# Orlando Furioso (Rose)/Canto 11

Layout 2
THE ORLANDO FURIOSO.
CANTO XI.
ARGUMENT.
Assisted by the magic ring she wears, Angelica evanishes from view. Next in a damsel, whom a giant bears Beneath his arm, his bride Rogero true Beholds, Orlando to the shore repairs, Where the fell orc so many damsels slew; Olympia frees, and spoils the beast of life: Her afterwards Oberto takes to wife.
THE ORLANDO FURIOSO.
CANTO XI.
I.
Although a feeble rein, in mid career, Will oft suffice to stop courageous horse; ’Tis seldom Reason’s bit will serve to steer Desire, or turn him from his furious course, When pleasure is in reach: like headstrong bear, Whom from the honeyed meal ’tis ill to force, If once he scent the tempting mess, or sup A drop, which hangs upon the luscious cup.
II.
What reason then Rogero shall withhold From taking with Angelica delight,— That gentle maid, there naked in his hold, In the lone forest, and secure from sight? Of Bradamant he thinks not, who controlled His bosom erst: and foolish were the knight, If thinking of that damsel as before, By this he had not set an equal store;
III.
Warmed by whose youthful beauties, the severe Xenocrates would not have been more chaste. The impatient Child had dropt both shield and spear, And hurrying now his other arms uncased; When, casting down her eyes in shame and fear, The virtuous ring upon her finger placed, Angelica descried, and which of yore From her Brunello in Albracca bore.
IV.
This is the ring she carried into France, When thither first the damsel took her way; With her the brother, bearer of the lance, After, the paladin, Astolpho’s prey. With this she Malagigi’s spells and trance Made vain by Merlin’s stair; and on a day Orlando freed, with many knights and good, From Dragontina’s cruel servitude:
V.
With this passed viewless from the turret-cell, Where her that bad old man had mewed; but why Recount its different wonders, if as well You know the virtues of the ring as I? From her this even in her citadel, His monarch Agramant to satisfy, Brunello took: since when she had been crost By Fortune, till her native realm was lost.
VI.
Now that she this upon her hand surreys, She is so full of pleasure and surprise, She doubts it is a dream, and, in amaze, Hardly believes her very hand and eyes. Then softly to her mouth the hoop conveys, And, quicker than the flash which cleaves the skies, From bold Rogero’s sight her beauty shrowds, As disappears the sun, concealed in clouds.
VII.
Yet still Rogero gazed like wight distraught, And hurried here and there with fruitless speed: But when he had recalled the ring to thought, Foiled and astounded, cursed his little heed. And now the vanished lady, whom he sought, Of that ungrateful and discourteous deed Accusing stood, wherewith she had repaid, (Unfitting recompense) his generous aid.
VIII.
“Ungrateful damsel! and is this the pay “You render for the service done?” (said he) “Why rather would you steal my ring away “Than have it as a welcome gift from me? “Not only this, (but use me as you may) “I, and my shield and courser, yours shall be; “So you no more conceal your beauteous cheer. “Cruel, though answering not, I know you hear.”
IX.
So saying, like one blind, with bootless care, Feeling his way about the fount he strayed. How often he embraced the empty air, Hoping in this to have embraced the maid! Meanwhile, now far removed, the flying fair Had halted not, till to a cave conveyed. Formed in a mountain was that harbour rude; Spacious, and for her need supplied with food.
X.
’Twas here an aged herdsman, one who tended A numerous troop of mares, had made his won: These, seeking pasture, through the valley wended, Where the green grass was fed by freshening run: While stalls on either side the cave, defended His charge from the oppressive noon-tide sun; Angelica, within, that livelong day, Unseen of prying eyes, prolonged her stay;
XI.
And about evening, when refreshed with rest And food, she deemed her course she might renew; In certain rustic weeds her body dressed: How different from those robes of red, or blue, Green, yellow, purple, her accustomed vest, So various in its fashion, shape, and hue! Yet her not so that habit misbecame, But that she looked the fair and noble dame.
XII.
