And having said thus much, he went his way; Doing the very best that in him lay To root from out a bank a rock or two. Orlando, when he reached him, loud 'gan say, "How think'st thou, glutton, such a stone to throw ?" When Alabaster heard his deep voice ring, He suddenly betook him to his sling, And hurled a fragment of a size so large, That if it had in fact fulfilled its mission, And Roland not availed him of his targe, There would have been no need of a physician. Orlando set himself in turn to charge, And in his bulky bosom made incision With all his sword. The lout fell; but o'erthrown, he However by no means forgot Macone. Morgante had a palace in his mode, Composed of branches, logs of wood, and earth; For a rough dream had shook him slumbering. He thought that a fierce serpent had attacked him, Is nothing worth, and not an instant backed him ; At liberty from all the fears which racked him. "Who knocks here ?" grumbling all the while, said he. "That," said Orlando, "you will quickly see. "I come to preach to you, as to your brothers, Sent by the miserable monks repentance; For Providence divine, in you and others, Condemns the evil done by new acquaintance. Morgante said, "O gentle cavalier! I by my faith disclose contentedly, The Saracen rejoined in humble tone:"I have had an extraordinary vision; A savage serpent fell on me alone, And Macon would not pity my condition. Hence to thy God, who for ye did atone Upon the cross, preferred I my petition; His timely succor set me safe and free, And I a Christian am disposed to be." Orlando answered, "Baron just and pious, If this good wish your heart can really move To the true God, who will not then deny us Eternal honor, you will go above. And if you please, as friends we will ally us, "The Lord descended to the virgin breast Your renegado God, and worship mine, - And then Orlando to embrace him flew, And made much of his convert, as he cried, "To the abbey I will gladly marshal you." To whom Morgante "Let us go" replied: "I to the friars have for peace to sue." Which thing Orlando heard with inward pride, Saying, "My brother, so devout and good, Ask the abbot pardon, as I wish you would; "Since God has granted your illumination, Accepting you in mercy for his own, Humility should be your first oblation." Morgante said, "For goodness's sake make knownSince that your God is to be mine — your station, And let your name in verity be shown; Then will I everything at your command do." On which the other said, he was Orlando. "Then," quoth the giant, "blessed be Jesu, Through all the different periods of my days; I wish, for your great gallantry always." Thus reasoning, they continued much to say, And onwards to the abbey went their way. Then to the abbey they went on together, Where waited them the abbot in great doubt. Orlando, seeing him thus agitated, Said quickly, "Abbot, be thou of good cheer: He Christ believes, as Christian must be rated, And hath renounced his Macon false;" which here Morgante with the hands corroborated, A proof of both the giants' fate quite clear: He gazed; Morgante's height he calculated, Know that no more my wonder will arise, And thus great honor to Morgante paid The abbot: many days they did repose. One day, as with Orlando they both strayed, And sauntered here and there where'er they chose, The abbot showed a chamber where arrayed There being a want of water in the place, And went out on his way unto a fountain, Arrived there, a prodigious noise he hears, An arrow for his bow, and lifts his head: Morgante at a venture shot an arrow, Which pierced a pig precisely in the ear, Against the giant rushed in fierce career, Perceiving that the pig was on him close. Full from the spring, which neither swerved nor shook. The tun was on one shoulder and there were Orlando, seeing him so soon appear With the dead boars, and with that brimful vase, Marvelled to see his strength so very great; So did the abbot, and set wide the gate. The monks, who saw the water fresh and good, They lay their breviaries to sleep, and work That the flesh needs no salt beneath their fork; Of rankness and of rot there is no fear, For all the fasts are now left in arrear. As though they wished to burst at once, they ate; Perceiving that they all were picked too clean. A few days after this convival scene The horse Morgante to a meadow led, To gallop, and to put him to the proof, Thinking that he a back of iron had, Or to skim eggs unbroke was light enough; But the horse sinking with the pain fell dead, And burst, while cold on earth lay head and hoof. Morgante said, "Get up, thou sulky cur!" And still continued pricking with the spur. But finally he thought fit to dismount, And said, "I am as light as any feather, And he has burst: to this what say you, count?" Orlando answered, "Like a ship's mast rather You seem to me, and with the truck for front: Let him go; fortune wills that we together Should march, but you on foot, Morgante, still." To which the giant answered, "So I will. "When there shall be occasion, you shall see How I approve my courage in the fight." Orlando said, "I really think you I'll be, If it should prove God's will, a goodly knight; |