“Rinaldoshallreturn;lethimrestrainHenceforthhisheadstrongwrathandhastyire,AndwithhishardydeedslethimtakepainTocorrespondyourhopeandmydesire:
  Guelpho,thoumustcallhometheknightagain,Seethatwithspeedhetothesetentsretire,Themessengersappointaslikesthymind,Andteachthemwheretheyshouldtheyoungmanfind。“
  XXVII
  UpstarttheDanethatbarePrinceSweno’sbrand,“Iwill,“quothhe,“thatmessageundertake,Iwillrefusenopainsbyseaorland,Togivetheknightthissword,keptforhissake。“
  Thismanwasboldofcourage,strongofhand,Guelphowasgladhedidtheproffermake:
  “Thoushalt,“quothhe,“UbaldoshaltthouhaveTogowiththee,aknight,stout,wise,andgrave。“
  XXVIII
  UbaldoinhisyouthhadknownandseenThefashionsstrangeofmanyanuncouthland,AndtravelledoveralltherealmsbetweenTheArcticcircleandhotMeroe’sstrand,Andasamanwhosewithisguidehadbeen,Theircustomsusehecould,tonguesunderstand,ForthywhenspenthisyouthfulseasonswereLordGuelphoentertainedandheldhimdear。
  XXIX
  TothesecommittedwasthechargeandcareTofindandbringagainthechampionbold,Guelphocommandsthemtothefortrepair,WhereBoemonddothhisseatandsceptrehold,ForpublicfamesaidthatBertoldo’sheirTherelived,theredwelt,therestayed;thehermitold,Thatknewtheyweremisledbyfalsereport,Amongthemcame,andparleyedinthissort:
  XXX
  “Sirknights,“quothhe,“ifyouintendtoride,Andfolloweachreportfondpeoplesay,YoufollowbutarashandtruthlessguideThatleadsvainmenamissandmakesthemstray;
  NearAscalongotothesaltseaside,Whereaswiftbrookfailsinwithhideoussway,Anagedsire,ourfriend,thereshallyoufind,Allwhathesaith,thatdo,thatkeepinmind。
  XXXI
  “Ofthisgreatvoyagewhichyouundertake,Muchbyhisskill,andmuchbymineadviseHathheforeknown,andwelcomeformysakeYoubothshallbe,themaniskindandwise。“
  InstructedthusnofurtherquestionmakeThetwainelectedforthisenterprise,Buthumblyyieldedtoobeyhisword,Forwhatthehermitsaid,thatsaidtheLord。
  XXXII
  Theytooktheirleave,andontheirjourneywent,Theirwillcouldbrooknostay,theirzeal,nolet;
  ToAscalontheirvoyagestraighttheybent,Whosebrokenshoreswithbrackishwavesarewet,Andtheretheyheardhowgainstthecliffs,besprentWithbitterfoam,theroaringsurgesbet,Atumblingbrooktheirpassagestoppedandstayed,Whichlate-fall’nrainhadproudandpuissantmade,XXXIII
  Soproudthatoverallhisbankshegrew,Andthroughthefieldsranswiftasshaftfrombow,Whileheretheystoppedandstood,beforethemdrewAnagedsire,graveandbenigninshow,Crownedwithabeechengarlandgatherednew,Cladinalinenrobethatraughtdownlow,Inhisrighthandarod,andonthefloodAgainstthestreamhemarched,anddryshodyode。
  XXXIV
  AsontheRhene,whenwinter’sfreezingcoldCongealsthestreamstothickandhardenedglass,Thebeautiesfairofshepherds’daughtersboldWithwantonwindlaysrun,turn,playandpass;
  Soonthisriverpassedthewizardold,Althoughunfrozensoftandswiftitwas,Andthitherstalkedwherethewarriorsstayed,Towhom,theirgreetingsdone,hespokeandsaid:
  XXXV
  “Greatpains,greattravel,lords,youhavebegun,Andofacunningguidegreatneedyoustand,Faroff,alas!isgreatBertoldo’sson,Imprisonedinawasteanddesertland,Whatsoilremainsbywhichyoumustnotrun,Whatpromontory,rock,sea,shoreorsandYoursearchmuststretchbeforetheprincebefound,Beyondourworld,beyondourhalfofground!
