Of beauty's charms-by one enchanting smile

275

One radiant glance is caught in love's strong toil.

He feels his boasted firmness quick recede,

And thus in secret to himself he said :

"Resistless power!-Oh, whatsoe'er thou art,

That forceful thus enchains my vanquish'd heart, 280

Say why this change-no arms the virgin bears,

Her tender hand no missive weapon rears,

Yet, wont whole hostile legions to despise,

I yield, a victim to her conq'ring eyes."

Perplex'd, distress'd, o'ercome, to earth he cast 225

His looks-but soon again, with eager haste,

He rais'd them, to behold the fair one's face,

And felt new flames, as he re-traced each grace.

Thus the poor bird, as ancient tales relate,

Caught in th' envenom❜d basilisk's retreat,

290

By fate constrain'd, turns its unwilling eyes

On its fell foe, and gazes till it dies.

The gen'ral murmur hush'd, the Emp'ror rose,

And all the beauteous pleader asks, bestows.—

"Whate'er thy utmost wish demands, receive, 295 Transcendant fair, (he cries) but deign to give,

In kind return, some happy art, to steel

My bosom from the torments all must feel,

Whom love compels to wear thy glorious chain,

And sue for pity, but to meet disdain."

300

Fain would the King the interview prolong,

Fain stay the nymph that fascinates the throng,
Still covetous such beauty to behold,

As misers are to view their hoards of gold:

Such was the gen'ral wish, but fierce Ferrau

305

And brave Rinaldo most impatient saw

The dame intent with utmost speed to part:

Love reign'd a tyrant in each warrior's heart,

And rais'd a thousand idle vain alarms,

But chief in stern Ferrau's.-Enur'd to arms,

The Saracen resolves, with lawless force,

To stop his fair enslaver's purpos'd course,
And, 'spight of ev'ry obstacle that barr'd,
Snatch from her brother, and gigantic guard,
This second Helen-(as the wayward boy,

315

Whose ill-starr'd passion raz'd the tow'rs of Troy,

Bore off the first)-but better thought succeeds,

Before the throne low bending, took their leave, 325

And paid such thanks as noble natures gave.

The knights addressing then, they signified

That they at Merlin's fountain would abide
The issue of the battle, pleas'd to meet
(As fates decree) or conquest, or defeat.
This notice giv'n, the giant train precede,
With solemn pace, the warrior and the maid,
Whose graceful steps a thousand eyes pursue,
Till distance veils her from the eager view.

330

So in that clime where reigns eternal frost,

335

The parting glories of the sun are lost,

So the fond eye pursues the fading ray,
To catch a gleam of long withdrawing day,

Till night's dark shades the sadden❜d skies assume,
And shroud the prospect in impervious gloom. 340

But now internal jealousy and hate

Broke out in tauntings rude, and fierce debate,
And ev'ry warrior urg'd a prior right

To meet the challenge, and sustain the fight.

Each heart with rancorous impatience swell'd

Each with disdain competitors beheld;

Fir'd with the hope of glory, none would yield

To cede to rival claims the arduous field.

Orlando far above the rest aspir'd,

345

And loftily the preference requir'd:

350

He fear'd the first assailant might succeed,

And the defenceless maid in fetters lead ;

Hence would he fain have flown to wage the war,

But his proud rivals those pretensions bar.

High ran the contest, threat'ning fatal harms, 355

And fill'd the peaceful court with loud alarms.