XXXV "The flesh of man he savoured more than sheep, And this, before he reached the cave, was seen. Three youths of ours, ere yet he climbed the steep, He are alive, or rather swallowed clean; Then moved the stone, which closed that cavern deep, And lodged us there. With that, to pasture green His flock he led, as wont, the meads among, Sounding the pipe which at his neck was hung. XXXVI "Our lord, meanwhile, returning to the strand, The loss which he had suffered comprehends; For in deep silence, upon every hand, Through empty tent and hut the monarch wends: Nor who has robbed him can be understand; And full of terror to the beach descends; Whence he his sailors in the offing sees Unmoor and spread their canvas to the breeze. XXXVII "As soon as Norandino was in view, They launched and sent their pinnace to convey The monarch thence: but he no sooner knew Of the fell orc, and those he made his prey, Then he, without more thought, would him pursue And follow, wheresoe'er he bent his way. To lose Lucina is such cruel pain, That life is loathsome save he her regain. XXXVIII "When on the newly printed sand his eyes Norandine fixt, he with the swiftness sped With which the rage of love a man supplies, Until he reached the cave of which I said, Where we, enduring greater agonies Than e'er were suffered, there await in dread The orc, and deem at every sound we hear, The famished brute about to re-appear. XXXIX "The monarch to the cave did Fortune guide, When the orc's wife alone was in the lair. Seeing the king: `Fly! -- Woe to thee!' (she cried) `Should the orc take thee!' -- `Woeful every where I cannot choose but be,' (the king replied) `Whether be take or miss me, kill or spare. Not hither I by chance have wandered, I Come with desire beside my wife to die.' XXX "He afterwards the dame for tidings pressed Of those the orc had taken on the shore; And of Lucina above all the rest; If slain or prisoner kept. With kindly lore, She Norandino, in return, addressed; And said Lucina lived, nor need he more Have of her future safety any dread, For the orc on flesh of woman never fed. XLI " `Of this you may behold the proof in me, And all these other dames who with me dwell; Nor me, nor them the orc offends, so we Depart not ever from this caverned cell. But vainly who would from her prison flee, Hopes peace or pardon from our tyrant fell: Buried alive, or bound with griding band, Of, in the sun, stript naked on the sand. XLII " `When hither he to-day conveyed your crew, The females from the males he severed not; But, as he took them, in confusion threw All he had captive made, into that grot. He will scent out their sex; not tremble, you, Lest he the women slay: the others' lot Is fixt; and, of four men or six a-day, Be sure the greedy orc will make his prey.