| ARGUMENT. |
|
Rinaldo his sister to the Child hath plight, And to Marseilles is with the warrior gone: And having crimsoned wide the field in fight, Therein arrives King Otho’s valiant son. To Paris thence: where to that squadron bright Is mighty grace and wonderous honour done. The Child departs, resolved on Leo’s slaughter, To whom Duke Aymon had betrothed his daughter. |
| I. |
In poor abode, mid paltry walls and bare, Amid discomforts and calamities, Often in friendship heart united are, Better than under roof of lordly guise, Or in some royal court, beset with snare, Mid envious wealth, and ease, and luxuries; Where charity is spent on every side, Nor friendship, unless counterfeit, is spied. |
| II. |
Hence it ensues that peace and pact between Princes and peers are of such short-lived wear. To-day king, pope, and emperor leagued are seen, And on the marrow deadly foemen are. Because such is not as their outward mien The heart, the spirit, that those sovereigns bear. Since, wholly careless as to right or wrong, But to their profit look the faithless throng. |
| III. |
Though little prone to friendship is that sort, Because with those she loveth not to dwell, Who, be their talk in earnest or in sport, Speak not, except some cozening tale to tell; Yet if together in some poor resort They prisoned are by Fortune false and fell, What friendship is they speedily discern; Though years had past, and this was yet to learn. |
| IV. |
In his retreat that ancient eremite Could bind his inmates with a faster noose, And in true love more firmly them unite, Than other could in domes where courtiers use; And so enduring was the knot and tight, That nothing short of death the tie could loose. Benignant all the hermit found that crew; Whiter at heart than swans in outward hue. |
| V. |
All kind he found them, and of courteous lore; Untainted with iniquity, in wise Of them I painted, and who nevermore Go forth, unless concealed in some disguise. Of injuries among them done before All memory, by those comrades buried lies: Nor could they better love, if from one womb And from one seed that warlike band had come. |
| VI. |
Rinaldo more than all that lordly train Rogero graced and lovingly caressed; As well because be on the listed plain Had proved the peer so strong in martial gest, As that he was more courteous and humane Than any knight that e’er laid lance in rest: But much more; that to him on many a ground By mighty obligation was he bound. |
| VII. |
The fearful risk by Richardetto run He knew, and how Rogero him bested; What time the Spanish monarch’s hest was done, And with his daughter he was seized in bed; And how he had delivered either son Of good Duke Buovo (as erewhile was said) From Bertolagi of Maganza’s hand, His evil followers, and the paynim band. |
| VIII. |
To honour and to hold Rogero dear, Him, Sir Rinaldo thought, this debt constrained; And that he could not so have done whilere, The warlike lord was sorely grieved and pained; When one for Africk’s monarch couched the spear, And one the cause of royal Charles maintained: Now he Rogero for a Christian knew, What could not then be done he now would do. |
| IX. |
Welcome, with endless proffers, on his side, And honour he to good Rogero paid. The prudent sire that in such kindness spied An opening made for more, the pass assayed: “And nothing else remains,” that hermit cried, “Nor will, I trust, my counsel be gainsaid) But that, conjoined by friendship, you shall be Yet faster coupled by affinity. |
| X. |
“That from the two bright progenies, which none Will equal in illustrious blood below, A race may spring, that brighter than the sun Will shine, wherever that bright sun may glow; And which, when years and ages will have run Their course, will yet endure and fairer show, While in their orbits burn the heavenly fires: So me, for your instruction, God inspires.” |
| XI. |
And his discourse pursuing still, the seer So spake, he moves Rinaldo by his rede To give his sister to the cavalier; Albeit with either small entreaties need. Together with Orlando, Olivier The counsel lauds, and would that union speed: King Charles and Aymon will, he hopes, approve, And France will welcome wide their wedded love. |
| XII. |
So spake together peer and paladine: Nor knew that Aymon, with King Charles’ consent, Unto the Grecian emperor Constantine To give his gentle daughter had intent; Who for young Leo, of his lofty line The heir and hope, to crave the maid had sent. Such warmth the praises of her worth inspired, With love of her unseen was Leo fired. |
| XIII. |
