Stirs and rouses up the choler Of the heart, a fitting effort When an enemy's name is spoken,-- Yes, Astolfo was that traitor, Who, forgetful of his promise (For when love has passed away, Even its memory is forgotten), Came to Poland, hither called. From so sweet so proud a conquest, To be married to Estrella, Of my setting sun the torch light. Who'll believe that when one star Oft unites two happy lovers, Now one star, Estrella, comes Two to tear from one another? I offended, I deceived, Sad remained, remained astonished, Mad, half dead, remained myself; That's to say, in so much torment, That my heart was like a Babel Of confusion, hell, and horror: I resolving to be mute, (For there are some pains and sorrows That by feelings are expressed, Better than when words are spoken). I by silence spoke my pain, Till one day being with my mother Violante, she (oh, heavens!) Burst their prison; like a torrent Forth they rushed from out my breast, Streaming wildly o'er each other. No embarrassment it gave me To relate them, for the knowing That the person we confide to A like weakness must acknowledge Gives as 'twere to our confusion A sweet soothing and a solace, For at times a bad example Has its use. In fine, my sorrows She with pity heard, relating Even her own grief to console me: When he has himself been guilty With what ease the judge condoneth! Knowing from her own experience That 'twas idle, to slow-moving Leisure, to swift-fleeting time, To intrust one's injured honour. She could not advise me better, As the cure of my misfortunes, Than to follow and compel him By prodigious acts of boldness To repay my honour's debt: And that such attempt might cost me Less, my fortune wished that I Should a man's strange dress put on me. She took down an ancient sword, Which is this I bear: the moment Now draws nigh I must unsheath it, Since to her I gave that promise, When confiding in its marks, Thus she said, "Depart to Poland, And so manage that this steel Shall be seen by the chief nobles Of that land, for I have hope That there may be one among them Who may prove to thee a friend, An adviser and consoler." Well, in Poland I arrived; It is useless to inform thee What thou knowest already, how A wild steed resistless bore me To thy caverned tower, wherein Thou with wonder didst behold me. Let us pass too, how Clotaldo Passionately my cause supported, How he asked my life of the king Who to him that boon accorded; How discovering who I am He persuaded me my proper Dress to assume, and on Estrella To attend as maid of honour, So to thwart Astolfo's love And prevent the marriage contract. Let us, too, pass by, that here thou didst once again behold me In a woman's dress, my form Waking thus a twofold wonder, And approach the time, Clotaldo Being convinced it was important That should wed and reign together Fair Estrella and Astolfo, 'Gainst my honour, me advised To forego my rightful project. But, O valiant Sigismund, Seeing that the moment cometh