XCIII Between this and that lofty column's place Into fair Borgia fashioned (as was said) Of aspect so distinguished, of such grace, A lady was, of alabaster made, That, hiding in a simple veil her face, In sable, without gems or gold arraid, She, 'mid the brightest, flung her light as far, As amid lesser fires the Cyprian star.

XCIV None knows, observing her with steadfast view, If she of charms or grace have fuller store, Whether her visage most majestic shew, Or beam with genius or with beauty more.

"He that would speak -- would speak her praises true -- (Declares in fine the sculptured marble's lore) The fairest of emprizes would intend, But never bring his n.o.ble task to end."

XCV Albeit such grace and pa.s.sing sweetness shewed Her fair and well wrought image, she disdain Appeared to nurse, that one of wit so rude Should dare to sing her praise in humble strain, As he that only without comrade stood, I know not why, her statue to sustain, The marble all those other names revealed.

That pair's alone the artist had concealed.

XCVI The statues in the middle form a round, The floor whereof dry stalks of coral pave; Most pleasant, cool, and grateful, is that ground; So rendered by the pure and crystal wave.

Which vent without in other channel found; And issued forth in many a stream, to lave A mead of azure, white, and yellow hue; Gladdening the plants that on their margins grew.

XCVII Conversing with his courteous host, the peer Sate at the board, and oft and often prayed, That without more delay the cavalier Would keep the promise he whilere had made; And marking, ever and anon, his cheer, Observes his heart with some deep woe downweighed.

For not a moment 'mid their converse slips, But what a burning sigh is on his lips.

XCVIII Oft with desire was good Rinaldo stung To ask that sorrow's cause, and the request Was almost on the gentle warrior's tongue, And there by courteous modesty represt.

Now at their banquet's close a youth, among The menial crew, on whom that charge did rest, Placed a gold cup before the paladin, Filled full of gems without, of wine within.

XCIX The host then somedeal smiling, from the board Looked up at Aymon's son; but who this while Well marked him, as he eyed Montalban's lord, Had deemed him more disposed to weep than smile.

"So oft reminded, to maintain my word, 'Tis time meseems (said he, that owned the pile) To shew the touchstone for a woman's love, Which needs to wedded man must welcome prove.

C "Ne'er, in my judgment, should the married dame Be from espial by her lord released; Thus shall he know if honour or if blame His portion is; if he is man or beast.

The weight of horns, though coupled with such shame, Is of all burdens upon the earth the least.

While well-nigh all behold his antlers spread, He feels them not who has them on his head.

CI "If certain of thy wife's fidelity, Thou hast more ground to prize and hold her dear Than one, whose wife is evil known to be, Or husband that is still in doubt and fear.

Full many husbands live in jealousy, And groundlessly, of women chaste and clear.

On many women many men rely Meanwhile, who bear their branching antlers high.

CII "If thou would'st be a.s.sured thy wife is true (As sure methinks thou thinkest and must think) For it is hard that notion to undo, Unless thy trust before sure tokens sink, -- No hearsay matter this -- thyself shalt view The truth, if thou in this fair vessel drink, Placed solely on the supper-board, that thou May'st see the marvel promised thee but now.

CIII "Drink, and a mighty marvel shall be seen; For if thou wearest Cornwall's lofty crest, No drop of wine shall pa.s.s thy lips between, And all the draught be spilt upon thy breast.

If faithful is thy wife, thou shalt drink clean.

And now -- to try thy fortune -- to the test!"

He said, and with fixt eyes the sign explored; If on his breast the wine Rinaldo poured.

CIV Rinaldo was nigh moved the cup to raise, And seek what he would haply wish unsought: Forward he reached his hand and took the vase, About to prove his fortune in the draught.

Then of the pa.s.sing peril of the case, Before it touched his lips, the warrior thought.

But let me, sir, repose myself, and I Will then relate the Paladin's reply.

CANTO 43

ARGUMENT Rinaldo from his courteous landlord hears What folly had destroyed his every good; Next learns another story, as he steers Toward Ravenna with the falling flood: Then last arrives where, conqueror o'er his foes Orlando was, but in no joyful mood.

He, that the Child a Christian made whilere, Christens Sobrino, and heals Olivier.

I O Execrable avarice! O vile thirst Of sordid gold! it doth not me astound So easily thou seizest soul, immersed In baseness, or with other taint unsound; But that thy chain should bind, amid the worst, And that thy talon should strike down and wound One that for loftiness of mind would be Worthy all praise, if he avoided thee.

II Some earth and sea and heaven above us square, Know Nature's causes, works, and properties; What her beginnings, what her endings are; And soar till Heaven is open to their eyes: Yet have no steadier aim, no better care, Stung by thy venom, than, in sordid wise, To gather treasure: such their single scope, Their every comfort, and their every hope.

III Armies by him are broken in his pride, And gates of warlike towns in triumph past: The foremost he to breast the furious tide Of fearful battle; to retire the last; Yet cannot save himself from being stied Till death, in thy dark dungeon prisoned fast.