  XXXVI
  ButyetvouchsafetoseemycellIpray,Inhiddencavesandvaultsthoughbuildedlow,Greatwondersthere,strangethingsIwillbewray,Thingsgoodforyoutohear,andfittoknow:“
  Thissaid,hebidstherivermakethemway,Thefloodretired,backwardgantoflow,Andhereandtheretwocrystalmountainsrise,SofledtheRedSeaonce,andJordanthrice。
  XXXVII
  Hetooktheirhands,andledthemheadlongdownUndertheflood,throughvastandhollowdeeps,SuchlighttheyhadaswhenthroughshadowsbrownOfthickestdesertsfeebleCynthiapeeps,Theirspaciouscavestheysawalloverflown,ThereallhiswaterspuregreatNeptunekeeps,AndthencetomoistenalltheearthhebringsSeas,rivers,floods,lakes,fountains,wellsandsprings:
  XXXVIII
  WhenceGanges,Indus,Volga,Ister,Po,WhenceEuphrates,whenceTigris’springtheyview,WhenceTanais,whenceNiluscomesalso,Althoughhisheadtillthennocreatureknew,Butundertheseawealthystreamdothgo,Thatsulphuryieldsandore,rich,quickandnew,Whichthesunbeamsdothpolish,purgeandfine,Andmakesitsilverpure,andgolddivine。
  XXXIX
  AndallhisbankstherichandwealthystreamHathfairbesetwithpearlandpreciousstoneLikestarsinskyorlampsonstagethatseem,Thedarknesstherewasday,thenightwasgone,Theresparkled,clothedinhisazure-beam,Theheavenlysapphire,therethejacinthshone,Thecarbunclethereflamed,thediamondsheen,Thereglisteredbright,theresmiledtheemeraldgreen。
  XL
  Amazedtheknightsamidthesewonderspassed,Andfixedsodeepthemarvelsintheirthought,Thatnotonewordtheyuttered,tillatlastUbaldospake,andthushisguidebesought:
  “Ofather,tellmebywhatskillthouhastThesewondersdone?andtowhatplaceusbrought?
  ForwellIknownotifIwakeorsleep,Myheartisdrownedinsuchamazementdeep。“
  XLI
  “Youarewithinthehollowwomb,“quothhe,“Offertileearth,thenurseofallthingsmade,Andbutyoubroughtandguidedarebyme,Hersacredentrailscouldnowightinvade;
  Mypalaceshortlyshallyousplendentsee,Withgloriouslight,thoughbuiltinnightandshade。
  APaganwasIborn,butyettheLordTograce,bybaptism,hathmysoulrestored。
  XLII
  “Noryetbyhelpofdevil,oraidfromhell,Idothisuncouthworkandwondrousfeat,TheLordforbidIuseorcharmorspellToraisefoulDisfromhisinfernalseat:
  Butofallherbs,ofeveryspringandwell,ThehiddenpowerIknowandvirtuegreat,Andallthatkindhathhidfrommortalsight,Andallthestars,theirmotions,andtheirmight。
  XLIII
  “ForinthesecavesIdwellnotburiedstillFromsightofHeaven。butoftenIresortTotopsofLebanonorCarmelhill,Andthereinliquidairmyselfdisport,ThereMarsandVenusIbeholdatwill!
