In the mean time, Charles, at his camp of Pied-du-port, heard the first blast of Orlando's horn, and, startled at the summons, was about to order his troops to march to his assistance: but the traitor Gano, who rejoiced inwardly at the work of death which he perceived had commenced, persuaded him that it was but a hunting-party among the nountains. At the third blast, however, the emperor knew that it was Orlando's horn, and that the sound was that of distress and danger. Suspicion of treachery at length possessed him too late, and he caused the wicked Maganzese to be put in irons, while he hastened, with his few remaining Paladins, to Roncesvalles. The sun stood still in the heavens for a day and a night, to allow his arrival at the fatal place without delay. He was met on the road by Terigi, who informed him of the sad catastrophe that had taken place; and soon after, from the surrounding heights, they beheld the field of Roncesvalles covered with ghastly heaps of dead and dying.

When Charles beheld that field of blood, he

cast

His eyes tow'rds Roncesvalles; and exclaim'd,

The original has a beautiful thought

which it is difficult to express in translation. The angels were known, it says, by the trembling of their wings.

Cantar
Sentitu fu degli angeli solenne,
Che si cognoble al tremolar le penne.

It is also much more particular in its account of the celestial psalmody. For instance, the "Te Deum" was not the only anthem performed. They also sung "In Exitu Israël."

"Because in thee the fame of France is past, Through every age be thou with curses nam'd!

So long as this wide world, and time, shall last,

Be everlasting barrenness proclaim'd, Thy lofty hills and spreading vales around, And heavn's own lightnings blast th'accursed ground!"

But when he reach'd the fatal mountain's base,

Where, at the fount, Rinaldo watch'd the

dead,

More lamentable tears hedew'd his face;

The stiffen'd corse he kissed, embrac'd, and said,

"Oh blessed soul! look from the realms of grace

Upon this old and miserable head! And, if all crimes are not forgotten there, Oh pardon me for having brought thee here! "Where is the faith, my son, I bade thee

prove,

The pledge in happier days receiv'd and giv'n? Oh shade ador'd! if ought of human love,

Or human pity may survive in heav'n, Restore to me, from thy blest seat above,

As the sweet token of offence forgiv'n, That sword with which I made thee knight and count,

Ev'n as thou erst didst swear at Aspramount!"

It was Heaven's will, that, at his sovereign's word,

Orlando's body rose from earth once more, And knelt before his ancient king and lord,

With courtly reverence, as in days of yore; Stretch'd forth his hand, and render'd back the sword,

(The same he held in Aspramount before)

Then, with a smile, to heav'n the spirit fled; The corpse fell back, and lay for ever dead. O'er Charles's limbs a sudden tremour ran,

Something between a thrilling awe and love; By his cold hand he grasp'd the dying mån, And felt affur'd of happier life above; A holy horrour every breast began

To seize; and ev'n Rinaldo's heart to prove The pow'r of fear; while, humbly kneeling round,

They kiss'd with bended face the sacred ground.

St. 201.

ter all the rites of sepulture were bestowed with all the honours of martyrs. Astolpho was sent to England, and Oliver to Burgundy, to be interred in their native countries; and the corpse of Orlando was conveyed to Aix-la-Chapelle, and there deposited with great pomp and reverence in the royal sepulchre. The remainder of the poem consists of the signal vengeance which was taken by Charles and Rinaldo for the massacre of Roncesvalles. Gano paid the forfeit of his many crimes by an ignominious and dreadful death; and Marsilius, after seeing his territories wasted, and his crown ravished from his brows, was hanged (by a just and extraordinary retribution) on the very carob-tree under which he had first plotted the destruction of Orlando. Rinaldo felt his ancient love for Luciana rekindled, and, by his espousals with her shortly after, became heir of the crown of Spain; but, unused to an inactive life, he quitted, in an advanced age, the peaceful residence of a court, and set out in quest of new adventures. It is believed that he sailed westward in search of the new hemisphere which had formerly been described to him by Astaroth; but no

thing certain was ever heard of him afterward.

One more passage shall conclude our extracts from, and remarks upon, the present work. All France lamented her champions, and wore an universal mourn ing, when his body was entombed. But more than all the beauteous Alda mourn'd Her much-lov'd lord and brother on the

bier;

"Ye happy souls, to kindred heav'n return'd, Have left me, all alone and widow'd here, Me, once the happiest wife on earth, adorn'd With all that heav'n approves, and earth holds dear;

That ever mounted steed, or dar'd the fight.
"Oh my lov'd father, brother, lord, farewell!
I never shall behold thy like again-
So form'd in camps and cities to excell,
Constant in life and death, thy Aldabelle
So wild in peace, so dreadful on the plain!
Swears, by those bones interr'd at Aquis-

Blest with the love of the most noble knight

grane,*

Those tender arms that once encircled thee, Shall never to another wedded be!"

C. 27. St. 218.

Aquisgrana, the antique, or romantic, appellation for Aix-la-Chapelle.

·Page 25

448

547

GENERAL

19, 120

Andreossi's, general, observations on his-

torians

Anglo-Saxons, their settlement in Britain 535
Animals, on inhumanity to
438
Antiquarian society, proceedings of the 257
Antiquary, the
317, 436
Antiquities, accounts of 70, 72, 86, 100, 101,
198, 582, 585
Antonio, king of Portugal, account of 423
Ape. the stratagems of
Apple-trees, mode of clearing insects from 145
Apples, on the strength of the juice of 195
Apprentices to the weaving business, on 133
Argyle-street, grand institution in
Arragonite, composition of

127

85

592

Army, estimate of the expences of the 487

Bile, a saccharine matter in
Bingley, Mr. on apes and monkies
on leeches

269

127

-320