Tales from Ariosto: Retold for Children by a Lady

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Preface

These stories have afforded so much pleastire to the little friends for whom thej were written, that thej are published in the hope that they may be found entertaining by other children. Whilst I have, of course, left out all that was unsuited to my purpose, and mercilessly curtailed what I have translated, I have endeavored to alter no material incident and to keep as close to the original as I well could. And this must be my apology for retaining many of the allusions to heathen mythology, and many of the fanciful similes, which are so characteristic of the poet. It has been a question with me whether I should discard these altogether ; but I hope an intelligent child may find some amusement in puzzling out their meaning ; and at the same time, that they are neither so numerous nor so lengthy as not to be easily skipped by children too young to understand them.

My young readers ought to be told that the poem of the ' Mad Orlando ' is a continuation by Ariosto of a poem by Boiardo, an earlier poet, called ' Orlando in Love.' This helps to account vi PREFACE.

for the abruptness with which the characters appear on the scene, and for the allusions to adventures in which they have taken part in an earlier period of their history. I have been obliged to retain some few of these, which abound in Ariosto — such as the allusions to an earlier visit of Angelica to Europe with her brother Argalia, who was slain by Ferrau, and whose helmet was carried off by that knight ; to the magic ring stolen from Angelica in Albracca by Brunello, who also on that occasion committed the thefts mentioned in the story of 'Ruggiero and Bradamante'; and others which refer to a time when Angelica loved Binaldo and he disliked her, a state of things completely changed before the first story opens. This little explanation may, I hope, make all such allusions tolerably intelligible.

It only remains for me to thank most gratefully the kind friend who has so skilfully adapted the illustrations, from an old quarto edition of Ariosto, published in Venice, in the year 1683, and adorned with very quaint and spirited engravings by Girolamo Porro, an engraver of repute in his day.

CONTENTa

THB 8T0RT OF THB PRINCESS ANOBLIOA.

CHAmm PAoa

I. Thb Adtxmtuebs or AngblioI in thi Fobsbt . . S

▲WAT TO AH IlLAHD IH THB WbSTBEH OoBAH . 16

in. How AhqblioA was bbsoubd ibox THB Sba-

M0N8TBB, AND KBT OeLANDO 28

Anoblica . i 84

THB STORT OF OINBVRi.

I. TmUM HOW RiNALDO WBNT TO SoOtLAND .... 47 II. RiNALDO TINDI0ATB8 THB FAIB FAHB OF THB KlNO's

Bauohtbb 68

THB STORT OF RUOOIBRO AND BRADAMANTB.

I. How Bbadamantb mbbtb with THB Falsb Knioht

OP THB HouBB OP Manoan^a ....... 69

II. MbBLIN P0BBTBLL8 TO BBADAKANTB THB FUTUBB

OBBATNBM op THB HOUSB OP BiTB 77

Viu CONTENTS.

OmkvnM Paqi

III. How Bbadamamti kblbabbi Ruooibbo noM

THE NiOBOMAHOim's Casti:.! 89

y. How RuGGIBBO B80A.PB8 fBOM AlOIBA'S WICBBD

CiTT or Plbasubb 101

City, and ot ▲ Battlb at Sba 109

TuiTB England 118

VIII. RUGGIBBO AND BbADAMANTB BBCX>GNIZB BA.OH

OTHBB. ThB LA8T OV THB MA.GIC SBIBLD . 126

X. How RUOGIIBO DBLITBB8 RiOOUBDBTIO AND

WBITB8 ▲ IiBTTBB 140

XII. Thb Knights vioht with thb Two Kings, and

RUOGIBBO AND MaBIISA GO TO PaBI8 . . . 169

XIV. Thb Oombat bbtwbbn Ruggibbo and Handbi-

CAEDO 180

XV. RiNALDO FALLS IN WITH FeIBNDS NBW AND OLD,

AND DBYBATS AgBAMANTB 187

OUT ON A Joubnbt, takes Shbltbe toe the Night in Tbibtan's Towee 196

TO Ruggibbo 208

CONTENTS. ix

CHAmm tAom

BB0B088B8 THB 8bA TO AfBIOA 827

Bbadamantb 864

XXIII. Bbadamantb i8 bbstobbd to ebb Ruooibbo • 866

ILLUSTRATIONS.

