XXVII.

«For God sake, cavalier, come in with speed,
The manna's falling now,» the abbot cried :
«This fellow does not wish my horse should feed,
Dear Abbot,» Roland unto him replied;
<< Of restiveness he'd cure him had he need;

That stone seems with good-will and aim applied.>> The holy father said, «I don't deceive;

They'll one day fling the mountain, I believe.>>

XXVIII.

Orlando bade them take care of Rondello,

And also made a breakfast of his own:

<< Abbot,» he said, «< I want to find that fellow

Who flung at my good horse yon corner-stone.»
Said the abbot, «Let not my advice seem shallow,
As to a brother dear I speak alone;

I would dissuade you, baron, from this strife,
As knowing sure that you I will lose your life.

XXIX.

« That Passamont has in his hand three darts

Such slings, clubs, ballast-stones, that yield you must; You know that giants have much stouter hearts

Than us,
with reason, in proportion just;
If go you will, guard well against their arts,
For these are very barbarous and robust.»>
Orlando answer'd, «This I'll see, be sure,

And walk the wild on foot to be secure.>>

XXX.

The abbot sign'd the great cross on his front,
<< Then go you with God's benison and mine;>>
Orlando, after he had scaled the mount,

As the abbot had directed, kept the line
Right to the usual haunt of Passamont;
Who, seeing him alone in this design,
Survey'd him fore and aft with eyes observant,
Then asked him, « If he wish'd to stay as servant?»>

XXXI.

And promised him an office of great ease;
But, said Orlando, «Saracen insane!
I come to kill you, if it shall so please

God, not to serve as footboy in your train;
You with his monks so oft have broke the peace-
Vile dog! 't is past his patience to sustain.>>
The giant ran to fetch his arms, quite furious,
When he received an answer so injurious.

XXXII.

And being return'd to where Orlando stood,

Who had not moved him from the spot, and swinging The cord, he hurl'd a stone with strength so rude, As show'd a sample of his skill in slinging;

It roll'd on Count Orlando's helmet good

And head, and set both head and helmet ringing,
So that he swoon'd with pain as if he died,
But more than dead, he seem'd so stupified.

VOL. X.

2

XXXIII.

Then Passamont, who thought him slain outright,
Said, «I will go, and while he lies along,
Disarm me: why such craven did I fight?»
But Christ his servants ne'er abandons long,
Especially Orlando, such a knight,

As to desert would almost be a wrong.
While the giant goes to put off his defences,
Orlando has recall'd his force and senses:

XXXIV.

And loud he shouted, «Giant, where dost go?
Thou thought'st me doubtless for the bier outlaid;
To the right about-without wings thou 'rt too slow
To fly my vengeance-currish renegade!

'T was but by treachery thou laid'st me low.»>
The giant his astonishment betray'd,

And turn'd about, and stopp'd his journey on,
And then he stoop'd to pick up a great stone.

XXXV.

Orlando had Cortana bare in hand,

To split the head in twain was what he schemedCortana clave the skull like a true brand,

And pagan Passamont died unredeem'd.
Yet harsh and haughty, as he lay he bann'd,
And most devoutly Macon still blasphemed;
But while his crude, rude blasphemies he heard,
Orlando thank'd the Father and the Word,-

XXXVI.

Saying, «What grace to me thou 'st given!
And I to thee, oh Lord, am ever bound.

I know my life was saved by thee from heaven,
Since by the giant I was fairly down'd.

All things by thee are measured just and even;

Our power without thine aid would nought be found : I pray thee take heed of me, till I can

At least return once more to Carloman.>>

XXXVII.

And having said thus much, he went his way;

And Alabaster he found out below,

Doing the very best that in him lay

To root from out a bank a rock or two. Orlando, when he reach'd him, loud 'gan say,

<< How think'st thou, glutton, such a stone to throw?»> When Alabaster heard his deep voice ring,

He suddenly betook him to his sling,

XXXVIII.

And hurl'd a fragment of a size so large,
That if it had in fact fulfill'd its mission,

And Roland not avail'd him of his targe,

There would have been no need of a physician. Orlando set himself in turn to charge,

And in his bulky bosom made incision

With all his sword. The lout fell; but, o'erthrown, he However by no means forgot Macone.

XXXIX.

Morgante had a palace in his mode,

Composed of branches, logs of wood, and earth, And stretch'd himself at ease in this abode,

And shut himself at night within his birth. Orlando knock'd, and knock'd, again to goad The giant from his sleep; and he came forth, The door to open, like a crazy thing,

For a rough dream had shook him slumbering.

XL.

He thought that a fierce serpent had attack'd him,
And Mahomet he call'd, but Mahomet

Is nothing worth, and not an instant back'd him;
But praying blessed Jesu, he was set

At liberty from all the fears which rack'd him;
And to the gate he came with great regret-

<< Who knocks here?» grumbling all the while, said he «That,» said Orlando, « you will quickly see.

XLI.

<<I come to preach to you, as to your brothers, Sent by the miserable monks-repentance; For Providence divine, in you and others,

Condemns the evil done by new acquaintance. "T is writ on high-your wrong must pay another's; From heaven itself is issued out this sentence; Know then, that colder now than a pilaster I left your Passamont and Alabaster.»