And fill fair Rhodalind with pallid fear,
Such as of old did Perseus' bride alarm.

XLVII.

When des' prate Phineus, rushing on his fate,
Claim'd fair Andromeda, for whom he burn'd
And ent'ring where the bidden guests were sate,
The marriage-feast to scenes of slaughter turn'd.

XLVIII.

By him the fair, deserted at her need,

From a dread monster valiant Perseus won;

He claim'd the bride who durst not claim the deed,
And for th' unjust atempt was turn'd to stone.

So vain is joy, a quickly-fading flow'r,

A cloud still passing with each wind away,
A fleeting dream, the pageant of an hour,
A transient beam of visionary day.

L.

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Far, far from Gondibert the phantom hy'd,
Far from the crowd, whose shoots resound his name,
Far from the monarch and the promis'd bride,

To whom too soon the fatal message came.

LI.

But now the city: and her train we leave,

To seek the Duke and make his fortunes known;
And how the rest the dreadful news receive

Shall be in the succeeding Cantos shown.

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BOOK III. CANTO VIII.

The Argument.

Rhodolpho's character; his high desert,
And league concluded with Duke Gondibert,
Whose enemies a quick revenge prepare,
Which he prevents by Orgo's friendly care.
The secret ambush of the treach'rous foe
The Duke eludes, and reaches Bergamo.

I.

In awful solitude of woodland shade

The Duke the issue of his charge attends,
And blames the counsel now too long delay'd,
And the long absence of his tardy friends.

II.

At length his lov'd Count Hurgonil he spy'd,
Who from the lofty city bent his course,

With young Rhodolpho journeying by his side,
Whose ardent mind outwent his steed's swift course.

A youth he was of high and noble race,

Portly and tall, of inborn worth possest ;!

But temp'ring dignity with such a grace,

As might have warm'd the tend rest female breast.

IV.

And on his brow such awe majestic sate,

As seem'd to speak him born for high command;
Tho' now for many a moon the sport of Fate,
A willing exile from his native land.

10

V.

The fair Italian fields and regions bright
Where Adice flows swiftly to the main,
He left to climb the rugged Alpine height,
And chase the Vandals on the barren plain.

VI.

Return'd with conquest from the foe subdu'd,
The youthful victor sought his ancient seat,
And Rhodalind again he had pursu'd,
And laid his spoils and trophies at her feet;

VII.

But that he heard Duke Gondibert had won

The peerless princess, bright in blooming charms;
Saw sumptuous feasts prepar'd, and rites begun,
To give his mistress to the hero's arms.

VIII.

And common Fame reported, for her love
How Gondibert had mighty Oswald slain,
And stain'd with noble blood the peaceful grove,
Bestrew'd with heroes from the Brescian plain.

IX.

But Gondibert full soon his fears dispels,
And ancient leagues of amity renew'd,
His own strange tale the generous hero tells,
And what ill fate his constant love pursu'd.

X.

And then by solemn pacts the warriors bind
Their mutual vows each other's cause to aid,

20

30

Till the young chief possess his Rhodalind,
And Gondibert espouse his favʼrite maid. '

XI.

Meanwhile the Duke for other aid delays
The fleeting hours, as fully he intends
All intercessors he can move to raise,

And try the int'rest of his ancient friends.

XII.

For as he knew the grief and inly rage

Which would his prince and Rhodalind inflame,
He sought all means that might the storm assuage,
And still preserve his loyalty and fame.

XIII.

And now the prey of anxious thoughts he lies,
Contending passions lab'ring in his breast,
While tow'rds the shade the youthful Orgo hies,
Whose looks the tenor of his news exprest.

XIV.

He tells how Hubert thither bends his course,
With furious Borgio, and a desp'rate train,
All chosen warriors of experienc'd force,

Drawn from the squadrons on the Brescian plain.

XV.

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50

Ev'n while he spoke, loud bursting shouts from far, Mix'd with the shrill-ton'd trumpets' dreadful sound, Pronounc'd the presage of approaching war,

Which mov'd on diffrent sides to hem them round. 50

XVI.

And first to flight the faithful Orgo mov'd

His honour'd lord; but he the thought disdain'd,
And brave Rhodolpho the advice reprov'd,

And other counsel taught, whilst other hope remain'd.

XVII.

"Not far from hence, (said he) a chosen few
"Lie camp'd, my trusty followers in the field;
"If these the present need and danger knew,
"They would a sure and speedy succour yield:

XVIII.

"To them let swift-pae'd Orgo instant go, "Where by yon' grove encamp'd the warriors lie, 70 "Ere yet th' approaches of the circling foe "Cut off that hope, and all access deny."

XIX.

This counsel pleas'd; and swift as fly the darts, When with full strength is strain'd the crooked yew, Hastes the brave youth, whose love such speed imparts, As from the bending grass scarce strikes the pearly dew.

XX.

Meanwhile the heroes scan, with cautious eye,
All measures and advantage of the ground,
And ev'ry posture of the troops descry,

Whose crescent form grew verging to a round.

XXI.

"Ah! now, (cry'd Hurgonil) we want the might "Of Tybalt, dreaded chief, and many n ore,

I olume 11.

N

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