XV.
“Where Childibert the boundary hills has crost[7],
“Heading what bands of France and captains, see;
“Yet shall no more than baffled Clovis boast
“The conquest or the spoil of Lombardy.
“Heaven’s sword descends so heavy on his host,
“Choked with their bodies every road shall be;
“So pined with watery flux and withering sun,
“That, out of ten, unharmed returns not one.”
XVI.
He shows King Pepin, shows King Charlemagne[8];
How into Italy their march they bend;
And one and the other fair success obtain,
Because her land they came not to offend.
But Stephen one, the other Adriane,
And, after, injured Leo, would defend.
This quells Astolpho, and that takes his heir,
And re-establishes the papal chair.
XVII.
A youthful Pepin of the royal line
He after shows; who seemed to spread his host,
Even from the kilns to the isle of Palestine[9];
And with a bridge, achieved at mighty cost,
At Malamocco, to bestride the brine,
And on Rialto’s shore his battle post.
Then fly and leave his drowning bands behind,
His bridge destroyed by wasting waves and wind.
