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THE ARGUMENT,

CONTINUATION of the mad feats of Orlando. The poet takes leave of Angelica. Dissentions in the camp of Agramant renewed. Rogero and Mandricardo first named by lot to decide their quarrel for the shield of Hector. Description and issue of their combat. Bradamant laments the absence of her lover, and hears tidings of him by Hippalca. Rinaldo arrives at Mount Albano, and prepares with his brethren Guichardo, Richardo, Richardetto, and Alardo, and his kinsmen Vivian and Malagigi, to go to the assistance of Charles. Bradamant remains behind at Mount Albano.

THE

THIRTIETH BOOK

OF

ORLANDO FURIOSO.

WHEN Reason, that should still in bounds restrain
Each sudden warmth, to Passion gives the rein;
And blindfold Rage our hand or lips can move
To injure those who merit most our love;
Though we with tears our errors past bemoan,
Such tears can never for th' offence atone.
In vain, alas! I sorely now repent
Those words in which I gave my anger vent;
Since like a wretch I fare, who while distrest
With slow disease, has long his plaints supprest,
Till hopeless grown, to wild impatience driven,
He arms his tongue against dispensing Heaven:
His health restor'd, he owns his crime with grief,
But words once spoke admit of no relief.
Yet, ever-courteous dames! I hope from you
To meet that grace for which I lowly sue.
Forgive, what from a lover's frenzy came,
And to my beauteous foe transfer the blame;

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15

B

She plunges me in ills, she bids me burn
With fierce resentment, that indulg'd must turn
On my own head---Heaven only knows if love
So true as mine, deserves such fate to prove.
Not less my madness than Orlando's rage,
And such as well may pity's ear engage;
Like his, who wandering now from hill to plain,
Had travers'd o'er Marsilius' wide domain.

Day following day from place to place he flew,
While at his back the lifeless beast he drew.
At length he reach'd a stream whose ample tide
Pour'd to the sea; there on the turfy side
The carcase left, and swiftly plunging o'er,
He gain'd by stress of arms the further shore.
When near the banks a village-swain he view'd,
Who brought his horse to water at the flood,
And onward held his way, nor thought of fear
To see one naked like Orlando near.

Let me (the madman cry'd) thy courser take,

With my good mare I mean th' exchange to make :
Look if thou wilt-behold she lies at hand,
For dead I left her there on yonder strand.
I left her dead---but well I know thy care

Will bind her wounds and every hurt repair.

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Give me thy steed-and with him further pay
For such a fair exchange--dismount I pray

In courtesy to speed me on my way.

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Loud laugh'd the swain, but answering not a word
The madman left, and turn'd him to the ford.
Thou hear'st me not---(enrag'd Orlando cry'd)
Give me thy horse---and with a lengthen'd stride

Advancing swift, a staff the herdsman shook
Of knotty oak, with which the earl he struck:
At this the Paladin was rous'd to ire,

He gnash'd his teeth, his eye-balls flash'd with fire.
With hand unarm'd he dealt a crashing wound,

And stretch'd the peasant lifeless on the ground.
He mounts his steed, he scours the public ways,
And towns and villages in ruin lays:

No rest, no provender the beast he gives,
But in a few short days disabled leaves.
Nor will Orlando long on foot remain,
But soon by force another steed obtain:
Whate'er he meets his lawless prize he makes;
He kills the rider, and the courser takes.
Arriv'd at Malaga, the frantic knight

Fill'd every part with tumult and affright:
Such was the ravage of his fearful hand,
Two years suffic'd not to recruit the land.
Such numbers slain he left where'er he pass'd,
Such buildings burnt, to earth so many cast,

That half the country look'd a dreary waste.
To Zizera he thence pursu'd his way,

That near the straits of Zibelterra lay.

There loosen'd from the strand a bark he view'd,
In which a troop for solace on the flood,

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Ver. 54. With hand unarm'd-] The Italian is,

Sul capo del pastore un puguo serra

Che spezza l'osso......

Literally,

He struck the shepherd a blow on the head with his fist, and

split his skull.

Enjoy'd the freshness of the morning breeze,
And skimm'd the surface of the tranquil seas:
On them Orlando call'd aloud to stay,
And him their partner in the bark convey.

In vain he call'd, when none to hear inclin'd;
A guest like him could little welcome find.
Swift o'er the level tide the vessel flies,
As sails the swallow through the liquid skies.
At this, with blows on blows Orlando drives
His steed though loth, and at the sea arrives.
The steed reluctant enters in the waves,
Long vainly struggling: now the water laves

His knees and breast; now swells on either side,

Till scarce his head appears above the tide.
No more returning shall he quit the surge,

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80

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While o'er his ears the madman waves the scourge. 90
Ah! wretched steed! whose life must soon be lost,
Unless thou swimm'st to Afric's distant coast.
Now more and more, withdrawing from the land,
Orlando loses sight of hills and strand.

Far in the sea he wades; between his eyes
And objects lost the billows fall and rise:
Till now unequal to the watery strife,

95

The beast concludes his swimming and his life:

He sunk, and with the steed had sunk his load,
But self-supported on the heaving flood,
His nervous arms and legs Orlando ply'd,

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And from his mouth expell'd the briny tide;
While Fortune, that o'er madmen still presides,
From death preserves him, and to Setta guides;
Then lands him safe, where near arose in sight
The walls in distance twice an arrow's flight

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