At this strange sight Jocundo chang'd his cheer, 280 No more his cheeks receive the falling tear; Joy lights his eyes, the clouds of grief are o'er, The king, his brother, all the court confess 285 290 295 The guilt to punish, but restrain his rage, 300 Nor let a single word or deed evince The crime detected by an injur'd prince. The king, who little dreamt his wrongs sustain'd, By solemn plighted vow himself restrain'd. Jocundo then began the cause to show, Whence sickness, sprung from soul-consuming woe, 305 Prey'd on his health; and how his wife, debas'd To sordid lust, had with his slave disgrac'd Ver. 283. And what his name imports,--] The word Giocundo in the Italian, signifies cheerful, jocund. Her husband's bed; how, near his death, he found An unexpected salve to close the wound. And know, O monarch! to my secret grief 310 Thy palace has supply'd the strange relief; For while I mourn'd my fortune, chance disclos'd A mightier far to equal fate expos'd. IIe said, and to the place the monarch drew, That gave his hideous rival to his view, 315 Whose charms had taught his faithful wife to yield, And now was ploughing in another's field. There needs not here an oath t' enforce belief, 320 If stiffen'd at the sight with rage and grief Then to Jocundo--Say, what course remains? To take the just revenge my wrongs demand. And plant on other's brows the fruits we bear. Nor let us here return, till female similes, Won from a thousand, crown our amorous toils. 325 330 335 Long absence, while in foreign lands we roam, 340 345 350 355 The king assents, and for th' intended way With speed prepares, impatient of delay. Through fruitful Italy their course they bend, Two pages only on their steps attend. And now they left the soft Italian land, To visit Flanders, France, and Albion's strand. Free to their love they found each melting fair, And found the loveliest oft the kindest were: And while on some they costly gifts bestow'd, To other's bounty equal gifts they ow'd. With siege of warm entreaty some they won, And others pray'd themselves to be undone. Here one short month, there two the lovers made Their amorous stay, and every proof essay'd, While, like the virtuous wives, each female ty'd In nuptial fetters, with their suit comply'd. At length both tir'd, where both alike pursue Increasing dangers with adventures new, Conscious what mischiefs oft on those await Who knock too frequent at their neighbour's gate; Now deem'd it best to seek some generous fair, Whose charms, by turns, might either's passion share, For each had try'd, and try'd in vain, to prove, 360 366 A female constant to his single love. Since still some other must partake my bed, The place be yours, my friend (the monarch said). Of all the sex this certain truth is known, 370 No woman yet was ere content with one. VOL. IV. F Then let us with some gentle friend enjoy Thus spoke Astolpho; and the Roman youth On her they fix'd---for on her blooming face 375 380 385 390 395 Ver. 399. The realms of Syphar] By the realms of Syphax the poet means part of the kingdom of Africa. At noon they from Valenza took their way; The strangers here, as strangers ever do, Some spread the couch, some tend and feed with care It chanc'd, that busy'd thus the fair one spy'd Each other well they knew, but fear'd to speak, 400 405 410 Lest squint suspicion on their words should break. 415 And, from discovery safe, each other greet. The youth demands her whither she was bound, And which, of either lord, her favour found? 420 425 Thou go'st--and others have thy charms possess'd, 430 And from thy father's hand receive my beauteous bride. |