But I such work shall give you, I conceive, As will small labour for Rogero leave."

CIX -- "The bargain which thou hopest thou shalt not have,"

(King Mandricardo answered Rodomont) "I will accord thee more than thou do'st crave, And trust to make thee sweat from feet to front.

And to bestow on others, much shall save, As water never fails in plenteous font; And for Rogero and a thousand more, And all the world beside reserve a store."

CX Their fury waxed, and angrier words ensued, Now upon this and now upon that side.

With Rodomont and with the Child at feud, Fierce Mandricardo both at once defied.

Rogero, not endowed with suffering mood, Would hear no more of peace, but vengeance cried.

Now here Marphisa hurried, and now there, But could not singly such an ill repair.

CXI As peasant, when a river saps its mounds, And seeking vent the oozing waters drop, Hastening to shut the stream within its bounds, And save his pastures and expected crop, Dams right and left; yet him the stream confounds: For, if he here the sinking ruin prop, There he beholds the rotten d.y.k.e give out, And from thick seams the restless water spout,

CXII So, while the Tartar and Rogero rage, And Rodomont, in hurly-burly fray, For each of these would fiercest battle wage, And would outgo his fears in that a.s.say, Marphisa seeks their fury to a.s.suage, And strives, and time and trouble throws away; For as she makes one knight from strife retire, She sees the others re-engage with ire.

CXIII Marphisa, to appease the warriors bent, Exclaimed, "Sirs, listen to my better lore; A good remembrance 'tis, all argument To leave until we Agramant restore.

If each is on his own design intent, With Mandricardo will I strive once more; And fain would see, according to his word, If he can conquer me with spear and sword.

CXIV "But if, to aid our sovereign, duty call, Him let us aid, nor civil discord breed."

-- "To ground, through me, such project shall not fall,"

Rogero said, "so he restore my steed.

Let him resign that horse, or -- once for all.

I say again -- to his defence take heed.

I either here my parting breath will yield, Or on my courser will return afield."

CXV -- "Twere not so easy to obtain this quest As 'twere that other," Rodomont replied; And thus pursued: "I unto thee protest, If any evil shall our king betide, Thine is the fault not mine; for I am prest To do whate'er is fitting, on my side."

Small heed to that protest Rogero paid, And stung by fury, griped his trenchant blade.

CXVI On Argier's king he sprang, like savage boar, Encountering him with shoulder and with shield; And him disordered and distrest so sore, That with one stirrup's loss, the monarch reeled.

-- "Rogero," Mandricardo cried, "give o'er, Or else with me divide the battle-field"; And struck, this said, with worse than felon spite, Upon the morion of that youthful knight.

CXVII Even to his courser's neck Rogero bends; Nor, when he would, himself can rear; Because the sword of Ulien's son descends As well upon the youthful cavalier; And, but that adamant his face defends, Across the cheeks his tempered helm would sheer.

The Child, in anguish, opens either hand; And this the bridle drops and that the brand.

CXVIII Him o'er the field his courser bears away; On earth the faulchion lies, which he let go: Marphisa (with Rogero's through that day, Comrade in arms) appeared like fire to glow, Enraged, that two one knight should overlay; And, as magnanimous and stout, for foe Singled King Mandricardo out, and sped, With all her might, stroke upon his head.

CXIX Rodomont o'er the plain pursues his man.

-- Another stroke, and he has lost the horse!

But Richardetto drives, and Vivian, Between the Child and paynim in that course.

This warrior at the king of Argier ran, And from Rogero severed him by force; That (it was Vivian) in Rogero's hand, Now from the blow recovered, placed his brand.

CXX As soon as to himself the Child returns, And is by Vivian armed with sword again, To venge the injury that stripling burns, And runs at Rodomont with flowing rein, Like lion, whom a bull upon his horns Has lifted, though he feels this while no pain, So him his heat of blood, disdain, and ire, To venge that cruel outrage goad and fire.

CXXI Rogero storms upon the paynim's crest; And, could that knight recover his own brand, Which by foul felony (as erst exprest) Was ravished from the youthful warrior's hand, I well believe that the descending pest Rodomont's iron casque will ill withstand; That casque which Babel's king bade forge, who sought To war on Heaven in his presumptuous thought.

CXXII Discord, believing nothing could ensue But stir, and strife, and combat on that head; And that there was no place, amid the crew, For truce or treaty, to her sister said, That she, her well-beloved monks to view, Might now again with her securely tread.

Let them depart; and mark we where in front Rogero has sore wounded Rodomont.

CXXIII Rogero's blow was levelled with such spite, That this upon Frontino's crupper made The helmet and the sh.e.l.l of iron smite, In which that Saracen his limbs arrayed; And he, three times or four, to left and right, -- As if about to fall -- head-foremost, swayed; And would have lost withal his trusty brand, But that the hilt was fastened to his hand.

CXXIV Marphisa has king Mandricardo prest Meanwhile, and makes him sweat breast, front, and face; And he Marphisa has as sore distrest: But such good plates each valiant bosom case, Impa.s.sable is either iron vest; And both have hitherto maintained their place.

