But he, whom thought of death far less dismay'd
Than aught that signs of dastard fear betray'd,
Still bent and twined; while all in vain he proved
Against the knight, who kept his place unmoved.
As when the mastiff, panting on the plain,
Whose throat the nimble greyhound's fangs con-
strain
With deadly gripe, in fruitless fury lies,
With jaws dire foaming and with fiery eyes;
Not all his force the victor can elude,
By skill and vigour not by rage subdued-
So Rodomont essay'd each art, to make
The conquering youth his-powerful hold forșake.
He strove to rise; but still the wary knight
Press'd him to earth with unabated might.
Now, writhing here and there, the Pagan strain'd
Each nerve, and freed at length his better hand,
That in its grasp the' insidious poniard bore
(The poniard from the sheath released before);
With this he sought to aim the murderous wound
Beneath Rogero's reins-the youth renown'd
The danger saw, should still his generous heart
Defer the Pagan's death, his just desert;
Then at full stretch he raised his arm above
The prostrate king, and thrice the weapon drove
Deep in his horrid front—so ends the strife,
And leaves secure Rogero's fame and life!
Where Acheron's infernal waters spread,
Freed from her icy limbs, blaspheming fled
The' indignant soul, that here, with impious pride,
All human faith and Heaven's own laws defied.
FROM THE ITALIAN OF TASSO.
THE fair Armida, conscious of her power,
Strong in her sex and beauty's vernal flower,
Assumes the welcome task; with closing day,
She parts, through many a lone and hidden way;
With curling locks and silken vest she boasts
To match unconquer'd chiefs and steel-clad hosts:
While various rumours, 'mong the vulgar spread,
Excused her parting, and their thoughts misled.
Few days elasped, ere reach'd the beauteous
Where their white tents the Christian bands dis-
Soon as the bright attraction caught their eyes,
The whispering soldiers view'd her with surprise;
As when some meteor's omen'd splendours glare,
Or reddening comet fires the cloudless air,
With straining eyes assembled mortals gaze,
And watch his wondrous progress with amaze;
So thronging crowds the stranger fair admired,
Her errand, country, and her name inquired.
Nor Argos, Delos, nor the Cyprian shore
E'er saw a face, a dress, so fair of yore;
Gold were her locks, now beaming through the
shade
Of her white veil, now floating loose they play'd:
So, when some tempest ends its shortlived reign,
And brightening ether grows serene again,
Now shines through fleecy clouds the solar ray;
Now from his covert issuing, bright and gay,
The golden orb bursts forth, and pours redoubled
day.
In native curls her waving ringlets flow,
Yet added curls the breathing gales bestow :
Her eye was fix'd upon herself alone,
As greedy of Love's treasures, and its own:
Glow'd on her cheek the rose's purple light,
Though soften'd by the blending ivory's white;
But on her lips, whence breezy fragrance blows,
In all its genuine lustre bloom'd the rose.
Her beauteous breast its naked snow displays,
Potent to wake and feed the amorous blaze;
Half stood to view each firm unyielding globe,
Half lurk'd conceal'd beneath her envious robe;
But though her robe the roving eye restrain,
To curb the bolder thought, its power is vain;
Unsatisfied with charms exposed to view,
Thought leaps o'er every bound, and thirsts for new.
As lucid crystal, or the' impassive stream,
Admits, unharm'd, light's penetrating beam,
So Fancy there beneath the silken fold
Intrudes unfelt, and spatiates uncontrol'd;
There at its will, with analyzing gaze,
The secret wonders leisurely surveys,
Proclaims each beauty to the keen desire,
Stirs the roused sense, and wakes intenser fire.
Through wondering crowds the fair enchantress
pass'd,
And many a longing look the gazers cast.
She mark'd the infant fire with conscious eye,
And inly smiled, foretasting victory.
PALACE AND GARDEN OF ARMIDA.
FROM THE ITALIAN OF TASSO.
ROUND was the form the costly mansion show'd;
Hid in the centre of the fair abode
A beauteous garden lay, which far excell'd
Whate'er or Fame has sung or eye beheld.
Around, the work of many a demon's hand,
A range of buildings stood, confusedly plann'd :
Through these the oblique and mazy paths that
wound,
Perplex'd the passage to the' enchanted ground. Though the proud dome a hundred portals graced,
Yet through the chief, the loftiest gate they pass'd..
The massy valves of sculptured silver, roll'd
On sounding hinges of refulgent gold.
The graven figures wondering they beheld,
Whose skilful workmanship by far excell'd
The rich materials; life, expressive mind
In every look, in every vesture shined;
Speech fail'd alone; and if we trust our eyes,
Indued with speech, with life itself, they rise.
There, girt with many a fair Mæonian maid,
The great Alcides with his distaff play'd:
He, who the starry heavens had once sustain'd,
And o'er the powers of hell a conquest gain'd,
A spindle wields, and with soft stories whiles
The hours away; fond Love stands by and smiles.
And there, in scorn of hero's toils, was seen
To grasp his murderous arms the sportive queen,
And on her back the lion's trophies wear,
Too rough a burden for a form so fair.
Hard by, the ocean spread its surface blue; All white with silvery foam the billows grew. Two hostile navies tower'd amid the flood, In adverse ranks and pride of war they stood; From their arm'd sides a steely lustre came; The sparkling surges glow'd with golden flame; Leucate seem'd on fire, and beam'd afar With the dread splendour of the mimic war. Here mighty Cæsar led his Roman bands; There, from the swarthy East's remotest lands, Great Antony brought all his powers along, His Indian, Arab, and Egyptian throng. Seem'd as along the groaning waves were borne The Cyclades, from their firm base uptorn; Or as, encountering with gigantic shock, [rock; Mountain with mountain crash'd, and rock with On either side with such o'erpowering sway The towerlike navies plough'd the billowy way. Darts, torches, fly; the seas are cover'd o'er With spoils and mangled limbs, and blush with But lo! ere yet inclined the battle's scale, [gore. The royal beauty spread her swelling sail, And fled; nor did her doting lover stay, But threw the empire of the world away. Nor yet he fled; his brave his haughty breast No stain dishonour'd, and no fear possess'd; He follow'd her who, with attraction strong, Could drag in honour's spite e'en Antony along. He seem'd as one in whose disorder'd mind Love, shame, and anger glow'd at once, combined; By turns the bloody fight, that doubtful raged, By turns the flying fair, his heart engaged. In Nile's deep bosom hid, he seems to wait Lock'd in her warm embrace, his threaten'd fate,
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