Coop'd in a narrow space the Duke he found, 105
Unlike thofe proud pavilions where of late
He fat fublime, with victor laurels crown'd,
And thence to captive chiefs difpens'd their fate.
XXVIII.
"Prince," faid the youth, "Lord Hubert now de-
"That you furrender up to his dispose [mands
"Yourself and these, and wait what new coniniande
"He fhall from high Verona's tow'rs impofe: 111
XXIX.
"For to the city next he bends his way,
"Whither his Brefcians are already gone,
"And there profumes, before the rising day,
"To be declar'd the king's adopted fon.
For you, your life is fafe; and these your train,
"If they fubmit, fhall gracious treatment find:
"Our force is fuch as makes refistance vain,
"And your's, like chaff, must scatter in the wind. 120
XXXI.
" "Tis well," faid Gondibert, "yourfpeech you frame
"In artful guife; but for the terms you bear,
"Go tell Lord Hubert that my valu'd fame'
"Makes me reject them, and prefer the war.
XXXII.
"Succefslefs Prince! when from his eagle-flight 125
"His ill-ftarr'd brother fell, who foar'd in vain,
"Thinks he to match his more unequal might, "And win those honours Oswald could not gain? XXXIII.
"Bid him revolve that chief's untimely fate, "And his own foil, twice conquer'd in the field, 130 "The train of evils which on war await,
"And bitter fruits that wild ambition yield.
"That we are few, it is our pride and boast,
"Tho' more than these perhaps shall meet his arms; "A worthy conqueft for as great an host,
"All train'd to war, and bred amidst alarms.
"And know, whate'er betide, whoever here "Should us affault, whoever wish'd aid deny, "We scorn to yield thro' base unmanly fear : "Too few to conquer, we're enough to die." XXXVI.
Thus anfwer'd, Sibert from the spot withdrew, (His terms rejected) and a sign display'd,
On which the hoftile fquadrons came in view,
And march'd, far-ftretching from the fylvan fhade.
XXXVII.
But as their troops advanc'd in loose array,
Deeming the rural mansion to invest,
Lo! from the point where glows the fetting day,
Young Orgo speedily his pace address'd;
And close behind, in well-rang'd files were feen,
Rhodolpho's train, a small but faithful band,
With measur'd steps swift gliding o'er the green,
To aid their gen'ral, and his foes withstand.
XXXIX.
No longer Gondibert nor he remain
Within the limits of their narrow bound,
But pafs the wood, swift iffuing on the plain,
And leave behind, with fcorn, the rural mound.
Clofe follows Hurgonil with steady pace,
Who gladly mixes with thofe leaders brave,
That young Rhodolpho's warlike legions grace,
And on their shoulders wore the scarfs he gave. 169
XLI.
Among thofe chiefs stood Adelmar the fage,
Cherbert and Rollo, not unknown to fame,
With many a knight, the flow'r of all that age,
The pride and glory of the Lombard name.
On thefe Prince Hubert pour'd his warriours down,
Out-numb'ring by the half their scanty band, 166
But the ftout few, whom dear-bought laurels crown'd,
Abide their fury, and the shock withstand:
Till raging Borgio, barb'rous, fierce, and bold,
Gualthierus, and gigantick Melador,
Thro' op'ning lines their course resistless hold,
And mark the road they pass with streams of gøre.
XLIV.
First fell two youths, with honeft wounds o'erfpread,
Whom late from Gaul the great Rhodolpho brought,
But now the Tuscan land receives them dead,
175
And gives that honour which in life they fought.
Cherbert the next a dang'rous wound receiv'd,
Full on his breast, and there had sunk to-night,
But that Rhodolpho's timely aid reliev'd,
Whoftraightrufh'd dreadful to the scene of fight. 180
XLVI.
And near him Gondibert with Orgo ftood,
Who yet in war ne'er flesh'd his maiden sword,
This hour he dy'd it deep in warriour's blood,
And then fell bravely fighting by his lord :
For now as Melador's and Borgio's force
Were join'd, at Gondibert to strike amain,
The youth oppos'd his breast to Borgio's force,
While by his lord bold Melador was flain.
The giant funk untimely to his grave,
Like fome tall pine, ftruck by celestial fires,
While Borgio curs'd the erring blow he gave,
As from the Duke he fullenly retires.
And but Gualthierus' ready aid was near,
His father's offspring by a foreign bed,
Here he had run his last of life's career,
And fwell'd the growing number of the dead.
L.
But now fo variously the combat bleeds,
That Fame,tho'allhertonguesfhouldgivethem breath,
Could not exprefs the bold and warlike deeds
Of warrieurs ranging thro' this field of death. 2co
LI.
At length, while yet the fun's revolving ray
Wheel'd round the ocean's brim with trembling light,
The battle fwerv'd with the declining day,
Who Gondibert fucceeded in the fight.
And perfect victor had the Duke remain'd,
But that Prince Hubert privately retir'd,
And long before the camp at Brescia gain'd,
Whence he return'd with double fury fir'd.
LIII.
By fecret ways his chofen band he draws,
Till in a fnare their enemies they thrall,
Who feel th' effect, difcerning not the caufe,
And die, unknowing by what hands they fall.
LIV.
But foon Rhodolpho and the Duke could tell
The fatal guile, and found their ftruggle vain,
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