The king accorded--and, without delay,

What courage dictates, gladly they obey.

The Pagan's pond'rous lance, and solid shield,

Oft prov'd by trials in the hostile field,

360

Would soon, he deem'd, decide the arduous strife,

And rob the knight of conquest and of life.

Borne by Alfane, he dar'd the listed course, 365

(Inferior to Bayardo far in force)

But soon hard fortune check'd his bold advance

The wonted pow'rs of lost Argalia's lance

His aims defeated-foil'd his blows profound,

And hurl'd him headlong foaming to the ground.

Lux'd was the arm that late his shield sustain'd,

369

And hopeless-pow'rless-vanquish'd-he remain'd.

His train, astounded, the event beheld.

His unexpected failure in the field,

Fill'd ev'ry breast with wonder and dismay;

375

And all lamented the disastrous day.

The season of adversity we find

Brings a true test to prove the noble mind.

E'en as when mists arise, the sun's strong ray

Breaks thro' the cloud, to pour a brighter day,
The great Gradasso an example gave,

That fortune ne'er can overcome the brave:

No murmurs weak-no dull despondence shew'd

Mean discontent-his dauntless bosom glow'd

With all the ardent, all the gen'rous fire,

That bids the hero ceaselessly aspire.—

Though chance invidious thus his wish had crost,

380

And much he sorrow'd for Bayardo lost,

No sordid subterfuge inspir'd his breast,

But his defeat with candour he confest.
The monarch and the captives he releas'd,
And to Iberia mov'd with utmost haste;
Impatient once again to gain his fleet,

From Europe's shores for ever to retreat.

286

390

The downcast Saracens the lead obey

Partake the wayward fate, and yield the day.

Quick thro' the land the joyful sounds are borne,

That tell Astolpho's triumph and return.

This great event, so held in sad despair,

Cheer'd ev'ry heart, and banish'd ev'ry care.—

The blest deliv'rance was by all confest ;

396

Each clasp'd a brother to his raptur'd breast,

Aud clasp'd a freeman.-While Gradasso's host,
On the high swelling waves, was tempest tost,

And all their tow'ring hopes for ever o'er,

Whom Trevigant and Mahomet adore,

409

Conspicuous rear'd, in wide effulgence beam'd 405

The glorious ensign of a world redeem'd.

That far-fam'd weapon struck the signal blow,

Which magic malice forg'd to overthrow

The gen'rous heroes.-Oft 'tis Heaven's high will,

To bring forth real good from seeming ill :

410

And thus the Pagan cause was lost by arms,

Their means unmeet prepar'd for direful harms.-

The mitred prelates bow the knee in praise;

The lawn-rob'd choirs exultant anthems raise;

The cloister'd sisters' hymns are heard on high, 415

And clouds of fragrant incense climb the sky;

Aspiring fires with radiance gild the night,

And the wide waters beam reflected light.

Amid this joy, with gratitude each heart
O'erflow'd-and ev'ry voice the high desert

Of brave Astolpho spoke, whose gen'rous deed
The foe had conquer'd, and the nation freed,
And taught the Pagan boaster, human might

420

Is weak, and vain, in Providence's sight;
Which still upholds Religion's sacred laws,

And nerves the arm that wars in Virtue's cause.

425

The gen'rous and the brave can only know

The feelings that inspire and ardent glow

In breasts heroic-that high bliss they find,
Who benefits confer on human kind-

Those feelings which reward, which over pay,

The anxious, watchful night, the toilsome day,
The thoughtful vigilance, the hard-fought strife,

That chequer still the soldier's arduous life

Such were Astolpho's.-Enviable meed,

For glory's genuine sons by fate decreed,

Which wills, that wealth or pow'r shall never find

Such joy as fills the self-approving mind.

430

435

Those chiefs who courage and who worth revere. 440

Th' applauding people in processions join,

And loudly urge their just and fix'd design,

With tribute due, such service to requite,

And crown with laurels the victorious knight.

T