CLIV As waters will sometime their course delay, Stagnant, and penned in pool by human skill, Which, when the opposing dyke is broke away, Fall, and with mighty noise the country fill: 'Twas so the Africans, who had some stay, While Dardinello valour did instil, Fled here and there, dismayed on every side, When they him hurtling form his sell descried. CLV Letting the flyers fly, of those who stand Firm in their place, Rinaldo breaks the array; Ariodantes kills on every hand; Who ranks well nigh Rinaldo on that day. These Leonetto's, those Zerbino's brand O'erturns, all rivals in the glorious fray. Well Charles and Oliver their parts have done, Turpin and Ogier, Guido and Salomon. CLVI In peril were the Moors, that none again Should visit Heatheness, that day opprest: But that the wise and wary king of Spain, Gathered, and from the field bore off the rest: To sit down with his loss he better gain Esteemed, that here to hazard purse and vest: Better some remnant of the host to save, Than bid whole squadrons stand and find a grave. CLVII He bids forthwith the Moorish ensigns be Borne to the camp, which fosse and rampart span. With the bold monarch of Andology, The valiant Portuguese, and Stordilan. He sends to pray the king of Barbary, To endeavour to retire, as best be can; Who will no little praise that day deserve, If he his person and his place preserve. CLVIII That king, who deemed himself in desperate case, Nor ever more Biserta hoped to see; For, with so horrible and foul a face He never Fortune had beheld, with glee Heard that Marsilius had contrived to place Part of his host in full security; And faced about his banners and bade beat Throughout his broken squadrons a retreat. CLIX But the best portion neither signal knew, Nor listened to the drum or trumpet's sound. So scared, so crowded is the wretched crew, That many in Seine's neighbouring stream are drowned, Agramant, who would form the band anew, (With him Sobrino) scowers the squadrons round; And with them every leader good combines To bring the routed host within their lines. CLX But nought by sovereign or Sobrino done, Who, toiling, them with prayer or menace stirred, To march, where their ill-followed flags are gone. Can bring (I say not all) not even a third. Slaughtered or put to flight are two for one Who 'scapes, -- nor he unharmed: among that herd, Wounded is this behind, and that before, And wearied, one and all, and harassed sore. CLXI And even within their lines, in panic sore, They by the Christian bands are held in chase; And of all needful matters little store Was made there, for provisioning the place. Charlemagne wisely by the lock before Would grapple Fortune, when she turned her face, But that dark night upon the field descended, And hushed all earthly matters and suspended: