XXXIII.
With squinting look and dark, and but one eye,
The leader of the troop, of brutish cheer
Was he, the foremost of the company;
By a blow blinded, which from nose to ear
Had cleft his jaw: when he did so descry
Seated beside the maid, that cavalier,
He turned about and said; “Lo! in the net
Another bird for whom it was not set!”
XXXIV.
Then to the county cried; “I never knew
“A man more opportune my wants to stead;
“I know not whether any one to you
“Perchance may have announced my pressing need
“Of such fair arms, or you conjectured true,
“As well as of that goodly sable weed.
“You verily arrived in season are
“My needs (pursued the losel) to repair.”
XXXV.
With bitter smile, upstarting on his feet,
Orlando to the ruffian made reply:
“Thou at a price at which no chapmen treat,
“Unmarked in merchant’s books, these arms shalt buy:”
With that he snatched a brand, which, full of heat
And smoke, was smouldering in the chimney nigh,
Threw it, and smote by chance the knave half blind,
Where with the nose the meeting brows confined.
