GIFT OF 
 SEELET W. MUDD 
 
 and 
 
 GEORGE I. COCHRAN MEYER ELSASSER 
 DR. JOHN R. HAYNES WILLIAM L. HONNOLD 
 JAMES R. MARTIN MRS. JOSEPH F. SARTORI 
 
 to the 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 SOUTHERN BRANCH 
 
 JOHN FISKE
 
 UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 LIBRARY
 
 THE 
 
 ENCHANTED LAKE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FAIRY MORGANA. 
 
 "B 
 
 FROM THE ORLANDO INAMORATO OF 
 FRANCESCO BERNI. 
 
 NEW-YORK: 
 
 PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY ISAAC RILEY AND CO. 
 
 1806. 
 
 3420 2
 
 
 f > o? TJ] 
 
 Ne A'-York, 5 ' IJ twendeth day of May, in the thirtieth year 
 of the Independence of the United States of America, RICHARD 
 ALSOP, of jhe said District, hath deposited in this Office, the 
 Title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as Author, in the 
 words following, to wit : 
 
 " The Enchanted Lake of the Fairy Morgana, from the Or- 
 " lando Inamorato of Francesco Berni." 
 
 IN CONFORMITY to the Act of the Congress of the United 
 States, entitled " An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, 
 " by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Au- 
 " thors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the time therein 
 " mentioned." 
 
 EDWARD DUNSCOMB, 
 Clerk of the District of New-York,
 
 3 
 
 E5A5 
 
 P R E F A C 
 
 X HE Orlando Inamorato, from which the fol 
 lowing beautiful allegorical story is taken, is one 
 of the most celebrated poems of Italy and rivals in 
 popularity the Furioso of the immortal Ariosto. 
 
 This singular production was originally written by 
 Matteo Maria Boiardo, count of Scandiano, a place 
 dependent on the dutchyof Ferrara, and published in 
 1496, two years after the death of its author. Though 
 Boiardo is admitted to have possessed an uncommon 
 brilliancy of imagination, and a happy talent for in 
 vention, yet his work appears to have been little 
 more than a compilation (principally from the fabu 
 lous chronicle of Turpin) of the various popular tales 
 relative to the Paladins, or peers of Charlemagne, con 
 nected and enlivened by additions of his own invention, 
 and rendered in some degree conducive to the general 
 action, or actions of the poem. It is, however, princi 
 pally indebted for its high reputation to the labours of 
 FR A N c E s c o BE R N i ,a cotemporary of Ariosto,who im 
 proved and polished the style, harmonized the versifi-
 
 IV 
 
 cation, added many stanzas and moral reflections, and 
 as the title expresses, recast it, and has thus con 
 verted the rude structure of Boiardo into a magnifi 
 cent Gothic edifice, which cannot fail of impressing 
 the mind with wonder and delight, though the com 
 ponent parts are deficient in proportion, and frequent 
 ly exhibit a strange and discordant mixture of mate 
 rials. 
 
 This poem is of great length, consisting of three 
 books, subdivided into numerous cantos. Its prin 
 cipal subject is the achievements of the celebra 
 ted Orlando, performed for the love of Angelica, 
 daughter of Galaphron king of Cathay, and the adven 
 tures of the most renowned Paladins and distinguished 
 Saracen knights, whose names are rendered familiar 
 to the reader of English poetry by Mr. Hoole's 
 well-known version of Ariosto. It contains three 
 distinct epic actions ; the siege of Albracca, by 
 Agrican king of Tartan 7 , a rejected suitor of Angeli 
 ca the invasion of France by Gradasso, king of 
 Sericana, in order to obtain Rinaldo's horse and the 
 sword of Orlando ; and lastly, that of the same country 
 by Agrimant, emperor of Africa, and Marsilius, king 
 of Spain. This last adventure constitutes the princi 
 pal subject of the Furioso of Ariosto, who has con 
 tinued and brought it to a conclusion from the Inamo-
 
 rato, in which it is left imperfect. These different ac 
 tions are interspersed with a great variety of separate 
 adventures and stories in the manner of the Furioso, 
 but less connected with the principal subject, and 
 much more extravagant than those contained in that 
 work. 
 
 Though, considered as a poem, the Inamorato is, in 
 every respect, far inferior to the Furioso, yet it is cer 
 tainly a very interesting, and it may be truly added a 
 fascinating production. Its style, variety of adven 
 tures, allusions to common life, mixture of comic 
 humour, occasional display of vulgar manners, and 
 even its extravagance, are admirably adapted to ren 
 der it a favourite with the people. 
 
 Were this poem possessed of no other recommen 
 dation, than that of giving rise to the Furioso, and 
 having served as a model in many respects to the ini 
 mitable Cervantes, (who has frequently copied with 
 the happiest success, the burlesque* style of Berni,) it 
 would well deserve the attention of the classic reader. 
 But the merit of the Inamorato, is not merely rela 
 tive. The great variety of incident and wonderful 
 
 * It may not be impertinent here to observe, that the burlesque 
 style derived its appellation from Bemi, who first employed and 
 perfected it, being originally called the Berniscan, and afterwards 
 by corruption the burlescan, whence our English word burlesque
 
 VI 
 
 adventure's which it contains, cannot fail of pleasing 
 all who delight in fiction. Many of the stories are 
 interesting, and happily told, the descriptions are 
 brilliant, sometimes sublime, and often display great 
 beauty of imagery, and felicity of expression. The 
 prognostics of the storm, previously to the sailing 
 of Rodomonte from Africa, the tempest itself, and 
 the demeanour of that daring chieftain, are delineat 
 ed with a masterly hand, and would not suffer by a 
 comparison with some of the best descriptions in 
 poetry. It must be acknowledged, however, that the 
 images are often low and disgusting, the stile fre 
 quently mean and vulgar, and that the retorts of the 
 heroes, appear to partake more of the low buffoon 
 ery, and coarse invective of Lazzaroni, than the 
 courtly stile of chivalry. 
 
 ' But it is not the intention of the translator of the 
 following tale, to enter into a critical examination of 
 the merits of the Inamorato ; some account of the 
 poem and its author, appeared to him requisite to be 
 given, and he has only to observe that this version, not 
 originally intended for publication, is chiefly designed 
 to give some idea of that celebrated and singular 
 poem, and is the first specimen of equal length, he 
 presumes, that has hitherto been presented to the 
 English reader. Though the entire work, is not, in
 
 Vll 
 
 his opinion, susceptible of an English dress ; he pro 
 poses, should this be received with approbation, oc 
 casionally to furnish such other selections, as may 
 appear best suited to the public taste. 
 
 With respect to the stile of the version, the trans 
 lator readily acknowledges, that he has in some in 
 stances been induced to imitate that adopted by the 
 late ingenious Mr. Way, in his version of the Fa 
 bliaux, which from the occasional introduction of an 
 tiquated words, he conceives admirably adapted to 
 this species of composition, and best suited to the 
 genius of the original. 
 
 R. A. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 4 last line for " monster" read " monsters." 
 
 6 line 1 5 after " exclaimed" insert a semicolon. 
 
 9 line 13 after " shore" dele comma. 
 
 9 line 15 for " encircled round" read " fast lock'd around," 
 
 .1 3 1 line 20 after fled, insert a comma. 
 
 38 line 9 after leaf, insert comma. 
 
 line 17 for strange" read " strong." 
 
 Page 55 line 2 of the poetry, for " Profused" read u Profuse*' 
 
 57 line 1 before " shouldst" read but." 
 
 58 line 16 at the beginning, for "to" read "on.'* 
 
 line 19 after combat insert a comma. 
 
 *... . i 68 line 1 1 for " elegant" read " excellent."

 
 Stifoenture of tlje Safee. 
 
 FROM THE SECOND BOOK OF THE ORLANDO INAMORATO OF 
 FRANCESCO BERNI. 
 
 A E who in stories of romance delight, 
 The spell-fram'd monster and intrepid knight, 
 List to the strange, the pleasing tale I tell 
 Of what the Count Orlando erst befel, 
 When he th'abode of fam'd Morgana sought, 
 And such high deeds and proud achievements 
 
 wrought. 
 
 When now Orlando had, as late was seen, 
 Destroyed the garden of Orgagna's queen,(l) 
 The monsters slain, the furious giants quell'd, 
 Each toil surmounted and each charm dispell'd,
 
 2 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 He, by that sorceress fair attended, went 
 To free the captives in her dungeons pent, 
 On foot he far'd, his Brigliadoro lost, 
 And many a plain and weary mountain cross'd. 
 As thus they pass'd, conversing on the way, 
 Along a devious road they chanc'd to stray, 
 Whose course conducted to a river's side 
 That deep and silent pour'd an ample tide : 
 A bridge, of structure strange, o'er-arch'd the flood, 
 On which, high-rais'd, a fence of iron stood, 
 Whose midmost part a narrow wicket show'd 
 That scarce admittance for a man allow'd. 
 Amidst a mead with gloomy cypress spread, 
 Beyond the bridge a turret rear'd its head; 
 Around the mead, slow-circling, roll'd the tide, 
 And in a deep dark lake expanded wide. 
 This was the spot, as erst you've heard me tell,(2) 
 Where such mishap the boldest knights befel, 
 The lake in which had Arridano thrown 
 The two brave friends and Amon's* valiant son. (3) 
 
 * Rinaldo.
 
 OF THE LAKE. 3 
 
 Where Dudon since an equal fate had found, 
 In vain for prowess and for strength renown'd, 
 For 'gainst that robber's force no strength avail'd, 
 The bravest knights, the strongest champions fail'd. 
 The arms and vestments of each hapless knight, 
 By him or pris'ner made, or slain in fight, 
 As tokens of his fame and their disgrace, 
 Proud was he wont amid the grove to place : 
 High o'er the rest a cypress' trunk display'd 
 Rinaldo's mantle, arms, and beamy blade. 
 When now Orlando and the sorceress drew 
 To where the stream and bridge appear'd in view, 
 Pale grew her face, her limbs with terror shook. 
 And to the warrior thus, alarm'd, she spoke : 
 ' O valiant knight, since cruel fate has led 
 1 Our wand'ring steps this fatal path to tread, 
 
 * Since o'er us both destruction hovers near, 
 
 ' Attend my words, and to my counsels hear! 
 
 * Within that tower a murd'rous robber dwells, 
 1 Who all in deeds of villainy excels. 
 
 * Whome'er untoward fortune hither brings 
 4 In yonder lake the ruthless villain flings.,
 
 4 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 * Strength more than human the charm'druffian shares 
 1 And Arridano is the name he bears. 
 
 ' Beneath the waters of the gloomy lake 
 
 * A far-fam'd fairy does her dwelling make, 
 ' Morgana call'd, who erst, by magic's aid, 
 
 1 A curious horn of wond'rous beauty made ; 
 
 * Such power, 'tis said, the magic horn endued 
 
 * Whene'er 'twas sounded death the blast ensued. 
 ' Long were the tale, and difficult to tell 
 
 * The num'rous victims of this potent spell :< - 
 
 * Suffice to say, a knight who thither came,(4) 
 4 Unknown to me his country or his name, 
 
 1 The bulls subdued, the furious dragon slew, 
 4 And armies springing from the earth o'erthrew. 
 
 * Enrag'd, the fairy saw her charm destroyed, 
 
 4 The boasted charm that long her skill employ'd, 
 
 * And this devis'd, the pride of magic lore, 
 ' A spell surpassing all e'er known before ; 
 
 1 Against its force all human strength is vain, 
 ' Who hither comes, comes only to be slain. 
 1 Him hopeful to destroy, whose pow'rful arm 
 
 * Subdued the monsteuand dispell'd the charm,
 
 OF THE LAKE. S 
 
 4 The vengeful fairy form'd this plot, should e'er 
 ' Chance or adventure bold conduct him here. 
 
 * For this the mead, the lake, the bridge she wrought, 
 ' For this, 'midst villains infamous, has sought 
 
 * This wretch most impious, whose unequall'd crimes 
 
 * Would shock the tenants of th'infernal climes : 
 ' Beneath the fairy's gift, secur'd from harms, 
 
 * The caitiff combats in enchanted arms, 
 
 * And such the wond'rous spell, his force in fight 
 
 * Six times exceeds his adversary's might. 
 
