"ORLANDO ENRAGED" "FIFTH PART" "The period so prefixt o'erpast by one," "By two, three, six, by eight, by twenty days" "I seeing not Roger, and tidings none" "Receiving of the youth, laments 'gin raise," "I smite my eyes divine, and bosoms fair;" "I rend the tresses of my golden hair." "Can it be true?" "(I cry) Shall I be fain" "To follow one, that strives to hide and fly?" "Esteem a man that has me in disdain?" "Pray him that never hears my suppliant cry?" "Bradamant, from the hostile camp, where lay" "King Agramant, cometh a Gascon knight," "A prisoner to those paynims, from the day," "That fought nigh Paris was the famous fight." "Hear news of Rogero, the cavalier:" "How in the Moorish camp a damsel lies," "By name Marphisa hight, of beauteous cheer," "Bold and as skilled in arms of every guise," "Who loves Rogero and to him is dear;" "And then the host so rarely sundered spies," "That every one, throughout the paynim train," "Deems that betrothed in wedlock are the twain." "Mother dear, if that be true which I heard" "I must needs suffer such tormenting pain," "Such cruel woe is in my bosom stirred," "From falling I preserve myself with pain." "Resolved to die, from all delay untied," "I am filled with disdain, by passion warmed," "To my left breast my cold sword is applied;" "Thy faithful Hippalca is at thy side," "With these persuasive words be fury charmed:" "O lady, born to such illustrious name!" "Would'st thou conclude thy life with such foul shame?" "Were it not better to the field to go," "Where aye thy breath with glory may be spent?" "There, should Rogero chance to lay thee low," "He to have slain thee haply may repent;" "But, should his faulchion deal the mortal blow," "What death could ever yield thee more content?" "Haply of that Marphisa, too, before" "Thou die, thou yet may deadly vengeance take," "Who with dishonest love and treacherous lore" "Did thy beloved Rogero's fealty shake." "This seems to please me, dear Hippalca, more," "And a mantle for my arms I bid make." "My vest be of that colour which is spied" "In leaf, when gray and yellow are at strife;" "When it is gathered from the branch, or dried" "Is the green blood, that was it's parent's life." "Bradamant sends on a horse a maiden, Flordelis, to defy Rogero on her behalf." "She is determined to win him back, kill Marphisa, or die." "One would in combat prove his chivalry," "And to the world at large would fain make clear" "Thy breach of faith with him." "A knight is he." "Indeed I stand confused;" "I find no end" "To my perplexing thoughts, and cannot see" "Who should defy me, who that message send," "Who is the knight, that on the martial plain" "The manage of the lance so quaintly knows?" "To me (for I his open face descried)," "Rinaldo's youthful brother seemed the knight." "I ween it is his sister, who, I hear," "Resembles much in mien that martial peer." "But while upon Bradamant's praise she dwells," "Anon my face is flushed with crimson hue," "And my heart throbs, nor know I what to do." "I do desire to meet the stranger wight," "And armed withal (for, save in iron vest," "Me seldom would you find by day or night)." "I leap upon my horse, and thither hie" "To Aymon's daughter on the listed plain." " Who then art thou?" " I am proud Marphisa." "I crave this damsel's name before we move," "And hear that it is she who joys my love:" "Me to Death's door my anger would now bring," "Unless I venged my sorrow on my foe." "I with the lance will pierce thee in mid breast," "And put my every jealousy at rest." "Parforce to ground must go the royal maid," "To prove it hard or soft the listed plain," "Scarce am I thrown, before I bare my blade," "To avenge the stain, maddened by disdain." "But I cry to thee, no less proud of heart," "What art thou doing?" "Thou my prisoner art." "Though I have courtesy for others, none," "I say, from me, Marphisa, shalt thou find." "Since evermore I hear of thee, as one" "To pride and every churlishness inclined." "Screaming I whirl my faulchion, and would fain" "Wound horse or rider in the paunch or breast;" "But I, Bradamant, rather pull thy hair." "Than cleave thee with sword or pierce thee with spear." "I hardly touch the