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THE
lEXPEBITION
OF
GRADASSO;
A
Metrical Romance.
SELECTED FROM THE
ORLANDO INNAMORATO
OP
MATTEO MARIA BOIAMDO,
COUNT OF SCANDIANO. ^
TKANSLATER
BY THE AUTHOR OF " CHARLES TOWNLEY."
iDublin :
rr.IXTED BY CRAISBEWlY AND CAMPBELr., 10, BACK LANE.
1812.
TO THE REVEREND
THOMAS ELRIMGTOJW9 ID. B.
PROVOST OF TRINITY COLLEGE,
Dublin,
THIS POEM IS INSCRIBED,
WITH THE UTMOST DEFERENCE,
AS A SMALL TRIBUTE OF PROFOUND RESPECT,
FOR HIS
DISTINGUISHED WORTH,
AND
HIGH LITERARY ABILITIES,
BY
THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
X HE version of Poetry is one of the most difficult
branches in the Translator's department. Many of
the beauties of original versification escape, and
many of its graces evaporate, in the attempt to
transfuse them into another language, especially
when they are to be conveyed in " rhyme enfetter'd
verse." Besides, it seems necessary that some parity
of genius, at least some similar degree of enthusiasm,
should exist in the minds of the original writer and
the translator, to enable the latter to do justice to the
conceptions of the former ; nor is it unreasonable to
infer, that those who undertake to translate poetry,
should not only be linguists, but popts also. Disunite
these qualifications, and what is the consequence ?
You will have either an inert body, or an unsubstan-
tial phantom of the work. It is wortliy of remark,
that the best English translations extant have been
executed by persons who have demonstrated ('isiin-
VI PREFACE.
guished original talents for composition : it is sufficient
to mention the translations of Pope, the Mneid of
Dryden, and the Phai'salia of Rowe, in support of
this opinion.
In founding an English poem upon the Orlando
Innamorato, it has been my wish to adhere as closely
both to the spirit and the letter of the original, as the
nature of my plan would admit. The great merits of
Bojardo are, his lively invention, and strength of
fancy. His slory is therefore retained perfect and
unaltered j and the few enlargements which were
requisite, ai-e carefully adapted to the turn of his
ideas, and rendered consistent with the characters and
the context of his work. They merely consist of some
sentimental and descriptive additions. It is the opi-
nion of the bcit judges, that no literal translation can
do justice to an original of merit; but it is a mistaken
opinion to suppose, that a too free version is not a
fault as necessary to be guarded against, as a servile
adherence to the diction and versification of the ori-
ginal. I have endeavoured to steer between those
two extremes, and I now, with great deference, ub-
niit my essay to the reader.
PREFACE. VU
Bojardo has delivered his tale in a plain, unvar-
nished manner, in the usual style of those produc-
tions which were suited to the taste of the age in which
he wrote. At all periods, epic poetry labours under
a disadvantage, from which didactic and lyrical com-
positions are exempt. The Ode, for instance, admits
of a perpetual succession of elevated ideas and brilliant
images ; while, in several p.irts of an epic poem,
elaborate ornament, or high-wrought dGlineation,
would diverge into that species of bombast so admi-
rably ridiculed by Pope in his Treatise on the Bathos.
Appropriate language is necessary througbiout ; and
if the subject be of the ordinary kind, it will not
admit of sublime expression. On the contrary, the
use of laboured or figurative terms on such occasions,
is a gross violation of the rules of good taste ; and
springing from an inflated or affected genius, reminds
us of what Longinus quotes from Sophocles, of one
who gaped enormously wide, to blow a I if fin flagelct.
Readers conversant with the great father of epic com-
position, Homer, will recollect that he sometimes
seems to sink and languish j but they will also ac-
knowledge, that those temporary inequalities arc
VUl PREFACE.
overpaid by the vigour with which, when occasion
calls, he resumes those powers that astonish judgment
and delight taste.
The translations of the Orlando Innamorato are
various. It was twice translated into the French Ian-
guage first by the Sieur Rosset, and afterwards by
Mons. Le Sage ; nor was Spain ignorant of the work,
as we learn from Cervantes, who mentions it as a
performance of merit. It appears singular, that no
modern translation of a work so universally noted,
has been given in the English language. Mr. Ritson,
in his Biblog. Poctica, printed in London, 1802,
p. 362, mentions the very rare and obsolete version
made in 1598 by Robert Tofts, who also translated
two satires from Ariosto, and other Italian stanzas
and proverbs j but these inadequate attempts having
fallen into oblivion, is no proof of want of merit in
the original writers. The fame of Ariosto's work is
well established by Mr. Hoole's translation, who,
avoiding ail tlie faults conspicuous in Sir John Har-
rington's version, has done ample justice to the author;
and the various editions of the Orlando Innamorato,
published at Scandiano, Milan, Venice, and els-
PREFACE, IX
where, are a proof that, in liis o-wn country, where
his merits or defects could best be appreciated, Bojardo
was held in high estimation as an author ; and there
can be little doubt, had he had the good fortune of
meeting a translator equal to his deserts, he would
have obtained his share of applause and admiration
here also.
The French translation, by the Sieur Rosset, has
long since been consigned to obscurity j and that by
Mens. Le Sage, being merely a prose transcript, was
badly adapted to convey a true or favourable idea of
the original. Yet some necessary and commendable
omissions and variations have been made by him ; and
his arrangement of the story, as well as his corrections
of the geographical errors in the poem, as delivered
down through so many editors, do him much credit.
In introducing Bojardo to the English reader, the
giving him a pleasing English dress, was, as I con-
ceived, the most judicious plan to adopt; and I
flatter myself, that the effort I have made to divest the
poem of that disgustful species of mirth, which, when
incongruously brought forward by false taste, verges
upon buffoonery, and to restore it in some degree to
X rREFACE.
the pristine state designed by the author, will not
meet disapprobation. This de. ign was submitted to
that able critic, and eminent judge of Italian litera-
ture, the late Joseph Cooper Walker, who was pleased
to express his approbation of the translation laid be-
fore him : and besides the distinguished sanction of
Mr. ^^"alker's favorable opinion, this poem was for-
tunate enough to obtain the approbation and coun-
tenance of the great Kirwan a name that must
ever stand conspicuous in the annals of science and
literature, as having belonged to him whose exalted
genius, and extensive erudition, at once conferred
honor and benefit upon his country. Should the pe-
rusal of it excite some person of abilities, adequate
to the task, to undertake a version of the entire work,
it would, with the Orlando Furioso, versified by
Mr. Hoole, form a complete series, and furnish the
admirers of the Italian metrical Romance with an
agreeable entertainment.
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ERRATA.
Page 60, line *7, /oj- vivid, read vmd, or verdant.
64, 2, for falls, read fells.
Ibid, 13, for Furhon, read Turlon.
Page 112, Ij/or inspire, rearf aspire.
180, 7, for Syvius, read Sirius.
241, 1, for sped, read speed.
- 282, 10, for Mourire, read Mourir.
297, 10, /or Willian, rearf William.
_ 308, . 12, at the ertdof ike parenthesis^ read " deroidf
of whitfh."
THE
EXPEDITION OF GUADASSOc
THE ARGUMENT.
GRADASSO, King of Sericane, being desirous of gain-
ing the famous sword of Orlando, an(i the horse of Rinaldo,
embarks a puissant force to make war on Charlemagne, in
whose service those Paladins are engaged. Lands on the
Spanish coast. Attacks the Saracens of Spain, in order to
facilitate his conquest of France. At the time of this
descent, a great number of Knights are assembled at the
court of Charlemagne to hold a tournament. The Emperor
gives a grand festival, at which two strangers, a warrior
and a damsel, attended by giants, unexpectedly appear,
and communicate a challenge to the knights, upon certain
conditions, which are accepted. Malagigi, a knight skilled
in magic, investigates the motives of this challenge, and
resolves to defeat the design of the strangers.
CANTO I.
1 paint what ills from dire ambition flovr,
The hero's ardour, and the lover's woe ;
The wondrous deeds of magic to relate,
And sketch the turns of fortune, and of fate ;
These be my themes. CEnian njTiiphs prolong 5
Your sacred impulse, and assist my song.
Gradasso, monarch of that wide domain
(In ancient annals noted) Sericane,
Whose knightly feats have swell'd th' historic page ;
A hero deem'd in an heroic age 10
He, when his hardy prowess had subdued
His neighbour kings, and awed the nations rude,
B 2
4 THE EXPEDITION
To further conquests bent his daring aim ;
For what can slake the ardent thirst of fame,
Or curb that courage which impels the mind 15
To deeds that raise the wonder of mankind ?
A wond'rous coat of mail Gradasso'^ arms
Had erst obtain'd so wrought by magic charms,
That on its temper no assay could gain.
And strongest lances oft had fall'ii in vain: 20
Yet, not with this content, the warrior still
On distant prizes bent his stubborn will.
Orlando's sword, fam'd Durindana, known
As Hector's once : from Agolante's son
Wrested in Aspramont by Brava's knight. 2$
Rinaldo's courser, swift Bayardo hight,
Well train'd in battle These he burn'd to own^
And scorn'd for these the pleasures of a throne.
OF GRADASSO, 5
The sword the steed alternate, ceaseless fire
Gradasso's soul, and fill his whole desire : SO
Those thoughts revohdng in his anxious breast,
Disturb his days, and rob his nights of rest.
Long to the Christian pow'rs deep hate he bore,
And these his new designs inflam'd it more.
At length determined, he resolves to bear 35
To Europe's realms the wasting rage of war,
On their own grounds defiance fierce to wage.
And crush the Christian heroes of the age,
Full well he knows the hazards he must run,
Nor deems the purpos'd conquest easy won. 40
The Paladins, whose spoils he sought to gain,
Tlie world extolFd. Myriads o'crthrown or slain
Had mark'd their progress in the deathful field,
Wlierc oft they taught the hardiest foes to yield,
Yet unappal'd, the monarch boldly dares 45
The dang'rous strife, and for the war prepares.
THE EXPEDITION
From eVry source he draws forth large supplies,
And bids a formidable army rise ;
From ev'ry land that own'd his regal sway
The legions issue, ready to obey : 50
Princes, and giants, to his standard haste,
Puissant warriors in bright steel encas'd j
Each more redoubtable as busy fame
Had wide proclaim'd the terrors of his name.
Thick as the leaves by wan'ing autumn shed 55
The warlike levies o'er the champaign spread ;
Thrice fifty thousand in array appears,
And each a martial air intrepid wears
Well pleas'd Gradasso views, and Gaul, and Rome,
Elate in thought, he fancies overcome. 60
A foe less potent a less num'rous host.
In vain had menaced Europe's fertile coast,
Where full assembled at the splendid court
Of Charlemagne (the valiants' known resort)
OF GRADASSO. 7
A train of gallant knights, in war well tried, 65
The boast of chivalry did then reside.
Chief of the band, Orlando there was seen.
And brave Rinaldo, of distinguish *d mein,
Dear to the monarch of one lineage known,
Flow'r of the knights, and bulwarks of the throne. 70
And now Gradasso, Sericana leaves,
A num'rous fleet the armament receives j
Launch'd on th' expansive bosom of the deep,
With ceaseless heed their way the pilots keep ;
Each sail they spread, and urge their tedious course,
Tost by th' impetuous storm's terrific force, 76
Or bound in ling'ring calms, th' unwilling prey
Of pining discontent, and long delay.
Till to their straining eyes the land appears,
Where sultry Spain her num'rous turrets rears^i 80
P THE EXPEDITION
With J03^ shouts they hail the destin'd shore,
And deem thai* toils o ;erpaid, their perils o'er.
As whei^ in torrid climes th' infectious breath
Of pestilential blasts, enkindles death,
Destruction mark'd the progress of the band, 85
And deepfelt terrors shook th' astonish'd land.
Sack'd towns in flames enwrapp'd, with dreadful light,
Glar'd on the trembling gazer' sr aching sight.
Whilst tow'ring cities seized the foe retains.
And loads the natives with unthought-of chains. 90
Aghast the provinces the torrent view'd,
Too rapid in its rage to be withstood.
Their sev'ral kings unite to stem its force,
But vain their league no dam can stop its course ;
The states o'ervvhelm'd beneath the Pagans' might, 95
Lament the issue of th' unequal fight.
OF GRADASSO. 9
Triumphant thus, the proud Gradasso deems
He now shall realize his fav'rite schemes.
Large stores he gather'd to subsist his band,
And fiird with plenteous magazines the land, 100
That more securely he liis arms might bear
To Gaul, prime object of this daring war.
Great was the power 'gainst which he must contend.
And forceful might alone could gain his end ;
This oft he balanced with a serious mind, 105
And thence with courage, caution's dictates join'd.
While thus the Pagan plann'd his enterprize,
A wayward fate, Avhich oft obscures the eyes
Of mortals, while impending danger spreads
Its baleful influence o'er their careless heads, 110
In unsuspicious ease and festive sport
Deep })lung'd the Gallic monarch and his court.
1/0 THE EXPEDITION
'Twas now the eve of Pentecost, a time
For gallant feats and tournaments sublime.
And Paris echoed with the lofty strain IIS
Of martial music but the knightly train
Not for the palms of battle now contend,
Tlie prize of chivalry their only end.
This solemn pomp a num'rous meeting grac'd.
From various climes the arduous warriors haste: 120
To each brave Charlemagne a welcome gives,
And ev'ry rank, reception meet receives ;
Princes and pow'rful lords, and simple knights.
All whom the lofty wish of fame incites ;
Natives or strangers, none the lists were barr'd, 125
Who candidates for glory were declar'd,
Save those whose deeds were dim'd by trait'rous stain.
Or renegadoes a dishonor'd train.
or GRADASSO. 11
First of the splendid throng, to brave the chance
Of arms, the Saracens of Spain advance. 130
Ferrau, and Serpentine, far renown'd,
Grandonio, Balugante's monarch's crown'd,
And Isolero, left their regal seats,
To signalize their might in warlike feats :
With these a number of inferior name.
By hope of conquest led, ambitious came
From their parental home, ere yet the host
Of fierce Gradasso landed on their coast.
Now to the view the errant troops display
A radiance emulating that of day. 140
Gay glitt'ring bands, in splendid guise array'd.
And neighing steeds, who scarcely deign to tread
The prostrate earth. Superb devices vie
To please the judgment, and attract the eye.
12 THE EXPEDITION
The snow plum'd helmets lavish wave in air, 145
The high wrought cuirass, and the polish'd spear.
Effulgent beam. Along the banks where Seine
Meandering rolls its limpid tide serene,
The vast assembly emulous appear.
To shew the utmost pomp of knightly war. 150
Ere yet the lists were open'd for the fight.
Or the proud banners were unfurl'd to sight,
A sumptuous festival th' Emp'ror held
For all the knights enrol'd to take the field.
Near to himself the foreign kings were plac'd, 155
'Mongst those, the Emp'ror's fiefs conspicuous grac'd,
Were seated. British Otho fam'd Didier,
Of Lombardy, and Salamon were there,
Lord of fair Britanny, whose kindly soil
Profuse rewards the cultivator's toil. 160
OF GRADASSO, IS
The Other knights take rank, as valiant deeds
Or high descent prescribes, or fancy leads.
Amid the knightly band, of boastful vein,
Ganes of Poictiers and all his household train
Appear'd distinguish'd clad in liv*ries gay, 165
The lavish pride of riches they display.
Near these the Paladin Rinaldo sate.
Whose plain appearance suited his estate :
Small was the warrior's weaUh, though great his
birth,
Which mov'd their bosoms to illib'ral mirth : 1 70
Long had tlicy deem'd him foe of all their race,
Envy'd his glory, sicken'd at the grace
His high achievements gain'd and now they prcst
The taunt disguis'd, the sly envenom'd jest,
That covert insult, which a noble mind, l?."*
More hard to bear than outraire still must find.
14 THE EXPEDITION
The gen'rous son of Amon heard with ire,
And struggled to restrain th' impetuous fire
Of just resentment in his lab'ring mind,
Disdain with hate contempt with anger join'd : 180
High sweUing passions, far too great to speak,
Flash'd in his eye, and dyed his burning cheek :
Yet to his monarch meet respect he paid,
And curb'd his temper ratlier than invade
The gen'ral harmony but, ill supprest, 185
His looks betray'd the feelings of his breast,
Denouncing plain, that on a future day
The insults basely giv'n he would repay.
And now the splendid banquet amply laid,
An emblem of the giver's soul display'd ; 190
Soft pleasure shed her choicest influence round j
Rich sparkling wines the golden goblets crown'd.
or GRADASSO. IS
Tliro' balmy air ambrosial odours float ;
And bards, spontaneous pour the raptur'd note ;
The sprightly trumpets catch th' alternate strain, 195
And mimic echo gives it back again.
Convivial thus the chearful hours were pass'd,
When (near the close of the superb repast)
Unlike the trumpet's clangor, or the sound
Of lute or timbrel sudden wak'd around, 200
Now distant warbling, now advancing near,
Melodious strains unknown to ev*ry ear.
Soothing and soft as new-born zephjT's sighs,
Wlicn genial spring first bids her flow'rets rise,
They steal on sense. The knights amaz'd suspend
Tlieir converse, and with mute attention bend 20G
Their eyes to where the sculptur'd gates unfold
A spacious entrance, bright widi fretted gold :
Id THE EXPEDITION
Thence, mid the cohimns that support the dome,
Four giants, richly clad, advancing come. 210
Fierce their demeanor, monstrous was their size,
And latent fury fill'd their baleful eyes.
Great Charles' seat they sought, there lowly paid
Meet rev'rence : op'ning then their file they spread.
And gave to each beholder's wond'ring sight 215
A gentle damsel and a gallant knight,
Whom erst they circled, and from view conceal'd
And sure to mortal eyes was ne'er reveal'd
Two forms so perfect, such a fmish'd pair.
He first of men she fairest of tlie fair. 220
Not raptur'd fancy, when she fondly dreams,
In verdant meads, or by translucent streams,
Can sketch such beauties, such allurinir <Trace,
Such matchless charms as dcck'd her lovclv face.
Youth's vivid tints her visage fair o'crsprcad, 225
Like roses scattcr'd on a iilicd bed,
OF GRADASSO. 17
Wliile soften'd lustre sparkled in her eyes,
Bright as the star that waits Aurora's rise.
Not Armeline, nor Clarice the fair,
Nor far-fam'd Aldca niight with her compare. 230
Though beauty's palm they long unrival'd held.
And Europe's boasted daughters all excell'd.
When sudden thus the wondrous maid appear'd,
Applausive sounds throughout the hall were heard,
Subsiding slow, as when the storm is o'er, 235
The mecken'd surges murm'ring lave the shore.
On her th' admiring gazers turn'd their sight.
And view'd her channs with ever new delight ;
Encrcasiug still, as with enchanting mein,
Tlic nymph advanc'd before th' attendant train 240
To where th' Emperor sate, and bending there
With graceful action did her suit prefer.
18 THE EXPEDITION
Sweet from her coral lips the accents broke
In silver sounds, and ravish'd while she spoke. 244
Thus she " Oh ! thou, magnanimous and great,
Whose virtuous deeds are nois'd thro' ev'ry state.
Thy praise, and that of thy courageous ti*ain.
Have reach 'd the farthest bound of Earth's domain i
Attracted thence lo I from our native home,
My brother, and myself, are hither come. 250
The homage deign, great monarch, to receive,
Which freely from admiring hearts we give.
But not a sterile glory we require.
Nor ask permission merely to admire.
Far be such thoughts from those who nobly claim
Tlie lofty meed of valour well-earn'd fame.
Admit this youthful knight, by deeds to prove
A merit, not unworlhy of thy love
OF GRADASSO, 19
Consent that to the listed field he daxe
Thy Paladins, to try the fate of war :
The terms he asks are, that the lance alone
Decide the strife no knight by that o'erthrown
Shall with the falchion further urge the fight,
But, yielding up to a superior might,
Our pris'ner be but if the wayward chance 265
Of war, uncertain still, shall foil the lance
My brother wields his liberty and mine
We to the destin'd victor will resign."
She ceas'd The ample colonnades around,
And vaulted roofs renew'd, applause resound ; 270
Not Charlemagne himself beheld immov'd
Attractions form'd by all to be belov'd :
But chief Orlando he who till that hour
Alone for glory sigh'd, nor own'd the pow'r
c 2
20 THE EXPEDITION
Of beauty's cliarms by one enchanting smile 2Y5
One radiant glance is caught in love's strong toil.
He feels his boasted firmness quick recede.
And thus in secret to himself he said :
** Resistless power !-^0h, whatsoe'er thou art,
That forceful thus enchains my vanquish'd heart, 280
Say why this change no arms the virgin bears,
Her tender hand no missive weapon rears.
Yet, wont whole hostile legions to despise,
I yield, a victim to her conq'ring eyes."
Perplex'd, distress'd, o'ercome, to earth he cast 225
His looks but soon aijain, with eager haste.
He rals'd them, to behold the fair one's face,
And felt new flumes, as he re-traced each grace.
Thus the poor bird, as ancient talcs relate,
Caught in di' envenom'd basilisk's retreat, 290
by fate coustrain'd, turns its unwilling eyes
On its fell foe, and gazes till it dies.
OF GRADASSO. 2l
The gen'ral murmur hush'd, the Emp'ror rose,
And all the beauteous pleader asks, bestows.
" Whate'er thy utmost wish demands, receive, 295
Trmisccndant fair, (he cries) but deign to give,
In kind return, some happy art, to steel
My bosom from the torments all must feel.
Whom love compels to wear thy glorious chain.
And sue for pity, but to meet disdain." 300
Fain would the King the interview prolong,
Fain stay the nymph that fascinates the throng.
Still covetous such beauty to behold,
As misers are to view their hoards of gold :
Such was the gen'ral wibh, but fierce Ferrau 305
And brave llinaldo most impatient saw
The dame intent with utmost speed to part :
Love rcign'd a tyrant in each warrior's licart.
22 THE EXPEDITION
And rais'd a thousand idle vain alarms,
But chief in stern Ferrau's. Enur'd to arms,
The Saracen resolves, witli lawless force,
To stop his fair enslaver's purpos'cl course,
And, 'spight of ev'ry obstaolf^ that barrJ ,
Snatch from her brother, and gigantic guard,
This second Helen (as the wayward boy, 315
Whose ill-starr'd passion raz'd the tow' j of Troy,
Bore off the first) but better thoui'lit .uccecds.
And from the rash design the knight dissuades.
The hospitable rights, the rev'rence due
To royal dignity, full well he knew, 320
Nor deem'd it just to violate constraint!
To curb his will, inactive he remain'd.
Meanwhile the damsel, and the youthful knight,
The monarch's kind reception to requite,
OF GRADASSO. 23
Before the throne low bending, took their leave, 325
And paid such thanks as noble natures gave.
The knights addressing tlien, they signified
That they at Merlin's fountain would abide
The issue of the battle, pleas'd to meet
(As fates decree) or conquest, or defeat. 330
This notice giv'n, the giant train precede,
With solemn pace, the warrior and the maid,
Wliose graceful steps a thousand eyes pursue,
Till distance veils her from the eager view.
So in that clime where reigns eternal frost, 335
The parting glories of the sun are lost,
So the fond eye pursues the fading ray,
To catch a gleam of long withdrawing day,
Till night's dark shades the sadden'd skies assume,
And shroud the prospect in impervious gloom. 340
24 THE EXPEDITION
But now internal jealousy and hate
Broke out in tauntings rude, and fierce debate,
And ev^ry warrior urg'd a prior riglit
To meet the challenge, and sustain the fight.
Each heart with rancorous impatience swell'd 345
Each with disdain competitorB beheld ;
Fir'd with the hope of gloiy, none would yield
To cede to rival claims the arduous field.
Orlando far above the rest aspir'd,
And loftily the preference required : 350
He fearVl tiic first assailant might succeed,
And the defenceless maid in fetters lead ;
Hence would he fain have flown to wage the war,
But his proud rivals those pretensions bar.
Hi^h ran tiie contest, threat'niiig Altai harms, S55
And fiird the peaceful court witli loud alarms.
OF GRADASSO. 25
To end this strife, and all their claims decide.
The Emperor ordain'd that lots be tried :
None could this fair, impartial mode reject,
Propos'd by him whose fiat all respect. 360
Now all the throng that fill'd the spacious hall,
Christians, and Saracens, attend the call.
Each with his name subscribed a billet gives,
A golden vase the various lots receives :
A beauteous child then drew them singly forth, 365
And prov'd that fortune 's oft' averse to worth.
Astolpho gain'd the first, the envied lot
Fcrraii, iSIarsilius' son, the second got :
Ilinaldo's third next Dudon's, great in fame
And then the Saracen Grandonio's came. 370
Knight, after knight, the warlike group were nam'd ;
And brave Orlando was the last proclaim'd.
26 THE EXPEDITIOK
Capricious chance ! thy malice, too severe,
Decrees a trial patience scarce can bear ;
The heart most anxious 'mid the num'rous train 375
Thou doom'st to disappointment's keenest pain.
Among the number of the hardy knights.
Whom valour to advent'rous deeds incites,
Was Malagigi Agrismont's co-heir j
Wliose forceful pow'rs could from the nether sphere
Bring the fell demons to perform his v,i\\ : 380
Nor yet rcnown'd alone for magic skill.
In warlike feats, and daring deeds of arms.
The Paladin excell'd. Struck with the charms
That in the fair unknown the knights admir'd,
He left the crowd, and sought a scene rctir'd : 385
But his firm heart her graces fail'd to move,
And fatal bodings barr'd th' access of love.
OF GRADASSO. 27
In lone reflection wrapt, his busy thought
The clue of wise suspicion quickly caught.
*' These doubtful strangers' fair pretext (he cries) 390
Some deep, important, dang'rous schemes disguise j
Some other pui-pose than the one avow'd,
To catch vain credence, and deceive the crowd,
Through toil, and various dangei-s, here could lead
The warrior brother, and the lovely maid : 395
*Tis mine to trace the hidden cause, and find
Their true condition, and their secret mind.
To clear his doubts, he turn'd the volume o'er,
Inscrib'd with characters of magic lore,
Whence oft the dreadful words he daring read, 400
Which reach the dreary mansions of the dead.
And that dark depth profound, where strife and pain.
And agitation, never ceasing, reign.
He cali'd the sprites from stench, and dunncst night,
To taste pure air, and view the solar lijxht. 405
28 THE EXPEDITION
Rous'd by his voice, four horrid forms arise
And bow obedient " Hear my words (he cries).
Stem Astorath (whom from the dreadful band
He singled forth to answer his demand,)
This fair unknown, this captivating dame, 410
Who from some distant region hither came
To hail our monarch she, I clear divine,
Within her bosom harbours some design
Against the gen'ral weal say, if I deem
Her purpose falsely, or discern her scheme." 415
*' Thou hast not wrong'd her, (Astorath replied)
Thy judgment hath not been an erring guide.
The sister and the brother both conspire
Fell vengeance 'gainst thy sect their sole desire
Is to o'erthrow the altars, end the reign,
Which all the zealous Paladins sustain.
OF GRADASSO. 29
Offspring of him who rules with scepter'd sway
The Oriental realm of rich Cathay,
Galaphron he, whose unextinguished hate
To all who bear the Christian name is great, 4>25
An enemy more dang'rous, as he gains
From magic succours unsuspected mea .
To further his intent ; and arm'd with those,
He hopes to hurl destruction on his foes.
The distance of his kingdom hence is great, 430
Plac'd on the confines of the Tartar state ;
An hostile force he could not lead so far,
To wage in Europe's fields an equal war :
Kor could his utmost pow'r an army raise,
To crush the host that Charles' command obeys. 43.^
Thus hopclcbs of a conquest gain'd by arms,
Galaphron had recourse to spelful charms.
An aged sire, in amity long bound
With China's race, and vers'd in art* profound,
50 THE EXPEDITION
Enchanted weapons at his wishes gave,
To arm his son, Argalia, j'oung and brave :
A wond'rous lance, of pure attemper'd gold,
The warrior bear'- its many virtues told,
Must raise amazement it can never fail
O'er utmost might and valour to prevail. 445
The knights most noted in the listed coiu'se,
Touch'd by this lance, lose firmness, strength, and
force.
And prone to earth, o'erthrown, must sudden fall,
As if by lightning struck. Nor is this all.
Wise Muligigi (Astorath pursued) 450
A stately steed, with mighty powers endued.
Whose swiftness in the race might leave behind
The unseen movements of th' impetuous wind,
Galaphron gave the youth his polish'd hide.
With shining jet in gloss and colour vied : ioS
OF GRADASSO. $1
His ardent eyes like lighted flambeaus glow'd.
O'er his arch'd neck his mane luxuriant flow'd ;
The name of llabican the courser bears.
Thus all in order meet the King prepares :
Encourag'd by the knowledge that his son 460
Was fam'd for valour tried, and trophies won,
He doubted not success. His aim to speed.
This lieartfelt purpose he reveal'd and said,
** Argalia, 'tis our duty to obey
Great Tien's dictates. ^Lo ! on thee, this day, 465
A sacred trust devolves. Reserv'd for thee
That conquest is (tlic pow'rs supreme decree)
Which shall exalt thro' earth the Pagan name,
And raze the Christian from the roll of fame.
Go prove thy might the wond'rous weapon bear.
In European fields the war to dare ; 471
Angelica be partner of thy course.
Thy sister grac'd with charms of pow'r to force
$2 THE EXPEDITION-
The coldest heart to feel, and instant prove
The strength of beauty, and the flame of love. 475
Those fatal channs shall urge eacli vent'rous knight
To take the field, and tiy th'unequal fight.
Lur'd with the hope a conquest to obtain,
They'll rush unguarded to thy victor chain.
Vanquish'd by thee, and pris'ners hither sent, 480
Tlie Gallic monarch vainly shall lament
The brave defenders that upheld his throne,
The guardians of his Christian temples gone ;
And Europe's hauglity sons insult no more
The ancient deities whom we adore." 485
The Demon ceas'd. When Malaffio-I heard
The motive of the strangers' voyage declar'd.
He trembled struck at once with rage and dread.
And tluis, in strong unpassion'd accents, said : 490
OF GRADASSO. SS
" Oh ! how can wisdom guard 'gainst fraudful guile,
When ambush'd ruin lurks in beauty's smile, 491
And seeming innocence a lure is made,
By which th' unwary lover is betray'd ?
Oft have I read, and heard, of female arts,
To injure and deceive unpractis'd hearts ; 495
But this deep plan outstrips the usual course,
And calls for puiaishraent of ad<led force.