 * Then since all human prowess here is vain, 
 
 * Nor strength however great the conflict can sustain, 
 ' Tempt not the enterprize, thy death 'twill be, 
 
 ' And mine is certain when depriv'd of thee: 
 
 ' Our hope of safety sole remains in flight, 
 
 4 If haply we have scap'd the ruffian's sight.' 
 
 Smiling, replied the knight. * Nought here below 
 
 ' Can make me turn ; I dread no human foe. 
 
 ' For thee my heart with pity glows sincere, 
 
 1 Thou left alone a timid woman here ; 
 
 ' But comfort take and on my aid depend, 
 
 ' For arms and courage succour sure will lend.'
 
 6 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 * O fly sir knight ! O turn from death away ! 
 
 * Thy courage here in vain wouldst thou essay. 
 4 Not fam'd Orlando aught could here avail; 
 
 * Here Charlemain and all his court would fail. 
 
 * I grieve my life to lose, but more I plain 
 
 * That thou a noble knight should'st here be slain; 
 4 A woman I, of small account am found, 
 
 * Thou, courteous, wise, for deeds of arms renown'd. 1 ' 
 These soothing words, accompanied with tears, 
 With feelings not unmov'd Orlando hears; 
 Wav'ring he stands, half-prompted to return, 
 While thoughts conflicting in his bosom burn ; 
 
 Till o'er the bridge Rinaldo's arms on high, 
 
 Fix'd to the lofty cypress, caught his eye. 
 
 The arms he knew, and, weeping, thus exclaimed ; 
 
 * O thou, the flower of knights, of champions fam'd 
 
 4 The peerless pride ! who hath thee thus disgrac'd ? 
 4 Who hath thee slain and here this trophy plac'd ? 
 4 By arts of treach'ry hast thou been assail'd, 
 4 As else against thee worlds had ne'er prevaiPd. 
 4 Lov'd cousin mine ! from Paradise O hear, 
 4 To thy Orlando lend a pitying ear !
 
 OF THE LAKE. 7 
 
 * Though late, by love bewildering led astray,(5) 
 
 * In passion lost, to jealousy a prey, 
 
 * I wrong'd thy worth ; tho' 'twixt us twain arose 
 ' From causes vain, the deadly strife of foes, 
 
 * I ever held thee dear ; with tears, I own 
 
 * The fault was mine, and mine the blame alone : 
 
 * Forgive thy friend, and charge not his offence, 
 f To w r ant of love, but alienated sense.' 
 
 Orlando thus his kinsman's fate deplor'd, 
 And grasp'd his shield, and drew his shining sword, 
 The fated sword, 'gainst which no spells avail, 
 No strength of arms, no charmed helm or mail, 
 Whose virtue such, and such its keenness tried, 
 'Twould iron, steel or adamant divide, 
 By Falerina wrought, with magic skill, 
 As erst I've told, the Paladin to kill. 
 
 By grief to fury wrought the knight impell'd, 
 On to the bridge his course impetuous held, 
 The iron barrier broke, in pieces hew'd, 
 And to the meadow swift his way pursued. 
 Beneath the cypress, Arridano lay, 
 And on Rinaldo's spoils, in pleas'd surveys
 
 8 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 Exulting fix'd his eyes : When, lo ! the knight 
 In hostile guise advancing, met his sight; 
 Surpriz'd, his massy club the robber took, 
 Light sprung from earth, and thus fierce-threatening 
 spoke : 
 
 * Wretch, whosoe'er thou art, prepare to die ! 
 1 Not all the powers in Paradise on high, 
 
 * Thee from my wrath and fury can defend, 
 
 * Nor Trivigante, or Macon here befriend.* 
 
 Furious he spoke, and aiming from above, 
 With both his hands the dreadful mace he drove ; 
 The mace descending with a thund'ring stroke 
 Dash'd the strong shield the shield in shivers broke 
 In wild contortions reels the knight around, 
 Stunn'd by the blow, and falls upon the ground. 
 To seize him quick the ruthless villain sped, 
 Intent to plunge him in the wat'ry bed, 
 The lake wherein full many a knight was thrown, 
 Of rank illustrious and of high renown. 
 The Count, tho' fallen, still was undismayed ; 
 As stoop'd his foe, he whirl'd the fated blade, 
 In vain th* enchanted shield oppos'd the stroke 
 Th' enchanted shield it cleft, the corslet broke,
 
 OF THE LAKE. 9 
 
 And thence descending with resistless sway 
 
 Rent from his side the cov'ring mail away, 
 
 And slight a wound impressed : with eyes on fire 
 
 Wild rag'dthe giant with redoubled ire, 
 
 And heav'd the mace on high his active foe 
 
 Light threw himself aside, and 'scap'd the menac'd 
 
 blow, 
 
 While at his leg a stroke transverse he made 
 The club descending met the keen-edg'd blade, 
 Sheer thro' the pond'rous mace the falchion went, 
 And to the ground the end divided sent. 
 Loud Arridano roar'd, like some wild beast 
 Reft of its young or close by hunters prest, 
 And furious seiz'd the knight, and to the shore, 
 With falcon speed the struo;q;linsr champion bore, 
 
 S*friftcW 
 
 And with him, m his arms encirclediround, 
 
 A 
 
 Plung'd to the bottom of the lake profound : 
 Dash'd by the pond'rous fall the waters rave, 
 And boils in eddies white the closing wave. 
 
 No longer there durst Falerina stay, 
 But wing'd by terror speeds her flight away, 

 
 JU) THE ADVENTURE 
 
 Like some thin leaf that's shaken by the wind, 
 She trembles, starts, and often looks behind; 
 Whatever meets -her sight, whatever her ear, 
 In all she deenis.the dreaded robber near. 
 
 Meantime, in cruel grasp together strain'd, 
 The hostile pair the lake's deep bottom gain'd ; 
 Thence Arridano bore the struggling knight, 
 In vain contending 'gainst his magic might, 
 All might surpassing. Down a long descent, 
 Thus clasp'd, a dark and miry road they went; 
 At length, emerging from the dreary way, 
 A mead they reach'd with flowers and verdure gay 
 Struck with the scene Orlando lifts his eyes, 
 And sees the light of day with wild surprise ; 
 Soft breath'd the air around, and o'er his head 
 The magic lake's suspended waves were spread, 
 
 A 
 
 While from above, faint gleaming thro' the wave, 
 The sun's mild rays an added beauty gave. 
 Three miles in circuit stretch'd the lovely mead 
 Around a wall of purest crystal spread, 
 Beyond, a little verdant mountain rose, 
 Rich with each varied flower that fragrant blows.
 
 OF THE LAKE. 1*1 
 
 The ruthless villain, on this beauteous plain, 
 Was wont to spoil the captives he had ta'en. 
 When here the Count Orlando he had brought, 
 With ease to strip him of his arms he thought ; 
 He, like the rest, discourag'd deem'd the knight, 
 Nor longer able to contend in fight. 
 Fallacious thought far else had fate decreed! 
 Scarce from his iron grasp the Count was freed, 
 Scarce found himself releas'd, when, undismayed, 
 Fierce on his foe he sprung with lifted blade, 
 The giant's helm the trenchant weapon found, 
 The enchanted helm it cleft, but fail'd to wound. 
 Nought reck'd the robber this in proud disdain 
 He cried, ' Thy toil is here but labour vain, 
 1 Such blows might serve to frighten flies away, 
 ' But for this one a hundred I'll repay.' 
 
 He said, and hurl'd on high the pond'rous mace, 
 Whose force had shook a mountain to its base ; 
 Aside Orlando leap'd with fruitless aim, 
 In thunder driven, the mace descending came, 
 Deep groan'd the solid earth beneath the stroke, 
 The mountain echo'd and the meadow shook.
 
 
 12 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 Now 'twixt the twain a fiercer strife arose, 
 With deadlier ire inflam'd the battle glows, 
 This cloth'd in strength beyond all human might, 
 In valor that excell'd and skill in fight : 
 The giant wields his mace, with thundering sound, 
 Thick, heavy, fall the erring blows around ; 
 In vain he strikes, for still his wary foe 
 With dext'rous speed eludes the coming blow, 
 Now foins, now feints, now shifts his ground and tries 
 Each varied stratagem that skill supplies. 
 Far else the robber fares his streaming blood 
 From three deep wounds effused a crimson flood; 
 At length the knight the glad advantage spy'd 
 And drove his falchion thro' the caitiflPs side, 
 Whose life-blood issuing with the fleeting breath, 
 Writhing he fell, extended pale in death. 
 
 Freed from his foe alone the Count remain'd ; 
 Nought else of life the silent mead contain'd ; 
 Around in vain his anxious eyes are thrown, 
 He sees the mountain and the wall alone 
 Whose ramparts white, the mead encircling wide, 
 All access to the flow'ry mount denied.
 
 OF THE LAKE. 13 
 
 Cut in the crystal rock, at length, he found 
 A lofty gate with sculptur'd figures crown'd, 
 Of rich device and workmanship most rare, 
 That in the world could nought with it compare. 
 Thither he came, and entering he survey'd 
 A story old, with wond'rous art portray 'd. 
 Depicted there the lab'rinth's maze appear'd, 
 The Minotaur his form terrific rear'd, 
 There Ariadne bloom'd in beauty's pride, 
 While Theseus stood attentive at her side 
 As to his hands she gave the guiding clue, 
 And taught the means the monster to subdue. 
 With gold and pearls the rich mosaic shin'd, 
 And ev'ry gem its various hues combin'd; 
 There flam'd the topaz, glow'd the ruby's red, 
 Its prismy rays the lucid diamond shed, 
 The mimic sky with azure sapphires beam'd, 
 And in the verdure bright the emerald gleam' d. 
 
 But little heed to this Orlando paid, 
 As small account of works of art he made ; 
 The gate he left and downward held his way, 
 Where thro' the hollow'd rock a passage lay
 
 14 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 Along the dreary grotto's deep descent, 
 Four miles or more, a road obscure he went. 
 At length, the outlet reach'd, a flood of light 
 At once in splendor burst upon his sight, 
 Bright as the mid-day sun the radiance glow'd, 
 And fair each object round illumin'd show'd. 
 A river near him roll'd its lucid tide 
 Beyond the stream a plain extended wide, 
 With pearls all cover'd and with jewels gay, 
 That o'er it heap'd in vast profusion lay. 
 Less num'rous shine the stars in winter bright, 
 When purest azure decks the vault of night ; 
 With fainter hues, in number less, the flow'rs 
 That spring, with lavish hand, o'er nature pours. 
 This plain Morgana's secret treasure held, 
 Her countless wealth the fairy here conceal'd, 
 She who with partial hand her gifts bestows, 
 Riches to these and poverty to those. 
 Amidst th' innumerous gems a wond'rous stone 
 Far o'er the rest in dazzling lustre shone, 
 A flame of fire it seem'd from this the lie;ht 
 
 o 
 
 Beam'd wide around in noon-day splendor bright.
 
