XL " `I pity,' (said Elbanio) 'lady fair, Was in this cruel region known, as through All other countries near or distant, where The wandering sun sheds light and colouring hue, I by your beauty's kindly charms should dare (Which make each gentle spirit bound to you) To beg my life; which always, at your will, Should I be ready for your love to spill. XLI " `But since deprived of all humanity Are human bosoms in this cruel land, I shall not now request my life of thee, (For fruitless would, I know, be the demand) But, whether a good knight or bad I be, Ask but like such to die with arms in hand, And not as one condemned to penal pain; Or like brute beast in sacrifice be slain.' XLII "The gentle maid, her eye bedimmed with tear, In pity for the hapless youth, replied: `Though this land be more cruel and severe Than any other country, far and wide, Each woman is not a Medaea here As thou wouldst make her; and, if all beside Were of such evil kind, in me alone Should an exception to the rest be known. XLIII " `And though I, like so many here, of yore Was full of evil deeds and cruelty, I can well say, I never had before A fitting subject for my clemency. But fiercer were I than a tiger, more Hard were my heart than diamonds, if in me All hardness did not vanish and give place Before your courage, gentleness, and grace. XLIV " `Ah! were the cruel statute less severe Against the stranger to these shores conveyed! So should I not esteem my death too dear A ransom for thy worthier life were paid. But none is here so great, sir cavalier, Nor of such puissance as to lend thee aid; And what thou askest, though a scanty grace, Were difficult to compass in this place. XLV " `And yet will I endeavour to obtain For thee, before thou perish, this content; Though much, I fear, 'twill but augment thy pain. And thee protracted death but more torment.' `So I the ten encounter,' (said again Elbanio), `I at heart, am confident Myself to save, and enemies to slay; Though made of iron were the whole array.' XLVI "To this the youthful Alexandria nought Made answer, saving with a piteous sigh; And from the conference a bosom brought, Gored with deep wounds, beyond all remedy. To Orontea she repaired, and wrought On her to will the stripling should not die, Should he display such courage and such skill As with his single hand the ten to kill. XLVII "Queen Orontea straightway bade unite Her council, and bespoke the assembled band: `It still behoves us place the prowest wight Whom we can find, to guard our ports and strand. And, to discover whom to take or slight, 'Tis fitting that we prove the warrior's hand; Lest, to our loss, the election made be wrong, And we enthrone the weak and slay the strong.