The sordid miser, brooding on his store,
Thus hides (he cries) in caves his shining ore;
Whence nothing good he to himself derives,
And others of his useful wealth deprives :
Snakes, lions, bears are cag'd in fear of harms,

Not guiltless maids who breathe but love and charms.
The man of God, who such vain converse fears,
Like skilful pilot that the vessel steers,

Attends his charge, lest lightly drawn astray,
Her feet should wander from the rightful way:
And now the hoary sire with grace indu'd,
Prepares a splendid feast of holy food.
But the fierce Pagan, born with evil taste,
Rejects the dainties of the rich repast.

730

At length, when oft he chid, oft strove in vain

735

The preacher's hateful counsel to restrain,

His patience wasted, with vindictive ire

He rais'd his arm against that aged sire:
Yet lest our story should too long appear,

We, for your ease, will close the labours here,
And let this hapless monk th' example teach,
To curb the licence of ungovern'd speech.

740

END OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH BOOK.

THE

TWENTY-NINTH BOOK

OF

ORLANDO FURIOSO.

THE ARGUMENT.

RODOMONT falls in love with Isabella, and endeavours to persuade her to break her vow: His behaviour to the hermit who opposes him. The fortitude of Isabella, and her device to preserve her chastity. Conflict between Rodomont and Orlando, Further account of the mad actions of Orlando. Medoro and Angelica, in their way to embark for India, meet with Orlando, when Angelica, with great difficulty, escapes from the madman's hands.

1

THE

TWENTY-NINTH BOOK

OF

ORLANDO FURIOSO.

BEHOLD the state of man's unstable mind,
Still prone to change with every changing wind!
All our resolves are weak, but weakest prove
Where sprung from sense of disappointed love.
When late the Saracen to wrath inflam'd,
On womankind with bitterest gall exclaim'd,
It seen'd as if no power could e'er control,
Far less expunge such hatred from his soul.

So much, fair dames, his words your bard provoke,
Which ill advis'd against your sex he spoke,

That never will I leave him, till his breast

Again has beauty's sovereign sway confess'd:

Still shall my verse condemn his slanderous speech,
That foully durst your spotless name impeach.

10

The shafts of rage he from his quiver drew,
And these, at all, without distinction threw :

15

But Isabella, with a single look,

At once his firmest resolution shook;

1

And now to her he chang'd his former flame,
Though yet to him unknown her country, race, or name.
Thus, as new passion fir'd his amorous thought,
With every eloquence of words, he sought

To shake the purpose of her steadfast will,
That would to God her virgin vow fulfil.
The hermit, as a fencing shield, to arm
Her chaste intent against all worldly harm;

21

25

By pious reasons, strong and duly weigh'd,

With all his power stood forth to guard the maid.

Not long the impious Pagan could endure

The holy sire, who preach'd in zeal secure:

30

He bade him, in good time, his cell regain,

And leave the damsel; but he bade in vain:

Till rouz'd at length, no longer he forbore,

But seiz'd his beard, whence by the roots he tore

The silver hairs; and, with dire rage impell'd,

$5

With savage grasp his aged neck he held;

And, whirling round, some three miles thence he threw; Swift tow'rds the sea the wretched hermit flew!

What then befel him, little I relate,

For various tales are rumour'd of his fate :

Some say against a rock his limbs were thrown,
And piecemeal dash'd upon the craggy stone:
Some say, that midst the sea his death he found,
And, as he knew not how to swim, was drown'd

40

Ver. 37. And, whirling round-] No partiality for the poet can apologize for the extravagance of such passages as these: wherever they occur, the translator freely gives them up to the critic, as lawful game, and means this for a general declaration of his opinion on the subject.