ページの画像
PDF
ePub

And now approach'd so near the destin'd place,
As from the band a stone might fly the space,
He plac'd Lurcanio there, and thus he said:
When need demands, then hasten to my aid;
But till my voice you hear, forbear to move;
Be silent, as you prize your brother's love.
Go, fear me not,---(his brother thus reply'd)
Then Ariodantes, parting from his side,
Went to th' appointed place, his station took,
And on my window fix'd his anxious look.
Now, from a different part the traitor came,
So ready to pollute Geneura's fame;
Without delay the wonted signal made

To me, who little knew what snare was laid.
Then in a dress Geneura us'd to wear,
Soon as I found my Polinesso there,
I from th' apartment to the gallery drew,
And stood, on ev'ry side expos'd to view.
My vest was white, and richly to behold,
Deck'd all around with costly fringe of gold;

305

310

315

320

A golden net descending from my head

With crimson flowers, was o'er my habit spread.

Lurcanio now, who deem'd with anxious mind

Some ill for Ariodantes' life design'd,

325

And partly by a natural passion led,

Desire of knowing how his fortune sped,

With wary tread his brother's steps pursu'd,
And silent near him undiscover'd stood.

Meanwhile I thoughtless came: the silver moon
Resplendent on my glittering garments shone:
Nor seem'd I much unlike the royal fair,
In outward person, or in borrow'd air;

330

[ocr errors]

And both the brethren, by the duke deceiv'd,
The well-concerted fraud for truth believ'd.
Judge at that time what cruel pangs possess'd
The wretched Ariodantes' tortur'd breast.
Now Polinesso comes, and full in sight

335

Receives the ladder, and ascends the height.

Then, thinking none beheld what fondly pass'd,

340

Around his neck my eáger arms I cast,

And, as I ever had my duke caress'd,

With many a tender kiss his lips I press'd,

Which he with warmth return'd: th' unhappy knight, Who stood spectator of this hated sight,

845

So deeply sunk beneath the load of grief,

His soul resolv'd from death to seek relief;
Then drew the sword, despairing, from his side,
And to his breast the fatal point apply'd.
Lurcanio (who surpris'd my lover view'd
Ascend the gallery where disguis'd I stood,

350

But knew not for the duke) advanc'd with speed,
Soon as he saw his brother's frantic deed,
And seizing hastily his furious hand,

From his rash act the hapless knight restrain'd:
Had he been more remote, or longer stay'd,

355

In vain, alas! had prov'd his pious aid.

Ah wretched, senseless brother! (thus he cry'd) What rage has turn'd your better thoughts aside? Thus for a woman is your death design'd?

360

All false as clouds that flit before the wind!

Far rather let her die, her sex's stain !

But for a nobler end your life retain.

Before this crime she justly claim'd your love;

But now she should alone your hatred move;

365

Since your own eyes have witness'd to her shame,
And seen how low she prostitutes her fame.
Then let those arms, against yourself employ'd,
Before the king her sire her fate decide.

When Ariodantes sees his brother nigh,
He seeks no longer on his sword to die;
With seeming calm he veils his secret pains,
But still his former purpose fix'd remains.
Departing thence, he with him bears the smart
That gives no ease to his distracted heart.

Next morning early he the court forsook, (Nor leave of brother or of friends he took)

370

375

None but Lurcanio and the duke could know

The cause that made him thus his home forego;,
While of his absence, in the royal court,

380

And o'er the land, was various the report.

Eight days elaps'd, at length a pilgrim came

With mournful tidings to the princely dame,
That Ariodantes in the sea was lost:

Not by the Eastern wind, or Boreas tost,

383

But that himself his own destruction found,

And leaping headlong in the waves, was drown'd.
Ere this last fatal act (the stranger said)

He thus bespoke me, there by fortune led:
"Draw near, my friend, and be Geneura told
"The hidden cause of what you now behold:
"Tell her 'tis this, these eyes too much have seen,
"Ah! happy, if these eyes had never been!"
By chance we then upon a mountain stood
That tow'rds Hibernia bellies o'er the food.

[blocks in formation]

390

395

Soon as he ceas'd to speak, I saw him leap
From the high rock, and plunge into the deep.
Him in the sea I left; and now I come

To bring the tidings of his hapless doom.

Half dead with grief the news Geneura heard;
A sudden paleness on her face appear'd.

O Heaven! what did she, and what words she said,
When laid in private on her faithful bed!

She strikes her bosom, and her garment tears,
She rends with cruel hands her golden hairs;
Repeating oft what, with his latest breath,
Sad Ariodantes nam'd his cause of death;
That the strange issue of his fate was such,
His eyes in hapless hour had seen too much!

400

405

Soon was the fame o'er all the kingdom spread, 410

Of Ariodantes thus untimely dead.

Not with dry eyes the king his loss survey'd ;

While pious tears each knight and lady paid,
At these unhappy tidings, o'er the rest
Heart-piercing anguish fill'd his brother's breast;
By such example oft his soul inclin'd
To die, and be at least in death conjoin'd;
This many a time returning to his thought,
That false Geneura such destruction wrought.
At length revenge so far possess'd his mind,
So far did rage and grief his reason blind,
That he the royal grace no longer priz❜d,
But the king's hatred, and the land's despis'd.
The peers assembled now, the time he took
T'address the throne, and thus indignant spoke.

Attend, my lord! while I the cause relate
That urg'd my brother to his hapless fate.

415

420

425

Your daughter's was the crime: 'twas she distress'd
With deep affliction Ariodantes' breast.

He lov'd the princess; (why should I conceal,

430

Or blush so pure a passion to reveal?)

And hop'd at length t' obtain her for his bride,

By numerous virtues, and by service try'd.

But while the bashful lover thus receives

The modest odour of the distant leaves,

Ile sees another to the tree ascend,

And from the boughs the blooming fruitage rend.
He said, and instant to the king display'd

The seeming crime, so late to sight betray'd,
Attesting that himself beheld the dame
Receive the secret partner of her shame;

A wretch unknown, that veil'd in dark disguise
Conceal'd his person from observing eyes:
Concluding, that he stood in fight prepar'd
To prove the truth of all his tongue declar'd.
Judge if the father struck with grief appear'd,
When he this fatal accusation heard;

Both with the tale surpris'd, and that he knew
Unless to her defence some warrior drew

To give Lurcanio in the field the lye,

He must his dearest child condemn to die.

435

440

445

450

Our laws, my lord! have doubtless reach'd your ear, Where every damsel is by doom severe

Condemn'd to certain death, who yields her charms
To any other but a husband's arms:

Unless some knight th' accuser dares to brave,
And from her threaten'd fate the damsel save.
The king has caus'd his heralds to proclaim,
(As deeming falsehood wrongs Geneura's fame)

455

« 前へ次へ »