He to Marphisa bids consigns the best, And the other takes himself: the martial pair Already, with their lances in the rest, Wait but till other blast the joust declare.

Lo! earth and air and sea the noise rebound, As they p.r.i.c.k forth, at the first trumpet's sound!

XCIII No mouth was opened and no eyelid fell, Nor breath was drawn, amid the observant crew: So sore intent was every one to spell Which should be conqueror of the warlike two.

Marphisa the black champion from his sell, So to o'erthrow he shall not rise anew, Levels her lance; and the black champion, bent To slay Marphisa, spurs with like intent.

XCIV Both lances, made of willow thin and dry, Rather than stout and stubborn oak, appeared; So splintered even to the rest, they fly: While with such force the encountering steeds careered, It seemed, as with a scythe-blade equally The hams of either courser had been sheared.

Alike both fall; but voiding quick the seat, The nimble riders start upon their feet.

XCV Marphisa in her life, with certain wound, A thousand cavaliers on earth had laid; And never had herself been borne to ground; Yet quitted now the saddle, as was said.

Not only at the accident astound, But nigh beside herself, remained the maid.

Strange to the sable cavalier withal, Unwont to be unhorsed, appeared his fall.

XCVI They scarcely touch the ground before they gain Their feet, and now the fierce a.s.sault renew, With cut and thrust; which now with shield the twain Or blade ward off, and now by leaps eschew.

Whether the foes strike home, or smite in vain, Blows ring, and echo parted aether through.

More force those shields, those helms, those breast-plates show Than anvils underneath the sounding blow.

XCVII If heavy falls the savage damsel's blade, That falls not lightly of her warlike foe.

Equal the measure one the other paid; And both receive as much as they bestow.

He who would see two daring spirits weighed, To seek two fiercer need no further go.

Nor to seek more dexterity or might; For greater could not be in mortal wight.

XCVIII The women who have sate long time, to view The champions with such horrid strokes offend, Nor sign of trouble in the warriors true Behold, nor yet of weariness, commend Them with just praises, as the worthiest two That are, where'er the sea's wide arms extend.

They deem these of mere toil and labour long Must die, save they be strongest of the strong.

XCIX Communing with herself, Marphisa said, "That he moved not before was well for me!

Who risqued to have been numbered with the dead, If he at first had joined his company.

Since, as it is, I hardly can make head Against his deadly blows." This colloquy She with herself maintained, and while she spoke, Ceased not to ply her sword with circling stroke.

C " 'Twas well for me," the other cried again, "That to repose I did not leave the knight.

I now from him defend myself with pain, Who is o'erwearied with the former fight: What had he been, renewed in might and main, If he had rested till to-morrow's light?

Right fortunate was I, as man could be, That he refused my proffered courtesy!"

CI Till eve they strove, nor did it yet appear Which had the vantage of the doubtful fray: Nor, without light, could either foe see clear Now to avoid the furious blows; when day Was done, again the courteous cavalier To his ill.u.s.trious opposite 'gan say; "What shall we do, since ill-timed shades descend, While we with equal fortune thus contend?"

CII "Meseems, at least, that till to-morrow's morn 'Twere better thou prolonged thy life: no right Have I thy doom, sir warrior, to adjourn Beyond the limits of one little night.

Nor will I that by me the blame be born That thou no longer shalt enjoy the light.

With reason to the s.e.x's charge, by whom This place is governed, lay thy cruel doom."

CIII "If I lament thee and thy company, HE knows, by whom all hidden things are spied.

Thou and thy comrades may repose with me, For whom there is no safe abode beside: Since leagued against you in conspiracy Are all those husbands by thy hand have died.

For every valiant warrior of the men Slain in the tourney, consort was of ten.

CIV "The scathe they have to-day received from thee, Would ninety women wreak with vengeful spite; And, save thou take my hospitality, Except by them to be a.s.sailed this night."

-- "I take thy proffer in security,"

(Replied Marphisa), "that the faith so plight, And goodness of thy heart, will prove no less, Than are thy corporal strength and hardiness.

CV "But if, as having to kill me, thou grieve, Thou well mayst grieve, for reasons opposite; Nor hast thou cause to laugh, as I conceive, Nor hitherto has found me worst in fight.

Whether thou wouldst defer the fray, or leave, Or prosecute by this or other light, Behold me prompt thy wishes to fulfil; Where and whenever it shall be thy will!"

