第21章

XVIII

“Theremovesnoleafbeneath，thouhasttoknow，Buthereabovesomesignthereofwetrace；

Sinceall，inHeavenaboveorEarthbelow，Mustcorrespond，thoughwithadifferentface。

Thatancient，withhissweepingbeardofsnow，Bynoughtimpededandsoswiftofpace，Worksthesameendandpurposeinourclime，AsareonearthbelowperformedbyTime。

XIX

“Thelifeofmanitsfinalcloseattains，Whenonthewheeliswoundthefataltwine；

Therefame，andhereabovethemarkremains；

Forbothwouldbeimmortalanddivine，Butforthatbeardedsire\'sunweariedpains，Andhisbelow，thatfortheirwreckcombine。

Onedrownsthem，asthouseest，midsandandsurges。

Andoneinlongforgetfulnessimmerges。

XX

“Andeven，ashereabove，theraven，daw，Vulture，anddiversotherbirdsofair，AllfromtheturbidwaterseektodrawThenames，whichintheirsightappearmostfair；

Eventhusbelow，pimps，flatterers，menofstraw，Buffoons，informers，minions，allwhothereFlourishincourts，andinfarbetterguiseAndbetterodour，thanthegoodandwise；

XXI

“Andbythecrowdaregentlecourtiershight，Becausetheyimitatetheassandswine:

WhenthejustParcaeor(tospeakaright)

VenusandBacchuscuttheirmaster\'stwine，——Thesebaseandsluggishdullards，whomIcite——

Bornbuttoblowthemselveswithbreadandwine，Intheirvilemouthsawhilesuchnamesconvey，Thendroptheload，whichisOblivion\'sprey。

XXII

“Butasthejoyfulswans，that，singingsweet，Conveythemedalssafelytothefane，Sotheywhosepraisespoetswellrepeat，Arerescuedfromoblivion，direrpainThandeath。OPrinces，waryanddiscreet，ThatwiselytreadinCaesar\'ssteps，andgainAuthorsforfriends！They，doubtitnot，shallsaveYournoblenamesfromLethe\'slaxywave。

XXIII

“Rareasthosegentleswansarepoetstoo，Thatwellthepoet\'snamehavemerited，AswellbecauseitisHeaven\'swill，thatfewGreatrulersshouldthepathsofglorytread，Asthroughfoulfaultofsordidlordlings，whoLetsacredGeniusbeghisdailybread；

WhoputtingdowntheVirtues，raisethetribeOfVices，andtheliberalartsproscribe。

XXIV

“Believeit，thattheseignorantmenshouldbeBlindanddeprivedofjudgment，isGod\'sdoom；

Whomakesthemloathethelightofpoetry，ThatenviousDeathmaywhollythemconsume。

BesidesthatSongcanquickenandsetfreeHimthatisprisonedinthedarknesstomb，Thoughfoulhisname，ifCirrhahimbefriend。

Itssavourmyrrhandspikenardshalltranscend。

XXV

“Aeneasnotsopious，norofarmSostrongAchilles，Hectornotsobold，Was，as\'tisfamed；andmidthenamelessswarm，Thousandsandthousandshigherrankmighthold:

Butgiftofpalaceandofplenteousfarm，Bestowedbyheirsofthem，whosedeedstheytold，Havemovedthepoetwithhishonouredhand，ToplacethemuponGlory\'shigheststand。

XXVI

“AugustusnotsoholyandbenignWasasgreatVirgil\'strumpetsoundshisname，Becausehesavouredtheharmoniousline。

Hisfoulproscriptionpasseswithoutblame。

ThatNerowasunjustwouldnonedivine，Norhaplywouldhesufferinhisfame，ThoughHeavenandEarthwerehostile，hadheknownThemeanstomakethetunefultribehisown。

XXVII

“HomeraconquerorAgamemnonshows，AndmakestheTrojanseemofcowardvein，Andfromthesuitors，faithfultohervows，Penelopeathousandwrongssustain:

Yet——would\'stthouIthesecretshouldexpose?——

Bycontrariesthroughoutthetaleexplain:

ThatfromtheTrojanbandstheGrecianran；

AnddeemPenelopeacourtezan。

XXVIII

“WhatfameEliza，shesochasteofsprite，Ontheotherhand，hasleftbehindher，hear！

Whowidelyisawantonbaggagehight，SolelythatshetoMarowasnotdear，Marvelnotthisshouldcausemesoredespite，Andifmyspeechdiffusiveshouldappear。