Perfidious princess ! has indulgent heav'n
To thee attractions so resistless giv'n,
To turn them to this base, this cmel use ? 500
The shining gifts are dimm'd by such abuse.
You meditate the ruin of our state,
'The overthrow of all that's good and great :
This odious purpose led you to resort
To our good unsuspecting monarch's court j 505
But hope not, now thy schemes to me are known,
To sap the firm foundation of his throne j
D
3* THE EXPEDITION
Thy base, dishonor'd brother ne'er shall wear
The wreath by fraud obtain'd, or overbear
The well-tried courage of our valiant knights, 510
By arts unmeet me patriot zeal incites.
And ev'ry gen'rous feeling, to prevent
Thy entei'}:)rize, and foil thy fell intent.
Yes to thyself thy scheme shall fatal prove
No knight shalt thou ensnare in ill-starr'd love. 515
To the cold realms of death I will consiim
Thy 3'outhful charms. The noble task be mine
To strike th' exalted blow, and free each breast,
From thy enthrall This night while soft you rest,
To frustrate Gulaphron's intent, and save 520
From menaced ills I'll speed thee to the grave."
Oh ! futile boast of undiscerning man
To form or regulate a perfect plan.
OF GRADASSO* 85
Unless o'er-ruling Heav'n direct his mind)
His best designs with error are entwin'd ; 525
And he who quits religion's safer way,
In vice's pathless wilds is doom'd to stray,
A wretched wand'rer, ne'er to reach the goal
A'^ain earthly wisdom promis'd to his soul.' 529
In silence deep the knight his scheme conceal'd,
Which soon were frustrate, had it been reveal'd.
So great the love that ev'ry breast inspir'd.
That all had warr'd to shield the nymph admir'd ;
And cv'ry warrior would decry the deed,
And ev'ry tongue against the outrage plead. 336
Hence to no mortal car he brcath'd his will,
Nor partner sought his purpose to fulfil :
In his dark bosom he revolv'd a plan.
By fiends inspir'd, too dreadful far for man,
d2
THE
JEXPEMTION OF GRABASSO.
CANTO IL
THE ARGUMENT.
Consequences of Malagigi's project. Astolpho comes to
the fountain of Merlin, to combat with Argalia. Issue of
the engagement. Ferrau arrives. Battle between him and
Argalia. Refuses to submit to the terms of agreement.
Fights with the four giants, conquers tliein, and agaia
dares Argalia to resume the contest.
CANTO II.
X HIS project form'd, i^ grismont's daring son,
Elate in mind, almost conceiv'd it done,
No juster thought arose that virtue still.
In seeking good, avoids the paths of ill ;
Nor rashly dares to break that dread command, 5
Which curbs the vengeful and inhuman hand.
Fir'd with impatience till the day was spent,
(As darkness best might favor his intent)
O'erjoy'd he view'd the streaks of setting light j
He liail'd the murky shadows of the night ; 10
And once again the demons call'd to bear
To that sweet spot where rests the lovely fair,
Near Merlin's fountain instantly obey'd,
Tlie sprights transport him to an ample mead,
40 THE EXPEDITION
The moon just struggling thro' a fleecy cloud, 15
To view the scene the Paladin allow'd.
Two rich pavilions near the fount were rear'd,
Of one the entrance by the giant guard
Was watch'd, for there the beauteous princess lay,
Reposing after the fatigues of day. 20
Benestth the other, Galaphron's brave son
Dreamt o'er the future conquests to be won,
And flatt'ring fancy, spite of Somnus, shew'd
Deceitful visions of unreal good.
Hail ! bland illusions cheering oft' the gloom 25
Of man's dark passage to the silent tomb ;
'Scap'd, fi'om day's pressing ills, to transient rest,
You bid dull sorrow's child awhile be blest j
Teach poverty to smile, break slav'ry's chain,
And bring for sever'd friends to sight again : 30
Sketching gay views, which should of value seem,
ince life itself is but a longer dream,
OF GRADASSO. 41
Oh ! never, never play the tyrant's part,
Nor rack with added woes th' unhappy heart.
But let thy balmy influence soothe and heal 35
The various wounds that suiF'ring bosoms feel.
Soft breath'd the gales, the lamps of Heav'n shone
bright.
And no rude soimd molested peaceful night ;
Luird were the birds the flocks reposed serene,
Nor savage prowler trod the lonely scene ; 40
Till, with remorseless hand, and ruthless heart.
The knight rush'd on, to act a murd'rer's part.
So erst in Paradise, while soft reclin'd,
In careless ease, the parents of mankind
Securely slumber'd their fell foe arose, 45
And mark'd the hapless pair for fiiture woei.
42 THE EXPEDITION
To foil the vigilance and 'scape the sight
Of the huge band, too great for mortal might.
Now Malagigi to his art applies,
And seal'd from cv'ry view their dreadful eyes ; 50
So strong the spell he wrought, that o'er the groinid
Their cumb'rous forms lay lock'd in sleep profound.
The Paladin, with ardour misinspir'd,
Gain'd the retreat of her whom all admir'd.
With firmness unappal'd, with savage joy, 5S
lie hail'd the moment destin'd to destroy
The fairest work of Heav'n. Forbear, forbear,
Too cruel knight nor thus inhuman dare
A deed, detested by the pow'rs divine :
All nature trembles at the fell design. 60
By the clear light a crystal lamp supplies,
The maid he views though slumber scal'd those eyes,
OF GRADASSO. 43
Whose brightness rival'd day. He still beheld
Her visage calm, and features unexcell'd:
Her cheek with fadeless tints of crimson glow'd j G5
O'er her fair neck in glossy ringlets flow'd
Her flaxen tresses, His relentless arm
He rais'd, to blot from earth her ev'ry charm ;
But beauty's fascination now prevail'd,
And as he gaz'd, his horrid puipose fail'd. 70
*' O, 'twere a crime (Iiq cried) of blackest dye,
To rob the world of thee. My arts supply
Innum'rous ways to disappoint the aim,
Wiiich urg'd tby brother to forget his fame, 74
And dare tbis treach'rous errand. Live, bright fair;
Charms such as thine a savage e'en would spare."
Sudden the maid awoke. With wild surprize
Slie view'd her foe, and rent th' echoing skies
44 THE EXPEDITION
With cries for succour. Soon Argalia heard
Her well-known voice, and instantly appear'd : 80
Like as the tyger darts upon his prey,
He Malagigi seiz'd, whom strong dismay
O'erpower'd, on seeing all his arts o'erthrown,
And ev'ry hope of deep-plann'd vengeance gone.
Within his nervous grasp Argalia held 85
The Paladin, whom shame and wonder quell'd
To unresisting tameness different far
This conduct from his former feats in war.
Unworthy deeds unnerve the firmest mind,
And fortitude with guilt is never join'd : 90
Hence should the hero cherish in his soul
Bright Virtue's impulse, and with care controul
Each sordid feeling every passion base,
Else will he lag in glory's arduous race. 94-
F GRADASSO. 45
" Vile ti'aitor ! (cried the Prince) what base design
Gave rise to insolence so gi'eat as thine ?
Thy gallant seeming guise, and lofty port,
Bespeak thee inmate of th' Emperor's court ;
Yet surely thou some miscreant robber art,
And hidden here to play th' assassin's part : 100
Though knightly war with thee I scorn to wage,
Yet think not to evade my kindled rage."
** Oh ! let him not escape, (the Princess cries)
A vile magician he, in knightly guise,
Bent on our ruin with destruction fraught 105
By demons hither was th' enchanter brought.
Nought but the wond'rous ring our parent gave.
Could us from his audacious darings save."
With wonder, and increasing anger fir'd.
The Prince with ease fulfill'd what she desir'd. 1 10
46 THE EXPEDITJON
Prone to the earth the Paladin he cast,
And held him down while slie, with eager haste,
Sciz'd on the spelful book she knew he bore,
(For she was not unvers'd in magic lore)
She op'd the volume, and beheld it trac'd 11a
With circles, figures strange, and oddly plac'd :
'Mid these were barb'rous words of import dire.
She read and ere she scarcely could respire,
Sun'ounded by a group of s^iirits stands.
*' WTiat would you with us ? Speak your dread
commands, 120
(They cry) behold us ready to fulfil
Your hiffli behests, and execute vour will."
" Seize on that wretch, (she cried) and swift away
Transport him to my native realm Cathay.
Present him to my royal sire, to dv-ell
In some deep dungeon, or sequester'd cell,
OF GRADASSO. 47
And say, Angelica this captive sent,
The only one that could thy wish prevent,
Of all the steel-clad warriors that resort
To feed the Emperor's pride, or fill his court; 130
This, this alone could trace our mystic ways,
Or might effectual opposition raise."
The fiends, obedient to her order, bow'd.
Nor pause, nor respite, was the knight allow'd.
Swift as a shooting star, or arrow's flight, 135
He lessens to the view, and fades from sight,
And soaring o'er this dim terrestrial sphere,
His rapid course he wends thro' upper air.
Ills prayers and threats alike are brcath'd in vain,
The mocking fiends exulted in his painj 140
Thro' the wide space that severs land from land,
A moment scrv'd to waft th' infernal band,
48 THE EXPEDITION
And he whom late they flatter'd and obey'd,
Is by their aid a wretched prisoner made.
Vain were his utmost efforts to get free. 145
Placed on the confines of the Yellow sea,
Whose midulating waters spreading wide
The realms of China and Japan divide,
A drear and solitary prison stood,
Rear'd on a rock that overliangs the flood, 150
No flow'ry shrub, no tint of vci nal green.
Breaks the dull sameness of the sadden'd scene.
The melancholy waves, and desert sands.
Are all the views the gazer here commands.
Far from the coast the birds direct their flight, 155
Kor aught endued with life appears in sight,
Save the green adder, who tremendous glides,
Or monsters, natives of the refluent tides.
OF GRADASSO. 49
Prime joy of life society 'tis tliine
The thorns of care with roses to entwine : 160
Ordain'd of Heav'n, and gifted with the pow'r
To soothe the dull, and glad the festal hour ;
To lull the turbid breast to bliss serene,
And even rob disease of half its pain.
When ills assail, and sorrows rive the heart, 165
Participation blunts misfortune's dart;
But he the wretch, whom adverse stars decree
To drag the heavy day remote from thee.
Is doom'd to woe, the hardest to be borne :
And such was now the knight of all forlorn. 170
Here close immur'd he mourn'd his hapless fate,
And by misfortune taught, grew wise too lute.
Oft' did he execrate his treach'rous art,
And curse tlie fiends for lailing to impart
so THE EXPEDITION
That Galaphron a wond'rous ring bestow'd 175
Upon his daugliter, anxious for her good.
With constellated charms this gift was crown'd,
And hence, in ev'ry danger, help she found.
While this she wore, no fraud of magic kind
Could 'scape from her detection. If inclin'd 180
From ev'ry mortal eye her form to shroud.
And walk invisible, the ring allow'd
The wond'rous privilege. Within her lip
(Sweet as the dews the bees of Hybla sip)
The ring she plac'd, and vanisli'd from the sight,
Nor trace remain'd to mark th' amazing flight. 1 86
As blazing meteors sweep th' autumnal sky,
And dazzle first, then mock the gazer's eye,
Her bright attractions caught th' admiring view.
Then faded from the sight, as transient too. 190
Hence Galaphron, devoid of fear, consigned
Her tender beauties to the waves and wind ;
OF GRADASSO. 51
Convinc'd that e'en in perils and alarms
The ring would guard from ills, and save from harms.
Thus extricated from impending ill, 200
Angelica, who knew that magic still
Held in sleep's fetters her attendant train.
To free them from th' enchantment hastes amain.
Rous'd by the potent call, from earth they start,
And hear appall'd of Malagigi's art, 205
Which thus had render'd vain their votive care,
And almost wrought destruction to the fair.
Soon as Aurora from Tithonus' bed
Arose, and o'er the skies her radiance shed.
The British Prince, whom pow'rful love inspir'd,
And ardour for tlie purpos'd combat fir'd, 211
With eager haste his glitt'ring arms assum'd ;
And much on fortune's favour he jiresum'd.
52 THE EXPEDITION
Proud from the knightly band t' have gain'd the lead,
He calls the fickle goddess to his aid. 215
As in that contest she had prov'd his friend,
He trusts her bounties she will now extend.
Proud of his valour too no doubts appear
To cloud the prospect of successful war.
And were his courage equall'd by his force, 220
Nought could his views impede or check his course ;
Lov'd by the good, the brave, the wise, the fair,
A Father's darling, and a people's care ;
Blest with each gift that nature could impart,
To please the ear, and captivate the heart, 225
Astolpho was j and if this prosp'rous lot
Some f verweening sentiments begot,
His deeds were ever ready to sustain
His claims and prove his vauntings were not vain.
OF GRADASSO. S$
Flush'd with each pleasing hope ^his vig'rous steed
The prince now guided to th' appointed mead: 231
A harness, rich and gorgeous to behold,
Embroider'd thick with leopards, wrought in gold,
Adorn'd the courser, who, with speed of thought,
The Paladin to Merlin's fountain brought. 235
Impatient to contend for glory's prize.
Unwonted confidence illum'd his eyes j
Illusive fancy paints his foe o'erthrown,
And all the spoils of yictory his own.
As yet the strangers in bland slumber lay, S-iO
In their respective tents nor knew that day
Had climb'd the eastern portal, till the sound
Of a shrill horn the echoes bore around.
Rous'd by the signal, quick Argalia leaves
His couch, and glad the challenger receives. 2i5
54' THE EXPEDITION
Lightly he vaults on Rabican. The lance,
Forg'd to destroy each Christian warrior's chance,
He held and on his mighty arm he bore
An ample buckler, bright as polish'd ore.
Accoutred thus, he hail'd the British knight, 250
To settle the conditions of the fight ;
Recounting what th' Emp'ror had approv'd.
When giving audience to the maid belov'd.
With courtesy the youthful warrior heard
His brief detail, and satisfied appcar'd ; 255
Admitting it was just those rules should bind,
Which to the combatants had been as.sign'd.
The arduous knights now mark'd the listed course,
And wheeling round with utmost speed and force
Rush'd on the bold career with lance in rest. 2G0
Midway their fiery steeds met breast to breast,
OF GRADASSO. 55
E'en as two fiill fraught clouds, by tempest driv'n,
Encounter with a shock that rends wide heav'n.
Astolpho aim'd a blow which fail'd to wound,
But more success Argalia's efforts crown'd ; 265
His fatal lance evinced its spelful pow'r ;
And brave Astolpho, in that luckless hour,
Felt all his strength and energy recede.
And lowly lay extended on the mead.
Severe amazement rage for words too strong 270
In silence many moments bound his tongue,
Till wild emotion burst the painful chain.
And gave free course to murmurs breath'd in vain.
" O ! Fortune ci'ucl enemy (he cried) 274<
I low could'st thou thus my chcrish'd wish deride ?
Thy pow'r alone could hurl me from my seat.
And lay me at a haughty victor's feet.
56 THE EXPEDITIOK
Disastrous chance ! is this then valour's meed ?
Ah ! wliy did flattering expectation lead
To such an end ? You thwart my anxious aim 280
To aid some favor'd rival's weaker claim :
But say, injurious, is there any knight
More brave than I, the object of your slight ?
What heart for glorj' pants more strong than mine ?
Who is more fitted for each great design ? 285
Yet thou forsak'st me in the trying day,
And falsely flatter'd, only to betray."
Still had he mourn'd but, lo ! the giant band
Advance to seize him. This severe command
He deprecates, and cries, " No gen'rous knight,
Vers'd in the laws of honourable fight, 291
And mindful of his glory, condescends
To take advantage for mere selfish ends,
OF GRADASSO. 57
When accidental ills o'erwhelm a foe
Although o'erthrown, my fall I doubtless owe 295
To an unheedful squire, who loosely plac'd
Those bands, which round my steed more firmly brac'd.
Had fix'd my saddle safely. Hence I deem
'Twill be injustice in its worst extreme
Should he your ruler now unfairly use 300
The pow'r he owes to fortune, and refuse
Once more with me the listed field to dare,
And wage on equal terms the knightly war."
But oft' in vahi misfortune's claim assails.
Where pride predominates, and might prevails ; 305
Antl seldom does the prosp'rous bosom glow
^^'ith godlike sympathy in othei-s woe.
Tliough tliis ])oor boon the prince may safely yield,
Seciu'c to win the honours of the field.
58 THE EXPEDITION
Yet Still unmov'd he claim'd a victor's right, 310
And coldly urg'd the previous terms of fight.
His ready agents once again he sent
To bear Astolpho prisoner to the tent :
The Paladin, indignant, struggled hard.
But soon was master'd by his monstrous guard ; 315
"Who from his brow the plumy honours tore.
And stripp'd him of the splendid arms he wore.
Had royal Otho, monarch mcst rever'd,
Conceiv'd his much-lov'd son in bondage snar'd,
Prompt had he rush'd t' avenge the dire disgrace.
And free the pride and glory of his race. 321
But now, nor parent, nor consoling friend.
To ease his lab'ring heart assistance lend :
Condemn'd alone, to nourish sad despair.
And sigh unpiticd to the desart air. 325
or GRADASSO. 59
At length the captive's woes compassion find
From fair Angelica's more gentle mind
His youth his beauty his superior grace,
Which spoke him sprung from some illustrious race,
Her pity mov'd touch'd at his ill starr'd strife, 330
She ponder'd on the fickle turns of life;
And thought how oft' to pleasure pain succeeds,
And valour to stupendous danger leads.
Imnmr'd, remain'd the solitary knight.
Till dewy eve appcar'd serenely bright, 335
The princess then ordain'd he should re}>air
To breathe the sweetness of the gen'ral air.
His careful guard surrounding, lie was led
Near the cool fountain there his weary head
He through the livelong night I'ecliu'd, though rest
Ne'er dei2;u'd to soothe the tumults of his breast. 3 tl
60 THE EXPEDITION
Astolplio's absence shew'd his sad defeat
And lo ! Ferrau, in tow'ring thought elate,
Awaited not the morning's tardy gleam
To tiy his chance for victory and fame. 3+5
Arm'd at all points, and mounted on a steed.
The best of all far fara'd Cordova's breed,
("UTiere richest nurture vivid pastures yield,)
lie left the court, and sought the destin'd field.
Soon o'er the mountain's top, the red'ning skies
Announc'd the morn to his doiiing eyes. 351
His horn he blew, Argalia's rest to break,
And call him forth the listed course to take ;
So dread, so potent was the dcaf'ning blast,
That animals resought their caves with haste ; 355
And the gay birds, who hail'd the rising day
With cheerful chauntings, from the leafy spray
Fell mute and shiv'ring to the prostrate plain,
Nor could renew their melody again.
OF GRADASSO. 61
Angelica herself astounded heard
The horrid strain and much she would have fear'd,
Had not the virtues of th' enchanted lance
Her hopes sustain'd 'mid all disastrous chance.
Argalia only felt no dastard dread,
But quickly arm'd, appear'd upon the mead ; 365
Resolv'd his high pretensions to defend
'Gainst this new claimant, whose aspiring end
Superior force supported, far above
That of the recent foe with whom he strove.
Tlic proud impatience of the knight of Spain
Wav'd all expostulation. With disdain 371
Deep fraught, he spurred his courser to the fight j
Nor yet more backward was the Pagan knight
Tlie quick-eyed lynx in vain might strive to trace
The *te})s of Rabicau in warlike race : S75
62 THE EXPEDITION
And o'er the rival steed, of swiftest fame,
Bayardo only could the pref 'rence claim.
The pond'rous lance the Spanish hero bore,
The strongest ever forg'd from Swedish ore,
Fell with such violence on th' opposing shield, 380
It flew in splinters scatter'd o'er the field.
And now Argalia's lighter weapon sped.
And cast him vanquish'd o'er his courser's head ;
But this new Antaeus, when he touch'd the ground,
Fi'esh force and renovated courage found 385
Shame, youthful ardour love, his soul inspir'd.
And strong resentment all his bosom fir'd :
He gnash'd his teeth in anger and despite.
And sword in hand rush'd on to end the fight.
" What bold infringement would'st thou rashly dare,
What trespass on the laws of marshall'd war ? 391
(Argalia cries.) I grant no further chance
To those I once have conquer'd with the lance."
OF GRADASSO. 65
But wayward passion reason scorns to hear,
And indignation seal'd the warrior's ear. 395
Advancing still he menaced and defied
The giant train his purpose now descried ;
His stern persistance, his intrepid air,
Cull'd on them instantly to interfere:
They left the prisoner whom they held in guard, iOO
To seize this stubborn captive, who prepar'd
Their utmost force, with answ'ring force to meet.
And scorn'd alike submission or retreat.
First mighty Urgan luui'd a dreadful dart,
And struck his vizor on the upper part; 405
But lo ! tlie knight the weapon fail'd to wound,
And fell, innoxious, blunted to the ground.
Fierce as a vulture pounces on his prey.
Fie flew, tlie daring outrage to repay :
64? THE EXPEDITION
The arm which threw the dart, he lopt with ease,
E'en as a woodman falls the new-sprung trees j 411
The giant stretch'd forth his remaining hand.
In hope these rapid movements to command.
But this a similar disaster found,
And low the mad'ning monster bit the ground. 415
The huge Argestes, fir'd with furious hate,
Flew to avenge his lov'd companion's fate.
But quick o'erthrown to earth, his pond'rous form.
Like some large oak uprooted by the storm,
Fell with astounding noise ; and soon his breath 420
Was stopp'd for ever by unpitying death.
Great Furhon, strongest of the giant brood,
Whose force no mortal might had e'er withstood,
Advancing, strove to cleave the warrior's head ;
And so resistless was the blow he sped, 425
OF GRADASSO. 65
That Ferrau stagger'd underneath its weight,
And his plum'd casque fell broken at his feet.
Against a friendly pine awhile he lean'd,
And instantly hjs wonted strength regain'd j
Nor could the weapons, or successive force 430
Of Turlon, or of Lampourde, check his course j
For each in turn, to conquer him cssay'd,
And each were lifeless left upon the mead.
Amaz'd Argalia had descried afar
The progress of this unexampled war,
And much his gcn'rous nature wish'd to save 435
From such unequal force, a knight so brave :
But cx'e his care humane could interpose,
He saw Ferrau triumphant o'er his foes j
Who snatch'd a weapon fall'n upon the mead,
And rapid rushing forward, loudly said, 440
66 THE expedition;
** No further obstacle remains, sir knight,
To cross our purpose, or retard the fight."
'* Why speak of contest when the battle's done.
And I the listed field have fairly won ?
(The prince replied,) you must submit, constrain'd
By what the emp'ror previously ordain'd." 446
" Iiidiff'rcnt 'tis, (Ferrau replied) to me
What he ordain'd, or what he may decree
I nor his subject am, nor of his train ;
I lis rules I heed not and his pow'r disdain. 450
To win your sister I your force defy,
And I will gain her hand, or bravely die."
*' Cease knight, (Argalia cried) and wisely dread
r^- rpi^^ -^g ^Yy^^^ menace thy defenceless head.
Without or shield or helmet, would'st thou brave 455
]My justly kindled wrath ? say what could save
OF GRADASSO. 67'
From instant death, (did not compassion plead,
And honour's sacred laws forbid the deed)
A foe so rash ? Give o'er this fruitless strife ;
I'll curb thy freedom, but forbear thy life." 460
*' Such trivial reasons never shall restrain
jNIy purpose, (cried Fcrrau, with fierce disdain,)
A beauteous object all my bosom fires.
To her alone my anxious hope aspires ;
And to obtain her I'd undaunted bear, 465
Unarm'd, the utmost rage of fiercest war."
Provok'd, Argalia could no longer rein
The movements of his wrath with haughty mein.
In sharper accents he the knight addrest.
And spoke the passions lab'ring in his breast. 470
f2
68 THE EXPEDITION, &C.
" No further parley will I hold, or shew
Compassion to an undeserving foe.
By headstrong folly to destruction led.
You've sought the ruin pending o'er your head.
That arrogance which prompts your vain discourse
See that you now sustain by deeds of force : 4^76
IMuch is your valour nor is mine untried,
So learn to dread the prowess you deride."
Those menaces th' indignant knight of Spain
Despis'd, and hurl'd defiance and disdain ; 480
Each aggravated spirit burn'd to try
The hostile strife to conquer or to die.
THE
EXPEDITION OF GRADASSO.
CANTO III.
THE ARGUMENT,
Terr AU makes a proposal which is rejected bv Angelica,
who betakes herself to flight. ^The contest between Ferrau
and Argalia is renewed. Catastrophe of the dispute.
Ferrau departs in pursuit of Angelica. Astolpho acquaints
Riualdo of the events he has witnessed, who follows the
path of Ferrau. Orlando also goes hi search of the fair
fugitive. Astolpho carries off the prize at the jousts.
Injustice of Charlemagne.
CANTO III.
As two fierce lions, fraught with wildest rage,
(When in Hircanian forests they engage)
Impetuous rush so rush'd the ireful foes ;
The vaulted sky re-echoed with theu' blows.
Nor pause, nor relaxation, either knew, 5
And sparks extorted from each cuii'ass fiew :
Loud as the clouds, by warring winds impell'd
To vent their fires, they shake the prostrate field.
The eastern prince with growing rage survey 'd
Til' insultiuir foe, and on his naked head 10
With his keen falchion's edge he struck a blow,
Whose force, he dcem'd, must lay the boaster low ;
But, with surprise, he saw it still unstain'd.
While unappall'd, unhurt, the knight remain'd ;
72 THE EXPEDITION
Though such was the resistance that it found, 15
As made the weapon in the air rebound.
The Saracen, witli equal anger fir'd.
And equal thirst of fell revenge inspir'd,
Elated by Argalia's vain essay,
Beheld him now as his devoted prey. 20
Fraught with ungenerous and sarcastic pride,
In mocking accents, ** Valiant knight, (he cried)
Unto our holy prophet I commend
Thy gallant spirit, which I '11 instant send 24
From this our world." His sword he rais'd to cleave
The warrior's crested helmet. Nought could save
From this attack but magic's arms alone
(Those wond'rous arms with which Galaphron's sou
Was gifted by the sage too strong to feel
The utmost force and pow'r of sharpest steel) SO
Else had the casque in brittle fi-agments flown ;
Else were the prince for ever overthro-vm.
OF GRADASSO. 73
Long thus the strife was potently maintain'd,
Yet neither had the least advantage gain'd :
From mighty efforts no effect ensued, 35
And each in strong amaze suspended stood ;
Keen glances fill'd the pause, but neither spoke.
At length Argalia thus the silence broke ;
*' Give o'er, brave knight, an ineffectual strife,
For know, enchanted armour guards my life : 40
This honor bids me tell then wisely cease
A conflict that must end in your disgrace."
** Say rather in your own, (Ferrau replies).
With e(}ual freedom know, this knightly gvi'ise
Not for defence but ornament I wear ; 4j
I need nor plaited mail nor pointed spear :
Invulnerable gifted, from my birth,
^^^itb privilege beyond the sons of earth,
74? THE EXPEDITION
I fearless walk. One only mortal part
I shield from clanger by the aid of art, 50
In sevenfold iron form'd of strength to bear
The utmost hazard of the hottest war.
The coimsel you bestow, in turn receive.
And to my vows your beauteous sister give.
No mean inferior seeks her heart and hand, 55
But one of rank entitled to demand ;
To no dishonor my proposal tends,
The crown Marsilius wears to me descends ;
Aid, then, my suit, and let our discord cease.
This be the sole condition of our peace. 60
Friendship or enmity your choice await
Consent will kindness gain refusal hate."
Small time for consid'ration now ensued,
Nor could this urgent pleading be withstood.
OF GRADASSO. ^.5
** Since nor of Christian lineage, nor the friend 65
Of Charles, I'm willing that our warfare end,
(The prince replied.) I'll act as you desire,
And rules of knightly courtesy require ;
Nor will I seek to circumvent your love,
If fair Angelica the suit approve. 70
Perhaps with favor she your claim will hear.
For valour such as yours all must revere;
But should her heart averse your vows reject,
Free to decide, her choice must meet respect.
To her in friendship as in blood allied, 75
Her worth my boast her charms my country's pride,
From all constraint to guard her I'iu prepar'd
A kind protector, and a liiithful guard."
'' 'Tis well, (the Spaniard cried) now haste to a^k
What fate awaits me painful is the task 80
76 THE EXPEDITION
Of long incertitude, to one unus'd
Tamely to Avait or sue to be refus'd."
Argalia to the maid this suit preferr'd,
And all the Saracen had urg'd dcclar'd.
The beauteous fair one listen'd with surprise, 85
And view'd her lover with attentive eyes j
Youthful he was but o'er his form and face
Nor art nor nature shed attractive crrace :
His visage such as lab'ring cyclops wear,
Who ply their anvils with incessant care ; 90
His inky matted locks, untaught to flow,
Seem'd such as on the sons of Afric grov,- j
His fiery eyes appear'd inclin'd to dart
Their piercing glances to th' afTrightcd heart ;
And, still to wars devoted, he declin'd 95
All ornamuiital dress nor was his mind
OF GRADASSO. 77
More suited approbation to obtain :
Loud was his voice, and his demeanor vain,
Wliile ev'ry movement shew'd internal pride,
And each expression decency defied. 100
A suitor such as this could never move
Angelica to own the pow'r of love :
To wake Argalia's pity she essay'd,
And thus in falt'ring accents spoke the maid :
*' Oh! thou, whose kindness, to remembrance dear.
Hath never yet impos'd a task severe, 106
Behold yon knight, and agk your conscious breast,
If sacrificed to him, I could be blest ?
No sooner than become to him a prey,
I'll quit the cheerful precincts of the day 110
Plunge mc in yonder fountain, ne'er to rise j
Let gloomy death for ever seal my eyes ;
78. THE EXPEDITlOi."
Ten thousand deaths I'd rather dare, than prove
The wretched object of his hideous love."
Argalia strove the lover's cause to plead, 115
And from her fix'd dislike wou'd fain dissuade.
True to his word, he spoke him fam'd in war
A conquest worthy of the bi'ightest fair ;
And urg'd she should not on his passion fro^vn.
Or treat with scorn the offer of a crown. 120
** Not all the glitt' ring crowns on earth combin'd.
Could tempt (the maid replied) my stcdfast mind :
Small are the joys that pride and pow'r impart ;
Ah ! what is splendour to an aching heart ?
