: To serve Heraclius, 'mid his knights arrayed,


s: Who then the Grecian empire's sceptre swayed.


s: "Brother in arms and bosom-friend installed


s: Who, in a pleasant site, and strongly walled,


s: On Servia's distant frontier had a fort.


s: Husband of that ill hag, whom in such sort


s: He loved, as passed all mean, and misbecame


s: "But she, more volatile than leaf, when breeze


s: Of autumn most its natural moisture dries,


s: And strips the fluttering foliage from the trees,


s: Which, blown about, before its fury flies,


s: Changes her humour, and her husband sees,


s: Whom she some time had loved, with other eyes,


s: Schemes how my brother's love may best be bought.


s: -- Ill-famed -- against whose base the billow heaves,


s: Nor against Boreas stands the mountain pine,


s: That has a hundred times renewed its leaves,


s: With its fast root the rock as deeply cleaves,


s: Who seeks and finds adventure, high and low,


s: His comrade's fort was wounded by a foe;


s: He guested, was his host with him or no;


s: There to repose until his wounds were healed.


s: "While there he wounded lay, upon some need


s: It chanced Argaeus was compelled to ride.


s: Quickly that wanton, from his presence freed,


s: As was her use, my brother's fealty tried.


s: But he, as one unstained in thought and deed,


s: And to preserve his faith, as lures increased,


s: Of many evils chose what seemed the least.


s: To him -- of many -- seemed the lightest ill,


s: And go so far, that wanton should not hear


s: More of his name: this purpose to fulfil


s: Was honester (though quitting one so dear


s: Was hard) than to content her evil will,


s: Who cherished her as fondly as his heart.


s: "And though yet smarting with his wounds and pined,


s: He dons his arms, and from the tower departs;


s: And wanders thence with firm and constant mind,


s: But nought availed the purpose he designed;


s: His projects Fortune baffled with new arts.


s: This while, behold!  the castellain returned,


s: And bathed in bitter tears the wife discerned.


s: "And with flushed face, and hair in disarray,


s: He asks of her what had disturbed her mood;


s: Is vainly more than once to answer wooed;


s: And all the while is thinking in what way


s: The knight can best with vengeance be pursued.


s: And well it suited with her fickle vein,


s: Lightly to change her love into disdain.


s: " `Ah!  why should I conceal (in fine she cried)


s: The fault committed while you were away?


s: For though I it from all the world should hide,


s: This would my conscience to myself bewray.


s: The soul, which is with secret evil dyed,


s: Does with such penitence its fault appay,


s: That thou couldst deal me for my evil deeds;


s: " `If evil be the deed, when done parforce.


s: But, be it what it may, the mischief know;


s: Then, with my sword from this polluted corse,


s: And quench these wretched eyes, which in remorse,


s: I, if I lived, on earth must ever throw,


s: As the least penance of so foul a blame,


s: And, look on whom they may, must blush for shame.


s: " `My honour has been ruined by thy mate,


s: Without farewell the graceless churl is gone.'


s: The youth, than whom before was dearer none.


s: Arms him, and, breathing vengeance, posts away.


s: "In knowledge of that country not to seek,


s: For my poor brother, yet diseased and weak,


s: Assailed him straight in a sequestered place.


s: My brother would excuse him if he might,


s: But his indignant host insists on fight.


s: "This one was sound and full of new disdain,


s: That weak and friendly, as aye wont to be:


s: (So was the stripling named, described by me)


s: Such fierce assault, was taken by the foe.


s: " `Forbid it, Heaven!  I should be led astray


s: Who loved thee once, and certes thou lovedst me,


s: Though in the end thou ill didst this display,


s: That, measured by my deeds, I rank above


s: " `In other mode shall I chastise the deed,


s: Than spilling more of thine ill blood.'  The peer,


s: This said, commands his followers, on a steed,


s: Of verdant boughs composed to place a bier,


s: And with the knight half-lifeless homeward speed,


s: There dooms the guiltless stripling to remain,


s: Thence to depart was wanting to the knight;


s: In all the rest, as one at large and free,


s: He ordered, and was still obeyed aright.


s: Having the keys, repaired nigh every day


s: To the close turret where the prisoner lay.


s: And with more boldness prest her former suit.


s: (She cries) `which all mere perfidy repute.


s: With what triumphant joy shalt thou be hailed!


s: What noble spoils are thine, what happy fruit!


s: Branded by all men for a traitor's deed!


s: " `How well thou mightst have given, and without stain


s: Of thine own honour, what I sought of thee!


s: Thou art; nor ever hope to break thy chain,


s: " `No, no; have thou no hope,' (replied the knight,)


s: `That my true faith shall ever change, although


s: It thus should happen that, against all right,


s: Let the world blame.  Enough that in HIS sight


s: -- Who sees and judges every thing below,


s: And in HIS grace divine my fame can clear --


s: This noisome life.  Nor yet may Heaven deny


s: Its meed, though ill the world my work appay.


s: Perceive that he has wronged me in the end,


s: And shall bewail when dead his faithful friend.'


s: "Thus oftentimes that shameless woman prest


s: The good Philander, but obtained no fruit.


s: Nursing her blind desires, which knew not rest


s: In seeking what her wicked love may boot,


s: She her old vices, in her inmost breast,


s: Ransacks for what may best the occasion suit,


s: And sifts them all: then, having overrun


s: A thousand evil thoughts, resolved on one.


s: "Six months she waited ere again she sought


s: The prisoner's tower, as she was wont before:


s: From which the sad Philander hoped and thought


s: That love to him the dame no longer bore.


s: Lo!  Fortune for her an occasion wrought,


s: "The husband had an ancient feud with one


s: Who even within the fort would often run


s: In its lord's absence; but the knight's repair


s: At the wide distance of ten miles would shun,


s: Was he assured the castellain was there:


s: Who now, to lure him thither, bruited how


s: "Said he would go; and went.  Thus each who spies


s: His outset, of his journey spreads the fame:


s: Trusts any with his purpose but the dame,


s: And home returned when dusky waxed the skies;


s: Nor ever, save at evening, thither came;


s: And with changed ensigns, at the dawn of day,


s: "He now on this side, now on the other side,


s: And, when he saw the sun beneath the main,


s: Came to the tower, and, through a secret gate,


s: Was there admitted by his faithless mate.


s: "Thus every one, except his consort ill,


s: She, when 'tis time her errand to fulfil,


s: Hatching new mischief, to my brother goes.


s: Of tears she has a ready shower at will,


s: Which from her eyes into her bosom flows,


s: ` -- Where shall I succour find, now needed most,


s: " `And, with my own, my wedded lord's?' (she cries;)


s: `I should feel no alarm, if he were here.


s: Nor servant have I but by threat or prayer


s: He him to further his desire has swayed;


s: " `Of my lord's absence hearing the report,


s: And that he would not quickly homeward fare,


s: Who, were my absent lord within his fort,


s: But would not deem himself secure withal,


s: By Heaven!  at three miles' distance from his wall.


s: " `And what he erst by messenger had sought,


s: From me to-day has sued for face to face;


s: And in such manner that long time I thought


s: Dishonour must have followed and disgrace;


s: And feigned to yield to him with ready grace,


s: He haply would have ravished that by force,


s: Which he expects to win by milder course.


s: For void is contract made in fear; alone


s: From his ill purpose would I put him by,


s: And what he then parforce would else have done.


s: Lies in yourself: my honour else is gone,


s: Or more so, than your own you vowed whilere.


s: " `If you refuse me, I shall say, you show


s: That you have not the faith which you pretended,


s: When vainly were my tears on you expended,


s: With this pretext you have yourself defended.


s: Our loves bad been concealed and free from blame;


s: But here I stand exposed to certain shame.'


s: " `To me such preface needs not (said anew


s: Although from him I bear such ill undue,


s: Even death itself; and let the world, allied


s: "The impious woman answered, ` 'Tis my will


s: Thou slay him who would do us foul despite;


s: For I the certain mean will tell aright.


s: At the third hour, when darkest is the night;


s: " `Let it not irk thee to await the peer


s: Within my chamber, where no light will be;


s: Till I shall make him doff his warlike gear,


s: And, almost naked, yield him up to thee.'


s: So did his wife into that quicksand steer


s: If wife she rightly could be called; more fell


s: "She drew my brother forth, that guilty night,


s: With his good arms in hand, and him again


s: Till thither came the wretched castellain.


s: For seldom ill design is schemed in vain.


s: "One blow divided head and neck; for nought


s: Was there of helm, the warrior to defend.


s: And he who slew him never had such thought,


s: Nor this would have believed: to aid his friend


s: Intent, (strange chance!) he wrought him in that blow


s: The worst that could be done by mortal foe.


s: "When now, unknown, on earth Argaeus lay,


s: (So was she named) who lived but to betray.


s: She, who discovery had till then delayed,


s: Wills that Philander with a light survey


s: The man whom he on earth has lifeless laid,


s: And she, with the assistance of the light,


s: Shows him Argaeus in the murdered wight.


s: "And threatens, save he with desires comply


s: To which her bosom had been long a prey,


s: She to the assembled household will display,


s: And minds him fame is not to be despised,


s: "Philander stood oppressed with grief and fear,


s: When his mistake to him the woman showed,


s: And to have slain her in his wrath went near,


s: And long be doubted, so his choler glowed;


s: And, but that Reason whispered in his ear


s: For lack of faulchion in his empty sheath,


s: He would have torn her piece-meal with his teeth.


s: "As sometimes vessel by two winds which blow


s: From different points is vext upon the main,


s: And now one speeds the bark an-end, and now


s: Still on her poop assailed, or on her prow,


s: Till she before the strongest flies amain:


s: Philander, so distraught by two designs,


s: Takes what he pregnant with least ill opines.


s: "Reason demonstrates with what peril fraught


s: His case, not more with death than lasting stain,


s: If in the castle were that murder taught;


s: Will he or nill he, in conclusion nought


s: Is left him but the bitter cup to drain.