 OF THE LAKE. 15 
 
 A narrow bridge the stream extended o'er, 
 Which twenty paces stretch 'cl from shore to shore ; 
 Fix'd at the farther end an image stood 
 Whose iron-frame a man in armour shew'd. 
 As near Orlando drew, the pass to try, 
 The image rais'd his pond'rous club on high 
 Arm'd with his sword advanc'd th' intrepid knight, 
 But as the bridge he reach'd, with furious might 
 The figure dash'd his club to atoms broke 
 The slender structure fell beneath the stroke. 
 Fix'd to the ground, the knight in wonder stood, 
 When, strange to tell, slow-rising from the flood, 
 
 In the same spot another bridge appear'd, 
 f 
 And o'er the wave its magic structure rear'd : 
 
 Again he fearless tries the pass to gain, 
 Again th' attempt the image renders vain. 
 Thus frequent foil'd, impatient of delay, 
 Since here no hope he sees to force his way, 
 He desp'rate ran, and, as with wings supply'd, 
 Arm'd as he was leap'd lightly o'er the tide. 
 
 When now the plain he reach'd, in bright display 
 Where the rich fairy's boundless treasures lay,
 
 16 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 He saw what seem'd a king, a figure crown'd, 
 Seated in state, with numbers standing round, 
 Form'd all of gold, and o'er them thickly strown 
 Pearls, rubies, diamonds intermingled shone. 
 All seem'd in high respect the king to hold ; 
 Before him richly wrought in colour'd gold, 
 A table spread with costliest meats was plac'd, 
 Of rare procurance and of daintiest taste; 
 But from above, suspended by a thread, 
 A pointed sword hung threat'ning o'er his head ; 
 And on his left stood one with bended bow, 
 As at the ford expectant of the doe. 
 Near on the right a second held his place, 
 Alike in form, in stature and in face ; 
 Who in his hand an open scroll display'd, 
 Which bore these words, in letters fair portray 'd 
 * Small is the worth of riches and of state 
 On whose possession fear and peril wait ; 
 And what of joy can silken pomp afford 
 When dire suspicion haunts its gloomy lord ?' 
 Wretched appear'd the king, his jealous eye 
 E'er seem'd to dread some treason lurking nigh.
 
 OF THE LAKE. 17 
 
 Of richest workmanship, before him placed, 
 
 A lily wrought in gold the table graced, 
 
 From whose proud top a bright translucent stone, 
 
 A carbuncle of wond'rous beauty shone. 
 
 Large was the place and square of form, the ground 
 
 With flint was paved, of flint the wall around. 
 
 Four roads adverse from this inclosure led, 
 
 O'er each of which a splendid gate was spread, 
 
 No opening else the massy wall contain'd, 
 
 Nor from without the light admittance gain'd, 
 
 The carbuncle alone with splendent ray 
 
 Pour'd wide around the noontide blaze of day. 
 
 Not long admiring here Orlando stood, 
 But to a portal near his way pursued. 
 Dark was the entrance, not a ray of light 
 Pierc'd the thick vapours of surrounding night; 
 In vain to grope his way the warrior tried, 
 The dark obstructed road all pass denied-~- 
 Again he back return'd, and sought around 
 If other outlet might from thence be found, 
 In vain in eager search around he goes, 
 Dark and more dark each gloomy passage shows*
 
 18 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 Awhile suspensive stood the knight, nor knew 
 What measures to adopt, what course pursue, 
 At length to thought recurr'd the precious stone 
 That like enkindled fire bright-blazing shone. 
 To take it he advanced as near he drew 
 From the bent bow the ready arrow flew, 
 Struck from the lily's top the ruddy light, 
 And left the Count involv'd in hopeless night : 
 An earthquake shook the place, with fearful sound 
 Deep-groan'd on every side the rock around, 
 But he, whose courage danger never quell'd, 
 Unmov'd remained and firm his footing held. 
 At length the earthquake ceas'd, again the light 
 Diffus'd new lustre frcm the lily's height, 
 To seize the gem again Orlando tries, 
 Again the golden shaft unerring flies, 
 A direr earthquake heaves the trembling ground, 
 And deeper darkness spreads its glooms around. 
 Once more the darkness fled, the stone once more 
 Resum'd its place still brighter than before. 
 The knight who now perceiv'd th' attempt was vain 
 If still as erst pursued, the gem to gain,
 
 . 
 
 OF THE LAKE. 19 
 
 His buckler took and wide before it spread - 
 From the bent bow his shaft the archer sped, 
 But vain the shaft its course unerring held 
 The covering shield its feeble stroke repell'd. 
 Without obstruction then the stone he took, 
 And by its guiding light the place forsook. 
 
 But as the Count by chance directed went, 
 Not to the right hand gate his course he bent, 
 Which upwards by a smooth and easy way 
 Had soon conducted to the light of day, 
 But where the left a downward passage shew'd, 
 'Mid more than stygian gloom, the road pursu'd 
 On to th' impervious prison, where confined, 
 Full many a knight and damsel hopeless pined : 
 Where Dudon, where Rinaldo pensive stray 'd, 
 With Brandimarte since them a prisoner made, 
 Whom there Morgana lured by artful wiles, 
 With love pretended and fallacious smiles. 
 Down a long marble stairway's deep descent 
 A mile of strange and crooked road he went, 
 So twisted, so obscure, that ne'er the knight 
 Had thence his way explored without the light,
 
 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 But 'midst its windings lost and midnight gloom, 
 In endless wanderings there had found his tomb. 
 The bottom reach'd, at distance he descried 
 What seem'd a fissure in the cavern's side, 
 Thither, still guided by the friendly ray, 
 With slow and cautious step he bent his way. 
 At length a portal he perceiv'd that gave 
 A joyful outlet from the gloomy cave, 
 Whose cornice rough, engraved this sentence held : 
 * O thou, whose steps hath fortune here impell'd, 
 
 * Know that with ease an entrance thou can'st gain, 
 
 * But think not to return the thought is vain 
 ' Unless you first th' elusive fairy seize, 
 
 ' More light than air, more changeful than the breeze, 
 ' Who round the mountain, round the meadow green 
 
 * Incessant whirls, nor ever fix'd is seen, 
 
 * Who bald behind like withered age appears, 
 
 * And o'er her forehead fair her tresses wears.' 
 
 The Count, whose mind on other thoughts was bent 
 But slight attention to th' inscription lent. 
 The gate he passed and onward held his way 
 Where fair below a lovely meadow lay,
 
 . 
 
 OF THE LAKE. 21 
 
 Rapt in delight the scene around explores, 
 And treads the herbage gay with vivid flowers, 
 For not within the world's encircling bound 
 A place so passing beauteous could be found. 
 Serene the air, the sky of purest blue 
 Exceeded far the sapphire's radiant hue, 
 Wide stretch'd beneath the flower-enamell'd mead 
 Of tenderest green a beauteous carpet spread, 
 Adorn'd with balmy shrubs and blossom 'd trees 
 That threw their perfumes on th' enamour'd breeze, 
 Whose boughs at once the bursting bud unfold, 
 Gleam gay with flowers and glow with vegetable gold. 
 At distance from the gate a wall appear'd, 
 That cross the mead its glittering rampart rear'd, 
 And form'd a mirror of transparent stone 
 From whence the garden bright reflected shone. 
 
 Thither his course th' admiring Count pursued, 
 When 'midst the mead a fountain fair he view'd; 
 Enchas'd with precious stones of every kind 
 Immix'd with costliest pearls the fountain shin'd, 
 There on the herbage green extended lay 
 Wrapp'd in soft slumber's folds, th' enchanting 
 Fay
 
 * 
 22 
 
 In her bright features and attractive mien 
 Such winning grace, such loveliness was seen, 
 As would with pleasure fill the heart of woe, 
 And give despair with new-born hope to glow; 
 O'er her fair face a lovely smile was spread, 
 Slender her well-turn'd limbs and form'd for speed, 
 No locks behind their graceful length unfold, 
 But o'er her forehead wave in curling gold, 
 Thin were her glossy robes of white and red 
 That still when caught the grasp elusive fled. 
 In wonder and delight his senses chain'd, 
 Fix'd to the spot the Paladin remain'd ; 
 As gazing on her with enraptur'd sight 
 He stands, these words arrest the wond'ring knight. 
 ' Why stand'st thou loitering thus ? Ah ! seize the 
 
 ' prize, 
 
 ' Seize the bright trait'ress who before thee lies ; 
 ' Unless those roving limbs thou dost confine, 
 4 Fatigue and pain and sorrow will be thine.' 
 Surpris'd he turn'd, and guided by the sound, 
 Soon reach'd with silent step the crystal mound, 
 Which near the fountain rose, so clear and bright 
 No spot it shew'd, nor aught obstructed sight.
 
 OF THE LAKE. 28 
 
 When thither come, beyond the rampart clear, 
 
 He Dudon sees, a hapless captive there 
 
 Each sees and knows, and at the other's sight 
 
 In bitter tears laments each noble knight, 
 
 They stretch their arms in vain th' opposing space 
 
 Forbids to meet, forbids the fond embrace. 
 
 Meantime, Rinaldo, Brandimarte drew near, 
 
 Lock'd arm in arm the valiant chiefs appear : 
 
 When them Orlando saw no bounds he kept, 
 
 But wildly raved with rage, \vith sorrow wept. 
 
 Their story heard he felt still keener grief, 
 
 Since nought of hope he found to yield relief, 
 
 The crystal wall three feet in thickness spread, 
 
 And high in air arose its glittering head, 
 
 Nor human strength or art could aught avail 
 
 To force th' inclosure, or its height to scale. 
 
 He sees his friends nor yet can aid impart, 
 
 He sees them near while torture wrings his heart 
 
 Stung with the thought, by maddening rage impelPd* 
 
 Prepar'd to strike the wall his sword he held. 
 
 When, with one voice c O stay !' the prisoners 
 
 * cried, 
 * O stay ! or ruin sure will us betide
 
 * For such the spell that should the wall you see 
 
 * Defaced or broken in the smallest be, 
 
 ' With it we sink within the cavern's gloom, 
 
 * And find at once our prison and our tomb.' 
 
 A damsel then, who sunk in sorrow seem'd, 
 Whose pallid features still with beauty beam'd, 
 Approach'd and said, " Here all attempts are vain., 
 1 But by one way cans't thou admittance gain, 
 1 Yon splendid gate that only passage shows, 
 
 * That bright with diamonds, and with emeralds 
 
 glows. 
 
 * But there nor courage, strength, or skill avail, 
 
 ' There threats are empty, flattery's arts will fail, 
 
 * Nought can the gate unclose, the passage free, 
 ' Unless Morgana yield the fatal key 
 
 ' But that to gain, with shame, fatigue, and toil, 
 
 * Must thou her flight pursue for many a mile, 
 
 ' That slight compared to this wilt thou esteem 
 ' Thy former toils, and light each suffering deem, 
 ' Thus her to follow o'er the desert wild, 
 ' With certain pain, by treach'rous hope beguil'd. 
 
 * But virtue e'er prevails, with that to friend 
 ' Who perseveres will conquer in the end.
 