The Princess Angelica • FrmUspua

The Story OF GiNBVRA ...'.... Tc/aapageAl

RUGGIERO AND BRADAMANTB n >» ^

Introduction

Count Orlando, while in India paying his court to the beautiful Princess Angelica, daughter of the great Elian of Cathay, witti whom he has long been madly in love, hears of the invasion of France by the Moors, under their King Afframante, and hastens back to offer Charlemagne, Emperor of the Franks, the help of his sword. AngeUca, who on her father's death has succeeded to his throne, partly because she finds it an insecure possession from the attacks of enemies within and without her dominions, and partly to escape from the importunities of her numerous suitors, all of whom she has at various times made use of, in fighting in defence of herself and her kingdom, resolves to accept Orlando's escort and to accompany him to Europe.

The poem opens with their arrival in the Christian camp, on the eve of a great battle, in which Charlemagne is defeated and driven back into Paris, where he IS closely besi^ed by the Moors. Binaldo, one of his knights, goes to Britain, and, returning with large reinforcements, raises the siege and enables the Emperor to march out of Paris, and to inflict a signal defeat upon Agramante, who, in his turn, is surrounded and shut up within his entrenchments. Binaldo greatly distinguishes himself in xiv INTRODUCTION.

this batUe ; and it is after this that the incident of Medoro's midnight search for his mastoids dead body, which is mentioned in the story of Angelica, takes place.

Agramante, however, succeeds in breaking through the Christian lines, and defeating Charlemagne, who is again forced to take refuge within the walls of Paris ; where Binaldo comes once more to his rescua Another great battle takes place, in which the Moors are defeated and driven back with great slaughter to the south of France. Orlando is absent all this time, wandering over the world in search of Angelica, of whom he loses sight after the first battle. The news he at last hears of her so much distresses him that he goes stark mad, throws away his armor, and abandons his famous horse and as famous sword, which are found and appropriated by Mandricardo. The Count eventuaUy turns up in Africa, where his wits are restored to him in a very curious manner ; soon after which he pays the visit to the hermit mentioned in Buggiero's story. Brandimarte, his great friend, hears of his madness, goes in search of him, and joins him in Africa, and his adventures are so interesting and his story is so pathetic, that I much regret not being able to include it in this volume.

In the absence of Orlando and Brandimarte, Binaldo occupies the principal place among the Christian knights, his brothers and cousins, the Scotch Prince Zerbino,Guidone,and Sansonetto all being subordinate to him.

Agramante, in addition to his allies. King Sobrino, and Marsilio, King of Spain, is supported by a number of tributary princes ; Bodomonte, King of Algiers, Mandricardo, King of Tartary, Sacripante,

INTRODUCTION. xv

King of Ciicassia, Oradasso and Ferrau ; the three last are ardent lovers of Angelica^ whom they follow in such hot haste from India tiiat they arrive in France as soon as herself.

Buegiero is also on the side of the Moors ; for thouffn bom of Christian parents, he was adopted and brought up froim infancy bj a Saracen magician, Atlante ; who introduces him to Agramante, with whom he becomes a great favorite, and whose affection he so ^tefullj returns, that he is found fighting under his banner until very nearly the end of the poem.

It may be as well to bear in mind that there appear in these stories four famous horses : Brigliadoro, belonging to Orlando; Baiardo,to Binaldo; Frontino, to Buggiero; and Babican, to Astolfo. And, also, four famous weapons : Orlando's sword Durifidana, Binaldo's swoid Fusberta, Buggiero's sword Balisarda, and Astolfo's golden lance.

These few words of introduction may, I hope, clear up some obscurities, which might otherwise be found perplexing, in. the course of the narratives.

, THE STORY

OF

THE PRINCESS ANGELICA. \

Chapter I. Thb Adventures Of Anqelioa In The Forest

Of Forests and Enohantmeiits drear, Where more is meant than meets the ear.

Milton.

THE story I am going to tell you took place in the days of the great Emperor Charlemagne, when the Moors, under their young king Agramante, crossed the sea from Africa, in order to invade France ahd to revenge the slaughter of Trojano, their king's father.

T he famous Palaain Orl

h adt for her sake, encountered great pei v entures in the aistant countr 'ft^ 7^ iBflllfi ^^^^''^i and Tartary. He had just returned with her to Europe, in time to join the mighty armv which Charlemagne had collected at the foot of the Pyrenees, and to take part in the battle, in which the Emperor hoped to punish Agramante and his ally MarsiliO) king of Spdin, for their audacity in bringing over the Moors and Spaniards to devastate the fair realm of France.