s: Thus in his troubled heart prevailing more,


s: "The fear of shameful punishment's pursuit


s: So plucks that impious dame, parforce, the fruit


s: Of her desires, and thence retreat the pair.


s: Thus home again the young Philander came,


s: The image of his friend so rashly slain;


s: By this to purchase, to his torment sore,


s: -- And but his knightly faith, and oaths he swore,


s: From him when safe she would have met her fate;


s: But lived subjected to his bitterest hate.


s: "Thenceforth he nevermore was seen to smile:


s: All his discourse was sad, and still ensued


s: Sobs from his breast; afflicted in the style


s: Had slain his mother and Aegysthus vile;


s: By vengeful furies for the deed pursued.


s: Till broken by the ceaseless grief he fed,


s: "Now in the harlot, when she had discerned


s: The former amorous flame was quickly turned


s: Nor with less wrath she towards my brother burned


s: And she disposed herself, in treasons versed,


s: To slay her second husband like the first.


s: Well fitted for the work she had in hand,


s: Who better knew what deadly poisons slay


s: Than he the force of healing syrup scanned;


s: When he should, with some drink of deadly might,


s: `It was a sovereign drink to make him whole.'


s: And, ere the sickly man could taste the bowl,


s: "Seized on his hand, the instant he presented


s: The poison to my brother.  `Ill my fear,


s: (Exclaimed the dame) by you would be resented,


s: I, that the beverage has not been fermented


s: With evil drug and poisonous, will be clear;


s: The proffered bowl, unless you take the say.'


s: "In what condition think you, sir, remained


s: The wretched elder by his fears opprest?


s: Thus by the woman's suddenness constrained,


s: He had no time for thinking what were best.


s: He, lest more doubt of him be entertained,


s: Tastes of the chalice, at Gabrina's hest;


s: And the sick man, emboldened so, drinks up


s: "As the trained hawk of crooked talon who


s: Clutches the partridge, when about to eat,


s: Is by the dog, she deems her comrade true,


s: So on ill gain intent, the leech, in lieu


s: Hear, thus, what sovereign wickedness will dare,


s: And be like fate each greedy miscreant's share!


s: "This past and done, the leech would homeward speed,


s: Within his bowels, in this fearful need,


s: Might use some secret of his cunning lore;


s: But this the wicked dame would not concede,


s: His patient's stomach should the juice digest,


s: "No prayer will move, nor offered price will buy


s: The woman's leave to let him thence depart.


s: The desperate man who saw that death was nigh,


s: And sure to follow, quickly changed his part;


s: Nor could she cover it with all her art.


s: "And follows with his soul my brother true,


s: That hence, already freed, was gone before.


s: We, the assistants, that the matter knew


s: From the old man who lingered little more,


s: More cruel was than beast in forest hoar,


s: And, prisoned in a darksome place, reserved


s: To perish in the fire, as she deserved."


s: His tale, and told how she from prison fled;


s: But suffered from his wound a pang so shrewd,


s: Meanwhile two squires, who served him in the wood,


s: A rustic bier of sturdy branches spread.


s: Their master upon this the servants lay,


s: Who could not thence be borne in other way.


s: He grieved so good a knight to have offended;


s: Had guarded her who in his guidance wended;


s: Nor had he else preserved his honour clear:


s: For when the dame was to his care commended,


s: From all men, to the utmost of his might.


s: -- His only wish, (the cavalier replied,)


s: Was, he might be from ill Gabrina freed,


s: Ere him some mighty mischief should betide,


s: Gabrina keeps on earth her downcast eye;


s: And inly cursed her all the livelong day,


s: That in her cause that baron he had shent.


s: And having heard the knight her guilt display,


s: He -- if before he had her at despite --


s: So loathed her, she was poison to his sight.


s: Well read in young Zerbino's hate, the dame


s: These through the ancient wood pursued their way.


s: They a mixt sound of blows and outcries hear,


s: Which seem a sign of battle fiercely plied,


s: And (as the deafening noise demonstrates) near.


s: To mark what this might be, towards that side


s: Whence came the tumult, moved the Scottish peer;


s: What chanced in other canto you shall know.


s: Destroys, and frees his thralls from prison-cell.


s: O'erthrows four barons from the warlike sell,


s: When on their way to save an errant knight


s: Doomed to devouring fire: the four who fell


s: For impious Pinnabel maintained the strife,


s: Whom, after, Bradamant deprives of life.


s: Ye courteous dames, and to your lovers dear,


s: You that are with one single love content;


s: Though, 'mid so many and many, it is clear


s: Right few of you are of such constant bent;


s: Be not displeased at what I said whilere,


s: In censure of the beldam's mind perverse.


s: Such was she; and I hide not what is true;


s: Whose will is law; therefore is honour due


s: To constant heart throughout my story done.


s: For thirty pence, nor Peter wronged, nor John,


s: Nor less renowned is Hypermnestra's fame,


s: On the other hand, a hundred will I praise,


s: And make their virtue dim the sun's fair light;


s: But turning to the various pile I raise,


s: Had heard, as was rehearsed, a piercing cry.


s: He entered, 'twixt two hills, a narrow way,


s: From whence was heard the cry; nor far had hied,


s: Ere to a vale he came shut out from day,


s: Where he before him a dead knight espied.


s: From France, in the Levant to wander wide,


s: Who westward had his course from thence inclined.


s: Whence, with the formidable bugle's roar,


s: He had chased the unfaithful people in their fear,


s: And has preserved himself from peril sore;


s: And with the sound had made his comrades rear


s: Then sail, and fly with noted scorn that shore.


s: Now following him, I say, the warrior took


s: The Armenian road, and so that land forsook.


s: Finds himself, and towards Brusa goes his ways;


s: Hence wending, on the hither side o' the sea,


s: Makes Thrace; through Hungary by the Danube lays


s: His course, and as his horse had wings to flee,


s: Threaded Franconia next, and crost the Rhine.


s: To Aix-la-Chapelle thence, through Arden's wood,


s: Came and embarked upon the Flemish strand.


s: To sea, with southern breeze his vessel stood;


s: And, so the favouring wind her canvas fanned,


s: That he, at little distance, Albion viewed


s: He backed his horse, and so the rowels plied,


s: He straightway does for France his sails unfold,


s: And to the mouth of Thames again is gone.


s: Whence issuing forth, with all his canvas spread,


s: For Calais he directs the galley's head.


s: A breeze which, from the starboard blowing light,


s: Had tempted forth Astolpho's bark to sea,


s: By little and by little, waxed in might,


s: The pilot is constrained to veer outright,


s: Lest by the billows swampt his frigate be,


s: And he, departing from his first design,


s: Keeps the bark straight before the cresting brine.


s: Now to the right, now to the other hand,


s: Sped by the tempest, through the foaming main,


s: At last nigh Rouen; and forthwith, in chain


s: And plate Astolpho cased, and girt with brand,


s: Departed thence, and (what availed him more


s: Than thousands armed) with him his bugle bore;


s: What time the sheep foregoes his grassy meat,


s: Penned in the cabin or the hollow mount;


s: And, overcome by feverish thirst and heat,


s: Lifted the weighty morion from his front;


s: Tethered his courser in the thickest wood,


s: And, with intent to drink, approached the flood.


s: Before a youthful rustic, ambushed near,


s: Sprang from a copse, backed Rabican, and fled


s: Astolpho hears the noise and lifts his head,


s: And, when he sees his mighty loss so clear,


s: Satiate, although he had not drunk, upstarts,


s: And after the young churl in fury darts.


s: That robber did not let the courser strain


s: At speed, or he had from the warrior shot;


s: But loosening now and tightening now the rein,


s: From the deep forest issued forth the twain,


s: After long round, and reached in fine the spot


s: Where so many illustrious lords were shent:


s: Worse prisoners they than if in prison pent!


s: On Rabican, who with the wind might race,


s: The villain sped, within the enchanter's won.


s: Yet there arrives as well, but every trace


s: Of what the warrior had pursued is gone.


s: And vainly rolls his eyes and plies his feet.


s: He plies his feet, and searches still in vain


s: Throughout the house, hall, bower, or galleried rows:


s: Yet labours evermore, with fruitless pain


s: And care, to find the treacherous churl; nor knows


s: And vainly searches all day the dome about,


s: He, wearied and confused with wandering wide,


s: Perceived the place was by enchantment wrought,


s: Bestowed, should new enchantment him betide,


s: That needful succour might therein be sought.


s: I' the book, of that enchanted house at large


s: Was written, and in this was taught the way


s: To foil the enchanter, and to set at large


s: The different prisoners, subject to his sway.


s: Of these illusions and these frauds in charge,


s: A spirit pent beneath the threshold lay;


s: And the stone raised which kept him fast below,


s: With him the palace into smoke would go.


s: No more, but to the task his force does bend,


s: And prove how much the heavy marble weighs.


s: To bring to scorn his art and evil ways,


s: He moves to assail him with enchantments new.


s: He, with his spells and shapes of devilish kind,


s: Makes the duke different from his wont appear;


s: Each, in the form which in the thicket blind


s: The false enchanter wore, beholds the peer.


s: So that they all, with purpose to have back


s: What the magician took, the duke attack.


s: To slay the English baron, angered sore;


s: But he abased their pride and haughty vaunt,


s: Who straight bethought him of the horn be bore.


s: They, without fail, had laid Astolpho dead.


s: And poured a horrid larum, than in guise


s: Of pigeons at the musquet's scaring sound,


s: The troop of cavaliers affrighted flies.


s: Troubled and pale, and hurrying evermore


s: The warder fled; with him his prisoned train,


s: And many steeds as well are fled and gone;


s: (These more than rope is needed to restrain)


s: Scared by the sound; nor cat nor mouse remain,


s: Who seem to hear in it, "Lay on, lay on."