The union that he seeks no medium knows, 125
But mis'ry brings, or happiness bestows.
With him 'twere mis'ry in its worst extreme
O cease to urge nor this resistance blame ;
OF GRADASSO. 79.
But let us ratlier from this spot depart
For pending ills oppress my boding heart. 130
If spirits wrapt in clay might be allow'd
To pierce futurity's obstructing cloud,
Mine now would eager spring, to ask the fates
Wliat end our daring enterprize awaits.
Visions, dim seen, distract my anxious mind, 135
Doubts rise on doubts, yet no solution find ;
But plain it seems, that by th' heav'nly pow'rs,
The Christian cause more favor'd is than ours :
Not all the prudent foi,'ccast of our sire.
Could furnish such defence as we require; 140
Witness the peril I so late incurr'd
Almost a victim to th' enchanter's sword ;
And though by fortune rescued, still I fear
Some fatal end some dire misfortune near.
Then listen to my pleading, ere too late, Ho
And let us instantly from hence retreat."
80 THE EXPEDITION
** The counsel that your fond alarms would give,
(Argalia cried) what hero could receive ?
Ne'er will I meanly shun the unfinish'd fight.
Or seek for safety by a dastard flight. 150
Come life or death, it never shall be said
I brook'd disgrace, or left the f^eld dismay'd.
Off have I warr'd against th' embattled host,
And shall a single foe a triumph boast ?
No sooner let the worst your aug'ring mind 155
Forebodes arrive I bow to flite resign'd."
*' Some adverse pow'r too sure your heart has
steel'd,
(The maid resum'd) but since you will not yield.
Permit that I alone may far remove
From yonder warrior and his ill-starr'd love : 160
His dreadful presence blasts my aching sight ;
I tremble, chill'd with horror and affright
OF ORADASSO. 81
To spare me from the frightful view I'll haste,
And wait until five days fi*om this are past,
In Ardennes' forest. Should you not appear 165
Within that period, grief and sad despair
Back to Galaphron'8 court shall speed his child.
No more by flatt'ring views to be beguil'd.
The wond'rous book the fell enchanter bore
I still possess his sprights shall waft me o'er. 170
From ills too great for fortitude to bear,
Tliy sister's breaking heart in pity spare ;
I never will endure to see thee fall,
Nor shall tliy hostile victor me enthrall,
A hapless wand'rcr rather let me prove, 175
And mourn unheard, and unprotected rove."
Wing'd by her fears, the dame, with utmost speed,
Forsook the scene and urg'd her rapid steed
82 THE EXPEDITION
To the deep shelter of the forest wide,
Without companion, comforter, or guide. 180
With watchful eyes Ferrau the pair surveyed,
And saw indignant the departing maid
His ruthless bosom swell'd with tenfold rage,
Again he burn'd the deathful strife to wage ;
And lest the prince should share his sister's flight, 185
He acts as ill befits a courteous knight.
Tied near the tent he saw Argalia's horse,
And loos'd him to pursue a headlong course
Tlie goodly courser, from restriction freed.
With rapid speed forsakes the wonted mead : 1 90
Impetuous as rough Auster's vcnom'd gale.
Or sweeping torrents that lay waste the vale.
Trembles the verdant sward beneath his feet,
Nor can keen sight keep pace with his retreat.
OF GRADASSO. 83
Argalia now appear'd, with troubled air, 193
His sister's resolution to declare.
But when this daring outrage met his view,
Resentment's impulse fill'd his soul anew.
** What motive could to this procedure move ?
(He frow-ning cried,) I went to plead thy love, 200
And now return to tell" *' I'll gladly spare
All explanation the detail forbear,
(With interruption rude, Ferrau replied,)
Too much degrading insult I've descried.
Now vengeance reigns nor shalt thou want a steed ;
Since one of us must join the torpid dead, 20
One courser will suffice lo ! mine remains,
Whoe'er is ^-ictor may assume the i*eins."
<' Since neither lionor's laws, nor reason's force
Restrains thy temper, or directs thy course, 210
g2
84f THE EXPEDITION
To argue, (cried Argalia,) were in vain,
Then all expostulation I disdain :
You better know to act the warrior's part,
Than speak the dictates of a gcn'rous heart.
And 'tis more meet you should be still employ'd 215
In pleasing deeds, than actions unenjoy'd."
Again the furious warfare was renew' d
Again 'twas doubtful which should be subdued,
For equal skill sustain'd, and equal force
The combatants evinced in martial course. 220
The eastern prince, by past experience taught.
To crush, not wound, his foe, with ardour sought.
A mighty blow he struck so hard it fell,
The Saracen had bade the world farewell.
Had he not quick adroitly slipp'd aside, 22S
And foU'd the aim. In vain Argalia tried
OF GRADASSO. 85
To strike again ; for, rushing from his stand.
The hardy knight engag'd him hand to hand.
In this dread struggle, to the earth they fell,
But which had overthrown, 'twas hard to tell ; 230
For though Ferrau the uppermost appear'd,
Argalia with surprizing vigour rear'd
His nervous arms, and instantly regain'd
The upper station, which he long maintain'd.
And with his iron gauntlets fiercely fought. 235
Nor yet less ardent was the Spaniard, fraught
By mad'ning vengeance with the only hand
His enemy had left at his command.
He drew his poniard, and by searching found
Beneath Argalia's cuirass where to wound. 240
He plung'd the ilitul weapon in his side
In life's empurpled stream 'twas deeply dyed.
Argalia felt that life was ebbing fast,
And on the Saracen he pensive cast
85 THE EXPEDITION
His dying eyes in accents slow and weak, 245
He thus essay'd his last desire to speak :
** The palm of war is yours, brave knight, and lo !
I to the darksome grave untimely go :
Yet though by thee I fall, a gen'rous mind
And high respect for chivalry conjoin'd, 250
Will urge thee to perform a kindly task.
And grant the only favour that I ask.
Soon as life sluguates in these flowing veins.
To yonder fountain bear my cold remains.
And, ful]y arm'd, beneath the whelming tide 255
From cv'ry mortal view for ever hide
This vanquish'd form a necessary care
To guard my honour, bids me make this pray'r.
Base and ignoble souls may else refuse
To own I e'er had valour, and accuse 260
or GRADASSO. S7
Him who with arms so strong was forc'd to yield.
As far unworthy to have tried the field.
From such reproach, my mem'ry I would save,
A shame more hideous than the op'ning grave."
While thus a sad petition he preferr'd, 26S
His touching words Ferrau attentive heard.
Though little used to act a tender part.
Unwonted sympathy surpriz'd his heart.
" Brave knight, (he cried,) thy melancholy fate
Disarms my rage, and overpow'rs my hate ; 270
At once I pity, and regret the doom
That thus precipitates thee to the tomb ;
Yet dread not malice thy immortal name
Shall live for ever in the roll of fame.
A hero ojily could support a strife, 275
Which almost had bereft me of my life.
88 THE EXPEDITION
Know, if 'twill case thy pangs to understand.
That I will strictly follow thy command.
With only one reserve. Permit, while here.
That I thy helmet may assume and wear. 280
My earnest wish is to remain unknown.
While with a people foreign from my own ;
The needful vizor will my visage hide,
And I 'mid Christians may securely bide."
While thus Ferrau, in soften'd voice, exprest, 285
Kind nature's impulse laboring in his breast,
(Environ'd by the pallid shades of death)
With failing sight, and interrupted breath,
Argalia sunk. Life's struggles soon were o'er
Its joys or cares could move his heart no more. 290
No words he utter' d but he bow'd his head,
And sighing deep his hov'ring spirit fled.
OF GRADASSO. 89
Accurst ambition foe of human kind,
How long wilt thou mislead the erring mind ?
By thee induced to quit his native clime, 295
Tliis vahant prince, the glory of his time,
An unlamented stranger, yields his breath !
He grasp'd at laurels, but encounter'd death.
Had faith's enlight'ning rays upon him shone,
To make the virtues of his nature known, 300
A gen'ral loss had his disaster prov'd,
By all lamented, and by all belov'd.
But though no monument to him is rcar'd,
In mem'ry's records, ever high rcver'd,
His worth, his noble qualities, shall live, 305
And time its tributary sorrows give.
When motionless and cold, Ferran beheld
The lifeless knight extended on the field j
90 THE EXPEDITION
He carefully tlie glittering casque unlac'd,
Which on his head, till then unarm'd, he brac'd.
Tlien, faithful to his promise, he convey'd 311
The pale remains, and near the fountain's head
A spot of depth sufficient he espied.
Just where a whirlpool drank the passing tide.
He plung'd the corse, which instant sank, (so great
The close investing armour's pond'rous weight) 316
In dull seclusion to remain forgot,
Nor fear'd that chance should tell the hapless spot.
So end the glories of this mortal span.
The hopes the labours and the pride of man. 320
The brave, the mighty, vanish from our sight.
And blank oblivion veils them deep in night.
This melancholy duty duly paid,
Tlie Saracen, by sad reflection stay'd,
OF GRADASSO. 91
Stood fix'd and mute revolving in his mind 325
The turns of life more changeful than the wind
But soon tliese salutary thoughts are o'er ;
On human ills he meditates no more ;
His bosom glows again new conquest fires
His busy hope, and every wish inspires. 330
Short is humanity's benignant reign
In minds untutor'd, insolent and vain.
At length Angelica's contemptuous fliglit
Struck on the recollection of the knight ;
Quick springing on his steed, he urg'd his pace,
With utmost speed the fugitive to trace ; 336
For well he mark'd the course she had pursued.
To gain th' intricate mazes of the wood.
Of all the Eastern train that menaced late
The Christian weal and th' establish'd state, 310
92 THE EXPEDITION
Not one remain'd so potent is the force
Of hea\''nly justice, in its awful course.
Dull silence rules the hour the victor flies,
And chain'd by rutliless death, the vanquish'd lies ;
Astolpho only now remains to tell 345
The wond'rous incidents which all befell.
The knight, when from his giant guardians freed.
Without obstruction might have left the mead ;
But such the gen'rous int'rest that arose
Within his breast, though all to him were foes, 350
That, bent to see the issue of the fight,
Kor liberty he sought, nor thought of fliglit. "
The combat o'er, and sympathy in vain,
'Twas ineffectual longer to remain ;
Again he shines in splendid arms array'd, 355
Again tlic wavy plume betlecks his head ;
At distance on a height above the field.
His fav'rite steed with pleasure he beheld ;
OF GRADASSO. 93
He hastes to join him, and by hunger stay'd,
Or recollection of his master sway'd, 360
The lofty courser on the spot remains,
And cheerfully submits him to the reins.
His plaited cuirass, and his warlike horse
Regain'd, no bar remains to stop his course,
Save only one the inauspicious chance 365
That enviously depriv'd him of his lance,
Wliichj in their strife, with ineffectual stroke,
He 'gainst Argalla's shield in splinters broke.
Around he cast his eyes, in hope to view.
Amid the trees that in luxuriance grew, 370
Some one, from which a branch he might obtain.
And hew to form. Nor was his search in vain ;
For while he eager sought, lo ! stately reared
Against a pine, the golden lance appear'd,
94i THE EXPEDITION
And glitter'd in the sun, as dazzling bright, 375
As stars that pierce the dusky veil of night.
Gladly the prize he seiz'd, although unskill'd
In all its pow'rs, to win th' embattled field ;
And yielding up his passion in despair.
No further wishes to pursue the fair. 380
With heart more tranquil than he bore tlie day
When he from Paris ardent took his way,
Again he sought the court, nor far had gone.
Until he met Rinaldo hasting on,
Intent to reach in time the destin'd mead, 38.i
And to the Saracen in turn succeed.
Astolpho, to the Paladin allied.
Sought not the recent incidents to hide.
He spoke each tragic movement he beheld
How stern Ferrau had triumph'd in the field 390
Argalia's fall the lovely damsel's flight
But to th' unfinish'd tale th' impatient knight
OF GRADASSO. 95
No longer listen'd to his anxious fears
Too great already his delay appears.
The bright and peerless maid, thus forc*d to fly,
No friend to aid her, no safe shelter nigh ! 396
What hardships might she prove, what dangers meet,
Thus widely scver'd from her native seat !
Compell'd an hapless wanderer to stray,
Bewilder'd in the forest's mazy ^vay. 40
His ardent wishes to defend the fair.
More strong than duty's claims or glory's were :
His country's cause no more inspires his heart ;
I le urg'd Bayordo, eager to depart ;
An arrow launch'd with force could not o'crtakc 405
The expedition he was wont to make,
Yet still the Paladin, in haste to go,
Complain'd his rapid movements vvere too .slo\r.
00 THE EXPEDITION
While thus, forsaking reason's temp'rate force,
The Paladin pursued a devious course; 410
Not less Orlando felt love's fatal flame ;
His hopes, his fears, his wishes were the same.
He from Astolpho learn'd what late had past,
Who also told Rinaldo's eager haste
To seek the scene to which the dame had gone, ^Ij
Ere yet Ferrau the fateful battle won.
Those strange events revolving in his soul,
His strong emotions broke through all controul.
** Unblest Orlando sure thy adverse fate
Seeks daily new misfortunes to create, 420
(Me sighing said) what ills can equal thine ?
Un though t-of evils thwart thy just design.
Too well I know Rinaldo's specious wiles ;
That grace which heedless fancy oft' beguiles,
Is all his own that fascinating art 425
Of flattery unpcrceiv'd, wliich round the heart
OF GRADASSO. S
Winds an insidious snare, and wins the dame
To slight superior merit's juster claim,
And scorn the language of a soul sincere,
When plain and imadorn'd it meets her ear ; 430
No eloquence is mine my only art
Is the pure language of an honest heart.
But say, what fatal indolence can bind.
Thus plung'd in grief, to linger yet behind,
Prey of suspicion, torn by jealous fears ? 435
Away, ye sighs, and unavailing tears
Far better 'tis to seek the conqu'ring maid,
And to her miseries bring useful aid.
Such tenderness as my true heart inspires
^lust in her soul awake congenial fires : 440
The pains I suffer will compassion move.
And gentle pity is the friend of love.
Think, think, Orlando, can'st thou tamely bear
A rival's triumph ? or permit the fair
H
$9 THE EXPEDITION
He thus pursues, to yield her heart his prey ? 44-5
Oh ! never, never come that dreaded day !
From this degrading lethargy awake,
And speed the beauteous maid to overtake ;
To rescue her from his too daring hand,
Thy love, thy happiness, thy fame demand." 450
Sudden he starts and, fraught with ardour, flies
To re-assume his arms, and warlike guise ;
Not those rich arms he had been wont to wield,
The dazzling wonder of th' embattled field,
But plain and simple suited to conceal i!55
That noble rank he wish'd not to reveal.
Resistless love ! how forceful is thy pow'r.
That thus could lead though glory rul'd the hour ;
For novr- the jousts began, in which his claim
To envied conquest, and immortal fame, 460
OF GRADASSO. 99
Had been insur'd, did not thy impulse steel
His breast 'gainst all it erst was prompt to feel
Scorning the victor's wreath, the willing slave,
To swell thy pride, a shameful triumph gave.
Fam'd Brigliadoro his unequall'd steed, 465
In secret from the court he sought to lead,
And mounting, quick as lightning took the road ;
Rinaldo follow'd, when he sought the wood.
Now gallantly the tourney was maintain'd.
In which the Saracens much honor gain'd, 4*70
And Serpentino shew'4 a martial force.
Surpassing all that tried the tilted course.
With sorrow and surprize the Eifip'ror heard
The kindred Paladins had disappear'd ;
Too plain their absence from the field was trac'd, 4-75
Although by thousand valiant knights replac'd,
H 2
100 THE EXPEDITION
"Whose arduous efforts cruel fortune crost,
And all the glory of the jousts was lost,
Had not Astolpho, with the lance of gold,
Unhors'd each champion for the fight enroll'd ; 4-80
From ev'ry brow the new-sprung laurels tore.
And quell'd the band who Mahomet adore.
But withering envy, dark Avernus' child.
The hero of his just reward beguil'd ;
The strain of triumph thousand trumpets sound,
Tartarean caverns widely echo round ; 486
From her dim den the monster starts aghast,
And list's appall'd to the unwelcome blast ;
In fiercest wrath she rear'd her snake-wreath'd head.
And with envenom'd haste to earth she fled j 490
All nature trembled as she wing'd her way,
And low'ring clouds obscur'd the face of day.
OF 6RADASS0. lOl
Soon she attain'd her wonted seat unblest,
In the close foldings of a vicious breast.
Ganes of Poictiers, and his devoted train, 49S
Conspire the Britons' fair renown to stain,
And still prolong the joust but vanquish'd, meet
The treach'rous coward's meed, a quick defeat.
In troops they rush, his single force to try.
But overthrown and maim'd, despairing lie. 500
Each breast with honor's sacred feelings warm,
Griev'd for this outrage ev'ry gen'rous arm
Was rais'd for its redress. In gen'ral fight,
The partizans of each fought knight 'gainst knight.
Til' Emp'ror rose to quell th' alarming war, 505
But lent to Ganes a much too fav'ring ear :
Still partial to Mayence's treach'rous race,
lie doom'd Asto]])ho to unjust disgrace.
Accus'd of having this dissension bred,
By moans unfair, behold him pris'ner led, 510
109 THE EXPEDITION, &C.
On Anselm's evidence, whose abject heart
Was still prepared to act a traitor's part.
Pale Envy gloried in the lot severe,
And sunk exulting to her native sphere.
THB
EXPEDITION OF GHABASSO^
CANTO IV.
THE AUGUxMENT.
RlNALDO arrives at the forest of Ardetme, and reaches
the fountain of Hatred, whose waters he tastes. Deter-
mines to give over his pursuit. Loses his way, and stops
to repose. Of the waters of Love. Angelica arrives.
Rinaldo departs. Orlando appears, and is speedily fol-
lowed by Ferrau, who challenges him. The coming of
Flordepina breaks off the combat. Angelica betakes her-
self to flight. Departure of Ferrau with Flordepina.
Orlando resumes his pursuit of Angelica.
CANTO IV.
JoUT leaving those events, the faithful Muse
The progress of the fugitives pursues.
Rinaldo reach'd a shelter'd green retreat,
Of silent quiet long the lonely seat,
Where num'rous trees their shadowy umbrage spread,
And balmy zephyrs cool refreshment shed. 6
Throughout the whole of Ardenne's spacious round,
A spot more beauteous scarcely could be found ;
A flowing brook meander'd through the grass.
Reflecting on its surface, clear as glass, 10
Tlievarix)us plants that on its borders rose,
'Mid waters cold as chill December's snows.
106 THE EXPEDITION
Rear'd at a distance near the fountain's side,
An edifice magnificent he spied
The work of Merlin, far fam'd British sage, 15
(The boast and wonder of an ancient age,)
To cure his friend brave Tristan's hapless flame,
And teach him to forget his royal dame ;
By magic skill the fountain here he plac'd.
With ev'ry charm of art and nature grac'd : 20
Though oft within the forest wont to rove.
And wake with sighs each echo of the grove.
Still adverse stars decreed the lover's course
Should never reach this salutary source,
Which tasted once, with instant force can turn 2.5
The fondest passion to contemptuous scorn.
"Twas now past noon, and sol's all cheering ray
in full effulgence rul'd the fervid day.
or GRADASSO* 107
Rinaldo, wearied, and o'erpow'r'd with heat,
Delighted view'd the shelter'd sweet retreat ; 30
Quick springing from his courser, (which he led)
With eager step he sought the fountain head.
And slaked his burning thirst but, strange to tell,
He instant found his heart 'gainst love I'ebel ;
The wond'rous draught its strong effect had wrought,
Chang'd every wush and alter'd every thought. 36
Repenting now his rash and hasty flight,
(Unworthy of a patriot or a knight,)
Keen fancy paints, in glowing tints, the wrong
His fame must suffer 'mid the envious throng, ^O
Should rumour tell, to gain a worthless maid
Rinaldo has his country's cause betray'd.
" What adverse fate, (he cries,) has brought me here ?
How could I hold such mean attractions dear ?
Was I, ye pow'rs I the proper dupe of love ? 45
No Pride and reason both must disapprove
108 THE EXPEDITION"
A weakness, wisdom ever has declin'd,
And doubly shameful in a hero's mind.
For me all transient admiration o'er,
I hate this wand'ring stranger never more 50
Within my breast shall she resume her reign,
Her arts I scorn, and break her slavish chain.
Sure some strange mist was o'er my senses spread,
Else never could my judgment be misled,
A vain pursuit insensate to prefer, 55
To all the honours I might gain in war.
Heav'ns ! should the Saracens bear off the prize.
While humbled low my native country lies.
What just reproaches must the truant wait.
From the wrong'd monarch, and the injur'd state. 6i)
Reflecting thus, the knight again bestrode
Ills steed, and back to Paris took the road ;
OP GRADASSO. 109
But, wikler'd in the forest's mazy way,
The fates ordain'd him from that path to stray,
To where so many diff'rent wuidings meet, 65
He scarcely knows by which lie may retreat.
Compell'd at length to chuse, he one essay'd,
Which open'd to a space within the shade,
\Miere lavish pansies paint the grassy vale, 69
And blossom'd sweets with fragrance scent the gale :
Though culture's hand the ground had never drest,
Indulgent nature's beauty stood confest j
Evincing, when she kindly did her part,
How little she requir'd the aid of art.
Throughout the bounds of this sequcster'd scene 75
A bright pellucid river flows serene,
From whose lull urn a bounteous Naiad pours
Health to the plants and beauty to the flow'rs.
Those wond'rous waters were of force possest,
Like Merlin's fount, to change the human breast, 80
110 THE EXPEDITION
But destin'd diiferent efFects to prove,
That kindles hatred, these inspire with love.
Close by the margin of th' irriguous tide,
A shelter'd spot the Paladin descried ;
A grassy bank beneath, and overhead S5
A waving beech its leafy branches spread.
Exhausted now by long and fruitless toil,
He tum'd his steed to crop the plenteous soil,
And here reclin'd, where ease and silence join'd
To lull to calm repose the wearied mind ; 90
A gentle slumber on his senses stole,
And yielded needful respite to his souL
Whilst thus the knight, no more vain passions prey,
In sleep's soft fetters bound, unconscious lay.
Capricious Fortune, in malignant mood, 95
Led fair Angelica to take this road ;
OF GRADASSO. Ill
Well pleas'd she view'd the undulating tide,
In soft meanders through the valley glide j
She left her palfrey, and, with luckless haste,
Approach'd the bank, the cooling draught to taste.
No better genius, no preventing pow'r, 101
No friendly aspect, rul'd the fatal hour ;
The wayward deity, whose random darts
Inflict imagin'd pangs on heedless hearts,
By wisdom's shield unguarded bids her prove 105
The sorrows that attend on slighted love.
Intent her lonely progress to pursue.
She turn'd, and lo ! Rinaldo caught her view.
Too fatal glance her ev'ry hope is crost,
And liberty and peace at once are lost ! 110
From her blanch'd check the blooming roses fled ;
Like flow'rs surcharg'd with dew, she droop'd her
head.
112 THE EXPEDITION
Now conscious beauty bids her hopes inspire,
And tells that all who see her must admire :
But timid diffidence soon checks her pride, IIS
And doubts with hopes her anxious breast divide ;
Those doubts which oft perplex the firmest mind,
With real love inseparably twin'd.
She cull'd the violets from the scented glade,
And thus, in pensive mood, reflecting said, 120
" Ye fragrant children of the lowly vale.
Who breathe your sweetness on the desert gale,
Safe shelter'd in the shade, your blooms ye spread,
While tempests rave around the mountahi's head,
And rend the lofty pines. Oh ! had my lot 125
Been cast in humble life, this fatal spot
I ne'er had rcach'd ^but now, condemn'd to rove,
Ambition's victim victim, too, of love,
My every Lope of happiness is o'er,
And I shall never know contentment more." ISO
OF GRADASSO. 113
While thus she sorrowing mus'd, from sleep pro-
found,
Rinaldo starting, cast his eyes around ;
He saw Angelica, ajid seeing knew.
But pain not joy resulted from the view.
A hatred, strong as was his former love, 135
Within his agitated bosom strove:
No mild complacence could he feel or feign,
And his averted eyes evinced disdain ;
Careless the air, abrupt th' ungracious speed
With which he turn'd to seek his grazing steed. 140
No more his indurated bosom glows
W^idi soft compassion for the wand'rer's woes ;
Sad, unprotected prey of grief and fear,
Her alter'd state, her hapless lot severe.
No pity moves ; for hatred's dire controul 1 45
With savaire firmness steels the human soul.
114f THE EXPEDITION
When the soft ties that link affection's band,
Are rent by enmity's malignant hand,
Fell rancour with redoubled fury bums.
And friendship strong, to strong aversion turns. 1 50
Angelica beheld, with wond'ring eyes.
His stern demeanor. " Wretched fate ! (she cries)
What cause unknown impels this sudden flight ?
Am I an object to create affright ?
Or, changing climes, have I, unhappy, lost 155
The influence and respect I once could boast ?"
But, lo ! while thus she thought, he mounts he
flies
He vanishes from her astonish'd eyes ;
Quick as from clouds the nimble lightning;? part,
Regardless of th' affliction of her heart. 1 60
The utmost pow'rs of eloquence would fail,
Her wonder, or her sufferings, to reveal.
OF GRADASSO. 115
No more her thoughts retain their wonted ease,
(Unruffled as the swell of summer seas)
With innate rage, she felt forlorn disgrac'd 165
Her pride insulted, and her rank abas'd.
Her lovely tresses, form'd all hearts to bind.
With desp'rate hands she scatter'd to the wind,
Wliile from her radiant eyes, in plenteous show'rs.
Fast falling tears bedew'd th' insensate flow'rs. 170
Ah ! what avails each highly boasted grace
Kind nature lavish'd on her mien and face I
Far better were a homely form conjoin'd
With a firm spirit, and a placid mind.
" Hard fate ! (she cries) say why has fav'ring heav'n
A faultless foi-m to this barbarian giv'n, 176
And yet thus steel'd his unrelenting heart
'Gainst polish'd culture's humanizing art ?
Sure from some savage race the tyrant sprung.
Who never form'd to sympathy their young. 180
I 2
116 THE EXPEDITION
Quick let me end my doubts, and learn what name
Th' ungentle foe of courteousness may claim."
Fantastic pow'r of love ! severe thy reign 1
Thou mak'st thy captive hug his galling chain,
And bid'st him pay back tenderness for scorn ; 185
True when betrayed, and constant though forlorn.
Deceiv'd, misguided by thy guileful force,
To Malagigi's book she had recourse ;
His name the spirits to her wish accord
Rinaldo, son of Montalbano's lord, 190
Descended from a long illustrious race.
Whose deeds applauding fame delights to trace.
Struck with the sound, her perturbation grows
More powerful, and she feels redoubled woes.
** Alas ! (she cries) ere yet I had become 19^
A hapless wand'rer from my happy home.
Though far remote from hence, I oft have heard
His merit and his prowess so revered.
OF GRADASSO. 117
That much I envied to this favor'd land
The knight, and wish'd him of the Pagan band.
No savage he, as I, misdeeming thought, 201
But one with ev'ry generous feehng fraught.
How could a heart, where honor's impulse glows,
Be harshly unregardful of my woes
By ills pursued, by ruthless violence driv'n 205
From all the blessings once bestow'd by Heav'n ?
Ingratc ! for him all hardships I'd endure,
And part from life, his safety to secure.
Ah ! me innum'rous ills his course belay
That steed that bears him rapidly away, 210
By one false step may hurl him to the grave.
While pow'rless here I weep but cannot save.
Yet, while for him my soul is rent with care,
Does he my fate lament, my sorrows share ?
No ! As the roving bee delights to range 215
'Mid fragrant blooms his heart, still prone to change,
118 THE EXPEDITION
This form shall to forgetfulness consign ;
But endless constancy, alas ! is mine.
O Galaphron ! lov'd parent thou must grieve
How could illusive fancy so deceive 220
Thy wisdom, as to think those slighted charms
Could conquest gain ? Thou must have stronger arms
To overcome the knights, and win the prize.
For pow'rless are thy wretched daughter's eyes.
Blest freedom, thou would'st be my dearest choice j
Yet still my heart is deaf to wisdom's voice, 256
And with hard cruelty o'er-ruling fate
Compels me to regard, when I should hate."
Thus mourn'd the beauteous maid, while all around
The lonely echoes bore the plaintive sound. 230
At length, in silence, with a woe-struck mind,
To musing melancholy she resign'd j
OF GRADASSO. 119
But seldom does reflection deign to prove
A friendly solace to unhappy love :
Again she wept again she deeply sigh'd, 235
And many threat'ning ills her thoughts divide ;
Till that kind power, whose soothing aid imparts
Relief and respite to unhappy hearts,
Refreshing sleep approach'd in pensive guise.
Stole o'er each sense, and seal'd her weary eyes. 240
Now matchless Brigliadoro, swift as thought,
Orlando to the shades of Ardenne brought j
Throughout the forest's paths he roam'd to find
Some trace of her whose imajje fill'd his mind :
But fortune, fond to act a double part, 245
Antl with deceitful smiles beguile the heart
She to the knight now lent her treach'rous aid.
And soon the peerless damsel he survey'd.
Not the mild beam of Cynthia's silver light.
That gilds the lurid brow of cheerless night, 250
120 THE EXPEDITION
To the lone wanderer such pleasure gives,
As great Orlando from this view receives.
O'erwhelm'd with admiration and suiprize,
He fears some bright illusion mocks his eyes :
He gaz'd but could not in her visage find 255
The traces of those pangs that rack'd her mind j
There beauty reign'd in all her conq'ring pow'rs,
And bloom'd more fresh than the surrounding flow'rs.
The gentle murmurs of tlic gliding stream
Seem'd to the list'ning wood nymphs to proclaim 260
That on its favour'd banks a beauty rests,
Wliosc charms enkindle in all gazer's breasts
A flame, as strong as those advent'rcrs prove,
AVlio taste its waters^, and are snar'd by love.
Subsiding wonder now its place resign'd, 265
And various thoughts distrcss'd the lover's mind.
OF GRADASSO. 121
Too much he fears her frown, to rashly dare
Encounter glances that would bring despair.
*' Ah ! should her lovely eyes, (he sighing said,)
That anger shew I more than lightnings dread, 270
How wretched were my lot ! Yet should I wave
To speak, this moment fate auspicious gave,
No other chance might future time supply,
Unheeded shall I live unpitied die ;
But should harsh rigour bid her disapprove 275
Unblemish'd truth, and honourable love,
And my avowal e'en resentment raise,
Submission shall her waken'd wrath appease.