Here, however, Orlando *hiet with a most unex-

Eected misfortune. The beautiful lady whom he ad in safety escorted through so many and various dangers, in the long journey from the fardistant isles of the Hesperides, was now taken

4 8T0RT OF THE

from him, not by an enemy's sword, but by the decree of the Emperor, who, being displeased at a quarrel which had broken out between Orlando and his cousin Binaldo, on account of their rival pretensi ons \c the fy v^x of ^^hJfl fair p^"''^'^!-^'''^

t he promise, that' whichever knight should mn afc distinguish himself in the approaching battl e a^ ogld obtam ney pand as tne reward o{ nis va lor. TEeexpected victory, however, turned out a disastrous defeat. Th e Christians fled before the Moo rs^ the Duke of Bavaria was taken pris oner, and *his cam STgninto the hartdfl frf rtm flwftwy ' " . Angelica foresaw early in the day that the fortune of war' would turn against the Christians ; so, mounting her horse, she left the field and entered a great forest, where she soon afterwards met a knight in complete armor, bis sword by his side, and his buckler oi^ his arm, coming in great haste towards her, along a very narrow path. No timid girl could have started from a venomous snake with greater horror than Angelica at the sight of Count Binaldo, the lord of Montalbano, who, having by some strange mischance lost his famous horse Baiardo, was now in search of him. He also, lifting his eyes to her fair face, at once recognized the beautiful countenance which held him captive in the chains of love.

When Angelica saw him, she trembled and became deadly pale, dnd hastily turning her horse's head, she plunged into the very thickest of the forest, paying little attention in her headlong flight as to which of the many intricate and winding paths s he took, until she reached the banks of a river, where stood the Saracen knight Ferrau. He had come here after the hatUe wad over, wearied with fighting, and parched with thirst ; and while bending over the brink of the stream to drink, his helmet had fallen into the water, and he was now occupied in trying to recover it Sjailled-luLihe

and in npite nf har ftaifcatinti. and ^f ^h? t'mft whjflh had TOne by since he had last seen her, he knew her d irectl y He, no less than the two cousms, was fiUed with admiration for her wondrous beauty; he therefore courteously ofTered her his aid and, all unhelmeted as he was, drew his sword and hastened to attack Binaldo, who had followed her, and whom he knew well by sight, having often foueht with him before. Then began a fierce combat between these two well-matched warriors Thick and fast fell the mighty blows, but as swiftly and as skilfully were they parried, u ntil Rinaldo, seeing J^hat the princess had disappeared, said to i Ee Pamn; ,

n[f it is for the sake of the shining orbs of that new-risen planel you detain me here, will it much serve you to take me dead or alive, sinc6, while we thus delay, the lady has escaped? Weixuit-Jiot. b etter to go in searoh of her, and when we hav e

de ci3e whose the fr ^T VV^^ flhnll frft V

Ihis proposal pleased thd Saracen so well that, forgetting their recent dispute, he invited Binaldo to mount up behind him, and they galloped off in pursuit of Angelica. So loyal ana gentle were the manners of those old times, that in the hearts of these rivals in love and enemies in religion there . lurked not the slightest suspicion of each other's good faith.

They oame at length to where two ways met, and as the prints of horses'^ hoofs were equally fresh upon both, it was decided that Rinaldo should take one road and Ferrau the other. That which the Saracen took, wound in and out of the wood until it brought him back to the place whence he bad started, so, finding he had lost all traces of the beautiful lady, he set about trying to recover his helmet, which was deeply imbedded in the sand at the bottom of the river. While he was endeavoring to loosen it with a long pole, there suddenly rose from the midst of the waters the form of a knight of fierce aspect ; his head wa s b are, but otherwise he was fully armeij , f^r\i\ ha JiaI'H inhia hand the v ^ff [|ftimftt. whi^^ Vft^n wna Beekin p |crregain.