s: Rabican with the rest had broke his bands,


s: He, having chased the enchanter Moor away,


s: Upraised the heavy threshold from the ground;


s: Beneath which, figures and more matters lay,


s: The spell which did the magic dome upstay,


s: The duke made havock of whate'er he found,


s: As him the book he carried taught to do:


s: And into mist and smoke all past from view.


s: There he found fastened by a golden chain


s: On which, equipt with Logistilla's rein,


s: The right-hand side of the terrestrial ball.


s: Galaphron's naked daughter from his side


s: Vanished, and him did with that scorn appay.


s: Returned to him whom he was used to obey;


s: Beneath the old enchanter's care to dwell,


s: And stayed with him till broken was the spell.


s: Than this; of all things fortunate the best:


s: Offered himself; that he might scower the rest,


s: Him well he knew, how fit for his behoof;


s: For of his feats he had elsewhere made proof.


s: Him he that day in India proved, when sped


s: Had changed from man to myrtle on the plain;


s: The saddle on him, which lay near, and bitted


s: The steed, by choosing, all the reins among,


s: This part or that, until his mouth was fitted:


s: For in that place were many bridles hung,


s: Belonging to the coursers which flitted.


s: The thought of Rabicane detained the knight.


s: Good cause he had to love that Rabicane,


s: For better horse was not to run with lance,


s: After much thought, he to some friend would fain


s: Present him, rather than so, left to chance,


s: To the first stranger who should pass that way.


s: He stood upon the watch if he could view


s: Some hunter in the forest, or some hind,


s: To whom he might commit the charge, and who


s: Might to some city lead the horse behind.


s: Had dawned, when, while the twilight yet was blind,


s: He thought he saw, as he expecting stood,


s: A cavalier approaching through the wood.


s: But it behoves that, ere the rest I say,


s: After the horn had ceased, and, far away,


s: The beauteous pair had left the dome behind,


s: Rogero looked, and knew what till that day


s: He had seen not, by Atlantes rendered blind.


s: They should not know each other till that hour.


s: Had so obscurred her altered mind and eyes.


s: Crimsoning with deeper than the rose's dyes,


s: And his fair love's first blossoms, while he clips


s: The gentle damsel, gathers from her lips.


s: A thousand times they their embrace renew,


s: While so delighted are those lovers two,


s: Their joys are ill contained within their breast.


s: That while they were within the wizard's rest,


s: They should not e'er have one another known,


s: The gentle Bradamant, who was i' the vein


s: So that her honour should receive no slight;


s: -- If the last fruits he of her love would gain,


s: Nor find her ever stubborn, bade the knight,


s: Her of Duke Aymon through fair mean demand;


s: But be baptized before he claimed her hand.


s: A Christian for the love of her were fain,


s: As his good sire had been, and anciently


s: His grandsire and his whole illustrious strain,


s: Will be baptized by water, but by fire."


s: That he might next espouse the martial may,


s: With Bradamant; who served him as a guide


s: Rich, fair, nor less religious, and beside,


s: And they encountered, issuing from the chase,


s: Rogero, as still courteous, still humane


s: To all, but woman most, when he discerned


s: Of lovely tears, sore pitied her, and burned


s: With the desire to know her grievous pain;


s: Besought her, after fair salute, to show


s: What cause had made her eyes thus overflow.


s: And she, uplifting their moist rays and bright,


s: Most kindly to the inquiring Child replied;


s: Him, since he sought it, fully satisfied.


s: "Thou hast to understand, O gentle knight,


s: My visage is so bathed with tears," she cried,


s: The daughter of Marsilius, king of Spain,


s: The modest roll of eye and girlish strain,


s: With her each night the amorous stripling lay,


s: But nought so hidden is, but searching eye


s: "One first perceived it, and then spoke with two,


s: Those two with more, till to the king 'twas said;


s: To separate dungeons in that fortress led;


s: For they alive the wretched youth will burn;


s: Nor think I aught could more afflicting be


s: Than such fair stripling's torment to discern,


s: So much, but that it will to trouble turn,


s: Which preyed upon his fair and dainty frame."


s: Touched deeply, Bradamant his danger hears,


s: In heart sore troubled at the story shown;


s: Nor certes wholly causeless are her fears,


s: As in an after verse will be made known,


s: Then, to Rogero: "Him to keep from harms,


s: Meseems we worthily should turn our arms."


s: "Place us but once within the walls, and I,


s: Will be your warrant that he shall not die."


s: To snatch the unhappy stripling from the fire.


s: And to the maid, whose troubled face apears


s: Bathed with a briny flood, "Why wait we? -- need


s: Is here of speedy succour, not of tears.


s: Do you but where the youth is prisoned lead;


s: Him from a thousand swords, a thousand spears,


s: We vow to save; so it be done with speed.


s: And he be burnt, which succour is delayed."


s: Of these, who with such wondrous daring glowed,


s: That hope, which long had ceased to be her stay,


s: But, for she less the distance of the way


s: Lest they, through this, should take that path in vain,


s: Then said: "If to the place our journey lay


s: By the highroad, which is both straight and plain,


s: That we in time might reach it, I should say,


s: Before the fire was lit; but we must strain


s: To reach the city would suffice with pain;


s: And when, alas!  we thither shall have sped,


s: I fear that we shall find the stripling dead."


s: "And wherefore take we not the way most near?"


s: "Because fast by where we our course should steer,


s: A castle of the Count of Poictiers lies:


s: Did, three days past, a shameful law devise;


s: Than whom more worthless living wight is none,


s: Without some noted scorn and injury goes;


s: Both of their coursers here are dispossest,


s: And knight his arms and dame her gown foregoes.


s: Nor have for years in France against their foes,


s: Than four, who for Sir Pinnabel have plight


s: Their promise to maintain the castle's right.


s: "Whence first arose the usage, which began


s: But three days since, you now, sir knight, shall hear;


s: And shall the cause, if right or evil, scan,


s: Which moved the banded cavaliers to swear.


s: Who, on a day, as with the count she went,


s: I know not whither, by a knight was shent.


s: "This knight, as flouted by that bonnibel,


s: For carrying on his croup an ancient dame,


s: And put her to the proof, if sound or lame;


s: -- Left her on foot, and had that woman old


s: In the dismounted damsel's garment stoled.


s: "She, who remained on foot, in fell despite,


s: Greedy of vengeance, and athirst for ill,


s: Leagued with the faithless Pinnabel, a wight


s: Says she shall never rest by day nor night,


s: A thousand knights and dames are dispossest


s: "Four puissant knights arrived that very day


s: Come lately to those parts: so many true


s: And valiant warriors, skilled in martial play,


s: Our age has seen not.  These the goodly crew:


s: "Them at the fortilage, of which I told,


s: Sir Pinnabel received with semblance fair,


s: Next seized the ensuing night the warriors bold


s: In bed, nor loosed, till he had made them swear


s: That (he such period fixt) they in his hold


s: Should be his faithful champions for a year


s: And month; and of his horse and arms deprive


s: With him, dismount, and strip her of her vest.


s: So, thus surprised, the warlike prisoners swore;


s: So were constrained to observe the cruel hest,


s: Though grieved and troubled: nor against the four,


s: It seems, can any joust, but vails his crest.


s: Knight infinite have come, but one and all,


s: Afoot and without arms have left that Hall.


s: "Their order is, who from the castle hies,


s: The first by lot, shall meet the foe alone,


s: As keeps the sell, while he himself is thrown,


s: Even to the death, against that single one,


s: Ranged in a band.  If such each single knight,


s: "Nor stands it with our haste, which all delay,


s: All let forbids, that you beside that tower


s: Be forced to stop and mingle in the fray:


s: For grant that you be conquerors in the stower,


s: (And as your presence warrants well, you may,)


s: Much fear the stripling in the fire will die."


s: "Regard we not this hindrance of our quest,"


s: Let HIM who rules the heavens ordain the rest,


s: If we can aid the youth; for whom to-day


s: They on a ground so causeless and so slight,


s: As you to us rehearsed, the fire will light."


s: Nor these beyond three miles had fared, when they


s: Reached bridge and gate, the place of forfeitry,


s: With peril sore of life.  On turret high,


s: Beat twice upon the castle's larum-bell.


s: And he approaching cried, "Await, await!


s: -- Hola!  halt, sirs, for here a fine is paid:


s: If this has not to you before been said."


s: And to the three forthwith began to tell


s: "Unrobe the lady," (said the elder hoar,)


s: "My sons, and leave your steeds and martial geer;


s: Nor put yourselves in peril, and with four


s: Such matchless champions hazard the career.


s: Clothes, arms, and coursers every where are rife;


s: But not to be repaired is loss of life."


s: " -- No more!"  (Rogero said)  "No more!  for I


s: Am well informed of all, and hither speed


s: With the intention, here by proof to try


s: If, what my heart has vouched, I am in deed.


s: If nought beside I hear, nor vest nor steed.


s: These for mere words as little will forego.


s: "But let me face to face, by Heaven, espy


s: Those who would take my horse and arms away;


s: For we have yet beyond that hill to hie,


s: And little time can here afford to stay."


s: "Behold the man," that ancient made reply,


s: "Clear of the bridge!" -- Nor did in this missay;


s: For thence a warrior pricked, who, powdered o'er


s: With snowy flowers, a crimson surcoat wore.


s: Bradamant for long time with earnest prayer,


s: To let her from his sell the warrior bear,


s: Who with white flowers had purfled o'er his vest.


s: But moved him not; and to Rogero's share


s: Must leave, and do herself, what liked him best.


s: He willed the whole emprize his own should be,


s: And Bradamant should stand apart to see.


s: Was he that from the gate first took his way,


s: And he, " 'Tis Sansonet; of crimson hue,


s: I know his surcoat, with white flowers gay."


s: Without a word exchanged, the warlike two


s: Divide the ground, and short is the delay.


s: For they against each other, levelling low


s: Their spears, and hurrying sore their coursers, go.


s: This while had issued from the fortress near,


s: Who in the warlike joust should void is sell.


s: The knights, with their huge lances rested well.


s: Up to the points nigh equal was each stick,


s: Of stubborn native oak, and two palms thick.


s: Sansonet, of such staves, above five pair


s: Had made them sever from the living stock,


s: In neighboring wood, and bade his followers bear


s: Two of them hither, destined for that shock:


s: Such truncheons to withstand, well needed-were


s: A shield and cuirass of the diamond rock.


s: One he had made them give his foe, and one


s: He kept himself, the present course to run.


s: With these which might the solid anvil bore,


s: (So well their ends were pointed) there and here,


s: Each aiming at the shield his foeman wore,


s: The puissant warriors shocked in mid career.


s: That of Rogero, wrought with magic lore,


s: By fiends, had little from the stroke to fear:


s: Of whose rare virtues I whilere have said.


s: I have already said, the enchanted light


s: Strikes with such force on the beholder's eyes,


s: That, at the shield's discovery, every wight


s: Is blinded, or on earth half lifeless lies.


s: Wherefore, well mantled with a veil, the knight


s: Keeps it, unless some passing need surprise:


s: Impassive is the shield as well believed,


s: Since it no damage in the shock received.


s: The other by less skilful artist wrought,


s: Did not so well that weightless blow abide,


s: But, as if smit by thunder, in a thought,


s: Gave way before the steel, and opened wide;


s: Gave way before the griding steel, which sought


s: So that Sir Sansonet was smote, and reeled,


s: In his departure, unhorsed upon the field.


s: And this was the first comrade of the train


s: That of the tower maintained the usage fell,


s: Who there had failed another's spoil to gain,


s: And voided in the joust his knightly sell.


s: Who laughs, as well will sometimes have to plain,


s: And find that Fortune will by fits rebel.


s: And to the other knights the sign repeats.


s: This while Sir Pinnabello had drawn near


s: To Bradamant, and prayed that she would shew


s: What warrior had his knight in the career


s: Smith with such prowess.  That the guerdon due


s: To his ill deeds might wait the cavalier,


s: God's justice that ill-doer thither drew


s: On the same courser, which before the Cheat


s: 'Twas now exactly the eighth month was ended,


s: The faithless Maganzese, with whom she wended,


s: Cast into Merlin's tomb the martial may;


s: When her a bough, which fell with her, defended


s: From death, or her good Fortune, rather say;


s: And Pinnabel bore off her courser brave,


s: The courser, and, through him, the cavalier,


s: And, having heard him, and perused him near,


s: With more attentive eye and front to front --


s: "This is the man," (the damsel said) " 'tis clear,


s: Who erst designed me outrage and affront.


s: Lo!  him the traitor's sin doth hither speed,


s: Of all his treasons to receive the meed."


s: To threaten him with vengeance, and to lay


s: Hands on her sword and charge him now, was done


s: All in a thought; but first she barred the way


s: By which he might his fortilage have won.


s: To earth himself like fox, in his dismay,


s: Against the damsel, through the forest fled.


s: Pale and dismayed his spurs the caitiff plied


s: Whose last hope of escape in flight was found;


s: While with her ready sword, Dordona's pride


s: Was at his flank, and prest him in his round,


s: Loud is the uproar, and the woods resound.


s: Nothing of this is at the castle kenned,


s: The other three, who from the fortress came,


s: This while had issued forth upon their way,


s: And brought with them the ill-accustomed dame,


s: In all (who rather than prolong with blame


s: Their life, would choose to perish in the fray),


s: The kindling visage burns, and heart is woe,


s: And by whose hest maintained, that evil rite,


s: Reminds the warriors that they are arrayed


s: By oath and pact, to avenge her in the fight.


s: "If with this lance alone thy foes are laid


s: On earth, why should I band with other knight?"


s: Off with my head, for I consent to die."


s: And rather would be taken, rather slain,


s: Than he should be assailed by more than one.


s: To them exclaimed the woman: "Why in vain


s: Waste you so many words, where fruit is none?


s: I brought you here that champion's arms to take,


s: "You should have offered, when in prison-cell,


s: This your excuse; which now too late is made.


s: 'Tis yours the law's observance to compel,


s: And not with lying tongue your oath evade."


s: " -- Behold!  the arms; behold, with a new sell


s: And cloth, the goodly steed!"  Rogero said,


s: "Behold with these, as well, the damsel's vest!


s: If these you covet, why your course arrest?"


s: On that Rogero rates, and calls them on;


s: Till they parforce, t'wards him, together hied:


s: But red with shame, are to the encounter gone.


s: Foremost appeared 'mid those three knights of pride,


s: But Guido, who was borne on heavier steed,


s: With the same lance with which he overbore


s: Well-covered with the shield which heretofore


s: I say the enchanted buckler, which, too sore


s: For human sufferance, dazed the astonished sight:


s: In the most pressing peril had recourse.


s: Although three times alone the Child was fain


s: (And, certes sore bested) this to display;


s: Twice when he from the wanton Fairy's reign


s: Last, when the unsated Orc upon the main,


s: By this astounded, 'mid the sea-foam lay;


s: Which would have fed upon the naked maid,


s: So cruel to the Child who brought her aid.


s: Save these three times, he has preserved the shield


s: Beneath its veil, but covered in such wise


s: That it may quickly be to sight revealed,


s: With this, as said before, he came a-field


s: Who were arrayed before him, had appeared


s: Yet less than little children to be feared.


s: Rogero shocked the valiant Gryphon, where


s: The border of the buckler joined the sight,


s: Who seemed as he would fall, now here, now there,


s: And, from his courser far, last fell outright.


s: He at the shield had aimed, but smote not fair


s: The mark; and (for Rogero's orb was bright


s: And smooth) the hissing weapon slipt, and wrought


s: Other effect than was in Gryphon's thought.


s: It rent and tore the veil which served to hide


s: The lightning's fearful and enchanted rays;


s: Which, without blinded eyes, can none abide


s: Upright, nor refuge is for them who gaze.


s: Aquilant, who was at his brother's side,


s: Tore off the rest, and made the buckler blaze:


s: The splendour struck the valiant brothers blind,


s: And Guido in their rear, who spurred behind.


s: These here, or there, to earth astonished reel;


s: Nor eyes alone are dazzled by the light,


s: But every sense astounds the flaming steel.


s: Rogero turned his horse, and, in the wheel,


s: Handled his sword, so good to thrust and smite;


s: For in the charge dismounted were his foes.


s: The knights, together with the footmen all,


s: And women, who had from the castle hied,


s: Nor less the coursers panting with their fall,


s: He wondered first, and next perceived the pall


s: Of silk was handing down on the left side;


s: His shield, the evil cause of that mishap.


s: He quickly turns, and, turning, rolls his eyes,


s: In hopes to view his well-loved martial maid;


s: Where, when the joust began, the damsel stayed.


s: Not finding her, it is the Child's surmise


s: That she is gone to bear the stripling aid;


s: Fearing he may be burnt, while they their journey


s: He saw the damsel, stretched among the rest


s: He took and placed her, yet with sleep opprest,


s: Before him, and, sore troubled, rode away.


s: She wore, concealed the enchanted buckler's ray:


s: And to the maid restored, when 'twas concealed,


s: Her senses, which were ravished by the shield.


s: And did not date his crimsoned visage raise;


s: Since every one, it seemed to him, might blame


s: With right that victory, worthy little praise.


s: (The blushing warrior said) the stain eraze?


s: For 'twill be bruited, all my deeds by sleight


s: Of magic have been done, and not by might."


s: As, thinking thus, he journeyed on his way,


s: For, in the middle of the track, there lay


s: A well, within the ground profoundly wrought:


s: Whither the thirsty herd, at noon of day,


s: Repaired, their paunches with green forage fraught.


s: Rogero said, " 'Tis now, must I provide,


s: I shame from thee, O shield, no more abide.


s: "Thee will I keep no more, and this shall be


s: Even the last shame which so on me is thrown:"


s: Dismounting, takes a large and heavy stone;


s: Both to the bottom of the well are gone.


s: "Lie buried there for ever, from all eyes,


s: And with thee hidden be my shame!" he cries.


s: Filled to the brim with water was the well;


s: Heavy the stone, and heavy was the shield;


s: Nor stopt they till they to the bottom fell,


s: Fame was not slow the noble act to swell,


s: But, wandering wide, the deed in brief revealed,


s: And voicing it abroad, with trumpet-sound,


s: Told France and Spain and all the countries round.


s: When that so strange adventure to the rest


s: Of the wide world, from mouth to mouth was blown,


s: Knights out of number undertook the quest,


s: From neighbouring parts and distant; but unknown


s: To all remained the forest which possessed


s: The spring wherein the virtuous shield was thrown:


s: For she who told the action, would not say


s: Where was the well, nor in what land it lay.


s: Upon Rogero's parting thence, where fell


s: The four good champions of that evil law,


s: -- The shield withdrawn -- he had removed as well


s: The light, which quelled their sight and minds who saw;


s: And those, who, like dead men, on earth had lain,


s: Nor any thing throughout that livelong day


s: They 'mid themselves but that strange case relate;


s: Each by the horrid light was quelled, debate.


s: While these, discoursing, of the adventure say,


s: Tidings are brought of Pinnabello's fate.


s: That Pinnabel is dead the warriors hear,


s: But learn not who had slain the cavalier.


s: Bradamant in close pass, this while, had staid


s: The faithless Pinnabel, and sorely prest;


s: And many times had buried half her blade


s: Within bleeding flanks and heaving breast.


s: When of his crimes the forfeit had been paid


s: By him, the infected country's curse and pest,


s: She from the conscious forest turned away


s: With that good steed the thief had made his prey.


s: She would return where she had left the knight,


s: And now by valley, now by mountain-height,


s: Wandered well-nigh the ample country through.


s: Yet could she never (such her fortune's spite)


s: Who loves the tale, to hear my story's end.


s: Of Pinnabel is prisoned Scotland's heir:


s: Takes from Hippalca, trusted to her care.


s: With Mandricardo strives Anglantes' count:


s: Into the fury falls, so strange and fell,


s: Seldom good actions go without their due;


s: And if their just reward should not succeed,


s: At least, nor death, nor shame, nor loss ensue.


s: As well shall have, and soon or later rue.


s: That mountains never meet, but that men may,


s: Now mark what chanced to Pinnabel, the event


s: And God, who for the most is ill content


s: Secured the maid from harm, and will secure


s: Pinnabel deemed he to an end had brought,


s: And buried deep in earth, the martial maid;


s: Nor weening to behold her more, less thought


s: To her his treason's forfeit to have paid.


s: To be among the forts his father swayed.


s: Amid rude hills, confining on Poictiers.


s: The count from whom was sprung this evil seed:


s: Who, to escape from angry Clermont's hand,


s: Of friends and of assistance stood in need.


s: At a hill's foot, with her avenging brand,


s: Bradamant made the worthless traitor bleed;


s: Who found no better succour in the strife


s: Than piteous cry and fruitless prayer for life.


s: When she has put to death the treacherous peer,


s: Who to put her to death had erst intent,


s: But that her cruel fate would not consent;


s: Which, where the wood was loneliest and most drear,


s: Until the western sun withdrew his light,


s: Nor knowing where for shelter she should rove,


s: Bradamant in that place resolves to stay,


s: Couched on the verdant herbage of the grove;


s: And, sleeping, now awaits the dawn of day,


s: Now watching Saturn, Venus, Mars, and Jove,


s: And the other wandering gods upon their way:


s: But, whether waking or to sleep resigned,


s: With sorrow and repentance oft assailed,


s: She from her inmost heart profoundly sighed,


s: That Anger over Love should have prevailed.


s: "Anger has torn me from my love," (she cried,)


s: "Oh!  had I made some note, which had availed,


s: Thither, whence I set out, my steps to guide,


s: These words and others she in mournful strain


s: Utters, and broods within her heart on more.


s: Meanwhile a wind of sighs, and plenteous rain


s: Of tears, are tokens of her anguish sore.


s: In the east, at last, expected long in vain,


s: The wished for twilight streaked the horizon o'er;


s: And she her courser took, which on the ley


s: Was feeding, and rode forth to meet the day.


s: Nor far had rode, ere from the greenwood-trees


s: She issued, where the dome was erst displayed;


s: Here she Astolpho found, who at full ease


s: And here was standing, thoughtful and in pain


s: By chance she found him, as the cavalier


s: Had from the helm uncased his head to view;


s: Him from afar she hailed with joyful cheer,


s: And now more nigh, to embrace the warrior flew;


s: And named herself, and raised her vizor high,


s: None could Astolpho have found any where


s: With whom to leave his horse with more content,


s: As knowing she would guard the steed with care,


s: And he believed that Heaven had, in its care,


s: Duke Aymon's daughter for this pleasure sent.


s: Her was he wont with pleasure aye to see,


s: Embracing twice or thrice the cousins stand,


s: Fraternally, each other's neck, and they


s: With much affection, ere the duke 'gan say;


s: "Would I now see the winged people's land,


s: And opening to the dame the thought he brewed,


s: To her the flying horse Astolpho shewed.


s: But she scarce marvelled when above the plain


s: She saw the rising steed his wings unfold;


s: Since upon former time, with mastering rein.


s: On him had charged the dame that wizard old;


s: And made her eye and eyelid sorely strain,


s: So hard she gazed, his movements to behold;


s: The day that he bore off, with wonderous range,


s: Rogero on his journey, long and strange.


s: Was drawn, he left the feathered shaft behind;


s: That it may to Mount Alban be consigned:


s: And she for him preserve the martial weed;


s: Since of his arms he has no present need.


s: Bent, since a course in air was to be flown,


s: That he, as best he can, will make him light.


s: Yet keeps the sword and horn; although alone


s: The horn from every risque might shield the knight:


s: But he the lance abandons, which the son


s: Of Galaphron was wont to bear in flight;


s: The lance, by which whoever in the course


s: Was touched, fell headlong hurtling from his horse.


s: The hippogryph through yielding aether flew;


s: And next the rider stirred the courser so,


s: That in a thought he vanished out of view.


s: Fearing the gale and rock, till he is through


s: The reefs; then, having left the shore behind,


s: Hoists every sail, and shoots before the wind.


s: Remained distressed in mind; since in what way


s: She knew not her good kinsman's warlike gear


s: For on her heart, which they inflame and tear,


s: The warm desire and greedy will yet prey


s: To see the Child; whom she to find once more


s: Here standing in suspense, by chance she spied


s: A churl, that came towards her on the plain,


s: Who, at her best, Astolpho's armour tied,


s: She next behind her bade the peasant guide


s: (One courser loaded and one loose) the twain.


s: Two were the steeds; for she had that before,


s: On which his horse from Pinnabel she bore.


s: She thought, in hopes to find Rogero there:


s: Knew not how thither she might best repair.


s: The churl had of the country small assay,


s: And, sure to be bewildered, wend the pair:


s: Where she believes the place of meeting lies.


s: She here and there, as she her way pursued,


s: Turned, but found none to question of the road;


s: She saw at mid-day, issuing from the wood,


s: Which on the summit of a mountain stood,


s: And to the lady like Mount Alban showed;


s: And was Mount Alban sure; in which repair


s: One of her brothers and her mother were.


s: She, when she recognized the place, became


s: Sadder at heart than I have power to say.


s: Nor thence will be allowed to wend her way:


s: If thence she wends not, of the amorous flame


s: Which so consumes her, she will be the prey,


s: Some deal she doubted: then to turn her steed,


s: Resolved upon Mount Alban's castle near;


s: And, for she thence her way could deftly read,


s: Her course anew towards the abbey steer.


s: The maid, before she of the vale was clear,


s: Of one of her good brethren should be spied,


s: He came from billeting the bands which lay


s: Dispersed about that province, foot and horse;


s: King Charlemagne, had raised another force.


s: Salutes and kindly cheer, ensue of course;


s: And next into Mount Alban, side by side,


s: Whom Beatrice had mourned, and vainly sought


s: Through spacious France: 'Tis here all welcome sweet,


s: The kiss and clasp of hand, she holds at nought,


s: As the enamoured maid compares in thought


s: These with the loved Rogero's fond embrace;


s: Which time will never from her mind efface.


s: Because she could not go, one in her stead


s: Who thither in the damsel's name should speed;


s: What kept her thence; and prayed, if prayer should need,


s: That there he for love would be baptised;


s: And next, as was concerned, would intend


s: What might their bridal bring to happy end.


s: She purposed the same messenger should bear


s: Worthily dear; for sure so stout at need


s: And beauteous was no courser, far or near,


s: In land of Christian or of Paynim creed,


s: He backed the hippogryph and soared in air,


s: And to Mount Alban sent; and had him dight,


s: And nourished, at large cost, with plenteous fare;


s: Hence was he ne'er so sleek or well in case.


s: Each damsel and each dame who her obeyed,


s: She tasked, together with herself, to sew,


s: With subtle toil; and with fine gold o'erlaid


s: With this she trapt the horse; then chose a maid,


s: Old Callitrephia's daughter, from the crew;


s: Whose mother whilom Bradamant had nursed;


s: A thousand times to her she had confessed;


s: The manners, worth, and beauty be possessed.


s: (She said, and called the damsel from the rest,)


s: "Nor have I one, Hippalca mine, more sage


s: And sure than three, to do my embassage."


s: Hippalca was the attendant damsel hight.


s: "Go," (says her lady, and describes the way)


s: And why she at the abbey failed the knight,


s: Who must not to bad faith ascribe her stay,


s: But this to Fortune charge, that so decides,


s: Who, more than we ourselves, our conduct guides.


s: And, if she met with one so rude or mad,


s: Who to deprive her of the steed were fain,


s: Her to proclaim who was his owner, bade,


s: As that which might suffice to make him sane.


s: But that Rogero's name would make him fear.


s: Of many and many things, whereof to treat


s: With good Rogero, in her stead, she showed;


s: Of which instructed well, her palfrey fleet


s: Hippalca stirred, nor longer there abode.


s: Through highway, field, and wood, a gloomy beat,


s: More than ten weary miles the damsel rode,


s: Ere any crossed her path on mischief bent,


s: At noon of day, descending from a mount,


s: The Moor towards her raised his haughty front,


s: And straight blasphemed the eternal Hierarchy,


s: That horse, so richly trapped and passing fair,


s: He had not found in a knight-errant's care.


s: On the first courser he should find, the knight


s: Had sworn a solemn oath his hands to lay:


s: This was the first, nor he on steed could light


s: The charger from a maid were foul despite.


s: Doubtful he stands, but covets sore the prey;


s: Eyes and surveys him, and says often, "Why


s: Is not as well the courser's master by?"


s: "Ah!  would be were!" to him the maid replied,


s: "For haply he would make thee change thy thought.


s: A better knight than thee the horse doth ride,


s: And vainly would his match on earth be sought."


s: -- "Who tramples thus on other's fame?" -- he cried;


s: And she -- "Rogero" -- said, as she was taught.


s: Then Rodomont -- "The steed I may my own;


s: Since him a champion rides of such renown.


s: "If he, as you relate, be of such force,


s: I needs must pay the hire as well as horse;


s: And be this at the pleasure of the knight!


s: And, if indeed with me he lists to fight,


s: Me shall to find; in that I shine confest,


s: "I leave such vestige wheresoe'er I tread,


s: The volleyed thunder leaves not worse below."


