THE ARGUMENT.

ROGERO and Rinaldo being engaged in single combat to decide the dispute of the two nations, Melissa, by a device, incites Agramant to break the truce. A general battle ensues, and the two knights separate by mutual agreement. Valour of Bradamant and Marphisa. Proceedings of Astolpho in Africa. The leaves of trees transformed to ships. Arrival of Olivero, Sansonetto, Brandimart, and other Christian knights, who had been prisoners to Rodomout. These are received with great joy by Astolpho. Orlando, in his madness, wandering from place to place, comes to the camp of Astolpho, who, according to the instructions of Saint John, restores him to his senses. Preparations for the siege of Biserta. The Pagan army in France being routed by Bradamant and Marphisa, Agramant is obliged to quit the field, and with some of his ships sails from the port of Arli for Africa, but is met by Dudon's fleet, that attacks him unawares during the night, and burns and destroys most of his vessels.

THE

THIRTY-NINTH BOOK ·

OF

ORLANDO FURIOSO.

GREAT is the woe that good Rogero knows,
A woe by far surpassing other woes:
On either side too cruel fate prevails;

His honour here, and there his love assails.
He now may perish by Rinaldo's hand :

Or should his arm the Christian foe withstand,
He to his mistress must resign his breath,
Whose hate incurr'd shall seal his bitterest death.

Rinaldo, not with thoughts like these distrest,

On conquest bent his brave opponent press'd
With every nerve; his axe of temper steel'd
Now here, now there in rapid circles wheel'd,
At head or arm he aim'd; while still prepar'd
On every part the threatening wound to ward,
Rogero turn'd, but when a stroke he dealt,
The cautious stroke Rinaldo little felt,
Anxious the Pagan lords the knights survey,
Who seem'd ill pair'd for such a glorious day.

10

15.

Too slow his arm and axe Rogero moves :
Too well his arm and axe Rinaldo proves.
The king of Afric pale with alter'd hue,
Bent on the doubtful fight his fearful view:
On old Sobrino now he turn'd the blame,
Whose erring counsel risk'd a nation's fame.
But sage Melissa, that eternal source

Of magic power transcending human force,
Now cast aside her female form, and took
The king of Algier's habit, voice and look.
Like haughty Rodomont her arms she bore,
Like him a dragon's semblant hide she wore:
Like him she seem'd her pointed lance to wield,
So hung her sword, so gleam'd her bossy shield:
A demon, in a courser's shape, she rode,
And sudden piercing through the wondering crowd,
Before Troyano's pensive son she press'd

And, frowning, thus with thundering voice address'd.
I'll have you judg'd, O king! with such a knight
To match a stripling warrior, raw in fight;

In such an arm so rashly to confide

For what must Afric's weal and crown decide.
Haste-stay the combat---on whose issue wait
Disgrace and ruin to yourself and state.
'Tis Rodomont that speaks--attend no more
To keep the truce or oath you madly swore.
Unsheath the sword--let every valiant hand
Enforce its edge on yon devoted band.
Lo! I am here--and each, amid your host
May now the vigour of a hundred boast.
Thus she unwary Agramant approv'd,

And forth he rush'd with headlong fury mov'd:

The lying form of Sarza's monarch wrought

Such sudden change, he banish'd from his thought
The treaty made: nor had he priz'd so high

A thousand warriors as this sole ally.
Behold on every side with eager speed,

They couch the spear and spur the foamy steed:
Melissa, when her arts had mix'd in fight
The jarring nations, vanish'd from the sight.
The champions, who in growing tumult saw,
The lists disturb'd against all martial law,

55

60

Withheld their strokes, and join'd their friendly hands,
Till time should tell what fury mix'd the bands
In impious strife, and whence the breach had sprung,
From ancient Charles or Agramant the young.
Again each vow'd to prove the future foe

Of him whose guilt could thus his faith forego.
Wild uproar now succeeds-and shouting loud,
Here forward press, there backward shrink the crowd.
One act alike is honour, or disgrace,

And stamps alike the valiant and the base.
Alike, on every side, in heaps they run,

But these to meet, and those the fight to shun.

As when a well-breath'd hound impatient views
A beast swift flying which the pack pursues:
He hears the dogs, he pants to join the train;
His lord forbids it, and he pants in vain :

65

70

75

Ver. 69. One act alike---] The sense of this passage, which at first may appear rather obscure, is, that some show their valour by running to engage the enemy, and some their cowardice by running to avoid the enemy.