Canto VII

Count di Culagna valiantly had fled
From Salinguerra, as already sung ;
And that fierce champion forward as he sped,
Having to earth both foot and horsemen flung,
Wounded Rainero, and stretched Bruno dead,
At once amid the hostile squadron sprung,
Brought by Voluce to the awful fight,
The first ranks showing but a sorry sight.

Voluce when he heard it, and beheld
Bold Salinguerr his coward troops confound,
Darted upon his horse, for on the field
He then on foot was fighting ;—quickly round
His sanguine path the stern opponents yield ;
All shun his lifted spear and quit the ground;
To meet him then advances Salinguerr,
And running menaces a dreadful war.

Burning with wrath, and frowning with disdain,
Advancing, both their lances placed in rest,
They meet, as winds upon the raging main,
Or thunderbolts when storms the skies invest ;
The glancing helmets flash and Hash again,
The fields and forests, as with fear opprest,
Bellow at that encounter, and the dry
Javelins into a thousand pieces fly.

Both camps immediately made the sign
Of the holy cross, and stand, with wonder gazing,
Immovable and speechless in a line,
Forgetting their own danger ; when, upraising
Their swords, the heroes darting looks malign,
Wheel round, each battered shield with sparkles blazing,
And thundering onward with tempestuous rage,
Striking both right and left, at once engage.

They did not stop and talk of honours won,
As usual with the ancient men of war;
Nor boast their fathers. Moor, or Spanish Don,
But forthwith went to work, as wiser far ;
The .splendid vests, that all embroidered shone
With gold ; the plumes and shields, and armour rare ;
These broken, bruised, and powdered into dust,
The scattering winds dispersed at every gust.

Count di Miceno midst a thousand blows,
Haply struck one on Salinguerra's brow,
Which dazzled him, that to his vision rose,
Moon, stars, the heavens, and Iris' glittering- bow ;
At this the champion's beating bosom glows
Like fire, he lifts his drooping head, and now
Moves on to be revenged, but in his haste,
Turns, and discovers how his troops are placed.

Under their brave commander, following fast,
The gallant Ferrarese so far had gone,
That into dire confusion they had cast
The enemy's left — but that achievement done,
And seeing Salinguerra as they passed,
Encountered by Voluce, every one
Stopped short ; — the proverb has been often penned,
An ass"s gallop soon comes to an end.

Manfredi who had chased the Milanese,
All broken and dispersed, o'er field and plain ;
And who desired to aid the Cremonese
The Tuscans and Romagnians to restrain,
Weil knowing by their arms the Ferrarese,
Wlio were engaging his, own mountain train,
Turned himself to the squadron which he led,
And, pointing with his sword, indignant said :—

"Look ! look ! these fickle people, pray behold !
New leaders ever foolishly desiring ;
"Now bowing to the pope, with whimsies bold,
"Dreaming of mitres — to red hats aspiring ;
"Now mark the wretches, glittering in gold,
"How grand in arms and jewels, pride-inspiring ;
"Let us, ye brave, rush on them, young and old,
"That ours may be the arms, the gems, and gold."

So saying, he goads on his willing steed,
Draws his sharp sword, and lifts his bossy shield ;
And rushing on the enemy with speed,
Thunders among them ; — at all points they yield.
As at a signal hounds of noble breed
Give chase to a vile herd across the field ;
So those brave men upon their saddles vaulted,
And valiantly the Ferrarese assaulted:

Manfred, of Pocointesta Pasqualin,
!ut olf, with a side stroke, the chin and naso ;
And left with half a skull-cap, what a sin !
Piero Simon de Gasparin Pendaso.
Against him then with a tremendous din,
His lance in rest, came Mazzarel Tommaso ;
But he was caught or hooked with an uncino,
By Archimedes d'Orf Cavallerino.

