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At length he found along the tented coast
Encamp'd in swarthy bands a countless host.
But let us leave the earl, till better time

To him again recall the wandering rhyme.

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What next to fair Angelica befel,

Who late escap'd the madman's hand so well,
And how she found a ship in happy hour
To bear her safe for India's spicy shore;
There gave Medoro o'er her realms to reign,
Others may sing in more exalted strain:
I hasten to the Tartar knight, who gain'd
Such conquest o'er his rival, as obtain'd
The fairest dame to fill a lover's arms

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That Europe boasts in all her bloom of charms,
Since from our clime Angelica retir'd,

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And Isabella chaste to Heaven aspir'd.

Though Mandricardo heard with conscious pride

The dame in his behalf the cause decide,
Yet short enjoyment could that chance afford,
When quarrels still on foot requir'd his sword.
There young Rogero call'd him to the field,
And claim'd the argent eagle on his shield:
Gradasso, king of Sericana's lands,
For Durindana here the fight demands.
King Agramant, and king Marsilius try'd

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To make each warrior's angry strife subside:

Ver. 109. But let us leave the earl,] He returns to Orlando, Book xxxix. ver. 277.

Ver. 116. Others may sing ---] Angelica and Medoro appear no more in the course of this work.

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But nor Rogero will the Tartar knight
Permit to bear great Hector's shield in fight;
Nor stern Gradasso let the Tartar wield
The sword Orlando brandish'd in the field.

Then Agramant--No more at variance fall,

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Let chance of lots each knight to battle call:

And let us prove, whom Fortune first may name;

Of him she favours, I confirm the claim :

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If yet you hold your sovereign's love so dear,
To what he offers lend a willing ear:

When lots decide who first the fight shall wage,
Let him, whose name appears, his faith engage
On his own head at once each strife to take,
And, conquering for himself, a conquest make
For either's claim; or if his loss ensues,
He, losing for himself, for each shall lose :

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Ver. 118. - for each shall lose:] It may not be amiss to take a little retrospect, in order to see how the matter was settled by Agramant, which seems rather to require some explanation. By the first lots that were drawn, the combatants stood thus: first, Rodomont and Mandricardo: second, Mandricardo and Rogero: third, Rodomont and Rogero: fourth, Mandricardo and Marphisa. The list being prepared for the fight between Rodemont and Mandricardo, while these knights are arming themselves, a new dispute arises between them and Gradasso and Sacripant, for Durindana and Frontino, which puts a stop to the expected combat between Rodomont and Mandricardo. Marphisa adds to the confusion by carrying off Brunello prisoner, whom she accuses of stealing her sword; and Rogero seeing the order of the lots disturbed, claims again his horse from Rodomont. Agramant, to settle the first dispute between Rodomont and Mandricardo, orders the cause to be determined by Doralis, who chusing Mandricardo, her former lover quits the camp with indignation. The list now remained according to the first lots, to be entered by Rogero and Mandricardo, but Gradasso persisting still to claim Durindana from Mandricardo, Agramant proposes that lots should be again drawn to determine whether Rogero or Gradasso should first engage with Mandricardo,

So nearly, held in equal balance, weighs
Rogero's and Gradasso's martial praise,
That he whose prowess can in combat stand
With either knight, may prove his valiant hand
At all essays--let conquest grace the side,
Which Heaven's eternal justice shall provide:

But no dishonour on the loser fall,

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Whate'er betide, impute to Fortune all.

Silent Rogero and Gradasso heard

The prudent counsel of their king rever'd,

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And each agreed, whom chance the knight might make,
The cause of either on himself should take.
The names inscrib'd within an urn they threw,

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And, shaking round, the lots a stripling drew.
Wrote on the first Rogero's name they find,
But bold Gradasso's name remain'd behind.
What words can speak the joy Rogero feels,
Soon as the fateful vase his lot reveals:

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Nor less the Sericanian chief repines:

But who shall that oppose which Heaven designs?
And now Gradasso with officious cares,

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and to prevent future strife, proposes that whoever draws the lot of combats shall determine both his own claim and the claim of the knight who loses the lot; that when Rogero wins or loses, he shall not only win or lose the eagle for himself, but Gradasso shall, in right of his conquest, or in consequence of his defeat, take possession of Durindana or relinquish his claim; and in like manner Rogero shall in right of Gradasso's conquest, or in consequence of his defeat, continue to bear the shield of Hector, or relinquish the claim. In this last disposition of the lots, no provision seems to be made for the termination of Marphisa's quarrel with Mandricardo.

By long experience in the fields of fight,

To win the day instructs the youthful knight:
His veteran skill directs him how to wield

The trenchant sword, or lift the covering shield;

What to his arm the foe may open leave,

Which stroke may reach, and which his aim deceive;
When Fortune's offers to accept or shun,

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And all war's arts he points him one by one.

The lists prepar'd; ere since the lots were cast

On either side the remnant day was past,

As custom wills, in many a kind address

(As each inclines) for either knight's success,

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And all the signs of love that parting friends express.
The people, cager to behold the sight,
Throng every passage with the dawning light;
While some impatient for the day's return,
Wait in the list all night th' approach of morn.
The vulgar herd, still caught with outward shows,
Desire the noble knights in arms to close;
These judge not of events: but all whose mind
Can from the present see what lurks behind,
Midst whom Marsilius and Sobrino know
What most can work their country's weal or woe,
Condemn the fight, while Agramant they blame
Through whom the quarrel to such issue came:
Nor ceas'd they to the monarch's thought to call
What ruin must the Moorish race befall,
Whether, by angry destiny decreed,
Rogero or the Tartar prince should bleed:

Since one such warrior lost must weaken more
Their force to meet the son of Pepin's power,

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Than thousands slain, amidst whose numerous band
Not one perhaps could boast of heart or hand.
King Agramant the important truth confess'd:
But how repeal his grant? In vain he press'd
The noble knights, and each by turns address'd.
He urg'd how weak their present cause of strife,
How little such deserv'd the risk of life:

But if they scorn'd to hear the sound of peace,

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At least some months might each from quarrel cease, 210
Till Charles was exil'd from th' imperial land,

His crown and mantle won; and from his hand
The sceptre wrench'd, no more his sway to own,
And Afric rais'd on Gallia's ruin'd throne.
In vain to this, to that the monarch sues,
Their sovereign both revere, yet both refuse
To yield in this, where he who first gives way
They deem must all a soldier's fame betray.

But more than Agramant, and more than each
That urg'd the Tartar with dissuasive speech,
King Stordilano's lovely daughter strove

With prayers and tears his steadfast mind to move;
Begg'd him to grant what Afric's prince requir'd,
What with their prince the noblest peers desir'd.

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What have I gain'd, so late o'erjoy'd to find
My hand decreed without the fight design'd
With Sarza's chief---if still to risk thy life
`I view so soon another kindled strife?

Ah! me (she cry'd) what more shall soothe my breast, Or calm henceforth my troubled thoughts to rest? When some new cause for ever can prevail To make thee sheath thy limbs in plate and mail?

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