LXXI This while Sir Pinnabello had drawn near To Bradamant, and prayed that she would shew What warrior had his knight in the career Smith with such prowess. That the guerdon due To his ill deeds might wait the cavalier, G.o.d's justice that ill-doer thither drew On the same courser, which before the Cheat From Bradamant had taken by deceit.

LXXII 'Twas now exactly the eighth month was ended, Since, if you recollect, upon his way, The faithless Maganzese, with whom she wended, Cast into Merlin's tomb the martial may; When her a bough, which fell with her, defended From death, or her good Fortune, rather say; And Pinnabel bore off her courser brave, Deeming the damsel buried in the cave.

LXXIII The courser, and, through him, the cavalier, Bradamant knew to be the wicked Count, And, having heard him, and perused him near, With more attentive eye and front to front -- "This is the man," (the damsel said) " 'tis clear, Who erst designed me outrage and affront.

Lo! him the traitor's sin doth hither speed, Of all his treasons to receive the meed."

LXXIV To threaten him with vengeance, and to lay Hands on her sword and charge him now, was done All in a thought; but first she barred the way By which he might his fortilage have won.

To earth himself like fox, in his dismay, Sir Pinnabel has every hope foregone.

He screaming loud, nor ever making head Against the damsel, through the forest fled.

LXXV Pale and dismayed his spurs the caitiff plied Whose last hope of escape in flight was found; While with her ready sword, Dordona's pride Was at his flank, and prest him in his round, Hunting him close and ever fast beside: Loud is the uproar, and the woods resound.

Nothing of this is at the castle kenned, For only to Rogero all attend.

LXXVI The other three, who from the fortress came, This while had issued forth upon their way, And brought with them the ill-accustomed dame, Who made wayfarers that ill use obey.

In all (who rather than prolong with blame Their life, would choose to perish in the fray), The kindling visage burns, and heart is woe, That to a.s.sail one man so many go.

LXXVII The cruel courtezan by whom was made, And by whose hest maintained, that evil rite, Reminds the warriors that they are arrayed By oath and pact, to avenge her in the fight.

"If with this lance alone thy foes are laid On earth, why should I band with other knight?"

(Guido the savage said) "and, if I lie, Off with my head, for I consent to die."

LXXVIII So Aquilant, so Gryphon. For the twain Singly against a single foe would run; And rather would be taken, rather slain, Than he should be a.s.sailed by more than one.

To them exclaimed the woman: "Why in vain Waste you so many words, where fruit is none?

I brought you here that champion's arms to take, Not other laws and other pacts to make.

LXXIX "You should have offered, when in prison-cell, This your excuse; which now too late is made.

'Tis yours the law's observance to compel, And not with lying tongue your oath evade."

" -- Behold! the arms; behold, with a new sell And cloth, the goodly steed!" Rogero said, "Behold with these, as well, the damsel's vest!

If these you covet, why your course arrest?"

Lx.x.x She of the castle presses on this side, On that Rogero rates, and calls them on; Till they parforce, t'wards him, together hied: But red with shame, are to the encounter gone.

Foremost appeared 'mid those three knights of pride, Of Burgundy's good marquis either son.

But Guido, who was borne on heavier steed, Came at some interval, with tardier speed.

Lx.x.xI With the same lance with which he overbore Sir Sansonet, Rogero came to fight; Well-covered with the shield which heretofore Atlantes used on Pyrenean height; I say the enchanted buckler, which, too sore For human sufferance, dazed the astonished sight: To which Rogero, as a last resource, In the most pressing peril had recourse.

Lx.x.xII Although three times alone the Child was fain (And, certes sore bested) this to display; Twice when he from the wanton Fairy's reign Was to that soberer region on his way!

Last, when the unsated Orc upon the main, By this astounded, 'mid the sea-foam lay; Which would have fed upon the naked maid, So cruel to the Child who brought her aid.

Lx.x.xIII Save these three times, he has preserved the shield Beneath its veil, but covered in such wise That it may quickly be to sight revealed, If he in need of its good succour lies.

With this, as said before, he came a-field As boldly, as if those three enemies, Who were arrayed before him, had appeared Yet less than little children to be feared.

Lx.x.xIV Rogero shocked the valiant Gryphon, where The border of the buckler joined the sight, Who seemed as he would fall, now here, now there, And, from his courser far, last fell outright.

He at the shield had aimed, but smote not fair The mark; and (for Rogero's...o...b..was bright And smooth) the hissing weapon slipt, and wrought Other effect than was in Gryphon's thought.

Lx.x.xV It rent and tore the veil which served to hide The lightning's fearful and enchanted rays; Which, without blinded eyes, can none abide Upright, nor refuge is for them who gaze.

Aquilant, who was at his brother's side, Tore off the rest, and made the buckler blaze: The splendour struck the valiant brothers blind, And Guido in their rear, who spurred behind.

