Orlando Furioso Part 51

But little of those arms, pursued the peer, He knew, which were the occasion of the fight; But (for he thither with Marphisa came And Sansonnet) had armed to aid the dame.

CXXIV While he and Gryphon stood in colloquy, Aquilant came, and knew Astolpho good, Whom he heard speaking with his brother nigh, And, though of evil purpose, changed his mood.

Of Norandine's trooped many, these to spy; But came not nigh the warriors where they stood: And seeing them in conference, stood clear, Listening, in silence, and intent to hear.

CXXV Some one who hears Marphisa hold is there, Famed, through the world, for matchless bravery, His courser turns, and bids the king have care, Save he would lose his Syrian chivalry, To s.n.a.t.c.h his court, before all slaughtered are, From the hand of Death and of Tisiphone: For that 'twas verily Marphisa, who Had borne away the arms in public view.

CXXVI As Norandine is told that name of dread, Through the Levant so feared on every side, Whose mention made the hair on many a head Bristle, though she was often distant wide.

He fears the ill may happen which is said, Unless against the mischief he provide; And hence his meiny, who have changed their ire Already into fear, he bids retire.

CXXVII The sons of Oliver, on the other hand, With Sansonnetto and the English knight, So supplicate Marphisa, she her brand Puts up, and terminates the cruel fight; And to the monarch next, amid his brand, Cries, proudly, "Sir, I know not by what right Thou wouldst this armour, not thine own, present To him who conquers in thy tournament.

CXXVIII "Mine are these arms, which I, upon a day, Left on the road which leads from Armeny, Because, parforce a-foot, I sought to stay A robber, who had sore offended me.

The truth of this my ensign may display.

Which here is seen, if it be known to thee."

With that she on the plate which sheathed the breast (Cleft in three places) showed a crown imprest.

CXXIX "To me this an Armenian merchant gave, 'Tis true," replied the king, "some days ago; And had you raised your voice, the arms to crave, You should have had them, whether yours or no.

For, notwithstanding I to Gryphon gave The armour, I so well his nature know, He freely would resign the gift he earned, That it by me to you might be returned.

Cx.x.x "Your allegation needs not to persuade These arms are yours -- that they your impress bear; Your word suffices me, by me more weighed Than all that other witness could declare.

To grant them yours is but a tribute paid To Virtue, worthy better prize to wear.

Now have the arms, and let us make accord; And let some fairer gift the knight reward."

Cx.x.xI Gryphon, who little had those arms at heart, But much to satisfy the king was bent, Replied: "You recompense enough impart, Teaching me how your wishes to content."

-- "Here is my honour all at sake," apart, "Meseemeth," said Marphisa, and forewent Her claim for Gryphon's sake, with courteous cheer; And, as his gift, in fine received the gear.

Cx.x.xII To the city, their rejoicings to renew, In love and peace they measured back their way.

Next came the joust, of which the honour due, And prize was Sansonnet's; since from the fray Abstained Astolpho and the brethren two, And bold Marphisa, best of that array, Like faithful friends and good companions; fain That Sansonnet the tourney's meed should gain.

Cx.x.xIII Eight days or ten in joy and triumph dwell The knights with Norandine; but with such strong Desire of France the warriors' bosoms swell, Which will not let them thence be absent long, They take their leave. Marphisa, who as well Thither would go, departs the troop among.

Marphisa had long time, with sword and lance, Desired to prove the paladins of France;

Cx.x.xIV And make experiment, if they indeed Such worth as is by Rumour voiced display.

Sansonnet leaves another, in his stead, The city of Jerusalem to sway, And now these five, in chosen squadron speed, Who have few peers in prowess, on their way.

Dismist by Norandine, to Tripoli They wend, and to the neighbouring haven hie.

Cx.x.xV And there a carack find, about to steer For western countries, taking in her store: They, with the patron, for themselves and gear, And horses, make accord; a seaman h.o.a.r Of Luna he: the heavens, on all sides clear, Vouch many days' fair weather. From the sh.o.r.e They loose, with sky serene, and every sail Of the yare vessel stretched by favouring gale.

Cx.x.xVI The island of the amorous deity Breathed upon them an air, in her first port, Which not alone to man does injury, But moulders iron, and here life is short; -- A marsh the cause, -- and Nature certainly Wrongs Famagosta, poisoning, in such sort, That city with Constantia's fen malign, To all the rest of Cyprus so benign.

Cx.x.xVII The noxious scents that from the marish spring, After short sojourn there, compel their flight.

The barque to a south-easter every wing Extends, and circles Cyprus to the right, Makes Paphos' island next, and, anchoring, The crew and warriors on the beach alight; Those to s.h.i.+p merchandize, and these, at leisure, To view the laughing land of Love and Pleasure.

Cx.x.xVIII Inland six miles or seven from thence, a way Scales, with an easy rise, a pleasant hill; Which myrtle, orange, cedar-tree, and bay, And other perfumed plants by thousands fill; Thyme, marjoram, crocus, rose, and lily gay From odoriferous leaf such sweets distill, That they who sail the sea the fragrance bland, Scent in each genial gale which blows from land.

Cx.x.xIX A fruitful rill, by limpid fountain fed, Waters, all round about, the fertile s.p.a.ce.

The land of Venus truly may be said That pa.s.sing joyous and delightful place: For every maid and wife, who there is bred, Is through the world beside, unmatched in grace: And Venus wills, till their last hour be tolled, That Love should warm their bosoms, young and old.

CXL 'Twas here they heard the same which they before Of the orc and of Lucina, erst had heard In Syria; how she to return once more In Nicosia, to her lord prepared.

Thence (a fair wind now blowing from the sh.o.r.e) His bark for sea the ready Patron cleared, Hawled up his anchor, westward turned the head Of the good s.h.i.+p, and all his canvas spread.

CXLI To the north wind, which blew upon their right, Stretching to seaward, they their sails untie: When lo! a south-south-wester, which seemed light, In the beginning, while the sun was high, And afterwards increased in force t'wards night, Raised up the sea against them mountains high; With such dread flashes, and loud peals of thunder, As Heaven, to swallow all in fire, would sunder.

CXLII The clouds their gloomy veil above them strain, Nor suffer sun or star to cheer the view.

Above the welkin roared, beneath the main; On every side the wind and tempest grew; Which, with sharp piercing cold and blinding rain, Afflicted sore the miserable crew.

While aye descending night, with deeper shade, The vext and fearful billows overlayed.

CXLIII The sailors, in this war of wind and flood, Were prompt to manifest their vaunted art.

One blowing through the shrilling whistle stood, And with the signal taught the rest their part.

One clears the best bower anchor: one is good To lower, this other to hawl home or start The braces; one from deck the lumber cast, And this secured the tiller, that the mast.

CXLIV The cruel wind increased throughout the night, Which grew more dismal and more dark than h.e.l.l.

The wary Patron stood to sea outright, Where he believed less broken was the swell; And turned his prow to meet, with ready sleight, The buffets of the dreadful waves which fell; Never without some hope, that at day-break The storm might lull, or else its fury slake.

CXLV It lulls not, nor its fury slakes, but grown Wilder, shows worse by day, -- if this be day, Which but by reckoning of the hours is known, And not by any cheering light or ray.

Now, with more fear (his weaker hope o'erthrown).

The sorrowing Patron to the wind gives way, He veers his barque before the cruel gale, And scowers the foaming sea with humble sail.

CXLVI While Fortune on the sea annoys this crew, She grants those others small repose by land, Those left in France, who one another slew, -- The men of England and the paynim band.

These bold Rinaldo broke and overthrew; Nor troops nor banners spread before him stand: I speak of him, who his Baiardo fleet Had spurred the gallant Dardinel to meet.

CXLVII The s.h.i.+eld, of which Almontes' son was vain, That of the quarters, good Rinaldo spied; And deemed him bold, and of a valiant strain, Who with Orlando's ensign dared to ride.

Approaching nearer, this appeared more plain, When heaps of slaughtered men he round him eyed.

"Better it were," he cried, "to overthrow This evil plant, before it shoot and grow."

CXLVIII Each to retreat betook him, where the peer His face directed, and large pa.s.sage made.

Nor less the Saracens than faithful, clear The way, so reverenced is Fusberta's blade.

Save Dardinel, Mount Alban's cavalier, Saw none, nor he to chase his prey delayed.

To whom, "He cast upon thee mickle care, Poor child, who of that buckler left thee heir.

CXLIX "I seek thee out to prove (if thou attend My coming) how thou keep'st the red and white, For thou, save this from me thou canst defend, Canst ill defend it from Orlando's might."

To him the king: "Now clearly comprehend, I what I bear, as well defend in fight; And I more honour hope than trouble dread From my paternal quartering, white and red.

CL "Have thou no hope to make me fly, or yield To thee my quarters, though a child I be; My life shalt thou take from me, if my s.h.i.+eld; But I, in G.o.d, well hope the contrary.

-- This as it may! -- shall none, in fighting field, Say that I ever shamed my ancestry."

So said, and grasping in his hand the sword, The youthful king a.s.sailed Mount Alban's lord.

CLI Upon all parts, a freezing fear goes through The heart blood of each trembling paynim nigh, When they amazed the fierce Rinaldo view; Who charged the monarch with such enmity, As might a lion, which a bullock, new To stings of love, should in a meadow spy.

The Moor smote first, but fruitless was his task, Who beat in vain upon Mambrino's casque.

CLII Rinaldo smiled, and said: "I'd have thee know If I am better skilled to find the vein."

He spurs, and lets with that the bridle go, And a thrust pushes with such might and main, -- A thrust against the bosom of his foe, That at his back the blade appears again.

Forth issued blood and soul, and from his sell Lifeless and cold the reeling body fell.

CLIII As languishes the flower of purple hue, Which levelled by the pa.s.sing ploughshare lies; Or as the poppy, overcharged with dew, In garden droops its head in piteous wise: From life the leader of Zumara's crew So past, his visage losing all its dyes; So pa.s.sed from life; and perished with their king, The heart and hope of all his following.

CLIV As waters will sometime their course delay, Stagnant, and penned in pool by human skill, Which, when the opposing d.y.k.e is broke away, Fall, and with mighty noise the country fill: 'Twas so the Africans, who had some stay, While Dardinello valour did instil, Fled here and there, dismayed on every side, When they him hurtling form his sell descried.

CLV Letting the flyers fly, of those who stand Firm in their place, Rinaldo breaks the array; Ariodantes kills on every hand; Who ranks well nigh Rinaldo on that day.