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Starts at the leaves that rustle with the wind,

And thinks the knight pursues her close behind:
Each shadow that in hill or vale appears,
Again recalls Rinaldo to her fears!

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So when a fawn or kid by chance has found,
Amidst the covert of his native ground,
His hapless dam some furious leopard's prize,
Who tears her throat and haunches as she lies;
Far from the dreadful sight, with terror chac'd,
From grove to grove he flies with trembling haste; 245
While every bush he touches in his way,

He thinks the cruel savage gripes his prey.

250

Unconscious where she pass'd that day and night,
With half the next, the damsel urg'd her flight.
At length she came where rose a bowery shade,
Whose nodding branches to the breezes play'd:
Two purling streams adorn the sylvan scene,
And clothe the turf with never-fading green:
Along the meads they roll their easy tide,
The stones, with murmuring noise,their passage chide. 255
Here hop'd the fair a safe retreat to find,
And fondly deem'd Rinaldo far behind:
O'ercome with toil, with burning heat opprest,

She sought to ease her limbs with needful rest.
Then lighting on the ground, she loos'd the reins, 260
And gave her steed to graze th' enamell'd plains.
Not distant far, an arbour struck her view,
Where flowery herbs and blushing roses grew:
Close by the bower the glassy mirror flow'd:
The bower was shelter'd with a waving wood
Of lofty oaks; the inner part display'd
A cool retreat amidst surrounding shade.

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So thick the twining branches nature wove,

No sight, no sun could pierce the dusky grove: . A rising bank, with tender herbage spread,

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Had form'd for soft repose a rural bed.
The lovely virgin here her limbs compos'd,
Till downy sleep her weary eyelids clos'd.
Not long she lay, for soon her slumber fled,
A trampling steed her sudden terror bred:
When, rising silent, near the river's side,
A graceful warrior, sheath'd in arms, she spy'd.
Uncertain if she view'd a foe or friend,
Alternate hopes and fears her bosom rend.

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Th' approaching stranger now his steed forsook, 280 And stretch'd his careless limbs beside the brook, His arm sustain'd his head, and, lost in thought, He seem'd a statue by the sculptor wrought. An hour and more (my lord) the pensive knight With head reclin'd remain'd in mournful plight, At length began with such a doleful strain, To tell the list'ning woods his secret pain, That parting rocks might tender pity show, And savage tigers soften at his woe:

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He sigh'd; his breast, like flaming Ætna glow'd,
While down his cheeks the tears like rivers flow'd.

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Ah me! (he cry'd) whence comes this inward smart, These thoughts that burn at once and freeze my heart! What to a tardy wretch, like me, remains? With happier speed the fruit another gains. To me were scarcely words and looks address'd, The last dear bliss another has possess'd,

Ver. 284,--
-- my lord] Addressing his patron.

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Since then I neither fruit nor flowers enjoy,

Why should her love in vain my peace destroy?
The spotless maid is like the blooming rose
Which on its native stem unsully'd grows;
Where fencing walls the garden-space surround,
Nor swains, nor browzing cattle tread the ground:
The earth and streams their mutual tribute lend,
Soft breathe the gales, the pearly dews descend:
Fair youths and amorous maidens with delight
Enjoy the grateful scent, and bless the sight.
But if some hand the tender stalk invades,
Lost is its beauty, and its colour fades :
No more the care of heaven, or garden's boast,
And all its praise with youths and maidens lost.
So when a virgin grants the precious prize
More choice than beauty, dearer than her eyes,

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To some lov'd swain; the power she once possess'd,
She forfeits soon in every other breast;

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Since he alone can justly love the maid,
To whom so bounteous she her love display'd.
While others triumph in each fond desire,
Relentless fortune! I with want expire.

Ver. 300. The spotless maid.] Imitated from Catullus.
Ut flos in septis secretus nascitur hortis,

Ignotus pecori, nullo contusus aratro,

Quem mulcent auræ, firmat sol, educat imber:

Multi illum pueri, muitæ optavere puellæ.

Idem quum tenui carptus defloruit ungui,

Nulli illum pueri, nullæ optavere puellæ :

Si virgo dum intacta manet, tum cara suis, sed,
Quum castum amisit polluto corpore florem,
Nec pueris jucunda manet, nec cara puellis.

Carmen Nuptiale.

Then shake this fatal beauty from thy mind,
And give thy fruitless passion to the wind-

---this instant let my life depart,

Ah! no-t

Ere her dear form is banish'd from my heart.

If any seek to learn the warrior's name

320

Whose mournful tears increas'd the running stream, 325
'Twas Sacripant, to hapless love a prey,
Whose rule Circassia's ample realms obey:
For fair Angelica his course he bends

From eastern climes to where the sun descends.
For pierc'd with grief, he heard in India's land
With Brava's knight she sought the Gallic strand;
And after heard in France, the blooming fair
Was given by royal Charles to Namus' care;
The wish'd-for prize the champion to reward,
Whose arms should best the golden lily guard.
Himself that fatal conflict had beheld,
When Pagan arms the Christian forces quell'd:

330

335

Since then through many a winding track he stray'd, And sought with fruitless care, the wandering maid.

Ver. 326. 'Twas Sacripant---] "Sacripant, king of Circassia, one of the bravest and most faithful of Angelica's lovers. When this princess was besieged in Albracca by Agrican, he marched to her assistance with a numerous army, and performed many gallant actions before the walls. Agrican, having one night by surprise gained admittance into the city, with three hundred of his followers, Sacripant, who then lay dangerously wounded, sallied out, armed only with his sword and shield, and bravely repulsed them, till the whole army of Tartars entering the walls, he was compelled to retire into the fort, whence, at the request of Galaphron, he soon after set out to ask assistance from Gradasso, king of Sericane." Orlando Innam. Book I. C. x, xi. Orlando, so called from having the

Ver. 331.--Brata's knight--]

Marquisate af Brava.

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in man's abdurate heart

ORLANDO FURIOSO.

While, grieving thus, in doleful state he lies,
The tears like fountains gushing from his eyes,
Beyond his wish, propitious fortune bears
His soft complainings to his mistress' ears.
Angelica attentive hears his moan,

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B. I.

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Whose constant passion long the fair had known: 345
Yet, cold as marble, her obdurate breast

No kindly pity for his woes confess'd:

As one who treats mankind with like disdain,
Whose wayward love no merit could obtain:
But thus with perils clos'd on every side,
She thinks in him that Fortune might provide
A sure defence, her champion and her guide.
For who, when circling waters round him spread
And menace present death, implores not aid?

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This hour neglected, never might she view

A knight again so valiant and so true.

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Yet meant she ne'er t'assuage his amorous smart,

Who kept her deeply treasur'd in his heart;
And with that happiness his pains reward,
That happiness which lovers most regard:
Some other new-fram'd wile the fair design'd
To lure with hope his unsuspecting mind;
And, when her fears were past, return again
To all her cruelty and coy disdain.

Then, sudden issuing from the tufted wood,
Confess'd in open sight the virgin stood;
As, on the scene, from cave or painted grove,
Appears Diana, or the queen of love.

Hail! mighty warrior! (thus the damsel said)
May favouring heav'n afford me timely aid,

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365

370

J

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