For he was hurrying-, with a loosened rein,
Not thinking of attack from any side,
When Archimedes brought him to the plain,
By his prime hook, most dexterously applied ;
Tommaso seized the horse's tail to strain
And stop him, but the courser spreading wide
His feet, instead of comfits at a feast,
Kicked down his throat a dozen teeth at least,

Giannotto Pellicciar with an accetta
Split up the head of Gabrio Calcagnino ;
Obiz Angiar, and Baldovin Falletta
Were pierced, and killed by Gemignan Porrino ;
With one stroke of his club Anteo Pinzetta
Burst in the vizor-bars of Acarino,
Bom of the illustrious stock of Gigliolo,
And of his nose made a raviggiolo.

But that, to Manfred, was a joke indeed,
The squadron is all routed by that hero ;
Golasso Trotti, and Gotfredi bleed,
Gualengui, Perondel di Boccanera.
And Rosso Riminaldi, trom his steed
Is thrown, his throat cut deep — alla gorgiera.
Thence losing courage as the strife begun,
The Ferrarese disposed themselves to run.

Bold Salinguerra sees his people fly
From the victorious foe-men with agility ;
And instant checks his sword, though lilted high,
And says : — " Pray, Count, do grant mo the civility
"To let me follow my good troops, till I
"Can bring them hither, to renew hostility ;
"For if I stay surrounded, as you see,
"You can 't in honour, surely, fight with me !"

Voluce answered : " Marquis, I must say
"The time is past, Orlando now is dead ;
"But if you really want to run away,
"I will not be discourteous, or ill-bred,
"Follow then, I insist not on your stay,
"And lose no time, since every soul has fled,
"And like the wind too, it appears to me ;
"But I, through grace, must bear you company."

"That cannot be ;" then Salinguerr replied ;
"If you remain not I shall never go,"
And saying thus a swinging stroke applied
Upon the sconce of his uncivil foe ;
The count his stirrup lost, and slid inside,
Almost unhorsed by that bewildering blow ;
His lids l';ll, .sparkles of a thousand dyes,
And lamps, and lightnings glittered in his eyes.

Then Salinguerra seized that moment, and,
Spurring his charger, quickly disappeared ;
And where Manfredi had dispersed his band
Of Ferrarese, his menaces were heard ;
He roared, and with the flat part of his brand
Struck some, some with the edge, and others jeered ;
But jeering, nor reproach, nor menace stern,
Had power to make one coward heart return.

Meanwhile the count recovering, looked around.
And at a distance saw the foe again ;
After him he rushed on, and luckless found
The path shut up and all his struggles vain ;
Among the Ferrarese then, with a bound,
He furious sped, with anger and disdain ;
And made dismembered limbs and armour fly,
In bloody fragments quivering to the sky.

The shoulder-flap of Tebaldel Romeo,
And Bonaguida Fischi's arm, were lopped ;
And the left leg of Niccolin Bonleo
Was broken off just when the buskin stopped ;
And Mastro Daniel di Bendideo,
Astrologer, from this existence hopped ;
Killed by a stab, which showed, presumption quelling,
That Heaven laughs at the joke of fortune-telling.

Voluce wonderful exploits achieved,
Killed thirty marquisses with his own hand ;
For marquisates at that time ('tis believed)
Any one for a dollar might command ;
And some, their lost appearances retrieved,
Thinking to show themselves extremely grand,
By bringing titles of a certain prince,
Who for his profit put them up for pence.

As when a cloud of starlings through the air
Is by a falcon first, or merlin chased ;
If the fierce hawk, not often known to spare,
With hooked claws, amid the azure waste,
After a long pursuit, pounce on them there,
All is confusion, doubled is their haste ;
Now they collect, now spread, and now extend,
And in long files, now down, now upward bend.

So the Po people who first flew before
The furious temper of Manfredi's ire,
Soon as Voluce brave amidst them bore,
Redoubled was their fear, ail ice their lire ;
With such disorder flying, and even more,
Among the Fiorentines they retire,
Carrying them in confusion and dismay,
From the inglorious field away, away.

Manfredi follows—standards, swords, and mail,
Where'er he moves in wrath, the plain o'erspread ;
Voluce's arms in every part prevail,
He leaves behind him mountains of the dead ;
Pippo de' Pazzi, Cecco Pucci fell,
Becco Stradini, Pier di Casa bled.
Bosio was with him — and with wings endued,
Tuscans and Ferrarese their flight pursued.

