approaching, and gave notice to his lord, who thereupon donned his
armor and went forth to meet them. Here, as usual, he called on the
advancing warrior to yield his horse and arms an oblation to the tomb.
Bradamante replied, asking by what right he called on the innocent to
do penance for his crime. "Your life and your armor," she added, "are
the fittest offering to her tomb, and I, a woman, the fittest champion
to take them." With that she couched her spear, spurred her horse, and
ran to the encounter. King Rodomont came on with speed. The trampling
sounded on the bridge like thunder. It took but a moment to decide the
contest. The golden lance did its office, and that fierce Moor, so
renowned in tourney, lay extended on the bridge. "Who is the loser
now?" said Bradamante; but Rodomont, amazed that a woman's hand should
have laid him low, could not or would not answer. Silent and sad, he
raised himself, unbound his helm and mail, and flung them against the
tomb; then, sullen and on foot, left the ground; but first gave orders
to one of his squires to release all his prisoners. They had been sent
off to Africa. Besides Florismart, there were Sansonnet and Oliver, who
had ridden that way in quest of Orlando, and had both in turn been
overthrown in the encounter.
Bradamante after her victory resumed her route, and in due time reached
the Christian camp, where she readily learned an explanation of the
mystery which had caused her so much anxiety. Rogero and his fair and
brave sister, Marphisa, were too illustrious by their station and
exploits not to be the frequent topic of discourse even among their
adversaries, and all that Bradamante was anxious to know reached her
ear, almost without inquiry.
We now return to Gradasso, who by Rogero's victory had been made
possessor of Durindana. There now only remained to him to seek the
horse of Rinaldo; and the challenge, given and accepted, was yet to be
fought with that warrior, for it had been interrupted by the arts of
Malagigi. Gradasso now sought another meeting with Rinaldo, and met
with no reluctance on his part. As the combat was for the possession of
Bayard, the knights dismounted and fought on foot. Long time the battle
lasted. Rinaldo, knowing well the deadly stroke of Durindana, used all
his art to parry or avoid its blow. Gradasso struck with might and
main, but wellnigh all his strokes were spent in air, or if they smote
they fell obliquely and did little harm.
Thus had they fought long, glancing at one another's eyes, and seeing
naught else, when their attention was arrested perforce by a strange
noise. They turned, and beheld the good Bayard attacked by a monstrous
bird. Perhaps it was a bird, for such it seemed; but when or where such
a bird was ever seen I have nowhere read, except in Turpin; and I am
inclined to believe that it was not a bird, but a fiend, evoked from
underground by Malagigi, and thither sent on purpose to interrupt the
fight. Whether a fiend or a fowl, the monster flew right at Bayard, and
clapped his wings in his face. Thereat the steed broke loose, and ran
madly across the plain, pursued by the bird, till Bayard plunged into
the wood, and was lost to sight.
Rinaldo and Gradasso, seeing Bayard's escape, agreed to suspend their
battle till they could recover the horse, the object of contention.
Gradasso mounted his steed, and followed the foot-marks of Bayard into
the forest. Rinaldo, never more vexed in spirit, remained at the spot,
Gradasso having promised to return thither with the horse, if he found
him. He did find him, after long search, for he had the good fortune to
hear him neigh. Thus he became possessed of both the objects for which
he had led an army from his own country, and invaded France. He did not
forget his promise to bring Bayard back to the place where he had left
Rinaldo, but only muttering, "Now I have got him, he little knows me
who expects me to give him up; if Rinaldo wants the horse let him seek
him in India, as I have sought him in France,"--he made the best of his
way to Arles, where his vessels lay; and in possession of the two
objects of his ambition, the horse and the sword, sailed away to his
own country.
ASTOLPHO IN ABYSSINIA
When we last parted with the adventurous paladin Astolpho, he was just
commencing that flight over the countries of the world from which he
promised himself so much gratification. Our readers are aware that the
eagle and the falcon have not so swift a flight as the Hippogriff on
which Astolpho rode. It was not long, therefore, before the paladin,
directing his course toward the southeast, arrived over that part of
Africa where the great river Nile has its source. Here he alighted, and
found himself in the neighborhood of the capital of Abyssinia, ruled by
Senapus, whose riches and power were immense. His palace was of
surpassing splendor; the bars of the gates, the hinges and locks, were
all of pure gold; in fact, this metal, in that country, is put to all
those uses for which we employ iron. It is so common that they prefer
for ornamental purposes rock crystal, of which all the columns were
made. Precious stones of different kinds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires,
and topazes were set in ornamental designs, and the walls and ceilings
were adorned with pearls.
