Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

CV.

He first sank to the bottom-like his works,
But soon rose to the surface-like himself;
For all corrupted things are buoy'd, like corks,*
By their own rottenness, light as an elf,
Or wish that fits o'er a morass he lurks,

It may be, still, like dull books on a shelf,

In his own den, to scrawl some "Life," or " Vision,"
As Welborn says-"the devil turn'd precisian."

• A drowned body lies at the bottom till rotten; it then floats, as most peo-
to know.

CVI.

As for the rest, to come to the conclusion
Of this true dream, the telescope is gone
Which kept my optics free from all delusion.
And show'd me what I in my turn have shown;
All I saw farther, in the last confusion, [one

Was, that King George slipp'd into heaven for
And when the tumult dwindled to a calm,
I left him practising the hundreth psalm.

MORGANTE MAGGIORE.

DI MESSER LUIGI PULCI

ADVERTISEMENT.

(the Ordinary in Jonathan Wild-or Scott, for the exquisite use of his Covenanters in the "Tales of

THE Morgante Maggiore, of the first canto of my Landlord." which this translation is offered, divides with the

In the following translation I have used the Orlando Innamorato the honor of having formed liberty of the original with the proper names; and suggested the style and story of Ariosto. The as Pulci uses Gan. Ganellon, or Ganellone; Carlo, great defects of Boiardo, were his treating too seri-Carlomagno, or Carlomano; Rondel, or Rondello, ously the narratives of chivalry, and his harsh style. &c., as it suits his convenience; so has the transAriosto, in his continuation, by a judicious mixture lator. In other respects the version is faithful to of the gayety of Pulci, has avoided the one; and the best of the translator's ability in combining his Berni, in his reformation of Boiardo's poem, has interpretation of the one language with the not corrected the other. Pulci may considered as the very easy task of reducing it to the same versifica The reader, on comparing it precursor and model of Berni altogether, as he has tion in the other. partly been to Ariosto, however inferior to both his with the original, is requested to remember that copyists. He is no less the founder of a new style the antiquated language of Pulci, however pure, of poetry very lately sprung up in England. I is not easy to the generality of Italians themselves, allude to that of the ingenious Whistlecraft. The from its great mixture of Tuscan proverbs; and serious poems on Roncesvalles in the same lan- he may therefore be more indulgent to the present grage, and more particularly the excellent one attempt. How far the translator has succeeded, of Mr. Merivale, are to be traced to the same and whether or no he shall continue the work, are questions which the public will decide. He was It has never yet been decided entirely whether induced to make the experiment partly by his love Pulci's intention was or was not to deride the for, and partial intercourse with, the Italian lanreligion which is one of his favorite topics. It guage, of which it is so easy to acquire a slight appears to me, that such an intention would have knowledge, and with which it is so nearly imposbeen no less hazardous to the poet than to the sible for a foreigner to become accurately conversant. priest, particulary in that age and country; The Italian language is like a capricious beauty, and the permission to publish the poem, and its who accords her smiles to all, her favors to few, reception among the classes of Italy, prove that it and sometimes least to those who have courted her neither was nor is so interpreted. That he intended longest. The translator wished also to present in to ridicule the monastic life, and suffered his imagi- an English dress a part at least of a poem never yet nation to play with the simple dulness of his rendered into a northern language; at the same converted giant, seems evident enough; but surely time that it has been the original of some of the it were as unjust to accuse him of irreligion most celebrated productions on this side of the on this account, as to denounce Fielding for his Alps, as well of those recent experiments in poetry Parson Adams, Barnabas, Thwackum, Supple, and in England which have been already mentioned.

source.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

XXI.

The monks could pass the convent gate no more, Nor leave their cells for water or for wood; Orlando knock'd, but none would ope, before Unto the prior it at length seem'd good; Enter'd, he said that he was taught to adore

Him who was born of Mary's holiest blood, And was baptized a Christian; and then show'd How to the abbey he had found his road.

XXII.

Said the abbot, "You are welcome; what is mine
We give you freely, since that you believe
With us in Mary Mother's Son divine;

And that you may not, cavalier, conceive
The cause of our delay to let you in

To be rusticity, you shall receive
The reason why our gate was barr'd to you:
Thus those who in suspicion live must do.
XXIII.

