x.x.xVIII "Alcina made the ready fish obey By simple words and by mere magic lore: Born with Morgana -- but I cannot say If at one birth, or after or before.

As soon as seen, my aspect pleased the fay; Who showed it in the countenance she wore: Then wrought with art, and compa.s.sed her intent, To part me from the friends with whom I went.

x.x.xIX "She came towards us with a cheerful face, With graceful gestures, and a courteous air, And said: 'So you my lodging please to grace, Sir cavalier, and will with me repair, You shall behold the wonders of my chace, And note the different sorts of fish I snare; s.h.a.ggy or smooth, or clad in scales of light, And more in number than the stars of night:

XL " 'And would you hear a mermaid sing so sweet, That the rude sea grows civil at her song, Wont at this hour her music to repeat, (With that she showed the monster huge and long -- I said it seemed an island -- as her seat) Pa.s.s with me where she sings the shoals among.'

I, that was always wilful, at her wish, I now lament my rashness, climb the fish.

XLI "To Dudon and Rinaldo's signal blind, I go, who warn me to mis...o...b.. the fay.

With laughing face Alcina mounts behind, Leaving the other two beside the bay.

The obedient fish performs the task a.s.signed, And through the yielding water works his way.

Repentant of my deed, I curse the snare, Too far from land my folly to repair.

XLII "To aid me swam Mount Alban's cavalier, And was nigh drowned amid the waves that rise; For a south-wind sprang up that, far and near, Covered with sudden darkness seas and skies.

I know not after what befel the peer: This while Alcina to console me tries, And all that day, and night which followed, me Detained upon that monster in mid-sea,

XLIII "Till to this isle we drifted with the morn, Of which Alcina keeps a mighty share; By that usurper from a sister torn, Who was her father's universal heir: For that she only was in wedlock born, And for those other two false sisters were (So well-instructed in the story, said One who rehea.r.s.ed the tale) in incest bred.

XLIV "As these are practised in iniquity, And full of every vice and evil art; So she, who ever lives in chast.i.ty, Wisely on better things has set her heart.

Hence, leagued against her, in conspiracy, Those others are, to drive her from her part: And more than once their armies have o'errun Her realm, and towns above a hundred won.

XLV "Nor at this hour a single span of ground Would Logistilla (such her name) command, But that a mountain here, and there a sound, Protects the remnant from the invading band.

'Tis thus the mountain and the river bound England, and part it from the Scottish land.

Yet will the sisters give their foe no rest, Till of her scanty remnant dispossest.

XLVI "Because in wickedness and vice were bred The pair, as chaste and good they loath the dame.

But, to return to what I lately said, And to relate how I a plant became; Me, full of love, the kind Alcina fed With full delights; nor I a weaker flame For her, within my burning heart did bear, Beholding her so courteous and so fair.

XLVII "Clasped in her dainty limbs, and lapt in pleasure, I weened that I each separate good had won, Which to mankind is dealt in different measure, Little or more to some, and much to none.

I evermore contemplated my treasure, Nor France nor aught beside I thought upon: In her my every fancy, every hope Centered and ended as their common scope.

XLVIII "By her I was as much beloved, or more; Nor did Alcina now for other care; She left her every lover; for before, Others, in truth, the fairy's love did share: I was her close adviser evermore; And served by her, where they commanded were.

With me she counselled, and to me referred; Nor, night nor day, to other spake a word.

XLIX "Why touch my wounds, to aggravate my ill, And that, alas! without the hope of cure?

Why thus the good possessed remember still, Amid the cruel penance I endure?

When kindest I believed Alcina's will, And fondly deemed my happiness secure, From me the heart she gave, the fay withdrew, And yielded all her soul to love more new.

L "Late I discerned her light and fickle bent, Still loving and unloving at a heat: Two months, I reigned not more, no sooner spent, Than a new paramour a.s.sumed my seat; And me, with scorn, she doomed to banishment, From her fair grace cast out. 'Tis then I weet I share a thousand lovers' fate, whom she Had to like pa.s.s reduced, all wrongfully.

LI "And these, because they should not scatter bruits, Roaming the world, of her lascivious ways, She, up and down the fruitful soil, trans.m.u.tes To olive, palm, or cedar, firs or bays.

These, as you see me changed, Alcina roots; While this transformed into a monster strays; Another melts into a liquid rill; As suits that haughty fairy's wanton will.

LII "Thou, too, that to this fatal isle art led By way unwonted and till now unknown, That some possessor of the fairy's bed, May be for thee transformed to wave or stone, Thou shalt, with more than mortal pleasures fed, Have from Alcina seigniory and throne; But shalt be sure to join the common flock, Transformed to beast or fountain, plant or rock.

LIII "I willingly to thee this truth impart, Not that I hope with profit to advise: Yet 'twill be better, that informed, in part, Of her false ways, she harm not by surprise.

Perhaps, as faces differ, and in art And wit of man an equal difference lies, Thou may'st some remedy perchance apply To the ill, which thousand others could not fly."

LIV The good Rogero, who from Fame had learned That he was cousin to the dame he wooed, Lamented much the sad Astolpho, turned From his true form, to barren plant and rude: And for her love, for whom so sore he burned, Would gladly serve the stripling if he cou'd: But, witless how to give the wished relief, Might but console the unhappy warrior's grief.