To him hath Aymon answered: he, alone, Cannot conclude thereon in other sort, Until he first hath spoken with his son, Rinaldo, absent then from Charles’s court; Who with winged haste, he deems, will thither run, And joy in kinsman of such high report; But from the high regard he bears his heir, Can nought resolve till thither he repair. |
| XIV. |
Now good Rinaldo, of his father wide, And of the imperial practice knowing nought, Promised his beauteous sister as a bride, Upon his own, as well as Roland’s thought And the others, harboured in that cell beside; But most of all on him the hermit wrought; And by such marriage, ’twas the peer’s belief, He could not choose but pleasure Clermont’s chief. |
| XV. |
That day and night, and of the following day Great part, with that sage monk the warriors spent; Scarce mindful that the crew their coming stay, Albeit the wind blew fair for their intent, But these, impatient at their long delay, More than one message to the warriors sent; And to return those barons urged so sore, Parforce they parted from the hermit hoar. |
| XVI. |
The Child who, so long banished, had not stayed From the lone rock, whereon the waters roared, His farewell to that holy master made, Who taught him the true faith: anew with sword Orlando girt his side, and with the blade, Frontino and martial Hector’s arms restored; As knowing horse and arms were his whilere, As well as out of kindness to the peer; |
| XVII. |
And, though the enchanted sword with better right Would have been worn by good Anglantes’ chief, Who from the fearful garden by his might Had won the blade with mickle toil and grief, Than by Rogero, who that faulchion bright Received with good Frontino, from the thief, He willingly thereof, as with the rest, As soon as asked, the warrior repossest. |
| XVIII. |
The hermit blessings on the band implores: They to their bark in fine return; their sails Give to the winds, and to the waves their oars; And such clear skies they have and gentle gales, Nor vow nor prayer the patron makes; and moors His pinnace in the haven of Marseilles. There, safely harboured, let the chiefs remain, Till I conduct Astolpho to that train. |
| XIX. |
When of that bloody, dear-brought victory The scarcely joyful tale Astolpho knew, He, seeing evermore fair France would be Secure from mischief from the Moorish crew, Homeward to send the king of Aethiopy Devised, together with his army, through The sandy desert, by the self-same track, Through which he led them to Biserta’s sack. |
| XX. |
Erewhile restored, in Afric waters ride Sir Dudon’s ships which did the paynims rout; Whose prows (new miracle!) and poop, and side, As soon as all their sable crews are out, Are changed anew to leaves; which far and wide, Raised by a sudden breeze, are blown about; And scattered in mid-air, like such light gear, Go eddying with the wind, and disappear. |
| XXI. |
Home, horse and foot, the Nubian host arraid By squadrons, all, from wasted Africk go; But to their king, first, thanks Astolpho paid, And said, he an eternal debt should owe; In that he had in person given him aid With all his might and main against the foe. The skins Astolpho gave them, which confined The turbid and tempestuous southern wind. |
| XXII. |
I say, enclosed in skins that wind he gave, Which in such fury blows at noon, on high I moves the shifting plain in many a wave, And fills the eddying sand the troubled sky, To carry with them, and from scathe to save Their squadrons, lest the dusty whirlwind fly; And bids them, when arrived at home, unnoose The bladder’s vent, and let their prisoners loose. |
| XXIII. |
When they have lofty Atlas passes won, The horses that the Nubian riders bear, Turpin relates, are changed at once to stone; So that the steeds return to what they were. But it is time the Duke to France was gone; Who having thus provided, in his care, For the main places in the Moorish land, Made the hippogryph anew his wings expand; |
| XXIV. |
He reached Sardinia at one flight and shear, Corsica from Sardinia; and then o’er The foaming sea his venturous course did steer, Inclining somewhat left the griffin’s soar. In the sea-marshes last his light career He stopt, on rich Provence’s pleasant shore: Where to the hyppogryph by him is done What was erewhile enjoined by sainted John. |
| XXV. |
To him the charge did sainted John commit, When to Provence by that winged courser borne, Him nevermore with saddle or with bit To gall, but let him to his lair return. Already had the planet, whither flit Things lost on earth, of sound deprived his horn: For this not only hoarse but mute remained, As soon as the holy place Astolpho gained. |
| XXVI. |