Then Phillis’ and Neæra’s praise forbear, And ye who sing of Amaryllis cease, Or flying Galatæa, not so fair, Tityrus and Melibæus, with your peace! ’Twas here the beauteous lady took a mare, Which liked her best, of all that herd’s increase. Then, and then first conceived the thought, again To seek in the Levant her antient reign.
XIII.
This while Rogero, after he had passed Long space in hope the maid might re-appear, Awakened from his foolish dream at last, And found she was not nigh, and did not hear. Then to remount his griffin-courser cast, In earth and air accustomed to career. But, having slipt his bit, the winged horse Had towered and soared in air a freer course.
XIV.
To his first ill addition grave and sore Was to have lost the bird of rapid wing, Which he no better than the mockery bore Put on him by the maid; but deeper sting Than this or that, implants, and pains him more, The thought of having lost the precious ring; Not for its power so much, esteemed above Its worth, as given him by his lady-love.
XV.
Afflicted beyond measure, he, with shield Cast on his shoulder, and new-cased in mail, Left the sea-side, and through a grassy field Pursued his way, towards a spacious vale: Where he beheld a path, by wood concealed, The widest and most beaten in the dale. Nor far had wound the closest shades within, Ere on his right he heard a mighty din.
XVI.
He heard a din, and fearful clashing sound Of arms, and hurrying on with eager pace ’Twixt tree and tree, two furious champions found, Waging fierce fight in close and straightened place: Who to each other (warring on what ground I know not) neither showed regard nor grace. The one a giant was of haughty cheer, And one a bold and gallant cavalier.
XVII.
Covered with shield and sword, one, leaping, sped Now here now there, and thus himself defended, Lest a two-handed mace upon his head Should fall, with which the giant still offended—: On the field lay his horse, already dead. Rogero paused, and to the strife attended: And straight his wishes leant towards the knight, Whom he would fain see conqueror in the fight:
XVIII.
Yet not for this would lend the champion aid, But to behold the cruel strife stood nigh. Lo! a two-handed stroke the giant made Upon the lesser warrior’s casque, and by The mighty blow the knight was overlaid: The other, when astound he saw him lie, To deal the foe his death, his helm untied, So that the warrior’s face Rogero spied.
XIX.
Of his sweet lady, of his passing fair, And dearest Bradamant Rogero spies The lovely visage, of its helmet bare; Towards whom, to deal her death, the giant hies: So that, advancing with his sword in air, To sudden battle him the Child defies. But he, who will not wait for new alarm, Takes the half-lifeless lady in his arm,
XX.
And on his shoulder flings and bears away; As sometimes wolf a little lamb will bear, Or eagle in her crooked claws convey Pigeon, or such-like bird, through liquid air. Rogero runs with all the speed he may, Who sees how needed is his succour there. But with such strides the giant scours the plain, Him with his eyes the knight pursues with pain.
XXI.
This flying and that following, the two Kept a close path which widened still, and they Piercing that forest, issued forth to view On a wide meadow, which without it lay. —No more of this. Orlando I pursue, That bore Cymosco’s thunder-bolt away; And this had in the deepest bottom drowned, That never more the mischief might be found.
XXII.
But with small boot: for the impious enemy Of human nature, taught the bolt to frame, After the shaft, which darting from the sky Pierces the cloud and comes to ground in flame, Who, when he tempted Eve to eat and die With the apple, hardly wrought more scathe and shame, Some deal before, or in our grandsires’ day, Guided a necromancer where it lay.
XXIII.
More than a hundred fathom buried so, Where hidden it had lain a mighty space, The infernal tool by magic from below Was fished and born amid the German race; Who, by one proof and the other, taught to know Its powers, and he who plots for our disgrace, The demon, working on their weaker wit, At last upon its fatal purpose hit.
XXIV.
To Italy and France, on every hand The cruel art among all people past: And these the bronze in hollow mould expand, First in the furnace melted by the blast: Others the iron bore, and small or grand, Fashion the various tube they pierce or cast. And bombard, gun, according to its frame, Or single cannon this, or double, name.
XXV.
This saker, culverine, or falcon bight, I hear (all names the inventor has bestowed); Which splits or shivers steel and stone outright, And, where the bullet passes, makes a road. —Down to the sword, restore thy weapons bright, Sad soldier, to the forge, a useless load; And gun or carbine on thy shoulder lay, Who without these, I wot, shalt touch no pay.
