Читать книгу Orlando Furioso - Lodovico Ariosto - Страница 17

ARGUMENT

So far Orlando wends, he comes to where

He of old Proteus' hears the cruel use

But feels such pity for Olympia fair,

Wronged by Cymosco, who in prison mews

Her plighted spouse, that ere he makes repair

Further, he gives her hope to venge the abuse:

He does so, and departs; and with his spouse

Departs Bireno, to repeat his vows.

I

What cannot, when he has a heart possess'd

This false and cruel traitor Love? since he

Can banish from Orlando's faithful breast

Such tried allegiance and due loyalty?

Wise, full of all regards, and of the blest

And glorious church the champion wont to be,

Now, little for himself or uncle, driven

By a vain love, he cares, and less for heaven.

II

But I excuse him well, rejoiced to know

I have like partner in my vice: for still

To seek my good I too am faint and slow,

But sound and nimble in pursuit of ill.

The count departs, disguised in sable show,

Nor for so many friends, with froward will,

Deserted cares; and comes where on the plain

Are camped the hosts of Afric and of Spain;

III

Rather uncamped: for, in less troops or more,

Rains under shed and tree had driven the band.

Here ten, there twenty, seven or eight, or four,

Near or further off, Orlando scanned.

Each sleeps, oppressed with toil and wearied sore;

This stretched on earth, that propped upon his hand:

They sleep, and many might the count have slain,

Yet never bared his puissant Durindane.

IV

So generous is Orlando's heart, he base

Esteems it were to smite a sleeping foe.

Now this he seeks, and now that other place;

Yet cannot track his lady, high or low.

If he finds any one in waking case,

Sighing, to him he paints her form and show;

Then prays him that for courtesy, he where

The damsel is, will reach him to repair.

V

And when the day its shining light displayed,

He wholly searched the Moorish army through.

In that the gentle warrior was arrayed

In Arab weeds, he this might safely do;

And of his purpose came alike in aid

That other tongues beside the French he knew;

And in the African so well was read,

He seemed in Tripoly one born and bred:

VI

He sojourns there three days, the camp to see;

Still seeking nought beside: next up and down,

Within, without, both burgh and city he

Spies; nor surveys the realm of France alone;

But fair Auvergne, and even Gascony

Revisits, to its farthest little town.

Roves from Provence to Brittany's domain,

And from the Picards to the bounds of Spain.

VII

Between October and November's moon,

In that dull season when the leafy vest

Is stript from trembling plant, whose limbs are shown

Of all their mantling foliage dispossess'd

And in close flights the swarming birds are flown,

Orlando enters on his amorous quest:

This he pursues the livelong winter through,

Nor quits when gladsome spring returns anew.

VIII

As (such his wont) from land to land he goes,

A river's side he reaches on a day;

Which to the neighbouring sea in quiet flows.

Bretons and Normans parting on its way:

But, swoln with mountain rain and melted snows,

Then thundered, white with foam and flashing-spray:

And with impetuous stream had overtopt

Its brim, and burst the bridge, and passage stopt.

IX

The paladin this bank and the other eyed,

Along the river's channel, to explore,

Since neither fish nor fowl, if from his side

He could gain footing on the adverse shore;

When, with a damsel in the poop, he spied

A ready pinnace that towards him bore:

She steered, as if she would approach the strand;

But would not let her shallop make the land.

X

Steered not to land; as haply with suspicion

To take a lading, in her own despite.

To her the good Orlando made petition

To put him o'er the stream; and she: "No knight

Passes this ferry, but upon condition

He shall his faith and promise duly plight,

That he will do a battle, at my prayer,

Upon the justest quarrel and most fair.

XI

"So that if thou on that other shore to land

Dost by my aid, Sir cavalier, desire,

Promise me, ere the month which is at hand"

(The damsel so pursued her speech) "expire,

That thou wilt join the Hibernian monarch's hand,

Who forms a fair armada, in his ire,

To sack Ebuda's isle; of all compress'd

By ocean's circling waves, the cruellest.

XII

"Know, beyond Ireland, in the briny flood,

An island, amid many others, lies;

Ebuda is its name; whose people rude

(Such is their law), in search of plunder hies;

And all the women that it takes, for food

To a voracious animal supplies;

Which every day to shore for this does speed,

And finds new wife or maid whereon to feed:

XIII

"For of these merchant still and Corsair sell

A large supply, and most of those most fair.

Reckoning one slain a-day, you thus may well

Compute what wives and maids have perished there.

But if compassion in your bosom dwell,

Nor you to Love an utter rebel are,

Be you contented with this band to wend,

United for such profitable end."

XIV

To hear the whole Orlando scarce could bear,

Ere to be first in that emprize he swore,

As one who evil deed misliked to hear,

And with impatience like relation bore:

Hence first induced to think, and next to fear,

Angelica is captive on that shore:

Since he so long the missing maid pursues,

Nor of the damsel yet can gather news.

