Between Geneura, and her favourite knight,

Resolv'd to kindle rage and jealous spite,
And so the fire of enmity increase,

As ne'er again might be compos'd to peace:

Nor would he trust with me his treacherous thought, But counsel only from himself he sought.

At last, he thus his speech began to frame:

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My dear Dalinda, (thus I'm known by name)
Thou see'st the tree, though often hewn, will shoot
Fresh branches from the new divided root;

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Thus nought can wholly my desires suppress,

Though lopt so often by their ill success;

Yet think not that I prize the haughty dame,

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But baffled !--scorn'd--my soul rejects the shame!

This is my will: whene'er by love inspir'd

We meet, the princess to her bed retir'd,

Take every garment that aside she throws,

And on yourself her ornaments dispose:

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Like her attempt to dress your flowing hair,
Let every gesture feign Geneura's air.

Before the window take your silent stand,

And let the ladder down with ready hand.

Then will I come, in fancy prepossest

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That you are her you seem by mien and vest:

For well I trust, while thus myself I cheat,

To cure my fond desire with this deceit.

He said; and I unconscious ne'er perceiv'd
(So far had love my thoughts of sense bereav'd)
That what he ask'd, my treacherous lover meant,
With secret guilt t' effect some base intent;
But like Geneura cloth'd in vestment white,
Receiv'd his visits many a secret night;

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Nor saw the reason working in his mind,

Till all had follow'd, which his guile design'd.
His purpose thus secur'd, the wily duke
Aside th' unwary Ariodantes took;

For once they liv'd in friendship's social band
Ere fatal rivals for Geneura's hand.

With deep regret I find (he thus address'd

The gentle knight) when singled from the rest,
Amidst my peers I show'd you most regard,

You should so ill my partial choice reward.

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Full well you know what love (long time declar'd) 185 With mine Geneura's gentle heart has shar'd;

And see me now preparing to demand

The maid in marriage from my sovereign's hand.
Why will you then disturb my rightful claim?
Why thus indulge a rash and hopeless flame?
I swear, had IIeaven revers'd our fates, to thee
My juster choice had left the fair-one free.

It moves me more to view your fruitless pain, (Thus Ariodantes answer'd him again)

Since, ere your thoughts aspir'd to win the dame,
My soul had nourish'd long the growing flame;
And ne'er could sympathy more powerful prove,
To join two amorous minds in mutual love.
Why then respect not you our friendly band,
Or pay my vows the deference you demand?
Were you beheld with more propitious eyes,
Long since had I resign'd the beauteous prize ;
But well I hope the princely maid to wed,
Though your possessions may be wider spread:
Not less my deeds by Scotland's king approv'd,
And by his daughter am I more belov❜d.

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O'erweening confidence (the duke rejoin'd)
Has but deceiv'd thy fond distemper'd mind!
Sincere the progress of thy love impart,
And, in return, will I disclose my heart.
So he, who in success appears to yield,

Shall to his happier rival quit the field.
Whate'er thee speak'st, yon' Heaven I here attest,
The tale shall safe within this bosom rest;
So shalt thou vow, thou never wilt disclose
Whate'er my friendship may in thee repose.
This said; each other's secrets to conceal
They swore; then Ariodant began to tell
His love's pursuit, and undisguis'd display'd
His tender contract with the royal maid;
Who, if the king her sire her suit deny'd,
Vow'd, for his sake, to shun the name of bride.
He urg'd his hopes, by many battles won
In former fields, by trophies yet unknown,
Which still he hop'd in future fields to gain,
For the king's fame and welfare of his reign,
To rise so high in rank, the monarch's voice
Should yield his daughter, and confirm her choice.
Behold (he cry'd) the point my love has gain'd,

And none, I deem, has equal grace obtain❜d.

I seek no other at Geneura's hand,

Till sanctify'd by Hymen's holy band:

"Twere vain to ask her more, whose virtuous mind Leaves every maid in chastity behind.

When Ariodantes thus with truth declar'd
How far he deem'd his love might find reward,

Duke Polinesso, who with guile devis'd
To make Geneura by her knight despis'd,

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Thus fraudulent pursu'd-Now hear mc tell,
How far my happier chance can thine excel.

With thee she feigns, she scorns thy hated name,
While with vain hopes she feeds thy boasted flame;
But better proofs of love to me affords,

Than airy promises, and empty words:
Which, under secrecy, I shall reveal;

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Though lady's favours we should still conccal.

No conscious month revolves, but sees me led

Full many a night to fair Geneura's bed;
Beholds me clasp her yielding in my arms,
And riot, unconfin'd, in all her charms.
Judge, if thy favours can with mine compare :
Then yield to me, and seek some kinder fair,
Since love has crown'd my happier fortune there.
'Tis false! (thus Ariodant incens'd replies)

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Thou has defam'd the fair with odious lyes;

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And hast devis'd what thou hast said, to prove
If shallow tales can fright me from my love.
But since too much Geneura's fame they stain,
It fits, what thou hast spoken, to maintain.
This instant wil! I brand thee, ere we part,
A liar and a traitor in thy heart.

'Twere weak indeed (the duke again reply'd)
A strife like this by combat to decide;
When here I offer, what these lips have told,
Those eyes shall witness, and the truth behold.
At this to stagger Ariodant began,
While through his bones a chilling tremor ran:
And but some glimmering yet of hope remain'd,
His heart had scarce its vital heat retain’d.

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His bosom throbb'd, his shifting colour fled,
As thus at length with falt'ring words he said:
When you disclose this deed before my sight,
(Attend me here my sacred promise plight)
Thenceforth I vow to leave Geneura free,
So liberal found to you, so harsh to me!

In vain your words my constant mind would move,
Unless these eyes her fatal falsehood prove.

This said, they parted: soon was fix'd again

The night my treacherous duke to entertain:

:

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When to complete the snare his craft had wrought, 280 My guileful lover Ariodantes sought;

And bade him take his stand th' ensuing night

Amidst those ruin'd piles, conceal'd from sight.

But Ariodantes now in thought began

To doubt that this conceal'd some murderous train; 285 That the false duke, by rival hatred sway'd,

A secret ambush for his life had laid,

Pretending there a cruel proof to give

Of what his thoughts till then could ne'er conceive.

Yet was he firm to go, but on his guard,

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Resolv'd for all assaults to be prepar'd;
That, if the chance requir'd, he bravely might
Withstand his ambush'd enemy in fight.

His brother was a knight of prudence sound,
Of all the court in arms the most renown'd,
Lurcanio call'd, and less, with him, he fear'd,
Than if ten others on his side appear'd.
This gallant youth he bade his arms prepare,
And led th' adventure of the night to share.
Not that he told the secrets of his heart,
For these to him, nor none, would he impart.

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