ERRATA. Page 60, line 7, for vivid, read virid, or verdant. 2, for falls, read fells. 13, for Furhon, read Turlon. 1, for inspire, read aspire. 1, for sped, read speed. 10, for Willian, read William. 12, at the end of the parenthesis, read "devoid THE ARGUMENT. GRADASSO, King of Sericane, being desirous of gaining the famous sword of Orlando, and the horse of Rinaldo, embarks a puissant force to make war on Charlemagne, in whose service those Paladins are engaged.-Lands on the Spanish coast.-Attacks the Saracens of Spain, in order to facilitate his conquest of France. At the time of this descent, a great number of Knights are assembled at the court of Charlemagne to hold a tournament.-The Emperor gives a grand festival, at which two strangers, a warrior and a damsel, attended by giants, unexpectedly appear, and communicate a challenge to the knights, upon certain conditions, which are accepted.-Malagigi, a knight skilled in magic, investigates the motives of this challenge, and resolves to defeat the design of the strangers. CANTO I. To paint what ills from dire ambition flow, The hero's ardour, and the lover's woe; The wondrous deeds of magic to relate, And sketch the turns of fortune, and of fate ;- Your sacred impulse, and assist my song. Gradasso, monarch of that wide domain (In ancient annals noted) Sericane, Whose knightly feats have swell'd th' historic page; A hero deem'd in an heroic age He, when his hardy prowess had subdued His neighbour kings, and awed the nations rude, 10 To further conquests bent his daring aim; For what can slake the ardent thirst of fame, 15 A wond'rous coat of mail Gradasso's arms And strongest lances oft had fall'n in vain: Yet, not with this content, the warrior still On distant prizes bent his stubborn will. Wrested in Aspramont by Brava's knight.- Well train'd in battle-These he burn'd to own, And scorn'd for these the pleasures of a throne. 20 25 |