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To shun the blows, as Durindana fell,

Whose all-destroying edge he knew so well:

Or where they reach'd, they reach'd with empty sound,
Where fierce the stroke, but feeble was the wound. 590
With greater skill the gallant Christian foe

Has stunn'd the Pagan's arm with many a blow;
Now at his flank, now where the cuirass ends
And helmet joins, the whirling sword he sends;
But finds the plates and rattling mail unbroke,
With adamantine proof resist each stroke

His weapon aim'd; for more than mortal charms
Secur'd the Pagan knight's impassive arms.

Thus long, with like success, on either side
These eager knights the doubtful combat ply'd;
Nor swerv'd a single look, while each intent,.
His eye upon his rival's features bent:
When, lo! a different conflict chanc'd, that turn'd
The rage
of strife which either bosom burn'd:
Rouz'd at a dreadful noise, each turns his eyes,

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And sore beset the steed Bayardo 'spies.

They see Bayardo with a monster join'd

In dangerous fight: he seem'd of feather'd kind,
A bird of wondrous size and dreadful strength,
And full three yards his bill's enormous length:
His other parts the form obscene display'd
Qf lonely bats that haunt the gloomy shade.
His plumes were inky black, of vast extent;
His hooky claws on spoil and ravine bent.
were fire, and cruel was his look,

His eyes

And like two sails his ample wings he shook.

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615

Ver. 616.----like two sails---] Thus Spenser, speaking of a dragon's

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Ne'er have I seen, nor heard in times of old

Of such a bird, save this by Turpin told;

And hence I deem some fiend might cheat the sight,
Some lying Demon drawn from deepest night

By Malagigi's art, to stay the fight.

So deem'd Rinaldo, and with anger mov'd,

When next they met his kinsman he reprov'd;
But Malagigi, who the charge deny'd,

.620

The deed, imputed to himself, to hide,

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Swore by that light from which the morning drew

Her beams, that hence nor blame nor guilt he knew.
Yet whether bird or demon--from the skies

The monster falls, and on Bayardo flies

With sharpen'd claws, but soon with fierce disdain 630
The fiery courser snaps the brittle rein:

He snorts, he foams, he plies his spurning heels;
Again in air the feather'd monster wheels

Retiring swift; again th' assault renews

With pungent nails, and circling round pursues
The generous steed, who worsted in the fight,
Forsakes th' unequal fray and speeds his flight:
Swift to the neighbouring wood Bayardo flew,
Where thickest trees with tangling branches grew,
While with quick sight impelling from above,
The winged monster good Bayardo drove
From shade to shade, till now a gloomy cave
To the tir'd steed a welcome shelter gave.
The track here lost, and baffled of his aim,
The pest ascends to seek a different game.

His flaggy wings when forth he did display,
Were like two sails.

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640

645

Fairy Queen, Book i. c. xii. st. 10.

When king Gradasso and Rinaldo view'd Bayardo's loss, no more their hands pursu'd

A fruitless strife; but either knight agreed
With separate course to seek th' affrighted steed;
When he, whom Fortune favour'd first, should bring 650
The beast recover'd to the crystal spring;

And there, in single trial, man to man,

Conclude the combat they so late began.

The fountain left, the knights prepar❜d to trace
Bayardo's flight, but soon his rapid pace
Had left each knight behind in hopeless chace.
As near Gradasso's side Alfana stood,

Her seat he gain'd, and spurring through the wood
Soon left the Paladin with doubt opprest

The chance revolving in his careful breast.
Bayardo's track full soon Rinaldo lost,
Bayardo, that in devious windings crost

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The thorny maze, and sought the thickest shade,

And hollow rocks, and through deep torrents made
His furious way, from that dire fiend to fly,

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Whose griping talons urg'd him from the sky.
Now here, now there, Rinaldo rov'd in vain,

Till to the fountain's side he turn'd again;
There paus'd awhile in hope (as each agreed)

To see Gradasso thither bring the steed:

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But when all hope was vanish'd from his thought,

Alone, on foot, the Christian camp he sought

Pensive and sad--But turn we now to tell

What better chance the rival knight befel;

Whom fortune led with favour'd course so near,
Bayardo's neighing reach'd his joyful ear,

675

Till in a cavern deep immers'd from sight,
He found him trembling, fearful of the light:
He durst not issue forth, but there remain'd
Till him the Pagan's eager hand detain'd;
Who while he knew his promise given, to lead
The courser back, yet little seems to heed
His plighted faith, but to himself he cries:
Who covets strife, with strife may win the prize:
Why should I risk the chance of arms to gain
What fortune bids me now in peace retain ?
From furthest east I came with great design
To make this generous steed Bayardo mine;'
And much he errs who thinks I shall forego
What chance vouchsafes so aptly to bestow;
If e'er Rinaldo would his steed regain,
As I to France, let him with equal pain
To India bend his course, the toil no more
For him to traverse Sericana o'er,

Than twice for me to tread on Gallia's shore.

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He said; and speaking, by the readiest way

To Arli hasten'd, where his vessels lay,

There swift embark'd and with him thence convey'd
The far fam'd steed and death-bestowing blade *.

But cease we here---some other time shall tell

What fortune to the Pagan prince befel;

We bid Rinaldo now and France farewel.

*Durindana.

700

Ver. 700.--some other time shall tell] He returns to Gradasso, Book xl. ver. 360.

Ver. 702. We bid Rinaldo..] He returns to Rinaldo, Book xxxviii. ver. 55. ver. 505.

Astolpho's voyage let us next pursue,
Whose steed with rapid eagle-pinions flew.

When now the knight had Gallia's land survey'd
'Twixt sea and sea, from where far winding stray'd
The silver Rhine, to where the subject plain

Joins high Pyrene's foot, he turns his rein

705

To where the western mountains sever France from
Spain.

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That stood remote from sea, or grac'd the shore.

Gades he saw, and now the bounds he trac'd,

Which once for mariners Alcides plac'd.

Now from th' Atlantic wave his course he bore

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By Afric's coast to reach th' Egyptian shore.
The Baleares far beneath him lay;

Evisa rose conspicuous in his way;
Then tow'rds Arzilla, o'er the sea he rides,
The sea that from Arzilla Spain divides.
Morocco, Fez, Ippona, cities nam'd

Among the First; Algiers and Bugia fam'd

For wealth and honours, next his eyes behold,

725

Not crown'd with empty wreaths, but crown'd with gold.

Ver. 703. Astolpho's voyage-] The last we heard of Astolpho was Book xxiii. ver. 116. where he left his horse and arms with Bradamant.

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