XXVII.
And when he saw unfinished was the fight,
At the first onset, like the justs whilere,
Misdoubting some strange accident, in sprite,
Sore vexed, this while remained the cavalier.
To either maid wished well that youthful knight;
For both were loved, but not alike were dear.
For this the stripling’s love was fury, fire;
For that ’twas rather fondness than desire.
XXVIII.
If so Rogero could with honour do,
He willingly the warriors would divide;
But his companions, in the fear to view
Victory with King Charles’s knight abide,
Esteeming him the better of the two,
Break in between and turn their arms aside;
Upon the other part, the christian foes
Advance, and both divisions come to blows.
XXIX.
On this side and that other, rings the alarm,
Which in those camps is sounded every day.
Bidding the unmounted mount, the unarmed arm,
And all their standards seek, without delay,
Where, under separate flags, the squadrons swarm,
More than one shrilling trump is heard to bray;
And as their rattling notes the riders call,
Rousing the foot, beat drum and ataball.