But not thus fled the Perugines that day,
Nor the brave cavalry of Malatest ;
For, on the contrary, as soon as they
Knew Bosio, by his gems and pompous vest,
They with a hundred hooks seized on their prey,
They hooked his arms, and sides, and head, and chest ;
"Be gentle," Bosio cried, " in this distress,
"Tear not my clothes — my valuable dress.

"stop this rude dragging — I am vanquished quite,
"Pull me not thus, accursed wretches — stay —
"Confusion on ye, for this cruel spite ;
"Base Perugines, to drag me thus away !
So talking, the embroidery-loving knight
Was presently made prisoner, by the gay
Cornet of old Paulucci, who then tied
Him on a nag, to Crespellan to ride.

Hic capture of their leader soon excited
To fury and revenge the Cremonese ;
They sallied forth, and, gathering force, united
Their powerful squadrons with the Frignanese ;
But not a Perugine, their honour plighted,
Would stir ; as bravely stood the Riminese ;
By their own valour and their captains held
Immovable upon the gory field.

Captain Paulucci now at Perdigone,
Brother of Bosio, who his charger slew,
Drew his good bow, balestra da bolzone,
And with two ribs broke, stretched him on dew;
Then with his brand he killed Ercol Pandone,
Who did not take it as polite, 'tis true ;
Because he was a veteran of three score,
And none had dared to take his life before.

Meanwhile Alessio di Pazzan, inflamed,
At good Omero Tortor made a blow ;
A noble captain, and historian famed,
Nourished in youth by nymphs of Isauro ;
But he himself by Rimini was maimed,
The javelin struck him, where I do not know,
But deep the iron went, and with such force,
Then he, half dead, was tumbled from his horse.

And now the victor sought his spoil to gain,
Where Aless turned himself, and dying said : —
"O thou, that joyest thus to see me slain,
"A harsher fate is thine, a gloomier shade ;
"Thy end is near, thou canst not long remain,
"Thy crimes are ripe ; shall vengeance be delayed?
"When least expected, comes thy mortal lot,
"Thy fame shall be extinguished and forgot."

Alessio then expired ; and Malatest
Withdrawing from the spoil, in dudgeon high : —
"With this foul augury," said he, " thou mayst rest;
"Down, down, and with the devil prophecy ;
"And take these gilded arms and silken vest.
"Along with thee, for I despise them, I ;
"Together with the doom thou dost impart,
"Fabler and wretched sorcerer as thou art."

Thus saying he remounted, and returned
Amidst the fight, and paced the slippery ground ;
His heart, magnanimous, within him burned.
At the shrill clang of arms, inspiring sound !
When lo! his rear battalion he discerned
Attacked by furious Roldan, moving round
From the o-rim war, Ramberto too, all wet
In that exhausting strife with blood and sweat.

Therefore against the fury of the darts,
Shot by the Alpine people, he withdrew
At once his bold equestrians, noble hearts !
Himself retiring to an inn he knew;
And old Paulucci too, on foot, departs,
Sweating and out of breath, and fanning now
With his broad hat, his fever to allay ;
But finds it hard to get his troops away.

For Becco, Vico, Peppe, Crancio, Lello,
And Tile, Mariotto, Cecco, Bino,
And Miccia d'Erculan Montesperello,
Were killed, and also Ciitol Oradino;
The captured were Binciucco Signorello,
And Mede di Pippon Montemelino ;
And Gelomia from his horse was flung,
First cultivator of his native tongue.

Dottor da Palestrina was o'erthrown
And crippled, by a sad decree of fate;
And by the iron of a javelin one
Eye was pulled out from Braccioforte's pate ;
Poor Braccioforte, Death had girded on
His sword that morning—short alas his date !
And the fierce Pluto had, to make him feared,
Placed on his chin his own terrific beard.

