While some he deeply wounded, fome he flew,

Then o'er the bridge with fpeed impetuous flew ; 500
And foon was diftant far, ere fpreading fame
Could to Alcina's ear his flight proclaim.

Th' ensuing book shall tell what course he past, Till he to Logistilla came at laft.

END OF THE SEVENTH BO O K.

THE

EIGHTH BOOK

OF

ORLANDO FURIOSO.

THE ARGUMEN T.

ROGERO makes his escape from Alcina, and travels towards the country of Logistilla. Rinaldo leaves Scotland, and arrives in England, where he obtains fuccours from the regent to be transported to the affiftance of Charlemain. Angelica is carried by magic art to a defolate ifland, where she is cast into a deep fleep by a hermit: from this place fhe is taken away by mariners to be devoured by a fea-monfter. Orlando, difturbed with a dream, quits the city of Paris, then befieged by Agramant, and goes out, disguised, in search of his mistress.

THE

EIGHT H. BOOK

O F

ORLANDO FURIOSO.

WH

HAT ftrange enchanters in our times
abound!

What strange enchantreffes alike are found!
Who changing features with deceitful art,
Of either sex entrap th' unwary heart:

Nor do they work these wonders on the mind,

5

By influence of the stars, or sprites confin'd;
But with diffimulation, fraud, and lyes,
They bind it with indiffoluble ties!

He, who from fortune can fuch grace obtain,

The ring of fair Angelica to gain,

Or rather that of reafon, fhall display

Their foul difguifes to the face of day.

IQ

Ver. 11. Or rather that of reafon, ] The allegory is here plainly opened by the poet.

How bleft Rogero then! whofe ring difpell'd
Each error that his foul had prifoner held.

Rogero, as my tale before declar'd,
With Rabican came arm'd before the guard;
And when all unprovided these he spy'd,
Kept not his weapon idle by his fide.
Ere far he rode the diftant wood to gain,
He met a fervant of Alcina's train:
With ready falcon on his fift he came,
As wont each day to fcour the field for
Oft to a neighbouring lake he let him fly;
The country round could store of prey supply.
He rode a palfrey, not with trappings gay;
His faithful dog companion of his way.
Soon as he saw Rogero's fpeed, his mind
Alcina's fugitive in him divin'd:

game:

15

20

25

Ver. 20. He met a fervant-] This paffage, confidered literally, has fomething odd in it; neither is the allegory of the servant, horse, dog, and falcon, very obvious. An Italian commentator thus explains it.

"The four animals that attack Rogero, are the four paffions that govern the foul: the fervant denotes fear; the bird, defire; the dog, grief; and the palfrey, joy. The fhield fignifies that the paffions are to be conquered by oppofing to them their contraries."

6

Advancing