wondered at. Shakespear wrote in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, a Princefs who inherited more of the Ambition of her Father Henry, than of the Tendernefs and Delicacy of her Mother Anne Bullen: And however fenfible fhe might be of the Injuries her Mother endur'd, would not have fuffered her Father's Character to have been drawn in the worst Colours, either by an Hiftorian or a Poet. Shakespear has exerted an equal degree of Complaifance towards Queen Elizabeth by the amiable Lights he fhews her Mother in, in this Play, Anne Bullen is reprefented as affected with the most tender Concern for the Sufferings of her Miftrefs, Queen Catharine; receiving the Honour the King confers on her, by making her Marchionefs of Pembroke, with a graceful Humility; and more anxious to conceal her Advancement from the Queen, left it should aggravate her Sorrows, than folicitous to penetrate into the Meaning of fo extraordinary a Favour, or of indulging herfelf in the flattering Prospect of future Royalty.. THE From the Italian of Lodovico Ariofto, in the Fifth Book of his Orlando Furiofo.. HE noble Rilando failing to England, whither he was fent on an Embafly by the Emperor Charlemaine, a violent Storm arofe, which continuing two Days and Nights, drove him, at last, on the Coast of Scotland His Fleet arriving fafe, he ordered his Retinue to meet him at Berwick, himself, without any Attendants, ftruck into the famous Foreft of Caledonia, not without a Hope of meeting with fome Adventure worthy his Courage and Virtue. While he was pleafing himself with this Expectation, fometimes riding, and fometimes walking a flow Pace leading his Horfe, Night drew on, and he now began to think it neceffary to go in queft of a Lodging. Perceiving an Abbey at fome Diftance, he remounted his Horfe Horfe and rode up to it. The Abbot and his Monks, feeing a Stranger of a noble Appearance at their Gate, came out, and with great Civility invited him to pass the Night there. Rinaldo gratefully accepted their Offer; and being conducted to a Chamber, and an elegant Repaft ferved to the Table, as foon as he had fatisfied the Cravings of an Appetite made eager by Travel and long Fafting, he enquired of the good Fathers what noble Exploits in Arms had been lately performed in their Neighbourhood, and whether a Warrior might hope to find any Occafions there of fignalizing his Valour? 'Tis certain, replied the Abbot, that many great and wonderful Adventures have been atchieved in this Foreft, but as the Place, fo are the Actions, obfcure, and buried in Oblivion: However, if Honour be your Purfuit, the prefent time affords you a fit Opportunity to acquire it; the Danger, indeed, is great, but if you fucceed eternal Fame will be your Reward. The young and beautiful Geneura, the Daughter of our King, is accused by a Knight named Lurcanio, of having violated her Chastity; and it being provided by our Scottish Laws, that all Damfels, of what Rank foever, who are publickly charged with Incontinence, fhall fuffer the Punishment of Fire, unless a Champion be found who will undertake their Defence, and fight with the Accufer. Ceicura, Geneura, in Confequence of this Law, has been adjudged to die, and only a Month's Space allowed her to procure a Defender of her Life and Honour. The King, anxious for his Daughter's Safety, but more for her Reputation, has caufed it to be proclaimed throughout his Dominions, that by whatever Perfon (provided his Birth be not abfolutely bafe) his Daughter fhall be delivered from the Danger that threatens her, to him fhall the Princefs be given in Marriage, with a Portion suitable to her high Rank and Quality. This Enterprize, noble Stranger, is worthy your Youth, your Courage, and Generofity: The Law of Arms requires all true Knights to undertake the Defence of injured and oppreffed Ladies; and, furely, a fairer than Geneura is not to be found from one Extremity of the Globe to the other; nor, if common Opinion may be relied on, a chaster. And is it poffible, faid Rinaldo after a little Paufe, that this fair Princess is condemned to die for having generously rewarded the Paffion of a faithful Lover? Curfed be the Makers of fo hard a Law; more curfed they that are influenced by it. For me it matters not whether Geneura be juftly or unjustly accused; what has been imputed to her as a Crime, were I her Judge, the fhould be applauded for, had fhe taken care to have avoided Discovery; and, as it is, I am refolved to defy her Accufer to Combat, and, I truft, fhall be able to deliver her her from the unjuft and cruel Punishment fhe has been doomed to. The Abbot and Monks, overjoyed that they had procured a Champion for their Princefs, lavished a thousand Praises on Rinaldo for his generous Defign; and he, full of Impatience to begin the glorious Enterprize, being furnished by his Holts with a Guide, fet. out early the next Morning for the Scottish Court, leaving the good Fathers charmed with his Courage and Gallantry, and offering up repeated Prayers to Heaven for his Succefs. As they were pursuing their Journey through Bye-roads, for the greater Expedition, a Cry, as of fome Perfon in Distress, rouzed all their Attention. Inftantly Rinaldo clapped Spurs to his Horfe, and bending his Course towards the Place from whence the Noife proceeded, he came to a deep Valley, furrounded with Trees, through the Branches of which he perceived a young Maid ftruggling to free herself from the Hands of two Ruffians, who were attempting to murder her. Tranfported with Rage at this Sight, the generous Rinaldo flew to the Relief of the diftreffed Damfel; his Appearance fo terrified the intended Murderers, that they left their Prey, and fled with the utmost Precipita tion. Mean time the Maid recovered from her Fright, thanked her Deliverer with a Tranfport of Joy and Gratitude, and was beginning to acquaint him with the Story of her Misfor tunes, |