Deign, mighty Love, to take thy vot'ry's paft,
To nuUual tenderness subdue her heart. 280
O ! Fortune, realize fond fancy's dream,
And let Orlando win the dame's esteem.
Perhaps, prcfer'd before her num'rous train,
To guide her steps, I shall permission gain.
122 THE EXPEDITION
Glad would I shield her in each dang'rous strife, 285
And consecrate to her alone my life."
Led on by expectation, he had made
Some effort with the fair his cause to plead,
But adverse pow'rs their venom'd force combine,
And new obstructions thwart his fix'd design. 290
Hard is the task from cherish'd hope to part,
And tear a fav'rite purpose from the heart ;
Yet this hard task too rigid fate assign'd
To the ingenuous lover's lab'rinc: mind.
Ferrau appear'd and quick his jealous sight 295
Was rivettcd upon the stranger knight ;
For brave Orlando, in his close disguise,
Remain'd unknown to his enquiring eyes.
Kot so Angelica, whose blooming charms
He recognized and instant flew to arms. 300
OF GRADASSO. 123
Advancing with a fierce imperious air,
" Hear, knight ! (he cried,) surrender to my care
Yon beauty or prepare in mortal fight
By force of valour to maintain your right."
The truly brave, averse to contest still, 305
Reluctant yield the reins to passion's will ;
And, though Orlando felt his hope destroy'd,
Yet gentle language, only, he employ'd.
*' Pass on. Sir knight, (he cried) pursue your road,
Nor seek contentions foreign to your good ; 310
No just pretensions can you have to claim
The conduct of this bright and peerless dame ;
Remove, then, hence, and this address forbear ;
Your absence can be well dispcns'd with here."
" 'Tis thine to go, (rcsum'd the Spanish knight)
For hateful is thy presence in my sight; 316
124- THE EXPEDITION
Then quick depart let needful fears alarm
So 'scape the force of my all-conqu'ring arm."
By insult fir'd, the Paladin survey'd
The haughty boaster, and indignant said, 320
" Audacious, know that he, your headlong rage
Would, 'gainst all reason, lead you to engage,
Is call'd Orlando." " E'en that soundinff name
Shall ne'er induce me to forego my claim,
(The knight replied) : Orlando though you are, 325
By force you shall resign the beauteous fair ;
And know it is Fcrrau who shall constrain
Ferrau who holds your prowess in disdain.
While thus he spoke, he sprung from off his steed.
And found Orlando ready on the mead. 330
The knights with force their dreadful weapons ply,
And from their mail tlic iron fragments fly.
OF GRADASSO. 125
While thus they strove, Angelica, unblest,
Shook off the downy bonds of peaceful rest ;
Wide o'er the scene she cast her fearful eyes, 335
And deem'd that pealing thunders rent the skies,
So horrid was the din. When all around.
She saw their broken armour strew the ground,
Astonisliment, dismay, and wild affright
Seiz'd on her mind, and prompted sudden flight: 34-0
Her palfrey, near at hand, she sought with haste.
And plunged into the forest's wildest waste :
So great her agitation, in that hour,
She wholly had forgotten magic pow'r,
Th' enchanter's book, and wonder-working ring, 24.?
That to her need a readier aid might bring
A fugitive agiiin condemn'd to rove.
And bear the added woes of hopeless love.
126 THE EXPEDITION
Orlando first the rapid flight descries,
And views the parting fair with anxious eyes ; 350
Desisting from his efforts, he addrest
The Saracen, and thus his wish exprest :
*' Vain is our strife here let our combat end ;
The prize withdrawn, 'twere folly to contend.
Some other time we may resume this cause, 355
Fulfilling all requir'd by honor's laws.
Now let me haste to seek the wand'ring maid,
Nor hopeless thou, my dearest hope impede :
This gen'rous courtesy to you I'll owe.
And grateful own the favor you bestow." 360
" Vain hope, and insolent (Ferrau replied,
And rear'd his head with still increasing pride)
To me that privilege or quickly yield,
Or try to wrest it from me in the field.
OF CRADASSO. 127
Should it be yours to rob me of my life, 865
Your wish pursue but if to you the strife
Shall fatal prove presumptuous as you are,
Know I will ne'er resign the beauteous fair.
Unless o'er-ruling fate my aim confounds,
I'll follow her to earth's most distant bounds." 370
This rude response awoke Orlando's rage
Again he burns the Spaniard to engage.
" The boon (he cries) I ask'd you to afford,
Another knight would readily accord ;
But well I know that sentiments refin'd 37*
Possess no influence o'er a clownish mind ;
Yet do not vainly think I e'er shall cede
To you the vict'ry or the lovely maid :
Exert your vaunted courage, and prepare,
As thus you boldly speak, to greatly dare, 3S0
Nor let fond hope suggest th' event will prove
Propitious to your glory or your love."
128 THE EXPEDITION
In direful combat now the warriors close.
And threat'ning death attends their pow'rful blows j
With more than human efforts each displays 385
A valour and a skill that wonder raise,
While doubtful victory suspends her scales,
And shifts the balance as each knight prevails.
But lo ! a damsel on the field appears.
Attended by a 'squire, advanc'd in years ; 390
A snow-white mule she rode a sable veil
Her beauties screen'd from each injurious gale ;
Aloud she mourn'd, and deeply plung'd in grief,
In heartfelt sighs, and tears, found sad relief.
" 111 destin'd as I am, (she sorrowing cried) 395
Ah ! what avails to traverse countries wide ?
No blest success no cheering hope remains.
To soothe my toils, or recompence my pains ;
Alas ! no friendly voice my searches guide.
Or tells me where Ferrau does now reside." 40
OF GRADASSO. 129
She spoke and casting round her weeping eyes,
Beheld the Saracen, with strong surprize :
Such was her joy at this most welcome sight,
She rush'd between the knights engag'd in fight.
Unmindful of the perils she incurr'd, 405
Or from their wrath, or from the trenchant sword.
Although incensed, and obstinate to gain
The field, the knights from violence now abstain,
Lest should they still persist to urge their claim.
They should destroy the too advent' rous dame. 410
This pause she seiz'd, and, bending to the ground,
Address'd Orlando, with respect profound.
" Brave knight, (she cried) my invocation hear ;
By her you love, Oh ! grant my humble pray'r
Cease with Ferrau to try your warlike force j 415
His duty calls him to another course
A family in woe his succours need ;
Ah, let the warrior hasten to their aid.
K
180 THE EXPEDITION
Should fortune ever grant a prosperous day,
The gen'rous bounty grateful I'll repay." 420
Great minds to gen'rous deeds are strongly prone,
And never was the brave Orlando known.
With inattention cold, or frown severe ,
To meet the woe-struck suppliant's earnest pray'r.
** Fair dame, (he answers) ruthless were the heart
Tliat would not in thy sorrows take a part. 426
Though from Ferrau I may complain of wrong,
I'll wave resentment, nor the fight prolong:
And could he not the purpose well fulfil.
This arm I'd offer to perform your will." 430
The dame, this kind compassion to requite,
Low bow'd then thus address'd the Spanish knight :
" Son of a royal and illustrious pair,
Marsilius and Lanfusa, lend an car
OF GRADASSO. 131
Attend, while I the various ills relate 435
That threat with ruin thy paternal seat ;
Nor waste on idle broils, in foreign lands,
That prowess which thy country's weal demands.
Since fortune has vouchsafed my course to guide,
This dark disguise my form no more shall hide ; 440
In me thy sister Flordepina view,
And let my voice thy patriot zeal renew.
From ocean's bosom a ferocious band
Has sprung, to desolate our hapless land j
A potent king, Gradasso nam'd, is come, 445
And leads a mighty force to seal oin* doom.
Far distant orient realms confess his sway
And equal ire his fell attempts display
'Gainst Saracens and Christians all are foes
Who would his dire ambitious schemes oppose. 450
It seems as if to all his gods he swore.
The European race should breathe no Inore.
k2
132 THE EXPEDITION
Already various towns have fall'n a prey
To wasting flames innum'rous hordes belay
Strong Barcelona's tow'rs while sack'd and lost 4-55
Is Saragossa by the barb'rous host.
E'en as bleak wintry gales to storms incrcas'd,
Sweep o'er the hills and lay the vallies waste,
Wide o'er the provinces those spoilers spread,
And captur'd all that had not fall'n or fled. 460
But oh ! my brother if these tidings still
You hear unmov'd to bend your flinty will,
A sharper woe I must, alas ! disclose
Marsilius is a pris'ner to those foes,
And Falsironcs, in a dungeon's gloom, 465
Now mourns with endless groans his wretched doom.
This father, and this uncle, ever kind
Gradasso's fetters ignominious, bind.
Those eyes have seen Marsilius bath'd in tears.
While, desp'rate grown, he rent the silver hairs 470
OF GRADASSO. 133
From off that head which once a diadem wore.
And wrung those hands which late a sceptre bore:
Oh ! what a dire reverse of fickle fate
The much belov'd, the gen'rous, and the great,
From fortune's height precipitated low, 475
A slave to lawless pow'r o'erwhelm'd with woe
On thee he calls " Oh ! whither art thou flown,
(He cries,) my valiant and beloved son ?
Return, Ferrau, and break my heavy chain ;
No victory more glorious can'st thou gain 480
Than that which shall thy injur'd parent free ;
And doubly sweet I'll taste of liberty,
If to my son the precious gift I owe.
And see him conquer this our haughty foe."
Fair Flordepina here forbore to speak, 485
Attd tears, fast streaming, stain'd her glowing cheeV,
13* THE EXPEDITION
But virtue's tears, warm springing from the heart,
Ne'er fail increas'd attractions to impart,
E'en as the kind descending dew bestows
A softer beauty on the blushing rosej 490
Aod though emotion now her voice restrain'd,
The strong impression of her words remain'd.
Ferrau, o'crwhelm'd with sorrow and surprize,
In spite of his habitual rugged guise,
By nature's pow'rful movements taught to feel, 49
Now melts with duteous love, and gen'rous zeal ;
At length his agitation he supprest,
And thus the list'ning Paladin addrest:
" Orlando, the sad incidents you've heard.
The wrongs that overwhelm my sire rever'd, 500
You well may think must kindle in my soul.
Against Gradasso, rage beyond controul ;
OF GRADASSO. 135
Hence must I part and from my native coast
Dislodge this bold invader and his host ;
My father's call his hapless subjects' cries, 505
My eagerness to break the slavish ties
Tliat bind a much-lov'd land, all loudly claim
My quick return. My duty and my fame
Forbid me further to pursue the fair.
And summon me to a far difF'rent care. 510
To you I cede the privilege I sought,
For which, till death, I ardent would have fought :
But fate forbids and till some future day
The issue of our strife I must delay.
Pursue the dame but pass your knightly word, 515
That when occasion kindly shall afford
A fav'ring hour, this cause you will resume,
And war, till one is fairly overcome.
This grant and I, injustice to your fame.
Your courtesy and valour will proclaim." 520
136 THE EXPEDITION, &C.
Orlando, ever generous and brave.
The promise thus entreated freely gave ;
Elate in hope, that, now no hindrance stajr'd.
He might o'ertake the ever lovely maid.
Ferrau and Flordepina took the road 525
To where the Pyrenean mountains stood j
Orlando, that Angelica had trac'd.
And lucky turn'd his progress to the east,
He Brigliadoro urg'd to fiery speed.
But fortune did not lend a ready aid 530
To this impatience. Many a weary way
He had to traverse many a tedious day
To pass ere he Angelica should join.
Or gaze on charms he held to be divine.
THE
EXPEDITION OF GRABASSO,
CANTO V.
THE ARGUMENT.
PtUMOUR of Gradasso's hostile purpose. Speech and
resolution of Charlemagne. Rinaldo appointed to lead the
forces. Their junction with the Saracens. Gradasso's
troops invest Barcelona. Gallant deed of Grandouio.
Battle between the Saracens and the allies. Proposal of
Gradasso to Rinaldo. Cessation of tiie general action.
CANTO V.
oORNE on the restless wing of busy fame,
Alarms incessant from all quarters came j
And Rumour, with her thousand tongues, relates
What legions had o'errun th' Iberian states.
Nor this alone but told th' exulting boast .*>
Of fierce Gradasso, and his lawless host,
To pass the high pil'd hills that awful rise,
And veil their dusky summits in the skies ;
Nor rest till Gaul his conqu'ring arms should gain.
And its proud sov'reign swell his vassal train. 10
To foil those daring aims, and overthrow
Tb' ambitious projects of this active foe,
140 THE EXPEDITION
The monarch and the members of the state
In long and close deliberation sate j
Deeply his soul the menac'd ills imprest, 15
And thus th' assembled chieftains he addrest:
*' My valiant friends, experience to the wise
A guidance in each exigence supplies ;
And when we see devouring fires consume
Our bord'riiig realms, 'tis time to shun the doom.
What though a difF'rent faith Marsilius own, 21
The storm that shakes him, soon may reach our
throne.
Gradasso's boasts astound the gen'ral ear,
And what he thus conceives, he'll surely dare.
Then with the Saracens let Christians join 25
Their efforts, to defeat his bold design.
Beats there a heart so void of honor's fire,
As not to bound, elated with desire.
OF GRADASSO. 14)1
In such a cause ? Is any breast so chill,
As coldly to endure a countx'y's ill, 30
Endear'd by native ties, and ev'ry claim
By strong affection priz'd, and honest fame ? *
No ! I behold the loyal feeling rise
Its ardovu' flashes from your conscious eyes
It urges it inspirits it inspires 35
All that the service of the State requires.
A band thus leagued, at sacred duty's call.
Will bravely conquer, or will glorious fall.
Join'd by one int'rcst, by one spirit sway'd.
Then lot us hasten to Marsilius' aid. 40
Instead of waiting our proud foe's advance,
Let us in distant fields abide the chance
Of arms, and firmly make a noble stand.
To save from spoilers om* beloved land.
In this career from ciuelty forbear, 45
And think tliat all mankind om- brethren arc.
14-2 THE EXPEDITION
Though self defence unsheath'd the fatal blade,
Pity must mourn the havock it has made ;
Be magnanimity our proudest boast.
And never be the sense of mercy lost. SO
Enroll'd in regions far beyond the spheres,
WTiere time his transitory sceptre rears,
When widely wasting fires shall worlds pervade.
And splendent suns grow dark, and systems fade,
Mercy shall live by Heav'n's august command, 55
And virtue nature's general wreck withstand."
Consenting plaudits through th* assembly ran
Each chief extoll'd the monarch's daring plan,^
To march his forces to Marsilius' aid
And every hero burn'd to take the lead. 60
But on Rinaldo fell di' emperor's voice.
And public sanction ratified the choice ;
OP GRADASSO. 143
For none more oft upheld the country's weal,
With well tried courage, and with duteous zeal.
One sole averse, amid th' applauding crowd, 65
Repin'd in secret, while he meanly bow'd,
Feign'd acquiescence Ganes, who, fix'd as fate,
Persisted in hereditary hate
To Clarmont's noble house his bosom, stung
By ruthless envy, pangs unceasing wrung. 70
He deem'd superior wealth, and splendour vain,
Entitled him to lead the martial train
But selfish natures vainly disapprove
A merit all must own, and all must love.
Now from the splendid group, Rinaldo, led 75
Before the throne, obedient bow'd his head,
And, fill'd with joy, his promptitude dcclar'd
To execute the orders lie had heard.
li* THE EXPEDITION
These vows receiv'd, the monarch thus exprest
The gen'rous feelings that inspir'd his breast. 80
" By fortune's malice, thro' some cause unknown,
Orlando from the court and realm has gone.
At such a time as this we ill can spare
A soldier so distinguish'd wont to dare
Beyond the loftiest deeds of warriors fam'd : 85
But to supply his place, I thee have nam'd.
With firm reliance I commit a care,
To every loyal heart than life more dear,
A people's int'rcst, and a country's cause,
Her welfare, her religion, and her laws. 90
Think well how great the delegated pow'r
On thee conferr'd in this momentous hour.
All, all were lost, should our dire foes prevail ;
Then haste those fierce barbarians to assail :
OF GBADASSO. 145
A nation's fate upon thy sword depends ; 95
The safety of compatriots and of friends.
O ! 'tis a cause to nerve the feeble arm
Of palsied age, and greenest youth to warm.
How must it then enkindle deathless fires,
To animate the hero who aspires 100
To rush thro' glory's paths to virtue's aid,
And snatch a wreath which time can never fade."
Til' affecting plea sunk deep in ev'ry ear,
A plea, which all with utmost rev'rence hear.
New kindling ardour every heart confest ; 105
But most it mov'd Rinaldo's gen'rous breast ;
Yet fluent diction came not to his aid.
For words were not for such occasions made :
By actions heroes prove their feelings strong.
And leave professions to the timid throng. 110
146 THE EXPEDITION
The destin'd force a well selected band,
Rinaldo was appointed to command,
Was soon array'd to take the hostile field
Contemning death unknowing how to yield.
Onward they mov'd and many a noble knight 1 1^
(Intent to share the honors of the fight)
With offer'd aid came forward to increase
The chosen levies. Here the eye may trace
The youth, whose heart was smit with glory's charms,
And valiant veterans, grey in hardy arms. 120
With these, the Saracens, who, led from Spain
By hope of conquest, join'd th' illustrious train,
When late the jousts were held return'd from far,
To bear a part in a more needful war.
The giant chief Grandonio, (he whose pride 125
The potent Dane great Oger's might defied.
Till taught to bow beneath Astolpho's force,
He lost the honors of the listed course)
OF GRADASSO. 14)7
Cur'd of his wounds, now homeward bent his way,
And Balugantes join'd the bright array. 130
With unremitting diligence the files
Rush on whilst ardour ev'ry toil beguiles :
And now ^vith rapid speed they pass the vale,
And now the mountain's steep ascent they scale ;
Till from its lofty brow the scene appear'd, 135
Where furious war th' ensanguined standard rear'd,
And scatter'd ruin with remorseless hand,
Tearing each beauty from the ravag'd land.
For groves, black smould'ring pines now met the eye,
(As heav'ns avenging bolts had fallen from high) 140
Once tow'riiig structures, architecture's boast,
Were now but sliajicless heaps, defaced and lost.
Nor lowiriiT hcrtl nor fleece-clad flock was seen
Nor tender herbage deck'd the trodden greeu.
148 THE EXPEDITION
Ceas'd was the shepherd's pipe the lab'ring hind,
In mute despair, his useful task resign'd, 146
"While, with dull silence, thro' the sadden'd grounds
Pale Melancholy etalk'd her lonely rounds.
O ! Peace thou offspring of" indulgent Heav'n,
A\Tien first to man in mercy thou wert giv'n, 1 50
Harmonious Poeans echoed o'er the earth,
And smiling Nature hail'd thy haj)py birth ;
In fresher verdure ev'ry mead she dress'd,
And flow'i-s spontaneous glow'd upon her breast j
The gentle train of sweet affections shone, 155
And holy friendship's blessings wide were strown j
Securely mortals dwelt in balmy ease.
Rest crown'd the nights, and pleasure wing'd the days.
But soon as Mars his fatal banner rear'd.
Affrighted Happiness from earth was scar'd ; 160
OF GRADASSO. 149
Mistaken Honor, to her endless shame,
Lent Violence the sanction of her name ;
Unfeeling thoughts, unpitying views arose,
And swell'd the catalogue of human woes j
Sons warr'd with sires with brothers, brothers strove,
Friendship was banished and forgotten, love. 166
The legions now from snow-crown'd summits haste,
And ardent traverse quick the spreading waste,
To reach Girona there the sole remains
Of great Marsilius' army he convenes. 170
Escap'd the chains he erst indignant bore,
He fled Cordova and, with joy, once more
llcjoin'd his faithful troops and, lo ! again
The fickle goddess Fortune, light and vain.
In smiles alluring drest her varying face, 175
And secm'd to view him with returning grace.
150 THE EXPEDITION
For not alone the bliss of freedom checr'd
His breast, but num'rous partizans appear'd
In warlike guise Morgante, pow'rful chief,
And various heroes, came to his relief. 180
To crown these blessings, Flordcpina brought
Ferrau, whom far her duteous zeal had sought.
Join'd by his valiant son, his pride, his boast.
Whose single arm the monarch deem'd an host,
His hopes reviv'd and when the gallant train 185
Of brave Rinaldo reach'd th' adjacent plain.
His exultation rose to rapt'rous height.
And fill'd his soul with long estrang'd delight,
Gradasso's force, encamp'd in strong array,
Before the walls of Barcelona lay. 190
Vain were the j^lans devis'd by martial lore.
Her tott'ring forts could bear assault no mora
OF GRADASSO. 151
Gaunt famine raged the natives' woes to fill,
And pale despondence rose, enhancing ill.
Sick of protracted hopes, and long delay, 195
The strength of fortitude at length gave way,
And sad deliberations now took place.
Whether to die, or ask the leaguer's grace.
The agonizing mother fain would wrest
From death's strong grasp the infant at her breast j 200
The pow'r ne'er known to melt at human woe,
Nor heeds her sighs, nor would his prey forego ;
But though averse to mitigate or heal
Tlic wounds maternal bosoms keenly feel,
A kind relief his cruelty supplies 205
He soaLs the infant's and the mother's eyes.
'Mid the once happy, soft domestic train,
The wish for life still lingers, spite of pain ;
The tender wife entreats the children raise
Their harmless hands the aged sire surveys, 210
152 THE EXPEDITION
With eyes imploring, the determin'd few
Who scorned to yield such pleas must all subdue ;
For never yet was found the savage art,
To raze out nature's feelings from the heart.
But lo !-r-when ev'ry hope seem'd wholly crost, 215
And ev'ry prospect of assistance lost,
Grandonio, by o'er-ruling pow'rs inspir'd,
Brought that relief the exigence requir'd.
Unweeting of an ambuscade, the foe
Secure in fancied safety, met the blow. 230
When o'er the skies descended gloomy night,
And no kind star effiised a friendly light,
The Sericanean camp, Grandonio's band
Beset the centinels made desp'rate stand,
But quickly overpower'd, gave no alarm 225
1 o spread the notice of this fatal harm.
OF GRADASSO. 153
Surpriz'd, whole ranks unconscious yield up breath,
Scarce struggling to evade the stroke of death.
Thus the grim wolf, with long pent fury bold,
Destroys the guardian of the sleeping fold ; 230
On unresisting victims tries his force.
And slaughter widely marks his dreadful course.
This quarter forced with unabated haste,
Th' exulting victors to the ramparts past.
And entrance found. The drooping sons of Spain
Were cheer 'd by sweet reviving hope again, 236
And firmly 'gainst Gradasso they maintain'd
The fortunate advantage they had gain'd.
This gallant action soon was widely told.
And straight Marsilius all his force cnroll'd 240
Tojoin th' allies with hearts resolv'd they go,
1\) end the war by one decisive blow.
154 THE EXPEDITION
The martial train in three divisions mov'd ;
Rinaldo and his brothers well belov'd
Led on the first the second corps Ferrau, 24r5
Whose untam'd spirit danger ne'er could awe.
Commanded with the ardent hero came
Three chiefs, whose lofty deeds were nois'd by fame,
Great Isolero Matalista known
In death strewn fields and he whose valour shone 250
With brightest lustre when severely tried,
Brave Serpentino, long the legion's pride.
The third large squadron of th' intrepid host,
Their monarch for their leader proudly boast.
Two other sov'rcigns friendsliip had allied 255
\Mth good Marsilius waiT'd upon his side
This Baliigantes that Morgante nam'd :
And crowds to share the c-lorious danj^cr claim'd.
O'er many a panting height and winding vale
They raiircli'd witli ensigns flutt'ring on the gale, 260
OF GRADASSO. 155
Or sparkling bright beneath the solar beam,
That lit them onward to the path of fame.
Soon to their view the Sericanean pow'rs,
And Barcelona's long contested tow'rs,
Appear' d but strongly posted they beheld 265
The Pagan host, undaunted, and unquell'd.
Whose outguards saw, with wonder, from afar
Advancing, various nations leagued in war ;
And having reconnoitred, quickly went
To bear th' alarm to proud Gradasso's tent. 2*70
True to the call of glory, prompt he rose
To liurl destruction on th' advancing foes.
Four tributary kings, wlu) fill'd his train,
He summon'd ; and gave orders to sustain
Tlie sloge with one division of the band, 275
While one more num'rous under his command
156 THE EXPEDITION
Should forward march, those levies to engage
Wlio dar'd to thwart his plans, or contest wage.
'* See that ere day decline, (he loudly cries,)
Yon tow'ring bastions fall, no more to rise : 280
Firmly assault the ramparts boldly scale.
Till valour o'er resistance shall prevail.
But careful watch, amid the gen'ral strife.
To spare the Saracen Grandonio's life.
That caitiff, who pretends that he alone 285
Will foil my aims on him be vengeance shewn.
Load him with chains, and plunge him far from light,
Deep in some dungeon's artificial night.
In noisome damps with reptiles let him dwell,
Nor comfort visit the forsaken cell. 29Q
Against my deep-mouth'd dogs the boastful knight
Shall strive hereafter in degrading fight ;
When routed, all those succours lately come
Shall feel my prowess, and receive their doom."
or GRADASSO. 157
Gradasso ceas'd the vassal kings perform 295
His dread command disposing all to storm
The hapless town. Meanwhile the monarch leads
His legions nor fatigue nor danger heeds.
The band divided in three columns mov'd,
By chieftains headed, well in war approv'd ; 300
And in the ranks gigantic figures strode,
Tdll as the pines that overtop the wood.
Alfrcte, distinguish'd 'mid the monstrous race.
Whose arm sustain'd a pond'rous iron mace.
And Orion, he who from the foi'est tore 30.
An heavy branch, the sole defence he bore;
These and innuni'rous chiefs of equal mig])t.
Rush all iin^.aticnt to commence the fighl :
Like ardour ncrv'd th' allies, who us'd such lia>te,
Tlie sejjarating distance soon \\as past :
Near, and more ncai', the rival baimcrs wave,
The adveise trumpets answ'riug signals gave.
158 THE EXPEDITION
Lone Echo, starting from her rocky cell,
Rends the calm air their dread approach to tell,
And bears it to the waves that intervene 3 1 5
To part Italia's blooming coast from Spain.
Shouts, emulating shouts, increase the din.
The battle joins, th' heroic deeds begin
Fell Atropos, and her dire sisters, here
All busied in their fatal tasks appear. 320
With rapid step, the meagre form of Death
Tremendous stalks o'er graves that yawn beneath,
And shakes his icy dart. Stern fiends prevail.
And redolent of carnage snuff the gale.
Rinaldo's arm, in that most trying hour, 32)
Evinc'd an almost super-human power.
Wide thro' the field, Ferrau's ensanguin'd course
Was mark'd by acts of wonder-raising force ;
E'en as on Ganges' banks the tvser falls
On grazing herd:^, and ev'ry heait appalls, S30
OF GRADASSO. 159
While tenfold light'ning flashes from his eyes.
And some poor victim at each movement dies.
Alfrete he slew and thro' the Pagan train
Spread havoc ; but his toils were spent in vain ;
For fortune, never yet a steady friend, S3 5
His triumph brought to a degrading end.
Opprest by numbers destitute of aid
His rage derided, and his hopes betray'd,
The hero, tied, in proof of hate and scorn,
A pris'ner to Gradasso's camp is borne. 340
Wide rag'd the dreadful fight, redoubled in^
Marsilius and the Saracens inspire.
Wild with resentment for their hero's ill,
Insatiate vcno-eance all their bosoms fill.
The Sericans with ardour met the charge, .'545
And havock, unrestricted, reign'd at larg".
160 THE EXPEDITION
As when the radiant sun, thro' boundless space,
Propels the fiery comet's fearful race,
The multitude with wonder view its course,
So ev'ry gazer mark'd the rapid force 350
With which Rinaldo thunder'd o'er the plain,
And render'd all opposing eifforts vain.
Gradasso saw the knight the squadrons lead,
Borne by Bayardo, that unequall'd steed.
Whose fame had lur'd him from his regal seat, 355
The various hazards of the war to meet.
Pleas'd he beheld a hero's deeds, which shone
With splendor, emulative of his own.
Nor was his lofty soul by envy mov'd,
For valour even in a foe he lov'd.
Like admiration fiU'd Rinaldo's breast,
When on th' allies the daring monarch prest.
And with his single arm spread such dismay.
As balanc'd long the fortune of the day.
OF GRADASSO. jLQl
In dread encounter oft the warriors meet, 365
As now the troops advance, and now retreat,
But separating crowds between them still
Rush headlong frustrating their ardent will
To prove each others might at length they join
In combat close as suits their great design. 370
Bellona's self, from great Olympus' height.
Well pleas'd might view their bold and skilful fight:
They charge they clash they struggle to obtain
The wreath of victory, but strive in vain ;
For though 'gainst all assaults Gradasso's mail 375
Was proof, and well his prowess might prevail.
With such celerity Rinaldo mov'd,
Such wond'rous energy liis efforts prov'd.
That eacli, exulting, triumph'd in his turn.
And yet by neither was the laurel worn. 380
At length to Clarmont's hope success inclin'd
Success as transient as the passing wind
M
162 THE EXPEDITION
For while Gradasso stoop'd beneath his might,
A fell distressful object rush'd on sight.
The youthful Richaixletto he beheld, 385
Borne by puissant Orion ^wholly quell'd.
What heart fraternal such an ill could bear,
Or own, in such an hour, a diff 'rent care !
He parts Gradasso quits th' unfinished fight,
And hastens to the rescue of the knight ; 390
From the huge monster's gripe redeem'd his prey,
And left him wounded execrating day.
This deed achieved, the hero starts away.
To mingle in the wild tumultuous fray ;
Knights, men, and steeds bestrew'd th' encumber'd
ground, 395
And co:)grogatod spears gleam'd widely round ;
Triun.pl'.atU: shoius, anrl cries of sad despair,
With dissonance Mstoundino- rent the air j
OF GRADASSO. 163
Whilst, at each pause, the hollow groan of death
Proclaim'd the vanquish'd soldiers' parting breath. 400
Hemm'd in, and struggling with innum'rous foes,
As dangers magnified, his spirit rose:
His lofty deeds his force, which all subdued,
With wonder and applause Gradasso view'd,
And made a courteous signal to invite 405
To peaceful conference th' intrepid knight.