Thence to Marseilles he came; and came the day Orlando, and Rinaldo, and Olivier Arrived therein, upon their homeward way, With good Sobrino, and the better peer, Rogero: not so triumphs that array, Touched by the death of him, their comrade dear, As they for such a glorious victory won —But for that sad disaster—would have done. |
| XXVII. |
Of the kings slain upon the paynim part, The news from Sicily to Charles were blown, Sobrino’s fate, and death of Brandimart; Nor less of good Rogero had been shown. Charles stood with jocund fate and gladsome heart, Rejoicing he had from his shoulders thrown The intolerable load whereof the weight Will for long time prevent his standing straight. |
| XXVIII. |
To honour those fair pillars that sustain The state—the holy empire’s corner-stone— The nobles of his kingdom Charlemagne Dispatched, to meet the knights, as far as Saone; And from his city with his worthiest train, King, duke, and her, the partner of his throne, Issued amid a fair and gorgeous band Of noble damsels, upon either hand. |
| XXIX. |
The emperor Charles with bright and cheerful brow, Lords, paladins and people, kinsmen, friends, Fair love to Roland and the others show. Mongrana and Clermont’s cry the welkin rends. No sooner, mid that kind and festal show, The interchange of fond embracements ends, Than Roland and his friends Rogero bring, And mid those lords present him to the king; |
| XXX. |
And him Rogero of Risa’s son declare, And vouch in valour as his father’s peer, “Witnesses of his worth our squadrons are, They best can tell his prowess with the spear.” Meanwhile, the noble and the lovely pair, Marphisa and gentle Bradamant appear. This runs to fold Rogero to her heart; More coy, that other stands somedeal apart. |
| XXXI. |
The emperor bids Rogero mount again, Who from his horse had lit, in reverence due; And, side by side, with him his courser rein; Nor aught omits that monarch which may do The warrior honour, mid his martial train: How the true faith he had embraced he knew; Of all instructed by that band before; When first those paladins set foot ashore. |
| XXXII. |
With pomp triumphal and with festive cheer The troop returns within the city-walls: With leaves and garlands green the streets appear, And tapestried all about with gorgeous palls. Of herbs and flowers a mingled rain, where’er They wend, upon the conquering squadron falls, Which with full hands from stand and window throw Damsel and dame upon the knights below. |
| XXXIII. |
At every turn, in various places are, Of sudden structure arch and trophy high, Whereon Biserta’s sack is painted fair, Ruin and fire, and feat of chivalry: Scaffolds, upraised for different sports elsewhere And merrimake and stage-play meet the eye; And, writ with truth, above, below, between, To THE EMPIRE’S SAVIOURS, everywhere is seen. |
| XXXIV. |
With sound of shrilling pipe and trumpet proud, And other festive music, laughter light, Applause and favour of the following crowd, Which scarce found room, begirt with dames and knight, The mighty emperor, mid those greetings loud. Before the royal palace did alight: Where many days he feasted high in hall His lords, mid tourney, mummery, mask and ball. |
| XXXV. |
His son to Aymon on a day made known His sister he would make Rogero’s bride; And, before Olivier and Milo’s son, Her to the Child by promise had affied; Who think with him that kindred is there none Wherewith to league themselves, on any side, For valour or nobility of blood, Better than his; nay, none so passing good. |
| XXXVI. |
Duke Aymon heard his heir with some disdain; That, without concert with him, and alone He dared to plight his daughter, whom he fain Would marry to the Grecian emperor’s son; And not to him that has no kingly reign, Nay has not ought that he can call his own; And should not know, how little nobleness Is valued without wealth; how virtue less. |
| XXXVII. |
But Beatrice, his wife, with more despite Arraigns her son, and calls him arrogant; And moves each open way and hidden sleight To break Rogero’s match with Bradamant; Resolved to tax her every means and might To make her empress of the wide Levant. Firm in his purpose is Montalban’s lord, Nor will in ought forego his plighted word. |
| XXXVIII. |
Beatrice who believes the highminded fair Is at her hest, exhorts her to reply, Rather than she will be constrained to pair With a poor knight, she is resolved to die; Nor, if this wrong she from Rinaldo bear Will she regard her with a mother’s eye: Let her refuse and keep her stedfast course; For her free will Rinaldo cannot force. |
| XXXIX. |
