II That seemed good counsel, but was ill indeed Of Malagigi's, as before was said; Albeit he so rescued in his need His cousin Richardet, with odds o'erlaid, When from the paynim monarchs him he freed By ready demon, who his hest obeyed; For sure he never deemed they should be borne, Where they would work the Christian army scorn.

III Had he some little prize for counsel stayed, (We with the same success may well suppose) He to his cousin might have furnished aid, Yet brought not on the Christian host their foes: That evil sprite he might as well have made, Him, who embodied in the palfrey goes, Eastward or west, so far that lady bear, That France should hear no further of the pair.

IV So the two lovers, following her who flies, To other place than Paris might be brought: But this calamity was a surprise On Malagigi, through his little thought; And fiendish malice, banished from the skies, Which ever blood and fire and ravage sought, Guided them by that way to Charles' disaster; Left to his choice by him, the wizard master.

V The wayward fiend who makes that palfrey ramp Bears off the frighted Doralice amain; Nor river nor yet yawning ditch, or swamp, Wood, rock, or rugged cliff, the steed restrain; Till, traversing the French and English camp, And other squadrons of the mingled train, Beneath the holy flag of Christ arraid, He to Granada's king the fair conveyed.

VI The Sarzan and the Tartar the first day That royal damsel a long while pursue; Because her distant form they yet survey; But finally they lose that lady's view; When, like a lyme-dog, whom the hunters lay On hare or roebuck's trail, the valiant two Follow upon her track, nor halt, till told That she is harboured in her father's hold.

VII Guard thyself, Charles: for, lo! against thee blown Is such a storm, that I no refuge see: Nor these redoubted monarchs come alone, But those of Sericane and Circa.s.sy; While Fortune, who would probe thee to the bone, Has taken those two shining stars from thee, Who kept thee by their wisdom and their light; And thou remainest blind and wrapt in night.

VIII 'Tis of the valiant cousins I would speak: Of these, Orlando of his wit bereft, Naked, in sun or shower, by plain or peak, Wanders about the world, a helpless weft; And he, in wisdom little less to seek, Rinaldo, in thy peril thee has left; And, for in Paris-town she is not found, In search of his Angelica is bound.

IX A cunning, old enchanter him deceived, As in the outlet of my tale was said: Deluded by a phantom, he believed Angelica was with Orlando fled; And hence with jealousy, at heart, aggrieved (Lover ne'er suffered worse) to Paris sped; Whence he, as soon as he appeared at court, By chance, was named to Britain to resort.

X Now, the field won, wherein with mickle fame He drove King Agramant his works behind, To Paris yet again the warrior came, Searched convent, tower, and house, and, save confined 'Twixt solid walls or columns be the dame, Her will the restless lover surely find: Nor her nor yet Orlando he descries, So forth in the desire to seek them hies.

XI Her to Anglantes or to Brava brought, He deemed the Count enjoyed in mirth and play; And vainly, here and there, that damsel sought, Nor here nor there, descried the long-sought prey.

To Paris he repaired again, in thought The paladin returning to waylay; Because he deemed he could not rove at large Without that Town, but on some special charge.

XII Within he takes a day or two's repose; And, when he finds Orlando comes not there, Again to Brava and Anglantes goes Inquiring tidings of the royal fair; Nor, whether morning dawns or noontide glows, -- Nor night nor day -- his weary steed does spare; Nor once -- but twice a hundred times -- has run The selfsame course, by light of moon or sun.

XIII But the ancient foe, deluded by whose say, To the forbidden fruit Eve raised her hand, Turned his wan eyes on Charlemagne one day, When he the good Rinaldo absent scanned; And seeing what foul rout and disarray Might at that time be given to Charles's band, Of all the Saracens the choice and flower Marshalled in arms against the Christian power.

XIV King Sacripant and King Grada.s.so (who Whilere companionship in war had made, When from Atlantes' palace fled the two) Together to unite their arms, in aid Of royal Agramant's beleaguered crew, And where through unknown lands the warriors hied, Made smooth the way, and served them as a guide.

XV Thither another fiend that ruthless foe Bade Rodomont and Mandricardo bear Through ways, by which his comrade was not slow With the affrighted Doralice to fare: A third, lest they their enterprize forego, Rogero and Marphisa has in care: But their conductor journeys not so fast; And hence that martial pair arrives the last.

XVI Later by half an hour, against their foes, So matched, Rogero and Marphisa speed; Because the sable angel, who his blows Aimed at the bands that held the Christian creed, Provided, that the contest which arose About that horse, his work should not impede; Which had again been kindled, had the twain, Rodomont and Rogero, met again.

