Orlando Furioso Part 140

-- Towards the city by a secret way (Nor was his visage seen) Rogero sped.

He, on the following morning, and his friend, Leo, to Charles's court together wend.

LII To Charles' court he wends; the bird he bore Of gold with its two heads -- of crimson hue Its field -- and that same vest and ensigns wore, As was erewhile devised between the two; And such as in the listed fight before His bruised and battered armour was in shew.

So that they quickly knew the cavalier From him that strove with Bradamant whilere.

LIII In royal ornaments and costly gown, Unarmed, beside him doth young Leo fare.

A worthy following and of high renown Before, behind him, and about him are.

He bowed to Charlemagne, who from his throne Had risen to do honour to the pair: Then holding still Rogero by the hand, So spake, while all that warrior closely scanned.

LIV "Behold the champion good, that did maintain From dawn till fall of day the furious fight; And since by Bradamant nor taken, slain, Nor forced beyond the barriers was the knight, He is a.s.sured his victory is plain, Dread sir, if he your edict reads aright; And he hath won the lady for his wife: So comes to claim the guerdon of the strife.

LV "Besides that by your edict's tenor none But him can to the damsel lift his eyes, -- Is she deserved by deeds of valour done, What other is so worthy of the prize?

-- Should she by him that loves her best be won, None pa.s.ses him, nor with the warrior vies; And he is here to fight against all foes That would in arms his right in her oppose."

LVI King Charlemagne and all his peerage stand Amazed, who well believed the Grecian peer With Bradamant had striven with lifted brand In fight, and not that unknown cavalier.

Marphisa, thither borne amid the band, That crowded round the royal chair to hear, Hardly till Leo made an ending staid; Then prest before the listening troop, and said:

LVII "Since here Rogero is not, to contest The bride's possession with the stranger knight, Lest he, as undefended, be opprest, And forfeit so without dispute his right, On his behalf I undertake this quest, -- His sister I -- against whatever wight Shall here a.s.sert a claim to Bradamant, Or more desert than good Rogero vaunt."

LVIII She spake this with such anger and disdain, Many surmised amid the a.s.sistant crew, That, without waiting leave from Charlemagne, What she had threatened she forthwith would do.

No longer Leo deemed it time to feign; And from Rogero's head the helm withdrew; And to Marphisa, "For himself to speak, Behold him here and ready!" cried the Greek.

LIX As looked old Aegeus at the accursed board, Seeing it was his son to whom -- so willed His wicked consort -- that Athenian lord Had given the juice from deadly drugs distilled; Whom he, if he had recognized his sword Though but a little later, would have killed; So looked Marphisa when, disclosed to view, She in the stranger knight Rogero knew;

LX And ran forthwith to clip the cavalier; Nor could unclasp her arms: with loving show Charlemagne, Roland, and Rinaldo, here And there, fix friendly kisses on his brow.

Nor him Sir Dudon, nor Sir Olivier, Nor King Sobrino can caress enow: Nor paladin nor peer, amid the crew, Wearies of welcoming that warrior true.

LXI Leo, who well can play the spokesman, now That warlike band hath ceased to clip the knight, Tells before Charles and all that audience, how Rogero's daring, how Rogero's might, -- Albeit to his good squadron's scathe and woe -- Which at Belgrade he witnessed in that fight, So moved him that they overweighed all harms Inflicted on him by the warrior's arms.

LXII So that to her Rogero being brought, Who would all havoc of the youth have made, He setting all his family at nought, Had out of durance vile the knight conveyed; And how Rogero, that the rescue wrought By Leo might be worthily repaid, Did that high courtesy; which can by none, That ever were or e'er will be, outdone;

LXIII And he from point to point continuing, said That which Rogero had for him achieved; And after, how by sorrow sore bested, In that to leave his cherished wife he grieved, He had resolved to die, and, almost dead, Was only by his timely aid relieved; And this he told so movingly, no eye Remained, amid those martial many, dry.