Silent stands mournful Bradamant, nor dares Meanwhile her lady-mother’s speech gainsay; To whom such reverence, and respect, she bears, She thinks no choice is left but to obey. Yet a foul fault it in her eyes appears, If what she will not do, she falsely say: She will not, for she cannot; since above All guidance, great or small, is mighty Love. |
| XL. |
Deny she dared not, nor yet seem content; So, sighed and spake not; but—when uncontrolled She could—she gave her secret sorrow vent, While from her eyes the tears like billows rolled; A portion of the pains that her torment, Inflicting on her breast and locks of gold: For this she beat, and those uptore and brake; And thus she made lament, and thus she spake. |
| XLI. |
“Ah! shall I will what she wills not, by right More sovereign mistress of my will than I? Hers shall I hold so cheaply, so to slight A mother’s will, my own to satisfy? Alas! what blemish is so foul to sight In damsel? What so ill, as to affy Myself to husband, reckless of her will, Which ’tis my duty ever to fulfil? |
| XLII. |
“Wo worth the while! and shall I then to thee By filial love be forced to be untrue, O my Rogero, and surrender me To a new hope, a new love, and a new Desire; or rather from those ties break free, From all good children to good parents due; Observance, reverence cast aside; and measure My duty by my happiness, my pleasure? |
| XLIII. |
“I know, alas! what I should do; I know That which a duteous daughter doth behove; I know; but what avails it, if not so My reason moves me as my senses move; If she retires before a stronger foe; Nor can I of myself dispose, for Love; Nor think how to dispose; so strict his sway; Nor, saving as he dictates, do and say? |
| XLIV. |
“Aymon and Beatrice’s child, the slave Of Love am I; ah! miserable me! I from my parents am in hope to have Pardon and pity, if in fault I be: But, if I anger Love, whose prayer shall save Me from his fury, till one only plea, Of mine the Godhead shall vouchsafe to hear; Nor doom me dead as soon as I appear? |
| XLV. |
“Alas! with long and obstinate pursuit, To our faith to draw Rogero have I wrought; And finally have drawn; but with what boot, If my fair deed for other’s good be wrought? So yearly by the bee, whose labour’s fruit Is lost for her, is hive with honey fraught. But I will die ere I the Child forsake, And other husband than Rogero take. |
| XLVI. |
“If I shall not obey my father’s hest, Nor mothers, I my brother’s shall obey, Of greater wisdom far than them possest; Nor Time hath made that warrior’s wit his prey; And what he wills by Roland is profest; And, one and the other, on my side are they; A pair more feared and honoured far and wide Than all the members of my house beside. |
| XLVII. |
“If them the flower of Clermont’s noble tree, The glory and the splendor all account; If all believe our other chivalry They, more than head o’ertops the foot, surmount; Why would I Aymon should dispose of me, Rather than good Rinaldo and the Count? I should not; so much less, as not affied To Leo, and Rogero’s promised bride.” |
| XLVIII. |
If cruel thoughts the afflicted maid torment, Rogero’s mind enjoys not more repose; For albeit those sad tidings have not vent Yet in the city, he the secret knows. He o’er his humble fortunes makes lament Which his enjoying such a good oppose; As unendowed with riches or with reign, Dispensed so widely to a worthless train. |
| XLIX. |
Of other goods which Nature’s hand supplies, Or which acquired by man’s own study are, He such a portion in himself espies, Such and so large was never other’s share: In that, no beauty with his beauty vies; In that, resistance to his might is rare. The palm by none from him can challenged be, In regal splendour, magnanimity. |
| L. |
But they at whose disposal honours lie, Who give at will, and take away renown; The vulgar herd; and from the vulgar I, Except the prudent man, distinguished none; Nor emperor, pope, nor king, is raised more high Than these by sceptre, mitre, or by crown, Nor save by prudence; save by judgement, given But to the favoured few by partial Heaven; |
| LI. |
This vulgar (to say out what I would say) Which only honours wealth, therewith more smit Than any worldly thing beside, nor they Aught heed or aught esteem, ungraced with it, Be beauty or be daring what it may, Dexterity or prowess, worth, or wit, Or goodness—yet more vulgar stands confest In that whereof I speak than in the rest. |
| LII. |
Rogero said: “If Aymon is disposed An empress in his Bradamant to see, Let not his treaty be so quickly closed With Leo; let a year be granted me: In that, meanwhile, I hope, by me deposed Shall Leo with his royal father be, And I, encircled with their forfeit crown, Shall be for Aymon no unworthy son. |
