Rinaldo now dismounts; and, as he lies,

Swift from the helpless wretch his helm unties.
But he, unable more to wage the war,

For mercy then prefers his humble prayer;
And to the king and court on every side,
Confess'd the fraud for which he justly dy'd.

While yet with weak and faltering words he spoke, His utterance fail'd, and life his limbs forsook.

The king rejoic'd his much-lov'd child to see
From threatened death and ignominy free.
Not with such transport (had some hostile power
Driv'n him an exile from his native shore)
Had he his crown regain'd; and hence he gave
Distinguish'd honours to Rinaldo brave.
But when, his helmet rais'd, he knew the knight,
(A face before no stranger to his sight)
With lifted hands his thanks to Heaven he paid,
That sent so fam'd a champion to his aid.

The knight, who first t' assist Çeneura came,
(Unknown to all his country and his name)
Who, arm'd in her defence, had sought the field,
Remain'd apart; and all that pass'd beheld.
But now the king desir'd his name to know,
And begg'd him from his casque his face to show ;
That as his generous purpose claim'd regard,
He might with royal gifts such worth reward.
At length, with much entreaty, from his head
He rais'd his helmet, and to sight display'd
What in th' ensuing book we shall reveal,
If grateful to your ear appears my tale.

END OF THE FIFTH BOOK.

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625

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635

THE ARGUMENT.

THE conclusion of the story of Geneura. Rogero is carried by the flying-horse to Alcina's island, where he finds a knight turned into a myrtle, who gives him an account of his transformation, and warns him to shun the wiles of the sorceress. Rogero engages in combat with a troop of monsters, who oppose his passage from the city of Alcina; and is afterwards accosted by two ladies belonging to her palace.

THE

SIXTH BOOK

OF

ORLANDO FURIOSO.

MOST wretched man, who hopes in long disguise
To veil his evil deeds from mortal eyes!

Though all were silent else, the sounding air,
The conscious earth his trespass shall declare:
Th' Almighty oft in wisdom so provides,
The sin to punishment the sinner guides,

Who, whilst he strives t' elude each watchful sight,
Unheeding brings his lurking guilt to light.
False Polinesso deem'd his state secure,
And all his treason from discovery sure;
Dalinda thus remov'd, from whom alone

He deem'd th' important secret could be known:
With crimes increasing, to the future blind,
He hasten'd on that fate he shunn'd to find;
At once resigning wealth, the valu'd claim
Of friends, of life, and honour's nobler name!

Now each, impatient, urg'd the stranger-knight. To show his face so long conceal'd from sight;

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