  AsbareaserstwhenVulcantookthemshort,Andhowtherestroll,glideandmove,Isee,Howtheiraspectsbenignorfrowardbe。“
  XLIV
  “AndunderneathmyfeetthecloudsIview,Nowthick,nowthin,nowbrightwithIris’bow,Thefrostandsnow,therain,thehail,thedew,Thewinds,fromwhencetheycomeandwhencetheyblow,HowJovehisthundermakesandlightningnew,Howwiththebolthestrikestheearthbelow,Howcomate,crinite,caudatestarsareframedIknew;myskillwithpridemyheartinflamed。
  XLV
  “Solearned,cunning,wise,myselfIthought,ThatIsupposedmywitsohighmightclimbToknowallthingsthatGodhadframedorwrought,Fire,air,sea,earth,man,beast,sprite,placeandtime;
  Butwhenyourhermitmetobaptismbrought,Andfrommysoulhadwashedthesinandcrime,ThenIperceivedmysightwasblindnessstill,Mywitwasfolly,ignorancemyskill。
  XLVI
  “ThensawI,thatlikeowlsinshiningsun,Sogainstthebeamsoftruthoursoulsareblind,AndatmyselftosmileIthenbegun,Andatmyheart,puffedupwithfolly’swind,Yetstillthesearts,asIbeforehaddone,Ipractised,suchwasthehermit’smind:
  Thushathhechangedmythoughts,myheart,mywill,Andrulesmineart,myknowledge,andmyskill。
  XLVII
  “InhimIrest,onhimmythoughtsdepend,Mylord,myteacher,andmyguideishe,Thisnobleworkhestrivestobringtoend,Heisthearchitect,theworkmenwe,ThehardyyouthhometothiscamptosendFromprisonstrong,mycare,mychargeshallbe;
  SoHecommands,andmeerethisforetoldYourcomingoft,toseekthechampionbold。“
  XLVIII
  Whilethishesaid,hebroughtthechampionstwainDowntoavault,whereinhedwellsandlies,Itwasacave,high,wide,large,ample,plain,Withgoodlyrooms,halls,chambers,galleries,AllwhatisbredinrichandpreciousveinOfwealthyearth,andhidfrommortaleyes,Thereshines,andfairadornedwaseverypartWithrichesgrownbykind,notframedbyart:
  XLIX
  Anhundredgrooms,quick,diligentandneat,Attendancegaveaboutthesestrangersbold,AgainstthewalltherestoodacupboardgreatOfmassiveplate,ofsilver,crystal,gold。
  ButwhenwithpreciouswinesandcostlymeatTheyfilledwere,thusspakethewizardold:
  “Nowfitsthetime,sirknights,ItellandshowWhatyoudesiretohear,andlongtoknow。
  L
  “Armida’scraft,hersleightandhiddenguileYoupartlywot,heractsandartsuntrue,Howtoyourcampshecame,andbywhatwileThegreatestlordsandprincesthenceshedrew;
  Youknowsheturnedthemfirsttomonstersvile,Andkeptthemsinceclosedupinsecretmew,Lastly,toGaza-wardinbondsthemsent,WhomyoungRinaldorescuedastheywent。
  LI
  “WhatchancedsinceIwillatlargedeclare,Toyouunknown,astorystrangeandtrue。
  Whenfirstherprey,gotwithsuchpainandcare,Escapedandgonethewitchperceivedandknew,Herhandsshewrungforgrief,herclothesshetare,Andfullofwoetheseheavywordsoutthrew:
  `Alas!myknightsareslain,myprisonersfree,Yetofthatconquestneverboastshallhe,LII
  “`Heintheirplaceshallserveme,andsustainTheirplagues,theirtormentssuffer,sorrowsbear,Andtheyhisabsenceshalllamentinvain,Andwailhislossandtheirswithmanyatear:’
  ThustalkingtoherselfshedidordainAfalseandwickedguile,asyoushallhear;
  ThithershehastedwherethevaliantknightHadovercomeandslainhermeninfight。
  LIII
  “Rinaldotherehaddoltandlefthisown,AndonhisbackaPagan’sharnesstied,Perchancehedeemedsotopassunknown,Andinthosearmslessnotedfalsetoride。
  Aheadlesscorseinfightlateoverthrown,Thewitchinhisforsakenarmsdidhide,AndbyabrookexposeditonthesandWhithershewishedwouldcomeaChristianband:
  LIV
  “Theircomingmightthedameforeknowrightwell,Forsecretspiesshesentforththousandways,Whicheverydaynewsfromthecampmighttell,Whopartedthence,bootiestosearchorpreys:
  Beside,thespritesconjuredbysacredspell,Allwhatsheasksordoubts,revealsandsays,ThebodythereforeplacedsheinthatpartThatfurtheredbesthersleight,hercraft。andart;
  LV
  “AndnearthecorpseavarletfalseandslySheleft,attiredinshepherd’shomelyweed,AndtaughthimhowtocounterfeitandlieAstimerequired,andheperformedthedeed;
  Withhimyoursoldiersspoke,ofjealousyAndfalsesuspectmongstthemhestrewedtheseed,Thatsincebroughtforththefruitofstrifeandjar,Ofcivilbrawls,contention,discord,war。