XVII The first four ride until themselves they find Where the besiegers and besieged they view; And see the banners shaking in the wind, And the cantonments of those armies two.

Here they short counsel took, and next opined, In spite of Charlemagne's beleaguering crew, To carry speedy succour to their liege, And rescue royal Agramant from siege.

XVIII Where thickest camped lay Charles's host, they spurred, Closing their files against the Christian foe.

"Afric and Spain!" is the a.s.sailants' word, Whom at all points the Franks for paynims know.

-- "To arms, to arms!" throughout their camp is heard: But first is felt the Moorish sabre's blow: Even on the rear-guard falls the vengeful stroke, Not charged alone, but routed, beat and broke.

XIX The Christian host throughout is overthrown, And how they know not, in tumultuous wise; And that it is a wonted insult done By Switzer or by Gascon, some surmise; But -- since the reason is to most unknown -- Each several nation to its standard flies, This to the drum, that to the trumpet's sound, And shriek and shout from earth to heaven redound.

XX All armed is Charlemagne, except his head, And, girt with paladins, his faithful stay, Arrived demanding what alarm has bred Disorder in his host and disarray; And stopt with menace this or that who fled, And many fugitives, upon their way, Some with maimed face, breast, arm, or hand, espied, And some with head or throat with life-blood dyed.

XXI Advancing, he on earth saw many more, Or rather in a lake of crimson laid, Horribly weltering in their own dark gore, Beyond the leech's and magician's aid; And busts dissevered from the heads they bore, And legs and arms -- a cruel show -- surveyed; And, from the first cantonments to the last, Saw slaughtered men on all sides as he past.

XXII Where the small band advances in such wise, Deserving well eternal praise to gain, Vouching their deeds, a long-drawn furrow lies, A signal record of their might and main.

His army's cruel slaughter, with surprise, Anger and rage, is viewed by Charlemagne.

So he whose shattered walls have felt its force, Throughout his mansion tracks the lightning's course.

XXIII Not to the ramparts of the paynim crew Of Agramant as yet had pierced this aid, When, on the further side, these other two, Rogero and Marphisa, thither made.

When, once or twice, that worthy pair a view Have taken of the ground, and have surveyed The readiest way a.s.sistance to afford, They swiftly move in succour of their lord.

XXIV As when we spark to loaded mine apply, Through the long furrow, filled with sable grain, So fast the furious wildfire darts, that eye Pursues the progress of the flash with pain; And as dire ruin follows, and from high, The loosened rock and solid bastion rain, So bold Rogero and Marphisa rush To battle, so the Christian squadrons crush.

XXV Front and askance, the a.s.sailants smote, and low On earth heads, arms, and severed shoulders lay, Where'er the Christian squadrons were too slow To free the path and break their close array.

Whoe'er has seen the pa.s.sing tempest blow, And of the hill or valley, in its way, One portion ravage and another leave, May so their course amid that host conceive.

XXVI Many who had escaped by quick retreat, Rodomont and those other furious three, Thank G.o.d that he had given them legs and feet, Wherewith to fly from that calamity; And from the Child and damsel new defeat Encounter, while with endlong course they flee: As man, no matter if he stands or run, Seeks vainly his predestined doom to shun.

XXVII Who 'scape one peril, into other fly, And pay the penalty of flesh and blood; So, by the teeth of dog, is wont to die The fox, together with her infant brood, By one who dwells her ancient cavern nigh Unearthed, and with a thousand blows pursued; When from some unsuspected place, that foe Has filled with fire and smoke the den below.

XXVIII Marphisa and the Child, of danger clear, Enter the paynim ramparts; and, with eyes Upturned, the Saracens, with humble cheer, Thank Heaven for the success of that emprize: The paladins no longer are their fear; The meanest Moor a hundred Franks defies; And 'tis resolved, without repose, again To drench with Christian blood the thirsty plain.

XXIX At once a formidable larum rose; Horns, drums, and shrilling clarions filled the skies; And the wind ruffles, as it comes and goes, Banner and gonfalon of various dyes.

The Germans and the warlike Bretons close; Ranged on the other part, in martial wise, Italians, English, French, were seen, and through Those armies furious war blazed forth anew.

x.x.x The force of the redoubted Rodomont, And that of Agrican's infuriate son, That of Rogero, valiant's copious font, Grada.s.so's, so renowned for trophies won, The martial maid, Marphisa's fearless front, And might of Sacripant, excelled by none, Made Charles upon Saint John and Denys call, And fly for shelter to his Paris wall.

x.x.xI Of fierce Marphisa and her bold allies The unconquered daring and the wondrous might, Sir, was not of a nature -- of a guise -- To be conceived, much less described aright: The number slaughtered hence may you surmise!

