And, the shaft tempered, strongly draws his bow,
And roves at him, o’er whom no shield is spread,
Nor iron rind, nor double mail below;
Who, gazing on her tresses, eyes, and brow,
Feels that his heart is pierced, he knows not how.
Olympia’s beauties are of those most rare,
Nor is the forehead’s beauteous curve alone
Excellent, and her eyes and cheeks and hair,
Mouth, nose, and throat, and shoulders; but, so down
Descending from the lady’s bosom fair,
Parts which are wont to be concealed by gown,
Are such, as haply should be placed before
Whate’er this ample world contains in store.
In whiteness they surpass’d unsullied snow,
Smooth ivory to the touch; above were seen
Two rounding paps, like new-press’d milk in show,
Fresh-taken from its crate of rushes green;152
The space betwixt was like the valley low,
Which oftentimes we see small hills between,
Sweet in its season: and now such as when
Winter with snows has newly filled the glen.
The swelling hips and haunches’ symmetry,
The waist more clear than mirror’s polished grain,
And members seem of Phidias’ turnery,
Or work of better hand and nicer pain.
As well to you of other parts should I
Relate, which she to hide desired in vain.
To sum the beauteous whole, from head to feet,
In her all loveliness is found complete.
And had she in the Idaean glen unveiled
In ancient days before the Phrygian swain,
By how much heavenly Venus had prevailed
I know not, though her rivals strove in vain.
Nor haply had the youth for Sparta sailed,
To violate the hospitable reign;
But said; “With Menelaus let Helen rest!
No other prize I seek, of this possest;”
Or in Crotona dwelt, where the divine
Zeuxis in days of old his work projected,
To be the ornament of Juno’s shrine,
And hence so many naked dames collected;
And in one form perfection to combine,
Some separate charm from this or that selected,
He from no other model need have wrought,
Since joined in her were all the charms he sought.
I do not think Bireno ever viewed
Naked that beauteous form; for sure it were
He never could have been so stern of mood,
As to have left her on that desert lair.
That Ireland’s king was fired I well conclude,
Nor hid the flame that he within him bare.
He strives to comfort her, and hope instill,
That future good shall end her present ill:
And her to Holland promises to bear,
And vows till she is to her state restored,
And just and memorable vengeance there
Achieved upon her perjured, traitor lord,
He never will unceasing war forbear,
Waged with all means that Ireland can afford;
And this with all his speed. He, up and down,
Meantime bids seek for female vest and gown.
Now will it need to send in search of vest
Beyond the savage island’s narrow bound,
Since thither every day in such came dressed,
Some dame, to feed the beast, from countries round.
Nor long his followers there pursued the quest,
Ere many they of various fashions found.
So was Olympia clothed; while sad of mood
Was he, not so to clothe her as he wou’d.
But never silk so choice or gold so fine
Did the industrious Florentine prepare,
Nor whosoever broiders gay design,
Though on his task be spent time, toil, and care,
Nor Lemnos’ god, nor Pallas’ art divine,
Form raiment worthy of those limbs so fair,
That King Oberto cannot choose but he
Recalls them at each turn to memory.
To see that love so kindled by the dame,
On many grounds Orlando was content;
Who not alone rejoiced that such a shame
Put upon her, Bireno should repent;
But, that in the design on which he came,
He should be freed from grave impediment.
Not for Olympia thither had he made,
But, were his lady there, to lend her aid.
To him, that there she was not, soon was clear,
But clear it was not if she had been there,
Or no; since of those islesmen, far and near,
One was not left the tidings to declare.
The following day they from the haven steer,
And all united in one squadron fare.
The Paladin with them to Ireland hies,
From whence to France the warrior’s passage lies.
Scarcely a day in Ireland’s realm he spends:
And for no prayers his purposed end forbore:
Love, that in quest of his liege-lady sends
The knight upon this track, permits no more.
Departing, he Olympia recommends
To the Irish monarch, who to serve her swore:
Although this needed not; since he was bent
More than behoved, her wishes to content:
So levied in few days his warlike band,
And (league with England’s kind and Scotland’s made)
In Holland and in Friesland left no land
To the false duke, so rapid was the raid.
And to rebel against that lord’s command
His Zealand stirred; nor he the war delayed,
Until by him Bireno’s blood was spilt:
A punishment that ill atoned his guilt.
Oberto takes to wife Olympia fair,
And her of countess makes a puissant queen.153
But be the Paladin again our care,
Who furrows, night and day, the billows green,
And strikes his sails in the same harbour, where
They to the wind erewhile unfurled had been
All armed, he on his Brigliadoro leaps,
And leaves behind him winds and briny deeps.
The remnant of the winter, he with shield
And spear achieved things worthy to be shown,
I ween; but these were then so well concealed,
It is no fault of mine they are not blown;
For good Orlando was in fighting field,
Prompter to do, than make his prowess known.
Nor e’er was bruited action of the knight,
Save when some faithful witness was in sight.
That winter’s remnant he so passed that feat
Of his was known not to the public ear;
But when within that animal discreet
Which Phryxus154 bore,