s: He had thrown back, over Frontino's head,


s: The courser's gilded reins, in saying so,


s: Backed him, and left Hippalca sore bested;


s: Who, bathed in tears, and goaded by her woe,


s: Cries shame on him, and threats the king with ill:


s: Rodomont hearkens not, and climbs the hill:


s: Whither the dwarf conducts him on the trace


s: Behind, Hippalca him in ceaseless chase,


s: What came of this is said in other place.


s: Here makes digression, and returns again


s: Thither, where faithless Pinnabel was slain.


s: Duke Aymon's daughter scarce had turned away


s: From thence, who on her track in haste had gone,


s: Zerbino came, with that deceitful crone,


s: And, though the warrior was to him unknown,


s: As good and courteous, felt his bosom swell,


s: Dead lay Sir Pinnabel, and bathed in gore;


s: From whom such streams of blood profusely flow,


s: As were a cause for wonderment, had more


s: Swords than a hundred joined to lay him low.


s: Who took the adventure, in the hope to read


s: The hag to wait was ordered by the peer,


s: Who would return to her in little space.


s: Who willed not aught, that in her sight was dear,


s: The body of the dead should vainly grace;


s: As one who, soiled with every other vice,


s: If she in any manner could have thought,


s: Or hoped to have concealed the intended theft,


s: The bleeding warrior's surcoat, richly wrought,


s: She would, together with his arms, have reft;


s: But at what might be safely hidden, caught,


s: And, grieved at heart, forewent the glorious weft.


s: Zerbino after some short space came back,


s: Through the green holt; because the beaten track


s: Feared night should catch him 'mid those mountains rude,


s: And with the impious woman thence, in quest


s: Of inn, from the disastrous valley prest.


s: Journeying the twain, at two miles' distance spy:


s: There stopt the pair, and halted for the night,


s: Which, at full soar, even now went up the sky:


s: Nor long had rested there ere, left and right,


s: They from the people heard a mournful cry;


s: And saw fast tears from every eyelid fall,


s: As if some cause of sorrow touched them all.


s: Zerbino asked the occasion, and 'twas said


s: Tidings had been to Count Anselmo brought,


s: In a streight way between two mountains wrought.


s: Zerbino feigned surprise, and hung his head,


s: In fear lest he the assassin should be thought;


s: But well divined this was the wight he found


s: Upon his journey, lifeless on the ground.


s: After some little time, the funeral bier


s: Arrives, 'mid torch and flambeau, where the cries


s: Are yet more thick, and to the starry sphere


s: Lament and noise of smitten hands arise;


s: And faster and from fuller vein the tear


s: Waters all cheeks, descending from the eyes;


s: But in a cloud more dismal than the rest,


s: For the grand obsequies, with reverence due,


s: Quickly the noise of the lamenting crew;


s: That should denounce by whom his son was slain.


s: From voice to voice, from one to other ear,


s: The loud proclaim they through the town declare;


s: Till this the wicked woman chanced to hear,


s: And hence the ruin of the Scottish peer,


s: Either in hatred, would the crone prepare,


s: Or were it but to gain the promised prize; --


s: She to seek out the grieving county flew,


s: Said that Zerbino did the deed; and drew


s: The girdle forth, to witness to her lies;


s: Which straight the miserable father knew;


s: And, weeping, with raised hands, was heard to say,


s: He for his murdered son would have amends.


s: For all the town is risen, the father sends.


s: In his first sleep is seized by Anselm's throng,


s: Who thinks he has endured so foul a wrong.


s: That night in prison, fettered with a pair


s: For before yet the skies illuminated are,


s: And in the place will he be quartered, where


s: The deed was done for which he is arraigned.


s: It is enough that so their lord believed.


s: When, the next morn, Aurora stains with dye


s: Red, white, and yellow, the clear horizon,


s: The people rise, to punish ("Death!"  their cry)


s: A lawless multitude, some ride, some run.


s: I' the midst the Scottish prince, with drooping head,


s: Nor those abandons who make him their stay,


s: For prince Zerbino such defence provides,


s: There is no fear that he will die to-day;


s: God thitherward renowned Orlando guides;


s: Whose coming for his safety paves the way:


s: The youth to death conducted by the train.


s: With him was wended she, that in the cell,


s: Prisoned, Orlando found; that royal maid,


s: Whom chance into the ruffians' power conveyed,


s: What time her ship she quitted, by the swell


s: The damsel, who, yet nearer her heart-core


s: She had beneath Orlando's convoy strayed,


s: Since rescued from the cave.  When on the plain


s: The damsel saw the motley troop arrayed,


s: She asked Orlando what might be the train?


s: "I know not," said the Count; and left the maid


s: Upon the height, and hurried towards the plain.


s: He marked Zerbino, and at the first sight


s: A baron of high worth esteemed the knight,


s: And asked him why and wherefore him they led


s: At this the doleful prince upraised his head,


s: Rehearsed the truth; and this so well he said,


s: That he deserved the succour of the peer.


s: Deemed innocent, and wrongly doomed to die.


s: And, after he had heard 'twas at the hest


s: Since nought but ill could spring from him; and one,


s: With injuries, and death and shame pursued.


s: The cavalier, unless you would be slain."


s: -- "Who deals such mighty blows?" -- one made reply,


s: That would be thought the truest of the train;


s: "Were he of fire who makes such bold defy,


s: We wax or straw, too haughty were the strain":


s: And charged with that the paladin of France.


s: The shining armour which the chief had rent


s: From young Zerbino but the night before,


s: And clothed himself withal, poor succour lent


s: Against the churl's right cheek the weapon went:


s: It failed indeed his tempered helm to bore,


s: But such a shock he suffered in the strife,


s: As broke his neck, and stretched him void of life.


s: All at one course, of other of the band,


s: With lance unmoved, he pierced the bosom through;


s: One head in twain he severed with the brand,


s: (While, from the shoulders lopt, another flew)


s: Of many pierced the throat; and in a breath


s: Above a third he killed, and chased the rest,


s: And smote, and pierced, and cleft, as he pursued.


s: Himself of helm or shield one dispossest;


s: One with spontoon or bill the champaign strewed


s: This one along the road, across it prest


s: A fourth; this squats in cavern or in wood.


s: Lets none escape whom he has power to slay.


s: Of a hundred men and twenty, in that crew,


s: (So Turpin sums them) eighty died at least.


s: Where, with a heart sore trembling in his breast,


s: Rejoiced, in verse can hardly be exprest:


s: Who, but that he was on the hackney bound,


s: Would at his feet have cast himself to ground.


s: While Roland, after he had loosed the knight,


s: Helped him to don his shining arms again;


s: Stript from those serjeants' captain, who had dight


s: Himself with the good harness, to his pain;


s: The prince on Isabella turned his sight,


s: Who had halted on the hill above the plain:


s: And, after she perceived the strife was o'er,


s: Nearer the field of fight her beauties bore.


s: The beauteous lady, whom false tongue had said


s: Was drowned, so often wept with many a tear,


s: As if ice at his heart-core had been laid,


s: Waxed cold, and some deal shook the cavalier;


s: But the chill quickly past, and he, instead,


s: Was flushed with amorous fire, from foot to head.


s: From quickly clipping her in his embrace,


s: Him reverence for Anglantes' sovereign stayed;


s: Because he thought, and held for certain case,


s: So past from pain to pain; and little space


s: Endured the joy which he at first assayed.


s: And worse he bore she should another's be,


s: Than hearing that the maid was drowned at sea.


s: And worse he grieved, that she was with a knight


s: To whom he owed so much: because to wrest


s: The lady from his hand, was neither right,


s: Nor yet perhaps would prove an easy quest.


s: Suffered to part, of such a prize possest;


s: But would endure, Orlando (such his debt)


s: A foot upon his prostrate neck should set.


s: Where they alight, and halt beside the well;


s: And made the prince too quit the iron shell.


s: The youth unhelmed, she sees her lover's front,


s: Then, changing, brightened like a humid flower,


s: When the warm sun succeeds to drenching shower.


s: And without more delay or scruple, prest


s: And not a word could draw-forth from her breast,


s: But bathed his neck and face with briny tear.


s: Needing no more to make the matter clear,


s: Could not but, by these certain tokens, see


s: When speech returned, ere yet the maiden well


s: Had dried her cheeks from the descending tear,


s: The prince, who in one scale weighed Isabel,


s: Together with his life, esteemed as dear, --


s: As to two lives at once by him restored.


s: Proffers and thanks had followed, with a round


s: Had they not heard the covered paths resound,


s: Which overgrown with gloomy foliage were.


s: Upon their heads the helmet, late unbound,


s: They quickly place, and to their steeds repair;


s: And, lo!  a knight and maid arrive, ere well


s: Whom good Orlando's valour had laid dead:


s: Since he with him fair Doralice had led;


s: Whom from a hundred men, in plate and chain,


s: He, with a single staff of oak, had ta'en.


s: Yet knew not that it was Anglantes' peer


s: This while, of whom he had pursued the beat;


s: By certain signals was he taught to weet.


s: More than Zerbino him he eyed, and, near,


s: "Thou art the man I seek," the paynim cried.


s: " 'Tis now ten days," to him the Tartar said,


s: "That thee I still have followed; so the fame


s: Had stung me, and in me such longing bred,


s: Which of thee to our camp of Paris came:


s: When, amid thousands by thy hand laid dead,


s: Scarce one alive fled thither, to proclaim


s: "I was not, as I knew, in following slow


s: Both to behold thee, and to prove thy might;


s: And by the surcoat o'er thine arms I know,


s: (Instructed of thy vest) thou art the knight:


s: And if such cognizance thou didst not show,


s: And, 'mid a hundred, wert concealed from sight,


s: For what thou art thou plainly wouldst appear,


s: Thy worth conspicuous in thy haughty cheer."


s: Since thou wouldst see me, would that thou inside,


s: Will lay me helm, that in all points thy will


s: "But when thou well hast scanned me with thine eye,


s: To that thine other wish as well attend:


s: The want, which leads thee after me to wend;


s: That thou mayest mark if, in my valour, I


s: Agree with that bold cheer thou so commend."