What cruel blow King Charles sustained in fight!

Add to these warriors of ill.u.s.trious name, More than one Moor, with Ferrau, known to Fame.

x.x.xII Many through reckless haste were drowned in Seine, For all too narrow was the bridge's floor, An wished, like Icarus, for wings in vain, Having grim death behind them and before, Save Oliver, and Ogier hight the Dane, The paladins are prisoners to the Moor: Wounded beneath his better shoulder fled The first, that other with a broken head.

x.x.xIII And. like Orlando and Duke Aymon's son, Had faithful Brandimart thrown up the game, Charles had from Paris into exile gone, If he had scaped alive so fierce a flame.

Brandimart does his best, and when 'tis done, Yields to the storm: Thus Fortune, fickle dame, Now smiles upon the paynim monarch, who Besieges royal Charlemagne anew.

x.x.xIV From earth beneath the widow's outcry swells, Mingled with elder's and with orphan's prayer, Into the pure serene, where Michael dwells, Rising above this dim and troubled air; And to the blest archangel loudly tells, How the devouring wolf and raven tear His faithful English, French, and German train, Whose slaughtered bodies overspread the plain.

x.x.xV Red blushed the blessed angel, who believed He ill obedience to his lord had paid; And, in his anger, deemed himself deceived By the perfidious Discord and betrayed: He his Creator's order had received To stir the Moors to strife, nor had obeyed; Had rather in their eyes who marked the event, Appeared throughout to thwart his high intent.

x.x.xVI As servant faithful to his lord, and more In love than memory strong, who finds that he Has that forgotten which at his heart-core, As precious as his life and soul should be, Hastes to repair his error, nor before He mend that fault, again his lord will see, So not to G.o.d St. Michael will ascend Until he has achieved his holy end.

x.x.xVII Again he to that monastery flew, Where whilom he had Discord seen; and there Seated in chapter sees her, while anew Their yearly officers elected are, She taking huge delight those friers to view, That at each other hurled their books of prayer.

His hand within her locks the archangel twists, And deals her endless scathe with feet and fists.

x.x.xVIII On her he next a cross's handle broke; Wherewith her back, and arms, and head he plies: His mercy with loud voice the wretch bespoke, And hugged that angel's knees with suppliant cries.

Michael suspends not the avenging stroke Till hunted to the Moorish camp she flies, Then thus: "Believe worse vengeance yet in store, If I beyond these lines behold thee more."

x.x.xIX Albeit in back and arms all over shent Was Discord by that angel, in her fear Of suffering yet again such chastis.e.m.e.nt, Such horrid fury and such blows severe, She speedily to take her bellows went, And, adding food to what she lit whilere, And setting other ready piles afire, Kindled in many hearts a blaze of ire;

XL And good Rogero (she inflames them so) With Rodomont and Mandricardo fares To Agramant; and all (since now the foe The paynims pressed no more, the vantage theirs) To him the seed of their dissensions show, And what the bitter produce which it bears: Then to the judgment of the king refer Who first in listed field his claim should stir.

XLI As well Marphisa to Troyano's son, Relates her case, and will conclude the fray Which with the Tartar king she had begun, Because by him provoked to that a.s.say; Nor will she yield her place to any one, No, not a single hour, yet less a day; But with loud instances maintains her right With Mandricardo first to wage the fight.

XLII To have the first possession of the field No less renowned king Rodomont contended, Which he, the African array to shield, Had interrupted and till now suspended.

Rogero to King Agramant appealed, As having borne too long, though sore offended, That Rodomont form him detained his horse, Nor yet would meet him first in martial course.

XLIII The Tartar king, for more perplexity, Denied on any ground Rogero's right The bearer of the white-winged bird to be; And was so pa.s.sing wood with wrath and spite, That, if to this those others would agree, He would at once those several quarrels fight; And so those others would as well have done, If Agramant's consent they could have won.

XLIV King Agramant, with prayer and kingly word, Had willingly appeased that jarring crew; But since the foes were deaf to all accord, Nor would a.s.sent to peace or truce anew, Considered how at least he might afford The field of each of them in order due; And, as the best resolve, at last decreed, Each should by lot possess the listed mead.