The sword-the steed-alternate, ceaseless fire
Gradasso's soul, and fill his whole desire:

Those thoughts revolving in his anxious breast,

Disturb his days, and rob his nights of rest.
Long to the Christian pow'rs deep hate he bore,
And these his new designs inflam'd it more.

At length determined, he resolves to bear
To Europe's realms the wasting rage of war,
On their own grounds defiance fierce to wage,
And crush the Christian heroes of the age.-
Full well he knows the hazards he must run,
Nor deems the purpos'd conquest easy won.—
The Paladins, whose spoils he sought to gain,

The world extoll'd.-Myriads o'erthrown or slain
Had mark'd their progress in the deathful field,
Where oft they taught the hardiest foes to yield,
Yet unappal'd, the monarch boldly dares

The dang'rous strife, and for the war prepares.

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From ev'ry source he draws forth large supplies,

And bids a formidable army rise;

From ev'ry land that own'd his regal sway

The legions issue, ready to obey:

Princes, and giants, to his standard haste,

Puissant warriors in bright steel encas'd;

Each more redoubtable as busy fame

Had wide proclaim'd the terrors of his name.

Thick as the leaves by wan'ing autumn shed

The warlike levies o'er the champaign spread;

Thrice fifty thousand in array appears,

And each a martial air intrepid wears.

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Well pleas'd Gradasso views, and Gaul, and Rome,

Elate in thought, he fancies overcome.

A foe less potent-a less num'rous host,

In vain had menaced Europe's fertile coast,
Where full assembled at the splendid court

Of Charlemagne (the valiants' known resort)

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A train of gallant knights, in war well tried,
The boast of chivalry did then reside.-
Chief of the band, Orlando there was seen,

And brave Rinaldo, of distinguish'd mein,

Dear to the monarch-of one lineage known,

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Flow'r of the knights, and bulwarks of the throne. 70

And now Gradasso, Sericana leaves,

A num'rous fleet the armament receives;

Launch'd on th' expansive bosom of the deep,

With ceaseless heed their way the pilots keep;

Each sail they spread, and urge their tedious course,

Tost by th' impetuous storm's terrific force,

Or bound in ling'ring calms, th' unwilling prey

Of pining discontent, and long delay.

Till to their straining eyes the land appears,

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Where sultry Spain her num'rous turrets rears; 80

With joyful shouts they hail the destin❜d shore,

And deem their toils o'erpaid, their perils o'er.

As when in torrid climes th' infectious breath Of pestilential blasts, enkindles death, Destruction mark'd the progress of the band,

And deepfelt terrors shook th' astonish'd land.

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Sack'd towns in flames enwrapp'd, with dreadful light,

Glar'd on the trembling gazer's aching sight,

Whilst tow'ring cities seized the foe retains,

And loads the natives with unthought-of chains. 90

Aghast the provinces the torrent view'd,

Too rapid in its rage to be withstood.

Their sev'ral kings unite to stem its force,

But vain their league-no dam can stop its course;

The states o'erwhelm'd beneath the Pagans' might, 95

Lament the issue of th' unequal fight.

Triumphant thus, the proud Gradasso deems

He now shall realize his fav'rite schemes.-
Large stores he gather'd to subsist his band,

And fill'd with plenteous magazines the land,

That more securely he his arms might bear

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To Gaul, prime object of this daring war.

Great was the power 'gainst which he must contend,

And forceful might alone could gain his end;

This oft he balanced with a serious mind,

And thence with courage, caution's dictates join'd.

While thus the Pagan plann'd his enterprize,

A wayward fate, which oft obscures the eyes

Of mortals, while impending danger spreads
Its baleful influence o'er their careless heads,

In unsuspicious ease and festive sport

Deep plung'd the Gallic monarch and his court.

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