s: -- "And now," (exclaimed the Tartar), "for the rest!


s: For my first want is thoroughly redrest."


s: Orlando, all this while, from head to feet,


s: Searches the paynim with inquiring eyes:


s: Both sides, and next the pommel of his seat


s: Surveys, yet neither mace nor tuck espies;


s: If his good lance at the encounter flies.


s: -- "Take thou no care for that," replied the peer;


s: "I have an oath in Heaven to gird no blade,


s: Pursuing whom, I through each road here strayed,


s: With him to reckon for more posts than one.


s: If thou wilt please to hear, my oath I made


s: Which casque, with all the other arms I bear,


s: A thousand years ago great Hector's were.


s: "To these good arms nought lacks beside the sword;


s: This now, it seems, is borne by Brava's lord,


s: Yet well I trust, if I the warrior board,


s: Yet more; I seek the champion with desire


s: I wot, nor could have slain in other wise."


s: The count could bear no more, and, " 'Tis a lie!"


s: (Exclaims), "and whosoever says so, lies:


s: But what thou seekest Fortune here supplies;


s: And this the faulchion is, which thou has sought,


s: Which shall be thine if by thy valour bought.


s: "Although mine is the faulchion, rightfully,


s: More mine than thine, but to a tree suspend:


s: Thou kill or conquer."  As he made an end,


s: Is from his opposite each puissant knight,


s: And pricks against the other, nothing slow


s: To slack the reins or ply the rowels bright.


s: Where the helm yields a passage to the sight.


s: One and the other lance parforce must split,


s: Returning with the staff's unbroken end.


s: The warriors, who with steed had ever smit,


s: For the mead's boundary or river's right,


s: Armed with two clubs, maintain a cruel fight.


s: The truncheons which the valiant champions bear,


s: Fail in the combat, and few blows resist;


s: Both rage with mightier fury, here and there,


s: Left without other weapon than the fist;


s: With this the desperate foes engage, and, where


s: The hand can grapple, plate and mail untwist.


s: Let none desire, to guard himself from wrongs,


s: With honour, which he haughtily had sought?


s: Where to himself more harm the smiter wrought


s: Than to the smitten: in conclusion, they


s: Closed, and the paynim king Orlando caught,


s: And strained against his bosom; what Jove's son


s: Him griped athwart, he, in impetuous mood,


s: Would now push from him, now would closely strain;


s: And waxed so wroth that, in his heat of blood,


s: The Tartar little thought about his rein.


s: Firm in his stirrups self-collected stood


s: Roland, and watched his vantage to obtain;


s: He to the other courser's forehead slipt


s: His wary hand, and thence the bridle stript.


s: To choak, and from the sell his foeman tear:


s: With either knee Orlando grasps it tight,


s: Nor can the Tartar more him, here or there.


s: But with the straining of the paynim knight,


s: The girts which hold his saddle broken are.


s: Scarce conscious of his fall, Orlando lies,


s: With feet i' the stirrups, tightening yet his thighs.


s: As falls a sack of armour, with such sound


s: Tumbled Orlando, when he prest the plain.


s: King Mandricardo's courser, when he found


s: His head delivered from the guiding rein,


s: Made off with him, unheeding what the ground,


s: Stumbling through woodland, or by pathway plain,


s: The beauteous Doralice, who sees her guide


s: So quit the field, -- dismayed at his retreat,


s: Her hackney drives behind his courser fleet:


s: The paynim rates the charger, in his pride,


s: And smites him oftentimes with hands and feet;


s: Threatening, as if he understood his lore;


s: And where he'd stop the courser, chafes him more.


s: Not looking to his feet, by high or low,


s: The beast of craven kind, with headlong force


s: Three miles in rings had gone, and more would go,


s: But that into a fosse which stopt their course,


s: Not lined with featherbed or quilt below,


s: Tumble, reversed, the rider and his horse.


s: On the hard ground was Mandricardo thrown,


s: Yet neither spoiled himself, nor broke a bone:


s: Here stopt the horse; but him he could not guide,


s: Left without bit his motions to restrain.


s: Brimfull of rage and choler, at his side,


s: The Tartar held him, grappled by the mane.


s: For gentle is my palfrey, reined or loose."


s: To accept the proffer by the damsel made.


s: But his through other means a rein will be;


s: Since Fortune, who his wishes well appaid,


s: Made thitherward the false Gabrina flee,


s: Who like a she-wolf fled, which, as she hies,


s: At distance hears the hounds and hunters' cries.


s: And the same youthful ornaments and vest,


s: Stript from the ill-taught damsel for her jeer,


s: That in her spoils the beldam might be drest,


s: And rode the horse that damsel backed whilere;


s: Who was among the choicest and the best.


s: Stordilane's daughter and the Tartar king


s: Laugh at the vest of youthful show and shape,


s: Like monkey, rather say, like grandam ape.


s: The rein, and does the deed: upon the rape


s: Of the crone's bridle, he, with angry cry,


s: Threatens and scares her horse, and makes him fly.


s: He flies and hurries through the forest gray


s: That ancient woman, almost dead with fear,


s: By hill and dale, by straight and crooked way,


s: By fosse and cliff, at hazard, there and here.


s: Of her, that I should leave Anglantes' peer;


s: The broken saddle at his ease re-pieced.


s: He mounts his horse, and watches long, before


s: At last resolves in search of him to steer.


s: But, as one nurtured well in courtly lore,


s: Till he with kind salutes, in friendly strain,


s: Fair leaves had taken of the loving twain.


s: Had wended with him, but the count, although


s: Their company was fair and good, said nay;


s: Urging for reason, nought so ill could show


s: To seek his foeman out, to take a friend,


s: Who him with arms might succour or defend.


s: They should encounter him, besought them say,


s: That he, Orlando, would for three days more.


s: But, after that, would seek the flags which bore


s: The golden lilies, and King Charles' array.


s: That Mandricardo through their means might know,


s: If such his pleasure, where to find his foe.


s: This, and whatever else he should command.


s: By different ways the cavaliers withdrew,


s: One on the right, and one on the left hand.


s: The count, ere other path he would pursue,


s: Took from the sapling, and replaced, his brand.


s: And, where he weened he might the paynim best


s: Encounter, thitherward his steed addrest.


s: The course in pathless woods, which, without rein,


s: The Tartar's charger had pursued astray,


s: Made Roland for two days, with fruitless pain,


s: Which, stained with native hues and rich, he sees,


s: And dotted o'er with fair and many trees.


s: The mid-day fervour made the shelter sweet


s: Some deal might wince, opprest with plate and chain.


s: He entered, for repose, the cool retreat,


s: And found it the abode of grief and pain;


s: And place of sojourn more accursed and fell,


s: On that unhappy day, than tongue can tell.


s: Turning him round, he there, on many a tree,


s: He knew, as soon as he had marked the lore.


s: This was a place of those described by me,


s: From the near shepherd's cot had wont to stray


s: In a hundred knots, amid those green abodes,


s: In a hundred parts, their cyphered names are dight;


s: Which Love has in his bleeding hear-core pight.


s: That which he credits in his own despite;


s: And would parforce persuade himself, that rhind


s: "And yet I know these characters," he cried,


s: And me, she, figured in the name, may mean."


s: Upon the empty hope, though ill contented,


s: Which he by self-illusions had fomented.


s: But stirred and aye rekindled it, the more


s: That he to quench the ill suspicion wrought,


s: Like the incautious bird, by fowler's lore,


s: Hampered in net or line; which, in the thought


s: To free its tangled pinions and to soar,


s: By struggling, is but more securely caught.


s: Orlando passes thither, where a mountain


s: O'erhangs in guise of arch the crystal fountain.


s: Splay-footed ivy, with its mantling spray,


s: And gadding vine, the cavern's entry case;


s: The pair had rested, locked in fond embrace.


s: With charcoal or with chalk their names pourtrayed,


s: Or flourished with the knife's indenting blade.


s: Here from his horse the sorrowing County lit,


s: And at the entrance of the grot surveyed


s: A cloud of words, which seemed but newly writ,


s: And which the young Medoro's hand had made.


s: On the great pleasure he had known in it,


s: Which in his tongue, I deem, might make pretence


s: To polished phrase; and such in ours the sense.


s: "Gay plants, green herbage, rill of limpid vein,


s: And, grateful with cool shade, thou gloomy cave,


s: Where oft, by many wooed with fruitless pain,


s: King Galaphron, within my arms has lain;


s: As recompence, for ever sing your praise.


s: Whom choice or fortune hither shall convey,


s: Stranger or native, -- to this crystal run,


s: Shade, caverned rock, and grass, and plants, to say,


s: And moon, and may the choir of nymphs provide,


s: That never swain his flock may hither guide!"


s: Who, versed in many languages, best read


s: Was in this speech; which oftentimes from wrong,


s: And injury, and shame, had saved his head,


s: But let him boast not of its former boot,


s: O'erbalanced by the present bitter fruit.


s: Three times, and four, and six, the lines imprest


s: Upon the stone that wretch perused, in vain


s: And ever saw the thing more clear and plain;


s: And all the while, within his troubled breast,


s: He felt an icy hand his heart-core strain.


s: With mind and eyes close fastened on the block,


s: At length he stood, not differing from the rock.


s: Then well-nigh lost all feeling; so a prey


s: Wholly was he to that o'ermastering woe.


s: This is a pang, believe the experienced say


s: Of him who speaks, which does all griefs outgo.


s: His pride had from his forehead passed away,


s: His chin had fallen upon his breast below;


s: Nor found he, so grief barred each natural vent,


s: Moisture for tears, or utterance for lament.


s: Stiffed within, the impetuous sorrow stays,


s: Which would too quickly issue; so to abide


s: Whose neck is narrow and whose swell is wide;


s: What time, when one turns up the inverted base,


s: Towards the mouth, so hastes the hurrying tide,


s: And in the streight encounters such a stop,


s: It scarcely works a passage, drop by drop.


