Orlando Furioso Part 29

IX He suddenly dismounts, and thundering fares Through the inmost palace, seeking still his foe, And here and there in restless rage repairs, Till he has seen each bower, each galleried row; With the same purpose he ascends the stairs, Having first vainly searched each room below.

Nor spends less labour, on his task intent, Above, than he beneath had vainly spent.

X Here beds are seen adorned with silk and gold; Nor of part.i.tion aught is spied or wall: For these, and floor beneath, throughout that hold, Are hid by curtains and by carpets all.

Now here, now there, returns Orlando bold, Nor yet can glad his eyes, in bower or hall, With the appearance of the royal maid, Or the foul thief by whom she was conveyed.

XI This while, as here and there in fruitless pain He moves, oppressed with thought and trouble sore, Grada.s.so, Brandimart, and him of Spain, Ferrau, he finds, with Sacripant and more; Who ever toiling, like himself, in vain Above, that building, and beneath explore, And as they wander, curse with one accord The malice of the castle's viewless lord.

XII All in pursuit of the offender speed, And upon him some charge of robbery lay: One knight complains that he has stolen his steed, One that he has purloined his lady gay.

Other accuses him of other deed: And thus within the enchanted cage they stay, Nor can depart; while in the palace pent, Many have weeks and months together spent.

XIII Roland, when he round that strange dome had paced Four times or six, still vainly seeking, said Within himself, at last, "I here might waste My time and trouble, still in vain delayed, While haply her the robber whom I chased Has far away, through other gate conveyed."

So thinking, from the house he issued out Into the mead which girt the dome about.

XIV While Roland wanders round the sylvan Hall, Still holding close his visage to the ground, To see if recent print or trace withal Can, right or left, upon the turf be found, He from a neighbouring window hears a call, And looks, and thinks he hears that voice's sound, And thinks he sees the visage by which he Was so estranged from what he wont to be.

XV He thinks he hears Angelica, and she "Help, help!" entreating cries, and weeping sore, "More than for life and soul, alas! of thee Protection for my honour I implore.

Then shall it in my Roland's presence be Ravished by this foul robber? Oh! before Me to such miserable fate you leave, Let me from your own hand my death receive!"

XVI These words repeated once, and yet again, Made Roland through each chamber, far and near, Return with pa.s.sion, and with utmost pain; But tempered with high hope. Sometimes the peer Stopt in his search and heard a voice complain, Which seemed to be Angelica's: if here The restless warrior stand, it sounds from there, And calls for help he knows not whence nor where,

XVII Returning to Rogero, left, I said, When through a gloomy path, upon his steed, Following the giant and the dame who fled, He from the wood had issued on the mead; I say that he arrived where Roland dread Arrived before him, if I rightly read.

The giant through the golden portal pa.s.sed, Rogero close behind, who followed fast.

XVIII As soon as he his foot has lifted o'er The threshold, he through court and gallery spies; Nor sees the giant or the lady more, And vainly glances here and there his eyes.

He up and down returns with labour sore, Yet not for that his longing satisfies; Nor can imagine where the felon thief Has hid himself and dame in s.p.a.ce so brief.

XIX After four times or five he so had wound Above, below, through bower and gallery fair, He yet returned, and, having nothing found, Searched even to the s.p.a.ce beneath the stair.

At length, in hope they in the woodlands round Might be, he sallied; but the voice, which there Roland recalled, did him no less recall, And made as well return within the Hall.

XX One voice, one shape, which to Anglantes' peer Seemed his Angelica, beseeching aid.

Seemed to Rogero Dordogne's lady dear.

Who him a truant to himself had made: If with Grada.s.so, or with other near He spake, of those who through the palace strayed.

To all of them the vision, seen apart, Seemed that which each had singly most at heart.

XXI This was a new and unwonted spell, Which the renowned Atlantes had composed, That in this toil, this pleasing pain, might dwell So long Rogero, by these walls enclosed, From him should pa.s.s away the influence fell, -- Influence which him to early death exposed.

Though vain his magic tower of steel, and vain Alcina's art, Atlantes plots again.

XXII Not only he, but others who stood high For valour, and in France had greatest fame, That by their hands Rogero might not die, Brought here by old Atlantes' magic came: While these in the enchanted mansion lie, That food be wanting not to knight or dame, He has supplied the dome throughout so well, That all the inmates there in plenty dwell.

XXIII But to Angelica return we, who Now of that ring so wondrous repossessed, (Which, in her mouth, concealed the maid from view, Preserved from spell when it the finger pressed,) Was in the mountain-cavern guided to Whatever needed, viands, mare, and vest, And had conceived the project to pursue Her way to her fair Indian realm anew.

XXIV King Sacripant, or Roland, willingly The damsel would have taken for her guide; Not that, propitious to their wishes, she (Averse from both) inclined to either side; But, since her eastern journey was to be Through town and city, scattered far and wide, She needed company, and ill had found More trusty guides than these for such a round.

XXV Now this, now that she sought with fruitless care, Before she lit on either warrior's trace, By city or by farm, now here, now there, In forest now, and now in other place.

Fortune, at length, where caged with Roland are Ferrau and Sacripant, directs her chase; Rogero, with Grada.s.so fierce, and more, Noosed with strange witcheries by Atlantes h.o.a.r.

XXVI She enters, hidden from the enchanter's eyes, And by the ring concealed, examines all; And Roland there, and Sacripant espies, Intent to seek her vainly through the Hall; And with her image cheating both, descries Atlantes old. The damsel doubts withal Which of the two to take, and long revolves This in her doubtful thought, nor well resolves.

