ARGUMENT To fly the royal Agramant is fain, And sees Biserta burning far away; But landing finds the royal Sericane, Who of his faith gives goodly warrant; they Defy Orlando, backed by champions twain; Whom bold Grada.s.so firmly trusts to slay.

For seven kings' sake, fast prisoners to their foes, Rogero and the Dane exchange rude blows.

I The diverse chances of that sea-fight dread, Here to rehea.r.s.e would take a weary while; And to discourse to you upon this head, Great son of Hercules, were to Samos' isle To carry earthen vessels, as 'tis said, To Athens owls, and crocodiles the Nile.

In that, my lord, by what is vouched to me, Such things you saw, such things made others see.

II Your faithful people gazed on a long show, That night and day, wherein they crowded stood, As in a theatre, and hemmed on Po Twixt fire and sword, the hostile navies viewed.

What outcries may be heard, what sounds of woe, How rivers may run red with human blood, In suchlike combat, in how many a mode Men die, you saw, and you to many showed.

III I saw not, I, who was compelled to course, Evermore changing nags, six days before, To Rome, in heat and haste, some helpful force Of him our mighty pastor to implore.

But, after, need was none of foot or horse, For so the lion's beak and claws you tore, From that day unto this I hear not said That he more trouble in your land has bread.

IV But Trotto, present at this victory, Afranio, Moro, Albert, Hannibal, Zerbinat, Bagno, the Ariostos three, a.s.sured me of the mighty feat withal, Certified after by that ensignry, Suspended from the holy temple's wall, And fifteen galleys at our river-side, Which with a thousand captive barks I spied.

V He that those wrecks and blazing fires discerned, And such sore slaughter, under different shows, Which -- venging us for hall and palace burned -- While bark remained, raged wide among the foes, Might also deem how Africk's people mourned, With Agramant, mid diverse deaths and woes, On that dark night, when the redouted Dane a.s.saulted in mid sea the Moorish train.

VI 'Twas night, nor gleam was anywhere descried, When first the fleets in furious strife were blended; But when lit sulphur, pitch and tar from side And p.o.o.p and prow into the sky ascended, And the destructive wild-fire, scattered wide, Fed upon ship and shallop ill defended, The things about them all descried so clear That night was changed to day, as 'twould appear.

VII Hence Agramant, that by the dark deceived, Had rated not so high the foes' array, Nor to encounter such a force believed, But would, if 'twere opposed, at last give way, When that wide darkness cleared, and he perceived (What least he weened upon the first affray) That twice as many were the ships he fought, As his own Moorish barks, took other thought.

VIII Into a boat he with some few descends, Brigliador and some precious things, to flee; And so, twixt ship and ship, in silence wends, Until he finds himself in safer sea, Far from his own; whom fiery Dudon shends, Reduced to sad and sore extremity; Them steel destroys, fires burn, and waters drown; While he, that mighty slaughter's cause, is flown.

IX Agramant flies, and with him old Sobrine, Agramant grieving he had not believed, What time that sage foresaw with eye divine, And told the woe wherewith he is aggrieved.

But turn me to the valiant paladine, Who, before other aid can be received, Counsels the duke Biserta to destroy; That it no more may Christian France annoy.

X And hence in public order was it said, The camp should to its arms the third day stand; For this, it was with many barks bested; For all were placed not at the Dane's command.

That fleet the worthy Sansonetto led, (As good a warrior he by sea as land) Which a mile off the port, and overight Biserta, now was anch.o.r.ed by the knight.

XI Orlando and the duke, like Christians true, Which dare no danger without G.o.d for guide, That fast and prayer be made their army through, Ordain by proclamation to be cried; And that upon the third day, when they view The signal, all shall bown them, far and wide, Biserta's royal city to attack, Which they, when taken, doom to fire and sack.

XII And so, when now devoutly have been done Vigil and vow, and holy prayer and fast, Kin, friends, and those to one another known, Together feast; who, when with glad repast Their wasted bodies were refreshed, begun To embrace and weep; and acts and speeches past, Upon the banquet's close, amid those crews Such as best friends, about to sever, use.

