Rinaldo, wearied, and o'erpow'r'd with heat,
Delighted view'd the shelter'd sweet retreat;

Quick springing from his courser, (which he led)
With eager step he sought the fountain head,
And slaked his burning thirst-but, strange to tell,
He instant found his heart 'gainst love rebel;

30

The wond'rous draught its strong effect had wrought, Chang'd every wish and alter'd every thought. 36 Repenting now his rash and hasty flight,

(Unworthy of a patriot or a knight,)

Keen fancy paints, in glowing tints, the wrong

His fame must suffer 'mid the envious throng,

Should rumour tell, to gain a worthless maid

Rinaldo has his country's cause betray'd.

40

"What adverse fate, (he cries,) has brought me here?

How could I hold such mean attractions dear?

Was I, ye pow'rs! the proper dupe of love?

No-Pride and reason both must disapprove

45

A weakness, wisdom ever has declin'd,

And doubly shameful in a hero's mind.

For me all transient admiration o'er,

I hate this wand'ring stranger-never more

Within my breast shall she resume her reign,
Her arts I scorn, and break her slavish chain.
Sure some strange mist was o'er my senses spread,

Else never could my judgment be misled,

A vain pursuit insensate to prefer,

To all the honours I might gain in war.

Heav'ns! should the Saracens bear off the prize,

While humbled low my native country lies,

What just reproaches must the truant wait,

50

55

From the wrong'd monarch, and the injur'd state. 60

Reflecting thus, the knight again bestrode

His steed, and back to Paris took the road;

But, wilder'd in the forest's mazy way,

The fates ordain'd him from that path to stray,

To where so many diff'rent windings meet,

He scarcely knows by which he may retreat.
Compell'd at length to chuse, he one essay'd,
Which open'd to a space within the shade,

65

Health to the plants and beauty to the flow'rs.

Those wond'rous waters were of force possest,

Like Merlin's fount, to change the human breast, 80

But destin'd different effects to prove,

That kindles hatred, these inspire with love.

Close by the margin of th' irriguous tide,

A shelter'd spot the Paladin descried;

A grassy bank beneath, and overhead

A waving beech its leafy branches spread.

Exhausted now by long and fruitless toil,

He turn'd his steed to crop the plenteous soil,

And here reclin'd, where ease and silence join'd

To lull to calm repose the wearied mind;

A gentle slumber on his senses stole,

And yielded needful respite to his soul.

85

90

Whilst thus the knight, no more vain passions prey,

In sleep's soft fetters bound, unconscious lay,

Capricious Fortune, in malignant mood,

95

Led fair Angelica to take this road;

Well pleas'd she view'd the undulating tide,

In soft meanders through the valley glide;

She left her palfrey, and, with luckless haste, Approach'd the bank, the cooling draught to taste.

She turn'd, and lo! Rinaldo caught her view.-

Too fatal glance-her ev'ry hope is crost,

And liberty and peace at once are lost!

110

From her blanch'd cheek the blooming roses fled ;

Like flow'rs surcharg'd with dew, she droop'd her

head.