Of others that would shine thou dimm'st the praise; Whom other studies, other arts would raise.

IV What shall of high and beauteous dames be said?

Who (from their lovers' worth and charms secure) Against long service, I behold, more staid, More motionless, than marble shafts, endure: Then Avarice comes, who so her spells hath laid, I see them stoop directly to her lure.

-- Who could believe? -- unloving, in a day They fall some elder's, fall some monster's prey.

V Not without reason here I raise this cry: -- Read me who can, I read myself -- nor so I from the beaten pathway tread awry, Nor thus the matter of my song forego.

Not more to what is shown do I apply My saying, than to what I have to show.

But now return we to the paladine, Who was about to taste the enchanted wine.

VI Fain would he think awhile, of whom I speak, (As said) ere to his lips the vase he bore; He thought; then thus: "When finding what we seek Displeases, this 'tis folly to explore, My wife's a woman; every woman's weak.

Then let me hold the faith I held before.

Faith still has brought, and yet contentment brings.

From proof itself what better profit springs?

VII "From this small good, much evil I foresee: For tempting G.o.d moves sometimes his disdain.

I know not if it wise or foolish be, But to know more than needs, I am not fain.

Now put away the enchanted cup from me; I neither will, nor would, the goblet drain; Which is with Heaven's command as much at strife, As Adam's deed who robbed the tree of life.

VIII "For as our sire who tasted of that tree, And G.o.d's own word, by eating, disobeyed, Fell into sorrow from felicity, And was by misery evermore o'erlaid; The husband so, that all would know and see; Whatever by his wife is done and said; Pa.s.ses from happiness to grief and pain, Nor ever can uplift his head again."

IX Meanwhile the good Rinaldo saying so, And pushing from himself the cup abhorred, Beheld of tears a plenteous fountain flow From the full eyes of that fair mansion's lord; Who cried, now having somewhat calmed his woe, "Accursed be he, persuaded by whose word, Alas! I of the fortune made a.s.say, Whereby my cherished wife was reft away!

X "Wherefore ten years ago wast thou not known, So that I counselled might have been of thee?

Before the sorrows and the grief begun, That have nigh quenched my eyes; but raised shall be The curtain from the scene, that thou upon My pain mayst look, and mayst lament with me; And I to thee of mine unheard-of woe The argument and very head will show.

XI "Above, was left a neighbouring city, pent Within a limpid stream that forms a lake; Which widens, and wherein Po finds a vent.

Their way the waters from Benacus take.

Built was the city, when to ruin went Walls founded by the Agenorean snake.

Here me of gentle line my mother bore, But of small means, in humble home and poor.

XII "If Fortune's care I was not, who denied To me upon my birth a wealthy boon, Nature that went with graceful form supplied; So that in beauty rival had I none.

Enamoured of me in youth's early tide Erewhile was dame and damsel more than one: For I with beauty coupled winning ways; Though it becomes not man himself to praise.

XIII "A sage within our city dwelled, a wight, Beyond belief, in every science great; Who, when he closed his eyes on Phoebus' light, Numbered one hundred years, one score and eight: A savage life he led and out of sight, Until impelled by love, the senior late By dint of gifts obtained a matron fair, Who secretly to him a daughter bare;

XIV "And to prevent the child from being won, As was erewhile the mother, that for gain Bartered her chast.i.ty, whose worth alone Excels what gold earth's ample veins contain, With her he from the ways of man is gone, And where he spies the loneliest place, his train Of demons forces, in enchantment skilled, This dome so s.p.a.cious, fair, and rich, to build.

XV "By ancient and chaste dames he there made rear This daughter, that in sovereign beauty grew; Nor suffered her to see or even hear A man beside himself; and, for her view, -- Lest lights should lack, whereby her course to steer -- The senior every modest lady, who E'er on unlawful love the barrier shut, Made limn in picture, or in sculpture cut.

XVI "Nor he alone those virtuous dames, who, sage And chaste, had so adorned antiquity, Whose fame, preserved by the historic page, Is never doomed its dying day to see; But those as well that will in future age Everywhere beautify fair Italy, Made fashion in their well-known form and mien; As eight that round this fount by thee are seen.

XVII "What time the damsel ripe for husband shows, So that the fruit may now be gathered, I (Did chance or my misfortune so dispose?) Am worthiest found; and those broad lands that lie Without the walls which that fair town enclose, -- The fishy flat no less than upland dry -- Extending twenty miles about that water, He gives me for a dowry, with his daughter.

XVIII "She was so mannered, was so fair of hue, None could desire she other gifts should bring; So well to broider was she taught, and sew, Minerva knew not better; did she sing, Or play, or walk, to those that hear and view, She seems a heavenly, and no mortal thing; And in the liberal arts was skilled as well As her own sire, or scarce behind him fell.

XIX "With genius high and beauty no less bright, Which might have served the very stones to move, Such love, such sweetness did the maid unite, Thinking thereof meseems my heart is clove.

She had no greater pleasure or delight Than being with me, did I rest or rove.

Twas long ere we had any strife; in fine We quarrelled; and the fault, alas! was mine.