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diff --git a/392-0.txt b/392-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3b3c723 --- /dev/null +++ b/392-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,19900 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Jerusalem Delivered, by Torquato Tasso + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Jerusalem Delivered + +Author: Torquato Tasso + +Translator: Edward Fairfax + +Release Date: January, 1995 [eBook #392] +[Most recently updated: August 26, 2021] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: Douglas B. Killings + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JERUSALEM DELIVERED *** + + + + +Gerusalemme Liberata + +(“Jerusalem Delivered”) + +by Torquato Tasso + +(1544-1595) + +Published 1581 in Parma, Italy. + +Translated by Edward Fairfax (1560-1635); +translation first published in London, 1600. + + +Contents + + BOOK I. + BOOK II. + BOOK III. + BOOK IV. + BOOK V. + BOOK VI. + BOOK VII. + BOOK VIII. + BOOK IX. + BOOK X. + BOOK XI. + BOOK XII. + BOOK XIII. + BOOK XIV. + BOOK XV. + BOOK XVI. + BOOK XVII. + BOOK XVIII. + BOOK XIX. + BOOK XX. + + + + +FIRST BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +God sends his angel to Tortosa down, +Godfrey unites the Christian Peers and Knights; +And all the Lords and Princes of renown +Choose him their Duke, to rule the wares and fights. +He mustereth all his host, whose number known, +He sends them to the fort that Sion hights; +The aged tyrant Juda’s land that guides, +In fear and trouble, to resist provides. + +I +The sacred armies, and the godly knight, +That the great sepulchre of Christ did free, +I sing; much wrought his valor and foresight, +And in that glorious war much suffered he; +In vain ’gainst him did Hell oppose her might, +In vain the Turks and Morians armed be: +His soldiers wild, to brawls and mutinies prest, +Reduced he to peace, so Heaven him blest. + +II +O heavenly Muse, that not with fading bays +Deckest thy brow by the Heliconian spring, +But sittest crowned with stars’ immortal rays +In Heaven, where legions of bright angels sing; +Inspire life in my wit, my thoughts upraise, +My verse ennoble, and forgive the thing, +If fictions light I mix with truth divine, +And fill these lines with other praise than thine. + +III +Thither thou know’st the world is best inclined +Where luring Parnass most his sweet imparts, +And truth conveyed in verse of gentle kind +To read perhaps will move the dullest hearts: +So we, if children young diseased we find, +Anoint with sweets the vessel’s foremost parts +To make them taste the potions sharp we give; +They drink deceived, and so deceived, they live. + +IV +Ye noble Princes, that protect and save +The Pilgrim Muses, and their ship defend +From rock of Ignorance and Error’s wave, +Your gracious eyes upon this labor bend: +To you these tales of love and conquest brave +I dedicate, to you this work I send: +My Muse hereafter shall perhaps unfold +Your fights, your battles, and your combats bold. + +V +For if the Christian Princes ever strive +To win fair Greece out of the tyrants’ hands, +And those usurping Ismaelites deprive +Of woful Thrace, which now captived stands, +You must from realms and seas the Turks forth drive, +As Godfrey chased them from Juda’s lands, +And in this legend, all that glorious deed, +Read, whilst you arm you; arm you, whilst you read. + +VI +Six years were run since first in martial guise +The Christian Lords warraid the eastern land; +Nice by assault, and Antioch by surprise, +Both fair, both rich, both won, both conquered stand, +And this defended they in noblest wise +’Gainst Persian knights and many a valiant band; +Tortosa won, lest winter might them shend, +They drew to holds, and coming spring attend. + +VII +The sullen season now was come and gone, +That forced them late cease from their noble war, +When God Almighty form his lofty throne, +Set in those parts of Heaven that purest are +(As far above the clear stars every one, +As it is hence up to the highest star), +Looked down, and all at once this world beheld, +Each land, each city, country, town and field. + +VIII +All things he viewed, at last in Syria stayed +Upon the Christian Lords his gracious eye, +That wondrous look wherewith he oft surveyed +Men’s secret thoughts that most concealed lie +He cast on puissant Godfrey, that assayed +To drive the Turks from Sion’s bulwarks high, +And, full of zeal and faith, esteemed light +All worldly honor, empire, treasure, might: + +IX +In Baldwin next he spied another thought, +Whom spirits proud to vain ambition move: +Tancred he saw his life’s joy set at naught, +So woe-begone was he with pains of love: +Boemond the conquered folk of Antioch brought, +The gentle yoke of Christian rule to prove: +He taught them laws, statutes and customs new, +Arts, crafts, obedience, and religion true; + +X +And with such care his busy work he plied, +That to naught else his acting thoughts he bent: +In young Rinaldo fierce desires he spied, +And noble heart of rest impatient; +To wealth or sovereign power he naught applied +His wits, but all to virtue excellent; +Patterns and rules of skill, and courage bold, +He took from Guelpho, and his fathers old. + +XI +Thus when the Lord discovered had, and seen +The hidden secrets of each worthy’s breast, +Out of the hierarchies of angels sheen +The gentle Gabriel called he from the rest, +’Twixt God and souls of men that righteous been +Ambassador is he, forever blest, +The just commands of Heaven’s Eternal King, +’Twixt skies and earth, he up and down doth bring. + +XII +To whom the Lord thus spake: “Godfredo find, +And in my name ask him, why doth he rest? +Why be his arms to ease and peace resigned? +Why frees he not Jerusalem distrest? +His peers to counsel call, each baser mind +Let him stir up; for, chieftain of the rest +I choose him here, the earth shall him allow, +His fellows late shall be his subjects now.” + +XIII +This said, the angel swift himself prepared +To execute the charge imposed aright, +In form of airy members fair imbared, +His spirits pure were subject to our sight, +Like to a man in show and shape he fared, +But full of heavenly majesty and might, +A stripling seemed he thrive five winters old, +And radiant beams adorned his locks of gold. + +XIV +Of silver wings he took a shining pair, +Fringed with gold, unwearied, nimble, swift; +With these he parts the winds, the clouds, the air, +And over seas and earth himself doth lift, +Thus clad he cut the spheres and circles fair, +And the pure skies with sacred feathers clift; +On Libanon at first his foot he set, +And shook his wings with rory May dews wet. + +XV +Then to Tortosa’s confines swiftly sped +The sacred messenger, with headlong flight; +Above the eastern wave appeared red +The rising sun, yet scantly half in sight; +Godfrey e’en then his morn-devotions said, +As was his custom, when with Titan bright +Appeared the angel in his shape divine, +Whose glory far obscured Phoebus’ shine. + +XVI +“Godfrey,” quoth he, “behold the season fit +To war, for which thou waited hast so long, +Now serves the time, if thou o’erslip not it, +To free Jerusalem from thrall and wrong: +Thou with thy Lords in council quickly sit; +Comfort the feeble, and confirm the strong, +The Lord of Hosts their general doth make thee, +And for their chieftain they shall gladly take thee. + +XVII +“I, messenger from everlasting Jove, +In his great name thus his behests do tell; +Oh, what sure hope of conquest ought thee move, +What zeal, what love should in thy bosom dwell!” +This said, he vanished to those seats above, +In height and clearness which the rest excel, +Down fell the Duke, his joints dissolved asunder, +Blind with the light, and strucken dead with wonder. + +XVIII +But when recovered, he considered more, +The man, his manner, and his message said; +If erst he wished, now he longed sore +To end that war, whereof he Lord was made; +Nor swelled his breast with uncouth pride therefore, +That Heaven on him above this charge had laid, +But, for his great Creator would the same, +His will increased: so fire augmenteth flame. + +XIX +The captains called forthwith from every tent, +Unto the rendezvous he them invites; +Letter on letter, post on post he sent, +Entreatance fair with counsel he unites, +All, what a noble courage could augment, +The sleeping spark of valor what incites, +He used, that all their thoughts to honor raised, +Some praised, some paid, some counselled, all pleased. + +XX +The captains, soldiers, all, save Boemond, came, +And pitched their tents, some in the fields without, +Some of green boughs their slender cabins frame, +Some lodged were Tortosa’s streets about, +Of all the host the chief of worth and name +Assembled been, a senate grave and stout; +Then Godfrey, after silence kept a space, +Lift up his voice, and spake with princely grace: + +XXI +“Warriors, whom God himself elected hath +His worship true in Sion to restore, +And still preserved from danger, harm and scath, +By many a sea and many an unknown shore, +You have subjected lately to his faith +Some provinces rebellious long before: +And after conquests great, have in the same +Erected trophies to his cross and name. + +XXII +“But not for this our homes we first forsook, +And from our native soil have marched so far: +Nor us to dangerous seas have we betook, +Exposed to hazard of so far sought war, +Of glory vain to gain an idle smook, +And lands possess that wild and barbarous are: +That for our conquests were too mean a prey, +To shed our bloods, to work our souls’ decay. + +XXIII +“But this the scope was of our former thought,— +Of Sion’s fort to scale the noble wall, +The Christian folk from bondage to have brought, +Wherein, alas, they long have lived thrall, +In Palestine an empire to have wrought, +Where godliness might reign perpetual, +And none be left, that pilgrims might denay +To see Christ’s tomb, and promised vows to pay. + +XXIV +“What to this hour successively is done +Was full of peril, to our honor small, +Naught to our first designment, if we shun +The purposed end, or here lie fixed all. +What boots it us there wares to have begun, +Or Europe raised to make proud Asia thrall, +If our beginnings have this ending known, +Not kingdoms raised, but armies overthrown? + +XXV +“Not as we list erect we empires new +On frail foundations laid in earthly mould, +Where of our faith and country be but few +Among the thousands stout of Pagans bold, +Where naught behoves us trust to Greece untrue, +And Western aid we far removed behold: +Who buildeth thus, methinks, so buildeth he, +As if his work should his sepulchre be. + +XXVI +“Turks, Persians conquered, Antiochia won, +Be glorious acts, and full of glorious praise, +By Heaven’s mere grace, not by our prowess done: +Those conquests were achieved by wondrous ways, +If now from that directed course we run +The God of Battles thus before us lays, +His loving kindness shall we lose, I doubt, +And be a byword to the lands about. + +XXVII +“Let not these blessings then sent from above +Abused be, or split in profane wise, +But let the issue correspondent prove +To good beginnings of each enterprise; +The gentle season might our courage move, +Now every passage plain and open lies: +What lets us then the great Jerusalem +With valiant squadrons round about to hem? + +XXVIII +“Lords, I protest, and hearken all to it, +Ye times and ages, future, present, past, +Hear all ye blessed in the heavens that sit, +The time for this achievement hasteneth fast: +The longer rest worse will the season fit, +Our sureties shall with doubt be overcast. +If we forslow the siege I well foresee +From Egypt will the Pagans succored be.” + +XXIX +This said, the hermit Peter rose and spake, +Who sate in counsel those great Lords among: +“At my request this war was undertake, +In private cell, who erst lived closed long, +What Godfrey wills, of that no question make, +There cast no doubts where truth is plain and strong, +Your acts, I trust, will correspond his speech, +Yet one thing more I would you gladly teach. + +XXX +“These strifes, unless I far mistake the thing, +And discords raised oft in disordered sort, +Your disobedience and ill managing +Of actions lost, for want of due support, +Refer I justly to a further spring, +Spring of sedition, strife, oppression, tort, +I mean commanding power to sundry given, +In thought, opinion, worth, estate, uneven. + +XXXI +“Where divers Lords divided empire hold, +Where causes be by gifts, not justice tried, +Where offices be falsely bought and sold, +Needs must the lordship there from virtue slide. +Of friendly parts one body then uphold, +Create one head, the rest to rule and guide: +To one the regal power and sceptre give, +That henceforth may your King and Sovereign live.” + +XXXII +And therewith stayed his speech. O gracious Muse, +What kindling motions in their breasts do fry? +With grace divine the hermit’s talk infuse, +That in their hearts his words may fructify; +By this a virtuous concord they did choose, +And all contentions then began to die; +The Princes with the multitude agree, +That Godfrey ruler of those wars should be. + +XXXIII +This power they gave him, by his princely right, +All to command, to judge all, good and ill, +Laws to impose to lands subdued by might, +To maken war both when and where he will, +To hold in due subjection every wight, +Their valors to be guided by his skill; +This done, Report displays her tell-tale wings, +And to each ear the news and tidings brings. + +XXXIV +She told the soldiers, who allowed him meet +And well deserving of that sovereign place. +Their first salutes and acclamations sweet +Received he, with love and gentle grace; +After their reverence done with kind regreet +Requited was, with mild and cheerful face, +He bids his armies should the following day +On those fair plains their standards proud display. + +XXXV +The golden sun rose from the silver wave, +And with his beams enamelled every green, +When up arose each warrior bold and brave, +Glistering in filed steel and armor sheen, +With jolly plumes their crests adorned they have, +And all tofore their chieftain mustered been: +He from a mountain cast his curious sight +On every footman and on every knight. + +XXXVI +My mind, Time’s enemy, Oblivion’s foe, +Disposer true of each noteworthy thing, +Oh, let thy virtuous might avail me so, +That I each troop and captain great may sing, +That in this glorious war did famous grow, +Forgot till now by Time’s evil handling: +This work, derived from my treasures dear, +Let all times hearken, never age outwear. + +XXXVII +The French came foremost battailous and bold, +Late led by Hugo, brother to their King, +From France the isle that rivers four infold +With rolling streams descending from their spring, +But Hugo dead, the lily fair of gold, +Their wonted ensign they tofore them bring, +Under Clotharius great, a captain good, +And hardy knight ysprong of princes’ blood. + +XXXVIII +A thousand were they in strong armors clad, +Next whom there marched forth another band, +That number, nature, and instruction had, +Like them to fight far off or charge at hand, +All valiant Normans by Lord Robert lad, +The native Duke of that renowned land, +Two bishops next their standards proud upbare, +Called Reverend William, and Good Ademare. + +XXXIX +Their jolly notes they chanted loud and clear +On merry mornings at the mass divine, +And horrid helms high on their heads they bear +When their fierce courage they to war incline: +The first four hundred horsemen gathered near +To Orange town, and lands that it confine: +But Ademare the Poggian youth brought out, +In number like, in hard assays as stout. + +XL +Baldwin, his ensign fair, did next dispread +Among his Bulloigners of noble fame, +His brother gave him all his troops to lead, +When he commander of the field became; +The Count Carinto did him straight succeed, +Grave in advice, well skilled in Mars his game, +Four hundred brought he, but so many thrice +Led Baldwin, clad in gilden arms of price. + +XLI +Guelpho next them the land and place possest, +Whose fortunes good with his great acts agree, +By his Italian sire, fro the house of Est, +Well could he bring his noble pedigree, +A German born with rich possessions blest, +A worthy branch sprung from the Guelphian tree. +’Twixt Rhene and Danubie the land contained +He ruled, where Swaves and Rhetians whilom reigned. + +XLII +His mother’s heritage was this and right, +To which he added more by conquest got, +From thence approved men of passing might +He brought, that death or danger feared not: +It was their wont in feasts to spend the night, +And pass cold days in baths and houses hot. +Five thousand late, of which now scantly are +The third part left, such is the chance of war. + +XLIII +The nation then with crisped locks and fair, +That dwell between the seas and Arden Wood, +Where Mosel streams and Rhene the meadows wear, +A battel soil for grain, for pasture good, +Their islanders with them, who oft repair +Their earthen bulwarks ’gainst the ocean flood, +The flood, elsewhere that ships and barks devours, +But there drowns cities, countries, towns and towers; + +XLIV +Both in one troop, and but a thousand all, +Under another Robert fierce they run. +Then the English squadron, soldiers stout and tall, +By William led, their sovereign’s younger son, +These archers be, and with them come withal, +A people near the Northern Pole that wone, +Whom Ireland sent from loughs and forests hoar, +Divided far by sea from Europe’s shore. + +XLV +Tancredi next, nor ’mongst them all was one, +Rinald except, a prince of greater might, +With majesty his noble countenance shone, +High were his thoughts, his heart was bold in fight, +No shameful vice his worth had overgone, +His fault was love, by unadvised sight, +Bred in the dangers of adventurous arms, +And nursed with griefs, with sorrows, woes, and harms. + +XLVI +Fame tells, that on that ever-blessed day, +When Christian swords with Persian blood were dyed, +The furious Prince Tancredi from that fray +His coward foes chased through forests wide, +Till tired with the fight, the heat, the way, +He sought some place to rest his wearied side, +And drew him near a silver stream that played +Among wild herbs under the greenwood shade. + +XLVII +A Pagan damsel there unwares he met, +In shining steel, all save her visage fair, +Her hair unbound she made a wanton net, +To catch sweet breathing from the cooling air. +On her at gaze his longing looks he set, +Sight, wonder; wonder, love; love bred his care; +O love, o wonder; love new born, new bred, +Now groan, now armed, this champion captive led. + +XLVIII +Her helm the virgin donned, and but some wight +She feared might come to aid him as they fought, +Her courage earned to have assailed the knight; +Yet thence she fled, uncompanied, unsought, +And left her image in his heart ypight; +Her sweet idea wandered through his thought, +Her shape, her gesture, and her place in mind +He kept, and blew love’s fire with that wind. + +XLIX +Well might you read his sickness in his eyes, +Their banks were full, their tide was at the flow, +His help far off, his hurt within him lies, +His hopes unstrung, his cares were fit to mow; +Eight hundred horse (from Champain came) he guies, +Champain a land where wealth, ease, pleasure, grow, +Rich Nature’s pomp and pride, the Tirrhene main +There woos the hills, hills woo the valleys plain. + +L +Two hundred Greeks came next, in fight well tried, +Not surely armed in steel or iron strong, +But each a glaive had pendant by his side, +Their bows and quivers at their shoulders hung, +Their horses well inured to chase and ride, +In diet spare, untired with labor long; +Ready to charge, and to retire at will, +Though broken, scattered, fled, they skirmish still; + +LI +Tatine their guide, and except Tatine, none +Of all the Greeks went with the Christian host; +O sin, O shame, O Greece accurst alone! +Did not this fatal war affront thy coast? +Yet safest thou an idle looker-on, +And glad attendest which side won or lost: +Now if thou be a bondslave vile become, +No wrong is that, but God’s most righteous doom. + +LII +In order last, but first in worth and fame, +Unfeared in fight, untired with hurt or wound, +The noble squadron of adventurers came, +Terrors to all that tread on Asian ground: +Cease Orpheus of thy Minois, Arthur shame +To boast of Lancelot, or thy table round: +For these whom antique times with laurel drest, +These far exceed them, thee, and all the rest. + +LIII +Dudon of Consa was their guide and lord, +And for of worth and birth alike they been, +They chose him captain, by their free accord, +For he most acts had done, most battles seen; +Grave was the man in years, in looks, in word, +His locks were gray, yet was his courage green, +Of worth and might the noble badge he bore, +Old scars of grievous wounds received of yore. + +LIV +After came Eustace, well esteemed man +For Godfrey’s sake his brother, and his own; +The King of Norway’s heir Gernando than, +Proud of his father’s title, sceptre, crown; +Roger of Balnavill, and Engerlan, +For hardy knights approved were and known; +Besides were numbered in that warlike train +Rambald, Gentonio, and the Gerrards twain. + +LV +Ubaldo then, and puissant Rosimond, +Of Lancaster the heir, in rank succeed; +Let none forget Obizo of Tuscain land, +Well worthy praise for many a worthy deed; +Nor those three brethren, Lombards fierce and yond, +Achilles, Sforza, and stern Palamede; +Nor Otton’s shield he conquered in those stowres, +In which a snake a naked child devours. + +LVI +Guascher and Raiphe in valor like there was. +The one and other Guido, famous both, +Germer and Eberard to overpass, +In foul oblivion would my Muse be loth, +With his Gildippes dear, Edward alas, +A loving pair, to war among them go’th +In bond of virtuous love together tied, +Together served they, and together died. + +LVII +In school of love are all things taught we see, +There learned this maid of arms the ireful guise, +Still by his side a faithful guard went she, +One true-love knot their lives together ties, +No would to one alone could dangerous be, +But each the smart of other’s anguish tries, +If one were hurt, the other felt the sore, +She lost her blood, he spent his life therefore. + +LVIII +But these and all, Rinaldo far exceeds, +Star of his sphere, the diamond of this ring, +The nest where courage with sweet mercy breeds: +A comet worthy each eye’s wondering, +His years are fewer than his noble deeds, +His fruit is ripe soon as his blossoms spring, +Armed, a Mars, might coyest Venus move, +And if disarmed, then God himself of Love. + +LIX +Sophia by Adige’s flowery bank him bore, +Sophia the fair, spouse to Bertoldo great, +Fit mother for that pearl, and before +The tender imp was weaned from the teat, +The Princess Maud him took, in Virtue’s lore +She brought him up fit for each worthy feat, +Till of these wares the golden trump he hears, +That soundeth glory, fame, praise in his ears. + +LX +And then, though scantly three times five years old, +He fled alone, by many an unknown coast, +O’er Aegean Seas by many a Greekish hold, +Till he arrived at the Christian host; +A noble flight, adventurous, brave, and bold, +Whereon a valiant prince might justly boast, +Three years he served in field, when scant begin +Few golden hairs to deck his ivory chin. + +LXI +The horsemen past, their void-left stations fill +The bands on foot, and Reymond them beforn, +Of Tholouse lord, from lands near Piraene Hill +By Garound streams and salt sea billows worn, +Four thousand foot he brought, well armed, and skill +Had they all pains and travels to have borne, +Stout men of arms and with their guide of power +Like Troy’s old town defenced with Ilion’s tower. + +LXII +Next Stephen of Amboise did five thousand lead, +The men he prest from Tours and Blois but late, +To hard assays unfit, unsure at need, +Yet armed to point in well-attempted plate, +The land did like itself the people breed, +The soil is gentle, smooth, soft, delicate; +Boldly they charge, but soon retire for doubt, +Like fire of straw, soon kindled, soon burnt out. + +LXIII +The third Alcasto marched, and with him +The boaster brought six thousand Switzers bold, +Audacious were their looks, their faces grim, +Strong castles on the Alpine clifts they hold, +Their shares and coulters broke, to armors trim +They change that metal, cast in warlike mould, +And with this band late herds and flocks that guide, +Now kings and realms he threatened and defied. + +LXIV +The glorious standard last to Heaven they sprad, +With Peter’s keys ennobled and his crown, +With it seven thousand stout Camillo had, +Embattailed in walls of iron brown: +In this adventure and occasion, glad +So to revive the Romans’ old renown, +Or prove at least to all of wiser thought, +Their hearts were fertile land although unwrought. + +LXV +But now was passed every regiment, +Each band, each troop, each person worth regard +When Godfrey with his lords to counsel went, +And thus the Duke his princely will declared: +“I will when day next clears the firmament, +Our ready host in haste be all prepared, +Closely to march to Sion’s noble wall, +Unseen, unheard, or undescried at all. + +LXVI +“Prepare you then for travel strong and light, +Fierce to the combat, glad to victory.” +And with that word and warning soon was dight, +Each soldier, longing for near coming glory, +Impatient be they of the morning bright, +Of honor so them pricked the memory: +But yet their chieftain had conceived a fear +Within his heart, but kept it secret there. + +LXVII +For he by faithful spial was assured, +That Egypt’s King was forward on his way, +And to arrive at Gaza old procured, +A fort that on the Syrian frontiers lay, +Nor thinks he that a man to wars inured +Will aught forslow, or in his journey stay, +For well he knew him for a dangerous foe: +An herald called he then, and spake him so: + +LXVIII +“A pinnace take thee swift as shaft from bow, +And speed thee, Henry, to the Greekish main, +There should arrive, as I by letters know +From one that never aught reports in vain, +A valiant youth in whom all virtues flow, +To help us this great conquest to obtain, +The Prince of Danes he is, and brings to war +A troop with him from under the Arctic star. + +LXIX +“And for I doubt the Greekish monarch sly +Will use with him some of his wonted craft, +To stay his passage, or divert awry +Elsewhere his forces, his first journey laft, +My herald good and messenger well try, +See that these succors be not us beraft, +But send him thence with such convenient speed +As with his honor stands and with our need. + +LXX +“Return not thou, but Legier stay behind, +And move the Greekish Prince to send us aid, +Tell him his kingly promise doth him bind +To give us succors, by his covenant made.” +This said, and thus instruct, his letters signed +The trusty herald took, nor longer stayed, +But sped him thence to done his Lord’s behest, +And thus the Duke reduced his thoughts to rest. + +LXXI +Aurora bright her crystal gates unbarred, +And bridegroom-like forth stept the glorious sun, +When trumpets loud and clarions shrill were heard, +And every one to rouse him fierce begun, +Sweet music to each heart for war prepared, +The soldiers glad by heaps to harness run; +So if with drought endangered be their grain, +Poor ploughmen joy when thunders promise rain. + +LXXII +Some shirts of mail, some coats of plate put on, +Some donned a cuirass, some a corslet bright, +And halbert some, and some a habergeon, +So every one in arms was quickly dight, +His wonted guide each soldier tends upon, +Loose in the wind waved their banners light, +Their standard royal toward Heaven they spread, +The cross triumphant on the Pagans dead. + +LXXIII +Meanwhile the car that bears the lightning brand +Upon the eastern hill was mounted high, +And smote the glistering armies as they stand, +With quivering beams which dazed the wondering eye, +That Phaeton-like it fired sea and land, +The sparkles seemed up to the skies to fly, +The horses’ neigh and clattering armors’ sound +Pursue the echo over dale and down. + +LXXIV +Their general did with due care provide +To save his men from ambush and from train, +Some troops of horse that lightly armed ride +He sent to scour the woods and forests main, +His pioneers their busy work applied +To even the paths and make the highways plain, +They filled the pits, and smoothed the rougher ground, +And opened every strait they closed found. + +LXXV +They meet no forces gathered by their foe, +No towers defenced with rampire, moat, or wall, +No stream, no wood, no mountain could forslow +Their hasty pace, or stop their march at all; +So when his banks the prince of rivers, Po, +Doth overswell, he breaks with hideous fall +The mossy rocks and trees o’ergrown with age, +Nor aught withstands his fury and his rage. + +LXXVI +The King of Tripoli in every hold +Shut up his men, munition and his treasure, +The straggling troops sometimes assail he would, +Save that he durst not move them to displeasure; +He stayed their rage with presents, gifts and gold, +And led them through his land at ease and leisure, +To keep his realm in peace and rest he chose, +With what conditions Godfrey list impose. + +LXXVII +Those of Mount Seir, that neighboreth by east +The Holy City, faithful folk each one, +Down from the hill descended most and least, +And to the Christian Duke by heaps they gone, +And welcome him and his with joy and feast; +On him they smile, on him they gaze alone, +And were his guides, as faithful from that day +As Hesperus, that leads the sun his way. + +LXXVIII +Along the sands his armies safe they guide +By ways secure, to them well known before, +Upon the tumbling billows fraughted ride +The armed ships, coasting along the shore, +Which for the camp might every day provide +To bring munition good and victuals store: +The isles of Greece sent in provision meet, +And store of wine from Scios came and Crete. + +LXXIX +Great Neptune grieved underneath the load +Of ships, hulks, galleys, barks and brigantines, +In all the mid-earth seas was left no road +Wherein the Pagan his bold sails untwines, +Spread was the huge Armado, wide and broad, +From Venice, Genes, and towns which them confines, +From Holland, England, France and Sicil sent, +And all for Juda ready bound and bent. + +LXXX +All these together were combined, and knit +With surest bonds of love and friendship strong, +Together sailed they fraught with all things fit +To service done by land that might belong, +And when occasion served disbarked it, +Then sailed the Asian coasts and isles along; +Thither with speed their hasty course they plied, +Where Christ the Lord for our offences died. + +LXXXI +The brazen trump of iron-winged fame, +That mingleth faithful troth with forged lies, +Foretold the heathen how the Christians came, +How thitherward the conquering army hies, +Of every knight it sounds the worth and name, +Each troop, each band, each squadron it descries, +And threat’neth death to those, fire, sword and slaughter, +Who held captived Israel’s fairest daughter. + +LXXXII +The fear of ill exceeds the evil we fear, +For so our present harms still most annoy us, +Each mind is prest and open every ear +To hear new tidings though they no way joy us, +This secret rumor whispered everywhere +About the town, these Christians will destroy us, +The aged king his coming evil that knew, +Did cursed thoughts in his false heart renew. + +LXXXIII +This aged prince ycleped Aladine, +Ruled in care, new sovereign of this state, +A tyrant erst, but now his fell engine +His graver are did somewhat mitigate, +He heard the western lords would undermine +His city’s wall, and lay his towers prostrate, +To former fear he adds a new-come doubt, +Treason he fears within, and force without. + +LXXXIV +For nations twain inhabit there and dwell +Of sundry faith together in that town, +The lesser part on Christ believed well, +On Termagent the more and on Mahown, +But when this king had made this conquest fell, +And brought that region subject to his crown, +Of burdens all he set the Paynims large, +And on poor Christians laid the double charge. + +LXXXV +His native wrath revived with this new thought, +With age and years that weakened was of yore, +Such madness in his cruel bosom wrought, +That now than ever blood he thirsteth more? +So stings a snake that to the fire is brought, +Which harmless lay benumbed with cold before, +A lion so his rage renewed hath, +Though fame before, if he be moved to wrath. + +LXXXVI +“I see,” quoth he, “some expectation vain, +In these false Christians, and some new content, +Our common loss they trust will be their gain, +They laugh, we weep; they joy while we lament; +And more, perchance, by treason or by train, +To murder us they secretly consent, +Or otherwise to work us harm and woe, +To ope the gates, and so let in our foe. + +LXXXVII +“But lest they should effect their cursed will, +Let us destroy this serpent on his nest; +Both young and old, let us this people kill, +The tender infants at their mothers’ breast, +Their houses burn, their holy temples fill +With bodies slain of those that loved them best, +And on that tomb they hold so much in price, +Let’s offer up their priests in sacrifice.” + +LXXXVIII +Thus thought the tyrant in his traitorous mind, +But durst not follow what he had decreed, +Yet if the innocents some mercy find, +From cowardice, not truth, did that proceed, +His noble foes durst not his craven kind +Exasperate by such a bloody deed. +For if he need, what grace could then be got, +If thus of peace he broke or loosed the knot? + +LXXXIX +His villain heart his cursed rage restrained, +To other thoughts he bent his fierce desire, +The suburbs first flat with the earth he plained, +And burnt their buildings with devouring fire, +Loth was the wretch the Frenchman should have gained +Or help or ease, by finding aught entire, +Cedron, Bethsaida, and each watering else +Empoisoned he, both fountains, springs, and wells. + +XC +So wary wise this child of darkness was; +The city’s self he strongly fortifies, +Three sides by site it well defenced has, +That’s only weak that to the northward lies; +With mighty bars of long enduring brass, +The steel-bound doors and iron gates he ties, +And, lastly, legions armed well provides +Of subjects born, and hired aid besides. + + + + +SECOND BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +Ismeno conjures, but his charms are vain; +Aladine will kill the Christians in his ire: +Sophronia and Olindo would be slain +To save the rest, the King grants their desire; +Clorinda hears their fact and fortunes plain, +Their pardon gets and keeps them from the fire: +Argantes, when Aletes’ speeches are +Despised, defies the Duke to mortal war. + +I +While thus the tyrant bends his thoughts to arms, +Ismeno gan tofore his sight appear, +Ismen dead bones laid in cold graves that warms +And makes them speak, smell, taste, touch, see, and hear; +Ismen with terror of his mighty charms, +That makes great Dis in deepest Hell to fear, +That binds and looses souls condemned to woe, +And sends the devils on errands to and fro. + +II +A Christian once, Macon he now adores, +Nor could he quite his wonted faith forsake, +But in his wicked arts both oft implores +Help from the Lord, and aid from Pluto black; +He, from deep caves by Acheron’s dark shores, +Where circles vain and spells he used to make, +To advise his king in these extremes is come, +Achitophel so counselled Absalom. + +III +“My liege,” he says, “the camp fast hither moves, +The axe is laid unto this cedar’s root, +But let us work as valiant men behoves, +For boldest hearts good fortune helpeth out; +Your princely care your kingly wisdom proves, +Well have you labored, well foreseen about; +If each perform his charge and duty so, +Nought but his grave here conquer shall your foe. + +IV +“From surest castle of my secret cell +I come, partaker of your good and ill, +What counsel sage, or magic’s sacred spell +May profit us, all that perform I will: +The sprites impure from bliss that whilom fell +Shall to your service bow, constrained by skill; +But how we must begin this enterprise, +I will your Highness thus in brief advise. + +V +“Within the Christian’s church from light of skies, +An hidden alter stands, far out of sight, +On which the image consecrated lies +Of Christ’s dear mother, called a virgin bright, +An hundred lamps aye burn before her eyes, +She in a slender veil of tinsel dight, +On every side great plenty doth behold +Of offerings brought, myrrh, frankincense and gold. + +VI +“This idol would I have removed away +From thence, and by your princely hand transport, +In Macon’s sacred temple safe it lay, +Which then I will enchant in wondrous sort, +That while the image in that church doth stay, +No strength of arms shall win this noble fort, +Of shake this puissant wall, such passing might +Have spells and charms, if they be said aright.” + +VII +Advised thus, the king impatient +Flew in his fury to the house of God, +The image took, with words unreverent +Abused the prelates, who that deed forbode, +Swift with his prey, away the tyrant went, +Of God’s sharp justice naught he feared the rod, +But in his chapel vile the image laid, +On which the enchanter charms and witchcraft said. + +VIII +When Phoebus next unclosed his wakeful eye, +Up rose the sexton of that place profane, +And missed the image, where it used to lie, +Each where he sough in grief, in fear, in vain; +Then to the king his loss he gan descry, +Who sore enraged killed him for his pain; +And straight conceived in his malicious wit, +Some Christian bade this great offence commit. + +IX +But whether this were act of mortal hand, +Or else the Prince of Heaven’s eternal pleasure, +That of his mercy would this wretch withstand, +Nor let so vile a chest hold such a treasure, +As yet conjecture hath not fully scanned; +By godliness let us this action measure, +And truth of purest faith will fitly prove +That this rare grace came down from Heaven above. + +X +With busy search the tyrant gan to invade +Each house, each hold, each temple and each tent +To them the fault or faulty one bewrayed +Or hid, he promised gifts or punishment, +His idle charms the false enchanter said, +But in this maze still wandered and miswent, +For Heaven decreed to conceal the same, +To make the miscreant more to feel his shame. + +XI +But when the angry king discovered not +What guilty hand this sacrilege had wrought, +His ireful courage boiled in vengeance hot +Against the Christians, whom he faulters thought; +All ruth, compassion, mercy he forgot, +A staff to beat that dog he long had sought, +“Let them all die,” quoth he, “kill great and small, +So shall the offender perish sure withal. + +XII +“To spill the wine with poison mixed with spares? +Slay then the righteous with the faulty one, +Destroy this field that yieldeth naught but tares, +With thorns this vineyard all is over-gone, +Among these wretches is not one, that cares +For us, our laws, or our religion; +Up, up, dear subjects, fire and weapon take, +Burn, murder, kill these traitors for my sake.” + +XIII +This Herod thus would Bethlem’s infants kill, +The Christians soon this direful news receave, +The trump of death sounds in their hearing shrill, +Their weapon, faith; their fortress, was the grave; +They had no courage, time, device, or will, +To fight, to fly, excuse, or pardon crave, +But stood prepared to die, yet help they find, +Whence least they hope, such knots can Heaven unbind. + +XIV +Among them dwelt, her parents’ joy and pleasure, +A maid, whose fruit was ripe, not over-yeared, +Her beauty was her not esteemed treasure; +The field of love with plough of virtue eared, +Her labor goodness; godliness her leisure; +Her house the heaven by this full moon aye cleared, +For there, from lovers’ eyes withdrawn, alone +With virgin beams this spotless Cynthia shone. + +XV +But what availed her resolution chaste, +Whose soberest looks were whetstones to desire? +Nor love consents that beauty’s field lie waste, +Her visage set Olindo’s heart on fire, +O subtle love, a thousand wiles thou hast, +By humble suit, by service, or by hire, +To win a maiden’s hold, a thing soon done, +For nature framed all women to be won. + +XVI +Sophronia she, Olindo hight the youth, +Both or one town, both in one faith were taught, +She fair, he full of bashfulness and truth, +Loved much, hoped little, and desired nought, +He durst not speak by suit to purchase ruth, +She saw not, marked not, wist not what he sought, +Thus loved, thus served he long, but not regarded, +Unseen, unmarked, unpitied, unrewarded. + +XVII +To her came message of the murderment, +Wherein her guiltless friends should hopeless starve, +She that was noble, wise, as fair and gent, +Cast how she might their harmless lives preserve, +Zeal was the spring whence flowed her hardiment, +From maiden shame yet was she loth to swerve: +Yet had her courage ta’en so sure a hold, +That boldness, shamefaced; shame had made her bold. + +XVIII +And forth she went, a shop for merchandise +Full of rich stuff, but none for sale exposed, +A veil obscured the sunshine of her eyes, +The rose within herself her sweetness closed, +Each ornament about her seemly lies, +By curious chance, or careless art, composed; +For what the most neglects, most curious prove, +So Beauty’s helped by Nature, Heaven, and Love. + +XIX +Admired of all, on went this noble maid, +Until the presence of the king she gained, +Nor for he swelled with ire was she afraid, +But his fierce wrath with fearless grace sustained, +“I come,” quoth she, “but be thine anger stayed, +And causeless rage ’gainst faultless souls restrained— +I come to show thee, and to bring thee both, +The wight whose fact hath made thy heart so wroth.” + +XX +Her molest boldness, and that lightning ray +Which her sweet beauty streamed on his face, +Had struck the prince with wonder and dismay, +Changed his cheer, and cleared his moody grace, +That had her eyes disposed their looks to play, +The king had snared been in love’s strong lace; +But wayward beauty doth not fancy move, +A frown forbids, a smile engendereth love. + +XXI +It was amazement, wonder and delight, +Although not love, that moved his cruel sense; +“Tell on,” quoth he, “unfold the chance aright, +Thy people’s lives I grant for recompense.” +Then she, “Behold the faulter here in sight, +This hand committed that supposed offence, +I took the image, mine that fault, that fact, +Mine be the glory of that virtuous act.” + +XXII +This spotless lamb thus offered up her blood, +To save the rest of Christ’s selected fold, +O noble lie! was ever truth so good? +Blest be the lips that such a leasing told: +Thoughtful awhile remained the tyrant wood, +His native wrath he gan a space withhold, +And said, “That thou discover soon I will, +What aid? what counsel had’st thou in that ill?” + +XXIII +“My lofty thoughts,” she answered him, “envied +Another’s hand should work my high desire, +The thirst of glory can no partner bide, +With mine own self I did alone conspire.” +“On thee alone,” the tyrant then replied, +“Shall fall the vengeance of my wrath and ire.” +“’Tis just and right,” quoth she, “I yield consent, +Mine be the honor, mine the punishment.” + +XXIV +The wretch of new enraged at the same, +Asked where she hid the image so conveyed: +“Not hid,” quoth she, “but quite consumed with flame, +The idol is of that eternal maid, +For so at least I have preserved the same, +With hands profane from being eft betrayed. +My Lord, the thing thus stolen demand no more, +Here see the thief that scorneth death therefor. + +XXV +“And yet no theft was this, yours was the sin, +I brought again what you unjustly took.” +This heard, the tyrant did for rage begin +To whet his teeth, and bend his frowning look, +No pity, youth; fairness, no grace could win; +Joy, comfort, hope, the virgin all forsook; +Wrath killed remorse, vengeance stopped mercy’s breath +Love’s thrall to hate, and beauty’s slave to death. + +XXVI +Ta’en was the damsel, and without remorse, +The king condemned her guiltless to the fire, +Her veil and mantle plucked they off by force, +And bound her tender arms in twisted wire: +Dumb was the silver dove, while from her corse +These hungry kites plucked off her rich attire, +And for some deal perplexed was her sprite, +Her damask late, now changed to purest white. + +XXVII +The news of this mishap spread far and near, +The people ran, both young and old, to gaze; +Olindo also ran, and gan to fear +His lady was some partner in this case; +But when he found her bound, stript from her gear, +And vile tormentors ready saw in place, +He broke the throng, and into presence brast; +And thus bespake the king in rage and haste: + +XXXVIII +“Not so, not so this grief shall bear away +From me the honor of so noble feat, +She durst not, did not, could not so convey +The massy substance of that idol great, +What sleight had she the wardens to betray? +What strength to heave the goddess from her seat? +No, no, my Lord, she sails but with my wind.” +Ah, thus he loved, yet was his love unkind! + +XXIX +He added further: “Where the shining glass, +Lets in the light amid your temple’s side, +By broken by-ways did I inward pass, +And in that window made a postern wide, +Nor shall therefore this ill-advised lass +Usurp the glory should this fact betide, +Mine be these bonds, mine be these flames so pure, +O glorious death, more glorious sepulture!” + +XXX +Sophronia raised her modest looks from ground, +And on her lover bent her eyesight mild, +“Tell me, what fury? what conceit unsound +Presenteth here to death so sweet a child? +Is not in me sufficient courage found, +To bear the anger of this tyrant wild? +Or hath fond love thy heart so over-gone? +Wouldst thou not live, nor let me die alone?” + +XXXI +Thus spake the nymph, yet spake but to the wind, +She could not alter his well-settled thought; +O miracle! O strife of wondrous kind! +Where love and virtue such contention wrought, +Where death the victor had for meed assigned; +Their own neglect, each other’s safety sought; +But thus the king was more provoked to ire, +Their strife for bellows served to anger’s fire. + +XXXII +He thinks, such thoughts self-guiltiness finds out, +They scorned his power, and therefore scorned the pain, +“Nay, nay,” quoth he, “let be your strife and doubt, +You both shall win, and fit reward obtain.” +With that the sergeants hent the young man stout, +And bound him likewise in a worthless chain; +Then back to back fast to a stake both ties, +Two harmless turtles dight for sacrifice. + +XXXIII +About the pile of fagots, sticks and hay, +The bellows raised the newly-kindled flame, +When thus Olindo, in a doleful lay, +Begun too late his bootless plaints to frame: +“Be these the bonds? Is this the hoped-for day, +Should join me to this long-desired dame? +Is this the fire alike should burn our hearts? +Ah, hard reward for lovers’ kind desarts! + +XXXIV +“Far other flames and bonds kind lovers prove, +But thus our fortune casts the hapless die, +Death hath exchanged again his shafts with love, +And Cupid thus lets borrowed arrows fly. +O Hymen, say, what fury doth thee move +To lend thy lamps to light a tragedy? +Yet this contents me that I die for thee, +Thy flames, not mine, my death and torment be. + +XXXV +“Yet happy were my death, mine ending blest, +My torments easy, full of sweet delight, +It this I could obtain, that breast to breast +Thy bosom might receive my yielded sprite; +And thine with it in heaven’s pure clothing drest, +Through clearest skies might take united flight.” +Thus he complained, whom gently she reproved, +And sweetly spake him thus, that so her loved: + +XXXVI +“Far other plaints, dear friend, tears and laments +The time, the place, and our estates require; +Think on thy sins, which man’s old foe presents +Before that judge that quits each soul his hire, +For his name suffer, for no pain torments +Him whose just prayers to his throne aspire: +Behold the heavens, thither thine eyesight bend, +Thy looks, sighs, tears, for intercessors send.” + +XXXVII +The Pagans loud cried out to God and man, +The Christians mourned in silent lamentation, +The tyrant’s self, a thing unused, began +To feel his heart relent, with mere compassion, +But not disposed to ruth or mercy than +He sped him thence home to his habitation: +Sophronia stood not grieved nor discontented, +By all that saw her, but herself, lamented. + +XXXVIII +The lovers standing in this doleful wise, +A warrior bold unwares approached near, +In uncouth arms yclad and strange disguise, +From countries far, but new arrived there, +A savage tigress on her helmet lies, +The famous badge Clorinda used to bear; +That wonts in every warlike stowre to win, +By which bright sign well known was that fair inn. + +XXXIX +She scorned the arts these silly women use, +Another thought her nobler humor fed, +Her lofty hand would of itself refuse +To touch the dainty needle or nice thread, +She hated chambers, closets, secret news, +And in broad fields preserved her maidenhead: +Proud were her looks, yet sweet, though stern and stout, +Her dam a dove, thus brought an eagle out. + +XL +While she was young, she used with tender hand +The foaming steed with froary bit to steer, +To tilt and tourney, wrestle in the sand, +To leave with speed Atlanta swift arear, +Through forests wild, and unfrequented land +To chase the lion, boar, or rugged bear, +The satyrs rough, the fauns and fairies wild, +She chased oft, oft took, and oft beguiled. + +XLI +This lusty lady came from Persia late, +She with the Christians had encountered eft, +And in their flesh had opened many a gate, +By which their faithful souls their bodies left, +Her eye at first presented her the state +Of these poor souls, of hope and help bereft, +Greedy to know, as is the mind of man, +Their cause of death, swift to the fire she ran. + +XLII +The people made her room, and on them twain +Her piercing eyes their fiery weapons dart, +Silent she saw the one, the other ’plain, +The weaker body lodged the nobler heart: +Yet him she saw lament, as if his pain +Were grief and sorrow for another’s smart, +And her keep silence so, as if her eyes +Dumb orators were to entreat the skies. + +XLIII +Clorinda changed to ruth her warlike mood, +Few silver drops her vermeil cheeks depaint; +Her sorrow was for her that speechless stood, +Her silence more prevailed than his complaint. +She asked an aged man, seemed grave and good, +“Come say me, sir,” quoth she, “what hard constraint +Would murder here love’s queen and beauty’s king? +What fault or fare doth to this death them bring?” + +XLIV +Thus she inquired, and answer short he gave, +But such as all the chance at large disclosed, +She wondered at the case, the virgin brave, +That both were guiltless of the fault supposed, +Her noble thought cast how she might them save, +The means on suit or battle she reposed. +Quick to the fire she ran, and quenched it out, +And thus bespake the sergeants and the rout: + +XLV +“Be there not one among you all that dare +In this your hateful office aught proceed, +Till I return from court, nor take you care +To reap displeasure for not making speed.” +To do her will the men themselves prepare, +In their faint hearts her looks such terror breed; +To court she went, their pardon would she get, +But on the way the courteous king she met. + +XLVI +“Sir King,” quoth she, “my name Clorinda hight, +My fame perchance has pierced your ears ere now, +I come to try my wonted power and might, +And will defend this land, this town, and you, +All hard assays esteem I eath and light, +Great acts I reach to, to small things I bow, +To fight in field, or to defend this wall, +Point what you list, I naught refuse at all.” + +XLVII +To whom the king, “What land so far remote +From Asia’s coasts, or Phoebus’ glistering rays, +O glorious virgin, that recordeth not +Thy fame, thine honor, worth, renown, and praise? +Since on my side I have thy succors got, +I need not fear in these my aged days, +For in thine aid more hope, more trust I have, +Than in whole armies of these soldiers brave. + +XLVIII +“Now, Godfrey stays too long; he fears, I ween; +Thy courage great keeps all our foes in awe; +For thee all actions far unworthy been, +But such as greatest danger with them draw: +Be you commandress therefore, Princess, Queen +Of all our forces: be thy word a law.” +This said, the virgin gan her beaver vail, +And thanked him first, and thus began her tale. + +XLIX +“A thing unused, great monarch, may it seem, +To ask reward for service yet to come; +But so your virtuous bounty I esteem, +That I presume for to intreat this groom +And silly maid from danger to redeem, +Condemned to burn by your unpartial doom, +I not excuse, but pity much their youth, +And come to you for mercy and for ruth. + +L +“Yet give me leave to tell your Highness this, +You blame the Christians, them my thoughts acquite, +Nor be displeased, I say you judge amiss, +At every shot look not to hit the white, +All what the enchanter did persuade you, is +Against the lore of Macon’s sacred rite, +For us commandeth mighty Mahomet +No idols in his temple pure to set. + +LI +“To him therefore this wonder done refar, +Give him the praise and honor of the thing, +Of us the gods benign so careful are +Lest customs strange into their church we bring: +Let Ismen with his squares and trigons war, +His weapons be the staff, the glass, the ring; +But let us manage war with blows like knights, +Our praise in arms, our honor lies in fights.” + +LII +The virgin held her peace when this was said; +And though to pity he never framed his thought, +Yet, for the king admired the noble maid, +His purpose was not to deny her aught: +“I grant them life,” quoth he, “your promised aid +Against these Frenchmen hath their pardon bought: +Nor further seek what their offences be, +Guiltless, I quit; guilty, I set them free.” + +LIII +Thus were they loosed, happiest of humankind, +Olindo, blessed be this act of thine, +True witness of thy great and heavenly mind, +Where sun, moon, stars, of love, faith, virtue, shine. +So forth they went and left pale death behind, +To joy the bliss of marriage rites divine, +With her he would have died, with him content +Was she to live that would with her have brent. + +LIV +The king, as wicked thoughts are most suspicious, +Supposed too fast this tree of virtue grew, +O blessed Lord! why should this Pharaoh vicious, +Thus tyrannize upon thy Hebrews true? +Who to perform his will, vile and malicious, +Exiled these, and all the faithful crew, +All that were strong of body, stout of mind, +But kept their wives and children pledge behind. + +LV +A hard division, when the harmless sheep +Must leave their lambs to hungry wolves in charge, +But labor’s virtues watching, ease her sleep, +Trouble best wind that drives salvation’s barge, +The Christians fled, whither they took no keep, +Some strayed wild among the forests large, +Some to Emmaus to the Christian host, +And conquer would again their houses lost. + +LVI +Emmaus is a city small, that lies +From Sion’s walls distant a little way, +A man that early on the morn doth rise, +May thither walk ere third hour of the day. +Oh, when the Christian lord this town espies +How merry were their hearts? How fresh? How gay? +But for the sun inclined fast to west, +That night there would their chieftain take his rest. + +LVII +Their canvas castles up they quickly rear, +And build a city in an hour’s space. +When lo, disguised in unusual gear, +Two barons bold approachen gan the place; +Their semblance kind, and mild their gestures were, +Peace in their hands, and friendship in their face, +From Egypt’s king ambassadors they come, +Them many a squire attends, and many a groom. + +LVIII +The first Aletes, born in lowly shed, +Of parents base, a rose sprung from a brier, +That now his branches over Egypt spread, +No plant in Pharaoh’s garden prospered higher; +With pleasing tales his lord’s vain ears he fed, +A flatterer, a pick-thank, and a liar: +Cursed be estate got with so many a crime, +Yet this is oft the stair by which men climb. + +LIX +Argantes called is that other knight, +A stranger came he late to Egypt land, +And there advanced was to honor’s height, +For he was stout of courage, strong of hand, +Bold was his heart, and restless was his sprite, +Fierce, stern, outrageous, keen as sharpened brand, +Scorner of God, scant to himself a friend, +And pricked his reason on his weapon’s end. + +LX +These two entreatance made they might be heard, +Nor was their just petition long denied; +The gallants quickly made their court of guard, +And brought them in where sate their famous guide, +Whose kingly look his princely mind declared, +Where noblesse, virtue, troth, and valor bide. +A slender courtesy made Argantes bold, +So as one prince salute another wold; + +LXI +Aletes laid his right hand on his heart, +Bent down his head, and cast his eyes full low, +And reverence made with courtly grace and art, +For all that humble lore to him was know; +His sober lips then did he softly part, +Whence of pure rhetoric, whole streams outflow, +And thus he said, while on the Christian lords +Down fell the mildew of his sugared words: + +LXII +“O only worthy, whom the earth all fears, +High God defend thee with his heavenly shield, +And humble so the hearts of all thy peers, +That their stiff necks to thy sweet yoke may yield: +These be the sheaves that honor’s harvest bears, +The seed thy valiant acts, the world the field, +Egypt the headland is, where heaped lies +Thy fame, worth, justice, wisdom, victories. + +LXIII +“These altogether doth our sovereign hide +In secret store-house of his princely thought, +And prays he may in long accordance bide, +With that great worthy which such wonders wrought, +Nor that oppose against the coming tide +Of proffered love, for that he is not taught +Your Christian faith, for though of divers kind, +The loving vine about her elm is twined. + +LXIV +“Receive therefore in that unconquered hand +The precious handle of this cup of love, +If not religion, virtue be the band +’Twixt you to fasten friendship not to move: +But for our mighty king doth understand, +You mean your power ’gainst Juda land to prove, +He would, before this threatened tempest fell, +I should his mind and princely will first tell. + +LXV +“His mind is this, he prays thee be contented +To joy in peace the conquests thou hast got, +Be not thy death, or Sion’s fall lamented, +Forbear this land, Judea trouble not, +Things done in haste at leisure be repented: +Withdraw thine arms, trust not uncertain lot, +For oft to see what least we think betide; +He is thy friend ’gainst all the world beside. + +LXVI +“True labour in the vineyard of thy Lord, +Ere prime thou hast the imposed day-work done, +What armies conquered, perished with thy sword? +What cities sacked? what kingdoms hast thou won? +All ears are mazed while tongues thine acts record, +Hands quake for fear, all feet for dread do run, +And though no realms you may to thraldom bring, +No higher can your praise, your glory spring. + +LXVII +“Thy sign is in his Apogaeon placed, +And when it moveth next, must needs descend, +Chance in uncertain, fortune double faced, +Smiling at first, she frowneth in the end: +Beware thine honor be not then disgraced, +Take heed thou mar not when thou think’st to mend, +For this the folly is of Fortune’s play, +’Gainst doubtful, certain; much, ’gainst small to lay. + +LXVIII +“Yet still we sail while prosperous blows the wind, +Till on some secret rock unwares we light, +The sea of glory hath no banks assigned, +They who are wont to win in every fight +Still feed the fire that so inflames thy mind +To bring more nations subject to thy might; +This makes thee blessed peace so light to hold, +Like summer’s flies that fear not winter’s cold. + +LXIX +“They bid thee follow on the path, now made +So plain and easy, enter Fortune’s gate, +Nor in thy scabbard sheathe that famous blade, +Till settled by thy kingdom, and estate, +Till Macon’s sacred doctrine fall and fade, +Till woeful Asia all lie desolate. +Sweet words I grant, baits and allurements sweet, +But greatest hopes oft greatest crosses meet. + +LXX +“For, if thy courage do not blind thine eyes, +If clouds of fury hide not reason’s beams, +Then may’st thou see this desperate enterprise. +The field of death, watered with danger’s streams; +High state, the bed is where misfortune lies, +Mars most unfriendly, when most kind he seems, +Who climbeth high, on earth he hardest lights, +And lowest falls attend the highest flights. + +LXXI +“Tell me if, great in counsel, arms and gold, +The Prince of Egypt war ’gainst you prepare, +What if the valiant Turks and Persians bold, +Unite their forces with Cassanoe’s heir? +Oh then, what marble pillar shall uphold +The falling trophies of your conquest fair? +Trust you the monarch of the Greekish land? +That reed will break; and breaking, wound your hand. + +LXXII +“The Greekish faith is like that half-cut tree +By which men take wild elephants in Inde, +A thousand times it hath beguiled thee, +As firm as waves in seas, or leaves in wind. +Will they, who erst denied you passage free, +Passage to all men free, by use and kind, +Fight for your sake? Or on them do you trust +To spend their blood, that could scarce spare their dust? + +LXXIII +“But all your hope and trust perchance is laid +In these strong troops, which thee environ round; +Yet foes unite are not so soon dismayed +As when their strength you erst divided found: +Besides, each hour thy bands are weaker made +With hunger, slaughter, lodging on cold ground, +Meanwhile the Turks seek succors from our king, +Thus fade thy helps, and thus thy cumbers spring. + +LXXIV +“Suppose no weapon can thy valor’s pride +Subdue, that by no force thou may’st be won, +Admit no steel can hurt or wound thy side, +And be it Heaven hath thee such favor done: +’Gainst Famine yet what shield canst thou provide? +What strength resist? What sleight her wrath can shun? +Go, shake the spear, and draw thy flaming blade, +And try if hunger so be weaker made. + +LXXV +“The inhabitants each pasture and each plain +Destroyed have, each field to waste is laid, +In fenced towers bestowed is their grain +Before thou cam’st this kingdom to invade, +These horse and foot, how canst them sustain? +Whence comes thy store? whence thy provision made? +Thy ships to bring it are, perchance, assigned, +Oh, that you live so long as please the wind! + +LXXVI +“Perhaps thy fortune doth control the wind, +Doth loose or bind their blasts in secret cave, +The sea, pardie, cruel and deaf by kind, +Will hear thy call, and still her raging wave: +But if our armed galleys be assigned +To aid those ships which Turks and Persians have, +Say then, what hope is left thy slender fleet? +Dare flocks of crows, a flight of eagles meet? + +LXXVII +“My lord, a double conquest must you make, +If you achieve renown by this emprize: +For if our fleet your navy chase or take, +For want of victuals all your camp then dies; +Of if by land the field you once forsake, +Then vain by sea were hope of victories. +Nor could your ships restore your lost estate: +For steed once stolen, we shut the door too late. + +LXXVIII +“In this estate, if thou esteemest light +The proffered kindness of the Egyptian king, +Then give me leave to say, this oversight +Beseems thee not, in whom such virtues spring: +But heavens vouchsafe to guide my mind aright, +To gentle thoughts, that peace and quiet bring, +So that poor Asia her complaints may cease, +And you enjoy your conquests got, in peace. + +LXXIX +“Nor ye that part in these adventures have, +Part in his glory, partners in his harms, +Let not blind Fortune so your minds deceive, +To stir him more to try these fierce alarms, +But like the sailor ’scaped from the wave +From further peril that his person arms +By staying safe at home, so stay you all, +Better sit still, men say, than rise to fall.” + +LXXX +This said Aletes: and a murmur rose +That showed dislike among the Christian peers, +Their angry gestures with mislike disclose +How much his speech offends their noble ears. +Lord Godfrey’s eye three times environ goes, +To view what countenance every warrior bears, +And lastly on the Egyptian baron stayed, +To whom the duke thus for his answer said: + +LXXXI +“Ambassador, full both of threats and praise, +Thy doubtful message hast thou wisely told, +And if thy sovereign love us as he says, +Tell him he sows to reap an hundred fold, +But where thy talk the coming storm displays +Of threatened warfare from the Pagans bold: +To that I answer, as my cousin is, +In plainest phrase, lest my intent thou miss. + +LXXXII +“Know, that till now we suffered have much pain, +By lands and seas, where storms and tempests fall, +To make the passage easy, safe, and plain +That leads us to this venerable wall, +That so we might reward from Heaven obtain, +And free this town from being longer thrall; +Nor is it grievous to so good an end +Our honors, kingdoms, lives and goods to spend. + +LXXXIII +“Nor hope of praise, nor thirst of worldly good, +Enticed us to follow this emprise, +The Heavenly Father keep his sacred brood +From foul infection of so great a vice: +But by our zeal aye be that plague withstood, +Let not those pleasures us to sin entice. +His grace, his mercy, and his powerful hand +Will keep us safe from hurt by sea and land. + +LXXXIV +“This is the spur that makes our coursers run; +This is our harbor, safe from danger’s floods; +This is our bield, the blustering winds to shun: +This is our guide, through forests, deserts, woods; +This is our summer’s shade, our winter’s sun: +This is our wealth, our treasure, and our goods: +This is our engine, towers that overthrows, +Our spear that hurts, our sword that wounds our foes. + +LXXXV +“Our courage hence, our hope, our valor springs, +Not from the trust we have in shield or spear, +Not from the succors France or Grecia brings, +On such weak posts we list no buildings rear: +He can defend us from the power of kings, +From chance of war, that makes weak hearts to fear; +He can these hungry troops with manna feed, +And make the seas land, if we passage need. + +LXXXVI +“But if our sins us of his help deprive, +Of his high justice let no mercy fall; +Yet should our deaths us some contentment give, +To die, where Christ received his burial, +So might we die, not envying them that live; +So would we die, not unrevenged all: +Nor Turks, nor Christians, if we perish such, +Have cause to joy, or to complain too much. + +LXXXVII +“Think not that wars we love, and strife affect, +Or that we hate sweet peace, or rest denay, +Think not your sovereign’s friendship we reject, +Because we list not in our conquests stay: +But for it seems he would the Jews protect, +Pray him from us that thought aside to lay, +Nor us forbid this town and realm to gain, +And he in peace, rest, joy, long more may reign.” + +LXXXVIII +This answer given, Argantes wild drew nar, +Trembling for ire, and waxing pale for rage, +Nor could he hold, his wrath increased so far, +But thus inflamed bespake the captain sage: +“Who scorneth peace shall have his fill of war, +I thought my wisdom should thy fury ’suage, +But well you show what joy you take in fight, +Which makes you prize our love and friendship light.” + +LXXXIX +This said, he took his mantle’s foremost part, +And gan the same together fold and wrap; +Then spake again with fell and spiteful heart, +So lions roar enclosed in train or trap, +“Thou proud despiser of inconstant mart, +I bring thee war and peace closed in this lap, +Take quickly one, thou hast no time to muse; +If peace, we rest, we fight, if war thou choose.” + +XC +His semblance fierce and speechless proud, provoke +The soldiers all, “War, war,” at once to cry, +Nor could they tarry till their chieftain spoke, +But for the knight was more inflamed hereby, +His lap he opened and spread forth his cloak: +“To mortal wars,” he says, “I you defy;” +And this he uttered with fell rage and hate, +And seemed of Janus’ church to undo the gate. + +XCI +It seemed fury, discord, madness fell +Flew from his lap, when he unfolds the same; +His glaring eyes with anger’s venom swell, +And like the brand of foul Alecto flame, +He looked like huge Tiphoius loosed from hell +Again to shake heaven’s everlasting frame, +Or him that built the tower of Shinaar, +Which threat’neth battle ’gainst the morning star. + +XCII +Godfredo then: “Depart, and bid your king +Haste hitherward, or else within short while,— +For gladly we accept the war you bring,— +Let him expect us on the banks of Nile.” +He entertained them then with banqueting, +And gifts presented to those Pagans vile; +Aletes had a helmet, rich and gay, +Late found at Nice among the conquered prey. + +XCIII +Argant a sword, whereof the web was steel, +Pommel, rich stone; hilt gold; approved by touch +With rarest workmanship all forged weel, +The curious art excelled the substance much: +Thus fair, rich, sharp, to see, to have, to feel, +Glad was the Paynim to enjoy it such, +And said, “How I this gift can use and wield, +Soon shall you see, when first we meet in field.” + +XCIV +Thus took they congee, and the angry knight +Thus to his fellow parleyed on the way, +“Go thou by day, but let me walk by night, +Go thou to Egypt, I at Sion stay, +The answer given thou canst unfold aright, +No need of me, what I can do or say, +Among these arms I will go wreak my spite; +Let Paris court it, Hector loved to fight.” + +XCV +Thus he who late arrived a messenger +Departs a foe, in act, in word, in thought, +The law of nations or the lore of war, +If he transgresses or no, he recketh naught, +Thus parted they, and ere he wandered far +The friendly star-light to the walls him brought: +Yet his fell heart thought long that little way, +Grieved with each stop, tormented with each stay. + +XCVI +Now spread the night her spangled canopy, +And summoned every restless eye to sleep; +On beds of tender grass the beasts down lie, +The fishes slumbered in the silent deep, +Unheard were serpent’s hiss and dragon’s cry, +Birds left to sing, and Philomen to weep, +Only that noise heaven’s rolling circles kest, +Sung lullaby to bring the world to rest. + +XCVII +Yet neither sleep, nor ease, nor shadows dark, +Could make the faithful camp or captain rest, +They longed to see the day, to hear the lark +Record her hymns and chant her carols blest, +They yearned to view the walls, the wished mark +To which their journeys long they had addressed; +Each heart attends, each longing eye beholds +What beam the eastern window first unfolds. + + + + +THIRD BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +The camp at great Jerusalem arrives: +Clorinda gives them battle, in the breast +Of fair Erminia Tancred’s love revives, +He jousts with her unknown whom he loved best; +Argant th’ adventurers of their guide deprives, +With stately pomp they lay their Lord in chest: +Godfrey commands to cut the forest down, +And make strong engines to assault the town. + +I +The purple morning left her crimson bed, +And donned her robes of pure vermilion hue, +Her amber locks she crowned with roses red, +In Eden’s flowery gardens gathered new. +When through the camp a murmur shrill was spread, +Arm, arm, they cried; arm, arm, the trumpets blew, +Their merry noise prevents the joyful blast, +So hum small bees, before their swarms they cast. + +II +Their captain rules their courage, guides their heat, +Their forwardness he stayed with gentle rein; +And yet more easy, haply, were the feat +To stop the current near Charybdis main, +Or calm the blustering winds on mountains great, +Than fierce desires of warlike hearts restrain; +He rules them yet, and ranks them in their haste, +For well he knows disordered speed makes waste. + +III +Feathered their thoughts, their feet in wings were dight, +Swiftly they marched, yet were not tired thereby, +For willing minds make heaviest burdens light. +But when the gliding sun was mounted high, +Jerusalem, behold, appeared in sight, +Jerusalem they view, they see, they spy, +Jerusalem with merry noise they greet, +With joyful shouts, and acclamations sweet. + +IV +As when a troop of jolly sailors row +Some new-found land and country to descry, +Through dangerous seas and under stars unknowe, +Thrall to the faithless waves, and trothless sky, +If once the wished shore begun to show, +They all salute it with a joyful cry, +And each to other show the land in haste, +Forgetting quite their pains and perils past. + +V +To that delight which their first sight did breed, +That pleased so the secret of their thought +A deep repentance did forthwith succeed +That reverend fear and trembling with it brought, +Scantly they durst their feeble eyes dispreed +Upon that town where Christ was sold and bought, +Where for our sins he faultless suffered pain, +There where he died and where he lived again. + +VI +Soft words, low speech, deep sobs, sweet sighs, salt tears +Rose from their hearts, with joy and pleasure mixed; +For thus fares he the Lord aright that fears, +Fear on devotion, joy on faith is fixed: +Such noise their passions make, as when one hears +The hoarse sea waves roar, hollow rocks betwixt; +Or as the wind in holts and shady greaves, +A murmur makes among the boughs and leaves. + +VII +Their naked feet trod on the dusty way, +Following the ensample of their zealous guide, +Their scarfs, their crests, their plumes and feathers gay, +They quickly doffed, and willing laid aside, +Their molten hearts their wonted pride allay, +Along their watery cheeks warm tears down slide, +And then such secret speech as this, they used, +While to himself each one himself accused. + +VIII +“Flower of goodness, root of lasting bliss, +Thou well of life, whose streams were purple blood +That flowed here, to cleanse the soul amiss +Of sinful men, behold this brutish flood, +That from my melting heart distilled is, +Receive in gree these tears, O Lord so good, +For never wretch with sin so overgone +Had fitter time or greater cause to moan.” + +IX +This while the wary watchman looked over, +From tops of Sion’s towers, the hills and dales, +And saw the dust the fields and pastures cover, +As when thick mists arise from moory vales. +At last the sun-bright shields he gan discover, +And glistering helms for violence none that fails, +The metal shone like lightning bright in skies, +And man and horse amid the dust descries. + +X +Then loud he cries, “O what a dust ariseth! +O how it shines with shields and targets clear! +Up, up, to arms, for valiant heart despiseth +The threatened storm of death and danger near. +Behold your foes;” then further thus deviseth, +“Haste, haste, for vain delay increaseth fear, +These horrid clouds of dust that yonder fly, +Your coming foes does hide, and hide the sky.” + +XI +The tender children, and the fathers old, +The aged matrons, and the virgin chaste, +That durst not shake the spear, nor target hold, +Themselves devoutly in their temples placed; +The rest, of members strong and courage bold, +On hardy breasts their harness donned in haste, +Some to the walls, some to the gates them dight, +Their king meanwhile directs them all aright. + +XII +All things well ordered, he withdrew with speed +Up to a turret high, two ports between, +That so he might be near at every need, +And overlook the lands and furrows green. +Thither he did the sweet Erminia lead, +That in his court had entertained been +Since Christians Antioch did to bondage bring, +And slew her father, who thereof was king. + +XIII +Against their foes Clorinda sallied out, +And many a baron bold was by her side, +Within the postern stood Argantes stout +To rescue her, if ill mote her betide: +With speeches brave she cheered her warlike rout, +And with bold words them heartened as they ride, +“Let us by some brave act,” quoth she, “this day +Of Asia’s hopes the groundwork found and lay.” + +XIV +While to her folk thus spake the virgin brave, +Thereby behold forth passed a Christian band +Toward the camp, that herds of cattle drave, +For they that morn had forayed all the land; +The fierce virago would that booty save, +Whom their commander singled hand for hand, +A mighty man at arms, who Guardo hight, +But far too weak to match with her in fight. + +XV +They met, and low in dust was Guardo laid, +’Twixt either army, from his sell down kest, +The Pagans shout for joy, and hopeful said, +Those good beginnings would have endings blest: +Against the rest on went the noble maid, +She broke the helm, and pierced the armed breast, +Her men the paths rode through made by her sword, +They pass the stream where she had found the ford. + +XVI +Soon was the prey out of their hands recovered, +By step and step the Frenchmen gan retire, +Till on a little hill at last they hovered, +Whose strength preserved them from Clorinda’s ire: +When, as a tempest that hath long been covered +In watery clouds breaks out with sparkling fire, +With his strong squadron Lord Tancredi came, +His heart with rage, his eyes with courage flame. + +XVII +Mast great the spear was which the gallant bore +That in his warlike pride he made to shake, +As winds tall cedars toss on mountains hoar: +The king, that wondered at his bravery, spake +To her, that near him seated was before, +Who felt her heart with love’s hot fever quake, +“Well shouldst thou know,” quoth he, “each Christian knight, +By long acquaintance, though in armor dight. + +XVIII +“Say, who is he shows so great worthiness, +That rides so rank, and bends his lance so fell?” +To this the princess said nor more nor less, +Her heart with sighs, her eyes with tears, did swell; +But sighs and tears she wisely could suppress, +Her love and passion she dissembled well, +And strove her love and hot desire to cover, +Till heart with sighs, and eyes with tears ran over: + +XIX +At last she spoke, and with a crafty sleight +Her secret love disguised in clothes of hate: +“Alas, too well,” she says, “I know that knight, +I saw his force and courage proved late, +Too late I viewed him, when his power and might +Shook down the pillar of Cassanoe’s state; +Alas what wounds he gives! how fierce, how fell! +No physic helps them cure, nor magic’s spell. + +XX +“Tancred he hight, O Macon, would he wear +My thrall, ere fates him of this life deprive, +For to his hateful head such spite I bear, +I would him reave his cruel heart on live.” +Thus said she, they that her complainings hear +In other sense her wishes credit give. +She sighed withal, they construed all amiss, +And thought she wished to kill, who longed to kiss. + +XXI +This while forth pricked Clorinda from the throng +And ’gainst Tancredi set her spear in rest, +Upon their helms they cracked their lances long, +And from her head her gilden casque he kest, +For every lace he broke and every thong, +And in the dust threw down her plumed crest, +About her shoulders shone her golden locks, +Like sunny beams, on alabaster rocks. + +XXII +Her looks with fire, her eyes with lightning blaze, +Sweet was her wrath, what then would be her smile? +Tancred, whereon think’st thou? what dost thou gaze? +Hast thou forgot her in so short a while? +The same is she, the shape of whose sweet face +The God of Love did in thy heart compile, +The same that left thee by the cooling stream, +Safe from sun’s heat, but scorched with beauty’s beam. + +XXIII +The prince well knew her, though her painted shield +And golden helm he had not marked before, +She saved her head, and with her axe well steeled +Assailed the knight; but her the knight forbore, +’Gainst other foes he proved him through the field, +Yet she for that refrained ne’er the more, +But following, “Turn thee,” cried, in ireful wise; +And so at once she threats to kill him twice. + +XXIV +Not once the baron lifts his armed hand +To strike the maid, but gazing on her eyes, +Where lordly Cupid seemed in arms to stand, +No way to ward or shun her blows he tries; +But softly says, “No stroke of thy strong hand +Can vanquish Tancred, but thy conquest lies +In those fair eyes, which fiery weapons dart, +That find no lighting place except this heart.” + +XXV +At last resolved, although he hoped small grace, +Yet ere he did to tell how much he loved, +For pleasing words in women’s ears find place, +And gentle hearts with humble suits are moved: +“O thou,” quoth he, “withhold thy wrath a space, +For if thou long to see my valor proved, +Were it not better from this warlike rout +Withdrawn, somewhere, alone to fight it out? + +XXVI +“So singled, may we both our courage try:” +Clorinda to that motion yielded glad, +And helmless to the forestward gan hie, +Whither the prince right pensive wend and sad, +And there the virgin gan him soon defy. +One blow she strucken, and he warded had, +When he cried, “Hold, and ere we prove our might, +First hear thou some conditions of the fight.” + +XXVII +She stayed, and desperate love had made him bold; +“Since from the fight thou wilt no respite give, +The covenants be,” he said, “that thou unfold +This wretched bosom, and my heart out rive, +Given thee long since, and if thou, cruel, would +I should be dead, let me no longer live, +But pierce this breast, that all the world may say, +The eagle made the turtle-dove her prey. + +XXVIII +“Save with thy grace, or let thine anger kill, +Love hath disarmed my life of all defence; +An easy labor harmless blood to spill, +Strike then, and punish where is none offence.” +This said the prince, and more perchance had will +To have declared, to move her cruel sense. +But in ill time of Pagans thither came +A troop, and Christians that pursued the same. + +XXIX +The Pagans fled before their valiant foes, +For dread or craft, it skills not that we know, +A soldier wild, careless to win or lose, +Saw where her locks about the damsel flew, +And at her back he