| LIII. |
“But if he give without delay, as said, His daughter to the son of Constantine, If to that promise no regard be paid, Which good Rinaldo and the paladine, His cousin, erst before the hermit made, The Marquis Olivier and King Sobrine, What shall I do? such grievous wrong shall I Endure, or, rather than endure it, die? |
| LIV. |
“What shall I do? her father then pursue, On whom for vengeance this grave outrage cries? I heed not that the deed is hard to do, Or if the attempt in me is weak or wise:— But presuppose that, with his kindred crew Slain by my hand that unjust elder dies; This will in nothing further my content; Nay it will wholly frustrate my intent. |
| LV. |
“ ’Twas ever my intent, and still ’tis so To have the love, not hatred, of that fair; But should I Aymon slay, or bring some woe By plot or practice, on his house or heir, Will she not justly hold me as her foe, And me, that foeman, as her lord forswear? What shall I do, endure such injury? Ah! no, by Heaven! far rather I will die. |
| LVI. |
“Nay die I will not; but with better right Shall Leo die, who so disturbs my joy; He and his unjust sire; less dear his flight With Helen paid her paramour of Troy; Nor yet in older time that foul despite, Done to Proserpina, cost such annoy To bold Pirithous, as for her I’ve lost My grief of heart shall son and father cost. |
| LVII. |
“Can it be true, my life, that to forsake Thy champion for this Greek should grieve not thee? And could thy father force thee him to take, Though joined thy brethren with thy sire should be? But ’tis my fear that thou would’st rather make Accord withal with Aymon than with me; And that it seemeth better in thy sight To wed with Caesar than with simple wight. |
| LVIII. |
“Can it be true that royal name should blind, Imperial title, pomp and majesty, And taint my Bradamant’s egregious mind, Her mighty valour and her virtue high, So that, as cheaper, she should cast behind Her plighted faith, and from her promise fly? Nor sooner she a foe to Love be made, Than she no longer say, what once she said?” |
| LIX. |
These things Rogero said, and more beside, Discoursing with himself, and in such strain Oftentimes the afflicted warrior cried, That stander-by o’erheard the knight complain, And more than once his grief was signified To her that was the occasion of his pain; Who no less for his cruel woe, when known, Lamented than for sorrows of her own. |
| LX. |
But most, of all the sorrows that were said To vex Rogero, most it works her woe To hear that he afflicts himself, in dread Lest for the Grecian prince she him forego. Hence this belief, this error, from his head To drive, comfort on the knight bestow, The trustiest of her bower-women, one day, She to Rogero bade these words convey. |
| LXI. |
“Rogero, I what I was till death will be; And be more faithful, if I can be more: Deals Love in kindness or in scorn with me; Hath doubtful Fortune good or ill in store; I am a very rock of faith, by sea And winds unmoved, which round about it roar Nor I have changed for calm or storm, nor I Will ever change to all eternity. |
| LXII. |
“Sooner shall file or chisel made of lead To the rough diamond various forms impart, Than any stroke, by fickle Fortune sped, Or Love’s keen anger, break my constant heart: Sooner return, to Alp, their fountain-head, The troubled streams that from its summit part, Than e’er, for change or chances, good or nought, Shall wander from its way my stedfast thought. |
| LXIII. |
“All power o’er me have I bestowed on you, Rogero; and more than others may divine: I know that to a prince whose throne is new Was never fealty sworn more true than mine; Nor ever surer state, this wide world through, By king or keysar was possest than thine. Thou need’st not dig a ditch nor build a tower, In fear lest any rob thee of that power. |
| LXIV. |
“For if thou hire no aids, assault is none, But what thereon shall aye be made in vain; Nor shall it be by any riches won: So vile a price no gentle heart can gain: Nor by nobility, nor kingly crown, That dazzle so the silly vulgar train; Nor beauty, puissant with the weak and light, Shall ever make me thee for other slight. |
| LXV. |
“Thou hast no cause, amid thy griefs, to fear My heart should ever bear new impress more: So deeply is thine image graven here, It cannot be removed: that my heart’s core Is not of wax is proved; for Love whilere Smote it a hundred times, not once, before He by his blows a single scale displaced, What time therein his hand thine image traced. |