XV

Breaking his every scheme, this phantasy

The troubled cavalier did so confound,

That will all speed to that fell island he

Resolved to navigate; nor yet the round

Of a new sun was buried in the sea,

Ere he a vessel at St. Malo's found;

In which, embarking on his quest, the count

Put forth, and cleared that night St. Michael's Mount.

XVI

Breac and Landriglier past on the left hand,

Orlando's vessel skims the Breton shore;

Then shapes her course towards the chalky strand,

Whence England's isle the name of Albion bore:

But the south wind, which had her canvas fanned,

Shifts to north-west, and freshening, blows so sore,

The mariners are fain to strike all sail,

And wear and scud before the boisterous gale.

XVII

A distance traversed in four days, in one

Backwards the ceaseless wind the frigate bore;

The helmsman kept the sea, lest she should run

Aground, and break like glass upon the shore.

The wind upon the fifth day changed its tune,

So loud and furious through the other four;

And let, without more strife, the vessel gain

A port, where Antwerp's river met the main.

XVIII

As soon as harboured there in shattered plight,

The weary mariners their frigate moor,

Out of a city, seated on the right

Of that fair stream, descends upon the shore,

As his gray hairs may warrant him, a wight

Stricken in years; who, full of courteous lore,

Turns to the county, after greetings due,

Reputing him the leader of that crew.

XIX

And prays him, on a damsel's part, `that he

To her would think not irksome to repair;

Whom of unequalled affability

And sweetness, he would find, as well as fair;

Or otherwise would be content, that she

Should to his bark resort, to seek him there,

Nor prove less pliant than had been before

All the knights errant, who had sought that shore:

XX

For hitherto, by land or sea conveyed,

No cavalier had journeyed to that place

That had refused to parlay with the maid,

And give her counsel in a cruel case.'

Orlando, hearing this, no more delayed,

But issued from the bark with hurried pace,

And, in all kind and courteous usage bred,

His way directed where the ancient led.

XXI

With him did Roland to the city go,

And at the bottom of a palace-stair,

Conducted by that elder, full of woe

A lady found, if face may grief declare,

And sable cloth, with which (a mournful show)

Chamber, and hall, and gallery, furnished were;

Who, after honourable welcome paid,

Seated the paladin, and sadly said:

XXII

"The daughter of the Count of Holland," (cried

The Lady) "know in me, Sir cavalier.

Though not his only offspring (for beside

Myself two brothers were) to him so dear,

That, for whatever favour I applied,

I never met refusal from the peer.

I living glady in this happy sort,

A duke by chance was guested at our court;

XXIII

"The Duke of Zealand, meaning for Biscay;

With purpose there to war upon the Moor;

His youth and beauty, then in manhood's May,

And force of love, unfelt by me before,

Made me, with little strife, his easy prey:

Persuaded by his outward cheer yet more,

I thought, and think, and still shall think, the peer

Loved me, and loves me yet with heart sincere.

XXIV

"Those days, whenas the wind was contrary,

(Which fair for me, if foul for others blew)

To others forty seemed, an hour to me;

So upon speedy wings the moments flew.

This while, we oftentimes held colloquy,

When, to be given with solemn right and due,

I promised him, and he to me, his hand,

On his return, in wedlock's holy band.

XXV

"Bireno hardly from our court was gone,

For such the name my faithful lover bore,

When Friesland's king, whose realm is from our own

No further than this stream from Ocean's shore,

Designing to bestow me on his son,

Arbantes hight (the monarch had no more),

To Holland sent the worthiest of his land,

Me of the count, my father, to demand.

XXVI

"I without power to falsify that vow,

Which to my gentle lover I had plight;

Nor though I had the power, would Love allow

Me so to play the ingrate, if I might,

(The treaty, well on foot, to overthrow,

And nigh concluded) with afflicted sprite,

Cried to my father, I would rather shed

My very life-blood, than in Friesland wed.

XXVII

"My gracious father, he who took but pleasure

In what pleased me, nor would my will constrain;

Marking my grief, broke off the intended measure,

To give me comfort and relieve my pain.

At this proud Friesland's sovereign such displeasure

Conceived, and entertained such high disdain,

He entered Holland, and the war began,

In which my kin were slaughtered to a man.

XXVIII

"Besides, that both his puissance and his might

Are such, as in our age are matched of few,

Such is in evil deeds his cunning sleight,

He laughs to scorn what wit and force can do.

Strange arms he bears, unknown to any wight,

Save him, of the ancient nations or the new:

A hollow iron, two yards long, whose small

Channel he loads with powder and a ball

XXIX

"He, where 'tis closed behind, in the iron round,

Touches with fire a vent, discerned with pain;

In guise that skilful surgeon tries his ground,

Where need requires that he should breathe a vein.

Whence flies the bullet with such deafening sound,

That bolt and lightening from the hollow cane

Appear to dart, and like the passing thunder,

Burn what they smite, beat-down or rend asunder.

XXX

"Twice broken, he our armies overthrew

With this device, my gentle brethren slain;

The first the shot in our first battle slew,

Reaching his heart, through broken plate and chain;

The other in the other onset, who

Was flying from the fatal field in vain.

