This man, fo fkill'd and crafty in deceit,
His monarch fends to work a hardy feat,
That, by his cunning and enchanted ring,
He from the castle may Rogero bring,
Whom much the king esteems: but shall he owe
His freedom to a Pagan, and our foe?
Three days your course along the shore pursue; 500
(The fhore will foon appear before our view)
The third your steps will to the dwelling bring,
Where you shall meet the man that wears the ring.
His ftature (keep the picture in your mind)
Is not fix fpans, his head to earth declin'd,
Dark is his tawny fkin, and black his hairs;
On his pale face a bushy beard he wears:
His eyes are fwoln; his fquinting looks afide;
His eye-brows ftaring, and his noftrils wide:
His drefs, which gives you all the man complete, 5IO
Is fhort and ftrait, and for a courier meet.
With him you doubtlefs muft awhile difcourfe
On the strange caftle, and th' enchanter's force.
Then speak your wish to dare th' adventurous deed,
And make in fight the necromancer bleed; 515
But let him no fufpicion entertain
You know the ring that makes enchantments vain.
Soon will he proffer on your way to ride,
And to the rocky mountain be your guide.
Then follow him, and mark my words aright, 520
Soon as the rock appears before your fight,
Your fix'd refolves let no compaffion shake,
But seize the wretch, his forfeit life to take :
For fhould his lips receive the ring, he flies
Involv'd in mift from
Thus fpeaking; to the fhore at length they drew, Where Bourdeaux and Garonna rofe to view; And here, but firft fome tender tears they fhed, They parted as their different purpose led. Duke Amon's daughter, whofe impatient breaft 530 Rogero fill'd, her eager journey press'd, Till at an inn at length fhe ceas'd her way, And faw Brunello there at close of day.
Full well she knew the man fhe fought to find,
So well his form was treafur'd in her mind:
She questions where he goes, and whence he came,
While lyes to all he frames; nor lefs the dame,
Warn'd of his arts, for falfehood, falfehood deals,
Her country feigns, her name and race conceals;
While watchful on his hands her eye fhe bends, 540
And every look, his treachery known, attends.
As thus diftruft on either fide prevails,
A dreadful noife each startled ear affails.
But cease we here, my lord! to tell the cause; And here awhile permit the tale to pause.
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