Though Rodomont excell'd in nerve of fight, Not with more swiftness turns the kindling wheel, 580 When from the stone is ground the whitening meal, Than Sacripant, with hand and foot untir'd, Turn'd, chang'd, and parry'd still as need requir'd. Their swords Ferrau and Serpentino drew, And midst the chiefs themselves undaunted threw: 585 Then Isolero, king Grandonio came, And many nobles of the Moorish name. Such was the tumult, such the noise combin'd, That reach'd the tent where both the princes join'd, The Tartar lord and king of Sericane. Now to king Agramant, perplex'd in thought, A messenger unwelcome tidings brought, 590 595 Then thus the king bespoke the lord of Spain: Lest aught should worse among these chiefs befall, When Rodomont his royal lord beheld, He stay'd his weapon, and his fury quell'd: 600 From what new cause this sudden strife was grown. 605 The whole declar'd, he sought with fruitless care T'appease each warrior, and the breach repair. Unmov'd, Circassia's monarch still deny'd The king of Algiers longer should bestride The generous steed, unless by fair request, I ever to another's gift will owe. The king inquir'd of Sacripant his right To urge such claim, and if by force or slight Amidst the train appear'd Marphisa bold, * Brunello. 610 615 620 625 680 635 Ver. 620. He own'd how well the subtle thief, &c.] This ludicrous and extravagent incident is taken from Boyardo. The passage is wittily ridiculed by Cervantes, where Sancho, while asleep, loses his ass, which is stolen from him by Gines de Passamonte in the same manner. Of each Marphisa ask'd, nor fail'd to find 640 Now by her squire she bade her helm be lac'd, 645 Her other shining arms already brac'd Her martial limbs, for never yet the maid Ten days was seen, but bright in mail array'd, 650 Then, with her helmet clos'd, she went and found Brunello seated midst the peers around. Him, when she saw, the dame with furious heat Seiz'd by the throat, and dragg'd him from his seat; Easy, as grip'd within his hooky claws, 655 The ravenous eagle some weak chicken draws, And bore him thus before Troyano's heir, Then deep engag'd to heal intestine war. 660 665 This wretch, thy vassal, by my hand ere long Should there be one who dares my purpose blame, And in thy prescence give his tongue the lye. 670 675 680 I give him to the birds a welcome feast. But three miles distant by the wood's lone side, There let him come, I there his arms attend. 685 Her destin'd way to reach the neighbouring wood; 690 Brunello on her courser's neck she cast, And in his locks the martial virgin fast Her hand secur'd, while loud he shriek'd and pray'd, ·me of my sword ---] This is told in Boyardo. See Ver. 670. Book xviii. note to ver. 732. King Agramant, amid these tumults tost, 695 700 Too boldly scorn'd, and red with conscious shame, 705 T' avenge th' affront that regal power sustain'd: But grave Sobrino, present, soon inclin'd, To better thoughts the prince's wrathful mind. Ver. 695. King Agramant, amid these tumults---] Nothing can be better worked up than the confusion in the camp of the Pagans, from these dissentions among their leaders. Cervantes humourously makes Don Quixote, in the midst of the quarrels at the Inn, thus allude to the above passage of Ariosto: "Did I not tell you, Sirs, that this castle was enchanted, and that some legion of devils must certainly inhabit it? In confirmation whereof, I would have you see, with your own eyes, how the discord of Agramant's camp is passed over, and transferred hither among us. Behold how there they fight for the sword, here for the horse, yonder for the eagle-here again for the helmet; and we all fight, and no one understands another. Come, therefore, my lord judge, and you, master priest, and let one of you stand for king Agramant, the other for king Sobrino, and make peace among us, &c.". See Jarvis's Don Quixote, Vol. I. B. iv. C. xviii. Ver. 707. But grave Sobrino, &c.] This is the first appearance of Sobrino in Ariosto. His character is continued from Boyardo, where he makes a figure in the council held by Agramant, to debate on the intended invasion of France, and endeavours to dissuade the king from that expedition. Sobrino appears to be the Nestor of the poem. |