proffereth as he goes +To strike where her he did disarmed view: +But Tancred cried, “Oh stay thy cursed hand,” +And for to ward the blow lift up his brand. + +XXX +But yet the cutting steel arrived there, +Where her fair neck adjoined her noble head, +Light was the wound, but through her amber hair +The purple drops down railed bloody red, +So rubies set in flaming gold appear: +But Lord Tancredi, pale with rage as lead, +Flew on the villain, who to flight him bound; +The smart was his, though she received the wound. + +XXXI +The villain flies, he, full of rage and ire, +Pursues, she stood and wondered on them both, +But yet to follow them showed no desire, +To stray so far she would perchance be loth, +But quickly turned her, fierce as flaming fire, +And on her foes wreaked her anger wroth, +On every side she kills them down amain, +And now she flies, and now she turns again. + +XXXII +As the swift ure by Volga’s rolling flood +Chased through the plains the mastiff curs toforn, +Flies to the succor of some neighbor wood, +And often turns again his dreadful horn +Against the dogs imbrued in sweat and blood, +That bite not, till the beast to flight return; +Or as the Moors at their strange tennice run, +Defenced, the flying balls unhurt to shun: + +XXXIII +So ran Clorinda, so her foes pursued, +Until they both approached the city’s wall, +When lo! the Pagans their fierce wrath renewed, +Cast in a ring about they wheeled all, +And ’gainst the Christians’ backs and sides they showed +Their courage fierce, and to new combat fall, +When down the hill Argantes came to fight, +Like angry Mars to aid the Trojan knight. + +XXXIV +Furious, tofore the foremost of his rank, +In sturdy steel forth stept the warrior bold, +The first he smote down from his saddle sank, +The next under his steel lay on the mould, +Under the Saracen’s spear the worthies shrank, +No breastplate could that cursed tree outhold, +When that was broke his precious sword he drew, +And whom he hit, he felled, hurt, or slew. + +XXXV +Clorinda slew Ardelio; aged knight, +Whose graver years would for no labor yield, +His age was full of puissance and might +Two sons he had to guard his noble eild, +The first, far from his father’s care and sight, +Called Alicandro wounded lay in field, +And Poliphern the younger, by his side, +Had he not nobly fought had surely died. + +XXXVI +Tancred by this, that strove to overtake +The villain that had hurt his only dear, +From vain pursuit at last returned back, +And his brave troop discomfit saw well near, +Thither he spurred, and gan huge slaughter make, +His shock no steed, his blow no knight could bear, +For dead he strikes him whom he lights upon, +So thunders break high trees on Lebanon. + +XXXVII +Dudon his squadron of adventurers brings, +To aid the worthy and his tired crew, +Before the residue young Rinaldo flings +As swift as fiery lightning kindled new, +His argent eagle with her silver wings +In field of azure, fair Erminia knew, +“See there, sir King,” she says, “a knight as bold +And brave, as was the son of Peleus old. + +XXXVIII +“He wins the prize in joust and tournament, +His acts are numberless, though few his years, +If Europe six likes him to war had sent +Among these thousand strong of Christian peers, +Syria were lost, lost were the Orient, +And all the lands the Southern Ocean wears, +Conquered were all hot Afric’s tawny kings, +And all that dwells by Nilus’ unknown springs. + +XXXIX +“Rinaldo is his name, his armed fist +Breaks down stone walls, when rams and engines fail, +But turn your eyes because I would you wist +What lord that is in green and golden mail, +Dudon he hight who guideth as him list +The adventurers’ troop whose prowess seld doth fail, +High birth, grave years, and practise long in war, +And fearless heart, make him renowned far. + +XL +“See that big man that all in brown is bound, +Gernando called, the King of Norway’s son, +A prouder knight treads not on grass or ground, +His pride hath lost the praise his prowess won; +And that kind pair in white all armed round, +Is Edward and Gildippes, who begun +Through love the hazard of fierce war to prove, +Famous for arms, but famous more for love.” + +XLI +While thus they tell their foemen’s worthiness, +The slaughter rageth in the plain at large. +Tancred and young Rinaldo break the press, +They bruise the helm, and press the sevenfold targe; +The troop by Dudon led performed no less, +But in they come and give a furious charge: +Argantes’ self fell at one single blow, +Inglorious, bleeding lay, on earth full low: + +XLII +Nor had the boaster ever risen more, +But that Rinaldo’s horse e’en then down fell, +And with the fall his leg opprest so sore, +That for a space there must be algates dwell. +Meanwhile the Pagan troops were nigh forlore, +Swiftly they fled, glad they escaped so well, +Argantes and with him Clorinda stout, +For bank and bulwark served to save the rout. + +XLIII +These fled the last, and with their force sustained +The Christians’ rage, that followed them so near; +Their scattered troops to safety well they trained, +And while the residue fled, the brunt these bear; +Dudon pursued the victory he gained, +And on Tigranes nobly broke his spear, +Then with his sword headless to ground him cast, +So gardeners branches lop that spring too fast. + +XLIV +Algazar’s breastplate, of fine temper made, +Nor Corban’s helmet, forged by magic art, +Could save their owners, for Lord Dudon’s blade +Cleft Corban’s head, and pierced Algazar’s heart, +And their proud souls down to the infernal shade, +From Amurath and Mahomet depart; +Not strong Argantes thought his life was sure, +He could not safely fly, nor fight secure. + +XLV +The angry Pagan bit his lips for teen, +He ran, he stayed, he fled, he turned again, +Until at last unmarked, unviewed, unseen, +When Dudon had Almansor newly slain, +Within his side he sheathed his weapon keen, +Down fell the worthy on the dusty plain, +And lifted up his feeble eyes uneath, +Opprest with leaden sleep, of iron death. + +XLVI +Three times he strove to view Heaven’s golden ray, +And raised him on his feeble elbow thrice, +And thrice he tumbled on the lowly lay, +And three times closed again his dying eyes, +He speaks no word, yet makes his signs to pray; +He sighs, he faints, he groans, and then he dies; +Argantes proud to spoil the corpse disdained, +But shook his sword with blood of Dudon stained. + +XLVII +And turning to the Christian knights, he cried: +“Lordlings, behold, this bloody reeking blade +Last night was given me by your noble guide, +Tell him what proof thereof this day is made, +Needs must this please him well that is betide, +That I so well can use this martial trade, +To whom so rare a gift he did present, +Tell him the workman fits the instrument. + +XLVIII +“If further proof thereof he long to see, +Say it still thirsts, and would his heart-blood drink; +And if he haste not to encounter me, +Say I will find him when he least doth think.” +The Christians at his words enraged be, +But he to shun their ire doth safely shrink +Under the shelter of the neighbor wall, +Well guarded with his troops and soldiers all. + +XLIX +Like storms of hail the stones fell down from high, +Cast from their bulwarks, flankers, ports and towers, +The shafts and quarries from their engines fly, +As thick as falling drops in April showers: +The French withdrew, they list not press too nigh, +The Saracens escaped all the powers, +But now Rinaldo from the earth upleapt, +Where by the leg his steed had long him kept; +L +He came and breathed vengeance from his breast +’Gainst him that noble Dudon late had slain; +And being come thus spoke he to the rest, +“Warriors, why stand you gazing here in vain? +Pale death our valiant leader had opprest, +Come wreak his loss, whom bootless you complain. +Those walls are weak, they keep but cowards out +No rampier can withstand a courage stout. + +LI +“Of double iron, brass or adamant, +Or if this wall were built of flaming fire, +Yet should the Pagan vile a fortress want +To shroud his coward head safe from mine ire; +Come follow then, and bid base fear avaunt, +The harder work deserves the greater hire;” +And with that word close to the walls he starts, +Nor fears he arrows, quarries, stones or darts. + +LII +Above the waves as Neptune lift his eyes +To chide the winds, that Trojan ships opprest, +And with his countenance calmed seas, winds and skies; +So looked Rinaldo, when he shook his crest +Before those walls, each Pagan fears and flies +His dreadful sight, or trembling stayed at least: +Such dread his awful visage on them cast. +So seem poor doves at goshawks’ sight aghast. + +LIII +The herald Ligiere now from Godfrey came, +To will them stay and calm their courage hot; +“Retire,” quoth he, “Godfrey commands the same; +To wreak your ire this season fitteth not;” +Though loth, Rinaldo stayed, and stopped the flame, +That boiled in his hardy stomach hot; +His bridled fury grew thereby more fell, +So rivers, stopped, above their banks do swell. + +LIV +The hands retire, not dangered by their foes +In their retreat, so wise were they and wary, +To murdered Dudon each lamenting goes, +From wonted use of ruth they list not vary. +Upon their friendly arms they soft impose +The noble burden of his corpse to carry: +Meanwhile Godfredo from a mountain great +Beheld the sacred city and her seat. + +LV +Hierusalem is seated on two hills +Of height unlike, and turned side to side, +The space between, a gentle valley fills, +From mount to mount expansed fair and wide. +Three sides are sure imbarred with crags and hills, +The rest is easy, scant to rise espied: +But mighty bulwarks fence that plainer part, +So art helps nature, nature strengtheneth art. + +LVI +The town is stored of troughs and cisterns, made +To keep fresh water, but the country seems +Devoid of grass, unfit for ploughmen’s trade, +Not fertile, moist with rivers, wells and streams; +There grow few trees to make the summer’s shade, +To shield the parched land from scorching beams, +Save that a wood stands six miles from the town, +With aged cedars dark, and shadows brown. + +LVII +By east, among the dusty valleys, glide +The silver streams of Jordan’s crystal flood; +By west, the Midland Sea, with bounders tied +Of sandy shores, where Joppa whilom stood; +By north Samaria stands, and on that side +The golden calf was reared in Bethel wood; +Bethlem by south, where Christ incarnate was, +A pearl in steel, a diamond set in brass. + +LVIII +While thus the Duke on every side descried +The city’s strength, the walls and gates about, +And saw where least the same was fortified, +Where weakest seemed the walls to keep him out; +Ermina as he armed rode, him spied, +And thus bespake the heathen tyrant stout, +“See Godfrey there, in purple clad and gold, +His stately port, and princely look behold. + +LIX +“Well seems he born to be with honor crowned, +So well the lore he knows of regiment, +Peerless in fight, in counsel grave and sound, +The double gift of glory excellent, +Among these armies is no warrior found +Graver in speech, bolder in tournament. +Raymond pardie in counsel match him might; +Tancred and young Rinaldo like in fight.” + +LX +To whom the king: “He likes me well therefore, +I knew him whilom in the court of France +When I from Egypt went ambassador, +I saw him there break many a sturdy lance, +And yet his chin no sign of manhood bore; +His youth was forward, but with governance, +His words, his actions, and his portance brave, +Of future virtue, timely tokens gave. + +LXI +“Presages, ah too true:” with that a space +He sighed for grief, then said, “Fain would I know +The man in red, with such a knightly grace, +A worthy lord he seemeth by his show, +How like to Godfrey looks he in the face, +How like in person! but some-deal more low.” +“Baldwin,” quoth she, “that noble baron hight, +By birth his brother, and his match in might. + +LXII +“Next look on him that seems for counsel fit, +Whose silver locks betray his store of days, +Raymond he hight, a man of wondrous wit, +Of Toulouse lord, his wisdom is his praise; +What he forethinks doth, as he looks for, hit, +His stratagems have good success always: +With gilded helm beyond him rides the mild +And good Prince William, England’s king’s dear child. + +LXIII +“With him is Guelpho, as his noble mate, +In birth, in acts, in arms alike the rest, +I know him well, since I beheld him late, +By his broad shoulders and his squared breast: +But my proud foe that quite hath ruinate +My high estate, and Antioch opprest, +I see not, Boemond, that to death did bring +Mine aged lord, my father, and my king.” + +LXIV +Thus talked they; meanwhile Godfredo went +Down to the troops that in the valley stayed, +And for in vain he thought the labor spent, +To assail those parts that to the mountains laid, +Against the northern gate his force he bent, +Gainst it he camped, gainst it his engines played; +All felt the fury of his angry power, +That from those gates lies to the corner tower. + +LXV +The town’s third part was this, or little less, +Fore which the duke his glorious ensigns spread, +For so great compass had that forteress, +That round it could not be environed +With narrow siege—nor Babel’s king I guess +That whilom took it, such an army led— +But all the ways he kept, by which his foe +Might to or from the city come or go. + +LXVI +His care was next to cast the trenches deep, +So to preserve his resting camp by night, +Lest from the city while his soldiers sleep +They might assail them with untimely flight. +This done he went where lords and princes weep +With dire complaints about the murdered knight, +Where Dudon dead lay slaughtered on the ground. +And all the soldiers sat lamenting round. + +LXVII +His wailing friends adorned the mournful bier +With woful pomp, whereon his corpse they laid, +And when they saw the Bulloigne prince draw near, +All felt new grief, and each new sorrow made; +But he, withouten show or change of cheer, +His springing tears within their fountains stayed, +His rueful looks upon the corpse he cast +Awhile, and thus bespake the same at last; + +LXVIII +“We need not mourn for thee, here laid to rest, +Earth is thy bed, and not the grave the skies +Are for thy soul the cradle and the nest, +There live, for here thy glory never dies: +For like a Christian knight and champion blest +Thou didst both live and die: now feed thine eyes +With thy Redeemer’s sight, where crowned with bliss +Thy faith, zeal, merit, well-deserving is. + +LXIX +“Our loss, not thine, provokes these plaints and tears: +For when we lost thee, then our ship her mast, +Our chariot lost her wheels, their points our spears, +The bird of conquest her chief feather cast: +But though thy death far from our army hears +Her chiefest earthly aid, in heaven yet placed +Thou wilt procure its help Divine, so reaps +He that sows godly sorrow, joy by heaps. + +LXX +“For if our God the Lord Armipotent +Those armed angels in our aid down send +That were at Dothan to his prophet sent, +Thou wilt come down with them, and well defend +Our host, and with thy sacred weapons bent +Gainst Sion’s fort, these gates and bulwarks rend, +That so by hand may win this hold, and we +May in these temples praise our Christ for thee.” + +LXXI +Thus he complained; but now the sable shade +Ycleped night, had thick enveloped +The sun in veil of double darkness made; +Sleep, eased care; rest, brought complaint to bed: +All night the wary duke devising laid +How that high wall should best be battered, +How his strong engines he might aptly frame, +And whence get timber fit to build the same. + +LXXII +Up with the lark the sorrowful duke arose, +A mourner chief at Dudon’s burial, +Of cypress sad a pile his friends compose +Under a hill o’ergrown with cedars tall, +Beside the hearse a fruitful palm-tree grows, +Ennobled since by this great funeral, +Where Dudon’s corpse they softly laid in ground, +The priest sung hymns, the soldiers wept around. + +LXXIII +Among the boughs, they here and there bestow +Ensigns and arms, as witness of his praise, +Which he from Pagan lords, that did them owe, +Had won in prosperous fights and happy frays: +His shield they fixed on the hole below, +And there this distich under-writ, which says, +“This palm with stretched arms, doth overspread +The champion Dudon’s glorious carcase dead.” + +LXXIV +This work performed with advisement good, +Godfrey his carpenters, and men of skill +In all the camp, sent to an aged wood, +With convoy meet to guard them safe from ill. +Within a valley deep this forest stood, +To Christian eyes unseen, unknown, until +A Syrian told the duke, who thither sent +Those chosen workmen that for timber went. + +LXXV +And now the axe raged in the forest wild, +The echo sighed in the groves unseen, +The weeping nymphs fled from their bowers exiled, +Down fell the shady tops of shaking treen, +Down came the sacred palms, the ashes wild, +The funeral cypress, holly ever green, +The weeping fir, thick beech, and sailing pine, +The married elm fell with his fruitful vine. + +LXXVI +The shooter grew, the broad-leaved sycamore, +The barren plantain, and the walnut sound, +The myrrh, that her foul sin doth still deplore, +The alder owner of all waterish ground, +Sweet juniper, whose shadow hurteth sore, +Proud cedar, oak, the king of forests crowned; +Thus fell the trees, with noise the deserts roar; +The beasts, their caves, the birds, their nests forlore. + + + + +FOURTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +Satan his fiends and spirits assembleth all, +And sends them forth to work the Christians woe, +False Hidraort their aid from hell doth call, +And sends Armida to entrap his foe: +She tells her birth, her fortune, and her fall, +Asks aid, allures and wins the worthies so +That they consent her enterprise to prove; +She wins them with deceit, craft, beauty, love. + +I +While thus their work went on with lucky speed, +And reared rams their horned fronts advance, +The Ancient Foe to man, and mortal seed, +His wannish eyes upon them bent askance; +And when he saw their labors well succeed, +He wept for rage, and threatened dire mischance. +He choked his curses, to himself he spake, +Such noise wild bulls that softly bellow make. + +II +At last resolving in his damned thought +To find some let to stop their warlike feat, +He gave command his princes should be brought +Before the throne of his infernal seat. +O fool! as if it were a thing of naught +God to resist, or change his purpose great, +Who on his foes doth thunder in his ire, +Whose arrows hailstones he and coals of fire. + +III +The dreary trumpet blew a dreadful blast, +And rumbled through the lands and kingdoms under, +Through wasteness wide it roared, and hollows vast, +And filled the deep with horror, fear and wonder, +Not half so dreadful noise the tempests cast, +That fall from skies with storms of hail and thunder, +Not half so loud the whistling winds do sing, +Broke from the earthen prisons of their King. + +IV +The peers of Pluto’s realm assembled been +Amid the palace of their angry King, +In hideous forms and shapes, tofore unseen, +That fear, death, terror and amazement bring, +With ugly paws some trample on the green, +Some gnaw the snakes that on their shoulders hing, +And some their forked tails stretch forth on high, +And tear the twinkling stars from trembling sky. + +V +There were Silenus’ foul and loathsome route, +There Sphinxes, Centaurs, there were Gorgons fell, +There howling Scillas, yawling round about, +There serpents hiss, there seven-mouthed Hydras yell, +Chimera there spues fire and brimstone out, +And Polyphemus blind supporteth hell, +Besides ten thousand monsters therein dwells +Misshaped, unlike themselves, and like naught else. + +VI +About their princes each took his wonted seat +On thrones red-hot, ybuilt of burning brass, +Pluto in middest heaved his trident great, +Of rusty iron huge that forged was, +The rocks on which the salt sea billows beat, +And Atlas’ tops, the clouds in height that pass, +Compared to his huge person mole-hills be, +So his rough front, his horns so lifted he. + +VII +The tyrant proud frowned from his lofty cell, +And with his looks made all his monsters tremble, +His eyes, that full of rage and venom swell, +Two beacons seem, that men to arms assemble, +His feltered locks, that on his bosom fell, +On rugged mountains briars and thorns resemble, +His yawning mouth, that foamed clotted blood, +Gaped like a whirlpool wide in Stygian flood. + +VIII +And as Mount Etna vomits sulphur out, +With cliffs of burning crags, and fire and smoke, +So from his mouth flew kindled coals about, +Hot sparks and smells that man and beast would choke, +The gnarring porter durst not whine for doubt; +Still were the Furies, while their sovereign spoke, +And swift Cocytus stayed his murmur shrill, +While thus the murderer thundered out his will: + +IX +“Ye powers infernal, worthier far to sit +About the sun, whence you your offspring take, +With me that whilom, through the welkin flit, +Down tumbled headlong to this empty lake; +Our former glory still remember it, +Our bold attempts and war we once did make +Gainst him, that rules above the starry sphere, +For which like traitors we lie damned here. + +X +“And now instead of clear and gladsome sky, +Of Titan’s brightness, that so glorious is, +In this deep darkness lo we helpless lie, +Hopeless again to joy our former bliss, +And more, which makes my griefs to multiply, +That sinful creature man, elected is; +And in our place the heavens possess he must, +Vile man, begot of clay, and born of dust. + +XI +“Nor this sufficed, but that he also gave +His only Son, his darling to be slain, +To conquer so, hell, death, sin and the grave, +And man condemned to restore again, +He brake our prisons and would algates save +The souls there here should dwell in woe and pain, +And now in heaven with him they live always +With endless glory crowned, and lasting praise. + +XII +“But why recount I thus our passed harms? +Remembrance fresh makes weakened sorrows strong, +Expulsed were we with injurious arms +From those due honors, us of right belong. +But let us leave to speak of these alarms, +And bend our forces gainst our present wrong: +Ah! see you not, how he attempted hath +To bring all lands, all nations to his faith? + +XIII +“Then, let us careless spend the day and night, +Without regard what haps, what comes or goes, +Let Asia subject be to Christians’ might, +A prey he Sion to her conquering foes, +Let her adore again her Christ aright, +Who her before all nations whilom chose; +In brazen tables he his lore ywrit, +And let all tongues and lands acknowledge it. + +XIV +“So shall our sacred altars all be his, +Our holy idols tumbled in the mould, +To him the wretched man that sinful is +Shall pray, and offer incense, myrrh and gold; +Our temples shall their costly deckings miss, +With naked walls and pillars freezing cold, +Tribute of souls shall end, and our estate, +Or Pluto reign in kingdoms desolate. + +XV +“Oh, he not then the courage perished clean, +That whilom dwelt within your haughty thought, +When, armed with shining fire and weapons keen, +Against the angels of proud Heaven we fought, +I grant we fell on the Phlegrean green, +Yet good our cause was, though our fortune naught; +For chance assisteth oft the ignobler part, +We lost the field, yet lost we not our heart. + +XVI +“Go then, my strength, my hope, my Spirits go, +These western rebels with your power withstand, +Pluck up these weeds, before they overgrow +The gentle garden of the Hebrews’ land, +Quench out this spark, before it kindles so +That Asia burn, consumed with the brand. +Use open force, or secret guile unspied; +For craft is virtue gainst a foe defied. + +XVII +“Among the knights and worthies of their train, +Let some like outlaws wander uncouth ways, +Let some be slain in field, let some again +Make oracles of women’s yeas and nays, +And pine in foolish love, let some complain +On Godfrey’s rule, and mutinies gainst him raise, +Turn each one’s sword against his fellow’s heart, +Thus kill them all or spoil the greatest part.” + +XVIII +Before his words the tyrant ended had, +The lesser devils arose with ghastly roar, +And thronged forth about the world to gad, +Each land they filled, river, stream and shore, +The goblins, fairies, fiends and furies mad, +Ranged in flowery dales, and mountains hoar, +And under every trembling leaf they sit, +Between the solid earth and welkin flit. + +XIX +About the world they spread forth far and wide, +Filling the thoughts of each ungodly heart +With secret mischief, anger, hate and pride, +Wounding lost souls with sin’s empoisoned dart. +But say, my Muse, recount whence first they tried +To hurt the Christian lords, and from what part, +Thou knowest of things performed so long agone, +This latter age hears little truth or none. + +XX +The town Damascus and the lands about +Ruled Hidraort, a wizard grave and sage, +Acquainted well with all the damned rout +Of Pluto’s reign, even from his tender age; +Yet of this war he could not figure out +The wished ending, or success presage, +For neither stars above, nor powers of hell, +Nor skill, nor art, nor charm, nor devil could tell. + +XXI +And yet he thought,—Oh, vain conceit of man, +Which as thou wishest judgest things to come!— +That the French host to sure destruction ran, +Condemned quite by Heaven’s eternal doom: +He thinks no force withstand or vanquish can +The Egyptian strength, and therefore would that some +Both of the prey and glory of the fight +Upon this Syrian folk would haply light. + +XXII +But for he held the Frenchmen’s worth in prize, +And feared the doubtful gain of bloody war, +He, that was closely false and slyly war, +Cast how he might annoy them most from far: +And as he gan upon this point devise,— +As counsellors in ill still nearest are,— +At hand was Satan, ready ere men need, +If once they think, to make them do, the deed. + +XXIII +He counselled him how best to hunt his game, +What dart to cast, what net, what toil to pitch, +A niece he had, a nice and tender dame, +Peerless in wit, in nature’s blessings rich, +To all deceit she could her beauty frame, +False, fair and young, a virgin and a witch; +To her he told the sum of this emprise, +And praised her thus, for she was fair and wise: + +XXIV +“My dear, who underneath these locks of gold, +And native brightness of thy lovely hue, +Hidest grave thoughts, ripe wit, and wisdom old, +More skill than I, in all mine arts untrue, +To thee my purpose great I must unfold, +This enterprise thy cunning must pursue, +Weave thou to end this web which I begin, +I will the distaff hold, come thou and spin. + +XXV +“Go to the Christians’ host, and there assay +All subtle sleights that women use in love, +Shed brinish tears, sob, sigh, entreat and pray, +Wring thy fair hands, cast up thine eyes above, +For mourning beauty hath much power, men say, +The stubborn hearts with pity frail to move; +Look pale for dread, and blush sometime for shame, +In seeming truth thy lies will soonest frame. + +XXVI +“Take with the bait Lord Godfrey, if thou may’st; +Frame snares of look, strains of alluring speech; +For if he love, the conquest then thou hast, +Thus purposed war thou may’st with ease impeach, +Else lead the other Lords to deserts waste, +And hold them slaves far from their leader’s reach:” +Thus taught he her, and for conclusion, saith, +“All things are lawful for our lands and faith.” + +XXVII +The sweet Armida took this charge on hand, +A tender piece, for beauty, sex and age, +The sun was sunken underneath the land, +When she began her wanton pilgrimage, +In silken weeds she trusteth to withstand, +And conquer knights in warlike equipage, +Of their night ambling dame the Syrians prated, +Some good, some bad, as they her loved or hated. + +XXVIII +Within few days the nymph arrived there +Where puissant Godfrey had his tents ypight; +Upon her strange attire, and visage clear, +Gazed each soldier, gazed every knight: +As when a comet doth in skies appear, +The people stand amazed at the light; +So wondered they and each at other sought, +What mister wight she was, and whence ybrought. + +XXIX +Yet never eye to Cupid’s service vowed +Beheld a face of such a lovely pride; +A tinsel veil her amber locks did shroud, +That strove to cover what it could not hide, +The golden sun behind a silver cloud, +So streameth out his beams on every side, +The marble goddess, set at Cnidos, naked +She seemed, were she unclothed, or that awaked. + +XXX +The gamesome wind among her tresses plays, +And curleth up those growing riches short; +Her spareful eye to spread his beams denays, +But keeps his shot where Cupid keeps his fort; +The rose and lily on her cheek assays +To paint true fairness out in bravest sort, +Her lips, where blooms naught but the single rose, +Still blush, for still they kiss while still they close. + +XXXI +Her breasts, two hills o’erspread with purest snow, +Sweet, smooth and supple, soft and gently swelling, +Between them lies a milken dale below, +Where love, youth, gladness, whiteness make their dwelling, +Her breasts half hid, and half were laid to show, +So was the wanton clad, as if this much +Should please the eye, the rest unseen, the touch. + +XXXII +As when the sunbeams dive through Tagus’ wave, +To spy the store-house of his springtime gold, +Love-piercing thought so through her mantle drave, +And in her gentle bosom wandered bold; +It viewed the wondrous beauty virgins have, +And all to fond desire with vantage told, +Alas! what hope is left, to quench his fire +That kindled is by sight, blown by desire. + +XXXIII +Thus passed she, praised, wished, and wondered at, +Among the troops who there encamped lay, +She smiled for joy, but well dissembled that, +Her greedy eye chose out her wished prey; +On all her gestures seeming virtue sat, +Toward the imperial tent she asked the way: +With that she met a bold and lovesome knight, +Lord Godfrey’s youngest brother, Eustace hight. + +XXXIV +This was the fowl that first fell in the snare, +He saw her fair, and hoped to find her kind; +The throne of Cupid had an easy stair, +His bark is fit to sail with every wind, +The breach he makes no wisdom can repair: +With reverence meet the baron low inclined, +And thus his purpose to the virgin told, +For youth, use, nature, all had made him bold. + +XXXV +“Lady, if thee beseem a stile so low, +In whose sweet looks such sacred beauty shine,— +For never yet did Heaven such grace bestow +On any daughter born of Adam’s line— +Thy name let us, though far unworthy, know, +Unfold thy will, and whence thou art in fine, +Lest my audacious boldness learn too late +What honors due become thy high estate.” + +XXXVI +“Sir Knight,” quoth she, “your praises reach too high +Above her merit you commenden so, +A hapless maid I am, both born to die +And dead to joy, that live in care and woe, +A virgin helpless, fugitive pardie, +My native soil and kingdom thus forego +To seek Duke Godfrey’s aid, such store men tell +Of virtuous ruth doth in his bosom dwell. + +XXXVII +“Conduct me then that mighty duke before, +If you be courteous, sir, as well you seem.” +“Content,” quoth he, “since of one womb ybore, +We brothers are, your fortune good esteem +To encounter me whose word prevaileth more +In Godfrey’s hearing than you haply deem: +Mine aid I grant, and his I promise too, +All that his sceptre, or my sword, can do.” + +XXXVIII +He led her easily forth when this was said, +Where Godfrey sat among his lords and peers, +She reverence did, then blushed, as one dismayed +To speak, for secret wants and inward fears, +It seemed a bashful shame her speeches stayed, +At last the courteous duke her gently cheers; +Silence was made, and she began her tale, +They sit to hear, thus sung this nightingale: + +XXXIX +“Victorious prince, whose honorable name +Is held so great among our Pagan kings, +That to those lands thou dost by conquest tame +That thou hast won them some content it brings; +Well known to all is thy immortal fame, +The earth, thy worth, thy foe, thy praises sings, +And Paynims wronged come to seek thine aid, +So doth thy virtue, so thy power persuade. + +XL +“And I though bred in Macon’s heathenish lore, +Which thou oppressest with thy puissant might, +Yet trust thou wilt an helpless maid restore, +And repossess her in her father’s right: +Others in their distress do aid implore +Of kin and friends; but I in this sad plight +Invoke thy help, my kingdom to invade, +So doth thy virtue, so my need persuade. + +XLI +“In thee I hope, thy succors I invoke, +To win the crown whence I am dispossest; +For like renown awaiteth on the stroke +To cast the haughty down or raise the opprest; +Nor greater glory brings a sceptre broke, +Than doth deliverance of a maid distrest; +And since thou canst at will perform the thing, +More is thy praise to make, than kill a king. + +XLII +“But if thou would’st thy succors due excuse, +Because in Christ I have no hope nor trust, +Ah yet for virtue’s sake, thy virtue use! +Who scorneth gold because it lies in dust? +Be witness Heaven, if thou to grant refuse, +Thou dost forsake a maid in cause most just, +And for thou shalt at large my fortunes know, +I will my wrongs and their great treasons show. + +XLIII +“Prince Arbilan that reigned in his life +On fair Damascus, was my noble sire, +Born of mean race he was, yet got to wife +The Queen Chariclia, such was the fire +Of her hot love, but soon the fatal knife +Had cut the thread that kept their joys entire, +For so mishap her cruel lot had cast, +My birth, her death; my first day, was her last. + +XLIV +“And ere five years were fully come and gone +Since his dear spouse to hasty death did yield, +My father also died, consumed with moan, +And sought his love amid the Elysian fields, +His crown and me, poor orphan, left alone, +Mine uncle governed in my tender eild; +For well he thought, if mortal men have faith, +In brother’s breast true love his mansion hath. + +XLV +“He took the charge of me and of the crown, +And with kind shows of love so brought to pass +That through Damascus great report was blown +How good, how just, how kind mine uncle was; +Whether he kept his wicked hate unknown +And hid the serpent in the flowering grass, +On that true faith did in his bosom won, +Because he meant to match me with his son. + +XLVI +“Which son, within short while, did undertake +Degree of knighthood, as beseemed him well, +Yet never durst he for his lady’s sake +Break sword or lance, advance in lofty sell; +As fair he was, as Citherea’s make, +As proud as he that signoriseth hell, +In fashions wayward, and in love unkind, +For Cupid deigns not wound a currish mind. + +XLVII +“This paragon should Queen Armida wed, +A goodly swain to be a princess’ fere, +A lovely partner of a lady’s bed, +A noble head a golden crown to wear: +His glosing sire his errand daily said, +And sugared speeches whispered in mine ear +To make me take this darling in mine arms, +But still the adder stopt her ears from charms. + +XLVIII +“At last he left me with a troubled grace, +Through which transparent was his inward spite, +Methought I read the story in his face +Of these mishaps that on me since have light, +Since that foul spirits haunt my resting-place, +And ghastly visions break any sleep by night, +Grief, horror, fear my fainting soul did kill, +For so my mind foreshowed my coming ill. + +XLIX +“Three times the shape of my dear mother came, +Pale, sad, dismayed, to warn me in my dream, +Alas, how far transformed from the same +Whose eyes shone erst like Titan’s glorious beam: +‘Daughter,’ she says, ‘fly, fly, behold thy dame +Foreshows the treasons of thy wretched eame, +Who poison gainst thy harmless life provides:’ +This said, to shapeless air unseen she glides. + +L +“But what avail high walls or bulwarks strong, +Where fainting cowards have the piece to guard? +My sex too weak, mine age was all to young, +To undertake alone a work so hard, +To wander wild the desert woods among, +A banished maid, of wonted ease debarred, +So grievous seemed, that liefer were my death, +And there to expire where first I drew my breath. + +LI +“I feared deadly evil if long I stayed, +And yet to fly had neither will nor power, +Nor durst my heart declare it waxed afraid, +Lest so I hasten might my dying hour: +Thus restless waited I, unhappy maid, +What hand should first pluck up my springing flower, +Even as the wretch condemned to lose his life +Awaits the falling of the murdering knife. + +LII +“In these extremes, for so my fortune would +Perchance preserve me to my further ill, +One of my noble father’s servants old, +That for his goodness bore his child good will, +With store of tears this treason gan unfold, +And said; my guardian would his pupil kill, +And that himself, if promise made be kept, +Should give me poison dire ere next I slept. + +LIII +“And further told me, if I wished to live, +I must convey myself by secret flight, +And offered then all succours he could give +To aid his mistress, banished from her right. +His words of comfort, fear to exile drive, +The dread of death, made lesser dangers light: +So we concluded, when the shadows dim +Obscured the earth I should depart with him. + +LIV +“Of close escapes the aged patroness, +Blacker than erst, her sable mantle spread, +When with two trusty maids, in great distress, +Both from mine uncle and my realm I fled; +Oft looked I back, but hardly could suppress +Those streams of tears, mine eyes uncessant shed, +For when I looked on my kingdom lost, +It was a grief, a death, an hell almost. + +LV +“My steeds drew on the burden of my limbs, +But still my locks, my thoughts, drew back as fast, +So fare the men, that from the heaven’s brims, +Far out to sea, by sudden storm are cast; +Swift o’er the grass the rolling chariot swims, +Through ways unknown, all night, all day we haste, +At last, nigh tired, a castle strong we fand, +The utmost border of my native land. + +LVI +“The fort Arontes was, for so the knight +Was called, that my deliverance thus had wrought, +But when the tyrant saw, by mature flight +I had escaped the treasons of his thought, +The rage increased in the cursed wight +Gainst me, and him, that me to safety brought, +And us accused, we would have poisoned +Him, but descried, to save our lives we fled. + +LVII +“And that in lieu of his approved truth, +To poison him I hired had my guide, +That he despatched, mine unbridled youth +Might rage at will, in no subjection tied, +And that each night I slept—O foul untruth!— +Mine honor lost, by this Arontes’ side: +But Heaven I pray send down revenging fire, +When so base love shall change my chaste desire. + +LVIII +“Not that he sitteth on my regal throne, +Nor that he thirst to drink my lukewarm blood, +So grieveth me, as this despite alone, +That my renown, which ever blameless stood, +Hath lost the light wherewith it always shone: +With forged lies he makes his tale so good, +And holds my subjects’ hearts in such suspense, +That none take armor for their queen’s defence. + +LIX +“And though he do my regal throne possess, +Clothed in purple, crowned with burnished gold; +Yet is his hate, his rancor, ne’er the less, +Since naught assuageth malice when ’tis old: +He threats to burn Arontes’ forteress, +And murder him unless he yield the hold, +And me and mine threats not with war, but death, +Thus causeless hatred, endless is uneath. + +LX +“And so he trusts to wash away the stain, +And hide his shameful fact with mine offence, +And saith he will restore the throne again +To his late honor and due excellence, +And therefore would I should be algates slain, +For while I live, his right is in suspense, +This is the cause my guiltless life is sought, +For on my ruin is his safety wrought. + +LXI +“And let the tyrant have his heart’s desire, +Let him perform the cruelty he meant, +My guiltless blood must quench the ceaseless fire +On which my endless tears were bootless spent, +Unless thou help; to thee, renowned Sire, +I fly, a virgin, orphan, innocent, +And let these tears that on thy feet distil, +Redeem the drops of blood, he thirsts to spill. + +LXII +“By these thy glorious feet, that tread secure +On necks of tyrants, by thy conquests brave, +By that right hand, and by those temples pure +Thou seek’st to free from Macon’s lore, I crave +Help for this sickness none but thou canst cure, +My life and kingdom let thy mercy save +From death and ruin: but in vain I prove thee, +If right, if truth, if justice cannot move thee. + +LXIII +“Thou who dost all thou wishest, at thy will, +And never willest aught but what is right, +Preserve this guiltless blood they seek to spill; +Thine be my kingdom, save it with thy might: +Among these captains, lords, and knights of skill, +Appoint me ten, approved most in fight, +Who with assistance of my friends and kin, +May serve my kingdom lost again to win. + +LXIV +“For lo a knight, that had a gate to ward, +A man of chiefest trust about his king, +Hath promised so to beguile the guard +That me and mine he undertakes to bring +Safe, where the tyrant haply sleepeth hard +He counselled me to undertake this thing, +Of these some little succor to intreat, +Whose name alone accomplish can the feat.” + +LXV +This said, his answer did the nymph attend, +Her looks, her sighs, her gestures all did pray him: +But Godfrey wisely did his grant suspend, +He doubts the worst, and that awhile did stay him, +He knows, who fears no God, he loves no friend, +He fears the heathen false would thus betray him: +But yet such ruth dwelt in his princely mind, +That gainst his wisdom, pity made him kind. + +LXVI +Besides the kindness of his gentle thought, +Ready to comfort each distressed wight, +The maiden’s offer profit with it brought; +For if the Syrian kingdom were her right, +That won, the way were easy, which he sought, +To bring all Asia subject to his might: +There might he raise munition, arms and treasure +To work the Egyptian king and his displeasure. + +LXVII +Thus was his noble heart long time betwixt +Fear and remorse, not granting nor denying, +Upon his eyes the dame her lookings fixed, +As if her life and death lay on his saying, +Some tears she shed, with sighs and sobbings mixed, +As if her hopes were dead through his delaying; +At last her earnest suit the duke denayed, +But with sweet words thus would content the maid: + +LXVIII +“If not in service of our God we fought, +In meaner quarrel if this sword were shaken, +Well might thou gather in thy gentle thought, +So fair a princess should not be forsaken; +But since these armies, from the world’s end brought, +To free this sacred town have undertaken, +It were unfit we turned our strength away, +And victory, even in her coming, stay. + +LXIX +“I promise thee, and on my princely word +The burden of thy wish and hope repose, +That when this chosen temple of the Lord, +Her holy doors shall to his saints unclose +In rest and peace; then this victorious sword +Shall execute due vengeance on thy foes; +But if for pity of a worldly dame +I left this work, such pity were my shame.” + +LXX +At this the princess bent her eyes to ground, +And stood unmoved, though not unmarked, a space, +The secret bleeding of her inward wound +Shed heavenly dew upon her angel’s face, +“Poor wretch,” quoth she, “in tears and sorrows drowned, +Death be thy peace, the grave thy resting-place, +Since such thy hap, that lest thou mercy find +The gentlest heart on earth is proved unkind. + +LXXI +“Where none attends, what boots it to complain? +Men’s froward hearts are moved with women’s tears +As marble stones are pierced with drops of rain, +No plaints find passage through unwilling ears: +The tyrant, haply, would his wraith restrain +Heard he these prayers ruthless Godfrey hears, +Yet not thy fault is this, my chance, I see, +Hath made even pity, pitiless in thee. + +LXXII +“So both thy goodness, and good hap, denayed me, +Grief, sorrow, mischief, care, hath overthrown me, +The star that ruled my birthday hath betrayed me, +My genius sees his charge, but dares not own me, +Of queen-like state, my flight hath disarrayed me, +My father died, ere he five years had known me, +My kingdom lost, and lastly resteth now, +Down with the tree sith broke is every bough. + +LXXIII +“And for the modest lore of maidenhood, +Bids me not sojourn with these armed men, +O whither shall I fly, what secret wood +Shall hide me from the tyrant? or what den, +What rock, what vault, what cave can do me good? +No, no, where death is sure, it resteth then +To scorn his power and be it therefore seen, +Armida lived, and died, both like a queen.” + +LXXIV +With that she looked as if a proud disdain +Kindled displeasure in her noble mind, +The way she came she turned her steps again, +With gesture sad but in disdainful kind, +A tempest railed down her cheeks amain, +With tears of woe, and sighs of anger’s wind; +The drops her footsteps wash, whereon she treads, +And seems to step on pearls, or crystal beads. + +LXXV +Her cheeks on which this streaming nectar fell, +Stilled through the limbeck of her diamond eyes, +The roses white and red resembled well, +Whereon the rory May-dew sprinkled lies +When the fair morn first blusheth from her cell, +And breatheth balm from opened paradise; +Thus sighed, thus mourned, thus wept this lovely queen, +And in each drop bathed a grace unseen. + +LXXVI +Thrice twenty Cupids unperceived flew +To gather up this liquor, ere it fall, +And of each drop an arrow forged new, +Else, as it came, snatched up the crystal ball, +And at rebellious hearts for wildfire threw. +O wondrous love! thou makest gain of all; +For if she weeping sit, or smiling stand, +She bends thy bow, or kindleth else thy brand. + +LXXVII +This forged plaint drew forth unfeigned tears +From many eyes, and pierced each worthy’s heart; +Each one condoleth with her that her hears, +And of her grief would help her bear the smart: +If Godfrey aid her not, not one but swears +Some tigress gave him suck on roughest part +Midst the rude crags, on Alpine cliffs aloft: +Hard is that heart which beauty makes not soft. + +LXXVIII +But jolly Eustace, in whose breast the brand +Of love and pity kindled had the flame, +While others softly whispered underhand, +Before the duke with comely boldness came: +“Brother and lord,” quoth he, “too long you stand +In your first purpose, yet vouchsafe to frame +Your thoughts to ours, and lend this virgin aid: +Thanks are half lost when good turns are delayed. + +LXXIX +“And think not that Eustace’s talk assays +To turn these forces from this present war, +Or that I wish you should your armies raise +From Sion’s walls, my speech tends not so far: +But we that venture all for fame and praise, +That to no charge nor service bounden are, +Forth of our troop may ten well spared be +To succor her, which naught can weaken thee. + +LXXX +“And know, they shall in God’s high service fight, +That virgins innocent save and defend: +Dear will the spoils be in the Heaven’s sight, +That from a tyrant’s hateful head we rend: +Nor seemed I forward in this lady’s right, +With hope of gain or profit in the end; +But for I know he arms unworthy bears, +To help a maiden’s cause that shuns or fears. + +LXXXI +“Ah! be it not pardie declared in France, +Or elsewhere told where courtesy is in prize, +That we forsook so fair a chevisance, +For doubt or fear that might from fight arise; +Else, here surrender I both sword and lance, +And swear no more to use this martial guise; +For ill deserves he to be termed a knight, +That bears a blunt sword in a lady’s right.” + +LXXXII +Thus parleyed he, and with confused sound, +The rest approved what the gallant said, +Their general their knights encompassed round, +With humble grace, and earnest suit they prayed: +“I yield,” quoth he, “and it be happy found, +What I have granted, let her have your aid: +Yours be the thanks, for yours the danger is, +If aught succeed, as much I fear, amiss. + +LXXXIII +“But if with you my words may credit find, +Oh temper then this heat misguides you so!” +Thus much he said, but they with fancy blind, +Accept his grant, and let his counsel go. +What works not beauty, man’s relenting mind +Is eath to move with plaints and shows of woe: +Her lips cast forth a chain of sugared words, +That captive led most of the Christian lords. + +LXXXIV +Eustace recalled her, and bespake her thus: +“Beauty’s chief darling, let those sorrows be, +For such assistance shall you find in us +As with your need, or will, may best agree:” +With that she cheered her forehead dolorous, +And smiled for joy, that Phoebus blushed to see, +And had she deigned her veil for to remove, +The God himself once more had fallen in love. + +LXXXV +With that she broke the silence once again, +And gave the knight great thanks in little speech, +She said she would his handmaid poor remain, +So far as honor’s laws received no breach. +Her humble gestures made the residue plain, +Dumb eloquence, persuading more than speech: +Thus women know, and thus they use the guise, +To enchant the valiant, and beguile the wise. + +LXXXVI +And when she saw her enterprise had got +Some wished mean of quick and good proceeding, +She thought to strike the iron that was hot, +For every action hath his hour of speeding: +Medea or false Circe changed not +So far the shapes of men, as her eyes spreading +Altered their hearts, and with her syren’s sound +In lust, their minds, their hearts, in love she drowned. + +LXXXVII +All wily sleights that subtle women know, +Hourly she used, to catch some lover new. +None kenned the bent of her unsteadfast bow, +For with the time her thoughts her looks renew, +From some she cast her modest eyes below, +At some her gazing glances roving flew, +And while she thus pursued her wanton sport, +She spurred the slow, and reined the forward short. + +LXXXVIII +If some, as hopeless that she would be won, +Forebore to love, because they durst not move her, +On them her gentle looks to smile begun, +As who say she is kind if you dare prove her +On every heart thus shone this lustful sun, +All strove to serve, to please, to woo, to love her, +And in their hearts that chaste and bashful were, +Her eye’s hot glance dissolved the frost of fear. + +LXXXIX +On them who durst with fingering bold assay +To touch the softness of her tender skin, +She looked as coy, as if she list not play, +And made as things of worth were hard to win; +Yet tempered so her deignful looks alway, +That outward scorn showed store of grace within: +Thus with false hope their longing hearts she fired, +For hardest gotten things are most desired. + +XC +Alone sometimes she walked in secret where, +To ruminate upon her discontent, +Within her eyelids sate the swelling tear, +Not poured forth, though sprung from sad lament, +And with this craft a thousand souls well near +In snares of foolish ruth and love she hent, +And kept as slaves, by which we fitly prove +That witless pity breedeth fruitless love. + +XCI +Sometimes, as if her hope unloosed had +The chains of grief, wherein her thoughts lay fettered, +Upon her minions looked she blithe and glad, +In that deceitful lore so was she lettered; +Not glorious Titan, in his brightness clad, +The sunshine of her face in lustre bettered: +For when she list to cheer her beauties so, +She smiled away the clouds of grief and woe. + +XCII +Her double charm of smiles and sugared words, +Lulled on sleep the virtue of their senses, +Reason shall aid gainst those assaults affords, +Wisdom no warrant from those sweet offences; +Cupid’s deep rivers have their shallow fords, +His griefs, bring joys; his losses, recompenses; +He breeds the sore, and cures us of the pain: +Achilles’ lance that wounds and heals again. + +XCIII +While thus she them torments twixt frost and fire, +Twixt joy and grief, twixt hope and restless fear, +The sly enchantress felt her gain the nigher, +These were her flocks that golden fleeces bear: +But if someone durst utter his desire, +And by complaining make his griefs appear, +He labored hard rocks with plaints to move, +She had not learned the gamut then of love. + +XCIV +For down she bet her bashful eyes to ground, +And donned the weed of women’s modest grace, +Down from her eyes welled the pearls round, +Upon the bright enamel of her face; +Such honey drops on springing flowers are found +When Phoebus holds the crimson morn in chase; +Full seemed her looks of anger, and of shame; +Yet pity shone transparent through the same. + +XCV +If she perceived by his outward cheer, +That any would his love by talk bewray, +Sometimes she heard him, sometimes stopped her ear, +And played fast and loose the livelong day: +Thus all her lovers kind deluded were, +Their earnest suit got neither yea nor nay; +But like the sort of weary huntsmen fare, +That hunt all day, and lose at night the hare. + +XCVI +These were the arts by which she captived +A thousand souls of young and lusty knights; +These were the arms wherewith love conquered +Their feeble hearts subdued in wanton fights: +What wonder if Achilles were misled, +Of great Alcides at their ladies’ sights, +Since these true champions of the Lord above +Were thralls to beauty, yielden slaves to lore. + + + + +FIFTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +Gernando scorns Rinaldo should aspire +To rule that charge for which he seeks and strives, +And slanders him so far, that in his ire +The wronged knight his foe of life deprives: +Far from the camp the slayer doth retire, +Nor lets himself be bound in chains or gyves: +Armide departs content, and from the seas +Godfrey hears news which him and his displease. + +I +While thus Armida false the knights misled +In wandering errors of deceitful love, +And thought, besides the champions promised, +The other lordlings in her aid to move, +In Godfrey’s thought a strong contention bred +Who fittest were this hazard great to prove; +For all the worthies of the adventures’ band +Were like in birth, in power, in strength of hand. + +II +But first the prince, by grave advice, decreed +They should some knight choose at their own election, +That in his charge Lord Dudon might succeed, +And of that glorious troop should take protection; +So none should grieve, displeased with the deed, +Nor blame the causer of their new subjection: +Besides, Godfredo showed by this device, +How much he held that regiment in price. + +III +He called the worthies then, and spake them so: +“Lordlings, you know I yielded to your will, +And gave you license with this dame to go, +To win her kingdom and that tyrant kill: +But now again I let you further know, +In following her it may betide yon ill; +Refrain therefore, and change this forward thought +For death unsent for, danger comes unsought. + +IV +“But if to shun these perils, sought so far, +May seem disgraceful to the place yon hold; +If grave advice and prudent counsel are +Esteemed detractors from your courage bold; +Then know, I none against his will debar, +Nor what I granted erst I now withhold; +But he mine empire, as it ought of right, +Sweet, easy, pleasant, gentle, meek and light. + +V +“Go then or tarry, each as likes him best, +Free power I grant you on this enterprise; +But first in Dudon’s place, now laid in chest, +Choose you some other captain stout and wise; +Then ten appoint among the worthiest, +But let no more attempt this hard emprise, +In this my will content you that I have, +For power constrained is but a glorious slave.” + +VI +Thus Godfrey said, and thus his brother spake, +And answered for himself and all his peers: +“My lord, as well it fitteth thee to make +These wise delays and cast these doubts and fears, +So ’tis our part at first to undertake; +Courage and haste beseems our might and years; +And this proceeding with so grave advice, +Wisdom, in you, in us were cowardice. + +VII +“Since then the feat is easy, danger none, +All set in battle and in hardy fight, +Do thou permit the chosen ten to gone +And aid the damsel:” thus devised the knight, +To make men think the sun of honor shone +There where the lamp of Cupid gave the light: +The rest perceive his guile, and it approve, +And call that knighthood which was childish love. + +VIII +But loving Eustace, that with jealous eye +Beheld the worth of Sophia’s noble child, +And his fair shape did secretly envy, +Besides the virtues in his breast compiled, +And, for in love he would no company, +He stored his mouth with speeches smoothly filed, +Drawing his rival to attend his word; +Thus with fair sleight he laid the knight abord: + +IX +“Of great Bertoldo thou far greater heir, +Thou star of knighthood, flower of chivalry, +Tell me, who now shall lead this squadron fair, +Since our late guide in marble cold doth lie? +I, that with famous Dudon might compare +In all, but years, hoar locks, and gravity, +To whom should I, Duke Godfrey’s brother, yield, +Unless to thee, the Christian army’s shield? + +X +“Thee whom high birth makes equal with the best +Thine acts prefer both me and all beforn; +Nor that in fight thou both surpass the rest, +And Godfrey’s worthy self, I hold in scorn; +Thee to obey then am I only pressed; +Before these worthies be thine eagle borne; +This honor haply thou esteemest light, +Whose day of glory never yet found night. + +XI +“Yet mayest thou further by this means display +The spreading wings of thy immortal fame; +I will procure it, if thou sayest not nay, +And all their wills to thine election frame: +But for I scantly am resolved which way +To bend my force, or where employ the same, +Leave me, I pray, at my discretion free +To help Armida, or serve here with thee.” + +XII +This last request, for love is evil to hide, +Empurpled both his cheeks with scarlet red; +Rinaldo soon his passions had descried, +And gently smiling turned aside his head, +And, for weak Cupid was too feeble eyed +To strike him sure, the fire in him was dead; +So that of rivals was he naught afraid, +Nor cared he for the journey or the maid. + +XIII +But in his noble thought revolved he oft +Dudon’s high prowess, death and burial, +And how Argantes bore his plumes aloft, +Praising his fortunes for that worthy’s fall; +Besides, the knight’s sweet words and praises soft +To his due honor did him fitly call, +And made his heart rejoice, for well he knew, +Though much he praised him, all his words were true. + +XIV +“Degrees,” quoth he, “of honors high to hold, +I would them first deserve, and the desire; +And were my valor such as you have told, +Would I for that to higher place aspire: +But if to honors due raise me you would, +I will not of my works refuse the hire; +And much it glads me, that my power and might +Ypraised is by such a valiant knight. + +XV +“I neither seek it nor refuse the place, +Which if I get, the praise and thanks be thine.” +Eustace, this spoken, hied thence apace +To know which way his fellows’ hearts incline: +But Prince Gernando coveted the place, +Whom though Armida sought to undermine, +Gainst him yet vain did all her engines prove, +His pride was such, there was no place for love. + +XVI +Gernando was the King of Norway’s son, +That many a realm and region had to guide, +And for his elders lands and crowns had won. +His heart was puffed up with endless pride: +The other boasts more what himself had done +Than all his ancestors’ great acts beside; +Yet his forefathers old before him were +Famous in war and peace five hundred years. + +XVII +This barbarous prince, who only vainly thought +That bliss in wealth and kingly power doth lie, +And in respect esteemed all virtue naught +Unless it were adorned with titles high, +Could not endure, that to the place he sought +A simple knight should dare to press so nigh; +And in his breast so boiled fell despite, +That ire and wrath exiled reason quite. + +XVIII +The hidden devil, that lies in close await +To win the fort of unbelieving man, +Found entry there, where ire undid the gate, +And in his bosom unperceived ran; +It filled his heart with malice, strife and hate, +It made him rage, blaspheme, swear, curse and ban, +Invisible it still attends him near, +And thus each minute whispereth in his ear. + +XIX +What, shall Rinaldo match thee? dares he tell +Those idle names of his vain pedigree? +Then let him say, if thee he would excel, +What lands, what realms his tributaries be: +If his forefathers in the graves that dwell, +Were honored like thine that live, let see: +Oh how dares one so mean aspire so high, +Born in that servile country Italy? + +XX +Now, if he win, or if he lose the day, +Yet is his praise and glory hence derived, +For that the world will, to his credit, say, +Lo, this is he that with Gernando strived. +The charge some deal thee haply honor may, +That noble Dudon had while here he lived; +But laid on him he would the office shame, +Let it suffice, he durst desire the same. + +XXI +If when this breath from man’s frail body flies +The soul take keep, or know the things done here, +Oh, how looks Dudon from the glorious skies? +What wrath, what anger in his face appear, +On this proud youngling while he bends his eyes, +Marking how high he doth his feathers rear? +Seeing his rash attempt, how soon he dare, +Though but a boy, with his great worth compare. + +XXII +He dares not only, but he strives and proves, +Where chastisement were fit there wins he praise: +One counsels him, his speech him forward moves; +Another fool approveth all he says: +If Godfrey favor him more than behoves, +Why then he wrongeth thee an hundred ways; +Nor let thy state so far disgraced be, +Now what thou art and canst, let Godfrey see. + +XXIII +With such false words the kindled fire began +To every vein his poisoned heart to reach, +It swelled his scornful heart, and forth it ran +At his proud looks, and too audacious speech; +All that he thought blameworthy in the man, +To his disgrace that would be each where preach; +He termed him proud and vain, his worth in fight +He called fool-hardise, rashness, madness right. + +XXIV +All that in him was rare or excellent, +All that was good, all that was princely found, +With such sharp words as malice could invent, +He blamed, such power has wicked tongue to wound. +The youth, for everywhere those rumors went, +Of these reproaches heard sometimes the sound; +Nor did for that his tongue the fault amend, +Until it brought him to his woful end. + +XXV +The cursed fiend that set his tongue at large, +Still bred more fancies in his idle brain, +His heart with slanders new did overcharge, +And soothed him still in his angry vein; +Amid the camp a place was broad and large, +Where one fair regiment might easily train; +And there in tilt and harmless tournament +Their days of rest the youths and gallants spent. + +XXVI +There, as his fortune would it should betide, +Amid the press Gernando gan retire, +To vomit out his venom unespied, +Wherewith foul envy did his heart inspire. +Rinaldo heard him as he stood beside, +And as he could not bridle wrath and ire, +“Thou liest,” cried he loud, and with that word +About his head he tossed his flaming sword. + +XXVII +Thunder his voice, and lightning seemed his brand, +So fell his look, and furious was his cheer, +Gernando trembled, for he saw at hand +Pale death, and neither help nor comfort near, +Yet for the soldiers all to witness stand +He made proud sign, as though he naught did fear, +But bravely drew his little-helping blade, +And valiant show of strong resistance made. + +XXVIII +With that a thousand blades of burnished steel +Glistered on heaps like flames of fire in sight, +Hundreds, that knew not yet the quarrel weel, +Ran thither, some to gaze and some to fight: +The empty air a sound confused did feel +Of murmurs low, and outcries loud on height, +Like rolling waves and Boreas’ angry blasts +When roaring seas against the rocks he casts. + +XXIX +But not for this the wronged warrior stayed +His just displeasure and incensed ire, +He cared not what the vulgar did or said, +To vengeance did his courage fierce aspire: +Among the thickest weapons way he made, +His thundering sword made all on heaps retire, +So that of near a thousand stayed not one, +But Prince Gernando bore the brunt alone. + +XXX +His hand, too quick to execute his wrath, +Performed all, as pleased his eye and heart, +At head and breast oft times he strucken hath, +Now at the right, now at the other part: +On every side thus did he harm and scath, +And oft beguile his sight with nimble art, +That no defence the prince of wounds acquits, +Where least he thinks, or fears, there most he hits. + +XXXI +Nor ceased be, till in Gernando’s breast +He sheathed once or twice his furious blade; +Down fell the hapless prince with death oppressed, +A double way to his weak soul was made; +His bloody sword the victor wiped and dressed, +Nor longer by the slaughtered body stayed, +But sped him thence, and soon appeased hath +His hate, his ire, his rancor and his wrath. + +XXXII +Called by the tumult, Godfrey drew him near, +And there beheld a sad and rueful sight, +The signs of death upon his face appear, +With dust and blood his locks were loathly dight, +Sighs and complaints on each side might he hear, +Made for the sudden death of that great knight: +Amazed, he asked who durst and did so much; +For yet he knew not whom the fault would touch. + +XXXIII +Arnoldo, minion of the Prince thus slain, +Augments the fault in telling it, and saith, +This Prince murdered, for a quarrel vain, +By young Rinaldo in his desperate wrath, +And with that sword that should Christ’s law maintain, +One of Christ’s champions bold he killed hath, +And this he did in such a place and hour, +As if he scorned your rule, despised your power. + +XXXIV +And further adds, that he deserved death +By law, and law should inviolate, +That none offence could greater be uneath, +And yet the place the fault did aggravate: +If he escapes, that mischief would take breath, +And flourish bold in spite of rule and state; +And that Gernando’s friends would venge the wrong, +Although to justice that did first belong, + +XXXV +And by that means, should discord, hate and strife +Raise mutinies, and what therefore ensueth: +Lastly he praised the dead, and still had rife +All words he thought could vengeance move or rut +Against him Tancred argued for life, +With honest reasons to excuse the youth: +The Duke heard all, but with such sober cheer, +As banished hope, and still increased fear. + +XXXVI +“Great Prince,” quoth Tancred; “set before thine eyes +Rinaldo’s worth and courage what it is, +How much our hope of conquest in him lies; +Regard that princely house and race of his; +He that correcteth every fault he spies, +And judgeth all alike, doth all amiss; +For faults, you know, are greater thought or less, +As is the person’s self that doth transgress.” + +XXXVII +Godfredo answered him; “If high and low +Of sovereign power alike should feel the stroke, +Then, Tancred, ill you counsel us, I trow; +If lords should know no law, as erst you spoke, +How vile and base our empire were you know, +If none but slaves and peasants bear the yoke; +Weak is the sceptre and the power is small +That such provisos bring annexed withal. + +XXXVIII +“But mine was freely given ere ’twas sought, +Nor that it lessened be I now consent; +Right well know I both when and where I ought +To give condign reward and punishment, +Since you are all in like subjection brought, +Both high and low obey, and be content.” +This heard, Tancredi wisely stayed his words, +Such weight the sayings have of kings and lords. + +XXXIX +Old Raymond praised his speech, for old men think +They ever wisest seem when most severe, +“’Tis best,” quoth he, “to make these great ones shrink, +The people love him whom the nobles fear: +There must the rule to all disorders sink, +Where pardons more than punishments appear; +For feeble is each kingdom, frail and weak, +Unless his basis be this fear I speak.” + +XL +These words Tancredi heard and pondered well, +And by them wist how Godfrey’s thoughts were bent, +Nor list he longer with these old men dwell, +But turned his horse and to Rinaldo went, +Who, when his noble foe death-wounded fell, +Withdrew him softly to his gorgeous tent; +There Tancred found him, and at large declared +The words and speeches sharp which late you heard. + +XLI +And said, “Although I wot the outward show +Is not true witness of the secret thought, +For that some men so subtle are, I trow, +That what they purpose most appeareth naught; +Yet dare I say Godfredo means, I know, +Such knowledge hath his looks and speeches wrought, +You shall first prisoner be, and then be tried +As he shall deem it good and law provide.” + +XLII +With that a bitter smile well might you see +Rinaldo cast, with scorn and high disdain, +“Let them in fetters plead their cause,” quoth he, +“That are base peasants, born of servile stain, +I was free born, I live and will die free +Before these feet be fettered in a chain: +These hands were made to shake sharp spears and swords, +Not to be tied in gyves and twisted cords. + +XLIII +“If my good service reap this recompense, +To be clapt up in close and secret mew, +And as a thief be after dragged from thence, +To suffer punishment as law finds due; +Let Godfrey come or send, I will not hence +Until we know who shall this bargain rue, +That of our tragedy the late done fact +May be the first, and this the second, act. + +XLIV +“Give me mine arms,” he cried; his squire them brings, +And clad his head, and dressed in iron strong, +About his neck his silver shield he flings, +Down by his side a cutting sword there hung; +Among this earth’s brave lords and mighty kings, +Was none so stout, so fierce, so fair, so young, +God Mars he seemed descending from his sphere, +Or one whose looks could make great Mars to fear. + +XLV +Tancredi labored with some pleasing speech +His spirits fierce and courage to appease; +“Young Prince, thy valor,” thus he gan to preach, +“Can chastise all that do thee wrong, at ease, +I know your virtue can your enemies teach, +That you can venge you when and where you please: +But God forbid this day you lift your arm +To do this camp and us your friends such harm. + +XLVI +“Tell me what will you do? why would you stain +Your noble hands in our unguilty blood? +By wounding Christians, will you again +Pierce Christ, whose parts they are and members good? +Will you destroy us for your glory vain, +Unstayed as rolling waves in ocean flood? +Far be it from you so to prove your strength, +And let your zeal appease your rage at length. + +XLVII +“For God’s love stay your heat, and just displeasure, +Appease your wrath, your courage fierce assuage, +Patience, a praise; forbearance, is a treasure; +Suffrance, an angel’s is; a monster, rage; +At least you actions by example measure, +And think how I in mine unbridled age +Was wronged, yet I would not revengement take +On all this camp, for one offender’s sake. + +XLVIII +“Cilicia conquered I, as all men wot, +And there the glorious cross on high I reared, +But Baldwin came, and what I nobly got +Bereft me falsely when I least him feared; +He seemed my friend, and I discovered not +His secret covetise which since appeared; +Yet strive I not to get mine own by fight, +Or civil war, although perchance I might. + +XLIX +“If then you scorn to be in prison pent, +If bonds, as high disgrace, your hands refuse; +Or if your thoughts still to maintain are bent +Your liberty, as men of honor use: +To Antioch what if forthwith you went? +And leave me here your absence to excuse, +There with Prince Boemond live in ease and peace, +Until this storm of Godfrey’s anger cease. + +L +“For soon, if forces come from Egypt land, +Or other nations that us here confine, +Godfrey will beaten be with his own wand, +And feel he wants that valor great of thine, +Our camp may seem an arm without a hand, +Amid our troops unless thy eagle shine:” +With that came Guelpho and those words approved, +And prayed him go, if him he feared or loved. + +LI +Their speeches soften much the warrior’s heart, +And make his wilful thoughts at last relent, +So that he yields, and saith he will depart, +And leave the Christian camp incontinent. +His friends, whose love did never shrink or start, +Preferred their aid, what way soe’er he went: +He thanked them all, but left them all, besides +Two bold and trusty squires, and so he rides. + +LII +He rides, revolving in his noble spright +Such haughty thoughts as fill the glorious mind; +On hard adventures was his whole delight, +And now to wondrous acts his will inclined; +Alone against the Pagans would he fight, +And kill their kings from Egypt unto Inde, +From Cynthia’s hills and Nilus’ unknown spring +He would fetch praise and glorious conquest bring. + +LIII +But Guelpho, when the prince his leave had take +And now had spurred his courser on his way, +No longer tarriance with the rest would make, +But tastes to find Godfredo, if he may: +Who seeing him approaching, forthwith spake, +“Guelpho,” quoth he, “for thee I only stay, +For thee I sent my heralds all about, +In every tent to seek and find thee out.” + +LIV +This said, he softly drew the knight aside +Where none might hear, and then bespake him thus: +“How chanceth it thy nephew’s rage and pride, +Makes him so far forget himself and us? +Hardly could I believe what is betide, +A murder done for cause so frivolous, +How I have loved him, thou and all can tell; +But Godfrey loved him but whilst he did well. + +LV +“I must provide that every one have right, +That all be heard, each cause be well discussed, +As far from partial love as free from spite, +I hear complaints, yet naught but proves I trust: +Now if Rinaldo weigh our rule too light, +And have the sacred lore of war so brust, +Take you the charge that he before us come +To clear himself and hear our upright dome. + +LVI +“But let him come withouten bond or chain, +For still my thoughts to do him grace are framed; +But if our power he haply shall disdain, +As well I know his courage yet untamed, +To bring him by persuasion take some pain: +Else, if I prove severe, both you be blamed, +That forced my gentle nature gainst my thought +To rigor, lest our laws return to naught.” + +LVII +Lord Guelpho answered thus: “What heart can bear +Such slanders false, devised by hate and spite? +Or with stayed patience, reproaches hear, +And not revenge by battle or by fight? +The Norway Prince hath bought his folly dear, +But who with words could stay the angry knight? +A fool is he that comes to preach or prate +When men with swords their right and wrong debate. + +LVIII +“And where you wish he should himself submit +To hear the censure of your upright laws; +Alas, that cannot be, for he is flit +Out if this camp, withouten stay or pause, +There take my gage, behold I offer it +To him that first accused him in this cause, +Or any else that dare, and will maintain +That for his pride the prince was justly slain. + +LIX +“I say with reason Lord Gernando’s pride +He hath abated, if he have offended +Gainst your commands, who are his lord and guide, +Oh pardon him, that fault shall be amended.” +“If he be gone,” quoth Godfrey, “let him ride +And brawl elsewhere, here let all strife be ended: +And you, Lord Guelpho, for your nephew’s sake, +Breed us no new, nor quarrels old awake.” + +LX +This while, the fair and false Armida strived +To get her promised aid in sure possession, +The day to end, with endless plaint she derived; +Wit, beauty, craft for her made intercession: +But when the earth was once of light deprived, +And western seas felt Titan’s hot impression, +’Twixt two old knights, and matrons twain she went, +Where pitched was her fair and curious tent. + +LXI +But this false queen of craft and sly invention,— +Whose looks, love’s arrows were; whose eyes his quivers; +Whose beauty matchless, free from reprehension, +A wonder left by Heaven to after-livers,— +Among the Christian lord had bred contention +Who first should quench his flames in Cupid’s rivers, +While all her weapons and her darts rehearsed, +Had not Godfredo’s constant bosom pierced. + +LXII +To change his modest thought the dame procureth, +And proffereth heaps of love’s enticing treasure: +But as the falcon newly gorged endureth +Her keeper lure her oft, but comes at leisure; +So he, whom fulness of delight assureth +What long repentance comes of love’s short pleasure, +Her crafts, her arts, herself and all despiseth, +So base affections fall, when virtue riseth. + +LXIII +And not one foot his steadfast foot was moved +Out of that heavenly path, wherein he paced, +Yet thousand wiles and thousand ways she proved, +To have that castle fair of goodness raised: +She used those looks and smiles that most behoved +To melt the frost which his hard heart embraced, +And gainst his breast a thousand shot she ventured, +Yet was the fort so strong it was not entered. + +LXIV +The dame who thought that one blink of her eye +Could make the chastest heart feel love’s sweet pain, +Oh, how her pride abated was hereby! +When all her sleights were void, her crafts were vain, +Some other where she would her forces try, +Where at more ease she might more vantage gain, +As tired soldiers whom some fort keeps out, +Thence raise their siege, and spoil the towns about. + +LXV +But yet all ways the wily witch could find +Could not Tancredi’s heart to loveward move, +His sails were filled with another wind, +He list no blast of new affection prove; +For, as one poison doth exclude by kind +Another’s force, so love excludeth love: +These two alone nor more nor less the dame +Could win, the rest all burnt in her sweet flame. + +LXVI +The princess, though her purpose would not frame, +As late she hoped, and as still she would, +Yet, for the lords and knights of greatest name +Became her prey, as erst you heard it told, +She thought, ere truth-revealing time or frame +Bewrayed her act, to lead them to some hold, +Where chains and band she meant to make them prove, +Composed by Vulcan not by gentle love. + +LXVII +The time prefixed at length was come and past, +Which Godfrey had set down to lend her aid, +When at his feet herself to earth she cast, +“The hour is come, my Lord,” she humbly said, +“And if the tyrant haply hear at last, +His banished niece hath your assistance prayed, +He will in arms to save his kingdom rise, +So shall we harder make this enterprise. + +LXVIII +“Before report can bring the tyrant news, +Or his espials certify their king, +Oh let thy goodness these few champions choose, +That to her kingdom should thy handmaid bring; +Who, except Heaven to aid the right refuse, +Recover shall her crown, from whence shall spring +Thy profit; for betide thee peace or war, +Thine all her cities, all her subjects are.” + +LXIX +The captain sage the damsel fair assured, +His word was passed and should not be recanted, +And she with sweet and humble grace endured +To let him point those ten, which late he granted: +But to be one, each one fought and procured, +No suit, no entreaty, intercession wanted; +There envy each at others’ love exceeded, +And all importunate made, more than needed. + +LXX +She that well saw the secret of their hearts, +And knew how best to warm them in their blood, +Against them threw the cursed poisoned darts +Of jealousy, and grief at others’ good, +For love she wist was weak without those arts, +And slow; for jealousy is Cupid’s food; +For the swift steed runs not so fast alone, +As when some strain, some strive him to outgone. + +LXXI +Her words in such alluring sort she framed, +Her looks enticing, and her wooing smiles, +That every one his fellows’ favors blamed, +That of their mistress he received erewhiles: +This foolish crew of lovers unashamed, +Mad with the poison of her secret wiles, +Ran forward still, in this disordered sort, +Nor could Godfredo’s bridle rein them short. + +LXXII +He that would satisfy each good desire, +Withouten partial love, of every knight, +Although he swelled with shame, with grief and ire +To see these fellows and these fashions light; +Yet since by no advice they would retire, +Another way he sought to set them right: +“Write all your names,” quoth he, “and see whom chance +Of lot, to this exploit will first advance.” + +LXXIII +Their names were writ, and in an helmet shaken, +While each did fortune’s grace and aid implore; +At last they drew them, and the foremost taken +The Earl of Pembroke was, Artemidore, +Doubtless the county thought his bread well baken; +Next Gerrard followed, then with tresses hoar +Old Wenceslaus, that felt Cupid’s rage +Now in his doating and his dying age. + +LXXIV +Oh how contentment in their foreheads shined! +Their looks with joy; thoughts swelled with secret pleasure, +These three it seemed good success designed +To make the lords of love and beauty’s treasure: +Their doubtful fellows at their hap repined, +And with small patience wait Fortune’s leisure, +Upon his lips that read the scrolls attending, +As if their lives were on his words depending. + +LXXV +Guasco the fourth, Ridolpho him succeeds, +Then Ulderick whom love list so advance, +Lord William of Ronciglion next he reads, +Then Eberard, and Henry born in France, +Rambaldo last, whom wicked lust so leads +That he forsook his Saviour with mischance; +This wretch the tenth was who was thus deluded, +The rest to their huge grief were all excluded. + +LXXVI +O’ercome with envy, wrath and jealousy, +The rest blind Fortune curse, and all her laws, +And mad with love, yet out on love they cry, +That in his kingdom let her judge their cause: +And for man’s mind is such, that oft we try +Things most forbidden, without stay or pause, +In spite of fortune purposed many a knight +To follow fair Armida when ’twas night. + +LXXVII +To follow her, by night or else by day, +And in her quarrel venture life and limb. +With sighs and tears she gan them softly pray +To keep that promise, when the skies were dim, +To this and that knight did she plain and say, +What grief she felt to part withouten him: +Meanwhile the ten had donned their armor best, +And taken leave