CXXIV "The serving man to call his lady went Prepared his lord's command on her to do.

Having her little dog at starting hent, She mounted and began her journey, through The dog advised of Anselm's ill intent, But bid no less her purpose to pursue; For he had taken thought for her; and aid Should in the time of peril be purveyed.

CXXV "The servant from his pathway turns aside, And through bye-roads and solitary goes; Purposely lighting on a stream, whose tide From Apennine into our river flows; Where, both of farm and busy city wide, A holt, and dark and dismal greenwood grows.

Silent appeared the gloomy place, and one Fitting the cruel deed which should be done.

CXXVI "He drew his sword on her, and signified The mandate by her angry husband given; That so she might entreat, before she died, Forgiveness of her every sin from Heaven.

I know not how; she vanished from his side, When through her flank the blade he would have driven.

Vainly long time he seeks her, then remains Foiled and outscorned, for guerdon of his pains.

CXXVII "He all astound and with bewildered face, And full of shame, to seek his lord returns; Who from the servant that unwonted case, Unweeting how the thing had happened, learns; Nor knows the fairy Manto fills a place About Argia, prompt to serve her turns.

Because the nurse, that all the rest revealed (I know not wherefore, I), had this concealed.

CXXVIII "He knows not what to do: the outrage sore Avenged he has not, nor his pain allaid: What was a mote is now a beam; so sore It prest him; on his heart so heavy weighed.

So plain is what was little known before, He fears that it will shortly be displaid.

At first, he haply might have hid his woe; Which Rumour now throughout the world will blow.

CXXIX "Full well he wots, that since his evil vein He to his wife, unhappy wretch! hath shown, Not to be subject to his yoke again, She to some strong protector will have flown; Who to his ignominy will maintain, And utter scorn, the lady as his own: And haply may she to some losel flee, Who will her paramour and pander be.

Cx.x.x "For remedy, he sends in haste a band Of messengers, with letters far and nigh.

Some of Argia here, some there demand; Nor town unsearched is left in Lombardy.

Next he in person goes; nor any land Leaves unexamined by himself or spy.

Yet cannot he discover means or way For learning where concealed his consort lay.

Cx.x.xI "The servant last he called on whom was laid The ill hest, but who had served not his despite; And thither by his guidance was conveyed, Where (as 'twas said) she vanished from his sight; Who haply lurked by day in greenwood-shade, And to some friendly roof retired at night.

He thither guided, where but forest-trees He thinks to find, a sumptuous palace sees.

Cx.x.xII "This while for bright Argia in that part The fay had made with speedy toil prepare An alabaster palace by her art, Gilded within, without, and everywhere.

So wonderful, no tongue could tell, no heart Conceive, how rich within, without how fair: That, which thou deemed so fair, my master's home, Is but a cottage to that costly dome.

Cx.x.xIII "Curtain and cloth of arras deck the wall, Sumptuously woven and in different wise, In vaulted cellar and in littered stall; Not only spread in latticed galleries, Not only spread in lordly bower and hall.

Vase, gold and silver, gems of many dyes, Carved into cup and charger, blue, red, green, And countless cloths of silk and gold are seen.

Cx.x.xIV "He chanced upon the costly dome (as I To you was in my story making known) When he expected not a hut to spy, And but a weary waste of woodland lone.

As he beheld the dome with wondering eye, Anselmo thought his intellects were gone: That he was drunk, or dreamed that wondrous sight He weened, of that his wits had taken flight.

Cx.x.xV "An Aethiop woman posted at the door, With blubber lip and nostril, he descries.

Nor will he see again, nor e'er before Had seen a visage of such loathsome guise: Ill-favoured -- such was Aesop feigned of yore: If there, she would have saddened Paradise.

Greasy and foul and beggarly her vest; Nor half her hideousness have I exprest.

Cx.x.xVI "Anselm, who saw no other wight beside To tell who was that mansion's lord, drew nigh To the Aethiopian, and to her applied; And she: 'The owner of this house am I.'

The judge was well a.s.sured the negress lied, And made that answer but in mockery: But with repeated oaths the negress swears; 'Tis hers, and none with her the mansions shares;

Cx.x.xVII "And would he see the palace, him invites To view it at his ease; and recommends If there be ought within which him delights, To take it for himself or for his friends.

Anselmo hears, and from his horse alights, Gives it his man; and o'er the threshold wends; And by the hag conducted, mounts from hall Below to bower above, admiring all.

Cx.x.xVIII "Form, site, and sumptuous work doth he behold, And royal ornament and fair device; And oft repeats, not all this wide world's gold To buy the egregious mansion wound suffice.

To him in answer said that negress old: 'And yet this dome, like others, hath its prize; If not in gold and silver, price less high Than gold and silver will the palace buy':

Cx.x.xIX "And she to him prefers the same request, Which erst Adonio to Argia made.

A fool he deemed the woman and possest, Who for a boon so foul and filthy prayed.

