Nor haply we such frequent discord view.’
“Much seems the king’s proposal to content
The Roman youth; and thus it is, the twain,
To execute Astolpho’s project bent,
Journey by many a hill and many a plain;
And find at last, well fitting their intent,
The daughter of a publican of Spain,
Of presence and of manners framed to win;
Whose father at Valencia kept his inn.
“As yet, upon the bloom of spring, the maid
Was a fresh flower that scarce began to blow:
Her sire with many children was o’erlaid,
And was to poverty a mortal foe.
Hence ’tis an easy matter to persuade
Mine host his buxom daughter to forego,
And let them, where they will the damsel bear;
In that to treat her well the travellers swear.
Pigliano la fanciulla, e piacer n’hanno343
Hor l’uno, hor l’altro in caritade, e in pace,
Come à vicenda i mantici, che danno
Hor l’uno or l’altro, fiato à la fornace.
Per veder tutta Spagna indi ne vanno;
E passar poi nel regno di Siface,
They to Zattiva come upon the day
That from Valencia they had bent their way.
“The travellers from their inn to street and square
And places, public and divine, resort;
Who, wheresoever they had made repair,
Themselves were so accustomed to disport,
The girl is with the valets left in care,
Who make the beds, and wearied hackneys sort:
While others in the hostel-kitchen dight
The meal against their lords’ return at night.
“As groom, a stripling in the hostel plied,
Who in the other landlord’s house had been:
He, from her childhood at the damsel’s side,
Had joyed her love: they, without change of mien,
On meeting, closely one another eyed,
Since either apprehended to be seen:
But when alone—now left together—raised
Their eyelids and on one another gazed.
“The stripling asked her whitherward they sped,
And of the two which claimed her as his right;
This, point by point, to him Flammetta read;
Flammetta she, the Greek that boy was hight.
‘—When I had hoped the time was coming,’ said
The Greek—‘that I should live with thee, my light,
Flammetta, thou, alas! art lost to me,
Nor know I if I more thy face shall see.
“ ‘I to the bitter dregs the cup must drain
Of promised sweets; since thou art others’ prey.
’Twas my design, having with mickle pain
And labour sore, some money put away,
Which I had hoarded out of frequent gain
From parting guests, and from my yearly pay,
To seek again Valencia, and demand
Thee from thy sire in lawful wedlock’s band.’
“The damsel shrugs her shoulders, and complains;
And—‘that he is too late’—is her reply.
The Greek laments and sobs, and partly feigns:
‘—Wilt thou (he answered her) thus let me die?
Let me, at least, exhale my amorous pains!
Let me, but once, in thine embrace lie!
For every moment in thy presence spent,
Ere thou depart, will make me die content.’
“To him the damsel, full of pity, cries:
‘Believe, I covet this no less than thee;
But here, surrounded by so many eyes,
Is neither time nor opportunity.’
‘—I feel assured’ (to her that youth replied)
‘Were I beloved by you, as you by me,
This very night you would find out a place
Wherein to solace us some little space.’
“She bade him come—when she awhile had thought—
When he believed that all asleep were laid;
And how by him her chamber should be sought,
And how he should return, at full, displayed.
The cautious stripling did as he was taught,
And, when he found all silent, thither made:
He pushed, till it gave way, the chamber-door,
And, upon tiptoes, softly paced the floor.
Pensa ella alquanto; e poi dice, che vegna,344
Quando creder potrà ch’ogn’uno dorma;
E pianamente come far convegna,
E de l’andare, e del tornar l’informa.
Il Greco, sì come ella le disegna,
Quando sente dormir tutta la torma,
Viene à l’uscio e lo spinge, e quel gli cede;
Entra pian piano, e va à tenton col piede.
Fa lunghi i passi, e sempre in quel di dietro345
Tutto si ferma, e l’altro par che muova,
À guisa, che di dar tema nel vetro,
Non che’l terreno habbia à calcar, ma l’uova;
E tien la mano inanzi simil metro,
Va brancolando in fin che’l letto trova;
E di là, dove gli altri havean le piante,
Tacito si cacciò col capo inante.
Fra l’una e l’altra gamba di Fiammetta,346
Che supina giacea, diritto venne.
E quando le fu à par, l’abbracciò stretta,
E sopra lei sin presso al dì si tenne.
Cavalcò forte, e non andò à staffetta,
Che mai bestia mutar non li convenne,
Che questa pare a lui che sì ben trotte,
Che scender non ne vuol per tutta notte.
Havea Giocondo, ed avea il Re sentito347
Il calpestio, che sempre il letto scosse,
E l’uno e l’altro, d’uno error schernito
S’havea creduto che’l compagno fosse,
Poi c’hebbe il Greco il suo camin fornito,
Sì come era venuto, anco tornosse.
Saettò il sol da l’Orizzonte i raggi,
Sorse Fiammetta, e fece entrare i paggi.
Il Re disse al compagno motteggiando,348
Frate, molto camin fatto aver dei.
E tempo è ben, che ti riposi, quando
Stato à cavallo tutta notte sei.
Giocondo à lui rispose di rimando,
S disse, tu di quel, ch’io à dire avrei.
À te tocca posare; e pro ti faccia;
Che tutta notte hai cavalcato à caccia.
Anch’io (suggiunse il Re) senza alcun fallo349
Lasciato havria il mio can correre un tratto,
Ee mi havessi prestato un po il cavallo
tanto che ’l mio bisogno avessi fatto. —
Giocondo replicò, Son tuo vasallo,
E poi far meco, e rompere ogni patto,
Sì, che non convenia tal cenni usare;
Ben