 OF THE LAKE. 25 
 
 f Thou see'st these noble knights, these damsels fair, 
 ' Who captive pine in bonds of pale despair, 
 
 * On thy exertions sole depends their fate, 
 ' From thee alone their rescue they await. 
 
 * But turn, Sir Knight, no longer here abide, 
 
 1 As chance the fairy may not thee have spied, 
 
 * And to the fount with speed again repair, 
 ' For haply still you'll find Morgana there.' 
 
 To this the impatient warrior nought replied, 
 But back returning sought the fountain's side. 
 New risen from sleep he there Morgana found 
 Who lightly skimm'd the verdant marge around 
 In graceful dance, the while she sweetly sung, 
 And on the notes enraptur'd echo hung. 
 Turns not the leaf so lightly to the wind 
 As turn'd the fairy, now to earth declin'd 
 Her eyes she cast, and now to heaven she threw, 
 While thus her song the charm'd attention drew. 
 
 * Whoever seeks for wealth, or joy desires, 
 ' Whom pleasure prompts, or proud ambition fires, 
 ' Let him but seize this golden lock of hair 
 ' Which o'er my forehead waves in ringlets fair, 
 
 E
 
 26 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 ' And I will make him blest, his wishes grant, 
 ' Fulfil each hope, anticipate each want ; 
 ' But when occasion smiles with aspect gay, 
 To seize the favor let him not delay, 
 ' For slighted once I never more return, 
 ' But turn my back, and leave the wretch to mourn.' 
 Thus sung the fairy constant whirling round, 
 So light that scarce her footsteps touch'd the ground; 
 But when she saw the Count she turn'd and fled, 
 The fountain quitting and the flowery mead, 
 And up a rugged mountain took her way, 
 In which inclos'd a little valley lay ; 
 Thither, full closely, he her flight pursued, 
 And reach'd at length a place more wildly rude 
 Than knows Arabia, or the desert sand 
 Where hot Zaara's shifting plains expand ; 
 Rugged with stones, with brambles mantled o'er, 
 A place so dreary ne'er was seen before. 
 
 And now dark grew the sky in murky 'clouds, 
 Still thick 'ning fast, the sun his radiance shrouds, 
 The wind wild rises, loud the tempest roars,, 
 Rain mix'd with hail-stones o'er the desert pours,
 
 OF THE LAKE. 27 
 
 Dread bursts the thunder, blue the lightning gleams, 
 Wide flashes round, or darts in arrowy streams, 
 Thick spreads the mist o'er mountain and o'er plain, 
 And heaven appears dissolv'd in floods of rain. 
 Still grows the tempest fled the light of day, 
 Alone the lightning lends its lurid ray, 
 Rent by the wind the trees uprooted lie, 
 The beasts affrighted from their coverts fly, 
 And foxes, doves, the serpent's venom'd brood, 
 Slain by the storm lie scatter'd o'er the wood ; 
 For no protection, no defence avails, 
 When dread misfortune's bitter storm assails ! 
 
 O'er the rough mountain, 'mid the gloomy dells, 
 Through dangerous ways the Count his course impels, 
 Where the big torrents foaming down the steep 
 The banks and rocks in one wide ruin sweep, 
 While far is heard the crash and echoing groan 
 Of falling forests by the wind o'erthrown. 
 Yet little recks he this but still proceeds, 
 Nor danger nor fatigue his course impedes, 
 Still holds the chace resolv'd to take the fay 
 Or that his life the vain attempt should pay,
 
 28 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 But each new step fresh obstacles supplies, 
 
 Toil grows on toil, on perils perils rise ; 
 
 When lo ! wild wailing from a cavern came, 
 
 Meagre and pale, a lothly-looking dame, 
 
 Soii'd were her vestments coarse, of earthy dye, 
 
 And in her hand she waved a whip on high, 
 
 With which she ceaseless scourg'd herself, and tore 
 
 The quiv'ring flesh, and bath'd her sides in gore. 
 
 Pitying the knight this meagre form beheld, 
 
 And ask'd what cause such conduct strange impell'd. 
 
 To whom the hag : ' In me Repentance know, 
 
 * Siranger to peace, of every joy the fee 
 
 * Whom fortune shuns I seek, with him I stay r 
 
 * Nor quit his couch by night, his side by day ; 
 
 * And since she thee forsook on yonder mead, 
 ' I thy companion come, by fate decreed 
 
 ' To haunt thy steps, and while she flies from thee 
 
 * Shalt thou be follow 'd and be scourg'd by me : 
 
 * Nor strength or bravery will avail thee aught, 
 4 Unless with all-enduring patience fraught.' 
 
 * Patience,' replied the Count, ' may suit the slave, 
 ' But ill that coward virtue fits the brave ;
 
 OF THE LAKE. 29 
 
 ' Think not to beat me like some losel base, 
 
 * And that I'll tamely yield to such disgrace, 
 
 * But o'er this drear}- desert guide my way, 
 
 * And as a friend my wearied footsteps stay.' 
 
 He said, and turn'd abrupt, with quicken'd speed 
 To chace the fairy who at distance fled, 
 When the wild form her frantic cry began, 
 And, with strange gestures, circling round him ran, 
 And oft with shameful stripes his shoulders beat, 
 As one condemn'd the penal scourge to meet. 
 With rage, chagrin and shame Orlando burn'd, 
 And tow'rds the hag with furious look he turn'd 
 And threaten'd death yet answer none she made, 
 Nor to his threats the least attention paid, 
 But as he 'gan the fairy to pursue 
 She wav'd her whip and follow 'd him anew; 
 Still, constant as his shade, where'er he goes 
 She follows close, and eft repeats her blows. 
 Enrag'd at length, with iron-clenched fist 
 He at her face a furious blow addrest, 
 That stroke he deem'd the hag would sure have sped, 
 And from her malice him for ever freed,
 
 30 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 But wound nor harm receiv'd his wayward foe, 
 Whose airy form, impassive to the blow, 
 No more resistance oflfer'd to the stroke 
 Than a thin vapour, or a wreath of smoke : 
 And as he turn'd the weary chace to urge, 
 Again she beat him with the cutting scourge. 
 To madness stung, the Count each method tries, 
 And now his fist and now his heels he plies, 
 But vain his strength, his skill, his efforts all, 
 On empty air his idle blows still fall. 
 Convinc'd, at length, no force of mortal arm 
 Could work that female fury aught of harm, 
 Again he hastes the fair}' to pursue 
 Who now had almost vanish'd from his view; 
 But at his back again, with hideous cries, 
 Her scorpion lash that fell Megcera plies : 
 Howe'er so fast he speeds, where'er he wheels, 
 Still, close, Repentance follows at his heels, 
 Beats him with bitter stripes , with taunts derides, 
 With insult mocks and fierce upbraidings chides. 
 
 The Count, tho' madd'ning passions fir'd his breast. 
 Yet curb'd his ire, his struggling rage represt,
 
 OF THE LAKE. 31 
 
 Resolv'd, since fruitless all his efforts were, 
 Perforce with patience arm'd each ill to bear. 
 Nor more he turns, nor more the strife renews, 
 But, with increasing zeal, the fairy swift pursues- 
 As the fleet greyhound holds the hare in chace, 
 So seem'd the contest, and so swift the race ; 
 Brambles arid shrubs in vain his course oppose, 
 He rends the brambles, and the shrubs o'erthrows, 
 Wide scatter'd round the thorns and bushes lay, 
 And broad behind him op'd a beaten way. 
 
 Now keener grows pursuit, more tardy flight, 
 Still near and nearer draws the ardent knight, 
 Who deems the prize his own, and thinks with ease 
 The elusive fairy's lovely form to seize. 
 Fallacious hope ! for e'en when seiz'd the fay 
 Slips from the disappointed grasp away. 
 To take her oft with eager hand he prest, 
 And now her person caught, and now her vest r 
 But her thin robes, of shining white and red, 
 As oft as caught his grasp elusive fled, 
 Their subtle texture still his hold deceives, 
 And in the moment of expectance leaves.
 
 32 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 But, as his fortune will'd, amid the chace 
 As tow'rds the knight she turn'd, with smiling face, 
 With ready hand, at length, the lock he caught, 
 The golden lock, so long, so vainly sought. 
 
 Hush'd was the storm at once, and chang'dthe scene, 
 Blue shone the sky, the air became serene, 
 Where the wild mountain rear'd its rugged head 
 A plain delightful cloth'd in verdure spread, 
 And late where brambles fill'd the obstructed road, 
 Now fragrant flowers in vivid beauty glow'd, 
 The bloodless form her persecutions ceas'd, 
 And thus, with soften'd mien, the knight address'd. 
 
 * Watch well, Sir Knight, that precious lock of gold 
 1 Which fav'ring chance permits thee now to hold, 
 
 * And guard the important charge with strictest care, 
 
 * Lest Fortune 'scape and leave thee to despair ; 
 1 For when this fairy wears her loveliest mien, 
 
 1 When most subdued she seems and most serene, 
 
 * Then dread her flight, nor her false smiles believe, 
 
 * Who trusts, in her she surely will deceive, 
 
 * For on her faith can none dependance have, 
 ' As light as air, unstable as the wave.'
 
 OF THE LAKE. 33 
 
 Thus spoke the form and to the grotto fled, 
 'Mid whose lone glooms a life recluse she led. 
 
 With threats severe and mild entreaties join'd, 
 The Count who held the Fairy still confin'd 
 Of her the key requir'd: When thus she spoke, 
 With pleasure's semblance false, and smiling look. 
 f Submiss, Sir Knight, I thy behests attend, 
 ' And to thy wishes yield, thy pleasure bend ; 
 ' Those pris'ners all at thy disposal are; 
 ' For one alone, I my request prefer, 
 6 A youth, of royal Monodante the son, 
 ' Whose grace and blooming charms my heart have 
 
 won; 
 ' In him is all my bliss, for him I sue, 
 
 * O take him not, or take me with him too ; 
 
 * Leave me that youth, Sir Knight, I thee request 
 ' By that high valour that inspires thy breast, 
 
 * And by thy god, nor give me e'er to mourn, 
 ' Reft of my love, from every pleasure torn.' 
 The Count replied, * My word I pledge to thee 
 ' That youth to leave if thou wilt give the key,
 
 34 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 ' But thee I will not loose, as much I fear 
 
 1 That o'er that rough and desert road, I ne'er 
 
 * My way shall find ; then let us be agreed 
 
 ' With me shalt thou return ere thou art freed.' 
 
 He said, the Fairy from her glittering vest 
 Drew forth the fatal key, and thus the Count address'd. 
 ' Undaunted knight! this key of silver take, 
 
 * But use with caution lest the lock you break, 
 
 ' For should that hap thou'lt meet a wretched doom, 
 4 Plung'd in the horrors of the cavern's gloom, 
 ' And with thee all the knights imprison'd there 
 4 Sunk in th' abyss the same sad fate will share ; 
 4 Not worlds can save thee, nor my art can show 
 
 * The means of rescue from that gulph of woe I' 
 From this the knight the ready inference drew, 
 That rarely found are those, in number few, 
 Who know the gifts of fortune to enjoy, 
 
 And can with skill her silver key employ. 
 
 Now tow'rds the garden, through the meadow gay, 
 The Count proceeded with the beauteous Fay ? 
 Still closely held, and o'er a flow'ry road 
 The portal reach'dthat bright with diamonds glow'd-
 
 OF THE LAKE. 35 
 
 There, by discretion taught, with ready skill 
 He turn'd the key obedient to his will 
 Through each intricate ward, the bolts unclose, 
 And open flies the gate and free the passage shows. 
 
