Orlando Furioso Part 66

II Now mark what chanced to Pinnabel, the event Of having borne himself so wickedly: He at the last received due punishment, Due and deserved by his iniquity.

And G.o.d, who for the most is ill content To see the righteous suffer wrongfully, Secured the maid from harm, and will secure All who from every wickedness are pure.

III Pinnabel deemed he to an end had brought, And buried deep in earth, the martial maid; Nor weening to behold her more, less thought To her his treason's forfeit to have paid.

Nor profits it the wily traitor ought To be among the forts his father swayed.

For Altaripa here its summit rears, Amid rude hills, confining on Poictiers.

IV Anselm in Altaripa held command, The count from whom was sprung this evil seed: Who, to escape from angry Clermont's hand, Of friends and of a.s.sistance stood in need.

At a hill's foot, with her avenging brand, Bradamant made the worthless traitor bleed; Who found no better succour in the strife Than piteous cry and fruitless prayer for life.

V When she has put to death the treacherous peer, Who to put her to death had erst intent, To seek Rogero she again would steer, But that her cruel fate would not consent; Which, where the wood was loneliest and most drear, To wander by close path the lady sent, Until the western sun withdrew his light, Abandoning the world above to night.

VI Nor knowing where for shelter she should rove, Bradamant in that place resolves to stay, Couched on the verdant herbage of the grove; And, sleeping, now awaits the dawn of day, Now watching Saturn, Venus, Mars, and Jove, And the other wandering G.o.ds upon their way: But, whether waking or to sleep resigned, Has aye Rogero present to her mind.

VII With sorrow and repentance oft a.s.sailed, She from her inmost heart profoundly sighed, That Anger over Love should have prevailed.

"Anger has torn me from my love," (she cried,) "Oh! had I made some note, which had availed, Thither, whence I set out, my steps to guide, When I departed on my ill emprize!

Sure I was lorn of memory and of eyes!"

VIII These words and others she in mournful strain Utters, and broods within her heart on more.

Meanwhile a wind of sighs, and plenteous rain Of tears, are tokens of her anguish sore.

In the east, at last, expected long in vain, The wished for twilight streaked the horizon o'er; And she her courser took, which on the ley Was feeding, and rode forth to meet the day.

IX Nor far had rode, ere from the greenwood-trees She issued, where the dome was erst displayed; And many days her with such witcheries The evil-minded wizard had delayed.

Here she Astolpho found, who at full ease A bridle for the Hippogryph had made, And here was standing, thoughtful and in pain To whom he should deliver Rabicane.

X By chance she found him, as the cavalier Had from the helm uncased his head to view; So that when of the dingy forest clear, Fair Bradamant her gentle cousin knew.

Him from afar she hailed with joyful cheer, And now more nigh, to embrace the warrior flew; And named herself, and raised her vizor high, And let him plainly who she was espy.

XI None could Astolpho have found any where With whom to leave his horse with more content, As knowing she would guard the steed with care, And to his lord on his return present; And he believed that Heaven had, in its care, Duke Aymon's daughter for this pleasure sent.

Her was he wont with pleasure aye to see, But now with more in his necessity.

XII Embracing twice or thrice the cousins stand, Fraternally, each other's neck, and they Had of each other's welfare made demand With much affection, ere the duke 'gan say; "Would I now see the winged people's land, Here upon earth I make too long delay."

And opening to the dame the thought he brewed, To her the flying horse Astolpho shewed.

XIII But she scarce marvelled when above the plain She saw the rising steed his wings unfold; Since upon former time, with mastering rein.

On him had charged the dame that wizard old; And made her eye and eyelid sorely strain, So hard she gazed, his movements to behold; The day that he bore off, with wonderous range, Rogero on his journey, long and strange.

XIV Astolpho says on her he will bestow His Rabican; so pa.s.sing swift of kind, That, if the courser started when a bow Was drawn, he left the feathered shaft behind; And will as well his panoply forego, That it may to Mount Alban be consigned: And she for him preserve the martial weed; Since of his arms he has no present need.

XV Bent, since a course in air was to be flown, That he, as best he can, will make him light.

Yet keeps the sword and horn; although alone The horn from every risque might s.h.i.+eld the knight: But he the lance abandons, which the son Of Galaphron was wont to bear in flight; The lance, by which whoever in the course Was touched, fell headlong hurtling from his horse.

XVI Backed by Astolpho, and ascending slow, The hippogryph through yielding aether flew; And next the rider stirred the courser so, That in a thought he vanished out of view.

Thus with his pilot does the patron go, Fearing the gale and rock, till he is through The reefs; then, having left the sh.o.r.e behind, Hoists every sail, and shoots before the wind.

XVII Bradamant, when departed was the peer, Remained distressed in mind; since in what way She knew not her good kinsman's warlike gear And courser to Mount Alban to convey.

For on her heart, which they inflame and tear, The warm desire and greedy will yet prey To see the Child; whom she to find once more At Vallombrosa thought, if not before.

XVIII Here standing in suspense, by chance she spied A churl, that came towards her on the plain, Who, at her best, Astolpho's armour tied, As best he might, and laid on Rabicane; She next behind her bade the peasant guide (One courser loaded and one loose) the twain.

Two were the steeds; for she had that before, On which his horse from Pinnabel she bore.