The ball his shoulder from a distance tore

Behind, and issued from his breast before.

XXXI

"My father next, defending on a day

The only fortress which he still possessed,

The others taken which about it lay,

Was sent alike to his eternal rest:

Who going and returning, to purvey

What lacked, as this or that occasion pressed,

Was aimed at from afar, in privy wise,

And by the traytour struck between the eyes.

XXXII

"And I remaining, sire and brethren dead,

The isle of Holland's only heir, the king

Of Friesland, who by the desire was led

Of better there his power establishing,

To me, and also to my people said,

I peace and quiet to my state might bring,

Would I (when I before would not accord)

Now take his son Arbantes for my lord.

XXXIII

"I, not so much for deadly hate I bear

To him and all his kindred, by whose spite

My sire and both my brothers slaughtered were,

My country sacked and waste, as that the knight

I would not wrong, to whom I fealty sware,

And had my solemn word already plight

That me to wedlock man should woo in vain,

Till he to Holland should return from Spain.

XXXIV

"For one ill-born, a hundred yet behind,

Will bear (replied) to hazard all content,

—Slain, burnt alive, to let them to the wind

Scatter my ashes, rather than consent. —

My people seek to move my stedfast mind,

By prayer and by protest, from this intent;

And threat to yield my city up and me,

Lest all be lost through my obduracy.

XXXV

"When in my fixt and firm resolve they read,

That prayer and protest are alike in vain;

My town and me, with Friesland's king agreed,

Surrendered, as they vowed, my vassal train.

Not doing by me any shameful deed,

Me he assured of life and of domain,

So I would soften my obdurate mood,

And be to wed with his Arbantes wooed.

XXXVI

"I who would have consented to forego

My life to scape from him, reflection made,

That, save I first avenged myself, all woe

Endured, would be by this regret outweighed.

—Long time I muse, and to my misery know,

'Tis only simulation which can aid.

Not simple willingness, I feign desire,

To win his grace, and have him for my sire.

XXXVII

" Mid many in my father's service, I

Select two brothers fitted for my view,

Of valiant heart and great ability

But more approved for truth, as followers, who

Bred in my father's court, from infancy

Had with myself grown up; the brothers two

So wholly bound to me, they would have thought

My safety with their lives was cheaply bought.

XXXVIII

"To them I tell my project, and the pair

Of brethren promise me their faithful aid:

To Flanders this, a pinnace to prepare,

I sent, and that with me in Holland stayed.

Now, while both foreigners and natives were,

Of Friesland's kingdom, to our nuptials prayed,

Bireno in Biscay (the tidings went)

For Holland had equipt an armament.

XXXIX

"Since on the issue of the earliest fray,

When in the rout one hapless brother fell,

I had dispatched a courier to Biscay,

Who the sad news should to Bireno tell:

While he toils sore his squadron to array,

Proud Friesland's arms our wretched remnant quell.

Bireno, who knew nought of this, had weighed,

And with his barks put forth to bring us aid.

XL

"These tidings told to Friesland's monarch, he

Confiding to his son the wedding's care,

To meet Bireno's squadron puts to sea,

And (so chance willed) burns, sinks, or routs them there,

Leading him off into captivity;—

But none to us as yet the tidings bear.

This while I to the amorous youth am wed,

Who, when the sun sought his, would seek my bed.

XLI

"Behind the curtains, I had hid the tried

And faithful follower, of whom I said,

Who moved not till the bridegroom he descried,

Yet waited not till he in bed was laid:

But raised a hatchet, and so well applied

Behind the stripling's head the ponderous blade,

Of speech and life it reft him; I, who note

The deed, leap lightly up and cut his throat.

XLII

"As falls the bullock upon shamble-sill,

Thus fell the ill-starred stripling, in despite

Of king Cymosco, worst among the ill;

So was the impious king of Friesland hight

Who did my brothers and my father kill,

And, in my state to found a better right;

In wedlock wished to join me with his son,

Haply to slay me when his end was won.

XLIII

"Ere new disturbance interrupt the deed,

Taking what costliest was and lightest weighed,

Me my companion by a chord, with speed,

Drops from a window, where with boat purveyed

In Flanders (as related) for my need,

His brother, watchful of our motions, stayed:

We dip the oar, we loose the sail, and driven

By both, escape, as was the will of Heaven.

XLIV

"The daring feat achieved, I cannot say

If Friesland's king more sorrowed for his son,

Or raged at me: he there arrived, the day

Ensuing, where the dreadful deed was done,

Proud he returned, both he and his array,

Of the duke taken, and the victory won:

And thought to feast and nuptials he was bound,

But in his home all grief and darkness found.

XLV

"His pity for his son, the hate he fed

Towards me, torment the father day and night;

But as lamenting will not raise the dead,

And vengeance is a vent for smothered spite;

That portion of his thoughts, which should have led

The king, to ease by sighs his troubled sprite,

Now willingly takes counsel with his hate,

To seize me, and his vengeance satiate.