One at a lover's breast his weapon

aims;

With fraudful art his nets another frames :
Here in the stream they temper shafts, and there
On circling stone their blunted points repair..

A stately courser soon was given the knight,

545

Of colour bay, and gallant in the fight;

His costly trappings, glorious to behold,

Were all with jewels deck'd, and shone with gold!
The old magician's steed, of winged kind,

A youth receiv'd, and slowly led behind.

The damsels now,
whose aid dispers'd the band
That durst Rogero's purpos'd course withstand,
Thus, to the knight their gentle speech address'd:
My lord! your valiant deeds, this day confess'd,
Have given us courage from your hand to claim
A task that well befits your matchless fame:
Soon shall we come, where in our way there glides
A flood, that in two parts the plain divides.
A cruel wretch, we Eriphila name,

Defends the bridge, and passage of the stream:
On all that tempt the pass she furious flies;
Dreadful she seems, a giantess in size!
Poisonous her bite, long tushes arm her jaws;
And like a bear's, her nails and shaggy paws:
Nor here alone her threatening rage she bends,
And 'gainst each passenger the bridge defends;
But oft has round the garden-shades defac'd
With giant step, and laid their beauty waste.

550

555.

560€

565

Ver. 559.--Eriphila-] Eriphila is explained to mean avarice: she is said to guard the bridge that leads to Alcina, to paint the avarice of women that will not satisfy the amorous desires of men without liberal rewards.

Know, that the monstrous crew, whose fury late

Oppos'd your course without the golden gate,

579

Her offspring are; like her for prey they lust,
And like their dam are cruel and unjust.
Rogero then: Not one alone demand,
But ask a hundred battles at my hand.
Whate'er defence my prowess can afford,

575

Is yours--command my person and my sword:

'Tis hence, these shining arms my limbs enfold, Not lands to conquer, or to purchase gold,

But to display, to all, my guardian care,

Much more to dames so courteous, and so fair!

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The dames return'd him thanks with grateful heart,

In words that equall'd well his great desert.

In converse thus they pass'd, till near they drew,
Where both the bridge and stream appear'd in view.
There they the guardian of the pass behold
With jewels blazing rich on arms of gold.

But, 'till another book, I cease to tell, What with the giantess the knight befel.

END OF THE SIXTH BOOK.

585

THE

SEVENTH BOOK

OF

ORLANDO FURIOSO

THE ARGUMENT.

ROGERO encounters Eriphila, and, conducted by the two damsels, arrives at the palace of Alcina, who receives him with great joy: he is seduced by her allurements, and leads a life of luxury and effeminacy. Bradamant, hearing no tidings of him, since he was carried away by the griffin-horse, is in great affliction for his ab'sence; she is met by Melissa, who undertakes to deliver him. Melissa assumes the form of Atlantes, and accosts the young warrior, reproaching him with his degeneracy.