'^ ^ h |pi^^^°« v*^ayA I ' |ift wrathfully exclaim ed ; *Have you foigotten Argalia, Angelica's brother, and that when you slew me, you promised to throw this helmet, with the rest of my armor, after me into the river? Lament not that the fates have restored it to me, but rather lament your own perfidy ; and if you wish to replace it with one as Erecious, take the helmet of Almonte from Ormdo, or that of Mambrino from llinaldo, and leave me in peace with mina'

When the Saracen saw the shade of Argalia appear, so unexpectedly, in the middle of the river, he grew pale with horror, and his hair stood on end. At the reproach of broken faith his heart sank with shame and remorse; and he solemnly vowed that hence f orth no helmet should cover h is head bdt 't hat w Hic b Orlanao nag once taken^ in A atfipttlblltS from' tne ' lierc^ Almontg^ai^ oa th which he kept better than wtf pf^ffliwA to Argalia.

Then Bnrrowfnl tLni\ ill at <^<^, | xe get out in Bearch o rOrlandoT^

"^in ihe mean time Angelica rode fast and recklessly through the dark forest, fancying in the rustling of every oak or beech-leaf she heard the footsteps, in every shadow she saw the form, of Rinaldo. As some poor timid fawn which has seen its dam rent in pieces by the savage leopard, flies from copse to copse for shelter, and, brushing through the thick branches, imagines itself to be caught in the very jaws of the ravenous beast ; so rode the lady all that day and night, little heeding whither her path led her, until, on the afternoon of the n%xt day,she found herself in a beautiful little valley surrounded by lofty trees, whose leaves were softly fanned by the fresh air, and where two bright streams kept the rich grass ever green, and, gently breaking over pebbles and low rocks, maintained a constant harmony of sweet sounds. HetoJbluQking herself safe, and many miles away from Rinald o. ti re d with hur luiiu ilde. and yi^lAlilikLec i bv t he

he dt. fahgHSter mmed to talcq ^mp rpaf. RKa an., cordingly got off her palfrey, and unfastening its bridle^ suffered it to feed at large on the abundant pasture which the banks of these clear rivers afforded. Olose by she saw a thicket of flowering thorns and crimson roses, overhanging the water, in which they were reflected, and defended from the rays of the sun by high and spreading oak-trees. In a green glade of softest grass in the midst of this I^wer of roses, which was so thickly twined that neither the sun nor mortal eye could penetrate it, Angelica lay down and soon fell fast asleep.

It was not long, however, before the sound ojf

I horses' hoofs awoke her, whereupon, risinff quieUy, sh^ looked through the bushes, and saw a knight in armor, who had dismounted from his horse and was now lying beside the stream, resting his cheek on his hand, and so absorbed in thought, and so still that he might have been taken for a statue. She was uncertain whether this would prove to be a friend or an enemy, and her heart beating with alternate hope and fear, she awaited the end of the adventure, scarcely daring to breathe for fear her retreat should be discovered. For a long time the melancholy knight remained in the same posture ; at last he began in plaintive tones to lament his hard fate as follows : *

* Ah I why do I waste my affection on one who scarce bestows a thought on me ; one who grudges me even a look or a smile, while upon others she lavishes tokens of her favor ? Ah ! unkind Fate, why must I languish in despair, while others rejoice in triumph ? Yet when I try to banish the remembrance of this cruel beauty from my heart, I feel I would rather die than cease to love her I '

Sighs interrupted his complaint, and rivers of tears ran down his cheeks, a sight to have melted the hardest heart He paused for a little, and then sang this sorrowful ditty :

Ah 1 Lovely Rose, eo proud and fair, Blooming upon thy thorny 8tem„

So fresh and gay in morning air, Sparkling wiui many a dewdrop gem,

Thou'rt formed some Beauty's brow to grace, Entwin'd amid her clustering hair.

Or findinff stiU a sweeter place To blush upon her bosom fair.

PSltTCBSS ANOELtCA. 9

All* I whiQ plaok'd how loaii to lsd«.

If any oak who thus wept by that river's bank, you must know it was Sacripante, king of Circassia, and the cause of all his grief was love for the beaatiful lady who was now listening to him. In India he had heard, to his great dismay, that she had accompanied Orlando to Europe, and for her sake he had now come from the for East to the lands of Uie setting sun. When h e arrived in tention of taking pity upon him ; fo r, colder an d h arder than any stone, she treated all her a dmi reie with eonal disdain, and belieyea no one "t o be worthy of her. Now, nowever. finding hereblf alone ana friendless in these wild woods, she deter^ mined to take him for her guide, knowing that 'He who is up to the chin in water had better ciy' " iietcy V" and that should she let this opportunity slip, she might not again find so trustworthy a champion ; for the king had long ago proved himself the most faithful of all her friends. She advanced from her concealment within the shady thicket, a sudden and beautiful apparition, as Diana or Venus of old might have appeared from some dark grove, or gloomy cavern.

