But less the suffering patience Job of old
Display'd, so full in hallow'd pages told,
Than Rodomont that day, who curb'd his pride,
His wonted fury, when to fight defy'd.

Deaf to the combat! he, whom danger's charms
Had ever fir'd, who joy'd to mix in arms!
Ne'er till this day, nor since, the Sarzan knight
Was ever known to shun the proffer'd fight;
So much the wish to aid his king distress'd,
The ruling passion of his soul suppress'd.
So fix'd he stood, that had his prescient mind
The certain issue of the strife divin'd,
As sure a prize, as when the leopard draws
The fearful hare within his ravenous paws,
Ev'n then his prudence had declin'd the fray,
Nor with a single blow prolong'd his stay.
Even that Rogero, who the battle claim'd,

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That champion, high o'er other champions fam'd,
The man he wish'd to single from mankind,
And through the world had gladly rov'd to find,
Now fail'd to rouze him to the listed plain;
And him Achilles had provok'd in vain;
So well his soul repress'd her wonted ire,
So deep in embers slept the smother'd fire.
He told Rogero why he shunn'd the fight,
And ask'd his aid to guard their sovereign's right, 700
As well beseem'd a true and loyal knight.

The siege once rais'd, full leisure would remain,
Among themselves their quarrels to maintain.
I give consent (to him Rogero cry'd)

To cease awhile our battle to decide,

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Till Agramant is freed from hostile power,
So thou to me Frontino first restore.

Say, would'st thou have me till the camp's release
Delay the combat and confirm the peace?

(The combat claim'd, to prove thy deed has stain'd 710 The name of knighthood, from a damsel's hand

To take my steed) Frontino now resign,

Else shall the powers of earth in vain combine
To make me for one hour the fight decline.

While thus Rogero from the Sarzan's hands

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Frontino, or the instant fight, demands;

And he, resolv'd, to neither will accede,

To give the battle, or restore the steed,
Lo! Mandricardo, on a different side,

New cause for contest in the field descry'd :

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He sees, for his defence Rogero bear

The bird, that reigns o'er others prince of air,

The argent eagle in an azure shield,

Which once the Trojan knight* was seen to wield;
Which now Rogero challeng'd as his due,

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Rogero, who his line from Hector drew.

Fierce Mandricardo at the sight inflam'd, With anger rav'd to view the bird he claim'd Usurp❜d by other hands, and to his scorn, On other shields great Hector's eagle borne.

Like him intrepid Mandricardo wore

The bird that Ganymede from Ida bore,

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Such as he won it that tremendous day,

When at the magic dome he seiz'd the dazzling prey.

• Hector.

Ver. 734. When at the magic dome, &c.] See note to Book xiv. ver. 240, for the history of this adventure.

Known is the tale, how from the fairy's land,

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This shield, with all the glorious arms, he gain'd,
Those arms by Vulcan forg'd, with skill divine,
To grace
the knight of Priam's regal line.
For this before, in mutual strife engag'd,
Had Mandricardo and Rogero rag'd;

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Why then the conflict ceas'd, I leave to tell,

Nor longer speak of what is known so well:
Thenceforth till now they never met in field,
But Mandricardo, when he view'd the shield,
Stept proudly forth, and, with a threatening cry-
Lo! here, Rogero, I thy force defy.

Thou dar'st for thy device my eagle take;

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Nor is this day the first my claim I make :
Think'st thou, as once my arm revenge forbore,
I still shall pass thy usurpation o'er ?
Since neither threats, nor gentle means addrest,
Suffice to drive this folly from thy breast,

Soon shall I prove thou better might'st have weigh'd
The charge I gave, and in good time obey'd.

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As in the crackling wood, when breath inspires 755 The sudden blaze to wake the sleeping fires; So to his ear when first the challenge came, Rogero's anger burst to instant flame.

Thou think'st t'o'erpower me now--(he cries enrag'd) But though another has my arms engag'd;

They soon shall win (thou to thy cost shalt see)

From him Frontino, Hector's shield from thee.

For this but late before I wag'd the strife,

And late refrain'd to touch thy forfeit life.

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Yer. 763. For this but late before, &c.] Boyardo tells us, that when first Rogero and Mandricardo met, a dispute ensued between them

As then no weapon at thy side I view'd:

Those deeds were sport, but these must end in blood.

Ill fate for thee yon argent bird to bear,

Which thou usurp'st, and I with justice wear;
Deliver'd down to me, the rightful heir.

'Tis thou usurp'st my right---and at the word,
Stern Mandricardo grasp'd his dreadful sword,
That sword, which once in fight Orlando drew,
And late in madness midst the forest threw.
Rogero then, whose unexampled mind
From courteous lore had never yet declin'd,
Soon as he saw his foe the falchion wield,

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Let fall his spear as useless on the field.

His sword, good Balisarda, then with haste

His right hand seiz'd, his left the shield embrac'd;

But Rodomont between them spurr'd his steed:

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Marphisa interpos'd with equal speed.

This, one; and that, the other knight repell'd;

By prayers implor'd them, and by force with-held;
While of the treaty Algiers' king complain'd,
By Mandricardo twice so ill maintain❜d;
First, when to win Marphisa's charms, he mov'd
Against her knights, and well his valour prov'd;
And from Rogero now his shield to take,
Could thus the cause of Agramant forsake.

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If strife thou seek'st-then let our swords (he cry'd) 790
A quarrel nobler far than these decide:

With thee the combat done, my dauntless hands
Shall answer him who now his steed demands:

for this shield of Hector, which Mandricardo had won at the Fairy's

castle.

Orl. Innam. Book III. C. vi.

If from my sword thy life survives the fight,

Thou may'st with him dispute the buckler's right. 795

Far other may the chance of arms provide.

To Rodomont (fierce Mandricardo cry'd)

When, like some fount, that ne'er its current drains,

My dauntless vigour unimpar'd remains,

To meet Rogero, or a thousand foes,

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With all the world, should all the world oppose.

Words follow words, and wrath new wrath supplies, Now here, now there, increasing tumults rise.

Fell Mandricardo, whom new rage inflames,
With Rodomont, and with Rogero claims
At once the fight: unus'd affronts to bear,
Rogero spurns at peace, and breathes but war.
On either side Marphisa would restrain

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The growing strife, that makes her labour vain.

As when, escaping from its broken shores,

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The angry stream through various channels pours,
The peasant sees the waves the meads o'erflow,

And trembles for his promis'd crops below;

While here his cares against the flood provide,

Through other breaches bursts the sounding tide: 815 Thus, while with Rodomont Rogero rag'd,

And Mandricardo in like strife engag'd;

Where each aspir'd, his brother-chiefs above,
Himself in courage, strength, and skill to prove,
Marphisa strove to calm each restless soul,
No words can soothe them, and no art control.
If one a moment from the fight she drew,

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She saw the other chiefs th' assault renew.

The dame, who sought to calm each furious peer,
Thus spoke-Attend, my lords, my counsel hear:

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