Till, near the king arriv'd, his course he ftay'd;
All liftening round to hear the words he faid.
My noble lord, (the champion thus began)
The hands of yonder combatants restrain.
Whoe'er fhall perish in the doubtful ftrife,
Muft undeferv'd resign a noble life.
One thinks himself by justice only led,
But treafon o'er his sense a mist has spread:
That fatal error which his brother flew,
Himself to brave the dangerous combat drew:
The other knows not yet if wrong or right
Attend his cause, but iffues to the fight,
The courteous prowefs of his arms to try,
Rather than let fuch matchlefs beauty die.
Lo! here I come to give the guiltlefs aid,
Avenging on the traitor, the betray'd:
But first, bid each awhile his rage forbear,
Then audience give to what I shall declare.
The king was mov'd with what Rinaldo faid, 575 Both by his words and noble prefence sway'd; Then, ftretching out his hand, commands the peace, And bids awhile the combatants to cease: When to the king, and barons of the land, The knights, and populace on either hand,
Rinaldo all the subtle fnare display'd
By Polineffo for Geneura laid.
The tale explain'd, he offer'd with his fword
Ev'n there to prove the truth of every word.
Now Polineffo, fummon'd to the place,
Appear'd with deep confufion in his face;
But yet with boldness he the fact deny'd:
Soon fhall we (faid Rinaldo) this decide.
Thus, ready arm'd, the lift prepar'd in view,
They both, without delay, to combat drew. 590
What transport to the king, and all the land,
To hear Geneura's innocence maintain'd!
Each hop'd, that GOD would openly proclaim
How falfehood had defac'd her spotless name.
The duke was known for every treacherous art, 595
Unjuft, and cruel, fraudulent of heart,
That none could wonder such a villain's mind,
A fnare fo horrid and fo black defign'd!
Now Polineffo ftands with fear confeft,
With bloodlefs visage, and with panting breast. 600
Thrice founds the trump, and at the warning blaft,
His lance in reft the trembling traitor plac'd.
On t'other hand Rinaldo came, and try'd
At one fierce course the conflict to decide.
Nor err'd the weapon from the knight's intent, 605
But through the traitor's panting bofom went:
Pierc'd through and through, he, by the dreadful
force,
Was borne to earth fix feet beyond his horfe.
Rinaldo now dismounts; and, as he lies,
Swift from the helpless wretch his helm unties. 610
But he, unable more to wage the war,
For mercy then prefers his humble prayer;
And to the king, and court on every fide,
Confefs'd the fraud for which he justly dy'd.
While yet with weak and faltering words he spoke,
His utterance fail'd, and life his limbs forfook. 616
The king rejoic'd his much-lov'd child to fee
From threaten'd death, and ignominy free.
Not with fuch transport (had some hoftile power
Driv'n him an exile from his native fhore)
Had he his crown regain'd; and hence he gave
Diftinguifh'd honours to Rinaldo brave.
But when, his helmet rais'd, he knew the knight,
(A face before no ftranger to his fight)
With lifted hands his thanks to Heaven he paid, 625 That fent fo fam'd a champion to his aid.
The knight, who first t' affist Geneura came, (Unknown to all his country and his name)
Who, arm'd in her defence, had fought the field,
Remain'd apart; and all that pass'd, beheld.
But now the king defir'd his name to know,
And begg'd him from his cafque his face to fhow;
That as his generous purpose claim'd regard,
He might with royal gifts fuch worth reward.
At length, with much entreaty, from his head 635
He rais'd his helmet, and to fight display'd
What in th' ensuing book we fhall reveal,
If grateful to your ear appears my tale.
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