But less the suffering patience Job of old Deaf to the combat! he, whom danger's charms 675 680 685 690 695 That champion, high o'er other champions fam'd, The siege once rais'd, full leisure would remain, To cease awhile our battle to decide, 703 Till Agramant is freed from hostile power, Say, would'st thou have me till the camp's release (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 While thus Rogero from the Sarzan's hands 715 Frontino, or the instant fight, demands; And he, resolv'd, to neither will accede, To give the battle, or restore the steed, New cause for contest in the field descry'd : 720 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; 725 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, 730 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, 735 This shield, with all the glorious arms, he gain'd, 740 Why then the conflict ceas'd, I leave to tell, Nor longer speak of what is known so well: Thou dar'st for thy device my eagle take; 745 Nor is this day the first my claim I make : Soon shall I prove thou better might'st have weigh'd 750 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. 760 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; 'Tis thou usurp'st my right---and at the word, 765 770 775 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: 780 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; 785 If strife thou seek'st-then let our swords (he cry'd) 790 With thee the combat done, my dauntless hands 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, 800 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, 805 The growing strife, that makes her labour vain. As when, escaping from its broken shores, 810 The angry stream through various channels pours, 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, 820 She saw the other chiefs th' assault renew. The dame, who sought to calm each furious peer, 825 |