The Beginning of the Story - Page 12 of 25

177   In Father did Linceus confide
And by his counsel would abide,
The next in rank, the kingdom wide,
All sought his favors and his side.

178   Mirror was he of goodly deed;
And of the brave, the first to lead;
His love for son, none could exceed,
Fulfilling every want and need.

179   Still on my ears, his accents fall
Endearing, as when young and small
Upon his lap, I heard him call:
'Florante child, my flower and all.'

180   And thus that name has come to be,
My loving parents gave it me;
That name assigned to this you see
In tears and wrapped in misery.

181   I shall not speak of childhood spent;
Smoothly it rolled, save the event
In infancy, when near me went
A vulture wicked in intent.

182   Mother recalls me sleeping well,
Our house situated in a dell;
In flew the vulture, said to tell
Its prey three leagues away, by smell.

183   My mother's screams around were heard,
A cousin ^[20] rushed his rescue, stirred;
He drew his bow, a dart he spurred
That struck to sudden death the bird.

184   And once a falcon swept to prey
Indoors, right where I sat at play;
Made for the breast, and snatched away
The diamond that upon it lay.

185   Reaching the age of nine, I came
To love the hills and roamed the same,
With bow and arrowhead and aim
Ready for wild or winged game.

186   Of mornings, ere Aurora ^[21] bright
Had spread out her effulgent light,
I'd find amusement and delight
With others, by some sylvan site.

187   Until the world with upturned gaze
Should dazzled be by Phoebe's face,
How I'd pursue the carefree ways
Proferred me by that bounteous place!

188   I'd trail the scent of every flower
Where it was wafted from some bower;
Chase the soft breeze, in sun or shower,
And birds a-flying by the hour.

189   And when I chanced a prey to espy
Up on the mountainside near by,
With swift-drawn bow and arrow I
Would pin my captive in one try.

190   All my companions then would race
To pick the victim of the chase,
Nor mind the brambles in the place,
Since merriment made light their pace.

191   Oh, how exciting 'twas to see
The gay pursuing company!
And with the kill bagged finally,
Ah, how the glade rang out with glee!

192   When wearied of the hunt, I'd rest
By some swift spring, my glance addressed
Deep in its mirroring crystal breast,
My face by its cool breeze caressed.