Himself preserv'd, his bands with new supplies.
Recruited, on some future day might rise
T' avenge his own disgrace, the nation's shame
On Christian Charles and all the hated name.

603

610

King Agramant at length compell'd to yield
Consents for Arli's town to quit the field,
While deeper night descending round him throws
Her friendly veil to screen him from his foes.
Thus twice ten thousand of the Pagan train,
The banded powers of Afric and of Spain,
Fled from Rinaldo, 'scap'd the sanguine plain.
Those whom Rinaldo's, whom his brethren's sword,
Whom the twin-offspring of * Vienna's lord
Stretch'd in their blood, and whom Albano's crew
(The brave seven hundred) in the battle slew;
With those by gallant Sansonetto kill'd,

615

And those that flying Seine's deep current fill'd;

The tongue that counts, may count the vernal flowers When Flora or Favonius paints the bowers.

'Tis fam'd that Malagigi bore a share

620

In that night's glory of successful war:

Not that his arm the fields with blood imbru'd,

Or knights unhors'd, or helms asunder hew'd:
But by his arts he made the fiends repair
From black Tartarean glooms to upper air,
With many a banner feign'd and bristled lance,

625

That seem'd in number twice the host of France.

Such trumpet's notes he caus'd to echo round,
Such drums to rattle, and such shouts to sound,

* Gryphon and Aquilant.

Such neigh of coursers prancing o'er the plain,

Such dreadful cries, like groans of warriors slain,
That seem'd with horror's mingled din to fill
The distant lands, each forest, vale, and hill,
And struck such fear in every Moorish breast,
That each to flight his trembling feet address'd.
Nor yet the king of Afric's anxious thought
Rogero wounded in his tent forgot;
But on a gentle steed of easy pace

He bade his friends the feeble warrior place,
Till, 'scap'd the slaughter of the dreadful hour,
A bark he gain'd, and thence the warrior bore
To Arli safe, where at his high command
Must meet the relics of each shatter'd band.
Those who from Charles and from Rinaldo fled,
(Twice fifty thousand) o'er the country spread;
For safety, mountain, wood, and cave explor'd,
To shun the furies of the Gallic sword,
While oft they found the guarded pass deny'd,
And with their blood the verdant herbage dy'd.
Not so the king of Sericane withdrew
(His tents at distance pitch'd) but when he knew

630

635

640

645

650

That he, who thus with unresisted might

Assail'd the camp, was mount Albano's knight,
His swelling breast with martial fury glow'd,

His looks, his gesture sudden transport show'd;

655

With grateful thanks he prais'd the powers of Heaven That on this night so rare a chance had given;

A chance that to his hand might bring the steed,
Far-fam'd Bayardo of unrivall'd breed.

Ver. 645. (Twice fifty thousand)-] Here seems an inconsistency, for ver. 609, he says, twice ten thousand.

660

Long had the monarch sought (as you full well
From other lips, I trust, the tale can tell)
To brace good Durindana at his side,
And that fair courser in the field bestride:
For this to France he cross'd the surgy main,
A hundred thousand warriors in his train;
And in the generous steed t' assert his right,
Had call'd Rinaldo forth to single fight:
These on the margin of the briny flood,
In equal arms to end the contest stood:
But Malagigi by his magic art
Compell'd his noble kinsman to depart,

665

670

Ver. 660. Long had the monarch sought-] Boyardo gives the account, that Gradasso, a mighty king of the East, had gathered together an army of one hundred and fifty thousand men, in order to invade France, and get possession of Durindana and Bayardo. Orl. Innam. B. i. c. i.

Ver. 670. But Malagigi by his magic art---] This adventure is given at large by Boyardo, which we shall here relate; and to which, though it has no immediate connection with the present subject, we shall, for the entertainment of the reader, add another adventure of Rinaldo, as a master-piece in the terrible kind.

Angelica being returned to India (see General View of Boyardo's Story) and lamenting the hopeless passion which she had conceived for Rinaldo, commanded Malagigi, whom she had kept in confine. ment, to be brought before her, and offered to restore him to liberty, provided he would find means to bring Rinaldo to her, but plight his word, if he failed in the attempt, to return again to his prison. Malagigi accepted the terms, and departed for France: where, on his arrival, he used every argument to persuade Rinaldo to give a favourable return to Angelica's passion; but Rinaldo, who had drank the waters of hatred, was deaf to his entreaties. Malagigi, exasperated at his refusal, resolved to have recourse to magic; and hearing that Gradasso and Rinaldo would soon meet to decide in single combat their title to Bayardo, he made two demons take the form of heralds: of these he sent one to Gradasso, to tell him, that Rinaldo would expect him in arms next day by the sea-side; and

Borne in a bark that spread th' inviting sail :
But here 'twere long to tell the wondrous tale;
And ever, from that day, the Pagan knight
The gentle Paladin esteem'd but light.

675

the other he sent to Rinaldo, to tell him, that Gradasso would wait for him at day-break. Next morning Rinaldo came to the place appointed, where at first he saw nothing but a small bark anchored by the shore at length a demon, in the shape and arms of Gradasso, appeared; but when Rinaldo prepared to begin the combat, the phantom retired. Rinaldo thinking his enemy fled, pursued him, till the seeming warrior entered the vessel, and Rinaldo following him with great eagerness, a sudden wind sprung up, and carried him out to sea, when the demon disappeared". Soon after the departure of Rinaldo, Gradasso came to meet him, but having waited the whole day without seeing his enemy, he departed in great indignation.

In the mean time Rinaldo, who now perceived that some supernatural power had deluded him, was inconsolable for the disgrace. that he must suffer from the imputation of cowardice. He was often tempted to distroy himself; and in the meanwhile the vessel pursued her way with extended sails towards the east, and at last ran ashore at a delicious garden, in the middle of which stood a stately palace, surrounded by the sea.

Rinaldo, upon his landing, was accosted by a damsel, who, taking him by the hand, led him into the palace, which was built of the most costly marbles, and richly ornamented with gold and exquisite workmanship, supported on pillars of crystal. A company of beautiful damsels here received the knight, and refreshed him with a magnificent collation, at the same time entertaining him with their melodious voices; at last, one of them addressed him in these words: "Sir knight, whatever you see is yours, and whatever you can wish more shall be granted you; for know, that all this is the gift of our sovereign lady and mistress; a queen, whọ for your love has drawn you from Spain." Rinaldo heard her with surprise, but when she mentioned the name of Angelica, a name he so detested, he started from his seat; on which the damsel cry'd out: " Stir not, thou art our prisoner." Rinaldo, however, regardless of what she said, flew to the sea-shore, determined either to make his escape, or throw himself into the sea: but it so fortuned, that he found the

* From Virgil, Æn. B. X. where Juno deceives Turnus with a phantom like Æneas.

VOL. IV.

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When now Gradasso heard the chief who came
Against the Pagans, bore Rinaldo's name,

He sheath'd his limbs in steel, his shield embrac'd,
Then through the shades on good Alfana * plac'd,

* Gradasso's mare.

vessel in which he came, and instantly going on board, set sail from the island. He had not gone far, when he made land again, and going on shore, was addressed by an old man, who seemed in great affliction, and implored his assistance to recover his daughter, who had been taken from him by a cruel villain: Rinaldo, without hesitation, followed the old man; who having conducted him some way, blew a horn, when Rinaldo, lifting up his eyes, beheld a rock in the sea, on the top of which stood a castle: at the sound of the horn a drawbridge was let down, on which appeared a giant of an enormous size; Rinaldo engaged the giant with undaunted courage, but falling into a snare, he was bound and carried prisoner to the castle, the walls of which were dyed red with human blood. He was now met by an old woman clothed in black garments, of a pale and ghastly countenance, who addressed him in these words:

"Perchance thou hast not heard of the dreadful custom observed at this castle; therefore, while thou hast yet to live, hearken to the tale I am about to tell thee, for to-morrow thou shalt surely die. There formerly inhabited on that rock, which is called Alta-ripa (steep rock) a noble knight, named Gryphon, who hospitably re ceived all strangers that travelled this way. This knight had for his wife a fair and virtuous dame, called Stella: it so fortuned, that my husband Marchino, passing through these parts was entertained by Gryphon, when he fell in love with Stella, and being resolved to possess her, planted an ambush for Gryphon, slew him, and having massacred all his people, took possession of the castle; but in vain endeavoured to gain his desire of Stella, who repulsed him with horror, her mind being full of the idea of her murdered husband, and continually pondering on the means of revenging his death. The rage I felt at the falsehood and perfidy of Marchino, urged me to an act of cruelty, scarce to be credited by those who know not the fury of a jealous woman. I had two young sons by Marchino; these I killed, and having baked their limbs, set them before their father, who, unconscious of the horrid meal, satisfied his hunger with his own offspring. I then secretly made my escape, and went to the king of Orgagna, who had long sued for my love, who was a near kinsman to Stella, and incited him to revenge the