AuthorsIlove，andpaythedebtIowe，Speakingtheirpraise；anauthorIbelow！

XXIX

“ThereearnedI，aboveallmen，whatnomoreTimenoryetDeathfrommeshalltakeaway；

AnditbehovedourLord，ofwhomIboreSuchtestimony，somypaintstopay。

Itgrievesmemuchforthem，onwhomherdoorCourtesyclosesonastormyday；

Whomeagre，pale，andwornwithhopelesssuit，Knocknightandday，andeverwithoutfruit。

XXX

HenceforthwiththatapostleletthepeerRemain；forIhavenowtomakeaspringAsfaras\'tisfromheaventoearth；forhereIcannothangforeveronthewing。

Itothedamereturn，whowaswhilereWoundedbyjealousywithcruelsting。

Ileftherwhere，successivelyo\'erthrown，Threekingsshequicklyuponearthhadstrown；

XXXII

Andafterwardsarrivinginatown，Ateve，whichontheroadtoParislay，HeardtidingsofRinaldo\'svictoryblown；

AndhowinArlesthevanquishedpaynimlay——

Sure，herRogerowiththekingisgone——

Assoonasreappearsthedawningday，TowardsfairProvence，whither(asshehears)

KingCharlemagnepursues，herwayshesteers。

XXXIII

ShetowardsProvence，bythenearestroad，Sojourneying，metamaidofmournfulair；

Who，thoughhercheekswithtearswereoverflowed，Wasyetofvisageandofmannersfair。

Shewasit，sotransfixedwithLove\'skeengoad，WhosighedforMonodante\'svaliantheir，Whoatthebridgehadleftherlordathrall，WhenwithKingRodomonthetriedafall。

XXXIV

Shesoughtoneofanotter\'snimbleness，Bywaterandbyland，acavalierSofierce，thatshethatchampion——toredressHerwrongs——mightmatchagainstthepaynimpeer。

WhengoodRogero\'slady，comfortless，Tothatfairdame，ascomfortless，drewnear，Hershesalutedcourteously，andnextDemandedbywhatsorrowshewasvext。

XXXV

Flordelicemarkedthemaid，that，inhersight，Appearedawarriorfittedforherneeds；

Andofthebridgeandriver\'ganrecite，WhereArgier\'smightykingtheroadimpedes；

Andhowhehadgonenightoslayherknight；

Notthatmoredoughtywerethemonarch\'sdeeds；

Butthatthewilypaynimvantage-groundInthatstreightbridgeandfoamingriverfound。

XXXVI

“Areyou(shesaid)sodaringandsokind，Askindanddaringyouappearinshow，Vengemeofhimthathasmylordconfined，Andmakesmewanderthus，opprestwithwoe，ForloveofHeaven；orteachmewheretofindAtleastaknightwhocanresistthefoe，AndofsuchskillthatlittlebootshallbringHisbridgeandrivertothepaganking。

XXXVII

“Besidesthatsoyoushallachieveanend，Befittingcourteousmanandcavalier，YouwillemployyourvalourtobefriendThefaithfullestofloversfarandnear。

HisothervirtuesIshouldillcommend，Somanyandsomany，thatwhoe\'erKnowethnotthese，maywellbesaidtobeOnewithoutearstohearoreyestosee。”

XXXVIII

Thehigh-mindedmaid，towhomayewelcomeareAllnoblequests，bywhichsheworthilyMayhopeagreatandgloriousnametobear，Straighttothepaynim\'sbridgeresolvestohie；

Andnowsomuchthemore——asindespair——

Wendswillingly，althoughitweretodie:

Inthatshe，everwithherselfatstrife，DeemingRogerolost，detestedlife。

XXXIX

“Olovingdamsel(shemadeanswer)，I

Offermineaid，forsuchas\'tis，todoThehardanddreadadventure，passingbyCausesbesidethatmoveme，mostthatyouAmatterofyourlovertestify，WhichI，insooth，hearwarrantedoffew；

Thatheisconstant；fori\'faithIswear，Iwellbelievedallloversperjuredwere。”

XL

Withtheselastwordsasighthatdamseldrew，Asighwhichissuedfromherheart；thensaid:

“Gowe“；and，withthefollowingsun，thosetwoAtthedeepstreamarrivedandbridgeofdread:——

Seenoftheguard，thatonhisbugleblewAwarningblast，whenstrangersthithersped——

Thepaganarmshim，girdshisgoodlybrand，Andtakesuponthebridgehiswontedstand；

XLI

Andasthemaidappearsinmartialscale，Themoodymonarchthreatenshertoslay，Unlesshergoodlycourserandhermail，Asanoblationtothetombshepay。

FairBradamantwhoknewthepiteoustale，HowmurderedbyhimIsabellalay，ThestorygentleFlordelicehadtaught；

Repliedinanswertothatpaynimhaught。

XLII

“Wherefore，Obrutishman，foryourmisdeedShouldpenancebytheinnocentbedone?