damsel, ere, astound," "Marphisa falls, reversed upon the ground." "I here, not there, amid the medley fly," "Hoping to see the youth for whom I sigh." "Shall then another kiss those lips so bright" "And sweet, if those fair lips are lost to me?" "Ah!" "never other shall in thee delight;" "For if not mine, no other's shalt thou be." "Rather than die alone and of despite," "I with this hand will slay myself and thee," "Rogero, I will die, or in that just" "Will put to death Marphisa, I rage so," "But think her head to sever from the bust," "Where it half buried lies, with murderous blow." "Thou art too slow withal; for on my feet thou findest me now, with such fierce disdain" "I hear in vain exclaim, in vain entreat." "Both maids are loved, but not alike are dear" "To me." "For this my love is fury, fire;" "For that 'tis rather fondness than desire." "So blinded are the pair with spite and rage," "That they with desperate fury battle wage." "Although I both implore with earnest suit," "Thou dost entreat us twain with little fruit." "I cease not from my task;" "oft it is caught," "By hand or arm, the fiercely struggling pair," "Till to the utmost pitch of fury wrought" "Against thee now my angry passions flare." "Plucked from my foe, I run to seize my sword," "And fasten next upon thee, youthful lord." "With fey voice, I exclaim:" "your quarrel leave;" "For 'twere a deed unjust and inhumane," "That brother should of life his sister reave," "Or sister by her brother's hand be slain." "Seed of one father, on one womb ye lay;" "And first together saw the light of day." "Know Rogero what I already knew:" "Agramant's uncle, sire, and grandsire fell," "In treacherous wise, and first thy father slew" "And abused thy mother Galacielle." "Atlantes, witness of your case, was I" "So Heaven had willed, and such your destiny!" "Ye, twice ten months, with mickle fondness bred," "Whom from her paps milky lioness fed." "One day an Arab clan was on its way" "Those robbers thee, Marphisa, bore away:" "Bereaved of thee, the woeful loss I wept," "And with more watchful care thy brother kept." "Ere I die, Heaven willed that, prepared to strive," "Rogero and his sister should arrive." "Gladly a sister in Marphisa queen," "Rogero, thou in him a brother know;" "Do now embrace, nor move her jealous spleen," "But let whose love of young Rogero glow;" "King, by thy uncle, sire, and grandsire, fell" "My parents Rogero and Galacielle," "I am convicted of too foul a wrong," "In leaving thus my sire unvenged so long." "I could not in thy sire and uncle twain" "As dead whilere, my thirsty faulchion plant," "By me those monarch's child ought to be slain:" "I mean thee, who livest, King Agramant!" "Unaware I spared thee, and as my lord obey;" "Lodge in thy court, and serve thee for thy pay!" "Here heartily in face of Heaven I vow," "That Christ my father worshipped, to adore;" "I doff now this armour as of my foe." "Nor shall I swell the squadrons of the Moor." "Or other follower of the Moslem faith," "Save sword in hand, and to the paynim's scathe." "Riding on the hyppogryph," "Astolpho has crossed the skies and dismounted on the moon." "The English duke decides to explore the satellite, and crawls into one of the craters, where he has an unexpected encounter." "Thou, from whose reverend face such glory beams" "Of the elect of Heaven art, meseems?" "I am who THE HOLY GOSPEL composed;" "He of our Lord so loved, the blessed John;" "I wrote the fierce Apocalypse, tis' known." "To you, though come from France, may be unknown" "What there hath happened, my son, and is said." "He, your Orlando, at his birth endowed" "With sovereign daring and with sovereign might," "Because he was selected from the crowd" "To be defender of his Church's right." "As he elected Sampson, called whilere" "The Jew against the Philistine to cheer;" "He, your Orlando, for such gifts has made" "Unto his heavenly Lord an ill return:" "Love blinded him for a fair paynim maid." "Hence God hath made him mad, and, in this vein," "Belly, and breast, and naked flesh expose;" "And so diseased and troubled is his brain," "That none, and least himself, the champion knows," "Hither thou didst come that you should explore," "Orlando's