It is in this country those famous balms grow of which there are some
few plants in that part of Judaea called Gilead. Musk, ambergris, and
numerous gums, so precious in Europe, are here in their native climate.
It is said the Sultan of Egypt pays a vast tribute to the monarch of
this country to hire him not to cut off the source of the Nile, which
he might easily do, and cause the river to flow in some other
direction, thus depriving Egypt of the source of its fertility.
At the time of Astolpho's arrival in his dominions, this monarch was in
great affliction. In spite of his riches and the precious productions
of his country, he was in danger of dying of hunger. He was a prey to a
flock of obscene birds called Harpies, which attacked him whenever he
sat at meat, and with their claws snatched, tore, and scattered
everything, overturning the vessels, devouring the food, and infecting
what they left with their filthy touch. It was said this punishment was
inflicted upon the king because when young, and filled with pride and
presumption, he had attempted to invade with an army the terrestrial
paradise, which is situated on the top of a mountain whence the Nile
draws its source. Nor was this his only punishment. He was struck blind.
Astolpho, on arriving in the dominions of this monarch, hastened to pay
him his respects. King Senapus received him graciously, and ordered a
splendid repast to be prepared in honor of his arrival. While the
guests were seated at table, Astolpho filling the place of dignity at
the king's right hand, the horrid scream of the Harpies was heard in
the air, and soon they approached, hovering over the tables, seizing
the food from the dishes, and overturning everything with the flapping
of their broad wings. In vain the guests struck at them with knives and
any weapons which they had, and Astolpho drew his sword and gave them
repeated blows, which seemed to have no more effect upon them than if
their bodies had been made of tow.
At last Astolpho thought of his horn. He first gave warning to the king
and his guests to stop their ears; then blew a blast. The Harpies,
terrified at the sound, flew away as fast as their wings could carry
them. The paladin mounted his Hippogriff, and pursued them, blowing his
horn as often as he came near them. They stretched their flight towards
the great mountain, at the foot of which there is a cavern, which is
thought to be the mouth of the infernal abodes. Hither those horrid
birds flew, as if to their home. Having seen them all disappear in the
recess, Astolpho cared not to pursue them farther, but alighting,
rolled huge stones into the mouth of the cave, and piled branches of
trees therein, so that he effectually barred their passage out, and we
have no evidence of their ever having been seen since in the outer air.
After this labor Astolpho refreshed himself by bathing in a fountain
whose pure waters bubbled from a cleft of the rock. Having rested
awhile, an earnest desire seized him of ascending the mountain which
towered above him. The Hippogriff bore him swiftly upwards, and landed
him on the top of the mountain, which he found to be an extensive plain.
A splendid palace rose in the middle of this plain, whose walls shone
with such brilliancy that mortal eyes could hardly bear the sight.
Astolpho guided the winged horse towards this edifice, and made him
poise himself in the air while he took a leisurely survey of this
favored spot and its environs. It seemed as if nature and art had
striven with one another to see which could do the most for its
embellishment.
Astolpho, on approaching the edifice, saw a venerable man advance to
meet him. This personage was clothed in a long vesture as white as
snow, while a mantle of purple covered his shoulders, and hung down to
the ground. A white beard descended to his middle, and his hair, of the
same color, overshadowed his shoulders. His eyes were so brilliant that
Astolpho felt persuaded that he was a blessed inhabitant of the
heavenly mansions.
The sage, smiling benignantly upon the paladin, who from respect had
dismounted from his horse, said to him: "Noble chevalier, know that it
is by the Divine will you have been brought to the terrestrial
paradise. Your mortal nature could not have borne to scale these
heights and reach these seats of bliss if it were not the will of
Heaven that you should be instructed in the means to succor Charles,
and to sustain the glory of our holy faith. I am prepared to impart the
needed counsels; but before I begin let me welcome you to our sojourn.
