At length he feign'd a madness to conceal His dastard feelings, for he knew too well, While this he wore, he still his trembling life With me must risk in never-ending strife. The beaver thus, who sees the woodland crew Near and more near his hunted steps pursue, Well conscious what they seek, behind him leaves The sought-for treasure, and his life reprieves.
Ere yet he ceas'd, Gradasso took the word : To thee, nor any, will I yield the sword. Justly I claim what long I toil'd to gain, My gold expended and my people slain! Some other weapon seek-nor deem it strange That this I challenge-let Orlando range Frantic or wild, where'er this sword I hold,
The sword is mine---thou, as thyself hast told, Found'st it far distant from its owner thrown,
But, found by me, I claim it for my own. This falchion shall the right I plead maintain- The list shall be my judge-prepare to gain
This sword by force, if this thou seek'st in fight, 440 To wield on Rodomont; since every knight
Who uses arms, should win them by his might.
At this the Tartar rais'd his daring head:
What sweeter sound can reach my ears (he said) Than aught that speaks of war ?---But first, in field, 445 To thee his turn the Sarzan prince must yield. Procure with me the foremost fight to wage, And let the second Rodomont engage: Doubt not I stand prepar'd for thee---for all-- To answer thine and every mortal call.
Rogero then increasing strife to breed: Think not t' infringe the terms so late agreed.
Be Rodomont the first in list to join,
Or, if he change, his fight must follow mine. Grant what Gradasso pleads, that in the field
A knight must win his arms who arms would wield. Shalt thou my bird with argent wings display, Till from my grasp thou rend'st the shield away? Lo! here I stand t' abide the lot's decree; The first to Rodomont-the next to me! If thou persist our treaty to confound, I spurn all order, and despise all bound: Nor will I for a moment wave my right, But call thee forth this instant to the fight. Let each of you be Mars, (then made reply Fierce Mandricardo) each his prowess try: What arm shall dare forbid me here to wield The trusty falchion or the glorious shield? Then fir'd to wrath, with steely gauntlet bent, At Sericana's king a stroke he sent, Whose better hand at unawares it took, And Durindana strait his grasp forsook. Gradasso, bursting then with rage, beheld The sword disputed from his hand compell'd. Indignant shame, despite, and burning ire, Flush'd all his face; his eyeballs sparkled fire: Fierce for revenge a backward step he made, And stood in act to draw the deadly blade: But Mandricardo, ever unappall'd,
Him and Rogero to the battle call'd.
Come, both at once-come, Rodomont! (he cry'd) To make the third, and come all three defy'd. Come, Spain and Afric! all of human race, No flight shall e'er my glories past disgrace.
Thus he who nothing fear'd; and as he spoke, In his right hand Almontes' weapon shook, Firmly embrac'd his shield, for fight prepar'd, And good Rogero and Gradasso dar’d.
Leave him to me, and soon this sovereign steel, (Exclaims Gradasso) shall his frenzy heal. Not so (Rogero cries) to me resign
Yon boasting chief--the combat first is mine. Go thou--the fight is mine--by turns they cry'd--- Then all at once each other loud defy'd.
Nor this nor that would yield; and now enrag'd All three at once a medley war had wag'd; When numbers present as the warriors clos'd, With ill advice amidst them interpos'd;
And to their cost had soon his fortune known, Who for another's safety risks his own: Not all the world their souls to peace had won, But lo! the Spanish monarch, with the son Of great Troyano came, whose presence quell'd Their frantic rage, and each in reverence held. Now Agramant demands, what sudden cause To new contention thus each warrior draws. Th' occasion known, he strives with every art To calm the rage of stern Gradasso's heart; That he to Mandricardo might afford One single day the loan of Hector's sword, Till the dire fight was wag'd with Sarza's lord. While Agramant with soothing words addrest, Assays by turns ť appease each angry breast, New sounds of tumult in the western tent, From Rodomont and Sacripant were sent. Circassia's monarch stood with Sarza's knight, (As late we told) to arm him for the fight,
And with Ferrau had on the champion brac'd
Those arms which once his proud forefather grac'd. And now they came to where the courser stood, Who dash'd around the whitening foam, and chew'd The golden bit: this steed, Frontino nam'd, Was that whose loss Rogero's wrath inflam'd. Meanwhile the generous Sacripant, whose care Must such a champion for the list prepare, Observ'd the gallant steed with nearer view, When soon his marks and faultless limbs he knew, And own'd his Frontaletto, for whose sake
He went on foot, nor other steed would take: Stol'n by Brunello, on that fatal day, When from the fair* he bore her ring away; When Balisarda and his horn he reft From great Anglante's earl with impious theft; When from her side Marphisa's sword he bore, And with his plunder reach'd Biserta's shore; Then gave Rogero Balisarda fam'd,
With this good courser, since Frontino nam'd.
Each certain proof the fierce Circassian weigh'd,
Then turning to the Sarzan king, he said:
Know, chief! this steed is mine-by fraud purloin'd 540 Before Albracca---numbers left behind
Could witness what I tell--behold my sword
Shall full conviction of the truth afford.
But since together for awhile we far'd In friendly sort, and mutual converse shar'd;
Ver. 532.his horn he reft--
This horn was won by Orlando
from Almontes, when he slew him at the fountain.
And since thy want I know---to thee I yield My generous courser for the listed field, My right acknowledge first; else hope in vain To keep a steed which only arms can gain.
Stern Rodomont, than whom no prouder knight 550 E'er wielded weapon in the list of fight, Thus answer'd--Had another's lips declar'd Such ill-judg'd words as Sacripant has dar'd, He to his cost might find 'twere better far, That speechless born he breath'd the vital air; But as thou úrgest, for the friendship late Between us held, in this I wave debate, To bid thee now (and heed what I advise) Defer awhile thy arduous enterprize, Till thou hast mark'd the issue of the fight, This day, between me and the Tartar knight, When his example shall thy prudence wake, To beg me as thy gift this steed to take.
With thee 'tis courteous to be brutal (cries
Fierce Sacripant, with lightening in his eyes)
But mark me plainer now--henceforth take heed How far thou dar'st usurp my trusty steed: I here forbid thee, while this better hand Can, grasp'd aloft, the vengeful sword command. If other means should fail, unarm'd I fight, And stand with tooth and nail to guard my right. Cries, threats succeed, and ire enkindles ire: Less swift through stubble runs the blaze of fire. Fierce Rodomont complete his armour wears, But Sacripant nor helm nor cuirass bears, Yet seems (so well he knew his sword to wield) Securely fenc'd as with a covering shield:
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