XXVI.
How, foul and pestilent discovery, Didst thou find place within the human heart? Through thee is martial glory lost, through thee The trade of arms become a worthless art: And at such ebb are worth and chivalry, That the base often plays the better part. Through thee no more shall gallantry, no more Shall valour prove their prowess as of yore.
XXVII.
Through thee, alas! are dead, or have to die, So many noble lords and cavaliers Before this war shall end, which, Italy Afflicting most, has drowned the world in tears, That, if I said the word, I err not, I, Saying he sure the cruellest appears And worst, of nature’s impious and malign, Who did this hateful engine first design:
XXVIII.
And I shall think, in order to pursue The sin for ever, God has doomed to hell That cursed soul, amid the unhappy crew, Beside the accursed Judas there to dwell. But follow we the good Orlando, who So burns to seek Ebuda’s island fell, Whose foul inhabitants a monster sate With flesh of women, fair and delicate.
XXIX.
But no less slow than eager was the knight: The winds appear, which still his course delay; Who, whether blowing on the left or right, Or poop, so faintly in his canvas play, His bark makes little speed; and, spent outright, The breeze which wafts her sometimes dies away, Or blows so foul, that he is fain to steer Another course, or to the leeward veer.
XXX.
It was the will of Heaven that he, before The King of Ireland, should not reach the land, That he with greater ease upon that shore Might act what shortly you shall understand. “Make for the isle. Now” (said he) “may’st thou moor,” (Thus issuing to the pilot his command), “And give me for my need the skiff; for I “Will to the rock without more company.
XXXI.
“The biggest cable that thou hast aboard, “And biggest anchor to my hands consign; “Thou shalt perceive why thus my boat is stored, “If I but meet that monster of the brine.” He bade them lower the pinnace overboard, With all things that befitted his design: His arms he left behind, except his blade, And singly for the rocky island made.
XXXII.
Home to his breast the count pulls either oar, With the island at his back, to which he wends, In guise that, crawling up the sandy shore, The crooked crab from sea or marsh ascends. It was the hour Aurora gay before The rising sun her yellow hair extends (His orb as yet half-seen, half-hid from sight) Not without stirring jealous Tithon’s spite.
XXXIII.
Approaching to the naked rock as near As vigorous hand might serve to cast a stone, He knew not if he heard, or did not hear A cry, so faint and feeble was the moan. When, turning to the left, the cavalier, His level sight along the water thrown, Naked as born, bound to a stump, espied A dame whose feet were wetted by the tide.
XXXIV.
Because she distant is, and evermore Holds down her face, he ill can her discern: Both sculls he pulls amain, and nears the shore, With keen desire more certain news to learn: But now the winding beach is heard to roar, And wood and cave the mighty noise return; The billows swell, and, lo! the beast! who pressed, And nigh concealed the sea beneath his breast.
XXXV.
As cloud from humid vale is seen to rise, Pregnant with rain and storm, which seems withal To extinguish day, and charged with deeper dyes Than night, to spread throughout this earthly ball, So swims the beast, who so much occupies Of sea, he may be said to keep it all. Waves roar: collected in himself, the peer Looks proudly on, unchanged in heart and cheer.
XXXVI.
He, as one well resolved in his intent, Moved quickly to perform the feat he planned; And, for he would the damsel’s harm prevent, And would with that assail the beast at hand, Between her and the ore the boat he sent, Leaving within the sheath his idle brand. Anchor and cable next he takes in hold, And waits the foe with constant heart and bold.
XXXVII.
As soon as him the monster has descried, And skiff at little interval, his throat The fish, to swallow him, expands so wide, That horse and horseman through his jaws might float. Here Roland with the anchor, and beside (Unless I am mistaken) with the boat Plunged, and engulphed the parted teeth betwixt, His anchor in the tongue and palate fixt;
XXXVIII.
So that the monster could no longer drop Or raise his horrid jaws, which this extends. ’Tis thus who digs the mine is wont to prop The ground, and where he works the roof suspends, Lest sudden ruin whelm him from atop, While he incautiously his task intends. Roland (so far apart was either hook) But by a leap could reach the highest crook.