With confidence, disdaining doubt or dread,
The Paladin the monarch's sign obey'd,
Who thus in gracious words his purpose drest.
The gen'rous impulse of a noble breaat. 410
" Illustrious chief, Avliose acts of high emprize,
And gallant feats strike all beholder's eyes.
The adamantine register of time
No record bears of valoiu* more sublime.
Yet lo ! thy potent arm thou wield'stin vain, 41fi
Encompass'd round by a determin'd train,
M 2
164 THE EXPEDITION
Thou can'st not hope to gain th' unequal field,
And must or die, or instant learn to yield.
But no advantages success can give,
Will I on terms ungenerous receive ; 420
Ne'er be it told that basely I opprest
A foe o'erpower'd, or warr'd on the distrest.
The voice of honor bids that I alone
Shall conquer and impels me to disown
All adventitious aid. Th' unfinish'd fight 425
Shall cease and soon as morning's rising light
The skies illumine, on some distant mead.
Some spot where human footsteps seldom tread.
In knightly guise, with hearts resolv'd, we'll meet ;
Nor want we witnesses to view the feat ; 430
One trial will adjust the rival claim.
To rank the highest in the roll of fame.
Mark though my troops shall this concession yield,
I'll never cede the honors of the field ;
OF GRADASSO. 165
No dastard motive moves my just desires, 435
No sanguinary thirst my wish inspires ;
An anxious hope to foil thy far fam'd force,
And win that glorious prize, thy matchless horse,
Incites the challenge should the chance be thine,
And fate to thee the victor's palra assign, 440
I'll yield the spoils and captives of my war.
And from this scene remove my forces far j
The flames of discord shall for ever cease,
And Saracens and Christians taste of peace,
Whilst I review my native Eastern shore, 445
And never seek the realms of Europe more.
llinaldo heard, with rising joy and pride,
And thus with meet respect the knight replied :
" Great king, whose magnanimity of soul,
No selfish consid'rations can controul, 450
166 THE EXPEDITION
Whose courage and address were ne'er surpast,
Whose lofty fame to latest time shall last j
The combat you propose, an honor brings,
Superior to the smiles of other kings j
This proof of estimation you bestow 4 .5.^
Enkindles in my breast an ardent glow
Of gratitude and in the listed course
Should I be worsted by thy mighty force,
Yet deathless glory must attend my fall,
O'ercome by him alone who conquers all. 460
With glad assent your royal will I meet,
Save but that part proposing a retreat.
My fame forbids though singly thus I stand,
Environ'd by a fierce detcrmin'd band,
I ne'er can meanly condescend to owe 46,5
My safety to the grace you would bestow.
No ! though the whole assembled force increase
The number of assailants ne'er shall cease
OF GRADASSO. 167
My efforts to resist. My hopes shall still
Keep equal pace with my unvarying will 470
To try the chances which my arms afford,
And hew a passage with my trusty sword,"
" Courageous son of an intrepid sire,
(Great Amon) much your spirit I admire,
(The king replied,) but be for once resign'd 475
The noble dictates of thy soaring mind :
Reserving for the combat we propose
A valour lavish'd ill on other foes
Force undiminish'd, and unwearied hands.
Strife such as that we mean to hold demands j 480
Then scorning ev'ry meaner care, prepare
The perils of more dang'rous war to dare.
Two leagues from hence there winds a lonely strand,
Where we the wish'd retirement may command ;
On one side, roeks conceal this close retreat, 48.5
On t'other, sullen waves incessant beat ;
168 THE EXPEDITION
There will I wait, at thy appointed hour,
To meet defeat, or to evince my pow'r j
If conquest crown me, I thy steed obtain,
But should my arm for once contend in vain, 490
The terras I mention'd shall most strictly bind,
And you my word inviolable find."
Rinaldo bow'd assent this wish to meet.
While the king gave the signal for retreat.
Th' astonish'd warriors start suspended stand 495
Their swords and much they mourn'd the dread
command,
Reluctant to forego what toil attain'd,
Or wave the conquest they had nearly gain'cl.
But strict obedience govem'd ev'ry breast.
That virtue of a soldier, first and best, 500
The factious voice of discontent was still,
And all conform'd to their xjreat leader's will.
OF GRADASSO. 169
Meanwhile Rlnaldo with his force retir'd,
And gain'd their camp. Marsilius still was fir'd
With rage for his lost son but forc'd to yield 505
To this new turn of fortune, left the field.
THE
EXFEBITION OF GRADASSO.
CANTO VI.
THE AKGUMEx^l,
Return of Angelica to Cathay. Grief of Galaphron.
Angelica visits and releases Malagigi, who goes in quest of
Rinaldo. Rinaldo rejects the advice of Malagigi. They
quarrel. Malagigi departs in displeasure. ^ Wonderful
adventure of Rinaldo.
CANTO VI.
rvESUME once more, oh ! muse, a dearer care,
The progress of AngeHca the fair.
Wing'd with the speed of fear, her flight she made.
And reach'd in safety a sequester'd shade.
Still had she fled, did not kind mem'ry bring 5
To mind the virtues of Galaphron's ring j
In these confiding, she her speed forbore.
And grateful blest enchantment's wondrous lore.
Reflection now resum'd its turn to reign,
And told that all her cherlsh'd hopes Avcre vain. 10
Distress'd deserted cheerless and forlorn.
At once the prey of wretchedness and scorn,
174 THE EXPEDITION
Her reason took a more decided part,
And check'd each weaker impulse of her heart ;
Much she desir'd to leave this hated shore, 15
And ne'er behold the stern Rinaldo more.
Five ling' ring days she spent in this lone seat.
Her lov'd Argalia still in hope to meet ;
But when the shadowy train of pensive night
Six times had fled before returning light, 20
And he appear'd not terror shook her soul,
And her presaging mind conceiv'd the whole.
" Too sure he lives not, (she, despairing, cried,)
Else would he not forsake his sister's side j
Oh ! brother ever friendly ever dear 25
Am I bereft of thee by fate severe ?
Who now shall in my sorrows bear a part,
Or soothe the pangs that rive my breaking heart ?
or GRADASSO. 175
Now may th' unfeeling world my ills despise,
The arm that would protect me pow'rless lies. 30
By violence pursued of wrongs the prey,
Forlorn Angelica is doom'd to stray,
While all thy lofty valour could not save
Worth such as thine, from an untimely grave.'
With falt'ring hand she turn'd the volume o'er.
Which late th' enchanter Malagigi bore. 36
Instant the dusky sprights around her gleam,
Thick as the atoms in the solar beam ;
In their own liidcous shapes the train appear,
And taint Avith vapours gross the ambient air. 4-0
Tlie maid th' ascent survcy'd with pale di!^may,
And horror, such as rose that fatal day
Wlieu sluuld'ring nature, and affrighted earth,
Bolield of sin and death the monstrous birth.
176 THI EXPEDITION
She saw with deeply agitated soul, 45
The grisly spectres bow to her controul ;
Argalia's death they to her ear unfold,
Confirming all that boding fancy told.
Fain would she disbelieve what they impart,
For ling'ring hope still nestled in her heart. 50
Illusive hope ! the wretch's treach'rous guest,
Which sheds its transient sunshine on the breast,
And shews each object in a brighter light,
To deepen disappointment's coming night.
Now reft of ev'ry barrier 'gainst despair, 55
Her shrieks the Dryades from their pastimes scare ;
The dew-ey'd njmiphs that tend the chrystal flood,
Flear her sad accents ecchoing through the wood ;
Xor ceas'd she agonizing to deplore,
Till her exhausted tears could flow no more. 60
OF GRADISSO. 177
And now the sprites obedient bear away
The mourner to her native realm Cathay.
Surpriz'd, Galaphron, from his regal seat.
Beheld his daughter kneeling at his feet j
Portentous omen she returns alone 65
She brings not back the hope of China's throne.
Aghast the father wrings his hands, and erics,
*' Argalia's form revisits not these eyes.
And ah ! too plainly in thy looks pourtray'd,
I read the dreadful cause." The weeping maid 70
What she had learnt, and what beheld, reveal'd
Galaphron, in his robe, his face conceal'd.
And hid his heartfelt anguish close from sight,
Abjuring comfort, and detesting light.
At length the wish of rend'ring rev'rence due To
To the lost prince, those pangs of grief subdue
178 THE EXPEDITION
Which else were endless. Thro' the sorrowing land,
The utmost pomp that greatness could command,
Or loyal hearts bestow, was widely spread,
To pay meet rites to the lamented dead. 80
Alas 1 how vain ! When ceas'd this earthlv strife.
And clos'd the evanescent day of life,
The soul, far borne from this terrestrial sphere,
Nor worldly splendor needs, nor human care ;
No mortal sighs can pierce the awful gloom 85
That wraps the silent tenant of the tomb.
While solemn thus, the white rob'd mourners move,
And plaintive strains evince a nation's love,
Far, far remote their hapless object lies.
And died without a friend to close his eyes, 90
WTiile with those ills the suiF'ring fair one strove,
Ceas'd was th' influence of insidious love
OF GRADASSO. 179
From sorrow quick the pow*r fantastic flies ;
He lives in zephyrs, but in tempests dies.
But soon the tyrant re-assum'd his reign, 9B
And forc'd her captiv'd heart to feel his chain ;
The present objects from her view recede,
And to the westward still the lovely maid
With unavailing sorrow bent her eyes.
And loaded ev'ry passing gale with sighs : 100
" Ye pow'rs ! (she cries) is there no happy art,
To rescue from such wretchedness my heart ?
Though distance parts, and seas between us flow.
Perversely fancy strays in quest of woe.
With cruel skill, she paints ih'ingrate to view, 105
And bids the tear of anguish gush anew.
Again I feel th' inflicted wounds of scorn
Again I sigh insulted and forlorn.
From wisdom's lore the soul may learn to bear
The cares of life, and fortune's frown severe, 110
180 THE EXPEDITION
But where shall we a lenient med'cine find,
To cure those ills deep seated in the mind ?
Should I to magic secrets have recourse,
Alas 1 how pow'rless were their boasted force
Though lit by pale-eyed Cynthia's silver light, 115
I rove in search of herbs the live-long night,
Or watch when sultry Syvius rules the skies,
To snatch the fa v' ring moment of his rise,
And force the trembling wood nymplis to betray
Their votive care, and yield the spelful spray ; 1 20
The harsh rent tendrils I in vain may tear,
And mutter sounds affrighting to the air,
Nor witching plants, nor constellated charms,
Could free my deep rack'd bosom from alarms j
And, lost Medea, plain thy fate may prove 125
That magic soothes not hate, nor conquers love."
Thus vengeful love redeem'd the transient hour
,In which, by grief cxpell'd, he wav'd his pow'r,
OF GRADASSO. 18J
And in Cathay Angelica obtain'd *
Still less repose than she in Ardenne gain'd 130
As the poor stricken deer, who wanders wide,
And bears the arrow rankling in his side.
Augments his pain so to the hapless fair,
Increasing distance gave increase of care.
At iengtli a sudden recollection brought 135
The French enchanter to her lab'ring thought.
And once again she sought, by magic lore.
His name, and his condition to explore
The ever ready sprites obey'd her call,
Imparting that the knight she held in thrall 140
Was Malagigi, Agrismontc's pride,
And Jicar to Clarmont's noble house allied.
Hope sciz'd this slender hold still prone to rear
Her stiuctures on tlie unsubstantial air,
And whispcr'd soft, " This pris'ner might reveal 14-5
That future destiny the fates conceal."
18^2 THE EXPEDITION
With Strong compassion too her soul was mov'd
For the hard bondage Malagigi prov'd.
Thus love and pity in accord agree,
To bid the captive taste of liberty. 550
Lost to the world, the Paladin remain'd,
Like sad Prometheus, to a rock enchain'd,
And discontent, excluding hope or rest,
Gnaw'd, a perpetual vulture at his breast.
With him the solitary hours mov'd slow, 155
While recollection aggravated woe:
Great were the present mis'ries he endur'd,
And threat'ning clouds each future view obscur'd
Reflection on strong feelings oft bestows
(When wrought too high) pre-eminence in woes ; 160
Wide through the range of time the busy mind
Expatiates^ by no boundaries confin'd,
QF GRADASSO. l8S
With poVrful hand unlocking all the cells,
Where, lull'd to transient slumber, mem'ry dwells,
And bids her tell of happiness destroy'd, 165
And call up long lost joys to fill the void
Misfortune has laid waste with barb'rous art,
By contrast to enhance affliction's smart.
Or should remembrance these inflictions cease,
Imagination, prone to banish peace, 170
With restless vigilance and prying eyes,
The evils future time may bring descries.
Thus, e'en though fate dispense no real ill.
Too anxious mortals are unhappy still :
In safety doubtful, and in joy unblest, 175
\'ain fancy breaks contentment's balmy rest.
But such was Malagigi's hapless state.
That reason lent her sanction to create
Sad apprehensions, double ev'ery blow.
And speed him swiftly to the shades below. ISO
184* THE EXPEDITION
Whilst wrapt in sadness Malagigi stood,
And pensive listen'd to the surge swoln flood,
Amaz'd, he saw the dame, in air afar.
Move rapid, like some bright erratic star ;
Still, as the dazzling vision gain'd on sight, 185
A nearer view gave birth to new delight :
Each wonder-working trait each forceful charm
That erst suspended his avengeful arm.
When to his aid his better genius came.
And sav'd him from a recreant's hateful name, 190
He recogniz'd and, 'mid surrounding woes.
Auspicious flatt'ring presages arose j
His nighted soul a dawning hope confest.
And livelier spirits flutter'd in his breast.
The gen'rous mind no tardy grant confers. 19 5
And soon as lighted on the strand appears
OF GKADASSO. 185
Angelica. Her gracious visage shews
The coming good her kindly boon bestows.
*' Oh ! thou, of noble race, (she gently said)
I come to end thy pangs, and bring thee aid- 200
No more shall enmity our souls divide,
But friendship ev'ry future action guide.
Too long reclin'd on this cold flinty bed,
(The bleak winds howling round thy hapless head)
With horrors hast - thou dwelt thy cares are o'er,
And persecution shall retui'n no more. 206
Lo ! by all potent spells I rend thy chain,
And give thee back to freedom once again."
Tlie Paladin, amazed, could scarcely find
Fit language to express his grateful mind. 210
*' Oh, ever lovely maid ! (he cries) command
Some miirhtv service from this new-freed hand:
186 THE EXPEDITION"
! never shall that goodness be forgot,
That felt compassion for my rigid lot ;
Still, still shall sacred obligation bind 215
In fetters, never to be loos'd, my mind ;
From ills to guard thee, and chastise thy foes.
Is the prevailing wish ray bosom knows."
With downcast look the maid replied, " I trace
My greatest ill from Clarmont's haughty race ; 220
For ne'er my wretched heart affliction prov'd,
Till, forced by fate, I stern Rinaldo lov'd :
Ah ! think how truly, when, forgetting pride,
1 own a weakness which I ought to hide."
Low sunk her falt'ring voice, and, ill supprest, 225
Tears forced their way, and spoke her tortur'd breast.
*' Oh ! enviable lot ! (the knight exclaims)
How little of this bliss Rinaldo dreams !
OF GRADASSO. 187
Permit that I depart, and instant bear
The glorious tidings to his raptur'd ear j 230
And let the pleasing task of serving thee
Be the first use I make of liberty."
*' Thy friendship, thy disinterested zeal,
(The maid replied) with gratitude I feel,
And will requite. Tlie wond'rous book I bear,
Again I will surrender to your care.
Ilestor'd to all that power whose loss you mourn,
No more the mocking fiends your rule shall scorn."
Thus spoke Angelica* The knight, o'erjoy'd,
The utmost force of eloquence cmploy'd 240
His thanks to pay, and willingly he swore
He ne'er would give his grateful efforts o'er.
Nor nought his firm fix'd purpose should restrain,
lo bring Tlinaldo to her view xigain.
18B THE EXPEDITIOK
Confiding in these vows, she now restor'd 245
Th' enchanter's book, which quickly he explor'd.
And summon'd up his demons. Some convey'd
Back to Galaphron's court the royal maid,
While to transport the knight, a larger band
"Wide to the air their dusky plumes expand. 250
Such was the speed with which the legion flew,
That China's leycl land was lost to view.
And, by the earliest glimpse of morning's light.
The Pyrenean mountains rose to sight.
In the long flight the busy sprites reveal'd 255
The incidents which had rcmain'd conccal'd
From Malagigi in his captiv'd state,
And all Gradasso's wars they told elate j
For, foes to man, the envious train still find
J~)eliglit, when mis'ry falls on human kind. 260
While thus the fiends of warlike darings speak,
V hnme'^ loAvii)'; tint i^ufius'd th' enchanter's check.
OF GRADASSO. 189
Anon his pallid hue disclos'd a rage,
No charm could soothe, no remedy assuage ;
For deeply painful to his conscious heart ^Q"'
Was the conviction that his horrid art
Had led him far from glory's path to stray.
And miss to share in many an arduous day.
The sprites discern'd the workings in his breast.
And, fraught with malice keen, the subject prest; 270
But guilt could never yet be brought to bear
What innocence can meet without a fear ;
And fierce in wrath th' indignant knight arose.
Imposing silence on his envious foes.
Fatigued, o'ertoil'd throughout an hard-fought
day, 576
Repos'd within his tent Rinaldo lay ;
But soon from slumber rous'd, his opening eyes
Beheld his long lost kinsman witli surprise.
190 THE EXPEDITION
Instant he rose, and in kind words exprest
The innate feelings of his joyful breast. 280
Quick interrupting, Malagigi told
The purpose he was eager to unfold.
" Fav'rite of Fate, (he cried) prepare thine heart
To bear the bliss I've hasten'd to impart :
An unexpected joy, by far more great 285
Than hope or flatt'ring fancy can create.
Ambition could not covet, fate bestow,
More good than you to bounteous fortune owe."
Rinaldo heard attentive ; in his face
The feelings of his mind the eye might trace; 290
Incertitude and hope by turns employ
His thought and fancy sketches promis'd joy.
*' S]>cak on, (he cried) thy tidings quick convey,
Not agitate my mind with long delay I
OF GRADASSO. 191
Say, what felicity does Heav'n impart, 295
That moves such pleasure in thy friendly heart ?"
*' What I'll divTilge (the knight returns) will prove
Thee much by fortune fevour'd much by love
For thee, those pow'rs, too oft divided, join,
And all their best and choicest gifts are thine. 300
Know then the fair delight of ev'ry eye.
For whom unnumber'd monarchs vainly sigh :
Know, in a word, Angelica, bright dame.
For thee acknowledges a tender flame."
** And who is this Angelica, (replied 30.*
Rinaldo) ; say, where does the fair reside ?
Is she of Saracen or Pagan race ?
Or to what distant country does she trace
Her origin ?" '* From royal race she spring?,
The long illustrious line of China's kin-Ts. .>K-'
192 THE EXPEDITION
This lovely nymph, the heiress of a throne,
(Cried Malagigi) must to thee be known ;
Thou can'st not, sure, forget the festive day,
When all the Paladins, in grand display,
Assembled, ere the jousts th' Emperor held, 315
A stranger came, of beauty unexcell'd.
Who, in that ever memorable hour.
Taught ev'ry gazer's heart to own her pow'r."
" And is it she ? (the knight disdainful cries)
Is this the happiness the wond'rous prize ? 320
No joy to me her partial folly gives;
My heart averse, with cold neglect receives
Such idle fondness force me not to hear
A plea the most disgustful to my ear."
Th' enchanter heard, and star'd with wond'ring eyes.
And scarce foiuul word? to tell his strong surprize.
OF GRADASSO. 193
** Shall I (he cried) unwilling credence give
To sounds so strange or do my ears deceive ?
Wliat wild caprice of fancy can erase
Thy admiration of a mien and face 330
Fair as the nymphs that range Idalia's grove,
And graceful as the beauteous queen of love ?
If grandeur or ambition charms impart,
Or merit hold an influence in thy heart,
Her's the distinction of superior birth, 335
Hcr's the far better claim of innate worth.
Search o'er the earth, and you can never find
A form so lovely, such a perfect mind.
BiU, e'en if charms like those successless prove.
Let friendship still thy stubborn bosom move. 24-0
Know, that should my negociation fail.
And this reluctance 'gainst my words prevail,
On mc a dreadful punishment will fall.
Of cruel bondage doom'd the hopeless thrall j
o
194 THE EXPEDITION
And to a frightful prison back convey'd, 345
To dwell, remov'd from comfort and from aid ;
For honor's laws immutable ordain
To keep my promise, or resume my chain."
Deep in despondence plung'd, Rinaldo sigh'd.
And thus in melancholy guise replied 350
** The ruling fates my struggling mind controul,
And some strange cause unknown compels my soul
To hold this maid in unrelenting hate :
Contempt disdain disgust for words too great,
The mention of her name alone inspires, SS5
Nor can I e'er accord to thy desires.
Yet deem not falsely of the deepfelt part
My ever constant and unalter'd heart
Takes in thy ills. Name any other course
By which I may e\anee my friendship's force : 86
OF GRADASSO. 19
Place me where Niger rolls his long-drawn tide,
The alligator's fierce attack t'abide ;
Or deep in lonely Nubia's snn-scorch'd groves,
Where lurks the pard, and the hyena roves ;
Let me unarm'd their savage fury dare, 365
And see what perils I'll undaunted bear j
Or bid me climb thro' trackless heaps of snow,
To where th' imprison'd fires of Etna glow,
And hear the cyclops ply their dreadful trade.
And see the foi'ky brands for thunders made, 370
Unshrinking will I tread the treach'rous ground.
Though streams of burning lava gush ai'ound."
" Shame on th' attachment whose unsteady fires
Burn dim, when friendship useful aid requires.
And blazing bright, when cv'ry prospect smiles, 375
Witli needless offer'd warmth the heart beguiles,
92
196 THE EXPEDITION
(The knight replied). Can such ignoble art
Find harbour in a once ingenuous heart ?
And is it thus affection you repay,
Oft exercis'd thro' many a trying day ? 380
Are all your vows of amity forgot ?
And no compassion felt for that sad lot
Your hard unkindness forces me to bear ?
The weight of chains, and rendings of despair,'*
** In pity give these fruitless pleadings o'er, 385
And urge impossibilities no more,
(Rinaldo cries) ; no eloquence can sway
My stedfast mind your dictates to obey.
Like the tough oak that rears its lofty form,
Unyielding to the fury of the storm, 390
In opposition firm, it will not bend.
Else would I listen to my chosen friend.
OF GRADASSO. 197
But sooner may the surly winter bring
The fruits of autumn and the flow'rs of spring ;
The mountain stream flow backward to its source.
Or the bright planets leave their stated course, 396
Than admiration can inspire the breast
Which indurated scorn has once possest ;
Or any pow'r shall teach the loathing soul
The feelings of aversion to controul. 400
Far other cares I now prepare to prove,
Than such fantastic ones as spring from love :
His train of idle hopes, and causeless fears,
Avv'd by approaching glory, disappears ;
Gradasso's might this day I mean to try, 405
And I or triumph must or bravely die."
Increasing: ire th' Enchanter's bosom swell'd,
Nor patience longer strong emotion quell'd ;
198 THE EXPEDITION
Quick from his eyes the flash tremendous broke,
And thus, in accents harsh, his rage he spoke : 410
*' Since kindred's ties, nor friendship's sacred bands,
Shall never more unite our adverse hands.
Dread that resentment which you've dar'd to scorn.
And mourn laps'd grace that never shall return.
Callous in nature insolent in sovd 4-15
Soon shalt thou learn to bend to strong controul ;
The ardent workings of thy mind I know,
And those resolves that in thy bosom glow j
And amply am I arm'd with means to wound
Thy tow'ring pride, and all tliy schemes confound ;
Nor shall I, weakly hesitating, cease 42 1
To crush a wretch, of friendship the disgrace."
Hinaldo rose, with equal rage inspir'd,
To punish insults which liis bosom fir'd.
OF GRADASSO. 199
But Malagigi's form was lost to sight, 425
Borne by the viewless sons of Stygian night
Fleet and impetuous as the stormy wind,
That vanishes, nor leaves a trace behind.
Or changeful clouds that melt before the eye.
Deceitful tenants of a summer sky. 430
While anger and amaze Rinaldo sway'd,
Lo ! Malagigi reach'd a gloomy shade.
Where he his conjui'ations might pursue,
Screen'd from obtrusive eyes, or casual view.
By fell resentment prompted, loud he calls, 435
In accents that the sinking heart appalls ;
And still submissive to the dire demand,
Falsetto and Draguiuesse before him stand.
" Falsetto, (he cried) a diff'rent shape put on.
Nor show the form of foul Metrcera's sorj. 440
200 THE EXPEDITION
Marsilius* herald seem in that disguise
Go seek the tent where proud Gradasso lies,
And tell him, that at noontide's fervid hour,
Rinaldo will await his mighty pow'r
Upon th' appointed strand." On ready wing 445
Convey'd, the sprite soon stood before the king.
Who gladly acquiesced, o'erjoy'd to find
A danger suited to his tow'ring mind ;
And on the seeming herald he bestow'd
Rewards that from a royal bounty flow'd. i.'iO
Soon as he issued from the monarch's tent,
The wily spirit to Rinaldo went.
Transform'd, he now a varied visage wears,
And like Gradasso's chosen friend appears :
His head a turban wraps in many a fold ; 455
A Persian garment, richly fring'd with gold,
OF GRADASSO. 201
Descended to his feet j large rings appear
Depending ornamental from each ear,
Set with Golconda's gems, which on the sight
Effus'd bright beams of various tinted light ; 460
A truncheon grac'd his hand. In this disguise
He proudly stood before Rinaldo's eyes,
And said, " The Sericanean king for thee
Awaits, upon a bank that skirts the sea.
Where, by agreement, you are bound to meet,
Unwiiness'd, on a secret cause to treat." 466
The Paladin, with strong displeasure, heard
His proud antagonist had first appear'd
Upon the dcstiu'd ground ; but curb'd hi> ire,
And hasted to comply with the desire. 4T0
He Richardetto summon'd to his sight,
And briefly spoke of tlie intended figlil.
202 THE EXPEDITION
** Th' important charge our monarch gave (he cried,)
To thy entrusted care I now confide.
Assume my station, with the full command, 475
And, should I fall, lead home the warrior band,
Nor mourn my fate thus greatly life to end.
Well pleas'd I'll to an early grave descend."
Sorrowing, the youthful knight the mandate heard,
And " Oh ! (he cried) my brother most rever'd, 480
Ne'er may thy fall Gradasso's annals grace,
Already too triumphant o'er our race.
Two sons of Clarmont, brave, alas ! in vain.
In ignominious bondage drag his chain."
" To free our brothers from th' oppressor's hand.
And from his ravage shield our native land, 486
I haste, (Rinaldo cries) ; fulfil my trust.
And still be loyal, valorous, and just."
OF GRADASSO. 203
And now with rapid steps Bayardo bore
The Paladin, and reach'd the destin'd shore.
But, lo ! no vaunting enemy was nigh, 491
Nor any living object met the eye.
Close by the bank a little bark was moor'd,
'Mid scatter'd rocks, by cordage well secur'd ;
The beating tide alone, with sullen sound, 495
Broke the deep silence that prevail'd around.
Rinaldo stopp'd, transfix'd in strong amaze,
And turn'd to ev'ry point his ardent gaze ;
His anxious mind conceiv'd that his delay
Had piqued the king against a longer stay ; 500
And much he fcar'd this adverse work of fate
Suspicions 'gainst his valour might create.
While this conjecture rack'd his troubled breast,
Gradasso's form advanc'd to view confest :
His rich resplendent arms, his lucent shield, .'Oi
And golden circlet, glittur'd o'er the field ;
204 THE EXPEDITION
And waving graceful in the breezy wind,
His snowj' plumage flutter'd unconfin'd.
So well had Draguinesse assum'd his guise,
No doubt of his identity could rise. 510
Deceiv'd, Rinaldo onward rode to meet
The sprite, who, proudly rising in his seat,
Awaited his approach. *' Behold, great King,
To keep my word I come, and with me bring
Bayardo, who, when we our arms have tried, 515
Shall be the victor's prize, (Rinaldo cried.)
Oft has he help'd to win the arduous field.
But now, by honors sacred voice impelFd,
I cede this chance, and will on foot maintain
The strife." With lofty port, and mute disdain, 520
The demon from his phantom steed descends,
And action all expostulation ends.
The first assault by Draguinesse was sped,
By which he feign'd to lop the warrior's head j
OF GRADASSO. 205
But Amon's son his buckler interpos'd, 525
And with his foe in fiercer warfare clos'd.
Blows followed blows with danger ardour grew,
And now they breathe, and now the fight renew.
At length, incens'd, upon the ample field
Rinaldo, raging, cast his pond'rous shield, 530
And with his sword the demon's helmet cleft,
WTio seem'd of sight, of sense, and strength bereft j
But soon reviving, turn'd his back to flee,
And quickly reach'd the border of the sea.
Rinaldo swift pursues " Stay, stay, (he cries) 535
Bayardo ne'er will bear a knight who flies.'*
But Draguinesse to his reproachful words
Kor answer makes, nor list'ning ear affords ;
But gain'd the bark, and headlong leapt on board.
Rinaldo follow'd, with uplifted sword : S-tO
The demon, feigning to avoid the blow,
Shifted from prow to poop from poop to prow,
206 THE EXPEDITION
And having long provok'd the wearied knight,
Vanish'd in empty air, and mock'd his sight.
A prodigy so strange, with strong surprise 54i5
Inspir'd his mind and in attentive guise
He view'd the bark, in hope the cause to learn
Of such inversion, but could none discern.
While yet he gaz'd, new wonders met his eyes ;
He saw the foamy waves around him rise. 550
Amid the roaring deep the bark was tost, -
And ev'ry vestige of the shore was lost.
While far from land the hapless knight was borne.
Without or hope, or prospect of return,
He rais'd his melancholy looks to heav'n, 555
And cried, " Dread fate ! what crime of mine has
givn
Offence so great, as to be thus chastis'd
With punishment the keenest e'er dcvis'd ?
Oir GRADASSO. " 207
Alas ! my honour, dearer far than life,
Is lost for ever in this ill starr'd strife. 560
In vain th' event I seek to comprehend,
Perplex'd reflection labours to no end j
No clue she finds to guide her to the source
Of wonders, far surpassing nature's course.
In some deceptions snare too surely caught, 565
It was not Sericana's king I fought ;
Some visionary form my eyes deceiv'd.
