Part 92 (1/2)

XXVIII For Montalbano's lord the stranger guest, The baron recognised, with whom he came; Because, before they reached their place of rest, The paladin had chanced himself to name; And (for they brethren were) with love opprest, His tenderness him wholly overcame; And touched with kind affection, at his heart, From his full eyes the tears of pleasure start.

XXIX Guido the savage was that cavalier, Who, with Marphisa leagued, the martial maid, Sansonet, and the sons of Olivier, Long sailed the sea, as I erewhile have said; From earlier meeting with his kindred dear By Pinnabel, the felon knight, delaid; Seized by that traitor, and by him detained, To enforce the wicked law he had ordained.

x.x.x Sir Guido, when he knew his host to be Rinaldo, famed above each famous knight, Whom he had burned with more desire to see Than ever blindman covets the lost light, In rapture cries, ”What fortune tempted me With you, my lord, to strive in deadly fight, Whom long I have beloved, and love, whose worth I prize above all dwellers' upon earth?

x.x.xI ”Me on the distant bank of Euxine's flood (I Guido am yclept) Constantia bare, Conceived of the ill.u.s.trious seed and good Of generous Aymon, as ye likewise are.

To visit you and my bold brotherhood Is the occasion, hither I repair; And, where to honour you I had in thought, I see my coming has but mischief wrought.

x.x.xII ”But that I neither ye nor the others knew, Must for so foul a fault be my excuse; And, if I can amend it, bid me do Whate'er thou wilt, nor ought will I refuse.”

When, on this part and that, between the two, Of interchanged embraces there was truce, ”Take you no farther thought upon your side The battle to excuse,” Rinaldo cried.

x.x.xIII ”For in complete a.s.surance that you are A real offset of our ancient tree, You could no better testimony bear Than the tried valour which in you we see; If your demeanour more pacific were, We ill should have believed your ancestry: Since neither lion from the doe proceeds, Nor fearful pigeon, hawk or eagle breeds.”

x.x.xIV While neither they through talk their journey stay, Neither through speed abate their talk, those two Reached the pavilions where the kinsmen lay: There good Rinaldo, crying to his crew That this was Guido, whom so many a day They had impatiently desired to view, Much pleased the friendly troop; and, at his sight All like his father deemed the stranger knight.

x.x.xV I will not tell what welcome to the peer Made Richardet, Alardo, and those twain; What Malagigi, what Sir Aldigier, And gallant Vivian, of that kindred train; What every captain, every cavalier; What Guido spake, what they replied again: I for conclusion of my tale will say, He was well greeted of the whole array.

x.x.xVI Ever, I deem, good Guido would have been Dear to his brethren bold; but welcomed more Was now the valiant knight, and better seen That at another time, as needed sore.

When the sun, garlanded with radiance sheen, Upraised his visage from the watery floor, Sir Guido and his kinsmen, in a band, Beneath Rinaldo's banner took their stand.

x.x.xVI So one day and another p.r.i.c.k the train, That they to Paris' leaguered gates are nigh, Scarce ten miles distant, on the banks of Seine; When, as good Fortune wills it, they descry Gryphon and Aquilant, the two that stain Their virtuous armour with a different dye; Sable was Aquilant's, white Gryphon's, weed; Good Olivier's and Sigismonda's seed.

x.x.xVIII In parley were they by a damsel stayed, Nor she of mean condition to behold; That in a snowy samyte was arraid, The vesture edged about with list of gold: Graceful and fair; although she was dismaid, And down her visage tears of sorrow rolled; Who with such mien and act her speech enforced, It seemed of some high matter she discoursed.

x.x.xIX As Guido them, they gallant Guido knew.

He with the pair had been few days before; And to Rinaldo: ”Behold those! whom few In valour and in prowess go before, And if they join your banner, against you Feebly will stand the squadrons of the Moor.”

Rinaldo vouched what valiant Guido told, How either champion was a warrior bold.

XL Nor them he less had recognized at sight; Because (such was the usage of the pair) One by a vest all black, and one all white, He knows, and by the ornaments they wear.

The brethren know as well Mount Alban's knight, And give the warlike kinsmen welcome fair: They both embrace Rinaldo as a friend, And of their ancient quarrel make an end.

XLI They -- erst at feud and with sore hate possest, Through Truffaldino -- (which were long to say) Each other with fraternal love carest, Now putting all their enmity away.

Rinaldo next Sir Sansonet addrest, Who somewhat later joined that fair array; And (knowing well his force and mighty thew) Received the cavalier with honour due.

XLII When she, that gentle damsel, now more near, Beholds renowned Rinaldo, him she knows, Acquainted with each paladin and peer.

She news which sorely grieve the warrior shows; And thus begin: ”My lord, your cousin dear, To whom its safety Church and Empire owes, Roland, erewhile so honoured and so sage, Now roves the world, possest with frantic rage.

XLIII ”Whence woe, so direful and so strange, ensued Cannot by me to you be signified: I saw on earth his sword and armour strewed, Doffed by that peer, and scattered far and wide; And I a pious knight and courteous viewed Those arms collecting upon every side, Who, in the guise of trophy, to a tree Fastened that fair and pompous panoply.

XLIV ”But from the trophied stem the sword withdrew The son of Agrican that very day.

Thou mayst conceive what mischief may ensue To Charles and to the christened host's array, From loss of Durindana, if anew The infidels that goodly blade should sway.

Good Brigliador as well, who roved, forsaken, About those arms, was by the paynim taken.

XLV ”Few days are past, since I in shameful wise Saw Roland, running naked in his mood, Sending forth piteous shrieks and fearful cries.

In fine, that he is frantic I conclude; Nor this had I believed, save with these eyes That strange and cruel wonder I had viewed.”

She added next, how from the bridge's top, Embraced by Rodomont, she saw him drop.

XLVI ”To whosoe'er I deem not Roland's foe I tell my tale,” (pursued the dame again,) ”That, of the crowd who hear this cruel woe Some one, in pity to his cruel pain, May strive the peer in Paris to bestow, Or other friendly place, to purge his brain.

Well wot I, if such tidings he receive, Nought unattempted Brandimart will leave.”