AMYNTAS.
33
To give no credit to his prophecies,
An instance would afford me consolation.
An instance would afford me consolation.
THYRSIS.
A memorable instance will I give thee.
[1]When fortune brought me to our peaceful shades,
I soon became acquainted with this Mopsus;
And then I judged him such as thou hast thought him,
Wise, and sincere, and friendly I believed him.
It so fell out, that I was called by business,
And urged by rustick curiosity,
To visit that great city where the Po,
Immortalized by bards, his tribute pours.
A memorable instance will I give thee.
[1]When fortune brought me to our peaceful shades,
I soon became acquainted with this Mopsus;
And then I judged him such as thou hast thought him,
Wise, and sincere, and friendly I believed him.
It so fell out, that I was called by business,
And urged by rustick curiosity,
To visit that great city where the Po,
Immortalized by bards, his tribute pours.
- ↑ I hope the reader will excuse the length, and local allusion of this speech, and forgive the translator for not shortening, and altering it; as there is not another like it in the whole poem. Thyrsis indeed pays a compliment again to the duke of Ferrara, in the second scene of the second act; but it is very short in comparison; the hint is there given by Virgil's O Mellibee, deus nobis hæc otia fecit.It must be allowed that Tasso, in general, in this poem, speaks to the universal feelings of mankind; an essential, and indispensable rule in poetry.
Before
