Far other thoughts should generous love impart;
He melts the stern, not steels the gentle heart.
Sir Tristram gone, but little Clodio stay'd;
He to a trusty friend in charge convey'd
The castle's keep, by his condition bound,
Each dame and knight that there reception found, 690
Should hold their place by beauty or by arms,
But yield to stronger nerves or brighter charms.
Thus was the law begun, and thus maintain'd,
Has to this hour unbroken still remain'd.
So spoke the host, and as the tale he ceas'd,
He bade the menial train prepare the feast;
Where in the hall a table fair was plac'd,
The spacious hall with regal splendor grac'd:
Hither by torches' light the guests convey'd,
But chief the northern fair and martial maid,
Gaz'd on the stately walls, where every part
With story'd forms confess'd the painter's art.
In rapt attention each the figures view'd,
And while she gaz'd forgot the want of food;
Though either's strength not little claim'd repast,
With toil and travel spent, or spent with fast.
The seneshall and cook displeas'd behold
The meats neglected in the vases cold,
Till one at length with better counsel cries:
Your hunger satiate first, and then your eyes.
Now each was plac'd in order at the board
To taste the viands, when the castle's lord
Reflects that much against the law he err'd
Who thus, at different times arriv'd, preferr'd
Two female guests; one only must remain,
And one depart: the fairest might retain
Her seat secure; the vanquish'd maid must go
Where chill rains beat, and winds inclement blow.
Two matrons then with other dames that dwell'd
Beneath his roof, whose judgment most excell'd,
He call'd, and bade them with impartial eyes
Behold the virgins, and award the prize.
With general suffrage all the prize declare
To Amon's daughter, who the northern fair
Had now no less eclips'd with female charms
Than late her knights with manly deeds of arms.
Then to the dame whose sad presaging mind-
This luckless chance already had divin'd,
The host began--Thou must not now complain
If, gentle damsel, we our law maintain
Some other dwelling for thyself provide,
Since 'tis decreed, by present judgment try'd,
That yonder virgin's features, mien, and grace, (All unadorn'd) thy every charm efface.
As when from humid vales thick vapours rise,
And with a sable cloud obscure the skies.
Sudden the golden sun, erewhile so bright,
Is lost in shade of momentary night:
So when the damsel hears her heavy doom,
Expell'd to drenching rain and dreary gloom,
Her features change, no more she looks the same,
The gay, the lovely, all-accomplished dame.
But noble Bradamant, whose pitying heart
Had now resolv'd to take the virgin's part,
Thus wisely spoke-But ill I deem is try'd
That cause where hasty judgment shall decide
Ere each is heard---for her my suit I move;
Howe'er compar'd our person's gifts may prove,
Imports not now-I not as woman came,
Nor shall, while here, the rights of woman claim.
Yet who will dare affirm, while thus array'd
These arms conceal a man or blushing maid?
Ne'er let us utter what we ne'er can know,
And chiefly when it works another's woe.
Like me, may numbers length of tresses wear,
Nor more from this the female sex declare.
'Tis known to all who hear at tilt I ran,
And if the lodge I won as maid or man :
Why will you then assign the woman's name
To one, whose deeds the manly sex proclaim?
Your law requires that dames should be excell'd
By fairer dames, but not by warriors quell'd:
Yet grant I might a woman prove (which I
Nor wholly grant, nor wholly shall deny)
What though I equall'd not her beauty's bloom,
Would you, for that, my valour's right resume?
Or make me lose from want of female charms
What late my virtue gain'd by dint of arms?
But should the strictness of your law require
That one of us must from the lodge retire
Whose beauty fails--yet would I here remain
(Whate'er your sentence) and my place maintain.
Hence I infer, between yon dame and me,
That all unequal must the contest be:
With me contending may she greatly lose,
And should she win, no gain o'er me ensues.
To both must justice weigh, in balance even,
The loss or gain, ere sentence can be given.
Honour and reason, every gentle sense
Forbids to drive this holy virgin hence.
If any in his strength so far can trust,
To call the judgment I have pass'd unjust,
Lo! with this weapon I his force defy,
And prove the truth, while he defends the lie.
Great Amon's daughter by compassion sway'd
To see unjustly a defenceless maid
Expell'd to where the chilling rain descends
And not a roof or cot its shelter lends,
With many a reason urg'd and gentle word
Persuades to generous thoughts the generous lord: 790
But chief her dauntless courage wins the cause;
He yields, and pleads no more the castle's laws.
As parch'd beneath the sun's meridian fires,
When the brown turf refreshing streams requires,
If some fair flower, that hung its languid head,
Feels on its stalk the kindly moisture shed,
Again it springs, again each sweet resumes,
And fresh again in vernal beauty blooms!
So from this bold defence the maid derives
Recover'd life, and every charm revives.
Now on the savoury cates that long had spread
The board untouch'd, each guest impatient fed,
No other champion chancing there to light,
And damp the social pleasures of the night.
The feast each honour'd save the martial fair:
In sorrow fix'd, abandon'd to despair,
A thousand jealous thoughts unjustly brood
In her torn breast, and pall the taste of food.
The banquet o'er, which all perchance in haste
Had urg'd, to give in turn their eyes repast;
Fair Bradamant arose; and near was seen
To rise, the envoy of Islanda's queen..
The lord a signal gave; at his commands
A menial ran, and soon with ready hands
Through the wide hall was kindled many a light: 815 Th' ensuing book the sequel shall recite.
END OF THE THIRTY-SECOND BOOK.
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