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Lot Essay
Canto XV, verses 11-15:
Alcina's evil power does not extend
To Persia and Arabia; once there,
Astolfo will be safe; the ship will wend
Along the Scythian shores, then down to where
The Nabateans join the realms of Ind,
Then to the Persian Gulf at last will veer.
The Polar regions being deprived of sun,
This southern route is much better the one.
When Logistilla saw that all was well,
She granted the departure of the duke,
But first of all, before she said farewell,
Some final counselling she undertook
On many things which would be long to tell;
And next, a beautiful and useful book
From all her secret lore she chose and gave him,
Which would henceforth from evil magic save him.
Alcina's evil power does not extend
To Persia and Arabia; once there,
Astolfo will be safe; the ship will wend
Along the Scythian shores, then down to where
The Nabateans join the realms of Ind,
Then to the Persian Gulf at last will veer.
The Polar regions being deprived of sun,
This southern route is much better the one.
When Logistilla saw that all was well,
She granted the departure of the duke,
But first of all, before she said farewell,
Some final counselling she undertook
On many things which would be long to tell;
And next, a beautiful and useful book
From all her secret lore she chose and gave him,
Which would henceforth from evil magic save him.