THE MORGANTE MAGGIORE DI MESSER LUIGI PULCI. 1822. ADVERTISEMENT. THE Morgante Maggiore, of the first canto of which this translation is offered, divides with the Orlando Innamorato the honour of having formed and suggested the style and story of Ariosto. The great defects of Boiardo were his treating too seriously the narratives of chivalry, and his harsh style. Ariosto, in his continuation, by a judicious mixture of the gaiety of Pulci, has avoided the one; and Berni, in his reformation of Boiardo's poem, has corrected the other. Pulci may be considered as the precursor and model of Berni altogether, as he has partly been to Anosto, however inferior to both his copyists. He is no less the founder of a new style of poetry very lately sprung up in England. I allude to that of the ingenious Whistlecraft. The serious poems on Roncesvalles in the same language, and more particularly the excellent one of Mr Merivale, are to be traced to the same source. It has never yet been decided entirely whether Fulci's intention was or was not to deride the religion which is one of his favourite topics. It appears to me, that such an intention would have been no less hazardous to the poet than to the prest, particularly in that age and country; and the permission to publish the poem, and its reception among the classics of Italy, prove that it neither was nor is so interpreted. That he intended to ridicule the monastic life, and suffered his imagination to play with the simple dulness of his converted giant, seems evident enough; but surely it were as unjust to accuse him of religion on this account, as to denounce Fielding for his Parson Adams, Barnabas, Thwackum, Supple, and the Ordinary in Jonathan Wild,--or Scott, for the exquisite use of his Covenanters in the 'Tales of my Landlord.' In the following translation I have used the liberty of the original with the proper names: as Puki uses Gan, Ganellon, or Ganellone; Carlo, Carlomagno, or Carlomano; Rondel, or RonGallo, &c., as it suits his convenience; so has the translator. In other respects the version is fathful to the best of the translator's ability in combining his interpretation of the one language with the not very easy task of reducing it to the same versification in the other. The reader, on omparing it with the original, is requested to remember that the antiquated language of Pulci, Lowever pure, is not easy to the generality of Italians themselves, from its great mixture of Tustan proverbs; and he may therefore be more indulgent to the present attempt. How far the unsiator has succeeded, and whether or no he shall continue the work, are questions which the blic will decide. He was induced to make the experiment partly by his love for, and partial ntercourse with, the Italian language, of which it is so easy to acquire a slight knowledge, and with which it is so nearly impossible for a foreigner to become accurately conversant. talan language is like a capricious beauty, who accords her smiles to all, her favours to few, and sometimes least to those who have courted her longest. The translator wished also to preent in an English dress a part at least of a poem never yet rendered into a northern language; the same time that it has been the original of some of the most celebrated productions on this de of the Alps, as well as of those recent experiments in poetry in England which have been ready mentioned. The I. CANTO THE FIRST. the beginning was the Word next God: God was the Word, the Word no less was he: is was in the beginning, to my mode [be: Of thinking, and without Him nought could Therefore, just Lord! from out thy high abode, The Christian cause had suffer'd shamefully, XV. 'Tis fit thy grandeur should dispense relief, So that each here may have his proper part, For the whole court is more or less in grief: Perhaps thou deem'st this lad a Mars in heart?' Orlando one day heard this speech in brief, As by himself it chanced he sat apart : Displeased he was with Gan because he said it, But much more still that Charles should give him credit. XVI. And with the sword he would have murder'd But Oliver thrust in between the pair, [Gan, And from his hand extracted Durlindan, And thus at length they separated were. Orlando, angry too with Carloman, Wanted but little to have slain him there; Then forth alone from Paris went the chief, 'When hither to inhabit first we came These mountains, albeit that they are obscure, And burst and madden'd with disdain and grief. As you perceive, yet without fear or blame XVII. From Ermellina, consort of the Dane, XVIII. Like him a fury counsels; his revenge On Gan in that rash act he seem'd to take, Which Aldabella thought extremely strange; But soon Orlando found himself awake; And his spouse took his bridle on this change, And he dismounted from his horse, and spake Of everything which pass'd without demur, And then reposed himself some days with her. XIX. Then full of wrath departed from the place, The traitor Gan remember'd by the way; And wandering on in error a long space, An abbey which in a lone desert lay, Midst glens obscure, and distant lands, he found, [bound. Which form'd the Christian's and the pagan's XX. The abbot was call'd Clermont, and by blood 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. Which nearly crush'd Rondell, came tumbling So that he swoon'd with pain as if he died, But more than dead, he seem'd so stupefied. over, So that he took a long leap under cover. XXVII. • For God's sake, cavalier, come in with speed; The holy father said, 'I don't deceive; 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.' Said 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 darts Such 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?' ΧΧΧΙ. And promised him an office of great ease. 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. And being return'd to where Orlando stood, The cord, he hurl'd a stone with strength so rude, And head, and set both head and helmet XXXIII. Then Passamont, who thought him slain out right, 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 outlaid: To the right about-without wings thou'rt to XXXV. Orlando had Cortana bare in hand; To split the head in twain was what schemed : Cortana clave the skull like a true brand, And pagan Passamont died unredeem'd, Yet harsh and haughty, as he lay he bann d And most devoutly Macon still blaspheme! But while his crude, rude blasphemies he he Orlando thank'd the Father and the Word, XXXVI. Saying, 'What grace to me thou'st this given ! And I to thee, O Lord! am ever bound. I pray thee take heed of me, till I can XXXVII. And having said thus much, he went his way To root from out a bank a rock or two. Orlando, when he reach'd him, loud 'gan sa 'How think'st thou, glutton, such a store throw?' When Alabaster heard his deep voice ring, He suddenly betook him to his sling, XXXVIII. 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 physic |