LXIV So efficaciously he after prayed To the obstinate Duke Aymon, not alone The stubborn sire of Bradamant he swayed, And to forego his settled purpose won; But that proud lord in person did persuade To beg Rogero's pardon, and his son And son-in-law to be beseech the knight; And thus to him his Bradamant was plight.

LXV To her, where, of her feeble life in doubt, She in a secret chamber made lament, Through many a messenger, with joyful shout And mickle haste, the happy tidings went.

Hence the warm blood, that stagnated about Her heart, by her first sorrow thither sent, Ebbed at this notice in so full a tide, Well nigh for sudden joy the damsel died.

LXVI Of all her vigour is she so foregone, She cannot on her feeble feet rely: Yet what her force must needs to you be known, And what the damsel's magnanimity.

None doomed to prison, wheel or halter, none Condemned some other evil death to die, About whose brows the sable band is tied, Rejoices more to hear his pardon cried.

LXVII Joys Clermont's, joys Mongrana's n.o.ble house, Those kindred branches that fresh know to view.

With equal grief Count Anselm overflows, Gan, Falcon, Gini and Ginami's crew: Yet they meanwhile beneath contented brows Conceal the dark and envious thoughts they brew.

As the fox waits the motions of the hare, They wait their time for vengeance, and forbear.

LXVIII Besides that oftentimes before the rage Of Roland and Rinaldo on them fell, Though they were calmed by Charles's counsel sage, And common danger from the infidel, They had new cause for grief in Bertolage Slain by their foemen and Sir Pinnabel: But they concealed their hatred, and endured Those griefs, as of the matter ill a.s.sured.

LXIX Those envoys of the Bulgars that had made For Charles's court (as hath erewhile been shown), Hoping to find the knight, whose shield pourtrayed The unicorn, elected to their throne, Bless the good fortune which their hope repayed, Seeing that valiant warrior, and fall down Before his feet, and him in humble speech Again to seek their Bulgary beseech;

LXX Where kept for him in Adrianople are The sceptre and the crown, his royal due: But let him succour to his kingdom bear; For -- to their further scathe -- advices shew Constantine doth a mighty host prepare, And thitherward in person moves anew; And they -- of their elected king possest -- Hope the Greek empire from his hands to wrest.

LXXI He accepts the realm, by their entreaties won; And, to afford them aid against their foes, Will went to Bulgary when three months are done; Save Fortune otherwise of him dispose.

When this is heard by that Greek emperor's son, He bids Rogero on his faith repose; For since by him the Bulgar's realm is swayed, Peace between them and Constantine is made;

LXXII Nor needeth he depart in haste, to guide His Bulgar bands against the Grecian foe; For all that he had conquered far and wide, He will persuade his father to forego.

None of the virtues, in Rogero spied, Moved Bradamant's ambitious mother so, Or so to endear her son-in-law availed, As hearing now that son a sovereign hailed.

LXXIII The rich and royal nuptials they prepare As well befits him, by whose care 'tis done, 'Tis done by Charles; and with such cost and care As if 'twere for a daughter of his own.

For such the merits of the damsel are, And such had all her martial kindred shown, Charles would not think he should exceed due measure If spent for her was half his kingdom's treasure.

LXXIV He a free court bids cry; whither his way Securely every one that wills may wend; And offers open lists till the ninth day To whosoever would in arms contend; And bids build bowers afield, and interlay Green boughs therein, and flowers and foliage blend; And make those bowers so gay with silk and gold, No fairer place this ample world doth hold.

LXXV Guested within fair Paris cannot be The countless foreign bands that thither fare; Who, rich and poor, of high and low degree, And Greeks and Latins and Barbarians are.

There is no end of lord and emba.s.sy That thither from all ends of earth repair; All lodged conveniently, to their content, Beneath pavilion, booth, and bower and tent.

