1807.] 
eontinue the war, but humbly receives 
the blessing of the Christian Emperor 
and returns with all her reuraining ‘forces 
to Babylon, while Marsilius continues 
to deluce the Christians by feigned nego- 
tiations and waits for further oppor- 
tunities of vengeance. 
His designs were furthered by the 
blindness and obstinacy of the emperor 
himself, who had at this time not only 
restored the traitor Gano to his favour, 
but, contrary to the advice and earnest 
entreaties of all. his court, sent him as 
his ambassador to the court of Saragossa 
to negotiate the peace with Marsilius, 
By this rash act he signed the destruction 
of Orlando and all his noblest Paladins. 
The traitor’s first care was to confirm 
Marsilius in-his hatred to the Christian 
name, by representing the demands of 
Charles as to the highest degree insulting 
and degrading. The first article (as 
delivered by Gano) was a change of 
religion, to which Marsilius answers by 
a very extraordinary fable: “ I was 
once informed ‘that in a wood near 
Saragossa there isa cavern, straight and 
narrow at the entrance, but very spacious 
in the midst, where six pillars are erected, 
each of which is guarded by a peculiar 
‘spirit. These pillars are typical of the 
siv Religions; that of gold is the principal 
and the purest. The others are of silven, 
brass, iron, tin, and lead. All souls, 
previous to entering on their corporeal 
habitations, must here make choice of 
their faith ; and, in making the important 
choice, are beset by the guardian spirits 
who throng round them, each with a 
desire to make them embrace their own 
particular pillar. 
and ignorant, but having by nature a 
freedom of action, are generally deter- 
mined by the force of these solicitations 
im their choice; and, whichever of the 
pillars they embrace is typical of the. 
religion they are to follow through life. 
Happy are they who embrace the golden 
pillar!” Ido not remember baving any 
where met with this metaphysical chunera 
before; nor is it easy to discover the 
peculiar application which Marsilius, 
or Pulci, meant to be derived from it. 
However that may be, the traitor 
having secured Marsilins in the train of 
thoweht in which he wished him to 
remain, drew him aside the next time 
they hunted together to a retired place, 
where, close to a fountain, there grew a 
Carob (the species of tree on which 
legendary tradition asserts that Judas 
{seariot hung himself). -In this fit place 
*‘Montuty Mac. No, 157. 
Remarks on the Morgante Maggiore, 
The souls, yet simple: 
441, 
Gano unfolds his project, which is that 
Orlando shall be invited to Roncesvalles, 
(a spot commodious tor the purpose, 
bemg among the Alps, and on the frontiers 
of the two kingdoms,) there to receive 
from the hands of Marsilius the tribute 
which, after a former war, he had engaged 
to pay, but had for many years neglected; 
and that Charles himseit shall be requested 
to meet the Spanish prince, after this 
ceremony is completed, at the town of 
St. Jean au pied de Port, there to accept 
his homage for the crown he wears, and 
to settle the remaining articles of the 
peace on a firm and lasting basis. Under 
this fair exterior, Marsilius was secretly 
to arm all the forces of Pagania to second 
his design; and then, after dispatching 
Orlando (which, they flattered themselves 
must be an easy task, engaged as he 
would be among the mountains), Charles 
himself and all his court would be at the 
mercy of the Spanish monarch. 
Scarcely was the plot announced, 
when a thunderbolt descending from 
the clouds destroyed a laurel close by 
Marsilius’s seat; and, at the same instant, 
an apple was shaken from the Carob-tree 
and tell upon the head of our second 
Judas; but, not daunted with these 
feartul omens, the treacherous king and 
count sealed and ratified by oaths their 
bloody bargain; and Gano, returning to 
Paris, delivers the magnificent presents 
of Marsilius, together with the treacherous. 
proposals thay they had invented, which 
are, by the generous and unsuspecting 
emperor and his knights, accepted with 
great joy and willingness. 
Malagigi alone, of all the court at 
Paris, suspects the sincerity of Gano’s 
mission, and retires to Montauban, there 
to discover by his art the secrets that he 
wished. to know. A demon named 
Astaroth, 1s raised by his incantations; 
a demon wise, terrible, and fierce; not 
a familiar spirit, but one of a higher 
order, and black as his native hell. He 
for some time affects disobedience and. 
contempt; but, beiny at last brought to 
reason by the terrors of the magical ring, 
discovers to him that his cousin Rinaldo, 
(in whom alone Malagigi confided | to 
avert the impending evils) is at. that 
moment viewing the pyramids of Egypt, 
in company with his three brothers. In 
answer to his enquiry concerning. the 
success of the proposed interview at 
Roncesyalles, he tells him, that God 
alone knows all things, and that no 
creature, not even the son, is omniscient. 
but, that the air is full of spwits, and 
3-L that 
