That he who clears her honour from the stain,
The royal maid, with princely gifts, shall gain.
As yet no champions in her cause appear,
Each views his fellow's face with marks of fear:
In arms so dreadful is Lurcanio's might,'
That all, with terror, seem to shun the fight.
Her cruel fortune adds this sorrow more,
Her absent brother treads a foreign shore,
The brave Zerbino, who in field displays
Such deeds as merit ever-during praise:
But could he hear in time her dangerous state,
How would he fly t' avert his sister's fate!
The monarch, who would all his thoughts employ
By other means, than arms, the truth to try,
Secur'd some damsels of Geneura's train
In hopes the fatal secret to explain !
And hence I dreaded, if myself were caught,
The duke and I in danger might be brought.
That night, in fear, the palace I forsook,
And, privately withdrawing, sought the duke:
Declar'd how much to both it might import
That I without delay should quit the court.
He prais'd my prudence; promis'd to provide
A safe asylum where I might reside;
Appointing two, to guide me through the wood,
Where near, he said, his lonely fortress stood.
Reflect, sir knight, if acts like mine should prove
To Polinesso marks of faithful love;
Then say, that maids must ever hope in vain
For tender love to be beloved again.
This cruel, perjur'd, and ungrateful man,
At length to doubt my constant faith began;
And fearing lest I should at length reveal
The treacherous act he labour'd to conceal;
He feign'd I should awhile from court retire,
Apart to shun the king's impending ire;
And sent me thence to this remote retreat,
Here, not my safety, but my death to meet.
For secretly he gave my guides command,
Soon as their steps had reach'd this forest-land,
To take my life-lo! how my faith was paid!
Too well his dire command had been obey'd,
Had not my cries so timely reach'd your ears:
Behold how Love his votaries prefers!
Thus to the Paladin Dalinda told
Her mournful tale, while still their way they hold; 505
And if before he meant t' assist the dame,
When just suspicion seem'd to tax her fame;
More earnest now his bosom's zeal appear'd,
When thus the cruel calumny he heard.
Then tow'rds St. Andrew's town with eager haste
Rinaldo with the squire and damsel pass'd;
The king and court were there; and there the strife
Must soon decide his daughter's death or life.
Ver. 504. Thus to the Paladin---] See Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, where the circumstances of the plot, so far as relate to Claudio and Hero, are very similar to this story of Ariodantes and Geneura: but one of our last new tragedies, called the Law of Lombardy, is more immediately built on the incidents of Ariosto's fable. This story of Geneura was imitated by Melain de Gelais, a French poet, about 1572. Another tale was written on the same subject, entitled, Conte de l'Infante Geneure fille du roy d'Ecosse, 1556.
As nearer to the neighbouring towns they drew,
They found a squire who gave them tidings new; 515
That a strange champion there in armour came,
Who undertook to clear Geneura's fame;
Unknown his cuirass, and unknown his shield,
His name and lineage from his squire conceal'd ;
For since he first appear'd, he ne'er expos'd
His face to view, but wore his beaver clos'd.
This heard, Rinaldo swift his way parsu'd,
And soon the city and the gates he view'd.
There seem'd Dalinda sore oppress'd with fear,
Till brave Rinaldo's words her spirits cheer:
Observing how the gates were closely barr'd,
He ask'd the cause, and thus reply'd the guard:
That thence the crowd were fled to view the fight
Between Lurcanio and a stranger-knight,
Which, distant, on a spacious plain they wag'd,
And that the combatants were then engag'd.
None here Rinaldo's eager course oppos'd,
The porter open'd, and the gate re-clos'd;
Through the void city pass'd the gallant knight;
But, by the way, he made the dame alight;
And bade her wait the issue of the fight.
Impatient thence he hastens to the field,
Where the two knights their wrathful weapons wield;
Who many blows had given on either part:
There fought Lurcanio with revengeful heart
Against Geneura; while on t'other hand`
The stranger's courage well her cause maintain'd.
With these, six warriors in the lists appear
On foot; the cuirass on their breast they wear.
The duke of Albany there takes his place,
Upon a gallant steed of generous race :
To him, as to high constable, they yield
To keep the order of the listed field.
Fierce were his looks, exulting in his thought,
To see Gencura in such danger brought.
Through the thick press Rinaldo forc'd his way;
No multitudes Bayardo's course could stay:
Those, who the tempest of his coming found,
Appear'd not slow to give the courser ground.
Rinaldo, eminent above the rest,
Appear'd the flower of chivalry confest:
Till, near the king arriv'd, his course he stay'd;
All listening round to hear the words he said.
My noble lord, (the champion thus began)
The hands of yonder combatants restrain.
Whoe'er shall perish in the doubtful strife,
Must undeserv'd resign a noble life.
One thinks himself by justice only led,
But treason o'er his head a mist has spread:
That fatal error which his brother slew,
Himself to brave the dangerous combat drew:
The other knows not yet if wrong or right
Attend his cause, but issues to the fight,
The courteous prowess of his arms to try,
Rather than let such matchless beauty die.
Lo! here I come to give the guiltless aid,
Avenging on the traitor, the betray'd:
But first, bid each awhile his rage forbear,
Then audience give to what I shall declare.
The king was mov'd with what Rinaldo said,
Both by his words and noble presence sway'd;
Then, stretching out his hand, commands the peace,
And bids awhile the combatants to cease.
When to the king, and barons of the land,
The knights, and populace on either hand,
Rinaldo all the subtle snare display'd
By Polinesso for Geneura laid.
The tale explain'd, he offer'd with his sword
Ev'n there to prove the truth of every word.
Now Polinesso, summon'd to the place,
Appear'd with deep confusion in his face;
But yet with boldness, he the fact deny'd:
Soon shall we (said Rinaldo) this decide.
Thus, ready arm'd, the list prepar'd in view,
They both, without delay, to combat drew.
What transport to the king, and all the land,
To hear Geneura's innocence maintain'd!
Each hop'd, that God would openly proclaim
How falsehood had defac'd her spotless name.
The duke was known for every treacherous art,
Unjust, and cruel, fraudulent of heart,
That none could wonder such a villain's mind,
A snare so horrid and so black design'd!
Now Polinesso stands with fear confest,
With bloodless visage, and with panting breast.
Thrice sounds the trump, and at the warning blast,
His lance in rest the trembling traitor plac'd.
On t' other hand Rinaldo came, and try'd
At one fierce course the conflict to decide.
Nor err'd the weapon from the knight's intent,
But through the traitor's panting bosom went:
Pierc'd through and through, he, by the dreadful force,
Was borne to earth six feet beyond his horse.
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