Orlando Furioso Part 73

CV King Mandricardo's courser, who abhorred The whistling of the steel which round him flew, Saved, with sore mischief to himself, his lord; In that he backed the faulchion to eschew: Aimed at his master, not at him, the sword Smote him across the head, and cleft it through.

No Trojan helm defends the wretched horse, Like Mandricardo, and he dies parforce.

CVI He falls, and Mandricardo on the plain No more astound, slides down upon his feet, And whirls his sword; to see his courser slain He storms all over fired with angry heat.

At him the Sarzan monarch drives amain; Who stands as firm as rock which billows beat.

And so it happened, that the courser good Fell in the charge, while fast the footman stood.

CVII The African, who feels his horse give way, The stirrups quits, and lightly from the sell Is freed, and springs on earth: for the a.s.say Hence matched anew, stands either infidel.

Worse than before the battle boils, while they With pride and anger, and with hatred swell, About to close; but that, with flowing rein, A messenger arrives to part the twain.

CVIII A messenger arrives, that from the Moor, With many others, news through France conveyed; Who word to simple knight and captain bore, To join the troops, beneath their flags arrayed.

For he, the emperor, who the lilies wore, Siege to their quarters had already laid; And, save quick succour thither was addrest, He read, their army's scathe was manifest.

CIX The Moorish messenger not only knows, By ensigns and by vest, the warlike pair, But by the circling blades, and furious blows, With which no other hands could wound the air; Hence dared not 'twixt champions interpose, Nor deemed his orders an a.s.surance were From such impetuous fury, nor the saw, Which says emba.s.sadors are safe by law:

CX But to fair Doralice approached, and said Marsilius, Agramant, and Stordilane, Within weak works, with scanty troops to aid, Were close beleaguered by the Christian train.

And, having told his tale, the damsel prayed, That this she to the warriors would explain; And would accord the pair, and to their post Dispatch, for rescue of the Moorish host.

CXI The lady, with bold heart, 'twixt either foe Threw herself, and exclaimed: "I you command, By the large love you hear me, as I know, That you to better use reserve the brand; And that you instantly in succour go Of our host, menaced by the Christian band; Which now, besieged within its camp, attends Ruin or speedy succour from its friends.

CXII The messenger rehea.r.s.ed, when she had done, Fully the peril of the paynim train; And said that he bore letters to the son Of Ulien, from the son of King Troyane.

The message ended, every grudge foregone, 'Twas finally resolved between the twain, They should conclude a truce, and till the day The Moorish siege was raised, their strife delay.

CXIII Intending, when from siege their Chivalry Shall be relieved -- the one and the other knight -- No longer to remain in company, But bandy cruel war was with fell despite, Until determined by their arms shall be To whom the royal dame belongs of right.

And she, between whose hands their solemn troth They plighted, was security for both.

CXIV DISCORD, at hearing this, impatient grew; With any truce or treaty ill content: And that such fair agreement should ensue, PRIDE, who was present, could as ill consent: But LOVE was there, more puissant than the two, Equalled of none in lofty hardiment; And launching from his bow his shafts of proof, With these, made PRIDE and DISCORD stand aloof.

CXV To keep the truce the rival warriors swore; Since so it pleased her well, who either swayed.

One of their coursers lacked: for on the moor Lifeless King Mandricardo's had been laid: Hence, thither, in good time, came Brigliador, Who, feeding, by the river's margin strayed.

But here I find me at my canto's end; So, with your licence, shall the tale suspend.

CANTO 25

ARGUMENT Rogero Richardetto from the pains Of fire preserves, doomed by Marsilius dead: He to Rogero afterwards explains Fully the cause while he to death was led.

Them mournful Aldigier next entertains, And with them the ensuing morning sped, Vivian and Malagigi to set free; To Bertolagi sold for hire and fee.

I Oh! mighty springs of war in youthful breast, Impetuous force of love, and thirst of praise!

Nor yet which most avails is known aright: For each by turns its opposite outweighs.

Within the bosom here of either knight, Honour, be sure, and duty strongly sways: For the amorous strife between them is delayed, Till to the Moorish camp they furnish aid.

II Yet love sways more; for, save that the command Was laid upon them by their lady gay, Neither would in that battle sheathe the brand, Till he was crowned with the victorious bay; And Agramant might vainly with his band, For either knight's expected succour, stay.

Then Love is not of evil nature still; -- He can at times do good, if often ill.

III 'Twas now, suspending all their hostile rage, One and the other paynim cavalier, The Moorish host from siege to disengage, For Paris, with the gentle lady, steer; And with them goes as well that dwarfish page, Who tracked the footsteps of the Tartar peer, Till he had brought the warrior front to front, In presence with the jealous Rodomont.

IV They at a mead arrived, where, in disport, Knights were reposing by a stream, one pair Disarmed, another casqued in martial sort; And with them was a dame of visage fair.

Of these in other place I shall report, Not now; for first Rogero is my care, That good Rogero, who, as I have shown, Into a well the magic s.h.i.+eld had thrown.

