Astolpho, protected by these gifts, thanked the good fairy, took leave of her, and set out on his return to France. His voyage was prosperous, and on reaching the desired port he took leave of the faithful mariners6, and continued his journey by land. As he proceeded over mountains and through valleys he often met with bands of robbers, wild beasts, and venomous serpents, but he had only to sound his horn to put them all to flight.
Having landed in France, and traversed many provinces on his way to the army, he one day, in crossing a forest, arrived beside a fountain, and alighted to drink. While he stooped at the fountain a young rustic7 sprang from the copse, mounted Rabican, and rode away. It was a new trick of the enchanter Atlantes. Astolpho, hearing the noise, turned his head just in time to see his loss; and, starting up, pursued the thief, who, on his part, did not press the horse to his full speed, but just kept in sight of his pursuer till they both issued from the forest; and then Rabican and his rider took shelter in a castle which stood near. Astolpho followed, and penetrated8 without difficulty within the courtyard of the castle, where he looked around for the rider and his horse, but could see no trace of either, nor any person of whom he could make inquiry9. Suspecting that enchantment5 was employed to embarrass him, he bethought him of his book, and on consulting it discovered that his suspicions were well founded. He also learned what course to pursue. He was directed to raise the stone which served as a threshold, under which a spirit lay pent, who would willingly escape, and leave the castle free of access. Astolpho applied10 his strength to lift aside the stone. Thereupon the magician put his arts in force. The castle was full of prisoners, and the magician caused that to all of them Astolpho should appear in some false guise—to some a wild beast, to others a giant, to others a bird of prey11. Thus all assailed12 him, and would quickly have made an end of him, if he had not bethought him of his horn. No sooner had he blown a blast than, at the horrid13 larum, fled the cavaliers and the necromancer14 with them, like a flock of pigeons at the sound of the fowler’s gun. Astolpho then renewed his efforts on the stone, and turned it over. The under face was all inscribed15 with magical characters, which the knight16 defaced, as directed by his book; and no sooner had he done so, than the castle, with its walls and turrets17, vanished into smoke.
The knights18 and ladies set at liberty were, besides Rogero and Bradamante, Orlando, Gradasso, Florismart, and many more. At the sound of the horn they fled, one and all, men and steeds, except Rabican, which Astolpho secured, in spite of his terror. As soon as the sound had ceased Rogero recognized Bradamante, whom he had daily met during their imprisonment19, but had been prevented from knowing by the enchanter’s arts. No words can tell the delight with which they recognized each other, and recounted mutually all that had happened to each since they were parted. Rogero took advantage of the opportunity to press his suit, and found Bradamante as propitious20 as he could wish, were it not for a single obstacle, the difference of their faiths. “If he would obtain her in marriage,” she said, “he must in due form demand her of her father, Duke Aymon, and must abandon his false prophet, and become a Christian21.” The latter step was one which Rogero had for some time intended taking, for reasons of his own. He therefore gladly accepted the terms, and proposed that they should at once repair to the abbey of Vallombrosa, whose towers were visible at no great distance. Thither22 they turned their horses’ heads, and we will leave them to find their way without our company.
I know not if my readers recollect23 that at the moment when Rogero had just delivered Angelica from the voracious24 Orc that scornful beauty placed her ring in her mouth, and vanished out of sight. At the same time the Hippogriff shook off his bridle25, soared away, and flew to rejoin his former master, very naturally returning to his accustomed stable. Here Astolpho found him, to his very great delight. He knew the animal’s powers, having seen Rogero ride him, and he longed to fly abroad over all the earth, and see various nations and peoples from his airy course. He had heard Logestilla’s directions how to guide the animal, and saw her fit a bridle to his head. He therefore was able, out of all the bridles26 he found in the stable, to select one suitable, and, placing Rabican’s saddle on the Hippogriff’s back, nothing seemed to prevent his immediate27 departure. Yet before he went he bethought him of placing Rabican in hands where he would be safe, and whence he might recover him in time of need. While he stood deliberating where he should find a messenger, he saw Bradamante approach. That fair warrior28 had been parted from Rogero on their way to the abbey of Vallombrosa, by an inopportune adventure which had called the knight away. She was now returning to Montalban, having arranged with Rogero to join her there. To Bradamante, therefore, his fair cousin, Astolpho committed Rabican, and also the lance of gold, which would only be an incumbrance in his aerial excursion. Bradamante took charge of both; and Astolpho, bidding her farewell, soared in air.
Among those delivered by Astolpho from the magician’s castle was Orlando. Following the guide of chance, the paladin found himself at the close of day in a forest, and stopped at the foot of a mountain. Surprised to discern a light which came from a cleft29 in the rock, he approached, guided by the ray, and discovered a narrow passage in the mountain-side, which led into a deep grotto30.
Orlando fastened his horse, and then, putting aside the bushes that resisted his passage, stepped down from rock to rock till he reached a sort of cavern31. Entering it, he perceived a lady, young and handsome, as well as he could discover through the signs of distress32 which agitated33 her countenance34. Her only companion was an old woman, who seemed to be regarded by her young partner with terror and indignation. The courteous35 paladin saluted36 the women respectfully, and begged to know by whose barbarity they had been subjected to such imprisonment.
The younger lady replied, in a voice often broken with sobs37:
“Though I know well that my recital38 will subject me to worse treatment by the barbarous man who keeps me here, to whom this woman will not fail to report it, yet I will not hide from you the facts. Ah! why should I fear his rage? If he should take my life, I know not what better boon39 than death I can ask.