XIII The holy priests within Biserta's wall, Pray with their grieving people, and in tears, Aye beat their bosoms, and for succour call Upon their Mahomet, who nothing hears.

What vigils, offerings, and what gifts withal Were promised silently, amid their fears!

What temples, statues, images were vowed, In memory of their bitter woes, aloud!

XIV And, when the cadi hath his blessing said, The people arms and to the rampart hies.

As yet reposing in her t.i.thon's bed Aurora was, and dusky were the skies; When to their posts, their several troops to head, Here Sansonetto, there Astolpho flies.

And when they hear Orlando's signal blown a.s.sault with furious force Biserta's town.

XV Washed by the sea, upon two quarters, were The city walls, two stood on the dry sh.o.r.e, Of a construction excellent and rare, Wherein was seen the work of days of yore: Of other bulwarks was the town nigh bare; For since Branzardo there the sceptre bore; Few masons at command, and little s.p.a.ce That monarch had to fortify the place.

XVI The Nubian king is charged by England's peer, With sling and arrow so the Moors to gall, That none upon the works shall dare appear; And that, protected by the ceaseless fall Of stone and dart, in safety cavalier And footman may approach the very wall; Who loaded, some with plank, with rock-stone some, And some with beam, or weightier burden, come.

XVII This and that other thing the Nubians bore, And by degrees filled-up that channel wide, Whose waters were cut off the day before, So that in many parts the ooze was spied.

Filled is the ditch in haste from sh.o.r.e to sh.o.r.e, And forms a level to the further side.

Cheering the footmen on the works to mount, Stand Olivier, Astolpho, and the Count.

XVIII The Nubian upon hope of gain intent, Impatient of delay, nor heeding how With pressing perils they were compa.s.sed, went Protected by the sheltering boar and sow.

With battering ram, and other instrument, To break the gate and make the turret bow, Speedily to the city wall they post, Nor unprovided find the paynim host.

XIX For steel, and fire, and roof, and turret there, In guise of tempest on the Nubians fell, Which plank and beam from those dread engines tear, Made for annoyance of the infidel.

In the ill beginning, and while dim the air, Much injury the christened host befell; But when the sun from his rich mansion breaks, Fortune the faction of the Moor forsakes.

XX The a.s.sault is reinforced on every side, By Count Orlando, both by sea and land: The fleet, with Sansonetto for its guide, Entered the harbour, and approached the strand; And sorely they with various engines plied, With arrows and with slings, the paynim band; And sent the a.s.sailants scaling-ladder, spear, And naval stores, and every needful gear.

XXI Orlando, Oliviero, Brandimart, And he, in air so daring heretofore, Do fierce and furious battle on that part, Which lies the furthest inland from the sh.o.r.e: Each leads a portion of those Aethiops swart, Ordered in equal bands beneath the four, Who at the walls, the gateways, or elsewhere, All give of prowess shining proofs and rare.

XXII So better could be seen each warrior's claim, That in confused in combat there and here.

Who of reward is worthy, who of shame, To a thousand and to watchful eyes is clear.

Dragged upon wheels are towers of wooden frame, And others well-trained elephants uprear, Which so o'ertop the turrets of the foe, Those bulwarks stand a mighty s.p.a.ce below.

XXIII Brandimart to the walls a ladder brought, Climbed, and to climb withal to others cried: Many succeed, with bold a.s.surance fraught, For none can fear beneath so good a guide: Nor was there one who marked, nor one who thought Of marking, if such weight it would abide.

Brandimart only, on the foes intent, Clambered and fought, and grasped a battlement.

XXIV Here clang with hand and foot the daring knight, Sprang on the embattled wall, and whirled his sword; And, showing mickle tokens of his might, The paynims charged, o'erthrew, hewed down and gored: But all at once, o'erburthened with that weight, The ladder breaks beneath the a.s.sailing horde; And, saving Brandimart, the Christians all Into the ditch with headlong ruin fall.