V He from that well a mile is hardly gone Ere he a courier sees arrive at speed, Of those dispatched by King Troyano's son To knights whom he awaited in his need; From him Rogero hears that so foredone By Charles are those who hold the paynim creed, They will, save quickly succoured in the strife, As quickly forfeit liberty and life.

VI Rogero stood awhile in pensive case, Whom many warring thoughts at once opprest; But neither fitted was the time nor place To make his choice, or judge what promised best.

The courier he dismist, and turned his face Whither he with the damsel was addrest; Whom aye the Child so hurried on her way, He left her not a moment for delay.

VII Pursuing thence their ancient road again, They reached a city, with the westering sun; Which, in the midst of France, from Charlemagne Marsilius had in that long warfare won: Nor them to interrupt or to detain, At drawbridge or at gate, was any one: Though in the fosse, and round the palisade, Stood many men, and piles of arms were laid.

VIII Because the troop about that fortress see Accompanying him, the well-known dame, They to Rogero leave the pa.s.sage free, Nor even question him from whence he came.

Reaching the square, of evil company He finds it full, and bright with ruddy flame; And, in the midst, is manifest to view The youth condemned, with face of pallid hue.

IX As on the stripling's face he turns his eyes, Which hangs declined and wet with frequent tear, Rogero thinks he Bradamant descries; So much the youth resembles her in cheer: More sure the more intently he espies Her face and shape: when thus the cavalier: "Or this is Bradamant, or I no more Am the Rogero which I was before.

X "She hath adventured with too daring will, In rescue of the youth condemned to die; And, for the enterprise had ended ill, Hath there been taken, as I see. Ah! why Was she so hot her purpose to fulfil, That she must hither unattended hie!

-- But I thank Heaven, that hither have I made: Since I am yet in time to lend her aid."

XI He drew his falchion without more delay, (His lance was broken at the other town), And, though the unarmed people making way, Wounding flank, paunch, and bosom, bore them down.

He whirled his weapon, and, amid the array, Smote some across the gullet, cheek, or crown.

Screaming, the dissipated rabble fled; The most with cloven limbs or broken head.

XII As while at feed, in full security, A troop of fowl along the marish wend, If suddenly a falcon from the sky Swoop mid the crowd, and one surprise and rend, The rest dispersing, leave their mate to die, And only to their own escape attend; So scattering hadst thou seen the frighted throng, When young Rogero p.r.i.c.ked that crowd among.

XIII Rogero smites the head from six or four, Who in escaping from the field are slow.

He to the breast divides as many more, And countless to the eyes and teeth below.

I grant no helmets on their heads they wore, But there were s.h.i.+ning iron caps enow; And, if fine helmets did their temples press, His sword would cut as deep, or little less.

XIV Such good Rogero's force and valour are, As never now-a-days in warrior dwell; Nor yet in rampant lion, nor in bear, Nor (whether home or foreign) beast more fell.

Haply with him the earthquake might compare, Or haply the great devil -- not he of h.e.l.l -- But he who is my lord's, who moves in fire, And parts heaven, earth, and ocean in his ire.

XV At every stroke he never less o'erthrew Than one, and oftener two, upon the plain; And four, at once, and even five he slew; So that a hundred in a thought were slain.

The sword Rogero from his girdle drew As knife cuts curd, divides their plate and chain.

Falerina in Orgagna's garden made, To deal Orlando death, that cruel blade.

XVI But to have forged that falchion sorely rued, Who saw her garden wasted by the brand.

What wreck, what ruin then must have ensued, From this when wielded by such warrior's hand?

If e'er Rogero force, e'er fury shewed, If e'er his mighty valour well was scanned, 'Twas here; 'twas here employed; 'twas here displayed; In the desire to give his lady aid.

XVII As hare from hound unslipt, that helpless train Defends itself against the cavalier.

Many lay dead upon the c.u.mbered plain, And numberless were they who fled in fear.

Meanwhile the damsel had unloosed the chain From the youth's hands, and him in martial gear Was hastening, with what speed she might, to deck, With sword in hand and s.h.i.+eld about his neck.

XVIII He, who was angered sore, as best he cou'd, Sought to avenge him of that evil crew; And gave such signal proofs of hardihood, As stamped him for a warrior good and true.

The sun already in the western flood Had dipt his gilded wheels, what time the two, Valiant Rogero and his young compeer, Victorious issued, of the city clear.

XIX When now Rogero and the stranger knight, Clear of the city-gates, the champaigne reach, The youth repays, with praises infinite, Rogero in kind mode and cunning speech, Who him, although unknown, had sought to right, At risk of life, and prays his name to teach That he may know to whom his thanks he owed For such a mighty benefit bestowed.

XX "The visage of Bradamant I see, The beauteous features and the beauteous cheer."

Rogero said; "and yet the suavity I of her well-known accents do not hear: Nor such return of thanks appears to be In place towards her faithful cavalier.

And if in very sooth it is the same, How has the maid so soon forgot my name?"