"Thither, at Charles's high behest, I go;
And little reck I whether false or sooth
Montalban's death denouncing voice of woe,
That bade beware the subtile mask of truth,
And hold no reverence for his head of snow
Who stain'd with treason the fair page of youth.
Fear must not couple with Orlando's name :
Whate'er betide, his course is still the same."

Short time the generous Anselm mused, and then—
"Now by the faith of former years," he cried,
"The mutual faith we pledged in fair Ardenne,
And since in dangerous battle oft have tried,
Orlando, if thou dare the lion's den,
Thy brother knight shall enter by thy side.
Till both return from Roncesvalles free,
Loved Arles, adieu! I'll ne'er revisit thee."

Meanwhile, upon his rushy couch reclined,
Slept Oliver as on the softest bed;
While fancy left the present scenes behind,
And dreams delusive throng'd about his head :
Now round his brows are rosy chaplets twined,
Now gorgeous tapestry for his feet is spread;
The storied walls, carved roofs, and inlaid floor,
The same that deck'd the courts of Caradore ('').

The banquet rich in royal state is spread,
Midst the full blaze of artificial day :

The air with music trembles: high o'er head
Harmonious minstrels chaunt the jocund lay:
Piment and clairet, hypocras and mead (12),
And sparkling cyprus, and the deep tokay,
By amorous knights are pledged to blushing maids,
While peals of laughter shake the proud arcades.

Sudden the feast is vanisht, husht the sound
Of minstrelsy, and quencht the torches' blaze:
One solitary taper sheds around

The couch of love its soft mysterious rays;
And on that couch reclines in sleep profound
The bright enchantress of his later days,
In bloom of virgin freshness, as she lay
Lost in his arms, and sigh'd her soul away.

"My fondest love, awake!" he seem'd to say,

"Meridiana! let those melting eyes

Beam on my soul, once more, celestial day,

And light me on the road to Paradise!"

They ope, those stars of love; the kindling ray
O'er all her frame in swift emotion flies:
"My Oliver!"-enraptured, tranced, possest,
She cries, he sinks upon her panting breast-

Upon her panting breast he sinks—but oh !
How does she meet his eager fierce desire ?

That breast has ceased to pant, that cheek to glow,
Those eyes to sparkle with voluptuous fire:

The form he clasps is cold as frozen snow;
The couch he presses is the funeral pyre;

The sounds, faint struggling those pale lips between, "Take thy first bride, thy murder'd Florisene (3) !"

With horror wild, he bursts the icy chain
Of slumber; and, ere yet the cheerful light
Purpled the billows of the eastern main,
Hath summon'd to the field each brother knight
His alter'd cheer they note, but seek in vain
To rouse the extinguisht genius of delight,
Or clear the brow with shades of death o'ercast:-
So heavy sits remembrance of the past.

Five days they journey on, from morning's break
To night, and on the sixth fair evening view
The sun clad Pyrenean's spiry peak,

Like some proud banner tinged with golden hue.
"Behold," Orlando cries, "the mark we seek,-
How awful, yet how goodly, to the view!
Hail we the passing glory, as a sign,

Vouchsafed from Heaven, of countenance divine.

"But who are they that, from yon forest glade Emerging, hither urge their steeds aright? Full gallant lords they seem, and well array'd, As on their arms faint glows the expiring light." "If well mine eyes distinguish," Anselm said, "The foremost is, indeed, a gallant knight : Charles cannot boast a worthier in his train.What! know ye not the far famed British thane (4)?”

"Now shame upon mine eyes untimely blind!

It is, it is Astolpho's self I see ;

And now the chief who follows close behind

I note, the flower of Asia's chivalry,

The heir to Mecca's throne,-whose virtuous mind
From Paynim bonds of prejudice set free,

I press'd him to my heart, and hail'd with pride,
In friendship once, and now in faith allied ('').

"A third still follows after, who, in show Of outward pomp, outdazzles both his peers: And where's the champion in whose veins doth flow

A current of such noble blood as theirs?

Yet else, methinks, that graceful form I know ;-
It should be own'd by Baldwin of Poictiers,
A generous youth, and, though of Gano's race,
Heir to his fortunes, not to his disgrace (1).

By this, the knights advancing wave on high
Their plumed casques, in gratulation fair,
Mid shouts of joy; and as they press more nigh,
With answering shouts resounds the vocal air:
And now, in phrase of untaught courtesy,
(Embraces past,) old Otho's valiant heir
Begins their cause of coming to explain,—
"Orlando, hail! imperial Charlemain

"Sends thee this greeting;-(for myself and these Brethren in arms all reverence and love !—) At Fontarabia on the Gascon seas (17)

Our sovereign holds his court; nor thence will move,
Till, as the tenor of the peace decrees,

In the tremendous sight of God above,
Whom Moor and Christian equally adore,
Marsilius shall have seal'd the faith he swore,

"But when into thy hands at Roncesvaux
The solemn cession shall be made complete,
The powers of France and Spain, no longer foes,
In Pampeluna's royal courts shall meet ;
And there, instead of rude uncivil blows,
Shall merriment resound through every street;
For shrieks of desolate wives from husbands rent,
The festive dance and knightly tournament.