"Who in yon' city wait th' approach of night, "With Goltho brave, and prudent Ulfinore.

XXII.

"I deem'd, (said Gondibert) these should have grac'd

"My rural mansion, and our counsels shar'd;

"But where my strongest confidence was plac'd, "My stronger destiny the hope has marr'd.

XXIII.

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"But you, brave Chiefs! who in this dangʼrous hour "To my uncertain fates have link'd your own, "Be witness you if valour yield to pow'r, "Or if your friend deserve to fall alone.

XXIV.

"Ev'n here will we the coming foe abide, "Till faithful Orgo bring the promis'd aid, "Then shall our fortune in fair field be try'd, "And wounds with wounds be plenteously repaid."

XXV.

Thus while he speaks, the deaf'ning shouts increase,
Till from the foe an embassy there came,

Borne by a comely youth, in robes of peace
Array'd---and Sibert was the warrior's name

XXVI.

Of late aspiring Oswald's favour'd friend,
While Oswald Fortune's lucky ensigns wore,
He now on Hubert's person did attend,
And to Duke Gondibert his message bore

XXVII.

Coop'd in a narrow place the Duke he found,
Unlike those proud pavilions where of late
He sat sublime with victor laurels crown'd,
And thence to captive chiefs dispens' d their fate.

XXVIII.

"Prince, (said the youth) Lord Hubert now de"That you surrender up to his dispose

[mands

"Yourself and these, and wait what new commands "He shall from high Verona's tow'rs impose:

XXIX.

"For to the city next he bends his way,
"Whither his Brescians are already gone,
"And there presumes, before the rising day,
"To be declar'd the king's adopted son.

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For you, your life is safe; and these your train, "If they submit, shall gracious treatment find: "Our force is such as makes resistance vain,' "And your's, like chaff, must scatter in the wind. ^izo

XXXI.

"Tis well, (said Gondibert) your speech you frame "In artful guise; but for the terms you bear, "Go tell Lord Hubert that my valu'd fame "Makes me reject them and prefer the war.

XXXII.

"Successless Prince! when from his eagle-flight "His ill-starr'd brother fell, who soar'd in vain,

Gay.1

Nij

"Thinks he to match his more unequal might,

66

And win those honours Oswald could not gain?

XXXIII.

"Bid him revolve that chief's untimely fate,

"And his own foil, twice conquer'd in the field, 130 "The train of evils which on war await,

"And bitter fruits that wild ambition yield,

"That we are few, it is our pride and boast, "Tho' more than these perhaps shail meet his arms, "A worthy conquest for as great an host, "All train'd to war, and bred amidst alarms.

XXXV.

"And know, whate'er betide, whoever here "Should us assault, whoe'er wish'd aid deny, "We scorn to yield thro' base unmanly fear: "Too few to conquer, we 're enough to die."

XXXVI.

Thus answer'd, Sibert from the spot withdrew,
(His terms rejected) and a sign display'd,

On which the hostile squadrons came in view,
And march'd, far stretching from the sylvan shade.

XXXVII.

But as their troops advanc'd in loose array,

Deeming the rural mansion to invest,

Lo! from the point where glows the setting day,

Young Orgo speedily his pace address'd;

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XXXVIII.

And close behind, in well-rang'd files were seen,
Rhodolpho's train, a small but faithful band,
With measur'd steps swift gliding o'er the green,
To aid their gen'ral, and his foes withstand. :

XXXIX.

No longer Gondibert nor he remain
Within the limits of their narrow bound,
But pass the wood swift issuing on the plain,
And leave behind, with scorn, the rural mound.

XL.

Close follows Hurgonil with steady pace,
Who gladly mixes with those leaders brave,
That young Rhodolpho's warlike legions grace,
And on their shoulders wore the scarfs he gave.

XLI.

Among those chiefs stood Adelmar the sage,
Cherbert and Rollo, not unknown to fame,
With many a knight, the flow'r of all that age,
The pride and glory of the Lombard name.

XLII.

150

160

On these Prince Hubert pour'd his warriors down,
Out-numb'ring by the half their scanty band,
But the stout few, whom dear-bought laurels crown'd,
Abide their fury, and the shock withstand:

XLI.

Till raging Borgio, barb'rous, fierce, and bold,

Gualthierus, and gigantic Melador,

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Thro' op'ning lines their course resistless hold,
And mark the roads they pass with streams of gore.

*. XLIV.

First fell two youths, with honest wounds o'erspread,
Whom late from Gaul the great Rhodolpho brought,
But now the Tuscan land receives them dead,
And gives that honour which in life they sought.

XLV.

Cherbert the next a dang'rous wound receiv'd,
Full on his breast, and there had sunk to-night,
But that Rodolpho's timely aid reliev'd,

Who straight rush'd dreadful to the scene of fight. 180

XLVI.

And near him Gondibert with Orgo stood,

Who yet in war ne'er flesh'd his maiden sword,
This hour he dy'd it deep in warrior's blood,
And then fell bravely fighting by his lord:
1 XLVII.

For now as Melader's and Borgio's force
Were join'd, at Gondibert to strike amain,
The youth oppos'd his breast to Borgio's force,
While by his lord bold Melador was slain.

XLVIII.

The giant sunk untimely to his grave,
Like some tall pine, struck by celestial fires;
While Borgio curs'd the erring blow he gave
As from the Duke he sullenly retires.

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