“And, Emperors! you that held and had command O’er so much Earth, aye ready to resist In asp’erous conflict, and the wrong withstand Of cruel Traitors raising Treason’s crest: Complain ye not: Nay, well this chance attend, One of the noblest Kings, and loved the best, Sees ’gainst his law, his crown, his self, his all, Vavasors rise to sue a stranger’s thrall.
Canto IV
These Homeric stanzas on the deaths of Portuguese knights took away interest from the central figure, the King.
Canto IV (in lieu of Stanza 39)
“His foll’owers favour with a piercing cry This goodly lunge of lance; nor is he slow To snatch another (for innum’erous lie The weapons lost by battle’s losing throw): He runs with couchèd spear: His bravery Urgeth his Braves who, brent with martial lowe, Into the courser’s flanks keen rowels thrust, And lance the foeman level with the dust.”
Canto IV (after Stanza 40)
Canto IV (after Stanza 44)
Canto IV (Stanza 49: varia lectio )
Canto IV (Stanza 61: varia lectio )
“Of Venice, splendid in prosperity, Venice, whereto the fisher peoples fled From Gothic fury, and the cruelty Of Attila, and built the pauper town Now raised to rich estate and high renown.”
Canto IV (after Stanza 66)
“Nor chosen was sans justest cause and care To fill the lofty throne of governance, This King, whose noble heart and spirit rare Pledgèd and