engaged in single combat, the Christians began to give ground, till being entirely discouraged by the absence of Orlando, the rout became general, and the tide of fugitives and pursuers parted Rinaldo and Rogero,

During this general battle between the Pagans and Christians, Bradamant being engaged in single combat with Rodomont, received intelligence from Rogero, who chanced to be a spectator of their battle, that Charlemain was in imminent danger; upon which she desired to go to his assistance, but Rodomont opposing this, Rogero took her quarrel upon himself, encountered Rodomont, and disarmed him, who then retired vanquished by the courtesy of his enemy. After the departure of the prince of Sarza, Bradamant, struck with the manly deportment of Rogero, was desirous to learn who he was, and received from him the account of his origin.

Bradamant, in return, discovered her birth and name, and taking off her helmet, surprised the young warrior with her beauty. At this instant a band of Pagans fell in with them, one of whom wounded Bradamant in the head, which was then unarmed. Rogero, who had by this time conceived a violent passion for the fair warrior, and enraged at the brutality of the action, advanced furiously to revenge it on the author; the Pagans then attacked him all at once, and Bradamant, who now began to feel the tenderest sentiments for Rogero, immediately joined him: their united force soon got the better of their adversaries, who were either slain, or put to flight but it so happened, that in the pursuit the two lovers were separated, this being their first meeting; after this, Bradamant continued to go in search of Rogero, and arrived at the dwelling of a hermit, or friar,

who healed the wound that she had received in her head. Afterwards falling asleep on the banks of a river, she was seen by Flordespina, daughter to king Marsilius, who was hunting in the forest, and being deceived by the arms and dress of Bradamant, supposing her to be a man, fell deeply in love with her *.

Orlando, having been delivered by Brandimart, Rogero and Gradasso, from the enchanted garden, where he had beeen confined by Atlantes, arrived at Paris when the city was closely besieged by Agramant, Marsilius, Rodomont, Mandricardo, Ferrau, and the whole power of the Pagans. Orlando and Brandimart attacked the enemy with great slaughter, and Rodomont attempting to scale the walls, was thrown down by Orlando. The city was however at last in imminent danger of being taken, having been fired in several places; but a great storm arising, with a sudden violent shower of rain, extinguished the flames, and put an end to the battle for that time.

Here the great action of Boyardo breaks off unfinished, and the subject is again taken up by Ariosto, in the eighth book of the ORLANDO FURIOSO.

This story is completed by Ariosto, Orl. Fur. book xxv.

THE ARGUMENT.

ORLANDO arrives at the Christian Camp with Angelica, where to put an end to the dissention that had arisen between him and Rinaldo, she is taken from him by Charlemain, and given to the care of Namus. The Christian army is defeated, in a general battle, by the forces of Agramant and Marsilius. Angelica flies from the camp, and is met by Rinaldo, who fights for her with Ferrau, till the combat being broke off by the departure of the lady, they both go in search of her. Ferrau, endeavouring to recover his helmet from the river, sees the ghost of Argalia, who reproaches him with perjury. Angelica, having taken shelter in a bower, sees unexpectedly one of her former lovers, to whom she discovers herself: their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of a strange knight: a battle ensues: the stranger depart. ing, they find Bayardo, Rinaldo's horse, and soon after meet Rinaldo himself.

THE

FIRST BOOK

OF

ORLANDO FURIOSO.

DAMES, knights, and arms, and love! the deeds that spring

From courteous minds, and venturous feats, I sing!
What time the Moors from Afric's hostile strand

Had crost the seas to ravage Gallia's land,

By Agramant, their youthful monarch, led

In deep resentment for Troyano dead,

With threats on Charlemain t' avenge his fate,
Th' imperial guardian of the Roman state.

5

Ver. 1. Dames, knights, and arms,---] It is said Cardinal Hippolito had been heard to declare that Ariosto was particularly difficult in composing the two first lines of his poem, and that he wrote them many times before he could satisfy himself. Marc Antonio Mureto, a most respectable writer of the xvith century, delivers himself thus on the subject: "Audivi a maximis viris qui facillime id nosse poterant, Ludovicum Areostum nobilissimum nobilissimæ domus præconem in duobus primis grandiosis illius poematis sui versibus, plusquam credi potest, laborasse, neque sibi prius animum expiere potuisse, quam quum illos in omnem partem diu multumque versasset."

Ver. 6.

-Troyano dead,] See General View of Boyardo's Story,