XXVII She knows not which with her will best accord, The Count Orlando or Circa.s.sia's knight.

As of most powers, her would Rogero ward In pa.s.sage perilous, with better might.

But should she make the peer her guide, her lord, She knew not if her champion she could slight, If him she would depress with altered cheer, Or into France send back the cavalier:

XXVIII But Sacripant at pleasure could depose, Though him she had uplifted to the sky.

Hence him alone she for her escort chose, And feigned to trust in his fidelity.

The ring she from her mouth withdraws, and shows Her face, unveiled to the Circa.s.sian's eye: She thought to him alone; but fierce Ferrau And Roland came upon the maid, and saw.

XXIX Ferrau and Roland came upon the maid; For one and the other champion equally Within the palace and without it strayed In quest of her, who was their deity.

And now, no longer by the enchantment stayed, Each ran alike towards the dame, for she Had placed the ring upon her hand anew, Which old Atlantes' every scheme o'erthrew.

x.x.x Helm on the head and corselet on the breast Of both the knights, of whom I sing, was tied; By night or day, since they into this rest Had entered, never doffed and laid aside: For such to wear were easy as a vest, To these, so wont the burden to abide.

As well was armed, except with iron masque, Ferrau, who wore not, nor would wear, a casque.

x.x.xI Till he had that erst wrested by the peer, Orlando, from the brother of Troyane; For so had sworn the Spanish cavalier, What time he Argalia's helm in vain Sought in the brook; yet though the count was near, Has not stretched forth his hand the prize to gain.

For so it was, that neither of the pair Could recognise the other knight while there.

x.x.xII Upon the enchanted dome lay such a spell, That they from one another were concealed; They doffed not, night nor day, the corselet's sh.e.l.l, Not sword, nor even put aside the s.h.i.+eld.

Saddled, with bridle hanging at the sell, Their steeds were feeding, ready for the field, Within a chamber, near the palace door, With straw and barley heaped in plenteous store.

x.x.xIII Nor might nor mean in old Atlantes lies To stop the knights from mounting, who repair To their good steeds, to chase the bright black eyes, The fair vermillion cheeks and golden hair Of the sweet damsel, who before them flies, And goads to better speed her panting mare; Ill pleased the three a.s.sembled to discern, Though haply she had taken each in turn.

x.x.xIV And when these from the magic palace she Had ticed so far, that she no more supposed The warriors to the wicked fallacy Of the malign enchanter were exposed, The ring, which more than once from misery Had rescued her, she 'twixt her lips enclosed, Hence from their sight she vanished in a thought, And left them wondering there, like men distraught.

x.x.xV Although she first the scheme had entertained Roland or Sacripant to have released, To guide her thither, where her father reigned, King Galaphron, who ruled i' the farthest East, The aid of both she suddenly disdained, And in an instant from her project ceased; And deemed, without more debt to count or king, In place of either knight sufficed the ring.

x.x.xVI In haste, they through the forest, here and there, So scorned of her, still gaze with stupid face; Like questing hound which loses sight of hare Or fox, of whom he late pursued the trace, Into close thicket, ditch, or narrow lair, Escaping from the keen pursuer's chase.

Meantime their ways the wanton Indian queen Observes, and at their wonder laughs unseen.

x.x.xVII In the mid wood, where they the maid did lose, Was but a single pathway, left or right; Which they believed the damsel could not choose But follow, when she vanished from their sight.

Ferrau halts not, and Roland fast pursues, Nor Sacripant less plies the rowels bright.

Angelica, this while, retrains her steed, And follows the three warriors with less speed.

x.x.xVIII When p.r.i.c.king thus they came to where the way Was in the forest lost, with wood o'ergrown, And had begun the herbage to survey For print of recent footsteps, up and down, The fierce Ferrau, who might have borne away From all that ever proudest were, the crown, With evil countenance, to the other two Turned him about, and shouted "Whence are you?"

x.x.xIX "Turn back or take another road, save here, In truth, you covet to be slain by me.

Nor when I chase or woo my lady dear, Let any think I bear with company."

And -- "What more could he say, sir cavalier,"

(Orlando cried to Sacripant) "if we Were known for the two basest wh.o.r.es that pull And reel from spindle-staff the matted wool?"

XL Then turning to Ferrau,, "But that thine head, Thou brutish sot, as I behold, is bare, If thy late words were ill or wisely said, Thou should'st perceive, before we further fare."

To him Ferrau: "For that which breeds no dread In me, why should'st thou take such sovereign care?

What I have said unhelmed will I prove true, Here, single as I am, on both of you."

XLI "Oh!" (to Circa.s.sia's king cried Roland dread) "Thy morion for this man let me entreat, Till I have driven such folly from his head; For never with like madness did I meet."

-- "Who then would be most fool?" the monarch said; "But if indeed you deem the suit discreet, Lend him thine own; nor shall I be less fit Haply than thee to school his lack of wit."

XLII -- "Fools, both of you!" (the fierce Ferrau replied) "As if, did I to wear a helm delight, You would not be without your casques of pride, Already reft by me in your despite; But know thus much, that I by vow am tied To wear no helm, and thus my promise quite; Roaming without, till that fine casque I win Worn by Orlando, Charles's paladin."

XLIII -- "Then" (smiling, to the Spaniard said the count) "With naked head, thou thinkest to repeat On Roland what he did in Aspramont, By Agolant's bold son: but shouldst thou meet The warrior whom thou seekest, front to front, I warrant thou wouldst quake from head to feet; Nor only wouldst forego the casque, but give The knight thine other arms to let thee live."