Orlando Furioso Part 26

CX He in the monster's eyes the radiance throws, Which works as it was wont in other time.

As trout or grayling to the bottom goes In stream, which mountaineer disturbs with lime; So the enchanted buckler overthrows The orc, reversed among the foam and slime.

Rogero here and there the beast astound Still beats, but cannot find the way to wound.

CXI This while the lady begs him not to bray Longer the monster's rugged scale in vain.

"For heaven's sake turn and loose me" (did she say, Still weeping) "ere the orc awake again.

Bear me with thee, and drown me in mid-way.

Let me not this foul monster's food remain."

By her just plaint Rogero moved, forebore, Untied the maid, and raised her from the sh.o.r.e.

CXII Upon the beach the courser plants his feet, And goaded by the rowel, towers in air, And gallops with Rogero in mid seat, While on the croup behind him sate the fair; Who of his banquet so the monster cheat; For him too delicate and dainty fare.

Rogero turns and with thick kisses plies The lady's snowy breast and sparkling eyes.

CXIII He kept no more the way, as he before Proposed, for compa.s.sing the whole of Spain: But stopt his courser on the neighbouring sh.o.r.e Where lesser Britain runs into the main.

Upon the bank there rose an oakwood h.o.a.r, Where Philomel for ever seemed to plain; I' the middle was a meadow with a fountain, And, at each end, a solitary mountain.

CXIV 'Twas here the wishful knight first checked the rein, And dropping in the meadow, made his steed Furl, yet not shut so close, his wings again, As he had spread them wide for better speed.

Down lights Rogero, and forbears with pain From other leap; but this his arms impede: His arms impede; a bar to his desire, And he must doff them would he slake the fire.

CXV Now here, now there, confused by different throng, Rogero did his s.h.i.+ning arms undo: Never the task appeared to him so long; For where he loosed one knot, he fastened two.

But, sir, too long continued is this song, And haply may as well have wearied you; So that I shall delay to other time, When it may better please, my tedious rhyme.

CANTO 11

ARGUMENT a.s.sisted by the magic ring she wears, Angelica evanishes from view.

Next in a damsel, whom a giant bears Beneath his arm, his bride Rogero true Beholds. Orlando to the sh.o.r.e repairs, Where the fell orc so many damsels slew; Olympia frees, and spoils the beast of life: Her afterwards Oberto takes to wife.

I Although a feeble rein, in mid career, Will oft suffice to stop courageous horse; 'Tis seldom Reason's bit will serve to steer Desire, or turn him from his furious course, When pleasure is in reach: like headstrong bear, Whom from the honeyed meal 'tis ill to force, If once he scent the tempting mess, or sup A drop, which hangs upon the luscious cup.

II What reason then Rogero shall withhold From taking with Angelica delight, -- That gentle maid, there naked in his hold, In the lone forest, and secure from sight?

Of Bradamant he thinks not, who controlled His bosom erst: and foolish were the knight, If thinking of that damsel as before, By this he had not set an equal store;

III Warmed by whose youthful beauties, the severe Xenocrates would not have been more chaste.

The impatient Child had dropt both s.h.i.+eld and spear, And hurrying now his other arms uncased; When, casting down her eyes in shame and fear, The virtuous ring upon her finger placed, Angelica descried, and which of yore From her Brunello in Albracca bore.

IV This is the ring she carried into France, When thither first the damsel took her way; With her the brother, bearer of the lance, After, the paladin, Astolpho's prey.

With this she Malagigi's spells and trance Made vain by Merlin's stair; and on a day Orlando freed, with many knights and good, From Dragontina's cruel servitude:

V With this pa.s.sed viewless from the turret-cell, Where her that bad old man had mewed; but why Recount its different wonders, if as well You know the virtues of the ring as I?

From her this even in her citadel, His monarch Agramant to satisfy, Brunello took: since where she had been crost By Fortune, till her native realm was lost.

VI Now that she this upon her hand surveys, She is so full of pleasure and surprise, She doubts it is a dream, and, in amaze, Hardly believes her very hand and eyes.

Then softly to her mouth the hoop conveys, And, quicker than the flash which cleaves the skies, From bold Rogero's sight her beauty shrowds, As disappears the sun, concealed in clouds.

VII Yet still Rogero gazed like wight distraught, And hurried here and there with fruitless speed: But when he had recalled the ring to thought, Foiled and astounded, cursed his little heed.

And now the vanished lady, whom he sought, Of that ungrateful and discourteous deed Accusing stood, wherewith she had repaid, (Unfitting recompense) his generous aid.

VIII "Ungrateful damsel! and is this the pay You render for the service done?" (said he) "Why rather would you steal my ring away Than have it as a welcome gift from me?

Not only this, (but use me as you may) I, and my s.h.i.+eld and courser, yours shall be; So you no more conceal your beauteous cheer.

Cruel, though answering not, I know you hear."

IX So saying, like one blind, with bootless care, Feeling his way about the fount he strayed.

How often he embraced the empty air, Hoping in this to have embraced the maid!

