The fierce infidel took the oath immediately.  It delighted him to think that he should be enabled to have his fill of war and slaughter for nothing; and the oath was the more easy to him, inasmuch as he had no intention of keeping it.

The poor Isabella went into the fields to look for her miraculous herb, still, however, attended by the Saracen, who would not let her go out of his sight.  She soon found it; and then going with him into his house, passed the rest of the day and the whole night in preparing the mixture with busy solemnity,—­Rodomont always remaining with her.

The room became so hot and close with the fire of cypress-wood, that the Saracen, contrary to his law and indeed to his habits, indulged himself in drinking; and the consequence was, that, as soon as it was morning, Isabella lost no time in proving to him the success of her operations.  “Now,” she said, “you shall be convinced how much in earnest I have been.  You shall see all the virtue of this blessed preparation.  I have only to bathe myself thus, over the head and neck, and if you then strike me with all your force, as though you intended to cut off my head,—­which you must do in good earnest,—­you will see the wonderful result.”

With a glad and rejoicing countenance the paragon of virtue held forth her neck to the sword; and the bestial pagan, giving way to his natural violence, and heated perhaps beyond all thought of a suspicion with his wine, dealt it so fierce a blow, that the head leaped from the shoulders.

Thrice it bounded on the ground where it fell, and a clear voice was heard to come out of it, calling the name of “Zerbino,” doubtless in joy of the rare way which its owner had found of escaping from the Saracen.

O blessed soul, that heldest thy virtue and thy fidelity dearer to thee than life and youth! go in peace, then soul blessed and beautiful.  If any words of mine could have force in them sufficient to endure so long, hard would I labour to give them all the worthiness that art can bestow, so that the world might rejoice in thy name for thousands and thousands of years.  Go in peace, and take thy seat in the skies, and be an example to womankind of faith beyond all weakness.

[Footnote 1:  The ingenious martyrdom in this story, which has been told by other writers of fiction, is taken from an alleged fact related in Barbaro’s treatise De Re Uxoria.It is said, indeed, to have been actually resorted to more than once; and possibly may have been so, even from a knowledge of it; for what is more natural with heroical minds than that the like outrages should produce the like virtues?  But the colouring of Ariosto’s narration is peculiarly his own; and his apostrophe at the close beautiful.]

TASSO: 

Critical Notice of his Life and Genius.

Critical Notice

OF