第26章

XLVIII

Whatinathousand，thousandquestshadne\'erBefal\'nRinaldo，herebefeltheknight；

Who，whenheseesthehorridformappear，Comingtoseekhimandpreparedforfight，Feelsinhisinmostveinssuchfreezingfear，Ashaplyneverfellonotherwight；

Yetwonteddaringcounterfeitsandfeigns，Andwithatremblinghandthefaulchionstrains。

XLIX

ThemonstersothefierceassaultdidmakeThereinhermasterwaswelldescried，Itmightbesaid；sheshookapoisonoussnake，Andnowonthis，nowontheotherside，Leaptattheknight；atherRinaldostrakeEvermeanwhilewithrandomblowsandwide；

Withforestroke，backstroke，heassailsthefoe；

Heoftensmites，butneverplantsablow。

L

Themonsterthrewaserpentathisbreast，Thatfrozehisheartbeneathitsironcase:

Nowthroughthevizorflungthepoisonouspest，Whichcreptabouthiscollarandhisface。

Dismaid，Rinaldofledthefield，andprestWithallhisspurshiscourserthroughthechase:

Butnotbehindthehellishmonsterhalts，Whoinathoughtuponthecruppervaults。

LI

Wendwherethewarriorwill，an-endorwide，EverwithhimisthataccursedPest:

Norknowshehowfromhertobeuntied，Albeithiscourserplungeswithoutrest。

Likealeafquakeshisheartwithinhisside，Notthatthesnakesinothermodemolest，Buttheysuchhorrorandsuchloathingbred，Heshrieks，hegroans，andgladlywouldbedead。

LII

BygloomiesttrackandblindestpathhestillThreadedthetangledforesthereandthere；

Bythorniestvalleyandbyroughesthill，Andwheresoeverdarkestwastheair；

Thushopingtohaveridhimofthatill，Hideous，abominable，poisonousCare；

Beneathwhosegripehefoullymighthavefared，Butthatonequicklytohisaidrepaired。

LIII

Butaid，andingoodtime，ahorsemanbore，Equiptwitharmsofbeauteoussteelandclear:

Forcrest，abrokenyokethestrangerwore；

Redflamesuponhisyellowshieldappear:

Sowasthecourser\'shousingbroideredo\'er，Astheproudsurcoatofthecavalier。

Hislancehegrasped，hisswordwasinitsplace，Andathissaddlehungaburningmace。

LIV

Thatwarrior\'smaceafireeternalfills，Whoselastingfueleverblazesbright；

Andgoodlybuckler，temperedcorsletthrills，Andsolidhelm；thenneedstheapproachingknightMustmakehimway，wherever\'tishiswillToturnhisinextinguishablelight。

NoroflesshelpinneedRinaldostands，Tosavehimfromthecruelmonster\'shands。

LV

Thestrangerhorseman，likeawarriorbold，Wherehethathubbubhears，doththitherswoop，Untilheseesthebeast，whosesnakesenfoldRinaldo，linkedinmanyaloathsomeloop，Whosweatsatoncewithheatandquakeswithcold，Norcanhethrustthemonsterfromhiscroup。

Arrivedthestrangersmoteherintheflank，Whoonthenearsideofthecoursersank:

LVI

Butscarcelywasonearthextended，ereSheroseandshookhersnakesinvolumedspire。

Theknightnomoreassailsherwiththespear；

Butisresolvedtoplaguethefoewithfire:

HegripesthemaceandthundersinherrearWithfrequentblows，liketempestinitsire；

NorleavesamomenttothatmonsterfellTostrikeonestrokeinanswer，illorwell；

LVII

And，whilehechasesherorholdsatbay，Smitesherandvengesmanyafoulaffront，Counselsthepaladin，withoutdelay，Totaketheroadwhichscalestheneighbouringmount:

Hetookthatprofferedcounselandthatway，Andwithoutstop，orturningbackhisfront，Prickedfuriouslytillhewasoutofsight；

Thoughhardtoclamberwastheruggedheight。

LVIII

Thestranger，whenhetoherdarkretreatHaddrivenfromupperlightthatbeastofhell(Wheresheherselfdothevergnawandeat，Whilefromherthousandeyestearsceaselesswell)

Followedtheknight，toguidehiswanderingfeet；

Andovertookhimonthehighestswell；

ThenplacedhimselfbesidethecavalierHimfromthosedarkandgloomypartstosteer。

LIX

WhenhimreturnedbeheldMontalban\'sknight，Thatcountlessthankswereduetohim，hesaid，Andthatatalltimes，asadebtofright，Hislifeshouldbeforhisadvantagepaid。

