And, but Gualthierus' ready aid was near,
His father's offspring by a foreign bed,
Here he had run his last of life's career,
And swell'd the growing number of the dead.
But now so variously the combat bleeds,
That Fame, tho' all her tongues should give them breath, Could not express the bold and warlike deeds
Of warriors raging thro' this field of death.
At length, while yet the sun's revolving ray
Wheel'd round the ocean's brim with trembling light,
The battle swerv'd with the declining day,
And Gondibert succeeded in the fight.
And perfect victor had the Duke remain'd,
But that Prince Hubert privately retir'd,
And long before the camp at Brescia gain'd,
Whence he return'd with double fury fir'd.
By secret ways his chosen band he draws,
Till in a snare their enemies they thrall,
Who feel th' effect, discerning not the cause,
And die, unknowing by what hands they fall.
But soon Rodolpho and the Duke could tell
The fatal guile, and found their struggle vain,
But by the first of them had Hubert fell,
Yet that he fenc'd him with a heap of slain.
As thus the chiefs contend, a veil of clouds
(While thunders roll and gath'ring show'rs descend)
Alike the vanquish'd and the victor shrouds,
Yet in the storm the eager troops contend.
But now a chosen few the Duke selects,
With whom he pierces Hubert's thick array,
And while the fav'ring storm his rear protects,
Thro' all the fighting ranks he wins his way:
Nor stops, till Bergamo's white tents he spies,
Deck'd with the radiance of ascending morn,
And enters there, what time the shepherds rise,
And early huntsmen wind the shrill-ton'd horn.
GONDIBERT,
BOOK III. CANTO IX.
The Argument.
Black Dalga's wiles full timely do explore
Brave Sigebert and prudent U finore:
Them G Itho joses în a winding way,
And falis to barb rous Borgio's troops a prey.
Hubert's design upon Verona's tow'rs
Disclos'd with horror in the gloomy hour:
Sage Aribert in vain consults his peers,
The council broken amidst panic fears.
ALAS! that man, creation's glorious lord,
And bless'd with sway supreme o'er sea and land,
With wisdom's wealth should be so thinly stor'd,
As by an harlot's smiles to be trepann'd.
In vain he boasts him of his strength and pow'r,
In vain the image of his Maker wears,
If prone to evil in the dang'rous hour,
He falls a prey to penitence and tears.
Who that had seen young Golthe's force in fight,
Who that had known the virtues of his youth,
Had thought he held them both so cheap and light,
To risk his safety on a harlot's truth?
To sacrifice his worth at such a shrine,
To waste his hours in dalliance at her side,
To call her Angel, Goddess most divine,
Whom hell's black monarch had so deeply dy’d?
Yet he, forgetful of the counsel sage
Which Ulfinore so gen'rously had giv'n,
Attends on Dalga, thro' an unknown road,
While the broad sun declin'd the steep of heav'n. 20
Thro' winding mazy paths sometimes they past,
Sometimes o'er forests wild they bend their way,
A spacious dome receives them at the last,
Where all was deck'd for joy and am'rous play.
Blithe as a bridegroom rushing, to his love,
Young Goltho hastes to quench his wanton fires,
Whilst other thoughts black Delga's bosom move,
Intent on other schemes than fost'ring fond desires.
The youth whom Ulfinore had first descry'd
Resort with welcome to her open gate,
That self-same youth had Goltho strictly ey'd,
And sought to work him an untimely fate.
Friend to Prince Oswald, mortal hate he bore
To all that sought Duke Gondibert to aid,
And on his brow a dreadful frown he wore,
Till Delga all her wily tale display'd.
"Think not, my Love, (said she) that hated race
"Who with your house hold enmity so great,
"Shall e'er with me find favour, love, or grace,
"But rather death and sure destruction meet.
"Yet let him hither come, and bring his gold,
"And jewels store, to purchase evil chance,
"No back-returning steps shall you hehold,
"If to my wish the headlong youth advance.
"For when again he hither bends his course,
"With him will I to lonely seats repair,
"So may you him entrap with guile or force,
"And take him heedless in an easy snare."
The counsel pleas'd; and when young Goltho came,
With eager haste, to sate his am'rous fire,
Straight to her paramour the fraudful dame
Dispatch'd the tidings, which his haste require.
And he as soon, by Jealousy and Hate
Inspir'd, and Malice, eldest-born of Hell,
With two bold squires that on his fortune wait,
Rush on to meet the stroke by which he fell.
They leave Verona's lofty tow'rs behind,
And follow eagerly their evil game
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