Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

LIV.

This said, the Lady fair got up from table,
A curtsy made, and bid her guests good night;
When lo! distract of mind, with air unstable,
Astolphus near her drew on tip-toe light,
And whisper'd, "Cruel Stella! art thou able
“Unmoved to quit me in such doleful plight?"
The lady, feigning deafness, takes her leave,
First whispering Alard something in his sleeve.

LV.

The poor inamorato, thus forsaken,

Retired not till compell'd by his compeers; Then struggles with his trusty blade to break in To his uncover'd breast, and, bathed in tears,

To send his heart to Stella.-But his bacon

Is timely saved, for now the drug appears Doing good work-else had he slain in madness Himself and friends, and fill'd all France with sadness.

LVI.

The fated drug, the hero's frame invading,

Soon cleansed his bosom of the perilous stuff That weigh'd upon his heart, when straight evading 75 That madd'ning flame (the cure was somewhat rough) 76 He changed his loving note to harsh upbraiding

Of Stella fair, in language coarse and gruff.

Then sleeps two hours-Then hark! at peep of day
He sounds his horn, and wakes his comrades tway. 77

66

LVII.

Up, up!" he cries, " to find our frantic Count!"
"Good sooth! his madness never equall'd yours,"

Quoth then Alard, "Till Stella did recount

"Of Proteus' potent nut the wondrous cures, "And swell'd by curing you their grand amount-78

"Let thanks and endless gratitude be ours.”—

Astolphus (lost all trace of what had past)

Devoutly cross'd himself, and look'd aghast!

G

LVIII.

"Well, as we ride we'll tell you the whole thing,

[ocr errors]

Thus said the knights; then haste, their armour don, And back the leavings of the nut they bring

To Stella. Then (for each in breeding shone,) Of flowery compliments a copious string

They add.-But let them for a time spur on As best them suits; we'll now go join Rinaldo, Bold as my cousin grim, great Arcibaldo. 79

LIX.

You may remember how the sulky elf

(For to your worships so he must have seem'd) Rode forth, with no companion but himself.— -To Persia bound convenient port he deem'd Famed La Rochelle, port free from rock and shelf. -To Persia; where one night he fondly dream'd He'd find Orlando; or else in Utopia,

Which lies between that realm and Ethiopia. 80

LX.

Ocean and Euxine traversed, see, he's landing,
And for his courser ordering corn and beans;
Then at each inn and coffee-house demanding
News of Orlando, if, by any means,

He aught might learn, to Paris worth remanding,

From grey-beard, man, wife, youth, or miss in teens.

But meeting nought but negatives and scorning,
He mounts his nag, and rides away next morning.

LXI.

When he had journey'd on of miles a score,
Flying he meets a herd of kine and beeves;
Then a fair ruddy peasant girl, who tore

Her curling hair and rustic garb, perceives:

She weeps, and cries aloud, lamenting sore,

"Ah! hapless, hapless me!" then silent grieves

He stops, and looking round, a serpent spies

Of fearful length, and most enormous size,

LXII.

Who did with gaping, gory mouth pursue

The trembling girl, that ran with all her might. The cavalier, alighting, instant slew

The monstrous worm that caused the maiden's fright; But when he look'd for thanks, as guerdon due,

And valour's meed, by courtesy and right,

She still runs on, and though he bawls, "stop, stop,"
On her deaf ears his cries unheeded drop.

81

LXIII.

Thence he pursued his journey, till the night
Surprised him near a castle on the road,

And in a neighbouring house a cheerful light
He saw, and singing heard, and laughter broad.
An inn he deem'd it, and conjectured right,

And straight he chose it for his night's abode;
For in the gate-way, blithe and full of life,
Stood, greeting him, the landlord's buxom wife.

« ÎnapoiContinuă »