Ofhimhenextdemands，howheishight，Thathemayknowandtellwhobroughthimaid；

Andamongworthywarriors，andbeforeKingCharles，exalthisprowessevermore。

LX

Thestrangeranswered:“LetitirknottheeThatInotnowmynametotheedisplay；

Erelongerbyayardtheshadowsbe，ThiswillIsignify；ashortdelay。”

Wendingtogether，theyariverseeWhosemurmurswoothetravellerfromhisway，Andshepherd-swain，bywhiles，totheirgreenbrink；

Thereanoblivionoftheirlovetodrink。

LXI

Mylord，thatfountain\'schillingstreamandclearExtinguishedlove；AngelicaofyoreDrinkingthereof，forgoodMontalban\'speerConceivedthathateshenourishedevermore；

Andifsheoncedispleasedthecavalier，Andhetohersuchpassinghatredbore，Forthisnoothercauseoccasiongave，Mylord，savedrinkingofthischillywave。

LXII

Arrivingatthatlimpidriver\'sside，ThecavalierthatwithRinaldogoes，Reined-inhiscourser，howwithtoil，andcried，“Here\'twerenotill，meseemeth，torepose。”——

“Itcannotbutbewell“(thepeerreplied)，“Because，besidethatmid-dayfiercelyglows，IhavesosufferedfromthathideousPest，AssweetandneedfulshallIwelcomerest。”

LXIII

Uponthegreenswardlitthemartialtwo，Whiletheirloosehorsesthroughtheforestfed；

AndfromtheirbrowstheburnishedhelmetsthrewOnthatfloweredherbage，yellow，green，andred。

Rinaldototheliquidcrystalflew，Byheatandthirstuntotheriversped；

AndwithonedraughtofthatcoldliquiddroveOutofhisburningbosomthirstandlove。

LXIV

WhenasRinaldo，satedwiththedraught，Raisinghisheadthestrangerknightespied，Andsawthathe，repentant，everythoughtOfthatsofranticlovehadputaside，Herearedhimself，andsaidwithsemblancehaughtThatwhichhewouldnotsaybefore，andcried:

“Rinaldo，knowthatIamhightDisdain，Boundhitherbuttobreakthyworthlesschain。”

LXV

Sosaying，suddenlyhepassedfromsight；

Withhimhishorse:thisinRinaldobredMuchwonderment；andtheastonishedknight，“Whereishe?“gazingroundabouthim，said。

Hecannotguessif\'twereamagicsprite，AfiendbyMalagigithithersped，Fromthosehisministers，tobreakthechain，Fetteredwherebyhelivedsolonginpain；

LXVI

OfifanangelfromtheheavenlysphereInhisineffablegoodnessbytheLord，Dispatched，astoTobias\'saidwhilere，Amedicineforhisblindnesstoafford。

Butgoodorevilangel——whatsoe\'erHewasthathimtolibertyrestored——

HimthankedandpraisedRinaldo，foraheartHealedonlybyhishelpofamoroussmart。

LXVII

OldhatereviveduponRinaldo\'sside；

Norhealoneunworthytobewooed，ThedamseldeemedbypilgrimagesowideHerhalfaleaguehewouldnothavepursued。

NathlessanewBaiardotobestrideToSericanewouldgothatwarriorgood:

Aswellbecausehishonourhimcompelled，AsforthetalkwhichhewithCharleshadheld。

LXVIII

HeprickedtoBasleuponthefollowingday，Whitherthetidingshadarrivedbefore:

ThatCountOrlandowas，inmartialfray，TomeetGradassoandtheroyalMoor:

NorthroughOrlandowasdivulgedthatsay:

Butone，whocrostfromtheSicilianshore，Andthitherhad，inhaste，thejourneymade，Ascertainnews，thetidingshadconveyed。

LXIX

RinaldohadgladlybeenatRoland\'sside，Andfromthatbattlefarhimselfdothsee:

Everytenmileshechangeshorseandguide，Andwhipsandspurs，andmakeshiscourserflee。

HecrosttheRhineatConstance，forwardhied，HetraversedAlp，arrivedinItaly，HeleftVerona，Mantua，inhisrear，AndreachedandpastthePo，withswiftcareer。