With what wonder and delight did Sacripante behold the angelic countenance, the fair and graceful form, standing bo unexpectedly before him I He ran towards her with open arms, and the sight of him recalling to her mind her native country, and her father's palace, with some sudden vague hope of perhaps soon again seeing that beloved home, she embraced him with greater tenderness than she had ever shown to Orlando. - She then related to him, at length, all that had happened to her since she had last seen him, and told him how often Orlando had saved her from death and defended her in danger. While thus conversing together, they were startled by a loud noise, which seemed to come from the neighboring wood, and the king, whose habit it was to go al)out fully armed, put on his helmet, and replacing tlie bridle, mounted his horse and held his lance in rest Scarcely had he done so, when there rode towards them, out of the wood, a knight of proud and valiant bearing. He was habited entirely in white, and a snowy plume formed the crest of his helmet Sacripante, angry at this unwelcome interruption to his pleasant discourse with Angelica, gave him furious and disdainful glances, and, when he came near enough, defied him to single combat, boasting that he would with ease hurl him from the saddle. But the stranger knight, who thought no whit less highly of himself, cut short these arrogant menaces by spurring on his charger and raising his lance. Sacripante attacked with like fury, and the two riding full tilt at each other, their shields were pierced through at the same moment It was well for both that their stout breastplates stood them in good stead and resisted the blow. So do two lions or two bulls hurl themselves at each other, making the veiy hills resound with the thunder of their onslaught The horses met with such force that the one belonging to the Pagan fell dead with his full weight upon his prostrate rider. The other fell also, but at the touch of the spur rose up again, and the stranger knight, after gazing for a fey moments upon his vanquished foe, not caring apparently to renew the contest, rode off at full gallop through the forest, and was miles away bef^ the Saracen had disengaged himself from his dangerous position.

As the stunned and stupefied herdsman, when the thunderbolt, which struck him down by his slain oxen, has passed, rises and gazes in astonishment at the pine-tree, whose lofty summit he had so often admired, now shorn of its great branches and all its leaves, thus did the Pagan slowly and with difficulty rise to his feet, and see' Angelica standing near him and looking down upon his discomfiture. Silent and crestfallen, he stood before his fair mistress, his cheeks crimsoning with mortification, and eroaning as much for shame as for the pain of his bruised and shaken limbs, for not onlv had Angelica seen his fall, but, with her own soft hands, she had helped to free him from the weight of his dying horse^ • ^

* Ah I my lord,' said she, ' let not yoUr fall distress you. It was caused, indeed, not by your fault, but by that of your poor horse, who stood in need of food and of repose, rather than of fresh combats. Nor has yon knight much more c$ttise to boast, if, as I have always understood, he, who first abandons the field, acknowledges himself vanquished.'

While the lady was thus consoling the Saracen, there came ^[alloping by, with horn and pouch slung at his side, a courier, who asked if thev: bad seen the knipfht of the white abield and anowv pl dlBfl p&ss py that way.

U&6npante repiiM : 'it is he, who, as you may perceive, has worsted me in battle, and even now ridden away. And that I may know who is my conqueror, I pray you tell me his name.'

* I n that will I soon satisfy you,' said the courier . *Br adama nt ^ i« thn tnmnun uftmo ei tfts itwi fln iJAmsiPii^ yho, YP^'""*^" "^'^ ^'° >^a"^^ft^\ ^a% dis-

Tnnnnt^i^ juH t And d fip riyti y^'i ^^y^"^ ^flllir^*'"^^ '^ h onors.'^

So saying, he hurried on, leaving the poor Saracen more than ever burning with shame and vexation. For a while he stood thinking over his late misfortune, then silent ^nd abashed, he mounted Angelica's horse, and signed to her to get up behind him, far too sad at heart to continue his former conversation with her. They had gone scarcely two miles, when the woods, through which they were riding, i*esounded with a stmnge and fearful noise, and there rushed out a mighty war-horse, magnificently caparisoned with rich gold-embroidered trappings. As he approached, vaulting over the streams and trampling down the bushes and shrubs that impeded his course, the Princess said, ^ If the thick underwood and the deepening twilight do not deceive me, that charger, plunging through the forest with such uproar, is Baiardo. It is iadee4 Baiaitlo — I know him well, and he is come at the right moment to do us good service, for our horse will soon weary under his double burden.' The Circassian dismounted, but yaix^ were all his attempts to catch- hold of the charger^s

