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Who question'd, soon confirm'd whate'er the knight
Had told, and own'd the fraud of magic slight.

Rinaldo then pursu’d--What here is known
By living witness, shall alike be shown

By proof of arms, which ready (when or where
Thyself shall name) t' enforce the truth I bear.

Gradasso with a warrior's generous heat,
Reflected how he came in vain to meet
The Christian leader; yet resolv'd to gain

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The generous courser, sought so long in vain,

Howe'er he doubted, or the tale believ'd,

Rinaldo's plea with seeming faith receiv'd.

No more to Barcelona's billowy strand,

Where first they went to combat hand to hand,
But each agreed at early dawn of day

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To a clear neighbouring fount to bend his way;
Rinaldo thither must conduct the steed
Between them plac'd, the victor's future meed:
Then should the king or slay, or captive make
Albano's lord, 'tis his the steed to take;
But should his boasted claim Gradasso yield
To Clarmont's knight, Rinaldo from the field
Must for his prize fam'd Durindana wield.

With wonder great, with heart-corroding care,
Rinaldo heard by Flordelis the fair,

(As late I told) that from his kinsman's head, Unblest Orlando, every sense was fled;

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}

765

Ver. 765. With wonder great,---] This stanza in the original appears inartificially introduced, as it makes a disagreeable break in the narrative: it might possibly be transposed to advantage, but this was a liberty I did not think myself authorized to take.

What discord for his arms the camp engag'd,
How chief with chief in dire contention rag'd,
'Till stern Gradasso's arm the sword obṭain'd,
By which a thousand wreaths Orlando gain’d.
The terms thus settled, to his social train
Gradasso now return'd, though oft in vain
The Paladin besought the Pagan knight
Beneath his tent t' await the morning light.
At dawn Rinaldo and the king, dispos'd'
For cruel fight, their limbs in armour clos'd;
And near a fountain side the battle sought,
For Durindana and Bayardo fought.
With sad presage Rinaldo's friends beheld
His arm engag'd in such a dreadful field:
Great was Gradasso's courage, great his might,
Great was his skill well-prov'd in many a fight,
And since he now the fatal sword had won
That lately grac'd the side of Milo's * son,
Each for Rinaldo felt his hope to fail,
And at his danger many a cheek grew pale.
But Vivian's + brother, o'er the rest dismay'd,
The contest view'd, and gladly would have stay'd
Th' impending fight, but that he fear'd to raise
In good Rinaldo's breast a quenchless blaze;
Who still in mind the time resentful bore
When Malagigi's ship decoy'd him from the shore.
While doubts and fears in every bosom grew,
No doubt, no fear, the bold Rinaldo knew.

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775

780

785

790

795

[blocks in formation]

Ver. 794. When Malagigi's ship---] See note to ver, 670.\

Secure he goes, resolv'd one glorious day
Should wipe his late imputed stains away,

And silence those who joy'd in his disgrace,
Proud Altafoglia and Pontieri's race.

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Boldly he goes in heart secure to crown

His conquering brow with laurels of renown..

When now, from different parts, these sons of fame
At once together to the fountain came,

They first, in faith unstain'd, exchang'd embrace
With fair and open locks, as if the race

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Of Clarmont and of Sericane had stood

Ally'd in friendship and ally'd in blood..

But, here deferr'd, some future time shall tell What dreadful blows from either weapon fell.

END OF THE THIRTY-FIRST BOOK.

810.

THE

THIRTY-SECOND BOOK

OF

ORLANDO FURIOSO.

THE ARGUMENT.

THE distressed situation of Agramant. Marphisa comes to his assistance. Death of Brunello. Lamentation of Bradamant for the absence of Rogero. She unexpectedly hears news of her lover that reduces her to despair, and departs from Mount Albano. In her way she lights on Ulania, ambassadress from the queen of Iceland. Subject of her embassy. Bradamant arrives at Sir Tristram's lodge. The strange custom observed there. She unhorses three kings, and is hospitably received by the lord of the castle, who relates the adventure of Clodio, the son of Pharamond, and his wife, from which their law was first instituted. Defence of Ulania by Bradamant,

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