I doubt not your long fast and distant journey have given you a good
appetite."
The aspect of the venerable man filled the prince with admiration; but
his surprise ceased when he learned from him that he was that one of
the Apostles of our Lord to whom he said, "I will that thou tarry till
I come."
St. John, conducting Astolpho, rejoined his companions. These were the
patriarch Enoch and the prophet Elijah; neither of whom had yet seen
his dying day, but, taken from our lower world, were dwelling in a
region of peace and joy, in a climate of eternal spring, till the last
trumpet shall sound.
The three holy inhabitants of the terrestrial paradise received
Astolpho with the greatest kindness, carried him to a pleasant
apartment, and took great care of the Hippogriff, to whom they gave
such food as suited him, while to the prince they presented fruits so
delicious that he felt inclined to excuse our first parents for their
sin in eating them without permission.
Astolpho, having recruited his strength, not only by these excellent
fruits, but also by sweet sleep, roused himself at the first blush of
dawn, and as soon as he left his chamber met the beloved Apostle coming
to seek him. St. John took him by the hand, and told him many things
relating to the past and the future. Among others, he said, "Son, let
me tell you what is now going on in France. Orlando, the illustrious
prince who received at his birth the endowment of strength and courage
more than mortal, raised up as was Samson of old to be the champion of
the true faith, has been guilty of the basest ingratitude in leaving
the Christian camp when it most needed the support of his arm, to run
after a Saracen princess, whom he would fain marry, though she scorns
him. To punish him his reason has been taken away, so that he runs
naked through the land, over mountains and through valleys, without a
ray of intelligence. The duration of his punishment has been fixed at
three months, and that time having nearly expired, you have been
brought hither to learn from us the means by which the reason of
Orlando may be restored. True, you will be obliged to make a journey
with me, and we must even leave the earth, and ascend to the moon, for
it is in that planet we are to seek the remedy for the madness of the
paladin. I propose to make our journey this evening, as soon as the
moon appears over our head."
As soon as the sun sunk beneath the seas, and the moon presented its
luminous disk, the holy man had the chariot brought out in which he was
accustomed to make excursions among the stars, the same which was
employed long ago to convey Elijah up from earth. The saint made
Astolpho seat himself beside him, took the reins, and giving the word
to the coursers, they bore them upward with astonishing celerity.
At length they reached the great continent of the Moon. Its surface
appeared to be of polished steel, with here and there a spot which,
like rust, obscured its brightness. The paladin was astonished to see
that the earth, with all its seas and rivers, seemed but an
insignificant spot in the distance.
The prince discovered in this region so new to him rivers, lakes,
plains, hills, and valleys. Many beautiful cities and castles enriched
the landscape. He saw also vast forests, and heard in them the sound of
horns and the barking of dogs, which led him to conclude that the
nymphs were following the chase.
The knight, filled with wonder at all he saw, was conducted by the
saint to a valley, where he stood amazed at the riches strewed all
around him. Well he might be so, for that valley was the receptacle of
things lost on earth, either by men's fault, or by the effect of time
and chance. Let no one suppose we speak here of kingdoms or of
treasures; they are the toys of Fortune, which she dispenses in turning
her wheel; we speak of things which she can neither give nor take away.
Such are reputations, which appear at one time so brilliant, and a
short time after are heard of no more. Here, also, are countless vows
and prayers for unattainable objects, lovers' sighs and tears, time
spent in gaming, dressing, and doing nothing, the leisure of the dull
and the intentions of the lazy, baseless projects, intrigues, and
plots; these and such like things fill all the valley.
Astolpho had a great desire to understand all that he saw, and which
appeared to him so extraordinary. Among the rest, he observed a great
mountain of blown bladders, from which issued indistinct noises. The
saint told him these were the dynasties of Assyrian and Persian kings,
once the wonder of the earth, of which now scarce the name remains.
Astolpho could not help laughing when the saint said to him, "All these
hooks of silver and gold that you see are the gifts of courtiers to
princes, made in the hope of getting something better in return." He
also showed him garlands of flowers in which snares were concealed;
these were flatteries and adulations, meant to deceive. But nothing was
so comical as the sight of numerous grasshoppers which had burst their
lungs with chirping. These, he told him, were sonnets, odes, and
dedications, addressed by venal poets to great people.