CVI So by consent the combatants divided, Till the dawn broke from Ganges' stream anew; And so remained the question undecided, Which was the better champion of the two, To both the brothers and the rest who sided Upon that part, the liberal lord did sue With courteous prayer, that till the coming day They would be pleased beneath his roof to stay.

CVII They unsuspecting with the prayer complied, And by the cheerful blaze of torches white A royal dome ascended, with their guide, Divided into many bowers and bright.

The combatants remain as stupified, On lifting up their vizors, at the sight One of the other; for (by what appears) The warrior hardly numbers eighteen years.

CVIII Much marvels with herself the gentle dame, That one so young so well should do and dare.

Much marvels he (his wonderment the same) When he her s.e.x agnizes by her hair.

Questioning one another of their name, As speedily reply the youthful pair.

But how was hight the youthful cavalier, Await till the ensuing strain to hear.

CANTO 20

ARGUMENT Guido and his from that foul haunt retire, While all Astolpho chases with his horn, Who to all quarters of the town sets fire, Then roving singly round the world is borne.

Marphisa, for Gabrina's cause, in ire Puts upon young Zerbino scathe and scorn, And makes him guardian of Gabrina fell, From whom he first learns news of Isabel.

I Great fears the women of antiquity In arms and hallowed arts as well have done, And of their worthy works the memory And l.u.s.tre through this ample world has shone.

Praised is Camilla, with Harpalice, For the fair course which they in battle run.

Corinna and Sappho, famous for their lore, Shine two ill.u.s.trious light, to set no more.

II Women have reached the pinnacle of glory, In every art by them professed, well seen; And whosoever turns the leaf of story, Finds record of them, neither dim nor mean.

The evil influence will be transitory, If long deprived of such the world had been; And envious men, and those that never knew Their worth, have haply hid their honours due.

III To me it plainly seems, in this our age Of women such is the celebrity, That it may furnish matter to the page, Whence this dispersed to future years shall be; And you, ye evil tongues which foully rage, Be tied to your eternal infamy, And women's praises so resplendent show, They shall, by much, Marphisa's worth outgo.

IV To her returning yet again; the dame To him who showed to her such courteous lore, Refused not to disclose her martial name, Since he agreed to tell the style be bore.

She quickly satisfied the warrior's claim; To learn his t.i.tle she desired so sore.

"I am Marphisa," the virago cried: All else was known, as bruited far and wide.

V The other, since 'twas his to speak, begun With longer preamble: "Amid your train, Sirs, it is my belief that there is none But has heard mention of my race and strain.

Not Pontus, Aethiopia, Ind alone, With all their neighbouring realms, but France and Spain Wot well of Clermont, from whose loins the knight Issued who killed Almontes bold in fight,

VI "And Chiareillo and Mambrino slew, And sacked the realm whose royal crown they wore.

Come of this blood, where Danube's waters, through Eight horns or ten to meet the Euxine pour, Me to the far-renowned Duke Aymon, who Thither a stranger roved, my mother bore.

And 'tis a twelvemonth now since her, in quest Of my French kin, I left with grief opprest.

VII "But reached not France, for southern tempest's spite Impelled me hither; lodged in royal bower Ten months or more; for -- miserable wight! -- I reckon every day and every hour.

Guido the Savage I by name am hight, Ill known and scarcely proved in warlike stower.

Here Argilon of Meliboea I Slew with ten warriors in his company.

VIII "Conqueror as well in other field confessed, Ten ladies are the partners of my bed: Selected at my choice, who are the best And fairest damsels in this kingdom bred: These I command, as well as all the rest, Who of their female band have made me head; And so would make another who in fight, Like me, ten opposites to death would smite."

IX Sir Guido is besought of them to say Why there appear so few of the male race, And to declare if women there bear sway O'er men, as men o'er them in other place.

He: "Since my fortune has been here to stay, I oftentimes have heard relate the case; And now (according to the story told) Will, since it pleases you, the cause unfold.

X "When, after twenty years, the Grecian host Returned from Troy (ten years hostility The town endured, ten weary years were tost The Greeks, detained by adverse winds at sea), They found their women had, for comforts lost, And pangs of absence, learned a remedy; And, that they might not freeze alone in bed, Chosen young lovers in their husbands' stead.

XI "With others' children filled the Grecian crew Their houses found, and by consent was past A pardon to their women; for they knew How ill they could endure so long a fast.

But the adulterous issue, as their due, To seek their fortunes on the world were cast: Because the husbands would not suffer more The striplings should be nourished from their store.