XXXIX.
The prop so placed, Orlando now secure That the fell beast his mouth no more can close, Unsheathes his sword, and, in that cave obscure, Deals here and there, now thrusts, now trenchant blows. As well as citadel, whose walls immure The assailants, can defend her from her foes, The monster, harassed by the war within, Defends himself against the Paladin.
XL.
Now floats the monstrous beast, o’ercome with pain, Whose scaly flanks upon the waves expand; And now descends into the deepest main, Scowers at the bottom, and stirs up the sand. The rising flood ill able to sustain, The cavalier swims forth, and makes for land. He leaves the anchor fastened in his tongue, And grasps the rope which from the anchor hung.
XLI.
So swimming till the island is attained, With this towards the rock Orlando speeds: He hawls the anchor home (a footing gained), Pricked by whose double fluke, the monster bleeds. The labouring ore to follow is constrained, Dragged by that force which- every force exceeds; Which at a single sally more achieves Than at ten turns the circling windlass heaves.
XLII.
As a wild bull, about whose horn is wound The unexpected noose, leaps here and there, When he has felt the cord, and turns him round, And rolls and rises, yet slips not the snare; So from his pleasant seat and ancient bound, Dragged by that arm and rope he cannot tear, With thousands of strange wheels and thousand slides, The monster follows where the cable guides.
XLIII.
This the red sea with reason would be hight To-day, such streams of blood have changed its hue; And where the monster lashed it in his spite, The eye its bottom through the waves might view. And now he splashed the sky, and dimmed the light Of the clear sun, so high the water flew. The noise re-echoing round, the distant shore And wood and hill rebound the deafening roar.
XLIV.
Forth from his grotto aged Proteus hies, And mounts above the surface at the sound; And having seen Orlando dive, and rise From the ore, and drag the monstrous fish to ground, His scattered flock forgot, o’er ocean flies; While so the din increases, that, astound, Neptune bids yoke his dolphins, and that day For distant Æthiopia posts away.
XLV.
With Melicerta on her shoulders, weeping Ino, and Nereids with dishevelled hair, The Glauci, Tritons, and their fellows, leaping They know not whither, speed, some here, some there. Orlando draws to land, the billows sweeping, That horrid fish, but might his labour spare: For, with the torment worn, and travel sore, The brute, exhausted, died, ere dragged ashore.
XLVI.
Of the islanders had trooped no petty throng, To witness that strange fight, who by a vain And miserable superstition stung, Esteemed such holy deed a work profane; And said ‘that this would be another wrong ‘To Proteus, and provoke his ire again; ‘Make him his herds pour forth upon the strand, ‘And with the whole old warfare vex the land;
XLVII.
‘And that it better were to sue for peace, ‘First from the injured god, lest worse ensue; ‘And Proteus from his cruel hate would cease, ‘If they into the sea the offender threw.’ As torch to torch gives fire, and lights increase, Until the flame is spread the country through, Even so from heart to heart the fury spread, Which in the waves would doom Orlando dead.
XLVIII.
These, armed with sling or bow, upon the shore, And these supplied with spear or sword descend; And on each side, behind him and before, Distant and near, as best they can, offend. At such a brutal insult wonders sore The peer, who sees that mischief they intend, In vengeance for the cruel monster slain, Whence he had glory hoped, and praise to gain.
XLIX.
But as the usage is of surly bear, By sturdy Russ or Lithuanian led, Little to heed the dogs in crowded fair, Nor even at their yelps to turn his head, The clamour of the churls assembled there Orlando witnessed with as little dread; Who knew that he the rout which threatened death, Had power to scatter at a single breath:
L.
And speedily he made them yield him place, When, turned on them, he grasped his trenchant blade. Misjudging of his worth, the foolish race Deemed that he would have short resistance made; Since him they saw no covering buckler brace, Uncuirassed, nor in other arms arrayed; But knew not that, from head to foot, a skin More hard than diamond cased the Paladin.
LI.
What by Orlando others cannot do, The knight by others can: at half a score Of blows in all he thirty killed; by few He passed that measure, if the strokes were more: And had already turned him to undo The naked lady, having cleared the shore, When other larum sounds, and other cries From a new quarter of the island rise.
LII.
While so the Paladin had kept in play The barbarous islanders, upon that hand, The men of Ireland, without let or fray, Had poured from many quarters on the strand: And now, without remorse or pity, slay The inhabitants, through all the wasted land; And, was it justice moved, or cruel rage, Slaughter without regard to sex or age.
LIII.
Little or no defence the island-crew Attempt; in part as taken unaware, In part that in the little place are few, And that those few without a purpose are. ’Mid sack and fire, the wasted country through, The islanders are slain, and everwhere The walls are upon earth in ruin spread, Nor in the land is left a living head.
LIV.
As if the mighty tumult which he hears, And shriek and ruin had concerned him nought, The naked rock the bold Orlando nears, Where she was placed, to feed the monster brought. He looks, and known to him the dame appears, And more appears, when nigher her he sought: Olympia she appears, and is indeed Olympia, whose faith reaped so ill a meed.
LV.
Wretched Olympia; whom, besides the scorn Which Love put on her, Fortune too pursued, Who sent the corsairs fell, which her had born That very day to the island of Ebude. She Roland recollects on his return Landward; but, for the damsel naked stood, Not only nought she to the warrior said, But dared not raise her eyes, and dropt her head.
LVI.
Orlando asks what evil destiny Her to that cruel island had conveyed From where she in as much felicity Was with her consort left as could be said: “I know not (cried the weeping dame) if I “Have thanks to render thee for death delayed, “Or should lament me that, through means of thee, “This day did not my woes concluded see.
LVII.
“I have to thank thee that from death, too dread “And monstrous, thy good arm deliverance gave; “Which would have been too monstrous, had I fed “The beast, and in his belly found a grave: “But cannot thank thee that I am not dead, “Since death alone can me from misery save. “Well shall I thank thee for that wished relief, “Which can deliver me from every grief.”
LVIII.
Next she related, with loud sobs and sighs, How her false spouse betrayed her as she lay Asleep, and how of pirates made the prize, They bore her from the desert isle away. And, as she spake, she turned her in the guise Of Dian, framed by artists, who pourtray Her carved or painted, as in liquid font She threw the water in Actæon’s front,
LIX.
For, as she can, her waist she hides, and breast, More liberal of her flowing flank and reins. Roland desires his ship, to find a vest To cover her, delivered from her chains: While he is all intent upon this quest, Oberto comes; Oberto, he that reigns O’er Ireland’s people, who had understood How lifeless lay the monster of the flood;
LX.
And, swimming, how, amid the watery roar, A knight a weighty anchor in his throat Had fix’d, and so had dragged him to the shore, As men against the current track a boat. This while Oberto comes; who, if his lore, Who told the tale, were true, desires to note; While his invading army, far and wide, Ebuda burn and waste on every side.
LXI.
Oberto, though the Paladin to sight Was dripping, and with water foul and gore; With gore, that from the ore, emerged to light, Whom he had entered bodily, he bore, He for the county knew the stranger knight As he perused his face; so much the more, That he had thought when told the tidings, none Save Roland could such mighty feat have done;
LXII.
Knew him, because a page of honour he Had been in France, and for the crown, his right Upon his father’s death, had crossed the sea The year before. So often he the knight Had seen, and had with him held colloquy, Their times of meeting had been infinite. He doffed his casque, with festive welcome pressed Towards the count, and clasped him to the breast.
LXIII.
Orlando is no less rejoiced to see The king, than is the king that champion true. After with friendly cheer and equal glee Had once or twice embraced the noble two, To Oberto Roland told the treachery Which had been done the youthful dame, and who Had done it, false Bireno that among All men should least have sought to do her wrong.
LXIV.
To him he told the many proofs and clear By which the dame’s affection had been tried; And how she for Bireno kin and geer Had lost, and would in fine for him have died. And how he this could warrant, and appear To vouch for much, as witness on her side. While thus to him her griefs Orlando showed, The lady’s shining eyes with tears o’erflowed.
LXV.
Her face was such as sometimes in the spring We see a doubtful sky, when on the plain A shower descends, and the sun, opening His cloudy veil, looks out amid the rain. And as the nightingale then loves to sing From branch of verdant stem her dulcet strain, So in her beauteous tears his pinions bright Love bathes, rejoicing in the chrystal light.
LXVI.
The stripling heats his golden arrow’s head At her bright eyes, then slacks the weapon’s glow In streams, which fall between white flowers and red; And, the shaft tempered, strongly draws his bow, And roves at him, o’er whom no shield is spread, Nor iron rind, nor double mail below; Who, gazing on her tresses, eyes, and brow, Feels that his heart is pierced, he knows not how.
LXVII.
Olympia’s beauties are of those most rare, Nor is the forehead’s beauteous curve alone Excellent, and her eyes and cheeks and hair Mouth, nose, and throat, and shoulders; but, so down Descending from the lady’s bosom fair, Parts which are wont to be concealed by gown, Are such, as haply should be placed before Whate’er this ample world contains in store.
LXVIII.
In whiteness they surpassed unsullied snow, Smooth ivory to the touch: above were seen Two rounding paps, like new-pressed milk in show, Fresh-taken from its crate of rushes green; The space betwixt was like the valley low, Which oftentimes we see small hills between, Sweet in its season; and now such as when Winter with snows has newly filled the glen.
LXIX.
The swelling hips and haunches’ symmetry, The waist more clear than mirror’s polished grain, And members seem of Phidias’ turnery, Or work of better hand and nicer pain. As well to you of other parts should I Relate, which she to hide desired in vain. To sum the beauteous whole, from head to feet, In her all loveliness is found complete.
LXX.
And had she in the Idæan glen unveiled In ancient days before the Phrygian swain, By how much heavenly Venus had prevailed I know not, though her rivals strove in vain. Nor haply had the youth for Sparta sailed, To violate the hospitable reign; But said; “With Menelaûs let Helen rest! “No other prize I seek, of this possest;”
LXXI.
Or in Crotona dwelt, where the divine Zeuxis in days of old his work projected, To be the ornament of Juno’s shrine, And hence so many naked dames collected; And in one form perfection to combine, Some separate charm from this or that selected, He from no other model need have wrought, Since joined in her were all the charms he sought.
LXXII.
I do not think Bireno ever viewed Naked that beauteous form; for sure it were He never could have been so stern of mood, As to have left her on that desert lair. That Ireland’s king was fired I well conclude, Nor hid the flame that he within him bare. He strives to comfort her, and hope instill, That future good shall end her present ill:
LXXIII.
And her to Holland promises to bear, And vows till she is to her state restored, And just and memorable vengeance there Achieved upon her perjured, traitor lord, He never will unceasing war forbear, Waged with all means that Ireland can afford; And this with all his speed. He, up and down, Meantime bids seek for female vest and gown.
LXXIV.
Nor will it need to send in search of vest Beyond the savage island’s narrow bound, Since thither every day in such came dressed, Some dame, to feed the beast, from countries round. Nor long his followers there pursued the quest, Ere many they of various fashion found. So was Olympia clothed; while sad of mood Was he, not so to clothe her as he wou’d.
LXVI.
But never silk so choice or gold so fine Did the industrious Florentine prepare, Nor whosoever broiders gay design, Though on his task be spent time, toil, and care, Nor Lemnos’ god, nor Pallas’ art divine, Form raiment worthy of those limbs so fair, That King Oberto cannot choose but he Recalls them at each turn to memory.
LXXVI.
To see that love so kindled by the dame, On many grounds Orlando was content; Who not alone rejoiced that such a shame Put upon her, Bireno should repent; But, that in the design on which he came, He should be freed from grave impediment. Not for Olympia thither had he made, But, were his lady there, to lend her aid.
LXXVII.
To him, that there she was not, soon was clear, But clear it was not if she had been there, Or no; since of those islesmen, far and near, One was not left the tidings to declare. The following day they from the haven steer, And all united in one squadron fare. The Paladin with them to Ireland hies, From whence to France the warrior’s passage lies.
LXXVIII.
Scarcely a day in Ireland’s realm he spends: And for no prayers his purposed end forbore: Love, that in quest of his liege-lady sends The knight upon this track, permits no more. Departing, he Olympia recommends To the Irish monarch, who to serve her swore: Although this needed not; since he was bent More than behoved, her wishes to content:
LXXIX.