 The knights and damsels from confinement freed 
 Rush joyful forth and throng the verdant mead ; 
 Each to the Count his grateful tribute paid, 
 And thank'd his God for such unlook'd for aid. 
 All issued thence with joy and mirthful cheer, 
 Him saving whom the fairy held so dear, 
 That youth Ziliantes call'd, so passing fair 
 That shone his beauty far beyond compare. 
 Weeping, alone within the gate he staid, 
 And curs'd his cruel fate, and loud lamentings made. 
 The Count with sorrow saw a youth so fair 
 Thus plung'd in grief, a prey to wild despair ; 
 But tho' he pitied much his hopeless woe, 
 Yet would he not his plighted word forego. 
 
 And now the captive band, from durance freed, 
 Led by Orlando to the gate proceed 
 That form'd the entrance to the gloomy way, 
 Amid whose winding vaults their passage lay.
 
 
 36 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 Thither they enter'd all, and up its flight 
 
 Of marble steps soon reach 'd the cavern's height, 
 
 And issuing thence the paved area gain'd, 
 
 Whose bounds the Fairy's wealth immense contain'd, 
 
 The figur'd king and those who 'round him stood, 
 
 All form'd of gold, with pearls and rubies strew'd. 
 
 The prisoners much these forms, admiring, ey'd, 
 And heaps of jewels spread on every side, 
 But fearful of some trick, or magic snare, 
 Not one adventur'd aught to handle there. 
 Rinaldo sole, whom no such fears alarm'd 
 Whose eager eye those heaps of wealth had charm'd, 
 Seiz'd a large seat of gold, of pond'rous weight, 
 And with it loaded, hasten'd towards the gate. 
 The Count, who saw him thus, advis'd in vain 
 To quit his hold, and let the seat remain, 
 Nor like some burden'd mule himself to lade. 
 To whom, keen taunting, thus Rinaldo said : 
 
 I knew a monk who preach'd the sacred word 
 ' And each indulgence censur'd as abhorr'd, 
 
 Who urg'd the crowd through fasting to repent, 
 
 And made his theme the saving grace of lent ;
 
 OF THE LAKE. 37 
 
 ' And on his doctrine had he so improv'd, 
 
 4 That scarce with toil his load of flesh he mov'd. 
 
 1 Like that fat friar art thou, who quite content, 
 
 ' With well-fill'd belly, preach'd in praise of lent, 
 
 ' His constant subject self-denial made, 
 
 ' And to roast capon great devotion paid. 
 
 1 On you the Emperor wealth and rank bestows, 
 
 * And each new day some added favour shews. 
 4 Rich cities you possess and castles fair, 
 
 ' And Count of Brava and of Anglante are ; 
 ' While I a wretched fortress scarcely own, 
 
 * And Lord of Mount Albano am alone, 
 
 ' Where oft to bed I supperless should go, 
 
 ' Did I not seek it in the plain below; 
 
 ' And when good fortune throws it in my way 
 
 * To help myself to aught I'll not delay; 
 
 * For this I hold no scandal e'er proceeds 
 ' From taking booty to supply our needs.' 
 
 Conversing thus, at length they reach'd the gate 
 Which led from thence, when, wond'rous to relate, 
 A furious wind, forth issuing from the rock, 
 Amon's brave son with force resistless struck
 
 3 8 THE ADVENTURE 
 
 Full in his breast, and back in his despite 
 For twenty paces drove the struggling knight ; 
 The rest th' impetuous wind nor harm*d nor mov'd, 
 Nor save Rinaldo one its fury prov'd : 
 But he, undaunted at the strange event, 
 Leap'd light from earth, and to the portal went 
 His prize still bearing, but when reach'd, once more 
 The wind impell'd him from the fatal door, 
 And, like a withered lea^at distance cast, 
 Or thistle's down the sport of every blast. 
 Much were the rest alarm'd, Orlando most, 
 Who deem'd the knight would rue it to his cost, 
 And greatly fear'd he there would meet his fate, 
 And death instead of gold his rash adventure wait. 
 
 Rinaldo wondering saw, with anger wild, 
 His wishes frustrate aud himself thus foil'd, 
 Yet still with strange desire the seat he ey'd, 
 And firm resolv'd, whatever might betide, 
 From thence the golden prize away to bear, 
 Nor will remonstrance heed, intreaty hear.
 
 OF THE LAKE. 39 
 
 But since he well perceiv'd th' attempt was vain, 
 When loaded with the seat the pass to gain, 
 He rais'd it high in air, and round him whirl'd, 
 With matchless force against the opening hurl'd. 
 The stone not swifter issues from the sling, 
 Or feathery arrow from the sounding string, 
 Than by the vigour of that arm impell'd, 
 The pond'rous seat its course impetuous held ; 
 But, by the blast repell'd the massy weight 
 Recoil'd in thunder from th' impervious gate. 
 Around Rinaldo press'd the anxious train, 
 And with intreaties urg'd him to abstain 
 From farther proof, since vain his efforts were, 
 But with them quit and leave th' enchantment there. 
 Urg'd by his friends, convinc'd, at length, that ne'er 
 He thence the spell-protected gold could bear, 
 With much reluctance left the knight behind 
 The prize regretted and his comrades join'd. 
 Thence went they all, and forth their way pursued, 
 For miles ascending o'er a rugged road,
 
 40 THE ADVENTURE, &c. 
 
 And faint and weary reach'd the mead at length, 
 Where late that robber of unequall'd strength 
 Held his dread won, and glorying in his might, 
 On high had plac'd the armour of each knight, 
 From thence all took their own without delay, 
 And straight departed each one on his way. 
 
 THE END.
 
 NOTES.
 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (1) < DESVROTED the garden of Orgagna's queen.'. Orlan 
 do, after having slain Agrican, king of Tartary, left Albrac- 
 ca, at the request of his mistress Angelica, in order to de 
 stroy the enchanted garden of Falerina, queen of Orgagna. On 
 his way thither he released a damsel, who was suspended by her 
 hair to a pine tree, hy fighting with and overcoming a knight, 
 who guarded her. This damsel, whose name was Origilla, soon 
 after took an opportunity of requiting this service, by stealing his 
 horse, Brigliadoro. He then continued his journey on foot ; and 
 having arrived in the kingdom of Orgagna, saw a large croud of 
 people armed, some on horseback and others on foot, who had with 
 them, as prisoners, two knights and a lady, whom they were con 
 ducting to the garden for the prey of the dragon who guarded the 
 gate. Orlando, having attacked the guards, slain most of them, 
 and dispersed the rest, released the prisoners, who proved to be 
 his nephews, Gryphon and Aquilante, and the lady the one who 
 had so treacherously deprived him of his horse, which she then 
 rode. By her artifice and pretended sorrow, however, she soon
 
 44 NOTES. 
 
 obtained the forgiveness of the easy Count, who having mount 
 ed his horse, took her up behind him and pursued his way to 
 wards the gate of the garden, in company with the brothers ; but 
 conceiving a jealousy of Gryphon, from his attention to the dam 
 sel, of whom he had himself become foolishly enamoured, he rudely 
 ordered them to depart. After this he alighted, and seating him 
 self on the grass with Origilla, near the wall of the garden, be 
 gan to declare his passion to her. He had not been long in this 
 place, when a lady seated on a white palfrey came up, and thus ad- 
 <lressed him. Wretched man ! What misfortune has brought thee 
 hither! Dost thou not know that this is the garden of Orgagna, and 
 that thou art within two miles of the gate ? And while thus exposed 
 to certain destruction, thou dost idly trifle and loiter here. The Count 
 politely thanked her for the interest she appeared to take in his 
 welfare, but informed her that it was his intention to go into the 
 garden, and that if she could give him any aid or counsel in the 
 undertaking, he should ever consider himself indebted to her. The 
 lady then informed him that the garden was the work of a celebrated 
 enchantress, who had a palace in it to which she occasionally re 
 tired, where she employed herself in framing a magic sword for 
 the purpose of killing a celebrated knight in the west, called Or 
 lando, who was said to be invulnerable, and whom the enchantress 
 had discovered by her art was destined to destroy her garden ; that 
 she was at that time 'there, having repaired thither the preceding
 
 NOTES. 45 
 
 day ; but that in order to obtain admission, it was requisite to con 
 tinue chaste for three days,andthat only at sunrise couldhe enter the 
 garden. She then gave him a little book, which she informed him 
 contained a complete description of the place, which it would 
 be necessary for him to consult whenever any difficulty should oc 
 cur. 
 
 The lady then departed; and Orlando being obliged to wait 
 until morning before he could undertake the adventure, laid him 
 self down on the grass and fell asleep. Origilla profited of this 
 opportunity to effect her escape, in order to rejoin Gryphon, for 
 whom she had conceived a violent passion, and taking Durinda- 
 na, the celebrated sword of the knight, she mounted Brigliadoro 
 and rode off with the utmost speed. 
 
 Orlando, when he awoke in the morning, finding himself a se 
 cond time deceived, was extremely mortified; but what more par 
 ticularly embarrassed him at this time was the loss of his sword. 
 As he was resolved, however, not to relinquish the adventure, he 
 broke a large bough from an elm, and stripping it of its leaves and 
 branches, formed it into a club, and with this weapon proceeded 
 towards the gate . The sun was just rising as he reached the 
 gate, which fronted the east ; at that moment it flew open, and 
 the dreadful dragon who guarded it, shook his wings, lashed his 
 tail and hissed aloud. The knight, however, undauntedly approach 
 ed, and, as the monster extended his jaws to swallow him, gave 
 him a violent stroke upon the head. This only served to increase
 
 46 NOTES. 
 
 his fury, but the champion still continued to ply him with blows 
 and, leaping upon his back finally broke his skull with the massy 
 club. 
 
 The dragon being slain, the gate shut of itself, the wall of the 
 garden closed so that no aperture could be perceived, and the 
 knight found himself completely a prisoner. In looking around he 
 discovered a fountain to which he repaired to refresh himself, and 
 cleanse his hands and face from the blood and dust. On approach 
 ing it he perceived a figure of a man in marble, from whose breast 
 the stream issued and formed a rivulet of cool and transparent 
 water, bordered with flowers and herbage ; a beautiful little tree 
 stood on each side of the fountain, in the midst of the fresh ver 
 dure which surrounded it, and the image bore this inscription on 
 its forehead, ' By this river is the road to the beautiful palace of the 
 garden' Thus directed, the knight resolved to follow the course 
 of the river; as he proceeded he was filled with surprize and de 
 light at the singular beauty of the place. 
 
 May's genial hand had o'er the lovely scene 
 Her richest mantle thrown of emerald green. 
 Flowers of a thousand tints the ground o'erspread, 
 And thro' the air refreshing fragrance shed. 
 Here plains delicious meet his ravish'd eyes, 
 There verdant knolls, in gentle swell arise, 
 Where groves of pine and balmy fir displayed 
 A beauteous prospect and delightful shad?,
 
 NOTES. 47 
 
 ' 
 
 Mid whose green boughs the birds, in wanton play, 
 Delighted sport, or trill the am'rous lay : 
 Beneath their umbrage herds of deer are seen, 
 Some stretch'd at ease, some feeding on the green ; 
 While midst them kids in sportive gambols bound, 
 And timid hares range fearlessly around. 
 
