CV. He first sank to the bottom-like his works, It may be, still, like dull books on a shelf, In his own den, to scrawl some "Life," or " Vision," • A drowned body lies at the bottom till rotten; it then floats, as most peo- CVI. As for the rest, to come to the conclusion Was, that King George slipp'd into heaven for 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. 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 And that you may not, cavalier, conceive To be rusticity, you shall receive "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; I know not what to do, till matters change. XXV. "Our ancient fathers living the desert in, Our bounds, or taste the stones shower'd down for 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, I would dissuade you, baron, from this strife, 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 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, And head, and set both head and helmet ringing, Then Passamont, who thought him slain outright, As to desert would almost be a wrong. XXXIV. And loud he shouted, Giant, where dost go? 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, And in his bulky bosom made incision 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. XLII. Morgante said, "Oh, gentle cavalier! The Saracen rejoin'd in humble tone, And Macon would not pity my condition; Urlando answer'd, "Baron just and pious, If this good wish your heart can really move And, if you please, as friends we will ally us, Since God has granted your illumination, "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 XLVIII. "Then," quoth the giant, "blessed be Jesu I wish, for your great gallantry always." And that they may perceive my spirit clear Then to the abbey they went on together, Where waited them the abbot in great doubt |