LXX

Muchtowardsevealreadyslopedthesun，Andthefirststarwasglimmeringinthesky，When，doubtingonthebankifheshallrunAnothercourse，orinsomehostellieUntiltheshadesofnightandvapoursdunBeforeAurora\'sbeauteousvisagefly，Acavalierapproachinghimheviewed，Whocourtesyinfaceandsemblanceshewed。

LXXI

He，aftergreetinghim，ifheweretiedInwedlock，madeingentlewisedemand。

Rinaldo，wonderingwhatthequestimplied，Madeanswer:“Iamboundinnuptialband。”——

“Ijoythereat，“thecavalierreplied；

Then，thathemightthissayingunderstand，Added，“Ipraythatyou，sirknight，withinMymansionwillthisevebepleasedtoinn。

LXXII

“ForIwillmakeyouseewhatmustpleaseAwight“(pursuedthestranger)“thatiswed。”

Rinaldo，aswellthathewouldtakehisease，——Butthis，withsolongpostingsorebested——

AsthattoseeandhearstrangenoveltiesBynaturaldesirehestillwasled，Hisoffertakes，andentersanewroad，Followingthatcavaliertohisabode。

LXXIII

Abowshotfromthewaydivergedthetwo，Andagreatpalacefrontingthemdescried:

Whencesquireswithblazinglights(anumerouscrew)

Issued，andchasedthedarknessfarandwide。

Entering，hiseyesaroundRinaldothrew，Andsawaplace，whoselikeisseldomspied，Ofbeauteousfabric，andwellorderedplan；

Norsuchhugecostbefittedprivateman。

LXXIV

OfserpentineandofhardporphyryareThestoneswhichformthegateway\'sarchabove。

Ofbronzetheportalleaves，whichfiguresbear，Whoselivelyfeaturesseemtobreatheandmove。

Beneaththevaultedentry，coloursrareCheatingtheeye，inmixtmosaicstrove，Thequadranglewithinwasgalleried，Andofahundredyards，oneveryside。

LXXV

Agatewayistheretoeachgalleriedrow，And，twixtitandthatgate，anarchisbent；

Ofequalbreadth，butdifferentintheirshow，Forthearchitecthadsparednotornament。

Eacharchanentrancewas；upwhichmightgoAladenhorse；soeasytheascent。

Toarchaboveleadseverystairwithal，Andeveryarchisentrancetoahall。

LXXVI

Above，projectthearchesinsuchsort，Theyforthespaciousportalsformashade；

Andeachtwopillarshasforitssupport:

Ofbronzearesome，andsomeofmarblemade。

TheornamentedchambersofthecourtToomanyaretobeatlengthdisplayed；

Witheasements，which(besidewhatisinsight)

Theskilfulmasterundergroundhaddight。

LXXVII

Tallcolumns，withtheircapitalsofgold，Whichgemmedentablaturessupportinair；

Exoticmarblesengravedwithfiguresfair；

Pictureandcast，andworkssomanifold，Albeitbynighttheymostlyhiddenwere，Showedthattwokings\'unitedtreasurene\'erWouldhavesufficedsuchgorgeouspiletorear。

LXXVIII

AbovethebeauteousornamentsandrichThatmingledinthatgayquadranglemeet，Thereisafreshandplenteousfountain，whichScattersinmanythreadsitswaterysheet，\'Tisherethatyouthsatequaldistancepitch，I\'themiddle，tablesforthefestivetreat。

Whencetheyfourgatesofthatrichmansionsee，Andseenfromthosefourgatesaswellmaybe。

LXXIX

Bycunningmaster，diligentandwise，Withmuchandsubtletoil，thefountwasmade:

Inopengalleryorpavilion\'sguise；

Whichfromeightseparatefronts，projectsashade。

Agildedroof，whichwithenamelleddyesWasstainedbelow，thebuildingoverlayed。

Eightmarblestatues(snowywasthegrain)，Withtheleftarmthatgildedroofsustain。

LXXX

FairAmalthaea\'shornintherighthandHadquaintlysculpturedtheingeniousmaster，Whencewater，tricklingforthwithmurmurbland，Descendsintoavaseofalabaster；

Andhe，inlikenessofaladygrand，Withsovereignarthadfashionedeachpilaster。

Varioustheywereinvisageandinvest，Butallofequalcharmsandgracepossest。

LXXXI

UpontwobeauteousimagesbelowEachofthesefemalestatuesfixtheirfeet。

ThelowerseemwithopenmouthtoshowThatsongandharmonytothemaresweet；

And，bytheirattitude，\'twouldseem，asthoughTheireveryworkandeverystudymeetInpraisingthem，theyontheirshouldersbear，Astheywouldthosewhoselikenessestheywear。

