LIV. This said, the Lady fair got up from table, 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 66 LVII. Up, up!" he cries, " to find our frantic Count!" 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, 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, 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, LXI. When he had journey'd on of miles a score, 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," 81 LXIII. Thence he pursued his journey, till the night And in a neighbouring house a cheerful light And straight he chose it for his night's abode; |