But will so strange a tale be e'er believ'd ?
Ah ! no. Perhaps while I the seas explore,
The valiant monarch waits me on the shore j 570
My name will now become the Pagans' jest,
And all the high priz'd fame I once possest.
In sad exchange be turn'd to foul disgrace
Inilclible, which time can ne'er efface.
A seeming recreant I the army leave, 575
And all my royal master's hopes deceive.
208 THE EXPEDITION, &C.
Oh ! had I in the battle yielded breath,
And seal'd my glory by a noble death,
How welcome were a lot so easy borne ;
But now I die a mark for pointing scorn." 580
Thus mourn'd the ^vretched knight, but mourn'd
in vain j
To the deaf winds, and the regardless main.
His little bark expanded full her sail.
To catch the breath of ev'ry passing gale,
^Vhilst thro' the parted waves, with rapid force,
She eastward steadily pursu'd her course. 586
THS
EXPEDITION OF GRADASSO.
CANTO VII.
THE ARGUMENT.
Progress and perils of Orlando. His engagement
with a giant, placed by the King of Circassia to guard a
pass. Overcomes the sphinx Defeats a cyclop. Hears
tidings of Angelica. Arrives in the domain of Dragontine.
Tastes of her enchanted cup, and is disabled from pur-
suing his intended route.- Remains a prisoner in her
castle.
CANTO VII.
Ionian maids, your flight celestial bend,
To where Orlando's weary efforts tend,
Far, far from duty's path, and honor's way,
Led, spite of reason and remorse, to stray;
By pow'rs more strong than those of magic art 5
The ungovern'd passions of the human heart
A progress unremitting he pursued.
To reach where Tanias pours a plenteous flood,
And many a level tract irriguous laves,
Before it mingles with the Euxine waves. 10
No sweet diversity the landscape cheers.
No pleasing trace of social life appears.
Aniitl the fir-crown'd Ibrcsts lynxes stray.
And Calmuck hunters chase their nimble prey ;
212 THE EXPEDITION
Or the Kirguisian shepherds wander wide, 15
Their flocks with needful pasture to provide ;
Yet still the wond'rous pow'r of mighty love
Impell'd the Paladin new toils to prove.
The gales of morn the mid-day sun the dew
Of fading eve, by turns he bore nor knew 20
Or rest or respite, e'en from Cynthia's rise,
Till when she left the empire of the skies.
But all this long research was made in vain
Of the fair nymph no vestige could he gain ;
None could the wish'd intelligence impart, 25
Or guide him to the mistress of his heart.
Far in a lonely wild, at early day,
As museful he pursued his pensive way.
An aged man he suddenly beheld,
With feeble step advancing o'er the field ; 30
OF GRADASSO. 215
Low bends the sire beneath the weight of years,
But more with sorrow laden he appears ;
His overflowing heart, by grief constrain'd,
Rose to his lips, and loudly he complain'd.
Orlando, who ne'er caught a sight of woe, 35
Without a wish kmd solace to bestow,
Check'd Brigliadoro's rein, with ready hand.
The cause of this affliction to demand.
The mourner slowly rais'd his languid eyes.
And thus replied, with interrupting sighs 40
What can a parent's heartfelt grief assuage.
Who sees the prop of his declining age.
His all of hope the son he'd die to save.
Cut off from life, to moulder in the grave ?
This latul morn Oh ! would to ruling Heav'n, 45
It never to my wretched view was giv'n !
214 THE EXPEDITION
Supported by my son, I left my home,
By evil genius prompted thus to roam
To where, two leagues from hence, a rocky mound
Erects its tow'ring head environ'd round 50
With a deep moat, o'er which a bridge is thrown,
Clos'd with a gate of bright transparent stone ;
Terrific flames at intervals appear,
And fearful sounds assail the trembling ear.
We strove to pass unseen, and gain the road, 55
But, lo ! a warrior, of the giant brood,
Rush'd furiously to seize my duteous boy.
And 'reft my with'ring heart of ev'ry joy !
Unhappy sire ! thy fate is far too hard
Robb'd of all good, yet from the tomb debarr'd :
No tender son will smooth thy couch of death, 61
No race of his will weep thy parting breath
Condeuiu'd alone to tread this vale of tears.
And bear, unaided, life's last painful years."
OF GRADASSO. 215
Orlando weigli'd the grievance in his mind, 65
And once resolv'd, in accents kind rejoin'd,
*' Take comfort, sire, nor yield to weak despair;
To bring thee back thy son, shall be my care."
" Alas ! Sir Knight, (the drooping father cried)
Should you f. conflict such as this abide, 70
All pow'rfui as you seem, an equal fate
"With that which whelms my son must on you wait."
" In danger's rugged paths the laurels grow.
That grace the warrior's brow. Though full they
blow,
No tim'rous hand e'er pluck'd the glorious prize
^V"ho seeks for fame, all perils must despise. 76
Then firmly trust, nor think my promise vain,
(The knight replied) to free thy son again."
" Too sure (the sire resum'd) my son no more
Exists, and all his earthly wrongs arc o'er ; 80
216
THE EXPEDITION
Then, gen'rous as you are, your kindly aid
Were unavailing and by hope betray'd,
You'd rush on death j for should your wond'ring eyes
Behold the monstrous giant's port and size,
Each with'ring pow'r in wild amaze would start, 85
And cold the life blood stagnate at your heart."
Orlando, smiling, heard the cautious sire.
And courteous answer'd, ** To your kind desire
I cannot yield accordance, though I feel
Most gratefiil for this proof of friendly zeal j 90
But bound by vow to succour the distrest,
I fly to follow duty's high behest.
My great profession suits but ill with fear.
For warfare to a soldier's heart is dear.
I ask thee not to bear an active part, gs
Unfit to cope with hardships as thou art :
OF GRADASSO. 217
No partner shall with me in danger share
Support thy sinking heart, and wait me here.
If not before th' ascending car of light,
With glowing axle reach meridian height, 100
I come victorious then pursue thy way,
Nor in this dreary wild prolong thy stay.
As near the high-pil'd mound the warrior drew,
Incessant dazzling fires around him flew :
Forth from the rock the flashes seem'd to break, 105
Nor Hecla's top, nor Teneriffe's dread peak.
More formidable shew'd. Yet dauntless still
He onward rush'd, his purpose to fulfil.
At length he reach'd the bridge j and posted there
The giant stood who, with audacious air, 110
Exclaini'd, " Approach not turn, ere yet you meet
Inevitable ruin and defeat.
218 THE EXPEDITION
Circassia's monarch to my guard assign'd
This pass nor shall the charge be e'er resign'd.
'Mongst all who heretofore my might defied, 115
Or all whom destiny shall hither guide,
No foe was found, nor evei* shall appear,
Endued with force to foil my votive care.
High on the summit of yon cliff, there stands
A close recess, unform'd by mortal hands ; 120
A direful sphinx there makes her dread abode.
On whom the fates a wond'rous gift bestow'd
Of answ'ring all that questioners propound,
And each decision pertinent is found.
In turn, the sphinx proposes her demands, 125
^^'hich none can solve and by her vengeful hands
Her failing victims seiz'd, and, hurl'd from high,
At the rock's base in nuui<;lcd fraa-ments lie."
Orlando hcaixl the giant's strange discourse,
rnniovVI bv threat'^, luiaw'd bv obvious Ibrcc j iLid
OF GRADASSO. 219
" I ask not with this boasted sphinx to speak,
(He stern replied) ; my errand is to seek
A youth, late reft from his unhappy sire,
Whose liberty I at your hands require."
" Your tale (the giant cried) is boldly told ; 135
The pris'ner you describe in bonds I hold ;
From my firm grasp 'twere difficult, I deem,
To wrest a captive but if you esteem
Your arm sufficient, lo ! I dare its might."
The knight sprung forward, and commcnc'd the fight.
Hard was the strife but fortune justly gave 141
The vict'ry to the gen'rous and the brave.
The furious monster, wounded and o'ercome,
Fell on the field, and yielded to his doom,
While great Orlando broke the captive's chain, 11.3
And [)rov'il his promise was not made in vain.
220 THE EXPEDITION
To th' aged mourner was the youth rcstor'd,
By the strong arm of Brava's potent lord :
But who could paint the rapture and surprise
That warm'd the father's breast, and fill'd his eyes ?
No words his grateful feelings can impart, 151
Or speak th' emotions of his swelling heart.
Their thanks receiv'd, the knight re-took the road
To that dread spot where the volcano stood.
To seek the sphinx, and force her to disclose 155
Where dwelt the beauteous cause of all his woes ;
That fair unknown, who led him thus to rove,
The victim of an unregarded love ;
While that great cause that erst engross'd his breast,
No longer was reniomber'd or confest. 1 60
No surly guard the passage now defends,
And unmolcbted he his footsteps bends,
OF GRADASSO. 221
E'en to the rock's large base, though flames appear,
And frequent sounds appalling din, his ear.
High 'mid the clouds it rear'd its head sublime 165
Nor could he hope the dread ascent to climb ;
For, smoothly polish'd on all sides, in vain
Were all attempts its eminence to gain.
At length a darksome cavern he espied.
Cut in the rock, and winding in its side 170
Rude steps were hewn. This path he quick essay'd.
In hope it to the sphinx's haunt might lead :
Fatigue, and ev'ry hardship, he disdain'd,
And, spite of the obscurity that reign'd,
Thro' toil and danger he emerg'd to light, 17-5
And lo ! the monster stood reveal'd to sight.
" Oh ! thou, (he cried) whose skill can all discern,
To thee I come, my fair one's name to learn :
Disclose, then, on wiiat favour'd spot of cartli
She now sojourns lior country, and her bii'lh.'' ISO
222 THE EXPEDITION
The sphinx, with horrid dissonance, replied,
" In fam'd Albracca doth the fair reside ;
Cathay her native land, The haughty dame
A princess is Angelica her name.
But since I fully answer all you ask, 1 85
Prepare to undertake an equal task ;
And know, should you in just responses fail,
Nor arms shall save you, nor defensive mail ;
For headlong from this dizzy height I'll cast
Your mangled form, to wither in the blast." 190
And now a deep enigma she propos'd.
The most complex her malice e'er disclos'd.
In vain the knight its dubious meaning sought,
And quick the sphinx discern'd his puzzled thought j
Her shouts exultant fill'd the echoing air 195
Slie spread her wings, and soar'd to overbear
OP GRADASSO. 223
Her victim but his sword Durandin sped,
And while the monster flutter'd o'er his head,
He lopt one pinion. Obstinate the foe
Fought fierce, nor would her destin'd prey forego,
Till, weaken'd by repeated wounds, she fell, 201
And bade to light and life a long farewell.
Though hardly prest in this tremendous fight.
With arm untir'd, and heart elate, the knight
Precipitates the monster's huge remains 205
Down the steep rock, and soon the plain regains.
Ye energies of an immortal mind,
For greatest, wisest purposes dcsign'd,
How arc you wasted by unthinking man 20i>
In. vain pursuits ! Wide from the gracious plan,
That bids those pow'rs, when rightly understood,
Conduce to private bliss, and gen'ral good.
224 THE EXPEDITION
This ill-directed spirit still withheld
The great Orlando from the glorious field,
(Where ev'ry warrior, ev'ry patriot strove, 215
By emulative deeds, his zeal to prove)
In idle broils to seek the victor's crown,
And leave to proud Gradasso high renown.
Pleas'd with the certainty of where to find
The dame, whose beauty long enchain'd his mind,
Again the knight urg'd Brigliadoro's course, 22 1
Until a river, from a distant source.
With interposing barrier stopp'd his way.
And forc'd him, much reluctant, to delay.
Black, rapid, and profound appear'd the tide, 225
And strong it bubbled. Down on either side
Steep banks ran shelving none could try the ford ;
No boat along the lonely shore was moor'd.
OF GRADASSO. 225
Long, on the borders, with enquiring eyes.
To find a passage heedfully he tries, 230
And reach'd at length a bridge but, lo ! the fates,
To mar his hope, an obstacle creates.
Another centinel, of monstrous size,
In hollow sounds, with daring action cries,
" Presumptuous warrior, hold nor further come.
Should you advance, you'll meet a fatal doom : 236
Unhappy is the destiny that drove
Your steps unweeting this dread wild to rove ;
Know 'tis the bridge of death you fain would tread.
And never yet has mortal, hither led, 240
Found out a path by which he might return.
Or 'scape the precincts of this awful bourn:
A tliousand various windings hither tend,
And all those labyrinths in this passage end.
Then fly this fated place avoid the strife 246
E'en now you totter on the verge of life."
2
226 THE EXPEDITION
** Vain are these threats, (the knight replied, with
scorn).
Though dangers, Gorgon form, may here sojourn,
"What dastard would prolong a worthless breath,
Or stoop to infamy, to ward off death ? 250
If adverse stars my destiny controul.
They cannot govern an exalted soul j
And I will pass, though worlds united rose
In legions arm'd my purpose to oppose."
" Come on, infatuated slave of pride ! 555
(The giant, springing forward, loudly cried)
Since warning you despise, e'en rush on harm.
And learn to dread the force of Zambard's arm."
Fierce fought the knight j but scarce his force avails
Against a foe, encased in serpents' scales, 260
Whose hardness ever foil'd the trenchant blade,
Till sharp Durandin sonic impression made.
OF GRADASSO. 227
The monster felt its edge he foaming rag'd,
And, with his iron mace, he now engag'd
In closer warfare but he strove in vain ; 265
And vanquish'd, and despairing, fled amain.
Swift as the hawk its flying quarry views.
And cuts the yielding air, the knight pursues :
But soon his speed was check'd the treach'rous
ground
Receded from his feet, and trembled round. 270
He fell some pow'r invisible restrains
His movements, and envelops him with chains.
In speechless wonder long Orlando lay,
Till, rous'd at length, his sad complaints made way
" Base treachery ! (he sorrowing exclaim'd) 275
Well might this pass the bridge of death be nam'd,
Since prudence cannot guard, or valour save
From foul deceit the unsuspecting brave.
e2
228 THE EXPEDITION
In spite of all the force bestow'd by Heav'n,
I perish here, to meagre famine driv'n ; 280
Too firmly am I snar'd, to hope redress
No welcome sounds my eager ear will bless ;
No kindly aid can reach this dismal place,
Where human form or footstep none can trace.
Than mine no harder lot was ever borne 285
I pine deserted, and I die forlorn."
Three ling'ring days, uncheer'd and unsustain'd.
Three sleepless nights, the Paladin remain'd.
And seem'd at length just touching on that shore,
From whence the traveller returns no more 290
When Heav'n his pious invocations heard.
And to his eye, now waxing dim, appear'd
A reverend hermit, on whose stooping head
The snows of time were in profusion shed.
OF GRADASSO. 229
Advancing slowly o'er the rugged field, 295
He reach'd the knight, and with amaze beheld
A warrior, of superior port and grace,
With fetters laden, in this dismal place.
In feeble voice, the knight the sage implor'd
To cut his chains and pointed where his sword 300
Beside him lay. With labour hard, and pain,
The sage the weapon lifted but in vain
His wither'd arm, of strength depriv'd by age.
Could strike no blow, the knio^ht to disenfjage.
** My son, (he cried) no help does Heav'n supply ;
Then yield to fate, and unrepining die : 30G
The present moment only is your own ;
A future ne'er may come, the former 's flown ;
Then seize the fleeting boon, and bid it bear
A guiltless record to th' etherial sphere: 310
Errors abjur'd, by mercy are forgiv'n,
And angels waft repentant sighs to heav'n."
230
EXPEDITION.
" It is not mine, alas ! (the knight rejoin'd)
To boast that stoic apathy of mind,
Which calmly views life's last departing day, 315
And quits the world, without a wish to stay.
Did I fall struggling 'gainst some mighty foe,
Well pleas'd I to the realms of death would go j
But, undistinguished, thus betrayed to fall,
Of treach'ry and deceit the wretched thrall ; 320
I cannot to the heavy lot resign,
Unmurm'ring j therefore aid my just design."'
" How futile is the wish (the hermit cries)
To counteract the purpose of the skies :
That pow'r that gave us light and life, best knows
When to resume the favours he bestows j 326'
Xor length of days can added blessings bring
Storms rack tlie winter, blights deform the spring j
OP GRADASSO. 231
Nor any season gives us peace secure,
By nature form'd to suffer and endure.
Think not on thy devoted head alone 330
Life's evils fall each creature has its own.
Of those that soar aloft, or creep below,
None are exempted. from the cup of woe ;
But man is doom'd its bitter dregs to drain,
And reach to endless bliss thro' transient pain. 335
For me, hard ills my trembling steps pursue,
Led from Armenia by a pious view :
Three holy men, my brethren, with me came,
To reach to Astracan our anxious aim j
But perils unforeseen our coui'se belay, 340
A nd in this frightful wild we lost our way.
L'nhappy error ! Far within yon wood,
A rav'ning savage makes his dread abode.
Of cyclop race and practis'd still to seize
On passengers, his hunger to appease : 34r>
232 THE EXPEDITION
My hapless brethren soon the wretch devour'd,
And still insatiate, would have overpower'd
This feeble frame, had not a rising scorn,
In viewing one emaciate and forlorn
As I appear'd, his baleful ire awoke, 350
And down a steepy rock, with sudden stroke,
He cast me headlong but the rambling sprays
My weight sustain'd, and still prolong'd my days.
Yet transient is the respite I obtain,
For soon he'll sally from his den again. 353
Defend me ! hark ! the wood resounds his cries,
And, lo ! his horrid visage scares my eyes.
Farewel he comes for instant death prepare.
While for thy soul I breathe an ardent pray'r."
The hermit disappear'd and soon to sight 360
The cyclop stood confest. The fetter'd knight
OF GRADASSO. 23S
He quick approach'd, and sought his chains to rend.
But found his force unequal to that end :
With crooked claws the links he strove to tear,
And gnash'd his teeth in anger and despair ; 2Gi
Till, spying where Orlando's sword was laid,
He snatch'd it, and unsheath'd the shining blade
Full on the knight descends the blow profound.
And, lo ! the chain in fragments strew'd the ground !
Orlando, all unarm'd, with joy beheld 370
The iron mace that many a foe had quell'd,
Which, in his haste to seize his dcstin'd prey,
Tlie cyclop heedlessly had cast away ;
Swift sprang the Paladin a means to gain,
By which he might the arduous war maintain j S?.";
And now a fight unparallel'd began.
Exceeding far the strife of man with man.
With equal ire, thro' difTrent motives fraught,
77iis to devour, and t^iat to conquer sought.
23 4< THE EXPEDITION
Hard was the dire contention ^but, at length, 380
The cyclop fell, bereft of sense and strength;
No more to exercise his cruel might
For low he sank in everlasting night.
Although the victor's wreath Orlando gain'd,
The conquest was not without pain obtain'd ; 385
His visage, gor'd with many a wound, display'd
The marks, the savage in his fury made j
And pinching famine's unrelenting throes
Allow'd nor relaxation nor repose.
In this disti-ess, he sought his trusty steed, 390
And left the luckless scene, with utmost speed.
To reach some more frequented spot, and find
The soothing aids deriv'd from human kind.
Near to the bridge a winding thicket lay.
In which the Paladin pursued his way ; 395
OF GRADASSO. 235
But, near its entrance, melancholy cries
Assail'd his cars, and seem'd from earth to rise.
In careful search lie cast his eyes ai'ound.
And saw a pitfall hollow'd in the ground.
Deep in this dark recess the herniit lay, 400
And mourn'd that helpless age prolong'd his staj'
Within the verge of those all dreaded bounds,
Thro' which the cyclop took his daily rounds.
In the bleak season of declining life,
Unfit to struggle, though expos'd to strife, 403
Lew sunk his heart, opprcst by various fears,
And sorrow fiU'd his fading eyes with tears.
The knight descended, and, with ready aid,
The herniit from his earthy bed convey'd ;
Cut when he learn'd each cause of dread was o'er.
And heard the cruel savage was no more, 11 !
O'erwhelm'd, he tasted utmost joy's execs';
Reliev'd at once from terror and distress.
236 THE EXPEDITION
The hermit now, upon the arid glade,
His frugal fare before the warrior laid ; 4)15
The father's scrip a scanty meal supplied,
The passing streamlets beverage provide ;
Refreshment simple such as early time
Oft witness'd when the world was in its prime, 420
Ere sanguinary meals the board disgrac'd,
Or flush'd intemp'rance crown'd the guilty feast.
Thus needfully sustain'd, the knight addrest
The hermit, and his grateful thanks exprest ;
And Brigliadoro, fleetly as the wind, 425
Soon left the desart region far behind.
The cheerful haunts of man Orlando gain'd,
And to Circassia's farthest bounds attain'd ;
Here journeying on, in meditative mood, 429
He reach'd a plain ; where, opening to the road,
OF 6RADASSO. 237
Three different routes appear'd. He stopp'd, nor
knew
Which passage was the one he sliould pursue.
While thus perplex'd, he rack'd his lab'ring thought,
To his glad view propitious fortune brought
A courier, trav'lling on with utmost haste, 435
To reach the track thro' which he late had past.
With fair demeanor he enquir'd the way,
By which he with most speed might reach Cathay.
The courier check'd his rein, and answer' d " From
That pow'rful kingdom am I hither come, 440
Sent by that princess whom the world admires,
To bear a mandate which dispatch requires."
Struck with these sounds, tlic knight a moment stands
In raptur'd silence then her name demands ;
Nor hesitates the courier to declare 44.5
His mistress is Angelica the fair ;
23S THE EXPEDITION
Of nature's works most lovely to the view.
Whose charms are ever striking, ever new.
*' The warlike Agrican, whose sceptred sway,
Til' extensive realms of Tartary obey, 450
Enamour'd of the darae, her hand demands,
(The com-ier cried) but she the plea withstands.
The monarch, in resentment, has recom'se
To arms and threatens he will seize by force
Her hand reluctant. To avoid this fate, 455
She flies the object of her stedfast hate.
And from Cathay is to Albracca gone
A city fortified, nor easy won.
A mighty force the Tartar warrior brings,
To raze the fortress. To the neighb'ring kings 460
Galaphron sends, imploring speedy aid,
To save tlie freedom of the royal maid ;
OP GRADASSO. 239
And quell the proud oppressor, who prepares
To execute what he audacious dares.
While thus the tender sire's approving voice 465
Asserts the fair one's liberty of choice,
, She to Gradasso, potent monarch, sends
To join the league, and foil th' aspiring ends
Of him, who, stranger to each winning art,
Would seize by violence an unwilling heart. 4-70
And now, sir knight, no longer urge my stay ;
The gen'ral cause may suffer by delay."
He said and spurr'd his mettled courser on.
And, like an arrow's flight, was instant gone.
Tlic tale he told, within Orlando's breast 4To
Strange conflicts rais'd too great to be supprest.
Alternate rage and jealousy prevaii'd
A thousand anxious doubts his mind assail'd.
240 THE EXPEDITION
Now fancy paints the Tartar Emp'ror's force
Anon he dreads that this his tedious course 480
Might keep him from the seat of war, till fate
Should doom his succours to arrive too late :
Much too he marvell'd how the peerless maid
So rapidly to China was convey'd.
Such wond'rous speed impossible appear'd j 485
And fondly his imagination fear'd
The courier meant some other beauteous dame,
Than her whose charms his tortur'd heart inflame.
Returning certainty at length remov'd
This dread suggesting that the maid he lov'd 490
So matchless beam'd so eminently bright
No other njTnph could shine with mimic light.
The sphinx's answer well with this agreed,
And apprehensions vain no more mislead.
By hope upheld his ev'ry care subdued, 495
Ao'ain tlic knight his ardent course pursued ;
OV GRADASSO. 24*1
And thought the day too short to sped his flight,
And trespass'd on the soft repose of night ;
Till fortune brought him to a winding wood,
Wliich, shelter'd by two lofty mountains, stood j
The pathway to a flowing river led, 500
Near which a stately palace rear'd its head,
The seat of Dragontine, deep vers'd in wiles.
Whose draught Circa?can, fatally beguiles.
With haste to pass the bridge Orlando tried,
But at its entrance he the dame espied, 505
Who held a chrystal cup. With gracious air,
She told the knight, 'twas customary there
To taste the waters ofFer'd by her hand.
And hop'd he would not the behest withstand.
Tlie unsuspecting warrior, who esteem'd 510
The lovely sex, the offer guileless deem'd j
Unhesiiuting he the tale believ'd,
And from her treach'rous hand the cup receiv'd.
242 THE EXPEDITION
Of sense and mem'ry by the draught bereft,
No traces of his former thoughts were left ; 515
He knew not why nor how he reach'd this place ;
His love his loyalty his name his race
Were all forgotten, and he chang'd his road.
To gain the sorceress's dread abode.
There all was grand, and pleasing to the sight ; 520
It seem'd the seat of splendour and delight.
An ample portico surmounts the gate ;
Four sculptur'd amber columns bear its weight ;
This entrance to a garden led, more fair
Than Ida's grove, or Tempe's valley are ; 525
Eternal spring shed odours lavish round.
And ceaseless zephyrs drest the verdant ground.
Struck with th' enchanting beauties of the place.
The knight his steed forsakes, more near to trace
Th' attractive objects. With delight he stray'd 530
Thro' the sweet mazes of the flow'rv mead,
OF GRADASSO. 243
And reach'd the structure, {long at distance seen)
Of snow-white marble f<^m'd, and liveliest green.
4
He enter'd unoppos'd nor voice nor sound
Nor trace of human habitant, he found ; 535
But pictur'd forms glow'd bright, to charm the view.
Beauteous as Zeu>us or Apelles drew.
And figures, wild as haunt poetic streams.
Or float incongruous in the sick man's dreams.
One tablet most conspicuous he survey'd, 540
Where Circe's strange enchantments were portray'd j
Around the iiymph her alter'd victims stand,
Deform'd abased by her all potent wand ;
Some to voracious animals seem'd turn'd, 54!4>
And some, to birds transform'd, the folly mourn'd
Of tasting her dread cup. Although this sight
Might shew the dangers that belay'd the knight.
The draught he drank had ev'ry fear destroy'd,
And render'd salutary caution void :
r2
244 THE EXPEDITION, &C.
Unheeding what was past, or what to come, 550
Inactive he submitted to his doom :
The valiant deeds of arms forgot and o'er.
And fair Angelica belov'd no more.
Oh ! foul enchantment ! thus to heap disgrace
On the great ruler of Anglante's race ; 555
The pride of chivalry, the boast of fame.
And cloud the lustre of his honor'd name.
THE
EXPEDITION OF GRABASSO.
CANTO VIII.
THE ARGUMENT.
Disappointment of Gradasso. Retreat of Charlemagne's
troops. Accord between the Sericans and the Saracens,
who join to attack Charlemagne. Charlemagne's sally, and
defeat. Gradasso's generous conduct and offer.-^Agree-
ment between him and Charlemagne. Astolpho is chosen
general by the people. Objects to the treaty. Defies and
challenges Gradasso. Conclusion.
CANTO VIII.
i E nymphs of Pindus, seek the scene once more,
Where wide encampments crown th' Iberian shore :
From that where Sericana's hostile force
Was posted, brave Gradasso shap'd his course,
To gain the spot, the demon herald said, 5
From whence Rinaldo late had been betray'd.
The sun had scarcely reach'd his mid-day height,
When fierce the monarch came, but met no knight.
Impatience, ardour, and insulted pride.
By turns within his haughty soul preside. 10
But when the car of day declin'd to west,
And evening's length'ning shadows stood confest,
He left the field, convinc'd that coward fear
luduc'd the Paladin to disappear,
248 THE EXPEDITION
Or that in mock'ry he defiance sent, IS
On most audacious disrespect intent.
Inly he foam'd, and on the Christian race
Swore to avenge this insolent disgrace.
Throughout the whole of this eventful day,
Young Richardetto niourn'd the long delay 20
Rinaldo made and many a glance he cast,
With tearful eyes, to trace the path he past.
Sad apprehensions speak the warrior dead,
Or pris'ner by the stern Gradasso led ;
And soon confirming all these racking fears 25
The steed Bayardo, stain'd with gore, appears :
Furious, through long delay, he broke the rein,
That bound him to a tree and back again
Was hasting from that inauspicious place,
Where his lov'd master met such vile disgrace :
OF GRADASSO. 249
But while with whirlwind's speed he swept the plain,
A strong detachment from the Pagan train
By chance perceiv'd him. Eagerly they gaze,
Surround his ev'ry path, and bar the ways.
The noble courser scorns the num'rous force, 35
That ineffectually impedes his course j
By his strong chest whole ranks are overborne,
And slaughter'd heaps his dashing hoofs o'erturn ;
His force tremendous nothing could oppose,
And far behind he left his mangled foes. 40
Well in the camp the gen'rous steed was known,
As unaccoutred he return'd alone
Wild coubternation spread thro' all the train,
For all beliov'd their valiant gen'ral slain.
In mate distress the pensive squadrons bend j 4.3
Each soldier inounvd a father and u friend ;
250 THE EXPEDITION
For mildly had the just Rinaldo sway'd,
And, with affection fraught, they glad obey'd.
But Richardetto's grief surpass'd the rest ;
No cheering hope arose to sooth his breast ; SO
For sullied o*er with carnage stood the steed,
Reeking with heat, and hanging down his head.
Severe the wretchedness the heart must know,
WTien private pangs are join'd to gen'ral woe.
Such was his lot condemn'd at once to feel 55
A brother's loss, and ruin'd public weal.
Amid the agitations of despair.
He call'd to mind the charge he had in care,
And quick assembled all the sorrowing host,
(A remnant only, such the numbers lost 60
In this ill-fated war) recounting o'er
The orders of their leader, now no more.
Quick thro' the camp the information ran.
And all adopt the preconcerted plan j
QF GRADASSO. 251
Struck was each tent and at the close of day, 65
To Gallia back they bent their hasty way.
While cares like these fill'd Richardetto's mind,
Marsilius all his flatt'ring views resign'd ;
Ferrau and Serpentino, held in chains,
No aid can give Grandonio too remains TO
In Bafcelona pent. Amid the host,
No knight is found, of all he late could boast,
In this dread exigence to take the lead.
And bravely 'gainst the Sericans make head.
Unthought-of ills the rising day disclose, 75
To fill the measure of his heavy woes.
Forsaken by the Christian pow'rs, no more
His troops could try the field and liope was o'er.