\'Tisfittingtoappeaseheryoushouldbleed；

Youkilledher，andtoallthedeedisknown。

Sothat，oftrophiedarmourorofweedOfthosesomany，byyourlanceo\'erthrown，Yourarmourshouldtheblestoblationbe，Andyouthechoicestvictim，slainbyme；

XLIII

“Anddearershallthegiftbefrommyhand；

SinceIawomanam，asshewhilere；

NorsavetovengeherhaveIsoughtthisstrand；

InthisdesirealoneIhithersteer:

Butfirst，\'tisgoodsomepactweunderstand，Beforeweproveourprowesswiththespear:

Youshalldobyme，ifo\'erthrown，whatyouByotherprisonershavebeenwonttodo。

XLIV

“Butif，asIbelieveandtrust，youfall，Iwillyourhorseandarmourhave(shecried)，Andtakingdownallothersfromthewall，Hangonthetombalonethosearmsofpride；

Andwillthatyoureleaseeachwarlikethrall。”——

“Thepactisjust(KingRodomontreplied)，Butthose，myprisoners，arenothereconfined，Andthereforecannotbetoyouconsigned。

XLV

“ThesehaveIsentintomineAfrickreign；

ButthisIpromisethee，andpledgemyfay；

If，bystrangefortune，thouthyseatmaintain，AndIshallbedismountedinthefray；

Delivered，all，shallbethecaptivetrain，WithinwhattimesufficestoconveyAnorderthither，thattheyourofhand\'Shoulddowhatthou，ifconqueror，may\'stcommand。

XLVI

“Butartthouundermost，asfitterwere，And，asthousurelywiltbe，IfromtheeNotthereforewillthyforfeitarmourtear，Norshallthynameinscribed，asvanquished，be。

Tothybrightface，brighteyes，andbeauteoushair，Allbreathingloveandgrace，thevictoryWillIresign；letitsufficethatthouThenstooptoloveme，asthouhatestnow。

XLVII

“Tofallbymethouneedestnotdisdain；

Iwithsuchstrength，suchnerveamfortified。”

Somedealshesmiled；butsmiledinbittervein；

Savouringofangermorethanaughtbeside。

Shespakenottothathaughtymanagain，Tothebridge-endreturnedthedamsel，pliedHercourserwiththerowels，couchedherspear，Androdetomeetthefuriouscavalier。

XLVIII

KingRodomontprepareshiscoursetorun；

Comesonatspeed；andwithsuchmightysoundEchoesthatbridge，thethunderingnoisemightstunTheearsofmanydistantfromtheground。

Thegoldenlanceitswontedworkhasdone；

ForthatfierceMoor，intourneysorenowned，Thisfromthesaddlelifts，inairsuspends，Thenheadlongonthenarrowbridgeextends。

XLIX

ScarceforherhorsethemartialdamselcanFindspacetopass，whenshehasthrownherfoe；

Andlittlelacked，andmightyrisquesheranOffallingintothatdeepstreambelow:

But，bornofwindandflame，goodRabicanSodextrouswas，andcouldsolightlygo，Hepickedapathalongtheouterledge，Andcouldhavepaceduponafaulchion\'sedge。

L

Thedamselwheeled，towardsthecavalierReturned，andhimbespokeinsportiveway；

“Whoisthelosernowtotheeisclear，Andwhoisundermostinthisassay。”

SilentremainedthemonarchofArgier，Amazed，thatwomanhimonearthshouldlay。

Hecannot，orhewillnotspeak；andliesOnearth，likeoneastound，inidiotguise。

LI

Silentandsad，heraisedhimselffromground，Andwhenhesomefewpacesthencehadgone，Hisshieldunbracedandhelmandmailunbound，Heflungagainstthetomb；andthence，alone，Afootthemoodymonarchleftthatground:

Yetnottillhehadgivencommandtoone(Ofhisfoursquireswashe)todohishestRelatingtothosecaptives，asexprest。

LII

Heparts；andsavethatinacavernedcellHedwelt，nofurthernewsofhimwereknown:

MeanwhiletheharnessofthatinfidelBradamanthungupontheloftystone；

AndhavingthenceremovedallplateandshellWherewith(asbythewritingitwasshown)

ThecavaliersofCharlestheirlimbshaddrest，Shemovednot，norletothermove，therest。

LIII

BesidesthearmsofMonodantes\'heirWerethoseofSansonetandOlivier，Who，boundinsearchofgoodOrlando，wereThitherconductedbytheroadmostnear。

Thedaybeforeheretakenwasthepair，AndsentbythatproudpaynimtoArgier:

Thesewarriors\'armsthemartialmaidbadelowerFromthatfairtomb，andstoredtheminthetower。

LIV

Allothers，takenfromthepaynimtrain，Bradamantleftsuspendedfromthestone；

Midtheseaking\'s，thatidlyandinvain，Hadthither，seekingFrontalatte，gone:

Isayhisarms，thatruledCircassia\'sreign；

Who，afterwanderinglong，bydateanddown，Heretohisgriefanothercourserleft，Andlightlywenthisway，ofarmsbereft。

LV

Striptofhisarmourandafoot，didpartThatpaynimmonarchfromthebridgeofdread；

AsRodomontpermittedtodepartThoseotherknightsthatinhisfaithwerebred:

Buttohiscamptowendhehadnoheart，Fortherehewasashamedtoshowhishead:

Since，insuchfashion，thithertoreturnAfterhisboasts，hadbeentoofoulascorn。

LVI

YetstillwithnewdesirethewarriorburnedToseekher，fixedaloneinhisheart\'score；

Andsuchthemonarch\'schance，hequicklylearned(Icannottellyouwhothetidingsbore)

Shewastowardshernativelandreturned。

Hence，asLovespursandgoadshimevermore，Hebownshimstraightherfootstepstopursue:

ButItoBradamantreturnanew。

LVII

WhensheinotherwritinghaddisplaidHowshehadfreedthatpassagefromthefoe，TomournfulFlordelicethemartialmaid，Shethatstillheldherweepingvisagelow，Turnedher，andcourteouslythatladyprayedTotellherwhithershedesignedtogo。

ToherafflictedFlordelicereplied:

“ToArles，wherecampthepaynims，wouldIride。

LVIII

“Whichbark(Ihope)andfittingcompany，TocarrymetoAfrickmayafford；

NorwillIhaltuponmyway，tillI

Oncemorerejoinmyhusbandandmylord；

Allmeansandmeasuresthereresolvedtotry，Thatmayreleasehimfromhisjailer\'sward；

AndshouldtheSaracendeceitfulprove，Others，andothersyet，Imeantomove。”

LIX

“Mycompany(repliedthemartialfair)

Forsomepartoftheroad，Iofferthee，TillwehavesightofArles；thentorepairThither，willprayyou，fortheloveofme，TofindKingAgramant\'sRogerothere，Whosegloriousnameisspreado\'erlandandsea，Andrendertothatknightthisgoodlyhorse，WhencetheproudMoorwasflunginmartialcourse。

LX

“Saythus，frompointtopoint，`AcavalierThatwouldincombatprovehischivalry，AndtotheworldatlargewouldfainmakeclearThybreachoffaithwithhim，thatthoumay\'stbeReadyandwellpreparedforthecareer，Gavemethishorse，thatImightgiveitthee。

Hebidstheepromptlymailandcorsletdight，Andwaithim，whowiththeewillwagethefight。\'

LXI

“Saythisandnoughtbeside，andwouldhehearMyname，declarethat\'tistotheeunknown。”

Withwontedkindnesscriedthatdame，“Ine\'erInspendinglifeitself，notwordsalone，Shouldwearyinyourservice；sincewhilereYouwouldinmybehalfasmuchhavedone。”

HerAymon\'sdaughterthankedincourteousstrain，AndtoherhandconsignedFrontino\'srein。

LXII

Throughlongdays\'journey，bythatriver-shore，Togethergothelovelypilgrimpair，TilltheyseeArles，andhearthehollowroar。

Ofbillowsbreakingonthesea-beachbare。

Almostwithoutthesuburbs，andbeforeThefurthestbarrier，stopsthemartialfair；

TofurnishFlordelicewhattimemightneedFortheconveyanceofRogero\'ssteed。

LXIII

Sheforwardrode，withintheenclosuresped，Ando\'erthebridgeandthroughthegatewaywended，And(furnishedwithaguide，whothitherled)

ToyoungRogero\'sinn；andtheredescended。

ShetotheChild，asbid，hermessagesaid，Andgavethecourser，tohercarecommended:

Then(forshewaitsnotforananswer)speedsInhastetoexecuteherproperneeds。

LXIV

Rogerostandsconfused；hefindsnoendTohisperplexingthoughts，andca