The paladin beheld with wonder what seemed a lake of spilled milk. "It
is," said the saint, "the charity done by frightened misers on their
death-beds." It would take too long to tell all that the valley
contained: meanness, affectations, pretended virtues, and concealed
vices were there in abundance.
Among the rest Astolpho perceived many days of his own lost, and many
imprudent sallies which he had made, and would have been glad not to
have been reminded of. But he also saw among so many lost things a
great abundance of one thing which men are apt to think they all
possess, and do not think it necessary to pray for,--good sense. This
commodity appeared under the form of a liquor, most light and apt to
evaporate. It was therefore kept in vials, firmly sealed. One of these
was labelled, "The sense of the Paladin Orlando."
All the bottles were ticketed, and the sage placed one in Astolpho's
hand, which he found was his own. It was more than half full. He was
surprised to find there many other vials which contained almost the
whole of the wits of many persons who passed among men for wise. Ah,
how easy it is to lose one's reason! Some lose theirs by yielding to
the sway of the passions; some in braving tempests and shoals in search
of wealth; some by trusting too much to the promises of the great; some
by setting their hearts on trifles. As might have been expected, the
bottles which held the wits of astrologers, inventors, metaphysicians,
and above all, of poets, were in general the best filled of all.
Astolpho took his bottle, put it to his nose, and inhaled it all; and
Turpin assures us that he was for a long time afterwards as sage as one
could wish; but the Archbishop adds that there was reason to fear that
some of the precious fluid afterwards found its way back into the
bottle. The paladin took also the bottle which belonged to Orlando. It
was a large one, and quite full.
Before quitting the planetary region Astolpho was conducted to an
edifice on the borders of a river. He was shown an immense hall full of
bundles of silk, linen, cotton, and wool. A thousand different colors,
brilliant or dull, some quite black, were among these skeins. In one
part of the hall an old woman was busy winding off yarns from all these
different bundles. When she had finished a skein another ancient dame
took it and placed it with others; a third selected from the fleeces
spun, and mingled them in due proportions. The paladin inquired what
all this might be. "These old women," said the saint, "are the Fates,
who spin, measure, and terminate the lives of mortals. As long as the
thread stretches in one of those skeins, so long does the mortal enjoy
the light of day; but nature and death are on the alert to shut the
eyes of those whose thread is spun."
Each one of the skeins had a label of gold, silver, or iron, bearing
the name of the individual to whom it belonged. An old man, who, in
spite of the burden of years, seemed brisk and active, ran without
ceasing to fill his apron with these labels, and carried them away to
throw them into the river, whose name was Lethe. When he reached the
shore of the river the old man shook out his apron, and the labels sunk
to the bottom. A small number only floated for a time, hardly one in a
thousand. Numberless birds, hawks, crows, and vultures hovered over the
stream, with clamorous cries, and strove to snatch from the water some
of these names; but they were too heavy for them, and after a while the
birds were forced to let them drop into the river of oblivion. But two
beautiful swans, of snowy whiteness, gathered some few of the names,
and returned with them to the shore, where a lovely nymph received them
from their beaks, and carried them to a temple placed upon a hill, and
suspended them for all time upon a sacred column, on which stood the
statue of Immortality.
Astolpho was amazed at all this, and asked his guide to explain it. He
replied, "The old man is Time. All the names upon the tickets would be
immortal if the old man did not plunge them into the river of oblivion.
Those clamorous birds which make vain efforts to save certain of the
names are flatterers, pensioners, venal rhymesters, who do their best
to rescue from oblivion the unworthy names of their patrons; but all in
vain; they may keep them from their fate a little while, but ere long
the river of oblivion must swallow them all.
"The swans, that with harmonious strains carry certain names to the
temple of Eternal Memory, are the great poets, who save from oblivion
worse than death the names of those they judge worthy of immortality.
Swans of this kind are rare. Let monarchs know the true breed, and fail
not to nourish with care such as may chance to appear in their time."
THE WAR IN AFRICA
When Astolpho had descended to the earth with the precious phial, St.