of Godfrey and the rest. + +LXXVIII +The duke advised them every one apart, +How light, how trustless was the Pagan’s faith, +And told what policy, what wit, what art, +Avoids deceit, which heedless men betray’th; +His speeches pierce their ear, but not their heart, +Love calls it folly, whatso wisdom saith: +Thus warned he leaves them to their wanton guide, +Who parts that night; such haste had she to ride. + +LXXIX +The conqueress departs, and with her led +These prisoners, whom love would captive keep, +The hearts of those she left behind her bled, +With point of sorrow’s arrow pierced deep. +But when the night her drowsy mantle spread, +And filled the earth with silence, shade and sleep, +In secret sort then each forsook his tent, +And as blind Cupid led them blind they went. + +LXXX +Eustatio first, who scantly could forbear, +Till friendly night might hide his haste and shame, +He rode in post, and let his breast him bear +As his blind fancy would his journey frame, +All night he wandered and he wist not where; +But with the morning he espied the dame, +That with her guard up from a village rode +Where she and they that night had made abode. + +LXXXI +Thither he galloped fast, and drawing near +Rambaldo knew the knight, and loudly cried, +“Whence comes young Eustace, and what seeks he here?” +“I come,” quoth he, “to serve the Queen Armide, +If she accept me, would we all were there +Where my good-will and faith might best be tried.” +“Who,” quoth the other, “choseth thee to prove +This high exploit of hers?” He answered, “Love.” + +LXXXII +“Love hath Eustatio chosen, Fortune thee, +In thy conceit which is the best election?” +“Nay, then, these shifts are vain,” replied he, +“These titles false serve thee for no protection, +Thou canst not here for this admitted be +Our fellow-servant, in this sweet subjection.” +“And who,” quoth Eustace, angry, “dares deny +My fellowship?” Rambaldo answered, “I.” + +LXXXIII +And with that word his cutting sword he drew, +That glittered bright, and sparkled flaming fire; +Upon his foe the other champion flew, +With equal courage, and with equal ire. +The gentle princess, who the danger knew, +Between them stepped, and prayed them both retire. +“Rambald,” quoth she, “why should you grudge or plain, +If I a champion, you an helper gain? + +LXXXIV +“If me you love, why wish you me deprived +In so great need of such a puissant knight? +But welcome Eustace, in good time arrived, +Defender of my state, my life, my right. +I wish my hapless self no longer lived, +When I esteem such good assistance light.” +Thus talked they on, and travelled on their way +Their fellowship increasing every day. + +LXXXV +From every side they come, yet wist there none +Of others coming or of others’ mind, +She welcomes all, and telleth every one, +What joy her thoughts in his arrival find. +But when Duke Godfrey wist his knights were gone, +Within his breast his wiser soul divined +Some hard mishap upon his friends should light, +For which he sighed all day, and wept all night. + +LXXXVI +A messenger, while thus he mused, drew near, +All soiled with dust and sweat, quite out of breath, +It seemed the man did heavy tidings bear, +Upon his looks sate news of loss and death: +“My lord,” quoth he, “so many ships appear +At sea, that Neptune bears the load uneath, +From Egypt come they all, this lets thee weet +William Lord Admiral of the Genoa fleet, + +LXXXVII +“Besides a convoy coming from the shore +With victual for this noble camp of thine +Surprised was, and lost is all that store, +Mules, horses, camels laden, corn and wine; +Thy servants fought till they could fight no more, +For all were slain or captives made in fine: +The Arabian outlaws them assailed by night, +When least they feared, and least they looked for fight. + +LXXXVIII +“Their frantic boldness doth presume so far, +That many Christians have they falsely slain, +And like a raging flood they spared are, +And overflow each country, field and plain; +Send therefore some strong troops of men of war, +To force them hence, and drive them home again, +And keep the ways between these tents of thine +And those broad seas, the seas of Palestine.” + +LXXXIX +From mouth to mouth the heavy rumor spread +Of these misfortunes, which dispersed wide +Among the soldiers, great amazement bred; +Famine they doubt, and new come foes beside: +The duke, that saw their wonted courage fled, +And in the place thereof weak fear espied, +With merry looks these cheerful words he spake, +To make them heart again and courage take. + +XC +“You champions bold, with me that ’scaped have +So many dangers, and such hard assays, +Whom still your God did keep, defend and save +In all your battles, combats, fights and frays, +You that subdued the Turks and Persians brave, +That thirst and hunger held in scorn always, +And vanquished hills, and seas, with heat and cold, +Shall vain reports appal your courage bold? + +XCI +“That Lord who helped you out at every need, +When aught befell this glorious camp amiss, +Shall fortune all your actions well to speed, +On whom his mercy large extended is; +Tofore his tomb, when conquering hands you spreed, +With what delight will you remember this? +Be strong therefore, and keep your valors high +To honor, conquest, fame and victory.” + +XCII +Their hopes half dead and courage well-nigh lost, +Revived with these brave speeches of their guide; +But in his breast a thousand cares he tost, +Although his sorrows he could wisely hide; +He studied how to feed that mighty host, +In so great scarceness, and what force provide +He should against the Egyptian warriors sly, +And how subdue those thieves of Araby. + + + + +SIXTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +Argantes calls the Christians out to just: +Otho not chosen doth his strength assay, +But from his saddle tumbleth in the dust, +And captive to the town is sent away: +Tancred begins new fight, and when both trust +To win the praise and palm, night ends the fray: +Erminia hopes to cure her wounded knight, +And from the city armed rides by night. + +I +But better hopes had them recomforted +That lay besieged in the sacred town; +With new supply late were they victualled, +When night obscured the earth with shadows brown; +Their armes and engines on the walls they spread, +Their slings to cast, and stones to tumble down; +And all that side which to the northward lies, +High rampiers and strong bulwarks fortifies. + +II +Their wary king commands now here now there, +To build this tower, to make that bulwark strong, +Whether the sun, the moon, or stars appear, +To give them time to work, no time comes wrong: +In every street new weapons forged were, +By cunning smiths, sweating with labor long; +While thus the careful prince provision made, +To him Argantes came, and boasting said: + +III +“How long shall we, like prisoners in chains, +Captived lie inclosed within this wall? +I see your workmen taking endless pains +To make new weapons for no use at all; +Meanwhile these western thieves destroy the plains, +Your towns are burnt, your forts and castles fall, +Yet none of us dares at these gates out-peep, +Or sound one trumpet shrill to break their sleep. + +IV +“Their time in feasting and good cheer they spend, +Nor dare we once their banquets sweet molest, +The days and night likewise they bring to end, +In peace, assurance, quiet, ease and rest; +But we must yield whom hunger soon will shend, +And make for peace, to save our lives, request, +Else, if th’ Egyptian army stay too long, +Like cowards die within this fortress strong. + +V +“Yet never shall my courage great consent +So vile a death should end my noble days, +Nor on mine arms within these walls ypent +To-morrow’s sun shall spread his timely rays: +Let sacred Heavens dispose as they are bent +Of this frail life, yet not withouten praise +Of valor, prowess, might, Argantes shall +Inglorious die, or unrevenged fall. + +VI +“But if the roots of wonted chivalry +Be not quite dead your princely breast within, +Devise not how with frame and praise to die, +But how to live, to conquer and to win; +Let us together at these gates outfly, +And skirmish bold and bloody fight begin; +For when last need to desperation driveth, +Who dareth most he wisest counsel giveth. + +VII +“But if in field your wisdom dare not venture +To hazard all your troops to doubtful fight, +Then bind yourself to Godfrey by indenture, +To end your quarrels by one single knight: +And for the Christian this accord shall enter +With better will, say such you know your right +That he the weapons, place and time shall choose, +And let him for his best, that vantage use. + +VIII +“For though your foe had hands, like Hector strong, +With heart unfeared, and courage stern and stout, +Yet no misfortune can your justice wrong, +And what that wanteth, shall this arm help out, +In spite of fate shall this right hand ere long, +Return victorious: if hereof you doubt, +Take it for pledge, wherein if trust you have, +It shall yourself defend and kingdom save.” + +IX +“Bold youth,” the tyrant thus began to speak, +“Although I withered seem with age and years, +Yet are not these old arms so faint and weak, +Nor this hoar head so full of doubts and fears +But whenas death this vital thread shall break, +He shall my courage hear, my death who hears: +And Aladine that lived a king and knight, +To his fair morn will have an evening bright. + +X +“But that which yet I would have further blazed, +To thee in secret shall be told and spoken, +Great Soliman of Nice, so far ypraised, +To be revenged for his sceptre broken, +The men of arms of Araby hath raised, +From Inde to Africk, and, when we give token, +Attends the favor of the friendly night +To victual us, and with our foes to fight. + +XI +“Now though Godfredo hold by warlike feat +Some castles poor and forts in vile oppression, +Care not for that; for still our princely seat, +This stately town, we keep in our possession, +But thou appease and calm that courage great, +Which in thy bosom make so hot impression; +And stay fit time, which will betide ere long, +To increase thy glory, and revenge our wrong.” + +XII +The Saracen at this was inly spited, +Who Soliman’s great worth had long envied, +To hear him praised thus he naught delighted, +Nor that the king upon his aid relied: +“Within your power, sir king,” he says, “united +Are peace and war, nor shall that be denied; +But for the Turk and his Arabian band, +He lost his own, shall he defend your land? + +XIII +“Perchance he comes some heavenly messenger, +Sent down to set the Pagan people free, +Then let Argantes for himself take care, +This sword, I trust, shall well safe-conduct me: +But while you rest and all your forces spare, +That I go forth to war at least agree; +Though not your champion, yet a private knight, +I will some Christian prove in single fight.” + +XIV +The king replied, “Though thy force and might +Should be reserved to better time and use; +Yet that thou challenge some renowned knight, +Among the Christians bold I not refuse.” +The warrior breathing out desire of fight, +An herald called, and said, “Go tell those news +To Godfrey’s self, and to the western lords, +And in their hearings boldly say these words: + +XV +“Say that a knight, who holds in great disdain +To be thus closed up in secret mew, +Will with his sword in open field maintain, +If any dare deny his words for true, +That no devotion, as they falsely feign, +Hath moved the French these countries to subdue; +But vile ambition, and pride’s hateful vice, +Desire of rule, and spoil, and covetice. + +XVI +“And that to fight I am not only prest +With one or two that dare defend the cause, +But come the fourth or fifth, come all the rest, +Come all that will, and all that weapon draws, +Let him that yields obey the victor’s hest, +As wills the lore of mighty Mars his laws:” +This was the challenge that fierce Pagan sent, +The herald donned his coat-of-arms, and went. + +XVII +And when the man before the presence came +Of princely Godfrey, and his captains bold: +“My Lord,” quoth he, “may I withouten blame +Before your Grace, my message brave unfold?” +“Thou mayest,” he answered, “we approve the same; +Withouten fear, be thine ambassage told.” +“Then,” quoth the herald, “shall your highness see, +If this ambassage sharp or pleasing be.” + +XVIII +The challenge gan he then at large expose, +With mighty threats, high terms and glorious words; +On every side an angry murmur rose, +To wrath so moved were the knights and lords. +Then Godfrey spake, and said, “The man hath chose +An hard exploit, but when he feels our swords, +I trust we shall so far entreat the knight, +As to excuse the fourth or fifth of fight. + +XIX +“But let him come and prove, the field I grant, +Nor wrong nor treason let him doubt or fear, +Some here shall pay him for his glorious vaunt, +Without or guile, or vantage, that I swear. +The herald turned when he had ended scant, +And hasted back the way he came whileare, +Nor stayed he aught, nor once forslowed his pace, +Till he bespake Argantes face to face. + +XX +“Arm you, my lord,” he said, “your bold defies +By your brave foes accepted boldly been, +This combat neither high nor low denies, +Ten thousand wish to meet you on the green; +A thousand frowned with angry flaming eyes, +And shaked for rage their swords and weapons keen; +The field is safely granted by their guide,” +This said, the champion for his armor cried. + +XXI +While he was armed, his heart for ire nigh brake, +So yearned his courage hot his foes to find: +The King to fair Clorinda present spake; +“If he go forth, remain not you behind, +But of our soldiers best a thousand take, +To guard his person and your own assigned; +Yet let him meet alone the Christian knight, +And stand yourself aloof, while they two fight.” + +XXII +Thus spake the King, and soon without abode +The troop went forth in shining armor clad, +Before the rest the Pagan champion rode, +His wonted arms and ensigns all he had: +A goodly plain displayed wide and broad, +Between the city and the camp was spread, +A place like that wherein proud Rome beheld +The forward young men manage spear and shield. + +XXIII +There all alone Argantes took his stand, +Defying Christ and all his servants true, +In stature, stomach, and in strength of hand, +In pride, presumption, and in dreadful show, +Encelade like, on the Phlegrean strand, +Or that huge giant Jesse’s infant slew; +But his fierce semblant they esteemed light, +For most not knew, or else not feared his might. + +XXIV +As yet not one had Godfrey singled out +To undertake this hardy enterprise, +But on Prince Tancred saw he all the rout +Had fixed their wishes, and had cast their eyes, +On him he spied them gazing round about, +As though their honor on his prowess lies, +And now they whispered louder what they meant, +Which Godfrey heard and saw, and was content. + +XXV +The rest gave place; for every one descried +To whom their chieftain’s will did most incline, +“Tancred,” quoth he, “I pray thee calm the pride, +Abate the rage of yonder Saracine:” +No longer would the chosen champion bide, +His face with joy, his eyes with gladness shine, +His helm he took, and ready steed bestrode, +And guarded with his trusty friends forth rode. + +XXVI +But scantly had he spurred his courser swift +Near to the plain, where proud Argantes stayed, +When unawares his eyes he chanced to lift, +And on the hill beheld the warlike maid, +As white as snow upon the Alpine clift +The virgin shone in silver arms arrayed, +Her vental up so high, that he descried +Her goodly visage, and her beauty’s pride. + +XXVII +He saw not where the Pagan stood, and stared, +As if with looks he would his foeman kill, +But full of other thoughts he forward fared, +And sent his looks before him up the hill, +His gesture such his troubled soul declared, +At last as marble rock he standeth still, +Stone cold without; within, burnt with love’s flame, +And quite forgot himself, and why he came. + +XXVIII +The challenger, that yet saw none appear +That made or sign or show he came to just, +“How long,” cried he, “shall I attend you here? +Dares none come forth? dares none his fortune trust?” +The other stood amazed, love stopped his ear, +He thinks on Cupid, think of Mars who lust; +But forth stert Otho bold, and took the field, +A gentle knight whom God from danger shield. + +XXIX +This youth was one of those, who late desired +With that vain-glorious boaster to have fought, +But Tancred chosen, he and all retired; +Now when his slackness he awhile admired, +And saw elsewhere employed was his thought, +Nor that to just, though chosen, once he proffered, +He boldly took that fit occasion offered. + +XXX +No tiger, panther, spotted leopard, +Runs half so swift, the forests wild among, +As this young champion hasted thitherward, +Where he attending saw the Pagan strong: +Tancredi started with the noise he heard, +As waked from sleep, where he had dreamed long, +“Oh stay,” he cried, “to me belongs this war!” +But cried too late, Otho was gone too far. + +XXXI +Then full of fury, anger and despite, +He stayed his horse, and waxed red for shame, +The fight was his, but now disgraced quite +Himself he thought, another played his game; +Meanwhile the Saracen did hugely smite +On Otho’s helm, who to requite the same, +His foe quite through his sevenfold targe did bear, +And in his breastplate stuck and broke his spear. + +XXXII +The encounter such, upon the tender grass, +Down from his steed the Christian backward fell; +Yet his proud foe so strong and sturdy was, +That he nor shook, nor staggered in his sell, +But to the knight that lay full low, alas, +In high disdain his will thus gan he tell, +“Yield thee my slave, and this thine honor be, +Thou may’st report thou hast encountered me.” + +XXXIII +“Not so,” quoth he, “pardy it’s not the guise +Of Christian knights, though fall’n, so soon to yield; +I can my fall excuse in better wise, +And will revenge this shame, or die in field.” +The great Circassian bent his frowning eyes, +Like that grim visage in Minerva’s shield, +“Then learn,” quoth he, “what force Argantes useth +Against that fool that proffered grace refuseth.” + +XXXIV +With that he spurred his horse with speed and haste, +Forgetting what good knights to virtue owe, +Otho his fury shunned, and, as he passed, +At his right side he reached a noble blow, +Wide was the wound, the blood outstreamed fast, +And from his side fell to his stirrup low: +But what avails to hurt, if wounds augment +Our foe’s fierce courage, strength and hardiment? + +XXXV +Argantes nimbly turned his ready steed, +And ere his foe was wist or well aware, +Against his side he drove his courser’s head, +What force could he gainst so great might prepare? +Weak were his feeble joints, his courage dead, +His heart amazed, his paleness showed his care, +His tender side gainst the hard earth he cast, +Shamed, with the first fall; bruised, with the last. + +XXXVI +The victor spurred again his light-foot steed, +And made his passage over Otho’s heart, +And cried, “These fools thus under foot I tread, +That dare contend with me in equal mart.” +Tancred for anger shook his noble head, +So was he grieved with that unknightly part; +The fault was his, he was so slow before, +With double valor would he salve that sore. + +XXXVII +Forward he galloped fast, and loudly cried: +“Villain,” quoth he, “thy conquest is thy shame, +What praise? what honor shall this fact betide? +What gain? what guerdon shall befall the same? +Among the Arabian thieves thy face go hide, +Far from resort of men of worth and fame, +Or else in woods and mountains wild, by night, +On savage beasts employ thy savage might.” + +XXXVIII +The Pagan patience never knew, nor used, +Trembling for ire, his sandy locks he tore, +Out from his lips flew such a sound confused, +As lions make in deserts thick, which roar; +Or as when clouds together crushed and bruised, +Pour down a tempest by the Caspian shore; +So was his speech imperfect, stopped, and broken, +He roared and thundered when he should have spoken. + +XXXIX +But when with threats they both had whetted keen +Their eager rage, their fury, spite and ire, +They turned their steeds and left large space between +To make their forces greater, ’proaching nigher, +With terms that warlike and that worthy been: +O sacred Muse, my haughty thoughts inspire, +And make a trumpet of my slender quill +To thunder out this furious combat shrill. + +XL +These sons of Mavors bore, instead of spears, +Two knotty masts, which none but they could lift, +Each foaming steed so fast his master bears, +That never beast, bird, shaft flew half so swift; +Such was their fury, as when Boreas tears +The shattered crags from Taurus’ northern clift, +Upon their helms their lances long they broke, +And up to heaven flew splinters, sparks and smoke. + +XLI +The shock made all the towers and turrets quake, +And woods and mountains all nigh hand resound; +Yet could not all that force and fury shake +The valiant champions, nor their persons wound; +Together hurtled both their steeds, and brake +Each other’s neck, the riders lay on ground: +But they, great masters of war’s dreadful art, +Plucked forth their swords and soon from earth up start. + +XLII +Close at his surest ward each warrior lieth, +He wisely guides his hand, his foot, his eye, +This blow he proveth, that defence he trieth, +He traverseth, retireth, presseth nigh, +Now strikes he out, and now he falsifieth, +This blow he wardeth, that he lets slip by, +And for advantage oft he lets some part +Discovered seem; thus art deludeth art. + +XLIII +The Pagan ill defenced with sword or targe, +Tancredi’s thigh, as he supposed, espied +And reaching forth gainst it his weapon large, +Quite naked to his foe leaves his left-side; +Tancred avoideth quick his furious charge, +And gave him eke a wound deep, sore and wide; +That done, himself safe to his ward retired, +His courage praised by all, his skill admired. + +XLIV +The proud Circassian saw his streaming blood, +Down from his wound, as from a fountain, running, +He sighed for rage, and trembled as he stood, +He blamed his fortune, folly, want of cunning; +He lift his sword aloft, for ire nigh wood, +And forward rushed: Tancred his fury shunning, +With a sharp thrust once more the Pagan hit, +To his broad shoulder where his arm is knit. + +XLV +Like as a bear through pierced with a dart +Within the secret woods, no further flieth, +But bites the senseless weapon mad with smart, +Seeking revenge till unrevenged she dieth; +So mad Argantes fared, when his proud heart +Wound upon wound, and shame on shame espieth, +Desire of vengeance so o’ercame his senses, +That he forgot all dangers, all defences. + +XLVI +Uniting force extreme, with endless wrath, +Supporting both with youth and strength untired, +His thundering blows so fast about he layeth, +That skies and earth the flying sparkles fired; +His foe to strike one blow no leisure hath, +Scantly he breathed, though he oft desired, +His warlike skill and cunning all was waste, +Such was Argantes’ force, and such his haste. + +XLVII +Long time Tancredi had in vain attended +When this huge storm should overblow and pass, +Some blows his mighty target well defended, +Some fell beside, and wounded deep the grass; +But when he saw the tempest never ended, +Nor that the Paynim’s force aught weaker was, +He high advanced his cutting sword at length, +And rage to rage opposed, and strength to strength. + +XLVIII +Wrath bore the sway, both art and reason fail, +Fury new force, and courage new supplies, +Their armors forged were of metal frail, +On every side thereof, huge cantels flies, +The land was strewed all with plate and mail. +That, on the earth; on that, their warm blood lies. +And at each rush and every blow they smote +Thunder the noise, the sparks, seemed lightning hot. + +XLIX +The Christian people and the Pagans gazed, +On this fierce combat wishing oft the end, +Twixt hope and fear they stood long time amazed, +To see the knights assail, and eke defend, +Yet neither sign they made, nor noise they raised, +But for the issue of the fight attend, +And stood as still, as life and sense they wanted, +Save that their hearts within their bosoms panted. + +L +Now were they tired both, and well-nigh spent, +Their blows show greater will than power to wound; +But Night her gentle daughter Darkness, sent, +With friendly shade to overspread the ground, +Two heralds to the fighting champions went, +To part the fray, as laws of arms them bound +Aridens born in France, and wise Pindore, +The man that brought the challenge proud before. + +LI +These men their sceptres interpose, between +The doubtful hazards of uncertain fight; +For such their privilege hath ever been, +The law of nations doth defend their right; +Pindore began, “Stay, stay, you warriors keen, +Equal your honor, equal is your might; +Forbear this combat, so we deem it best, +Give night her due, and grant your persons rest. + +LII +“Man goeth forth to labor with the sun, +But with the night, all creatures draw to sleep, +Nor yet of hidden praise in darkness won +The valiant heart of noble knight takes keep:” +Argantes answered him, “The fight begun +Now to forbear, doth wound my heart right deep: +Yet will I stay, so that this Christian swear, +Before you both, again to meet me here.” + +LIII +“I swear,” quoth Tancred, “but swear thou likewise +To make return thy prisoner eke with thee; +Else for achievement of this enterprise, +None other time but this expect of me;” +Thus swore they both; the heralds both devise, +What time for this exploit should fittest be: +And for their wounds of rest and cure had need, +To meet again the sixth day was decreed. + +LIV +This fight was deep imprinted in their hearts +That saw this bloody fray to ending brought, +An horror great possessed their weaker parts, +Which made them shrink who on their combat thought: +Much speech was of the praise and high desarts +Of these brave champions that so nobly fought; +But which for knightly worth was most ypraised, +Of that was doubt and disputation raised. + +LV +All long to see them end this doubtful fray, +And as they favor, so they wish success, +These hope true virtue shall obtain the day, +Those trust on fury, strength and hardiness; +But on Erminia most this burden lay, +Whose looks her trouble and her fear express; +For on this dangerous combat’s doubtful end +Her joy, her comfort, hope and life depend. + +LVI +Her the sole daughter of that hapless king, +That of proud Antioch late wore the crown, +The Christian soldiers to Tancredi bring, +When they had sacked and spoiled that glorious town; +But he, in whom all good and virtue spring, +The virgin’s honor saved, and her renown; +And when her city and her state was lost, +Then was her person loved and honored most. + +LVII +He honored her, served her, and leave her gave, +And willed her go whither and when she list, +Her gold and jewels had he care to save, +And them restored all, she nothing missed, +She, that beheld this youth and person brave, +When, by this deed, his noble mind she wist, +Laid ope her heart for Cupid’s shaft to hit, +Who never knots of love more surer knit. + +LVIII +Her body free, captivated was her heart, +And love the keys did of that prison bear, +Prepared to go, it was a death to part +From that kind Lord, and from that prison dear, +But thou, O honor, which esteemed art +The chiefest virtue noble ladies wear, +Enforcest her against her will, to wend +To Aladine, her mother’s dearest friend. + +LIX +At Sion was this princess entertained, +By that old tyrant and her mother dear, +Whose loss too soon the woful damsel plained, +Her grief was such, she lived not half the year, +Yet banishment, nor loss of friends constrained +The hapless maid her passions to forbear, +For though exceeding were her woe and grief, +Of all her sorrows yet her love was chief. + +LX +The silly maid in secret longing pined, +Her hope a mote drawn up by Phoebus’ rays, +Her love a mountain seemed, whereon bright shined +Fresh memory of Tancred’s worth and praise, +Within her closet if her self she shrined, +A hotter fire her tender heart assays: +Tancred at last, to raise her hope nigh dead, +Before those walls did his broad ensign spread. + +LXI +The rest to view the Christian army feared, +Such seemed their number, such their power and might, +But she alone her troubled forehead cleared, +And on them spread her beauty shining bright; +In every squadron when it first appeared, +Her curious eye sought out her chosen knight; +And every gallant that the rest excels, +The same seems him, so love and fancy tells. + +LXII +Within the kingly palace builded high, +A turret standeth near the city’s wall, +From which Erminia might at ease descry +The western host, the plains and mountains all, +And there she stood all the long day to spy, +From Phoebus’ rising to his evening fall, +And with her thoughts disputed of his praise, +And every thought a scalding sigh did raise. + +LXIII +From hence the furious combat she surveyed, +And felt her heart tremble with fear and pain, +Her secret thoughts thus to her fancy said, +Behold thy dear in danger to be slain; +So with suspect, with fear and grief dismayed, +Attended she her darling’s loss or gain, +And ever when the Pagan lift his blade, +The stroke a wound in her weak bosom made. + +LXIV +But when she saw the end, and wist withal +Their strong contention should eftsoons begin, +Amazement strange her courage did appal, +Her vital blood was icy cold within; +Sometimes she sighed, sometimes tears let fall, +To witness what distress her heart was in; +Hopeless, dismayed, pale, sad, astonished, +Her love, her fear; her fear, her torment bred. + +LXV +Her idle brain unto her soul presented +Death in an hundred ugly fashions painted, +And if she slept, then was her grief augmented, +With such sad visions were her thoughts acquainted; +She saw her lord with wounds and hurts tormented, +How he complained, called for her help, and fainted, +And found, awaked from that unquiet sleeping, +Her heart with panting sore; eyes, red with weeping. + +LXVI +Yet these presages of his coming ill, +Not greatest cause of her discomfort were, +She saw his blood from his deep wounds distil, +Nor what he suffered could she bide or bear: +Besides, report her longing ear did fill, +Doubling his danger, doubling so her fear, +That she concludes, so was her courage lost, +Her wounded lord was weak, faint, dead almost. + +LXVII +And for her mother had her taught before +The secret virtue of each herb that springs, +Besides fit charms for every wound or sore +Corruption breedeth or misfortune brings,— +An art esteemed in those times of yore, +Beseeming daughters of great lords and kings— +She would herself be surgeon to her knight, +And heal him with her skill, or with her sight. + +LXVIII +Thus would she cure her love, and cure her foe +She must, that had her friends and kinsfolk slain: +Some cursed weeds her cunning hand did know, +That could augment his harm, increase his pain; +But she abhorred to be revenged so, +No treason should her spotless person stain, +And virtueless she wished all herbs and charms +Wherewith false men increase their patients’ harms. + +LXIX +Nor feared she among the bands to stray +Of armed men, for often had she seen +The tragic end of many a bloody fray; +Her life had full of haps and hazards been, +This made her bold in every hard assay, +More than her feeble sex became, I ween; +She feared not the shake of every reed, +So cowards are courageous made through need. + +LXX +Love, fearless, hardy, and audacious love, +Emboldened had this tender damsel so, +That where wild beasts and serpents glide and move +Through Afric’s deserts durst she ride or go, +Save that her honor, she esteemed above +Her life and body’s safety, told her no; +For in the secret of her troubled thought, +A doubtful combat, love and honor fought. + +LXXI +“O spotless virgin,” Honor thus begun, +“That my true lore observed firmly hast, +When with thy foes thou didst in bondage won, +Remember then I kept thee pure and chaste, +At liberty now, where wouldest thou run, +To lay that field of princely virtue waste, +Or lose that jewel ladies hold so dear? +Is maidenhood so great a load to bear? + +LXXII +“Or deem’st thou it a praise of little prize, +The glorious title of a virgin’s name? +That thou will gad by night in giglot wise, +Amid thine armed foes, to seek thy shame. +O fool, a woman conquers when she flies, +Refusal kindleth, proffers quench the flame. +Thy lord will judge thou sinnest beyond measure, +If vainly thus thou waste so rich a treasure.” + +LXXIII +The sly deceiver Cupid thus beguiled +The simple damsel, with his filed tongue: +“Thou wert not born,” quoth he, “in desert wild +The cruel bears and savage beasts among, +That you shouldest scorn fair Citherea’s child, +Or hate those pleasures that to youth belong, +Nor did the gods thy heart of iron frame; +To be in love is neither sin nor shame. + +LXXIV +“Go then, go, whither sweet desire inviteth, +How can thy gentle knight so cruel be? +Love in his heart thy grief and sorrows writeth, +For thy laments how he complaineth, see. +Oh cruel woman, whom no care exciteth +To save his life, that saved and honored thee! +He languished, one foot thou wilt not move +To succor him, yet say’st thou art in love. + +LXXV +“No, no, stay here Argantes’ wounds to cure, +And make him strong to shed thy darling’s blood, +Of such reward he may himself assure, +That doth a thankless woman so much good: +Ah, may it be thy patience can endure +To see the strength of this Circassian wood, +And not with horror and amazement shrink, +When on their future fight thou hap’st to think? + +LXXVI +“Besides the thanks and praises for the deed, +Suppose what joy, what comfort shalt thou win, +When thy soft hand doth wholesome plaisters speed, +Upon the breaches in his ivory skin, +Thence to thy dearest lord may health succeed, +Strength to his limbs, blood to his cheeks so thin, +And his rare beauties, now half dead and more, +Thou may’st to him, him to thyself restore. + +LXXVII +“So shall some part of his adventures bold +And valiant acts henceforth be held as thine; +His dear embracements shall thee straight enfold, +Together joined in marriage rites divine: +Lastly high place of honor shalt thou hold +Among the matrons sage and dames Latine, +In Italy, a land, as each one tells, +Where valor true, and true religion dwells.” + +LXXVIII +With such vain hopes the silly maid abused, +Promised herself mountains and hills of gold; +Yet were her thoughts with doubts and fears confused +How to escape unseen out of that hold, +Because the watchman every minute used +To guard the walls against the Christians bold, +And in such fury and such heat of war, +The gates or seld or never opened are. + +LXXIX +With strong Clorinda was Erminia sweet +In surest links of dearest friendship bound, +With her she used the rising sun to greet, +And her, when Phoebus glided under ground, +She made the lovely partner of her sheet; +In both their hearts one will, one thought was found; +Nor aught she hid from that virago bold, +Except her love, that tale to none she told. + +LXXX +That kept she secret, if Clorinda heard +Her make complaints, or secretly lament, +To other cause her sorrow she referred: +Matter enough she had of discontent, +Like as the bird that having close imbarred +Her tender young ones in the springing bent, +To draw the searcher further from her nest, +Cries and complains most where she needeth least. + +LXXXI +Alone, within her chamber’s secret part, +Sitting one day upon her heavy thought, +Devising by what means, what sleight, what art, +Her close departure should be safest wrought, +Assembled in her unresolved heart +An hundred passions strove and ceaseless fought; +At last she saw high hanging on the wall +Clorinda’s silver arms, and sighed withal: + +LXXXII +And sighing, softly to herself she said, +“How blessed is this virgin in her might? +How I envy the glory of the maid, +Yet envy not her shape, or beauty’s light; +Her steps are not with trailing garments stayed, +Nor chambers hide her valor shining bright; +But armed she rides, and breaketh sword and spear, +Nor is her strength restrained by shame or fear. + +LXXXIII +“Alas, why did not Heaven these members frail +With lively force and vigor strengthen so +That I this silken gown and slender veil +Might for a breastplate and an helm forego? +Then should not heat, nor cold, nor rain, nor hail, +Nor storms that fall, nor blustering winds that blow +Withhold me, but I would both day and night, +In pitched field, or private combat fight. + +LXXXIV +“Nor haddest thou, Argantes, first begun +With my dear lord that fierce and cruel fight, +But I to that encounter would have run, +And haply ta’en him captive by my might; +Yet should he find, our furious combat done, +His thraldom easy, and his bondage light; +For fetters, mine embracements should he prove; +For diet, kisses sweet; for keeper, love. + +LXXXV +“Or else my tender bosom opened wide, +And heart though pierced with his cruel blade, +The bloody weapon in my wounded side +Might cure the wound which love before had made; +Then should my soul in rest and quiet slide +Down to the valleys of the Elysian shade, +And my mishap the knight perchance would move, +To shed some tears upon his murdered love. + +LXXXVI +“Alas! impossible are all these things, +Such wishes vain afflict my woful sprite, +Why yield I thus to plaints and sorrowings, +As if all hope and help were perished quite? +My heart dares much, it soars with Cupid’s wings, +Why use I not for once these armors bright? +I may sustain awhile this shield aloft, +Though I be tender, feeble, weak and soft. + +LXXXVII +“Love, strong, bold, mighty never-tired love, +Supplieth force to all his servants true; +The fearful stags he doth to battle move, +Till each his horns in others’ blood imbrue; +Yet mean not I the haps of war to prove, +A stratagem I have devised new, +Clorinda-like in this fair harness dight, +I will escape out of the town this night. + +LXXXVIII +“I know the men that have the gate to ward, +If she command dare not her will deny, +In what sort else could I beguile the guard? +This way is only left, this will I try: +O gentle love, in this adventure hard +Thine handmaid guide, assist and fortify! +The time, the hour now fitteth best the thing, +While stout Clorinda talketh with the king.” + +LXXXIX +Resolved thus, without delay she went, +As her strong passion did her rashly guide, +And those bright arms, down from the rafter hent, +Within her closet did she closely hide; +That might she do unseen, for she had sent +The rest, on sleeveless errands from her side, +And night her stealths brought to their wished end, +Night, patroness of thieves, and lovers’ friend. + +XC +Some sparkling fires on heaven’s bright visage shone; +His azure robe the orient blueness lost, +When she, whose wit and reason both were gone, +Called for a squire she loved and trusted most, +To whom and to a maid, a faithful one, +Part of her will she told, how that in post +She would depart from Juda’s king, and feigned +That other cause her sudden flight constrained. + +XCI +The trusty squire provided needments meet, +As for their journey fitting most should be; +Meanwhile her vesture, pendant to her feet, +Erminia doft, as erst determined she, +Stripped to her petticoat the virgin sweet +So slender was, that wonder was to see; +Her handmaid ready at her mistress’ will, +To arm her helped, though simple were her skill. + +XCII +The rugged steel oppressed and offended +Her dainty neck, and locks of shining gold; +Her tender arm so feeble was, it bended +When that huge target it presumed to hold, +The burnished steel bright rays far off extended, +She feigned courage, and appeared bold; +Fast by her side unseen smiled Venus’ son, +As erst he laughed when Alcides spun. + +XCIII +Oh, with what labor did her shoulders bear +That heavy burthen, and how slow she went! +Her maid, to see that all the coasts were clear, +Before her mistress, through the streets was sent; +Love gave her courage, love exiled fear, +Love to her tired limbs new vigor lent, +Till she approached where the squire abode, +There took they horse forthwith and forward rode. + +XCIV +Disguised they went, and by unused ways, +And secret paths they strove unseen to gone, +Until the watch they meet, which sore affrays +Their soldiers new, when swords and weapons shone +Yet none to stop their journey once essays, +But place and passage yielded every one; +For that bright armor, and that helmet bright, +Were known and feared, in the darkest night. + +XCV +Erminia, though some deal she were dismayed, +Yet went she on, and goodly countenance bore, +She doubted lest her purpose were bewrayed, +Her too much boldness she repented sore; +But now the gate her fear and passage stayed, +The heedless porter she beguiled therefore, +“I am Clorinda, ope the gate,” she cried, +“Where as the king commands, this late I ride.” + +XCVI +Her woman’s voice and terms all framed been, +Most like the speeches of the princess stout, +Who would have thought on horseback to have seen +That feeble damsel armed round about? +The porter her obeyed, and she, between +Her trusty squire and maiden, sallied out, +And through the secret dales they silent pass, +Where danger least, least fear, least peril was. + +XCVII +But when these fair adventurers entered were +Deep in a vale, Erminia stayed her haste, +To be recalled she had no cause to fear, +This foremost hazard had she trimly past; +But dangers new, tofore unseen, appear, +New perils she descried, new doubts she cast. +The way that her desire to quiet brought, +More difficult now seemed than erst she thought. + +XCVIII +Armed to ride among her angry foes, +She now perceived it were great oversight, +Yet would she not, she thought, herself disclose, +Until she came before her chosen knight, +To him she purposed to present the rose +Pure, spotless, clean, untouched of mortal wight, +She stayed therefore, and in her thoughts more wise, +She called her squire, whom thus she gan advise. + +XCIX +“Thou must,” quoth she, “be mine ambassador, +Be wise, be careful, true, and diligent, +Go to the camp, present thyself before +The Prince Tancredi, wounded in his tent; +Tell him thy mistress comes to cure his sore, +If he to grant her peace and rest consent +Gainst whom fierce love such cruel war hath raised, +So shall his wounds be cured, her torments eased. + +C +“And say, in him such hope and trust she hath, +That in his powers she fears no shame nor scorn, +Tell him thus much, and whatso’er he saith, +Unfold no more, but make a quick return, +I, for this place is free from harm and scath, +Within this valley will meanwhile sojourn.” +Thus spake the princess: and her servant true +To execute the charge imposed, flew; + +CI +And was received, he so discreetly wrought, +First of the watch that guarded in their place, +Before the wounded prince then was he brought, +Who heard his message kind, with gentle grace, +Which told, he left him tossing in his thought +A thousand doubts, and turned his speedy pace +To bring his lady and his mistress word, +She might be welcome to that courteous lord. + +CII +But she, impatient, to whose desire +Grievous and harmful seemed each little stay, +Recounts his steps, and thinks, now draws he nigher, +Now enters in, now speaks, now comes his way; +And that which grieved her most, the careful squire +Less speedy seemed than e’er before that day; +Lastly she forward rode with love to guide, +Until the Christian tents at hand she spied. + +CIII +Invested in her starry veil, the night +In her kind arms embraced all this round, +The silver moon from sea uprising bright +Spread frosty pearl upon the candid ground: +And Cynthia-like for beauty’s glorious light +The love-sick nymph threw glittering beams around, +And counsellors of her old love she made +Those valleys dumb, that silence, and that shade. + +CIV +Beholding then the camp, quoth she, “O fair +And castle-like pavilions, richly wrought! +From you how sweet methinketh blows the air, +How comforts it my heart, my soul, my thought? +Through heaven’s fair face from gulf of sad despair +My tossed bark to port well-nigh is brought: +In you I seek redress for all my harms, +Rest, midst your weapons; peace, amongst your arms. + +CV +“Receive me, then, and let me mercy find, +As gentle love assureth me I shall, +Among you had I entertainment kind +When first I was the Prince Tancredi’s thrall: +I covet not, led by ambition blind +You should me in my father’s throne install, +Might I but serve in you my lord so dear, +That my content, my joy, my comfort were.” + +CVI +Thus parleyed she, poor soul, and never feared +The sudden blow of Fortune’s cruel spite, +She stood where Phoebe’s splendent beam appeared +Upon her silver armor double bright, +The place about her round she shining cleared +With that pure white wherein the nymph was dight: +The tigress great, that on her helmet laid, +Bore witness where she went, and where she stayed. + +CVII +So as her fortune would, a Christian band +Their secret ambush there had closely framed, +Led by two brothers of Italia land, +Young Poliphern and Alicandro named, +These with their forces watched to withstand +Those that brought victuals to their foes untamed, +And kept that passage; them Erminia spied, +And fled as fast as her swift steed could ride. + +CVIII +But Poliphern, before whose watery eyes, +His aged father strong Clorinda slew, +When that bright shield and silver helm he spies, +The championess he thought he saw and knew; +Upon his hidden mates for aid he cries +Gainst his supposed foe, and forth he flew, +As he was rash, and heedless in his wrath, +Bending his lance, “Thou art but dead,” he saith. + +CIX +As when a chased hind her course doth bend +To seek by soil to find some ease or goad; +Whether from craggy rock the spring descend, +Or softly glide within the shady wood; +If there the dogs she meet, where late she wend +To comfort her weak limbs in cooling flood, +Again she flies swift as she fled at first, +Forgetting weakness, weariness and thirst. + +CX +So she, that thought to rest her weary sprite, +And quench the endless thirst of ardent love +With dear embracements of her lord and knight, +But such as marriage rites should first approve, +When she beheld her foe, with weapon bright +Threatening her death, his trusty courser move, +Her love, her lord, herself abandoned, +She spurred her speedy steed, and swift she fled. + +CXI +Erminia fled, scantly the tender grass +Her Pegasus with his light footsteps bent, +Her maiden’s beast for speed did likewise pass; +Yet divers ways, such was their fear, they went: +The squire who all too late returned, alas. +With tardy news from Prince Tancredi’s tent, +Fled likewise, when he saw his mistress gone, +It booted not to sojourn there alone. + +CXII +But Alicandro wiser than the rest, +Who this supposed Clorinda saw likewise, +To follow her yet was he nothing pressed, +But in his ambush still and close he lies, +A messenger to Godfrey he addressed, +That should him of this accident advise, +How that his brother chased with naked blade +Clorinda’s self, or else Clorinda’s shade. + +CXIII +Yet that it was, or that it could be she, +He had small cause or reason to suppose, +Occasion great and weighty must it be +Should make her ride by night among her foes: +What Godfrey willed that observed he, +And with his soldiers lay in ambush close: +These news through all the Christian army went, +In every cabin talked, in every tent. + +CXIV +Tancred, whose thoughts the squire had filled with doubt +By his sweet words, supposed now hearing this, +Alas! the virgin came to seek me out, +And for my sake her life in danger is; +Himself forthwith he singled from the rout, +And rode in haste, though half his arms he miss; +Among those sandy fields and valleys green, +To seek his love, he galloped fast unseen. + + + + +SEVENTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +A shepherd fair Erminia entertains, +Whom whilst Tancredi seeks in vain to find, +He is entrapped in Armida’s trains: +Raymond with strong Argantes is assigned +To fight, an angel to his aid he gains: +Satan that sees the Pagan’s fury blind, +And hasty wrath turn to his loss and harm, +Doth raise new tempest, uproar and alarm. + +I +Erminia’s steed this while his mistress bore +Through forests thick among the shady treen, +Her feeble hand the bridle reins forlore, +Half in a swoon she was, for fear I ween; +But her fleet courser spared ne’er the more, +To bear her through the desert woods unseen +Of her strong foes, that chased her through the plain, +And still pursued, but still pursued in vain. + +II +Like as the weary hounds at last retire, +Windless, displeased, from the fruitless chase, +When the sly beast tapished in bush and brier, +No art nor pains can rouse out of his place: +The Christian knights so full of shame and ire +Returned back, with faint and weary pace: +Yet still the fearful dame fled swift as wind, +Nor ever stayed, nor ever looked behind. + +III +Through thick and thin, all night, all day, she drived, +Withouten comfort, company, or guide, +Her plaints and tears with every thought revived, +She heard and saw her griefs, but naught beside: +But when the sun his burning chariot dived +In Thetis’ wave, and weary team untied, +On Jordan’s sandy banks her course she stayed +At last, there down she light, and down she laid. + +IV +Her tears, her drink; her food, her sorrowings, +This was her diet that unhappy night: +But sleep, that sweet repose and quiet brings, +To ease the griefs of discontented wight, +Spread forth his tender, soft, and nimble wings, +In his dull arms folding the virgin bright; +And Love, his mother, and the Graces kept +Strong watch and ward, while this fair lady slept. + +V +The birds awaked her with their morning song, +Their warbling music pierced her tender ear, +The murmuring brooks and whistling winds among +The rattling boughs and leaves, their parts did bear; +Her eyes unclosed beheld the groves along +Of swains and shepherd grooms that dwellings were; +And that sweet noise, birds, winds and waters sent, +Provoked again the virgin to lament. + +VI +Her plaints were interrupted with a sound, +That seemed from thickest bushes to proceed, +Some jolly shepherd sung a lusty round, +And to his voice he tuned his oaten reed; +Thither she went, an old man there she found, +At whose right hand his little flock did feed, +Sat making baskets, his three sons among, +That learned their father’s art, and learned his song. + +VII +Beholding one in shining Arms appear, +The seely man and his were sore dismay’d; +But sweet Erminia comforted their fear, +Her vental up, her visage open laid; +You happy folk, of heav’n beloved dear, +Work on, quoth she, upon your harmless trade; +These dreadful arms, I bear, no warfare bring +To your sweet toil, nor those sweet tunes you sing. + +VIII +“But, father, since this land, these towns and towers +Destroyed are with sword, with fire and spoil, +How may it be unhurt that you and yours +In safety thus apply your harmless toil?” +“My son,” quoth he, “this poor estate of ours +Is ever safe from storm of warlike broil; +This wilderness doth us in safety keep, +No thundering drum, no trumpet breaks our sleep. + +IX +“Haply just Heaven’s defence and shield of right +Doth love the innocence of simple swains, +The thunderbolts on highest mountains light, +And seld or never strike the lower plains; +So kings have cause to fear Bellona’s might, +Not they whose sweat and toil their dinner gains, +Nor ever greedy soldier was enticed +By poverty, neglected and despised. + +X +“O poverty, chief of the heavenly brood, +Dearer to me than wealth or kingly crown: +No wish for honor, thirst of others’ good, +Can move my heart, contented with mine own: +We quench our thirst with water of this flood, +Nor fear we poison should therein be thrown; +These little flocks of sheep and tender goats +Give milk for food, and wool to make us coats. + +XI +“We little wish, we need but little wealth, +From cold and hunger us to clothe and feed; +These are my sons, their care preserves from stealth +Their father’s flocks, nor servants more I need: +Amid these groves I walk oft for my health, +And to the fishes, birds, and beasts give heed, +How they are fed, in forest, spring and lake, +And their contentment for example take. + +XII +“Time was, for each one hath his doating time, +These silver locks were golden tresses then, +That country life I hated as a crime, +And from the forest’s sweet contentment ran, +And there became the mighty caliph’s man, +and though I but a simple gardener were, +Yet could I mark abuses, see and hear. + +XIII +“Enticed on with hope of future gain, +I suffered long what did my soul displease; +But when my youth was spent, my hope was vain. +I felt my native strength at last decrease; +I gan my loss of lusty years complain, +And wished I had enjoyed the country’s peace; +I bade the court farewell, and with content +My latter age here have I quiet spent.” + +XIV +While thus he spake, Erminia hushed and still +His wise discourses heard, with great attention, +His speeches grave those idle fancies kill +Which in her troubled soul bred such dissension; +After much thought reformed was her will, +Within those woods to dwell was her intention, +Till Fortune should occasion new afford, +To turn her home to her desired lord. + +XV +She said therefore, “O shepherd fortunate! +That troubles some didst whilom feel and prove, +Yet livest now in this contented state, +Let my mishap thy thoughts to pity move, +To entertain me as a willing mate +In shepherd’s life which I admire and love; +Within these pleasant groves perchance my heart, +Of her discomforts, may unload some part. + +XVI +“If gold or wealth, of most esteemed dear, +If jewels rich thou diddest hold in prize, +Such store thereof, such plenty have I here, +As to a greedy mind might well suffice:” +With that down trickled many a silver tear, +Two crystal streams fell from her watery eyes; +Part of her sad misfortunes then she told, +And wept, and with her wept that shepherd old. + +XVII +With speeches kind, he gan the virgin dear +Toward his cottage gently home to guide; +His aged wife there made her homely cheer, +Yet welcomed her, and placed her by her side. +The princess donned a poor pastoral’s gear, +A kerchief coarse upon her head she tied; +But yet her gestures and her looks, I guess, +Were such as ill beseemed a shepherdess. + +XVIII +Not those rude garments could obscure and hide +The heavenly beauty of her angel’s face, +Nor was her princely offspring damnified +Or aught disparaged by those labors base; +Her little flocks to pasture would she guide, +And milk her goats, and in their folds them place, +Both cheese and butter could she make, and frame +Herself to please the shepherd and his dame. + +XIX +But oft, when underneath the greenwood shade +Her flocks lay hid from Phoebus’ scorching rays, +Unto her knight she songs and sonnets made, +And them engraved in bark of beech and bays; +She told how Cupid did her first invade, +How conquered her, and ends with Tancred’s praise: +And when her passion’s writ she over read, +Again she mourned, again salt tears she shed. + +XX +“You happy trees forever keep,” quoth she, +“This woful story in your tender rind, +Another day under your shade maybe +Will come to rest again some lover kind; +Who if these trophies of my griefs he see, +Shall feel dear pity pierce his gentle mind;” +With that she sighed and said, “Too late I prove +There is no troth in fortune, trust in love. + +XXI +“Yet may it be, if gracious heavens attend +The earnest suit of a distressed wight, +At my entreat they will vouchsafe to send +To these huge deserts that unthankful knight, +That when to earth the man his eyes shall bend, +And sees my grave, my tomb, and ashes light, +My woful death his stubborn heart may move, +With tears and sorrows to reward my love. + +XXII +“So, though my life hath most unhappy been, +At least yet shall my spirit dead be blest, +My ashes cold shall, buried on this green, +Enjoy that good this body ne’er possessed.” +Thus she complained to the senseless treen, +Floods in her eyes, and fires were in her breast; +But he for whom these streams of tears she shed, +Wandered far off, alas, as chance him led. + +XXIII +He followed on the footsteps he had traced, +Till in high woods and forests old he came, +Where bushes, thorns and trees so thick were placed, +And so obscure the shadows of the same, +That soon he lost the tract wherein he paced; +Yet went he on, which way he could not aim, +But still attentive was his longing ear +If noise of horse or noise of arms he hear. + +XXIV +If with the breathing of the gentle wind, +An aspen leaf but shaked on the tree, +If bird or beast stirred in the bushes blind, +Thither he spurred, thither he rode to see: +Out of the wood by Cynthia’s favor kind, +At last, with travel great and pains, got he, +And following on a little path, he heard +A rumbling sound, and hasted thitherward. + +XXV +It was a fountain from the living stone, +That poured down clear streams in noble store, +Whose conduit pipes, united all in one, +Throughout a rocky channel ghastly roar; +Here Tancred stayed, and called, yet answered none, +Save babbling echo, from the crooked shore; +And there the weary knight at last espies +The springing daylight red and white arise. + +XXVI +He sighed sore, and guiltless heaven gan blame, +That wished success to his desire denied, +And sharp revenge protested for the same, +If aught but good his mistress fair betide; +Then wished he to return the way he came, +Although he wist not by what path to ride, +And time drew near when he again must fight +With proud Argantes, that vain-glorious knight. + +XXVII +His stalwart steed the champion stout bestrode +And pricked fast to find the way he lost, +But through a valley as he musing rode, +He saw a man that seemed for haste a post, +His horn was hung between his shoulders broad, +As is the guise with us: Tancredi crossed +His way, and gently prayed the man to say, +To Godfrey’s camp how he should find the way. + +XXVIII +“Sir,” in the Italian language answered he, +“I ride where noble Boemond hath me sent:” +The prince thought this his uncle’s man should be, +And after him his course with speed he bent, +A fortress stately built at last they see, +Bout which a muddy stinking lake there went, +There they arrived when Titan went to rest +His weary limbs in night’s untroubled nest. + +XXIX +The courier gave the fort a warning blast; +The drawbridge was let down by them within: +“If thou a Christian be,” quoth he, “thou mayest +Till Phoebus shine again, here take thine inn, +The County of Cosenza, three days past, +This castle from the Turks did nobly win.” +The prince beheld the piece, which site and art +Impregnable had made on every part. + +XXX +He feared within a pile so fortified +Some secret treason or enchantment lay, +But had he known even there he should have died, +Yet should his looks no sign of fear betray; +For wheresoever will or chance him guide, +His strong victorious hand still made him way: +Yet for the combat he must shortly make, +No new adventures list he undertake. + +XXXI +Before the castle, in a meadow plain +Beside the bridge’s end, he stayed and stood, +Nor was entreated by the speeches vain +Of his false guide, to pass beyond the flood. +Upon the bridge appeared a warlike swain, +From top to toe all clad in armor good, +Who brandishing a broad and cutting sword, +Thus threatened death with many an idle word. + +XXXII +“O thou, whom chance or will brings to the soil, +Where fair Armida doth the sceptre guide, +Thou canst not fly, of arms thyself despoil, +And let thy hands with iron chains be tied; +Enter and rest thee from thy weary toil. +Within this dungeon shalt thou safe abide, +And never hope again to see the day, +Or that thy hair for age shall turn to gray; + +XXXIII +“Except thou swear her valiant knights to aid +Against those traitors of the Christian crew.” +Tancred at this discourse a little stayed, +His arms, his gesture, and his voice he knew: +It was Rambaldo, who for that false maid +Forsook his country and religion true, +And of that fort defender chief became, +And those vile customs stablished in the same. + +XXXIV +The warrior answered, blushing red for shame, +“Cursed apostate, and ungracious wight, +I am that Tancred who defend the name +Of Christ, and have been aye his faithful knight; +His rebel foes can I subdue and tame, +As thou shalt find before we end this fight; +And thy false heart cleft with this vengeful sword, +Shall feel the ire of thy forsaken Lord.” + +XXXV +When that great name Rambaldo’s ears did fill, +He shook for fear and looked pale for dread, +Yet proudly said, “Tancred, thy hap was ill +To wander hither where thou art but dead, +Where naught can help, thy courage, strength and skill; +To Godfrey will I send thy cursed head, +That he may see, how for Armida’s sake, +Of him and of his Christ a scorn I make.” + +XXXVI +This said, the day to sable night was turned, +That scant one could another’s arms descry, +But soon an hundred lamps and torches burned, +That cleared all the earth and all the sky; +The castle seemed a stage with lights adorned, +On which men play some pompous tragedy; +Within a terrace sat on high the queen, +And heard, and saw, and kept herself unseen. + +XXXVII +The noble baron whet his courage hot, +And busked him boldly to the dreadful fight; +Upon his horse long while he tarried not, +Because on foot he saw the Pagan knight, +Who underneath his trusty shield was got, +His sword was drawn, closed was his helmet bright, +Gainst whom the prince marched on a stately pace, +Wrath in his voice, rage in his eyes and face. + +XXXVIII +His foe, his furious charge not well abiding, +Traversed his ground, and stated here and there, +But he, though faint and weary both with riding, +Yet followed fast and still oppressed him near, +And on what side he felt Rambaldo sliding, +On that his forces most employed were; +Now at his helm, not at his hauberk bright, +He thundered blows, now at his face and sight. + +XXXIX +Against those members battery chief he maketh, +Wherein man’s life keeps chiefest residence; +At his proud threats the Gascoign warrior quaketh, +And uncouth fear appalled every sense, +To nimble shifts the knight himself betaketh, +And skippeth here and there for his defence: +Now with his rage, now with his trusty blade, +Against his blows he good resistance made. + +XL +Yet no such quickness for defence he used, +As did the prince to work him harm and scathe; +His shield was cleft in twain, his helmet bruised, +And in his blood his other arms did bathe; +On him he heaped blows, with thrusts confused, +And more or less each stroke annoyed him hath; +He feared, and in his troubled bosom strove +Remorse of conscience, shame, disdain and love. + +XLI +At last so careless foul despair him made, +He meant to prove his fortune ill or good, +His shield cast down, he took his helpless blade +In both his hands, which yet had drawn no blood, +And with such force upon the prince he laid, +That neither plate nor mail the blow withstood, +The wicked steel seized deep in his right side, +And with his streaming blood his bases dyed: + +XLII +Another stroke he lent him on the brow, +So great that loudly rung the sounding steel; +Yet pierced he not the helmet with the blow, +Although the owner twice or thrice did reel. +The prince, whose looks disdainful anger show, +Now meant to use his puissance every deal, +He shaked his head and crashed his teeth for ire, +His lips breathed wrath, eyes sparkled shining fire. + +XLIII +The Pagan wretch no longer could sustain +The dreadful terror of his fierce aspect, +Against the threatened blow he saw right plain +No tempered armor could his life protect, +He leapt aside, the stroke fell down in vain, +Against a pillar near a bridge erect. +Thence flaming fire and thousand sparks outstart, +And kill with fear the coward Pagan’s heart. + +XLIV +Toward the bridge the fearful Paynim fled, +And in swift flight, his hope of life reposed; +Himself fast after Lord Tancredi sped, +And now in equal pace almost they closed, +When all the burning lamps extinguished +The shining fort his goodly splendor losed, +And all those stars on heaven’s blue face that shone +With Cynthia’s self, dispeared were and gone. + +XLV +Amid those witchcrafts and that ugly shade, +No further could the prince pursue the chase, +Nothing he saw, yet forward still he made, +With doubtful steps, and ill assured pace; +At last his foot upon a threshold trad, +And ere he wist, he entered had the place; +With ghastly noise the door-leaves shut behind, +And closed him fast in prison dark and blind. + +XLVI +As in our seas in the Commachian Bay, +A silly fish, with streams enclosed, striveth, +To shun the fury and avoid the sway +Wherewith the current in that whirlpool driveth, +Yet seeketh all in vain, but finds no way +Out of that watery prison, where she diveth: +For with such force there be the tides in brought, +There entereth all that will, thence issueth naught: + +XLVII +This prison so entrapped that valiant knight; +Of which the gate was framed by subtle train, +To close without the help of human wight, +So sure none could undo the leaves again; +Against the doors he bended all his might, +But all his forces were employed in vain, +At last a voice gan to him loudly call, +“Yield thee,” quoth it, “thou art Armida’s thrall.” + +XLVIII +“Within this dungeon buried shalt thou spend +The res’due of thy woful days and years;” +The champion list not more with words contend, +But in his heart kept close his griefs and fears, +He blamed love, chance gan he reprehend, +And gainst enchantment huge complaints he rears. +“It were small loss,” softly he thus begun, +“To lose the brightness of the shining sun; + +XLIX +“But I, alas, the golden beam forego +Of my far brighter sun; nor can I say +If these poor eyes shall e’er be blessed so, +As once again to view that shining ray:” +Then thought he on his proud Circassian foe, +And said, “Ah! how shall I perform that fray? +He, and the world with him, will Tancred blame, +This is my grief, my fault, mine endless shame.” + +L +While those high spirits of this champion good, +With love and honor’s care are thus oppressed, +While he torments himself, Argantes wood, +Waxed weary of his bed and of his rest, +Such hate of peace, and such desire of blood, +Such thirst of glory, boiled in his breast; +That though he scant could stir or stand upright, +Yet longed he for the appointed day to fight. + +LI +The night which that expected day forewent, +Scantly the Pagan closed his eyes to sleep, +He told how night her sliding hours spent, +And rose ere springing day began to peep; +He called for armor, which incontinent +Was brought by him that used the same to keep, +That harness rich old Aladine him gave, +A worthy present for a champion brave. + +LII +He donned them on, not long their riches eyed, +Nor did he aught with so great weight incline, +His wonted sword upon his thigh he tied, +The blade was old and tough, of temper fine. +As when a comet far and wide descried, +In scorn of Phoebus midst bright heaven doth shine, +And tidings sad of death and mischief brings +To mighty lords, to monarchs, and to kings: + +LIII +So shone the Pagan in bright armor clad, +And rolled his eyes great swollen with ire and blood, +His dreadful gestures threatened horror sad, +And ugly death upon his forehead stood; +Not one of all his squires the courage had +To approach their master in his angry mood, +Above his head he shook his naked blade, +And gainst the subtle air vain battle made. + +LIV +“The Christian thief,” quoth he, “that was so bold +To combat me in hard and single fight, +Shall wounded fall inglorious on the mould, +His locks with clods of blood and dust bedight, +And living shall with watery eyes behold +How from his back I tear his harness bright, +Nor shall his dying words me so entreat, +But that I’ll give his flesh to dogs for meat.” + +LV +Like as a bull when, pricked with jealousy, +He spies the rival of his hot desire, +Through all the fields doth bellow, roar and cry, +And with his thundering voice augments his ire, +And threatening battle to the empty sky, +Tears with his horn each tree, plant, bush and brier, +And with his foot casts up the sand on height, +Defying his strong foe to deadly fight: + +LVI +Such was the Pagan’s fury, such his cry. +A herald called he then, and thus he spake; +“Go to the camp, and in my name, defy +The man that combats for his Jesus’ sake;” +This said, upon his steed he mounted high, +And with him did his noble prisoner take, +The town he thus forsook, and on the green +He ran, as mad or frantic he had been. + +LVII +A bugle small he winded loud and shrill, +That made resound the fields and valleys near, +Louder than thunder from Olympus hill +Seemed that dreadful blast to all that hear; +The Christian lords of prowess, strength and skill, +Within the imperial tent assembled were, +The herald there in boasting terms defied +Tancredi first, and all that durst beside. + +LVIII +With sober chear Godfredo look’d about, +And viewed at leisure every lord and knight; +But yet for all his looks not one stepped out, +With courage bold, to undertake the fight: +Absent were all the Christian champions stout, +No news of Tancred since his secret flight; +Boemond far off, and banished from the crew +Was that strong prince who proud Gernando slew: + +LIX +And eke those ten which chosen were by lot, +And all the worthies of the camp beside, +After Armida false were followed hot, +When night were come their secret flight to hide; +The rest their hands and hearts that trusted not, +Blushed for shame, yet silent still abide; +For none there was that sought to purchase fame +In so great peril, fear exiled shame. + +LX +The angry duke their fear discovered plain, +By their pale looks and silence from each part, +And as he moved was with just disdain, +These words he said, and from his seat upstart: +“Unworthy life I judge that coward swain +To hazard it even now that wants the heart, +When this vile Pagan with his glorious boast +Dishonors and defies Christ’s sacred host. + +LXI +“But let my camp sit still in peace and rest, +And my life’s hazard at their ease behold. +Come bring me here my fairest arms and best;” +And they were brought sooner than could be told. +But gentle Raymond in his aged breast, +Who had mature advice, and counsel old, +Than whom in all the camp were none or few +Of greater might, before Godfredo drew, + +LXII +And gravely said, “Ah, let it not betide, +On one man’s hand to venture all this host! +No private soldier thou, thou art our guide, +If thou miscarry, all our hope were lost, +By thee must Babel fall, and all her pride; +Of our true faith thou art the prop and post, +Rule with thy sceptre, conquer with thy word, +Let others combat make with spear and sword. + +LXIII +“Let me this Pagan’s glorious pride assuage, +These aged arms can yet their weapons use, +Let others shun Bellona’s dreadful rage, +These silver locks shall not Raymondo scuse: +Oh that I were in prime of lusty age, +Like you that this adventure brave refuse, +And dare not once lift up your coward eyes, +Gainst him that you and Christ himself defies! + +LXIV +“Or as I was when all the lords of fame +And Germain princes great stood by to view, +In Conrad’s court, the second of that name, +When Leopold in single fight I slew; +A greater praise I reaped by the same, +So strong a foe in combat to subdue, +Than he should do who all alone should chase +Or kill a thousand of these Pagans base. + +LXV +“Within these arms, had I that strength again, +This boasting Paynim had not lived till now, +Yet in this breast doth courage still remain; +For age or years these members shall not bow; +And if I be in this encounter slain, +Scotfree Argantes shall not scape, I vow; +Give me mine arms, this battle shall with praise +Augment mine honor, got in younger days.” + +LXVI +The jolly baron old thus bravely spake, +His words are spurs to virtue; every knight +That seemed before to tremble and to quake, +Now talked bold, example hath such might; +Each one the battle fierce would undertake, +Now strove they all who should begin the fight; +Baldwin and Roger both, would combat fain, +Stephen, Guelpho, Gernier and the Gerrards twain; + +LXVII +And Pyrrhus, who with help of Boemond’s sword +Proud Antioch by cunning sleight opprest; +The battle eke with many a lowly word, +Ralph, Rosimond, and Eberard request, +A Scotch, an Irish, and an English lord, +Whose lands the sea divides far from the rest, +And for the fight did likewise humbly sue, +Edward and his Gildippes, lovers true. + +LXVIII +But Raymond more than all the rest doth sue +Upon that Pagan fierce to wreak his ire, +Now wants he naught of all his armors due +Except his helm that shone like flaming fire. +To whom Godfredo thus; “O mirror true +Of antique worth! thy courage doth inspire +New strength in us, of Mars in thee doth shine +The art, the honor and the discipline. + +LXIX +“If ten like thee of valor and of age, +Among these legions I could haply find, +I should the best of Babel’s pride assuage, +And spread our faith from Thule to furthest Inde; +But now I pray thee calm thy valiant rage, +Reserve thyself till greater need us bind, +And let the rest each one write down his name, +And see whom Fortune chooseth to this game,— + +LXX +“Or rather see whom God’s high judgement taketh, +To whom is chance, and fate, and fortune slave.” +Raymond his earnest suit not yet forsaketh, +His name writ with the residue would he have, +Godfrey himself in his bright helmet shaketh +The scrolls, with names of all the champions brave: +They drew, and read the first whereon they hit, +Wherein was “Raymond, Earl of Tholouse,” writ. + +LXXI +His name with joy and mighty shouts they bless; +The rest allow his choice, and fortune praise, +New vigor blushed through those looks of his; +It seemed he now resumed his youthful days, +Like to a snake whose slough new changed is, +That shines like gold against the sunny rays: +But Godfrey most approved his fortune high, +And wished him honor, conquest, victory. + +LXXII +Then from his side he took his noble brand, +And giving it to Raymond, thus he spake: +“This is the sword wherewith in Saxon land, +The great Rubello battle used to make, +From him I took it, fighting hand to hand, +And took his life with it, and many a lake +Of blood with it I have shed since that day, +With thee God grant it proves as happy may.” + +LXXIII +Of these delays meanwhile impatient, +Argantes threateneth loud and sternly cries, +“O glorious people of the Occident! +Behold him here that all your host defies: +Why comes not Tancred, whose great hardiment, +With you is prized so dear? Pardie he lies +Still on his pillow, and presumes the night +Again may shield him from my power and might. + +LXXIV +“Why then some other come, by band and band, +Come all, come forth on horseback, come on foot, +If not one man dares combat hand to hand, +In all the thousands of so great a rout: +See where the tomb of Mary’s Son doth stand, +March thither, warriors hold, what makes you doubt? +Why run you not, there for your sins to weep +Or to what greater need these forces keep?” + +LXXV +Thus scorned by that heathen Saracine +Were all the soldiers of Christ’s sacred name: +Raymond, while others at his words repine, +Burst forth in rage, he could not bear this shame: +For fire of courage brighter far doth shine +If challenges and threats augment the same; +So that, upon his steed he mounted light, +Which Aquilino for his swiftness hight. + +LXXVI +This jennet was by Tagus bred; for oft +The breeder of these beasts to war assigned, +When first on trees burgeon the blossoms soft +Pricked forward with the sting of fertile kind, +Against the air casts up her head aloft +And gathereth seed so from the fruitful wind +And thus conceiving of the gentle blast, +A wonder strange and rare, she foals at last. + +LXXVII +And had you seen the beast, you would have said +The light and subtile wind his father was; +For if his course upon the sands he made +No sign was left what way the beast did pass; +Or if he menaged were, or if he played, +He scantly bended down the tender grass: +Thus mounted rode the Earl, and as he went, +Thus prayed, to Heaven his zealous looks upbent. + +LXXVIII +“O Lord, that diddest save, keep and defend +Thy servant David from Goliath’s rage, +And broughtest that huge giant to his end, +Slain by a faithful child of tender age; +Like grace, O Lord, like mercy now extend! +Let me this vile blasphemous pride assuage, +That all the world may to thy glory know, +Old men and babes thy foes can overthrow!” + +LXXIX +Thus prayed the County, and his prayers dear +Strengthened with zeal, with godliness and faith, +Before the throne of that great Lord appear, +In whose sweet grace is life, death in his wrath, +Among his armies bright and legions clear, +The Lord an angel good selected hath, +To whom the charge was given to guard the knight, +And keep him safe from that fierce Pagan’s might. + +LXXX +The angel good, appointed for the guard +Of noble Raymond from his tender eild, +That kept him then, and kept him afterward, +When spear and sword he able was to wield, +Now when his great Creator’s will he heard, +That in this fight he should him chiefly shield, +Up to a tower set on a rock he flies, +Where all the heavenly arms and weapons lies: + +LXXXI +There stands the lance wherewith great Michael slew +The aged dragon in a bloody fight, +There are the dreadful thunders forged new, +With storms and plagues that on poor sinners light; +The massy trident mayest thou pendant view +There on a golden pin hung up on height, +Wherewith sometimes he smites this solid land, +And throws down towns and towers thereon which stand. + +LXXXII +Among the blessed weapons there which stands +Upon a diamond shield his looks he bended, +So great that it might cover all the lands, +Twixt Caucasus and Atlas hills extended; +With it the lord’s dear flocks and faithful bands, +The holy kings and cities are defended, +The sacred angel took this target sheen, +And by the Christian champion stood unseen. + +LXXXIII +But now the walls and turrets round about, +Both young and old with many thousands fill; +The king Clorinda sent and her brave rout, +To keep the field, she stayed upon the hill: +Godfrey likewise some Christian bands sent out +Which armed, and ranked in good array stood still, +And to their champions empty let remain +Twixt either troop a large and spacious plain. + +LXXXIV +Argantes looked for Tancredi bold, +But saw an uncouth foe at last appear, +Raymond rode on, and what he asked him, told, +Better by chance, “Tancred is now elsewhere, +Yet glory not of that, myself behold +Am come prepared, and bid thee battle here, +And in his place, or for myself to fight, +Lo, here I am, who scorn thy heathenish might.” + +LXXXV +The Pagan cast a scornful smile and said, +“But where is Tancred, is he still in bed? +His looks late seemed to make high heaven afraid; +But now for dread he is or dead or fled; +But whe’er earth’s centre or the deep sea made +His lurking hole, it should not save his head.” +“Thou liest,” he says, “to say so brave a knight +Is fled from thee, who thee exceeds in might.” + +LXXXVI +The angry Pagan said, “I have not spilt +My labor then, if thou his place supply, +Go take the field, and let’s see how thou wilt +Maintain thy foolish words and that brave lie;” +Thus parleyed they to meet in equal tilt, +Each took his aim at other’s helm on high, +Even in the fight his foe good Raymond hit, +But shaked him not, he did so firmly sit. + +LXXXVII +The fierce Circassian missed of his blow, +A thing which seld befell the man before, +The angel, by unseen, his force did know, +And far awry the poignant weapon bore, +He burst his lance against the sand below, +And bit his lips for rage, and cursed and swore, +Against his foe returned he swift as wind, +Half mad in arms a second match to find. + +LXXXVIII +Like to a ram that butts with horned head, +So spurred he forth his horse with desperate race: +Raymond at his right hand let slide his steed, +And as he passed struck at the Pagan’s face; +He turned again, the earl was nothing dread, +Yet stept aside, and to his rage gave place, +And on his helm with all his strength gan smite, +Which was so hard his courtlax could not bite. + +LXXXIX +The Saracen employed his art and force +To grip his foe within his mighty arms, +But he avoided nimbly with his horse, +He was no prentice in those fierce alarms, +About him made he many a winding course, +No strength, nor sleight the subtle warrior harms, +His nimble steed obeyed his ready hand, +And where he stept no print left in the sand. + +XC +As when a captain doth besiege some hold, +Set in a marsh or high up on a hill, +And trieth ways and wiles a thousandfold, +To bring the piece subjected to his will; +So fared the County with the Pagan bold; +And when he did his head and breast none ill, +His weaker parts he wisely gan assail, +And entrance searched oft ’twixt mail and mail. + +XCI +At last he hit him on a place or twain, +That on his arms the red blood trickled down, +And yet himself untouched did remain, +No nail was broke, no plume cut from his crown; +Argantes raging spent his strength in vain, +Waste were his strokes, his thrusts were idle thrown, +Yet pressed he on, and doubled still his blows, +And where he hits he neither cares nor knows. + +XCII +Among a thousand blows the Saracine +At last struck one, when Raymond was so near, +That not the swiftness of his Aquiline +Could his dear lord from that huge danger bear: +But lo, at hand unseen was help divine, +Which saves when worldly comforts none appear, +The