 He at length came to the palace which was situated on the 
 side of a little green eminence, and of most wonderful architecture, 
 the walls being entirely covered with plates of gold, enamelled 
 with various colours, and the door, which was very large, thickly 
 studded with rubies and diamonds. The knight on entering per 
 ceived a lady dressed in white who held a highly polished sword 
 in her hand, in which, as in a mirror, she was viewing herself. 
 When she perceived Orlando, she fled with precipitation ; but the 
 knight pursued and overtook her in the meadow, and having taken 
 the sword from her, threatened to put her to death unless she 
 would instruct him how to quit the garden. But his threats were 
 of no avail, she would not even deign to reply. He tried the e 
 feet of soothing words and of flattery, to as little purpose ; she 
 obstinately persisted in her silence, and appeared to take pleasure 
 in his embarrassment. Finding, that neither persuasion nor me 
 nace would succeed, he led her to a beach tree that was near, and 
 there bound her fast with long and flexible branches of elm : at 
 length recollecting the book which the lady had given him, he drew 
 it from his bosom, and examining it, discovered that the first step re-
 
 48 NOTES. 
 
 quisite for him to take was to proceed to a gate which opened to 
 wards the south, and which was guarded by a furious bull who 
 was armed with one horn of iron and another of fire, whose 
 strokes no armour could resist ; but that it was necessary for him 
 before arriving there, to pass by a very dangerous lake. 
 
 He then left the lady bound to the tree, and, pursuing the direc 
 tions of the book, filled his ears and helmet with roses, so as to 
 exclude the least sound, and went forward to the lake. 
 
 Small was the lake but deep, beneath whose wave, 
 By pleasure lur*d, had numbers found their grave: 
 Through the pure crystal of its lucid flood 
 Distinct each object at the bottom show'd. 
 Soon as the knight approach'd its flow'ry side 
 A gentle motion heav'd the placid tide, 
 The boiling waters rose with gurgling sound, 
 And sparkling bubbles lightly danced around ; 
 When slow emerging from the wave was seen 
 A beauteous Syren of attractive mien, 
 She look'd a damsel fair, but cautious held 
 Her monster form beneath the wave conceal'd. 
 But when she sang the notes so sweet and clear, 
 In rapture struck on each enchanted car 
 From their green haunts the savage beasts repair, 
 And quit their boughs the winged tribes of air.
 
 VOTES. 49 
 
 What numbers flock from grove, from hill and plain, 
 Charm'd with the music of her melting strain, 
 But as the shore they reach'd, the spelful sound 
 In deepest slumber all their senses bound. 
 
 Orlando, then pretending to listen, lay down as if asleep, which 
 the Mermaid perceiving, came on shore with an intent to dt aw 
 him hto the lake, but as she came within his reach the knight 
 eaughv her by her long hair, and dragging her into the meadow, 
 to which she could oppose no resistance but her singing, cut off 
 her head ; then unclosing his ears, he stained his helmet, his 
 ves: and armour completely with her blood. Having done this, 
 he repaired, as directed, to the Southern Gate ; as he approached 
 t, the wall of flint stone which formed the harrier of the garden 
 disparted, and a brazen gate flew open from which rushed the 
 bull roaring fearfully, and wildly tossing his head, armed with 
 horns of fire and of iron, and such was the strength and keenness 
 of the latter, that it would pierce the best tempered armour. 
 Orlando leaped aside, and aiming a blow at his head fortu 
 nately struck the iron horn and severed it at the root. But 
 notwithstanding this loss, the bull attacked him with so much fu 
 ry with his horn of fire, that he could scarcely keep his feet, 
 and so dreadful was the flame that the Count would inevitably have 
 been consumed by it, had he not have been preserved by the blood 
 of the Mermaid, which was the only charm capable of resisting 
 its violence. After an obstinate conflict he at length succeeded
 
 $0 NOTES. 
 
 in killing the bull, when the earth opened and swallowed up the 
 body, and the gate which till then was open, suddenly closed, and 
 the wall resumed its former appearance. 
 
 Again the knight found himself inclosed, but consulting the 
 book, he discovered another gate which opened towards the West, 
 and . was under the guard of an ass, a most singular arimal. 
 On his way towards this gate he perceived at a distance a 
 very large and lofty tree ; having examined the book, he un 
 bound his shield from his arm, and fastening it upon his hel 
 met, directed his course towards the tree, keeping his eyes con 
 stantly fixed upon the ground. As he came near, a large jnrd 
 flew from among the branches with a rustling noise, and assailed 
 the Count ; this bird whose plumage was of a golden colour, hii 
 the face of a woman, with long flaxen hair, and wore a crown upon 
 her head ; she was armed with long and sharp talons, which had 
 the hardness of iron, and from her body exuded a liquid, which 
 on toucliing the eyes instantly produced blindness, and rendered 
 the wretched victim her easy prey ; this formidable bird as he 
 approached kept constantly circling around the knight, shrieking 
 dreadfully, and let fall in great quantities that liquid substance, 
 which was like boiling oil ;- it fell upon his shield and upon his 
 breast, but did no injury to his eyes, which were effectually secu 
 red by the projection of his buckler. At last, pretending to be 
 blind, he fell upon the ground and began to grope among the her-
 
 NOTES. 5t 
 
 bage, the bird then descended and seized him with her talons by 
 the corslet, when with a back-stroke, he divided her in twain. 
 
 Orlando having slain this monster, replaced his shield upon 
 his arm, and continued his way to the gate, which as he came 
 near it opened of itself. This gate, as has been said, was guard 
 ed by an ass, who was entirely covered with an impenetrable ar 
 mour of golden scales ; his tail, which was long, was sharper than 
 the keenest sword, and could cut in pieces the strongest armour, 
 and his ears were two ells in length, and as flexible as the tail of 
 a serpent. When he perceived the knight, he ran furiously 
 towards him, braying dreadfully, but Orlando, with his sword, 
 against which no enchantment could avail, cut entirely through the 
 scales, and laid bare one of his sides ; with his long ears he however 
 caught hold of the champion's shield and wrested it from his arm, 
 when the knight with a stroke of his sword separated them 
 from his head. Upon this the ass turning around, struck the 
 knight, with his sharp tail and hewed his armour to pieces, yet he 
 who was invulnerable, remained unharmed. The next attack of 
 the Count was more successful ; he struck the ass upon the hip 
 and cut it entirely through ; the monster fell, and began to bray 
 and roar most hideously, while Orlando continuing his blows, at 
 length severed the head from the body. Immediately the head 
 began to whirl swiftly around, the earth shook with violence, and 
 opened, and closed again after having received the body of the 
 ass.
 
 52 > NOTES. 
 
 In the mean time, the gate had disappeared, and no vestige of 
 it was to be seen. Orlando, then directed his course towards the 
 North, as the book described an outlet in that quarter by which 
 he might escape ; but it was necessary in the first place, to over 
 come a monstrous giant, who guarded it, and who was enchant 
 ed in such a manner, that if he was slain, two more ferocious 
 and powerful would arise from his blood, and these possessing 
 and communicating the same property, would in like manner pro 
 ceed to multiply themselves to infinity. 
 
 As to the north the Count pursued his way 
 He saw a vale that fair before him lay, 
 Thick spread with flowers and level was the ground; 
 Th' enchanting spot a lovely fountain crown'd ; 
 Near which, in order rang'd, on ev'ry side 
 Were tables spread with costliest cates supplied, 
 Which wide around delicious odours cast, 
 And lur'dthe trav'ller to the rich repast, 
 In cups of gold the sparkling nectar glow'd, 
 And the parch'd lip with strong temptation woo'd. 
 Lur'd by the smell, attracted by the sight, 
 Though much these d-iincies charm'd the wond'ring knight 
 Yet fearful of some trick, some hidden snare, 
 Again the faithful book he cons with care- 
 There full display'd, and stripp'd of its disguise, 
 Clear shows the fraud to his enlighten'd eyes . 
 Beyond the fountain cloth'd with roses red, 
 Its verdant boughs a thorny thicket spread,
 
 NOTES. 53 
 
 Beneath whose close embow'ring shade conceal'd 
 A cruel Faun her watchful station held ; 
 Her form uncouth, above a woman show'd, 
 And fair with beauty's charms resplendent glow'd, 
 But foul beneath, in many a monstrous fold 
 Its venom'd train a hideous serpent roll'd 
 A chain she held which round the fountain led, 
 And midst the flowers conceal'd its toils entangling spread. 
 Ah, wretched he ! destruction's fated prey, 
 Of sense the slave, who thither bends his way ! 
 Beneath those treach'rous viands opes the grave, 
 And death smiles grimly o'er the gelid wave 
 Caught in the mazes of the circling chain, 
 When once approach'd, t' escape he tries in vain, 
 And to her bower compell'd, the monster's prize, 
 Press'd in her stifling grasp in horror dies. 
 The Count cautiously avoided the fountain, and hastily advanced 
 towards the thicket. The Faun on seeing him approach, attempted 
 to escape, but was soon overtaken and slain by him as she made no 
 resistance. Then continuing his course towards the north, he saw 
 
 the giant standing on a bridge, which was at a small distance from 
 the gate, armed with a sword. As the knight came up the giant 
 aimed a furious blow at him, but he eluded the stroke and smote 
 him with the enchanted sword, on his right side with such force, 
 ihat he cut him in twain. The giant fell dead, and his blood flow-
 
 S NOTES; 
 
 ed in lai'ge quantities ; the knight now supposed that he should 
 meet with no further obstacles to his departure, but when the 
 blood reached the farther part of the bridge, a large flame instantly 
 kindled around it r and ascending on high soon formed itself into 
 a giant, still larger and more terrible than the first, and soon af 
 ter another like him appeared, both of whom had the faces of ser 
 pents. 
 
 Orlando was now much perplexed what course to pursue, but 
 he fearlessly went to the gate, which the giants had barred r 
 and notwithstanding their opposition seized the bar and broke it 
 mto pieces. Upon this they both attacked him with their scime- 
 tars, but to this he paid little regard. Convinced that he could 
 never succeed in his enterprise by killing them, he resolved to 
 adopt a different plan ; he sheathed his sword and ran and seized 
 one of the giants, and lifting him with unequalled strength from 
 the ground, whirled him around and threw him on his back. But 
 tonile thus employed he was exposed to the blows of the other, 
 leaving him therefore, he ran upon his companion, and laid himin his 
 turn on the ground. But finding this measure ineffectual, and 
 that he could not quit the garden, as the giants constantly opposed 
 themselvesto his attempts, he at length pretended to be afraid, and 
 ran into the plain expecting that they would pursue him, but they 
 whom the charm had constituted the keepers of the gate, would 
 not quit the bridge. Finding it fruitless after several attempts to 
 lure them from their station, he, at length, recollected the chain 
 which the Faun had spread around the fountain ; thither he went,
 
 NOTES. 55 
 
 and taking' it returned with it to the bridge. He then seized 
 one of the giants and threw him to the ground, and bound him 
 with the chain, after which, in like manner, he confined the other. 
 
 The giants being bound, nothing further obstructed the depar 
 ture of Orlando; but at leisure now to reflect, he bethought himself 
 that he should have done but little towards the accomplishment of 
 his engagement, should he depart without destroying the garden- 
 He again consulted the book, and discovered that in the cen 
 tre of the garden grew a tree, from which if the topmost bough 
 was plucked, the garden would immediately disappear. 
 
 Determined to complete the adventure, he returned to the place 
 where he had left Falerina bound to the beech, where she still re 
 mained, and proceeding onwards, came to the middle of the gar 
 den. 
 