LXXXII

TheimagesbelowthemintheirhandLongscrollsandofanamplesizecontain，WhichoftheworthiestfiguresofthatbandTheseveralnameswithmicklepraiseexplainAswelltheirownatlittledistancestand，Inscribeduponthatscroll，inlettersplain，Rinaldo，bythehelpofblazinglights，Marked，onebyone，theladiesandtheirknights。

LXXXIII

ThefirstinscriptiontherewhichmeetstheeyeRecitesatlengthLucretiaBorgia\'sfame，WhomRomeshouldplace，forcharmsandchastity，Abovethatwifewhowhilomborehername。

StrozzaandTebaldeo——AnthonyAndHercules——supportthehonoureddame:

(Sosaysthescroll):fortunefulstrain，thepairAveryLinusandanOrpheusare。

LXXXIV

Astatuenolessjocund，nolessbright，Succeeds，andonthewritingisimpressed；

Lo！Hercules\'daughter，Isabellahight，InwhomFerraradeemshercityblest，MuchmorebecauseshefirstshallseethelightWithinitscircuit，thanforalltherestWhichkindandfavouringFortuneintheflowOfrollingyears，shallonthattownbestow。

LXXXV

ThepairthatsuchdesirousardourshewThatayeherpraisesshouldbewidelyblown:

JohnJamesalikearenamed:ofthosefairtwo，OneisCalandra，oneisBardelon。

Inthethirdplace，andfourth，wheretricklingthroughSmallrills，thewaterquitsthatoctagon，Twoladiesarethere，equalintheirbirth，Equalincountry，honour，charmsandworth。

LXXXVI

OnewasElizabeth，oneEleanor，Andifwecreditwhatthatmarblesaid，Manto\'ssogloriouscitywhichsuchstoreSetsmymelodiousMaro，whomshebred，Morevauntsnothim，norreverencesmore，Thanthesefairdamesherpoet\'shonouredhead。

ThefirstoftheseherhallowedfeethadsetOnPeterBemboandJamesSadolet。

LXXXVII

ArelioandCastiglion，apolishedpair，Thatotherlady，inmidair，sustain。

Theirnameswerecarveduponthemarblefair，Thenbothunknown，andnowsofamesatwain。

Nextwasalady，thatfromHeavenshallheirAsmightyvirtueasonearthdothreign，Oreveryethathreigned，inanyage，WellprovedbyFortuneinherloveorrage。

LXXXVIII

InscribedincharactersofgoldishereLucretiaBentivoglia，andamongHerpraises，\'tisdeclaredFerrara\'speerJoysthatsuchdaughterdothtohimbelong。

HershallCamillusvoice，andfarandnearRenoandFelsinashallhearhissong，WraptinasmightywonderatthestrainAsthatwherewithAmphrysusheardhisswain；

LXXXIX

Andone，throughwhomthatcity\'sname(wheresweetIsaurussaltshiswaveinlargervase)

FameshallfromAfricatoIndrepeat，FromsoutherntractstoHyperboreanways，MorethanbecauseRome\'sgoldinthatfamedseatWasweighed，whereofperpetualrecordsaysGuyPosthumus——aboutwhosehonouredbrowPhoebusandPallasbindadoublebough。

XC

Dianisnextinorderofthattrain。

“Regardnot(saidthemarble)isshewearAhaughtyport；forinherheart，humaneThematronis，asinhervisage，fair。

LearnedCelioCalcagnineinloftystrainHergloriesandfairnameabroadshallbear，AndJuba\'sandMoneses\'kingdomhear，AndSpainandfarthestInd，histrumpetclear；

XCI

AndaCavalloshallmakesuchafontOfpoetryinfamedAnconarun，AsthatwingedcourseronParnassus\'mount；

OrwasitonthehillofHelicon?

\'TisBeatrice，whonextuprearsherfront，Whereofsospeaksthewritingonthestone:

“HerconsortBeatrice，whileshehasbreath，Blesses，andleavesunhappyatherdeath；

XCII

“Yea，Italy；thatwithhertriumphsbright，Withoutthatladyfairshallcaptivebe。”

AloftysongappearsofhertoinditeAlordoftheCorreggio\'snobletree；

And，Benedeo\'spride，Timotheushight。