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Methinks I see him with a scanty train,
Departing sad, return with joy again;
While fifteen gallies captive to the shore
Ile brings, besides a thousand vessels more.
Behold two Sigismundos next appear;

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See the five sons of great Alphonso near;

Who shall their glories through the world display,

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To fill the distant lands and spacious sea.

View Hercules the second, first advance,

Who weds the daughter of the king of France.

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The names of all that in thy race excel,

Before my tale were done, the rising light

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Must often chase the fleeting shades of night.
And now (if so you deem) 'tis time to cease,
And give the sprites dismission hence in peace.
Here, when she found the damsel thus dispos'd,
Her magic book the learn'd enchantress clos'd.
At once the phantoms vanish'd from the view,
And, where the prophet's corse was laid, withdrew.

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Ver. 406.-fifteen gallies--] The Venetians going up the Po with a fleet against Alphonso, cardinal Hippolito went out of the city with some horse and foot, and coming to Volona, a castle near the Po, planted the artillery there to such advantage, that finding the enemy's gallies unprovided, most of the crews being on shore, he sunk four of them and took fifteen; but Angelo Travisano, the ad miral, escaped with one.

Ver. 412. View Hercules the second,--] Hercules II. the fourth duke of Ferrara.

When Bradamant at length the silence broke,
And thus the sage prophetic dame bespoke:

What mournful pair was that, who plac'd between
Alphonso and Hippolito were seen?

Sighing they came, their eyes to earth declin'd,

And gloomy sadness seem'd to fill their mind;

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Far from their brethren's way their steps they press'd, As if they shunn'd to mingle with the rest.

At this demand, the prophetess appears

With visage chang'd, her eyes are fill'd with tears.
Unhappy youths! what misery (she cry'd)

For you
the wiles of treacherous men provide.
O race renown'd! O great Herculean seed;

Ah! let your goodness for their errors plead :
From you their veins the richest currents prove;
Let justice here give way to brother's love!
She then proceeded in a softer tone :

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Seek not to ask, what must not now be shown:

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Ver. 430. What mournful pair-] Ferrante of Estè, natural brother to Alphonso and Hippolito, either through views of ambition, or because Alphonso refused to procure him satisfaction for an injury which he had received from Hippolito, had conspired with Julio, his natural brother, to assassinate the duke; but the plot being discovered, they were condemned to perpetual imprisonment. Porcacchi.

Ver. 439.--the wiles of treacherous men--] The poet, by this equivocal expression, seems desirous to cast a veil over the guilt of these brothers.

Ver. 445. Seck not to ask,] This passage is a close copy of Virgil, where Eneas, seeing in a vision his successors pass before him, in the same manner as is here related of Bradamant, asks the same question, and receives for answer,

...... Luctus ne quere tuorum.

En. vi.

Seek not the sorrows of thy race to know.

Concerning the misfortunes of the youths here alluded to, Sir John Harington tells the following story:

Ah! gentle maid! suffice the good you know;

Nor wish for that, which found may cause your woe. Soon as to-morrow's dawning light we view,

The readiest path together we'll pursue,

To where Rogero is in durance laid :

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Myself will guide you through the forest-shade;
And, when we reach the margin of the flood,

'Will teach you every winding of the road.

All night the virgin in the cave remain'd,
With sage discourse by Merlin entertain'd,
Who often warn'd th' attentive maid to prove
Propitious to her dear Rogero's love.
Soon as the skies began to glow with light,
She left the subterranean caves of night;
But first with sage Melissa, took her way
Through gloomy paths impervious to the day;
At length, ascending, reach'd a desert place
With savage hills, untrod hy human race.
The live-long day, unresting, they pursu'd

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Their course, and many a rock and torrent view'd, 465 Still, as they went, endeavouring to allay

With sweet discourse the labours of the way.

"It happened that Hippolito and one of these brothers fell in love with a courtesan, who shewing less affection to Hippolito, was one day very earnestly importuned by him to know what moved her to prefer his brother before him; she answered, it was his beautiful eyes; upon which, Hippolito ordered them to be thrust out; but the youth found means to preserve his sight, and meeting no redress, by making his complaint to the duke, he, and the other brother here' mentioned, conspired to kill him; but at the time of the execution, their hearts failed them, and the plot being discovered, they were kept in perpetual imprisonment." Notes to Sir John Harington's Translation, B. iii.

But chief the prophetess instructs the maid
How she may best th' imprison'd champion aid.
Though you were Mars, or Pallas' self (she cry'd)
And drew as many warriors on your side,
As Afric's prince, or mighty Charlemain,

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You would oppose th' enchanter's power in vain.
Not only does he rear (amazing sight!)

His tower of steel on such a steepy height:

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Not only does he rule a winged horse,

That strangely through the air directs his course;
But on his arm he bears a blazing shield,

That casts the gazer senseless on the field;

And should you keep your eye-lids clos'd, to shun
The hidden force of this terrestrial sun,
How then the battle's progress could you know,
When your foe flies, or when he aims a blow?
But to withstand his arts on me rely,

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Nor can the world an aid like this supply.
King Agramant a ring of great import,
Has given to one Brunello of his court,
Who now before us on the way is seen:

This ring (late taken from an Indian queen)
Is such, that he who wears it on his hand,
May every fraud of magic power withstand.
No less Brunello knows of servile guiles,

Than he, who keeps your knight, of magic wiles.

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Ver. 486. King Agramant a ring--] This seems to be a new at'tempt of Brunello to free Rogero a second time from the hands of Atlantes. It has been before related, from Boyardo, how he was taken from the enchanted garden on Mount Carena in Africa. See Note on B. ii. Ver. 395.

Ver. 489.-an Indian queen.] Angelica daughter of Galaphron.

This man, so skill'd and crafty in deceit,
His monarch sends to work a hardy feat,
That, by his cunning and enchanted ring,
He from the castle might Rogero bring,
Whom much the king esteems: but shall he owe
His freedom to a Pagan, and our foe?

Three days your course along the shore pursue;
(The shore will soon appear before our view)
The third your steps will to the dwelling bring,
Where you shall meet the man that wears the ring.
His stature (keep the picture in your mind)
Is not six spans, his head to earth declin'd,
Dark is his tawny skin, and black his hairs;
On his pale face a bushy beard he wears:
His eyes are swoln; his squinting looks aside;
His eye-brows staring, and his nostrils wide:
His dress, which gives you all the man complete,
Is short and strait, and for a courier meet.
With him you doubtless must awhile discourse
On the strange castle, and th' enchanter's force.
Then speak your wish to dare th' adventurous deed,
And make in fight the necromancer bleed;

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But let him no suspicion entertain

You know the ring that makes enchantments vain.
Soon will he proffer on your way to ride,

And to the rocky mountain be your guide.

Then follow him, and mark my words aright,

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Soon as the rock appears before your sight,
Your fix'd resolves let no compassion shake,
But seize the wretch, his forfeit life to take:
For should his lips receive the ring, he flies
Involv'd in mist from your astonish'd eyes.

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