Thou canst demand—for know I am a nymph,
And have my dwelling in this crystal lymph
“ ‘And power is mine to work portentous ends;
Nature and Elements I force: thy prayer
Shape to the scope to which my strength extends,
And leave its satisfaction to my care.
Charmed by my song the moon from Heaven descends:
Fire can I freeze, and harden liquid air;
And I at times have stopt the sun, and stirred
This earth beneath me by a simple word.’
“Treasure I covet not, nor yet aspire
O’er land or people to hold sovereign sway;
Nor greater strength nor valour would acquire,
Nor fame in every warfare bear away;
But only to accomplish thy desire,
Entreat the damsel she will show some way.
Nor one nor other method I forestall;
But to her choice refer me, all in all.
“Scarce my demand was made, before mine eye
Beneath the lymph engulphed that lady viewed:
Nor answered she my prayer, but, for reply,
Me with the enchanted element bedewed;
Which has no sooner touched my face than I,
I know not how, am utterly transmewed:
I see, I feel—yet doubting what I scan—
Feel, I am changed from woman into man.289
E se non fosse, che senza dimora290
Vi potete chiarir, nol credereste:
E, qual ne l’altro sesso, in questo ancora
Ho le mie voglie ad ubbidirvi preste.
Comandate lor pur, che fieno hor hora
E sempre mai per voi vigile e deste.
Così le dissi, e feci, che ella stessa
Trovò con man la veritade espressa.
Come interviene à chi già fuor di speme291
Di cosa sia, che nel pensier molt habbia;
Che mentre più d’esserne privo geme,
più se n’afflige, e se ne strugge e arrabbia,
Se ben la trova poi, tanto gli preme
L’haver gran tempo seminato in sabbia,
E la disperation l’ha sì mal uso,
Che non crede à se stesso, e sta confuso,
Così la Donna, poi che tocca, e vede292
Quel, di ch’havuto havea tanto desire,
À gliocchi, al tatto, à se stessa non crede,
E sta dubbiosa ancor di non dormire,
E buona prova bisognò à far fede,
Che sentia quel, che le parea sentire.
Fa Dio (disse ella) se son sogni questi,
Ch’io dorma sempre, e mai più non mi desti.
Non rumor di tamburi, ò son di trombe293
Furon principio à l’amoroso assalto,
Ma baci che imitavan le colombe,
davan segno or di gire, or di fare alto,
Usammo altr’arme che saette ò frombe.
Io senza scale in sù la Rocca salto,
E lo stendardo piantovi di botto,
E la nimica mia mi caccio sotto.
Se fu quel letto la notte dinanti294
Pien di sospiri e di querele gravi,
Non stette l’altra poi senza altretanti
Risi, feste, gioir, giochi soavi.
Non con più nodi i flessuosi acanti
Le colone circondano, e le travi,
Di quelli, con che noi legammo stretti
E colli, e fianchi, e braccia, e gambe, e petti.
“The thing remained concealed between us two;
So that our bliss endured some months; at last
We were espied; and, as I sorely rue,
The tidings to the Spanish monarch past.
Thou that whilere preserved’st me from the crew,
Which me into the flames designed to cast,
By this mayst fully comprehend the rest;
But God alone can read my sorrowing breast.”
So Richardetto spake, and by his say
Made the dark path they trod less irksome be.
Up a small height this while their journey lay,
Girded with cliff and cavern, drear to see.
Bristling with rocks, a steep and narrow way
Was to that rugged hill the stubborn key;
A town, called Agrismonte, crowned the steep,
Which Aldigier of Clermont had in keep.
Bastard of Buovo, brother to the pair,
Sir Vivian and Sir Malagigi hight:
Who him Gerardo’s lawful son declare,
Are witnesses of little worth and light.
—This, as it may!—strong, valiant, wise, and ware,
Liberal, humane, and courteous was the knight;
And on the fortress of its absent lord,
By night and day, kept faithful watch and ward.
His cousin Richardetto, as behoved,
Was courteously received by Aldigier;
Who him as dearly as a brother loved,
And made Rogero for his sake good cheer;
But not with wonted welcome;—inly moved—
He even wore a visage sad and drear:
For he, that day, ill-tidings had received,
And hence in heart and face the warrior grieved.
To Richardetto he exclaims, instead
Of greeting; “Evil news are hither blown.
By a sure messenger, to-day I read
That faithless Bertolagi of Bayonne,
With barbarous Lanfusa has agreed,
And costly spoils makes over to that crone;
Who will consign to him the brethren twain,
Thy Malagigi and thy Viviane;
“These she, since Ferraù took them, aye has stayed
Imprisoned in a dark and evil cell;
Till the discourteous and foul pact was made
With that false Maganzese of whom I tell;
And them to-morrow, to a place conveyed
’Twixt Bayonne and a town of his, will sell
To him, who will be present, to advance
The price of the most precious blood in France.
“One, at a gallop, even now, to report
Tidings to our Rinaldo of the wrong,
I sent; bur fear that he can ill resort
To him in time, the journey is so long.
Men have I not to sally from my fort;
And my power halts where my desire is strong.
The traitor will the knights, if rendered, slay;
Nor know I what to do nor what to say.”
Sir Richardetto the ill news displease,
And (as they him) displease in equal wise
Rogero; who, when silent both he sees,
Nor able any counsel to devise,
Exclaims with mickle daring: “Be at ease;
I challenge for myself the whole emprize;
And, to set free your brethren, in my hand
More than a thousand shall avail this brand.
“I ask not men, I ask not aid; my spear
Is, I believe, sufficient to