Meanwhile, now far removed, the flying fair Had halted not, till to a cave conveyed.

Formed in a mountain was that harbour rude; s.p.a.cious, and for her need supplied with food.

X 'Twas here an aged herdsman, one who tended A numerous troop of mares, had made his won: These, seeking pasture, through the valley wended, Where the green gra.s.s was fed by freshening run: While stalls on either side the cave, defended His charge from the oppressive noon-tide sun; Angelica, within, that livelong day, Unseen of prying eyes, prolonged her stay;

XI And about evening, when refreshed with rest And food, she deemed her course she might renew; In certain rustic weeds her body dressed: How different from those robes of red, or blue, Green, yellow, purple, her accustomed vest, So various in its fas.h.i.+on, shape, and hue!

Yet her not so that habit misbecame, But that she looked the fair and n.o.ble dame.

XII Then Phillis' and Neaera's praise forbear, And ye who sing of Amaryllis cease, Or flying Galataea, not so fair, t.i.tyrus and Melibaeus, with your peace!

'Twas here the beauteous lady took a mare, Which liked her best, of all that herd's increase.

Then, and then first conceived the thought, again To seek in the Levant her antient reign.

XIII This while Rogero, after he had pa.s.sed Long s.p.a.ce in hope the maid might re-appear, Awakened from his foolish dream at last, And found she was not nigh, and did not hear.

Then to remount his griffin-courser cast, In earth and air accustomed to career.

But, having slipt his bit, the winged horse Had towered and soared in air a freer course.

XIV To his first ill addition grave and sore Was to have lost the bird of rapid wing, Which he no better than the mockery bore Put on him by the maid; but deeper sting Than this or that, implants, and pains him more, The thought of having lost the precious ring; Not for its power so much, esteemed above Its worth, as given him by his lady love.

XV Afflicted beyond measure, he, with s.h.i.+eld Cast on his shoulder, and new-cased in mail, Left the sea-side, and through a gra.s.sy field Pursued his way, towards a s.p.a.cious vale: Where he beheld a path, by wood concealed, The widest and most beaten in the dale.

Nor far had wound the closest shades within, Ere on his right he heard a mighty din.

XVI He heard a din, and fearful clas.h.i.+ng sound Of arms, and hurrying on with eager pace 'Twixt tree and tree, two furious champions found, Waging fierce fight in close and straightened place: Who to each other (warring on what ground I know not) neither showed regard nor grace.

The one a giant was of haughty cheer, And one a bold and gallant cavalier.

XVII Covered with s.h.i.+eld and sword, one, leaping, sped Now here now there, and thus himself defended, Lest a two-handed mace upon his head Should fall, with which the giant still offended: -- On the field lay his horse, already dead.

Rogero paused, and to the strife attended: And straight his wishes leant towards the knight, Whom he would fain see conqueror in the fight:

XVIII Yet not for this would lend the champion aid, But to behold the cruel strife stood nigh.

Lo! a two-handed stroke the giant made Upon the lesser warrior's casque, and by The mighty blow the knight was overlaid: The other, when astound he saw him lie, To deal the foe his death, his helm untied, So that the warrior's face Rogero spied.

XIX Of his sweet lady, of his pa.s.sing fair, And dearest Bradamant Rogero spies The lovely visage of its helmet bare; Towards whom, to deal her death, the giant hies: So that, advancing with his sword in air, To sudden battle him the Child defies, But he, who will not wait for new alarm, Takes the half-lifeless lady in his arm,

XX And on his shoulder flings and bears away; As sometimes wolf a little lamb will bear, Or eagle in her crooked claws convey Pigeon, or such-like bird, through liquid air.

Rogero runs with all the speed he may, Who sees how needed is his succour there.

But with such strides the giant scours the plain, Him with his eyes the knight pursues with pain.

XXI This flying and that following, the two Kept a close path which widened still, and they Piercing that forest, issued forth to view On a wide meadow, which without it lay.

-- No more of this. Orlando I pursue, That bore Cymosco's thunder-bolt away; And this had in the deepest bottom drowned, That never more the mischief might be found.

XXII But with small boot: for the impious enemy Of human nature, taught the bolt to frame, After the shaft, which darting from the sky Pierces the cloud and comes to ground in flame, Who, when he tempted Eve to eat and die With the apple, hardly wrought more scathe and shame, Some deal before, or in our grandsires' day, Guided a necromancer where it lay.

XXIII More than a hundred fathom buried so, Where hidden it had lain a mighty s.p.a.ce, The infernal tool by magic from below Was fished and born amid the German race; Who, by one proof and the other, taught to know Its powers, and he who plots for our disgrace, The demon, working on their weaker wit, As last upon its fatal purpose hit.

XXIV To Italy and France, on every hand The cruel art among all people past: And these the bronze in hollow mould expand, First in the furnace melted by the blast: Others the iron bore, and small or grand, Fas.h.i.+on the various tube they pierce or cast.

And bombard, gun, according to its frame, Or single cannon this, or double, name.