4.

The sun's last ray proclaim'd the approach of even,
The dew drops sparkled, on the velvet green,
While roseate gold* shone in the western heaven,
And cast its hue, on mountains in between.
On Garonne's flowery banks, there was a grove,
Where cypress green, and bending willows rose,
A sacred spot, to melancholy love.

And here Orlando led, his father followed close.

5.

In that sweet spot, the verdant willow rows
Form round the monument a mournful shade,
With ever pendant, ever weeping boughs;
See the wild brook, that dashes through the glade,
Sweetly meand'ring through the blooming trees;
This was the place that held his mother's tomb:
And oft the murmuring brook, and sighing breeze,
Seem'd sadly to lament her beauties' early doom.

6.

Sweet is the tear, that from affection flows,
In brilliant dew drops, trickling from the eye.
His father here would think on all his woes,
And heave for her he lov'd, the frequent sigh;
Aye recollect, when first, in Spanish bowers,
He woo'd the maid, then blooming, fresh, and young,
How swift and pleasant, pass'd those joyful hours,
When love was all he breath'd from his enraptured tongue.

7.

'Twas to this sacred spot the way he led;
And now they gain'd the monumental stone:
"Sit down my son, Orlando, here he said,

"And listen to my tale of times now gone:

"Roseate gold may seem a curious expression; but who has not observed the lovely admixture of ruddy and golden tints in the western sky when the sun was setting.

แ "Long have I kept you in this staid retreat, "Distant from courts, and busy men's rough noise; "Now then, 'tis time this unknown world to greet, "Partake its numerous ills, or share its nobler joys.

8.

"But why," Orlando cried, "why must we part? "Why must I leave thee, father, kind and good? "Who thy gray locks will comb, or sooth thy heart, "Wipe from thy furrowed cheek, the briny flood; "Who with sweet flowers, this sacred spot will grace, "When morning's sun beams gild the eastern skies? "I cannot leave thee, father, leave this place,

"To seek a guilty world you taught me to despise."

9.

"Forbear, my son, forbear to touch my heart! "Know then that thou art born of noble blood; "To gain thy honours due 'tis now we part, "And thou must be a knight, right brave and good; "Wouldst thou then live a hind's ignoble life? "Cast off such thoughts, and seek the fields of glory, "Urge thy fell way through many a lordly strife, “A son of mine must live in fame and future story."

10.

"You boil my blood, my father, I will go, "Pursue my way through glory's noble course," "Then hear, my son, a lengthen'd tale of wo, "And how my all was lost by guilty force: "Of fraudful man, my son, you must beware, "Though honour dwells in many a noble breast, "Yet still Deceit hold forth her gilded snare, "Each on the other preys, Vice is in Virtue drest.

11.

"I dwelt in youth near Ebro's merry shore,
"Of Arragonia's fairest maid possest,

"And many a happy day, I thought in store,
"In all my heart could wish supremely blest;
"Frowning with antique grandeur soar'd my towers,
"In vegitated splendour spread my plains,

"Checker'd with palm trees green, and orange bowers; "Few were the Spanish lords that own'd such rich domains.

12.

"Then held the regal sway a noble king,
"In all his actions kind, and truly just,
"Ah! whence again, shall e'er his equal spring,
"For he, alas, lies slumbering in the dust:
"I soon obtain'd, and felt his matchless love,
"For I esteem'd the heroic deeds of youth,

"This arm then nerv'd, not oft in vain I strove,

"The foremost knight in war, the foremost knight in truth.

13.

"One eve all Nature spread her brightest bloom, "Around in clusters grew the roses wild,

"The fragrant breath of May shed sweet perfume, "All in lone dell, where the blue violet smil'd, "O'er the dark woods, the setting sun beams stray'd, "The sturdy shepherd on the green hedge hung, "Saw the dun mountains cast a longer shade,* "Or lov'd to hear the blackbird whistle forth his song.

14.

"O'er the calm lake, the breathing zephyrs stray'd,

"Its bosom ruffled by the dashing oar,

"Or where alone the glossy wild duck play'd,
"Or gain'd with paddling feet, the grassy shore;

*Majoresque cadunt, altis de montibus umbra.

VIRG.

"Rose the bland moon, the eastern hills above,

"The breeze was still, and every noise was stay'd, "Save the sweet accents of the voice of Love,

"Soft whisper'd to the lass beneath the palm tree shade.

15.

"Then we walk'd forth these pleasing scenes to view;

"Fond on my arm, my raptured lady hung,

"O'er all her works, her eye sweet Nature drew, "She listen'd soft, while Philomela sung.

"Whence came that piercing scream? our heads we rais'd— "A dreadful sight struck on our doubting eyes,

"In one red flame, our ancient castle blaz'd

"Sunk Anna in these arms, that shook with dread surprise.

16.

"Now shrieks and shouts, in mingled tumult rose;
"But, hark, that foot fall quick! 'twas Jacques came,
"Ah! fly my lord, he cried, the worst of foes-
"Ah! fly, a fiend more dread than yonder flame:
"A tyrant's bands each avenue defend.

"Quick from its sheath, my trusty blade I drew,
"Resolv❜d on conquering, or a noble end.

"Leave Anna here to die, I caught her up and fled.

17.

"Through gloomy woods, my faithful Jacques led;

"Louder and louder, rose the shouts behind,

"Swifter o'er many a hill and dale we fled,
""As swift as though we rode upon the wind."

"Now tir'd we sat us on a mountain high,
"Then lay the dreary way, we came in sight,
"The castle flaming, burnish'd all the sky,

"And 'heav'd and flash'd' the lake intolerably bright.'t

18.

"Ah! who can think upon the days of youth, "When all was beauty, all was innocence,

"When every thought, and every word was truth,

"Nor at the thought, one sacred tear dispense.

"Bright were those scenes where first my breath I drew,

"And Nature smiled, beauty was ever nigh,

"All, all are gone, for beauty quickly flew,

"And clouds of ashes darken all the evening sky.

19.

"Forgive the lengthen'd story of old age.
"With morning rose a village to our view,
"Here Jacques bought a minstrel's equipage,
"For Anna dear, a ploughman's garb of blue;
"Here too he learnt, with sorrow in his eye,
"Our noble king, had been dethron'd and kill'd,
"That me, and other lords, were doom'd to die,
"Sworn faithful to our prince, in battle ably skill'd,

20.

"At home no longer could I now remain,
"But sought, in my disguise, the land of France;
"My little harp procured us bread in Spain,
"What time I softly play'd the evening dance;
"At length I reach'd thy flowery banks, Garonne,
"And built my mansion on yon curving swell;
Jacques is dead, alas! my Anna's gone,

"And thou alone remainst, to take my last farewell."

21.

He paus'd-fell down his cheek the tear, Then thus pursued the history of his life: "A stranger knight, last eve came here,

"And brought a tale, with pleasing wonders rife,