 Just in the midst, the beauteous tree arose, 
 Profusef with foliage from unnumber'd boughs, 
 Distinguish'd o'er the rest, afar ascends 
 The bough on which the garden's fate depends, 
 Nought could with this in beauteous shew compare, 
 High rose the glittering shoot, erect in air, 
 Nor from a Scythian bow, with force impell'd, 
 E'er to that height, its course an arrow held. 
 Small was the trunk, the branches wide were spread, 
 Each day the tree its fleeting foliage shed*
 
 56 NOTES. 
 
 While still renew'd the thorny leaves were seen 
 
 Each day reviv'd to shine in vernal green, 
 
 And 'midst the foliage, beauteous to behold, 
 
 Gleam'dthe rich boughs with fruit of bumish'd gold. 
 This fruit was very large and ponderous, and held only by a slen 
 der twig, so that if any one approached the tree, the branches were 
 shaken, and he was beat to the ground and crushed beneath the 
 weight of the heavy fruit, which fell on every side. Orlando, who 
 was apprised of the danger, formed for himself a kind of lattice 
 work covering, from the interwoven branches of elm and osier, 
 and covering it with earth and moss, placed it upon his head. 
 Guarded in this manner, he approached the tree, the fruit of which 
 showered down upon him in such quantities, that he was scarcely 
 able to support himself beneath the weight. When he came up 
 to it with one stroke of his sword he separated the trunk, and 
 the tree fell. 
 
 A violent earthquake ensued, the sky was obscured with clouds, 
 thick darkness shut the surrounding scenery from his sight, and 
 amidst the gloom arose a large and resplendent fire. At length 
 the earthquake ceased, the darkness was dissipated, and the sky 
 again became serene : but the wall and the garden had entirely 
 disappeared, nor was there a vestige of the fountain or the pa 
 lace left. The lady alone was to be seen, still bound to the tree, 
 bitterly lamenting the destruction of her garden. 
 
 She no longer persevered in her former obstinate silence, but 
 ih-a mild voice, thus addressed herself to Orlando. .< Valiant
 
 NOTES. 5Y 
 
 Vt 
 
 ' knight, I am conscious that I deserve death, shouldst thou now 
 
 ' inflict that punishment on me, thou wouldst in my fate involve that 
 ( of many valiant knights and damsels who are my prisoners. 
 4 Know then that I contrived this garden, which required the ut- 
 ' most exertion of my skill for seven months, in order to revenge 
 
 * myself for the injuries I had received from a knight called Arri- 
 4 antes, and a damsel who is named Origilla : I shall not detain you 
 ' with a relation of their villainy, but shall only observe that nei* 
 
 * ther of them have fallen into my hands. Many captives have been 
 ' taken at this garden, but much the greatest number have been 
 ' sent to me from abridge which I caused to be built over a large 
 
 * river, and gave it in keeping to a crafty old man, who allured 
 ' many thither, and such was the device, that whosoever came was 
 1 sure to be taken. He has a number at present in his possession, 
 ' and such is the nature of the spell, that were you to kill me, the 
 ' bridge and tower would disappear, and they would all perish. 
 ' But if you will consent to release me, I solemnly promise 
 you that I will set at liberty those prisoners ; and if you cannot 
 ' confide in my word, take me with you, released, or bound as I 
 ' am, and I will free the prisoners and destroy the tower 
 ' and bridge in your presence.- Take then your choice, 
 ' either of destroying them with me, or of permitting them to 
 ' escape.' The Count, who was far from wishing to put her to 
 death, released her, and desirous to free the prisoners, depart 1 - 
 ed with her for the bridge.
 
 56 NOTES. 
 
 (2) The t*WQ brave friends and Jtmon's valiant son.- Rinaldo hav* 
 ing left Albracca, accompanied by Astolpho, and the two friends 
 Iroldo and Prasildo, Saracen knights, whom he had released from 
 the guards of Falerina, on his journey met with a damsel who 
 was weeping bitterly ; she implored their aid to preserve her sister 
 from a cruel robber who had seized her, stripped her of her gar 
 ments, and bound her to a tree, where he whipped her in the most 
 barbarous manner. The knights fired with indignation at this sto 
 ry, followed the damsel, who conducted them to the bridge of the 
 Lake, beyond which, in the meadow, bound to a cypress, she 
 shewed them her unfortunate sister, whom the ruffian still continu 
 ed to scourge. 
 
 Iroldo dismounted the first, and passed the bridge, the wicket 
 being too narrow to admit a horse. When the robber saw him, he 
 quitted the damsel, and taking his iron mace, soon extended him 
 io the ground ; after which he took him up, and carrying him to- 
 the lake threw him in. Prasildo, who thus saw himself deprived 
 of a friend whom he loved with the sincerest affection, solicited 
 Rinaldo, who had prepared himself for the combat, with so 
 much earnestness, to permit him ta revenge his friend, that he 
 yielded to his request ; but he had no better success than his com 
 panion, he was beat to the earth by the robber, and thrown into 
 the lake. 
 
 Rinaldo, filled with the sincerest regret for the loss of these af 
 fectionate friends, then passed the bridge, and began a furious conr
 
 NOTES. 59 
 
 bat with the robber, the contest was long and arduous ; the 
 knight sought in vain to slay his enemy as he was secured from harm 
 by enchanted armour which was impenetrable to his blows ; the 
 robber on his side, in vain sought to strike the knight with his pon 
 derous mace, for such was his vigilance and activity, that he con 
 stantly eluded his strokes. At last tired of this fruitless contention, 
 he threw his mace at the champion with such just aim that he 
 struck him transversely with the massy weapon, and dashed his 
 shield in pieces. Such was the violence of the blow, that Rinaldo 
 fell, though he soon recovered his feet ; but scarcely had he arisen, 
 when the robber rushed upon him, and seizing him round the bo 
 dy, ran with him to the lake, intending to throw him in 
 as he had done the others. Rinaldo however, struggled so 
 forcibly, and held him so fast, that finding that he could not disen 
 gage himself from his grasp, he sprung with him into the water. 
 Astolpho, the mournful witness of the fate of his companions 
 then came into the meadow, and after waiting in vain for some 
 time for the reappearance of the robber, and bitterly lamenting 
 the loss of his friend Rinaldo, released the damsel who was bound 
 to the tree, and departed, taking with him Bayafdo, the horse of 
 Rinaldo. 
 
 (3) Rinaldo, the son of Amon, and cousin of Orlando, was one 
 of the most renowned Paladins of the Court of Charlemagne, and 
 in prowess and wonderful achievements, scarcely inferior to Or* 
 lando.
 
 $q NOTES. 
 
 (4) Suffice to ay, a knight who thither came.- An adventure of 
 Orlando, evidently copied from the stories of Jason and Cadmus 
 In one of Orlando's excursions, a lady, came up to him seated on 
 a palfrey, whose trappings were of silk, she had in her hand a 
 book, and suspended to her neck a horn of most beautiful work' 
 manship, it was white ornamented with gold and coloured en 
 amel and set with precious stones. She informed Orlando that if 
 he was disposed to undertake the achievement of the most brilliant 
 adventure that had ever employed the valour of a knight, he must 
 sound the horn which she had with her three times. The adven 
 ture consisted in killing a monstrous dragon, in subduing and yo 
 king two furious bulls, and in ploughing with them a certain quan 
 tity of land and sowing it with the dragon's teeth, from which a 
 crop of armed men would arise, and lastly in destroying these 
 enemies. 
 
 After much fatigue and hazard, the knight achieved this ad 
 venture, when the lady offered to furnish him with the means of ta 
 king a white stag, belonging to Morgana, the fairy of riches, which 
 was so fleet as to defy pursuit, and had horns of gold, which he 
 shed and renewed six times each day. Butthe knight, declined the 
 offer, as he had but little regard for wealth, glory being the idol 
 of his pursuit. . 
 
 (5) Though late by love bewildering, led astray. This passage 
 alludes to a furious combat between Orlando and Rinaldo, at the 
 siege of Albracca, whither the former had gone as the champion of
 
 NOTES. 61 
 
 Angelica, against Agrican and the other knights who had besieged 
 her. Rinaldo, who after he had drank at the enchanted fountain 
 of Merlin, had conceived the most violent hatred for Angelica, 
 joined himself to her enemies, and fought against her with the 
 bitterest animosity. 
 
 After the battle between the two knights, Angelica, appre 
 hensive for the safety of Rinaldo, whom she loved with an 
 ardour equal to his hatred of her, and desirous to free her 
 self of an importunate suitor, persuaded Orlando to undertake 
 the adventure of the garden of Falerina, as above related.
 
 Where Dudon since an equal fate Jutd found" Seepage 3, line 1. 
 One of the Paladins or twelve Peers of Charlemagne. The 
 weapon employed by this redoubtable champion was a heavy 
 mace, which he wielded with so much dexterity and effect, that 
 he from thence obtained the appellation of Dudon of the mace. 
 
 tt Nor Trrvigante^ nor Alacon here avail" See page 8, line 8. 
 In the romances of chivalry these names frequently occur. In 
 those writings the Saracens are uniformly confounded with the 
 
 : ^9 ' -'~l 
 
 Pagans, and represented as adoring Macon or Mahound (a cor 
 ruption of Mahomet) Apollo and Trivigante ; the latter rendered 
 by the old English writers Termagaunt, whence the derivation of 
 that word as applied to a shrew. What were the particular cha 
 racter and attributes of this god, it is, I presume, at present diffi 
 cult to define ; but from an extract from an old legend of Guy of 
 Warwick, in Bishop Percy's Reliques of ancient Poetry, it would 
 seem as if the romanceer supposed him the same as Apollo. 
 " So help me Mahoune of might, 
 And Termigaunt my god so bright." 
 
 As the writers of those times, however, were more distinguish 
 ed for their abhorrence of Mahometanism, than a knowledge of 
 its tenets, or their classical learning, it was not unusual for them
 
 LE FESTE COLOMBIANE A MANCHESTER 
 
 , 29 luglio: 
 
 < (PiETno HAVA). Al par! della nostra bella e superba 
 Geneva, la ricca e manufatturiera Manchester voile, il 27 
 correnfe, degnamcnte celebrare il quarto centeuario della 
 scoperta d'America, radunando UQ centinaio d'iliustri suoi 
 figli a sontuoso banchs to. Eravi pure presente 1'egregio 
 cav. Roberto F, oeliiich, Rsgio Console ti'Italia in quella 
 citla. 
 
 Alle frulta, propinato che si ebb3 in onore dell'Inghil- 
 terra e dell'America, d ell' i minor la le raemoria di Cristoforo 
 Colombo e della Societa Geografica di Manchester, generosa 
 iuiziatrice della simpatica festa, il presidente del banchetto 
 lesse una comunicazioue da parte dei:a Societa Geografica 
 Italiana, con la quale questa manifestava 11 desiderio di 
 essere rappresenlata a quelle feste dal citato car. Froehlich, 
 ed invitando al tempo stesso i membri della Sociela so- 
 rella a voler intervenire alia commemorazione che in onore 
 dello stesso Colombo avra luogo a Geneva nel prossimo 
 selterabre. 
 
 Lasciato quindi il locale del banchetto e recaiisi tutti i 
 commensali al Concert Hall, si tenne cola una publica adu- 
 nanza per udire tre interessanti ed elaborate letlure sulla 
 vita e sui tempi del celebre navigatore genovese. 
 
