Trufaldino: The Evil King of Baghdad
. . . continued
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Later Trufaldino betrays the defenders of the fortress Albraca to
the Tartar king Agricane.
Now let's turn to false Trufaldino,
who stayed in that strong citadel.
He'd been a nasty boy when young
and grew worse till the day he died.
He caught the Turks and the Circassians,
his unsuspecting friends, asleep.
No help was stout Torindo's heart
nor lofty Sacripante's force,
since each was weak from many hurts
received in war the day before
and feeble due to loss of blood.
Thus, they were captured by surprise:
Trufaldin tied their feet and arms
and threw them in the castle's dungeon.
He sent a man to Agrican
who bore this message in his name:
He held the stronghold's barbican;
he kept two sovereigns in chains;
he wished to put them in his hands.
This raised the Tartar's hackles, and
eyes flaming, with disdainful mien,
he menace that poor messenger:
"May my lord Trivigante curse him!
Never let it be said on earth
I got my way with help from traitors!
I want to win by force or courage,
to gather glory openly!
I will make you and your employer
regret you dared talk treachery,
you recreants, in front of me!
"I've been informed and I'm convinced
he can't defend himself for long!
I'll hang him from that stronghold by
one foot, outside a balcony!
And you, I'll loop you from his neck!
Everyone who has helped you to
carry out such foul perfidy
I'll dangle from the fortress walls!"
The messenger, who watched his face
grow white then turn as red as flame,
would willingly have run away,
since here he found an awkward game.
When he saw Agricane turn,
he scuttled off in secret, as
if the abyss were chasing him:
Something not roses filled his britches.
Trembling, he brought his message back
to Trufaldino in the stronghold,
but now we have to find Orlando,
who traveled with his daring band.
They'd ridden hard for days and nights
and at last reached the mountain heights
where, unobstructed, they could see
the whole town and the enemy
camp, where the men were infinite
and where the flags and tents were countless.
Angelica was frightened, since
they had to pass those ranks before
they could ascend to Albracą.
But those knights raised their lofty minds,
and they resolved that she would enter
her fortress by the force of swords.
They did not know the treachery
false Trufaldino had committed,
but on the mountain daringly
they planned the path, the strategy
by which the damsel could be safely
led through that evil swarm of Tartars.
The dauntless warriors held council;
they and their steeds were fully armed.
Title Page | Introduction | Start | 2 |
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4 | 5 | 6 | End
Matteo Maria Boiardo
Trans. Charles Ross
©
2003 by Parlor Press