Yet ceased she not, though more than thrice represt; And strove so well Anselmo to persuade, Proffering, for his reward, the palace still, She wrought on him to do her evil will.

CXL "The wife Argia, that is hid fast by, When in such sin her husband she descries, Of doctor, that was deemed so pa.s.sing wise, Springs forth and saith: 'Ah! worthy deed! which I Found in such foul and filthy work, espy!'

Bethink thee, if his kindling blushes rise; If he stands mute! why opens not thy hollow And central womb, O earth, the wretch to swallow?

CXLI "To clear herself and shame him, doth she stun Anselmo, never ceasing to upbraid.

'What pain should by thyself be undergone For this so filthy deed, (Argia said) If thou would'st take my life for having done What Nature prompted and a lover prayed; One that was fair and gentle, and who brought A gift, compared wherewith, this dome is nought?

CXLII " 'If worthy of one death thou deemest me, Worthy art thou a hundred deaths to die: And, though my pleasure might I do on thee, So pa.s.sing puissant in this place am I, No other or worse vengeance done shall be Upon my side, on thy delinquency.

The give against the take, O husband, place; And, as 'twas granted thee, so grant me grace:

CXLIII " 'And be there peace between us, and accord That all be to forgetfulness consigned; Nor thee I of thy fault by deed or word, Nor me of mine, henceforward thou remind!'

This seemed a goodly bargain to her lord; Nor to such pardon was he disinclined.

Thus peace and concord they at home restore, And love each other dearly evermore."

CXLIV So said the mariner, and some brief fit Of laughter in Montalban's master stirred; And made his visage burn, as if 'twas lit With fire, when of Anselmo's shame he heard.

Rinaldo greatly praised Argia's wit, Who by such quaint device had trapped that bird; Who fell into the net wherein the dame Herself erewhile had fallen, but with less shame.

CXLV When the sun climbed a steeper road, the knight Ordered the board with food to be supplied, Which the good Mantuan landlord overnight Took care with largest plenty to provide; While the fair town, upon the left, from sight Retired, and on the right that marish wide.

Argenta is come and gone, with circling walls And stream into whose bed Santerno falls.

CXLVI Then was not fair Bastia built, deem I, Which little cause of boast affords to Spain (That there her banner has been raised on high), And causes deeper sorrow to Romagne.

Thence in strait line their bark, that seems to fly, To the right sh.o.r.e the boatmen drive amain: Next through a stagnant channel make, that near Ravenna brings by noon the cavalier.

CXLVII Though oft of money he had small supply, Then was the knight so well bested, he made The weary rowers, in his courtesy, A parting present, ere farewell was said.

Here changing horse and guide, to Rimini Rinaldo rode that very eye, nor stayed In Montefiore till the night was done; And well nigh reached Urbino with the sun.

CXLVIII Then Frederick was not there of gentle lore, Nor was Elizabeth nor Guido good; Francis Maria nor sage Leonore; Who would in courteous, not in haughty mood, Have forced so famed a paladin for more Than one short eye, with them to make abode; As they long did, and do unto this day, By dames and cavaliers who pa.s.s that way.

CXLIX Since here none takes his rein, Rinaldo bends His course an-end to Cagli; o'er the height, Rifted by Gaurus and Metaurus, wends Past Apennine, no longer on his right, Umbri and Tuscans; and at Rome descends.

From Rome to Ostia goes Montalban's knight: Thence to the city sails; wherein a grave His pious son to old Anchises gave.

CL There changes back; and thence in haste he goes Bound towards Lampedosa's island-sh.o.r.e, That place of combat chosen by the foes, And where they had encountered Frank and Moor.

Rinaldo grants his boatmen no repose; That do what can be done by sail and oar.

But with ill wind and strong the warrior strives; And, though by little, there too late arrives.

CLI Thither he came what time Anglante's peer The useful and the glorious deed had done; Had slain those paynim kings in the career, But had a hard and b.l.o.o.d.y conquest won: Dead was Sir Brandimart; and Olivier, Dangerously hurt and sore, sate woe-begone, Somedeal apart, upon the sandy ground, Martyred and crippled by his cruel wound.

CLII From tears could not the mournful Count refrain, When brave Rinaldo he embraced, and said, How in the battle Brandimart was slain.

Such love, such faith endeared the warrior dead.

Nor less Rinaldo's tears his visage stain When he so cleft beholds their comrade's head.

Thence to embrace bold Oliviero, where He sits with wounded foot, he makes repair.

CLIII All comfort that he could he gave; though none Could good Rinaldo to himself afford; Because he came but when the feast was done; Yea after the removal of the board.

The servants wend to the demolished town, There hide the bones of either paynim lord Beneath Biserta's ruined domes, and nigh And far, the fearful tidings certify.

CLIV At the fair conquest won by Roland's blade, Sansonet and Astolpho make great cheer; Yet other mirth those warriors would have made Had Brandimart not perished; when they hear That he is dead, their joy is so allayed They can no more the troubled visage clear.

Which of them now the tidings of such woe To the unhappy Flordelice shall show?