XII.
“And me, so wronged by her, the maid shall view
“Encounter death in her defence; and he,
“My brother, who such flames of discord blew,
“Shall pay the debt of vengeance due to me.
“For well I ween to make Lurcanio rue
“(Informed of the event) his cruelty,
“Who will have thought to venge me with his brand,
“And will have slain me with his very hand.”
XIII.
He, having this concluded in his thought,
Made new provision of arms, steed, and shield;
Black was the vest and buckler which he bought,
Where green and yellow striped the sable field[2]:
By hazard found, with him a squire he brought,
A stranger in that country; and, concealed
(As is already told) the unhappy knight,
Against his brother came, prepared for fight.
XIV.
The issue of the event was told above;
How prince and people Ariodantes knew.
Nor less delight the Scottish king did prove
Than when the knight the accuser overthrew:
Within himself he thought that never love
In man was shown so constant and so true;
Who, though so foully wronged, prepared to stake
His life against his brother’s for her sake:
