Canto

  1     1|          Spain's martial flower.~'Twas thus Orlando came where
  2     1|          rest the traveller woo.~'Twas there her limbs the weary
  3     1|  redoubted virgin's name I veil:~'Twas Bradamant who marred what
  4     3|         holds on till even-tide:~'Twas then the damsel at a hostel
  5     5|           more illustrious fate.~'Twas well to love, before her
  6     6|          the doleful tidings go,~'Twas talked of in the island,
  7     7|           heard him late impart,~'Twas prompted by revenge, 'twas
  8     7|        Twas prompted by revenge, 'twas false and vain.~By hate
  9     7|         on distant floor,~Hoping 'twas her, Rogero raised his head:~
 10     7|   following day the winged steed~'Twas her intention from that
 11     8|       passing bright~And lovely, 'twas no wonder if the maid,~When
 12     8|          religious king, to whom 'twas given,~Knew that the saving
 13    10|       then new counsel took, and 'twas the best,~With other arms
 14    10|          again had born;~By whom 'twas ever on his finger worn.~ ~
 15    10|       solitary mountain.~ ~ CXIV~'Twas here the wishful knight
 16    11|         supplied with food.~ ~ X~'Twas here an aged herdsman, one
 17    11|      Melibaeus, with your peace!~'Twas here the beauteous lady
 18    12|        his head afford.~ ~ XLVII~'Twas thus those warriors two,
 19    14|       surcoat bore.~-- And, sir, 'twas true; for so was Roland
 20    14|        Here dwelt they once; but 'twas in ancient days;~Chased
 21    14|            And everywhere beside 'twas lightsome day;~Nor through
 22    15|           s will~Of old, and ere 'twas known long time should run;~
 23    15|           appeared in sight;~For 'twas two months complete, a third
 24    15|      rowels made of gold;~Which ('twas believed) the warrior's
 25    17|          such day-light through,~'Twas easy to espy -- and might
 26    17|          her from being slain.~` "Twas no small joy 'mid all the
 27    17|          But when, at day-light, 'twas unbarred, and now~He was
 28    17|        promised vow,~That, since 'twas granted her such ill to
 29    17|         beast his teeth display.~'Twas thus, before those valiant
 30    17|           others chose;~And, but 'twas double, and the coat as
 31    18|        Strait shall you hear who 'twas, approached the king,~But
 32    18|           As manifested plainly, 'twas a lie.~In all 'twas perfect,
 33    18|     plainly, 'twas a lie.~In all 'twas perfect, save that he the
 34    18|            every one, could tell~'Twas he that in the tourney won
 35    18|         the city sped,~Who, when 'twas time, reported to the train,~
 36    18|           of Tisiphone:~For that 'twas verily Marphisa, who~Had
 37    18|           young and old.~ ~  CXL~'Twas here they heard the same
 38    18|          noise the country fill:~'Twas so the Africans, who had
 39    19|          will to satisfy,~Deemed 'twas no time to wait till she
 40    19|               LVI~Sore dangerous 'twas to doubt; lest hostile band~
 41    19|        the martial maid, to show~'Twas courtesy, not fear, had
 42    19|          circling stroke.~ ~ C~" 'Twas well for me," the other
 43    20|               V~The other, since 'twas his to speak, begun~With
 44    20|          wandering o'er the sea.~'Twas here they settled, with
 45    20|           dismal news.~ ~ XXIX~" 'Twas thus with the male sex at
 46    20|       desire to hear,~I tell you 'twas Zerbino, a king's son,~Of
 47    20|         ground he lay,~And, when 'twas recollected, grieved the
 48    20|          had not seen,~Perceived 'twas him of whom, in the thieves'
 49    21|     Zerbino answered courteously,~Twas sign of evil and ungenerous
 50    21|          swelling bosom overrun.~'Twas thus in such concord as
 51    22|           more, till to the king 'twas said;~Of whom but yesterday
 52    22|       taken by deceit.~ ~  LXXII~'Twas now exactly the eighth month
 53    22|          the maid restored, when 'twas concealed,~Her senses, which
 54    23|          asked the occasion, and 'twas said~Tidings had been to