angel on his targe received that stroke, +And on that shield Argantes’ sword was broke. + +XCIII +The sword was broke, therein no wonder lies +If earthly tempered metal could not hold +Against that target forged above the skies, +Down fell the blade in pieces on the mould; +The proud Circassian scant believed his eyes, +Though naught were left him but the hilts of gold, +And full of thoughts amazed awhile he stood, +Wondering the Christian’s armor was so good. + +XCIV +The brittle web of that rich sword he thought, +Was broke through hardness of the County’s shield; +And so thought Raymond, who discovered naught +What succor Heaven did for his safety yield: +But when he saw the man gainst whom he fought +Unweaponed, still stood he in the field; +His noble heart esteemed the glory light, +At such advantage if he slew the knight. + +XCV +“Go fetch,” he would have said, “another blade,” +When in his heart a better thought arose, +How for Christ’s glory he was champion made, +How Godfrey had him to this combat chose, +The army’s honor on his shoulder laid +To hazards new he list not that expose; +While thus his thoughts debated on the case, +The hilts Argantes hurled at his face. + +XCVI +And forward spurred his mounture fierce withal, +Within his arms longing his foe to strain, +Upon whose helm the heavy blow did fall, +And bent well-nigh the metal to his brain: +But he, whose courage was heroical, +Leapt by, and makes the Pagan’s onset vain, +And wounds his hand, which he outstretched saw, +Fiercer than eagles’ talon, lions’ paw. + +XCVII +Now here, now there, on every side he rode, +With nimble speed, and spurred now out, now in, +And as he went and came still laid on load +Where Lord Argantes’ arms were weak and thin; +All that huge force which in his arms abode, +His wrath, his ire, his great desire to win, +Against his foe together all he bent, +And heaven and fortune furthered his intent. + +XCVIII +But he, whose courage for no peril fails, +Well armed, and better hearted, scorns his power. +Like a tall ship when spent are all her sails, +Which still resists the rage of storm and shower, +Whose mighty ribs fast bound with bands and nails, +Withstand fierce Neptune’s wrath, for many an hour, +And yields not up her bruised keel to winds, +In whose stern blast no ruth nor grace she finds: + +XCIX +Argantes such thy present danger was, +When Satan stirred to aid thee at thy need, +In human shape he forged an airy mass, +And made the shade a body seem indeed; +Well might the spirit for Clorinda pass, +Like her it was, in armor and in weed, +In stature, beauty, countenance and face, +In looks, in speech, in gesture, and in pace. + +C +And for the spirit should seem the same indeed, +From where she was whose show and shape it had, +Toward the wall it rode with feigned speed, +Where stood the people all dismayed and sad, +To see their knight of help have so great need, +And yet the law of arms all help forbad. +There in a turret sat a soldier stout +To watch, and at a loop-hole peeped out; + +CI +The spirit spake to him, called Oradine, +The noblest archer then that handled bow, +“O Oradine,” quoth she, “who straight as line +Can’st shoot, and hit each mark set high or low, +If yonder knight, alas! be slain in fine, +As likest is, great ruth it were you know, +And greater shame, if his victorious foe +Should with his spoils triumphant homeward go. + +CII +“Now prove thy skill, thine arrow’s sharp head dip +In yonder thievish Frenchman’s guilty blood, +I promise thee thy sovereign shall not slip +To give thee large rewards for such a good;” +Thus said the spirit; the man did laugh and skip +For hope of future gain, nor longer stood, +But from his quiver huge a shaft he hent, +And set it in his mighty bow new bent, + +CIII +Twanged the string, out flew the quarrel long, +And through the subtle air did singing pass, +It hit the knight the buckles rich among, +Wherewith his precious girdle fastened was, +It bruised them and pierced his hauberk strong, +Some little blood down trickled on the grass; +Light was the wound; the angel by unseen, +The sharp head blunted of the weapon keen. + +CIV +Raymond drew forth the shaft, as much behoved, +And with the steel, his blood out streaming came, +With bitter words his foe he then reproved, +For breaking faith, to his eternal shame. +Godfrey, whose careful eyes from his beloved +Were never turned, saw and marked the same, +And when he viewed the wounded County bleed, +He sighed, and feared, more perchance than need; + +CV +And with his words, and with his threatening eyes, +He stirred his captains to revenge that wrong; +Forthwith the spurred courser forward hies, +Within their rests put were their lances long, +From either side a squadron brave out flies, +And boldly made a fierce encounter strong, +The raised dust to overspread begun +Their shining arms, and far more shining sun. + +CVI +Of breaking spears, of ringing helm and shield, +A dreadful rumor roared on every side, +There lay a horse, another through the field +Ran masterless, dismounted was his guide; +Here one lay dead, there did another yield, +Some sighed, some sobbed, some prayed, and some cried; +Fierce was the fight, and longer still it lasted, +Fiercer and fewer, still themselves they wasted. + +CVII +Argantes nimbly leapt amid the throng, +And from a soldier wrung an iron mace, +And breaking through the ranks and ranges long, +Therewith he passage made himself and place, +Raymond he sought, the thickest press among. +To take revenge for late received disgrace, +A greedy wolf he seemed, and would assuage +With Raymond’s blood his hunger and his rage. + +CVIII +The way he found not easy as he would, +But fierce encounters put him oft to pain, +He met Ormanno and Rogero bold, +Of Balnavile, Guy, and the Gerrards twain; +Yet nothing might his rage and haste withhold, +These worthies strove to stop him, but in vain, +With these strong lets increased still his ire, +Like rivers stopped, or closely smouldered fire. + +CIX +He slew Ormanno, and wounded Guy, and laid +Rogero low, among the people slain, +On every side new troops the man invade, +Yet all their blows were waste, their onsets vain, +But while Argantes thus his prizes played, +And seemed alone this skirmish to sustain, +The duke his brother called and thus he spake, +“Go with thy troop, fight for thy Saviour’s sake; + +CX +“There enter in where hottest is the fight, +Thy force against the left wing strongly bend.” +This said, so brave an onset gave the knight, +That many a Paynim bold there made his end: +The Turks too weak seemed to sustain his might, +And could not from his power their lives defend, +Their ensigns rent, and broke was their array, +And men and horse on heaps together lay. + +CXI +O’erthrown likewise away the right wing ran, +Nor was there one again that turned his face, +Save bold Argantes, else fled every man, +Fear drove them thence on heaps, with headlong chase: +He stayed alone, and battle new began, +Five hundred men, weaponed with sword and mace, +So great resistance never could have made, +As did Argantes with his single blade: + +CXII +The strokes of swords and thrusts of many a spear, +The shock of many a joust he long sustained, +He seemed of strength enough this charge to bear, +And time to strike, now here, now there, he gained +His armors broke, his members bruised were, +He sweat and bled, yet courage still he feigned; +But now his foes upon him pressed so fast, +That with their weight they bore him back at last. + +CXIII +His back against this storm at length he turned, +Whose headlong fury bore him backward still, +Not like to one that fled, but one that mourned +Because he did his foes no greater ill, +His threatening eyes like flaming torches burned, +His courage thirsted yet more blood to spill, +And every way and every mean he sought, +To stay his flying mates, but all for naught. + +CXIV +This good he did, while thus he played his part, +His bands and troops at ease, and safe, retired; +Yet coward dread lacks order, fear wants art, +Deaf to attend, commanded or desired. +But Godfrey that perceived in his wise heart, +How his bold knights to victory aspired, +Fresh soldiers sent, to make more quick pursuit, +And help to gather conquest’s precious fruit. + +CXV +But this, alas, was not the appointed day, +Set down by Heaven to end this mortal war: +The western lords this time had borne away +The prize, for which they travelled had so far, +Had not the devils, that saw the sure decay +Of their false kingdom by this bloody war, +At once made heaven and earth with darkness blind, +And stirred up tempests, storms, and blustering wind. + +CXVI +Heaven’s glorious lamp, wrapped in an ugly veil +Of shadows dark, was hid from mortal eye, +And hell’s grim blackness did bright skies assail; +On every side the fiery lightnings fly, +The thunders roar, the streaming rain and hail +Pour down and make that sea which erst was dry. +The tempests rend the oaks and cedars brake, +And make not trees but rocks and mountains shake. + +CXVII +The rain, the lightning, and the raging wind, +Beat in the Frenchmen’s eyes with hideous force, +The soldiers stayed amazed in heart and mind, +The terror such that stopped both man and horse. +Surprised with this evil no way they find, +Whither for succor to direct their course, +But wise Clorinda soon the advantage spied, +And spurring forth thus to her soldiers cried: + +CXVIII +“You hardy men at arms behold,” quoth she, +“How Heaven, how Justice in our aid doth fight, +Our visages are from this tempest free, +Our hands at will may wield our weapons bright, +The fury of this friendly storm you see +Upon the foreheads of our foes doth light, +And blinds their eyes, then let us take the tide, +Come, follow me, good fortune be our guide.” + +CXIX +This said, against her foes on rode the dame, +And turned their backs against the wind and rain; +Upon the French with furious rage she came, +And scorned those idle blows they struck in vain; +Argantes at the instant did the same, +And them who chased him now chased again, +Naught but his fearful back each Christian shows +Against the tempest, and against their blows. + +CXX +The cruel hail, and deadly wounding blade, +Upon their shoulders smote them as they fled, +The blood new spilt while thus they slaughter made, +The water fallen from skies had dyed red, +Among the murdered bodies Pyrrhus laid, +And valiant Raiphe his heart blood there out bled, +The first subdued by strong Argantes’ might, +The second conquered by that virgin knight. + +CXXI +Thus fled the French, and then pursued in chase +The wicked sprites and all the Syrian train: +But gainst their force and gainst their fell menace +Of hail and wind, of tempest and of rain, +Godfrey alone turned his audacious face, +Blaming his barons for their fear so vain, +Himself the camp gate boldly stood to keep, +And saved his men within his trenches deep. + +CXXII +And twice upon Argantes proud he flew, +And beat him backward, maugre all his might, +And twice his thirsty sword he did imbrue, +In Pagan’s blood where thickest was the fight; +At last himself with all his folk withdrew, +And that day’s conquest gave the virgin bright, +Which got, she home retired and all her men, +And thus she chased this lion to his den. + +CXXIII +Yet ceased not the fury and the ire +Of these huge storms, of wind, of rain and hail, +Now was it dark, now shone the lightning fire, +The wind and water every place assail, +No bank was safe, no rampire left entire, +No tent could stand, when beam and cordage fail, +Wind, thunder, rain, all gave a dreadful sound, +And with that music deafed the trembling ground. + + + + +EIGHTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +A messenger to Godfrey sage doth tell +The Prince of Denmark’s valour, death and end: +The Italians, trusting signs untrue too well, +Think their Rinaldo slain: the wicked fiend +Breeds fury in their breasts, their bosoms swell +With ire and hate, and war and strife forth send: +They threaten Godfrey; he prays to the Lord, +And calms their fury with his look and word. + +I +Now were the skies of storms and tempests cleared, +Lord Aeolus shut up his winds in hold, +The silver-mantled morning fresh appeared, +With roses crowned, and buskined high with gold; +The spirits yet which had these tempests reared, +Their malice would still more and more unfold; +And one of them that Astragor was named, +His speeches thus to foul Alecto framed. + +II +“Alecto, see, we could not stop nor stay +The knight that to our foes new tidings brings, +Who from the hands escaped, with life away, +Of that great prince, chief of all Pagan kings: +He comes, the fall of his slain lord to say, +Of death and loss he tells, and such sad things, +Great news he brings, and greatest dangers is, +Bertoldo’s son shall be called home for this. + +III +“Thou knowest what would befall, bestir thee than; +Prevent with craft, what force could not withstand, +Turn to their evil the speeches of the man, +With his own weapon wound Godfredo’s hand; +Kindle debate, infect with poison wan +The English, Switzer, and Italian band, +Great tumult move, make brawls and quarrels rife, +Set all the camp on uproar and at strife. + +IV +“This act beseems thee well, and of the deed +Much may’st thou boast before our lord and king.” +Thus said the sprite. Persuasion small did need, +The monster grants to undertake the thing. +Meanwhile the knight, whose coming thus they dread, +Before the camp his weary limbs doth bring, +And well-nigh breathless, “Warriors bold,” he cried, +“Who shall conduct me to your famous guide?” + +V +An hundred strove the stranger’s guide to be, +To hearken news the knights by heaps assemble, +The man fell lowly down upon his knee, +And kissed the hand that made proud Babel tremble; +“Right puissant lord, whose valiant acts,” quoth he, +“The sands and stars in number best resemble, +Would God some gladder news I might unfold,” +And there he paused, and sighed; then thus he told: + +VI +“Sweno, the King of Denmark’s only heir, +The stay and staff of his declining eild, +Longed to be among these squadrons fair +Who for Christ’s faith here serve with spear and shield; +No weariness, no storms of sea or air, +No such contents as crowns and sceptres yield, +No dear entreaties of so kind a sire, +Could in his bosom quench that glorious fire. + +VII +“He thirsted sore to learn this warlike art +Of thee, great lord and master of the same; +And was ashamed in his noble heart, +That never act he did deserved fame; +Besides, the news and tidings from each part +Of young Rinaldo’s worth and praises came: +But that which most his courage stirred hath, +Is zeal, religion, godliness, and faith. + +VIII +“He hasted forward, then without delay, +And with him took of knights a chosen band, +Directly toward Thrace we took the way, +To Byzance old, chief fortress of that land, +There the Greek monarch gently prayed him stay, +And there an herald sent from you we fand, +How Antioch was won, who first declared, +And how defended nobly afterward. + +IX +“Defended gainst Corbana, valiant knight, +That all the Persian armies had to guide, +And brought so many soldiers bold to fight, +That void of men he left that kingdom wide; +He told thine acts, thy wisdom and thy might, +And told the deeds of many a lord beside, +His speech at length to young Rinaldo passed, +And told his great achievements, first and last: + +X +“And how this noble camp of yours, of late +Besieged had this town, and in what sort, +And how you prayed him to participate +Of the last conquest of this noble fort. +In hardy Sweno opened was the gate +Of worthy anger by this brave report, +So that each hour seemed five years long, +Till he were fighting with these Pagans strong. + +XI +“And while the herald told your fights and frays, +Himself of cowardice reproved he thought, +And him to stay that counsels him, or prays, +He hears not, or, else heard, regardeth naught, +He fears no perils but whilst he delays, +Lest this last work without his help be wrought: +In this his doubt, in this his danger lies, +No hazard else he fears, no peril spies. + +XII +“Thus hasting on, he hasted on his death, +Death that to him and us was fatal guide. +The rising morn appeared yet aneath, +When he and we were armed, and fit to ride, +The nearest way seemed best, o’er hold and heath +We went, through deserts waste, and forests wide, +The streets and ways he openeth as he goes, +And sets each land free from intruding foes. + +XIII +“Now want of food, now dangerous ways we find, +Now open war, now ambush closely laid; +Yet passed we forth, all perils left behind, +Our foes or dead or run away afraid, +Of victory so happy blew the wind, +That careless all the heedless to it made: +Until one day his tents he happed to rear, +To Palestine when we approached near. + +XIV +“There did our scouts return and bring us news, +That dreadful noise of horse and arms they hear, +And that they deemed by sundry signs and shows +There was some mighty host of Pagans near. +At these sad tidings many changed their hues, +Some looked pale for dread, some shook for fear, +Only our noble lord was altered naught, +In look, in face, in gesture, or in thought. + +XV +“But said, ‘A crown prepare you to possess +Of martyrdom, or happy victory; +For this I hope, for that I wish no less, +Of greater merit and of greater glory. +Brethren, this camp will shortly be, I guess, +A temple, sacred to our memory, +To which the holy men of future age, +To view our graves shall come in pilgrimage.’ + +XVI +“This said, he set the watch in order right +To guard the camp, along the trenches deep, +And as he armed was, so every knight +He willed on his back his arms to keep. +Now had the stillness of the quiet night +Drowned all the world in silence and in sleep, +When suddenly we heard a dreadful sound, +Which deafed the earth, and tremble made the ground. + +XVII +“‘Arm, arm,’ they cried; Prince Sweno at the same, +Glistering in shining steel leaped foremost out, +His visage shone, his noble looks did flame, +With kindled brand of courage bold and stout, +When lo, the Pagans to assault us came, +And with huge numbers hemmed us round about, +A forest thick of spears about us grew, +And over us a cloud of arrows flew: + +XVIII +“Uneven the fight, unequal was the fray, +Our enemies were twenty men to one, +On every side the slain and wounded lay +Unseen, where naught but glistering weapons shone: +The number of the dead could no man say, +So was the place with darkness overgone, +The night her mantle black upon its spreads, +Hiding our losses and our valiant deeds. + +XIX +“But hardy Sweno midst the other train, +By his great acts was well descried I wot, +No darkness could his valor’s daylight stain, +Such wondrous blows on every side he smote; +A stream of blood, a bank of bodies slain, +About him made a bulwark, and a mote, +And when soe’er he turned his fatal brand, +Dread in his looks and death sate in his hand. + +XX +“Thus fought we till the morning bright appeared, +And strewed roses on the azure sky, +But when her lamp had night’s thick darkness cleared, +Wherein the bodies dead did buried lie, +Then our sad cries to heaven for grief we reared, +Our loss apparent was, for we descry +How all our camp destroyed was almost, +And all our people well-nigh slain and lost; + +XXI +“Of thousands twain an hundred scant survived. +When Sweno murdered saw each valiant knight, +I know not if his heart in sunder rived +For dear compassion of that woful sight; +He showed no change, but said: ‘Since so deprived +We are of all our friends by chance of fight, +Come follow them, the path to heaven their blood +Marks out, now angels made, of martyrs good.’ + +XXII +“This said, and glad I think of death at hand, +The signs of heavenly joy shone through his eyes, +Of Saracens against a mighty band, +With fearless heart and constant breast he flies; +No steel could shield them from his cutting brand +But whom he hits without recure he dies, +He never struck but felled or killed his foe +And wounded was himself from top to toe. + +XXIII +“Not strength, but courage now, preserved on live +This hardy champion, fortress of our faith, +Strucken he strikes, still stronger more they strive, +The more they hurt him, more he doth them scathe, +When toward him a furious knight gan drive, +Of members huge, fierce looks, and full of wrath, +That with the aid of many a Pagan crew, +After long fight, at last Prince Sweno slew. + +XXIV +“Ah, heavy chance! Down fell the valiant youth, +Nor mongst us all did one so strong appear +As to revenge his death: that this is truth, +By his dear blood and noble bones I swear, +That of my life I had not care nor ruth, +No wounds I shunned, no blows I would off bear, +And had not Heaven my wished end denied, +Even there I should, and willing should, have died. + +XXV +“Alive I fell among my fellows slain, +Yet wounded so that each one thought me dead, +Nor what our foes did since can I explain, +So sore amazed was my heart and head; +But when I opened first mine eyes again, +Night’s curtain black upon the earth was spread, +And through the darkness to my feeble sight, +Appeared the twinkling of a slender light. + +XXVI +“Not so much force or judgement in me lies +As to discern things seen and not mistake, +I saw like them who ope and shut their eyes +By turns, now half asleep, now half awake; +My body eke another torment tries, +My wounds began to smart, my hurts to ache; +For every sore each member pinched was +With night’s sharp air, heaven’s frost and earth’s cold grass. + +XXVII +“But still the light approached near and near, +And with the same a whispering murmur run, +Till at my side arrived both they were, +When I to spread my feeble eyes begun: +Two men behold in vestures long appear, +With each a lamp in hand, who said, ‘O son +In that dear Lord who helps his servants, trust, +Who ere they ask, grants all things to the just.’ + +XXVIII +“This said, each one his sacred blessings flings +Upon my corse, with broad our-stretched hand, +And mumbled hymns and psalms and holy things, +Which I could neither hear nor understand; +‘Arise,’ quoth they, with that as I had wings, +All whole and sound I leaped up from the land. +Oh miracle, sweet, gentle, strange and true! +My limbs new strength received, and vigor new. + +XXIX +“I gazed on them like one whose heart denieth +To think that done, he sees so strangely wrought; +Till one said thus, ‘O thou of little faith, +What doubts perplex thy unbelieving thought? +Each one of us a living body hath, +We are Christ’s chosen servants, fear us naught, +Who to avoid the world’s allurements vain, +In wilful penance, hermits poor remain. + +XXX +“‘Us messengers to comfort thee elect +That Lord hath sent that rules both heaven and hell; +Who often doth his blessed will effect, +By such weak means, as wonder is to tell; +He will not that this body lie neglect, +Wherein so noble soul did lately dwell +To which again when it uprisen is +It shall united be in lasting bliss. + +XXXI +“‘I say Lord Sweno’s corpse, for which prepared +A tomb there is according to his worth, +By which his honor shall be far declared, +And his just praises spread from south to north:” +But lift thine eyes up to the heavens ward, +Mark yonder light that like the sun shines forth +That shall direct thee with those beams so clear, +To find the body of thy master dear.’ + +XXXII +“With that I saw from Cynthia’s silver face, +Like to a falling star a beam down slide, +That bright as golden line marked out the place, +And lightened with clear streams the forest wide; +So Latmos shone when Phoebe left the chase, +And laid her down by her Endymion’s side, +Such was the light that well discern I could, +His shape, his wounds, his face, though dead, yet bold. + +XXXIII +“He lay not grovelling now, but as a knight +That ever had to heavenly things desire, +So toward heaven the prince lay bolt upright, +Like him that upward still sought to aspire, +His right hand closed held his weapon bright, +Ready to strike and execute his ire, +His left upon his breast was humbly laid, +That men might know, that while he died he prayed. + +XXXIV +“Whilst on his wounds with bootless tears I wept, +That neither helped him, nor eased my care, +One of those aged fathers to him stepped, +And forced his hand that needless weapon spare: +‘This sword,’ quoth he, ‘hath yet good token kept, +That of the Pagans’ blood he drunk his share, +And blusheth still he could not save his lord, +Rich, strong and sharp, was never better sword. + +XXXV +“‘Heaven, therefore, will not, though the prince be slain, +Who used erst to wield this precious brand +That so brave blade unused should remain; +But that it pass from strong to stronger hand, +Who with like force can wield the same again, +And longer shall in grace of fortune stand, +And with the same shall bitter vengeance take +On him that Sweno slew, for Sweno’s sake. + +XXXVI +“‘Great Solyman killed Sweno, Solyman +For Sweno’s sake, upon this sword must die. +Here, take the blade, and with it haste thee than +Thither where Godfrey doth encamped lie, +And fear not thou that any shall or can +Or stop thy way, or lead thy steps awry; +For He that doth thee on this message send, +Thee with His hand shall guide, keep and defend. + +XXXVII +“‘Arrived there it is His blessed will, +With true report that thou declare and tell +The zeal, the strength, the courage and the skill +In thy beloved lord that late did dwell, +How for Christ’s sake he came his blood to spill, +And sample left to all of doing well, +That future ages may admire his deed, +And courage take when his brave end they read. + +XXXVIII +“‘It resteth now, thou know that gentle knight +That of this sword shall be thy master’s heir, +It is Rinaldo young, with whom in might +And martial skill no champion may compare, +Give it to him and say, “The Heavens bright +Of this revenge to him commit the care.” +While thus I listened what this old man said, +A wonder new from further speech us stayed; + +XXXIX +“For there whereas the wounded body lay, +A stately tomb with curious work, behold, +And wondrous art was built out of the clay, +Which, rising round, the carcass did enfold; +With words engraven in the marble gray, +The warrior’s name, his worth and praise that told, +On which I gazing stood, and often read +That epitaph of my dear master dead. + +XL +“‘Among his soldiers,’ quoth the hermit, ‘here +Must Sweno’s corpse remain in marble chest, +While up to heaven are flown their spirits dear, +To live in endless joy forever blest, +His funeral thou hast with many a tear +Accompanied, it’s now high time to rest, +Come be my guest, until the morning ray +Shall light the world again, then take thy way.’ + +XLI +“This said, he led me over holts and hags, +Through thorns and bushes scant my legs I drew +Till underneath a heap of stones and crags +At last he brought me to a secret mew; +Among the bears, wild boars, the wolves and stags, +There dwelt he safe with his disciple true, +And feared no treason, force, nor hurt at all, +His guiltless conscience was his castle’s wall. + +XLII +“My supper roots; my bed was moss and leaves; +But weariness in little rest found ease: +But when the purple morning night bereaves +Of late usurped rule on lands and seas, +His loathed couch each wakeful hermit leaves, +To pray rose they, and I, for so they please, +I congee took when ended was the same, +And hitherward, as they advised me, came.” + +XLIII +The Dane his woful tale had done, when thus +The good Prince Godfrey answered him, “Sir knight, +Thou bringest tidings sad and dolorous, +For which our heavy camp laments of right, +Since so brave troops and so dear friends to us, +One hour hath spent, in one unlucky fight; +And so appeared hath thy master stout, +As lightning doth, now kindled, now quenched out. + +XLIV +“But such a death and end exceedeth all +The conquests vain of realms, or spoils of gold, +Nor aged Rome’s proud stately capital, +Did ever triumph yet like theirs behold; +They sit in heaven on thrones celestial, +Crowned with glory, for their conquest bold, +Where each his hurts I think to other shows, +And glories in those bloody wounds and blows. + +XLV +“But thou who hast part of thy race to run, +With haps and hazards of this world ytost, +rejoice, for those high honors they have won, +Which cannot be by chance or fortune crossed: +But for thou askest for Bertoldo’s son, +Know, that he wandereth, banished from this host, +And till of him new tidings some man tell, +Within this camp I deem it best thou dwell.” + +XLVI +These words of theirs in many a soul renewed +The sweet remembrance of fair Sophia’s child, +Some with salt tears for him their cheeks bedewed, +Lest evil betide him mongst the Pagans wild, +And every one his valiant prowess showed, +And of his battles stories long compiled, +Telling the Dane his acts and conquests past, +Which made his ears amazed, his heart aghast. + +XLVII +Now when remembrance of the youth had wrought +A tender pity in each softened mind, +Behold returned home with all they caught +The bands that were to forage late assigned, +And with them in abundance great they brought +Both flocks and herds of every sort and kind. +And corn, although not much, and hay to feed +Their noble steeds and coursers when they need. + +XLVIII +They also brought of misadventure sad +Tokens and signs, seemed too apparent true, +Rinaldo’s armor, frushed and hacked they had, +Oft pierced through, with blood besmeared new; +About the camp, for always rumors bad +Are farthest spread, these woful tidings flew. +Thither assembled straight both high and low, +Longing to see what they were loth to know. + +XLIX +His heavy hauberk was both seen and known, +And his brand shield, wherein displayed flies +The bird that proves her chickens for her own +By looking gainst the sun with open eyes; +That shield was to the Pagans often shown, +In many a hard and hardy enterprise, +But now with many a gash and many a stroke +They see, and sigh to see it, frushed and broke. + +L +While all his soldiers whispered under hand, +And here and there the fault and cause do lay, +Godfrey before him called Aliprand +Captain of those that brought of late this prey, +A man who did on points of virtue stand, +Blameless in words, and true whate’er he say, +“Say,” quoth the duke, “where you this armor had, +Hide not the truth, but tell it good or bad.” + +LI +He answered him, “As far from hence think I +As on two days a speedy post well rideth, +To Gaza-ward a little plain doth lie, +Itself among the steepy hills which hideth, +Through it slow falling from the mountains high, +A rolling brook twixt bush and bramble glideth, +Clad with thick shade of boughs of broad-leaved treen, +Fit place for men to lie in wait unseen. + +LII +“Thither, to seek some flocks or herds, we went +Perchance close hid under the green-wood shaw, +And found the springing grass with blood besprent, +A warrior tumbled in his blood we saw, +His arms though dusty, bloody, hacked and rent, +Yet well we knew, when near the corse we draw; +To which, to view his face, in vain I started, +For from his body his fair head was parted; + +LIII +“His right hand wanted eke, with many a wound +The trunk through pierced was from back to breast, +A little by, his empty helm we found +The silver eagle shining on his crest; +To spy at whom to ask we gazed round, +A churl then toward us his steps addressed, +But when us armed by the corse he spied, +He ran away his fearful face to hide: + +LIV +“But we pursued him, took him, spake him fair, +Till comforted at last he answer made, +How that, the day before, he saw repair +A band of soldiers from that forest shade, +Of whom one carried by the golden hair +A head but late cut off with murdering blade, +The face was fair and young, and on the chin +No sign of heard to bud did yet begin. + +LV +“And how in sindal wrapt away he bore +That head with him hung at his saddle-bow. +And how the murtherers by the arms they wore, +For soldiers of our camp he well did know; +The carcass I disarmed and weeping sore, +Because I guessed who should that harness owe, +Away I brought it, but first order gave, +That noble body should be laid in grave. + +LVI +“But if it be his trunk whom I believe, +A nobler tomb his worth deserveth well.” +This said, good Aliprando took his leave, +Of certain troth he had no more to tell, +Sore sighed the duke, so did these news him grieve, +Fears in his heart, doubts in his bosom dwell, +He yearned to know, to find and learn the truth, +And punish would them that had slain the youth. + +LVII +But now the night dispread her lazy wings +O’er the broad fields of heaven’s bright wilderness, +Sleep, the soul’s rest, and ease of careful things, +Buried in happy peace both more and less, +Thou Argillan alone, whom sorrow stings, +Still wakest, musing on great deeds I guess, +Nor sufferest in thy watchful eyes to creep +The sweet repose of mild and gentle sleep. + +LVIII +This man was strong of limb, and all his ‘says +Were bold, of ready tongue, and working sprite, +Near Trento born, bred up in brawls and frays, +In jars, in quarrels, and in civil fight, +For which exiled, the hills and public ways +He filled with blood, and robberies day and night +Until to Asia’s wars at last he came, +And boldly there he served, and purchased fame. + +LIX +He closed his eyes at last when day drew near. +Yet slept he not, but senseless lay opprest +With strange amazedness and sudden fear +Which false Alecto breathed in his breast, +His working powers within deluded were, +Stone still he quiet lay, yet took no rest, +For to his thought the fiend herself presented, +And with strange visions his weak brain tormented. + +LX +A murdered body huge beside him stood, +Of head and right hand both but lately spoiled, +His left hand bore the head, whose visage good, +Both pale and wan, with dust and gore defoiled, +Yet spake, though dead, with whose sad words the blood +Forth at his lips in huge abundance boiled, +“Fly, Argillan, from this false camp fly far, +Whose guide, a traitor; captains, murderers are. + +LXI +“Godfrey hath murdered me by treason vile, +What favor then hope you my trusty friends? +His villain heart is full of fraud and guile, +To your destruction all his thoughts he bends, +Yet if thou thirst of praise for noble stile, +If in thy strength thou trust, thy strength that ends +All hard assays, fly not, first with his blood +Appease my ghost wandering by Lethe flood; + +LXII +“I will thy weapon whet, inflame thine ire, +Arm thy right hand, and strengthen every part.” +This said; even while she spake she did inspire +With fury, rage, and wrath his troubled heart: +The man awaked, and from his eyes like fire +The poisoned sparks of headstrong madness start, +And armed as he was, forth is he gone, +And gathered all the Italian bands in one. + +LXIII +He gathered them where lay the arms that late +Were good Rinaldo’s; then with semblance stout +And furious words his fore-conceived hate +In bitter speeches thus he vomits out; +“Is not this people barbarous and ingrate, +In whom truth finds no place, faith takes no rout? +Whose thirst unquenched is of blood and gold, +Whom no yoke boweth, bridle none can hold. + +LXIV +“So much we suffered have these seven years long, +Under this servile and unworthy yoke, +That thorough Rome and Italy our wrong +A thousand years hereafter shall be spoke: +I count not how Cilicia’s kingdom strong, +Subdued was by Prince Tancredi’s stroke, +Nor how false Baldwin him that land bereaves +Of virtue’s harvest, fraud there reaped the sheaves: + +LXV +“Nor speak I how each hour, at every need, +Quick, ready, resolute at all assays, +With fire and sword we hasted forth with speed, +And bore the brunt of all their fights and frays; +But when we had performed and done the deed, +At ease and leisure they divide the preys, +We reaped naught but travel for our toil, +Theirs was the praise, the realms, the gold, the spoil. + +LXVI +“Yet all this season were we willing blind, +Offended unrevenged, wronged but unwroken, +Light griefs could not provoke our quiet mind, +But now, alas! the mortal blow is stroken, +Rinaldo have they slain, and law of kind, +Of arms, of nations, and of high heaven broken, +Why doth not heaven kill them with fire and thunder? +To swallow them why cleaves not earth asunder? + +LXVII +“They have Rinaldo slain, the sword and shield +Of Christ’s true faith, and unrevenged he lies; +Still unrevenged lieth in the field +His noble corpse to feed the crows and pies: +Who murdered him? who shall us certain yield? +Who sees not that, although he wanted eyes? +Who knows not how the Italian chivalry +Proud Godfrey and false Baldwin both envy + +LXVIII +“What need we further proof? Heaven, heaven, I swear, +Will not consent herein we be beguiled, +This night I saw his murdered sprite appear, +Pale, sad and wan, with wounds and blood defiled, +A spectacle full both of grief and fear; +Godfrey, for murdering him, the ghost reviled. +I saw it was no dream, before mine eyes, +Howe’er I look, still, still methinks it flies. + +LXIX +“What shall we do? shall we be governed still +By this false hand, contaminate with blood? +Or else depart and travel forth, until +To Euphrates we come, that sacred flood, +Where dwells a people void of martial skill, +Whose cities rich, whose land is fat and good, +Where kingdoms great we may at ease provide, +Far from these Frenchmen’s malice, from their pride; + +LXX +“Then let us go, and no revengement take +For this brave knight, though it lie in our power: +No, no, that courage rather newly wake, +Which never sleeps in fear and dread one hour, +And this pestiferous serpent, poisoned snake, +Of all our knights that hath destroyed the flower, +First let us slay, and his deserved end +Example make to him that kills his friend. + +LXXI +“I will, I will, if your courageous force, +Dareth so much as it can well perform, +Tear out his cursed heart without remorse, +The nest of treason false and guile enorm.” +Thus spake the angry knight with headlong course; +The rest him followed with a furious storm, +“Arm, arm.” they cried, to arms the soldiers ran. +And as they run, “Arm, arm,” cried every man. + +LXXII +Mongst them Alecto strowed wasteful fire, +Envenoming the hearts of most and least, +Folly, disdain, madness, strife, rancor, ire, +Thirst to shed blood, in every breast increased, +This ill spread far, and till it set on fire +With rage the Italian lodgings, never ceased, +From thence unto the Switzers’ camp it went, +And last infected every English tent. + +LXXIII +Not public loss of their beloved knight, +Alone stirred up their rage and wrath untamed, +But fore-conceived griefs, and quarrels light, +The ire still nourished, and still inflamed, +Awaked was each former cause of spite, +The Frenchmen cruel and unjust they named, +And with bold threats they made their hatred known, +Hate seld kept close, and oft unwisely shown: + +LXXIV +Like boiling liquor in a seething pot, +That fumeth, swelleth high, and bubbleth fast, +Till o’er the brims among the embers hot, +Part of the broth and of the scum is cast, +Their rage and wrath those few appeased not +In whom of wisdom yet remained some taste, +Camillo, William, Tancred were away, +And all whose greatness might their madness stay. + +LXXV +Now headlong ran to harness in this heat +These furious people, all on heaps confused, +The roaring trumpets battle gan to threat, +As it in time of mortal war is used, +The messengers ran to Godfredo great, +And bade him arm, while on this noise he mused, +And Baldwin first well clad in iron hard, +Stepped to his side, a sure and faithful guard. + +LXXVI +Their murmurs heard, to heaven he lift his een, +As was his wont, to God for aid he fled; +“O Lord, thou knowest this right hand of mine +Abhorred ever civil blood to shed, +Illumine their dark souls with light divine, +Repress their rage, by hellish fury bred, +The innocency of my guiltless mind +Thou knowest, and make these know, with fury blind.” + +LXXVII +Tis said he felt infused in each vein, +A sacred heat from heaven above distilled, +A heat in man that courage could constrain +That his brave look with awful boldness filled. +Well guarded forth he went to meet the train +Of those that would revenge Rinaldo killed; +And though their threats he heard, and saw them bent +To arms on every side, yet on he went. + +LXXVIII +Above his hauberk strong a coat he ware, +Embroidered fair with pearl and richest stone, +His hands were naked, and his face was bare, +Wherein a lamp of majesty bright shone; +He shook his golden mace, wherewith he dare +Resist the force of his rebellious foe: +Thus he appeared, and thus he gan them teach, +In shape an angel, and a God in speech: + +LXXIX +“What foolish words? what threats be these I hear? +What noise of arms? who dares these tumults move? +Am I so honored? stand you so in fear? +Where is your late obedience? where your love? +Of Godfrey’s falsehood who can witness bear? +Who dare or will these accusations prove? +Perchance you look I should entreaties bring, +Sue for your favors, or excuse the thing. + +LXXX +“Ah, God forbid these lands should hear or see +Him so disgraced at whose great name they quake; +This sceptre and my noble acts for me +A true defence before the world can make: +Yet for sharp justice governed shall be +With clemency, I will no vengeance take +For this offence, but for Rinaldo’s love, +I pardon you, hereafter wiser prove. + +LXXXI +“But Argillano’s guilty blood shall wash +This stain away, who kindled this debate, +And led by hasty rage and fury rash, +To these disorders first undid the gate;” +While thus he spoke, the lightning beams did flash +Out of his eyes of majesty and state, +That Argillan,—who would have thought it?—shook +For fear and terror, conquered with his look. + +LXXXII +The rest with indiscreet and foolish wrath +Who threatened late with words of shame and pride, +Whose hands so ready were to harm and scath, +And brandished bright swords on every side; +Now hushed and still attend what Godfrey saith, +With shame and fear their bashful looks they hide, +And Argillan they let in chains be bound, +Although their weapons him environed round. + +LXXXIII +So when a lion shakes his dreadful mane, +And beats his tail with courage proud and wroth, +If his commander come, who first took pain +To tame his youth, his lofty crest down goeth, +His threats he feareth, and obeys the rein +Of thralldom base, and serviceage, though loth, +Nor can his sharp teeth nor his armed paws, +Force him rebel against his ruler’s laws. + +LXXXIV +Fame as a winged warrior they beheld, +With semblant fierce and furious look that stood, +And in his left hand had a splendent shield +Wherewith he covered safe their chieftain good, +His other hand a naked sword did wield, +From which distilling fell the lukewarm blood, +The blood pardie of many a realm and town, +Whereon the Lord his wrath had poured down. + +LXXXV +Thus was the tumult, without bloodshed, ended. +Their arms laid down, strife into exile sent. +Godfrey his thoughts to greater actions bended. +And homeward to his rich pavilion went, +For to assault the fortress he intended +Before the second or third day were spent; +Meanwhile his timber wrought he oft surveyed +Whereof his ram and engines great he made. + + + + +NINTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +Alecto false great Solyman doth move +By night the Christians in their tents to kill: +But God who their intents saw from above, +Sends Michael down from his sacred hill: +The spirits foul to hell the angels drove; +The knights delivered from the witch, at will +Destroy the Pagans, scatter all their host: +The Soldan flies when all his bands are lost. + +I +The grisly child of Erebus the grim, +Who saw these tumults done and tempest spent, +Gainst stream of grace who ever strove to swim +And all her thoughts against Heaven’s wisdom bent, +Departed now, bright Titan’s beams were dim +And fruitful lands waxed barren as she went. +She sought the rest of her infernal crew, +New storms to raise, new broils, and tumults new. + +II +She, that well wist her sisters had enticed, +By their false arts, far from the Christian host, +Tancred, Rinaldo, and the rest, best prized +For martial skill, for might esteemed most, +Said, of these discords and these strifes advised, +“Great Solyman, when day his light hath lost, +These Christians shall assail with sudden war, +And kill them all while thus they strive and jar.” + +III +With that where Solyman remained she flew, +And found him out with his Arabian bands, +Great Solyman, of all Christ’s foes untrue, +Boldest of courage, mightiest of his hands, +Like him was none of all that earth-bred crew +That heaped mountains on the Aemonian sands, +Of Turks he sovereign was, and Nice his seat, +Where late he dwelt, and ruled that kingdom great. + +IV +The lands forenenst the Greekish shore he held, +From Sangar’s mouth to crooked Meander’s fall, +Where they of Phrygia, Mysia, Lydia dwelled, +Bithynia’s towns, and Pontus’ cities all: +But when the hearts of Christian princes swelled, +And rose in arms to make proud Asia thrall, +Those lands were won where he did sceptre wield +And he twice beaten was in pitched field. + +V +When Fortune oft he had in vain assayed, +And spent his forces, which availed him naught, +To Egypt’s king himself he close conveyed, +Who welcomed him as he could best have thought, +Glad in his heart, and inly well apayed, +That to his court so great a lord was brought: +For he decreed his armies huge to bring +To succor Juda land and Juda’s king. + +VI +But, ere he open war proclaimed, he would +That Solyman should kindle first the fire, +And with huge sums of false enticing gold +The Arabian thieves he sent him forth to hire, +While he the Asian lords and Morians hold +Unites; the Soldan won to his desire +Those outlaws, ready aye for gold to fight, +The hope of gain hath such alluring might. + +VII +Thus made their captain to destroy and burn, +In Juda land he entered is so far, +That all the ways whereby he should return +By Godfrey’s people kept and stopped are, +And now he gan his former losses mourn, +This wound had hit him on an elder scar, +On great adventures ran his hardy thought, +But naught assured, he yet resolved on naught. + +VIII +To him Alecto came, and semblant bore +Of one whose age was great, whose looks were grave, +Whose cheeks were bloodless, and whose locks were hoar +Mustaches strouting long and chin close shave, +A steepled turban on her head she wore, +Her garment wide, and by her side, her glaive, +Her gilden quiver at her shoulders hung, +And in her hand a bow was, stiff and strong. + +IX +“We have.” Quoth she, “through wildernesses gone, +Through sterile sands, strange paths, and uncouth ways, +Yet spoil or booty have we gotten none, +Nor victory deserving fame or praise, +Godfrey meanwhile to ruin stick and stone +Of this fair town, with battery sore assays; +And if awhile we rest, we shall behold +This glorious city smoking lie in mould. + +X +“Are sheep-cotes burnt, or preys of sheep or kine, +The cause why Solyman these bands did arm? +Canst thou that kingdom lately lost of thine +Recover thus, or thus redress thy harm? +No, no, when heaven’s small candles next shall shine, +Within their tents give them a bold alarm; +Believe Araspes old, whose grave advice +Thou hast in exile proved, and proved in Nice. + +XI +“He feareth naught, he doubts no sudden broil +From these ill-armed and worse-hearted bands, +He thinks this people, used to rob and spoil, +To such exploit dares not lift up their hands; +Up then and with thy courage put to foil +This fearless camp, while thus secure it stands.” +This said, her poison in his breast she hides, +And then to shapeless air unseen she glides. + +XII +The Soldan cried, “O thou which in my thought +Increased hast my rage and fury so, +Nor seem’st a wight of mortal metal wrought, +I follow thee, whereso thee list to go, +Mountains of men by dint of sword down brought +Thou shalt behold, and seas of red blood flow +Where’er I go; only be thou my guide +When sable night the azure skies shall hide.” + +XIII +When this was said, he mustered all his crew, +Reproved the cowards, and allowed the bold: +His forward camp, inspired with courage new, +Was ready dight to follow where he would: +Alecto’s self the warning trumpet blew +And to the wind his standard great unrolled, +Thus on they marched, and thus on they went, +Of their approach their speed the news prevent. + +XIV +Alecto left them, and her person dight +Like one that came some tidings new to tell: +It was the time, when first the rising night +Her sparkling diamonds poureth forth to sell, +When, into Sion come, she marched right +Where Juda’s aged tyrant used to dwell, +To whom of Solyman’s designment bold, +The place, the manner, and the time she told. + +XV +Their mantle dark, the grisly shadows spread, +Stained with spots of deepest sanguine hue, +Warm drops of blood, on earth’s black visage shed, +Supplied the place of pure and precious dew, +The moon and stars for fear of sprites were fled, +The shrieking goblins eachwhere howling flew, +The furies roar, the ghosts and fairies yell, +The earth was filled with devils, and empty hell. + +XVI +The Soldan fierce, through all this horror, went +Toward the camp of his redoubted foes, +The night was more than half consumed and spent; +Now headlong down the western hill she goes, +When distant scant a mile from Godfrey’s tent +He let his people there awhile repose, +And victualled them, and then he boldly spoke +These words which rage and courage might provoke: + +XVII +“See there a camp, full stuffed of spoils and preys, +Not half so strong as false report recordeth; +See there the storehouse, where their captain lays +Our treasures stolen, where Asia’s wealth he hoardeth; +Now chance the ball unto our racket plays, +Take then the vantage which good luck affordeth; +For all their arms, their horses, gold and treasure +Are ours, ours without loss, harm or displeasure. + +XVIII +“Nor is this camp that great victorious host +That slew the Persian lords, and Nice hath won: +For those in this long war are spent and lost, +These are the dregs, the wine is all outrun, +And these few left, are drowned and dead almost +In heavy sleep, the labor half is done +To send them headlong to Avernus deep, +For little differs death and heavy sleep. + +XIX +“Come, come, this sword the passage open shall +Into their camp, and on their bodies slain +We will pass o’er their rampire and their wall; +This blade, as scythes cut down the fields of grain, +Shall cut them so, Christ’s kingdom now shall fall, +Asia her freedom, you shall praise obtain.” +Thus he inflamed his soldiers to the fight, +And led them on through silence of the night. + +XX +The sentinel by starlight, lo, descried +This mighty Soldan and his host draw near, +Who found not as he hoped the Christians’ guide +Unware, ne yet unready was his gear: +The scouts, when this huge army they descried, +Ran back, and gan with shouts the ’larum rear; +The watch stert up and drew their weapons bright, +And busked them bold to battle and to fight. + +XXI +The Arabians wist they could not come unseen, +And therefore loud their jarring trumpets sound, +Their yelling cries to heaven upheaved been, +The horses thundered on the solid ground, +The mountains roared, and the valley green, +The echoes sighed from the caves around, +Alecto with her brand, kindled in hell, +Tokened to them in David’s tower that dwell. + +XXII +Before the rest forth pricked the Soldan fast, +Against the watch, not yet in order just, +As swift as hideous Boreas’ hasty blast +From hollow rocks when first his storms outburst, +The raging floods, that trees and rocks down cast, +Thunders, that towns and towers drive to dust: +Earthquakes, to tear the world in twain that threat, +Are naught, compared to his fury great. + +XXIII +He struck no blow, but that his foe he hit; +And never hit, but made a grievous wound: +And never wounded, but death followed it; +And yet no peril, hurt or harm he found, +No weapon on his hardened helmet bit, +No puissant stroke his senses once astound, +Yet like a bell his tinkling helmet rung, +And thence flew flames of fire and sparks among. + +XXIV +Himself well nigh had put the watch to flight, +A jolly troop of Frenchmen strong and stout, +When his Arabians came by heaps to fight, +Covering, like raging floods, the fields about; +The beaten Christians run away full light, +The Pagans, mingled with the flying rout, +Entered their camp, and filled, as they stood, +Their tents with ruin, slaughter, death and blood. + +XXV +High on the Soldan’s helm enamelled laid +An hideous dragon, armed with many a scale, +With iron paws, and leathern wings displayed, +Which twisted on a knot her forked tail, +With triple tongue it seemed she hissed and brayed, +About her jaws the froth and venom trail, +And as he stirred, and as his foes him hit, +So flames to cast and fire she seemed to spit. + +XXVI +With this strange light, the Soldan fierce appeared +Dreadful to those that round about him been, +As to poor sailors, when huge storms are reared, +With lightning flash the rafting seas are seen; +Some fled away, because his strength they feared, +Some bolder gainst him bent their weapons keen, +And forward night, in evils and mischiefs pleased, +Their dangers hid, and dangers still increased. + +XXVII +Among the rest that strove to merit praise, +Was old Latinus, born by Tiber’s bank, +To whose stout heart in fights and bloody frays, +For all his eild, base fear yet never sank; +Five sons he had, the comforts of his days, +That from his side in no adventure shrank, +But long before their time, in iron strong +They clad their members, tender, soft and young. + +XXVIII +The bold ensample of their father’s might +Their weapons whetted and their wrath increased, +“Come let us go,” quoth he, “where yonder knight +Upon our soldiers makes his bloody feast, +Let not their slaughter once your hearts affright, +Where danger most appears, there fear it least, +For honor dwells in hard attempts, my sons, +And greatest praise, in greatest peril, wons.” + +XXIX +Her tender brood the forest’s savage queen, +Ere on their crests their rugged manes appear, +Before their mouths by nature armed been, +Or paws have strength a silly lamb to tear, +So leadeth forth to prey, and makes them keen, +And learns by her ensample naught to fear +The hunter, in those desert woods that takes +The lesser beasts whereon his feast he makes. + +XXX +The noble father and his hardy crew +Fierce Solyman on every side invade, +At once all six upon the Soldan flew, +With lances sharp, and strong encounters made, +His broken spear the eldest boy down threw, +And boldly, over-boldly, drew his blade, +Wherewith he strove, but strove therewith in vain, +The Pagan’s steed, unmarked, to have slain. + +XXXI +But as a mountain or a cape of land +Assailed with storms and seas on every side, +Doth unremoved, steadfast, still withstand +Storm, thunder, lightning, tempest, wind, and tide: +The Soldan so withstood Latinus’ band, +And unremoved did all their justs abide, +And of that hapless youth, who hurt his steed, +Down to the chin he cleft in twain the head. + +XXXII +Kind Aramante, who saw his brother slain, +To hold him up stretched forth his friendly arm, +Oh foolish kindness, and oh pity vain, +To add our proper loss, to other’s harm! +The prince let fall his sword, and cut in twain +About his brother twined, the child’s weak arm. +Down from their saddles both together slide, +Together mourned they, and together died. + +XXXIII +That done, Sabino’s lance with nimble force +He cut in twain, and ’gainst the stripling bold +He spurred his steed, that underneath his horse +The hardy infant tumbled on the mould, +Whose soul, out squeezed from his bruised corpse, +With ugly painfulness forsook her hold, +And deeply mourned that of so sweet a cage +She left the bliss, and joys of youthful age. + +XXXIV +But Picus yet and Lawrence were on live, +Whom at one birth their mother fair brought out, +A pair whose likeness made the parents strive +Oft which was which, and joyed in their doubt: +But what their birth did undistinguished give, +The Soldan’s rage made known, for Picus stout +Headless at one huge blow he laid in dust, +And through the breast his gentle brother thrust. + +XXXV +Their father, but no father now, alas! +When all his noble sons at once were slain, +In their five deaths so often murdered was, +I know not how his life could him sustain, +Except his heart were forged of steel or brass, +Yet still he lived, pardie, he saw not plain +Their dying looks, although their deaths he knows, +It is some ease not to behold our woes. + +XXXVI +He wept not, for the night her curtain spread +Between his cause of weeping and his eyes, +But still he mourned and on sharp vengeance fed, +And thinks he conquers, if revenged he dies; +He thirsts the Soldan’s heathenish blood to shed, +And yet his own at less than naught doth prize, +Nor can he tell whether he liefer would, +Or die himself, or kill the Pagan bold. + +XXXVII +At last, “Is this right hand,” quoth he, “so weak, +That thou disdain’st gainst me to use thy might? +Can it naught do? can this tongue nothing speak +That may provoke thine ire, thy wrath and spite?” +With that he struck, his anger great to wreak, +A blow, that pierced the mail and metal bright, +And in his flank set ope a floodgate wide, +Whereat the blood out streamed from his side. + +XXXVIII +Provoked with his cry, and with that blow, +The Turk upon him gan his blade discharge, +He cleft his breastplate, having first pierced through, +Lined with seven bulls’ hides, his mighty targe, +And sheathed his weapons in his guts below; +Wretched Latinus at that issue large, +And at his mouth, poured out his vital blood, +And sprinkled with the same his murdered brood. + +XXXIX +On Apennine like as a sturdy tree, +Against the winds that makes resistance stout, +If with a storm it overturned be, +Falls down and breaks the trees and plants about; +So Latine fell, and with him felled he +And slew the nearest of the Pagans’ rout, +A worthy end, fit for a man of fame, +That dying, slew; and conquered, overcame. + +XL +Meanwhile the Soldan strove his rage +To satisfy with blood of Christian spilled, +The Arabians heartened by their captain stern, +With murder every tent and cabin filled, +Henry the English knight, and Olipherne, +O fierce Draguto, by thy hands were killed! +Gilbert and Philip were by Ariadene +Both slain, both born upon the banks of Rhone. + +XLI +Albazar with his mace Ernesto slew, +Under Algazel Engerlan down fell, +But the huge murder of the meaner crew, +Or manner of their deaths, what tongue can tell? +Godfrey, when first the heathen trumpets blew, +Awaked, which heard, no fear could make him dwell, +But he and his were up and armed ere long, +And marched forward with a squadron strong. + +XLII +He that well heard the rumor and the cry, +And marked the tumult still grow more and more, +The Arabian thieves he judged by and by +Against his soldiers made this battle sore; +For that they forayed all the countries nigh, +And spoiled the fields, the duke knew well before, +Yet thought he not they had the hardiment +So to assail him in his armed tent. + +XLIII +All suddenly he heard, while on he went, +How to the city-ward, “Arm, arm!” they cried, +The noise upreared to the firmament, +With dreadful howling filled the valleys wlde: +This was Clorinda, whom the king forth sent +To battle, and Argantes by her side. +The duke, this heard, to Guelpho turned, and prayed +Him his lieutenant be, and to him said: + +XLIV +“You hear this new alarm from yonder part, +That from the town breaks out with so much rage, +Us needeth much your valor and your art +To calm their fury, and their heat to ’suage; +Go thither then, and with you take some part +Of these brave soldiers of mine equipage, +While with the residue of my champions bold +I drive these wolves again out of our fold.” + +XLV +They parted, this agreed on them between, +By divers paths, Lord Guelpho to the hill, +And Godfrey hasted where the Arabians keen +His men like silly sheep destroy and kill; +But as he went his troops increased been, +From every part the people flocked still, +That now grown strong enough, he ’proached nigh +Where the fierce Turk caused many a Christian die. + +XLVI +So from the top of Vesulus the cold, +Down to the sandy valleys, tumbleth Po, +Whose streams the further from the fountain rolled +Still stronger wax, and with more puissance go; +And horned like a bull his forehead bold +He lifts, and o’er his broken banks doth flow, +And with his horns to pierce the sea assays, +To which he proffereth war, not tribute pays. + +XLVII +The duke his men fast flying did espy, +And thither ran, and thus, displeased, spake, +“What fear is this? Oh, whither do you fly? +See who they be that this pursuit do make, +A heartless band, that dare no battle try, +Who wounds before dare neither give nor take, +Against them turn your stern eye’s threatening sight, +An angry look will put them all to flight.” + +XLVIII +This said, he spurred forth where Solyman +Destroyed Christ’s vineyard like a savage boar, +Through streams of blood, through dust and dirt he ran, +O’er heaps of bodies wallowing in their gore, +The squadrons close his sword to ope began, +He broke their ranks, behind, beside, before, +And, where he goes, under his feet he treads +The armed Saracens, and barbed steeds. + +XLIX +This slaughter-house of angry Mars he passed, +Where thousands dead, half-dead, and dying were. +The hardy Soldan saw him come in haste, +Yet neither stepped aside nor shrunk for fear, +But busked him bold to fight, aloft he cast +His blade, prepared to strike, and stepped near, +These noble princes twain, so Fortune wrought +From the world’s end here met, and here they fought: + +L +With virtue, fury; strength with courage strove, +For Asia’s mighty empire, who can tell +With how strange force their cruel blows they drove? +How sore their combat was? how fierce, how fell? +Great deeds they wrought, each other’s harness clove; +Yet still in darkness, more the ruth, they dwell. +The night their acts her black veil covered under, +Their acts whereat the sun, the world might wonder. + +LI +The Christians by their guide’s ensample hearted, +Of their best armed made a squadron strong, +And to defend their chieftain forth they started: +The Pagans also saved their knight from wrong, +Fortune her favors twixt them evenly parted, +Fierce was the encounter, bloody, doubtful, long; +These won, those lost; these lost, those won again; +The loss was equal, even the numbers slain. + +LII +With equal rage, as when the southern wind, +Meeteth in battle strong the northern blast, +The sea and air to neither is resigned, +But cloud gainst cloud, and wave gainst wave they cast: +So from this skirmish neither part declined, +But fought it out, and kept their footings fast, +And oft with furious shock together rush, +And shield gainst shield, and helm gainst helm they crush. + +LIII +The battle eke to Sionward grew hot, +The soldiers slain, the hardy knights were killed, +Legions of sprites from Limbo’s prisons got, +The empty air, the hills and valleys filled, +Hearting the Pagans that they shrinked not, +Till where they stood their dearest blood they spilled; +And with new rage Argantes they inspire, +Whose heat no flames, whose burning need no fire. + +LIV +Where he came in he put to shameful flight +The fearful watch, and o’er the trenches leaped, +Even with the ground he made the rampire’s height, +And murdered bodies in the ditch unheaped, +So that his greedy mates with labor light, +Amid the tents, a bloody harvest reaped: +Clorinda went the proud Circassian by, +So from a piece two chained bullets fly. + +LV +Now fled the Frenchmen, when in lucky hour +Arrived Guelpho, and his helping band, +He made them turn against this stormy shower, +And with bold face their wicked foes withstand. +Sternly they fought, that from their wounds downpour +The streams of blood and run on either hand: +The Lord of heaven meanwhile upon this fight, +From his high throne bent down his gracious sight. + +LVI +From whence with grace and goodness compassed round, +He ruleth, blesseth, keepeth all he wrought, +Above the air, the fire, the sea and ground, +Our sense, our wit, our reason and our thought, +Where persons three, with power and glory crowned, +Are all one God, who made all things of naught, +Under whose feet, subjected to his grace, +Sit nature, fortune, motion, time and place. + +LVII +This is the place, from whence like smoke and dust +Of this frail world the wealth, the pomp and power, +He tosseth, tumbleth, turneth as he lust, +And guides our life, our death, our end and hour: +No eye, however virtuous, pure and just, +Can view the brightness of that glorious bower, +On every side the blessed spirits be, +Equal in joys, though differing in degree. + +LVIII +With harmony of their celestial song +The palace echoed from the chambers pure, +At last he Michael called, in harness strong +Of never yielding diamonds armed sure, +“Behold,” quoth he, “to do despite and wrong +To that dear flock my mercy hath in cure, +How Satan from hell’s loathsome prison sends +His ghosts, his sprites, his furies and his fiends. + +LIX +“Go bid them all depart, and leave the care +Of war to soldiers, as doth best pertain: +Bid them forbear to infect the earth and air; +To darken heaven’s fair light, bid them refrain; +Bid them to Acheron’s black flood repair, +Fit house for them, the house of grief and pain: +There let their king himself and them torment, +So I command, go tell them mine intent.” + +LX +This said, the winged warrior low inclined +At his Creator’s feet with reverence due; +Then spread his golden feathers to the wind, +And swift as thought away the angel flew, +He passed the light, and shining fire assigned +The glorious seat of his selected crew, +The mover first, and circle crystalline, +The firmament, where fixed stars all shine; + +LXI +Unlike in working then, in shape and show, +At his left hand, Saturn he left and Jove, +And those untruly errant called I trow, +Since he errs not, who them doth guide and move: +The fields he passed then, whence hail and snow, +Thunder and rain fall down from clouds above, +Where heat and cold, dryness and moisture strive, +Whose wars all creatures kill, and slain, revive. + +LXII +The horrid darkness, and the shadows dun +Dispersed he with his eternal wings, +The flames which from his heavenly eyes outrun +Beguiled the earth and all her sable things; +After a storm so spreadeth forth the sun +His rays and binds the clouds in golden strings, +Or in the stillness of a moonshine even +A falling star so glideth down from Heaven. + +LXIII +But when the infernal troop he ’proached near, +That still the Pagans’ ire and rage provoke, +The angel on his wings himself did bear, +And shook his lance, and thus at last he spoke: +“Have you not learned yet to know and fear +The Lord’s just wrath, and thunder’s dreadful stroke? +Or in the torments of your endless ill, +Are you still fierce, still proud, rebellious still? + +LXIV +“The Lord hath sworn to break the iron bands +The brazen gates of Sion’s fort which close, +Who is it that his sacred will withstands? +Against his wrath who dares himself oppose? +Go hence, you cursed, to your appointed lands, +The realms of death, of torments, and of woes, +And in the deeps of that infernal lake +Your battles fight, and there your triumphs make. + +LXV +“There tyrannize upon the souls you find +Condemned to woe, and double still their pains; +Where some complain, where some their teeth do grind, +Some howl, and weep, some clank their iron chains:” +This said they fled, and those that stayed behind, +With his sharp lance he driveth and constrains; +They sighing left the lands, his silver sheep +Where Hesperus doth lead, doth feed, and keep. + +LXVI +And toward hell their lazy wings display, +To wreak their malice on the damned ghosts; +The birds that follow Titan’s hottest ray, +Pass not in so great flocks to warmer coasts, +Nor leaves in so great numbers fall away +When winter nips them with his new-come frosts; +The earth delivered from so foul annoy, +Recalled her beauty, and resumed her joy. + +LXVII +But not for this in fierce Argantes’ breast +Lessened the rancor and decreased the ire, +Although Alecto left him to infest +With the hot brands of her infernal fire, +Round his armed head his trenchant blade he blest, +And those thick ranks that seemed moist entire +He breaks; the strong, the high, the weak, the low, +Were equalized by his murdering blow. + +LXVIII +Not far from him amid the blood and dust, +Heads, arms, and legs, Clorinda strewed wide +Her sword through Berengarius’ breast she thrust, +Quite through the heart, where life doth chiefly bide, +And that fell blow she struck so sure and just, +That at his back his life and blood forth glide; +Even in the mouth she smote Albinus then, +And cut in twain the visage of the man. + +LXIX +Gernier’s right hand she from his arm divided, +Whereof but late she had received a wound; +The hand his sword still held, although not guided, +The fingers half alive stirred on the ground; +So from a serpent slain the tail divided +Moves in the grass, rolleth and tumbleth round, +The championess so wounded left the knight, +And gainst Achilles turned her weapon bright. + +LXX +Upon his neck light that unhappy blow, +And cut the sinews and the throat in twain, +The head fell down upon the earth below, +And soiled with dust the visage on the plain; +The headless trunk, a woful thing to know, +Still in the saddle seated did remain; +Until his steed, that felt the reins at large, +With leaps and flings that burden did discharge. + +LXXI +While thus this fair and fierce Bellona slew +The western lords, and put their troops to flight, +Gildippes raged mongst the Pagan crew, +And low in dust laid many a worthy knight: +Like was their sex, their beauty and their hue, +Like was their youth, their courage and their might; +Yet fortune would they should the battle try +Of mightier foes, for both were framed to die. + +LXXII +Yet wished they oft, and strove in vain to meet, +So great betwixt them was the press and throng, +But hardy Guelpho gainst Clorinda sweet +Ventured his sword to work her harm and wrong, +And with a cutting blow so did her greet, +That from her side the blood streamed down along; +But with a thrust an answer sharp she made, +And ’twixt his ribs colored somedeal her blade. + +LXXIII +Lord Guelpho struck again, but hit her not, +For strong Osmida haply passed by, +And not meant him, another’s wound he got, +That cleft his front in twain above his eye: +Near Guelpho now the battle waxed hot, +For all the troops he led gan thither hie, +And thither drew eke many a Paynim knight, +That fierce, stern, bloody, deadly waxed the fight. + +LXXIV +Meanwhile the purple morning peeped o’er +The eastern threshold to our half of land, +And Argillano in this great uproar +From prison loosed was, and what he fand, +Those arms he hent, and to the field them bore, +Resolved to take his chance what came to hand, +And with great acts amid the Pagan host +Would win again his reputation lost. + +LXXV +As a fierce steed ’scaped from his stall at large, +Where he had long been kept for warlike need, +Runs through the fields unto the flowery marge +Of some green forest where he used to feed, +His curled mane his shoulders broad doth charge +And from his lofty crest doth spring and spreed, +Thunder his feet, his nostrils fire breathe out, +And with his neigh the world resounds about. + +LXXVI +So Argillan rushed forth, sparkled his eyes, +His front high lifted was, no fear therein, +Lightly he leaps and skips, it seems he flies, +He left no sign in dust imprinted thin, +And coming near his foes, he sternly cries, +As one that forced not all their strength a pin, +“You outcasts of the world, you men of naught +What hath in you this boldness newly wrought? + +LXXVII +“Too weak are you to bear a helm or shield +Unfit to arm your breast in iron bright, +You run half-naked trembling through the field, +Your blows are feeble, and your hope in flight, +Your facts and all the actions that you wield, +The darkness hides, your bulwark is the night, +Now she is gone, how will your fights succeed? +Now better arms and better hearts you need.” + +LXXVIII +While thus he spoke, he gave a cruel stroke +Against Algazel’s throat with might and main; +And as he would have answered him, and spoke, +He stopped his words, and cut his jaws in twain; +Upon his eyes death spread his misty cloak, +A chilling frost congealed every vein, +He fell, and with his teeth the earth he tore, +Raging in death, and full of rage before. + +LXXIX +Then by his puissance mighty Saladine, +Proud Agricalt and Muleasses died, +And at one wondrous blow his weapon fine, +Did Adiazel in two parts divide, +Then through the breast he wounded Ariadine, +Whom dying with sharp taunts he gan deride, +He lifting up uneath his feeble eyes, +To his proud scorns thus answereth, ere he dies: + +LXXX +“Not thou, whoe’er thou art, shall glory long +Thy happy conquest in my death, I trow, +Like chance awaits thee from a hand more strong, +Which by my side will shortly lay thee low:” +He smiled, and said, “Of mine hour short or long +Let heaven take care; but here meanwhile die thou, +Pasture for wolves and crows,” on him his foot +He set, and drew his sword and life both out. + +LXXXI +Among this squadron rode a gentle page, +The Soldan’s minion, darling, and delight, +On whose fair chin the spring-time of his age +Yet blossomed out her flowers, small or light; +The sweat spread on his cheeks with heat and rage +Seemed pearls or morning dews on lilies white, +The dust therein uprolled adorned his hair, +His face seemed fierce and sweet, wrathful and fair. + +LXXXII +His steed was white, and white as purest snow +That falls on tops of aged Apennine, +Lightning and storm are not so swift I trow +As he, to run, to stop, to turn and twine; +A dart his right hand shaked, prest to throw; +His cutlass by his thigh, short, hooked, fine, +And braving in his Turkish pomp he shone, +In purple robe, o’erfret with gold and stone. + +LXXXIII +The hardy boy, while thirst of warlike praise +Bewitched so his unadvised thought, +Gainst every band his childish strength assays, +And little danger found, though much he sought, +Till Argillan, that watched fit time always +In his swift turns to strike him as he fought, +Did unawares his snow-white courser slay, +And under him his master tumbling lay: + +LXXXIV +And gainst his face, where love and pity stand, +To pray him that rich throne of beauty spare, +The cruel man stretched forth his murdering hand, +To spoil those gifts, whereof he had no share: +It seemed remorse and sense was in his brand +Which, lighting flat, to hurt the lad forbare; +But all for naught, gainst him the point he bent +That, what the edge had spared, pierced and rent. + +LXXXV +Fierce Solyman that with Godfredo strived +Who first should enter conquest’s glorious gate, +Left off the fray and thither headlong drived, +When first he saw the lad in such estate; +He brake the press, and soon enough arrived +To take revenge, but to his aid too late, +Because he saw his Lesbine slain and lost, +Like a sweet flower nipped with untimely frost. + +LXXXVI +He saw wax dim the starlight of his eyes, +His ivory neck upon his shoulders fell, +In his pale looks kind pity’s image lies, +That death even mourned, to hear his passing bell. +His marble heart such soft impression tries, +That midst his wrath his manly tears outwell, +Thou weepest, Solyman, thou that beheld +Thy kingdoms lost, and not one tear could yield. + +LXXXVII +But when the murderer’s sword he hapt to view +Dropping with blood of his Lesbino dead, +His pity vanished, ire and rage renew, +He had no leisure bootless tears to shed; +But with his blade on Argillano flew, +And cleft his shield, his helmet, and his head, +Down to his throat; and worthy was that blow +Of Solyman, his strength and wrath to show: + +LXXXVIII +And not content with this, down from his horse +He lights, and that dead carcass rent and tore, +Like a fierce dog that takes his angry course +To bite the stone which had him hit before. +Oh comfort vain for grief of so great force, +To wound the senseless earth that feels no sore! +But mighty Godfrey ’gainst the Soldan’s train +Spent not, this while, his force and blows in vain. + +LXXXIX +A thousand hardy Turks affront he had +In sturdy iron armed from head to foot, +Resolved in all adventures good or bad, +In actions wise, in execution stout, +Whom Solyman into Arabia lad, +When from his kingdom he was first cast out, +Where living wild with their exiled guide +To him in all extremes they faithful bide; + +XC +All these in thickest order sure unite, +For Godfrey’s valor small or nothing shrank, +Corcutes first he on the face did smite, +Then wounded strong Rosteno in the flank, +At one blow Selim’s head he stroke off quite, +Then both Rossano’s arms, in every rank +The boldest knights, of all that chosen crew, +He felled, maimed, wounded, hurt and slew. + +XCI +While thus he killed many a Saracine +And all their fierce assaults unhurt sustained, +Ere fortune wholly from the Turks decline, +While still they hoped much, though small they gained, +Behold a cloud of dust, wherein doth shine +Lightning of war in midst thereof contained, +Whence unawares burst forth a storm of swords, +Which tremble made the Pagan knights and lords. + +XCII +These fifty champions were, mongst whom there stands, +In silver field, the ensign of Christ’s death, +If I had mouths and tongues as Briareus hands, +If voice as iron tough, if iron breath, +What harm this troop wrought to the heathen bands, +What knights they slew, I could recount uneath +In vain the Turks resist, the Arabians fly; +If they fly, they are slain; if fight, they die. + +XCIII +Fear, cruelty, grief, horror, sorrow, pain, +Run through the field, disguised in divers shapes, +Death might you see triumphant on the plain, +Drowning in blood him that from blows escapes. +The king meanwhile with parcel of his train +Comes hastily out, and for sure conquest gapes, +And from a bank whereon he stood, beheld +The doubtful hazard of that bloody field. + +XCIV +But when he saw the Pagans shrink away, +He sounded the retreat, and gan desire +His messengers in his behalf to pray +Argantes and Clorinda to retire; +The furious couple both at once said nay, +Even drunk with shedding blood, and mad with ire, +At last they went, and to recomfort thought +And stay their troops from flight, but all for nought. + +XCV +For who can govern cowardice or fear? +Their host already was begun to fly, +They cast their shields and cutting swords arrear, +As not defended but made slow thereby, +A hollow dale the city’s bulwarks near +From west to south outstretched long doth lie, +Thither they fled, and in a mist of dust, +Toward the walls they run, they throng, they thrust. + +XCVI +While down the bank disordered thus they ran, +The Christian knights huge slaughter on them made; +But when to climb the other hill they gan, +Old Aladine came fiercely to their aid: +On that steep brae Lord Guelpho would not than +Hazard his folk, but there his soldiers stayed, +And safe within the city’s walls the king. +The relics small of that sharp fight did bring: + +XCVII +Meanwhile the Soldan in this latest charge +Had done as much as human force was able, +All sweat and blood appeared his members large, +His breath was short, his courage waxed unstable, +His arm grew weak to bear his mighty targe, +His hand to rule his heavy sword unable, +Which bruised, not cut, so blunted was the blade +It lost the use for which a sword was made. + +XCVIII +Feeling his weakness, he gan musing stand, +And in his troubled thought this question tossed, +If he himself should murder with his hand, +Because none else should of his conquest boast, +Or he should save his life, when on the land +Lay slain the pride of his subdued host, +“At last to fortune’s power,” quoth he, “I yield, +And on my flight let her her trophies build. + +XCIX +“Let Godfrey view my flight, and smile to see +This mine unworthy second banishment, +For armed again soon shall he hear of me, +From his proud head the unsettled crown to rent, +For, as my wrongs, my wrath etern shall be, +At every hour the bow of war new bent, +I will rise again, a foe, fierce, bold, +Though dead, though slain, though burnt to ashes cold.” + + + + +TENTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +Ismen from sleep awakes the Soldan great, +And into Sion brings the Prince by night +Where the sad king sits fearful on his seat, +Whom he emboldeneth and excites to fight; +Godfredo hears his lords and knights repeat +How they escaped Armida’s wrath and spite: +Rinaldo known to live, Peter foresays +His Offspring’s virtue, good deserts, and praise. + +I +A gallant steed, while thus the Soldan said, +Came trotting by him, without lord or guide, +Quickly his hand upon the reins he laid, +And weak and weary climbed up to ride; +The snake that on his crest hot fire out-braid +Was quite cut off, his helm had lost the pride, +His coat was rent, his harness hacked and cleft, +And of his kingly pomp no sign was left. + +II +As when a savage wolf chased from the fold, +To hide his head runs to some holt or wood, +Who, though he filled have while it might hold +His greedy paunch, yet hungreth after food, +With sanguine tongue forth of his lips out-rolled +About his jaws that licks up foam and blood; +So from this bloody fray the Soldan hied, +His rage unquenched, his wrath unsatisfied. + +III +And, as his fortune would, he scaped free +From thousand arrows which about him flew, +From swords and lances, instruments that be +Of certain death, himself