missing senses to restore." "Leading me, thou disciple of our Lord," "Thy way towards a narrow place pursuest." "A place wherein is wonderfully stored" "Whatever on our earth below we lose." "Collected there are all things whatsoe'er," "Lost through time, chance, or our own folly, here." "The lover's tears and sighs;" "what time in pleasure" "And play we here unprofitably spend;" "To this, of ignorant men the eternal leisure," "Empty desires so far exceed all measure," "They o'er that valley's better part extend." "This is of sense, whereof a lofty mount" "Alone surpast all else which I recount." "The fullest vessel and of amplest round" "Which holds the wit Orlando erst possessed," "Take and, from these bright spheres, now earthward" "Thy course be to your lower orb addressed," "Who is the savage man, so strong of hand, who naked and sole troubles all the band?" "The naked savage whirls a sapling round," "So hard, so heavy, and so strong of grain," "That every time the weapon goes to ground," "Some warrior, more than maimed, falls on the plain." "Friends, I now view the furious man in front;" "And cry to all of you, "Behold the count!"" "How from long self-neglect, while wild he ran," "Hath in his visage more of beast than man." "With heart transfixed, bathed with many a tear," "I say, my brothers, "Orlando is here."" "And, seeing him in such a piteous plight" "Fills us with grief and wonder at the sight." "`Tis time, I Astolpho cry... to find art" "To heal him, not indulge in useless woe." "All leap to ground, and all together make" "At Roland, whom we warriors must needs take!" "I many a hawser make you thither bring," "And running knots, let them be quickly tied;" "Which on the count's waist, arms, and legs, we fling;" "And then, among ourselves, the ends divide," "Seven times now I shall make them wash the knight;" "So that they cleanse away the scurf and blight." "This done, with herbs, for that occasion dight," "They stop his mouth, wherewith he puffs and blows." "My right hand has meanwhile prepared the vase" "Wherein Orlando's senses are contained," "And to his nostrils in such mode conveys," "That, drawing-in his breath, the county drained" "The mystic cup withal." "Oh wondrous case!" "He turns his restless eyes now up now down," "Nor where he is withal, imagines aught," "Marvelling why he there is naked cast," "And wherefore tethered, neck and heels, so fast." "SOLVITE ME, with visage so serene," "With look so much less wayward than ahead," "That him we from his bonds deliver clean," "And raiment on the naked warrior spread;" "All comforting our friend, with grief opprest" "For that delusion which had him possest." "We first to put the Saracens to flight," "And raise the siege of Paris, will assay," "Nor assault of their cantonments will delay" "I, Orlando, come to the Moorish camp," "With me are Brandimart and Rinaldo," "Gryphon, Aquilant, Astolpho, Guido." "Now we all assault king Agramant's tents." "We slaughter all, nor grant one paynim grace;" "I now on this, O peers!" "your counsel crave." "If, bootless, homeward I should wend my way," "Or should not such a fair adventure wave," "Till Charles with me a prisoner I convey;" "Who can advise, is prayed his lore to shew," "That we may learn the best, and that pursue." "The king on thee, Marsilius, seated nigh" "Next turns his eyes, who dost in the sign read," "That it belongs to thee to make reply" "To what the king of Africa hath said." "To king Agramant let it be replied," "Proving by this and other argument," "Our Moorish squadrons shall in France abide," "Till Charlemagne is into exile sent." "To king Marsilius I express dissent:" "You homeward with what haste you may to steer," "I counsel, your assembled bands among;" "For little is the wisdom of that wight," "Who risks his own to gain another's right." "If there be gain, ye know, late thirty-two," "Your vassal kings, with you our sails we spread;" "Now, if we pause to sum the account anew," "Hardly a third survives;" "the rest are dead." "Orlando's return so far aids us not." "Behold Rinaldo!" "Whom his deeds declare" "No less than bold Orlando thus to be." "And wild Guido with paladin and peer," "Our baffled Saracens' eternal