216 
cefs the tale of Pyramu and Thitbe, 
who, in times of yore, held their amor- 
ous Interviews in like manner beneath a: 
mulberry-tree without the walls of this 
very city of Babylon. 
But treafon was all this while at work 
in the palace, and the courteous recep- 
tion of our knight was only meant to 
facilitate his defiruétion. In the woods 
and deferts that lay on the’ frontiers of 
the kingdom, lived a powerful favage, 
who had proved the death of every war- 
rior that had hitherto attempted to fub- 
dne, him, and whofe depredations over 
the furrounding country had rendered 
him the terror of the ftouteft hearts in 
Babylon. On this hopelefs enterprife 
was Rinaldo difpatched, at the inftiga- 
tion of Gano; and both he and the Sol- 
dan fecretly rejoiced that they fhould 
never fee him more. Anthea thought 
qtherwife; but her warlike and adven- 
turous foul was fired with the propofal 
which was now made her by the traitor 
aud her father, which was no lefs than 
to pafs over to France with the Soldan’s 
armies, and by the eafy conqueft of 
Montauban to pave the way to the pof- 
feifion of the imperial throne. She re- 
joiced in the profpect of fighting, fingle- 
handed, Charles and each of his’ re- 
nowned Paladins; and flattered herfelf 
with the glorious imagination of beftow- 
ing on her beloved hero his own pof- 
feffions, together with-the fovereignty of 
Chriftendom. 
Now when Anthea the proud Soldan knew 
Refolved upon this bold emprife to fend her, 
She anfwered with the mild fubmiflion due 
To her, his age’s ftay and ftate’s defencer. 
Now in her ancient armour cafed anew, 
She breathes of war; while ready to at- 
tend her 
Standards, pavilions, engines, crowd around, 
And all the hills with martial labours found. 
Not Vulcan with more fpeed his labours plied 
In Mongibell’s infernal vaults below, 
Than the fupporters of our Soldan’s prite. 
Some point the lance, fome bend the Sy- 
rian bow ; ' 
Some fit the rattling quiver to their fide; 
Cthers the dart or ftronger javelin throw, 
Or prove the fabre’s edge, or arm the horfe 
With harnefs fuited to the martial courfe. 
Now fully armed was all the warlike throng: 
The prince his parting benedi€tion gave ; 
His valiant daughter led the troops along, 
And proud in air th’ embattled banners 
wave ; 
And as Anthea faw her force fo ftrong, 
Her maitiat knights fo numerous, bold, 
and brave, 
Remarks on the Morgante Maggiore. 
{ Aprilf " 
ec At length” fhe cried, “ ‘tis giv’n me to 
furvey 
All that the famous Chriftian pow’rs obey 3 
Their mighty caftles, and their lofty tow’rsy, 
Their woods, their mountains, and their 
lovely plains, 
Wheie Malagigi with Rinaldo’s pow’rs 
O’er Montauban’srenowned ramparts reigns3 
Fair Paris, with her fpreading groves and 
flow’rs, 
(The flower of happy Charles’s wide do- 
mains, ) 
All the proud warriors of his knightly train, 
The brave Aftolpho, and the famoys Dane. 
‘ 
Then fhall T prove the Paladins in arms, 
And my Rinaldo fhall return once more, 
Recall’d by Charles, amidft thefe dire alarms, 
To guard the freedom of his native fhore. 
With him and Clermont’s cqunt, in feats of 
arms 
Ill raife my fame beyond the deeds of 
foxes 
Such mighty thoughts Anthea’s mind pof- 
feis’d, 
For honout’s charrhs had fired her virgin breaft. 
C 17.9. 25, 
We will not detain the reader with 
any particulars of the adventures of this 
illuftrious princefs; but, after affuring 
him that fhe facceeded in her attack on 
Montauban, and remained quietly mif+ 
trefs of the caftle and of Rinaldo’s bro- 
thers, return to Rinaldo himfelf, whofe 
{uccefs with the Old Man of the Moun- 
tains,* or (as Pulci calls him) 
Quel veglio antico maladetto 
Che {ta nella Montagna d’ Aipracorte, 
was direétly contrary to Gano’s predics 
tion and the Soldan’s hope. The Old 
Man was not only conquered, but con- 
verted by him, and afterwards became 
his faithful friend and follower. Return- 
ing together towards Babylon, they met 
the julticiary, who, mounted on Bayardo,, 
was at that moment going to prefide at 
the execution of Oliver and Richardetto, 
which bad long ago been decreed by the 
Soldan and Gano. The jufticiary’s grave 
afpect and long beard were of no avail 
to hin. He was foon difpatched, and 
his javelin-men put to the- rout; while 
Rinaldo, mounted on his recovered ficed, 
pretied forward to the refeue of his 
friends. - 
Thofe friends, however, were already 
not without another and unexpecied de- 
* The name of this adventure was certain- 
ly taken from the celebrated 4/fajfin, who 
ranged the mountains of Syria in the time of 
the crufades. 
liverer, 
