XXXIX "She came towards us with a cheerful face, With graceful gestures, and a courteous air, And said: 'So you my lodging please to grace, Sir cavalier, and will with me repair, You shall behold the wonders of my chace, And note the different sorts of fish I snare; Shaggy or smooth, or clad in scales of light, And more in number than the stars of night: XL " 'And would you hear a mermaid sing so sweet, That the rude sea grows civil at her song, Wont at this hour her music to repeat, (With that she showed the monster huge and long -- I said it seemed an island -- as her seat) Pass with me where she sings the shoals among.' I, that was always wilful, at her wish, I now lament my rashness, climb the fish. XLI "To Dudon and Rinaldo's signal blind, I go, who warn me to misdoubt the fay. With laughing face Alcina mounts behind, Leaving the other two beside the bay. The obedient fish performs the task assigned, And through the yielding water works his way. Repentant of my deed, I curse the snare, Too far from land my folly to repair. XLII "To aid me swam Mount Alban's cavalier, And was nigh drowned amid the waves that rise; For a south-wind sprang up that, far and near, Covered with sudden darkness seas and skies. I know not after what befel the peer: This while Alcina to console me tries, And all that day, and night which followed, me Detained upon that monster in mid-sea, XLIII "Till to this isle we drifted with the morn, Of which Alcina keeps a mighty share; By that usurper from a sister torn, Who was her father's universal heir: For that she only was in wedlock born, And for those other two false sisters were (So well-instructed in the story, said One who rehearsed the tale) in incest bred. XLIV "As these are practised in iniquity, And full of every vice and evil art; So she, who ever lives in chastity, Wisely on better things has set her heart. Hence, leagued against her, in conspiracy, Those others are, to drive her from her part: And more than once their armies have o'errun Her realm, and towns above a hundred won. XLV "Nor at this hour a single span of ground Would Logistilla (such her name) command, But that a mountain here, and there a sound, Protects the remnant from the invading band. 'Tis thus the mountain and the river bound England, and part it from the Scottish land. Yet will the sisters give their foe no rest, Till of her scanty remnant dispossest. XLVI "Because in wickedness and vice were bred The pair, as chaste and good they loath the dame. But, to return to what I lately said, And to relate how I a plant became; Me, full of love, the kind Alcina fed With full delights; nor I a weaker flame For her, within my burning heart did bear, Beholding her so courteous and so fair.