_A couch of softest grass within the lair Invites to rest upon its herbage sweet. Down in its midst doth sink the lady fair, And lays her there, and sleeps in that retreat; But not for long, for shortly she was 'ware Of the approaching tread of coming feet. She softly rises, and through leaves a-quiver A knight in armour sees draw near the river._ The morality of the _Orlando Furioso_, some licentious episodes excepted which stand quite apart from the main action, may be considered good, being that of a refined and courtly circle where lofty virtues were cordially recognised in theory, however they might fail to be exemplified in practice. Ariosto does not, like Tasso, convey the impression of a man above his time, and only depressed to its level by unpropitious circumstances. He is the child of his age, at the summit of its average elevation, but not transcending this. Yet it would have been well for Italy if her princes and statesmen had generally acted upon those ideas of honour and loyalty which they found and doubtless admired in their favourite poet. Such precepts as the following, even though enforced by the teacher’s example, were in their view much too good for ordinary practice: _Bundle with cord is not so bound, I ween, Or plank to plank so riveted by nail, As knightly troth that once hath plighted been, Doth with the true and loyal soul prevail. Nor is Fidelity depicted seen, Save robed from head to foot in candid veil, Visage enveloping and frame and limb, Since but one stain would make her wholly dim._ _Pure must she ever be, and free from spot, If to one only or to thousands plighted; Nor less if vowed in woodland wild or grot Far from men’s ways and dwellings disunited, Than where the judge doth duly law allot, And deeds are sealed, and testimonies cited. Nor oath she needs, or like appeal to Heaven; Enough the solemn word once gravely given._ _His pledge chivalric, and the faith he gave, Zerbin in every circumstance defended; But ne’er did prove himself their duteous slave More than when now disconsolate he wended With this detested hag, whom like the grave His soul abhorred: by plague or death attended, Full sooner had he fared; but honour’s claim Bound him to that objectionable dame._ To appreciate Zerbino’s fidelity to his word, it must be known that, having been vanquished in a joust, he has been compelled to vow to escort a hideous old woman of singular depravity, and to maintain her beauty and virtue against all comers, with the prospect of being killed in her service. A more comic situation will hardly be found in any of the romances.