s: He somewhat to himself returned, and thought


s: The some one (so he hoped, desired, and sought


s: To think) his lady would with shame pursue;


s: Or with such weight of jealously had wrought


s: To whelm his reason, as should him undo;


s: And that he, whosoe'er the thing had planned,


s: Had counterfeited passing well her hand.


s: With such vain hope he sought himself to cheat,


s: And manned some deal his spirits and awoke;


s: Then prest the faithful Brigliadoro's seat,


s: As on the sun's retreat his sister broke.


s: Nor far the warrior had pursued his beat,


s: Ere eddying from a roof he saw the smoke;


s: Heard noise of dog and kine, a farm espied,


s: And thitherward in quest of lodging hied.


s: Languid, he lit, and left his Brigliador


s: His limbs, one doffed the golden spurs he wore,


s: And one bore off, to clean, his iron vest.


s: This was the homestead where the young Medore


s: Lay wounded, and was here supremely blest.


s: Having supt full of sorrow, sought his bed.


s: The more the wretched sufferer seeks for ease,


s: He finds but so much more distress and pain;


s: Who every where the loathed hand-writing sees,


s: On wall, and door, and window: he would fain


s: Question his host of this, but holds his peace,


s: Because, in sooth, he dreads too clear, too plain


s: To make the thing, and this would rather shrowd,


s: That it may less offend him, with a cloud.


s: Little availed the count his self-deceit;


s: For there was one who spake of it unsought;


s: The sheperd-swain, who to allay the heat,


s: With which he saw his guest so troubled, thought:


s: -- Of the two lovers -- to each listener taught,


s: He now, without reserve, 'gan tell the peer.


s: He to his farm had carried young Medore,


s: Grievously wounded with an arrow; where,


s: In little space she healed the angry sore.


s: But while she exercised this pious care,


s: Love in her heart the lady wounded more,


s: And kindled from small spark so fierce a fire,


s: She burnt all over, restless with desire:


s: Nor thinking she of mightiest king was born,


s: Who ruled in the east, nor of her heritage,


s: Forced by too puissant love, had thought no scorn


s: -- His story done, to them in proof was borne


s: The gem, which, in reward for harbourage,


s: Which, at a single stroke, lopt off the head;


s: That cruel hangman Love his hate had fed.


s: And yet the mischief gathered force and spread,


s: And would break out parforce in tears and sighs,


s: Would he, or would be not, from mouth and eyes.


s: When he can give the rein to raging woe,


s: From his full eyes the tears descending flow,


s: In a wide stream, and flood his troubled breast.


s: 'Mid sob and groan, he tosses to and fro


s: And sharper than a nettle found its flock.


s: It past into the wretched sufferer's head,


s: That oft the ungrateful lady must have lain,


s: Nor less he loathed the couch in his disdain,


s: Nor from the down upstarted with less dread,


s: Than churl, who, when about to close his eyes,


s: Springs from the turf, if he a serpent spies.


s: In him, forthwith, such deadly hatred breed


s: That bed, that house, that swain, he will not stay


s: Till the morn break, or till the dawn succeed,


s: Whose twilight goes before approaching day.


s: In haste, Orlando takes his arms and steed,


s: And to the deepest greenwood wends his way.


s: And, when assured that he is there alone,


s: Gives utterance to his grief in shriek and groan.


s: He paused; nor found he peace by night and day:


s: He fled from town, in forest harbouring,


s: He marvelled at himself, how such a spring


s: Of water from his eyes could stream away,


s: And breath was for so many sobs supplied;


s: And thus ofttimes, amid his mourning, cried.


s: "These are no longer real tears which rise,


s: And which I scatter from so full a vein.


s: Of tears my ceaseless sorrow lacked supplies;


s: They stopt when to mid-height scarce rose my pain.


s: Driven by the fire within me, now would gain


s: And which my sorrows and my life will end.


s: "No; these, which are the index of my woes,


s: These are not sighs, nor sighs are such; they fail


s: At times, and have their season of repose:


s: Its sorrow: Love, who with his pinions blows


s: The fire about my heart, creates this gale.


s: Love, by what miracle does thou contrive,


s: It wastes not in the fire thou keep'st alive?


s: "I am not -- am not what I seem to sight:


s: What Roland was is dead and under ground,


s: Slain by that most ungrateful lady's spite,


s: Whose faithlessness inflicted such a wound.


s: Divided from the flesh, I am his sprite,


s: Which in this hell, tormented, walks its round,


s: A warning to all such as thrust in love."


s: All night about the forest roved the count,


s: And, at the break of daily light, was brought


s: Where his inscription young Medoro wrought.


s: To see his wrongs inscribed upon that mount,


s: But turned to hatred, phrensy, rage, and spite;


s: Nor paused he more, but bared his faulchion bright;


s: Cleft through the writing; and the solid block,


s: Wo worth each sapling and the caverned rock,


s: So scathed, that they to shepherd or to flock


s: Thenceforth shall never furnish shade or bed.


s: And that sweet fountain, late so clear and pure,


s: From such tempestuous wrath was ill secure.


s: For he turf, stone, and trunk, and shoot, and lop,


s: Cast without cease into the beauteous source;


s: Till, turbid from the bottom to the top,


s: Never again was clear the troubled course.


s: At length, for lack of breath, compelled to stop,


s: (When he is bathed in sweat, and wasted force,


s: Serves not his fury more) he falls, and lies


s: Upon the mead, and, gazing upward, sighs.


s: Wearied and woe-begone, he fell to ground,


s: And turned his eyes toward heaven; nor spake he aught.


s: Nor ate, nor slept, till in his daily round


s: The golden sun had broken thrice, and sought


s: His rest anew; nor ever ceased his wound


s: To rankle, till it marred his sober thought.


s: At length, impelled by phrensy, the fourth day,


s: He from his limbs tore plate and mail away.


s: Here was his helmet, there his shield bestowed;


s: His arms far off; and, farther than the rest,


s: His cuirass; through the greenwood wide was strowed


s: All his good gear, in fine; and next his vest


s: His shaggy paunch, and all his back and breast.


s: And 'gan that phrensy act, so passing dread,


s: So fierce his rage, so fierce his fury grew,


s: That all obscured remained the warrior's sprite;


s: Nor, for forgetfulness, his sword he drew,


s: Or wonderous deeds, I trow, had wrought the knight:


s: But neither this, nor bill, nor axe to hew,


s: He of his prowess gave high proofs and full,


s: As fennel, wall-wort-stem, or dill, up-tore;


s: And beech, and mountain-ash, and elm-tree hoar.


s: He did what fowler, ere he spreads his net,


s: Does, to prepare the champaigne for his lore,


s: By stubble, rush, and nettle-stalk; and broke,


s: Like these, old sturdy trees and stems of oak.


s: The shepherd swains, who hear the tumult nigh,


s: Leaving their flocks beneath the greenwood tree,


s: Some here some there across the forest hie,


s: And hurry thither, all, the cause to see.


s: -- But I have reached such point, my history,


s: If I o'erpass this bound, may irksome be;


s: Youthful Zerbino sets at large the train;


s: War on the Tartar king, and truce again,


s: Let him make haste his feet to disengage,


s: Nor lime his wings, whom Love has made a prize;


s: For love, in fine, is nought but phrensied rage,


s: And albeit some may show themselves more sage


s: Than Roland, they but sin in other guise.


s: For, what proves folly more than on this shelf,


s: Various are love's effects; but from one source


s: All issue, though they lead a different way.


s: He is, as 'twere, a forest, where parforce


s: And here and there pursue their devious course:


s: He who grows old in love, besides all pain


s: Which waits such passion, well deserves a chain.


s: One here may well reproach me: "Brother, thou


s: Seest not thy faults, while thou dost others fit."


s: And strive and hope withal I shall forego


s: This dance of folly; but yet cannot quit,


s: As quickly as I would, the faults I own;


s: For my disease has reached the very bone.


s: Having torn off the arms and vest he wore,


s: And cast away from him his faulchion bright,


s: And up-torn trees, and made the forest hoar


s: And hollow cave resound, and rocky height,


s: Towards the noise some shepherds, on that side,


s: Viewing the madman's wonderous feats more near,


s: The frighted band of rustics turned and fled;


s: But they, in their disorder, knew not where,


s: The madman in a thought is in their rear,


s: Seizes a shepherd, and plucks off his head;


s: Apple from tree, or blossom from the brake.


s: Upheaved, and made a mace the rest to bray.


s: Astounded, upon earth he stretched one pair,


s: The rest, who well awake at the last day.


s: The rest, who well advised and nimble are,


s: At once desert the field and scour away:


s: Nor had the madman their pursuit deferred,


s: Had he not turned already on their herd.


s: By such examples warned, the rustic crew


s: Abandoned in the fields pick, scythe, and plough,


s: And to the roof of house and temple flew,


s: (For ill secure was elm or willow's bough,)


s: From hence the maniac's horrid rage they view;


s: Who, dealing kick, and bite, and scratch, and blow,


s: Horses and oxen slew, his helpless prey;


s: And well the courser ran who 'scaped that day.


s: Already might'st thou hear how loudly ring


s: The hubbub and the din, from neighbouring farms,


s: And faster sound of bells; with various arms


s: By thousands, with spontoon, bow, spit, and sling.


s: Lo!  from the hills the rough militia swarms.


s: As beats the wave upon the salt-sea shore,


s: Sportive at first, which southern wind has stirred,


s: When the next, bigger than what went before,


s: And bigger than the second, breaks the third;


s: And louder on the beach the surf is heard:


s: The crowd, increasing so, the count assail,


s: And drop from mountain and ascend from dale.


s: Twice he ten peasants slaughtered in his mood,


s: Who, charging him in disarray, were slain;


s: And this experiment right clearly showed


s: To stand aloof was safest for the train.


s: Was none who from his body could draw blood;