| LXVI. |
“Ivory, gem, and every hard-grained stone That best resists the griding tool, may break: But, save the form it once hath taken, none Will ever from the graver’s iron take. My heart like marble is, or thing least prone Beneath the chisel’s trenchant edge to flake: Love this may wholly splinter, ere he may Another’s beauty in its core enlay.” |
| LXVII. |
Other and many words with comfort rife, And full of love and faith, she said beside; Which might a thousand times have given him life, Albeit a thousand times the knight had died: But, when most clear of the tempestuous strife, In friendly port these hopes appeared to ride, These hopes a foul and furious wind anew Far from the sheltering land to seaward blew. |
| LXVIII. |
In that the gentle Bradamant, who fain Would do far more than she hath signified, With wonted daring armed her heart again; And boldly casting all respect aside, One day stood up before King Charlemagne; And, “Sire, if ever yet,” the damsel cried, “I have found favour in your eyes for deed Done heretofore, deny me not its meed; |
| LXIX. |
“And I entreat, before I claim my fee, That you to me your royal promise plight, To grant my prayer; and fain would have you see That what I shall demand is just and right.” “Thy valour, damsel dear, deserves from me The boon wherewith thy worth I should requite” (Charles answered), “and I to content thee swear, Though of my kingdom thou should’st claim a share.” |
| LXX. |
“The boon for which I to your highness sue, Is not to let my parents me accord (Pursued the martial damsel) save he shew More prowess than myself, to any lord. Let him contend with me in tourney, who Would have me, or assay me with the sword. Me as his wife let him that wins me, wear; Let him that loses me, with other pair.” |
| LXXI. |
With cheerful face the emperor made reply, The entreaty was well worthy of the maid; And that with tranquil mind she might rely, He would accord the boon for which she prayed. This audience was not given so secretly, But that the news to others were conveyed; Which on that very day withal were told In the ears of Beatrice and Aymon old; |
| LXXII. |
Who against Bradamant with fury flame, And both alike, with sudden anger fraught, (For plainly they perceive, that in her claim She for Rogero more than Leo wrought) And active to prevent the damsel’s aim From being to a safe conclusion brought, Privily take her from King Charles’s court, And thence to Rocca Forte’s tower transport. |
| LXXIII. |
A castle this, which royal Charlemagne Had given to Aymon some few days before, Built between Carcasson and Perpignan, On a commanding point upon the shore. Resolved to send her eastward, there the twain As in a prison kept her evermore. Willing or nilling, so must she forsake Rogero, and for lord must Leo take. |
| LXXIV. |
The martial maid of no less modest vein Than bold and full of fire before the foe, Albeit no guard on her the castellain Hath set, and she is free to come or go, Observant of her sire, obeys the rein: Yet prison, death, and every pain and woe To suffer is resolved that constant maid Before by her Rogero be betrayed. |
| LXXV. |
Rinaldo, who thus ravished from his hand, By ancient Aymon’s craft his sister spied, And saw he could no more in wedlock’s band Dispose of her, by him in vain affied, Of his old sire complains, and him doth brand, Laying his filial love and fear aside: But little him Rinaldo’s words molest; Who by the maid will do as likes him best. |
| LXXVI. |
Rogero, bearing this and sore afraid That he shall lose his bride; and Leo take, If left alive, by force or love the maid, Resolved within himself (but nothing spake) Constantine’s heir should perish by his blade; And of Augustus him a god would make. He, save his hope deceived him and was vain, Would sire and son deprive of life and reign. |
| LXXVII. |
His limbs in arms, which Trojan Hector’s were, And afterwards the Tartar king’s, he steeled; Bade rein Frontino, and his wonted wear Exchanged, crest, surcoat and emblazoned shield. On that emprize it pleased him not to bear His argent eagle on its azure field. White as a lily, was a unicorn By him upon a field of crimson worn. |
| LXXVIII. |
He chose from his attendant squires the best, And willed none else should him accompany; And gave him charge, that ne’er by him exprest Rogero’s name in any place should be; Crost Meuse and Rhine, and pricked upon his quest Through the Austrian countries into Hungary; Along the right bank of the Danube made, And rode an-end until he reached Belgrade. |
| LXXIX. |
