He was here ill bested, yet not so ill, says the author, as the other three, who suffered the pains of love for Angelica. These all arrived by different roads, and at different times in the wood of Arden. The first comer was Rinaldo; who, penetrating into the forest, beheld a beautiful fountain in the shade.
The alabaster vase was wrought with gold, And the white ground o'erlaid with curious care; While he who look'd within it, might behold Green grove, and flowers, and meadow, pictur'd there. Wise Merlin made it, it is said, of old. For Tristan when he sigh'd for Yseult fair: That drinking of its wave, he might forego The peerless damsel, and forget his woe.
But he to his misfortune never found That fountain, built beneath the green-wood tree; Altho' the warrior pac'd a weary round, Encompassing the world by land and sea. The waves which in the magic bason bound. Make _him_ unlove who loves. Nor only he Foregoes his former love; but that, which late Was his chief pride and pleasure, has in hate.
Mount Alban's lord, whose strength and spirits sink, For yet the sun was high and passing hot, Stood gazing on the pearly fountain's brink, Rapt with the sight of that delicious spot. At length he can no more; but stoops to drink, And thirst and love are in the draught forgot: For such the virtue those cold streams impart. Changed in an instant is the warrior's heart.
Him, with that forest's wonders unacquainted, Some paces to a second water bring, Of chrystal wave with rain or soil untainted. With all the flowers that wreathe the brows of spring Kind nature had the verdant margin painted: And there a pine and beech and olive fling Their boughs above the stream, and form a bower, A grateful shelter from the noontide hour.
This was the stream of love, upon whose shore He chanced, where Merlin no enchantments shed; But nature here, unchanged by magic lore, The fountain with such sovereign virtue fed, That all who tasted loved: whence many, sore Lamenting their mistake, were ill-bested. Rinaldo wandered to this water's brink, But, sated, had no further wish to drink.
Yet the delicious trees and banks produce Desire to try the grateful shade; and needing Repose, he 'lights, and turns his courser loose, Who roam'd the forest, at his pleasure feeding; And there Rinaldo cast him down, at truce With care; and slumber to repose succeeding, Thus slept supine: when spiteful fortune brought Her* to the spot whom least the warrior sought.