Lx.x.xVI These here, or there, to earth astonished reel; Nor eyes alone are dazzled by the light, But every sense astounds the flaming steel.

Unconscious of the issue of the fight, Rogero turned his horse, and, in the wheel, Handled his sword, so good to thrust and smite; And none descried his fury to oppose; For in the charge dismounted were his foes.

Lx.x.xVII The knights, together with the footmen all, And women, who had from the castle hied, Nor less the coursers panting with their fall, As if about to die, the warrior spied.

He wondered first, and next perceived the pall Of silk was handing down on the left side; I say the pall, in which he used to lap His shield, the evil cause of that mishap.

Lx.x.xVIII He quickly turns, and, turning, rolls his eyes, In hopes to view his well-loved martial maid; And thitherward, without delay, he hies Where, when the joust began, the damsel stayed.

Not finding her, it is the Child's surmise That she is gone to bear the stripling aid; Fearing he may be burnt, while they their journey So long delay, r.e.t.a.r.ded by that tourney.

Lx.x.xIX He saw the damsel, stretched among the rest Who him had thither guided: as she lay, He took and placed her, yet with sleep opprest, Before him, and, sore troubled, rode away.

He with a mantle, which above her vest She wore, concealed the enchanted buckler's ray: And to the maid restored, when 'twas concealed, Her senses, which were ravished by the shield.

XC Away Rogero posted with the dame, And did not date his crimsoned visage raise; Since every one, it seemed to him, might blame With right that victory, worthy little praise.

"By what amends can I of such a shame (The blushing warrior said) the stain eraze?

For 'twill be bruited, all my deeds by sleight Of magic have been done, and not by might."

XCI As, thinking thus, he journeyed on his way, Rogero stumbled upon what he sought; For, in the middle of the track, there lay A well, within the ground profoundly wrought: Whither the thirsty herd, at noon of day, Repaired, their paunches with green forage fraught.

Rogero said, " 'Tis now, must I provide, I shame from thee, O shield, no more abide.

XCII "Thee will I keep no more, and this shall be Even the last shame which so on me is thrown:"

The Child, so ending his self-colloquy, Dismounting, takes a large and heavy stone; Which to the shield he ties, and bodily Both to the bottom of the well are gone.

"Lie buried there for ever, from all eyes, And with thee hidden be my shame!" he cries.

XCIII Filled to the brim with water was the well; Heavy the stone, and heavy was the shield; Nor stopt they till they to the bottom fell, By the light, liquid element concealed.

Fame was not slow the n.o.ble act to swell, But, wandering wide, the deed in brief revealed, And voicing it abroad, with trumpet-sound, Told France and Spain and all the countries round.

XCIV When that so strange adventure to the rest Of the wide world, from mouth to mouth was blown, Knights out of number undertook the quest, From neighbouring parts and distant; but unknown To all remained the forest which possessed The spring wherein the virtuous shield was thrown: For she who told the action, would not say Where was the well, nor in what land it lay.

XCV Upon Rogero's parting thence, where fell The four good champions of that evil law, Made by the castle's lord Sir Pinnabel, By him discomfited like men of straw, -- The shield withdrawn -- he had removed as well The light, which quelled their sight and minds who saw; And those, who, like dead men, on earth had lain, Had risen, full of wonderment, again.

XCVI Nor any thing throughout that livelong day They 'mid themselves but that strange case relate; And how it was in that disastrous fray Each by the horrid light was quelled, debate.

While these, discoursing, of the adventure say, Tidings are brought of Pinnabello's fate.

That Pinnabel is dead the warriors hear, But learn not who had slain the cavalier.

XCVII Bradamant in close pa.s.s, this while, had staid The faithless Pinnabel, and sorely prest; And many times had buried half her blade Within bleeding flanks and heaving breast.

When of his crimes the forfeit had been paid By him, the infected country's curse and pest, She from the conscious forest turned away With that good steed the thief had made his prey.

XCVIII She would return where she had left the knight, But never could make out the road anew; And now by valley, now by mountain-height, Wandered well-nigh the ample country through.

Yet could she never (such her fortune's spite) Find out the way to join Rogero true.

Him in another canto I attend Who loves the tale, to hear my story's end.

CANTO 23

ARGUMENT Astolpho soars in air. Upon account Of Pinnabel is prisoned Scotland's heir: By Roland freed, Frontino Rodomont Takes from Hippalca, trusted to her care.

With Mandricardo strives Anglantes' count: Who, next, offended by his lady fair, Into the fury falls, so strange and fell, Which in the world has not a parallel.

I Let each a.s.sist the other in his need; Seldom good actions go without their due; And if their just reward should not succeed, At least, nor death, nor shame, nor loss ensue.

Who wrongs another, the remembered meed As well shall have, and soon or later rue.

That mountains never meet, but that men may, And oft encounter, is an ancient say.