With such a flight the necromancle towers,
That scarce so high th'ethereal eagle soars ! 345
But, when he sees his 'vantage best below,
With closing pinions on th’unwary foe,
He sinks precipitate---as from above
Descends the manag’d falcon on the dove.
And ere Graclasso can perceive his flight,

350 He feels the spear with dreadful strength alight: The spear

breaks short; Gradasso strikes again ; But furious strikes the yielding air in vain. The stern magician fearless on the wind Ascending, leaves the champions far behind. 355 The good Alfana, with the force oppress’d, Reclin'd on earth awhile the shock confess'd : Alfana was the mare Gradasso rein'd, The fairest beast that ever knight sustain'd.

And now the sorc'rer mounts the starry skies, 360 Then wheels around, and down again he flies; Now on Rogero falls, who seeks to bring His needful succour to th’astonish'd king. The swift assault disturbs the youthful knight, While scarce his horse supports th’unequal fight; 363 And when he turns to strike, he sees the foe Ride on the clouds and mock the frustrate blow. In ample circles round he steers his course, And threatening one, on t’ other bends his force: No pause he gives, but rushing by surprise, 370 Confounds their senses and distracts their eyes.

Ver. 356. The good Alfana,---] Alana, the name of a wild breed. ing mare. It was very unusual for the knights in romance to make use of mares, esteeming it derogatory from their dignity; but Gradasso is said to have taken an oath, never to mount a horse till he could get possession of Bayardo, Rinaldo's horse.

Thus did these three the doubtful strife maintain,
That high in air, thesa lowly on the plain;
Till rising nicht hier dusky veil display'!,
Ànd wrapt each oljert in surrounding shule. 37

Think not my words in arttid fiction derni,
Whatc'er I speak was to my view contest :
Yet, with reluctance now, my tongue derlares
A tale that such a face of falschool wears.

On his left arın the foc was seen to wield, 334)
Clos'd in a silken case, a mighty sueld;
Whose polish'd orb, whene'er reveald io sigbí,
The gazer strikes with such a powerful light;
In death-like slumber on the ground he lies,
And to the foe becomes an easy prize!

385 Bright as Pyropus shines the buckler's blaze; No mortal e'er beheld such dazzling rays; Full in their eyes the flasbing splendor play'd, And prone on carth each knight was senseless laid. Like theirs, a sudden sleep my senses bound; 300 But when, at length, recovering from the ground

Ver. 336. Bright as Pyropus---] Prince arthu's shield in Spenser is something of this kind, which is always kept corered with a reil

Ilis warlike shield all closely corexil Wän,
Ne night of mortal eye he ei ex scell,

The same to wight he never wont disclose',
But when as monsters huge he wouli lisinay,
On daunt mequal armies of his foes;
Or when the tiying heav'nıs he would allray :
Forso exceerling shone his glistring ray,
That Phoebus golden face it did attaint,
As when a cloud his beams doih over-lay, &c.

luiry Queen, B. i. C. vii,

I

rose, and sought the knights and dwarf again; Dark was the mount and desolate the plain! Th’unpitying foe had seiz'd the hapless pair, And borne them to his castle through the air. Thus by the light, that o'er their eyes he spread, Their liberty is gone, my hopes are fled!

395

Prince Arthur being engaged with the Soldan, discovers his shield, {n order to dazzle the eyes of the Soldan's horses.

At last from his victorious shield he drew
The veil, which did his powerful light empeach,

And coming full before his horses' view,
As they upon him press’d, it plain to them did shew.

Like lightning flash that hath the gazer burn'd,
So did the sight thereof their sense dismay,
That back again upon themselves they turn'd,
And with their rider ran perforce away, &c.

B. v. C. vili.

Perhaps, as Mr. Upton observes, the original may be found in the Egis of the Greeks.

Phæbus himself the rushing battle led;
A veil of clouds involv'd his radiant head :
High held before him, Jove's enormous shield
Portentous shone, and shaded all the field.
Vulcan to Jove th’immortal gift consign'd,

To scatter hosts, and terrify mankind.
Again......

As long as Phobus bore unmov'd the shield,
Sate doubtful conquest hov’ring o'er the field ;
But when aloft he shakes it in the skies,
Shouts in their ears, and lightens in their eyes,
Deep horror seizes ev'ry Grecian breast, &c.

Pope's Iliad, B. iv. ver. 348...360.

Ver. 395. And borne them to his castle---] The idea of this castle seems to be taken from the Orlando Innamorato, where we meet with a garden, made by Atlantes, on the summit of a rock, on mount Carena, in Africa, surrounded with a wall of glass, in which he kept Rogero, to preserve him from the evil influence of his stars.

Then from the place despairing I withdrew,
But ere I parted took a last adieu :
Now judge, what woes with mine can equal prove 400
Of all the various woes that spring from love.

Thus said the knight, and thus his fortune mourn'd,
Then pensive to his silent griet' return'd:
This was that earl, whole birth Maganza claim'd,
Anselmo's son, and Pinabello nam’d;

403
Who, like his race for wicked actions known,
Increas'd his kindred vices by his own.

The warlike virgin with attention stood,
While Pinabello his complaint pursu’d:
When first Rogero's much-lov'd name she heard, 410
A sudden gladness in her looks appear’dl;
But when she found a base magician's pow'r
Detain'd him thus ignobly in a tower,
Her pitying bosom glow'di with anxious pain,
And oft she begg'd to hear the tale again.

415
Then full inform’d: Sir knight (she cry'd) give o'er
This unavailing grief, and mourn no more.
Since from our meeting here, perchance may flow
Your happiness, and ruin to your foe.
Haste; to the castle be our course addrest,

420 Whose walls are with so rich a treasure blest:

Ver. 398. Then from the place---} The allegory of the shield and castle is thus explained by the Italian commentators. The shield shews, how the eyes of the understanding are bimced by the desire of concupiscence; or represents the violence and frauds, which worldly passions employ over reason and true virtue: the castle represents the carnal appetite, that holds men prisoners, as some say, that by Atlantes is figured love.

Nor shall we find in vain our labour spent,
If favouring fortune answer ny intent.

And shall I, then, your luckless fect to guide,
Again those mountains pass? (the yonth reply'd)
For me, indeed, but little were the smart
To toil my body, having lost my heart.
Yet why should you steep rocks and barren plains
Thus rashly tread, to purchase slavish chains ?
Hence, waru'd in time, if evil chance ensues,
Not me unjustly, but yourself accuse.

Thus having said, he mounts without delay
To lead the noble damsel on the way;
Who for Rogero means the fight to prove,
And hazard life or freedom for her love.
When lo! a messenger that swiftly rode,
Pursu'd them close behind, and call'd aloud:
The same, who told king Sacripant the force
Of Bradamant had hurld him from his horse,
Who from Montpellier and Narbona came,
With sudden tidings to the martial dame,
That all the land was kindled with alarms,
And all the coast of Acquamort in arms:
That, losing her, their safety and their guard,
Marseilles was for the foes but ill prepar’d;
And, by this nicssage, with their fears dismay’d,
Implor'd her counsel and immediate aid.

Struck with the virtues of her dauntless mind,
The king to Amon's daughter had assign'd
This town, and many miles extent, that lay
'Twixt Vare and Rodon stretching to the sea.

These tidings heard, a doleful pause ensu’d,
And undetermin'd for a while she stood :

410

415

150