he safe withdrew, +Unknown, unseen, disguised, travelled he, +By desert paths and ways but used by few, +And rode revolving in his troubled thought +What course to take, and yet resolved on naught. + +IV +Thither at last he meant to take his way, +Where Egypt’s king assembled all his host, +To join with him, and once again assay +To win by fight, by which so oft he lost: +Determined thus, he made no longer stay, +But thitherward spurred forth his steed in post, +Nor need he guide, the way right well he could, +That leads to sandy plains of Gaza old. + +V +Nor though his smarting wounds torment him oft, +His body weak and wounded back and side, +Yet rested he, nor once his armor doffed, +But all day long o’er hills and dales doth ride: +But when the night cast up her shade aloft +And all earth’s colors strange in sables dyed, +He light, and as he could his wounds upbound, +And shook ripe dates down from a palm he found. + +VI +On them he supped, and amid the field +To rest his weary limbs awhile he sought, +He made his pillow of his broken shield +To ease the griefs of his distempered thought, +But little ease could so hard lodging yield, +His wounds so smarted that he slept right naught, +And, in his breast, his proud heart rent in twain, +Two inward vultures, Sorrow and Disdain. + +VII +At length when midnight with her silence deep +Did heaven and earth hushed, still, and quiet make, +Sore watched and weary, he began to steep +His cares and sorrows in oblivion’s lake, +And in a little, short, unquiet sleep +Some small repose his fainting spirits take; +But, while he slept, a voice grave and severe +At unawares thus thundered in his ear: + +VIII +“O Solyman! thou far-renowned king, +Till better season serve, forbear thy rest; +A stranger doth thy lands in thraldom bring, +Nice is a slave, by Christian yoke oppressed; +Sleepest thou here, forgetful of this thing, +That here thy friends lie slain, not laid in chest, +Whose bones bear witness of thy shame and scorn! +And wilt thou idly here attend the morn?” + +IX +The king awoke, and saw before his eyes +A man whose presence seemed grave and old, +A writhen staff his steps unstable guies, +Which served his feeble members to uphold. +“And what art thou?” the prince in scorn replies, +“What sprite to vex poor passengers so bold, +To break their sleep? or what to thee belongs +My shame, my loss, my vengeance or my wrongs.” + +X +“I am the man of thine intent,” quoth he, +“And purpose new that sure conjecture hath, +And better than thou weenest know I thee: +I proffer thee my service and my faith. +My speeches therefore sharp and biting be, +Because quick words the whetstones are of wrath,— +Accept in gree, my lord, the words I spoke, +As spurs thine ire and courage to provoke. + +XI +“But now to visit Egypt’s mighty king, +Unless my judgment fall, you are prepared, +I prophesy, about a needless thing +You suffer shall a voyage long and hard: +For though you stay, the monarch great will bring +His new assembled host to Juda-ward, +No place of service there, no cause of fight, +Nor gainst our foes to use your force and might. + +XII +“But if you follow me, within this wall +With Christian arms hemmed in on every side, +Withouten battle, fight, or stroke at all, +Even at noonday, I will you safely guide, +Where you delight, rejoice, and glory shall +In perils great to see your prowess tried. +That noble town you may preserve and shield, +Till Egypt’s host come to renew the field.” + +XIII +While thus he parleyed, of this aged guest +The Turk the words and looks did both admire, +And from his haughty eyes and furious breast +He laid apart his pride, his rage and ire, +And humbly said, “I willing am and prest +To follow where thou leadest, reverend sire, +And that advice best fits my angry vein +That tells of greatest peril, greatest pain.” + +XIV +The old man praised his words, and for the air +His late received wounds to worse disposes, +A quintessence therein he poured fair, +That stops the bleeding, and incision closes: +Beholding then before Apollo’s chair +How fresh Aurora violets strewed and roses, +“It’s time,” he says, “to wend, for Titan bright +To wonted labor summons every wight.” + +XV +And to a chariot, that beside did stand, +Ascended he, and with him Solyman, +He took the reins, and with a mastering hand +Ruled his steeds, and whipped them now and than, +The wheels or horses’ feet upon the land +Had left no sign nor token where they ran, +The coursers pant and smoke with lukewarm sweat +And, foaming cream, their iron mouthfuls eat. + +XVI +The air about them round, a wondrous thing, +Itself on heaps in solid thickness drew, +The chariot hiding and environing, +The subtle mist no mortal eye could view; +And yet no stone from engine cast or sling +Could pierce the cloud, it was of proof so true; +Yet seen it was to them within which ride, +And heaven and earth without, all clear beside. + +XVII +His beetle brows the Turk amazed bent, +He wrinkled up his front, and wildly stared +Upon the cloud and chariot as it went, +For speed to Cynthia’s car right well compared: +The other seeing his astonishment +How he bewondered was, and how he fared, +All suddenly by name the prince gan call, +By which awaked thus he spoke withal: + +XVIII +“Whoe’er thou art above all worldly wit +That hast these high and wondrous marvels brought, +And know’st the deep intents which hidden sit +In secret closet of man’s private thought, +If in thy skilful heart this lot be writ, +To tell the event of things to end unbrought; +Then say, what issue and what ends the stars +Allot to Asia’s troubles, broils and wars. + +XIX +“But tell me first thy name, and by what art +Thou dost these wonders strange, above our skill; +For full of marvel is my troubled heart, +Tell then and leave me not amazed still.” +The wizard smiled and answered, “In some part +Easy it is to satisfy thy will, +Ismen I hight, called an enchanter great, +Such skill have I in magic’s secret feat; + +XX +“But that I should the sure events unfold +Of things to come, or destinies foretell, +Too rash is your desire, your wish too bold, +To mortal heart such knowledge never fell; +Our wit and strength on us bestowed I hold, +To shun the evils and harms, mongst which we dwell, +They make their fortune who are stout and wise, +Wit rules the heavens, discretion guides the skies. + +XXI +“That puissant arm of thine that well can rend +From Godfrey’s brow the new usurped crown, +And not alone protect, save and defend +From his fierce people, this besieged town, +Gainst fire and sword with strength and courage bend, +Adventure, suffer, trust, tread perils down, +And to content, and to encourage thee, +Know this, which as I in a cloud foresee: + +XXII +“I guess, before the over-gliding sun +Shall many years mete out by weeks and days, +A prince that shall in fertile Egypt won, +Shall fill all Asia with his prosperous frays, +I speak not of his acts in quiet done, +His policy, his rule, his wisdom’s praise, +Let this suffice, by him these Christians shall +In fight subdued fly, and conquered fall. + +XXIII +“And their great empire and usurped state +Shall overthrown in dust and ashes lie, +Their woful remnant in an angle strait +Compassed with sea themselves shall fortify, +From thee shall spring this lord of war and fate.” +Whereto great Solyman gan thus reply: +“O happy man to so great praise ybore!” +Thus he rejoiced, but yet envied more; + +XXIV +And said, “Let chance with good or bad aspect +Upon me look as sacred Heaven’s decree, +This heart to her I never will subject, +Nor ever conquered shall she look on me; +The moon her chariot shall awry direct +Ere from this course I will diverted be.” +While thus he spake, it seemed he breathed fire, +So fierce his courage was, so hot his ire. + +XXV +Thus talked they, till they arrived been +Nigh to the place where Godfrey’s tents were reared, +There was a woful spectacle yseen, +Death in a thousand ugly forms appeared, +The Soldan changed hue for grief and teen, +On that sad book his shame and loss he lead, +Ah, with what grief his men, his friends he found; +And standards proud, inglorious lie on ground! + +XXVI +And saw one visage of some well-known friend. +In foul despite, a rascal Frenchman tread, +And there another ragged peasant rend +The arms and garments from some champion dead, +And there with stately pomp by heaps they wend, +And Christians slain roll up in webs of lead; +Lastly the Turks and slain Arabians, brought +On heaps, he saw them burn with fire to naught. + +XXVII +Deeply he sighed, and with naked sword +Out of the coach he leaped in the mire, +But Ismen called again the angry lord, +And with grave words appeased his foolish ire. +The prince content remounted at his sword, +Toward a hill on drove the aged sire, +And hasting forward up the bank they pass, +Till far behind the Christian leaguer was. + +XXVIII +There they alight and took their way on foot, +The empty chariot vanished out of sight, +Yet still the cloud environed them about. +At their left hand down went they from the height +Of Sion’s Hill, till they approached the route +On that side where to west he looketh right, +There Ismen stayed, and his eyesight bent +Upon the bushy rocks, and thither went. + +XXIX +A hollow cave was in the craggy stone, +Wrought out by hand a number years tofore, +And for of long that way had walked none, +The vault was hid with plants and bushes hoar, +The wizard stooping in thereat to gone, +The thorns aside and scratching brambles bore, +His right hand sought the passage through the cleft, +And for his guide he gave the prince his left: + +XXX +“What,” quoth the Soldan, “by what privy mine, +What hidden vault behoves it me to creep? +This sword can find a better way than thine, +Although our foes the passage guard and keep.” +“Let not,” quoth he, “thy princely foot repine +To tread this secret path, though dark and deep; +For great King Herod used to tread the same, +He that in arms had whilom so great fame. + +XXXI +“This passage made he, when he would suppress +His subjects’ pride, and them in bondage hold; +By this he could from that small forteress +Antonia called, of Antony the bold, +Convey his folk unseen of more and less +Even to the middest of the temple old, +Thence, hither; where these privy ways begin, +And bring unseen whole armies out and in. + +XXXII +“But now saye I in all this world lives none +That knows the secret of this darksome place, +Come then where Aladine sits on his throne, +With lords and princes set about his grace; +He feareth more than fitteth such an one, +Such signs of doubt show in his cheer and face; +Fitly you come, hear, see, and keep you still, +Till time and season serve, then speak your fill.” + +XXXIII +This said, that narrow entrance passed the knight, +So creeps a camel through a needle’s eye, +And through the ways as black as darkest night +He followed him that did him rule and guie; +Strait was the way at first, withouten light, +But further in, did further amplify; +So that upright walked at ease the men +Ere they had passed half that secret den, + +XXXIV +A privy door Ismen unlocked at last, +And up they clomb a little-used stair, +Thereat the day a feeble beam in cast, +Dim was the light, and nothing clear the air; +Out of the hollow cave at length they passed +Into a goodly hall, high, broad and fair, +Where crowned with gold, and all in purple clad +Sate the sad king, among his nobles sad. + +XXXV +The Turk, close in his hollow cloud imbarred, +Unseen, at will did all the prease behold, +These heavy speeches of the king he heard, +Who thus from lofty siege his pleasure told; +“My lords, last day our state was much impaired, +Our friends were slain, killed were our soldiers bold, +Great helps and greater hopes are us bereft, +Nor aught but aid from Egypt land is left: + +XXXVI +“And well you see far distant is that aid, +Upon our heels our danger treadeth still, +For your advice was this assembly made, +Each what he thinketh speak, and what he will.” +A whisper soft arose when this was said, +As gentle winds the groves with murmur fill, +But with bold face, high looks and merry cheer, +Argantes rose, the rest their talk forbear. + +XXXVII +“O worthy sovereign,” thus began to say +The hardy young man to the tyrant wise, +“What words be these? what fears do you dismay? +Who knows not this, you need not our advice! +But on your hand your hope of conquest lay, +And, for no loss true virtue damnifies, +Make her our shield, pray her us succors give, +And without her let us not wish to live. + +XXXVIII +“Nor say I this for that I aught misdeem +That Egypt’s promised succors fail us might, +Doubtful of my great master’s words to seem +To me were neither lawful, just, nor right! +I speak these words, for spurs I them esteem +To waken up each dull and fearful sprite, +And make our hearts resolved to all assays, +To win with honor, or to die with praise.” + +XXXIX +Thus much Argantes said, and said no more, +As if the case were clear of which he spoke. +Orcano rose, of princely stem ybore, +Whose presence ’mongst them bore a mighty stroke, +A man esteemed well in arms of yore, +But now was coupled new in marriage yoke; +Young babes he had, to fight which made him loth, +He was a husband and a father both. + +XL +“My lord,” quoth he, “I will not reprehend +The earnest zeal of this audacious speech, +From courage sprung, which seld is close ypend +In swelling stomach without violent breach: +And though to you our good Circassian friend +In terms too bold and fervent oft doth preach, +Yet hold I that for good, in warlike feat +For his great deeds respond his speeches great. + +XLI +“But if it you beseem, whom graver age +And long experience hath made wise and sly, +To rule the heat of youth and hardy rage, +Which somewhat have misled this knight awry, +In equal balance ponder then and gauge +Your hopes far distant, with your perils nigh; +This town’s old walls and rampires new compare +With Godfrey’s forces and his engines rare. + +XLII +“But, if I may say what I think unblamed, +This town is strong, by nature, site and art, +But engines huge and instruments are framed +Gainst these defences by our adverse part, +Who thinks him most secure is eathest shamed; +I hope the best, yet fear unconstant mart, +And with this siege if we be long up pent, +Famine I doubt, our store will all be spent. + +XLIII +“For all that store of cattle and of grain +Which yesterday within these walls you brought, +While your proud foes triumphant through the plain +On naught but shedding blood, and conquest thought, +Too little is this city to sustain, +To raise the siege unless some means be sought; +And it must last till the prefixed hour +That it be raised by Egypt’s aid and power. + +XLIV +“But what if that appointed day they miss? +Or else, ere we expect, what if they came? +The victory yet is not ours for this, +Oh save this town from ruin, us from shame! +With that same Godfrey still our warfare is, +These armies, soldiers, captains are the same +Who have so oft amid the dusty plain +Turks, Persians, Syrians and Arabians slain. + +XLV +“And thou Argantes wotest what they be; +Oft hast thou fled from that victorious host, +Thy shoulders often hast thou let them see, +And in thy feet hath been thy safeguard most; +Clorinda bright and I fled eke with thee, +None than his fellows had more cause to boast, +Nor blame I any; for in every fight +We showed courage, valor, strength and might. + +XLVI +“And though this hardy knight the certain threat +Of near-approaching death to hear disdain; +Yet to this state of loss and danger great, +From this strong foe I see the tokens plain; +No fort how strong soe’er by art or seat, +Can hinder Godfrey why he should not reign: +This makes me say,—to witness heaven I bring, +Zeal to this state, love to my lord and king— + +XLVII +“The king of Tripoli was well advised +To purchase peace, and so preserve his crown: +But Solyman, who Godfrey’s love despised, +Is either dead or deep in prison thrown; +Else fearful is he run away disguised, +And scant his life is left him for his own, +And yet with gifts, with tribute, and with gold, +He might in peace his empire still have hold.” + +XLVIII +Thus spake Orcanes, and some inkling gave +In doubtful words of that he would have said; +To sue for peace or yield himself a slave +He durst not openly his king persuade: +But at those words the Soldan gan to rave, +And gainst his will wrapt in the cloud he stayed, +Whom Ismen thus bespake, “How can you bear +These words, my lord? or these reproaches hear?” + +XLIX +“Oh, let me speak,” quoth he, “with ire and scorn +I burn, and gains, my will thus hid I stay!” +This said, the smoky cloud was cleft and torn, +Which like a veil upon them stretched lay, +And up to open heaven forthwith was borne, +And left the prince in view of lightsome day, +With princely look amid the press he shined, +And on a sudden, thus declared his mind. + +L +“Of whom you speak behold the Soldan here, +Neither afraid nor run away for dread, +And that these slanders, lies and fables were, +This hand shall prove upon that coward’s head, +I, who have shed a sea of blood well near, +And heaped up mountains high of Christians dead, +I in their camp who still maintained the fray, +My men all murdered, I that run away. + +LI +“If this, or any coward vile beside, +False to his faith and country, dares reply; +And speak of concord with yon men of pride, +By your good leave, Sir King, here shall he die, +The lambs and wolves shall in one fold abide, +The doves and serpents in one nest shall lie, +Before one town us and these Christians shall +In peace and love unite within one wall.” + +LII +While thus he spoke, his broad and trenchant sword +His hand held high aloft in threatening guise; +Dumb stood the knights, so dreadful was his word; +A storm was in his front, fire in his eyes, +He turned at last to Sion’s aged lord, +And calmed his visage stern in humbler wise: +“Behold,” quoth he, “good prince, what aid I bring, +Since Solyman is joined with Juda’s king.” + +LIII +King Aladine from his rich throne upstart +And said, “Oh how I joy thy face to view, +My noble friend! it lesseneth in some part +My grief, for slaughter of my subjects true; +My weak estate to stablish come thou art, +And mayest thine own again in time renew, +If Heavens consent:” with that the Soldan bold +In dear embracements did he long enfold. + +LIV +Their greetings done, the king resigned his throne +To Solyman, and set himself beside, +In a rich seat adorned with gold and stone, +And Ismen sage did at his elbow bide, +Of whom he asked what way they two had gone, +And he declared all what had them betide: +Clorinda bright to Solyman addressed +Her salutations first, then all the rest. + +LV +Among them rose Ormusses’ valiant knight, +Whom late the Soldan with a convoy sent, +And when most hot and bloody was the fight, +By secret paths and blind byways he went, +Till aided by the silence and the night +Safe in the city’s walls himself he pent, +And there refreshed with corn and cattle store +The pined soldiers famished nigh before. + +LVI +With surly countenance and disdainful grace, +Sullen and sad, sat the Circassian stout, +Like a fierce lion grumbling in his place, +His fiery eyes that turns and rolls about; +Nor durst Orcanes view the Soldan’s face, +But still upon the floor did pore and tout: +Thus with his lords and peers in counselling, +The Turkish monarch sat with Juda’s king. + +LVII +Godfrey this while gave victory the rein, +And following her the straits he opened all; +Then for his soldiers and his captains slain, +He celebrates a stately funeral, +And told his camp within a day or twain +He would assault the city’s mighty wall, +And all the heathen there enclosed doth threat, +With fire and sword, with death and danger great. + +LVIII +And for he had that noble squadron known, +In the last fight which brought him so great aid, +To be the lords and princes of his own +Who followed late the sly enticing maid, +And with them Tancred, who had late been thrown +In prison deep, by that false witch betrayed, +Before the hermit and some private friends, +For all those worthies, lords and knights, he sends; + +LIX +And thus he said, “Some one of you declare +Your fortunes, whether good or to be blamed, +And to assist us with your valors rare +In so great need, how was your coming framed?” +They blush, and on the ground amazed stare, +For virtue is of little guilt ashamed, +At last the English prince with countenance bold, +The silence broke, and thus their errors told: + +LX +“We, not elect to that exploit by lot, +With secret flight from hence ourselves withdrew, +Following false Cupid, I deny it not, +Enticed forth by love and beauty’s hue; +A jealous fire burnt in our stomachs hot, +And by close ways we passed least in view, +Her words, her looks, alas I know too late, +Nursed our love, our jealousy, our hate. + +LXI +“At last we gan approach that woful clime, +Where fire and brimstone down from Heaven was sent +To take revenge for sin and shameful crime +Gainst kind commit, by those who nould repent; +A loathsome lake of brimstone, pitch and lime, +O’ergoes that land, erst sweet and redolent, +And when it moves, thence stench and smoke up flies +Which dim the welkin and infect the skies. + +LXII +“This is the lake in which yet never might +Aught that hath weight sink to the bottom down, +But like to cork or leaves or feathers light, +Stones, iron, men, there fleet and never drown; +Therein a castle stands, to which by sight +But o’er a narrow bridge no way is known, +Hither us brought, here welcomed us the witch, +The house within was stately, pleasant, rich. + +LXIII +“The heavens were clear, and wholsome was the air, +High trees, sweet meadows, waters pure and good; +For there in thickest shade of myrtles fair +A crystal spring poured out a silver flood; +Amid the herbs, the grass and flowers rare, +The falling leaves down pattered from the wood, +The birds sung hymns of love; yet speak I naught +Of gold and marble rich, and richly wrought. + +LXIV +“Under the curtain of the greenwood shade, +Beside the brook upon the velvet grass, +In massy vessel of pure silver made, +A banquet rich and costly furnished was, +All beasts, all birds beguiled by fowler’s trade, +All fish were there in floods or seas that pass, +All dainties made by art, and at the table +An hundred virgins served, for husbands able. + +LXV +“She with sweet words and false enticing smiles, +Infused love among the dainties set, +And with empoisoned cups our souls beguiles, +And made each knight himself and God forget: +She rose and turned again within short whiles, +With changed looks where wrath and anger met, +A charming rod, a book with her she brings, +On which she mumbled strange and secret things. + +LXVI +“She read, and change I felt my will and thought, +I longed to change my life, and place of biding, +That virtue strange in me no pleasure wrought, +I leapt into the flood myself there hiding, +My legs and feet both into one were brought, +Mine arms and hands into my shoulders sliding, +My skin was full of scales, like shields of brass, +Now made a fish, where late a knight I was. + +LXVII +“The rest with me like shape, like garments wore, +And dived with me in that quicksilver stream, +Such mind, to my remembrance, then I bore, +As when on vain and foolish things men dream; +At last our shade it pleased her to restore, +Then full of wonder and of fear we seem, +And with an ireful look the angry maid +Thus threatened us, and made us thus afraid. + +LXVIII +“‘You see,’ quoth she, ‘my sacred might and skill, +How you are subject to my rule and power, +In endless thraldom damned if I will +I can torment and keep you in this tower, +Or make you birds, or trees on craggy hill, +To bide the bitter blasts of storm and shower; +Or harden you to rocks on mountains old, +Or melt your flesh and bones to rivers cold: + +LXIX +“‘Yet may you well avoid mine ire and wrath, +If to my will your yielding hearts you bend, +You must forsake your Christendom and faith, +And gainst Godfredo false my crown defend.’ +We all refused, for speedy death each prayeth, +Save false Rambaldo, he became her friend, +We in a dungeon deep were helpless cast, +In misery and iron chained fast. + +LXX +“Then, for alone they say falls no mishap, +Within short while Prince Tancred thither came, +And was unwares surprised in the trap: +But there short while we stayed, the wily dame +In other folds our mischiefs would upwrap. +From Hidraort an hundred horsemen came, +Whose guide, a baron bold to Egypt’s king, +Should us disarmed and bound in fetters bring. + +LXXI +“Now on our way, the way to death we ride, +But Providence Divine thus for us wrought, +Rinaldo, whose high virtue is his guide +To great exploits, exceeding human thought, +Met us, and all at once our guard defied, +And ere he left the fight to earth them brought. +And in their harness armed us in the place, +Which late were ours, before our late disgrace. + +LXXII +“I and all these the hardy champion knew, +We saw his valor, and his voice we heard; +Then is the rumor of his death untrue, +His life is safe, good fortune long it guard, +Three times the golden sun hath risen new, +Since us he left and rode to Antioch-ward; +But first his armors, broken, hacked and cleft, +Unfit for service, there he doft and left.” + +LXXIII +Thus spake the Briton prince, with humble cheer +The hermit sage to heaven cast up his eyne, +His color and his countenance changed were, +With heavenly grace his looks and visage shine, +Ravished with zeal his soul approached near +The seat of angels pure, and saints divine, +And there he learned of things and haps to come, +To give foreknowledge true, and certain doom. + +LXXIV +At last he spoke, in more than human sound, +And told what things his wisdom great foresaw, +And at his thundering voice the folk around +Attentive stood, with trembling and with awe: +“Rinaldo lives,” he said, “the tokens found +From women’s craft their false beginnings draw, +He lives, and heaven will long preserve his days, +To greater glory, and to greater praise. + +LXXV +“These are but trifles yet, though Asia’s kings +Shrink at his name, and tremble at his view, +I well foresee he shall do greater things, +And wicked emperors conquer and subdue; +Under the shadow of his eagle’s wings +Shall holy Church preserve her sacred crew, +From Caesar’s bird he shall the sable train +Pluck off, and break her talons sharp in twain. + +LXXVI +“His children’s children at his hardiness +And great attempts shall take example fair, +From emperors unjust in all distress +They shall defend the state of Peter’s chair, +To raise the humble up, pride to suppress, +To help the innocents shall be their care. +This bird of east shall fly with conquest great, +As far as moon gives light or sun gives heat; + +LXXVII +“Her eyes behold the truth and purest light, +And thunders down in Peter’s aid she brings, +And where for Christ and Christian faith men fight, +There forth she spreadeth her victorious wings, +This virtue nature gives her and this might; +Then lure her home, for on her presence hings +The happy end of this great enterprise, +So Heaven decrees, and so command the skies.” + +LXXVIII +These words of his of Prince Rinaldo’s death +Out of their troubled hearts, the fear had rased; +In all this joy yet Godfrey smiled uneath. +In his wise thought such care and heed was placed. +But now from deeps of regions underneath +Night’s veil arose, and sun’s bright lustre chased, +When all full sweetly in their cabins slept, +Save he, whose thoughts his eyes still open kept. + + + + +ELEVENTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +With grave procession, songs and psalms devout +Heaven’s sacred aid the Christian lords invoke; +That done, they scale the wall which kept them out: +The fort is almost won, the gates nigh broke: +Godfrey is wounded by Clorinda stout, +And lost is that day’s conquest by the stroke; +The angel cures him, he returns to fight, +But lost his labor, for day lost his light. + +I +The Christian army’s great and puissant guide, +To assault the town that all his thoughts had bent, +Did ladders, rams, and engines huge provide, +When reverend Peter to him gravely went, +And drawing him with sober grace aside, +With words severe thus told his high intent; +“Right well, my lord, these earthly strengths you move, +But let us first begin from Heaven above: + +II +“With public prayer, zeal and faith devout, +The aid, assistance, and the help obtain +Of all the blessed of the heavenly rout, +With whose support you conquest sure may gain; +First let the priests before thine armies stout +With sacred hymns their holy voices strain. +And thou and all thy lords and peers with thee, +Of godliness and faith examples be.” + +III +Thus spake the hermit grave in words severe: +Godfrey allowed his counsel, sage, and wise, +“Of Christ the Lord,” quoth he, “thou servant dear, +I yield to follow thy divine advice, +And while the princes I assemble here, +The great procession, songs and sacrifice, +With Bishop William, thou and Ademare, +With sacred and with solemn pomp prepare.” + +IV +Next morn the bishops twain, the heremite, +And all the clerks and priests of less estate, +Did in the middest of the camp unite +Within a place for prayer consecrate, +Each priest adorned was in a surplice white, +The bishops donned their albes and copes of state, +Above their rochets buttoned fair before, +And mitres on their heads like crowns they wore. + +V +Peter alone, before, spread to the wind +The glorious sign of our salvation great, +With easy pace the choir come all behind, +And hymns and psalms in order true repeat, +With sweet respondence in harmonious kind +Their humble song the yielding air doth beat, +“Lastly, together went the reverend pair +Of prelates sage, William and Ademare, + +VI +The mighty duke came next, as princes do, +Without companion, marching all alone, +The lords and captains then came two and two, +With easy pace thus ordered, passing through +The trench and rampire, to the fields they gone, +No thundering drum, no trumpet shrill they hear, +Their godly music psalms and prayers were. + +VII +To thee, O Father, Son, and sacred Sprite, +One true, eternal, everlasting King; +To Christ’s dear mother, Mary, vlrgin bright, +Psalms of thanksgiving and of praise they sing; +To them that angels down from heaven to fight +Gainst the blasphemous beast and dragon bring; +To him also that of our Saviour good, +Washed the sacred font in Jordan’s flood. + +VIII +Him likewise they invoke, called the Rock +Whereon the Lord, they say, his Church did rear, +Whose true successors close or else unlock +The blessed gates of grace and mercy dear; +And all the elected twelve the chosen flock, +Of his triumphant death who witness bear; +And them by torment, slaughter, fire and sword +Who martyrs died to confirm his word; + +IX +And them also whose books and writings tell +What certain path to heavenly bliss us leads; +And hermits good, and ancresses that dwell +Mewed up in walls, and mumble on their beads, +And virgin nuns in close and private cell, +Where, but shrift fathers, never mankind treads: +On these they called, and on all the rout +Of angels, martyrs, and of saints devout. + +X +Singing and saying thus, the camp devout +Spread forth her zealous squadrons broad and wide’; +Toward mount Olivet went all this route, +So called of olive trees the hills which hide, +A mountain known by fame the world throughout, +Which riseth on the city’s eastern side, +From it divided by the valley green +Of Josaphat, that fills the space between. + +XI +Hither the armies went, and chanted shrill, +That all the deep and hollow dales resound; +From hollow mounts and caves in every hill, +A thousand echoes also sung around, +It seemed some clever, that sung with art and skill, +Dwelt in those savage dens and shady ground, +For oft resounds from the banks they hear, +The name of Christ and of his mother dear. + +XII +Upon the walls the Pagans old and young +Stood hushed and still, amated and amazed, +At their grave order and their humble song, +At their strange pomp and customs new they gazed: +But when the show they had beholden long, +An hideous yell the wicked miscreants raised, +That with vile blasphemies the mountain hoar, +The woods, the waters, and the valleys roar. + +XIII +But yet with sacred notes the hosts proceed, +Though blasphemies they hear and cursed things; +So with Apollo’s harp Pan tunes his reed, +So adders hiss where Philomela sings; +Nor flying darts nor stones the Christians dreed, +Nor arrows shot, nor quarries cast from slings; +But with assured faith, as dreading naught, +The holy work begun to end they brought. + +XIV +A table set they on the mountain’s height +To minister thereon the sacrament, +In golden candlesticks a hallowed light +At either end of virgin wax there brent; +In costly vestments sacred William dight, +With fear and trembling to the altar went, +And prayer there and service loud begins, +Both for his own and all the army’s sins. + +XV +Humbly they heard his words that stood him nigh, +The rest far off upon him bent their eyes, +But when he ended had the service high, +“You servants of the Lord depart,” he cries: +His hands he lifted then up to the sky, +And blessed all those warlike companies; +And they dismissed returned the way they came, +Their order as before, their pomp the same. + +XVI +Within their camp arrived, this voyage ended, +Toward his tent the duke himself withdrew, +Upon their guide by heaps the bands attended, +Till his pavilion’s stately door they view, +There to the Lord his welfare they commended, +And with him left the worthies of the crew, +Whom at a costly and rich feast he placed, +And with the highest room old Raymond graced. + +XVII +Now when the hungry knights sufficed are +With meat, with drink, with spices of the best, +Quoth he, “When next you see the morning star, +To assault the town be ready all and prest: +To-morrow is a day of pains and war, +This of repose, of quiet, peace, and rest; +Go, take your ease this evening, and this night, +And make you strong against to-morrow’s fight.” + +XVIII +They took their leave, and Godfrey’s heralds rode +To intimate his will on every side, +And published it through all the lodgings broad, +That gainst the morn each should himself provide; +Meanwhile they might their hearts of cares unload, +And rest their tired limbs that eveningtide; +Thus fared they till night their eyes did close, +Night friend to gentle rest and sweet repose. + +XIX +With little sign as yet of springing day +Out peeped, not well appeared the rising morn, +The plough yet tore not up the fertile lay, +Nor to their feed the sheep from folds return, +The birds sate silent on the greenwood spray +Amid the groves unheard was hound and horn, +When trumpets shrill, true signs of hardy fights, +Called up to arms the soldiers, called the knights: + +XX +“Arm, arm at once!” an hundred squadrons cried, +And with their cry to arm them all begin. +Godfrey arose, that day he laid aside +His hauberk strong he wonts to combat in, +And donned a breastplate fair, of proof untried, +Such one as footmen use, light, easy, thin. +Scantly the warlord thus clothed had his gromes, +When aged Raymond to his presence comes. + +XXI +And furnished to us when he the man beheld, +By his attire his secret thought he guessed, +“Where is,” quoth he, “your sure and trusty shield? +Your helm, your hauberk strong? where all the rest? +Why be you half disarmed? why to the field +Approach you in these weak defences dressed? +I see this day you mean a course to run, +Wherein may peril much, small praise be won. + +XXII +“Alas, do you that idle prise expect, +To set first foot this conquered wall above? +Of less account some knight thereto object +Whose loss so great and harmful cannot prove; +My lord, your life with greater care protect, +And love yourself because all us you love, +Your happy life is spirit, soul, and breath +Of all this camp, preserve it then from death.” + +XXIII +To this he answered thus, “You know,” he said, +“In Clarimont by mighty Urban’s hand +When I was girded with this noble blade, +For Christ’s true faith to fight in every land, +To God even then a secret vow I made, +Not as a captain here this day to stand +And give directions, but with shield and sword +To fight, to win, or die for Christ my Lord. + +XXIV +“When all this camp in battle strong shall be +Ordained and ordered, well disposed all, +And all things done which to the high degree +And sacred place I hold belongen shall; +Then reason is it, nor dissuade thou me, +That I likewise assault this sacred wall, +Lest from my vow to God late made I swerve: +He shall this life defend, keep and preserve.” + +XXV +Thus he concludes, and every hardy knight +His sample followed, and his brethren twain, +The other princes put on harness light, +As footmen use: but all the Pagan train +Toward that side bent their defensive might +Which lies exposed to view of Charles’s wain +And Zephyrus’ sweet blasts, for on that part +The town was weakest, both by side and art. + +XXVI +On all parts else the fort was strong by site, +With mighty hills defenced from foreign rage, +And to this part the tyrant gan unite +His subjects born and bands that serve for wage, +From this exploit he spared nor great nor lite, +The aged men, and boys of tender age, +To fire of angry war still brought new fuel, +Stones, darts, lime, brimstone and bitumen cruel. + +XXVII +All full of arms and weapons was the wall, +Under whose basis that fair plain doth run, +There stood the Soldan like a giant tall, +So stood at Rhodes the Coloss of the sun, +Waist high, Argantes showed himself withal, +At whose stern looks the French to quake begun, +Clorinda on the corner tower alone, +In silver arms like rising Cynthia shone. + +XXVIII +Her rattling quiver at her shoulders hung, +Therein a flash of arrows feathered weel. +In her left hand her bow was bended strong, +Therein a shaft headed with mortal steel, +So fit to shoot she singled forth among +Her foes who first her quarries’ strength should feel, +So fit to shoot Latona’s daughter stood +When Niobe she killed and all her brood. + +XXIX +The aged tyrant tottered on his feet +From gate to gate, from wall to wall he flew, +He comforts all his bands with speeches sweet, +And every fort and bastion doth review, +For every need prepared in every street +New regiments he placed and weapons new. +The matrons grave within their temples high +To idols false for succors call and cry, + +XXX +“O Macon, break in twain the steeled lance +On wicked Godfrey with thy righteous hands, +Against thy name he doth his arm advance, +His rebel blood pour out upon these sands;” +These cries within his ears no enterance +Could find, for naught he hears, naught understands. +While thus the town for her defence ordains, +His armies Godfrey ordereth on the plains; + +XXXI +His forces first on foot he forward brought, +With goodly order, providence and art, +And gainst these towers which to assail he thought, +In battles twain his strength he doth depart, +Between them crossbows stood, and engines wrought +To cast a stone, a quarry, or a dart, +From whence like thunder’s dint or lightnings new +Against the bulwark stones and lances flew. + +XXXII +His men at arms did back his bands on foot, +The light horse ride far off and serve for wings, +He gave the sign, so mighty was the rout +Of those that shot with bows and cast with slings, +Such storms of shafts and stones flew all about, +That many a Pagan proud to death it brings, +Some died, some at their loops durst scant outpeep, +Some fled and left the place they took to keep. + +XXXIII +The hardy Frenchmen, full of heat and haste, +Ran boldly forward to the ditches large, +And o’er their heads an iron pentice vast +They built, by joining many a shield and targe, +Some with their engines ceaseless shot and cast, +And volleys huge of arrows sharp discharge, +Upon the ditches some employed their pain +To fill the moat and even it with the plain. + +XXXIV +With slime or mud the ditches were not soft, +But dry and sandy, void of waters clear, +Though large and deep the Christians fill them oft, +With rubbish, fagots, stones, and trees they bear: +Adrastus first advanced his crest aloft, +And boldly gan a strong scalado rear, +And through the falling storm did upward climb +Of stones, darts, arrows, fire, pitch and lime: + +XXXV +The hardy Switzer now so far was gone +That half way up with mickle pain he got, +A thousand weapons he sustained alone, +And his audacious climbing ceased not; +At last upon him fell a mighty stone, +As from some engine great it had been shot, +It broke his helm, he tumbled from the height, +The strong Circassian cast that wondrous weight; + +XXXVI +Not mortal was the blow, yet with the fall +On earth sore bruised the man lay in a swoon. +Argantes gan with boasting words to call, +“Who cometh next? this first is tumbled down, +Come, hardy soldiers, come, assault this wall, +I will not shrink, nor fly, nor hide my crown, +If in your trench yourselves for dread you hold, +There shall you die like sheep killed in their fold.” + +XXXVII +Thus boasted he; but in their trenches deep, +The hidden squadrons kept themselves from scath, +The curtain made of shields did well off keep +Both darts and shot, and scorned all their wrath. +But now the ram upon the rampiers steep, +On mighty beams his head advanced hath, +With dreadful horns of iron tough tree great, +The walls and bulwarks trembled at his threat. + +XXXVIII +An hundred able men meanwhile let fall +The weights behind, the engine tumbled down +And battered flat the battlements and wall: +So fell Taigetus hill on Sparta town, +It crushed the steeled shield in pieces small, +And beat the helmet to the wearers’ crown, +And on the ruins of the walls and stones, +Dispersed left their blood their brains and bones. + +XXXIX +The fierce assailants kept no longer close +Undcr the shelter of their target fine, +But their bold fronts to chance of war expose, +And gainst those towers let their virtue shine, +The scaling ladders up to skies arose, +The ground-works deep some closely undermine, +The walls before the Frenchmen shrink and shake, +And gaping sign of headlong falling make: + +XL +And fallen they had, so far the strength extends +Of that fierce ram and his redoubted stroke, +But that the Pagan’s care the place defends +And saved by warlike skill the wall nigh broke: +For to what part soe’er the engine bends, +Their sacks of wool they place the blow to choke, +Whose yielding breaks the strokes thereon which light, +So weakness oft subdues the greatest might. + +XLI +While thus the worthies of the western crew +Maintained their brave assault and skirmish hot, +Her mighty bow Clorinda often drew, +And many a sharp and deadly arrow shot; +And from her bow no steeled shaft there flew +But that some blood the cursed engine got, +Blood of some valiant knight or man of fame, +For that proud shootress scorned weaker game. + +XLII +The first she hit among the Christian peers +Was the bold son of England’s noble king, +Above the trench himself he scantly rears, +But she an arrow loosed from the string, +The wicked steel his gauntlet breaks and tears, +And through his right hand thrust the piercing sting; +Disabled thus from fight, he gan retire, +Groaning for pain, but fretting more for ire. + +XLIII +Lord Stephen of Amboise on the ditch’s brim, +And on a ladder high, Clotharius died, +From back to breast an arrow pierced him, +The other was shot through from side to side: +Then as he managed brave his courser trim, +On his left arm he hit the Flemings’ guide, +He stopped, and from the wound the reed out-twined, +But left the iron in his flesh behind. + +XLIV +As Ademare stood to behold the fight +High on the bank, withdrawn to breathe a space, +A fatal shaft upon his forehead light, +His hand he lifted up to feel the place, +Whereon a second arrow chanced right, +And nailed his hand unto his wounded face, +He fell, and with his blood distained the land, +His holy blood shed by a virgin’s hand. + +XLV +While Palamede stood near the battlement, +Despising perils all, and all mishap, +And upward still his hardy footings bent, +On his right eye he caught a deadly clap, +Through his right eye Clorinda’s seventh shaft went, +And in his neck broke forth a bloody gap; +He underneath that bulwark dying fell, +Which late to scale and win he trusted well. + +XLVI +Thus shot the maid: the duke with hard assay +And sharp assault, meanwhile the town oppressed, +Against that part which to his campward lay +An engine huge and wondrous he addressed, +A tower of wood built for the town’s decay +As high as were the walls and bulwarks best, +A turret full of men and weapons pent, +And yet on wheels it rolled, moved, and went. + +XLVII +This rolling fort his nigh approaches made, +And darts and arrows spit against his foes, +As ships are wont in fight, so it assayed +With the strong wall to grapple and to close, +The Pagans on each side the piece invade, +And all their force against this mass oppose, +Sometimes the wheels, sometimes the battlement +With timber, logs and stones, they broke and rent, + +XLVIII +So thick flew stones and darts, that no man sees +The azure heavens, the sun his brightness lost, +The clouds of weapons, like to swarms of bees, +Move the air, and there each other crossed: +And look how falling leaves drop down from trees, +When the moist sap is nipped with timely frost, +Or apples in strong winds from branches fall; +The Saracens so tumbled from the wall. + +XLIX +For on their part the greatest slaughter light, +They had no shelter gainst so sharp a shower, +Some left on live betook themselves to flight, +So feared they this deadly thundering tower: +But Solyman stayed like a valiant knight, +And some with him, that trusted in his power, +Argantes with a long beech tree in hand, +Ran thither, this huge engine to withstand: + +L +With this he pushed the tower, and back it drives +The length of all his tree, a wondrous way, +The hardy virgin by his side arrives, +To help Argantes in this hard assay: +The band that used the ram, this season strives +To cut the cords, wherein the woolpacks lay, +Which done, the sacks down in the trenches fall, +And to the battery naked left the wall. + +LI +The tower above, the ram beneath doth thunder, +What lime and stone such puissance could abide? +The wall began, new bruised and crushed asunder, +Her wounded lap to open broad and wide, +Godfrey himself and his brought safely under +The shattered wall, where greatest breach he spied, +Himself he saves behind his mighty targe, +A shield not used but in some desperate charge. + +LII +From hence he sees where Solyman descends, +Down to the threshold of the gaping breach, +And there it seems the mighty prince intends +Godfredo’s hoped entrance to impeach: +Argantes, and with him the maid, defends +The walls above, to which the tower doth reach, +His noble heart, when Godfrey this beheld, +With courage new with wrath and valor swelled. + +LIII +He turned about and to good Sigiere spake, +Who bare his greatest shield and mighty bow, +“That sure and trusty target let me take, +Impenetrable is that shield I know, +Over these ruins will I passage make, +And enter first, the way is eath and low, +And time requires that by some noble feat +I should make known my strength and puissance great.” + +LIV +He scant had spoken, scant received the charge, +When on his leg a sudden shaft him hit, +And through that part a hole made wide and large, +Where his strong sinews fastened were and knit. +Clorinda, thou this arrow didst discharge, +And let the Pagans bless thy hand for it, +For by that shot thou savedst them that day +From bondage vile, from death and sure decay. + +LV +The wounded duke, as though he felt no pain, +Still forward went, and mounted up the breach +His high attempt at first he nould refrain, +And after called his lords with cheerful speech; +But when his leg could not his weight sustain, +He saw his will did far his power outreach, +And more he strove his grief increased the more, +The bold assault he left at length therefore: + +LVI +And with his hand he beckoned Guelpho near, +And said, “I must withdraw me to my tent, +My place and person in mine absence bear, +Supply my want, let not the fight relent, +I go, and will ere long again be here; +I go and straight return:” this said, he went, +On a light steed he leaped, and o’er the green +He rode, but rode not, as he thought, unseen. + +LVII +When Godfrey parted, parted eke the heart, +The strength and fortune of the Christian bands, +Courage increased in their adverse part, +Wrath in their hearts, and vigor in their hands: +Valor, success, strength, hardiness and art, +Failed in the princes of the western lands, +Their swords were blunt, faint was their trumpet’s blast, +Their sun was set, or else with clouds o’ercast. + +LVIII +Upon the bulwarks now appeared bold +That fearful band that late for dread was fled! +The women that Clorinda’s strength behold, +Their country’s love to war encouraged, +They weapons got, and fight like men they would, +Their gowns tucked up, their locks were loose and spread, +Sharp darts they cast, and without dread or fear, +Exposed their breasts to save their fortress dear. + +LIX +But that which most dismayed the Christian knights, +And added courage to the Pagans most, +Was Guelpho’s sudden fall in all men’s sights, +Who tumbled headlong down, his footing lost, +A mighty stone upon the worthy lights, +But whence it came none wist, nor from what coast; +And with like blow, which more their hearts dismayed, +Beside him low in dust old Raymond laid: + +LX +And Eustace eke within the ditches large, +To narrow shifts and last extremes they drive, +Upon their foes so fierce the Pagans charge, +And with good-fortune so their blows they give, +That whom they hit, in spite of helm or targe, +They deeply wound, or else of life deprive. +At this their good success Argantes proud, +Waxing more fell, thus roared and cried aloud: + +LXI +“This is not Antioch, nor the evening dark +Can help your privy sleights with friendly shade, +The sun yet shines, your falsehood can we mark, +In other wise this bold assault is made; +Of praise and glory quenched is the spark +That made you first these eastern lands invade, +Why cease you now? why take you not this fort? +What! are you weary for a charge so short?” + +LXII +Thus raged he, and in such hellish sort +Increased the fury in the brain-sick knight, +That he esteemed that large and ample fort +Too strait a field, wherein to prove his might, +There where the breach had framed a new-made port, +Himself he placed, with nimble skips and light, +He cleared the passage out, and thus he cried +To Solyman, that fought close by his side: + +LXIII +“Come, Solyman, the time and place behold, +That of our valors well may judge the doubt, +What sayest thou? amongst these Christians bold, +First leap he forth that holds himself most stout:” +While thus his will the mighty champion told, +Both Solyman and he at once leaped out, +Fury the first provoked, disdain the last, +Who scorned the challenge ere his lips it passed. + +LXIV +Upon their foes unlooked-for they flew, +Each spited other for his virtue’s sake, +So many soldiers this fierce couple slew, +So many shields they cleft and helms they break, +So many ladders to the earth they threw, +That well they seemed a mount thereof to make, +Or else some vamure fit to save the town, +Instead of that the Christians late beat down. + +LXV +The folk that strove with rage and haste before +Who first the wall and rampire should ascend, +Retire, and for that honor strive no more, +Scantly they could their limbs and lives defend, +They fled, their engines lost the Pagans tore +In pieces small, their rams to naught they rend, +And all unfit for further service make +With so great force and rage their beams they brake. + +LXVI +The Pagans ran transported with their ire, +Now here, now there, and woful slaughters wrought, +At last they called for devouring fire, +Two burning pines against the tower they brought, +So from the palace of their hellish sire, +When all this world they would consume to naught, +The fury sisters come with fire in hands, +Shaking their snaky locks and sparkling brands: + +LXVII +But noble Tancred, who this while applied +Grave exhortations to his bold Latines, +When of these knights the wondrous acts he spied, +And saw the champions with their burning pines, +He left his talk, and thither forthwith hied, +To stop the rage of those fell Saracines. +And with such force the fight he there renewed, +That now they fled and lost who late pursued. + +LXVIII +Thus changed the state and fortune of the fray, +Meanwhile the wounded duke, in grief and teen, +Within his great pavilion rich and gay, +Good Sigiere and Baldwin stood between; +His other friends whom his mishap dismay, +With grief and tears about assembled been: +He strove in haste the weapon out to wind, +And broke the reed, but left the head behind. + +LXIX +He bade them take the speediest way they might, +Of that unlucky hurt to make him sound, +And to lay ope the depth thereof to sight, +He willed them open, search and lance the wound, +“Send me again,” quoth he, “to end this fight, +Before the sun be sunken under ground;” +And leaning on a broken spear, he thrust +His leg straight out, to him that cure it must. + +LXX +Erotimus, born on the banks of Po, +Was he that undertook to cure the knight, +All what green herbs or waters pure could do, +He knew their power, their virtue, and their might, +A noble poet was the man also, +But in this science had a more delight, +He could restore to health death-wounded men, +And make their names immortal with his pen. + +LXXI +The mighty duke yet never changed cheer, +But grieved to see his friends lamenting stand; +The leech prepared his cloths and cleansing gear, +And with a belt his gown about him band, +Now with his herbs the steely head to tear +Out of the flesh he proved, now with his hand, +Now with his hand, now with his instrument +He shaked and plucked it, yet not forth it went. + +LXXII +His labor vain, his art prevailed naught, +His luck was ill, although his skill were good, +To such extremes the wounded prince he brought, +That with fell pain he swooned as he stood: +But the angel pure, that kept him, went and sought +Divine dictamnum, out of Ida wood, +This herb is rough, and bears a purple flower, +And in his budding leaves lies all his power. + +LXXIII +Kind nature first upon the craggy clift +Bewrayed this herb unto the mountain goat, +That when her sides a cruel shaft hath rift, +With it she shakes the reed out of her coat; +This in a moment fetched the angel swift, +And brought from Ida hill, though far remote, +The juice whereof in a prepared bath +Unseen the blessed spirit poured hath. + +LXXIV +Pure nectar from that spring of Lydia than, +And panaces divine therein he threw, +The cunning leech to bathe the wound began, +And of itself the steely head outflew; +The bleeding stanched, no vermile drop outran, +The leg again waxed strong with vigor new: +Erotimus cried out, “This hurt and wound +No human art or hand so soon makes sound: + +LXXV +“Some angel good I think come down from skies +Thy surgeon is, for here plain tokens are +Of grace divine which to thy help applies, +Thy weapon take and haste again to war.” +In precious cloths his leg the chieftain ties, +Naught could the man from blood and fight debar; +A sturdy lance in his right hand he braced, +His shield he took, and on his helmet laced: + +LXXVI +And with a thousand knights and barons bold, +Toward the town he hasted from his camp, +In clouds of dust was Titan’s face enrolled, +Trembled the earth whereon the worthies stamp, +His foes far off his dreadful looks behold, +Which in their hearts of courage quenched the lamp, +A chilling fear ran cold through every vein, +Lord Godfrey shouted thrice and all his train: + +LXXVII +Their sovereign’s voice his hardy people knew, +And his loud cries that cheered each fearful heart; +Thereat new strength they took and courage new, +And to the fierce assault again they start. +The Pagans twain this while themselves withdrew +Within the breach to save that battered part, +And with great loss a skirmish hot they hold +Against Tancredi and his squadron bold. + +LXXVIII +Thither came Godfrey armed round about +In trusty plate, with fierce and dreadful look; +At first approach against Argantes stout +Headed with poignant steel a lance he shook, +No casting engine with such force throws out +A knotty spear, and as the way it took, +It whistled in the air, the fearless knight +Opposed his shield against that weapon’s might. + +LXXIX +The dreadful blow quite through his target drove, +And bored through his breastplate strong and thick, +The tender skin it in his bosom rove, +The purple-blood out-streamed from the quick; +To wrest it out the wounded Pagan strove +And little leisure gave it there to stick; +At Godfrey’s head the lance again he cast, +And said, “Lo, there again thy dart thou hast.” + +LXXX +The spear flew back the way it lately came, +And would revenge the harm itself had done, +But missed the mark whereat the man did aim, +He stepped aside the furious blow to shun: +But Sigiere in his throat received the same, +The murdering weapon at his neck out-run, +Nor aught it grieved the man to lose his breath, +Since in his prince’s stead he suffered death. + +LXXXI +Even then the Soldan struck with monstrous main +The noble leader of the Norman band, +He reeled awhile and staggered with the pain, +And wheeling round fell grovelling on the sand: +Godfrey no longer could the grief sustain +Of these displeasures, but with flaming brand, +Up to the breach in heat and haste he goes, +And hand to hand there combats with his foes; + +LXXXII +And there great wonders surely wrought he had, +Mortal the fight, and fierce had been the fray, +But that dark night, from her pavilion sad, +Her cloudy wings did on the earth display, +Her quiet shades she interposed glad +To cause the knights their arms aside to lay; +Godfrey withdrew, and to their tents they wend, +And thus this bloody day was brought to end. + +LXXXIII +The weak and wounded ere he left the field, +The godly duke to safety thence conveyed, +Nor to his foes his engines would he yield, +In them his hope to win the fortress laid; +Then to the tower he went, and it beheeld, +The tower that late the Pagan lords dismayed +But now stood bruised, broken, cracked and shivered, +From some sharp storm as it were late delivered. + +LXXXIV +From dangers great escaped, but late it was, +And now to safety brought well-nigh it seems, +But as a ship that under sail doth pass +The roaring billows and the raging streams, +And drawing nigh the wished port, alas, +Breaks on some hidden rocks her ribs and beams; +Or as a steed rough ways that well hath passed, +Before his inn stumbleth and falls at last: + +LXXXV +Such hap befell that tower, for on that side +Gainst which the Pagans’ force and battery bend, +Two wheels were broke whereon the piece should ride, +The maimed engine could no further wend, +The troop that guarded it that part provide +To underprop with posts, and it defend +Till carpenters and cunning workmen came +Whose skill should help and rear again the same. + +LXXXVI +Thus Godfrey bids, and that ere springing-day, +The cracks and bruises all amend they should, +Each open passage, and each privy way +About the piece, he kept with soldiers bold: +But the loud rumor, both of that they say, +And that they do, is heard within the hold, +A thousand lights about the tower they view, +And what they wrought all night both saw and knew. + + + + +TWELFTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +Clorinda hears her eunuch old report +Her birth, her offspring, and her native land; +Disguised she fireth Godfrey’s rolling fort. +The burned piece falls smoking on the sand: +With Tancred long unknown in desperate sort +She fights, and falls through pierced with his brand: +Christened she dies; with sighs, with plaints and tears. +He wails her death; Argant revengement swears. + +I +Now in dark night was all the world embarred; +But yet the tired armies took no rest, +The careful French kept heedful watch and ward, +While their high tower the workmen newly dressed, +The Pagan crew to reinforce prepared +The weakened bulwarks, late to earth down kest, +Their rampiers broke and bruised walls to mend, +Lastly their hurts the wounded knights attend. + +II +Their wounds were dressed, part of the work was brought +To wished end, part left to other days, +A dull desire to rest deep midnight wrought, +His heavy rod sleep on their eyelids lays: +Yet rested not Clorinda’s working thought, +Which thirsted still for fame and warlike praise, +Argantes eke accompanied the maid +From place to place, which to herself thus said: + +III +“This day Argantes strong, and Solyman, +Strange things have done, and purchased great renown, +Among our foes out of the walls they ran, +Their rams they broke and rent their engines down: +I used my bow, of naught else boast I can, +My self stood safe meanwhile within this town, +And happy was my shot, and prosperous too, +But that was all a woman’s hand could do. + +IV +“On birds and beasts in forests wild that feed +It were more fit mine arrows to bestow, +Than for a feeble maid in warlike deed +With strong and hardy knights herself to show. +Why take I not again my virgin’s weed, +And spend my days in secret cell unknow?” +Thus thought, thus mused, thus devised the maid, +And turning to the knight, at last thus said: + +V +“My thoughts are full, my lord, of strange desire +Some high attempt of war to undertake, +Whether high God my mind therewith inspire +Or of his will his God mankind doth make, +Among our foes behold the light and fire, +I will among them wend, and burn or break +The tower, God grant therein I have my will +And that performed, betide me good or ill. + +VI +“But if it fortune such my chance should be, +That to this town I never turn again, +Mine eunuch, whom I dearly love, with thee +I leave my faithful maids, and all my train, +To Egypt then conducted safely see +Those woful damsels and that aged swain, +Help them, my lord, in that distressed case, +Their feeble sex, his age, deserveth grace.” + +VII +Argantes wondering stood, and felt the effect +Of true renown pierce through his glorious mind, +“And wilt thou go,” quoth he, “and me neglect, +Disgraced, despised, leave in this fort behind? +Shall I while these strong walls my life protect +Behold thy flames and fires tossed in the wind, +No, no, thy fellow have I been in arms, +And will be still, in praise, in death, in harms. + +VIII +“This heart of mine death’s bitter stroke despiseth, +For praise this life, for glory take this breath.” +“My soul and more,” quoth she, “thy friendship prizeth, +For this thy proffered aid required uneath, +I but a woman am, no loss ariseth +To this besieged city by my death, +But if, as God forbid, this night thou fall, +Ah! who shall then, who can, defend this wall!” + +IX +“Too late these ’scuses vain,” the knight replied, +“You bring; my will is firm, my mind is set, +I follow you whereso you list me guide, +Or go before if you my purpose let.” +This said, they hasted to the palace wide +About their prince where all his lords were met, +Clorinda spoke for both, and said, “Sir king, +Attend my words, hear, and allow the thing: + +X +“Argantes here, this bold and hardy knight, +Will undertake to burn the wondrous tower, +And I with him, only we stay till night +Bury in sleep our foes at deadest hour.” +The king with that cast up his hands on height, +The tears for joy upon his cheeks down pour. +“Praised,” quoth he, “be Macon whom we serve, +This land I see he keeps and will preserve: + +XI +“Nor shall so soon this shaken kingdom fall, +While such unconquered hearts my state defend: +But for this act what praise or guerdon shall +I give your virtues, which so far extend? +Let fame your praises sound through nations all, +And fill the world therewith to either end, +Take half my wealth and kingdom for your meed? +You are rewarded half even with the deed.” + +XII +Thus spake the prince, and gently ’gan distrain, +Now him, now her, between his friendly arms: +The Soldan by, no longer could refrain +That noble envy which his bosom warms, +“Nor I,” quoth he, “bear this broad sword in vain, +Nor yet am unexpert in night alarms, +Take me with you: ah.” Quoth Clorinda, “no! +Whom leave we here of prowess if you go?” + +XIII +This spoken, ready with a proud refuse +Argantes was his proffered aid to scorn, +Whom Aladine prevents, and with excuse +To Solyman thus gan his speeches torn: +“Right noble prince, as aye hath been your use +Your self so still you bear and long have borne, +Bold in all acts, no danger can affright +Your heart, nor tired is your strength with fight. + +XIV +“If you went forth great things perform you would, +In my conceit yet far unfit it seems +That you, who most excel in courage bold, +At once should leave this town in these extremes, +Nor would I that these twain should leave this hold, +My heart their noble lives far worthier deems, +If this attempt of less importance were, +Or weaker posts so great a weight could bear. + +XV +“But for well-guarded is the mighty tower +With hardy troops and squadrons round about, +And cannot harmed be with little power, +Nor fit the time to send whole armies out, +This pair who passed have many a dreadful stowre, +And proffer now to prove this venture stout, +Alone to this attempt let them go forth, +Alone than thousands of more price and worth. + +XVI +“Thou, as it best beseems a mighty king, +With ready bands besides the gate attend, +That when this couple have performed the thing, +And shall again their footsteps homeward bend, +From their strong foes upon them following +Thou may’st them keep, preserve, save and defend:” +Thus said the king, “The Soldan must consent,” +Silent remained the Turk, and discontent. + +XVII +Then Ismen said, “You twain that undertake +This hard attempt, awhile I pray you stay, +Till I a wildfire of fine temper make, +That this great engine burn to ashes may; +Haply the guard that now doth watch and wake, +Will then lie tumbled sleeping on the lay;” +Thus they conclude, and in their chambers sit, +To wait the time for this adventure fit. + +XVIII +Clorinda there her silver arms off rent, +Her helm, her shield, her hauberk shining bright, +An armor black as jet or coal she hent, +Wherein withouten plume herself she dight; +For thus disguised amid her foes she meant +To pass unseen, by help of friendly night, +To whom her eunuch, old Arsetes, came, +That from her cradle nursed and kept the dame. + +XIX +This aged sire had followed far and near, +Through lands and seas, the strong and hardy maid, +He saw her leave her arms and wonted gear, +Her danger nigh that sudden change foresaid: +By his white locks from black that changed were +In following her, the woful man her prayed, +By all his service and his taken pain, +To leave that fond attempt, but prayed in vain. + +XX +“At last,” quoth he, “since hardened to thine ill, +Thy cruel heart is to thy loss prepared, +That my weak age, nor tears that down distil, +Not humble suit, nor plaint, thou list regard; +Attend awhile, strange things unfold I will, +Hear both thy birth and high estate declared; +Follow my counsel, or thy will that done,” +She sat to hear, the eunuch thus begun: + +XXI +“Senapus ruled, and yet perchance doth reign +In mighty Ethiop, and her deserts waste, +The lore of Christ both he and all his train +Of people black, hath kept and long embraced, +To him a Pagan was I sold for gain, +And with his queen, as her chief eunuch, placed; +Black was this queen as jet, yet on her eyes +Sweet loveliness, in black attired, lies. + +XXII +“The fire of love and frost of jealousy, +Her husband’s troubled soul alike torment, +The tide of fond suspicion flowed high, +The foe to love and plague to sweet content, +He mewed her up from sight of mortal eye, +Nor day he would his beams on her had bent: +She, wise and lowly, by her husband’s pleasure, +Her joy, her peace, her will, her wish did measure. + +XXIII +“Her prison was a chamber, painted round +With goodly portraits and with stories old, +As white as snow there stood a virgin bound, +Besides a dragon fierce, a champion bold +The monster did with poignant spear through wound, +The gored beast lay dead upon the mould; +The gentle queen before this image laid. +She plained, she mourned, she wept, she sighed, she prayed: + +XXIV +“At last with child she proved, and forth she brought, +And thou art she, a daughter fair and bright, +In her thy color white new terror wrought, +She wondered on thy face with strange affright, +But yet she purposed in her fearful thought +To hide thee from the king, thy father’s sight, +Lest thy bright hue should his suspect approve, +For seld a crow begets a silver dove. + +XXV +“And to her spouse to show she was disposed +A negro’s babe late born, in room of thee, +And for the tower wherein she lay enclosed, +Was with her damsels only wond and me, +To me, on whose true faith she most reposed, +She gave thee, ere thou couldest christened be, +Nor could I since find means thee to baptize, +In Pagan lands thou knowest it’s not the guise. + +XXVI +“To me she gave thee, and she wept withal, +To foster thee in some far distant place. +Who can her griefs and plaints to reckoning call, +How oft she swooned at the last embrace: +Her streaming tears amid her kisses fall, +Her sighs, her dire complaints did interlace? +And looking up at last, ‘O God,’ quoth she, +‘Who dost my heart and inward mourning see, + +XXVII +“‘If mind and body spotless to this day, +If I have kept my bed still undefiled, +Not for myself a sinful wretch I pray, +That in thy presence am an abject vilde, +Preserve this babe, whose mother must denay +To nourish it, preserve this harmless child, +Oh let it live, and chaste like me it make, +But for good fortune elsewhere sample take. + +XXVIII +“‘Thou heavenly soldier which delivered hast +That sacred virgin from the serpent old, +If on thine altars I have offerings placed, +And sacrificed myrrh, frankincense and gold, +On this poor child thy heavenly looks down cast, +With gracious eye this silly babe behold;’ +This said, her strength and living sprite was fled, +She sighed, she groaned, she swooned in her bed. + +XXIX +“Weeping I took thee, in a little chest, +Covered with herbs and leaves, I brought thee out +So secretly, that none of all the rest +Of such an act suspicion had or doubt, +To wilderness my steps I first addressed, +Where horrid shades enclosed me round about, +A tigress there I met, in whose fierce eyes +Fury and wrath, rage, death and terror lies: + +XXX +“Up to a tree I leaped, and on the grass, +Such was my sudden fear, I left thee lying, +To thee the beast with furious course did pass, +With curious looks upon thy visage prying, +All suddenly both meek and mild she was, +With friendly cheer thy tender body eying: +At last she licked thee, and with gesture mild +About thee played, and thou upon her smiled. + +XXXI +“Her fearful muzzle full of dreadful threat, +In thy weak hand thou took’st withouten dread; +The gentle beast with milk-outstretched teat, +As nurses’ custom, proffered thee to feed. +As one that wondereth on some marvel great, +I stood this while amazed at the deed. +When thee she saw well filled and satisfied, +Unto the woods again the tigress hied. + +XXXII +“She gone, down from the tree I came in haste, +And took thee up, and on my journey wend, +Within a little thorp I stayed at last, +And to a nurse the charge of thee commend, +And sporting with thee there long time I passed, +Till term of sixteen months were brought to end, +And thou begun, as little children do, +With half clipped words to prattle, and to go. + +XXXIII +“But having passed the August of mine age, +When more than half my tap of life was run, +Rich by rewards given by your mother sage, +For merits past, and service yet undone, +I longed to leave this wandering pilgrimage, +And in my native soil again to won, +To get some seely home I had desire, +Loth still to warm me at another’s fire. + +XXXIV +“To Egypt-ward, where I was born, I went, +And bore thee with me, by a rolling flood, +Till I with savage thieves well-nigh was hent; +Before the brook, the thieves behind me stood: +Thee to forsake I never could consent, +And gladly would I ’scape those outlaws wood, +Into the flood I leaped far from the brim, +My left hand bore thee, with the right I swim. + +XXXV +“Swift was the current, in the middle stream +A whirlpool gaped with devouring jaws, +The gulf, on such mishap ere I could dream, +Into his deep abyss my carcass draws, +There I forsook thee, the wild waters seem +To pity thee, a gentle wind there blows +Whose friendly puffs safe to the shore thee drive, +Where wet and weary I at last arrive: + +XXXVI +“I took thee up, and in my dream that night, +When buried was the world in sleep and shade, +I saw a champion clad in armor bright +That o’er my head shaked a flaming blade, +He said, ‘I charge thee execute aright, +That charge this infant’s mother on thee laid, +Baptize the child, high Heaven esteems her dear, +And I her keeper will attend her near: + +XXXVII +“‘I will her keep, defend, save and protect, +I made the waters mild, the tigress tame, +O wretch that heavenly warnings dost reject!’ +The warrior vanished having said the same. +I rose and journeyed on my way direct +When blushing morn from Tithon’s bed forth came, +But for my faith is true and sure I ween, +And dreams are false, you still unchristened been. + +XXXVIII +“A Pagan therefore thee I fostered have, +Nor of thy birth the truth did ever tell, +Since you increased are in courage brave, +Your sex and nature’s-self you both excel, +Full many a realm have you made bond and slave, +Your fortunes last yourself remember well, +And how in peace and war, in joy and teen, +I have your servant, and your tutor been. + +XXXIX +“Last morn, from skies ere stars exiled were, +In deep and deathlike sleep my senses drowned, +The self-same vision did again appear, +With stormy wrathful looks, and thundering sound, +‘Villain,’ quoth he, ‘within short while thy dear +Must change her life, and leave this sinful ground, +Thine be the loss, the torment, and the care,’ +This said, he fled through skies, through clouds and air. + +XL +“Hear then my joy, my hope, my darling, hear, +High Heaven some dire misfortune threatened hath, +Displeased pardie, because I did thee lere +A lore repugnant to thy parents’ faith; +Ah, for my sake, this bold attempt forbear; +Put off these sable arms, appease thy wrath.” +This said, he wept, she pensive stood and sad, +Because like dream herself but lately had. + +XLI +With cheerful smile she answered him at last, +“I will this faith observe, it seems me true, +Which from my cradle age thou taught me hast; +I will not change it for religion new, +Nor with vain shows of fear and dread aghast +This enterprise forbear I to pursue, +No, not if death in his most dreadful face +Wherewith he scareth mankind, kept the place.” + +XLII +Approachen gan the time, while thus she spake, +Wherein they ought that dreadful hazard try; +She to Argantes went, who should partake +Of her renown and praise, or with her die. +Ismen with words more hasty still did make +Their virtue great, which by itself did fly, +Two balls he gave them made of hollow brass, +Wherein enclosed fire, pitch, and brimstone was. + +XLIII +And forth they went, and over dale and hill +They hasted forward with a speedy pace, +Unseen, unmarked, undescried, until +Beside the engine close themselves they place, +New courage there their swelling hearts did fill, +Rage in their breasts, fury shown in their face, +They yearned to blow the fire, and draw the sword. +The watch descried them both, and gave the word. + +XLIV +Silent they passed on, the watch begun +To rear a huge alarm with hideous cries, +Therewith the hardy couple forward run +To execute their valiant enterprise: +So from a cannon or a roaring gun +At once the noise, the flame, and bullet flies, +They run, they give the charge, begin the fray, +And all at once their foes break, spoil and slay. + +XLV +They passed first through thousand thousand blows, +And then performed their designment bold, +A fiery ball each on the engine throws, +The stuff was dry, the fire took quickly hold, +Furious upon the timber-work it grows, +How it increased cannot well be told, +How it crept up the piece, and how to skies +The burning sparks and towering smoke upflies. + +XLVI +A mass of solid fire burning bright +Rolled up in smouldering fumes, there bursteth out, +And there the blustering winds add strength and might +And gather close the sparsed flames about: +The Frenchmen trembled at the dreadful light, +To arms in haste and fear ran all the rout, +Down fell the piece dreaded so much in war, +Thus what long days do make one hour doth mar. + +XLVII +Two Christian bands this while came to the place +With speedy haste, where they beheld the fire, +Argantes to them cried with scornful grace, +“Your blood shall quench these flames, and quench mine ire:” +This said, the maid and he with sober pace +Drew back, and to the banks themselves retire, +Faster than brooks which falling showers increase +Their foes augment, and faster on them press. + +XLVIII +The gilden port was opened, and forth stepped +With all his soldiers bold, the Turkish king, +Ready to aid the two his force he kept, +When fortune should them home with conquest bring, +Over the bars the hardy couple leapt +And after them a band of Christians fling, +Whom Solyman drove back with courage stout, +And shut the gate, but shut Clorinda out. + +XLIX +Alone was she shut forth, for in that hour +Wherein they closed the port, the virgin went, +And full of heat and wrath, her strength and power +Gainst Arimon, that struck her erst, she bent, +She slew the knight, nor Argant in that stowre +Wist of her parting, or her fierce intent, +The fight, the press, the night, and darksome skies +Care from his heart had ta’en, sight from his eyes. + +L +But when appeased was her angry mood, +Her fury calmed, and settled was her head, +She saw the gates were shut, and how she stood +Amid her foes, she held herself for dead; +While none her marked at last she thought it good, +To save her life, some other path to tread, +She feigned her one of them, and close her drew +Amid the press that none her saw or knew: + +LI +Then as a wolf guilty of some misdeed +Flies to some grove to hide himself from view, +So favored with the night, with secret speed +Dissevered from the press the damsel flew: +Tancred alone of her escape took heed, +He on that quarter was arrived new, +When Arimon she killed he thither came, +He saw it, marked it, and pursued the dame. + +LII +He deemed she was some man of mickle might, +And on her person would he worship win, +Over the hills the nymph her journey dight +Toward another port, there to get in: +With hideous noise fast after spurred the knight, +She heard and stayed, and thus her words begin, +“What haste hast thou? ride softly, take thy breath, +What bringest thou?” He answered, “War and death.” + +LIII +“And war and death,” quoth she, “here mayest thou get +If thou for battle come,” with that she stayed: +Tancred to ground his foot in haste down set, +And left his steed, on foot he saw the maid, +Their courage hot, their ire and wrath they whet, +And either champion drew a trenchant blade, +Together ran they, and together stroke, +Like two fierce bulls whom rage and love provoke. + +LIV +Worthy of royal lists and brightest day, +Worthy a golden trump and laurel crown, +The actions were and wonders of that fray +Which sable knight did in dark bosom drown: +Yet night, consent that I their acts display +And make their deeds to future ages known, +And in records of long enduring story +Enrol their praise, their fame, their worth and glory. + +LV +They neither shrunk, nor vantage sought of ground, +They traverse not, nor skipped from part to part, +Their blows were neither false nor feigned found, +The night, their rage would let them use no art, +Their swords together clash with dreadful sound, +Their feet stand fast, and neither stir nor start, +They move their hands, steadfast their feet remain, +Nor blow nor loin they struck, or thrust in vain. + +LVI +Shame bred desire a sharp revenge to take, +And vengeance taken gave new cause of shame: +So that with haste and little heed they strake, +Fuel enough they had to feed the flame; +At last so close their battle fierce they make, +They could not wield their swords, so nigh they came, +They used the hilts, and each on other rushed, +And helm to helm, and shield to shield they crushed. + +LVII +Thrice his strong arms he folds about her waist, +And thrice was forced to let the virgin go, +For she disdained to be so embraced, +No lover would have strained his mistress so: +They took their swords again, and each enchased +Deep wounds in the soft flesh of his strong foe, +Till weak and weary, faint, alive uneath, +They both retired at once, at once took breath. + +LVIII +Each other long beheld, and leaning stood +Upon their swords, whose points in earth were pight, +When day-break, rising from the eastern flood, +Put forth the thousand eyes of blindfold night; +Tancred beheld his foe’s out-streaming blood, +And gaping wounds, and waxed proud with the sight, +Oh vanity of man’s unstable mind, +Puffed up with every blast of friendly wind! + +LIX +Why joy’st thou, wretch? Oh, what shall be thy gain? +What trophy for this conquest is’t thou rears? +Thine eyes shall shed, in case thou be not slain, +For every drop of blood a sea of tears: +The bleeding warriors leaning thus remain, +Each one to speak one word long time forbears, +Tancred the silence broke at last, and said, +For he would know with whom this fight he made: + +LX +“Evil is our chance and hard our fortune is +Who here in silence, and in shade debate, +Where light of sun and witness all we miss +That should our prowess and our praise dilate: +If words in arms find place, yet grant me this, +Tell me thy name, thy country, and estate; +That I may know, this dangerous combat done, +Whom I have conquered, or who hath me won.” + +LXI +“What I nill tell, you ask,” quoth she, “in vain, +Nor moved by prayer, nor constrained by power, +But thus much know, I am one of those twain +Which late with kindled fire destroyed the tower.” +Tancred at her proud words swelled with disdain, +“That hast thou said,” quoth he, “in evil hour; +Thy vaunting speeches, and thy silence both, +Uncivil wretch, hath made my heart more wroth.” + +LXII +Ire in their chafed breasts renewed the fray, +Fierce was the fight, though feeble were their might, +Their strength was gone, their cunning was away, +And fury in their stead maintained the fight, +Their swords both points and edges sharp embay +In purple blood, whereso they hit or light, +And if weak life yet in their bosoms lie, +They lived because they both disdained to die. + +LXIII +As Aegean seas when storms be calmed again +That rolled their tumbling waves with troublous blasts, +Do yet of tempests past some shows retain, +And here and there their swelling billows casts; +So, though their strength were gone and might were vain, +Of their first fierceness still the fury lasts, +Wherewith sustained, they to their tackling stood, +And heaped wound on wound, and blood on blood. + +LXIV +But now, alas, the fatal hour arrives +That her sweet life must leave that tender hold, +His sword into her bosom deep he drives, +And bathed in lukewarm blood his iron cold, +Between her breasts the cruel weapon rives +Her curious square, embossed with swelling gold, +Her knees grow weak, the pains of death she feels, +And like a falling cedar bends and reels. + +LXV +The prince his hand upon her shield doth stretch, +And low on earth the wounded damsel layeth, +And while she fell, with weak and woful speech, +Her prayers last and last complaints she sayeth, +A spirit new did her those prayers teach, +Spirit of hope, of charity, and faith; +And though her life to Christ rebellious were, +Yet died she His child and handmaid dear. + +LXVI +“Friend, thou hast won, I pardon thee, nor save +This body, that all torments can endure, +But save my soul, baptism I dying crave, +Come wash away my sins with waters pure:” +His heart relenting nigh in sunder rave, +With woful speech of that sweet creature, +So that his rage, his wrath, and anger died, +And on his cheeks salt tears for ruth down slide. + +LXVII +With murmur loud down from the mountain’s side +A little runnel tumbled near the place, +Thither he ran and filled his helmet wide, +And quick returned to do that work of grace, +With trembling hands her beaver he untied, +Which done he saw, and seeing, knew her face, +And lost therewith his speech and moving quite, +Oh woful knowledge, ah unhappy sight! + +LXVIII +He died not, but all his strength unites, +And to his virtues gave his heart in guard, +Bridling his grief, with water he requites +The life that he bereft with iron hard, +And while the sacred words the knight recites, +The nymph to heaven with joy herself prepared; +And as her life decays her joys increase, +She smiled and said, “Farewell, I die in peace.” + +LXIX +As violets blue mongst lilies pure men throw, +So paleness midst her native white begun; +Her looks to heaven she cast, their eyes I trow +Downward for pity bent both heaven and sun, +Her naked hand she gave the knight, in show +Of love and peace, her speech, alas, was done, +And thus the virgin fell on endless sleep,— +Love, Beauty, Virtue, for your darling weep! + +LXX +But when he saw her gentle soul was went, +His manly courage to relent began, +Grief, sorrow, anguish, sadness, discontent, +Free empire got and lordship on the man, +His life within his heart they close up pent, +Death through his senses and his visage ran: +Like his dead lady, dead seemed Tancred good, +In paleness, stillness, wounds and streams of blood. + +LXXI +And his weak sprite, to be unbodied +From fleshly prison free that ceaseless strived, +Had followed her fair soul but lately fled +Had not a Christian squadron there arrived, +To seek fresh water thither haply led, +And found the princess dead, and him deprived +Of signs of life; yet did the knight remain +On live, nigh dead, for her himself had slain. + +LXXII +Their guide far off the prince knew by his shield, +And thither hasted full of grief and fear, +Her dead, him seeming so, he there beheld, +And for that strange mishap shed many a tear; +He would not leave the corpses fair in field +For food to wolves, though she a Pagan were, +But in their arms the soldiers both uphent, +And both lamenting brought to Tancred’s tent. + +LXXIII +With those dear burdens to their camp they pass, +Yet would not that dead seeming knight awake, +At last he deeply groaned, which token was +His feeble soul had not her flight yet take: +The other lay a still and heavy mass, +Her spirit had that earthen cage forsake; +Thus were they brought, and thus they placed were +In sundry rooms, yet both adjoining near. + +LXXIV +All skill and art his careful servants used +To life again their dying lord to bring, +At last his eyes unclosed, with tears suffused, +He felt their hands and heard their whispering, +But how he thither came long time he mused, +His mind astonished was with everything; +He gazed about, his squires in fine he knew, +Then weak and woful thus his plaints out threw: + +LXXV +“What, live I yet? and do I breathe and see +Of this accursed day the hateful light? +This spiteful ray which still upbraideth me +With that accursed deed I did this night, +Ah, coward hand, afraid why should’st thou be; +Thou instrument of death, shame and despite, +Why should’st thou fear, with sharp and trenchant knife, +To cut the thread of this blood-guilty life? + +LXXVI +“Pierce through this bosom, and my cruel heart +In pieces cleave, break every string and vein; +But thou to slaughters vile which used art, +Think’st it were pity so to ease my pain: +Of luckless love therefore in torments’ smart +A sad example must I still remain, +A woful monster of unhappy love, +Who still must live, lest death his comfort prove: + +LXXVII +“Still must I live in anguish, grief, and care; +Furies my guilty conscience that torment, +The ugly shades, dark night, and troubled air +In grisly forms her slaughter still present, +Madness and death about my bed repair, +Hell gapeth wide to swallow up this tent; +Swift from myself I run, myself I fear, +Yet still my hell within myself I bear. + +LXXVIII +“But where, alas, where be those relics sweet, +Wherein dwelt late all love, all joy, all good? +My fury left them cast in open street, +Some beast hath torn her flesh and licked her blood, +Ah noble prey! for savage beast unmeet, +Ah sweet! too sweet, and far too precious food, +Ah, seely nymph! whom night and darksome shade +To beasts, and me, far worse than beasts, betrayed. + +LXXIX +“But where you be, if still you be, I wend +To gather up those relics dear at least, +But if some beast hath from the hills descend, +And on her tender bowels made his feast, +Let that fell monster me in pieces rend, +And deep entomb me in his hollow chest: +For where she buried is, there shall I have +A stately tomb, a rich and costly grave.” + +LXXX +Thus mourned the knight, his squires him told at last, +They had her there for whom those tears he shed; +A beam of comfort his dim eyes outcast, +Like lightning through thick clouds of darkness spread, +The heavy burden of his limbs in haste, +With mickle pain, he drew forth of his bed, +And scant of strength to stand, to move or go, +Thither he staggered, reeling to and fro. + +LXXXI +When he came there, and in her breast espied +His handiwork, that deep and cruel wound, +And her sweet face with leaden paleness dyed, +Where beauty late spread forth her beams around, +He trembled so, that nere his squires beside +To hold him up, he had sunk down to ground, +And said, “O face in death still sweet and fair! +Thou canst not sweeten yet my grief and care: + +LXXXII +“O fair right hand, the pledge of faith and love? +Given me but late, too late, in sign of peace, +How haps it now thou canst not stir nor move? +And you, dear limbs, now laid in rest and ease, +Through which my cruel blade this flood-gate rove, +Your pains have end, my torments never cease, +O hands, O cruel eyes, accursed alike! +You gave the wound, you gave them light to strike. + +LXXXIII +“But thither now run forth my guilty blood, +Whither my plaints, my sorrows cannot wend.” +He said no more, but, as his passion wood +Inforced him, he gan to tear and rend +His hair, his face, his wounds, a purple flood +Did from each side in rolling streams descend, +He had been slain, but that his pain and woe +Bereft his senses, and preserved him so. + +LXXXIV +Cast on his bed his squires recalled his sprite +To execute again her hateful charge, +But tattling fame the sorrows of the knight +And hard mischance had told this while at large: +Godfrey and all his lords of worth and might, +Ran thither, and the duty would discharge +Of friendship true, and with sweet words the rage +Of bitter grief and woe they would assuage. + +LXXXV +But as a mortal wound the more doth smart +The more it searched is, handled or sought; +So their sweet words to his afflicted heart +More grief, more anguish, pain and torment brought +But reverend Peter that would set apart +Care of his sheep, as a good shepherd ought, +His vanity with grave advice reproved +And told what mourning Christian knights behoved: + +LXXXVI +“O Tancred, Tancred, how far different +From thy beginnings good these follies be? +What makes thee deaf? what hath thy eyesight blent? +What mist, what cloud thus overshadeth thee? +This is a warning good from heaven down sent, +Yet His advice thou canst not hear nor see +Who calleth and conducts thee to the way +From which thou willing dost and witting stray: + +LXXXVII +“To worthy actions and achievements fit +For Christian knights He would thee home recall; +But thou hast left that course and changed it, +To make thyself a heathen damsel’s thrall; +But see, thy grief and sorrow’s painful fit +Is made the rod to scourge thy sins withal, +Of thine own good thyself the means He makes, +But thou His mercy, goodness, grace forsakes. + +LXXXVIII +“Thou dost refuse of heaven the proffered +And gainst it still rebel with sinful ire, +Oh wretch! Oh whither doth thy rage thee chase? +Refrain thy grief, bridle thy fond desire, +At hell’s wide gate vain sorrow doth thee place, +Sorrow, misfortune’s son, despair’s foul fire: +Oh see thine evil, thy plaint and woe refrain, +The guides to death, to hell, and endless pain.” + +LXXXIX +This said, his will to die the patient +Abandoned, that second death he feared, +These words of comfort to his heart down went, +And that dark night of sorrow somewhat cleared; +Yet now and then his grief deep sighs forth sent, +His voice shrill plaints and sad laments oft reared, +Now to himself, now to his murdered love, +He spoke, who heard perchance from heaven above. + +XC +Till Phoebus’ rising from his evening fall +To her, for her, he mourns, he calls, he cries; +The nightingale so when her children small +Some churl takes before their parents’ eyes, +Alone, dismayed, quite bare of comforts all, +Tires with complaints the seas, the shores, the skies, +Till in sweet sleep against the morning bright +She fall at last; so mourned, so slept the knight. + +XCI +And clad in starry veil, amid his dream, +For whose sweet sake he mourned, appeared the maid, +Fairer than erst, yet with that heavenly beam. +Not out of knowledge was her lovely shade, +With looks of ruth her eyes celestial seem +To pity his sad plight, and thus she said, +“Behold how fair, how glad thy love appears, +And for my sake, my dear, forbear these tears. + +XCII +“Thine be the thanks, my soul thou madest flit +At unawares out of her earthly nest, +Thine be the thanks, thou hast advanced it +In Abraham’s dear bosom long to rest, +There still I love thee, there for Tancred fit +A seat prepared is among the blest; +There in eternal joy, eternal light, +Thou shalt thy love enjoy, and she her knight; + +XCIII +“Unless thyself, thyself heaven’s joys envy, +And thy vain sorrow thee of bliss deprive, +Live, know I love thee, that I nill deny, +As angels, men: as saints may wights on live:” +This said, of zeal and love forth of her eye +An hundred glorious beams bright shining drive, +Amid which rays herself she closed from sigh, +And with new joy, new comfort left her knight. + +XCIV +Thus comforted he waked, and men discreet +In surgery to cure his wounds were sought, +Meanwhile of his dear love the relics sweet, +As best he could, to grave with pomp he brought: +Her tomb was not of varied Spartan greet, +Nor yet by cunning hand of Scopas wrought, +But built of polished stone, and thereon laid +The lively shape and portrait of the maid. + +XCV +With sacred burning lamps in order long +And mournful pomp the corpse was brought to ground +Her arms upon a leafless pine were hung, +The hearse, with cypress; arms, with laurel crowned: +Next day the prince, whose love and courage strong +Drew forth his limbs, weak, feeble, and unsound, +To visit went, with care and reverence meet, +The buried ashes of his mistress sweet: + +XCVI +Before her new-made tomb at last arrived, +The woful prison of his living sprite, +Pale, cold, sad, comfortless, of sense deprived, +Upon the marble gray he fixed his sight, +Two streams of tears were from his eyes derived: +Thus with a sad “Alas!” began the knight, +“O marble dear on my dear mistress placed! +My flames within, without my tears thou hast. + +XCVII +“Not of dead bones art thou the mournful grave, +But of quick love the fortress and the hold, +Still in my heart thy wonted brands I have +More bitter far, alas! but not more cold; +Receive these sighs, these kisses sweet receive, +In liquid drops of melting tears enrolled, +And give them to that body pure and chaste, +Which in thy bosom cold entombed thou hast. + +XCVIII +“For if her happy soul her eye doth bend +On that sweet body which it lately dressed, +My love, thy pity cannot her offend, +Anger and wrath is not in angels blessed, +She pardon will the trespass of her friend, +That hope relieves me with these griefs oppressed, +This hand she knows hath only sinned, not I, +Who living loved her, and for love now die: + +XCIX +“And loving will I die, oh happy day +Whene’er it chanceth! but oh far more blessed +If as about thy polished sides I stray, +My bones within thy hollow grave might rest, +Together should in heaven our spirits stay, +Together should our bodies lie in chest; +So happy death should join what life doth sever, +O Death, O Life! sweet both, both blessed ever.” + +C +Meanwhile the news in that besieged town +Of this mishap was whispered here and there, +Forthwith it spread, and for too true was known, +Her woful loss was talked everywhere, +Mingled with cries and plaints to heaven upthrown, +As if the city’s self new taken were +With conquering foes, or as if flame and fire, +Nor house, nor church, nor street had left entire. + +CI +But all men’s eyes were on Arsetes bent, +His sighs were deep, his looks full of despair, +Out of his woful eyes no tear there went, +His heart was hardened with his too much care, +His silver locks with dust he foul besprent, +He knocked his breast, his face he rent and tare, +And while the press flocked to the eunuch old, +Thus to the people spake Argantes bold: + +CII +“I would, when first I knew the hardy maid +Excluded was among her Christian foes, +Have followed her to give her timely aid, +Or by her side this breath and life to lose, +What did I not, or what left I unsaid +To make the king the gates again unclose? +But he denied, his power did aye restrain +My will, my suit was waste, my speech was vain: + +CIII +“Ah, had I gone, I would from danger free +Have brought to Sion that sweet nymph again, +Or in the bloody fight, where killed was she, +In her defence there nobly have been slain: +But what could I do more? the counsels be +Of God and man gainst my designments plain, +Dead is Clorinda fair, laid in cold grave, +Let me revenge her whom I could not save. + +CIV +“Jerusalem, hear what Argantes saith, +Hear Heaven, and if he break his oath and word, +Upon this head cast thunder in thy wrath: +I will destroy and kill that Christian lord +Who this fair dame by night thus murdered hath, +Nor from my side I will ungird this sword +Till Tancred’s heart it cleave, and shed his blood, +And leave his corpse to wolves and crows for food.” + +CV +This said, the people with a joyful shout +Applaud his speeches and his words approve, +And calmed their grief in hope the boaster stout +Would kill the prince, who late had slain his love. +O promise vain! it otherwise fell out: +Men purpose, but high gods dispose above, +For underneath his sword this boaster died +Whom thus he scorned and threatened in his pride. + + + + +THIRTEENTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +Ismeno sets to guard the forest old +The wicked sprites, whose ugly shapes affray +And put to flight the men, whose labor would +To their dark shades let in heaven’s golden ray: +Thither goes Tancred hardy, faithful, bold, +But foolish pity lets him not assay +His strength and courage: heat the Christian power +Annoys, whom to refresh God sends a shower. + +I +But scant, dissolved into ashes cold, +The smoking tower fell on the scorched grass, +When new device found out the enchanter old +By which the town besieged secured was, +Of timber fit his foes deprive he would, +Such terror bred that late consumed mass: +So that the strength of Sion’s walls to shake, +They should no turrets, rams, nor engines make. + +II +From Godfrey’s camp a grove a little way +Amid the valleys deep grows out of sight, +Thick with old trees whose horrid arms display +An ugly shade, like everlasting night; +There when the sun spreads forth his clearest ray, +Dim, thick, uncertain, gloomy seems the light; +As when in evening, day and darkness strive +Which should his foe from our horizon drive. + +III +But when the sun his chair in seas doth steep, +Night, horror, darkness thick the place invade, +Which veil the mortal eyes with blindness deep +And with sad terror make weak hearts afraid, +Thither no groom drives forth his tender sheep +To browse, or ease their faint in cooling shade, +Nor traveller nor pilgrim there to enter, +So awful seems that forest old, dare venture. + +IV +United there the ghosts and goblins meet +To frolic with their mates in silent night, +With dragons’ wings some cleave the welkin fleet, +Some nimbly run o’er hills and valleys light, +A wicked troop, that with allurements sweet +Draws sinful man from that is good and right, +And there with hellish pomp their banquets brought +They solemnize, thus the vain Parians thought. + +V +No twist, no twig, no bough nor branch, therefore, +The Saracens cut from that sacred spring; +But yet the Christians spared ne’er the more +The trees to earth with cutting steel to bring: +Thither went Ismen old with tresses hoar, +When night on all this earth spread forth her wing, +And there in silence deaf and mirksome shade +His characters and circles vain he made: + +VI +He in the circle set one foot unshod, +And whispered dreadful charms in ghastly wise, +Three times, for witchcraft loveth numbers odd, +Toward the east he gaped, westward thrice, +He struck the earth thrice with his charmed rod +Wherewith dead bones he makes from grave to rise, +And thrice the ground with naked foot he smote, +And thus he cried loud, with thundering note: + +VII +“Hear, hear, you spirits all that whilom fell, +Cast down from heaven with dint of roaring thunder; +Hear, you amid the empty air that dwell +And storms and showers pour on these kingdoms under; +Hear, all you devils that lie in deepest hell +And rend with torments damned ghosts asunder, +And of those lands of death, of pain and fear, +Thou monarch great, great Dis, great Pluto, hear! + +VIII +“Keep you this forest well, keep every tree, +Numbered I give you them and truly told; +As souls of men in bodies clothed be +So every plant a sprite shall hide and hold, +With trembling fear make all the Christians flee, +When they presume to cut these cedars old:” +This said, his charms he gan again repeat, +Which none can say but they that use like feat. + +IX +At those strange speeches, still night’s splendent fires +Quenched their lights, and shrunk away for doubt, +The feeble moon her silver beams retires, +And wrapt her horns with folding clouds about, +Ismen his sprites to come with speed requires, +“Why come you not, you ever damned rout? +Why tarry you so long? pardie you stay +Till stronger charms and greater words I say. + +X +“I have not yet forgot for want of use, +What dreadful terms belong this sacred feat, +My tongue, if still your stubborn hearts refuse, +That so much dreaded name can well repeat, +Which heard, great Dis cannot himself excuse, +But hither run from his eternal seat, +O great and fearful!”—More he would have said, +But that he saw the sturdy sprites obeyed. + +XI +Legions of devils by thousands thither come, +Such as in sparsed air their biding make, +And thousands also which by Heavenly doom +Condemned lie in deep Avernus lake, +But slow they came, displeased all and some +Because those woods they should in keeping take, +Yet they obeyed and took the charge in hand, +And under every branch and leaf they stand. + +XII +When thus his cursed work performed was, +The wizard to his king declared the feat, +“My lord, let fear, let doubt and sorrow pass, +Henceforth in safety stands your regal seat, +Your foe, as he supposed, no mean now has +To build again his rams and engines great:” +And then he told at large from part to part, +All what he late performed by wondrous art. + +XIII +“Besides this help, another hap,” quoth he, +“Will shortly chance that brings not profit small. +Within few days Mars and the Sun I see +Their fiery beams unite in Leo shall; +And then extreme the scorching heat will be, +Which neither rain can quench nor dews that fall, +So placed are the planets high and low, +That heat, fire, burning all the heavens foreshow: + +XIV +“So great with us will be the warmth therefore, +As with the Garamants or those of Inde; +Yet nill it grieve us in this town so sore, +We have sweet shade and waters cold by kind: +Our foes abroad will be tormented more, +What shield can they or what refreshing find? +Heaven will them vanquish first, then Egypt’s crew +Destroy them quite, weak, weary, faint and few: + +XV +“Thou shalt sit still and conquer; prove no more +The doubtful hazard of uncertain fight. +But if Argantes bold, that hates so sore +All cause of quiet peace, though just and right, +Provoke thee forth to battle, as before, +Find means to calm the rage of that fierce knight, +For shortly Heaven will send thee ease and peace, +And war and trouble mongst thy foes increase.” + +XVI +The king assured by these speeches fair, +Held Godfrey’s power, his might and strength in scorn, +And now the walls he gan in part repair, +Which late the ram had bruised with iron horn, +With wise foresight and well advised care +He fortified each breach and bulwark torn, +And all his folk, men, women, children small, +With endless toil again repaired the wall. + +XVII +But Godfrey nould this while bring forth his power +To give assault against that fort in vain, +Till he had builded new his dreadful tower, +And reared high his down-fallen rams again: +His workmen therefore he despatched that hour +To hew the trees out of the forest main, +They went, and scant the wood appeared in sight +When wonders new their fearful hearts affright: + +XVIII +As silly children dare not bend their eye +Where they are told strange bugbears haunt the place, +Or as new monsters, while in bed they lie, +Their fearful thoughts present before their face; +So feared they, and fled, yet wist not why, +Nor what pursued them in that fearful chase. +Except their fear perchance while thus they fled, +New chimeras, sphinxes, or like monsters bred: + +XIX +Swift to the camp they turned back dismayed, +With words confused uncertain tales they told, +That all which heard them scorned what they said +And those reports for lies and fables hold. +A chosen crew in shining arms arrayed +Duke Godfrey thither sent of soldiers bold, +To guard the men and their faint arms provoke +To cut the dreadful trees with hardy stroke: + +XX +These drawing near the wood where close ypent +The wicked sprites in sylvan pinfolds were, +Their eyes upon those shades no sooner bent +But frozen dread pierced through their entrails dear; +Yet on they stalked still, and on they went, +Under bold semblance hiding coward fear, +And so far wandered forth with trembling pace, +Till they approached nigh that enchanted place: + +XXI +When from the grove a fearful sound outbreaks, +As if some earthquake hill and mountain tore, +Wherein the southern wind a rumbling makes, +Or like sea waves against the scraggy shore; +There lions grumble, there hiss scaly snakes, +There howl the wolves, the rugged bears there roar, +There trumpets shrill are heard and thunders fell, +And all these sounds one sound expressed well. + +XXII +Upon their faces pale well might you note +A thousand signs of heart-amating fear, +Their reason gone, by no device they wot +How to press nigh, or stay still where they were, +Against that sudden dread their breasts which smote, +Their courage weak no shield of proof could bear, +At last they fled, and one than all more bold, +Excused their flight, and thus the wonders told: + +XXIII +“My lord, not one of us there is, I grant, +That dares cut down one branch in yonder spring, +I think there dwells a sprite in every plant, +There keeps his court great Dis infernal king, +He hath a heart of hardened adamant +That without trembling dares attempt the thing, +And sense he wanteth who so hardy is +To hear the forest thunder, roar and hiss.” + +XXIV +This said, Alcasto to his words gave heed, +Alcasto leader of the Switzers grim, +A man both void of wit and void of dreed, +Who feared not loss of life nor loss of limb. +No savage beasts in deserts wild that feed +Nor ugly monster could dishearten him, +Nor whirlwind, thunder, earthquake, storm, or aught +That in this world is strange or fearful thought. + +XXV +He shook his head, and smiling thus gan say, +“The hardiness have I that wood to fell, +And those proud trees low in the dust to lay +Wherein such grisly fiends and monsters dwell; +No roaring ghost my courage can dismay, +No shriek of birds, beast’s roar, or dragon’s yell; +But through and through that forest will I wend, +Although to deepest hell the paths descend.” + +XXVI +Thus boasted he, and leave to go desired, +And forward went with joyful cheer and will, +He viewed the wood and those thick shades admired, +He heard the wondrous noise and rumbling shrill; +Yet not one foot the audacious man retired, +He scorned the peril, pressing forward still, +Till on the forest’s outmost marge he stepped, +A flaming fire from entrance there him kept. + +XXVII +The fire increased, and built a stately wall +Of burning coals, quick sparks, and embers hot, +And with bright flames the wood environed all, +That there no tree nor twist Alcasto got; +The higher stretched the flames seemed bulwarks tall, +Castles and turrets full of fiery shot, +With slings and engines strong of every sort;— +What mortal wight durst scale so strange a fort? + +XXVIII +Oh what strange monsters on the battlement +In loathsome forms stood to defend the place? +Their frowning looks upon the knight they bent, +And threatened death with shot, with sword and mace: +At last he fled, and though but slow he went, +As lions do whom jolly hunters chase; +Yet fled the man and with sad fear withdrew, +Though fear till then he never felt nor knew. + +XXIX +That he had fled long time he never wist, +But when far run he had discoverd it, +Himself for wonder with his hand he blist, +A bitter sorrow by the heart him bit, +Amazed, ashamed, disgraced, sad, silent, trist, +Alone he would all day in darkness sit, +Nor durst he look on man of worth or fame, +His pride late great, now greater made his shame. + +XXX +Godfredo called him, but he found delays +And causes why he should his cabin keep, +At length perforce he comes, but naught he says, +Or talks like those that babble in their sleep. +His shamefacedness to Godfrey plain bewrays +His flight, so does his sighs and sadness deep: +Whereat amazed, “What chance is this?” quoth he. +“These witchcrafts strange or nature’s wonders be. + +XXXI +“But if his courage any champion move +To try the hazard of this dreadful spring, +I give him leave the adventure great to prove, +Some news he may report us of the thing:” +This said, his lords attempt the charmed grove, +Yet nothing back but fear and flight they bring, +For them inforced with trembling to retire, +The sight, the sound, the monsters and the fire. + +XXXII +This happed when woful Tancred left his bed +To lay in marble cold his mistress dear, +The lively color from his cheek was fled, +His limbs were weak his helm or targe to bear; +Nathless when need to high attempts him led, +No labor would he shun, no danger fear, +His valor, boldness, heart and courage brave, +To his faint body strength and vigor gave. + +XXXIII +To this exploit forth went the venturous knight, +Fearless, yet heedful; silent, well advised, +The terrors of that forest’s dreadful sight, +Storms, earthquakes, thunders, cries, he all despised: +He feared nothing, yet a motion light, +That quickly vanished, in his heart arised +When lo, between him and the charmed wood, +A fiery city high as heaven up stood. + +XXXIV +The knight stepped back and took a sudden pause, +And to himself, “What help these arms?” quoth he, +“If in this fire, or monster’s gaping jaws +I headlong cast myself, what boots it me? +For common profit, or my country’s cause, +To hazard life before me none should be: +But this exploit of no such weight I hold, +For it to lose a prince or champion bold. + +XXXV +But if I fly, what will the Pagans say? +If I retire, who shall cut down this spring? +Godfredo will attempt it every day. +What if some other knight perform the thing? +These flames uprisen to forestall my way +Perchance more terror far than danger bring. +But hap what shall;” this said, he forward stepped, +And through the fire, oh wondrous boldness, leapt! + +XXXVI +He bolted through, but neither warmth nor heat! +He felt, nor sign of fire or scorching flame; +Yet wist he not in his dismayed conceit, +If that were fire or no through which he came; +For at first touch vanished those monsters great, +And in their stead the clouds black night did frame +And hideous storms and showers of hail and rain; +Yet storms and tempests vanished straight again. + +XXXVII +Amazed but not afraid the champion good +Stood still, but when the tempest passed he spied, +He entered boldly that forbidden wood, +And of the forest all the secrets eyed, +In all his walk no sprite or phantasm stood +That stopped his way or passage free denied, +Save that the growing trees so thick were set, +That oft his sight, and passage oft they let. + +XXXVIII +At length a fair and spacious green he spied, +Like calmest waters, plain, like velvet, soft, +Wherein a cypress clad in summer’s pride, +Pyramid-wise, lift up his tops aloft; +In whose smooth bark upon the evenest side, +Strange characters he found, and viewed them oft, +Like those which priests of Egypt erst instead +Of letters used, which none but they could read. + +XXXIX +Mongst them he picked out these words at last, +Writ in the Syriac tongue, which well he could, +“Oh hardy knight, who through these woods hast passed: +Where Death his palace and his court doth hold! +Oh trouble not these souls in quiet placed, +Oh be not cruel as thy heart is bold, +Pardon these ghosts deprived of heavenly light, +With spirits dead why should men living fight?” + +XL +This found he graven in the tender rind, +And while he mused on this uncouth writ, +Him thought he heard the softly whistling wind +His blasts amid the leaves and branches knit +And frame a sound like speech of human kind, +But full of sorrow grief and woe was it, +Whereby his gentle thoughts all filled were +With pity, sadness, grief, compassion, fear. + +XLI +He drew his sword at last, and gave the tree +A mighty blow, that made a gaping wound, +Out of the rift red streams he trickling see +That all bebled the verdant plain around, +His hair start up, yet once again stroke he, +He nould give over till the end he found +Of this adventure, when with plaint and moan, +As from some hollow grave, he heard one groan. + +XLII +“Enough, enough!” the voice lamenting said, +“Tancred, thou hast me hurt, thou didst me drive +Out of the body of a noble maid +Who with me lived, whom late I kept on live, +And now within this woful cypress laid, +My tender rind thy weapon sharp doth rive, +Cruel, is’t not enough thy foes to kill, +But in their graves wilt thou torment them still? + +XLIII +“I was Clorinda, now imprisoned here, +Yet not alone within this plant I dwell, +For every Pagan lord and Christian peer, +Before the city’s walls last day that fell, +In bodies new or graves I wot not clear, +But here they are confined by magic’s spell, +So that each tree hath life, and sense each bough, +A murderer if thou cut one twist art thou.” + +XLIV +As the sick man that in his sleep doth see +Some ugly dragon, or some chimera new, +Though he suspect, or half persuaded be, +It is an idle dream, no monster true, +Yet still he fears, he quakes, and strives to flee, +So fearful is that wondrous form to view; +So feared the knight, yet he both knew and thought +All were illusions false by witchcraft wrought: + +XLV +But cold and trembling waxed his frozen heart, +Such strange effects, such passions it torment, +Out of his feeble hand his weapon start, +Himself out of his wits nigh, after went: +Wounded he saw, he thought, for pain and smart, +His lady weep, complain, mourn, and lament, +Nor could he suffer her dear blood to see, +Or hear her sighs that deep far fetched be. + +XLVI +Thus his fierce heart which death had scorned oft, +Whom no strange shape or monster could dismay, +With feigned shows of tender love made soft, +A spirit false did with vain plaints betray; +A whirling wind his sword heaved up aloft, +And through the forest bare it quite away. +O’ercome retired the prince, and as he came, +His sword he found, and repossessed the same, + +XLVII +Yet nould return, he had no mind to try +His courage further in those forests green; +But when to Godfrey’s tent he proached nigh, +His spirits waked, his thoughts composed been, +“My Lord.” quoth he, “a witness true am I +Of wonders strange, believe it scant though seen, +What of the fire, the shades, the dreadful sound +You heard, all true by proof myself have found; + +XLVIII +“A burning fire, so are those deserts charmed, +Built like a battled wall to heaven was reared; +Whereon with darts and dreadful weapons armed, +Of monsters foul mis-shaped whole bands appeared; +But through them all I passed, unhurt, unharmed, +No flame or threatened blow I felt or feared, +Then rain and night I found, but straight again +To day, the night, to sunshine turned the rain. + +XLIX +“What would you more? each tree through all that wood +Hath sense, hath life, hath speech, like human kind, +I heard their words as in that grove I stood, +That mournful voice still, still I bear in mind: +And, as they were of flesh, the purple blood +At every blow streams from the wounded rind; +No, no, not I, nor any else, I trow, +Hath power to cut one leaf, one branch, one bough.” +L +While thus he said, the Christian’s noble guide +Felt uncouth strife in his contentious thought, +He thought, what if himself in perzon tried +Those witchcrafts strange, and bring those charms to naught, +For such he deemed them, or elsewhere provide +For timber easier got though further sought, +But from his study he at last abraid, +Called by the hermit old that to him said: + +LI +“Leave off thy hardy thought, another’s hands +Of these her plants the wood dispoilen shall, +Now, now the fatal ship of conquest lands, +Her sails are struck, her silver anchors fall, +Our champion broken hath his worthless bands, +And looseth from the soil which held him thrall, +The time draws nigh when our proud foes in field +Shall slaughtered lie, and Sion’s fort shall yield.” + +LII +This said, his visage shone with beams divine, +And more than mortal was his voice’s sound, +Godfredo’s thought to other acts incline, +His working brain was never idle found. +But in the Crab now did bright Titan shine, +And scorched with scalding beams the parched ground, +And made unfit for toil or warlike feat +His soldiers, weak with labor, faint with sweat: + +LIII +The planets mild their lamps benign quenched out, +And cruel stars in heaven did signorize, +Whose influence cast fiery flames about +And hot impressions through the earth and skies, +The growing heat still gathered deeper rout, +The noisome warmth through lands and kingdoms flies, +A harmful night a hurtful day succeeds, +And worse than both next morn her light outspreads. + +LIV +When Phoebus rose he left his golden weed, +And donned a gite in deepest purple dyed, +His sanguine beams about his forehead spread, +A sad presage of ill that should betide, +With vermeil drops at even his tresses bleed, +Foreshows of future heat, from the ocean wide +When next he rose, and thus increased still +Their present harms with dread of future ill, + +LV +While thus he bent gainst earth his scorching rays, +He burnt the flowers, burnt his Clytie dear, +The leaves grew wan upon the withered sprays, +The grass and growing herbs all parched were, +Earth cleft in rifts, in floods their streams decays, +The barren clouds with lightning bright appear, +And mankind feared lest Climenes’ child again +Had driven awry his sire’s ill-guided wain. + +LVI +As from a furnace flew the smoke to skies, +Such smoke as that when damned Sodom brent, +Within his caves sweet Zephyr silent lies, +Still was the air, the rack nor came nor went, +But o’er the lands with lukewarm breathing flies +The southern wind, from sunburnt Afric sent, +Which thick and warm his interrupted blasts +Upon their bosoms, throats, and faces casts. + +LVII +Nor yet more comfort brought the gloomy night, +In her thick shades was burning heat uprolled, +Her sable mantle was embroidered bright +With blazing stars and gliding fires for gold, +Nor to refresh, sad earth, thy thirsty sprite, +The niggard moon let fall her May dews cold, +And dried up the vital moisture was, +In trees, in plants, in herbs, in flowers, in grass. + +LVIII +Sleep to his quiet dales exiled fled +From these unquiet nights, and oft in vain +The soldiers restless sought the god in bed, +But most for thirst they mourned and most complain; +For Juda’s tyrant had strong poison shed, +Poison that breeds more woe and deadly pain, +Than Acheron or Stygian waters bring, +In every fountain, cistern, well and spring: + +LIX +And little Siloe that his store bestows +Of purest crystal on the Christian bands, +The pebbles naked in his channel shows +And scantly glides above the scorched sands, +Nor Po in May when o’er his banks he flows, +Nor Ganges, waterer of the Indian lands, +Nor seven-mouthed Nile that yields all Egypt drink, +To quench their thirst the men sufficient think. + +LX +He that the gliding rivers erst had seen +Adown their verdant channels gently rolled, +Or falling streams which to the valleys green +Distilled from tops of Alpine mountains cold, +Those he desired in vain, new torments been, +Augmented thus with wish of comforts old, +Those waters cool he drank in vain conceit, +Which more increased his thirst, increased his heat. + +LXI +The sturdy bodies of the warriors strong, +Whom neither marching far, nor tedious way, +Nor weighty arms which on their shoulders hung, +Could weary make, nor death itself dismay; +Now weak and feeble cast their limbs along, +Unwieldly burdens, on the burned clay, +And in each vein a smouldering fire there dwelt, +Which dried their flesh and solid bones did melt. + +LXII +Languished the steed late fierce, and proffered grass, +His fodder erst, despised and from him cast, +Each step he stumbled, and which lofty was +And high advanced before now fell his crest, +His conquests gotten all forgotten pass, +Nor with desire of glory swelled his breast, +The spoils won from his foe, his late rewards, +He now neglects, despiseth, naught regards. + +LXIII +Languished the faithful dog, and wonted care +Of his dear lord and cabin both forgot, +Panting he laid, and gathered fresher air +To cool the burning in his entrails hot: +But breathing, which wise nature did prepare +To suage the stomach’s heat, now booted not, +For little ease, alas, small help, they win +That breathe forth air and scalding fire suck in. + +LXIV +Thus languished the earth, in this estate +Lay woful thousands of the Christians stout, +The faithful people grew nigh desperate +Of hoped conquest, shameful death they doubt, +Of their distress they talk and oft debate, +These sad complaints were heard the camp throughout: +“What hope hath Godfrey? shall we still here lie +Till all his soldiers, all our armies die? + +LXV +“Alas, with what device, what strength, thinks he +To scale these walls, or this strong fort to get? +Whence hath he engines new? doth he not see, +How wrathful Heaven gainst us his sword doth whet? +These tokens shown true signs and witness be +Our angry God our proud attempts doth let, +And scorching sun so hot his beams outspreads, +That not more cooling Inde nor Aethiop needs. + +LXVI +“Or thinks he it an eath or little thing +That us despised, neglected, and disdained, +Like abjects vile, to death he thus should bring, +That so his empire may be still maintained? +Is it so great a bliss to be a king, +When he that wears the crown with blood is stained +And buys his sceptre with his people’s lives? +See whither glory vain, fond mankind drives. + +LXVII +“See, see the man, called holy, just, and good, +That courteous, meek, and humble would be thought, +Yet never cared in what distress we stood +If his vain honor were diminished naught, +When dried up from us his spring and flood +His water must from Jordan streams be brought, +And how he sits at feasts and banquets sweet +And mingleth waters fresh with wines of Crete.” + +LXVIII +The French thus murmured, but the Greekish knight +Tatine, that of this war was weary grown: +“Why die we here,” quoth he, “slain without fight, +Killed, not subdued, murdered, not overthrown? +Upon the Frenchmen let the penance light +Of Godfrey’s folly, let me save mine own,” +And as he said, without farewell, the knight +And all his comet stole away by night. + +LXIX +His bad example many a troop prepares +To imitate, when his escape they know, +Clotharius his band, and Ademare’s, +And all whose guides in dust were buried low, +Discharged of duty’s chains and bondage snares, +Free from their oath, to none they service owe, +But now concluded all on secret flight, +And shrunk away by thousands every night. + +LXX +Godfredo this both heard, and saw, and knew, +Yet nould with death them chastise though he mought, +But with that faith wherewith he could renew +The steadfast hills and seas dry up to naught +He prayed the Lord upon his flock to rue, +To ope the springs of grace and ease this drought, +Out of his looks shone zeal, devotion, faith, +His hands and eyes to heaven he heaves, and saith: + +LXXI +“Father and Lord, if in the deserts waste +Thou hadst compassion on thy children dear, +The craggy rock when Moses cleft and brast, +And drew forth flowing streams of waters clear, +Like mercy, Lord, like grace on us down cast; +And though our merits less than theirs appear, +Thy grace supply that want, for though they be +Thy first-born son, thy children yet are we.” + +LXXII +These prayers just, from humble hearts forth sent, +Were nothing slow to climb the starry sky, +But swift as winged bird themselves present +Before the Father of the heavens high: +The Lord accepted them, and gently bent +Upon the faithful host His gracious eye, +And in what pain and what distress it laid, +He saw, and grieved to see, and thus He said: + +LXXIII +“Mine armies dear till now have suffered woe, +Distress and danger, hell’s infernal power +Their enemy hath been, the world their foe, +But happy be their actions from this hour: +What they begin to blessed end shall go, +I will refresh them with a gentle shower; +Rinaldo shall return, the Egyptian crew +They shall encounter, conquer, and subdue.” + +LXXIV +At these high words great heaven began to shake, +The fixed stars, the planets wandering still, +Trembled the air, the earth and ocean quake, +Spring, fountain, river, forest, dale and hill; +From north to east, a lightning flash outbrake, +And coming drops presaged with thunders shrill: +With joyful shouts the soldiers on the plain, +These tokens bless of long-desired rain. + +LXXV +A sudden cloud, as when Helias prayed, +Not from dry earth exhaled by Phoebus’ beams, +Arose, moist heaven his windows open laid, +Whence clouds by heaps out rush, and watery streams, +The world o’erspread was with a gloomy shade, +That like a dark mirksome even it seems; +The crashing rain from molten skies down fell, +And o’er their banks the brooks and fountains swell. + +LXXVI +In summer season, when the cloudy sky +Upon the parched ground doth rain down send, +As duck and mallard in the furrows dry +With merry noise the promised showers attend, +And spreading broad their wings displayed lie +To keep the drops that on their plumes descend, +And where the streams swell to a gathered lake, +Therein they dive, and sweet refreshing take: + +LXXVII +So they the streaming showers with shouts and cries +Salute, which heaven shed on the thirsty lands, +The falling liquor from the dropping skies +He catcheth in his lap, he barehead stands, +And his bright helm to drink therein unties, +In the fresh streams he dives his sweaty hands, +Their faces some, and some their temples wet, +And some to keep the drops large vessels set. + +LXXVIII +Nor man alone to ease his burning sore, +Herein doth dive and wash, and hereof drinks, +But earth itself weak, feeble, faint before, +Whose solid limbs were cleft with rifts and chinks, +Received the falling showers and gathered store +Of liquor sweet, that through her veins down sinks, +And moisture new infused largely was +In trees, in plants, in herbs, in flowers, in grass. + +LXXIX +Earth, like the patient was, whose lively blood +Hath overcome at last some sickness strong, +Whose feeble limbs had been the bait and food +Whereon this strange disease depastured long, +But now restored, in health and welfare stood, +As sound as erst, as fresh, as fair, as young; +So that forgetting all his grief and pain, +His pleasant robes and crowns he takes again. + +LXXX +Ceased the rain, the sun began to shine, +With fruitful, sweet, benign, and gentle ray, +Full of strong power and vigor masculine, +As be his beams in April or in May. +O happy zeal! who trusts in help divine +The world’s afflictions thus can drive away, +Can storms appease, and times and seasons change, +And conquer fortune, fate, and destiny strange. + + + + +FOURTEENTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +The Lord to Godfrey in a dream doth show +His will; Rinaldo must return at last; +They have their asking who for pardon sue: +Two knights to find the prince are sent in haste, +But Peter, who by vision all foreknew, +Sendeth the searchers to a wizard, placed +Deep in a vault, who first at large declares +Armida’s trains, then how to shun those snares. + +I +Now from the fresh, the soft and tender bed +Of her still mother, gentle night out flew, +The fleeting balm on hills and dales she shed, +With honey drops of pure and precious dew, +And on the verdure of green forests spread +The virgin primrose and the violet blue, +And sweet-breathed Zephyr on his spreading wings, +Sleep, ease, repose, rest, peace and quiet brings. + +II +The thoughts and troubles of broad-waking day, +They softly dipped in mild Oblivion’s lake; +But he whose Godhead heaven and earth doth sway, +In his eternal light did watch and wake, +And bent on Godfrey down the gracious ray +Of his bright eye, still ope for Godfrey’s sake, +To whom a silent dream the Lord down sent. +Which told his will, his pleasure and intent. + +III +Far in the east, the golden gate beside +Whence Phoebus comes, a crystal port there is, +And ere the sun his broad doors open wide +The beam of springing day uncloseth this, +Hence comes the dreams, by which heaven’s sacred guide +Reveals to man those high degrees of his, +Hence toward Godfrey ere he left his bed +A vision strange his golden plumes bespread. + +IV +Such semblances, such shapes, such portraits fair, +Did never yet in dream or sleep appear, +For all the forms in sea, in earth or air, +The signs in heaven, the stars in every sphere +All that was wondrous, uncouth, strange and rare, +All in that vision well presented were. +His dream had placed him in a crystal wide, +Beset with golden fires, top, bottom, side, + +V +There while he wondereth on the circles vast, +The stars, their motions, course and harmony, +A knight, with shining rays and fire embraced, +Presents himself unwares before his eye, +Who with a voice that far for sweetness passed +All human speech, thus said, approaching nigh: +“What, Godfrey, knowest thou not thy Hugo here? +Come and embrace thy friend and fellow dear!” + +VI +He answered him, “Thy glorious shining light +Which in thine eyes his glistering beams doth place, +Estranged hath from my foreknowledge quite +Thy countenance, thy favor, and thy face:” +This said, three times he stretched his hands outright +And would in friendly arms the knight embrace, +And thrice the spirit fled, that thrice he twined +Naught in his folded arms but air and wind. + +VII +Lord Hugo smiled, “Not as you think,” quoth he, +“I clothed am in flesh and earthly mould, +My spirit pure, and naked soul, you see, +A citizen of this celestial hold: +This place is heaven, and here a room for thee +Prepared is among Christ’s champions bold:” +“Ah when,” quoth he, “these mortal bonds unknit, +Shall I in peace, in ease and rest there sit?” + +VIII +Hugo replied, “Ere many years shall run, +Amid the saints in bliss here shalt thou reign; +But first great wars must by thy hand be done, +Much blood be shed, and many Pagans slain, +The holy city by assault be won, +The land set free from servile yoke again, +Wherein thou shalt a Christian empire frame, +And after thee shall Baldwin rule the same. + +IX +“But to increase thy love and great desire +To heavenward, this blessed place behold, +These shining lamps, these globes of living fire, +How they are turned, guided, moved and rolled; +The angels’ singing hear, and all their choir; +Then bend thine eyes on yonder earth and mould, +All in that mass, that globe and compass see, +Land, sea, spring, fountain, man, beast, grass and tree. + +X +“How vile, how small, and of how slender price, +Is their reward of goodness, virtue’s gain! +A narrow room our glory vain upties, +A little circle doth our pride contain, +Earth like an isle amid the water lies, +Which sea sometime is called, sometime the main, +Yet naught therein responds a name so great, +It’s but a lake, a pond, a marish strait.” + +XI +Thus said the one, the other bended down +His looks to ground, and half in scorn he smiled, +He saw at once earth, sea, flood, castle, town, +Strangely divided, strangely all compiled, +And wondered folly man so far should drown, +To set his heart on things so base and vild, +That servile empire searcheth and dumb fame, +And scorns heaven’s bliss, yet proffereth heaven the same. + +XII +Wherefore he answered, “Since the Lord not yet +Will free my spirit from this cage of clay, +Lest worldly error vain my voyage let, +Teach me to heaven the best and surest way:” +Hugo replied, “Thy happy foot is set +In the true path, nor from this passage stray, +Only from exile young Rinaldo call, +This give I thee in charge, else naught at all. + +XIII +“For as the Lord of hosts, the King of bliss, +Hath chosen thee to rule the faithful band; +So he thy stratagems appointed is +To execute, so both shall win this land: +The first is thine, the second place is his, +Thou art this army’s head, and he the hand, +No other champion can his place supply, +And that thou do it doth thy state deny. + +XIV +“The enchanted forest, and her charmed treen, +With cutting steel shall he to earth down hew, +And thy weak armies which too feeble been +To scale again these walls reinforced new, +And fainting lie dispersed on the green, +Shall take new strength new courage at his view, +The high-built towers, the eastern squadrons all, +Shall conquered be, shall fly, shall die, shall fall.” + +XV +He held his peace; and Godfrey answered so: +“Oh, how his presence would recomfort me! +You that man’s hidden thoughts perceive and know: +If I say truth, or if I love him, see. +But say, what messengers shall for him go? +What shall their speeches, what their errand be? +Shall I entreat, or else command the man? +With credit neither well perform I can.” + +XVI +“The eternal Lord,” the other knight replied, +“That with so many graces hath thee blest, +Will, that among the troops thou hast to guide, +Thou honored be and feared of most and least: +Then speak not thou lest blemish some betide +Thy sacred empire if thou make request; +But when by suit thou moved art to ruth, +Then yield, forgive, and home recall the youth. + +XVII +“Guelpho shall pray thee, God shall him inspire, +To pardon this offence, this fault commit +By hasty wrath, by rash and headstrong ire, +To call the knight again; yield thou to it: +And though the youth, enwrapped in fond desire, +Far hence in love and looseness idle sit, +Year fear it not, he shall return with speed, +When most you wish him and when most you need. + +XVIII +“Your hermit Peter, to whose sapient heart +High Heaven his secrets opens, tells and shews, +Your messengers direct can to that part, +Where of the prince they shall hear certain news, +And learn the way, the manner, and the art +To bring him back to these thy warlike crews, +That all thy soldiers, wandered and misgone, +Heaven may unite again and join in one. + +XIX +“But this conclusion shall my speeches end: +Know that his blood shall mixed be with thine, +Whence barons bold and worthies shall descend, +That many great exploits shall bring to fine.” +This said, he vanished from his sleeping friend, +Like smoke in wind, or mist in Titan’s shine; +Sleep fled likewise, and in his troubled thought, +With wonder, pleasure; joy, with marvel fought. + +XX +The duke looked up, and saw the azure sky +With argent beams of silver morning spread, +And started up, for praise axed virtue lie +In toil and travel, sin and shame in bed: +His arms he took, his sword girt to his thigh, +To his pavilion all his lords them sped, +And there in council grave the princes sit, +For strength by wisdom, war is ruled by wit. + +XXI +Lord Guelpho there, within whose gentle breast +Heaven had infused that new and sudden thought, +His pleasing words thus to the duke addressed: +“Good prince, mild, though unasked, kind, unbesought, +Oh let thy mercy grant my just request, +Pardon this fault by rage not malice wrought; +For great offence, I grant, so late commit, +My suit too hasty is, perchance unfit. + +XXII +But since to Godfrey meek benign and kind, +For Prince Rinaldo bold, I humbly sue, +And that the suitor’s self is not behind +Thy greatest friends in state or friendship true; +I trust I shall thy grace and mercy find +Acceptable to me and all this crew; +Oh call him home, this trespass to amend, +He shall his blood in Godfrey’s service spend. + +XXIII +“And if not he, who else dares undertake +Of this enchanted wood to cut one tree? +Gainst death and danger who dares battle make, +With so bold face, so fearless heart as he? +Beat down these walls, these gates in pieces break, +Leap o’er these rampires high, thou shalt him see, +Restore therefore to this desirous band +Their wish, their hope, their strength, their shield, their hand; + +XXIV +“To me my nephew, to thyself restore +A trusty help, when strength of hand thou needs, +In idleness let him consume no more, +Recall him to his noble acts and deeds! +Known be his worth as was his strength of yore +Wher’er thy standard broad her cross outspreads, +Oh, let his fame and praise spread far and wide, +Be thou his lord, his teacher and his guidel” + +XXV +Thus he entreated, and the rest approve +His words, with friendly murmurs whispered low. +Godfrey as though their suit his mind did move +To that whereon he never thought tell now, +“How can my heart,” quoth he, “if you I love, +To your request and suit but bend and bow? +Let rigor go, that right and justice be +Wherein you all consent and all agree. + +XXVI +“Rinaldo shall return; let him restrain +Henceforth his headstrong wrath and hasty ire, +And with his hardy deeds let him take pain +To correspond your hope and my desire: +Guelpho, thou must call home the knight again, +See that with speed he to these tents retire, +The messengers appoint as likes thy mind, +And teach them where they should the young man find.” + +XXVII +Up start the Dane that bare Prince Sweno’s brand, +“I will,” quoth he, “that message undertake, +I will refuse no pains by sea or land, +To give the knight this sword, kept for his sake.” +This man was bold of courage, strong of hand, +Guelpho was glad he did the proffer make: +“Thou shalt,” quoth he, “Ubaldo shalt thou have +To go with thee, a knight, stout, wise, and grave.” + +XXVIII +Ubaldo in his youth had known and seen +The fashions strange of many an uncouth land, +And travelled over all the realms between +The Arctic circle and hot Meroe’s strand, +And as a man whose wit his guide had been, +Their customs use he could, tongues understand, +Forthy when spent his youthful seasons were +Lord Guelpho entertained and held him dear. + +XXIX +To these committed was the charge and care +To find and bring again the champion bold, +Guelpho commands them to the fort repair, +Where Boemond doth his seat and sceptre hold, +For public fame said that Bertoldo’s heir +There lived, there dwelt, there stayed; the hermit old, +That knew they were misled by false report, +Among them came, and parleyed in this sort: + +XXX +“Sir knights,” quoth he, “if you intend to ride, +And follow each report fond people say, +You follow but a rash and truthless guide +That leads vain men amiss and makes them stray; +Near Ascalon go to the salt seaside, +Where a swift brook fails in with hideous sway, +An aged sire, our friend, there shall you find, +All what he saith, that do, that keep in mind. + +XXXI +“Of this great voyage which you undertake, +Much by his skill, and much by mine advise +Hath he foreknown, and welcome for my sake +You both shall be, the man is kind and wise.” +Instructed thus no further question make +The twain elected for this enterprise, +But humbly yielded to obey his word, +For what the hermit said, that said the Lord. + +XXXII +They took their leave, and on their journey went, +Their will could brook no stay, their zeal, no let; +To Ascalon their voyage straight they bent, +Whose broken shores with brackish waves are wet, +And there they heard how gainst the cliffs, besprent +With bitter foam, the roaring surges bet, +A tumbling brook their passage stopped and stayed, +Which late-fall’n rain had proud and puissant made, + +XXXIII +So proud that over all his banks he grew, +And through the fields ran swift as shaft from bow, +While here they stopped and stood, before them drew +An aged sire, grave and benign in show, +Crowned with a beechen garland gathered new, +Clad in a linen robe that raught down low, +In his right hand a rod, and on the flood +Against the stream he marched, and dry shod yode. + +XXXIV +As on the Rhene, when winter’s freezing cold +Congeals the streams to thick and hardened glass, +The beauties fair of shepherds’ daughters bold +With wanton windlays run, turn, play and pass; +So on this river passed the wizard old, +Although unfrozen soft and swift it was, +And thither stalked where the warriors stayed, +To whom, their greetings done, he spoke and said: + +XXXV +“Great pains, great travel, lords, you have begun, +And of a cunning guide great need you stand, +Far off, alas! is great Bertoldo’s son, +Imprisoned in a waste and desert land, +What soil remains by which you must not run, +What promontory, rock, sea, shore or sand +Your search must stretch before the prince be found, +Beyond our world, beyond our half of ground! + +XXXVI +But yet vouchsafe to see my cell I pray, +In hidden caves and vaults though builded low, +Great wonders there, strange things I will bewray, +Things good for you to hear, and fit to know:” +This said, he bids the river make them way, +The flood retired, backward gan to flow, +And here and there two crystal mountains rise, +So fled the Red Sea once, and Jordan thrice. + +XXXVII +He took their hands, and led them headlong down +Under the flood, through vast and hollow deeps, +Such light they had as when through shadows brown +Of thickest deserts feeble Cynthia peeps, +Their spacious caves they saw all overflown, +There all his waters pure great Neptune keeps, +And thence to moisten all the earth he brings +Seas, rivers, floods, lakes, fountains, wells and springs: + +XXXVIII +Whence Ganges, Indus, Volga, Ister, Po, +Whence Euphrates, whence Tigris’ spring they view, +Whence Tanais, whence Nilus comes also, +Although his head till then no creature knew, +But under these a wealthy stream doth go, +That sulphur yields and ore, rich, quick and new, +Which the sunbeams doth polish, purge and fine, +And makes it silver pure, and gold divine. + +XXXIX +And all his banks the rich and wealthy stream +Hath fair beset with pearl and precious stone +Like stars in sky or lamps on stage that seem, +The darkness there was day, the night was gone, +There sparkled, clothed in his azure-beam, +The heavenly sapphire, there the jacinth shone, +The carbuncle there flamed, the diamond sheen, +There glistered bright, there smiled the emerald green. + +XL +Amazed the knights amid these wonders passed, +And fixed so deep the marvels in their thought, +That not one word they uttered, till at last +Ubaldo spake, and thus his guide besought: +“O father, tell me by what skill thou hast +These wonders done? and to what place us brought? +For well I know not if I wake or sleep, +My heart is drowned in such amazement deep.” + +XLI +“You are within the hollow womb,” quoth he, +“Of fertile earth, the nurse of all things made, +And but you brought and guided are by me, +Her sacred entrails could no wight invade; +My palace shortly shall you splendent see, +With glorious light, though built in night and shade. +A Pagan was I born, but yet the Lord +To grace, by baptism, hath my soul restored. + +XLII +“Nor yet by help of devil, or aid from hell, +I do this uncouth work and wondrous feat, +The Lord forbid I use or charm or spell +To raise foul Dis from his infernal seat: +But of all herbs, of every spring and well, +The hidden power I know and virtue great, +And all that kind hath hid from mortal sight, +And all the stars, their motions, and their might. + +XLIII +“For in these caves I dwell not buried still +From sight of Heaven, but often I resort +To tops of Lebanon or Carmel hill, +And there in liquid air myself disport, +There Mars and Venus I behold at will! +As bare as erst when Vulcan took them short, +And how the rest roll, glide and move, I see, +How their aspects benign or froward be.” + +XLIV +“And underneath my feet the clouds I view, +Now thick, now thin, now bright with Iris’ bow, +The frost and snow, the rain, the hail, the dew, +The winds, from whence they come and whence they blow, +How Jove his thunder makes and lightning new, +How with the bolt he strikes the earth below, +How comate, crinite, caudate stars are framed +I knew; my skill with pride my heart inflamed. + +XLV +“So learned, cunning, wise, myself I thought, +That I supposed my wit so high might climb +To know all things that God had framed or wrought, +Fire, air, sea, earth, man, beast, sprite, place and time; +But when your hermit me to baptism brought, +And from my soul had washed the sin and crime, +Then I perceived my sight was blindness still, +My wit was folly, ignorance my skill. + +XLVI +“Then saw I, that like owls in shining sun, +So gainst the beams of truth our souls are blind, +And at myself to smile I then begun, +And at my heart, puffed up with folly’s wind, +Yet still these arts, as I before had done, +I practised, such was the hermit’s mind: +Thus hath he changed my thoughts, my heart, my will, +And rules mine art, my knowledge, and my skill. + +XLVII +“In him I rest, on him my thoughts depend, +My lord, my teacher, and my guide is he, +This noble work he strives to bring to end, +He is the architect, the workmen we, +The hardy youth home to this camp to send +From prison strong, my care, my charge shall be; +So He commands, and me ere this foretold +Your coming oft, to seek the champion bold.” + +XLVIII +While this he said, he brought the champions twain +Down to a vault, wherein he dwells and lies, +It was a cave, high, wide, large, ample, plain, +With goodly rooms, halls, chambers, galleries, +All what is bred in rich and precious vein +Of wealthy earth, and hid from mortal eyes, +There shines, and fair adorned was every part +With riches grown by kind, not framed by art: + +XLIX +An hundred grooms, quick, diligent and neat, +Attendance gave about these strangers bold, +Against the wall there stood a cupboard great +Of massive plate, of silver, crystal, gold. +But when with precious wines and costly meat +They filled were, thus spake the wizard old: +“Now fits the time, sir knights, I tell and show +What you desire to hear, and long to know. + +L +“Armida’s craft, her sleight and hidden guile +You partly wot, her acts and arts untrue, +How to your camp she came, and by what wile +The greatest lords and princes thence she drew; +You know she turned them first to monsters vile, +And kept them since closed up in secret mew, +Lastly, to Gaza-ward in bonds them sent, +Whom young Rinaldo rescued as they went. + +LI +“What chanced since I will at large declare, +To you unknown, a story strange and true. +When first her prey, got with such pain and care, +Escaped and gone the witch perceived and knew, +Her hands she wrung for grief, her clothes she tare, +And full of woe these heavy words outthrew: +‘Alas! my knights are slain, my prisoners free, +Yet of that conquest never boast shall he, + +LII +“‘He in their place shall serve me, and sustain +Their plagues, their torments suffer, sorrows bear, +And they his absence shall lament in vain, +And wail his loss and theirs with many a tear:’ +Thus talking to herself she did ordain +A false and wicked guile, as you shall hear; +Thither she hasted where the valiant knight +Had overcome and slain her men in fight. + +LIII +“Rinaldo there had dolt and left his own, +And on his back a Pagan’s harness tied, +Perchance he deemed so to pass unknown, +And in those arms less noted false to ride. +A headless corse in fight late overthrown, +The witch in his forsaken arms did hide, +And by a brook exposed it on the sand +Whither she wished would come a Christian band: + +LIV +“Their coming might the dame foreknow right well, +For secret spies she sent forth thousand ways, +Which every day news from the camp might tell, +Who parted thence, booties to search or preys: +Beside, the sprites conjured by sacred spell, +All what she asks or doubts, reveals and says, +The body therefore placed she in that part +That furthered best her sleight, her craft and art; + +LV +“And near the corpse a varlet false and sly +She left, attired in shepherd’s homely weed, +And taught him how to counterfeit and lie +As time required, and he performed the deed; +With him your soldiers spoke, of jealousy +And false suspect mongst them he strewed the seed, +That since brought forth the fruit of strife and jar, +Of civil brawls, contention, discord, war. + +LVI +“And as she wished so the soldiers thought +By Godfrey’s practice that the prince was slain, +Yet vanished that suspicion false to naught +When truth spread forth her silver wings again +Her false devices thus Armida wrought, +This was her first deceit, her foremost train; +What next she practised, shall you hear me tell, +Against our knight, and what thereof befell. + +LVII +“Armida hunted him through wood and plain, +Till on Orontes’ flowery banks he stayed, +There, where the stream did part and meet again +And in the midst a gentle island made, +A pillar fair was pight beside the main, +Near which a little frigate floating laid, +The marble white the prince did long behold, +And this inscription read, there writ in gold: + +LVIII +“‘Whoso thou art whom will or chance doth bring +With happy steps to flood Orontes’ sides, +Know that the world hath not so strange a thing, +Twixt east and west, as this small island hides, +Then pass and see, without more tarrying.’ +The hasty youth to pass the stream provides, +And for the cogs was narrow, small and strait, +Alone he rowed, and bade his squires there wait; + +LIX +“Landed he stalks about, yet naught he sees +But verdant groves, sweet shades, and mossy rocks +With caves and fountains, flowers, herbs and trees, +So that the words he read he takes for mocks: +But that green isle was sweet at all degrees, +Wherewith enticed down sits he and unlocks +His closed helm, and bares his visage fair, +To take sweet breath from cool and gentle air. + +LX +“A rumbling sound amid the waters deep +Meanwhile he heard, and thither turned his sight, +And tumbling in the troubled stream took keep +How the strong waves together rush and fight, +Whence first he saw, with golden tresses, peep +The rising visage of a virgin bright, +And then her neck, her breasts, and all, as low +As he for shame could see, or she could show. + +LXI +“So in the twilight does sometimes appear +A nymph, a goddess, or a fairy queen, +And though no siren but a sprite this were +Yet by her beauty seemed it she had been +One of those sisters false which haunted near +The Tyrrhene shores and kept those waters sheen, +Like theirs her face, her voice was, and her sound, +And thus she sung, and pleased both skies and ground: + +LXII +“‘Ye happy youths, who April fresh and May +Attire in flowering green of lusty age, +For glory vain, or virtue’s idle ray, +Do not your tender limbs to toil engage; +In calm streams, fishes; birds, in sunshine play, +Who followeth pleasure he is only sage, +So nature saith, yet gainst her sacred will +Why still rebel you, and why strive you still? + +LXIII +“‘O fools who youth possess, yet scorn the same, +A precious, but a short-abiding treasure, +Virtue itself is but an idle name, +Prized by the world ’bove reason all and measure, +And honor, glory, praise, renown and fame, +That men’s proud harts bewitch with tickling pleasure, +An echo is, a shade, a dream, a flower, +With each wind blasted, spoiled with every shower. + +LXIV +“‘But let your happy souls in joy possess +The ivory castles of your bodies fair, +Your passed harms salve with forgetfulness, +Haste not your coming evils with thought and care, +Regard no blazing star with burning tress, +Nor storm, nor threatening sky, nor thundering air, +This wisdom is, good life, and worldly bliss, +Kind teacheth us, nature commands us this.’ + +LXV +“Thus sung the spirit false, and stealing sleep, +To which her tunes enticed his heavy eyes, +By step and step did on his senses creep, +Still every limb therein unmoved lies, +Not thunders loud could from this slumber deep, +Of quiet death true image, make him rise: +Then from her ambush forth Armida start, +Swearing revenge, and threatening torments smart. + +LXVI +“But when she looked on his face awhile, +And saw how sweet he breathed, how still he lay, +How his fair eyes though closed seemed to smile, +At first she stayed, astound with great dismay, +Then sat her down, so love can art beguile, +And as she sat and looked, fled fast away +Her wrath, that on his forehead gazed the maid, +As in his spring Narcissus tooting laid; + +LXVII +“And with a veil she wiped now and then +From his fair cheeks the globes of silver sweat, +And cool air gathered with a trembling fan, +To mitigate the rage of melting heat, +Thus, who would think it, his hot eye-glance can +Of that cold frost dissolve the hardness great +Which late congealed the heart of that fair dame, +Who late a foe, a lover now became. + +LXVIII +“Of woodbines, lilies, and of roses sweet, +Which proudly flowered through that wanton plain, +All platted fast, well knit, and joined meet, +She framed a soft but surely holding chain, +Wherewith she bound his neck his hands and feet; +Thus bound, thus taken, did the prince remain, +And in a coach which two old dragons drew, +She laid the sleeping knight, and thence she flew: + +LXIX +“Nor turned she to Damascus’ kingdoms large, +Nor to the fort built in Asphalte’s lake, +But jealous of her dear and precious charge, +And of her love ashamed, the way did take, +To the wide ocean whither skiff or barge +From us doth seld or never voyage make, +And there to frolic with her love awhile, +She chose a waste, a sole and desert isle. + +LXX +“An isle that with her fellows bears the name +Of Fortunate, for temperate air and mould, +There in a mountain high alight the dame, +A hill obscured with shades of forests old, +Upon whose sides the witch by art did frame +Continual snow, sharp frost and winter cold, +But on the top, fresh, pleasant, sweet and green, +Beside a lake a palace built this queen. + +LXXI +“There in perpetual sweet and flowering spring, +She lives at ease, and joys her lord at will; +The hardy youth from this strange prison bring +Your valors must, directed by my skill, +And overcome each monster and each thing, +That guards the palace or that keeps the hill, +Nor shall you want a guide, or engines fit, +To bring you to the mount, or conquer it. + +LXXII +“Beside the stream, yparted shall you find +A dame, in visage young, but old in years, +Her curled locks about her front are twined, +A party-colored robe of silk she wears: +This shall conduct you swift as air or wind, +Or that flit bird that Jove’s hot weapon bears, +A faithful pilot, cunning, trusty, sure, +As Tiphys was, or skilful Palinure. + +LXXIII +“At the hill’s foot, whereon the witch doth dwell, +The serpents hiss, and cast their poison vilde, +The ugly boars do rear their bristles fell, +There gape the bears, and roar the lions wild; +But yet a rod I have can easily quell +Their rage and wrath, and make them meek and mild. +Yet on the top and height of all the hill, +The greatest danger lies, and greatest ill: + +LXXIV +“There welleth out a fair, clear, bubbling spring, +Whose waters pure the thirsty guests entice, +But in those liquors cold the secret sting +Of strange and deadly poison closed lies, +One sup thereof the drinker’s heart doth bring +To sudden joy, whence laughter vain doth rise, +Nor that strange merriment once stops or stays, +Till, with his laughter’s end, he end his days: + +LXXV +“Then from those deadly, wicked streams refrain +Your thirsty lips, despise the dainty cheer +You find exposed upon the grassy plain, +Nor those false damsels once vouchsafe to hear, +That in melodious tunes their voices strain, +Whose faces lovely, smiling, sweet, appear; +But you their looks, their voice, their songs despise, +And enter fair Armida’s paradise. + +LXXVI +“The house is builded like a maze within, +With turning stairs, false doors and winding ways, +The shape whereof plotted in vellum thin +I will you give, that all those sleights bewrays, +In midst a garden lies, where many a gin +And net to catch frail hearts, false Cupid lays; +There in the verdure of the arbors green, +With your brave champion lies the wanton queen. + +LXXVII +“But when she haply riseth from the knight, +And hath withdrawn her presence from the place, +Then take a shield I have of diamonds bright, +And hold the same before the young man’s face, +That he may glass therein his garments light, +And wanton soft attire, and view his case, +That with the sight shame and disdain may move +His heart to leave that base and servile love. + +LXXVIII +“Now resteth naught that needful is to tell, +But that you go secure, safe, sure and bold, +Unseen the palace may you enter well, +And pass the dangers all I have foretold, +For neither art, nor charm, nor magic spell, +Can stop your passage or your steps withhold, +Nor shall Armida, so you guarded be, +Your coming aught foreknow or once foresee: + +LXXIX +“And eke as safe from that enchanted fort +You shall return and scape unhurt away; +But now the time doth us to rest exhort, +And you must rise by peep of springing day.” +This said, he led them through a narrow port, +Into a lodging fair wherein they lay, +There glad and full of thoughts he left his guests, +And in his wonted bed the old man rests. + + + + +FIFTEENTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +The well instructed knights forsake their host, +And come where their strange bark in harbor lay, +And setting sail behold on Egypt’s coast +The monarch’s ships and armies in array: +Their wind and pilot good, the seas in post +They pass, and of long journeys make short way: +The far-sought isle they find; Armida’s charms +They scorn, they shun her sleights, despise her arms. + +I +The rosy-fingered morn with gladsome ray +Rose to her task from old Tithonus’ lap +When their grave host came where the warriors lay, +And with him brought the shield, the rod, the map. +“Arise,” quoth he, “ere lately broken day, +In his bright arms the round world fold or wrap, +All what I promised, here I have them brought, +Enough to bring Armida’s charms to naught.” + +II +They started up, and every tender limb +In sturdy steel and stubborn plate they dight, +Before the old man stalked, they followed him +Through gloomy shades of sad and sable night, +Through vaults obscure again and entries dim, +The way they came their steps remeasured right; +But at the flood arrived, “Farewell,” quoth he, +“Good luck your aid, your guide good fortune be.” + +III +The flood received them in his bottom low +And lilt them up above his billows thin; +The waters so east up a branch or bough, +By violence first plunged and dived therein: +But when upon the shore the waves them throw, +The knights for their fair guide to look begin, +And gazing round a little bark they spied, +Wherein a damsel sate the stern to guide. + +IV +Upon her front her locks were curled new, +Her eyes were courteous, full of peace and love; +In look a saint, an angel bright in show, +So in her visage grace and virtue strove; +Her robe seemed sometimes red and sometimes blue, +And changed still as she did stir or move; +That look how oft man’s eye beheld the same +So oft the colors changed, went and came. + +V +The feathers so, that tender, soft, and plain, +About the dove’s smooth neck close couched been, +Do in one color never long remain, +But change their hue gainst glimpse of Phoebus’ sheen; +And now of rubies bright a vermeil chain, +Now make a carknet rich of emeralds green; +Now mingle both, now alter, turn and change +To thousand colors, rich, pure, fair, and strange. + +VI +“Enter this boat, you happy men,” she says, +“Wherein through raging waves secure I ride, +To which all tempest, storm, and wind obeys, +All burdens light, benign is stream and tide: +My lord, that rules your journeys and your ways, +Hath sent me here, your servant and your guide.” +This said, her shallop drove she gainst the sand, +And anchor cast amid the steadfast land. + +VII +They entered in, her anchors she upwound, +And launched forth to sea her pinnace flit, +Spread to the wind her sails she broad unbound, +And at the helm sat down to govern it, +Swelled the flood that all his banks he drowned +To bear the greatest ship of burthen fit; +Yet was her fatigue little, swift and light, +That at his lowest ebb bear it he might. + +VIII +Swifter than thought the friendly wind forth bore +The sliding boat upon the rolling wave, +With curded foam and froth the billows hoar +About the cable murmur roar and rave; +At last they came where all his watery store +The flood in one deep channel did engrave, +And forth to greedy seas his streams he sent, +And so his waves, his name, himself he spent. + +IX +The wondrous boat scant touched the troubled main +But all the sea still, hushed and quiet was, +Vanished the clouds, ceased the wind and rain, +The tempests threatened overblow and pass, +A gentle breathing air made even and plain +The azure face of heaven’s smooth looking-glass, +And heaven itself smiled from the skies above +With a calm clearness on the earth his love. + +X +By Ascalon they sailed, and forth drived, +Toward the west their speedy course they frame, +In sight of Gaza till the bark arrived, +A little port when first it took that name; +But since, by others’ loss so well it thrived +A city great and rich that it became, +And there the shores and borders of the land +They found as full of armed men as sand. + +XI +The passengers to landward turned their sight, +And there saw pitched many a stately tent, +Soldier and footman, captain, lord and knight, +Between the shore and city, came and went: +Huge elephants, strong camels, coursers light, +With horned hoofs the sandy ways outrent, +And in the haven many a ship and boat, +With mighty anchors fastened, swim and float; + +XII +Some spread their sails, some with strong oars sweep +The waters smooth, and brush the buxom wave, +Their breasts in sunder cleave the yielding deep, +The broken seas for anger foam and rave, +When thus their guide began, “Sir knights, take keep +How all these shores are spread with squadrons brave +And troops of hardy knights, yet on these sands +The monarch scant hath gathered half his bands. + +XIII +“Of Egypt only these the forces are, +And aid from other lands they here attend, +For twixt the noon-day sun and morning star, +All realms at his command do bow and bend; +So that I trust we shall return from far, +And bring our journey long to wished end, +Before this king or his lieutenant shall +These armies bring to Zion’s conquered wall.” + +XIV +While thus she said, as soaring eagles fly +Mongst other birds securely through the air, +And mounting up behold with wakeful eye, +The radiant beams of old Hyperion’s hair, +Her gondola so passed swiftly by +Twixt ship and ship, withouten fear or care +Who should her follow, trouble, stop or stay, +And forth to sea made lucky speed and way. + +XV +Themselves fornenst old Raffia’s town they fand, +A town that first to sailors doth appear +As they from Syria pass to Egypt land: +The sterile coasts of barren Rhinocere +They passed, and seas where Casius hill doth stand +That with his trees o’erspreads the waters near, +Against whose roots breaketh the brackish wave +Where Jove his temple, Pompey hath his grave: + +XVI +Then Damiata next, where they behold +How to the sea his tribute Nilus pays +By his seven mouths renowned in stories old, +And by an hundred more ignoble ways: +They pass the town built by the Grecian bold, +Of him called Alexandria till our days, +And Pharaoh’s tower and isle removed of yore +Far from the land, now joined to the shore: + +XVII +Both Crete and Rhodes they left by north unseen, +And sailed along the coasts of Afric lands, +Whose sea towns fair, but realms more inward been +All full of monsters and of desert sands: +With her five cities then they left Cyrene, +Where that old temple of false Hammon stands: +Next Ptolemais, and that sacred wood +Whence spring the silent streams of Lethe flood. + +XVIII +The greater Syrte, that sailors often cast +In peril great of death and loss extreme, +They compassed round about, and safely passed, +The Cape Judeca and flood Magra’s stream; +Then Tripoli, gainst which is Malta placed, +That low and hid, to lurk in seas doth seem: +The little Syrte then, and Alzerhes isle, +Where dwelt the folk that Lotos ate erewhile. + +XIX +Next Tunis on the crooked shore they spied, +Whose bay a rock on either side defends, +Tunis all towns in beauty, wealth and pride +Above, as far as Libya’s bounds extends; +Gainst which, from fair Sicilia’s fertile side, +His rugged front great Lilybaeum bends. +The dame there pointed out where sometime stood +Rome’s stately rival whilom, Carthage proud; + +XX +Great Carthage low in ashes cold doth lie, +Her ruins poor the herbs in height scant pass, +So cities fall, so perish kingdoms high, +Their pride and pomp lies hid in sand and grass: +Then why should mortal man repine to die, +Whose life, is air; breath, wind; and body, glass? +From thence the seas next Bisert’s walls they cleft, +And far Sardinia on their right hand left. + +XXI +Numidia’s mighty plains they coasted then, +Where wandering shepherds used their flocks to feed, +Then Bugia and Argier, the infamous den +Of pirates false, Oran they left with speed, +All Tingitan they swiftly overren, +Where elephants and angry lions breed, +Where now the realms of Fez and Maroc be, +Gainst which Granada’s shores and coasts they see. + +XXII +Now are they there, where first the sea brake in +By great Alcides’ help, as stories feign, +True may it be that where those floods begin +It whilom was a firm and solid main +Before the sea there through did passage win +And parted Afric from the land of Spain, +Abila hence, thence Calpe great upsprings, +Such power hath time to change the face of things. + +XXIII +Four times the sun had spread his morning ray +Since first the dame launched forth her wondrous barge +And never yet took port in creek or bay, +But fairly forward bore the knights her charge; +Now through the strait her jolly ship made way, +And boldly sailed upon the ocean large; +But if the sea in midst of earth was great, +Oh what was this, wherein earth hath her seat? + +XXIV +Now deep engulphed in the mighty flood +They saw not Gades, nor the mountains near, +Fled was the land, and towns on land that stood, +Heaven covered sea, sea seemed the heavens to bear. +“At last, fair lady,” quoth Ubaldo good, +“That in this endless main dost guide us here, +If ever man before here sailed tell, +Or other lands here be wherein men dwell.” + +XXV +“Great Hercules,” quoth she, “when he had quailed +The monsters fierce in Afric and in Spain, +And all along your coasts and countries sailed, +Yet durst he not assay the ocean main, +Within his pillars would he have impaled +The overdaring wit of mankind vain, +Till Lord Ulysses did those bounders pass, +To see and know he so desirous was. + +XXVI +“He passed those pillars, and in open wave +Of the broad sea first his bold sails untwined, +But yet the greedy ocean was his grave, +Naught helped him his skill gainst tide and wind; +With him all witness of his voyage brave +Lies buried there, no truth thereof we find, +And they whom storm hath forced that way since, +Are drowned all, or unreturned from thence: + +XXVII +“So that this mighty sea is yet unsought, +Where thousand isles and kingdoms lie unknown, +Not void of men as some have vainly thought, +But peopled well, and wonned like your own; +The land is fertile ground, but scant well wrought, +Air wholesome, temperate sun, grass proudly grown.” +“But,” quoth Ubaldo, “dame, I pray thee teach +Of that hid world, what be the laws and speech?” + +XXVIII +“As diverse be their nations,” answered she, +“Their tongues, their rites, their laws so different are; +Some pray to beasts, some to a stone or tree, +Some to the earth, the sun, or morning star; +Their meats unwholesome, vile, and hateful be, +Some eat man’s flesh, and captives ta’en in war, +And all from Calpe’s mountain west that dwell, +In faith profane, in life are rude and fell.” + +XXIX +“But will our gracious God,” the knight replied, +“That with his blood all sinful men hath bought, +His truth forever and his gospel hide +From all those lands, as yet unknown, unsought?” +“Oh no,” quoth she, “his name both far and wide +Shall there be known, all learning thither brought, +Nor shall these long and tedious ways forever +Your world and theirs, their lands, your kingdoms sever. + +XXX +“The time shall come that sailors shall disdain +To talk or argue of Alcides’ streat, +And lands and seas that nameless yet remain, +Shall well be known, their boundaries, site and seat, +The ships encompass shall the solid main, +As far as seas outstretch their waters great, +And measure all the world, and with the sun +About this earth, this globe, this compass, run. + +XXXI +“A knight of Genes shall have the hardiment +Upon this wondrous voyage first to wend, +Nor winds nor waves, that ships in sunder rent, +Nor seas unused, strange clime, or pool unkenned, +Nor other peril nor astonishment +That makes frail hearts of men to bow and bend, +Within Abilas’ strait shall keep and hold +The noble spirit of this sailor bold. + +XXXII +“Thy ship, Columbus, shall her canvas wing +Spread o’er that world that yet concealed lies, +That scant swift fame her looks shall after bring, +Though thousand plumes she have, and thousand eyes; +Let her of Bacchus and Alcides sing, +Of thee to future age let this suffice, +That of thine acts she some forewarning give, +Which shall in verse and noble story live.” + +XXXIII +Thus talking, swift twixt south and west they run, +And sliced out twixt froth and foam their way; +At once they saw before, the setting sun; +Behind, the rising beam of springing day; +And when the morn her drops and dews begun +To scatter broad upon the flowering lay, +Far off a hill and mountain high they spied, +Whose top the clouds environ, clothe and hide; + +XXXIV +And drawing near, the hill at ease they view, +When all the clouds were molten, fallen and fled, +Whose top pyramid-wise did pointed show, +High, narrow, sharp, the sides yet more outspread, +Thence now and then fire, flame and smoke outflew, +As from that hill, whereunder lies in bed +Enceladus, whence with imperious sway +Bright fire breaks out by night, black smoke by day. + +XXXV +About the hill lay other islands small, +Where other rocks, crags, cliffs, and mountains stood, +The Isles Fortunate these elder time did call, +To which high Heaven they reigned so kind and good, +And of his blessings rich so liberal, +That without tillage earth gives corn for food, +And grapes that swell with sweet and precious wine +There without pruning yields the fertile vine. + +XXXVI +The olive fat there ever buds and flowers, +The honey-drops from hollow oaks distil, +The falling brook her silver streams downpours +With gentle murmur from their native hill, +The western blast tempereth with dews and showers +The sunny rays, lest heat the blossoms kill, +The fields Elysian, as fond heathen sain, +Were there, where souls of men in bliss remain. + +XXXVII +To these their pilot steered, “And now,” quoth she, +“Your voyage long to end is brought well-near, +The happy Isles of Fortune now you see, +Of which great fame, and little truth, you hear, +Sweet, wholesome, pleasant, fertile, fat they be, +Yet not so rich as fame reports they were.” +This said, toward an island fresh she bore, +The first of ten, that lies next Afric’s shore; + +XXXVIII +When Charles thus, “If, worthy governess, +To our good speed such tarriance be no let, +Upon this isle that Heaven so fair doth bless, +To view the place, on land awhile us set, +To know the folk and what God they confess, +And all whereby man’s heart may knowledge get, +That I may tell the wonders therein seen +Another day, and say, there have I been.” + +XXXIX +She answered him, “Well fits this high desire +Thy noble heart, yet cannot I consent; +For Heaven’s decree, firm, stable, and entire, +Thy wish repugns, and gainst thy will is bent, +Nor yet the time hath Titan’s gliding fire +Met forth, prefixed for this discoverment, +Nor is it lawful of the ocean main +That you the secrets know, or known explain. + +XL +“To you withouten needle, map or card +It’s given to pass these seas, and there arrive +Where in strong prison lies your knight imbarred, +And of her prey you must the witch deprive: +If further to aspire you be prepared, +In vain gainst fate and Heaven’s decree you strive.” +While thus she said, the first seen isle gave place, +And high and rough the second showed his face. + +XLI +They saw how eastward stretched in order long, +The happy islands sweetly flowering lay; +And how the seas betwixt those isles enthrong, +And how they shouldered land from land away: +In seven of them the people rude among +The shady trees their sheds had built of clay, +The rest lay waste, unless wild beasts unseen, +Or wanton nymphs, roamed on the mountains green. + +XLII +A secret place they found in one of those, +Where the cleft shore sea in his bosom takes, +And ’twixt his stretched arms doth fold and close +An ample bay, a rock the haven makes, +Which to the main doth his broad back oppose, +Whereon the roaring billow cleaves and breaks, +And here and there two crags like turrets high, +Point forth a port to all that sail thereby: + +XLIII +The quiet seas below lie safe and still, +The green wood like a garland grows aloft, +Sweet caves within, cool shades and waters shrill, +Where lie the nymphs on moss and ivy soft; +No anchor there needs hold her frigate still, +Nor cable twisted sure, though breaking oft: +Into this desert, silent, quiet, glad, +Entered the dame, and there her haven made. + +XLIV +“The palace proudly built,” quoth she, “behold, +That sits on top of yonder mountain’s height, +Of Christ’s true faith there lies the champion bold +In idleness, love, fancy, folly light; +When Phoebus shall his rising beams unfold, +Prepare you gainst the hill to mount upright, +Nor let this stay in your bold hearts breed care, +For, save that one, all hours unlucky are; + +XLV +“But yet this evening, if you make good speed, +To that hill’s foot with daylight might you pass.” +Thus said the dame their guide, and they agreed, +And took their leave and leaped forth on the grass; +They found the way that to the hill doth lead, +And softly went that neither tired was, +But at the mountain’s foot they both arrived, +Before the sun his team in waters dived. + +XLVI +They saw how from the crags and clefts below +His proud and stately pleasant top grew out, +And how his sides were clad with frost and snow, +The height was green with herbs and flowerets sout, +Like hairy locks the trees about him grow, +The rocks of ice keep watch and ward about, +The tender roses and the lilies new, +Thus art can nature change, and kind subdue. + +XLVII +Within a thick, a dark and shady plot, +At the hill’s foot that night the warriors dwell, +But when the sun his rays bright, shining, hot, +Dispread of golden light the eternal well, +“Up, up,” they cried, and fiercely up they got, +And climbed boldly gainst the mountain fell; +But forth there crept, from whence I cannot say, +An ugly serpent which forestalled their way. + +XLVIII +Armed with golden scales his head and crest +He lifted high, his neck swelled great with ire, +Flamed his eyes, and hiding with his breast +All the broad path, he poison breathed and fire, +Now reached he forth in folds and forward pressed, +Now would he back in rolls and heaps retire, +Thus he presents himself to guard the place, +The knights pressed forward with assured pace: + +XLIX +Charles drew forth his brand to strike the snake; +Ubaldo cried, “Stay, my companion dear, +Will you with sword or weapon battle make +Against this monster that affronts us here?” +This said, he gan his charmed rod to shake, +So that the serpent durst not hiss for fear, +But fled, and dead for dread fell on the grass, +And so the passage plain, eath, open was. + +L +A little higher on the way they met +A lion fierce that hugely roared and cried, +His crest he reared high, and open set +Of his broad-gaping jaws the furnace wide, +His stern his back oft smote, his rage to whet, +But when the sacred staff he once espied +A trembling fear through his bold heart was spread, +His native wrath was gone, and swift he fled. + +LI +The hardy couple on their way forth wend, +And met a host that on them roar and gape, +Of savage beasts, tofore unseen, unkend, +Differing in voice, in semblance, and in shape; +All monsters which hot Afric doth forthsend, +Twixt Nilus, Atlas, and the southern cape, +Were all there met, and all wild beasts besides +Hyrcania breeds, or Hyrcane forest hides. + +LII +But yet that fierce, that strange and savage host +Could not in presence of those worthies stand, +But fled away, their heart and courage lost, +When Lord Ubaldo shook his charming wand. +No other let their passage stopped or crossed; +Till on the mountain’s top themselves they land, +Save that the ice, the frost, and drifted snow, +Oft made them feeble, weary, faint and slow. + +LIII +But having passed all that frozen ground, +And overgone that winter sharp and keen, +A warm, mild, pleasant, gentle sky they found, +That overspread a large and ample green, +The winds breathed spikenard, myrrh, and balm around, +The blasts were firm, unchanged, stable been, +Not as elsewhere the winds now rise now fall, +And Phoebus there aye shines, sets not at all. + +LIV +Not as elsewhere now sunshine bright now showers, +Now heat now cold, there interchanged were, +But everlasting spring mild heaven down pours,— +In which nor rain, nor storm, nor clouds appear,— +Nursing to fields, their grass; to grass, his flowers; +To flowers their smell; to trees, the leaves they bear: +There by a lake a stately palace stands, +That overlooks all mountains, seas and lands: + +LV +The passage hard against the mountain steep +These travellers had faint and weary made, +That through those grassy plains they scantly creep; +They walked, they rested oft, they went, they stayed, +When from the rocks, that seemed for joy to weep, +Before their feet a dropping crystal played +Enticing them to drink, and on the flowers +The plenteous spring a thousand streams down pours, + +LVI +All which, united in the springing grass, +Ate forth a channel through the tender green +And underneath eternal shade did pass, +With murmur shrill, cold, pure, and scantly seen; +Yet so transparent, that perceived was +The bottom rich, and sands that golden been, +And on the brims the silken grass aloft +Proffered them seats, sweet, easy, fresh and soft. + +LVII +“See here the stream of laughter, see the spring,” +Quoth they, “of danger and of deadly pain, +Here fond desire must by fair governing +Be ruled, our lust bridled with wisdom’s rein, +Our ears be stopped while these Sirens sing, +Their notes enticing man to pleasure vain.” +Thus passed they forward where the stream did make +An ample pond, a large and spacious lake. + +LVIII +There on a table was all dainty food +That sea, that earth, or liquid air could give, +And in the crystal of the laughing flood +They saw two naked virgins bathe and dive, +That sometimes toying, sometimes wrestling stood, +Sometimes for speed and skill in swimming strive, +Now underneath they dived, now rose above, +And ticing baits laid forth of lust and love. + +LIX +These naked wantons, tender, fair and white, +Moved so far the warriors’ stubborn hearts, +That on their shapes they gazed with delight; +The nymphs applied their sweet alluring arts, +And one of them above the waters quite, +Lift up her head, her breasts and higher parts, +And all that might weak eyes subdue and take, +Her lower beauties veiled the gentle lake. + +LX +As when the morning star, escaped and fled +From greedy waves, with dewy beams up flies, +Or as the Queen of Love, new born and bred +Of the Ocean’s fruitful froth, did first arise: +So vented she her golden locks forth shed +Round pearls and crystal moist therein which lies: +But when her eyes upon the knights she cast, +She start, and feigned her of their sight aghast. + +LXI +And her fair locks, that in a knot were tied +High on her crown, she ’gan at large unfold; +Which falling long and thick and spreading wide, +The ivory soft and white mantled in gold: +Thus her fair skin the dame would clothe and hide, +And that which hid it no less fair was hold; +Thus clad in waves and locks, her eyes divine, +From them ashamed did she turn and twine. + +LXII +Withal she smiled and she blushed withal, +Her blush, her smilings, smiles her blushing graced: +Over her face her amber tresses fall, +Whereunder Love himself in ambush placed: +At last she warbled forth a treble small, +And with sweet looks her sweet songs interlaced; +“Oh happy men I that have the grace,” quoth she, +“This bliss, this heaven, this paradise to see. + +LXIII +“This is the place wherein you may assuage +Your sorrows past, here is that joy and bliss +That flourished in the antique golden age, +Here needs no law, here none doth aught amiss: +Put off those arms and fear not Mars his rage, +Your sword, your shield, your helmet needless is; +Then consecrate them here to endless rest, +You shall love’s champions be, and soldiers blest. + +LXIV +“The fields for combat here are beds of down, +Or heaped lilies under shady brakes; +But come and see our queen with golden crown, +That all her servants blest and happy makes, +She will admit you gently for her own, +Numbered with those that of her joy partakes: +But first within this lake your dust and sweat +Wash off, and at that table sit and eat.” + +LXV +While thus she sung, her sister lured them nigh +With many a gesture kind and loving show, +To music’s sound as dames in court apply +Their cunning feet, and dance now swift now slow: +But still the knights unmoved passed by, +These vain delights for wicked charms they know, +Nor could their heavenly voice or angel’s look, +Surprise their hearts, if eye or ear they took. + +LXVI +For if that sweetness once but touched their hearts, +And proffered there to kindle Cupid’s fire, +Straight armed Reason to his charge up starts, +And quencheth Lust, and killeth fond Desire; +Thus scorned were the dames, their wiles and arts +And to the palace gates the knights retire, +While in their stream the damsels dived sad, +Ashamed, disgraced, for that repulse they had. + + + + +SIXTEENTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +The searchers pass through all the palace bright +Where in sweet prison lies Rinaldo pent, +And do so much, that full of rage and spite, +With them he goes sad, shamed, discontent: +With plaints and prayers to retain her knight +Armida strives; he hears, but thence he went, +And she forlorn her palace great and fair +Destroys for grief, and flies thence through the air. + +I +The palace great is builded rich and round, +And in the centre of the inmost hold +There lies a garden sweet, on fertile ground, +Fairer than that where grew the trees of gold: +The cunning sprites had buildings reared around +With doors and entries false a thousandfold, +A labyrinth they made that fortress brave, +Like Daedal’s prison, or Porsenna’s grave. + +II +The knights passed through the castle’s largest gate, +Though round about an hundred ports there shine, +The door-leaves framed of carved silver-plate, +Upon their golden hinges turn and twine. +They stayed to view this work of wit and state. +The workmanship excelled the substance fine, +For all the shapes in that rich metal wrought, +Save speech, of living bodies wanted naught. + +III +Alcides there sat telling tales, and spun +Among the feeble troops of damsels mild, +He that the fiery gates of hell had won +And heaven upheld; false Love stood by and smiled: +Armed with his club fair Iole forth run, +His club with blood of monsters foul defiled, +And on her back his lion’s skin had she, +Too rough a bark for such a tender tree. + +IV +Beyond was made a sea, whose azure flood +The hoary froth crushed from the surges blue, +Wherein two navies great well ranged stood +Of warlike ships, fire from their arms outflew, +The waters burned about their vessels good, +Such flames the gold therein enchased threw, +Caesar his Romans hence, the Asian kings +Thence Antony and Indian princes brings. + +V +The Cyclades seemed to swim amid the main, +And hill gainst hill, and mount gainst mountain smote, +With such great fury met those armies twain; +Here burnt a ship, there sunk a bark or boat, +Here darts and wild-fire flew, there drowned or slain +Of princes dead the bodies fleet and float; +Here Caesar wins, and yonder conquered been +The Eastern ships, there fled the Egyptian queen: + +VI +Antonius eke himself to flight betook, +The empire lost to which he would aspire, +Yet fled not he nor fight for fear forsook, +But followed her, drawn on by fond desire: +Well might you see within his troubled look, +Strive and contend, love, courage, shame and ire; +Oft looked he back, oft gazed he on the fight, +But oftener on his mistress and her flight. + +VII +Then in the secret creeks of fruitful Nile, +Cast in her lap, he would sad death await, +And in the pleasure of her lovely smile +Sweeten the bitter stroke of cursed fate: +All this did art with curious hand compile +In the rich metal of that princely gate. +The knights these stories viewed first and last, +Which seen, they forward pressed, and in they passed: + +VIII +As through his channel crooked Meander glides +With turns and twines, and rolls now to, now fro, +Whose streams run forth there to the salt sea sides +Here back return and to their springward go: +Such crooked paths, such ways this palace hides; +Yet all the maze their map described so, +That through the labyrinth they got in fine, +As Theseus did by Ariadne’s line. + +IX +When they had passed all those troubled ways, +The garden sweet spread forth her green to show, +The moving crystal from the fountains plays, +Fair trees, high plants, strange herbs and flowerets new, +Sunshiny hills, dales hid from Phoebus’ rays, +Groves, arbors, mossy caves, at once they view, +And that which beauty moat, most wonder brought, +Nowhere appeared the art which all this wrought. + +X +So with the rude the polished mingled was +That natural seemed all and every part, +Nature would craft in counterfeiting pass, +And imitate her imitator art: +Mild was the air, the skies were clear as glass, +The trees no whirlwind felt, nor tempest smart, +But ere the fruit drop off, the blossom comes, +This springs, that falls, that ripeneth and this blooms. + +XI +The leaves upon the self-same bough did hide +Beside the young the old and ripened fig, +Here fruit was green, there ripe with vermeil side, +The apples new and old grew on one twig, +The fruitful vine her arms spread high and wide +That bended underneath their clusters big, +The grapes were tender here, hard, young and sour, +There purple ripe, and nectar sweet forth pour. + +XII +The joyous birds, hid under greenwood shade, +Sung merry notes on every branch and bough, +The wind that in the leaves and waters played +With murmur sweet, now sung, and whistled now; +Ceased the birds, the wind loud answer made, +And while they sung, it rumbled soft and low; +Thus were it hap or cunning, chance or art, +The wind in this strange music bore his part. + +XIII +With party-colored plumes’ and purple bill, +A wondrous bird among the rest there flew, +That in plain speech sung love-lays loud and shrill, +Her leden was like human language true; +So much she talked, and with such wit and skill, +That strange it seemed how much good she knew, +Her feathered fellows all stood hush to hear, +Dumb was the wind, the waters silent were. + +XIV +“The gently budding rose,” quoth she, “behold, +That first scant peeping forth with virgin beams, +Half ope, half shut, her beauties doth upfold +In their dear leaves, and less seen, fairer seems, +And after spreads them forth more broad and bold, +Then languisheth and dies in last extremes, +Nor seems the same, that decked bed and bower +Of many a lady late, and paramour; + +XV +“So, in the passing of a day, doth pass +The bud and blossom of the life of man, +Nor e’er doth flourish more, but like the grass +Cut down, becometh withered, pale and wan: +Oh gather then the rose while time thou hast +Short is the day, done when it scant began, +Gather the rose of love, while yet thou mayest, +Loving, be loved; embracing, be embraced.” + +XVI +He ceased, and as approving all he spoke, +The choir of birds their heavenly tunes renew, +The turtles sighed, and sighs with kisses broke, +The fowls to shades unseen by pairs withdrew; +It seemed the laurel chaste, and stubborn oak, +And all the gentle trees on earth that grew, +It seemed the land, the sea, and heaven above, +All breathed out fancy sweet, and sighed out love. + +XVII +Through all this music rare, and strong consent +Of strange allurements, sweet bove mean and measure, +Severe, firm, constant, still the knights forthwent, +Hardening their hearts gainst false enticing pleasure, +Twixt leaf and leaf their sight before they sent, +And after crept themselves at ease and leisure, +Till they beheld the queen, set with their knight +Besides the lake, shaded with boughs from sight: + +XVIII +Her breasts were naked, for the day was hot, +Her locks unbound waved in the wanton wind; +Some deal she sweat, tired with the game you wot, +Her sweat-drops bright, white, round, like pearls of Ind; +Her humid eyes a fiery smile forthshot +That like sunbeams in silver fountains shined, +O’er him her looks she hung, and her soft breast +The pillow was, where he and love took rest. + +XIX +His hungry eyes upon her face he fed, +And feeding them so, pined himself away; +And she, declining often down her head, +His lips, his cheeks, his eyes kissed, as he lay, +Wherewith he sighed, as if his soul had fled +From his frail breast to hers, and there would stay +With her beloved sprite: the armed pair +These follies all beheld and this hot fare. + +XX +Down by the lovers’ side there pendent was +A crystal mirror, bright, pure, smooth, and neat, +He rose, and to his mistress held the glass, +A noble page, graced with that service great; +She, with glad looks, he with inflamed, alas, +Beauty and love beheld, both in one seat; +Yet them in sundry objects each espies, +She, in the glass, he saw them in her eyes: + +XXI +Her, to command; to serve, it pleased the knight; +He proud of bondage; of her empire, she; +“My dear,” he said, “that blessest with thy sight +Even blessed angels, turn thine eyes to me, +For painted in my heart and portrayed right +Thy worth, thy beauties and perfections be, +Of which the form; the shape and fashion best, +Not in this glass is seen, but in my breast. + +XXII +“And if thou me disdain, yet be content +At least so to behold thy lovely hue, +That while thereon thy looks are fixed and bent +Thy happy eyes themselves may see and view; +So rare a shape no crystal can present, +No glass contain that heaven of beauties true; +Oh let the skies thy worthy mirror be! +And in dear stars try shape and image see.” + +XXIII +And with that word she smiled, and ne’ertheless +Her love-toys still she used, and pleasures bold! +Her hair, that done, she twisted up in tress, +And looser locks in silken laces rolled, +Her curles garlandwise she did up-dress, +Wherein, like rich enamel laid on gold, +The twisted flowers smiled, and her white breast +The lilies there that spring with roses dressed. + +XXIV +The jolly peacock spreads not half so fair +The eyed feathers of his pompous train; +Nor golden Iris so bends in the air +Her twenty-colored bow, through clouds of rain; +Yet all her ornaments, strange, rich and rare, +Her girdle did in price and beauty stain, +Nor that, with scorn, which Tuscan Guilla lost, +Igor Venus Ceston, could match this for cost. + +XXV +Of mild denays, of tender scorns, of sweet +Repulses, war, peace, hope, despair, joy, fear, +Of smiles, jests, mirth, woe, grief, and sad regreet, +Sighs, sorrows, tears, embracements, kisses dear, +That mixed first by weight and measure meet, +Then at an easy fire attempered were, +This wondrous girdle did Armida frame, +And, when she would be loved, wore the same. + +XXVI +But when her wooing fit was brought to end, +She congee took, kissed him, and went her way; +For once she used every day to wend +Bout her affairs, her spells and charms to say: +The youth remained, yet had no power to bend +One step from thence, but used there to stray +Mongst the sweet birds, through every walk and grove +Alone, save for an hermit false called Love. + +XXVII +And when the silence deep and friendly shade +Recalled the lovers to their wonted sport, +In a fair room for pleasure built, they laid, +And longest nights with joys made sweet and short. +Now while the queen her household things surveyed, +And left her lord her garden and disport, +The twain that hidden in the bushes were +Before the prince in glistering arms appear: + +XXVIII +As the fierce steed for age withdrawn from war +Wherein the glorious beast had always wone, +That in vile rest from fight sequestered far, +Feeds with the mares at large, his service done, +If arms he see, or hear the trumpet’s jar, +He neigheth loud and thither fast doth run, +And wiseth on his back the armed knight, +Longing for jousts, for tournament and fight: + +XXIX +So fared Rinaldo when the glorious light +Of their bright harness glistered in his eyes, +His noble sprite awaked at that sight +His blood began to warm, his heart to rise, +Though, drunk with ease, devoid of wonted might +On sleep till then his weakened virtue lies. +Ubaldo forward stepped, and to him hield +Of diamonds clear that pure and precious shield. + +XXX +Upon the targe his looks amazed he bent, +And therein all his wanton habit spied, +His civet, balm, and perfumes redolent, +How from his locks they smoked and mantle wide, +His sword that many a Pagan stout had shent, +Bewrapped with flowers, hung idly by his side, +So nicely decked that it seemed the knight +Wore it for fashion’s sake but not for fight. + +XXXI +As when, from sleep and idle dreams abraid, +A man awaked calls home his wits again; +So in beholding his attire he played, +But yet to view himself could not sustain, +His looks he downward cast and naught he said, +Grieved, shamed, sad, he would have died fain, +And oft he wished the earth or ocean wide +Would swallow him, and so his errors hide. + +XXXII +Ubaldo took the time, and thus begun, +“All Europe now and Asia be in war, +And all that Christ adore and fame have won, +In battle strong, in Syria fighting are; +But thee alone, Bertoldo’s noble son, +This little corner keeps, exiled far +From all the world, buried in sloth and shame, +A carpet champion for a wanton dame. + +XXXIII +“What letharge hath in drowsiness up-penned +Thy courage thus? what sloth doth thee infect? +Up, up, our camp and Godfrey for thee send, +Thee fortune, praise and victory expect, +Come, fatal champion, bring to happy end +This enterprise begun, all that sect +Which oft thou shaken hast to earth full low +With thy sharp brand strike down, kill, overthrow.” + +XXXIV +This said, the noble infant stood a space +Confused, speechless, senseless, ill-ashamed; +But when that shame to just disdain gave place, +To fierce disdain, from courage sprung untamed, +Another redness blushed through his face, +Whence worthy anger shone, displeasure flamed, +His nice attire in scorn he rent and tore, +For of his bondage vile that witness bore; + +XXXV +That done, he hasted from the charmed fort, +And through the maze passed with his searchers twain. +Armida of her mount and chiefest port +Wondered to find the furious keeper slain, +Awhile she feared, but she knew in short, +That her dear lord was fled, then saw she plain, +Ah, woful sight! how from her gates the man +In haste, in fear, in wrath, in anger ran. + +XXXVI +“Whither, O cruel! leavest thou me alone?” +She would have cried, her grief her speeches stayed, +So that her woful words are backward gone, +And in her heart a bitter echo made; +Poor soul, of greater skill than she was one +Whose knowledge from her thus her joy conveyed, +This wist she well, yet had desire to prove +If art could keep, if charms recall her love. + +XXXVII +All what the witches of Thessalia land, +With lips unpure yet ever said or spake, +Words that could make heaven’s rolling circles stand, +And draw the damned ghosts from Limbo lake, +All well she knew, but yet no time she fand +To use her knowledge or her charms to make, +But left her arts, and forth she ran to prove +If single beauty were best charm for love. + +XXXVIII +She ran, nor of her honor took regard, +Oh where be all her vaunts and triumphs now? +Love’s empire great of late she made or marred, +To her his subjects humbly bend and bow, +And with her pride mixed was a scorn so hard, +That to be loved she loved, yet whilst they woo +Her lovers all she hates; that pleased her will +To conquer men, and conquered so, to kill. + +XXXIX +But now herself disdained, abandoned, +Ran after him; that from her fled in scorn, +And her despised beauty labored +With humble plaints and prayers to adorn: +She ran and hasted after him that fled, +Through frost and snow, through brier, bush and thorn, +And sent her cries on message her before, +That reached not him till he had reached the shore. + +XL +“Oh thou that leav’st but half behind,” quoth she, +“Of my poor heart, and half with thee dost carry, +Oh take this part, or render that to me, +Else kill them both at once, ah tarry, tarry: +Hear my last words, no parting kiss of thee +I crave, for some more fit with thee to marry +Keep them, unkind; what fear’st thou if thou stay? +Thou may’st deny, as well as run away.” + +XLI +At this Rinaldo stopped, stood still, and stayed, +She came, sad, breathless, weary, faint and weak, +So woe-begone was never nymph or maid +And yet her beauty’s pride grief could not break, +On him she looked, she gazed, but naught she said, +She would not, could not, or she durst not speak, +At her he looked not, glanced not, if he did, +Those glances shamefaced were, close, secret, hid. + +XLII +As cunning singers, ere they strain on high, +In loud melodious tunes, their gentle voice, +Prepare the hearers’ ears to harmony +With feignings sweet, low notes and warbles choice: +So she, not having yet forgot pardie +Her wonted shifts and sleights in Cupid’s toys, +A sequence first of sighs and sobs forthcast, +To breed compassion dear, then spake at last: + +XLIII +“Suppose not, cruel, that I come to vow +Or pray, as ladies do their loves and lords; +Such were we late, if thou disdain it now, +Or scorn to grant such grace as love affords, +At least yet as an enemy listen thou: +Sworn foes sometimes will talk and chaffer words, +For what I ask thee, may’st thou grant right well, +And lessen naught thy wrath and anger fell. + +XLIV +“If me thou hate, and in that hate delight, +I come not to appease thee, hate me still, +It’s like for like; I bore great hate and spite +Gainst Christians all, chiefly I wish thee ill: +I was a Pagan born, and all my might +Against Godfredo bent, mine art and skill: +I followed thee, took thee, and bore thee far, +To this strange isle, and kept thee safe from war. + +XLV +“And more, which more thy hate may justly move, +More to thy loss, more to thy shame and grief, +I thee inchanted, and allured to love, +Wicked deceit, craft worthy sharp reprief; +Mine honor gave I thee all gifts above, +And of my beauties made thee lord and chief, +And to my suitors old what I denayed, +That gave I thee, my lover new, unprayed. + +XLVI +“But reckon that among, my faults, and let +Those many wrongs provoke thee so to wrath, +That hence thou run, and that at naught thou set +This pleasant house, so many joys which hath; +Go, travel, pass the seas, fight, conquest get, +Destroy our faith, what shall I say, our faith? +Ah no! no longer ours; before thy shrine +Alone I pray, thou cruel saint of mine; + +XLVII +“All only let me go with thee, unkind, +A small request although I were thy foe, +The spoiler seldom leaves the prey behind, +Who triumphs lets his captives with him go; +Among thy prisoners poor Armida bind, +And let the camp increase thy praises so, +That thy beguiler so thou couldst beguile, +And point at me, thy thrall and bondslave vile. + +XLVIII +“Despised bondslave, since my lord doth hate +These locks, why keep I them or hold them dear? +Come cut them off, that to my servile state +My habit answer may, and all my gear: +I follow thee in spite of death and fate, +Through battles fierce where dangers most appear, +Courage I have, and strength enough perchance, +To lead thy courser spare, and bear thy lance: + +XLIX +“I will or bear, or be myself, thy shield, +And to defend thy life, will lose mine own: +This breast, this bosom soft shall be thy bield +Gainst storms of arrows, darts and weapons thrown; +Thy foes, pardie, encountering thee in field, +Will spare to strike thee, mine affection known, +Lest me they wound, nor will sharp vengeance take +On thee, for this despised beauty’s sake. + +L +“O wretch! dare I still vaunt, or help invoke +From this poor beauty, scorned and disdained?” +She said no more, her tears her speeches broke, +Which from her eyes like streams from springs down rained: +She would have caught him by the hand or cloak, +But he stepped backward, and himself restrained, +Conquered his will, his heart ruth softened not, +There plaints no issue, love no entrance got. + +LI +Love entered not to kindle in his breast, +Which Reason late had quenched, his wonted flame; +Yet entered Pity in the place at least, +Love’s sister, but a chaste and sober dame, +And stirred him so, that hardly he suppressed +The springing tears that to his eyes up came; +But yet even there his plaints repressed were, +And, as he could, he looked, and feigned cheer. + +LII +“Madam,” quoth he, “for your distress I grieve, +And would amend it, if I might or could. +From your wise heart that fond affection drive: +I cannot hate nor scorn you though I would, +I seek no vengeance, wrongs I all forgive, +Nor you my servant nor my foe I hold, +Truth is, you erred, and your estate forgot, +Too great your hate was, and your love too hot. + +LIII +“But those are common faults, and faults of kind, +Excused by nature, by your sex and years; +I erred likewise, if I pardon find +None can condemn you, that our trespass hears; +Your dear remembrance will I keep in mind, +In joys, in woes, in comforts, hopes and fears, +Call me your soldier and your knight, as far +As Christian faith permits, and Asia’s war. + +LIV +“Ah, let our faults and follies here take end, +And let our errors past you satisfy, +And in this angle of the world ypend, +Let both the fame and shame thereof now die, +From all the earth where I am known and kenned, +I wish this fact should still concealed lie: +Nor yet in following me, poor knight, disgrace +Your worth, your beauty, and your princely race. + +LV +“Stay here in peace, I go, nor wend you may +With me, my guide your fellowship denies, +Stay here or hence depart some better way, +And calm your thoughts, you are both sage and wise.” +While thus he spoke, her passions found no stay, +But here and there she turned and rolled her eyes, +And staring on his face awhile, at last +Thus in foul terms, her bitter wrath forth brast: + +LVI +“Of Sophia fair thou never wert the child, +Nor of the Azzain race ysprung thou art, +The mad sea-waves thee hare, some tigress wild +On Caucasus’ cold crags nursed thee apart; +Ah, cruel man l in whom no token mild +Appears, of pity, ruth, or tender heart, +Could not my griefs, my woes, my plaints, and all +One sigh strain from thy breast, one tear make fall? + +LVII +“What shall I say, or how renew my speech? +He scorns me, leaves me, bids me call him mine: +The victor hath his foe within his reach; +Yet pardons her, that merits death and pine; +Hear how he counsels me; how he can preach, +Like chaste Xenocrates, gainst love divine; +O heavens, O gods! why do these men of shame, +Thus spoil your temples and blaspheme your name? + +LVIII +“Go cruel, go, go with such peace, such rest, +Such joy, such comfort, as thou leavest me here: +My angry soul discharged from this weak breast, +Shall haunt thee ever, and attend thee near, +And fury-like in snakes and firebrands dressed, +Shall aye torment thee, whom it late held dear: +And if thou ’scape the seas, the rocks, and sands +And come to fight among the Pagan bands, + +LIX +“There lying wounded, mongst the hurt and slain, +Of these my wrongs thou shalt the vengeance bear, +And oft Armida shalt thou call in vain, +At thy last gasp; this hope I soon to hear:” +Here fainted she, with sorrow, grief and pain, +Her latest words scant well expressed were, +But in a swoon on earth outstretched she lies, +Stiff were her frozen limbs, closed were her eyes. + +LX +Thou closed thine eyes, Armida, heaven envied +Ease to thy grief, or comfort to thy woe; +Ah, open then again, see tears down slide +From his kind eyes, whom thou esteem’st thy foe, +If thou hadst heard, his sighs had mollified +Thine anger, hard he sighed and mourned so; +And as he could with sad and rueful look +His leave of thee and last farewell he took. + +LXI +What should he do? leave on the naked sand +This woful lady half alive, half dead? +Kindness forbade, pity did that withstand; +But hard constraint, alas! did thence him lead; +Away he went, the west wind blew from land +Mongst the rich tresses of their pilot’s head, +And with that golden sail the waves she cleft, +To land he looked, till land unseen he left. + +LXII +Waked from her trance, foresaken, speechless, sad, +Armida wildly stared and gazed about, +“And is he gone,” quoth she, “nor pity had +To leave me thus twixt life and death in doubt? +Could he not stay? could not the traitor-lad +From this last trance help or recall me out? +And do I love him still, and on this sand +Still unrevenged, still mourn, still weeping stand? + +LXIII +“Fie no! complaints farewell! with arms and art +I will pursue to death this spiteful knight, +Not earth’s low centre, nor sea’s deepest part, +Not heaven, nor hell, can shield him from my might, +I will o’ertake him, take him, cleave his heart, +Such vengeance fits a wronged lover’s spite, +In cruelty that cruel knight surpass +I will, but what avail vain words, alas? + +LXIV +“O fool! thou shouldest have been cruel than, +For then this cruel well deserved thine ire, +When thou in prison hadst entrapped the man, +Now dead with cold, too late thou askest fire; +But though my wit, my cunning nothing can, +Some other means shall work my heart’s desire, +To thee, my beauty, thine be all these wrongs, +Vengeance to thee, to thee revenge belongs. + +LXV +“Thou shalt be his reward, with murdering brand +That dare this traitor of his head deprive, +O you my lovers, on this rock doth stand +The castle of her love for whom you strive, +I, the sole heir of all Damascus land, +For this revenge myself and kingdom give, +If by this price my will I cannot gain, +Nature gives beauty; fortune, wealth in vain. + +LXVI +“But thee, vain gift, vain beauty, thee I scorn, +I hate the kingdom which I have to give, +I hate myself, and rue that I was born, +Only in hope of sweet revenge I live.” +Thus raging with fell ire she gan return +From that bare shore in haste, and homeward drive, +And as true witness of her frantic ire, +Her locks waved loose, face shone, eyes sparkled fire. + +LXVII +When she came home, she called with outcries shrill, +A thousand devils in Limbo deep that won, +Black clouds the skies with horrid darkness fill, +And pale for dread became the eclipsed sun, +The whirlwind blustered big on every hill, +And hell to roar under her feet begun, +You might have heard how through the palace wide, +Some spirits howled, some barked, some hissed, some cried. + +LXVIII +A shadow, blacker than the mirkest night, +Environed all the place with darkness sad, +Wherein a firebrand gave a dreadful light, +Kindled in hell by Tisiphone the mad; +Vanished the shade, the sun appeared in sight, +Pale were his beams, the air was nothing glad, +And all the palace vanished was and gone, +Nor of so great a work was left one stone. + +LXIX +As oft the clouds frame shapes of castles great +Amid the air, that little time do last, +But are dissolved by wind or Titan’s heat, +Or like vain dreams soon made, and sooner past: +The palace vanished so, nor in his seat +Left aught but rocks and crags, by kind there placed; +She in her coach which two old serpents drew, +Sate down, and as she used, away she flew. + +LXX +She broke the clouds, and cleft the yielding sky, +And bout her gathered tempest, storm and wind, +The lands that view the south pole flew she by, +And left those unknown countries far behind, +The Straits of Hercules she passed, which lie +Twixt Spain and Afric, nor her flight inclined +To north or south, but still did forward ride +O’er seas and streams, till Syria’s coasts she spied. + +LXXI +Now she went forward to Damascus fair, +But of her country dear she fled the sight, +And guided to Asphaltes’ lake her chair, +Where stood her castle, there she ends her flight, +And from her damsels far, she made repair +To a deep vault, far from resort and light, +Where in sad thoughts a thousand doubts she cast, +Till grief and shame to wrath gave place at last. + +LXXII +“I will not hence,” quoth she, “till Egypt’s lord +In aid of Zion’s king his host shall move; +Then will I use all helps that charms afford, +And change my shape or sex if so behove: +Well can I handle bow, or lance, or sword, +The worthies all will aid me, for my love: +I seek revenge, and to obtain the same, +Farewell, regard of honor; farewell, shame. + +LXXIII +“Nor let mine uncle and protector me +Reprove for this, he most deserves the blame, +My heart and sex, that weak and tender be, +He bent to deeds that maidens ill became; +His niece a wandering damsel first made he, +He spurred my youth, and I cast off my shame, +His be the fault, if aught gainst mine estate +I did for love, or shall commit for hate.” + +LXXIV +This said, her knights, her ladies, pages, squires +She all assembleth, and for journey fit +In such fair arms and vestures them attires +As showed her wealth, and well declared her wit; +And forward marched, full of strange desires, +Nor rested she by day or night one whit, +Till she came there, where all the eastern bands, +Their kings and princes, lay on Gaza’s sands. + + + + +SEVENTEENTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +Egypt’s great host in battle-ray forth brought, +The Caliph sends with Godfrey’s power to fight; +Armida, who Rinaldo’s ruin sought, +To them adjoins herself and Syria’s might. +To satisfy her cruel will and thought, +She gives herself to him that kills her knight: +He takes his fatal arms, and in his shield +His ancestors and their great deeds beheld. + +I +Gaza the city on the frontier stands +Of Juda’s realm, as men to Egypt ride, +Built near the sea, beside it of dry sands +Huge wildernesses lie and deserts wide +Which the strong winds lift from the parched lands +And toss like roaring waves in roughest tide, +That from those storms poor passengers almost +No refuge find, but there are drowned and lost. + +II +Within this town, won from the Turks of yore +Strong garrison the king of Egypt placed, +And for it nearer was, and fitted more +That high emprise to which his thoughts he cast, +He left great Memphis, and to Gaza bore +His regal throne, and there, from countries vast +Of his huge empire all the puissant host +Assembled he, and mustered on the coast. + +III +Come say, my Muse, what manner times these were, +And in those times how stood the state of things, +What power this monarch had, what arms they bear, +What nations subject, and what friends he brings; +From all lands the southern ocean near, +Or morning star, came princes, dukes and kings, +And only thou of half the world well-nigh +The armies, lords, and captains canst descry. + +IV +When Egypt from the Greekish emperor +Rebelled first, and Christ’s true faith denied, +Of Mahomet’s descent a warrior +There set his throne and ruled that kingdom wide, +Caliph he hight, and Caliphs since that hour +Are his successors named all beside: +So Nilus old his kings long time had seen +That Ptolemies and Pharaohs called had been. + +V +Established was that kingdom in short while, +And grew so great, that over Asia’s lands +And Lybia’s realms it stretched many a mile, +From Syria’s coasts as far as Cirene sands, +And southward passed gainst the course of Nile, +Through the hot clime where burnt Syene stands, +Hence bounded in with sandy deserts waste, +And thence with Euphrates’ rich flood embraced. + +VI +Maremma, myrrh and spices that doth bring, +And all the rich red sea it comprehends, +And to those lands, toward the morning spring +That lie beyond that gulf, it far extends; +Great is that empire, greater by the king +That rules it now, whose worth the land amends, +And makes more famous, lord thereof by blood, +By wisdom, valor, and all virtues good. + +VII +With Turks and Persians war he oft did wage, +And oft he won, and sometimes lost the field, +Nor could his adverse fortune aught assuage +His valor’s heat or make his proud heart yield, +But when he grew unfit for war through age, +He sheathed his sword and laid aside his shield: +But yet his warlike mind he laid not down, +Nor his great thirst of rule, praise and renown, + +VIII +But by his knights still cruel wars maintained. +So wise his words, so quick his wit appears, +That of the kingdom large o’er which he reigned, +The charge seemed not too weighty for his years; +His greatness Afric’s lesser kings constrained +To tremble at his name, all Ind him fears, +And other realms that would his friendship hold; +Some armed soldiers sent, some gifts, some gold. + +IX +This mighty prince assembled had the flower +Of all his realms, against the Frenchmen stout, +To break their rising empire and their power, +Nor of sure conquest had he fear or doubt: +To him Armida came, even at the hour +When in the plains, old Gaza’s walls without, +The lords and leaders all their armies bring +In battle-ray, mustered before their king. + +X +He on his throne was set, to which on height +Who clomb an hundred ivory stairs first told, +Under a pentise wrought of silver bright, +And trod on carpets made of silk and gold; +His robes were such as best beseemen might +A king, so great, so grave, so rich, so old, +And twined of sixty ells of lawn and more +A turban strange adorned his tresses hoar. + +XI +His right hand did his precious sceptre wield, +His beard was gray, his looks severe and grave, +And from his eyes, not yet made dim with eild, +Sparkled his former worth and vigor brave, +His gestures all the majesty upheild +And state, as his old age and empire crave, +So Phidias carved, Apelles so, pardie, +Erst painted Jove, Jove thundering down from sky. + +XII +On either side him stood a noble lord, +Whereof the first held in his upright hand +Of severe justice the unpartial sword; +The other bare the seal, and causes scanned, +Keeping his folk in peace and good accord, +And termed was lord chancellor of the land; +But marshal was the first, and used to lead +His armies forth to war, oft with good speed. + +XIII +Of bold Circassians with their halberts long, +About his throne his guards stood in a ring, +All richly armed in gilden corslets strong, +And by their sides their crooked swords down hing: +Thus set, thus seated, his grave lords among, +His hosts and armies great beheld the king, +And every band as by his throne it went, +Their ensigns low inclined, and arms down bent: + +XIV +Their squadrons first the men of Egypt show, +In four troops, and each his several guide, +Of the high country two, two of the low +Which Nile had won out of the salt seaside, +His fertile slime first stopped the waters’ flow, +Then hardened to firm land the plough to bide, +So Egypt still increased, within far placed +That part is now where ships erst anchor cast. + +XV +The foremost band the people were that dwelled +In Alexandria’s rich and fertile plain, +Along the western shore, whence Nile expelled +The greedy billows of the swelling main; +Araspes was their guide, who more excelled +In wit and craft than strength or warlike pain, +To place an ambush close, or to devise +A treason false, was none so sly, so wise. + +XVI +The people next that gainst the morning rays +Along the coasts of Asia have their seat, +Arontes led them, whom no warlike praise +Ennobled, but high birth and titles great, +His helm ne’er made him sweat in toilsome frays, +Nor was his sleep e’er broke with trumpet’s threat, +But from soft ease to try the toil of fight +His fond ambition brought this carpet knight. + +XVII +The third seemed not a troop or squadron small, +But an huge host; nor seemed it so much grain +In Egypt grew as to sustain them all; +Yet from one town thereof came all that train, +A town in people to huge shires equal, +That did a thousand streets and more contain, +Great Caire it hight, whose commons from each side +Came swarming out to war, Campson their guide. + +XVIII +Next under Gazel marched they that plough +The fertile lands above that town which lie +Up to the place where Nilus tumbling low +Falls from his second cataract from high; +The Egyptians weaponed were with sword and bow, +No weight of helm or hauberk list they try, +And richly armed, in their strong foes no dreed +Of death but great desire of spoil they breed. + +XIX +The naked folk of Barca these succeed, +Unarmed half, Alarcon led that band, +That long in deserts lived, in extreme need, +On spoils and preys purchased by strength of hand. +To battle strong unfit, their king did lead +His army next brought from Zumara land. +Then he of Tripoli, for sudden fight +And skirmish short, both ready, bold, and light. + +XX +Two captains next brought forth their bands to show +Whom Stony sent and Happy Araby, +Which never felt the cold of frost and snow, +Or force of burning heat, unless fame lie, +Where incense pure and all sweet odors grow, +Where the sole phoenix doth revive, not die, +And midst the perfumes rich and flowerets brave +Both birth and burial, cradle hath and grave. + +XXI +Their clothes not rich, their garments were not gay, +But weapons like the Egyptian troops they had, +The Arabians next that have no certain stay, +No house, no home, no mansion good or bad, +But ever, as the Scythian hordes stray, +From place to place their wandering cities gad: +These have both voice and stature feminine, +Hair long and black, black face, and fiery eyne. + +XXII +Long Indian canes, with iron armed, they bear, +And as upon their nimble steeds they ride, +Like a swift storm their speedy troops appear, +If winds so fast bring storms from heavens wide: +By Syphax led the first Arabians were; +Aldine the second squadron had no guide, +And Abiazar proud, brought to the fight +The third, a thief, a murderer, not a knight. + +XXIII +The islanders came then their prince before +Whose lands Arabia’s gulf enclosed about, +Wherein they fish and gather oysters store, +Whose shells great pearls rich and round pour out; +The Red Sea sent with them from his left shore, +Of negroes grim a black and ugly rout; +These Agricalt and those Osmida brought, +A man that set law, faith and truth at naught. + +XXIV +The Ethiops next which Meroe doth breed, +That sweet and gentle isle of Meroe, +Twixt Nile and Astrabore that far doth spread, +Where two religions are, and kingdoms three, +These Assimiro and Canario led, +Both kings, both Pagans, and both subjects be +To the great Caliph, but the third king kept +Christ’s sacred faith, nor to these wars outstepped. + +XXV +After two kings, both subjects also, ride, +And of two bands of archers had the charge, +The first Soldan of Ormus placed in the wide +Huge Persian Bay, a town rich, fair, and large: +The last of Boecan, which at every tide +The sea cuts off from Persia’s southern marge, +And makes an isle; but when it ebbs again, +The passage there is sandy, dry and plain. + +XXVI +Nor thee, great Altamore, in her chaste bed +Thy loving queen kept with her dear embrace, +She tore her locks, she smote her breast, and shed +Salt tears to make thee stay in that sweet place, +“Seem the rough seas more calm, cruel,” she said, +“Than the mild looks of thy kind spouse’s face? +Or is thy shield, with blood and dust defiled, +A dearer armful than thy tender child?” + +XXVII +This was the mighty king of Samarcand, +A captain wise, well skilled in feats of war, +In courage fierce, matchless for strength of hand, +Great was his praise, his force was noised far; +His worth right well the Frenchmen understand, +By whom his virtues feared and loved are: +His men were armed with helms and hauberks strong, +And by their sides broad swords and maces hong. + +XXVIII +Then from the mansions bright of fresh Aurore +Adrastus came, the glorious king of Ind, +A snake’s green skin spotted with black he wore, +That was made rich by art and hard by kind, +An elephant this furious giant bore, +He fierce as fire, his mounture swift as wind; +Much people brought he from his kingdoms wide, +Twixt Indus, Ganges, and the salt seaside. + +XXIX +The king’s own troop come next, a chosen crew, +Of all the camp the strength, the crown, the flower, +Wherein each soldier had with honors due +Rewarded been, for service ere that hour; +Their arms were strong for need, and fair for show, +Upon fierce steeds well mounted rode this power, +And heaven itself with the clear splendor shone +Of their bright armor, purple, gold and stone. + +XXX +Mongst these Alarco fierce, and Odemare +The muster master was, and Hidraort, +And Rimedon, whose rashness took no care +To shun death’s bitter stroke, in field or fort, +Tigranes, Rapold stem, the men that fare +By sea, that robbed in each creek and port, +Ormond, and Marlabust the Arabian named, +Because that land rebellious he reclaimed. + +XXXI +There Pirga, Arimon, Orindo are, +Brimarte the scaler, and with him Suifant +The breaker of wild horses brought from far; +Then the great wresteler strong Aridamant, +And Tisapherne, the thunderbolt of war, +Whom none surpassed, whom none to match durst vaunt +At tilt, at tourney, or in combat brave, +With spear or lance, with sword, with mace or glaive. + +XXXII +A false Armenian did this squadron guide, +That in his youth from Christ’s true faith and light +To the blind lore of Paganism did slide, +That Clement late, now Emireno, hight; +Yet to his king he faithful was, and tried +True in all causes, his in wrong and right: +A cunning leader and a soldier bold, +For strength and courage, young; for wisdom, old. + +XXXIII +When all these regiments were passed and gone, +Appeared Armide, and came her troop to show; +Set in a chariot bright with precious stone, +Her gown tucked up, and in her hand a bow; +In her sweet face her new displeasures shone, +Mixed with the native beauties there which grow, +And quickened so her looks that in sharp wise +It seems she threats and yet her threats entice. + +XXXIV +Her chariot like Aurora’s glorious wain, +With carbuncles and jacinths glistered round: +Her coachman guided with the golden rein +Four unicorns, by couples yoked and bound; +Of squires and lovely ladies hundreds twain, +Whose rattling quivers at their backs resound, +On milk-white steeds, wait on the chariot bright, +Their steeds to manage, ready; swift, to flight. + +XXXV +Followed her troop led forth by Aradin, +Which Hidraort from Syria’s kingdom sent, +As when the new-born phoenix doth begin +To fly to Ethiop-ward, at the fair bent +Of her rich wings strange plumes and feathers thin +Her crowns and chains with native gold besprent, +The world amazed stands; and with her fly +An host of wondering birds, that sing and cry: + +XXXVI +So passed Armida, looked on, gazed on, so, +A wondrous dame in habit, gesture, face; +There lived no wight to love so great a foe +But wished and longed those beauties to embrace, +Scant seen, with anger sullen, sad for woe, +She conquered all the lords and knights in place, +What would she do, her sorrows passed, think you, +When her fair eyes, her looks and smiles shall woo? + +XXXVII +She passed, the king commanded Emiren +Of his rich throne to mount the lofty stage, +To whom his host, his army, and his men, +He would commit, now in his graver age. +With stately grace the man approached then; +His looks his coming honor did presage: +The guard asunder cleft and passage made, +He to the throne up went, and there he stayed. + +XXXVIII +To earth he cast his eyes, and bent his knee: +To whom the king thus gan his will explain, +“To thee this sceptre, Emiren, to thee +These armies I commit, my place sustain +Mongst them, go set the king of Judah free, +And let the Frenchmen feel my just disdain, +Go meet them, conquer them, leave none alive; +Or those that scape from battle, bring captive.” + +XXXIX +Thus spake the tyrant, and the sceptre laid +With all his sovereign power upon the knight: +“I take this sceptre at your hand,” he said, +“And with your happy fortune go to fight, +And trust, my lord, in your great virtue’s aid +To venge all Asia’s harms, her wrongs to right, +Nor e’er but victor will I see your face; +Our overthrow shall bring death, not disgrace. + +XL +“Heavens grant if evil, yet no mishap I dread, +Or harm they threaten against this camp of thine, +That all that mischief fall upon my head, +Theirs be the conquest, and the danger mine; +And let them safe bring home their captain dead, +Buried in pomp of triumph’s glorious shine.” +He ceased, and then a murmur loud up went, +With noise of joy and sound of instrument. + +XLI +Amid the noise and shout uprose the king, +Environed with many a noble peer +That to his royal tent the monarch bring, +And there he feasted them and made them cheer, +To him and him he talked, and carved each thing, +The greatest honored, meanest graced were; +And while this mirth, this joy and feast doth last, +Armida found fit time her nets to cast: + +XLII +But when the feast was done, she, that espied +All eyes on her fair visage fixed and bent, +And by new notes and certain signs described, +How love’s empoisoned fire their entrails brent, +Arose, and where the king sate in his pride, +With stately pace and humble gestures, went; +And as she could in looks in voice she strove +Fierce, stern, bold, angry, and severe to prove. + +XLIII +“Great Emperor, behold me here,” she said. +“For thee, my country, and my faith to fight, +A dame, a virgin, but a royal maid; +And worthy seems this war a princess hight, +For by the sword the sceptre is upstayed, +This hand can use them both with skill and might, +This hand of mine can strike, and at each blow +Thy foes and ours kill, wound, and overthrow. + +XLIV +“Nor yet suppose this is the foremost day +Wherein to war I bent my noble thought, +But for the surety of thy realms, and stay +Of our religion true, ere this I wrought: +Yourself best know if this be true I say, +Or if my former deeds rejoiced you aught, +When Godfrey’s hardy knights and princes strong +I captive took, and held in bondage long. + +XLV +“I took them, bound them, and so sent them bound +To thee, a noble gift, with whom they had +Condemned low in dungeon under ground +Forever dwelt, in woe and torment sad: +So might thine host an easy way have found +To end this doubtful war, with conquest glad, +Had not Rinaldo fierce my knights all slain, +And set those lords, his friends, at large again. + +XLVI +“Rinaldo is well known,” and there a long +And true rehearsal made she of his deeds, +“This is the knight that since hath done me wrong, +Wrong yet untold, that sharp revengement needs: +Displeasure therefore, mixed with reason strong, +This thirst of war in me, this courage breeds; +Nor how he injured me time serves to tell, +Let this suffice, I seek revengement fell, + +XLVII +“And will procure it, for all shafts that fly +Light not in vain; some work the shooter’s will, +And Jove’s right hand with thunders cast from sky +Takes open vengeance oft for secret ill: +But if some champion dare this knight defy +To mortal battle, and by fight him kill, +And with his hateful head will me present, +That gift my soul shall please, my heart content: + +XLVIII +“So please, that for reward enjoy he shall, +The greatest gift I can or may afford, +Myself, my beauty, wealth, and kingdoms all, +To marry him, and take him for my lord, +This promise will I keep whate’er befall, +And thereto bind myself by oath and word: +Now he that deems this purchase worth his pain, +Let him step forth and speak, I none disdain.” + +XLIX +While thus the princess said, his hungry eyne +Adrastus fed on her sweet beauty’s light, +“The gods forbid,” quoth he, “one shaft of thine +Should be discharged gainst that discourteous knight, +His heart unworthy is, shootress divine, +Of thine artillery to feel the might; +To wreak thine ire behold me prest and fit, +I will his head cut off, and bring thee it. + +L +“I will his heart with this sharp sword divide, +And to the vultures cast his carcass out.” +Thus threatened he, but Tisapherne envied +To hear his glorious vaunt and boasting stout, +And said, “But who art thou, that so great pride +Thou showest before the king, me, and this rout? +Pardie here are some such, whose worth exceeds +Thy vaunting much yet boast not of their deeds.” + +LI +The Indian fierce replied, “I am the man +Whose acts his words and boasts have aye surpassed; +But if elsewhere the words thou now began +Had uttered been, that speech had been thy last.” +Thus quarrelled they; the monarch stayed them than, +And ’twixt the angry knights his sceptre cast: +Then to Armida said, “Fair Queen, I see +Thy heart is stout, thy thoughts courageous be; + +LII +“Thou worthy art that their disdain and ire +At thy commands these knights should both appease, +That gainst thy foe their courage hot as fire +Thou may’st employ, both when and where you please, +There all their power and force, and what desire +They have to serve thee, may they show at ease.” +The monarch held his peace when this was said, +And they new proffer of their service made. + +LIII +Nor they alone, but all that famous were +In feats of arms boast that he shall be dead, +All offer her their aid, all say and swear, +To take revenge on his condemned head: +So many arms moved she against her dear, +And swore her darling under foot to tread, +But he, since first the enchanted isle he left, +Safe in his barge the roaring waves still cleft. + +LIV +By the same way returned the well-taught boat +By which it came, and made like haste, like speed; +The friendly wind, upon her sail that smote, +So turned as to return her ship had need: +The youth sometimes the Pole or Bear did note, +Or wandering stars which dearest nights forthspread: +Sometimes the floods, the hills, or mountains steep, +Whose woody fronts o’ershade the silent deep. + +LV +Now of the camp the man the state inquires, +Now asks the customs strange of sundry lands; +And sailed, till clad in beams and bright attires +The fourth day’s sun on the eastern threshold stands: +But when the western seas had quenched those fires, +Their frigate struck against the shore and sands; +Then spoke their guide, “The land of Palestine +This is, here must your journey end and mine.” + +LVI +The knights she set upon the shore all three, +And vanished thence in twinkling of an eye, +Uprose the night in whose deep blackness be +All colors hid of things in earth or sky, +Nor could they house, or hold, or harbor see, +Or in that desert sign of dwelling spy, +Nor track of man or horse, or aught that might +Inform them of some path or passage right. + +LVII +When they had mused what way they travel should, +From the west shore their steps at last they twined, +And lo, far off at last their eyes behold +Something, they wist not what, that clearly shined +With rays of silver and with beams of gold +Which the dark folds of night’s black mantle lined. +Forward they went and marched against the light, +To see and find the thing that shone so bright. + +LVIII +High on a tree they saw an armor new, +That glistered bright gainst Cynthia’s silver ray, +Therein, like stars in skies, the diamonds show +Fret in the gilden helm and hauberk gay, +The mighty shield all scored full they view +Of pictures fair, ranged in meet array; +To keep them sate an aged man beside, +Who to salute them rose, when them he spied. + +LIX +The twain who first were sent in this pursuit +Of their wise friend well knew the aged face: +But when the wizard sage their first salute +Received and quitted had with kind embrace, +To the young prince, that silent stood and mute, +He turned his speech, “In this unused place +For you alone I wait, my lord,” quoth he, +“My chiefest care your state and welfare be. + +LX +“For, though you wot it not, I am your friend, +And for your profit work, as these can tell, +I taught them how Armida’s charms to end, +And bring you thither from love’s hateful cell, +Now to my words, though sharp perchance, attend, +Nor be aggrieved although they seem too fell, +But keep them well in mind, till in the truth +A wise and holier man instruct thy youth. + +LXI +“Not underneath sweet shades and fountains shrill, +Among the nymphs, the fairies, leaves and flowers; +But on the steep, the rough and craggy hill +Of virtue stands this bliss, this good of ours: +By toil and travel, not by sitting still +In pleasure’s lap, we come to honor’s bowers; +Why will you thus in sloth’s deep valley lie? +The royal eagles on high mountains fly. + +LXII +“Nature lifts up thy forehead to the skies, +And fills thy heart with high and noble thought, +That thou to heavenward aye shouldst lift thine eyes, +And purchase fame by deeds well done and wrought; +She gives thee ire, by which not courage flies +To conquests, not through brawls and battles fought +For civil jars, nor that thereby you might +Your wicked malice wreak and cursed spite. + +LXIII +“But that your strength spurred forth with noble wrath, +With greater fury might Christ’s foes assault, +And that your bridle should with lesser scath +Each secret vice, and kill each inward fault; +For so his godly anger ruled hath +Each righteous man beneath heaven’s starry vault, +And at his will makes it now hot, now cold, +Now lets it run, now doth it fettered hold.” + +LXIV +Thus parleyed he; Rinaldo, hushed and still, +Great wisdom heard in those few words compiled, +He marked his speech, a purple blush did fill +His guilty checks, down went his eyesight mild. +The hermit by his bashful looks his will +Well understood, and said, “Look up, my child, +And painted in this precious shield behold +The glorious deeds of thy forefathers old. + +LXV +“Thine elders’ glory herein see and know, +In virtue’s path how they trod all their days, +Whom thou art far behind, a runner slow +In this true course of honor, fame and praise: +Up, up, thyself incite by the fair show +Of knightly worth which this bright shield bewrays, +That be thy spur to praise!” At last the knight +Looked up, and on those portraits bent his sight. + +LXVI +The cunning workman had in little space +Infinite shapes of men there well expressed, +For there described was the worthy race +And pedigree of all of the house of Est: +Come from a Roman spring o’er all the place +Flowed pure streams of crystals east and west, +With laurel crowned stood the princes old, +Their wars the hermit and their battles told. + +LXVII +He showed them Caius first, when first in prey +To people strange the falling empire went, +First Prince of Est, that did the sceptre sway +O’er such as chose him lord by tree consent; +His weaker neighbors to his rule obey, +Need made them stoop, constraint doth force content; +After, when Lord Honorius called the train +Of savage Goths into his land again, + +LXVIII +And when all Italy did burn and flame +With bloody war, by this fierce people mad, +When Rome a captive and a slave became, +And to be quite destroyed was most afraid, +Aurelius, to his everlasting fame, +Preserved in peace the folk that him obeyed: +Next whom was Forest, who the rage withstood +Of the bold Huns, and of their tyrant proud. + +LXIX +Known by his look was Attila the fell, +Whose dragon eyes shone bright with anger’s spark, +Worse faced than a dog, who viewed him well +Supposed they saw him grin and heard him bark; +But when in single fight he lost the bell, +How through his troops he fled there might you mark, +And how Lord Forest after fortified +Aquilea’s town, and how for it he died. + +LXX +For there was wrought the fatal end and fine, +Both of himself and of the town he kept: +But his great son renowned Acarine, +Into his father’s place and honor stepped: +To cruel fate, not to the Huns, Altine +Gave place, and when time served again forth leapt, +And in the vale of Po built for his seat +Of many a village a small city great; + +LXXI +Against the swelling flood he banked it strong, +And thence uprose the fair and noble town +Where they of Est should by succession long +Command, and rule in bliss and high renown: +Gainst Odoacer then he fought, but wrong +Oft spoileth right, fortune treads courage down, +For there he died for his dear country’s sake, +And of his father’s praise did so partake. + +LXXII +With him died Alforisio, Azzo was +With his dear brother into exile sent, +But homeward they in arms again repass— +The Herule king oppressed—from banishment. +His front through pierced with a dart, alas, +Next them, of Est the Epaminondas went, +That smiling seemed to cruel death to yield, +When Totila was fled, and safe his shield. + +LXXIII +Of Boniface I speak; Valerian, +His son, in praise and power succeeded him, +Who durst sustain, in years though scant a man, +Of the proud Goths an hundred squadrons trim: +Then he that gainst the Sclaves much honor wan, +Ernesto, threatening stood with visage grim; +Before him Aldoard, the Lombard stout +Who from Monselce boldly erst shut out. + +LXXIV +There Henry was and Berengare the bold +That served great Charles in his conquest high, +Who in each battle give the onset would, +A hardy soldier and a captain sly; +After, Prince Lewis did he well uphold +Against his nephew, King of Italy, +He won the field and took that king on live: +Next him stood Otho with his children five. + +LXXV +Of Almeric the image next they view, +Lord Marquis of Ferrara first create, +Founder of many churches, that upthrew +His eyes, like one that used to contemplate; +Gainst him the second Azzo stood in rew, +With Berengarius that did long debate, +Till after often change of fortune stroke, +He won, and on all Italy laid the yoke. + +LXXVI +Albert his son the Germans warred among, +And there his praise and fame was spread so wide, +That having foiled the Danes in battle strong, +His daughter young became great Otho’s bride. +Behind him Hugo stood with warfare long, +That broke the horn of all the Romans’ pride, +Who of all Italy the marquis hight, +And Tuscan whole possessed as his right. + +LXXVII +After Tebaldo, puissant Boniface +And Beatrice his dear possessed the stage; +Nor was there left heir male of that great race, +To enjoy the sceptre, state and heritage; +The Princess Maud alone supplied the place, +Supplied the want in number, sex and age; +For far above each sceptre, throne and crown, +The noble dame advanced her veil and gown. + +LXXVIII +With manlike vigor shone her noble look, +And more than manlike wrath her face o’erspread, +There the fell Normans, Guichard there forsook +The field, till then who never feared nor fled; +Henry the Fourth she beat, and from him took +His standard, and in Church it offered; +Which done, the Pope back to the Vatican +She brought, and placed in Peter’s chair again. + +LXXIX +As he that honored her and held her dear, +Azzo the Fifth stood by her lovely side; +But the fourth Azzo’s offspring far and near +Spread forth, and through Germania fructified; +Sprung from the branch did Guelpho bold appear, +Guelpho his son by Cunigond his bride, +And in Bavaria’s field transplanted new +The Roman graft flourished, increased and grew. + +LXXX +A branch of Est there in the Guelfian tree +Engrafted was, which of itself was old, +Whereon you might the Guelfoes fairer see, +Renew their sceptres and their crowns of gold, +Of which Heaven’s good aspects so bended be +That high and broad it spread and flourished bold, +Till underneath his glorious branches laid +Half Germany, and all under his shade. + +LXXXI +This regal plant from his Italian rout +Sprung up as high, and blossomed fair above, +Fornenst Lord Guelpho, Bertold issued out, +With the sixth Azzo whom all virtues love; +This was the pedigree of worthies stout, +Who seemed in that bright shield to live and move. +Rinaldo waked up and cheered his face, +To see these worthies of his house and race. + +LXXXII +To do like acts his courage wished and sought, +And with that wish transported him so far +That all those deeds which filled aye his thought, +Towns won, forts taken, armies killed in war, +As if they were things done indeed and wrought, +Before his eyes he thinks they present are, +He hastily arms him, and with hope and haste, +Sure conquest met, prevented and embraced. + +LXXXIII +But Charles, who had told the death and fall +Of the young prince of Danes, his late dear lord, +Gave him the fatal weapon, and withal, +“Young knight,” quoth he, “take with good luck this sword, +Your just, strong, valiant hand in battle shall +Employ it long, for Christ’s true faith and word, +And of his former lord revenge the wrongs, +Who loved you so, that deed to you belongs.” + +LXXXIV +He answered, “God for his mercy’s sake, +Grant that this hand which holds this weapon good +For thy dear master may sharp vengeance take, +May cleave the Pagan’s heart, and shed his blood.” +To this but short reply did Charles make, +And thanked him much, nor more on terms they stood: +For lo, the wizard sage that was their guide +On their dark journey hastes them forth to ride. + +LXXXV +“High time it is,” quoth he, “for you to wend +Where Godfrey you awaits, and many a knight, +There may we well arrive ere night doth end, +And through this darkness can I guide you right.” +This said, up to his coach they all ascend, +On his swift wheels forth rolled the chariot light, +He gave his coursers fleet the rod and rein, +And galloped forth and eastward drove amain; + +LXXXVI +While silent so through night’s dark shade they fly, +The hermit thus bespake the young man stout: +“Of thy great house, thy race, thine offspring high, +Here hast thou seen the branch, the bole, the root, +And as these worthies born to chivalry +And deeds of arms it hath tofore brought out, +So is it, so it shall be fertile still, +Nor time shall end, nor age that seed shall kill. + +LXXXVII +“Would God, as drawn from the forgetful lap +Of antique time, I have thine elders shown; +That so I could the catalogue unwrap +Of thy great nephews yet unborn, unknown, +That ere this light they view, their fate and hap +I might foretell, and how their chance is thrown, +That like thine elders so thou mightst behold +Thy children, many, famous, stout and bold. + +LXXXVIII +“But not by art or skill, of things future +Can the plain truth revealed be and told, +Although some knowledge doubtful, dark, obscure +We have of coming haps in clouds uprolled; +Nor all which in this cause I know for sure +Dare I foretell: for of that father old, +The hermit Peter, learned I much, and he +Withouten veil heaven’s secrets great doth see. + +LXXXIX +“But this, to him revealed by grace divine, +By