PRINCESS ANGELICA.

rein. Whenever he approached him, Baiardo turned round and round, quicker than lightning, and flung out his heels. Presently, however, he went up of his own accord to the princess, with the gentle fawning of a favorite spaniel, who jo^ully greets his master on his return home. Buardo, indeed, remembered her well, for she had often petted him in old days in Albracca, when she had much loved his master, the then obdurate and ungrateful Binaldo. She causht hold of his bridle with her left hand, while with the other she stroked his glossy neck, and the horse under her familiar touch became as sentle ad a lamb. Sacripante jumped quickly on his back and gathered up the reins, while Angelica seated herself again in her own saddla She had scarcely done so when, lifting her eyes, she saw a tall knight fully armed coming towArds he r, and with terroq ' flnJ fthhnr^"^^ she recogniz ed Binaldo. the Duke Am

hated and fled from him as the cran e fl ies f) f aldCBr^ QPCBIipon a iifane she ha^' as much as he then disliked her. b ch he the hii ids the eacii"uiner py toe Patera of two fountains i Arduillii^, hot lar apart om very diUerent m their efiects, one causing the heart to overflow with love, the other turning all former love to bitter hatred. Binaldo tasted of the fiist and was filled with admiration and afi(9ction for Angelica, while she drank of the waters of the oth er, and at once all her love

Thus it happened •that, when she saw him, she changed color, the light faded from her eyes, and with trembling lips and faltering accents, she

14 STORY OF THE PRINCESS ANGELICA.

begged Sacripante not to await bis approacb, but to escape witb her as quickly as possible. ' Am I then/ siud the Saracen, ' fallen so low in your estimation, that you think I am no longer able to defend you ? In old days, in Albracca, you bad ^ore confidence in me ; do you foiget how often I there fought successfully in your behalf? '

The princess made no answer, and scarcely heard what he said, for Binaldo had come near enough to recognize his war-horse, and also the angelic face whose beauty he so much admired, and now began to shout forth threats and imprecations against the Saracen.

CHAPTER IL

AKOSLtOA MEETS WITH k HERMIT AND IS CARRIED^ AWAT TO AM ISLAND IN THE WESTERN OCEAN.

Of most diautroQs ehuioei^ Of moring aocidents by flood tnd field* Of hftfa>bfaadUi 'icapM.

SHAKBSnAXR.

AH I Perfidious Love. Whj does it delight thee to SOW discord between loving heaits ?

' SdCtrndreir^ismount ! ' Binaldo haughtily called out^ 'give up mj horse, as well as this fair princess. To allow so noble a chaiger, so perfect a lady, to remain in the possession of so poor a knave, were a disgrace to my chivalry.'

'Thou liest/ returned the Saracen no less haughtily, 'no knave am I. He who should call thee so, might, as I have heard, do it with some justice. However, it shall soon be seen who best deserves both horse and lady, for there I agree with you, that so fair a princess is not to bd found all the world over.'

Without further parley the King of Gircassia and the Knight of Aspromonte drew their swords, and advanced to the assault with shouts of fury and defiance. It was of no advantage to the fonner that he was mounted, for Baiardo refused to attack his master, and neither with spur nor blow could he be induced to move a step. When uiged to advance, he stood stock-still, when to stand firm, he trotted and cantered forward, or putting down his head between his fore-feet, plung^ and kicked, until the Saracen, finding it was but lost time to try and master the restive animal, placed his hand on the saddlebow, and with a light bound jumped to the ground. Then indeed there began on foot a worthy trial of arms between this valiant pair. The blows of Vulcan in his dusky cave, when he forged the thunder-bolts of Jove, fell neither so fast nor so hard as those of these masters in the noble art Now they bend low, then rise to their full height, now cover themselves with their shields, then uncover for a little space, now advance, then retreat, now redouble their strokes, and swing their swords swiftly round their h^ds. Where one yields, if but an inch, the other instantly places his foot At last Rinaldo lifted high his good sword, Fusberta, and hurled it down with all his force on Saoripante, whose great shield it cut straight through. The forest groaned with the shock, and the fine ivory and well-tempered steel flew asunder like brittle ioa