The field and plunder to the conquering band Bore heaps of treasure from the loaded wain; 195 200 205 Bright shone the charms that female features, grace. 210 And now to learn her glorious name they su': 215 With that her glittering helmet she unlac'd, Fairy Queen, Book III. C. iv. St. 13. Foth poets compare their respective heroines to Bellona. But now the pages call'd her to repair There, sculptur'd, from the woods a monster came, 220 225 230 Ver. 231. There, sculptur'd, from the woods a monster came,--Most of the commentators have explained this monster to mean Avarice, which had over-run all the Christian world, and brought scandal on the professors of the faith. Sir John Harington, who lived in an age of allegory, says, that Ariosto describes this vice very significantly; he makes "her ugly, because of all vices it is most hateful; ears of an ass, being for the most part ignorant, or at least careless of other men's good opinions; a wolf in head and breast, namely, ravenous and never satisfied; a lion's grisly jaw, terrible and devouring; a fox in all the rest, wily and crafty." See notes to Sir John Harington's translation of this book. Lavezuola, a commentator, extols this description of Ariosto, as far superior to Dante, who simply represents Avarice in the form of a lean and hungry.wolf. E una lupa, che di tutta brame, Scontra carca con la sua magrezza, E molte genti fè gia viver grame. Inferno, Cant. I. ......Inflam'd with every fierce desire, A famish'd she-wolf like a spectre came, Beneath whose gripe shall many a wretch expire. Hayley. An ass's ears, a wolf's stern front he wore, With ravening teeth as long undrench'd with gore; His shape and hue the wily fox express'd. With rage untam'd he travers'd Gallia's land, Europe and Asia had his force o’er-run, 235 And every clime beneath the rolling sun. Where'er he pass'd the wounds or deaths he dealt, 240 245 250 Mr. Upton thinks, that by this monster is characterised Superstition, as ignorant, ravenous, cruel, and cunning. See his note to Fairy Queen, Book I. C. viii. St. 48. The different explanations prove the uncertainty that often attends allegorical description, though I cannot but think, from many circumstances, that Ariosto means to represent Avarice. Spenser, whose work is one continued allegory, would sometimes be totally unintelligible, but that he generally gives the names to his personified characters. Ver. 254. And boasts to keep the keys, &c.] It is not easy to say how far Ariosto meant to carry his satire, but a Protestant commen Behold a warrior near, who round his hairs Three youths beside, whose kingly vestments hold, 255 With these a lion the like signal shows; And all combin'd the raging beast oppose. 260 Of one the name is graven o'er his head, 265 The emp'ror Charles (the fifth that bears the name) Who fastening on his ears the monster tears: Close and more close these four the foe invade, 270 Pale terror seems to fly from every place, 275 While, ready to retrieve each past disgrace, The nobles, though but few, united strive, Marphisa with the knights impatient sought To know the chiefs at full, whose arms had wrought 280 tator might very easily deduce from this passage a severe reflection on the sale of pardons and indulgences, in order to feed the avarice of the Romish clergy. Ver. 271. Leo the Tenth, Pope Leo X. here figured under the similitude of a lion, in which manner the poet often speaks of him; a kind of punning allusion to his name. A deed so brave, by whom the beast lay dead, Who near in silence sat, and thus he cries: 'Tis thou must speak what all request to learn, For in thy looks thy knowledge I discern : Say, what are those, whose weapons, well employ'd, 290 Then Malagigi---Think not you behold A past event in story'd annals told; Know first, the chiefs you see are yet unborn, The chiefs whose deeds the marble fount adorn. Seven hundred years elaps'd, their matchless worth 295 What time the British realm king Arthur sway'd. 300 305 Beyond the worst of plagues; not that so fam'd 310 Ver. 310.------ -terrific Python---] Python was a monstrous serpent, said by the ancient poets to have been engendered from the slime 1 |