But while the victory suspended lies,
And both camps are defeated, both subdued,
Two politicians quarrel in the skies,
Adverting to old injuries now renewed ;
Mercury defends the Sipa enterprize,
Mad Hercules battles for the Potta's good ;
Jove with decorum stands between, to assuage
Their keen disputes, and bridle in their rage.

Now in the heavenly empire every star
Ceases to change the influence and the hour ;
Unusual splendour purifies the air,
The tempests, quenched in ocean, cease to lour ;
From his exalted throne that shines afar,
Thus speaks the regal god, the sovereign power :
"Ye Deities why thus accelerate,
"That which will come too soon, discord and hate !

"Look, where the caverned back of Alps is made
"To echo with the voices, loud and hoarse,
"Of the Turrita and the Serchio. led
"Between two bridges to unite their course ;
"Two people between these, with ardour sped,
"In cruel tight engage without remorse ;
"And by the liberal use of teeth and hands,
"Show themselves to be real Graffignans.

how much bark, stripped from the chesnut-tree,
"Will cover all the country, hill and plain;
"How many heads lopped from their trunks will be,
"such a cruel, such a dire campaign ;
"Charon, fatigued, transporting those you'll see
"Killed, and descending to the Styx amain,
"Will doubly curse the cursed fate that made
"Him the eternal boatman of the dead. .

"Here, to assist their people will he seen,
"Running towards the hills, the Modenese ;
"There, at the passes which in peace had been
"Preserved, you 'Il find in arms the shrewd Lucchese,
"You then may mix in the conflicting scene,
"You, Mercury, and mighty Hercules,
"And show which is the most important part,
"Cunning or vigour, natural strength or art.

' A young Alfonzo and Luigi then
"With chins yet guiltless of the razor's stroke,
".With sword and lance shall crimson all the plain,
"And wondering nations shudder at the shock;
"The squadrons will en masse turn back again,
"Before those Paladins of France, all broke .
And the besieged in the beleagured walls,
"Through fear, will answer very savoury calls, .

"Begging- Count Biglia upon their knees
"To come, the dreadful tempest to compose ;
"Unfolding Filip's standard to the breeze,
"With a true Spanish brag in pompous prose ;
"Then you may, with more reason, if you please,
"Tear out your eyes, and break your heads with blows ;
"Meanwhile pray cease, and let the struggle rest,
"Between the combatants, half mud at best."

He paused, and called to Iris, beauteous maid !
Spreading her humid tresses to the sun ;
"Fly, O my lovely damsel !" mild he said,
"And summon Mars this horrid strife to shun,
"Until Gherardo and his sister staid
"Arrive, by them the victory must be won."
Iris without reply now downward bends
And quick from heaven upon the field descends.

She sees rough Mars, and speedful wings her way
Where he is fighting ; — tells her embassy ;
And then departing from the hideous fray
And mortal stink, ascends the balmy sky ;
Mars who observes both armies, as at bay,
Drawls back behind the first rank cautiously,
And pressing to the rear, — his succour closed —
Leaves the bold Potta to his foe opposed.

The Potta had the Faentines assailed,
And all their cavalry repulsed ; — in vain
Their painted shields and shining helms, they failed,
Before the whizzing darts which fell like rain ;
Giannoccio Naldi, Pier, were half empaled,
And doomed to rot upon the thirsty plain ;
The daring Potta with his own good spear,
Killed Mengo Foschi, Guilit Cancellier.

But after Mars withdraws his conquering aid,
His planetary influence changes sides ;
And bold Perinto brandishing his blade,
Comes furious with old Satan's rapid strides ;
The wearied Modenese are quite dismayed
By his tempestuous wrath, and, as subsides
Their zeal, down oozing to their nimble feet,
Resolve they on precipitate retreat.

The Potta full of rage and desperation,
Roared, raved, with tongue and hand his wrath expressed;
But could not check by threat or exhortation,
The whelming terror which his troops possessed ;
At last obliged to bear the degradation,
He left the battle, woefully distressed ;
Though several times, before compelled to go,
He singly urged his horse amid the foe.