But, at a turn her martial courser made, Marphisa needed young Rogero's aid.

CXXV Marphisa's martial steed, in turning short, Where a firm footing that soft mead denied, On the moist surface slipt, and in such sort, That he fell, helpless, on his better side; And, as he rose in haste and lacked support, Athwart by furious Brigliador was plied; On which the paynim, little courteous, came; So that he fell anew beneath the dame.

CXXVI Rogero, when Marphisa on the ground He saw unhorsed, deferred no more his aid; Who for that deed had leisure; since, astound, Rodomont far away had been conveyed: He smote the morion which that Tartar crowned; And, cleft like stalk, his head on earth had laid, Had he his trusty Balisarda born, Or Mandricardo other helmet worn.

CXXVII Rodomont, of his senses repossest, Turned round this while, and Richardetto spied; And recollecting how, when late distrest, He to Rogero succour had supplied, Quickly against that youthful warrior prest; Who an ill guerdon would from him abide, Did Malagigi not his malice thwart With other magic and with mickle art.

CXXVIII Sage Malagigi versed in every sleight Which by the wisest wizard can be done; Although his book he has not, by whose might, He in his course can stop the pa.s.sing sun; The conjuration recollects and rite, By which he tames the rebel fiends; and one Bids enter into Doralice's steed, Whom he to fury stings and headlong speed.

CXXIX Into that gentle palfrey's form, who bore The beauteous daughter of King Stordilane, Sir Vivian's brother, simply by his lore, Made pa.s.s an angel of the dark domain; And the good horse, who never moved before, Except in due obedience to the rein, Now took a leap, possest by that ill sprite, Thirty feet long and sixteen feet in height.

Cx.x.x It was a mighty leap, yet not so wide As to make any rider void the sell.

Seeing herself so high in air, loud cried, (Yielding herself for dead) that bonnibel.

Her palfrey, with the Daemon for his guide, After his leap, runs, goaded by the spell (The maid still screaming) such a furious course, An arrow had not reached the flying horse.

Cx.x.xI At the first hearing of that voice, the son Of Ulien, on his part, the strife suspended; And thither, where the furious palfrey run, Swiftly in succour of the lady wended.

No less was by the Tartar monarch done; Who neither Child nor damsel more offended; But without craving time, or truce, or peace, Pursued King Rodomont and Doralice.

Cx.x.xII Marphisa rose meanwhile, to fury stirred; And, with disdain all over in a glow, Thought to accomplish her revenge, and erred: For at too great a distance was the foe.

Rogero, who beheld the war deferred, Rather like lion roared than sighed: well know Those two their coursers they should vainly gore, Following Frontino and good Brigliador.

Cx.x.xIII Rogero will not halt till he renew And end the unfinished combat for the horse; Marphisa will not quit that Tartar, who Will to her satisfaction prove his force.

To leave their quarrel in such guise the two Esteem foul scandal; as their better course, In chase of those offending knights to fare, Is the conclusion of that valiant pair.

Cx.x.xIV They in the paynim camp will find each foe, If them before they find not on their way; Whom thither bound, to raise the siege they know, Ere Charlemagne bring all beneath his sway.

So thitherward the twain directly go Where these, they deem, will be their certain prey.

Yet not so rudely thence Rogero broke, But that he first with his companion spoke.

Cx.x.xV Thither returns Rogero, where apart Is he, the brother of his lady fair; And vows himself his friend, with generous heart, In good or evil fortune, everywhere.

Him he implores -- and frames his speech with art -- He his salutes will to his sister bear; And this so well, he moves by that request No doubt in him, nor any of the rest.

Cx.x.xVI Of Malagigi he and Viviane Next takes farewell and wounded Aldigier; Their services no less that kindly twain Proffer, as ever debtors to the peer.

Marphisa to seek Paris is so fain, That parting she forgets her friends to cheer; But Malagigi and Vivian, in pursuit, Follow, and from afar that maid salute;

Cx.x.xVII And so Sir Richardet as well: but low On earth lies Aldigier, and there must rest.

The two first champions towards Paris go, And the two others next pursue that quest.

In other canto, Sir, I hope to show Of wondrous and of superhuman gest, Wrought to the damage of the Christian king, By those two couples of whose worth I sing.

CANTO 27

ARGUMENT By good Rogero and those paynims three Defeated, Charlemagne to Paris flies.

Already all, throughout their chivalry, Are mad with spite and hatred; jars arise, And strife; and means to still their enmity Their sovereign is unable to devise.

From him departs the monarch of Argier, Who is rejected of his lady dear.

I A woman for the most part reasons best Upon a sudden motion, and untaught; For with that special grace the s.e.x is blest, 'Mid those so many gifts, wherewith 'tis fraught; But man, of a less nimble wit possest, Is ill at counsel, save, with sober thought, He ruminates thereon, content to spend Care, time and trouble to mature his end.