This gallant steed, so perfect of its kind,
That fault nor blemish was in him descried,
Was glossy bay, as is the chestnut's rind,
But had his face from ears to muzzle pied;
Granada bred — of Spanish blood combined —
Lean in the head, but in the haunches wide;
With tail earth brushing, like a golden tassel,
White of three feet, with mouth to guide most facile.
So brave this charger, earth had not his peer
For symmetry, as I've already told;
By young Ruggiero mounted both appear
As fair a group as eye could well behold;
And whoso gazed on horse and cavalier
Might doubt if they were fashioned in the mould
Of flesh and blood, and not a painter's vision,
So formed was each in gracefullest precision.
This steed from fair Granada was the same
Whom, when my thread of story last he crost,
His Paynim lord did Frontelatte name,
And in defence of Galafrone lost;
Frontino now, he shares Ruggiero's fame,
Till, with his master slain, both pay war's cost.
Of tawny mane and tail, white-faced, white-footed,
With a new name and lord, behold him suited.
Created solely by enchanter's art,
Its dam was formed of elemental fire,
A creature perfect in its every part;
Transcending nature, scarce did it respire
The rushing gale, when lo! to life did start
The matchless courser whom no speed could tire:
Who champs not grass, nor oats, nor other cereal,
But sniffs the air for pasturage ethereal.
Thus entering in, he saw the charger there,
Bound with a golden chain, all glitt'ring bright,
Caparisoned and decked with trappings rare,
With housings of white silk that took the light;
All black was he as charcoal grime, save where,
Above the tail, the hair showed freaked with white.
A snowy streak his forehead eke divided,
With which his near hind-hoof too coincided.
No steed could in the course with him compete,
No, not Boiardo's self, although combined
Be all the world his praises to repeat;
Robuster he, more vigorous, designed
For feats of strength — this other far more fleet —
Since hurtling stone or dart he leaves behind
The flight of birds, the arrow's rush outspeeding,
With all things else in swiftness most exceeding.
But when he took in hand the gilded rein,
To guide that steed on earth without a peer,
It seemed as though he rode the hurricane,
Or swept on wings in dizzying career;
Such portent ne'er was seen, for hill and plain
His eyes can scarce discern, as they appear
Confused in one dim whirl that seemed to blind him,
Ere they were left in that mad race behind him.
The tender herbage bent not 'neath his tread,
So lightly did the dainty creature pace,
The morning dew, upon the pathway shed,
Of his aerial passage showed no trace:
Thus onward with such headlong fury sped,
Rinaldo came upon a river place,
And, where the water shoaled, about to enter
And cross the running stream, beheld the Centaur.
That fault nor blemish was in him descried,
Was glossy bay, as is the chestnut's rind,
But had his face from ears to muzzle pied;
Granada bred — of Spanish blood combined —
Lean in the head, but in the haunches wide;
With tail earth brushing, like a golden tassel,
White of three feet, with mouth to guide most facile.
So brave this charger, earth had not his peer
For symmetry, as I've already told;
By young Ruggiero mounted both appear
As fair a group as eye could well behold;
And whoso gazed on horse and cavalier
Might doubt if they were fashioned in the mould
Of flesh and blood, and not a painter's vision,
So formed was each in gracefullest precision.
This steed from fair Granada was the same
Whom, when my thread of story last he crost,
His Paynim lord did Frontelatte name,
And in defence of Galafrone lost;
Frontino now, he shares Ruggiero's fame,
Till, with his master slain, both pay war's cost.
Of tawny mane and tail, white-faced, white-footed,
With a new name and lord, behold him suited.
Created solely by enchanter's art,
Its dam was formed of elemental fire,
A creature perfect in its every part;
Transcending nature, scarce did it respire
The rushing gale, when lo! to life did start
The matchless courser whom no speed could tire:
Who champs not grass, nor oats, nor other cereal,
But sniffs the air for pasturage ethereal.
Thus entering in, he saw the charger there,
Bound with a golden chain, all glitt'ring bright,
Caparisoned and decked with trappings rare,
With housings of white silk that took the light;
All black was he as charcoal grime, save where,
Above the tail, the hair showed freaked with white.
A snowy streak his forehead eke divided,
With which his near hind-hoof too coincided.
No steed could in the course with him compete,
No, not Boiardo's self, although combined
Be all the world his praises to repeat;
Robuster he, more vigorous, designed
For feats of strength — this other far more fleet —
Since hurtling stone or dart he leaves behind
The flight of birds, the arrow's rush outspeeding,
With all things else in swiftness most exceeding.
But when he took in hand the gilded rein,
To guide that steed on earth without a peer,
It seemed as though he rode the hurricane,
Or swept on wings in dizzying career;
Such portent ne'er was seen, for hill and plain
His eyes can scarce discern, as they appear
Confused in one dim whirl that seemed to blind him,
Ere they were left in that mad race behind him.
The tender herbage bent not 'neath his tread,
So lightly did the dainty creature pace,
The morning dew, upon the pathway shed,
Of his aerial passage showed no trace:
Thus onward with such headlong fury sped,
Rinaldo came upon a river place,
And, where the water shoaled, about to enter
And cross the running stream, beheld the Centaur.