Running-, and traversing the river's bed,
Without his helm, determined to be first,
All dust and sweat the Count Culagna fled ;
And on the city like an earthquake burst ;
The wondering people heard their sentence read,
The king a prisoner, and the camp dispersed :
Old men and women at this intimation
Flew here and there, all pale with consternation.

The Ancients then immediately ran
To weigh the matter in the council-hall ;
Many proposed with countenances wan
To fly the city and abandon all ;
Others conceived it a much better plan
To seize on every thing, both great and small ;
And forthwith to the tower — when full, n:i doubt
The rest would be obliged to stay without.

Against this Bigo Manfredino rose,
Then near to Carlo Fiordibelli sitting,
And said : " What ! without bread and wine propose
To shut up men in towers, is that befitting ?
"Such counsel from the silly ever Hows,
"Not tenable — and better pretermitting ;
"If my advice your approbation meet,
"Dig- a deep well in front of every street,

"And spread it over, that the enemy
"May fall in with a crash, whene'er they ec come."
Guarnier Cantati said : " And when .shall we
"Finish this task, and thus our foes entomb ?
"Is it not better to concur with me,
"And take the dung which occupies such room
"Throughout city, — every place one meets,
"And with it wholly shut up all the streets?"

Ugo Machella laughed at this conceit,
And said to those about him with a grin:
"If we shut up in this way every street,
"Pray how are our own people to get in ?
"Let us take arms, the foe-men we shall beat,
"Heaven favours bravery, gallant hearts must win."
Here every one rose up with warmth and pride,
And, " Faith! 'tis trae—on—forward !" fearless cried.

Bat all the shop-men running quickly forth,
The various city-passes to secure,
With beams, and pales, and branches, stones, and earth,
Raised banks, entrenchments, walls, to be more sure ;
For streets and smoky lanes there was no dearth
Of good defence, a storming to endure ;
And then in that extremity, by scores
They briskly emptied out the common sewers. :

Meantime in arms refulgent there appeared
Renoppia, when the dreadful news was told,
Running towards the gate — the path she cleared,
Leading her gallant troop of virgins bold ;
The courage of the men she smiling cheered,
And well the women's diffidence controlled ;
But looking forward with a steady eye
She saw not any of the vanquished fly.

Dubious she stood, and for the count inquired,
But the good count had gone another. way ;
Therefore deliberating she retired
To the Panaro bridge without delay,
To know the truth—her aid was there required ;
Arriving at the mellow part of day,
She gazed with sorrowful and saddened mien
Upon that dark and melancholy scene.

Mid the deep-rolling stream both loot and horse
Were floating, floundering down confusedly,
The waters were all turbid in their course,
With human blood, arms sparkling flitted by ;
On the left bank the Potta's beaten force
Were flying from the Bolognese, and high
Too-non and Periteo oer them rose,
Dealing with sharpest swords their sharpest blows.

By Periteo's hand were given to fate
Guron Bertani, Baldassar Guerino,
Antonio Porti, Jacop Sadolett ;
He wounded Antenor di Scalabrino,
But proud Tognone promptly overset
The troops of Ruffion, and Ravarino ;
'Twas only by superior penetration
Gherardin saved himself on that occasion.

The brother wounded, and a prigioniero,
Gave up his arms to the ferocious knight ;
When lo! upon the bridge a cavaliero
Thundering with voice and sword, now puts to flight
The Modenese ; against that haughty hero
The Potta singly stands opposed in tight ;
And tries to stop in part his wildered troops,
Already broke, and scampering oil in groups.

Renoppia comes, and anxiously discerning
In most disgraceful route her good allies,
With cross-bow ready bent, her features burning
With shame, and anger flashing from her eyes :
"infamy! most infamously earning;
"Fly to the city and without disguise,
"Say that her sisters and her daughters here
"Die in her cause, whilst you escape in fear.

"Yes, here alone we 'll perish gloriously ;
"Go, save your wretched lives, too long you've tarried ;
"Your crying ignominy shall not die,
"Nor with us shall our honest fame be buried."
Renoppia had, on whom she could rely,
A chosen squadron, married and unmarried ;
Women of Pompeian of virtuous birth,
And five score others of superior worth.

Celinda and sweet Semidea were there,
Sisters of Manfred, and his dear delight ;
Each of them was equipped with bow and spear,
And quivered darts well sharpened for the tight ;
Renoppia who beheld how, far and near,
The Modenese had turned themselves to flight,
Pointed an arrow at the uncovered face
Of bold Perinto, hard upon the chase ;

And had not Pallas turned the stroke aside,
Aimed by that beautiful hand with such precision,
Perhaps the bravest hero would have died ;
'But though it failed in its important mission,
The horse, which at that moment reared with pride,
To show his blood and excellent condition,
Received the stroke upon his pectoral ridge,
And with his master tumbled on the bridge.

Sudden Perinto from the horse is freed,
But the proud dame, disdaining even a look,
Descended from the bridge, and ran with speed
To her confederates, who with terror shook ;
There at Tognon, who, glorying in the deed,
Tlic spoils from Eugheram Panciera took,
Aimed, and the arrow, rapid as the wind,
Pierced where his armour at the shoulder joined.

Wounded the cavalier retires, but now
Another arrow whizzing in his ear,
Shot from the lovely Semidea's bow,
Shatters his leg, — the anguish most severe ;
Celinda grasps her lance, resolved to go
Where Periteo may her prowess fear,
And sees him, horse and all, in ireful mood,
From the high bank rolled headlong down the flood.

At him full tilt her fair companions threw
A hundred darts, — an overwhelming shower;
His mail defended him, but, run quite through,
His horse fell dead. In marriage-hall or bower,
Never shone richer dress — more dazzling new ;
Grand was his ve.st, and helmet, fashion's flower;
All eyes were bent upon this m;in of note —
Better for him had been a beggar's coat.

As Telesilla once from Argos chased
The conquering Spartans, so Renoppia made
The conquering Bolognese, with breathless haste,
Abandon every post and barricade ;
As wakening from a dream, or torpid rest,
Ashamed of their base conduct, the brigade
Which fled, turned back again, with looks undaunted,
And on the bridge their glorious standard planted.

Then on the right their columns wide extending,
Rushed emulous the banks to occupy ;
When a loud tumult to the heavens ascending,
Echoed around — they presently knew why ;
It was Gherard, amidst the foe contending,
And coming to their succour rapidly ;
At his approach the new-lit embers blazed,
And Mars and Bacchus felt their spirits raised.

Gherardo now despatches to the right
Bertoldo with two squadrons, and proceeds,
Himself, where he perceives the Potta fight,
Mounts on the bridge, and most prodigious deeds
Performs ; Perinto there on foot the knight
Opposes, but o'erpowered he soon recedes ;
So many rush the important bridge to gain
That his best efforts must have been in vain.

Gherardo barricades the bridge, and leaves
Giberto to defend it, hurrying now
Where the Panaro's turbid bosom heaves,
And his own people combat, full in view,
He finds his horse fatigued, at which he grieves,
But calls out for another, he had two ;
Yet has not patience down the bank to ride,
But headlong leaps into the splashing tide.

Signor Faenza was amidst the fray,
With Capitan Brendon Boccabadati
Slaughtered were Gemignan Roncaglia,
Beltram Barocchio, and old Fredi Matti,
Gherardo with his mazza cut his way,
And routed Imolese and Cesenati,
Cattolicans, Ravennese, Faentines,
Making tremendous havock in their lines.

On Capitan Fracassa's helm he gave
A furious and exterminating blow ;
Who falling senseless on the bubbling wave
Was made a prisoner by Brindon his foe.
Then turned and brandished his unsparing glave
Midst the Petronian troops, above, below,
And Count Panago, Boniforte too,
The worthy Signor di Castiglion, slew.

Now to the other bank the foes retreat,
Seeing the dreadful loss they had sustained ;
And reaching, after their forlorn defeat,
A firm position, they their speed restrained,
Breathing defiance ; but the sun had set,
And Night, her gloomy empire having gained,
Was lighting all the lamps of heaven to close
On earth the day of mortals with repose.