John showed him a plant of marvellous virtues, with which he told him
he had only to touch the eyes of the king of Abyssinia to restore him
to sight. "That important service," said the saint, "added to your
having delivered him from the Harpies, will induce him to give you an
army wherewith to attack the Africans in their rear, and force them to
return from France to defend their own country." The saint also
instructed him how to lead his troops in safety across the great
deserts, where caravans are often overwhelmed with moving columns of
sand. Astolpho, fortified with ample instructions, remounted the
Hippogriff, thanked the saint, received his blessing, and took his
flight down to the level country.
Keeping the course of the river Nile, he soon arrived at the capital of
Abyssinia, and rejoined Senapus. The joy of the king was great when he
heard again the voice of the hero who had delivered him from the
Harpies. Astolpho touched his eyes with the plant which he had brought
from the terrestrial paradise, and restored their sight. The king's
gratitude was unbounded. He begged him to name a reward, promising to
grant it, whatever it might be. Astolpho asked an army to go to the
assistance of Charlemagne, and the king not only granted him a hundred
thousand men, but offered to lead them himself.
The night before the day appointed for the departure of the troops
Astolpho mounted his winged horse, and directed his flight towards a
mountain, whence the fierce South-wind issues, whose blast raises the
sands of the Nubian desert, and whirls them onward in overwhelming
clouds. The paladin, by the advice of St. John, had prepared himself
with a leather bag, which he placed adroitly, with its mouth open, over
the vent whence issues this terrible wind. At the first dawn of morning
the wind rushed from its cavern to resume its daily course, and was
caught in the bag, and securely tied up. Astolpho, delighted with his
prize, returned to his army, placed himself at their head, and
commenced his march. The Abyssinians traversed without danger or
difficulty those vast fields of sand which separate their country from
the kingdoms of Northern Africa, for the terrible South-wind, taken
completely captive, had not force enough left to blow out a candle.
Senapus was distressed that he could not furnish any cavalry, for his
country, rich in camels and elephants, was destitute of horses. This
difficulty the saint had foreseen, and had taught Astolpho the means of
remedying. He now put those means in operation. Having reached a place
whence he beheld a vast plain and the sea, he chose from his troops
those who appeared to be the best made and the most intelligent. These
he caused to be arranged in squadrons at the foot of a lofty mountain
which bordered the plain, and he himself mounted to the summit to carry
into effect his great design. Here he found vast quantities of
fragments of rock and pebbles. These he set rolling down the mountain's
side, and, wonderful to relate, as they rolled they grew in size, made
themselves bodies, legs, necks, and long faces. Next they began to
neigh, to curvet, to scamper on all sides over the plain. Some were
bay, some roan, some dapple, some chestnut. The troops at the foot of
the mountain exerted themselves to catch these new-created horses,
which they easily did, for the miracle had been so considerate as to
provide all the horses with bridles and saddles. Astolpho thus suddenly
found himself supplied with an excellent corps of cavalry, not fewer
(as Archbishop Turpin asserts) than eighty thousand strong. With these
troops Astolpho reduced all the country to subjection, and at last
arrived before the walls of Agramant's capital city, Biserta, to which
he laid siege.
We must now return to the camp of the Christians, which lay before
Arles, to which city the Saracens had retired after being defeated in a
night attack led on by Rinaldo. Agramant here received the tidings of
the invasion of his country by a fresh enemy, the Abyssinians, and
learned that Biserta was in danger of falling into their hands. He took
counsel of his officers, and decided to send an embassy to Charles,
proposing that the whole quarrel should be submitted to the combat of
two warriors, one from each side, according to the issue of which it
should be decided which party should pay tribute to the other, and the
war should cease. Charlemagne, who had not heard of the favorable turn
which affairs had taken in Africa, readily agreed to this proposal, and
Rinaldo was selected on the part of the Christians to sustain the
combat.
The Saracens selected Rogero for their champion. Rogero was still in
the Saracen camp, kept there by honor alone, for his mind had been
opened to the truth of the Christian faith by the arguments of
Bradamante, and he had resolved to leave the party of the infidels on
the first favorable opportunity, and to join the Christian side. But
his honor forbade him to do this while his former friends were in
distress; and thus he waited for what time might bring forth, when he
was startled by the announcement that he had been selected to uphold
the cause of the Saracens against the Christians, and that his foe was
to be Rinaldo, the brother of Bradamante.