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With such a flight the necromancle towers,
That scarce so high th' ethereal eagle soars!
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 Gradasso can perceive his flight,

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.
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,
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,

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350

355

360

While scarce his horse supports th' unequal fight; 365
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,
Confounds their senses and distracts their eyes.

370

Ver. 356. The good Alfana,---] Alfana, the name of a wild breeding 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, these lowly on the plain;
Till rising night her dusky veil display'd,
And wrapt each object in surrounding shade.
Think not my words in artful fiction drest,
Whate'er I speak was to my view confest:
Yet, with reluctance now, my tongue declares
A tale that such a face of falsehood wears.

On his left arm the foe was seen to wield,
Clos'd in a silken case, a mighty shield;
Whose polish'd orb, whene'er reveal'd to sight,
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!
Bright as Pyropus shines the buckler's blaze;
No mortal e'er beheld such dazzling rays;
Full in their eyes the flashing splendor play'd,
And prone on earth each knight was senseless laid.
Like theirs, a sudden sleep my senses bound;
But when, at length, recovering from the ground.

375

330

385

390

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

His warlike shield all closely cover'd was,

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The same to wight he never wont disclose,
But when as monsters huge he would distnay,

Or daunt unequal armies of his foes;
Or when the flying heav'ns he would affray :
For so exceeding shone his glist'ring ray,
That Phoebus' golden face it did attaint,

As when a cloud his beams doth over-lay, &c.

Fairy 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, in 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 light'ning 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.

Phœbus 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 Phabus 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.

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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 grief return'd:

This was that earl, whole birth Maganza claim'd,
Anselmo's son, and Pinabello nam'd;

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,
A sudden gladness in her looks appear'd;
But when she found a base magician's pow'r
Detain'd him thus ignobly in a tower,

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Her pitying bosom glow'd 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,

Whose walls are with so rich a treasure blest:

420

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 blinded 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 my intent.

And shall I, then, your luckless feet to guide,
Again those mountains pass? (the youth 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, warn'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 hurl'd 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 message, with their fears dismay'd,
Implor'd her counsel and immediate aid.

425

430

435

440

445

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:

450

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