LXXIV Meanwhile their weapons for the future fray Rogero and Duke Aymon's son prepared; The choice whereof with that good warrior lay, The Roman empire's knight by Charles declared; And he, like one that ever from the day He lost his goodly steed afoot had fared, Made choice, afoot and fenced with plate and mail, His foe with axe and dagger to a.s.sail.

LXXV Whether Chance moved Mountalban's martial lord, Or Malagigi, provident and sage, That knew how young Rogero's charmed sword Cleft helm and hauberk in its greedy rage, One and the other warrior made accord, (As said) without their faulchions to engage.

The place of combat chosen by that twain Was near old Arles, upon a s.p.a.cious plain.

LXXVI Watchful Aurora hardly from the bower Of old t.i.thonus hath put forth her head, To give beginning to the day and hour Prefixed and ordered for that duel dread, When deputies from either hostile power, On this side and on that forth issuing, spread Tents at each entrance of the lists; and near The two pavillions, both, an altar rear.

LXXVII After short pause, was seen upon the plain The paynim host in different squadrons dight.

Rich in barbarick pomp, amid that train, Rode Africk's monarch, ready armed for fight: Bay was the steed he backed, with sable mane; Two of his legs were pied, his forehead white Fast beside Agramant, Rogero came, And him to serve Marsilius thought no shame.

LXXVIII The casque that he from Mandricardo wrung In single combat with such travel sore, The casque that (as in loftier strain is sung) Cased Hector's head, a thousand years before, Marsilius carried, by his side, among Princes and lords, that severally bore The other harness of Rogero bold, Enriched with precious pearls and rough with gold.

LXXIX On the other part, without his camp appears Charles, with his men at arms in squadrons dight; Who in such order led his cavaliers, As they would keep, if marshalled for the fight.

Fenced is the monarch with his famous peers, And with him wends, all armed, Montalban's knight, Armed, save his helmet, erst Mambrino's casque; To carry which is Danish Ogier's task;

Lx.x.x And, of two axes, hath Duke Namus one, King Salamon the other: Charlemagne Is to this side, with all his following, gone, To that wend those of Africk and of Spain.

In the mid s.p.a.ce between the hosts is none; Empty remains large portion of the plain; For he is doomed to death who thither goes, By joint proclaim, except the chosen foes.

Lx.x.xI After the second choice of arms was made By him, the champion of the paynim clan, Thither two priests of either sect conveyed Two books; that, carried by one holy man, -- Him of our law -- Christ's perfect life displayed; Those others' volume was their Alcoran.

The emperor in his hands the Gospel took, The king of Africa that other book.

Lx.x.xII Charlemagne, at his altar, to the sky Lifted his hands, "O G.o.d, that for our sake"

(Exclaimed the monarch) "wast content to die, Thyself a ransom for our sins to make; -- O thou that found such favour in his eye, That G.o.d from thee the flesh of man did take, Borne for nine months within thy holy womb, While aye thy virgin flower preserved its bloom,

Lx.x.xIII "Hear, and be witnesses of what I say, For me and those that after me shall reign, To Agramant and those that heir his sway, I twenty loads of gold of perfect grain Will every year deliver, if to-day My champion vanquished in the lists remain; And vow I will straightway from warfare cease, And from henceforth maintain perpetual peace;

Lx.x.xIV "And may your joint and fearful wrath descend On me forthwith, if I my word forego!

And may it me and mine alone offend, And none beside, amid this numerous show!

That all in briefest time may comprehend, My breach of promise has brought down the woe."

So saying, in his hand the holy book Charles held, and fixed on heaven his earnest look.

Lx.x.xV This done, they seek that altar, sumptuously Decked for the purpose, by the pagan train; Where their king swears, that he will pa.s.s the sea, With all his army, to his Moorish reign, And to King Charles will tributary be; If vanquished, young Rogero shall remain; And will observe the truce for evermore Upon the pact declared by Charles before;

Lx.x.xVI And like him, nor in under tone, he swears, Calling on Mahound to attest his oath; And on the volume which his pontiff bears, To observe what he has promised plights his troth.

Then to his side each hastily repairs; And mid their several powers are harboured both.

Next these, to swear arrive the champions twain; And this the promise which their oaths contain.

Lx.x.xVII Rogero pledges first his knightly word, Should his king mar, or send to mar, the fray, He him no more as leader or as lord Will serve, but wholly Charlemagne obey.

-- Rinaldo -- if in breach of their accord, Him from the field King Charles would bear away, Till one or the other is subdued in fight, That he will be the Moorish monarch's knight.

Lx.x.xVIII When ended are the ceremonies, here And there, to seek their camps the two divide.

Nor long, therein delayed; when trumpets clear The time for their encounter signified: Now to the charge advanced each cavalier, Measuring with cautious care his every stride.

Lo! the a.s.sault begins; now low, now high, That pair the sounding steel in circles ply.

Lx.x.xIX Now with the axe's blade, now with its heel Their strokes they at the head or foot address; And these so skilfully and nimbly deal, As needs must shock all credence to express.

The Child, that at her brother aims the steel, Who doth his miserable soul possess, Evermore with such caution strikes his blow, That he is deemed less vigorous than his foe.