LV As best he could, he strove to soothe his pain; Then asked him, if to Logistil's retreat Were pa.s.sage, whether over hill or plain; That he might so eschew Alcina's seat.

-- 'There was a way', the myrtle said again, -- 'But rough with stones, and rugged to the feet -- If he, some little further to the right, Would scale the Alpine mountain's very height:

LVI 'But that he must not think he shall pursue The intended journey far; since by the way He will encounter with a frequent crew, And fierce, who serve as rampart to the fay, That block the road against the stranger, who Would break her bounds, and the deserter stay.'

Rogero thanked the tree for all, and taught, Departed thence with full instructions fraught.

LVII The courser from the myrtle he untied, And by the bridle led behind him still; Nor would he, as before, the horse bestride, Lest he should bear him off against his will: He mused this while how safely he might find A pa.s.sage to the land of Logistil; Firm in his purpose every nerve to strain, Lest empire over him Alcina gain.

LVIII He to remount the steed, and through the air To spur him to a new career again Now thought; but doubted next, in fear to fare Worse on the courser, restive to the rein.

"No, I will win by force the mountain stair,"

Rogero said; (but the resolve was vain) Nor by the beach two miles his way pursued, Ere he Alcina's lovely city viewed.

LIX A lofty wall at distance meets his eye Which girds a s.p.a.cious town within its bound; It seems as if its summit touched the sky, And all appears like gold from top to ground.

Here some one says it is but alchemy -- And haply his opinion is unsound -- And haply he more wittily divines: For me, I deem it gold because it shines.

LX When he was nigh the city-walls, so bright, The world has not their equal, he the straight And s.p.a.cious way deserts, the way which dight Across the plain, conducted to the gate; And by that safer road upon the right, Strains now against the mountain; but, in wait, Encounters soon the crowd of evil foes, Who furiously the Child's advance oppose.

LXI Was never yet beheld a stranger band, Of mien more hideous, or more monstrous shape.

Formed downwards from neck like men, he scanned Some with the head of cat, and some of ape; With hoof of goat that other stamped the sand; While some seemed centaurs, quick in fight and rape; Naked, or mantled in outlandish skin.

These doting sires, those striplings bold in sin.

LXII This gallops on a horse without a bit; This backs the sluggish a.s.s, or bullock slow; These mounted on the croup of centaur sit: Those perched on eagle, crane, or estridge, go.

Some male, some female, some hermaphrodit, These drain the cup and those the bungle blow.

One bore a corded ladder, one a book; One a dull file, or bar of iron shook.

LXIII The captain of this crew, which blocked the road, Appeared, with monstrous paunch and bloated face; Who a slow tortoise for a horse bestrode, That pa.s.sing sluggishly with him did pace: Down looked, some here, some there, sustained the load, For he was drunk, and kept him in his place.

Some wipe his brows and chin from sweat which ran, And others with their vests his visage fan.

LXIV One, with a human shape and feet, his crest, Fashioned like hound, in neck and ears and head, Bayed at the gallant Child with angry quest, To turn him to the city whence he fled.

"That will I never, while of strength possessed To brandish this," the good Rogero said: With that his trenchant faulchion he displayed, And pointed at him full the naked blade.

LXV That monster would have smote him with a spear, But swiftly at his foe Rogero sprung, Thrust at his paunch, and drove his faulchion sheer Through his pierced back a palm; his buckler flung Before him, and next sallied there and here: But all too numerous was the wicked throng.

Now grappled from behind, now punched before, He stands, and plies the crowd with warfare sore.

LXVI One to the teeth, another to the breast, Of that foul race he cleft; since no one steeled In mail, his brows with covering helmet dressed, Or fought, secured by corslet or by shield; Yet is he so upon all quarters pressed, That it would need the Child, to clear the field, And to keep off the wicked crew which swarms, More than Briareus' hundred hands and arms.

LXVII If he had thought the magic shield to show, (I speak of that the necromancer bore, Which dazed the sight of the astonished foe, Left at his saddle by the wizard Moor) That hideous band, in sudden overthrow, Blinded by this, had sunk the knight before.

But haply he despised such mean as vile, And would prevail by valour, not by guile.

LXVIII This as it may: the Child would meet his fate, Ere by so vile a band be prisoner led; When, lo! forth issuing from the city's gate, Whose wall appeared like shining gold I said, Two youthful dames, not born in low estate, If measured by their mien and garb, nor bred By swain, in early wants and troubles versed; But amid princely joys in palace nursed!

LXIX On unicorn was seated either fair, A beast than spotless ermine yet more white; So lovely were the damsels, and so rare Their garb, and with such graceful fashion dight, That he who closely viewed the youthful pair, Would need a surer sense than mortal sight, To judge between the two. With such a mien Embodied Grace and Beauty would be seen.

LXX Into the mead rode this and the other dame, Where the foul crew opposed the Child's retreat.

The rabble scattered as the ladies came, Who with extended hand the warrior greet.

He, with a kindling visage, red with shame, Thanked the two damsels for their gentle feat; And was content upon their will to wait, With them returning to that golden gate.

LXXI Above, a cornice round the gateway goes, Somedeal projecting from the colonnade, In which is not a single part but glows, With rarest gems of India overlaid.

Propp'd at four points, the portal did repose On columns of one solid diamond made.

Whether what met the eye was false or true, Was never sight more fair or glad to view.