WHERE wide the plains of Tartary extend,
And Sarra's towers in glittering pomp ascend,
A monarch reign'd, who made proud Russia yield
Beneath his arm, in many a bloody field:
Cambuscan was the mighty hero's name,
yore unrivall'd in the list of fame!
In worth unrivall'd; Nature never join'd
A form more faultless with a nobler mind.
By Fortune plac'd to rule a mighty land,
He bore with dignity his high command;
Pure was his faith; wise, merciful, and just,
His word was sacred, Honour seal'd his trust:
Invincible his courage; never knight,
E'en of his race, could boast such strength in fight;
Around his court such wealth and splendor shone,
As Fortune pour'd her gifts on him alone.
This monarch, by fair Elfeta his wife,
Boasted two valiant sons; stout Algarsife,
His eldest hope; next, valiant Cambal came;
A beauteous daughter, Canace by name,
Was youngest of the three; her praise to speak,
To paint her charms, my language is too weak;
Those charms which eloquence itself might move
To study beauty, and to sing of love.
My humble muse dares not, with timid wing,
So bold a flight, content 'mid the low vale to sing.
When twenty lingering winters now were flown
Since great Cambuscan wore the regal crown,
With feasts and tournaments, and revels gay,
He hail'd, as he was wont, his natal day.
Now Phoebus had renew'd his bright career,
And waning March confirm'd the infant year,
Calm was the sky, and through the chequer'd grove
The merry birds renew'd their songs of love,
With wild delight they view'd the tender spray
Cloth'd in fresh green, and felt the sunny ray,
Which seem'd to tell, the snow, and wintry blast,
And all the horrors of the year were past.
High on his throne, repos'd in kingly state,
Adorn'd in royal robes, Cambuscan sate,
This rich and splendid festival to grace
With every solemn rite: the sacred place
In order to describe, my time would fail,
And day be finish'd, ere I clos'd my tale.
"Twere needless here the customs to relate
Of rude magnificence; the massy plate
Pil'd high and smoking with a monstrous weight
Of flesh or fowl, in foreign lands esteem'd,
Yet here I guess no dainties would be deem'd.
No longer to delay, I haste to tell
What wonders the admiring crowd befel.
Ere yet the feast was ended, while the king
Heard the rapt minstrel strike the sounding string,
Sudden before the hall an armed knight,
High on a brazen steed, advanc'd to sight;
A dazzling mirror in his hand he bore,
A golden ring upon his finger wore;
Bright by his side was hung a naked sword;
Proud thro' the hall he rode, and sought the royal
Attention now in every eye appear'd,
And not a murmur from the croud was heard;
Without a helmet was the knight, his breast
And manly limbs in radiant armour dress'd;
Such grace his mien, his speech such art betray'd,
So high respect the royal pair he paid,
And all the nobles as by ranks they sate
Along the splendid hall in princely state;
Had Gawen bade the bowers of bliss adieu
On earth this solemn festival to view,
E'en Gawen must have own'd no art could teach
More faultless action, or more pleasing speech:
Each courtesy perform'd, before the throne
He stood, and thus with manly voice made known
The purport of his message." He who reigns
"In sovereign grandeur o'er the boundless plains
"Of Indus and Arabia, to display
"His sacred friendship, on this solemn day,
"Commanded me, your humblest slave, to bring
"These matchless presents, worthy of a king:
"And first this brazen horse, whose speed can
"Safe and with ease, within a day's short space, "The outstretch'd earth; o'er barren desarts fly, "Or through the pathless regions of the sky; "Unhurt mid' storms and tempest, you shall gain "The eagle's tow'ring height, or smoothly skim the plain.
"Turn but a pin, where'er you list to go,
"The conscious steed his destin'd course shall
"And whether on his back you wake or sleep,
"Unalter'd still his first position keep.
"The artist vers'd in magic, long survey'd
"Each heav'nly constellation ere he made
"The wond'rous fabric, though he knew each art
"Great Nature's hidden mysteries impart.
"Within this polish'd mirror you may see
"Events yet veil'd in dark futurity;
"When gathering evils threaten to o'erwhelm
"Your private peace, or discord shake your realm; "Here, undisguis'd by art, you may discern "Your friends and foes: or ladies fair may learn, "If still the favour'd lover's faith be true, "If false, his wiles, and secret treason view; "Behold to whom his flattering vows are made, "By magic here in lively tints display'd. "This matchless mirror, with this golden ring, "A present for the merry months of spring, "To your fair daughter Canace I bring. "Such knowledge does this magic ring convey, "That she who owns it, whether she display "Or bear it in her purse, shall read aright "The voice of every bird that wings its flight "Beneath the expanse of heav'n; his notes explain, "And in his language answer him again. "Instinctively shall learn the name and worth "Of every plant that clothes the fruitful earth; "And know to cull from Nature's secret store "The choicest herbs, whose medicinal power "Can cure the deepest wounds, at once subdue "The force of fell disease, and life and health renew. "This naked sword which glitters at my side, "Such secret virtue boasts, it can divide
"The strongest armour with a single stroke,
"Though forg'd far thicker than the stoutest oak,
"Nor strength, nor skill, escape the direful shock;
"And those who chance it's fatal edge to feel
"No drugs can ease, no magic art can heal,
"Till o'er the wound (though ne'er so deep and wide)
"The flat smooth blade, with soothing hand apply'd,
"You deign to draw; at once thro' every vein
"The blood shall staunch, and not a sear remain.”
When thus the stranger knight his tale had told,
He turn'd his steed that shone like burnish'd gold
Bright glistening in the sun, his way retrac'd
Along the splendid hall, and came at last
Into a spacious court; there lighting down
He left his horse, immovable as stone.
A courtly train receive him from his steed,
And to a richly furnish'd chamber lead;
Rid of his cumb'rous arms; and serve the feast,
For splendor worthy of a princely guest:
Then the bright mirror and enchanted sword
Apart within a lofty turret stor❜d,
Where lay the royal treasure:-next the ring
To beauteous Canace in state they bring;
They next essay the brazen steed to move,
But far too weak their strongest engines prove
To heave the pond'rous weight-they strive in vain,
His glowing hoofs seem rooted to the plain;
Yet, by the knight untaught, the secret power
To guide at will, they gave their efforts o'er,
And wait his wish'd arrival, to unfold
What in the sequel of my tale is told.
Now gathering in a throng the gazing croud
Surround the horse; inquisitive and loud
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