University Microfilms International - Arizona Campus Repository

11
English readership, and his books are more appropriately called
"adaptations" than "translations."
The second tale is of Anselmo, Argia, and Adonio (stanzas 72 to
143). 17 Anselmo, the self-righteous judge, attempts to protect his
beautiful wife Argia from temptation to commit adultery by isolating
her from people and providing her with ample riches. When he leaves
town to serve as ambassador for the ruling monarch, Argia is indeed
tempted by and gives in to the cavalier Adonio, who gives her a "wondrous
dog" that supplies her with more riches. Upon his return Anselmo tries
to have Argia murdered, but she is protected by the fairy Manto, who
had aided Adonio in his quest for Argia by turning herself into the dog.
The murder attempt having been foiled, Anselmo falls to Manto's temptation
of wealth and commits adultery himself with an old hag who promises
him her beautiful mansion. Argia witnesses his sin, admonishes him for
his weakness and self-righteousness, and suggests that they forgive one
another and resume their lives together.
At the end of the second tale, Tofte includes an epilogue not
found in the Italian. In his comments on Argia's wit and Anselmo's
cuckoldry, the poet initiates a practice to which he will return many
times in his translation of the Satires. He supplies moral sententiae
where Ariosto gives none, and he supplements the Italian text without
clearly indicating that the supplemental lines are his own:
Thus by wisdome of this Lovely Wife,
All former faults (soone) quite forgotten be,
I doubt me (nowadays) few such are rife,
Which would unto the same so willing gree,
And chiefely when their Husbands sinne in life
Against sweete BEAUTIES HEIRES so monstrously,