So levied in few days his warlike band, And (league with England’s king and Scotland’s made) In Holland and in Friesland left no land To the false duke, so rapid was the raid. And to rebel against that lord’s command His Zealand stirred; nor he the war delayed, Until by him Bireno’s blood was spilt: A punishment that ill atoned his guilt.
LXXX.
Oberto takes to wife Olympia fair, And her of countess makes a puissant queen. But be the Paladin again our care, Who furrows, night and day, the billows green, And strikes his sails in the same harbour, where They to the wind erewhile unfurled had been. All armed, he on his Brigliadoro leaps, And leaves behind him winds and briny deeps.
LXXXI.
The remnant of the winter, he with shield And spear achieved things worthy to be shown, I ween; but these were then so well concealed, It is no fault of mine they are not blown; For good Orlando was in fighting field, Prompter to do, than make his prowess known. Nor e’er was bruited action of the knight, Save when some faithful witness was in sight.
LXXXII.
That winter’s remnant he so passed that feat, Of his was known not to the public ear; But when within that animal discreet Which Phryxus bore, the sun illumed the sphere, And Zephyrus returning glad and sweet, Brought back with him again the blooming year, The wondrous deeds Orlando did in stower, Appeared with the new grass and dainty flower.
LXXXIII.
From plain to hill, from champaign-flat to shore, Oppressed with grief and pain the country fares, When a long cry, entering a forest hoar, —A loud lamenting smites upon his ears. He grasps his brand and spurs his courser sore, And swiftly pricks towards the sound he hears. But I shall at another season say What chanced, and may be heard in future lay.
NOTES TO CANTO XI.
1.
Xenocrates would not have been more chaste.
Stanza iii. line 2.
Xenocrates was a disciple of Plato, famous for his continence.
2.
This is the ring, &c.
Stanza iv. line 1.
All the adventures contained in this and the following stanza are to be found in the Innamorato, from her first adventure in France and casting the magic sleep upon Malagigi to the stealing of her ring by Brunello in the citadel of Arbracca.
3.
Or flying Galatæa, &c.
Stanza xii. line 3.
Meaning, I suppose, Ovid’s Galatæa flying from Polyphemus.
4.
And on his shoulder flings and bears away, As sometimes wolf a little lamb will bear, Or eagle in her crooked claws convey Pigeon, or such-like bird, through liquid air.
Stanza xx. lines 1, 2, 3, 4.
So Virgil,
Qualis ubi aut leporem aut candenti corpora cygnum
Sustulit, alta petens, pedibus Jovis armiger uncis
Quæsitum aut matri multis balatibus agnum
Martius a stabulis rapuit lupus.
Æneid ix.
5.
To Italy and France, &c.
Stanza xxiv. line 1.
There is a propriety observed in this order of words; as in fact the use of artillery did (I believe) spread from the Germans immediately to the Italians, the Venetians first making use of it near Chioza, or Chioggia, in their war with the Genoese.
6.
And bombard, gun, &c. * * * * * * * This saker, culverine, or falcon hight.
Stanza xxiv. line 7, xxv. line 1.
Bombard was, properly speaking, a mortar: culverine, a long piece, which borrowed its denomination from the snake; and saker and falcon light artillery, so called from two species of the hawk.
7.
The billows swell, and, lo! the beast! who pressed, And nigh concealed, the sea beneath his breast.
Stanza xxxiv. lines 7 and 8.
He has not yet done with this thought, which we have again more amplified in the succeeding stanza.
8.
So swims the beast, who so much occupies Of sea, he may be said to keep it all.
Stanza xxxv. lines 5 and 6.
Così nuota la fiera, e del mar prende Tanto, che si può dir, che tutto il tegna.
He borrows from Ovid,
Unda Insonuit; veniensque immenso bellua ponto Eminet et latum sub pectore possidet æquor—
and has indeed said something like this in another place, for he is fond of repeating his thoughts and images as well as words; and it would almost seem that he was proud of showing how many variations he could sound upon the same theme. Thus he twice describes a naked woman bound to a rock. In Canto VI. we have twice a simile drawn from a burning brand or fagot. In a very few stanzas afterwards we have again the same illustration, and his repetition of words even in the same stanza is endless.
