And Forisene was in her heart aware, That love of her was Oliver’s sole care.
And because Love not willingly excuses One who is loved, and loveth not again; (For tyrannous were deem’d the rule he uses, Should they who sue for pity sue in vain; What gracious lord his faithful liege refuses?) So when the gentle dame perceived the pain, That well-nigh wrought to death her valiant knight, Her melting heart began his love requite.
And from her eyes soft beamed the answering ray, That Oliver’s soul-thrilling glance returns; Love in these gleamy lightnings loves to play, Till but one flame two youthful bosoms burns.
Or Forisena intanto come astuta Dell’ amor d’ Ulivier s’era avveduta. E perchè amor malvolentier perdona Ch’ e’ non sia alfin sempre amato chi ama, E non saria sua legge giusta e buona, Di non trovar merzè chi pur la chiama; Nè giusto sire il suo servo abbandona: Poi che s’accorse questa gentil dama, Come per lei si moriva il Marchese, Subito tutta del suo amor s’accese.
E cominciò con gli occhi a rimandare Indietro a Ulivier gli ardenti dardi Che amor sovente gli facea gettare Acciò che solo un foco due cor ardi.
When the work was published, copies were presented by the author to his most intimate friends, and he received, amongst others, the following letters of acknowledgment:—
From Mr. W. S. Rose[B] (whose ire at Pickering’s device is not altogether unjustifiable):—
I have seen nothing to quarrel with in your book, but will read it again, and with a more _exceptious_ disposition.
If Pickering be not squeezed to death in his own press, his nose at least ought to be rubbed in his own frontispieces (I mean title-pages) while the ink is still wet, ... as an appropriate punishment. I do not blame him for his imitation, but for his bad imitation, of Aldus. _His_ symbol and _disposition of words_ are not offensive.
Why have we Arabic instead of Roman numerals? which would have harmonized with the rest of the letterpress.
Wm. Stewart Rose was born in 1775. He resided in Italy for two years, during which time he acquired the most accurate knowledge of the language and literature of the country. In 1823 he began a condensed translation in prose and verse of Bojardo’s Orlando Innamorato and Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso. He died in 1843.