LXXVI The weird Melissa against the coming night With singular and matchless ornament Had for that pair the nuptial chamber dight; Whereon long time before she had been bent: Long time before desirous of the rite Had been that dame, presageful of the event; Presageful of futurity, she knew What goodly fruit should from their stems ensue.

LXXVII She had prepared the genial, fruitful bed, Under a broad pavilion; one more rich, Adorned, and jocund, never overhead (Did this for peace or war its master pitch) Was in the world, before or after, spread; And this from Thracian strand had borne the witch.

The costly prize from Constantine she bore, Who for disport was tented on that sh.o.r.e.

LXXVIII She with young Leo's leave, or rather so The Grecian's admiration to obtain, And a rare token of that art to show, Which on h.e.l.l's mighty dragon puts the rein, And at her pleasure rules that impious foe Of Heaven, together with his evil train, Bade demons the pavilion through mid air To Paris from Constantinople bear.

LXXIX From Constantine that lay therein, who swayed The Grecian empire's sceptre, at mid-day This with its cordage, shaft whereby 'twas stayed, And all within and out, she bore away; And of the costly tent, through air conveyed, For young Rogero made a lodging gay.

The bridal ended, this her demon crew Thither, from whence 'twas brought, conveyed anew.

Lx.x.x Two thousand tedious years were nigh complete, Since this fair work was fashioned by the lore Of Trojan maid, warmed with prophetic heat; Who, 'mid long labour and 'mid vigil sore, With her own fingers all the storied sheet Of the pavilion had embroidered o'er; Ca.s.sandra hight; that maid to Hector brave (Her brother he) this costly present gave.

Lx.x.xI The curtiest cavalier, the kindliest shoot That ever from her brother's stock should grow (Albeit she knew far distant from its root, With many a branch between, should be that bough) In silk and gold upon the gorgeous suit Of hangings had she wrought in goodly show.

Much prized that gift, while living, Priam's son, For its rare work and her by whom 'twas done.

Lx.x.xII But when by treachery perished Priam's heir, And Greeks the Trojans scathed in cruel sort, When her gates opened by false Sinon were, And direr ill was done than tales report, This plunder fell to Menelaus' share, Wherewith to Egypt's land he made resort; There left it to King Proteus, Egypt's lord, In ransom for his prisoned wife restored;

Lx.x.xIII She Helen hight: her Menelaus to free, To Proteus the pavilion gave away; Which, pa.s.sing through the line of Ptolemy, To Cleopatra fell; from her in fray Agrippa's band on the Leucadian sea Bore off the treasure, amid other prey.

Augustus and Tiberius heired the loom, Kept till the time of Constantine in Rome:

Lx.x.xIV That Constantine, whom thou shall ever rue Fair Italy, while the heavens above are rolled.

Constantine to Byzantium, when he grew Weary of Tyber, bore the tent of old.

Melissa from his namesake this withdrew, Its pole of ivory and its cord of gold, And all its cloth with beauteous figures fraught; Fairer Apelles' pencil never wrought.

Lx.x.xV Here the three Graces in gay vesture gowned a.s.sisted the delivery of a queen.

Not in four ages in this earthly round Was ever born a boy so fair of mien.

Jove, Venus, Mars, and Mercury renowned For fluent speech, about the child are seen: Him have they strewed, and stew with heaven's perfume, Ambrosial odours and aetherial bloom.

Lx.x.xVI Hippolytus a little label said, Inscribed upon the baby's swaddling clothes.

By the hand him Fortune leads in age more staid; And Valour as a guide before him goes.

An unknown band in sweeping vest arraid, With long descending locks, the tapestry shows, Deputed by Corvinus to desire The tender infant from his princely sire.

Lx.x.xVII He reverently parts from Hercules' side, From her, his lady mother, Eleanor; And to the Danube wends; where far and wide They meet the boy, and as a G.o.d adore.

The prudent king of Hungary is descried, Who does due honour to his ripened lore, In yet unripe, yea, raw and tender years, And ranks the stripling above all his peers.