Where Save into dark Danube makes descent, And to the sea, increased by him, doth flow, He saw the imperial ensigns spread, and tent And white pavilion, thronged with troops below. For Constantine to have that town was bent Anew, late won by the Bulgarian foe. In person, with his son, is Constantine, With all the empire’s force his host to line. |
| LXXX. |
Within Belgrade, and through the neighbouring peak, Even to its bottom which the waters lave, The Bulgar fronts him; and both armies seek A watering-place in the intermediate Save. A bridge across that rapid stream the Greek Would fling; the Bulgar would defend the wave; When thither came Rogero; and engaged Beheld the hosts in fight, which hotly raged. |
| LXXXI. |
The Greeks in that affray were four to one, And with pontoons to bridge the stream supplied; And a bold semblance through their host put on Of crossing to the river’s further side. Leo meanwhile was from the river gone With covert guile; he took a circuit wide, Then thither made return; his bridges placed From bank to bank, and past the stream in haste. |
| LXXXII. |
With many horse and foot in battle dight, Who nothing under twenty thousand rank, Along the river rode the Grecian knight; And fiercely charged his enemies in flank. The emperor, when his son appeared in sight. Leading his squadrons on the farther bank, Uniting bridge and bark together, crost Upon his part the stream with all his host. |
| LXXXIII. |
King Vatran, chief of the Bulgarian band, Wise, bold, withal a warrior, here and there Laboured in vain such onset to withstand, And the disorder of his host repair; When Leo prest him sore, and with strong hand The king to earth beneath his courser bare; Whom at the prince’s hest, for all to fierce Is he to yield, a thousand faulchions pierce. |
| LXXXIV. |
The Bulgar host hath hitherto made head; But when they see their sovereign is laid low, And everywhere that tempest wax and spread, They turn their backs where erst they faced the foe. The Child, who mid the Greeks, from whom they fled, Was borne along, beheld that overthrow, And bowned himself their battle to restore, As hating Constantine and Leo more. |
| LXXXV. |
He spurs Frontino, that in his career Is like the wind, and passes every steed; He overtakes the troop, that in their fear Fly to the mountain and desert the mead. Many he stops and turns; then rests his spear; And, as he puts his courser to his speed, So fearful is his look, even Mars and Jove Are frighted in their azure realms above. |
| LXXXVI. |
Advanced before the others, he descried A cavalier, in crimson vest, whereon With all its stalk in silk and gold was spied A pod, like millet, in embroidery done: Constantine’s nephew, by the sister’s side, He was, but was no less beloved than son: He split like glass his shield and scaly rind; And the long lance appeared a palm behind. |
| LXXXVII. |
He left the dead, and drew his shining blade Upon a squadron, whom he saw most nigh; And now at once, and now at other made; Cleft bodies, and made hearts from shoulders fly. At throat, at breast and flank the warrior laid; Smote hand, and arm, and shoulder, bust, and thigh; And through that champaign ran the reeking blood, As to the valley foams the mountain-flood. |
| LXXXVIII. |
None that behold those strokes maintain their place; So are they all bewildered by their fear. Thus suddenly the battle changed its face: For, catching courage from the cavalier, The Bulgar squadrons rally, turn, and chase The Grecian troops that fled from them whilere. Lost was all order in a thought, and they With all their banners fled in disarray. |
| LXXXIX. |
Leo Augustus on a swelling height, Seeing his followers fly, hath taken post; Where woeful and bewildered (for to sight Nothing in all the country round is lost) He from his lofty station eyes the knight, Who with his single arm destroys that host; And cannot choose, though so his prowess harms, But praise that peer and own his worth in arms. |
| XC. |
He knew full well by ensignry displaid, By surcoat and by gilded panoply, That albeit to the foe he furnished aid, That champion was not of his chivalry; Wondering his superhuman deeds surveyed; And now an angel seemed in him to see, To scourge the Greeks from quires above descended, Whose sins so oft and oft had heaven offended; |
| XCI. |
And, as a man of great and noble heart, (Where many others would have hatred sworn) Enamoured of such valour, on his part, Would not desire to see him suffer scorn: For one that died, six Grecians’ death less smart Would cause that prince; and better had he borne To lose as well a portion of his reign, Than to behold so good a warrior slain. |
