With speed that seems t' outstrip the passing wind, And leaves behind them honour, truth, and fame.
Now had they pass'd the forests awful shade,
And now in view upon the open plain
Beheld the dome where Goltho, twice betray'd,
Was doom'd black Dalga's captive to remain:
But ere they vet attain'd their destin'd place,
From a deep dell, all clad in green array,
Two knights came issuing forth with eager pace,
Then check'd their haste, and stood across the way.
Astolpho (so the treach'rous youth we name)
Who Goltho's glories sought t' eclipse ere noon,
Stopp'd short, starts backward with surprise and shame, To find his early progress check'd so soon.
Yet questions with himself if these be foes,
Or how his deep design thev ere could scan,
Of which they learn, straight onward still he goes,
And soon a fierce and cruel fight began.
Him Ulfinore well knowing, nothing spoke,
But at him aim'd aloft his Gothic lance,
Which thro' a faithful servant's harness broke,
That did in luckless hour his aid advance,
Stretch'd on the ground when lewd Astolpho view'd
His trusty squire, he chaff'd with double rage,
And made his steel drink deep his rivals blood,
And by his fall his anger sought t' assuage.
But Ulfinore not wounds or blood could tame;
In such a cause resolv'd to spend his breath,
To save his friend, to purchase honest fame,
And live victorious or be great in death.
And Sigibert his friend, with courage warm'd,
That other squire whom false Astolpho brought
Had overpower'd, and on the ground disarm'd,
His death deserv'd had with his poniard wrought.
When at that instant Ulfinore wav'd high
His shining blade, which on Astolpho fell,
And ere brave Sigebert approach'd him nigh,
Had sent his treach'rous soul to deepest hell.
These slain, the knights hold straight their onward road
To Dalga's mansion, where their friend they found,
Lost in the seas of joy which round him flow'd,
And rapt in music's soul-dissolving sound.
Fast on a couch beside him Dalga sate,
Her artful head reclining on his breast,
And round about the neat-hand damsels wait,
Whom now she bids prepare the sumptuous feast.
For gray-ey'd Twilight o'er the world had spread
Her dusky curtain, and the heaven's high
Had lost their last remains of parting red,
And dipp'd their mantle in a deeper dye.
Straight in the hall a thousand glitt'ring fires
Shoot forth like meteors to adorn the night,
And bring new day, when Phoebus' car retires,
On western shores to dart his welcome light.
Ev'n now the sorc'ress rears a massy bowl,
Replete with juices of the purple vine,
Which hides beneath fell drugs and poisons foul,
Mix'd with the spirit of the gen'rous wine.
Unheeding Goltho to his lips had rear'd
The dreadful potion, with a gentle smile,
When Ulfinore and Sigebert appear'd,
Seiz'd the fell Dalga, and disclos'd her guile.
The bowl they wrested from their wond'ring friend, To his vile mistress instant they preferr'd,
Who tells them death doth on the draught attend,
And owns that death she has herself incurr’d.
For long Astolpho's coming did she wait,
On Goltho's head who should have wreck'd his ire,
But when no such approach'd her open gate,
She doom'd the youth by poison to expire.
And by that draught (so Heav'n divinely wrought)
Which for her guest she foully did intend,
By that same draught her own fall now is wrought,
Which brings her soon to an unpity'd end.
Her wicked damsels straightway fled amain,
And the rich house, and all its bravest store,
The spoils of nymphs decoy'd and heroes slain,
Remain'd to Goltho and to Ulfinore.
But no such bawbles charm their longing eyes:
Not wealth they seek, but quit the house of Guile,
Nor wish to make the golden hoards their prize,
Gain'd by the triumphs of an harlot's smile.
With haste the hated mansion did they leave,
And o'er the lawn, and thro' the forest sped,
Where mazy paths their wand'ring steps deceive,
By the faint glimm'ring of the starlight led.
While thus perplex'd and unresolv'd they stood,
Seeking in vain some human track t'explore,
The south winds whistl'd wildly thro' the wood,
And distant thunders roll'd with solemn roar.
Meteors, forboding storms, with horrid glare
Gilt the dun horrors of approaching night,
A dismal radiance darting thro' the air,
A dire effulgence and unwelcome light.
And nearer still as the rude tempest drew,
Still farther tow'rds the forest's chequer'd shade
The youths approach, while at each step they view
The horrors of the awful scene display'd.
"Yet here, (said Ulfinore) let not our hearts "Sink in despair, which erst amidst alarms "Have never fail'd, while show'rs of hostile darts "Pour'd like this tempest on our shatter'd arms." 160
Thus while he spoke, thick globes of hail descend,
And all the winds of heav'n their forces try;
Vast dreadful sheets of livid fire extend
From either pole, and blaze along the sky.
To the loud winds the louder thunders roar
Responsive, while the hail's continu'd sound,
With all the storms that from the heav'ns pour,
The rattling branches thro' the wood resound:
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