Alas! in vain was once my proudest boast, That such a knight, the bravest of his host, Could for my beauty, prodigal of breath, Engage a squadron in the face of death; Since now too late I find the slightest cause, For equal risk thy sword in battle draws: Nor was it love for these unhappy charms That urg'd thee then, but savage thirst of arms! Yet if sincere, as all thy words would show, Love's faithful flames within thy bosom glow; By Love I here adjure thee, by the grief That rends my heart, and now implores relief; Repine not though Rogero's hand may wield The argent eagle in an azure field. What good awaits, what evil can be thine, Should he retain it, or the crest resign? Thy battle much may lose, but little gain: Should now thy arms Rogero's bird obtain,
Small prize for mighty toil! but should'st thou find With face averted Fortune here unkind-
(Nor deem her ever fix'd) what tortures wait
This heart that shudders but to doubt thy fate!
Though life to thee so worthless may appear, Thy judgment holds a painted bird more dear, Yet, for my sake, prolong thy valu'd breath The death of one includes the other's death; But, ah! more wretched far my state must prove, If first I see the death of him I love.
In words like these she pours the strain of woe, While sighs to sighs in quick succession flow: The live-long night her tender plaints increase, The live-long night she woos her lord to peace,
While from her eyes, which trickling tears suffuse, 265 He sucks, with many a kiss, the balmy dews: Then from her rosy lips new sweets he seeks, Weeps to her words, and thus in answer speaks. For Heaven's dear sake, my fair, thy grief control, Nor let so slight a cause afflict thy soul: Did Charles and Afric's king, with all the bands Collected here from French and Moorish lands, Unite their force to work my single harm,
No terror should thy gentle breast alarm. To thee my prowess little must appear, If one Rogero thus can raise thy fear.
Thou may'st remember when I dauntless dar'd (No sword or scymetar my side to guard) With broken spear, amidst a numerous band, To rush and quell them with my single hand. Gradasso's self, though grief and shame oppress His secret soul, if question'd will confess That him in Syria once I captive made : Yet not with his Rogero's worth is weigh'd.
Ver. 265. While from her eyes ---] This passage may be taken from Statius, where Argia endeavours to persuade Polynices to quit the siege of Thebes.
Risit Echionius juvenis, tenerumque dolorem Conjugis amplexu solatur et oscula mastis Tempestiva genis posuit------
------Solve metus, animo
The smiling hero claps her to his breast,
And with the stamp of love her cheeks impress'd, Prevents with blandishments the rising tears, And kindly then dispels her jealous fears.
Ver. 233. That him in Syria once-] Alluding to the adventureat the castle of the fairy, where he conquered Gradasso in single
Nor king Gradasso will a truth disown Which to your Isolero well is known, To Sacripant, who gives Circassia fame; Gryphon and Aquilant, of warlike name; To hundreds more, that equal fortune found, By cruel foes in captive fetters bound, Alike of Mahomet and Christian seed, Whom in one day this arm from bondage freed. Still must remembrance wake in every thought What mighty deeds that glorious day I wrought: And shall Rogero now (a child to fame) In single trial shake my martial name? Fear'st thou Rogero, when in fight I wear Great Hector's arms and Durindana bear? Why did I not in listed field engage
With Sarza's king, for thee the fight to wage?
Such had my valour prov'd, thy constant mind
Had surely then Rogero's fall divin'd:
For Heaven's sake, calm thy doubts, thy grief assuage, Nor let these trickling tears so ill presage:
For know 'tis Honour calls me to the field,
And not an eagle painted on a shield.
Thus he; while yet, with anxious fears opprest,
The fair in moving words her suit address'd;
Words that might shake the most determin'd soul,
Might soften rocks and savage beasts control.
combat, won the armour of Hector, and set so many prisoners at liberty. See note, B. xiv. ver. 240.`
Ver. 286. --- tô your Isolero -- 1 He gives him this appellation as being a Spaniard, and the countryman of Doralis.
A woman she, with beauty's naked charms, So nearly vanquish'd him renown'd in arms, He promis'd, if again the king requir'd To stay the fight, to grant the peace desir'd. But scarce Aurora had with light begun To streak the east and usher in the sun, When bold Rogero, to defend his fame, And to the glorious bird assert his claim,
Appears in arms, where crowds the list enclose, And from his horn a stern defiance blows. Soon as this sound, the rattling peal of war, The Tartar rouz'd, no longer will he bear A word of peace, but from the couch he flies With headlong speed, and loud for arms he cries; While in his look such savage fury glares,
That Doralis herself no further dares
To plead for truce or peace, compell'd t' obey Her knight's stern will, and give the battle way. Himself his limbs in shining mail attires,
And scarce, impatient, waits th' attending squires; 330 Then mounts the generous courser, that before,
In combat, Paris' great defender * bore.
Soon came the king, the nobles take their seat,
And soon in arms the eager knights must meet. Already now their shining helms are lac'd, In either hand each ashen lance is plac'd. The signal sounds; and at the dreadful blast, A thousand cheeks are pale and hearts aghast: So fierce they pour t' obey the trumpet's call, That earth appears to open, heaven to fall!
On either hand each knight is seen to wield The silver eagle on his honour'd shield: The bird, that once in air could Jove sustain; That oft was seen amidst th' embattled train, With other pinions on Thessalia's plain.
While either knight, at such a hideous shock, Seems as a tower to winds, to waves a rock; The crashing spears break short, and to the sky (As Turpin truly writes) the shivers fly; Whence from the fiery region (strange to tell!) Again on earth the burning fragments fell.
The knights, as those who know not terror, drew Their flashing swords the combat to renew : At either's helm they aim the trenchant steel: Together met, at once their vizors feel
The fearful strokes: but neither knight would try
Ungenerous arts, or make the courser die
T'o'erthrow his lord--for wherefore should the steed
Who knows not battle's guilt in battle bleed?
Yet he who thinks the knights such compact made, 360
But errs, and never heard the laws that sway'd The times of old, when shameful was that armi Esteem'd of all, that could the courser harm. Their vizors struck, though fenc'd with double fold Of temper'd plates, could scarce the tempest hold. Swift and more swift the gleaming swords assail, Blows follow blows, descending thick as hail,
Ver. 344. -----th' embattled train,] The poet alludes to the battles of Cæsar and Pompey, where either army bore the Roman eagle: he says with other pinions, the Roman eagle being black, the Estensian eagle white.
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