Ludovico Ariosto Quotes

For when the water is up to your neck you must be truly stubborn not to cry for help.

Che chi ne l'acqua sta fin'alla gola
Ben'e ostinato se merce non grida.

A virgin is like a rose: while she remains on the thorn whence she sprang, alone and safe in a lovely garden, no flock, no shepherd approaches. The gentle breeze and the dewy dawn, water, and earth pay her homage; amorous youths and loving maidens like to deck their brows with her, and their breasts. / But no sooner is she plucked from her mother-stalk, severed from her green stem, than she loses all, all the favour, grace, and beauty wherewith heaven and men endowed her.

La verginella e simile alla rosa
Ch'in bel giardin' su la nativa spina
Mentre sola e sicura si riposa
Ne gregge ne pastor se le avvicina;
L'aura soave e l'alba rugiadosa,
L'acqua, la terra al suo favor s'inchina:
Gioveni vaghi e donne inamorate
Amano averne e seni e tempie ornate. Ma no si tosto dal materno stelo
Rimossa viene, e dal suo ceppo verde
Che quato havea dagli huoi e dal cielo
Favor gratia e bellezza tutto perde.

His hair stands up erect and from his face
All vestiges of colour seem to drain.
He tries to speak but can emit no trace
Of sound.

Ogni pelo arricciossi
E scolorossi al Saracino il viso,
La voce ch'era per uscir fermossi.

Driven raving mad by love—and he a man who had been always esteemed for his great prudence.

Che per amor venne in furore e matto,
d'huom che si saggio era stimato prima.

Of ladies, knights, of passions and of wars,
of courtliness, and of valiant deeds I sing.

Le donne i cavallier, l'arme, gli amori,
Le cortesie, l'audaci imprese io canto.