XXXIX.
“O loving damsel (she made answer), I
“Offer mine aid, for such as ’tis, to do
“The hard and dread adventure, passing by
“Causes beside that move me, most that you
“A matter of your lover testify,
“Which I, in sooth, hear warranted of few;
“That he is constant; for i’faith I swear,
“I well believed all lovers perjured were.”
XL.
With these last words a sigh that damsel drew,
A sigh which issued from her heart; then said;
“Go we;” and, with the following sun, those two
At the deep stream arrived and bridge of dread:
—Seen of the guard, that on his bugle blew
A warning blast, when strangers thither sped—
The pagan arms him, girds his goodly brand,
And takes upon the bridge his wonted stand;
XLI.
And as the maid appears in martial scale,
The moody monarch threatens her to slay,
Unless her goodly courser and her mail,
As an oblation to the tomb she pay.
Fair Bradamant who knew the piteous tale,
How murdered by him Isabella lay,
The story gentle Flordelice had taught;
Replied in answer to that paynim haught.
