1S06.] Critical Observations on the Morgante Maggiore. 35 



take the crown olF his head, on a fimilar 

 occalion. He was now iiowiicd out of 

 Court, and follywed by his intimate 

 friend:* and conipunion'5 tiic IMarquis Oli- 

 ver of Burgundy and Duke Dudon, fon 

 of the celebrated Oger of Denmark. 

 DifmilVed from the roy.d prefcace, and 

 liaving therefore nothing better to do, 

 tlicfe three gallant I'pirits determined to 

 let out together on their adventures, and 

 feek Orlando throughout Pagania. 



The tirll event that befals them is at 

 the very abbey where Oilando had for- 

 merly picked up his powerful I'quire Mor- 

 gante. A migjity troop of giants, it 

 feems, having heard of the deaths of Pal- 

 famont and Alabafter, lir\d fet out from 

 the Eall to revenge them, taken polfef- 

 fion of the monaftery with all the tithes 

 and revenues thereto belonging, andj-e- 

 duced the abbot and his brethren to the 

 condition of fervitors, \vhile they them- 

 felvcs rioted unchecked on all the plenty 

 that the land afforded. The ftorv that 

 follows is rather beneath epic dignity, 

 inafmuch as the war between the giants 

 and kijigiits is commenced by linialdo's 

 abufmg in the moil unjulliliable terms of 

 grolfnefs the gluttony of one of the biggeft 

 of their fet, who is litting aftride on the 

 edge of an immeni'e caldnjn of foup, 

 ladling it out with amazing delight, and 

 (tuffing his paunch to a molt unwieldy 

 fize. The good Count's abufe was re- 

 fented ; and the converfation ended in 

 his feizing the ladle and tumbling the gi- 

 ant Lunfelf into the boiling vcH'el. This 

 fpecimen of the adventure is quite fuffi- 

 cient. The abbot and monks are of 

 courfe reftored to their rights at laft ; and 

 the account they hear of Orlando and 

 his i'quire determines the knights to purr 

 fue their journey to the Court of Carado- 

 ro, uncertain however whether they are 

 to meet him there or at the camp of tlie 

 befiegers. 



Several new adventures, and fome of 

 them related with much fpirit, attend 

 their progrefs through the wood in which 

 the knight of Clermont had fonnerly 

 been' flmt up in an enchanted caftle and 

 baptized Morgante at the Demon's infti- 

 gation. One of the moft interefting is 

 the refcue (which is performed by Rinal- 

 do,) of a lion from the jaws of a tremen- 

 dous dragon. The grateful animal un- 

 dertakes the office of guide during the 

 reft of their journey ; and his deliverer 

 aflTuines in conequence tlie title of 

 " knight of the lion." 



An ived on the \v.r%e of the dominions 

 of a I'aj^an king named Corbantes, they 



are informed of a cruel monfler that ra- 

 vages thole territories, to whom a virgin 

 is annually facriliced. To make iliort the 

 ilory, it is i'ullicient to fay, that it is near- 

 ly a counterpart of that of St. George and 

 the fair Sabra. I'lorifena is the name of 

 the princefs who is about to becotne a 

 meal for the hungry tyrant. All the 

 three knights oiler their fervices to at- 

 tempt her rci'cue ; and, notwithllanding 

 the anxiety and horror of her mind, her 

 eyes are involuntarily turned towards 

 Oliver with peculiar complacency. The 

 amorous IManuiis catches the ilanie, and 

 in the enfuin^ combat becomes equally 

 diilinguilhed above the others for his va- 

 lour, his fuccefs, and his fullering. He it 

 is who terminates the adventure by cut- 

 ting oJ" the uionll'-r's head and laving it 

 at the feet of the p:incef?; while the 

 palenefs of his countenance and the 

 blood that flows through the joints of his 

 armour declare the wounds he has futft;r- 

 ed in the caufc, and renders the reli- 

 dencc of him and his companions at the 

 Coiat of Corbantes for fome time abfo- 

 lutely necellary. During this delay Ili- 

 naldo is not idle. He explains the mvf- 

 terics of religion to the King and his 

 whole Court, and proves himfelf as fuc- 

 cefsful a fpeaker as his coulin (Jrlando ; 

 for Corbantes, moved by his fennons, is 

 himfell", together with all his dukes, earls, 

 and barons, and his daughter into the 

 bargain, baptized by the evangelical 

 Count. 



In the mean time the bufmefs of Oli- 

 ver's cure proceeded but llowlj, being 

 committed to the charge and inlpection 

 of Florifena, 



Love feldorn pardons thofe who flight hi» 

 fway ; 

 But he who loves is foon belov'd again ; 

 And the pure hearts that humble oli'erings 



Find from his juftice the reward of pain : 

 A fai hful lord tofuch as well obey. 



So the fair princel's well repaid her fwain. 

 She fawthe amorous Alarquis half expire 

 For love of her, and caught herl'elf his lire. 



Now with the lightnings of her eye Ihe 

 glances 

 Back towards Oliver the flaming darts 

 Which Love is wont to fend in tender 

 glances ; 

 And thus one fire has caught two gentle 

 hearts. 

 And now, whene'er the royal maid advances 

 To lee the leeches well perform their parts. 

 Her tongue referv'd and cold, her flaming 



eyes 

 Speak the warm lar juage which her voice 

 denies. 

 E 2 When 