 La seconda di queste letture e dovuta al noslro stimato 
 rappresenlante consolare, cav. Froehlich, il quale, e dove- 
 roso il dirlo, mai non tralnseia ne tempo, ne mezzi, ne 
 fatiche ondc tener alto ed onorato il nome d'ltalia in quesle 
 isole. 
 
 Egli, dopa avere lungamente accennato alle condizioni 
 d'Europa in generate e dell'Italia in particolare nei se- 
 coli X11I e XIV, venne a parlare della potenza marittima 
 e commerciale di Geneva, che era allora come le citla di 
 Manchester e Liverpool riunite. Le sue galere, sotto 1'em- 
 blema di San Giorgio, recavano le ricchezze delle lontane 
 Indie, deila remota Ciu;i e dsfli'Drieate io Ispagna, in 
 ghilterra, nelle Fiandre e nelte altre parti del Nord, rit' 
 
 nando poscia sui loro passi c..r;cii. iii mercanzie e di de- 
 naro. F^miglie genovesi impiantnrouo a Londra cospicue 
 Case commercial!, coslruondo vasti magazzini sulle rive del 
 Tamigi. 
 
 Geneva, Venezia e Firenze furono le prime comunita 
 che nel XII secolo abbiano elello dei propri Consoli nella 
 Mctropoli inglese; non fu che nel 1485, che I'lnghillerra 
 ot!o liiccjnlo III, nomino un suo Console a Firenze nella 
 persona di Lorenzo Strozzi, nome ben noto a tutti i visi- 
 tatori di quella citta dei fiori e fiore di tutte le citta. 
 
 Mcrcanti genovesi ventieltero perfino navi e materiale da 
 guerra a Roberto Bruce per combattere contro Edoordo II; 
 e nel 13 iT, per far froute alle sue guerresche imprese, 
 Edoardo III noleggio bastimenti liguri, (ogliendo ancora 
 ad imprestito milioni da Firenze, milioni che Ira paren-
 
 '<rf2- 
 
 Proseguendp poscia ad illustrate, nella sua bellissiraa 
 relazione, quanto maggiormoule concerncva allora il nostro 
 pnese, 1'oratore disse die in aggiimt.i agli insegnamenti 
 (lei Genovesi circa le intraprese commercial!, si fu nella 
 Liguria die Chancer, il decano del poeli inglesi, strinse 
 amicizia col noslro PetrarcJ. E noa e qui tutlo. Orazio 
 I'dllavicini parli da Genova per I'In-'hilterra, ove la Regina 
 Maria lo nomino collettore delle tasse papali, di cui egli, 
 da vcro gcnovese attivo e scallro, sepps si b-ne approfit- 
 tare. da essore poi in grado d'imprestare forti somme alia 
 Regina Elisabelta. Venuto a morire, la sua vedova spos6 
 1'avolo del Protetlore; tre giovani Pallavicini passarono a 
 nozze con Ire ragazze della fainiglia di Cromwell, ed il 
 grande Oliviero slesso ricevclte la benedizione da una zia 
 e due zii genovesi. Nessuna meraviglia quindi cii'egli sen- 
 tisse si viva afiezione per la ligure Republica. 
 
 11 cav. Froetilich passo poi a discorrere di Riccardo Cuor 
 di Leone, ch", imbircalosi per la sua crociata nelLi Pa- 
 leslina su galore genovesi sotlo i vessilli deila Croce Rossa 
 e di San Giorgio, scelse al suo rilorno quest'ultimo, come 
 patrouo della vecchia Inghillerra. E si i'n appunto circa 
 1'epoca delta caduta di Coslantinopoli nelle maui dei Turchi 
 e della perdila delle provincie nel mar Nero da parte dei 
 Genovesi, die nacque Cristoforo Colombo, a proposito della 
 controversia sul luogo di nascita del qnale, esisle il suo 
 testamenlo aulograib in cui egli raccomanda ai proprii 
 eredi di lavorare per 1'cnore e la prcsj.erila di Genova, 
 e di fare ogni loro possa allo scopo di conservare la posi- 
 zione ed aumentare il benessere della R^publ ci. > 
 
 E qui il nostro bravo console, ioterrotto piu volte da 
 cordiaii ed unanimi applausi, si diffuse a lungo sul pro- 
 foudo e caldo amorc ogoora nutrito da Colombo pel suo 
 suolo nalio ; accenno al potente sistema bancarlo di Ge 
 nova, distrutlo al fiue dall'invasione austriac.i e dalla Ri- 
 voluzione francese del 1789; ed asserendo die la gloriosa 
 capitale della L'guria e uua delle citta piu ieali ed affe- 
 ziooale all'augusla Cisa di Sivuia, fioi col dire die la ve- 
 tusta e patrioltica Genova nobilmente sta ora disputando 
 con Marsiglia i'oaorevole e pacifica preponderanza nel Me- 
 diterraneo. 
 
 E cosi, se da un lato la Societa Geografica Italiana nou 
 poleva essere piu felice nella scelta del suo rappresentante 
 alle fes'e Colombiane di Manchester, dall'altro lato poi, 
 alb molte e sognalate benemerenzj gia acquistatesi dal 
 Rcgio Console d'ltalia in delta c'.tla per |e sue asseunate 
 e continue relazioni al uoslro Minisfero degli Esteri, per 
 j^romuovere e sviluppare i nostri scambi cou questo ricco 
 e potente paese, ci e d' uopo aggiunger^liene ora un'altra 
 per far Qgli, coa tanto zelo, mlelligenz.i ed amore, qui co- 
 noscere ed apprezzare i nostri uo;niai e le nostre cose. >
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 63 
 
 
 
 to apply similar attributes to distinct mythological characters, and 
 those which were opposite and discordant to the same deities. 
 
 " With Brandimarte since them a firis'ner made" See p. 19, 1. 16. 
 Brandimarte was the companion and bosom-friend of Orlando, 
 by whom he had been converted to Christianity. The loves of 
 this amiable hero and his wife, the tender and beautiful Florde- 
 lisa, form a very interesting part both of the Inamorato and Furi- 
 oso ; and his adventure at the sepulchre of the Fairy is one of 
 the most pleasing stories contained in the former an abbreviation 
 of which in prose has been given to the public by the author of that 
 elegant poem, the Lay of the last Minstrel, in one of the notes 
 to his learned and interesting work, the Minstrelsy of the Scottish 
 Border. As a happy exemplification of the manner of Bemi, of his 
 mixture of the grave and ludicrous, and occasional felicity of 
 expression, the translator offers the following short passage from 
 that story ....Having overcome a giant of a very singular form, and 
 a knight, after a long and bloody conflict, he is accosted by a lady, 
 and directed, as the only means of extricating himself from the 
 castle in which he finds himself inclosed, to remove the covering 
 from a marble sepulchre, and to kiss the first object which should 
 present itself. The knight removes the massy stone a ser 
 pent of hideous appearance immediately Taises itself in the tomb, 
 and opening its mouth, hisses aloud and shews its formidable 
 fangs. Brandimarte draws back, and claps his hand to his sword, 
 but the lady with a fearful countenance and trembling voice calls
 
 W ADDITIONAL, NOTES. 
 
 to him to desist, assuring him that an attempt to injure the serpent 
 would prove their mutual destruction, and exhorting him to kiss 
 it as the only means of safety. " What! (said the warrior) do you 
 not see how she grins and shews her teeth, which look as if they 
 were formed on purpose to bite off noses, and makes such a hide 
 ous step-mother's face at me, that it is enough to frighten one ? 
 On the contrary (replied the lady) she invites you with a benig 
 nant countenance, approach her, be not afraid, nor do as many 
 thers have here done, sacrifice your life to your fears. 
 The knight again slowly approached, as this kind of kissing had, 
 in his opinion, very little to recommend it, but as he inclined 
 himself towards the serpent, she appeared so fierce and horrible 
 that his blood was chilled, his face became as cold as a stone, and 
 he thus said to himself. If I am destined to perish here, it 
 may be as well another time as now, but at any rate I am resolved 
 that I will not contribute to it myself. Would I were as sure of 
 going to, heaven, as I am that, should I incline myself a little 
 more, this monster would spring at my face, and catch me by 
 my nose or some other part. I see how it is others have been 
 caught by this same trick ; and the lady has given me this coun 
 sel in revenge foi the death of the knight whom I have slain. 
 Thus saying he began to retire, resolved no more to approach 
 the tomb. The lady perceiving this, was filled with despair, and 
 thus reproached him, " Ah ! coward, what wouldst thou do ? 
 Why art thou so base of heart ? a baseness which will most surely
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 65 
 
 end in thy destruction. O thou of exceeding fear and of little 
 faith, the path of safety is open to thee, but thou believest me 
 not ! Animated by this cutting reproach, the knight again re 
 turned to the sepulchre, and his fear changing into shame, the 
 hue of the violet became tinged with the colour of the rose. 
 He yet hesitated for a moment, alternately prompted by fear 
 and hope. At length impelled by a desperate courage, he drew 
 near and kissed the serpent ; cold to the touch as ice was her 
 mouth, which had before appeared like fire. The serpent imme 
 diately began to change, and by degrees assumed the figure of 
 a damsel." 
 
 " From taking booty to supply our needs." See p. 37, L 18. 
 
 This trait is in exact conformity with the character of Rinaldo, 
 as described in the old romances. In the combat between him 
 and Orlando at the siege of Albracca, before noticed, the latter 
 reproaches him with his robberies. And at the burning of Don 
 Quixote's Library, Cervantes makes the curate say, that " Signor 
 Rinaldo de Montalban and his companions were greater thieves 
 than Cacus." 

 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Betide, to befal, to happen to. 
 
 Durance, confinement, imprisonment. 
 
 Erst, formerly, long since, before. 
 
 Fare, to go, to travel, to be in any state good or bad. 
 
 fated, secured by enchantment, or gifted with the property 
 of being invulnerable or impenetrable ; or when applied to a 
 weapon, as in the present instance, endued by magic with the 
 power of piercing or cleaving the hardest substances. This 
 word is probably derived from the Italian Fata, a Fairy, 
 as in the popular traditions of almost every European nation, the 
 fairies are supposed to have possessed the skill of fabricating ar 
 mour and weapons of this description, which they were accustomed 
 to bestow upon those champions, who were so fortunate as to obtain 
 their favour. The Scandinavian mythology had also its elves or 
 duergars, a species of being in most respects resembling the 
 fairy, and endued with the same wonderful art of framing 
 charmed swords and impenetrable armour. See the very inge 
 nious dissertation of Walter Scott, Esq. on the fairies of popular 
 superstition, prefixed to the tale of Tamlin, in the second volume 
 pf Border Minstrelsy.
 
 GLOSSARY. 67 
 
 Faun, in its common acceptation, a sylvan deity, one of the 
 attendants of Pan. For what reason the author has given this ap 
 pellation to this monster, who seems to have been the prototype 
 of Milton's Sin, it is somewhat difficult to determine. 
 
 Fay (from theFrench, Fee} a Fairy. 
 
 Guise, manner, external appearance. 
 
 Lore, learning, doctrine, instruction. 
 
 Lothly, loathsome. 
 
 Losel, a worthless fellow, a vagabond. 
 
 Passing, exceeding, surpassing in point of excellence. 
 
 Perforce, of necessity. 
 
 Reck to regard, to care for. 
 
 Sudnuss, humbly, with submission. 
 
 S/ioil, to despoil, to strip, to plunder. 
 
 Trenchant, sharp, cutting. 
 
 habitation, place of accustomed resort.
 
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