Part 93 (1/2)

LXV Thitherward were Orlando she had spied, In company the knight and lady made.

They daily post till to that bridge they ride, Which Argier's king maintained, in arms arraid, To him the guard their coming signified; Courser and arms his squires as well conveyed; And Brandimart no sooner is at hand Than Rodomont is armed and at his stand.

LXVI With lofty voice the sovereign of Argier, a.s.sorting with his moody rage, 'gan say: ” -- Whoe'er thou art, sir knight, and whencesoe'er -- Brought by mistake of purpose or of way, Light from thine horse and doff thy warlike gear, To deck this sepulchre, ere thee I slay, An offering to its lovely tenant's spirit; And thou in thy forced homage have no merit.”

LXVII Brandimart, at the paynim's proud discourse, His weapon in the rest, for answer, layed; He good Batoldo spurred, his gentle horse, And at the champion with such fury made, As showed that he, for courage and for force, With any warrior in the world had weighed.

King Rodomont as well, with rested spear, Thundered along the bridge, in fierce career.

LXVIII The paynim's courser, ever used to go Upon that bridge's fearful pa.s.s, where one Fell p.r.o.ne parforce into the stream below, Securely to the fierce encounter run: While, trembling, and irresolute in show, That other to the unwonted course is gone.

Quivers the bridge beneath, as it would sink: Narrow that pa.s.sage is, unfenced the brink!

LXIX With heavy spears, the growth of forest h.o.a.r, Saplings rough-hewn, those masters of the just, Upon the perilous bridge encountering sore, Exchange, on either side, no gentle thrust.

Nor much their mighty strength or manege-lore Avails the steeds; for, prostrate in the dust, Crumbles each knight and charger in mid-course; Whelmed in one fate, the rider and his horse.

LXX When either steed would nimbly spring from ground, As the spur galled and gored his bleeding flank, He on that little bridge no footing found; For all to narrow was the scanty plank.

Hence both fall headlong, and the deafening sound Re-echo vaulted skies and gra.s.sy bank.

So rang our stream, when from the heavenly sphere Was hurled the sun's ill-fated charioteer.

LXXI With all their weight, down hurtled from the steep, Coursers and cavaliers, who sate them well; And dived into the river's darksome deep, To search for beauteous nymph in secret cell.

Nor this the first nor yet the second leap Which from the bridge had made that infidel!

Who, often floundering in its oozy bed, Well in the soundings of that stream was read.

LXXII He where 'tis hand and where 'tis softer knows, Where shallow is the water, where profound: With breast and flanks above the waves he rose, And Brandimart a.s.sailed on safer ground.

Brandimart, whirling with the current, goes, While his steed's feet the faithless bottom pound.

He, with his lord, stands rooted in the mud, With risk to both of drowning in the flood.

LXXIII Whelming them upside-down, the waters flow, And plunge them in the river's deepest bed; The horse is uppermost, the knight below.

From the bridge looks his lady, sore bested, And tear employs, and prayer, and suppliant vow: -- ”Ah, Rodomont! for love of her, whom dead Ye wors.h.i.+p, do not deed of such despite!

Permit not, sir, the death of such a knight.

LXXIV ”Ah! courteous lord! if e'er you loved withal, Have pity upon me who love this peer; Let it suffice that he become thy thrall!

For if thou on this stone suspend his gear, Amid whatever spoils adorn the wall, The best and worthiest will his spoils appear.”

She ended, and her prayer so well addrest, It touched, though hard to move, the paynim's breast.

LXXV Moved by her words, he lent her lover aid, So by his courser in the stream immersed; And largely drank, albeit with little thirst.

But Rodomont a while his help delayed, And seized the warrior's sword and helmet first.

Him half exhausted from the stream he drew, And prisoned with that other captive crew.

LXXVI All happiness was in that damsel spent, When taken she her Brandimart espied, Although to see him captive more content, Than to behold him perish in the tide.

None but herself she blames for the event, Who thitherward had been the champion's guide, She having to that faithful warrior shown, How at the bridge Orlando she had known.

LXXVII She parts, and has anew already planned Thither with good Rinaldo to resort; With Guido, Sansonet of doughty hand, Or other cavalier of Pepin's court; Some warrior good by water and by land, That with the Saracen will well a.s.sort.

Who, if no stronger than her baffled knight, With better fortune may maintain the fight.

LXXVIII For many days the damsel vainly strayed, Ere she encountered any one who bore Semblance of knight, that might afford her aid, And free her prisoned lover from the Moor; After she long and fruitless search had made, At length a warrior crost her way, that wore A richly ornamented vest, whose ground With trunks of cypresses was broidered round.

LXXIX Who was that champion, shall be said elsewhere; For I to Paris must return, and show How Malagigi and Rinaldo are Victorious o'er the routed Moorish foe.

To count the flyers were a useless care, Or many drowned in Stygian streams below.