| XCII. |
As baby, albeit its fond mother beat And drive it forth in anger, in its fear Neither to sire nor sister makes retreat; But to her arms returns with fondling cheer: So Leo, though Rogero in his heat Slaughters his routed van and threats his rear, Cannot that champion hate; because above His anger is the admiring prince’s love. |
| XCIII. |
But if young Leo loved him and admired, Meseems that he an ill exchange hath made; For him Rogero loathed; nor aught desired More than to lay him lifeless with his blade: Him with his eyes he sought; for him inquired; But Leo’s fortune his desire gainsayed; Which with the prudence of the practised Greek, Made him in vain his hated rival seek. |
| XCIV. |
Leo, for fear his bands be wholly spent, Bids sound the assembly his Greek squadrons through: He to his father a quick courier sent, To pray that he would pass the stream anew; Who, if the way was open, well content Might with his bargain he; and with a few Whom he collects, the Grecian cavalier Recrost the bridge by which he past whilere. |
| XCV. |
Into the power o’ the Bulgars many fall, Stalin from the hill-top to the river-side; And they into their hands had fallen all, But for the river’s intervening tide. From the bridge many drop, and drown withal; And many that ne’er turned their heads aside, Thence to a distant ford for safety made; And many were dragged prisoners to Belgrade. |
| XCVI. |
When done was that day’s fight, wherein (since borne To ground the Bulgar king his life did yield) His squadrons would have suffered scathe and scorn, Had not for them the warrior won the field, The warrior, that the snowy unicorn Wore for his blazon on a crimson shield, To him all flock, in him with joy and glee The winner of that glorious battle see. |
| XCVII. |
Some bow and some salute him; of the rest Some kist the warrior’s feet, and some his hand. Round him as closely as they could they prest, And happy those are deemed, that nearest stand; More those that touch him; for to touch a blest And supernatural thing believes the band. On him with shouts that rent the heavens they cried, To be their king, their captain, and their guide. |
| XCVIII. |
As king or captain them will he command As liked them best, he said, but will not lay On sceptre or on leading-staff his hand; Nor yet Belgrade will enter on that day: For first, ere farther flies young Leo’s band, And they across the river make their way, Him will he follow, nor forego, until That Grecian leader he o’ertake and kill. |
| XCIX. |
A thousand miles and more for this alone He thither measured, and for nought beside. He saith; and from the multitude is gone, And by a road that’s shown to him doth ride. For towards the bridge is royal Leo flown; Haply lest him from this the foe divide: Behind him pricks Rogero with such fire, The warrior calls not, nor awaits, his squire. |
| C. |
Such vantage Leo has in flight (to flee He rather may be said than to retreat) The passage open hath he found and free; And then destroys the bridge and burns his fleet. Rogero arrived not, till beneath the sea The sun was hid; nor lodging found; his beat He still pursued; and now shone forth the moon: But town or village found the warrior none. |
| CI. |
Because he wots not where to lodge, he goes All night, nor from his load Frontino frees. When the new sun his early radiance shows, A city to the left Rogero sees; And there all day determines to repose, As where he may his wearied courser ease, Whom he so far that livelong night had pressed; Nor had he drawn his bit, nor given him rest. |
| CII. |
Ungiardo had that city in his guard, Constantine’s liegeman, and to him right dear; Who, since upon the Bulgars he had warred, Much horse and foot had sent that emperor; here Now entered (for the entrance was not barred) Rogero, and found such hospitable cheer, He to fare further had no need, in trace Of better or of more abundant place. |
| CIII. |
In the same hostelry with him a guest Was lodged that evening a Romanian knight; Present what time the Child with lance in rest Succoured the Bulgars in that cruel fight; Who hardly had escaped his hand, sore prest And scared as never yet was living wight; So that he trembled still, disturbed in mind, And deemed the knight of the unicorn behind. |
| CIV. |
He by the buckler knew as soon as spied The cavalier, whose arms that blazon bear, For him that routed the Byzantine side; By hand of whom so many slaughtered were. He hurried to the palace, and applied For audience, weighty tidings to declare; And, to Ungiardo led forthwith, rehearsed What shall by men in other strain be versed. |