fear;" "Yet there's a remedy in peace; which, so" "It pleases but yourself, will please the foe." "Meseemeth, if to you it seemeth good," "Ye should propose to Charles the war to end;" "He, by a knight of yours to be withstood," "A champion, chosen from his best should send;" "And those two all the warfare wage alone," "Till one prevails, and one is overthrown;" "A champion who would prevail in our right" "Though Mars himself should be his opposite." "If Roland is to be defied, more due" "The battle is to me, I thus reply." "Follow my mode; another mode and new," "Which comes into my mind so let us try." "Let both of us together wage this fight" "Against Orlando and another knight." "So not left out, I care not, if I be" "The first or last, proud Gradasso:" "I know" "In arms no better can I find than thee," "Though I should seek a comrade, high or low." "And what, my liege lord, what becomes of me?" "I should be more expert if old in show;" "And evermore in peril it is good," "Force should have Counsel in his neighbourhood." "Stricken in years, yet vigorous thou art, sage," "And well hast proved thyself with sword and spear;" "I own thy claim, and for an embassage" "Forthwith a courier find, then bid him steer" "For Africa, where camped the Christians lie," "And Count Orlando on their part defy." "To honour those fair pillars that sustain" "The state, the holy empire's corner-stone," "The nobles I gather under my reign," "Called amid a fair and gorgeous band" "Of noble damsels, upon either hand." "The emperor Charles with bright and cheerful brow," "Lords, paladins and people, kinsmen, friends," "Fair love to Roland and the others show." "Thus interchange of fond embracements ends." "I with Roland and friends Rogero bring," "And mid these lords present him to thee, king;" "I am Rogero of Risa's son, king fair," "And vouch in valour as my father's peer," "Witnesses of my worth your squadrons are," "They best can tell my prowess with the spear." "Kneeling before thee, in reverence due," "So the true faith I will embrace anew." "I am with her the second of the twain:" "She is Marphisa, so in arms renowned," "Who from Catay unto the bounds of Spain" "Hath journeyed, with a thousand laurels crowned." "Hearken, the Christian faith I will receive," "And, after having spent king Agramant," "Will home return, with royal Charles's leave," "My kingdom to baptize in the Levant." "Bishops be gathered, learned clerks, I say." "That taught be in Christian faith by their care," "Rogero and Marphisa, martial fair." "In sacred stole, pontifical, arraid," "Them I, archbishop Turpin, do baptize;" "From the healthful font, cavalier and maid" "I uplift with befitting ceremonies." "O Charles Emperor, from Agramant King" "I come before thee and a challenge bring." "Through my mouth, if to thee it seemeth good," "My king proposeth, Charles, the war to end." "He by three knights of thine to be withstood," "Three champions, chosen from his best should send;" "And those six all the warfare wage alone," "Till one prevails, and one is overthrown;" "On pact the king, whose champion in the just" "Is loser, tribute to that other pay." "I accept the challenge that Agramant" "King through thy mouth, o soldier, did proclaim." "Orlando and Brandimart will, I grant," "With Rinaldo go and triumph obtain." "He chooses proud Orlando for the just," "Next to Rinaldo in his sovereign's trust." "And Brandimart is the third to the fight." "They swiftly have their limbs in harness dight." "I, Gradasso and Sobrino at dawn" "Once more to Paris shall speed and press on." "Against the day of fight, in goodly gear" "And new, those warriors seek their limbs to deck." "Blazoned upon Orlando's shield appear" "The burning bold and lofty Babel's wreck." "A lyme-dog argent on Rinaldo's gear," "Couchant, and with the leash upon his neck." "Bold Brandimart designes upon the day" "Of battle, for his royal father's sake" "And his own honour, no device more gay" "Than a dim surcoat to the field to take." "Here by me, Flordelice, for that dark array," "Is wrought the fairest facing I can make." "With costly jewels is the border sown;" "Sable the vest, and of one piece alone." "Why, from that day when thou