XXV Not therefore blenched the valiant cavalier, Nor thought he of retreat, albeit was none Of his own band that followed in his rear; Although he was a mark for all the town.

Of many prayed, the warrior would not hear The prayer to turn; but mid the foes leapt down; I say, into the city took a leap, Where the town-wall was thirty cubits deep.

XXVI He, without any harm on the hard ground, As if on feathers or on straw, did light; And, like cloth shred and shorn, the paynims round In fury shreds and shears the valiant knight.

Now springs on these, now those, with vigorous bound; And these and those betake themselves to flight.

They that without have seen the leap he made, Too late to save him deem all human aid.

XXVII Throughout the squadrons a deep rumour flew, A murmur and a whisper, there and here, From mouth to mouth, the Fame by motion grew, And told and magnified the tale of fear: For upon many quarters stormed that crew, Where good Orlando was, where Olivier, Where Otho's son, she flew on pinions light, Nor ever paused upon her nimble flight.

XXVIII Those warriors, and Orlando most of all, Who love and prize the gentle Brandimart, Hearing, should they defy upon that call, They would from so renowned a comrade part, Their scaling-ladders plant, and mount the wall With rivalry, which shows the kingly heart; Who carry all such terror in their look, That, at the very sight, their foemen shook.

XXIX As on loud ocean, lashed by boisterous gale The billows the rash bark a.s.sault, and still -- Now threatening p.o.o.p, now threatening prow -- a.s.sail, And, in their rage and fury, fain would fill; The pilot sighs and groans, dismaid and pale, -- He that should aid, and has not heart or skill -- At length a surge the pinnace sweeps and swallows, And wave on wave in long succession follows;

x.x.x Thus when those win the wall, they leave a s.p.a.ce So wide, that who beneath their conduct go, Safely may follow them; for at its base, A thousand ladders have been reared below.

Meanwhile the battering rams, in many a place, Have breached that wall, and with such mighty blow, The bold a.s.sailant can, from many a part, Bear succour to the gallant Brandimart.

x.x.xI Even with that rage wherewith the stream that reigns, The king of rivers -- when he breaks his mound, And makes himself a way through Mantuan plains -- The greasy furrows and glad harvests, round, And, with the sheepcotes, flock, and dogs and swains Bears off, in his o'erwhelming waters drowned; Over the elm's high top the fishes glide, Where fowls erewhile their nimble pinions plied;

x.x.xII Even with that rage rushed in the impetuous band, Where many breaches in the wall were wrought, To slay with burning torch and trenchant brand, That people, which to evil pa.s.s were brought.

Murder and rapine there, and violent hand Dipt deep in blood and plunder, in a thought, Destroy that sumptuous and triumphant town, Which of all Africk wore the royal crown.

x.x.xIII Filled with dead bodies of the paynim horde, Blood issued from so many a gaping wound, A fouler fosse was formed and worse to ford Than girdles the infernal city round.

From house to house the fire in fury poured; Mosque, portico, and palace, went to ground; And spoiled and empty mansions with the clang, Of beaten breast, and groan and outcry rang.

x.x.xIV The victors, laden with their mighty prey, From that unhappy city's gates are gone, One with fair vase, and one with rich array, Or silver plate from ancient altar won.

The mother this, that bore the child away; Rapes and a thousand evil things were done.

Of much, and what they cannot hinder, hear Renowned Orlando and fair England's peer.

x.x.xV By Olivier, amid that slaughter wide, Fell Bucifaro of the paynim band; And -- every hope and comfort cast aside -- Branzardo slew himself with his own brand; Pierced with three wounds whereof he shortly died, Folvo was taken by Astolpho's hand; The monarchs three, intrusted to whose care Agramant's African dominions were.

x.x.xVI Agramant, who had left without a guide His fleet this while, and with Sobrino fled, Wept over his Biserta when he spied Those fires that on the royal city fed.

When nearer now the king was certified, How in that cruel strife his town had sped, He thought of dying, and himself had slain, But that Sobrino's words his arm restrain.