XIX To Vallombrosa to direct her way She thought, in hopes to find Rogero there: But, fearing evermore to go astray, Knew not how thither she might best repair.

The churl had of the country small a.s.say, And, sure to be bewildered, wend the pair: Yet at a venture thitherward she hies, Where she believes the place of meeting lies.

XX She here and there, as she her way pursued, Turned, but found none to question of the road; She saw at mid-day, issuing from the wood, A fort, nor far removed was the abode, Which on the summit of a mountain stood, And to the lady like Mount Alban showed; And was Mount Alban sure; in which repair One of her brothers and her mother were.

XXI She, when she recognized the place, became Sadder at heart than I have power to say.

If she delays, discovered is the dame, Nor thence will be allowed to wend her way: If thence she wends not, of the amorous flame Which so consumes her, she will be the prey, Nor see Rogero more, nor compa.s.s aught Which was at Vallombrosa to be wrought.

XXII Some deal she doubted: then to turn her steed, Resolved upon Mount Alban's castle near; And, for she thence her way could deftly read, Her course anew towards the abbey steer.

But Fortune, good or evil, had decreed The maid, before she of the vale was clear, Of one of her good brethren should be spied, Alardo named, ere she had time to hide.

XXIII He came from billeting the bands which lay Dispersed about that province, foot and horse; For the surrounding district, to obey King Charlemagne, had raised another force.

Embraces brotherly and friendly say, Salutes and kindly cheer, ensue of course; And next into Mount Alban, side by side, They, communing of many matters, ride.

XXIV Bradamant enters Montalbano's seat, Whom Beatrice had mourned, and vainly sought Through s.p.a.cious France: 'Tis here all welcome sweet, The kiss and clasp of hand, she holds at nought, While her a mother and a brother greet, As the enamoured maid compares in thought These with the loved Rogero's fond embrace; Which time will never from her mind efface.

XXV Because she could not go, one in her stead To send to Vallombrosa she devised, Who thither in the damsel's name should speed; By whom should young Rogero be apprised What kept her thence; and prayed, if prayer should need, That there he for love would be baptised; And next, as was concerned, would intend What might their bridal bring to happy end.

XXVI She purposed the same messenger should bear As well to her Rogero his good steed; Which he was ever wonted to hold dear, Worthily dear; for sure so stout at need And beauteous was no courser, far or near, In land of Christian or of Paynim creed, In occupation of the Gaul or Moor; Except Baiardo good and Brigliador.

XXVII Valiant Rogero, when too bold of sprite He backed the hippogryph and soared in air, Frontino left (Frontino he was hight), Whom Bradamant then took into her care, And to Mount Alban sent; and had him dight, And nourished, at large cost, with plenteous fare; Nor let be rode except at easy pace, Hence was he ne'er so sleek or well in case.

XXVIII Each damsel and each dame who her obeyed, She tasked, together with herself, to sew, With subtle toil; and with fine gold o'erlaid A piece of silk of white and sable hue: With this she trapt the horse; then chose a maid, Old Callitrephia's daughter, from the crew; Whose mother whilom Bradamant had nursed; A damsel she in all her secrets versed.

XXIX How graven in her heart Rogero lies, A thousand times to her she had confessed; And had extolled above the deities The manners, worth, and beauty be possessed.

"No better messenger could I devise,"

(She said, and called the damsel from the rest,) "Nor have I one, Hippalca mine, more sage And sure than three, to do my emba.s.sage."

x.x.x Hippalca was the attendant damsel hight.

"Go," (says her lady, and describes the way) And afterwards informs the maid aright Of all which to Rogero she should say; And why she at the abbey failed the knight, Who must not to bad faith ascribe her stay, But this to Fortune charge, that so decides, Who, more than we ourselves, our conduct guides.

x.x.xI She made the damsel mount upon a pad, And put into her hand Frontino's rein; And, if she met with one so rude or mad, Who to deprive her of the steed were fain, Her to proclaim who was his owner, bade, As that which might suffice to make him sane.

For she believed there was no cavalier, But that Rogero's name would make him fear.

x.x.xII Of many and many things, whereof to treat With good Rogero, in her stead, she showed; Of which instructed well, her palfrey fleet Hippalca stirred, nor longer there abode.

Through highway, field, and wood, a gloomy beat, More than ten weary miles the damsel rode, Ere any crossed her path on mischief bent, Or even questioned witherward she went.

x.x.xIII At noon of day, descending from a mount, She in a streight and ill declivity, Led by a dwarf, encountered Rodomont, Who was afoot and harnessed cap-a-pee.

The Moor towards her raised his haughty front, And straight blasphemed the eternal Hierarchy, That horse, so richly trapped and pa.s.sing fair, He had not found in a knight-errant's care.

x.x.xIV On the first courser he should find, the knight Had sworn a solemn oath his hands to lay: This was the first, nor he on steed could light Fairer or fitter; yet to take away The charger from a maid were foul despite.

Doubtful he stands, but covets sore the prey; Eyes and surveys him, and says often, "Why Is not as well the courser's master by?"

x.x.xV "Ah! would be were!" to him the maid replied, "For haply he would make thee change thy thought.

A better knight than thee the horse doth ride, And vainly would his match on earth be sought."

-- "Who tramples thus on other's fame?" -- he cried; And she -- "Rogero" -- said, as she was taught.

Then Rodomont -- "The steed I may my own; Since him a champion rides of such renown.