(For still I bring this vase to every guest) Not one but sheds the liquor on his breast. To find so many partners of my fate,

340

Affords some solace in my wretched state.

Amidst such numbers, thou alone could'st prove

So wise, to shun this dangerous test of love.

Desire to know what fits not of a wife

345

To learn, has poison'd all my future life.
Not long Melissa, with insidious heart,
Enjoy'd th' effects of her malicious art,
Since her I loath'd, nor could support the view
Of one, from whom my source of grief I drew.
Impatient she, his hatred thus to prove,
Whom more than life she still profess'd to love;
Though many a dame perchance, her rival gone,
Had still remain❜d, yet she, the sight to shun
Of all she lov'd, but hop'd not to obtain,
Fled from this land to some remote domain,
Whence never could her tidings reach my ears again.
When, with a sigh, the mournful knight had clos'd
His heavy tale, Rinaldo seem'd dispos'd

To musing thought, by friendly pity sway'd;
At length he rais'd his head, and thus he said.
Bad counsel issu'd from Melissa's breast,
Which urg'd thee to provoke the hornet's nest;
And, unadvis'd, wert thou a depth to sound,

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Which, when explor'd, thou fain would'st wish unfound;
And if through avarice the first assault

Subdu'd thy wife, why wonder at her fault?
Not she the first, nor fifth, amid the race
Of females, that have fall'n to like disgrace.

366

So strongly prest---a mind of firmer frame,
For less reward had sunk to deeper shame:
How many men, ere this, seduc'd by gold,
Their dearest patrons and their friends have sold!
But didst thou wish her some defence to make,
Why with such potent arms her virtue shake?
Know'st thou that bulwarks cannot gold withstand,
Which strikes the weapon from the victor's hand?
More is thy blame, who tempted her to sin,
Than hers, whom such reward so soon could win.
Had she, with equal bribes, thyself assail'd,
Thy boasted virtue might, like hers, have fail'd.
Rinaldo ceas'd; then from the board arose,
And of his host besought a night's repose;
For ere the morn reveal'd her dawning ray,
He meant, departing, to resume his way.
Short was his time, and at his utmost power
Behov'd him now to husband every hour.
The castle's lord reply'd--He there might rest
His weary limbs, with length of toil opprest:
The rooms were ready, and the couch prepar'd;
But would he to his counsel lend regard,
While all the night in quiet sleep he lay,
He, sleeping, might some miles advance his way.
A well-oar'd bark with spreading sail (he cry'd)
To speed thy voyage shall my care provide,
Where, unmolested, may'st thou pass the night,
And one day's journey gain by morning light.
The friendly offer pleas'd Rinaldo most,
And many thanks he gave his courteous host;
Then took his leave, nor longer time delay'd,
But hasten'd where for his arrival stay'd

1

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375

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385

390

395

400

The bark and crew; there at his ease reclin'd,
Their well-tim❜d oars six sturdy boatmen join'd:
They cut the stream, with rapid course they fly
Light o'er the waves, as birds along the sky.
Soon as the knight of France declin'd his head,
A heavy sleep o'er all his senses spread,
But ere he slept, he gave the crew command
To rouse him when they reach'd Ferrara's land.
Melara on the left hand shore they leave;

Till Figalordo and Stilletto now

405

410

Now on the left they Sermide perceive;

They view, and reach the horns of threatening Po.
Of either horn the right the pilot takes,

The left, that leads to Venice, he forsakes;

415

He leaves Bondeno, and beholds decreas'd

The night's dun hue before the reddening east;
And from her empty vase Aurora shed

Her party-coloured flowers of white and red.

Rinaldo, waking, cast around his eyes,
And from afar Tedaldo's spires espies.

420

O happy city! (he began) whose name,

My kinsman, Malagigi, mark'd for fame;

What time he view'd each fix'd or wandering star,
Or forc'd some sprite the future to declare.

425

Ver. 410.

Melara---Sermide---] Two castles on the Po.

Ver. 412. Figalordo--Stilletto---] Figalordo, an island in the same.

river, and Stilletto a castle.

subject to the princes of Ferrara.

Ver. 416. Bondeno--] A castle Ver. 421. Tedaldo's spires, ---] A castle in the western part of the city of Ferrara, on the left hand of the Po, built by Tedaldo of Este, Anno 970, to resist the force of the Venetians, though Ariosto, with a poetical licence, here describes it in the time af Charlemain.

As with him here I pass'd, he gladly told

Thy rank decreed when years their course have roll'd, That Italy should ne'er the like behold.

Thus he---while through the king of rivers flies The winged bark, and gains an isle that lies

430

Not far from where the city's towers should stand,
This isle, as then a lone neglected land,

Ile views with joy, for well he knows its praise,

For every blessing in succeeding days.

As once before along those banks he steer'd,

435

He from his kinsman, Malagigi, heard,

That when with stars the fourth revolving sphere

Seven hundred times had chang'd the circling year,
This happy isle should every isle efface

Which briny seas, which streams or floods embrace; 440
And he, who view'd it, should forget the fame
Which once Nausicaa's blissful land might claim.
He heard, that this for structures should excel
That isle, where once Tiberius lov'd to dwell:
Nor could of old Hesperia's garden boast
The plants and fruits of this delightful coast.
Not Circe, in her nets or dens, confin'd
Such numerous animals of various kind:

445

Ver. 430.

an isle that lies ---] A delightful small island in our poet's time called Belvidere, improved with gardens and buildings by Alphonso I. who collected there a vast number of beasts and birds of every kind. It is half a mile long, and a bow-shot over. Fornari.

Ver. 444. That isle, where once Tiberius,-] The island of Caprea near Naples, where Tiberius Nero, the Roman emperor, resided fifteen years, abandoned to all manner of debauchery; he adorned this place with many magnificent buildings. See further, ver, 476,

Venus and Cupid Cyprus should forsake,

And with the Graces here their dwelling make.
So should it flourish, such high honours find,

450

From him, whose art, whose power, and wisdom join'd, Its city should with walls and fosse enclose,

And with its strength the world in arms oppose:

Such deeds are his, and such his glories won,

A Hercules his sire, a Hercules his son.

Thus past Rinaldo, pondering in his mind, What oft his kinsman by his spells divin'd

455

Of things to come-but when he wondering view'd
The city's humble state, he thus pursu❜d:

460

Shall then this spot (he cry'd,) this dreary waste,

With sciences and liberal arts be grac❜d?

Shall this small hamlet fill the wondering eye?

Rich cultur'd meadows shall these wilds supply?

Where now moist fens and dreary swamps abound, 465
Shall verdant fields extend, with plenty crown'd?
Hail, city, hail! behold I rise to pay
Due reverence to thy mild, thy courteous sway;
To all thy lords, 'to every wreath of fame
Thy knights and foreign citizens shall claim!
The sovereign goodness of all-ruling Heaven,
The wisdom, justice, to thy princes given,
Preserve thee still in love, preserve in peace,
And see thy plenteous blessings still increase;

Ver. 452. From him, whose art, &c.] Alphonso I.

470

Ver. 456. A Hercules-] Alphonso I. son of Hercules I. and father of Hercules II. duke of Ferrara.

Ver. 463.---small hamlet--] The poet feigns Ferrara to have been at this time an inconsiderable village.