 55    23|          And, after he had heard 'twas at the hest~Of Anselm, Count
 56    23|      Altaripa, done,~Was certain 'twas and outrage manifest,~Since
 57    24|           might have learned was 'twas to cast away~His sword,
 58    24|          sorrow overflows;~I say 'twas Flordelice, who, bound in
 59    24|        devoutly sips.~ ~ LXXXIII~'Twas here his feeble voice Zerbino
 60    24|           every grudge foregone,~'Twas finally resolved between
 61    25|       good, if often ill.~ ~ III~'Twas now, suspending all their
 62    25|         valour well was scanned,~'Twas here; 'twas here employed; '
 63    25|         was scanned,~'Twas here; 'twas here employed; 'twas here
 64    25|       here; 'twas here employed; 'twas here displayed;~In the desire
 65    25|           forlorn.~ ~ XXXV~" `It 'twas thy pleasure, Love, to have
 66    25|          place his prowess shew.~'Twas now that better audience
 67    26|       gloomy realms below.~ ~ XV~'Twas hence a foul mistake the
 68    26|           it came;~And also that 'twas reft in his despite;~He
 69    27|         his bosom beats,~In that 'twas offered in such public place.~
 70    27|          anew.~ ~ LXXIII~Assured 'twas no mistake, Circassia's
 71    27|         who all accord~In saying 'twas Brunello stole her sword;~ ~
 72    27|        appeared of purer strain,~'Twas that she better hid her
 73    28|           thou art others' prey.~'Twas my design, having with mickle
 74    30|         maim:~Without pact made, 'twas reckoned a misdeed,~And
 75    30|         vizor through the midst; 'twas well~That from the sight
 76    30|         and the skirts wherewith 'twas overlaid)~And trenched upon
 77    30|          grievous wound;~So that 'twas long ere he again waxed
 78    30|      ailed, most truly said;~Yet 'twas not corporal pain or fever
 79    32|         furnish aid~And victual, 'twas a place of much resource,~
 80    32|            XLIV~Resolved to die, 'twas so the damsel cried;~And
 81    34|           cliffs forbade access:~'Twas here my sire, amid those
 82    34|       first rejected by my sire,~'Twas, he was somedeal of a churlish
 83    34|        should be read,~And hears 'twas charity, by sick men willed~
 84    35|          his wits in vain."~ ~ X~'Twas so Christ's servant with
 85    35| suspicions fall.~ ~ LXV~To think 'twas Rodomont the youthful peer~
 86    36|        leaguering host was pent,~'Twas known, that oft, through
 87    36|         was fury, fire;~For that 'twas rather fondness than desire.~ ~
 88    37|           XLIX~"And, for he knew 'twas useless to entreat,~Devised
 89    37|           cast.~To burn the town 'twas afterwards designed,~Save
 90    39|        opprest,~And recollecting 'twas the saint's command,~Who
 91    39|       they hence descry.~ ~ LXXX~`Twas so those ships, by England'
 92    40|         the Moorish train.~ ~ VI~'Twas night, nor gleam was anywhere
 93    41|           the mountain.~ ~ LVIII~'Twas well nigh forty years, since
 94    41|          was not plain withal~If 'twas the fault of horse or cavalier;~
 95    41|  faulchion of Anglantes' knight:~'Twas on its flat, but such his
 96    43|           me, did I rest or rove.~Twas long ere we had any strife;
 97    43|          was conveyed,~Where (as 'twas said) she vanished from
 98    43|          husband, place;~And, as 'twas granted thee, so grant me
 99    43|           his visage burn, as if 'twas lit~With fire, when of Anselmo'
100    44|            And by such marriage, 'twas the peer's belief,~He could
101    44|     frustrate my intent.~ ~ LV~" `Twas ever my intent, and still '
102    45|           smite;~And say: "I see 'twas ill such thoughts to nurse,~
103    45|       taught that none~Must know 'twas Leo -- was the door undone.~ ~
104    46|           cordage, shaft whereby 'twas stayed,~And all within and
105    46|        crew~Thither, from whence 'twas brought, conveyed anew.~ ~
106    46|        rare work and her by whom 'twas done.~ ~  LXXXII~But when
107    46|         Rogero's sword~Gave him, 'twas deemed, advantage in the