More than because Rome’s gold in that famed seat
Was weighed, whereof perpetual record says512
Guy Posthumus513—about whose honoured brow
Phoebus and Pallas bind a double bough.
Dian is next514 in order of that train.
“Regard not (said the marble) is she wear
A haughty port: for in her heart, humane
The matron is, as in her visage, fair.
Learned Cèlio Calcagnine515 in lofty strain
Her glories and fair name abroad shall bear,
And Juba’s and Moneses’ kingdom hear,516
And Spain, and farthest Ind, his trumpet clear;
And a Cavallo517 shall make such a font
Of poetry in famed Ancona run,
As that winged courser on Parnassus’ mount;
Or was it on the hill of Helicon?
’Tis Beatrice,518 who next uprears her front,
Whereof so speaks the writing on the stone:
“Her consort Beatrice, while she has breath,
Blesses, and leaves unhappy at her death;
“Yea, Italy; that with her triumphs bright,
Without that lady fair shall captive be.”
A lofty song appears of her to indite
A lord of the Correggio’s noble tree;
And, Benedèo’s pride, Timotheus hight.519
Between his banks, descending to the sea,
By their joint music shall the stream be stopt,
Whose trees erewhile the liquid amber dropt.520
Between this and that lofty column’s place
Into fair Borgia fashioned (as was said)
Of aspect so distinguished, of such grace,
A lady was, of alabaster made,
That, hiding in a simple veil her face,
In sable, without gems or gold arrayed,
She, ’mid the brightest, flung her light as far,
As amid lesser fires the Cyprian star.
None knows, observing her with steadfast view,
If she of charms or grace have fuller store,
Whether her visage most majestic shew,
Or beam with genius or with beauty more.
“He that would speak—would speak her praises true—
(Declares in fine the sculptured marble’s lore)
The fairest of emprizes would intend,
But never bring his noble task to end.”
Albeit such grace and passing sweetness shewed
Her fair and well-wrought image, she disdain
Appeared to nurse, that one of wit so rude
Should dare to sing her praise in humble strain,
As he that only without comrade stood,
I know not why, her statue to sustain,
The marble all those other names revealed.
That pair’s alone the artist had concealed.521
The statues in the middle form a round,
The floor whereof dry stalks of coral pave;
Most pleasant, cool, and grateful, is that ground;
So rendered by the pure and crystal wave.
Which vent without in other channel found;
And issued forth in many a stream, to lave
A mead of azure, white, and yellow hue;
Gladdening the plants that on their margins grew.
Conversing with his courteous host, the peer
Sate at the board, and oft and often prayed,
That without more delay the cavalier
Would keep the promise he whilere had made;
And marking, ever and anon, his cheer,
Observes his heart with some deep woe downweighed.
For not a moment ’mid their converse slips,
But what a burning sigh is on his lips.
Oft with desire was good Rinaldo stung
To ask that sorrow’s cause, and the request
Was almost on the gentle warrior’s tongue,
And there by courteous modesty represt.
Now at their banquet’s close a youth, among
The menial crew, on whom that charge did rest,
Placed a gold cup before the paladin,
Filled full of gems without, of wine within.
The host then somedeal smiling, from the board
Looked up at Aymon’s son; but who this while
Well marked him, as he eyed Montalban’s lord,
Had deemed him more disposed to weep than smile.
“So oft reminded, to maintain my word,
’Tis time meseems (said he, that owned the pile)
To shew the touchstone for a woman’s love,
Which needs to wedded man must welcome prove.
“Ne’er, in my judgment, should the married dame
Be from espial by her lord released:
Thus shall he know if honour or if blame
His portion is; if he is man or beast.
The weight of horns, though coupled with such shame,
Is of all burdens upon the earth the least.
While well-nigh all behold his antlers spread,
He feels them not who has them on his head.
“If certain of thy wife’s fidelity,
Thou hast more ground to prize and hold her dear
Than one, whose wife is evil known to be,
Or husband that is still in doubt and fear.
Full many husbands live in jealousy,
And groundlessly, of women chaste and clear.
On many women many men rely
Meanwhile, who bear their branching antlers high.
“If thou wouldst be assured thy wife is true
(As sure methinks thou thinkest and must think)
For it is hard that notion to undo,
Unless thy trust before sure tokens sink,
—No hearsay matter this—thyself shalt view
The truth, if thou in this fair vessel drink,522
Placed solely on the supper-board, that thou
May’st see the marvel promised thee but now.
“Drink, and a mighty marvel shall be seen;
For if thou wearest Cornwall’s lofty crest,523
No drop of wine shall pass thy lips between,
And all the draught be spilt upon thy breast.
If faithful is thy wife, thou shalt drink clean.
And now—to try thy fortune—to the test!”
He said, and with fixt eyes the sign explored;
If on his breast the wine Rinaldo poured.
Rinaldo was nigh moved the cup to raise,
And seek what he would haply wish unsought:
Forward he reached his hand and took the vase,
About to prove his fortune in the draught.
Then of the passing peril of the case,
Before it touched his lips, the warrior thought.
But let me, sir, repose myself, and I
Will then relate the Paladin’s reply.
Canto XLIII
Rinaldo from his courteous landlord hears
What folly had destroyed his every good;
Next learns another