"When hither to inhabit first we cauc

These mountains, albeit that they are obscure As you perceive, yet without fear or blame They seem'd to promise an asylum sure. From savage brutes alone, too fierce to tame, 'Twas fit our quiet dwelling to secure; But now, if here we'd stay, we needs must guard Against domestic beasts with watch and ward

XXIV.

"These make us stand, in fact, upon the watch;
For late there have appear'd three giants rough
What nation or what kingdom bore the batch
I know not, but they are all of savage stuff.
When force and malice with some genius match,
You know, they can do all-we are not enough:
And these so much our orisons derange,

I know not what to do, till matters change.

XXV.

"Our ancient fathers living the desert in,
For just and holy works were duly fed;
Think not they lived on locusts sole, 'tis certain
That manna was rain'd down from heaven instead
But here 'tis fit we keep on the alert in [bread

Our bounds, or taste the stones shower'd down for
From off yon mountain daily raining faster,
And flung by Passamont and Alabaster.

XXVI.

"The third, Morgante, 's savagest by far; he Plucks up pines, beeches, poplar-trees, and oaks, And flings them, our community to bury;

And all that I can do but more provokes." While thus they parley in the cemetery,

A stone from one of their gigantic strokes, Which nearly crush'd Rondell, came tumbling over So that he took a long leap under cover.

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.
Baid 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 will lose your life.

XXIX.

'That Passamont has in his hand three dartsSuch 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 ask'd 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 peaceVile dog! 'tis past his patience to sustain." The giant ran to fetch his arms, quite furious, When he received an answer so injurious.

XXXII.

[ing

And being returned to where Orlando stood,
Who had not mov'd him from the spot, and swing-
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 seemed so stupified.
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!
"Twas 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.

[blocks in formation]

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 on this abode, And shut himself at night within his berth. 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.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

XLII.

Morgante said, "Oh, gentle cavalier!
Now by thy God say me no villany;
The favor of your name I fain would hear
And if a Christian, speak for courtesy."
Replied Orlando, "So much to your ear
I by my faith disclose contentedly;
Christ I adore, who is the genuine Lord,
And, if you please, by you may be adored. '
XLIII.

The Saracen rejoin'd in humble tone,
"I have had an extraordinary vision;
A savage serpent fell on me alone,

And Macon would not pity my condition;
Hence to thy God, who for ye did atone
Upon the cross, preferr'd I my petition;
His timely succor set me safe and free,
And I a Christian am disposed to be."
XLIV.

Urlando answer'd, "Baron just and pious,

If this good wish your heart can really move
To the true God, who will not then deny us
Eternal honor, you will go above,

And, if you please, as friends we will ally us,
And I will love you with a perfect love.
Your idols are vain liars, full of fraud;
The only true God is the Christian's God.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Since God has granted your illumination,
Accepting you in mercy for his own,

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

"So that all persons may be sure and certain That they are dead, and have no further fear

Humility should be your first oblation." [known-To wander solitary this desert in,

Morgante said, "For goodness' sake, make
Since that your God is to be mine-your station,
And let your name in verity be shown;
Then will I every thing at your command do."
On which the other said, he was Orlando.

XLVIII.

"Then," quoth the giant, "blessed be Jesu
A thousand times with gratitude and praise!
Oft, perfect baron! have I heard of you
Through all the different periods of my days:
And, as I said, to be your vassal too

I wish, for your great gallantry always."
Thus reasoning, they continued much to say,
And onwards to the abbey went their way.

And that they may perceive my spirit clear
By the Lord's grace, who hath withdrawn the curtain
Of darkness, making his bright realm appear."
He cut his brethren's hands off at these words,
And left them to the savage beasts and birds.
LV.

Then to the abbey they went on together,

Where waited them the abbot in great doubt
The monks who knew not yet the fact, ran thither
To their superior, all in breathless rout,
Saying with tremor, "Please to tell us whether
You wish to have this person in or out?"
The abbot, looking through upon the giant.
Too greatly fear'd, at first, to be compliant

« FöregåendeFortsätt »