XC Rather to parry then to smite intent, He know not what to wish; that low should lie Rinaldo, would Rogero ill content, Nor willingly the Child by him would die.

But here I am at my full line's extent, Where I must needs defer my history.

In other canto shall the rest appear, If you that other canto please to hear.

CANTO 39

ARGUMENT Agramant breaks the pact, is overthrown, And forced fair France for Afric to forego.

Meanwhile Astolpho in Biserta's town Having with numerous host besieged the foe, By hazard there arrives bold Milo's son, To whom the duke, instructed how to do, Restores his wits. At sea does Dudon meet King Agramant, and sore annoys his fleet.

I Than that fell woe which on Rogero weighs Harder, and bitterer pain forsooth is none, Which upon flesh and more on spirit preys: For of two deaths there is no scaping one.

Him, if in strife o'erlaid, Rinaldo slays, Bradamant, if Rinaldo is outdone: For if he killed her brother, well he knew Her hate, than death more hateful, would ensue.

II Rinaldo, unimpeded by such thought, Strove in all ways Rogero to o'erthrow; Fierce and despiteous whirled his axe, and sought Now in the arms, now head, to wound the foe.

Rogero circled here and there, and caught Upon his weapon's shaft the coming blow; And, if ever smote, aye strove to smite Where he should injure least Montalban's knight.

III To most of them that led the paynim bands, But too unequal seemed the fierce a.s.say.

Too slowly young Rogero plied his hands; Too well Rinaldo kept the Child at bay.

With troubled face the king of Afric stands: He sighed, and breathless gazed upon the fray; And all the blame of that ill counsel flung On King Sobrino's head, from whom it sprung.

IV Meanwhile the weird Melissa, she -- the font Of all that wizards or enchanters know -- Had by her art transformed her female front, And taken Argier's mighty shape; in show And gesture she appeared as Rodomont, And seemed, like him, in dragon's hide to go: Such was her belied sword and such her shield; Nor aught was wanting which he wore afield.

V She towards Troyano's mournful son did guide, In form of courser, a familiar sprite, And with a troubled visage loudly cried, "My liege, this is too foul an oversight, A stripling boy in peril yet untried, Against a Gaul, so stout and famed in fight, Your champion in so fierce a strife to make; Where Afric's realm and honour are at stake.

VI "Let not this battle be pursued, my lord, In that 'twould cost our Moorish cause too dear.

Let sin of broken faith and forfeit word Fall upon Rodomont! take thou no fear!

Let each now show the metal of his sword, Each for a hundred stands when I am here."

So upon Agramant this counsel wrought, That king pressed forward without further thought.

VII He, thinking that the monarch of Algiers Is with him, of the pact has little care; And would not rate a thousand cavaliers So high, if handed in his aid they were.

Hence steeds reined-in and spurred, hence levelled spears Are seen in one short instant here and there.

Melissa, when the hosts are mixed in fight By her false phantoms, vanishes from sight.

VIII The champions two, that, against all accord, Against all faith, disturbed their duel see, No longer strive in fight, but pledge their word -- Yea, put aside all hostile injury -- That they, on neither part, will draw the sword, Until they better certified shall be Who broke the pact, established by that twain, Young Agramant, or aged Charlemagne.

IX They sweat anew, the king who had o'erthrown That truce, and broken faith, as foe to treat.

The field of combat is turned upside down; Some hurry to the charge, and some retreat.

Who most deserved disgrace, who most renown, Was seen, on both hands, in the selfsame feat; All ran alike: but, 'mid that wild affray, These ran to meet the foe, those ran away.

X As greyhound in the slip, that the fleet hare Scowering about and circling him discerns, Nor with the other dogs a part can bear (For him the hunter holds), with anger burns; Torments himself and mourns in his despair, And whines, and strives against the leash, by turns; Such till that moment had the fury been Of Aymon's daughter and the martial queen.

XI They till that hour upon the s.p.a.cious plain, Had watched so rich a prize throughout the day; And, as obliged by treaty to refrain From laying hands upon the costly prey, Had sore lamented and had grieved in vain, Gazing with longing eyes on that array.

Now seeing truce and treaty broke, among The Moorish squadrons they rejoicing sprung.

XII Marphisa piercing her first victim's breast, (Two yards beyond his back the lance did pa.s.s) In briefer time than 'tis by me exprest, Broke with her sword four helms which flew like gla.s.s; No less did Bradamant upon the rest; But them her spear reduced to other pa.s.s.

All touched by that gold lance she overthrew; Doubling Marphisa's score; yet none she slew.

XIII They witness to each others' exploits are, (Those maids to one another are so near) Then, whither fury drives, the martial pair, Dividing, through the Moorish ranks career.

Who could each several warrior's name declare, Stretched on the champaign by that golden spear?

Or reckon every head Marphisa left Divided by her horrid sword, or cleft?

XIV As when benigner winds more swiftly blow, And Apennine his s.h.a.ggy back lays bare, Two turbid torrents with like fury flow, Which, in their fall, two separate channels wear, Uproot hard rocks, and mighty trees which grow On their steep banks, and field and harvest bear Into the vale, and seem as if they vied Which should do mightiest damage on its side: