第29章

XXXVII

“Aseverysparkisinthenightalive，Andsuddenlyextinguishedwhen\'tismorn；

Whenmemysundothofhisraysdeprive，AgainstmefelonFearupliftshishorn:

Buttheytheshadesofnightnosoonerdrive，ThanFearsarepastandgone，andHopesreturn。

Return，alas！return，Oradiancedear！

Anddrivefrommethatfoul，consumingFear。

XXXVIII

“Ifthesunturnfromusandshortenday，Earthallitsbeautiesfromthesightdothhide；

Thewildwindshowl，andsnowsandiceconvey；

Birdsingsnot；norisleaforflowerespied。

So，whensoeverthouthygladsomeray，Omyfairsun，frommedostturnaside，Athousand，andallevil，dreads，makedrearWinterwithinmemanytimesayear。

XXXIX

“Return，mysun，return！andspringtidesweet，WhichevermoreIlongtosee，bringback；

Dislodgethesnowsandicewithgenialhear；

Andclearmymind，socloudedo\'erandblack。”

AsPhilomel，orProgne，withthemeatReturning，whichherfamishedyounglingslack，Mournso\'eranemptynest，orasthedoveLamentshimselfathavinglostislove；

XL

TheunhappyBradamantlamentsherso，FearingtheChildisreftfromherandgone；

Whileoftentearshervisageoverflow:

Butshe，asbestshecan，concealshermoan。

Oh！how——oh！howmuchworsewouldbeherwoe，Ifwhatsheknewnottothemaidwereknown！

That，prisonedandwithpainandpineconsumed，Herconsorttoacrueldeathwasdoomed。

XLI

ThecrueltywhichbythatbeldamillWaspractisedontheprisonedcavalier，AndwhopreparedthewretchedChildtokill，Bytorturenewandpainsunusedwhilere，WhilesoRogeropined，thegraciouswillOfHeavenconveyedtogentleLeo\'sear；

Andputintohisheartthemeanstoaid，Andnottoletsuchworthbeoverlaid。

XLII

ThecourteousLeothatRogeroloved，NotthattheGrecianknewhowe\'erthatheRogerowas，butbythatvalourmovedWhichsoleandsuperhumanseemedtobe，Thoughtmuch，andmused，andplanned，howitbehoved——Andfoundatlastaway——tosethimfree；

SothathiscruelauntshouldhavenorightTogrieveorsayhedidheradespite。

XLIII

Insecret，LeowiththemanthatboreTheprison-keysaparleyhad，andsaid，Hewishedtoseethatcavalier，beforeUponthewretchwasdoneadoomsodread。

Whenitwasnight，one，faithfulfoundofyore，Bold，strong，andgoodinbrawl，hethitherled；

And——bythesilentwardertaughtthatnoneMustknow\'twasLeo——wasthedoorundone。

XLIV

Leo，escortedbynoneelsebeside，Wasledbythecompliantcastellain，Withhiscompanion，tothetower，wherestiedWashe，reservedfornature\'slatestpain。

Thereroundtheneckoftheirunwaryguide，Whoturnshisbackthewickettounchain，Aslip-knotLeoandhisfollowercast；

And，throttledbythenoose，hebreatheshislast。

XLV——

Thetrapupraised，byropefromthencesuspendedForsuchaneed——theGreciancavalier，Withlightedflambeauinhishand，descended，Where，straitlybound，andwithoutsuntocheer，Rogerolay，uponagrateextended，Lessthanapalm\'sbreadthofthewaterclear:

Tokillhiminamonth，orbrieferspace，Nothingwasneededbutthatdeadlyplace。

XLVI

LovinglyLeoclipttheChild，and，“Me，Ocavalier！thymatchlessvalour，“cried，“Hathinindissolublebandstothee，Inwillingandeternalservice，tried；

Andwillsthygoodtominepreferredshouldbe，AndIforthinemysafetysetaside，Andweighthyfriendshipmorethansire，andallWhomIthroughouttheworldmykindredcall。

XLVII

“ILeoam，thatthouwhatfitsmaystknow，Cometothysuccour，theGreekemperor\'sson:

IfeverConstantine，myfather，trowThatIhaveaidedthee，IdangerrunTobeexiled，orayewithtroubledbrowRegardedforthedeedthatIhavedone；

FortheehehatesbecauseofthosethybladePuttotheroutandslaughterednearBelgrade。”

XLVIII

Hehisdiscoursewithmorebesidepursues，ThatmightfromdeathtolifetheChildrecall；

AndallthiswhileRogero\'shandsdothloose。

“InfinitethanksIoweyou，“criesthethrall，“AndIthelifeyougaveme，foryouruseWilleverrenderback，uponyourcall；

Andstill，atallyourneed，Iforyoursake，Andatalltimes，thatlifewillpromptlystake。”

XLIX

Rogeroisrescued；andthegaolerslainIsleftinthatdarkdungeoninhisplace；

NorisRogeroknown，norarethetwain:

Leothewarrior，freefrombondagebase，Bringshome，andthereinsafetytoremainPersuades，insecret，fourorsixdays\'space:

MeanwhileforhimwillheretrievethegearAndcourser，byUngiardoreftwhilere。

L

Openthegaolisfoundatdawnoflight，Thegaolerstrangled，andRogerogone。

Somethinkthattheseorthosehadhelpedhisflight:

Alltalk；andyetthetruthisguessedbynone。

WellmaytheythinkbyanyotherwightRatherthanLeohadthedeedbeendone；

FormanydeemedhehadcausetohaverepaidTheChildwithscathe，andnonetogivehimaid。

LI

Sowilderedbysuchkindness，soimmersedInwonder，istherescuedcavalier，Sofromthosethoughtsisheestranged，thaterstSomanywearymileshadmadehimsteer，Hissecondthoughtsconfrontingwithhisfirst，Northeselikethose，northoseliketheseappear。

Hefirstwithhatred，rage，andvenomburned；

Withpityandwithlovethenwhollyyearned。

LII

Muchmuseshebynightandmuchbyday；——

Norcaresforought，noroughtdesiresbeside——

ByequalormorecourtesytopayThemightydebtthathimtoLeotied。

Behislifelongorshort，orwhatitmay，AlbeittoLeo\'sserviceallapplied，Diesheathousanddeaths，hecandonought，Butmorewillbedeserved，Rogerothought。

LIII

ThithermeanwhilehadtidingsbeenconveyedOfCharles\'decree:thatwhoinnuptialtyeWouldyokewithBradamant，withtrenchantbladeOrlancemustwiththemaidhisprowesstry。

ThesenewstheGrecianprincesoillappaid，Hischeekwasseentoblanchwithsicklydye；

Because，asonethatmeasuredwellhismight，Heknewhewasnomatchforherinfight。

LIV

Communingwithhimself，hecansupply(Hesees)thevalourwantingwithhiswit；

Andthestrangeknightwithhisownensignry，Whosenameisyetunknowntohim，willfit:

HimheagainstFrankchampion，farandnigh，Believeshemayforforceanddaringpit；

Andiftheknighttothatemprizeagree，VanquishedandtakenBradamantwillbe。

LV

Buttwothingsmusthedo；must，first，disposeThatcavaliertoundertaketheemprize；

Thensendafieldthechampion，whomhechose，Inmode，thatnonesuspecttheyouth\'sdisguise:

TohimthematterLeodothdisclose；

Andafterpraysinefficaciouswise，Thathethecombatwiththemaidwillclaim，Underfalsecoloursandinother\'sname。

LVI

MuchweighstheGrecian\'seloquence；butmoreThaneloquencewithgoodRogeroweighedThemightyobligationwhichhebore；

Thatdebtwhichcannoteverberepaid。

So，albeititappearedahardshipsoreAndthingwell-nighimpossible，hesaid，Withblitherfacethanheart，thatLeo\'swillInallthathecommandshewouldfulfil。

LVII

Albeitnosoonerhetheintentexprest，ThanwithsoregriefRogero\'sheartwasshent；

Which，nightandday，andever，dothmolest，Everafflicthim，evermoretorment:

Andthoughheseeshisdeathismanifest，Neverwillheconfesshedothrepent:

RatherthannotwithLeo\'sprayercomply，Athousanddeaths，notone，theChildwilldie。

LVIII

Rightsureheistodie；ifheforegoThelady，heforegoeshislifenoless。

Hisheartwillbreakthroughhisdistressandwoe，Or，breakingnotwithwoeandwithdistress，Hewill，himself，thebandsoflifeundo，Andofitsclaythespiritdispossess。

Forallthingscanhebetterbearthanone；

Thanseethatgentledamselnothisown。

LIX

Todieishedisposed；buthowtodieCannotasyetthesorrowinglorddecide:

Sometimeshethinkshisprowesstobelie，Andoffertoherswordhisnakedside:

ForneverdeathcancomemorehappilyThanifherhandthefatalfaulchionguide:

Thensees，excepthewinsthemartialmaidForthatGreekprince，thedebtremainsunpaid。

LX

ForhewithBradamant，aswithafoe，Promisedtodo，notfeign，afightinmail，Andnottomakeofarmsaseemingshow；

SothathisswordshouldLeoillavail。

Thenbyhiswordwillheabide；andthoughHisbreastnowthesenowotherthoughtsassail，Allfromhisbosomchasedthegenerousyouth，Savethatwhichmovedhimtomaintainhistruth。

LXI

Withtheemperor\'slicence，armourtoprepare，Andsteedsmeanwhilehadwroughthisyouthfulson；

WhowithsuchgoodlyfollowingasmightsquareWithhisdegree，uponhiswaywasgone:

WithhimRogerorides，throughLeo\'scare，Equiptwithhorseandarms，thatwerehisown。

Dayafterdaythesquadronpricks；nortarriesUntilarrivedinFrance；arrivedatParis。

LXII

Leowillenternotthetown；butnighPitcheshisbroadpavilionsontheplain；

AndhisarrivalbyanembassyMakesknownthatdaytoroyalCharlemagne。

Wellpleasedishe；andvisitstestifyAndmanygiftsthemonarch\'scourteousvein。

Hisjourney\'scausetheGrecianprincedisplayed，Andtodispatchhissuitthesovereignprayed:

LXIII

Tosendafieldthedamsel，whodeniedEvertotakeinwedlockanylordWeakerthanher:forsheshouldbehisbride，Orhewouldperishbythelady\'ssword。

Charlesundertookforthis；and，onherside，ThefollowingdayuponthelistedswardBeforethewalls，inhaste，enclosedthatnight，Appearedthemartialmaid，equiptfor