It ill beseem'd, in such a cause (he said)

So great a king, of sovereign kings the head,

710

To wage a fight, where, should his arms succeed,
More blame than honour must attend the deed:
When men would say---“ Much has our king obtain'd,
Who scarce hard conquest o'er a woman gain'd!"
Great is his danger, small his praise must prove
Who dares against her arm to combat move.
'Twere best to leave Brunello to his death:
Or if a word could save the culprit's breath

715

From threaten'd noose, that word we should withhold, And leave the course of justice uncontrol'd.

720

Thou canst (he added) to Marphisa send,
That she his sentence may to thee commend

As king and judge--and first thy promise plight,
The hangman's hand shall do her honour right.
But should she this refuse---the contest cease,
Leave him to her--and rest the maid in peace:
So still to thee her love be firmly ty'd,
Hang up Brunello, and all thieves beside.
Sobrino's words the monarch's warmth assuage,
Who listens to his counsel just and sage;

Nor only leaves himself at large the maid,

But wills that none should her retreat invade;
For public good, his feelings he suppress'd,
And hop'd, by his example o'er the rest,

725

730

To soothe to concord each contending breast.

735

But Discord laugh'd aloud, who knew no fear

Of peace or friendship ever more to hear:
Now here, now there, she travers'd o'er the plain,
Nor could the tumult of her joy contain:

No less exulting, stalk'd her sister Pride,
Who constant fuel to the fire supply'd,

And, with a shout that reach'd the firmament,
The sign of victory to Michael sent.

At that dread voice, at that tremendous sound,
The Seine ran back, and Paris trembled round;
Through Arden's sable groves the echoes spread,
And savage beasts in gloomy coverts fled :
Blaia, and Arli, Rhone's far-winding shore,
The Alps, and mount Ghibenna heard the roar :
This Rhodan, Soane, Garonna, Rhine confess'd;
While mothers clasp'd their infants to the breast.
Each furious chief, demands the fight to wage,
And each will foremost in the list engage:
Their claims, so various, so perplex'd the noose,
Apollo's self could scarce the bands unloose:
Yet every art king Agramant would try,
And first the Gordian knot of strife untye
Between the African* and Scythian+ lord,
For beauteous Doralis, by both ador❜d.
The king, by turns would each to reason bend,
As prince, as brother, counsellor, and friend:
But when he saw, that neither would incline
To truce, or peace, or her he lov'd resign;

740

745

750

755

760

Ver. 744. At that dread voice, &c.] See Virgil.
Contremuit nemus, &c.

Et trepidæ matres pressere ad pectora natos.

Young mothers wildly stare with fears possest,
And strain their helpless infants to their breast.
The woods all thunder'd......

En. VII.

Dryden.

Fair cause of all their strife! he sought to find
Some middle course, to meet each rival's mind.
He meant the damsel should decide their loves,
And name the consort, whom her choice approves.
So, at her sovereign bidding, might they cease
From further strife, and firmly bind the peace.
Each knight agreed, for each his love believ’d
With mutual passion by the dame receiv'd.
The king of Sarza, who long time had su'd
To gain her hand, ere Mandricardo woo'd;
Accustom'd in her presence still to live,
With every grace that fits a maid to give;
Securely hop'd, her sentence would dismiss
His jealous pangs, and fix his future bliss.
Nor he alone, but thus each Pagan thought,
Who knew for her what deeds his arm had wrought,
In tournament and field---not thus (they cry'd)

Should Mandricardo by her doom abide.

But he who love's soft hours with her had led,
While Sol on worlds below his splendor shed;
Who knew what flame her gentle heart avow'd,
Laugh'd at the judgment of the erring crowd.

Before his sovereign lord each peer confirms,

With every solemn form, the stated terms,

Then to the dame appeals; with downcast eyes,
While her fair face the bloomy colour dyes,
She owns her bosom held the Tartar dear:
With wonder all the soft confession hear.
Fierce Rodomont, as if each sense was fled,
Scarce dares again exalt his drooping head;
But when his wonted fury had dispell'd

The first surprise and shame, that silence held

765

770

775

780

785

790

795

His falt'ring tongue, he call'd the doom unjust,
And, snatching from his side his surest trust,
Before the king and camp the blade he draws,
And swears, that this shall win or lose the cause;
Not the light breath of woman's wayward will,
Who what they least should value, favour still.
Swift Mandricardo answers to his call:

800

Act as thou wilt---I stand prepar'd for all.

Yet ere thy ship the harbour safely gains,

A mightly tract of sea unplough'd remains.
But Agramant here interpos'd, and blam'd

805

The Sarzan prince, who 'gainst all order claim'd
The fight anew-so far the king prevails,

He makes this rising fury strike her sails.
Now Rodomont, indignant to sustain

A two-fold shame before this princely train:
First from his king, to whom his pride gave way,
And next his dame, in one ill-omen'd day,
No longer there will dwell, but from the band,
That late in battle own'd his guiding hand,
Two squires alone he takes, and, swift as wind
Departing, leaves the Moorish tents behind.
As when the surly bull, o'ercome in fight,
Resigns his heifer for the victor's right;

Ver. 818. As when the surly bull,] See Virgil.
Nec mos bellantes una stabulare, sed alter
Victus abit, longeque ignotus exulat oris,
Multa gemens, ignominiam, plagamque superbi
Victoris, tum quos amicit inultus amores;
Et stabula spectans regnis excessit avitis.

810

815

Georg. Lib. III. v. 224.

Nor, when the war is o'er, their rage expires; To distant vales the vanquish'd wretch retires; VOL, IV.

E

820

For woods and barren sands he leaves the mead,
Where once he us'd the numerous herds to lead :
Loudly he roars, as night or day returns,
While still his breast with inbred fury burns.

So struck with rage, with frenzy and despair,
Goes Algier's king, rejected by the fair.
Him good Rogero had prepar'd with speed
To follow, and regain his faithful steed;

825

But soon recalling to his generous mind
The list with Mandricardo next design'd,

He checks his rein, and turns to claim the fight
Ere king Gradasso next assert his right
To Durindana, with the Scythian * knight.
Yet much he griev'd to see, before his eyes,
Frontino lost, an undisputed prize.

830

Though once his battle with the Tartar fought,
Not long his generous steed shall rest forgot.
But Sacripant, whom no such cause detain'd,
For whom no other strife or list remain'd;
In haste the course of Rodomont pursu'd,

835

And soon had join'd him, but a chance withstood; 810
A sudden chance that cross'd him in the way,
And kept him wandering all the live long day.
By fortune fall'n amidst the Seine he found
A hapless maid, who in the stream had drown'd,

* Mandricardo.

Weeps his disgrace, his conquering rival's boast,
Yet more the fair, that unreveng'd he lost;
And oft with pensive looks, as he retreats,
The parting exile views his ancient seats.

Warton, ver. 290.

Ver. 844. A hapless maid, --- ] This adventure, just touched upon here by Ariosto, is no where else mentioned by him, or by Boyardo.