LXVI 'Tis thus the king bars every path which lies Free for the warrior's flight, with armed train: He him alive, and in no other guise, Would have, and lightly hopes his end to gain; Nor for the earthly thunderbolt applies, That had so many and so many slain: Which here he deems would serve his purpose ill, Where he desires to take and not to kill.

LXVII As wary fowler, bent on greater prey, Wisely preserves alive the game first caught, That by the call-bird and his cheating play, More may within the circling net be brought; Such cunning art Cymosco would a.s.say: But Roland would not be so lightly bought; Like them by the first toil that springs betrayed; And quickly forced the circle which was made.

LXVIII Where he perceives the a.s.sailants thickest stand, He rests his lance, and sticks in his career First one and afterwards another, and Another, and another, who appear Of paste; till six he of the circling band Of foes impales upon a single spear; A seventh left out, who by the push is slain, Since the clogged weapon can no more contain.

LXIX No otherwise, upon the further sh.o.r.e Of fosse or of ca.n.a.l, the frogs we spy, By cautious archer, practised in his lore, Smote and transfixed the one the other nigh; Upon the shaft, until it hold no more, From barb to feathers full, allowed to lie.

The heavy lance Orlando from him flung, And to close combat with his faulchion sprung.

LXX The lance now broke, his sword the warrior drew, That sword which never yet was drawn in vain, And still with cut or thrust some soldier slew; Now horse, now footman of the tyrant's train.

And, ever where he dealt a stroke, changed blue, Yellow, green, white and black, to crimson stain.

Cymosco grieves, when most his need require, Not to have now his hollow cane and fire;

LXXI And with loud voice and menacing command Bids these be brought, but ill his followers hear; For those who have found safety of his band, To issue from the city are in fear.

He, when he sees them fly on either hand, Would fly as well from that dread cavalier; Makes for the gate, and would the drawbridge lift, But the pursuing county is too swift.

LXXII The monarch turns his back, and leaves the knight Lord of the drawbridge and of either gate.

Thanks to his swifter steed, the rest in flight He pa.s.ses: good Orlando will not wait (Intent the felon, not his band, to smite) Upon the vulgar herd to wreck his hate.

But his slow horse seems restive; while the king's, More nimble, flies as if equipt with wings.

LXXIII From street to street, before the count he made; And vanished clean; but after little stay, Came with new arms, with tube and fire purveyed; Which, at his hest, this while his men convey.

And posted at a corner, he waylaid: His foe, as hunter watches for his prey, In forest, with armed dogs and spear, attending The boar in fury from the hill descending,

LXXIV Who rends the branch and overthrows the stone; And wheresoe'er he turns his haughty front, Appears (so loud the deafening crash and groan) As if he were uprending wood and mount, Intent to make him his bold deed atone, Cymosco at the pa.s.s expects the count; As soon as he appears, with ready light Touches the hole, and fires upon the knight.

LXXV Behind, the weapon flames in lightning's guise, And vents the thunder from before; the ground Shakes under foot and city wall; the skies The fearful echo all about rebound.

The burning bolt with sudden fury flies, Not sparing aught which in its course is found.

Hissing and whizzing through the skies it went; But smote not, to the a.s.sa.s.sin's foul intent.

LXXVI Whether it was his great desire to kill That baron, or his hurry made him fail, Or trembling heart, like leaf which flutters still, Made hand and arm together flinch and quail; Or that it was not the Creator's will The church so soon her champion should bewail; The glancing stroke his courser's belly tore, Outstretched on earth, from thence to rise no more.

LXXVII To earth fall horse and rider: this the knight Scarce touched; the other thundering pressed the plain: For the first rose so ready and so light, He from the fall seemed breath and force to gain.

As African Anteus, in the fight, Rose from the sand with prouder might and main; So when Orlando touched the ground, to view He rose with doubled force and vigour new.

LXXVIII He who has seen the thunder, from on high, Discharged by Jove with such a horrid sound, Descend where nitre, coal, and sulphur lie, Stored up for use in magazine profound, Which scarce has reached -- but touched it, ere the sky Is in a flame, as well as burning ground, Firm walls are split, and solid marbles riven, And flying stones cast up as high as heaven;

LXXIX Let him imagine, when from earth he sprung, Such was the semblance of the cavalier; Who moved in mode to frighten Mars among The G.o.ds, so fierce and horrid was his cheer.

At this dismay'd, the King of Friesland stung His horse, and turned his rein, to fly the peer: But fierce Orlando was upon his foe Faster than arrow flies from bended bow:

Lx.x.x And, what before he could not, when possest Of his good courser, now afoot will do.

His speed outgoes all thought in every breast, Exceeds all credence, save in those who view.

The tyrant shortly joined, he on the crest Smote at his head so well, he cleft it through; And to the neck divided by the blow, Sent it, to shake its last on earth below.

Lx.x.xI Lo! in the frighted city other sound Was heard to rise, and other crash of brands, From troop, who, thither in his guidance bound, Followed Bireno's cousin from his lands: Who, since the unguarded gates he open found, Into the city's heart had poured his bands; Where the bold paladin had struck such fear, He without let might scour it far and near.

Lx.x.xII In rout the people fly, who cannot guess Who these may be, or what the foes demand: But, when this man and that by speech and dress As Zealand-men distinguishes the band, Carte blanche they proffer, and the chief address, Bidding him range them under his command; Against the Frieslanders to lend him aid, Who have their duke in loathsome prison stayed.

Lx.x.xIII To Friesland's king that people hatred bore With all his following: who their ancient lord Had put to death, and who by them yet more, As evil and rapacious, was abhorred.

Orlando interposed with kindly lore, As friend of both, the parties to accord: By whom, so joined, no Frieslander was left But was of life or liberty bereft.

Lx.x.xIV They would not wait to seek the dungeon-key, But breaking-down the gate, their entrance made; Bireno to the count with courtesy And grateful thanks the service done repaid.

Thence they, together with large company, Went where Olympia in her vessel stayed: For so was the expecting lady hight, To whom that island's crown belonged of right.

Lx.x.xV She who had thither good Orlando brought, Not hoping that he would have thriven so well; -- Enough for her, if by her misery bought, Her spouse were rescued from the tyrant's cell! -- Her, full of love and loyal homage, sought The people one and all: Twere long to tell How she caressed Bireno, he the maid, -- What thanks both lovers to the county paid.

Lx.x.xVI The people, throned in her paternal reign, Replace the injured dame, and fealty swear: She on the duke, to whom in solid chain Love with eternal knot had linked the fair, The empire of herself and her domain Conferred: He, called away by other care, Left in the cousin's guardian care this while His fortresses, and all the subject isle.

Lx.x.xVII Since he to visit Zealand's duchy planned, His faithful consort in his company; And thence, upon the king of Friesland's land, Would try his fortune (as he said), for he A pledge, he rated highly, had in hand, Which seemed of fair success the warranty, The daughter of the king: who here forsaken, With many others had been prisoner taken.

Lx.x.xVIII To a younger brother, her, the duke pretends, To be conjoined in wedlock, he conveyed.

The Roman senator thence parting wends Upon the very day Bireno weighed; But he to nothing else his hand extends Of all the many, many prized made, Save to that engine, found amid the plunder, Which in all points I said resembled thunder.

Lx.x.xIX Not with intent, in his defence to bear What he had taken, of the prize possest; For he still held it an ungenerous care To go with vantage on whatever quest: But with design to cast the weapon where It never more should living wight molest; And, what was appertaining to it, all Bore off as well, the powder and the ball.

XC And thus, when of the tidesway he was clear, And in the deepest sea his bark descried, So that no longer distant signs appear Of either sh.o.r.e on this or the other side, He seized the tube, and said: "That cavalier May never vail through thee his knightly pride, Nor base be rated with a better foe, Down with thee to the darkest deep below!

XCI "O loathed, O cursed piece of enginery, Cast in Tartarean bottom, by the hand Of Beelzebub, whose foul malignity The ruin of this world through thee has planned!

To h.e.l.l, from whence thou came, I render thee."

So said, he cast away the weapon: fanned Meanwhile, with flowing sheet, his frigate goes, By wind, which for the cruel island blows.

XCII Such was the paladin's desire to explore If in the place his missing lady were; Whom he prefers the united world before, Nor can an hour of life without her bear.

He fears, if he set foot on Ireland's sh.o.r.e, Some other chance may interrupt him there: So that he after have in vain to say, "Why hasted I no faster on my way?"

XCIII Nor he in England nor in Ireland port Will make, nor on the coast that's opposite.

But let him go, the naked archer's sport, Sore smitten in the heart! -- ere I indite Yet more of him, to Holland I resort, And you to hear me company invite.

For well I wot that you as well as me 'Twould grieve that bridal should without us be.

XCIV Sumptuous and fair the bridal there is made; But neither yet so sumptuous nor so fair As it will be in Zealand, it is said: But 'tis not my design you should repair Thither; since by new accidents delayed The feast will be, of which be it my care, In other strain, the tidings to report; If you to hear that other strain resort.

CANTO 10

ARGUMENT Another love a.s.sails Bireno's breast, Who leaves one night Olympia on the sh.o.r.e.

To Logistilla's holy realm addressed, Rogero goes, nor heeds Alcina more: Him, of that flying courser repossest, The hippogryph on airy voyage bore: Whence he the good Rinaldo's levy sees, And next Angelica beholds and frees.

I Of all the loves, of all fidelity Yet proved, of all the constant hearts and true, Of all the lovers, in felicity Or sorrow faithful found, a famous crew, To Olympia I would give the first degree Rather than second: if this be not due, I well may say that hers no tale is told Of truer love, in present times or old.

II And this she by so many proofs and clear, Had made apparent to the Zealand lord, No woman's faith more certain could appear To man, though he her open heart explored: And if fair truth such spirits should endear, And they in mutual love deserve reward, Bireno as himself, nay, he above Himself, I say, should kind Olympia love.

III Not only should he nevermore deceive Her for another, were that woman she Who so made Europe and wide Asia grieve, Or fairer yet, if one more fair there be; But rather that quit her the light should leave, And what is sweet to taste, touch, hear, and see, And life and fame, and all beside; if aught More precious can in truth be styled, or thought.

IV If her Bireno loved, as she had loved Bireno, if her love he did repay With faith like hers, and still with truth unmoved, Veered not his shifting sail another way; Or ingrate for such service -- cruel proved For such fair love and faith, I now will say; And you with lips comprest and eye-brows bent, Shall listen to the tale for wonderment;

V And when you shall have heard the impiety, Which of such pa.s.sing goodness was the meed, Woman take warning from this perfidy, And let none make a lover's word her creed.

Mindless that G.o.d does all things hear and see, The lover, eager his desires to speed, Heaps promises and vows, aye prompt to swear, Which afterwards all winds disperse in air.

VI The promises and empty vows dispersed In air, by winds all dissipated go, After these lovers have the greedy thirst Appeased, with which their fevered palates glow.

In this example which I offer, versed, Their prayers and tears to credit be more slow.