didst start this task," "Didst show no sign of gladness; nor this while," "Nor after, wert thou ever seen to smile?" "By heartfelt fear, by torment evermore" "Of losing Brandimart I am pursued." "I thee whilere a hundred times and more" "Engaged in fierce and fearful fight have viewed;" "Nor ever suchlike terror heretofore" "Hath blanched my cheek and froze my youthful blood;" "And this new sense of fear raiseth my trouble," "And maketh my trembling heart beat double." "Faithful and beloved wife, I thee caress" "And kiss a thousand times, or little less." "Now point device we three accoutred are." "We needs must leave, o faithful bride so dear." "I, Flordelice, so pricked at heart with fear," "Filling the heavens with vow, lament and prayer," "As far as he by sight can followed be," "Follow the knight, with turmoil within me." "When they encounter in mid field, pell-mell," "And to the sky flew every shivered lance," "Agramant and Rinaldo meet as well;" "And fairly balanced may appear the chance," "Sobrino at Orlando smites; but vain" "Against the valiant count is every blow;" "To whom, for special grace, the King of heaven" "A body charmed against all arms had given." "The valorous count, redoubling still his blows," "Thinks from the trunk the monarch's head to smite." "Sobrino, who the strength of Clermont knows," "And how the shield ill boots, retires from fight," "Yet not so far, but that upon his brows" "Falls the dread faulchion of Anglantes' knight:" "The paladin believes the warfare o'er," "And that deprived of life Sobrino lies;" "And, lest Agramant to ill pass and sore" "Should bring Sir Rinaldo, at him he flies," "Between those conflicts places himself, that where" "It most is needed, he may succour bear." "He splits the plate, and to the bottom rends," "And on the shoulder underneath descends." "Now Brandimart, that upon earth descried" "The king Sobrine, assailed no more his man;" "But at Gradasso, who Anglantes' pride" "Had equally unhorsed, in fury ran." "Gradasso has Brandimart all disarmed;" "I can see him, extended on the sand," "Slain by the stroke of fierce Gradasso's brand." "In my fury grasp I, Anglantes' knight," "And wreak on Agramant my first despite." "Onto thee now I come and smite thee just" "Where with the helmed head confines the bust." "Hast the headless trunk of Africk's cavalier" "Extended on the shore, sir knight, thou viewed?" "What stroke, by which a warrior is undone," "Better than whom in Paynimry was none." "And, with a face disturbed, and wet with tears," "To my Brandimart in haste I quickly go;" "The field about him red with blood appears," "His helmet cleft as by a hatchet's blow;" "Cleft even to his nose, between the eyes;" "Yet so I am still by my spirits manned," "That pardon of the king of Paradise" "I, before death, am able to demand," "And, Roland, in thy helping orisons, I" "Beseech thee to remember me, I cry," "Nor recommend to thee less warmly my " "Flordelice would, but could not, say... and die;" "Thou, my devout friend, it is certified" "That called to bliss above art, Brandimart;" "For heaven opened to my eye is described;" "Through human wilfulness which aye takes part" "With our weak senses, hardly can abide" "The loss of one, above a brother dear," "Nor can refrain from many a scalding tear." "The useful and the glorious deed is done;" "Were slain those paynim kings in the career," "But was a hard and bloody conquest won:" "Dead is Sir Brandimart, knight without fear." "From tears I can not mournfully refrain," "Having just heard what by thee hath been said" "How in the battle Brandimart was slain." "Such love, such faith endeared the warrior dead." "At the fair conquest won by thy own blade," "Roland, all we paladins make great cheer;" "Yet other mirth we warriors would have made" "Had Brandimart not perished;" "when 'tis clear" "That he is dead, our joy is so allayed" "We can no more the troubled visage clear." "Which of us now the tidings of such woe" "To the unhappy Flordelice shall show?" "Then I shall go to Flordelice tonight" "And bring to her sad tidings from the fight." "The night preceding this ill-omened day" "I dreamed and saw the vest of sable grain" "That I had made, my husband