To end this strife, and all their claims decide,

The Emperor ordain'd that lots be tried:

None could this fair, impartial mode reject,

Propos'd by him whose fiat all respect.

360

Now all the throng that fill'd the spacious hall,

Christians, and Saracens, attend the call.

Each with his name subscrib'd a billet gives,

A golden vase the various lots receives:

A beauteous child then drew them singly forth, 365

And prov'd that fortune's oft' averse to worth.

Astolpho gain'd the first, the envied lot—

Ferrau, Marsilius' son, the second got:

Rinaldo's third-next Dudon's, great in fame

And then the Saracen Grandonio's came.

370

Knight, after knight, the warlike group were nam'd;

And brave Orlando was the last proclaim'd.

Capricious chance! thy malice, too severe,

Decrees a trial patience scarce can bear;

The heart most anxious 'mid the num'rous train 375

In warlike feats, and daring deeds of arms,

The Paladin excell'd.-Struck with the charms

That in the fair unknown the knights admir'd,

He left the crowd, and sought a scene retir'd: 385 But his firm heart her graces fail'd to move,

And fatal bodings barr'd th' access of love.—

In lone reflection wrapt, his busy thought

The clue of wise suspicion quickly caught.—

"These doubtful strangers' fair pretext (he cries) 390 Some deep, important, dang'rous schemes disguise ;

Some other purpose than the one avow'd,

To catch vain credence, and deceive the crowd,

Through toil, and various dangers, here could lead

The warrior brother, and the lovely maid:

'Tis mine to trace the hidden cause, and find
Their true condition, and their secret mind,

To clear his doubts, he turn'd the volume o'er,
Inscrib'd with characters of magic lore,

395

Whence oft the dreadful words he daring read, 400

Which reach the dreary mansions of the dead,

And that dark depth profound, where strife and pain,

And agitation, never ceasing, reign.—

He call'd the sprites from stench, and dunnest night,

To taste

pure

air, and view the solar light.

405

Rous'd by his voice, four horrid forms arise

And bow obedient-" Hear my words (he cries).

Stern Astorath (whom from the dreadful band
He singled forth to answer his demand,)

This fair unknown, this captivating dame,

Who from some distant region hither came
To hail our monarch-she, I clear divine,'
Within her bosom harbours some design
Against the gen'ral weal-say, if I deem
Her purpose falsely, or discern her scheme."

410

415

“Thou hast not wrong'd her, (Astorath replied)

Thy judgment hath not been an erring guide.

The sister and the brother both conspire

Fell vengeance 'gainst thy sect-their sole desire

Is to o'erthrow the altars, end the reign,

Which all the zealous Paladins sustain.

Offspring of him who rules with scepter'd sway

The Oriental realm of rich Cathay,

Galaphron-he, whose unextinguished hate

To all who bear the Christian name is great,

An enemy more dang'rous, as he gains
From magic succours unsuspected means
To further his intent; and arm'd with those,
He hopes to hurl destruction on his foes.-
The distance of his kingdom hence is great,
Plac'd on the confines of the Tartar state;
An hostile force he could not lead so far,
To wage in Europe's fields an equal war:

Nor could his utmost pow'r an army raise,

425

430

To crush the host that Charles' command obeys. 435

Thus hopeless of a conquest gain'd by arms,

Galaphron had recourse to spelful charms.

An aged sire, in amity long bound

With China's race, and vers'd in arts profound,