The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti Edited with Preface and Notes by William M. Rossetti: Revised and Enlarged Edition |
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[Extract from Il Losario] |
 | The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti |  |
538
[Extract from Il Losario]
Silent, she lifted softly through the wave
All her divine white bosom; seeming there
As when Aurora, freed from night's dull cave,
Fills full of roses the sweet morning air;
Then, with a hand more white than snows which pave
The Alps, upon their brows that water clear
She shook; and, to the immediate summons sent,
The monster's presence stirr'd the element.
All her divine white bosom; seeming there
As when Aurora, freed from night's dull cave,
Fills full of roses the sweet morning air;
Then, with a hand more white than snows which pave
The Alps, upon their brows that water clear
She shook; and, to the immediate summons sent,
The monster's presence stirr'd the element.
And the banks shudder'd, and the sky grew dark,
As the dark river heaved with that obscene
Infamous bulk: the while each knight, to mark
His 'vantage, hover'd, stout in heart and mien,
Around it. Watchful were their eyes, and stark
Losario's onset; and yet weak, I ween,
Against the constant spray of fire and smoke,
Which from the dragon's lips and nostrils broke.
As the dark river heaved with that obscene
Infamous bulk: the while each knight, to mark
His 'vantage, hover'd, stout in heart and mien,
Around it. Watchful were their eyes, and stark
Losario's onset; and yet weak, I ween,
Against the constant spray of fire and smoke,
Which from the dragon's lips and nostrils broke.
Blinded and baffled by the hideous rain,
And stunn'd with gnashing fangs and scourged with claws,
Still brave Losario toils, but spends in vain
His strength against the dragon without pause;
Till at the last, one mighty stroke amain
Within the nether rack of those foul jaws
He dealt. Then fume and flame together ceased
At once; and on the palpitating beast
And stunn'd with gnashing fangs and scourged with claws,
Still brave Losario toils, but spends in vain
His strength against the dragon without pause;
Till at the last, one mighty stroke amain
Within the nether rack of those foul jaws
He dealt. Then fume and flame together ceased
At once; and on the palpitating beast
The champion fell with his strong naked hands;
And right and left such iron blows struck he
On that hard front, that far across the sands
The deep woods utter'd echoes heavily;
A noise like that when some broad roof withstands
The hail-clouds under which the cattle flee.
But when at length those open jaws emit
A flickering tongue, the prince lays hold on it.
And right and left such iron blows struck he
On that hard front, that far across the sands
The deep woods utter'd echoes heavily;
A noise like that when some broad roof withstands
The hail-clouds under which the cattle flee.
But when at length those open jaws emit
A flickering tongue, the prince lays hold on it.
Then Antasete, who by the creature's flank
Still watch'd, obedient to the nymph, did rouse
His strength, and up the rugged loins that stank
Clomb on its neck, and bit it in the brows.
Straight as his teeth within the forehead sank,
Those execrable limbs fell ponderous;
And from the wound such spilth of gore was shed,
That lips, and chin, and fingers, were all red.
Still watch'd, obedient to the nymph, did rouse
His strength, and up the rugged loins that stank
Clomb on its neck, and bit it in the brows.
Straight as his teeth within the forehead sank,
Those execrable limbs fell ponderous;
And from the wound such spilth of gore was shed,
That lips, and chin, and fingers, were all red.
| The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti | |