Page:A History of Italian Literature - Garnett (1898).djvu/153

Rh Ruskin, and Boiardo of that half-erudite, half-ignorant naïveté which so fascinates in the pictures of Botticelli and Roselli. The following stanzas, translated by Miss Ellen Clerke, form an excellent specimen of Boiardo's manner in general, and exemplify that delightful blending of classic and romantic feeling only possible in the youth of a literature:

In the glade's heart a youth upon the sward, All nude, disported him with song and jest; Three ladies fair, to serve their love and lord, Danced round him, they, too, nude and all undrest. Unmeet for sword and shield, for watch and ward, He seemed, with eyes of brown, and sunny crest. That yet the dim upon his cheek had sprouted, By some might be averred, by others doubted. Of roses, violets, and all blossoms pied, Full baskets holding, they their merry game Of love and frolic on the greensward plied, When Montalbano's Lord upon them came.  'Behold the traitor!' with one voice they cried;  'Behold the recreant!' did all exclaim.  'Him, who all joy contemned of sense enraptured, Now in his own despite our snare hath captured. And with their baskets, when these words were said, They on Rinaldo flung themselves amain; One violets threw, another roses red, Lilies and hyacinths they strewed like rain; Each blow unto his heart keen anguish sped, The marrow of his bones was searched with pain. With burning aches they sting wher'er they settle, As though of fire were leaf and flower and petal.

The youth who nude had figured on the scene, When all his basket he had emptied out, With a tall lily-stem full-branched with green, Rinaldo on Mambrino's helm did flout.