9.
Neptune bids yoke his dolphins, and that day For distant Æthiopia posts away.
Stanza xliv. lines 7 and 8.
We read in Homer of Neptune’s visits to the blameless ​Æthiopians; but Ovid’s Metamorphoses were the great mine whence Ariosto drew his mythological materials, and he had probably in his recollection the passage where the gods are described taking refuge in Æthiopia amid the tumults of the Titanic war.
10.
With Melicerta on her shoulders, weeping Ino, &c.
Stanza xlv. lines 1 and 2.
Ino, the wife of Athamas, and Melicerta, her son, were changed into deities of the sea.
11.
He looks; and known to him the dame appears, And more appears, when nigher her he sought: Olympia she appears, and is indeed Olympia; whose faith reaped so ill a meed.
Stanza liv. lines 5, 6, 7, 8.
In this stanza too we may remark what I have before directed attention to.
The lines, in the original are,
Guarda e gli par’ conoscer la fanciulla; E più gli pare più che s’ avvicina Gli pare Olimpia; ed è Olimpia certo Che di sua fede ebbe sì iniquo merto.
Here, however, this favourite practice of the poet has an obvious object; in other places it seems less explicable if measured only by its immediate effect. But on this, too, I have already remarked.
12.
Oberto comes; Oberto, he that reigns O’er Ireland’s people, &c.
Stanza lix. lines 6 and 7.
Is this an Italianization of O’Bert, as Muggins translates it?
13.
Knew him, because a page of honour he Had been in France, &c.
Stanza lxii. lines 1 and 2.
In the system of education pursued during the middle ages, few means were better suited to the end proposed, than the sort of interchange which was made of sons of princes, and gentlemen who, brought up under other roof than that of their father, were bred in a kind of noble apprenticeship to their calling, amid companions of their own age, secure of kindness (because under friendly, if not kindred, tutelage), but removed from all the risques of parental indulgence.
14.
Like new-pressed milk in show, Fresh-taken from its crate of rushes green.
Stanza lxviii. lines 3 and 4.
parean latte Che fuor de’ giunchi allora allora tolli.
Curds are called in Italian giuncate, because carried in baskets made of the bull-rush, or giunco. Hence our word junket, meaning, in its original signification, curd; and, in its secondary, rustic festivity; because curds were formerly the standing dish on such occasions.
15.
Oberto takes to wife Olympia fair, And her of countess makes a puissant queen.
Stanza lxxx. lines 1 and 2.
So ends this beautiful, though strange episode, made up of classical and Gothic fictions, and in which figure the champion of Christendom, and the heathen god Proteus, who is described as exercising all the powers of an angry and puissant divinity. One of the late translators of the Furioso, in commenting upon this canto of his author, seems here to think him indefensible, and what would justly be thought so glaring an offence against costume in a modern, will probably be deemed in the eyes of many, a defect in Ariosto. But those many, who judge by rule, should, on their own principles, have regard to authority: and by what many and weighty authorities may he not be justified? To come near to our own times; is not the mixture in Lycidas, of “the pilot of the Galilean lake,” and of heathen gods and goddesses, “Sleek Panope, with all her sisters,” and, “old Hippotades,” shepherds and bishops, a more anomalous assemblage than that which we find in the story of Olympia? Yet who could wish, except those who pride themselves as philosophical critics, that Milton had conformed to our modern notions of propriety, or who of real poetical feeling subscribes to the censure which Dr. Johnson has pronounced upon this exquisite poem? But if I have been tempted to recur to authority, I ought to confess it is not by authorities that Ariosto is generally to be estimated. He will never relish the Furioso who expects to find in it a series of classical reliefs; let him rather come to it as to the contemplation of a magnificent and fanciful arabesque, in which the natural mingles with the extravagant, and the beautiful with the grotesque.
16.
But when within that animal discreet Which Phryxus tore, the sun, &c.
Stanza lxxxii. lines 3 and 4.
The ram on which Phryxus escaped from her mother-in-law, and which was afterwards placed in the zodiac, which animal the sun enters in the spring quarter.