Thus hardly press'd, he sought Gradasso's tent,
And, lowly humbled, to the Pagan bent ; SO
252 THE EXPEDITION
Recounting how his false allies betray'd
His expectations how withdrew their aid
And praying that henceforward strife should cease,
And Sericans with Saracens make peace :
So would he willingly agree to hold 8.5
His realm in fief to own himself enroll'd
Gradasso's vassal ; and consent to bring
His troops to aid the Sericanean king.
Well pleas'd, Gradasso yielded and with haste
Marsilius' forces to th' encampment past, 90
Where wide unfurl'd, and gorgeous to the eye.
The Pagan standard proudly wav'd on high.
The foes, who opposition late rcspir'd,
Were now with sentiments congenial fir'd ;
The tedious siege of Barcelona ceas'd ; 95
And, witli the captiv'd Saracens, relcasM,
lYn-rau and Scrpentino favour gain'd,
And ven Graudonio now-sprung grace obtain d.
OP GRADASSO. 253
Th' united levies,* ardent, now prepare
To further fields the conqu'ror's arms to bear : 100
And thus, while Richardetto's army cross'd
The Pyrenean pass, the dreadful host
Determin'd to pursue. Great Charles receiv'd
The trust surrendcr'd, and his tale believ'd :
Conjectures various fill'd the gen'ral mind ; IQS
Some censur'd, while to candour some inclin'd.
But soon these thoughts were lost in homefelt woes,
For rumour's voice the threaten'd siege disclose,
And Charles took due precautions to defeat
The foes' intent, and guard his regal seat. 110
On ev'ry side, from ev'ry distant source,
With speed he calls together all his force,
To stand the bold attack for valour ne'er.
Though overmatcli'd, will yield to weak despair.
As when the fires, in earth's close bosom pent,
Contend with violence to obtain a vent ; 116
254 THE EXPEDITION
iEoIus lulls to sleep each nider bfteze,
And zephyrs, only, gently fan the trees,
So a deceitful calm the storm precedes.
But soon with force it bursts, with speed it spreads.
Afar the sedge-crown'd Naiads of the Seine, 121
With trembling awe, descried the Pagan train ;
The wretched habitants in terror fly,
And shrieks and lamentations rend the sky ;
While their stern foes all obstacles defied, 125
Diffusing mighty ruin far and wide.
Invested closely by the hostile bands,
The capital in utmost danger stands ;
And now, by valour urg'd, a desp'rate course
The monarch dar'd, and sallied with his force 130
Upon the foe but ruling fate decreed
The effort which he made should not succeed.
OF GRADASSO. 255
Fierce was the struggle many a warrior brave
Was sent that iiour to an untimely grave ;
And Charlemagne, bereft of every aid, 135
A captive by the Sericans is made.
^Vhat words can speak the horror and dismay,
Or paint the consternation, of that day ?
Tlie chm-ches fill'd with prostrate groupes appear.
And cries to heav'n for succour fill the ear. 140
With terror each the sun's declension eyes.
Yet dread the moment of his morning rise,
Lest he should light them on to deeper woes,
And scenes of growing miseries disclose.
Few were the Paladins that now remain'd. 145
'Mongst those, Astolpho (in arrest dctaiu'd
E'er since the time the tournry Iind been held)
Was decm'd most likely to regain the field :
256 THE EXPEDITION
All well remember'd his resistless lance
Bore from the Saracens the victor's chance, 150
And sorrow'd for his undeserv'd disgrace,
Thro' machinations of Mayence's race.
By Providence inspir'd, the knight they freed,
Beseeching him in fight to take the lead :
The gen'rous warrior much th' occasion griev'd, 1 55
But with compliance the request receiv'd.
Meanwhile bright fires throughout the camp arise,
And strains of exultation mount the skies.
The chieftains, and the new-made vassals, meet
Encircled round their monarch's lofty seat. 160
Before th' assembly Charlemagne was brought.
With the surviving Paladins, who sought.
By deeds of arms, their freedom to maintain.
And fought with ardour, though they fought in vain.
OF GRADASSO. 257
The Serican low bent his plumed crest, 165
And thus the royal prisoner addrest ;
While varying passions ev'ry bosom fiU,
And anxious all attend his mighty will :
" Great prince, to you 'tis needless to impart
That love of glory warms each gen'rous heart j 170
Nor is he fit o'er others to command,
Whose courage cannot animate the band.
For me, amid the pleasures of a court,
My days had glided on in festive sport.
But fir'd with emulation of the brave, 175
I scorn'd the boons fantastic fortune gave,
And, bent thro' toils, to snatch the wreath of fame.
From Orient climes I to your Europe came.
No conquer'd kingdoms do I seek, content
With Asiatic realms of vast extent : 180
f 58 THE EXPEDITION
The Sun, who, thron'd on high, emits his rays,
To hght the earth, no sway more wide surveys ;
Unnumber'd tribes with zeal obey my call,
In garb, in hue, in language, difF'ring all.
My sole desire is, that the world should own 185
No monarch 'gainst my will can hold his throne,
Or foil my potent might. Your alter'd state
This truth confirms though great among the great,
By dauntless hearts, and pow'rful arms upheld.
You feel my force, and mourn the vanquish'd field.
Think not I mean to aggravate your woes, 191
Whilst fully thus my motives I disclose.
The truly brave the coward meanness scorn
Of off 'ring insult to a foe o'erborne.
Now hear the ordinance that I decree 195
I end your sorrows, and pronounce you free ;
Your captur*d kingdom I restore again.
And bid you live, and unmolested reign ;
OF GBADASSO. 259
Between us warfare shall henceforward cease,
And friendship rivet close the bond of peace. 200
Yet three conditions at your royal hand,
I, in return for this accord, demand.
The remnant of this day with me remain,
And to the capital dispatch a train,
To bring Bayardo, henceforth to be mine. 205
Next promise, when Orlando shall rejoin
The Paladins, his famous sword to send
To Sericane so shall my labours end.
I also ask, that he, the recreant knight,
Who broke his word, and basely shunn'd the fight,
Rinaldo, should be bound, on his return, 211
In tenfold chains, and to my presence borne."
The monarch's feelings scarce could be controU'd,
While thus tlic Sericau his purpose told :
260 THE EXPEDITION
Reliev'd from slavery's degrading yoke, 215
In grateful guise his raptur'd heart he spoke ;
To the conditions nam'd he gave accord,
And yielded up the knight, the steed, and sword.
To Paris, ere th' eventful day was o'er,
Th' imperial mandate Anselm gladly bore. 220
From that vindictive and malignant race,
Protected by the monarch's partial grace,
Lords of Mayence, the haughty Anselm sprung.
All prone to do the brave Rinaldo wrong.
The shameful orders to Astolpho borne, 225
Unhesitating he rejects with scorn ;
And (spurning his injustice who would give
Another's right, or his who would receive)
Anselm a base impostor he proclaim'd,
Who wrong'd his country and his king defara'd. 230
OF GRADASO. 261
Heartfelt acclaims this bold decision hail'd,
And indignation o'er dismay prevail'd :
To free their monarch all would take the field,
But none to terms so base would deign to yield.
His voice Astolpho rais'd the croud obey, 23S
And tumult loud, in murmurs died away.
He bade them to his care entnist their cause,
Nor doubt he would adhere to honor's laws.
Prompt credence re-inspir'd the gen'ral breast,
And all confiding, waited his behest. 240
Now, to retrieve the Christian honor bent,
He to Gradasso a defiance sent ;
Asserting, on the faith of a tnie knight.
The great Rinaldo ne'er was put to flight ;
And dar'd him forth his single force to try, 245
To bravely win the steed, or, vanquish'd, die.
262 THE. EXPEDITION
When to the camp Astolpho's herald brought
A challenge, with imperious language fraught,
Gradasso ask'd the lineage of the knight,
His worth, and his ability in fight. 250
To these his requisitions, Ganes replied,
*< A boaster vain, whom all the court deride,
Astolpho is and should you deign to meet
His insolent defimce, in retreat
He'll seek his safety mindless of his word, 255
Unworthy far of thy all-conqu'ring sword."
This base detraction Seppentino heard.
And on the slander'd knight's behalf appear'd.
** Great king, (he cried) the strong respect I bear
To sacred truth, compels me to declare, 260
That brave Astolpho, heir of Otho's throne,
A warrior is in deathful fields well known.
OF GRADASSO. 263
Late in the jousts the victor's wreath he gain'd,
And from tlie Spanish knights the prize obtain'd.
Grandonio's potent force he overcame, 265
And stood conspicuous in the list of fame."
Now Isolero in the cause stood forth.
And Matalista spoke Astolpho's worth.
The King the gen'rous Saracens believ'd,
Nor sway'd by error, nor by art deceiv'd, 270
To yield to calumny's assertions strong
His credence or regard the sland'rer's tongue.
The herald now he summon'd to his sight.
And briefly said, " Go, tell the British knight.
Soon as he wills I'll meet him in the field, 275
Provided one concession he shall yield ;
And to th' appointed scene of action lead
The destin'd prize, the long-contested steed."
264 THE EXPEDITION
The herald from the presence now retir'd
And proud Gradasso, by this insult fir'd, 280
Declar'd the peace late granted wholly void,
By such infraction broken and destroy'd :
For should his prowess now the courser gain,
The former treaty could no more restrain.
The late free'd monarch, who this challenge mourn'd,
Again to strict confinement was return'd j 286
Compell'd by adverse fortune to obey
The changeful influence of her varying day,
And feel how irksome is that lawless pow'r.
Which tyrants practise in their ruling hour. 290
Now, at Gradasso's will, the listed field.
In pomp prepar'd, a glorious view reveal'd ;
There all tlie monarchs, all the warriors sate,
And all the guards, and vassals of the state,
OF GRADASSO. S65
Array'd in splendor dazzling to the sight, 295
Awaited the arrival of the knight.
High o'er Gradasso's tent his banner wove,
And standards captur'd in late action, prove
His all-subduing might. His haughty mind
Predicts new glory conquest unconfin'd. 300
The lark forsook his nest, and soaring high,
Hail'd the first blushing gleams that streak'd the sky,
When brave Astolpho, clad in glitt'ring mail,
Bayardo mounted eager to assail
The Indian spoiler, and by forceful might 305
Assert his injur'd friend Rinaldo's right.
Argalia's wond'rous lance he bore in rest.
And to the Pagan camp with ardour prcst.
Arriv'd, he bid his shrilly horn resound,
And tell his comino; to the echoes round, .'^10
966
EXPEDITION.
With like alacrity Gradasso rose,
Intent those high pretensions to oppose.
The stately courser, pleas'd the king beheld.
And hastes to meet his foe upon the field.
*' Brave knight (he cried) however I may deem 315
Your challenge bold, your courage I esteem ;
In honor's laws you better vers'd appear,
Than he whose vindication brings you here."
Astolpho to the monarch courteous bent.
And thus returning, utter'd his dissent :
" Great king, not all the deference I feel
For what you urge, can triumph o'er my zeal
In friendship's cause, or evidence afford
That e'er Rinaldo forfeited his word."
** Yet (cried Gradasso) when to me he sent 325
Defiance, to th' appointed field I went,
OF GRADASSO. 267
And waited his approach from noon till night,
While recreant and abas'd he shunn'd the fight."
" Ne'er could his noble and courageous heart
(The knight replied) from honor so depart. 330
If thus he seem'd to fail, some pow'rful cause
Forbade him to fulfil the combat's laws ;
No cold vicissitude can intervene
In dauntless bosoms. Still infix'd remain
Those principles and feelings which inspire 335
Great deeds, and feed the heroes deathless fire ;
But now as you the warrior's steed demand,
I've brought him here, and with determin'd hand
Will guard his freedom 'gainst the haughty claim,
And lose existence or defeat your aim." 340
*' The compact I accept, {the king rejoin'd)
Convinc'd that honor's dictates i-ule your mind.
268 THE EXPEDITION
If fate to me the vict'ry shall assign,
Bayardo henceforth must be only mine ;
But should my arms be worsted in the field, 345
Name your conditions, and assent I'll yield."
*' If the distinguish'd fortune should be mine
To overcome puissance great as thine,
(The prince return'd) my first and dearest aim
Is to redeem my friend's much injur'd name 350
From obloquy the fame he long possest.
Till you dissented must be full confest ;
And all the list'ning world be call'd to hear
llinaldo is above reproach or fear.
Next, to the erap'ror and his suite restore 355
Their freedom, and depart from Europe's shore ;
To your own Orient realms return again,
And bid your people bless a peaceful reign."
or GRADASSO. 269
The king accorded and, without delay,
What courage dictates, gladly they obey. 360
The Pagan's pond'rous lance, and solid shield.
Oft prov'd by trials in the hostile field,
Would soon, he deem'd, decide the arduous strife,
And rob the knight of conquest and of life.
Borne by Alfane, he dar'd the listed course, 365
(Inferior to Bayardo far in force)
But soon hard fortune check'd his bold advance
The wonted pow'rs of lost Argalia's lance
His aims defeated foil'd his blows profound, 369
And hurl'd him headlong foaming to the ground.
Lux'd was the arm that late his shield sustain'd.
And hopeless pow'rless vanquish'd he remain'd.
His train, astounded, the event beheld.
His unexpected faihu'e in the field,
Fill'd cv'ry breast vvilli wonder and dismav; 'V7,*,
And all Luucnted the disastrous dnv.
270 THE EXPEDITION
The season of adversity we find
Brings a true test to prove the noble mind.
E'en as when mists arise, the sun's strong ray
Breaks thro' the cloud, to pour a brighter day,
The great Gradasso an example gave,
That fortune ne'er can overcome the brave : 380
No murmurs weak no dull despondence shew'd
Mean discontent his dauntless bosom glow'd
With all the ardent, all the gen'rous fire.
That bids the hero ceaselessly aspire.
Though chance invidious thus his wish had crost,
And much he sorrow'd for Bayardo lost, 286
No sordid subterfuge inspir'd his breast.
But his defeat with candour he confest.
The monarch and the captives he releas'd,
And to Iberia mov'd with utmost haste j 390
Impatient once again to gain his fleet.
From Europe's shores for ever to retreat.
OF GRADASSO. S7i
The downcast Saracens the lead obey
Partake the wayward fate, and yield the day.
Quick thro' the land the joyful sounds are borne,
That tell Astolpho's triumph and return. 396
This great event, so held in sad despair,
Cheer'd ev'ry heart, and banish'd ev'ry care.
The blest deliv'rance was by all confest ;
Each clasp'd a brother to his raptur'd breast, 409
Aud clasp'd a freeman. While Gradasso's host,
On the high swelling waves, was tempest tost.
And all their tow'riiig hopes for ever o'er,
Whom Trevigant and Mahomet adore,
Conspicuous rear'd, in wide effulgence beam'd 40i
The glorious ensign of a world redeem'd.
That far-fum'd weapon struck the signal blow,
Which magic malice forg'd to overthrow
The gen'rous heroes. Oft 'tis Heaven's high will,
To bring forth real good from seeminf; ill . 410
272 , THE EXPEDITION
And thus the Pagan cause was lost by arms,
Their means unmeet prepar'd for direful harms.
The mitred prelates bow the knee in praise ;
The lawn-rob'd choirs exultant anthems raise ;
The cloister'd sisters' hymns are heard on high, 415
And clouds of fragrant incense climb the sky ;
Aspiring fires with radiance gild the night,
And the wide waters beam reflected light.
Amid this joy, with gratitude each heart
O'erflow'd and ev'ry voice the high desert 420
Of brave Astolpho spoke, whose gen'rous deed
The foe had conquer'd, and the nation freed.
And taught the Pagan boaster, human might
Is weak, and vain, in Providence's sight j
Which still upholds Religion's sacred laws, 425
And nerves the arm that wars in Virtue's cause.
The gen'rous and the brave can only know
The feelings that inspire and ardent glow
OF GRADASSO. 273
In breasts heroic that high bliss they find,
Who benefits confer on human kind 430
Tliose feelings which reward, which over pay,
The anxious, watchful night, the toilsome day.
The thoughtful vigilance, the hard-fought strife.
That chequer still the soldier's arduous life
Such were Astolpho's. Enviable meed, ^S/J
For glory's genuine sons by fate decreed,
Which wills, that wealth or pow'r shall never find
Such joy as fills the self-approving mind.
To greet the prince, in long drawn pomp appear
Those chiefs who courage and who worth revere. 440
Th' applauding people in processions join,
And loudly urge their just and fix'd design,
With tribute due, such service to requite,
And crown with laurels tlie victorious kniffht.
274 THE EXPEDITION, &C.
The monarch and the Paladins entreat ^^S
His stay, with deference and ardour meet j
But he resolv'd a diff'rent course to go,
Rejects the high rewards they woukl bestow.
Beyond all views but those of lofty fame,
And ever true to friendship's sacred claim, 450
He spoke the wish that fiU'd his gen'rous mind,
Rinaldo and Orlando brave to find ;
And never know a day's inglorious rest.
Till this, his aim, should with success be blest.
END OF THE SELECTION.
THE
TRANSLATOR ' S CONCLUSION.
r ERRARA's ancient Bard ! thy lyre no more 455
Resounds lieroic deeds, or magic lore.
The Destiny, who cuts life's thread, is blind
Or to th' enlighten'd or the vulgar mind ;
And genius, highly gifted, has no pow'r
To sooth her rage, or stay the fatal hour. 460
Long ages since, thy tow'ring spirit fled,
And left thy dust immingled with the dead :
Th' unfinish'd lay that dwelt upon thy tongue
Remain'd, by meaner voices to be sung,
276 translator's conclusion.
Till he the bard by kindred feelings fir'd, 465
The strain resum'd, and, raptur'd and inspir'd,
Swept the loud chords harmonious, to prolong
The witching wood-notes of thy varied song.
But, breaking from the icy bonds of death, 469
Wliich chill'd thy ardour, and abridg'd thy breath,
Thy genius still shall live thy bays shall bloom ;
And Taste sliall frequent point her vot'ry's tomb.
The earliest flow'rcts genial spring shall shed,
By fairy hands, will o'er the spot be spread,
And oft in deep-wrapt Fancy's list'ning ear, 475
Soft dulcet symphonies, distinct and clear,
By shadowy minstrels pour'd, shall wake around,
While forms aerial tread the hallow'd ground.
But now, blest Nine, your visions fade away,
And all your gay creative views decay. 480
tbanslator's conclusion. 277
Dames, knights, and steeds, are vanish'd from the
view:
Yet still vouchsafe your influence to renew.
No more the song, to fabled tales confin'd,
Delights the ear, but fails to reach the mind ;
For real valour real worth, succeed ; 485
And ask a nobler strain a higher meed.
But chief to Wellington devote your lays,
And echo rescued Lusitania's praise.
That scene of lofty deeds, where justly Fame
Inscribes, in deatliless characters, his name. 490
Ye British heroes ! who in battle fell.
And, ripe in glory, bade the world farewell
O ! early lost ! to love, to friendship, dear
Wc mourn th' exalted lot, we must revere
278 translator's conclusion.
For you, victorious laurels we entwine j 495
The patriots' and the warriors' meed combine j
Yet, while our breasts with admiration glow.
We steep in tears the off 'rings we bestow.
To hail your high desert the muse aspires,
And fain would pay the tribute it requires ; 500
But weak her utmost pow'rs. Your matchless worth
Transcends the heartfelt praise it has call'd forth :
Your country's annals shall your merits save,
And grateful mem'ry triumph o'er the grave.
O, Britain ! brightest gem on Ocean's breast,
Thy gen'rous sons, with ardour unroprest, .511
Have ever stcmm'd oppression's lawless force
Of injur'd nations still the sure resource
Still shall thy efforts, thro' succeeding time,
Evince the feeling soui, the thought sul)lime 515
translator's conclusion. 279
Still flourish great in commerce, arms, and arts,
Upheld by gallant hands, and loyal hearts,
To claim the boon which Heav'n auspicious gave,
And rule triumphant on the briny wave.
NOTES.
CANTO I.
Line 25. " Wrested in Aspramont hy 'Brum's knight."
Orlando is recognized by a variety of titles, both by
Bojardo and Ariosto. We find him at different times styled
Lord of Brava Count d'Angers Prince of Anglante, &c.
&c.
Line l68. " Whose plain appearance suited his estate."
This can only be comparatively stated with the great
opulence, and splendid guise, of Ganes of Poictiers, who,
with all the house of Mayence, were the inveterate enemies
of the house of Clarmont. It cannot be supposed, that
even a younger son of the illustrious Amon, the potent Lord
of Montalbano, could make a despicable or indigent ap-
pearance ; especially as that son was a hero distinguished
by his prowess highly favored by his king, and beloved
by his countrymen.
Line 210. " Four giants, richly clad, advancing come."
We find those tremendous personages very often intro-
duced by the Italian poets in whose works tiiey appear to
282 KOTZS.
be very active agents. An epic poem in that language has
one of this overgrown species of warriors for its hero. Of
this work a French w riter gives the following account :
*' Le Morgante Maggiore (of Luigi Pulci) c'est un poeme
in rima octave, de 28 chants, d'un gout original. L'auteur
s'y est mis un dessus de regies non pas de dessein comme
Vincent Gravini lui a fait I'honneur de la croire, mais
parcequ'il les a entierment ignorees. Fort en repos du
jugement de critiques, il a confondu les lieux et les tems,
allie le comique aux serieux. Fait mourier burlesquement
de la morsure d'un cancre marin au talon le geant son heros,
ct cela des le 20 livre en sorte qu'il n'en est plus parle
dans les huite suivans, la naivete de sa narration a convert
tous sa defauts."
Mons. de la I\Jon7iaye.
Line 382. " Was Malagigi, Agrismont's coheir."
Buova of Agrismout, allied to the house of Clarmont,
was father of Vivian and Malagigi, two brave warriors, as
also of an illegitimate son, named Aldiger highly esteemed
for his courage and good conduct.
NOTES. 283
CANTO VII.
Line 377- " yJud now a fight unparalleled began!'
Le Sage enters minutely into the particulars of this
combat between Orlando and the Cyclop, Avhich the
English translator 1 bought it needless to do, from its same-
ness with the actions already detailed. Le Sage's version
of the passage is as follows :
" Quoique le Comted'Angers ne put etre blesse il no lai'isa
pas de rcsentir une extreme douleur de la pesanteur du
coup, niaislajoie do se voir delivre Ten consola. II se
releva legeremcnt acheva de se degager de ses chaincs & sc
saisit du grand baton ferre que le sauvage avoit appuye
contre un Cypres })our prendre Durandel. Le geant fut
assez surpris quand il vit que le chevalier s'avan^oit sur lui
pour lo combattre ; il avoit comj)te qu'il se laisseroit cm-
port er A. manger aussi docilement que les hcrmitcs. Les
volla done aux main>, chacun ayant les armes de soii cn-
ticmi, le Paladin se ])ressa de porter le premier couj> ;
mais le cyclopo <jui avoit le meme dessein roiicontra lo
L;rand baton ferre du tranchant de Duraudal tV Ic coupa par
le niileau. La bonne Lpee ne s'arreta pas ia ; elle descen-
dit a plomb sur le casque de son mail re t'v en ronij)it la
visiere <!v: les courroies le casqu" n'a; iiit plus de soutuiii
tomba : le comte <jui voyoit sa Icfe & son bras dis;inii;'s,
>'e]aiua sur le geant, le joi^nit, cV s'atlaclumt a son bra?^,
<"< ftbrf a de lui arracher Duraudal, I'anthropoj^hage, au lieu
284 JTOTES.
de se refuser aux approches du comtc, s'y preta ; il jetta
meme loin d' lui I'Epee pour mieux satisfaire sa faim devo-
rante & porta avec avidite ses dents & ses Ongles sur la
tete nue de Roland, toutes les parties du visage de cet in-
vincible guerrier en furent meurtries, mais ces dents & ces
griftes qui auroient Ecrase la hure d'un sanglier ne purent
entrer dans une telle fee, quelque surpris que fut le cyclope
de trouver tant de resistance dans une chair qu'il avoit jugee
si delicate il ne perdoit cependant pas I'esperance de pou-
voir enfin I'entaraer par la force & par le trancliant de ses
dents, Le chevalier qui sufFroit beaucoup de se voir ainsi
niordre le nez, les joues & les oreilles par un monstre dont
I'halaine I'infectoit, mettoit tout en usage pour se delivrer
d'un pareil supplice. Enfin son bonheur voulut qu'il se
debarassat des grifFes qui le pressoient, & rencontraut sous
son pied un des dards du geant, il le ramassa pour s'en servir
contre lui, il s'en servit en effet ulilement ; car avant que
le cyclope put le rejoindre, il le lui lan^a dans son grand
oeil, avec tant de force t de justesse qu'il lui per^a le cer-
veau de part en part Se le renver.'ia mort sur le sable."
Roland I 'Amottreux, par le Sage,
Lit. I. p. 85.
NOTES. 285
CANTO VIII.
Line 450 Remain'd hy meaner voices to he suno-r
ft
This alludes to the additions made by Francisco Berni,
and others.
Line 451.-" Till he, the bard, by kindred feelings fir' d."
Ariosto, who continued the subject of the Orlando Inna-
niorata, in his poem of the Orlando Furioso.
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
OF
MATTEO MARIA BOJARDO,
COUNT OF SCANDIANO,
Selected from an historical and critical Essay on the Revival of the
Drama in Italy,
BY
JOSEPH COOPER WALKER, M. R. L A.
Honorary Member of the Societies of Perth and Dublin, and of the
Academies of Coituna, Rome, and Florence.
IVlATTEO Maria Bojardo, Count of Scandiano,
was born about the year 1434, in Fratta, according
to Mazzachelli ; but Barotti, and Tiraboschi, with
more appearance of probability, suppose the event to
have taken place in Scandiano, a fief of the house of
Bojardo, whcj)ce Matteo Maria derived his title.
He was the son of Ciiovanni Bojardo and of Lucia
Stroxzi, sister of the celebrated Tito Vespasiano.
290 APPENDIX.
Where lie acquired the rudiments of his education
does not appear ; but we find that he was removed,
at an early period of life, to the university of Ferrara,
where he was placed under the immediate care of
Socino Benzi. Here he enjoyed the instruction of
Guarino Veronese in the Greek language, which he
continued, during the remainder of his days, to cul-
tivate with great ardour and success. Of his profound
skill in that language, his translations from Lucian,
Herodotus, and Xenophon, are existing monuments.
In 1469, he was sent, with other nobility of the
court of Borso, to meet the Emperor Frederick III.,
and conduct him to Ferrara, whither he was repair-
ing to visit Borso, whom he had a few years before
created Duke of M(xlena, out of gratitude for the
hospitable and splendid reception he had experienced
at his court. In 1471, he was again honorably dis-
tinguished by the amiable and munificent Borso. On
receiving an invitation fi-om Paul II. to repair to
Rome, in order to receive, at the hands of his Ho-
liness, the ducal crown of Ferrara, Borso added
Bojardo to his train on thi occasion. This train
consisted of five hundred gentlemen, the chamber-
lains and pages of the court, one hundred menial
servants, and one hundred and fifty mules. The train
were clothed according to their degree, in brocade.
APPENDIX. 291
velvet, or fine cloth. The bells of the mules were of
silver, and the dresses, liveries, and trappings coveretl
with gold and silver embroidery. Having assisted at
the pompous investiture, he returned from Rome in
1472, and retired to Scandiano, where he married
Taddea Gonzaga, of the family of the Counts of
Novell ara. Borso dying soon after his investiture,
he was succeeded by his nephew Ercole I., who inhe-
riting the passion for letters which had so long distin-
guished the family of Estc, invited Bojardo to his
court, and honored him with the most flattering
reception. " In the court of Duke Borso and his
*' successor," says Gibbon, *' Bojardo, Oount of
*' Scandiano, was respected as a noble, a soldier,
" and a scholar." A treaty of marriage being set on
foot between Ercole and Eleanora of Arragon, daugh-
ter of the King of Naples, Bojardo was nominated
by the Duke to conduct his intended bride to Fer-
rara. In the state paper which contains his appoint-
ment, ho is called Clarissimum et insignem virum,
by the Diikc, who bestows on him, in the same paper,
other epithets equally flattering. This gracious ear-
nest of the Duke's favour was followed by an appoint-
ment to tlie government of Ileggio, from which he
was removed to the more honorable and lucrative
office of capitano of Modena ; but he did not long
'i92 APPENDIX.
enjoy this exalted situation. Addicted to pleasure,
iind devoted to his muse, he neglected the duties of
iiis office, and merited, if he did not suffer, the dis-
pleasure of his patron.
In 1492 he retired to Reggio, where he died, on the
night of the 21st of December, in the castle of that
city, a venerable edifice, within whose walls, about
twenty years before, Ariosto had been born ; an
event, which., by a secret and insensible operation on
the mind of the Homer of Ferrara, might have irre-
sistibly impelled him to the source whence the Orlando
Furioso -flowed. The " Fonte onde poi e uscito il
Furioso" are the words of Gravini, speaking of the
Orlando Innamorato. As the cause of Bojardo's
death is not mentioned by any of his biographers,
fancy may attribute it to the shock which his exquisite
sensibility received, on hearing that the French armies
had entered Italy, and were spreading death and de-
vastation before them. The effect which this intelli-
gence had on his feelings, appears from the abrupt
manner in which he breaks off a very interesting nar-
rative in Lib. III. Canto 9, of his Orlando Innamo-
rato :
Mentre ch'io canto gli amorosi dctti,
Di queste donne da I'lnganiio prese
Sento di Francia riscaldarsi e petti,
Per disturbar d' Italia il bel paese
APPENDIX. 293
Alte roine con rabbiosi eftetti.
Par che dimonstra il ciel col fiamme accese,
E Marte irato, con I'orrida faccia
Di qua, e di la, col ferro ne minaccia.
Having thus given vent to his feelings, and painted
the horrors of the coming storm, he expresses a doubt
of his ever resuming the interrupted tale the pen
drops from his hand and, with the prc^hetic sigh
which he breathed on closing the poem, his soul seems
to have fled.