“My name is Isabella. I am the daughter of the king of Galicia, or rather I should say misfortune and grief are my parents. Young, rich, modest, and of tranquil40 temper, all things appeared to combine to render my lot happy. Alas41! I see myself to-day poor, humbled42, miserable43, and destined44 perhaps to yet further afflictions. It is a year since, my father having given notice that he would open the lists for a tournament at Bayonne, a great number of chevaliers from all quarters came together at our court. Among these Zerbino, son of the king of Scotland, victorious45 in all combats, eclipsed by his beauty and his valor46 all the rest. Before departing from the court of Galicia he testified the wish to espouse47 me, and I consented that he should demand my hand of the king, my father. But I was a Mahometan, and Zerbino a Christian, and my father refused his consent. The prince, called home by his father to take command of the forces destined to the assistance of the French Emperor, prevailed on me to be married to him secretly, and to follow him to Scotland. He caused a galley48 to be prepared to receive me, and placed in command of it the chevalier Oderic, a Biscayan, famous for his exploits both by land and sea. On the day appointed, Oderic brought his vessel to a seaside resort of my father’s, where I embarked49. Some of my domestics accompanied me, and thus I departed from my native land.
“Sailing with a fair wind, after some hours we were assailed by a violent tempest. It was to no purpose that we took in all sail; we were driven before the wind directly upon the rocky shore. Seeing no other hopes of safety, Oderic placed me in a boat, followed himself with a few of his men, and made for land. We reached it through infinite peril50, and I no sooner felt the firm land beneath my feet, than I knelt down and poured out heartfelt thanks to the Providence51 that had preserved me.
“The shore where we landed appeared to be uninhabited. We saw no dwelling53 to shelter us, no road to lead us to a more hospitable54 spot. A high mountain rose before us, whose base stretched into the sea. It was here the infamous55 Oderic, in spite of my tears and entreaties56, sold me to a band of pirates, who fancied I might be an acceptable present to their prince, the Sultan of Morocco. This cavern is their den52, and here they keep me under the guard of this woman, until it shall suit their convenience to carry me away.”
Isabella had hardly finished her recital when a troop of armed men began to enter the cavern. Seeing the prince Orlando, one said to the rest, “What bird is this we have caught, without even setting a snare57 for him?” Then addressing Orlando, “It was truly civil in you, friend, to come hither with that handsome coat of armor and vest, the very things I want.” “You shall pay for them, then,” said Orlando; and seizing a half-burnt brand from the fire, he hurled58 it at him, striking his head, and stretching him lifeless on the floor.
There was a massy table in the middle of the cavern, used for the pirates’ repasts. Orlando lifted it and hurled it at the robbers as they stood clustered in a group toward the entrance. Half the gang were laid prostrate59, with broken heads and limbs; the rest got away as nimbly as they could.
Leaving the den and its inmates60 to their fate, Orlando, taking Isabella under his protection, pursued his way for some days, without meeting with any adventure.
One day they saw a band of men advancing, who seemed to be guarding a prisoner, bound hand and foot, as if being carried to execution. The prisoner was a youthful cavalier, of a noble and ingenuous61 appearance. The band bore the ensigns of Count Anselm, head of the treacherous62 house of Maganza. Orlando desired Isabella to wait, while he rode forward to inquire the meaning of this array. Approaching, he demanded of the leader who his prisoner was, and of what crime he had been guilty. The man replied that the prisoner was a murderer, by whose hand Pinabel, the son of Count Anselm, had been treacherously63 slain64. At these words the prisoner exclaimed, “I am no murderer, nor have I been in any way the cause of the young man’s death.” Orlando, knowing the cruel and ferocious65 character of the chiefs of the house of Maganza, needed no more to satisfy him that the youth was the victim of injustice66. He commanded the leader of the troop to release his victim, and, receiving an insolent67 reply, dashed him to the earth with a stroke of his lance; then by a few vigorous blows dispersed68 the band, leaving deadly marks on those who were slowest to quit the field.
Orlando then hastened to unbind the prisoner, and to assist him to reclothe himself in his armor, which the false Magencian had dared to assume. He then led him to Isabella, who now approached the scene of action. How can we picture the joy, the astonishment69, with which Isabella recognized in him Zerbino, her husband, and the prince discovered her whom he had believed overwhelmed in the waves! They embraced one another, and wept for joy. Orlando, sharing in their happiness, congratulated himself in having been the instrument of it. The princess recounted to Zerbino what the illustrious paladin had done for her, and the prince threw himself at Orlando’s feet, and thanked him as having twice preserved his life.
While these exchanges of congratulation and thankfulness were going on, a sound in the underwood attracted their attention, and caused the two knights to brace70 their helmets and stand on their guard. What the cause of the interruption was we shall record in another chapter.
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1
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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enchantments
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| n.魅力( enchantment的名词复数 )；迷人之处；施魔法；着魔 | |
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enchantment
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| n.迷惑，妖术，魅力 | |
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mariners
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| 海员，水手（mariner的复数形式） | |
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rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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9
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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12
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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necromancer
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| n. 巫师 | |
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inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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turrets
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| （六角）转台( turret的名词复数 )； （战舰和坦克等上的）转动炮塔； （摄影机等上的）镜头转台； （旧时攻城用的）塔车 | |
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knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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voracious
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| adj.狼吞虎咽的，贪婪的 | |
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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bridles
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| 约束( bridle的名词复数 )； 限动器； 马笼头； 系带 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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41
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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espouse
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| v.支持，赞成，嫁娶 | |
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48
galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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49
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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50
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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51
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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52
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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53
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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54
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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57
snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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58
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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61
ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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62
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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63
treacherously
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| 背信弃义地； 背叛地； 靠不住地； 危险地 | |
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64
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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70
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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