to array," "And woven with my hand and worked with pain," "Before my eyes all sprinkled-over lay" "With ruddy drops, in guise of pattering rain." "O ye, who enter, as I see no show" "Of joyful triumphs, I, without a word," "Without a hint to indicate that woe," "Know that no longer living is my lord." "And so is every other sense astound" "That, like one dead, I sink upon the ground." "Let here beside white friars, and black, and gray," "With other clerks, by two and two arrayed," "Behind in long procession take their way;" "By them be God for the departed prayed," "That He may to his rest his soul convey." "Him in the church now place;" "and when with vain" "Lament the women have bemoaned the dead," "And Kyrie Eleison, by the priestly train," "And other holy orisons are said," "In a fair ark, be placed on columns twain." "Do build in that fair sepulchre a cell;" "There shut myself;" "therein for life to dwell." "Let rich and royal nuptials us prepare" "As well befits him, by whose care 'tis done," "I, Charles, do them;" "and with such cost and care" "As if 'twere for a daughter of my own." "For such the merits of Bradamant are," "And such had all her martial kindred shown," "That I should not think I should exceed due measure" "If spent for her was half my kingdom's treasure." "Done is the wedding, at their festive cheer" "Is seated solemnly the assembled band," "Where at my left hand is placed the wedded peer," "And Bradamant upon my better hand," "Across the fields an armed cavalier," "Of semblance haughty, and of stature grand," "Why dost thou ride towards the royal table," "Thyself and courser wholly clothed in sable?" "Thou neither light'st from thy horse, nor bow'st" "Thy head; and, without sign of reverence due," "Thy scorn for Charlemagne by gestures show'st," "And the high presence of so fair a crew." "Before Charles and Rogero I recite," "With a loud voice, and in proud accent:" "I" "Am Rodomont of Sarza, the fierce knight," "Who thee, Rogero, to the field defy;" "And here, before the sun withdraws his light," "Will prove on thee thine infidelity;" "And that thou, as a traitor to thy lord," "Deserv'st not any honour at this board." "With the leave of Charles, to answer I rise" "That thou, nor thou alone." "but every one," "Who thus impeaches me as a traitor, lies;" "That so I by my king hath ever done," "Me none can justly blame; and on my side," "I am prepared in listed field to shew" "I evermore by him have done my due." "With spurs I, Roland, deck thee, youthful lord," "And I King Charles begird thee with the sword." "Marphisa and I, my lord, in corslet case" "Thy breast, and clothe thee in thy other gear." "And then I lead thy horse of noble race:" "I, Dudon, to hold thy stirrup come near." "Oh!" "in my love for him, how willingly" "I battle for Rogero would have done!" "More than one death would I consent to die," "If I withal could suffer more than one," "Rather than I in this unhappy strife" "Would see my cherished consort risk his life." "Prayer availeth not to leave to thee the quest:" "Stand by to view our pair to fight addrest." "So here so there Rogero plied his sword," "He more than once the paynim's armour bored." "The paynim, whose in shivers flew the brand" "Is in the combat left with unarmed hand," "Flings down his shield, and with both hands outright" "Lays at Rogero's helm with all his might." "Who by the neck is caught with mighty force," "He falls on earth, pulled headlong from his horse." "Rogero, quickly to revenge the affront," "Clutch thy sharp sword and face proud Rodomont!" "And twice sore anguish feels the monarch, gored" "In flank and thigh, by good Rogero's sword." "Such was the shock wherewith King Rodomont" "With battered head and spine the champion smote," "That, issuing from thy wounds as from a font," "Streams of red blood the crimsoned herbage float." "And smiting twice or thrice his horrid front," "Raising as high as he could raise in air" "Thy dagger, bury it in Rodomont;" "And free thyself withal from further care." "Loosed from the more than icy corse, to font" "Of fetid Acheron, and hell's foul repair," "Thou, indignant spirit, flee, blaspheming loud;" "Erewhile on earth so haughty and so proud."