The remains of Bojardo were interred in Reggio j
but not a stone tells where the original inventor of the
Gothic epic lies : posterity, however, has been grateful
to his memory, and he shares with his great continu-
ator, Ariosto, the respect and admiration which the
wonderful poem of that " heaven-born genius" impe-
riously demands. " The vigorous fancy of Bojardo,"
savs Gibbon, " first celebrated the loves and exploits
of the Paladinc OrUnido; and his fame has at once
been preserved and ec]i})scd by the brighter glories of
the continuation of his work." Before Ariosto took
up the subject, a feeble attempt to complete Bojardo's
plan had been made by Niccolo degli Agostini. It is
hardlv necessary to add, that the original work was
newly versified, or rather travestied, by Francesco
Berni. The period in which Bojardo began his epic
294 APPENDIX.
poem is not known it was probably during the enjoy-
ment of the dignified ease for which he was indebted
to Ercolo I. According to Barotti, it was sung,
canto by canto, in the court of that prince, whose
hospitable board realized the ** feast of reason and
the flow of soul." It was thus Tigellius, at the table
of Augustus, chanted to the accompaniment of his
Tetrachord. The model which Bojardo followed, is
thought to have been the metrical romance of the
Bards of Provence ; but Gravini refers the origin of
the poem to a purer source " Da molto piu limpida,
e larga vena trasse egli I'invenzione ;" he considers
the Iliad of Homer as the archetv-jie of the Orlando
Innamorato, observing, at the same time, that, in
conformity to the taste of the age, the author substi-
tuted fairies and magicians, for the gods and demi-
gods of the Grecian mythology ; but it was from
Turpin he drew his subject; and the French and
Spanish romances, which were the favourite study of
the day, probably supplied some of the embellishments,
as well as many of the characters. It is asserted by
Castelvetro, that several of the inferior Paladins, or
knights, were Bojardo's own tenants or vassals, whom
he transferred from Scandiano to Fairy-land, where
they support their real characters, under feigned
names, but bear no marks by which they can now be
distinguished.
APPENDIX. 295
Besides the Orlando Innamorato, the comedy of
Timone, and the translations to which we have alluded,
Bojardo wrote several sonnets and canzones, and five
capitole, in terza rima. All these pieces have been
imparted to the press ; but his Carmen Bucolicum,
consisting of ten Latin eclogues, still remain un-
edited in the Biblioteca Estensi. It is the opinion of
Dionigi Atanagi, that Bojardo's genius was better
calculated to excel in lyric than in epic poetry j and
he adduces, in support of his assertion, some of the
lighter effusions of his muse. One of these we shall
transcribe, and leave the reader to decide.
SONETTA.
Canta uu' augello in voce si soave
Ove meandro 11 vado obliquo aggira,
Che 1h sua morte prende con diletto.
Lasciar I'usate ripe non gli e grave :
Ma con dolco havnionia I'aninrd spira ;
. Ne voce cangia al fin, ne inuta aspetto.
L'onda del siume il uuovo canto ammira
Ed ei fra I'lierbe fiesche a la rivera
(Perclie nel suo gioir doglia non spera)
ISegue canlando, ove natura il tira.
Cos! me tragge questa bella Sera,
A' volontaria niorte, e dolce tanto
Che })er lei moro : e pur morendo canto.
296 APPENDIX.
Sweet sings the bird, how musically sweet !
Where smooth Meander winds his liquid maze ;
No cold presages damp her tuneful lays,
Tho' in yon wave condemn'd her death to meet.
She grieves not, tho' no more she must survey
Those flow'ry borders, where she sported long ;
Softly she hails them with concluding song.
And breathes her soul in harmony away.
The unaccustom'd strain the waves admire.
And she that seems conducted by the muse.
Sails down the stream, instinctive, to her doom ;
So my Melissa's charms my song inspire.
And e'en in death, the tuneful vein renews.
Although her pride condemns me to the tomb.
The Orlando Innamorato seems to have attracted
notice soon after its publication. It is thus glanced
at by Galeotto, Marquis of Caretto, a contemporary
poet, in his Tempio de Amore ; when 1' Accoglienza &
r Amicitia enter the temple of Love together, the latter
points out the portrait of Bojardo among the several
paintings which adorn the "walls
I'altra e del conte,
Qual gia canto d'Orlando, chinio in vano
De Angelica crudel la bella front a.
Dryden observes, that Tasso borrows from the inven-
tion of Bojardo ; his obligations to Bojardo are also
APPENDIX. 297
remarked by the late Mr. Warton ; nor was he over-
looked by our great poet Milton, as appears in Par.
Reg. 6. V. 336. 34-4-.
By his wife Taddea Bojardo had two sons and four
daughters. His eldest son Camillo succeeded to the
title and fief of his father.
EXTRACT
PnOM THE
LIFE AND PONTIFICATE OF LEO X.
BY WILLIAN ROSCOE.
(Vol. I. p. 82.)
"IN enumerating the learned men, who, at that
time, resided in the state of Ferrara, it would be un-
pardonable to omit another accomplished scholar and
celebrated poet, who died in the year HQ-l- the emi-
nent Matteo Maria Boiardo, Count of Scandianoj
who was born in the territory of Ferrara about the
year 1430, and spent in that city the chief part of
his life, honored with the favour and friendship of
Borso and Ercole d'Este, and frequently' entrusted
298 jiPPENDIX,
by them, as governor of the subordinate cities in
their dominions. Boiardo is principally known by his
epic romance of Orlando Innamorato, of which the
yet more celebrated poem of Ariosto is not only an
imitation but a continuation. Of this work he did not
live to complete the third book, nor is it probable
that any part of it had the advantage of his last cor-
rections ; yet it is justly regarded as exhibiting, upon
the whole, a warmth of imagination, and a vivacity of
colouring, which render it highly interesting. Less
known, but not less valuable, than his epic poem,
are the three books of sonnets and lyric pieces, by
Boiardo, collected and published after his death,
under a Latin title, although wholly consisting of
Italian poems. When we consider that the greater
part of those pieces were written at a time when the
Tuscan poetry -was in the lowest state of debasement,
we may be justly surprised at the choice of expression
^\ Inch they frequently display, and the purity of style
by which they are invariably characterized. At the
request of his great patron Ercole, Duke of Fcrrara,
Boiardo also composed his comedy of ' Timone,'
founded upon one of Lucian's dialogues ; nor was
Boiardo only one of the most eminent poets he was
one of the most learned men of his age. From the
Greek he translated into his native tonfiue the history
APPENDIX. '299
of Herodotus, and the Asinus of Lucian. Of his
Latin poetry many specimens yet remain. Tiraboschi
has mentioned ten eclogues in that lanffuasre, inscribed
to Ercole, which are preserved in the ducal library
of Modena, and which he assures us are full of grace
and elegance."
NOTE.
It is not without reason, perhaps, that the simplicity of
the original has occasioned it to be preferred to the Orlando
Innamorato, as altered and reformed by Francisco Berni,
who has carried the marvellous to such an extreme, as to
deprive his narrative of all pretensions to even poetic pro-
bability ; and by his manifest attempts to be always jocular,
has too often destroyed the eftects of Iiis jocularity. The
labours of Boiardo terminated at the 9th canto of the third
book ; from which period it was continued by Nicolo degli
Agostiuo, and of this production numerous editions have
beeu published.
300 APPENDIX.
For the further information of the Reader, the following
ACCOUNT of the ORLANDO INNAMORATO
is selected from an eminent Italian Writer,
" DOVENDO addunque trattare deg'l Italian!
Poemi Scieglieremo, come dc i I^tini abbiam fatto i
piu degni, ed utili piu a regolare il gusto e piglieremo
a considerare il Bojardo copie fonte onde poi e uscito
il Furioso. Credone molti, che '1 Bojardo avesse
ordito il suo poema ad imitazion de i provenzali,
perche Tombre, e i iiomi di quegli eroi per esso vcg-
gon trascorrere, mg, da molto piu limjiida, e larga
vene trasse egli I'invenzione, e 1' espression sua, Cioe
da i Greci, e I^atini, iiel cui studio era versato,
senza che i torbide torrenti provenzali dovesso ricor-
rcre. E w servi de i nomi e fatti de quel Paladini
perche da i provenzali, ed altri antiche ronianzi alle
volgor conoscenza erano usciti. Onde per essere piu
grato, e maggiormente applaudito, voile serversi dell
idee di cui gil trovata ncl volgo rimpressione perloche
siccome Omero, e gli altri poeti Greci ebbero per
cainpo della loroinvenzionni I'assedio Trojano, di cui la
fa ma largeniente per la Grecia trascorrca, cosi il Bo-
jardo ebbe per seininario della sue favole il rinomato
e per niolti libri cclcbrato assedio di Parigi, scguendo
il genio, che albergava ne i piu antichi iavoleggietori
APf>ENDl5:. 301
ileila Grecia, i quali attribuirons a loro eroi, e sugetll
dote sopranaturale, con cui da essi Ercole, Teseo,
Caponeo, Achille, Amfiarao, Orfeo, Polifemo, e
simili son rappresentati. Alia qual' idee son crcati
gli Orlandi, i Ferrau, i Rodomonti, gli Atlanti, i
Ruggieri, Forco cd altri prodigiose personaggi, che
'Csprimono ciascuno la sua parte del mirabiie a simili-
tudine de i Greci eroi, e sugetti, a ciascuno de i quali
potremmo jx)iTe una de i novelli al' incontro, se la
brevita di quest opera il tolerasse. E sicconie i Greci
Salvavano il verisimile colla divinitata che in quogli
ei'oi operava, cosi il Bojardo con le Fate, e co jSIaghi,
in vece degli anticlie Numi sostituiti, le sue inveiuioni
difcnde : e sotto le persone, da lui iintc, J. Vizi Es-
prime, e le virtu secondo la buona O cattivafigura,
di cui son vestite: non altrcmcnto clie dellc loro delta,
ed eroi si scrvivan gli anticlii con qual' arte a cgli, ad
esempio de i priuii favoleggiatori, prodctte u pubblica
scena in figure, cd opera di pei^sonaggi nraravigUtisi
tutta la ujoral filosofia parimente siccome i Greci per
sii^'irlficare la debolezza dell' aninio uuiano, ciie ail^'
discordie alle stragi, ed alle rovine da leggierissime,
e vilissinie jiassioni e per lo piu tras])()rtato, trasscr da
Elene <ili evcuti di taute battafflie, e si funesta guerra
ciie la Grecia vincitrice, non men che 1' Asia viiit:i
copri di travagli e nii-^erie ; cosi il Bojardo per j-ipo-
302 APPENDIX.
tere a noi il medesimo ammaestramento della sole
Angelica excita di lunghe contese, e d' infinite morti
r occasione. Quindi questo poema che di tante virtu
riluce, sarebbe da molte nebbia libero, se fusse stato
condotto a fine, ed avesse avuto il debito sesto nel
corpo intero, e lameritata cnltura in ciascuna sua parte :
con le quale si fussero lolte 1' espressione troppo alie
volte vili, e si fiisse in qualche luogo piii col numero
invigorato, affinche, siccome rappresenta assai felice-
mente il naturale, avesse avuto anche gli ultimi pregi
deir arte, e fiisse rimasto purgato di quel vizj, per li
quali il Berni con la Piacevolezza del suo stile la a
voluto cangiare in facezia.
Della Region Poetka di f'incenzo Gravitn,
Libra Stcondo, p. ISO.
The follotsoing Rema7~k is extracted from a lateli) imh-
lished JVork .
<' ON peut distinguer tres-facilement dans la littc-
rature Italienne ce qui appartient a 1' influence dcs
Grecs, ou a celle de la poesie et des traditions Arabes.
L' affectation et la recherche derivent de la subtilite
des Grecs, de leur sophismes et de leur thcologie ;
les tableaux et I'invention poetique derivent d' I'ima-
APPENDIX. 203
gination Orientale. Ces deux difFerens caractcres
s'appercoivent a travers la couleur generale que la
meme langue, le meme climat, les memo moeurs
donnent aux ouvrages d'un meme peuple. Le Boyaid,
qui est le premier auteur du genre que I'Arioste a
rendu si celebre, a beaucoup d'analogie, dans son
poema avec les contes Orientaux, c'est le meme ca-
ractere d'invention et de mcrveilleaux ; Tesprit dc
chevalerie et la liberie accordee aux femmcs dans le
nord font la seule difference du Boyard, et des millc
et une nuits. Quoique les Arabes fusscnt un peuple
extremement belliqueux, ils combattoient jxiur Icui
religion bien plus que pour I'amour et pour I'honneur ;
tandis que les peuples du Nord, quelque fCit leiir
respect pour le croyance qu'ils professoicnt, ont ton-
jours en leur gloire personnello pour premier but.
L'Ai'ioste, de meme que le Boyard, est imitatcur des
Orientaux. L'Ariosto est le premier peiiitre, et pai-
consequent peat etre le plus grand pocte moderne.
De la Litterature considtrte dans ses rapport>:,
avec rinstifutions sociales, par Mad. de Stael,
Hohte'm.
304 APPENDIX.
EXTRACTS
Bishop Kurd's Letters on Chivalry and Romana.
*' WE hear much of knights errant encountering
giants, and quelling savages, in books of cliivalry.
These giants were oppressive feudal lords, and every
lord was to be met with in his strong hold, or castle.
Their dependants, of a lower form, who imitated the
violence of their superiors, and had not their castles,
but their lurking places, were the savages of romance.
The greater loi'd was called a giant, for his power
the lesser a savage, for his brutality. All this is
shadowed out in the Gothic tales, and sometimes ex-
pressed in plain words. The objects of the knights'
vengeance go, indeed, by the various names of Giants,
Paynims, Saracens, and Savages.
" Another terror of the Gothic ages was monsters,
dragons, and serpents. These stories were received
in those days, for several reasons 1st, from their be-
lief of enchantments 2d, from their being reported
on the faith of Eastern tradition 3d, in still later
times, from the strange things told and believed on
the discovery of the new world.
APPENDIX. 305
** Now, in all these respects, Greek antiquity very
much resembles the Gothic ; for what are Homer's
Laestrigons and Cyclops, but bands of lawless savages,
with each of them a giant of enormous size at their
head ? What are the Grecian Bacchus, Hercules,
and Theseus, but knights errant, the exact counter-
parts of Sir Launcelot and Amadis de Gaul ? And
do you not remember that the Grecian worthies were
in their day as famous for encountering dragons, and
quelling monsters of all sorts, as for suppressing
giants ?
" per hos cecidere justi
Morti centuari, cecidit tremedae
Flamnia chimajrae."
** The current popular tales of elves and fairies, were
even fitter to take the credulous mind, and charm it
into a willing admiration of the specious 7niraclcs which
wayward fancy delights in, than those of the old tra-
ditionary rabble of Pagan divinities ;- and then for
the more solemn fancies of witchcraft and incantation,
the horrors of the Gothic were, above measure,
striking and terrible. The mummeries of the Pagan
priests were childish ; but the Gothic enchanters
shook and alarmed all nature, ishakspeare, with a
terrible sublime, gives an idea of the rough 7}iagiCf as
he calls it, of fairy enchantment.
X
306 APPENDIX.
-*' I have bcdimm'd
The noontide sun call'd forth the mutinous winds,
And 'twixt the green sea and the azure rault
Set roaring war. To the dread rattling thunder
Have I giv'n fire, and rifted Jove's stout oak
With his own bolt. The strong bas'd promontory
Have I made shake, and by the spurs pluck'd up
The pine and cedar. Graves at my command
Have opeu'd, and let forth their sleepers."
" This may serve for a cast of Shakspeare's magic;
and I can't but think, that when Milton wanted to
paint the horrors of that night, (one of the noblest
parts in his Paradise Regained) which the devil him-
self is feigned to conjure up in the wilderness, the
Gothic language and ideas helped him to work up his
tempest with such terror. You will judge, from these
tines
-*' Nor stay'd the horror there ;
Infernal ghosts, and hellish furies, round
Environ'd. Some howl'd some yell'd some shriek'd
Some bent at thee their fiery darts."
" After all, the conclusion is not to be drawn so
much from particular passages, as from the general
impression left on our minds in reading the ancient
and modern poets ; and this is so much in favour of
the latter, that Mr. Addison scruples not to say, " the
ancients have not much of this poetry amongst them j
APPENDIX. 307
for almost the whole substance of it owes its original
to the darkness and superstition of later ages. Our
forefathers looked upon nature with more reverence
and horror, before the world was enlightened by learn-
ing and philosophy, and loved to astonish themselves
with the apprehensions of witchcraft, prodigies, charms,
and enchantments. There was not a village in Eng-
land that had not a ghost in it the church-yards
were all haunted every large common had a circle of
fairies belonging to it and there was scarce a shep-
herd to be met with, that had not seen a spirit !"
The fancies of our modern bards are not only more
gallant, but, on a change of the scene, more sublime,
more terrible, more alarming, than those of the classic
fablers. In a word, you will find that the manners
they paint, and the superstitions they adopt, are the
more poetical for being Gothic. To the injustice of
the Italian poets, the cry is, *' Magic and enchant-
ments are senseless things, therefore the Italian poets
are not worth the reading j" as if because the super-
stitions of Homer and Virgil are no longer believed,
their poems, wln'ch abound in them, are good for
nothing. I readily agree to the observation of Mr.
Hobbes, that impenetrable armour, invulnerable bo-
dies, enchanted castles, iron men, flying horses, and
other such things, are easily feigned by them that
308 APPENDIX.
dare, but not so feigned as we find them in the Ita-
lian poets, unless the writer have another quality
besides courage. The Pagan gods and Gothic fairies
were equally out of credit when Milton wrote;
he did well, therefore, to supply their room with
angels and devils. The pomp of verse, the energy of
description, and even the finest moral paintings,
would stand an epic poet in no stead, without admira-
tion^ which cannot be effected but by the marvellous
of celestial intervention; I mean, the agency of supe-
rior natures, really existing, (or by the illusion of
fancy taken to be so) no epic poem can be long
lived.
*' Critics may talk what they will of truth and na-
ture, and abuse the Italian poets, for transgressing
both in their incredible fictions but these fictions,
with which they have studied to delude the world, are
of that kind of creditable deceits, of which a wise
ancient pronounces, with assurances, " that they who
deceive, are honester than they who do not deceive ;
and they who are deceived, wiser than they who are
not deceived."
*' The source of bad criticism is the abuse of terms.
A poet, they say, must follow nature ; and by nature,
we are to suppose, can only be meant the known and
experienced course of affairs in this world ; Avhereas
APPENDIX. SOS
the poet has a world of his own, where experience has
less to do than consistent imagination. He has, be-
sides, a supernatural world to range in he has gods,
and fairies, and witches at his command. Thus, in
the poets' world all is marvellous and extraordinary,
yet not unnatural, in one sense, as it agrees to the
conceptions that are readily entertained of these won-
der-working and magical natures. In those species
which have men and manners professedly for their
theme, a strict conformity to human nature is rea-
sonably demanded still further, in those species that
address themselves to the heart, and would obtain
their end, not through the imagination, but through
the passions ; there the liberty of transgressing nature,
I mean the real powers and properties of human na-
ture, is infinitely restrained, and poetical truth is,
under those circumstances, almost as severe a thing
as liistoi'ical. The reason is, we must first believe,
before we can be affected. But the case is different
with the more sublime and creative poetry j this
species addressing itself solely and principally to the
imagination, a young and credulous faculty, which
loves to admire and to be deceived, has no need to
observe those cnutious rules of credibility, so necessary
to be followed by him who would touch the affections
and interest the heart.
310 APPENDIX.
** That which passes in representation, and chal-
lenges as it were the scrutiny of the eye, must be
truth itself, or something very nearly approaching to
it ; but what passes in narration, even on the stage,
is admitted without much difficulty.
** In the epic narration, which may be called absens
JecundiOf the reason of the thing shews this indulgence
to be still greater it appeals neither to the eye nor the
car, but simply to the imagination ; and so allows the
poet a liberty of multiplying and enlarging his impos-
tures at pleasure, in proportion to the easiness and
comprehension of that faculty.
*' These general reflections hardly require an appli-
cation to the present subject. The tales of Faery are
exploded, as fantastic and incredible. They would
merit contempt, if presented on the stage. I mean,
if they were given as the proper subjects of dramatic
imitation, and the interest of the poet's plot were to
be wrought out of the adventures of those marvellous
pei-sons. But the epic muse runs no risque in giving
way to such fanciful exhibitions ; you may call them,
as one does, extraordinary dreams, such as excellent
poets and painters, by being overstudious, may have
in the beginning of fevers. The epic poet would ac-
knowledge the charge, and even value himself upon
it J he would say, *' I leave to the sage dramatist
APPENDIX. 311
the merit of being always awake, and always in his
senses. I'he divine dream, and delirious fancy, are
among the noblest of my prerogatives."
EXTRACT
GODWIN'S LIFE OF CHAUCER.
** BoccAcio and Chaucer, it miglit be supposed,
would have succeeded in banishing the swelling and
romantic style from the realms of poetr}'. We might
have imagined, that as knowledge and civilization
grew, the empire of nature would have continually
become more firmly established. But this was not the
case : these eminent writers rose too high beyond
their contemporaries, and reached to refinements that
their successors could not understand. Pulci and
Boiardo took the romantic style under their protec-
tion, in the following century ; and, by the splendour
of their talents, and the treasures of their fancy, be-
stowed upon it extensive and lasting empire. In Italy
Ariosto and Tasso adopted, and carried to perfection,
the style of Pulci and Boiardo. Taste and literature
had made no advances in England in the 1 5th century.
312 ' APPENDIX.
and in the 16th, and early part of the I7th, our
countrymen resorted for models principally to Italy.
The Earl of Surrey and his contemporaries were the
introducers of the Italian school in this island.
Spenser, in his Fairie Queen, combined at once all
the imperfections of the allegorical and the romantic.
Even the transcendent genius of Milton formed itself
upon these originals ; and however we may adore the
wonders of his invention, impartial criticism must
acknowledge that he studied much in the school of
the artificial, the colossal, and the wild, and little in
that of nature."
Life of Chaucer, p. 191, 192, 193. B. 4.
SPECIMENS
OF
DIFFERENT MODES OF TRANSLATION.
Among the most voluminous translators of poetry,
we find Madame Dacier, from which name every
thing that great talents and great erudition could
execute was to be expected. She fixed upon the
grand work of the Jir&t of epic writers, and
gave it to the French nation in its vernacular lan-
guage j it was Homer, but Homer shorn of his
APPENDIX. 313
beams, and bound down to prosaic tamcncss. Behold
liow she renders the description of the thunderer dis-
tributino; the various lots of human kind :
*' Car aux deux cotes du formidable trdnc de Jupiter
il y' a deux tonneaux inepuisables, remplis de prcsens
que ce Dieu fait aux hommes, I'un est plein de maux
& I'autre de biens, celui pour qui le maitre du ton-
nerre puisse egalement dans ces tonneaux, mene une
vie melee ou le bonheur & le malheur se suivent reci-
proquement & celui pour lequel il ne puise que dans
le tonneau funeste, est accable de toutes sortes de
maux, I'affreuse malediction le poursuit toute la vie :
il est I'objet de la haine des dieux & du mcpris des
Hommes."
Here we have none of Avhat Sir Philip Sidney styles
*' sweetly uttered knowledge." Admit that the original
is faithfully translated, yet her detail is cold and
insipid, compared with Pope's version of the passage.
With how much more force and conciseness has he
rendered Homer's idea
" Two urns by Jove's high throne have ever stood,
Tlie source of evil one, and one of good ;
From these the cup of mortal man he fills
Blessings to those, to these distrihnles ills.
To most he mingles both. The wretch decreed
To taste the bad unmix'd, is curst indeed.
Pursued by wrongs, by meagre famine driv'n,
lie wanders outcast both of earth and heav'n,"
314 APPENDIX,
The thought here is not di-awii out to uninteresting
length, or weakened by low expression ; the impres-
sion rushes on the understanding with undiminished
energy ; at one glance we behold the Ruler of the
universe evincing his might in a manner the most
awful ; we see the anxious groups on either hand,
awaiting their portion ; we rejoice in that mitigation
of human ills the mingled cup affords ; and affrighted
fancy trembling pursues the interdicted fugitive, who
is doomed to seek, in vain, for comfort on earth, or
refuge in heaven.
Translations from the living languages, particularly
from the Italian poets, were formerly much encouraged
in England, and for a long series of time they were
but little creditable to the national taste or judgment.
Amonjj the first adventurers in this line was Sir John
Harrington, whose version of the Orlando Furioso
of Ariosto was printed in London anno 1591, and
dedicated to Queen Elizabeth. At this period the
English tongue had attained to copiousness, since no
writer ever expressed a greater variety of thoughts,
clothed in forcible and expressive language, than our
inimitable dramatist Shakspeare, who was contempo-
rary with the knight. This circumstance must render
the want of delicacy and precision in the translation of
the Orlando Furioso more conspicuous and inex-
APPENDIX. 3 IS
cusable. In many passages, had it been the transla-
tor's purpose to burlesque the author's meaning, he
could not have more effectually succeeded. His ac-
count of the archangel Michael punishing Discord,
and sending her from among the Christians to the
Pagan camp, will demonstrate the justness of this as-
sertion. The lines are in the 27th book of the work.
" To seek dame Discord lie doth leave the sky.
And to the abbey he returns again.
Where her amid the monks he miglit espy,
That change old officers, and new ordain.
She laughs to see their portises to fly.
Ready to knock out one another's brain ;
The angel takes her by the painted locks.
And with great fury gives her many knocks.
" He brake a crasse's handle on her crowne.
And grievously did beat her back and side ;
The wretch upon her marrowbones falls down
At the angel's feet, and mercie, mercie cride.
" Pack to the Pagans, then, that siege yon towne,
(Quoth he) and see that you among them bide ;
For if this place again thou ever trouble,
x\ssure thyself thy payment shall be double."
Mr. Hoole's translation of the same passage adheres
as closely to the original, without giving us disgustful
precision or homespun vulgarisms, to provoke laugh-
ter and excite contempt. His version runs thus
316 APPENDIX.
" To where before in hallow'd cloisters plac'd.
He Discord met, he ply'd his wings in haste ;
Again he found her, where, midst monks she sate.
And at a chapter urg'd the dire debate.
Pleas'd with their strife, she view'd with joyful eye.
Cast at each otljcr prayers and masses fly.
With holy wrath the heav'nly angel burn'd.
Her by the locks he seiz'd, and seizhig, spurn'd ;
Then in his hand he swift a crosier look.
And on her head, lier arms, and shoulders broke.
Mercy, ah ! mercy, (loud tlie fury yell'd,
Whilst close the heavenly nunciate's knees she held ;)
But Michael set not yet the fiend at large.
Till to the Saracens, with weighty charge
He thus dismiss'd her-" Hence, nor more forsake
Yon hostile camp, my heavier wrath to wake."
Any passage in any author will admit of various
modes of translation ; and to chuse the worst to exhi-
bit it in, is surely an insufferable species of literary
tyranny. In illustration of this opinion, I here select
a stanza of the Gierusalemme Liberata of Tasso, with
translations bv four different hands.
" Chiama g1i abitator de I'onibre esterne
II rauco suon de la Tartarea tromba,
Tremen le spaziose atrc caverne,
E' I'aer cieco a quel ronior rimbomba.
Ne si stridendo mai de le superne
Regiom del cielo il Folgnr piomba.
r
APPENDIX. 317
Ne si scossa giammai trema la terra,
Quando i vapori in sen gravida serra."
Canto 4. Stanza 3.
First Translation by Fairfax.
" The dreary trumpet blew a dreadful blast.
And rumbled thro' the lands and kingdoms under ;
Thro' wasteness wide it roar'd, and hollows vast.
And fiU'd the deep with terror, fear, and wonder.
Not half so dreadful noise the tempests cast
That fall from skies with rattling hail and thunder ;
Not half so loud the whistling winds do s^inf^.
Broke from the earthen prisons of their king."
Second by Doyne.
*' The infernal trumpet, with a dreadful blast,
Summon'd the dwellers of eternal night ;
The dark and wide caves of Avernus shook ;
Thro' emptiness with hollow noise it roar'd.
Not half so terribly the thunders roll
Along the upper regions of the air;
Nor trembles half so terribly the earth,
When tempests struggle in its pregnant womb.'
Third by Hoole,
' The trumpet now, with hoarse resounding breath.
Convenes the spirits in the shades of death ;
The hollow caverns tremble at the sound ;
The air re echoes to the noise around.
318 APPENDIX..
Not louder terrors shake the distant pole.
When thro' the skies the rattling thunders roll ;
Not greater tremors heave the lab'ring earth,
When vapours pent witliin contend for birth."
Fourth. anonymous.
" To call the tribes that roam the Stygian shores,
The hoarse Tartarean trump in thunder roars :
Hell, through her trembling caverns, starts aghast,
And night's black void re-bellows to the blast.
Far less the peal that rends th' etherial world.
When bolts of vengeance from on high are hurl'd.
Far less the shock that heaves earth's tott'ring frame.
When its torn entrails spout th' imprison'd flame."
A variety of instances might be produced, to sliow
tliat translators are often guilty of crushing an author's
meaning, by an awkward construction and injudicious
mode of versification. Harrington is remarkably so.
A passage in tlie Orlando Furioso is thus miserably
mangled
" As when the seas are wrought by slurdif wind.
The vent'rous vessel, tost with many a wave.
Is sometimes smote before, sometimes beliind.
And each surge seeks a passage free to have ;
The fearful pilot, with astonish'd mind,
Knows not which way he should himself behave ;
Till at the last one surge the whole possesseth.
And so both pilot, ship, and all oppresseth."
APPENDIX. 319
Here is slovenly translation, vulgarism, tautology,
and arrant nonsense many of which faults a trivial
alteration will expunge, without injuring tlie sense of
the passage
So in the vent'rous vessel, tempest tost,
Whose ey'ry part the furious waves assail,
Th' astonish'd pilot stands in terror lost
He feels his skill no longer will avail ;
Aghast, he views the scene with anxious eyes.
Nor can decide what course is safe to keep.
Till til' impetuous surges madd'ning rise.
And whelm both ship and pilot in the deep.
Paraphrastic translation, when judiciously con-
ducted, admits of many advantages, and evinces, in
several instances, that an author's turn of thought and
true meaning may be rendered, without his transla-
tor's being compelled to scan lines too scrupulously.
Yet this sort of merit is but seklom to be met with in
works of length- Generally speaking, the class of
literati deiiominatedy/r^ translators^ seem to be illu-
mined by transient flushes only, which, like the
coruscations of a meteor fraught sky, at one moment
irradiate, and at the next leave them involved ia
gloom. None can be too cautious whilst pursuing a
course in which few have succeeded ; and one circuin-
fctance should never be forgotten, which is, that a bad
irau^latioa is not merely a fraud u[)on rpfldo?>, bur
320
APPENDIX.
also a severe injustice to the original writer j whose
pretensions to approbation or applause are frustrated,
by his being thus forced to make an appearance in a
degraded or unbecoming guise.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
Los Angeles
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