him to me declared, to thee I say, +Was never race Greek, barbarous, or Latine, +Great in times past, or famous at this day, +Richer in hardy knights than this of thine; +Such blessings Heaven shall on thy children lay +That they in fame shall pass, in praise o’ercome, +The worthies old of Sparta, Carthage, Rome. + +XC +“But mongst the rest I chose Alphonsus bold, +In virtue first, second in place and name, +He shall be born when this frail world grows old, +Corrupted, poor, and bare of men of fame, +Better than he none shall, none can, or could, +The sword or sceptre use or guide the same, +To rule in peace or to command in fight, +Thine offspring’s glory and thy house’s light. + +XCI +“His younger age foretokens true shall yield +Of future valor, puissance, force and might, +From him no rock the savage beast shall shield; +At tilt or tourney match him shall no knight: +After, he conquer shall in pitched field +Great armies and win spoils in single fight, +And on his locks, rewards for knightly praise, +Shall garlands wear of grass, of oak, of bays. + +XCII +“His graver age, as well that eild it fits, +Shall happy peace preserve and quiet blest, +And from his neighbors strong mongst whom he sits +Shall keep his cities safe in wealth and rest, +Shall nourish arts and cherish pregnant wits, +Make triumphs great, and feast his subjects best, +Reward the good, the evil with pains torment, +Shall dangers all foresee, and seen, prevent. + +XCIII +“But if it hap against those wicked bands +That sea and earth invest with blood and war, +And in these wretched times to noble lands +Give laws of peace false and unjust that are, +That he be sent, to drive their guilty hands +From Christ’s pure altars and high temples far, +Oh, what revenge, what vengeance shall he bring +On that false sect, and their accursed king! + +XCIV +“Too late the Moors, too late the Turkish king, +Gainst him should arm their troops and legions bold +For he beyond great Euphrates should bring, +Beyond the frozen tops of Taurus cold, +Beyond the land where is perpetual spring, +The cross, the eagle white, the lily of gold, +And by baptizing of the Ethiops brown +Of aged Nile reveal the springs unknown.” + +XCV +Thus said the hermit, and his prophecy +The prince accepted with content and pleasure, +The secret thought of his posterity +Of his concealed joys heaped up the measure. +Meanwhile the morning bright was mounted high, +And changed Heaven’s silver wealth to golden treasure, +And high above the Christian tents they view +How the broad ensigns trembled, waved and blew, + +XCVI +When thus again their leader sage begun, +“See how bright Phoebus clears the darksome skies, +See how with gentle beams the friendly sun +The tents, the towns, the hills and dales descries, +Through my well guiding is your voyage done, +From danger safe in travel off which lies, +Hence without fear of harm or doubt of foe +March to the camp, I may no nearer go.” + +XCVII +Thus took he leave, and made a quick return, +And forward went the champions three on foot, +And marching right against the rising morn +A ready passage to the camp found out, +Meanwhile had speedy fame the tidings borne +That to the tents approached these barons stout, +And starting from his throne and kingly seat +To entertain them, rose Godfredo great. + + + + +EIGHTEENTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +The charms and spirits false therein which lie +Rinaldo chaseth from the forest old; +The host of Egypt comes; Vafrin the spy +Entereth their camp, stout, crafty, wise and bold; +Sharp is the fight about the bulwarks high +And ports of Zion, to assault the hold: +Godfrey hath aid from Heaven, by force the town +Is won, the Pagans slain, walls beaten down. + +I +Arrived where Godfrey to embrace him stood, +“My sovereign lord,” Rinaldo meekly said, +“To venge my wrongs against Gernando proud +My honor’s care provoked my wrath unstayed; +But that I you displeased, my chieftain good, +My thoughts yet grieve, my heart is still dismayed, +And here I come, prest all exploits to try +To make me gracious in your gracious eye.” + +II +To him that kneeled, folding his friendly arms +About his neck, the duke this answer gave: +“Let pass such speeches sad, of passed harms. +Remembrance is the life of grief; his grave, +Forgetfulness; and for amends, in arms +Your wonted valor use and courage brave; +For you alone to happy end must bring +The strong enchantments of the charmed spring. + +III +“That aged wood whence heretofore we got, +To build our scaling engines, timber fit, +Is now the fearful seat, but how none wot, +Where ugly fiends and damned spirits sit; +To cut one twist thereof adventureth not +The boldest knight we have, nor without it +This wall can battered be: where others doubt +There venture thou, and show thy courage stout.” + +IV +Thus said he, and the knight in speeches few +Proffered his service to attempt the thing, +To hard assays his courage willing flew, +To him praise was no spur, words were no sting; +Of his dear friends then he embraced the crew +To welcome him which came; for in a ring +About him Guelpho, Tancred and the rest +Stood, of the camp the greatest, chief and best. + +V +When with the prince these lords had iterate +Their welcomes oft, and oft their dear embrace, +Toward the rest of lesser worth and state, +He turned, and them received with gentle grace; +The merry soldiers bout him shout and prate, +With cries as joyful and as cheerful face +As if in triumph’s chariot bright as sun, +He had returned Afric or Asia won. + +VI +Thus marched to his tent the champion good, +And there sat down with all his friends around; +Now of the war he asked, now of the wood, +And answered each demand they list propound; +But when they left him to his ease, up stood +The hermit, and, fit time to speak once found, +“My lord,” he said, “your travels wondrous are, +Far have you strayed, erred, wandered far. + +VII +“Much are you bound to God above, who brought +You safe from false Armida’s charmed hold, +And thee a straying sheep whom once he bought +Hath now again reduced to his fold, +And gainst his heathen foes these men of naught +Hath chosen thee in place next Godfrey bold; +Yet mayest thou not, polluted thus with sin, +In his high service war or fight begin. + +VIII +“The world, the flesh, with their infection vile +Pollute the thoughts impure, thy spirit stain; +Not Po, not Ganges, not seven-mouthed Nile, +Not the wide seas, can wash thee clean again, +Only to purge all faults which thee defile +His blood hath power who for thy sins was slain: +His help therefore invoke, to him bewray +Thy secret faults, mourn, weep, complain and pray.” + +IX +This said, the knight first with the witch unchaste +His idle loves and follies vain lamented; +Then kneeling low with heavy looks downcast, +His other sins confessed and all repented, +And meekly pardon craved for first and last. +The hermit with his zeal was well contented, +And said, “On yonder hill next morn go pray +That turns his forehead gainst the morning ray. + +X +“That done, march to the wood, whence each one brings +Such news of furies, goblins, fiends, and sprites, +The giants, monsters, and all dreadful things +Thou shalt subdue, which that dark grove unites: +Let no strange voice that mourns or sweetly sings, +Nor beauty, whose glad smile frail hearts delights, +Within thy breast make ruth or pity rise, +But their false looks and prayers false despise.” + +XI +Thus he advised him, and the hardy knight +Prepared him gladly to this enterprise, +Thoughtful he passed the day, and sad the night; +And ere the silver morn began to rise, +His arms he took, and in a coat him dight +Of color strange, cut in the warlike guise; +And on his way sole, silent, forth he went +Alone, and left his friends, and left his tent. + +XII +It was the time when gainst the breaking day +Rebellious night yet strove, and still repined, +For in the east appeared the morning gray +And yet some lamps in Jove’s high palace shined, +When to Mount Olivet he took his way, +And saw, as round about his eyes he twined, +Night’s shadows hence, from thence the morning’s shine, +This bright, that dark; that earthly, this divine. + +XIII +Thus to himself he thought, how many bright +And splendent lamps shine in heaven’s temple high, +Day hath his golden sun, her moon the night, +Her fixed and wandering stars the azure sky, +So framed all by their Creator’s might +That still they live and shine, and ne’er shall die +Till, in a moment, with the last day’s brand +They burn, and with them burn sea, air, and land. + +XIV +Thus as he mused, to the top he went, +And there kneeled down with reverence and fear, +His eyes upon heaven’s eastern face he bent, +His thoughts above all heavens uplifted were: +“The sins and errors, which I now repent, +Of mine unbridled youth, O Father dear, +Remember not, but let thy mercy fall, +And purge my faults and mine offences all.” + +XV +Thus prayed he, with purple wings upflew +In golden weed the morning’s lusty queen, +Begilding with the radiant beams she threw +His helm, his harness, and the mountain green; +Upon his breast and forehead gently blew +The air, that balm and nardus breathed unseen, +And o’er his head let down from clearest skies +A cloud of pure and precious clew there flies. + +XVI +The heavenly dew was on his garments spread, +To which compared, his clothes pale ashes seem, +And sprinkled so, that all that paleness fled +And thence, of purest white, bright rays outstream; +So cheered are the flowers late withered +With the sweet comfort of the morning beam, +And so, returned to youth, a serpent old +Adorns herself in new and native gold. + +XVII +The lovely whiteness of his changed weed, +The Prince perceived well, and long admired; +Toward the forest marched he on with speed, +Resolved, as such adventures great required; +Thither he came whence shrinking back for dread +Of that strange desert’s sight the first retired, +But not to him fearful or loathsome made +That forest was, but sweet with pleasant shade: + +XVIII +Forward he passed, mid in the grove before +He heard a sound that strange, sweet, pleasing was; +There rolled a crystal brook with gentle roar, +There sighed the winds as through the leaves they pass, +There did the nightingale her wrongs deplore, +There sung the swan, and singing died, alas! +There lute, harp, cittern, human voice he heard, +And all these sounds one sound right well declared. + +XIX +A dreadful thunder-clap at last he heard, +The aged trees and plants well-nigh that rent; +Yet heard the nymphs and sirens afterward, +Birds, winds, and waters, sing with sweet consent: +Whereat amazed he stayed, and well prepared +For his defence, heedful and slow forth went: +Nor in his way his passage aught withstood, +Except a quiet, still, transparent flood. + +XX +On the green banks which that fair stream inbound, +Flowers and odors sweetly smiled and smelled, +Which reaching out his stretched arms around, +All the large desert in his bosom held, +And through the grove one channel passage found; +That in the wood; in that, the forest dwelled: +Trees clad the streams; streams green those trees aye made +And so exchanged their moisture and their shade. + +XXI +The knight some way sought out the flood to pass, +And as he sought, a wondrous bridge appeared, +A bridge of gold, a huge and weighty mass, +On arches great of that rich metal reared; +When through that golden way he entered was, +Down fell the bridge, swelled the stream, and weared +The work away, nor sign left where it stood, +And of a river calm became a flood. + +XXII +He turned, amazed to see it troubled so, +Like sudden brooks increased with molten snow, +The billows fierce that tossed to and fro, +The whirlpools sucked down to their bosoms low; +But on he went to search for wonders mo, +Through the thick trees there high and broad which grow, +And in that forest huge and desert wide, +The more he sought, more wonders still he spied. + +XXIII +Whereso he stepped, it seemed the joyful ground +Renewed the verdure of her flowery weed, +A fountain here, a wellspring there he found; +Here bud the roses, there the lilies spread +The aged wood o’er and about him round +Flourished with blossoms new, new leaves, new seed, +And on the boughs and branches of those treen, +The bark was softened, and renewed the green. + +XXIV +The manna on each leaf did pearled lie, +The honey stilled from the tender rind; +Again he heard that wondrous harmony, +Of songs and sweet complaints of lovers kind, +The human voices sung a triple high, +To which respond the birds, the streams, the wind, +But yet unseen those nymphs, those singers were, +Unseen the lutes, harps, viols which they bear. + +XXV +He looked, he listened, yet his thoughts denied +To think that true which he both heard and see, +A myrtle in an ample plain he spied, +And thither by a beaten path went he: +The myrtle spread her mighty branches wide, +Higher than pine or palm or cypress tree: +And far above all other plants was seen +That forest’s lady and that desert’s queen. + +XXVI +Upon the trees his eyes Rinaldo bent, +And there a marvel great and strange began; +An aged oak beside him cleft and rent, +And from his fertile hollow womb forth ran, +Clad in rare weeds and strange habiliment, +A nymph, for age able to go to man, +An hundred plants beside, even in his sight, +Childed an hundred nymphs, so great, so dight. + +XXVII +Such as on stages play, such as we see +The Dryads painted whom wild Satyrs love, +Whose arms half-naked, locks untrussed be, +With buskins laced on their legs above, +And silken robes tucked short above their knee; +Such seemed the sylvan daughters of this grove, +Save that instead of shafts and boughs of tree, +She bore a lute, a harp, or cittern she. + +XXVIII +And wantonly they cast them in a ring, +And sung and danced to move his weaker sense, +Rinaldo round about environing, +As centres are with their circumference; +The tree they compassed eke, and gan to sing, +That woods and streams admired their excellence; +“Welcome, dear lord, welcome to this sweet grove, +Welcome our lady’s hope, welcome her love. + +XXIX +“Thou com’st to cure our princess, faint and sick +For love, for love of thee, faint, sick, distressed; +Late black, late dreadful was this forest thick, +Fit dwelling for sad folk with grief oppressed, +See with thy coming how the branches quick +Revived are, and in new blosoms dressed:” +This was their song, and after, from it went +First a sweet sound, and then the myrtle rent. + +XXX +If antique times admired Silenus old +That oft appeared set on his lazy ass, +How would they wonder if they had behold +Such sights as from the myrtle high did pass? +Thence came a lady fair with locks of gold, +That like in shape, in face and beauty was +To sweet Armide; Rinaldo thinks he spies +Her gestures, smiles, and glances of her eyes. + +XXXI +On him a sad and smiling look she cast, +Which twenty passions strange at once bewrays: +“And art thou come,” quoth she, “returned at last +To her from whom but late thou ran’st thy ways? +Com’st thou to comfort me for sorrows past? +To ease my widow nights and careful days? +Or comest thou to work me grief and harm? +Why nilt thou speak?—why not thy face disarm? + +XXXII +“Com’st thou a friend or foe? I did not frame +That golden bridge to entertain my foe, +Nor opened flowers and fountains as you came, +To welcome him with joy that brings me woe: +Put off thy helm, rejoice me with the flame +Of thy bright eyes, whence first my fires did grow. +Kiss me, embrace me, if you further venture, +Love keeps the gate, the fort is eath to enter.” + +XXXIII +Thus as she woos she rolls her rueful eyes +With piteous look, and changeth oft her cheer, +An hundred sighs from her false heart upflies, +She sobs, she mourns, it is great ruth to hear; +The hardest breast sweet pity mollifies, +What stony heart resists a woman’s tear? +But yet the knight, wise, wary, not unkind, +Drew forth his sword and from her careless twined. + +XXXIV +Toward the tree he marched, she thither start, +Before him stepped, embraced the plant and cried, +“Ah, never do me such a spiteful part, +To cut my tree, this forest’s joy and pride, +Put up thy sword, else pierce therewith the heart +Of thy forsaken and despised Armide; +For through this breast, and through this heart unkind +To this fair tree thy sword shall passage find.” + +XXXV +He lift his brand, nor cared though oft she prayed, +And she her form to other shape did change; +Such monsters huge when men in dreams are laid +Oft in their idle fancies roam and range: +Her body swelled, her face obscure was made, +Vanished her garments, her face and vestures strange, +A giantess before him high she stands, +Like Briareus armed with an hundred hands. + +XXXVI +With fifty swords, and fifty targets bright, +She threatened death, she roared, cried and fought, +Each other nymph in armor likewise dight, +A Cyclops great became: he feared them naught, +But on the myrtle smote with all his might, +That groaned like living souls to death nigh brought, +The sky seemed Pluto’s court, the air seemed hell, +Therein such monsters roar, such spirits yell. + +XXXVII +Lightened the heavens above, the earth below +Roared loud, that thundered, and this shook; +Blustered the tempests strong, the whirlwinds blow, +The bitter storm drove hailstones in his look; +But yet his arm grew neither weak nor slow, +Nor of that fury heed or care he took, +Till low to earth the wounded tree down bended; +Then fled the spirits all, the charms all ended. + +XXXVIII +The heavens grew clear, the air waxed calm and still, +The wood returned to his wonted state, +Of withcrafts free, quite void of spirits ill; +Of horror full, but horror there innate; +He further proved if aught withstood his will +To cut those trees as did the charms of late, +And finding naught to stop him, smiled, and said, +“O shadows vain! O fools, of shades afraid!” + +XXXIX +From thence home to the campward turned the knight, +The hermit cried, upstarting from his seat, +“Now of the wood the charms have lost their might, +The sprites are conquered, ended is the feat, +See where he comes!” In glistering white all dight +Appeared the man, bold, stately, high and great, +His eagle’s silver wings to shine begun +With wondrous splendor gainst the golden sun. + +XL +The camp received him with a joyful cry, +A cry the dales and hills about that flied; +Then Godfrey welcomed him with honors high, +His glory quenched all spite, all envy killed: +“To yonder dreadful grove,” quoth he, “went I, +And from the fearful wood, as me you willed, +Have driven the sprites away, thither let be +Your people sent, the way is safe and free.” + +XLI +Sent were the workmen thither, thence they brought +Timber enough, by good advice select, +And though by skilless builders framed and wrought +Their engines rude and rams were late elect, +Yet now the forts and towers from whence they fought +Were framed by a cunning architect, +William, of all the Genoese lord and guide, +Which late ruled all the seas from side to side; + +XLII +But forced to retire from him at last, +The Pagan fleet the seas moist empire won, +His men with all their stuff and store in haste +Home to the camp with their commander run, +In skill, in wit, in cunning him surpassed +Yet never engineer beneath the sun, +Of carpenters an hundred large he brought, +That what their lord devised made and wrought. + +XLIII +This man began with wondrous art to make, +Not rams, not mighty brakes, not slings alone, +Wherewith the firm and solid walls to shake, +To cast a dart, or throw a shaft or stone; +But framed of pines and firs, did undertake +To build a fortress huge, to which was none +Yet ever like, whereof he clothed the sides +Against the balls of fire with raw bull’s hides. + +XLIV +In mortices and sockets framed just, +The beams, the studs and puncheons joined he fast; +To beat the city’s wall, beneath forth brust +A ram with horned front, about her waist +A bridge the engine from her side out thrust, +Which on the wall when need she cast; +And from her top a turret small up stood, +Strong, surely armed, and builded of like wood. + +XLV +Set on an hundred wheels the rolling mass, +On the smooth lands went nimbly up and down, +Though full of arms and armed men it was, +Yet with small pains it ran, as it had flown: +Wondered the camp so quick to see it pass, +They praised the workmen and their skill unknown, +And on that day two towers they builded more, +Like that which sweet Clorinda burned before. + +XLVI +Yet wholly were not from the Saracines +Their works concealed and their labors hid, +Upon that wall which next the camp confines +They placed spies, who marked all they did: +They saw the ashes wild and squared pines, +How to the tents, trailed from the grove, they slid: +And engines huge they saw, yet could not tell +How they were built, their forms they saw not well. + +XLVII +Their engines eke they reared, and with great art +Repaired each bulwark, turret, port and tower, +And fortified the plain and easy part, +To bide the storm of every warlike stoure, +Till as they thought no sleight or force of Mart +To undermine or scale the same had power; +And false Ismeno gan new balls prepare +Of wicked fire, wild, wondrous, strange and rare. + +XLVIII +He mingled brimstone with bitumen fell +Fetched from that lake where Sodom erst did sink, +And from that flood which nine times compassed hell +Some of the liquor hot he brought, I think, +Wherewith the quenchless fire he tempered well, +To make it smoke and flame and deadly stink: +And for his wood cut down, the aged sire +Would thus revengement take with flame and fire. + +XLIX +While thus the camp, and thus the town were bent, +These to assault, these to defend the wall, +A speedy dove through the clear welkin went, +Straight o’er the tents, seen by the soldiers all; +With nimble fans the yielding air she rent, +Nor seemed it that she would alight or fall, +Till she arrived near that besieged town, +Then from the clouds at last she stooped down: + +L +But lo, from whence I nolt, a falcon came, +Armed with crooked bill and talons long, +And twixt the camp and city crossed her game, +That durst nor bide her foe’s encounter strong; +But right upon the royal tent down came, +And there, the lords and princes great among, +When the sharp hawk nigh touched her tender head +In Godfrey’s lap she fell, with fear half dead: + +LI +The duke received her, saved her, and spied, +As he beheld the bird, a wondrous thing, +About her neck a letter close was tied, +By a small thread, and thrust under her wing, +He loosed forth the writ and spread it wide, +And read the intent thereof, “To Judah’s king,” +Thus said the schedule, “honors high increase, +The Egyptian chieftain wisheth health and peace: + +LII +“Fear not, renowned prince, resist, endure +Till the third day, or till the fourth at most, +I come, and your deliverance will procure, +And kill your coward foes and all their host.” +This secret in that brief was closed up sure, +Writ in strange language, to the winged post +Given to transport; for in their warlike need +The east such message used, oft with good speed. + +LIII +The duke let go the captive dove at large, +And she that had his counsel close betrayed, +Traitress to her great Lord, touched not the marge +Of Salem’s town, but fled far thence afraid. +The duke before all those which had or charge +Or office high, the letter read, and said: +“See how the goodness of the Lord foreshows +The secret purpose of our crafty foes. + +LIV +“No longer then let us protract the time, +But scale the bulwark of this fortress high, +Through sweat and labor gainst those rocks sublime +Let us ascend, which to the southward lie; +Hard will it be that way in arms to climb, +But yet the place and passage both know I, +And that high wall by site strong on that part, +Is least defenced by arms, by work and art. + +LV +“Thou, Raymond, on this side with all thy might +Assault the wall, and by those crags ascend, +My squadrons with mine engines huge shall fight +And gainst the northern gate my puissance bend, +That so our foes, beguiled with the sight, +Our greatest force and power shall there attend, +While my great tower from thence shall nimbly slide, +And batter down some worse defended side; + +LVI +“Camillo, thou not far from me shalt rear +Another tower, close to the walls ybrought.” +This spoken, Raymond old, that sate him near, +And while he talked great things tossed in his thought, +Said, “To Godfredo’s counsel, given us here, +Naught can be added, from it taken naught: +Yet this I further wish, that some were sent +To spy their camp, their secret and intent, + +LVII +“That may their number and their squadrons brave +Describe, and through their tents disguised mask.” +Quoth Tancred, “Lo, a subtle squire I have, +A person fit to undertake this task, +A man quick, ready, bold, sly to deceive, +To answer, wise, and well advised to ask; +Well languaged, and that with time and place, +Can change his look, his voice, his gait, his grace.” + +LVIII +Sent for, he came, and when his lord him told +What Godfrey’s pleasure was and what his own, +He smiled and said forthwith he gladly would. +“I go,” quoth he, “careless what chance be thrown, +And where encamped be these Pagans bold, +Will walk in every tent a spy unknown, +Their camp even at noon-day I enter shall, +And number all their horse and footmen all; + +LIX +“How great, how strong, how armed this army is, +And what their guide intends, I will declare, +To me the secrets of that heart of his +And hidden thoughts shall open lie and bare.” +Thus Vafrine spoke, nor longer stayed on this, +But for a mantle changed the coat he ware, +Naked was his neck, and bout his forehead bold, +Of linen white full twenty yards he rolled. + +LX +His weapons were a Syrian bow and quiver, +His gestures barbarous, like the Turkish train, +Wondered all they that heard his tongue deliver +Of every land the language true and plain: +In Tyre a born Phoenician, by the river +Of Nile a knight bred in the Egyptian main, +Both people would have thought him; forth he rides +On a swift steed, o’er hills and dales that glides. + +LXI +But ere the third day came the French forth sent +Their pioneers to even the rougher ways, +And ready made each warlike instrument, +Nor aught their labor interrupts or stays; +The nights in busy toll they likewise spent +And with long evenings lengthened forth short days, +Till naught was left the hosts that hinder might +To use their utmost power and strength in fight. + +LXII +That day, which of the assault the day forerun, +The godly duke in prayer spent well-nigh, +And all the rest, because they had misdone, +The sacrament receive and mercy cry; +Then oft the duke his engines great begun +To show where least he would their strength apply; +His foes rejoiced, deluded in that sort, +To see them bent against their surest port: + +LXIII +But after, aided by the friendly night, +His greatest engine to that side he brought +Where plainest seemed the wall, where with their might +The flankers least could hurt them as they fought; +And to the southern mountain’s greatest height +To raise his turret old Raymondo sought; +And thou Camillo on that part hadst thine, +Where from the north the walls did westward twine. + +LXIV +But when amid the eastern heaven appeared +The rising morning bright as shining glass, +The troubled Pagans saw, and seeing feared, +How the great tower stood not where late it was, +And here and there tofore unseen was reared +Of timber strong a huge and fearful mass, +And numberless with beams, with ropes and strings, +They view the iron rams, the barks and slings. + +LXV +The Syrian people now were no whit slow, +Their best defences to that side to bear, +Where Godfrey did his greatest engine show, +From thence where late in vain they placed were: +But he who at his back right well did know +The host of Egypt to be proaching near, +To him called Guelpho, and the Roberts twain, +And said, “On horseback look you still remain, + +LXVI +“And have regard, while all our people strive +To scale this wall, where weak it seems and thin, +Lest unawares some sudden host arrive, +And at our backs unlooked-for war begin.” +This said, three fierce assaults at once they give, +The hardy soldiers all would die or win, +And on three parts resistance makes the king, +And rage gainst strength, despair gainst hope doth bring. + +LXVII +Himself upon his limbs with feeble eild +That shook, unwieldy with their proper weight, +His armor laid and long unused shield, +And marched gainst Raymond to the mountain’s height; +Great Solyman gainst Godfrey took the field; +Fornenst Camillo stood Argantes straight +Where Tancred strong he found, so fortune will +That this good prince his wonted foe shall kill. + +LXVIII +The archers shot their arrows sharp and keen, +Dipped in the bitter juice of poison strong, +The shady face of heaven was scantly seen, +Hid with the clouds of shafts and quarries long; +Yet weapons sharp with greater fury been +Cast from the towers the Pagan troops among, +For thence flew stones and clifts of marble rocks, +Trees shod with iron, timber, logs and blocks. + +LXIX +A thunderbolt seemed every stone, it brake +His limbs and armors on whom so it light, +That life and soul it did not only take +But all his shape and face disfigured quite; +The lances stayed not in the wounds they make, +But through the gored body took their flight, +From side to side, through flesh, through skin and rind +They flew, and flying, left sad death behind. + +LXX +But yet not all this force and fury drove +The Pagan people to forsake the wall, +But to revenge these deadly blows they strove, +With darts that fly, with stones and trees that fall; +For need so cowards oft courageous prove, +For liberty they fight, for life and all, +And oft with arrows, shafts, and stones that fly, +Give bitter answer to a sharp reply. + +LXXI +This while the fierce assailants never cease, +But sternly still maintain a threefold charge, +And gainst the clouds of shafts draw nigh at ease, +Under a pentise made of many a targe, +The armed towers close to the bulwarks press, +And strive to grapple with the battled marge, +And launch their bridges out, meanwhile below +With iron fronts the rams the walls down throw. + +LXXII +Yet still Rinaldo unresolved went, +And far unworthy him this service thought, +If mongst the common sort his pains he spent; +Renown so got the prince esteemed naught: +His angry looks on every side he bent, +And where most harm, most danger was, he fought, +And where the wall high, strong and surest was, +That part would he assault, and that way pass. + +LXXIII +And turning to the worthies him behind, +All hardy knights, whom Dudon late did guide, +“Oh shame,” quoth he, “this wall no war doth find, +When battered is elsewhere each part, each side; +All pain is safety to a valiant mind, +Each way is eath to him that dares abide, +Come let us scale this wall, though strong and high, +And with your shields keep off the darts that fly.” + +LXXIV +With him united all while thus he spake, +Their targets hard above their heads they threw, +Which joined in one an iron pentise make +That from the dreadful storm preserved the crew. +Defended thus their speedy course they take, +And to the wall without resistance drew, +For that strong penticle protected well +The knights, from all that flew and all that fell. + +LXXV +Against the fort Rinaldo gan uprear +A ladder huge, an hundred steps of height, +And in his arm the same did easily bear +And move as winds do reeds or rushes light, +Sometimes a tree, a rock, a dart or spear, +Fell from above, yet forward clomb the knight, +And upward fearless pierced, careless still, +Though Mount Olympus fell, or Ossa hill: + +LXXVI +A mount of ruins, and of shafts a wood +Upon his shoulders and his shield he bore, +One hand the ladder held whereon he stood, +The other bare his targe his face before; +His hardy troop, by his example good +Provoked, with him the place assaulted sore, +And ladders long against the wall they clap, +Unlike in courage yet, unlike in hap: + +LXXVII +One died, another fell; he forward went, +And these he comforts, and he threateneth those, +Now with his hand outstretched the battlement +Well-nigh he reached, when all his armed foes +Ran thither, and their force and fury bent +To throw him headlong down, yet up he goes, +A wondrous thing, one knight whole armed bands +Alone, and hanging in the air, withstands: + +LXXVIII +Withstands, and forceth his great strength so far, +That like a palm whereon huge weight doth rest, +His forces so resisted stronger are, +His virtues higher rise the more oppressed, +Till all that would his entrance bold debar, +He backward drove, upleaped and possessed +The wall, and safe and easy with his blade, +To all that after came, the passage made. + +LXXIX +There killing such as durst and did withstand, +To noble Eustace that was like to fall +He reached forth his friendly conquering hand, +And next himself helped him to mount the wall. +This while Godfredo and his people land +Their lives to greater harms and dangers thrall, +For there not man with man, nor knight with knight +Contend, but engines there with engines fight. + +LXXX +For in that place the Paynims reared a post, +Which late had served some gallant ship for mast, +And over it another beam they crossed, +Pointed with iron sharp, to it made fast +With ropes which as men would the dormant tossed, +Now out, now in, now back, now forward cast. +In his swift pulleys oft the men withdrew +The tree, and oft the riding-balk forth threw: + +LXXXI +The mighty beam redoubted oft his blows, +And with such force the engine smote and hit, +That her broad side the tower wide open throws, +Her joints were broke, her rafters cleft and split; +But yet gainst every hap whence mischief grows, +Prepared the piece, gainst such extremes made fit, +Launch forth two scythes, sharp, cutting, long and broad +And cut the ropes whereon the engine rode: + +LXXXII +As an old rock, which age or stormy wind +Tears from some craggy hill or mountain steep, +Doth break, doth bruise, and into dust doth grind +Woods, houses, hamlets, herds, and folds of sheep, +So fell the beam, and down with it all kind +Of arms, of weapons, and of men did sweep, +Wherewith the towers once or twice did shake, +Trembled the walls, the hills and mountains quake. + +LXXXIII +Victorious Godfrey boldly forward came, +And had great hope even then the place to win; +But lo, a fire, with stench, with smoke and flame +Withstood his passage, stopped his entrance in: +Such burning Aetna yet could never frame, +When from her entrails hot her fires begin, +Nor yet in summer on the Indian plain, +Such vapors warm from scorching air down rain. + +LXXXIV +There balls of wildfire, there fly burning spears, +This flame was black, that blue, this red as blood; +Stench well-nigh choked them, noise deafs their ears, +Smoke blinds their eyes, fire kindleth on the wood; +Nor those raw hides which for defence it wears +Could save the tower, in such distress it stood; +For now they wrinkle, now it sweats and fries, +Now burns, unless some help come down from skies. + +LXXXV +The hardy duke before his folk abides, +Nor changed he color, countenance or place, +But comforts those that from the scaldered hides +With water strove the approaching flames to chase: +In these extremes the prince and those he guides +Half roasted stood before fierce Vulcan’s face, +When lo, a sudden and unlooked-for blast +The flames against the kindlers backward cast: + +LXXXVI +The winds drove back the fire, where heaped lie +The Pagans’ weapons, where their engines were, +Which kindling quickly in that substance dry, +Burnt all their store and all their warlike gear: +O glorious captain! whom the Lord from high +Defends, whom God preserves, and holds so dear; +For thee heaven fights, to thee the winds, from far, +Called with thy trumpet’s blast, obedient are! + +LXXXVII +But wicked Ismen to his harm that saw +How the fierce blast drove back the fire and flame, +By art would nature change, and thence withdraw +Those noisome winds, else calm and still the same; +’Twixt two false wizards without fear or awe +Upon the walls in open sight he came, +Black, grisly, loathsome, grim and ugly faced, +Like Pluto old, betwixt two furies placed; + +LXXXVIII +And now the wretch those dreadful words begun, +Which trouble make deep hell and all her flock, +Now trembled is the air, the golden sun +His fearful beams in clouds did close and lock, +When from the tower, which Ismen could not shun, +Out fled a mighty stone, late half a rock, +Which light so just upon the wizards three, +That driven to dust their bones and bodies be. + +LXXXIX +To less than naught their members old were torn, +And shivered were their heads to pieces small, +As small as are the bruised grains of corn +When from the mill dissolved to meal they fall; +Their damned souls, to deepest hell down borne +Far from the joy and light celestial, +The furies plunged in the infernal lake: +O mankind, at their ends ensample take! + +XC +This while the engine which the tempest cold +Had saved from burning with his friendly blast, +Approached had so near the battered hold +That on the walls her bridge at ease she cast: +But Solyman ran thither fierce and bold, +To cut the plank whereon the Christians passed. +And had performed his will, save that upreared +High in the skies a turret new appeared; + +XCI +Far in the air up clomb the fortress tall, +Higher than house, than steeple, church or tower; +The Pagans trembled to behold the wall +And city subject to her shot and power; +Yet kept the Turk his stand, though on him fall +Of stones and darts a sharp and deadly shower, +And still to cut the bridge he hopes and strives, +And those that fear with cheerful speech revives. + +XCII +The angel Michael, to all the rest +Unseen, appeared before Godfredo’s eyes, +In pure and heavenly armor richly dressed, +Brighter than Titan’s rays in clearest skies; +“Godfrey,” quoth he, “this is the moment blest +To free this town that long in bondage lies, +See, see what legions in thine aid I bring, +For Heaven assists thee, and Heaven’s glorious King: + +XCIII +“Lift up thine eyes, and in the air behold +The sacred armies, how they mustered be, +That cloud of flesh in which for times of old +All mankind wrapped is, I take from thee, +And from thy senses their thick mist unfold, +That face to face thou mayest these spirits see, +And for a little space right well sustain +Their glorious light and view those angels plain. + +XCIV +“Behold the souls of every lord and knight +That late bore arms and died for Christ’s dear sake, +How on thy side against this town they fight, +And of thy joy and conquest will partake: +There where the dust and smoke blind all men’s sight, +Where stones and ruins such an heap do make, +There Hugo fights, in thickest cloud imbarred, +And undermines that bulwark’s groundwork hard. + +XCV +“See Dudon yonder, who with sword and fire +Assails and helps to scale the northern port, +That with bold courage doth thy folk inspire +And rears their ladders gainst the assaulted fort: +He that high on the mount in grave attire +Is clad, and crowned stands in kingly sort, +Is Bishop Ademare, a blessed spirit, +Blest for his faith, crowned for his death and merit. + +XCVI +“But higher lift thy happy eyes, and view +Where all the sacred hosts of Heaven appear.” +He looked, and saw where winged armies flew, +Innumerable, pure, divine and clear; +A battle round of squadrons three they show +And all by threes those squadrons ranged were, +Which spreading wide in rings still wider go, +Moved with a stone calm water circleth so. + +XCVII +With that he winked, and vanished was and gone; +That wondrous vision when he looked again, +His worthies fighting viewed he one by one, +And on each side saw signs of conquest plain, +For with Rinaldo gainst his yielding lone, +His knights were entered and the Pagans slain, +This seen, the duke no longer stay could brook, +But from the bearer bold his ensign took: + +XCVIII +And on the bridge he stepped, but there was stayed +By Solyman, who entrance all denied, +That narrow tree to virtue great was made, +The field as in few blows right soon was tried, +“Here will I give my life for Sion’s aid, +Here will I end my days,” the Soldan cried, +“Behind me cut or break this bridge, that I +May kill a thousand Christians first, then die.” + +XCIX +But thither fierce Rinaldo threatening went, +And at his sight fled all the Soldan’s train, +“What shall I do? If here my life be spent, +I spend and spill,” quoth he, “my blood in vain!” +With that his steps from Godfrey back he bent, +And to him let the passage free remain, +Who threatening followed as the Soldan fled, +And on the walls the purple Cross dispread: + +C +About his head he tossed, he turned, he cast, +That glorious ensign, with a thousand twines, +Thereon the wind breathes with his sweetest blast, +Thereon with golden rays glad Phoebus shines, +Earth laughs for joy, the streams forbear their haste, +Floods clap their hands, on mountains dance the pines, +And Sion’s towers and sacred temples smile +For their deliverance from that bondage vile. + +CI +And now the armies reared the happy cry +Of victory, glad, joyful, loud, and shrill. +The hills resound, the echo showereth high, +And Tancred bold, that fights and combats still +With proud Argantes, brought his tower so nigh, +That on the wall, against the boaster’s will, +In his despite, his bridge he also laid, +And won the place, and there the cross displayed. + +CII +But on the southern hill, where Raymond fought +Against the townsmen and their aged king, +His hardy Gascoigns gained small or naught; +Their engine to the walls they could not bring, +For thither all his strength the prince had brought, +For life and safety sternly combating, +And for the wall was feeblest on that coast, +There were his soldiers best, and engines most. + +CIII +Besides, the tower upon that quarter found +Unsure, uneasy, and uneven the way, +Nor art could help, but that the rougher ground +The rolling mass did often stop and stay; +But now of victory the joyful sound +The king and Raymond heard amid their fray; +And by the shout they and their soldiers know, +The town was entered on the plain below. + +CIV +Which heard, Raymondo thus bespake this crew, +“The town is won, my friends, and doth it yet +Resist? are we kept out still by these few? +Shall we no share in this high conquest get?” +But from that part the king at last withdrew, +He strove in vain their entrance there to let, +And to a stronger place his folk he brought, +Where to sustain the assault awhile he thought. + +CV +The conquerors at once now entered all, +The walls were won, the gates were opened wide, +Now bruised, broken down, destroyed fall +The ports and towers that battery durst abide; +Rageth the sword, death murdereth great and small, +And proud ’twixt woe and horror sad doth ride. +Here runs the blood, in ponds there stands the gore, +And drowns the knights in whom it lived before. + + + + +NINETEENTH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +Tancred in single combat kills his foe, +Argantes strong: the king and Soldan fly +To David’s tower, and save their persons so; +Erminia well instructs Vafrine the spy, +With him she rides away, and as they go +Finds where her lord for dead on earth doth lie; +First she laments, then cures him: Godfrey hears +Ormondo’s treason, and what marks he bears. + +I +Now death or fear or care to save their lives +From their forsaken walls the Pagans chase: +Yet neither force nor fear nor wisdom drives +The constant knight Argantes from his place; +Alone against ten thousand foes he strives, +Yet dreadless, doubtless, careless seemed his face, +Nor death, nor danger, but disgrace he fears, +And still unconquered, though o’erset, appears. + +II +But mongst the rest upon his helmet gay +With his broad sword Tancredi came and smote: +The Pagan knew the prince by his array, +By his strong blows, his armor and his coat; +For once they fought, and when night stayed that fray, +New time they chose to end their combat hot, +But Tancred failed, wherefore the Pagan knight +Cried, “Tancred, com’st thou thus, thus late to fight? + +III +“Too late thou com’st, and not alone to war, +But yet the fight I neither shun nor fear, +Although from knighthood true thou errest far, +Since like an engineer thou dost appear, +That tower, that troop, thy shield and safety are, +Strange kind of arms in single fight to bear; +Yet shalt thou not escape, O conqueror strong +Of ladies fair, sharp death, to avenge that wrong.” + +IV +Lord Tancred smiled, with disdain and scorn, +And answerd thus, “To end our strife,” quoth he, +“Behold at last I come, and my return, +Though late, perchance will be too soon for thee; +For thou shalt wish, of hope and help forlorn, +Some sea or mountain placed twixt thee and me, +And well shalt know before we end this fray +No fear of cowardice hath caused my stay. + +V +“But come aside, thou by whose prowess dies +The monsters, knights and giants in all lands, +The killer of weak women thee defies.” +This said, he turned to his fighting bands, +And bids them all retire. “Forbear,” he cries, +“To strike this knight, on him let none lay hands; +For mine he is, more than a common foe, +By challenge new and promise old also.” + +VI +“Descend,” the fierce Circassian gan reply, +“Alone, or all this troop for succor take +To deserts waste, or place frequented high, +For vantage none I will the fight forsake:” +Thus given and taken was the bold defy, +And through the press, agreed so, they brake, +Their hatred made them one, and as they went, +Each knight his foe did for despite defend: + +VII +Great was his thirst of praise, great the desire +That Tancred had the Pagan’s blood to spill, +Nor could that quench his wrath or calm his ire +If other hand his foe should foil or kill. +He saved him with his shield, and cried “Retire!” +To all he met, “and do this knight none ill:” +And thus defending gainst his friends his foe, +Through thousand angry weapons safe they go. + +VII +They left the city, and they left behind +Godfredo’s camp, and far beyond it passed, +And came where into creeks and bosoms blind +A winding hill his corners turned and cast, +A valley small and shady dale they find +Amid the mountains steep so laid and placed +As if some theatre or closed place +Had been for men to fight or beasts to chase. + +IX +There stayed the champions both with rueful eyes, +Argantes gan the fortress won to view; +Tancred his foe withouten shield espies, +And said, “Whereon doth thy sad heart devise? +Think’st thou this hour must end thy life untrue? +If this thou fear, and dost foresee thy fate, +Thy fear is vain, thy foresight comes too late.” + +X +“I think,” quoth he, “on this distressed town, +The aged Queen of Judah’s ancient land, +Now lost, now sacked, spoiled and trodden down, +Whose fall in vain I strived to withstand, +A small revenge for Sion’s fort o’erthrown, +That head can be, cut off by my strong hand.” +This said, together with great heed they flew, +For each his foe for bold and hardy knew. + +XI +Tancred of body active was and light, +Quick, nimble, ready both of hand and foot; +But higher by the head, the Pagan knight +Of limbs far greater was, of heart as stout: +Tancred laid low and traversed in his fight, +Now to his ward retired, now struck out, +Oft with his sword his foe’s fierce blows he broke, +And rather chose to ward-than bear his stroke. + +XII +But bold and bolt upright Argantes fought, +Unlike in gesture, like in skill and art, +His sword outstretched before him far he brought, +Nor would his weapon touch, but pierce his heart, +To catch his point Prince Tancred strove and sought, +But at his breast or helm’s unclosed part +He threatened death, and would with stretched-out brand +His entrance close, and fierce assaults withstand. + +XIII +With a tall ship so doth a galley fight, +When the still winds stir not the unstable main; +Where this in nimbleness as that in might +Excels; that stands, this goes and comes again, +And shifts from prow to poop with turnings light; +Meanwhile the other doth unmoved remain, +And on her nimble foe approaching nigh, +Her weighty engines tumbleth down from high. + +XIV +The Christian sought to enter on his foe, +Voiding his point, which at his breast was bent; +Argantes at his face a thrust did throw, +Which while the Prince awards and doth prevent, +His ready hand the Pagan turned so, +That all defence his quickness far o’erwent, +And pierced his side, which done, he said and smiled, +“The craftsman is in his own craft beguiled.” + +XV +Tancredi bit his lip for scorn and shame, +Nor longer stood on points of fence and skill, +But to revenge so fierce and fast he came +As if his hand could not o’ertake his will, +And at his visor aiming just, gan frame +To his proud boast an answer sharp, but still +Argantes broke the thrust; and at half-sword, +Swift, hardy, bold, in stepped the Christian lord. + +XVI +With his left foot fast forward gan he stride, +And with his left the Pagan’s right arm bent, +With his right hand meanwhile the man’s right side +He cut, he wounded, mangled, tore and rent. +“To his victorious teacher,” Tancred cried, +“His conquered scholar hath this answer sent;” +Argantes chafed, struggled, turned and twined, +Yet could not so his captive arm unbind: + +XVII +His sword at last he let hang by the chain, +And griped his hardy foe in both his hands, +In his strong arms Tancred caught him again, +And thus each other held and wrapped in bands. +With greater might Alcides did not strain +The giant Antheus on the Lybian sands, +On holdfast knots their brawny arms they cast, +And whom he hateth most, each held embraced: + +XVIII +Such was their wrestling, such their shocks and throws +That down at once they tumbled both to ground, +Argantes,—were it hap or skill, who knows, +His better hand loose and in freedom found; +But the good Prince, his hand more fit for blows, +With his huge weight the Pagan underbound; +But he, his disadvantage great that knew, +Let go his hold, and on his feet up flew: + +XIX +Far slower rose the unwieldy Saracine, +And caught a rap ere he was reared upright. +But as against the blustering winds a pine +Now bends his top, now lifts his head on height, +His courage so, when it ’gan most decline, +The man reinforced, and advanced his might, +And with fierce change of blows renewed the fray, +Where rage for skill, horror for art, bore sway. + +XX +The purple drops from Tancred’s sides down railed, +But from the Pagan ran whole streams of blood, +Wherewith his force grew weak, his courage quailed +As fires die which fuel want or food. +Tancred that saw his feeble arm now failed +To strike his blows, that scant he stirred or stood, +Assuaged his anger, and his wrath allayed, +And stepping back, thus gently spoke and said: + +XXI +“Yield, hardy knight, and chance of war or me +Confess to have subdued thee in this fight, +I will no trophy, triumph, spoil of thee, +Nor glory wish, nor seek a victor’s right +More terrible than erst;” herewith grew he +And all awaked his fury, rage and might, +And said, “Dar’st thou of vantage speak or think, +Or move Argantes once to yield or shrink? + +XXII +“Use, use thy vantage, thee and fortune both +I scorn, and punish will thy foolish pride:” +As a hot brand flames most ere it forth go’th, +And dying blazeth bright on every side; +So he, when blood was lost, with anger wroth, +Revived his courage when his puissance died, +And would his latest hour which now drew nigh, +Illustrate with his end, and nobly die. + +XXIII +He joined his left hand to her sister strong, +And with them both let fall his weighty blade. +Tancred to ward his blow his sword up slung, +But that it smote aside, nor there it stayed, +But from his shoulder to his side along +It glanced, and many wounds at once it made: +Yet Tancred feared naught, for in his heart +Found coward dread no place, fear had no part. + +XXIV +His fearful blow he doubled, but he spent +His force in waste, and all his strength in vain; +For Tancred from the blow against him bent, +Leaped aside, the stroke fell on the plain. +With thine own weight o’erthrown to earth thou went, +Argantes stout, nor could’st thyself sustain, +Thyself thou threwest down, O happy man, +Upon whose fall none boast or triumph can! + +XXV +His gaping wounds the fall set open wide, +The streams of blood about him made a lake, +Helped with his left hand, on one knee he tried +To rear himself, and new defence to make: +The courteous prince stepped back, and “Yield thee!” cried, +No hurt he proffered him, no blow he strake. +Meanwhile by stealth the Pagan false him gave +A sudden wound, threatening with speeches brave: + +XXVI +Herewith Tancredi furious grew, and said, +“Villain, dost thou my mercy so despise?” +Therewith he thrust and thrust again his blade, +And through his ventil pierced his dazzled eyes, +Argantes died, yet no complaint he made, +But as he furious lived he careless dies; +Bold, proud, disdainful, fierce and void of fear +His motions last, last looks, last speeches were. + +XXVII +Tancred put up his sword, and praises glad +Gave to his God that saved him in this fight; +But yet this bloody conquest feebled had +So much the conqueror’s force, strength and might, +That through the way he feared which homeward led +He had not strength enough to walk upright; +Yet as he could his steps from thence he bent, +And foot by foot a heavy pace forth-went; + +XXVIII +His legs could bear him but a little stound, +And more he hastes, more tired, less was his speed, +On his right hand, at last, laid on the ground +He leaned, his hand weak like a shaking reed, +Dazzled his eyes, the world on wheels ran round, +Day wrapped her brightness up in sable weed; +At length he swooned, and the victor knight +Naught differed from his conquered foe in fight. + +XXIX +But while these lords their private fight pursue, +Made fierce and cruel through their secret hate, +The victor’s ire destroyed the faithless crew +From street to street, and chased from gate to gate. +But of the sacked town the image true +Who can describe, or paint the woful state, +Or with fit words this spectacle express +Who can? or tell the city’s great distress? + +XXX +Blood, murder, death, each street, house, church defiled, +There heaps of slain appear, there mountains high; +There underneath the unburied hills up-piled +Of bodies dead, the living buried lie; +There the sad mother with her tender child +Doth tear her tresses loose, complain and fly, +And there the spoiler by her amber hair +Draws to his lust the virgin chaste and fair. + +XXXI +But through the way that to the west-hill yood +Whereon the old and stately temple stands, +All soiled with gore and wet with lukewarm blood +Rinaldo ran, and chased the Pagan bands; +Above their heads he heaved his curtlax good, +Life in his grace, and death lay in his hands, +Nor helm nor target strong his blows off bears, +Best armed there seemed he no arms that wears; + +XXXII +For gainst his armed foes he only bends +His force, and scorns the naked folk to wound; +Them whom no courage arms, no arms defends, +He chased with his looks and dreadful sound: +Oh, who can tell how far his force extends? +How these he scorns, threats those, lays them on ground? +How with unequal harm, with equal fear +Fled all, all that well armed or naked were: + +XXXIII +Fast fled the people weak, and with the same +A squadron strong is to the temple gone +Which, burned and builded oft, still keeps the name +Of the first founder, wise King Solomon; +That prince this stately house did whilom frame +Of cedar trees, of gold and marble stone; +Now not so rich, yet strong and sure it was, +With turrets high, thick walls, and doors of brass. + +XXXIV +The knight arrived where in warklike sort +The men that ample church had fortified. +And closed found each wicket, gate and port, +And on the top defences ready spied, +He left his frowning looks, and twice that fort +From his high top down to the groundwork eyed, +And entrance sought, and twice with his swift foot +The mighty place he measured about. + +XXXV +Like as a wolf about the closed fold +Rangeth by night his hoped prey to get, +Enraged with hunger and with malice old +Which kind ’twixt him and harmless sheep hath set: +So searched he high and low about that hold, +Where he might enter without stop or let, +In the great court he stayed, his foes above +Attend the assault, and would their fortune prove. + +XXXVI +There lay by chance a posted tree thereby, +Kept for some needful use, whate’er it were, +The armed galleys not so thick nor high +Their tall and lofty masts at Genes uprear; +This beam the knight against the gates made fly +From his strong hands all weights which lift and bear, +Like a light lance that tree he shook and tossed, +And bruised the gate, the threshold and the post. + +XXXVII +No marble stone, no metal strong outbore +The wondrous might of that redoubled blow, +The brazen hinges from the wall it tore, +It broke the locks, and laid the doors down low, +No iron ram, no engine could do more, +Nor cannons great that thunderbolts forth throw, +His people like a flowing stream inthrong, +And after them entered the victor strong; + +XXXVIII +The woful slaughter black and loathsome made +That house, sometime the sacred house of God, +O heavenly justice, if thou be delayed, +On wretched sinners sharper falls thy rod! +In them this place profaned which invade +Thou kindled ire, and mercy all forbode, +Until with their hearts’ blood the Pagans vile +This temple washed which they did late defile. + +XXXIX +But Solyman this while himself fast sped +Up to the fort which David’s tower is named, +And with him all the soldiers left he led, +And gainst each entrance new defences framed: +The tyrant Aladine eke thither fled, +To whom the Soldan thus, far off, exclaimed, +Thyself, within this fortress safe uplock: + +XL +“For well this fortress shall thee and thy crown +Defend, awhile here may we safe remain.” +“Alas!” quoth he, “alas, for this fair town, +Which cruel war beats down even with the plain, +My life is done, mine empire trodden down, +I reigned, I lived, but now nor live nor reign; +For now, alas! behold the fatal hour +That ends our life, and ends our kingly power.” + +XLI +“Where is your virtue, where your wisdom grave, +And courage stout?” the angry Soldan said, +“Let chance our kingdoms take which erst she gave, +Yet in our hearts our kingly worth is laid; +But come, and in this fort your person save, +Refresh your weary limbs and strength decayed:” +Thus counselled he, and did to safety bring +Within that fort the weak and aged king. + +XLII +His iron mace in both his hands he hent, +And on his thigh his trusty sword he tied, +And to the entrance fierce and fearless went, +And kept the strait, and all the French defied: +The blows were mortal which he gave or lent, +For whom he hit he slew, else by his side +Laid low on earth, that all fled from the place +Where they beheld that great and dreadful mace. + +XLIII +But old Raymondo with his hardy crew +By chance came thither, to his great mishap; +To that defended path the old man flew, +And scorned his blows and him that kept the gap, +He struck his foe, his blow no blood forth drew, +But on the front with that he caught a rap, +Which in a swoon, low in the dust him laid, +Wide open, trembling, with his arms displayed. + +XLIV +The Pagans gathered heart at last, though fear +Their courage weak had put to flight but late, +So that the conquerors repulsed were, +And beaten back, else slain before the Gate: +The Soldan, mongst the dead beside him near +That saw Lord Raymond lie in such estate, +Cried to his men, “Within these bars,” quoth he, +“Come draw this knight, and let him captive be.” + +XLV +Forward they rushed to execute his word, +But hard and dangerous that emprise they found, +For none of Raymond’s men forsook their lord, +But to their guide’s defence they flocked round, +Thence fury fights, hence pity draws the sword, +Nor strive they for vile cause or on light ground, +The life and freedom of that champion brave, +Those spoil, these would preserve, those kill, these save. + +XLVI +But yet at last if they had longer fought +The hardy Soldan would have won the field; +For gainst his thundering mace availed naught +Or helm of temper fine or sevenfold shield: +But from each side great succor now was brought +To his weak foes, now fit to faint and yield, +And both at once to aid and help the same +The sovereign Duke and young Rinaldo came. + +XLVII +As when a shepherd, raging round about +That sees a storm with wind, hail, thunder, rain, +When gloomy clouds have day’s bright eye put out, +His tender flocks drives from the open plain +To some thick grove or mountain’s shady foot, +Where Heaven’s fierce wrath they may unhurt sustain, +And with his hook, his whistle and his cries +Drives forth his fleecy charge, and with them flies: + +XLVIII +So fled the Soldan, when he gan descry +This tempest come from angry war forthcast, +The armor clashed and lightened gainst the sky, +And from each side swords, weapons, fire outbrast: +He sent his folk up to the fortress high, +To shun the furious storm, himself stayed last, +Yet to the danger he gave place at length, +For wit, his courage; wisdom ruled his strength. + +XLIX +But scant the knight was safe the gate within, +Scant closed were the doors, when having broke +The bars, Rinaldo doth assault begin +Against the port, and on the wicket stroke +His matchless might, his great desire to win, +His oath and promise, doth his wrath provoke, +For he had sworn, nor should his word be vain, +To kill the man that had Prince Sweno slain. + +L +And now his armed hand that castle great +Would have assaulted, and had shortly won, +Nor safe pardie the Soldan there a seat +Had found his fatal foes’ sharp wrath to shun, +Had not Godfredo sounded the retreat; +For now dark shades to shroud the earth begun, +Within the town the duke would lodge that night, +And with the morn renew the assault and fight. + +LI +With cheerful look thus to his folk he said, +“High God hath holpen well his children dear, +This work is done, the rest this night delayed +Doth little labor bring, less doubt, no fear, +This tower, our foe’s weak hope and latest aid, +We conquer will, when sun shall next appear: +Meanwhile with love and tender ruth go see +And comfort those which hurt and wounded be; + +LII +“Go cure their wounds which boldly ventured +Their lives, and spilt their bloods to get this hold, +That fitteth more this host for Christ forth led, +Than thirst of vengeance, or desire of gold; +Too much, ah, too much blood this day is shed! +In some we too much haste to spoil behold, +But I command no more you spoil and kill, +And let a trumpet publish forth my will.” + +LIII +This said, he went where Raymond panting lay, +Waked from the swoon wherein he late had been. +Nor Solyman with countenance less gay +Bespake his troops, and kept his grief unseen; +“My friends, you are unconquered this day, +In spite of fortune still our hope is green, +For underneath great shows of harm and fear, +Our dangers small, our losses little were: + +LIV +“Burnt are your houses, and your people slain, +Yet safe your town is, though your walls be gone, +For in yourselves and in your sovereign +Consists your city, not in lime and stone; +Your king is safe, and safe is all his train +In this strong fort defended from their fone, +And on this empty conquest let them boast, +Till with this town again, their lives be lost; + +LV +“And on their heads the loss at last will light, +For with good fortune proud and insolent, +In spoil and murder spend they day and night, +In riot, drinking, lust and ravishment, +And may amid their preys with little fight +At ease be overthrown, killed, slain and spent, +If in this carelessness the Egyptian host +Upon them fall, which now draws near this coast. + +LVI +“Meanwhile the highest buildings of this town +We may shake down with stones about their ears, +And with our darts and spears from engines thrown, +Command that hill Christ’s sepulchre that bears:” +Thus comforts he their hopes and hearts cast down, +Awakes their valors, and exiles their fears. +But while the things hapt thus, Vafrino goes +Unknown, amid ten thousand armed foes. + +LVII +The sun nigh set had brought to end the day, +When Vafrine went the Pagan host to spy, +He passed unknown a close and secret way; +A traveller, false, cunning, crafty, sly, +Past Ascalon he saw the morning gray +Step o’er the threshold of the eastern sky, +And ere bright Titan half his course had run, +That camp, that mighty host to show begun. + +LVIII +Tents infinite, and standards broad he spies, +This red, that white, that blue, this purple was, +And hears strange tongues, and stranger harmonies +Of trumpets, clarions, and well-sounding brass: +The elephant there brays, the camel cries. +The horses neigh as to and fro they pass: +Which seen and heard, he said within his thought, +Hither all Asia is, all Afric, brought. + +LIX +He viewed the camp awhile, her site and seat, +What ditch, what trench it had, what rampire strong, +Nor close, nor secret ways to work his feat +He longer sought, nor hid him from the throng; +But entered through the gates, broad, royal, great, +And oft he asked, and answered oft among, +In questions wise, in answers short and sly; +Bold was his look, eyes quick, front lifted high: + +LX +On every side he pried here and there, +And marked each way, each passage and each tent: +The knights he notes, their steeds, and arms they bear, +Their names, their armor, and their government; +And greater secrets hopes to learn, and hear, +Their hidden purpose, and their close intent: +So long he walked and wandered, till he spied +The way to approach the great pavilions’ side: + +LXI +There as he looked he saw the canvas rent, +Through which the voice found eath and open way +From the close lodgings of the regal tent +And inmost closet where the captain lay; +So that if Emireno spake, forth went +The sound to them that listen what they say, +There Vafrine watched, and those that saw him thought +To mend the breach that there he stood and wrought. + +LXII +The captain great within bare-headed stood, +His body armed and clad in purple weed, +Two pages bore his shield and helmet good, +He leaning on a bending lance gave heed +To a big man whose looks were fierce and proud, +With whom he parleyed of some haughty deed, +Godfredo’s name as Vafrine watched he heard, +Which made him give more heed, take more regard: + +LXIII +Thus spake the chieftain to that surly sir, +“Art thou so sure that Godfrey shall be slain?” +“I am,” quoth he, “and swear ne’er to retire, +Except he first be killed, to court again. +I will prevent those that with me conspire: +Nor other guerdon ask I for my pain +But that I may hang up his harness brave +At Gair, and under them these words engrave: + +LXIV +“‘These arms Ormondo took in noble fight +From Godfrey proud, that spoiled all Asia’s lands, +And with them took his life, and here on high, +In memory thereof, this trophy stands.’” +The duke replied, “Ne’er shall that deed, bold knight, +Pass unrewarded at our sovereign’s hands, +What thou demandest shall he gladly grant, +Nor gold nor guerdon shalt thou wish or want. + +LXV +“Those counterfeited armors then prepare, +Because the day of fight approacheth fast.” +“They ready are,” quoth he; then both forbare +From further talk, these speeches were the last. +Vafrine, these great things heard, with grief and care +Remained astound, and in his thoughts oft cast +What treason false this was, how feigned were +Those arms, but yet that doubt he could not clear. + +LXVI +From thence he parted, and broad waking lay +All that long night, nor slumbered once nor slept: +But when the camp by peep of springing day +Their banner spread, and knights on horseback leapt, +With them he marched forth in meet array, +And where they pitched lodged, and with them kept, +And then from tent to tent he stalked about, +To hear and see, and learn this secret out; + +LXVII +Searching about, on a rich throne he fand +Armida set with dames and knights around, +Sullen she sat, and sighed, it seemed she scanned +Some weighty matters in her thoughts profounds, +Her rosy cheek leaned on her lily hand, +Her eyes, love’s twinkling stars, she bent to ground, +Weep she, or no, he knows not, yet appears +Her humid eyes even great with child with tears. + +LXVIII +He saw before her set Adrastus grim, +That seemed scant to live, move, or respire, +So was he fixed on his mistress trim, +So gazed he, and fed his fond desire; +But Tisiphern beheld now her now him, +And quaked sometime for love, sometime for ire, +And in his cheeks the color went and came, +For there wrath’s fire now burnt, now shone love’s flame. + +LXIX +Then from the garland fair of virgins bright, +Mongst whom he lay enclosed, rose Altamore, +His hot desire he hid and kept from sight, +His looks were ruled by Cupid’s crafty lore, +His left eye viewed her hand, her face, his right +Both watched her beauties hid and secret store, +And entrance found where her thin veil bewrayed +The milken-way between her breasts that laid. + +LXX +Her eyes Armida lift from earth at last, +And cleared again her front and visage sad, +Midst clouds of woe her looks which overcast +She lightened forth a smile, sweet, pleasant, glad; +“My lord,” quoth she, “your oath and promise passed, +Hath freed my heart of all the griefs it had, +That now in hope of sweet revenge it lives, +Such joy, such ease, desired vengeance gives.” + +LXXI +“Cheer up thy looks,” answered the Indian king, +“And for sweet beauty’s sake, appease thy woe, +Cast at your feet ere you expect the thing, +I will present the head of thy strong foe; +Else shall this hand his person captive bring +And cast in prison deep;” he boasted so. +His rival heard him well, yet answered naught, +But bit his lips, and grieved in secret thought. + +LXXII +To Tisipherne the damsel turning right, +“And what say you, my noble lord?” quoth she. +He taunting said, “I that am slow to fight +Will follow far behind, the worth to see +Of this your terrible and puissant knight,” +In scornful words this bitter scoff gave he. +“Good reason,” quoth the king, “thou come behind, +Nor e’er compare thee with the Prince of Ind.” + +LXXIII +Lord Tisiphernes shook his head, and said, +“Oh, had my power free like my courage been, +Or had I liberty to use this blade, +Who slow, who weakest is, soon should be seen, +Nor thou, nor thy great vaunts make me afraid, +But cruel love I fear, and this fair queen.” +This said, to challenge him the king forth leapt, +But up their mistress start, and twixt them stepped: + +LXXIV +“Will you thus rob me of that gift,” quoth she, +“Which each hath vowed to give by word and oath? +You are my champions, let that title be +The bond of love and peace between you both; +He that displeased is, is displeased with me, +For which of you is grieved, and I not wroth?” +Thus warned she them, their hearts, for ire nigh broke, +In forced peace and rest thus bore love’s yoke. + +LXXV +All this heard Vafrine as he stood beside, +And having learned the truth, he left the tent, +That treason was against the Christian’s guide +Contrived, he wist, yet wist not how it went, +By words and questions far off, he tried +To find the truth; more difficult, more bent +Was he to know it, and resolved to die, +Or of that secret close the intent to spy. + +LXXVI +Of sly intelligence he proved all ways, +All crafts, all wiles, that in his thoughts abide, +Yet all in vain the man by wit assays, +To know that false compact and practice hid: +But chance, what wisdom could not tell, bewrays, +Fortune of all his doubt the knots undid, +So that prepared for Godfrey’s last mishap +At ease he found the net, and spied the trap. + +LXXVII +Thither he turned again where seated was, +The angry lover, ’twixt her friends and lords, +For in that troop much talk he thought would pass, +Each great assembly store of news affords, +He sided there a lusty lovely lass, +And with some courtly terms the wench he boards, +He feigns acquaintance, and as bold appears +As he had known that virgin twenty years. + +LXXVIII +He said, “Would some sweet lady grace me so, +To chose me for her champion, friend and knight, +Proud Godfrey’s or Rinaldo’s head, I trow, +Should feel the sharpness of my curtlax bright; +Ask me the head, fair mistress, of some foe, +For to your beauty wooed is my might;” +So he began, and meant in speeches wise +Further to wade, but thus he broke the ice. + +LXXIX +Therewith he smiled, and smiling gan to frame +His looks so to their old and native grace, +That towards him another virgin came, +Heard him, beheld him, and with bashful face +Said, “For thy mistress choose no other dame +But me, on me thy love and service place, +I take thee for my champion, and apart +Would reason with thee, if my knight thou art.” + +LXXX +Withdrawn, she thus began, “Vafrine, pardie, +I know thee well, and me thou knowest of old,” +To his last trump this drove the subtle spy, +But smiling towards her he turned him bold, +“Ne’er that I wot I saw thee erst with eye, +Yet for thy worth all eyes should thee behold, +Thus much I know right well, for from the same +Which erst you gave me different is my name. + +LXXXI +“My mother bore me near Bisertus wall, +Her name was Lesbine, mine is Almansore!” +“I knew long since,” quoth she, “what men thee call, +And thine estate, dissemble it no more, +From me thy friend hide not thyself at all, +If I betray thee let me die therefore, +I am Erminia, daughter to a prince, +But Tancred’s slave, thy fellow-servant since; + +LXXXII +“Two happy months within that prison kind, +Under thy guard rejoiced I to dwell, +And thee a keeper meek and good did find, +The same, the same I am; behold me well.” +The squire her lovely beauty called to mind, +And marked her visage fair: “From thee expel +All fear,” she says, “for me live safe and sure, +I will thy safety, not thy harm procure. + +LXXXIII +“But yet I pray thee, when thou dost return, +To my dear prison lead me home again; +For in this hateful freedom even and morn +I sigh for sorrow, mourn and weep for pain: +But if to spy perchance thou here sojourn, +Great hap thou hast to know these secrets plain, +For I their treasons false, false trains can say, +Which few beside can tell, none will betray.” + +LXXXIV +On her he gazed, and silent stood this while, +Armida’s sleights he knew, and trains unjust, +Women have tongues of craft, and hearts of guile, +They will, they will not, fools that on them trust, +For in their speech is death, hell in their smile; +At last he said, “If hence depart you lust, +I will you guide; on this conclude we here, +And further speech till fitter time forbear.” + +LXXXV +Forthwith, ere thence the camp remove, to ride +They were resolved, their flight that season fits, +Vafrine departs, she to the dames beside +Returns, and there on thorns awhile she sits, +Of her new knight she talks, till time and tide +To scape unmarked she find, then forth she gets, +Thither where Vafrine her unseen abode, +There took she horse, and from the camp they rode. + +LXXXVI +And now in deserts waste and wild arrived, +Far from the camp, far from resort and sight, +Vafrine began, “Gainst Godfrey’s life contrived +The false compacts and trains unfold aright:” +Then she those treasons, from their spring derived, +Repeats, and brings their hid deceits to light, +“Eight knights,” she says, “all courtiers brave, there are, +But Ormond strong the rest surpasseth far: + +LXXXVII +“These, whether hate or hope of gain them move, +Conspired have, and framed their treason so, +That day when Emiren by fight shall prove +To win lost Asia from his Christian foe, +These, with the cross scored on their arms above, +And armed like Frenchmen will disguised go, +Like Godfrey’s guard that gold and white do wear, +Such shall their habit be, and such their gear: + +LXXXVIII +“Yet each will bear a token in his crest, +That so their friends for Pagans may them know: +But in close fight when all the soldiers best +Shall mingled be, to give the fatal blow +They will keep near, and pierce Godfredo’s breast, +While of his faithful guard they bear false show, +And all their swords are dipped in poison strong, +Because each wound shall bring sad death ere long. + +LXXXIX +“And for their chieftain wist I knew your guise, +What garments, ensigns, and what arms you carry, +Those feigned arms he forced me to devise, +So that from yours but small or naught they vary; +But these unjust commands my thoughts despise, +Within their camp therefore I list not tarry, +My heart abhors I should this hand defile +With spot of treason, or with act of guile. + +XC +“This is the cause, but not the cause alone:” +And there she ceased, and blushed, and on the main +Cast down her eyes, these last words scant outgone, +She would have stopped, nor durst pronounce them plain. +The squire what she concealed would know, as one +That from her breast her secret thoughts could strain, +“Of little faith,” quoth he, “why would’st thou hide +Those causes true, from me thy squire and guide?” + +XCI +With that she fetched a sigh, sad, sore and deep, +And from her lips her words slow trembling came, +“Fruitless,” she said, “untimely, hard to keep, +Vain modesty farewell, and farewell shame, +Why hope you restless love to bring on sleep? +Why strive you fires to quench, sweet Cupid’s flame? +No, no, such cares, and such respects beseem +Great ladies, wandering maids them naught esteem. + +XCII +“That night fatal to me and Antioch town, +Then made a prey to her commanding foe, +My loss was greater than was seen or known, +There ended not, but thence began my woe: +Light was the loss of friends, of realm or crown; +But with my state I lost myself also, +Ne’er to be found again, for then I lost +My wit, my sense, my heart, my soul almost. + +XCIII +“Through fire and sword, through blood and death, Vafrine, +Which all my friends did burn, did kill, did chase, +Thou know’st I ran to thy dear lord and mine, +When first he entered had my father’s place, +And kneeling with salt ears in my swollen eyne; +‘Great prince,’ quoth I, ‘grant mercy, pity, grace, +Save not my kingdom, not my life I said, +But save mine honor, let me die a maid.’ + +XCIV +“He lift me by the trembling hand from ground, +Nor stayed he till my humble speech was done; +But said, ‘A friend and keeper hast thou found, +Fair virgin, nor to me in vain you run:’ +A sweetness strange from that sweet voice’s sound +Pierced my heart, my breast’s weak fortress won, +Which creeping through my bosom soft became +A wound, a sickness, and a quenchless flame. + +XCV +“He visits me, with speeches kind and grave +He sought to ease my grief, and sorrows’ smart. +He said, ‘I give thee liberty, receive +All that is thine, and at thy will depart:’ +Alas, he robbed me when he thought he gave, +Free was Erminia, but captived her heart, +Mine was the body, his the soul and mind, +He gave the cage but kept the bird behind. + +XCVI +“But who can hide desire, or love suppress? +Oft of his worth with thee in talk I strove, +Thou, by my trembling fit that well could’st guess +What fever held me, saidst, ‘Thou art in love;’ +But I denied, for what can maids do less? +And yet my sighs thy sayings true did prove, +Instead of speech, my looks, my tears, mine eyes, +Told in what flame, what fire thy mistress fries. + +XCVII +“Unhappy silence, well I might have told +My woes, and for my harms have sought relief, +Since now my pains and plaints I utter bold, +Where none that hears can help or ease my grief. +From him I parted, and did close upfold +My wounds within my bosom, death was chief +Of all my hopes and helps, till love’s sweet flame +Plucked off the bridle of respect and shame, + +XCVIII +“And caused me ride to seek my lord and knight, +For he that made me sick could make me sound: +But on an ambush I mischanced to light +Of cruel men, in armour clothed round, +Hardly I scaped their hand by mature flight. +And fled to wilderness and desert ground, +And there I lived in groves and forests wild, +With gentle grooms and shepherds’ daughters mild. + +XCIX +“But when hot love which fear had late suppressed, +Revived again, there nould I longer sit, +But rode the way I came, nor e’er took rest, +Till on like danger, like mishap I hit, +A troop to forage and to spoil addressed, +Encountered me, nor could I fly from it: +Thus was I ta’en, and those that had me caught, +Egyptians were, and me to Gaza brought, + +C +“And for a present to their captain gave, +Whom I entreated and besought so well, +That he mine honor had great care to save, +And since with fair Armida let me dwell. +Thus taken oft, escaped oft I have, +Ah, see what haps I passed, what dangers fell, +So often captive, free so oft again, +Still my first bands I keep, still my first chain. + +CI +“And he that did this chain so surely bind +About my heart, which none can loose but he, +Let him not say, ‘Go, wandering damsel, find +Some other home, thou shalt not bide with me,’ +But let him welcome me with speeches kind, +And in my wonted prison set me free:” +Thus spake the princess, thus she and her guide +Talked day and night, and on their journey ride. + +CII +Through the highways Vafrino would not pass, +A path more secret, safe and short, he knew, +And now close by the city’s wall he was, +When sun was set, night in the east upflew, +With drops of blood besmeared he found the grass, +And saw where lay a warrior murdered new, +That all be-bled the ground, his face to skies +He turns, and seems to threat, though dead he lies: + +CIII +His harness and his habit both betrayed +He was a Pagan; forward went the squire, +And saw whereas another champion laid +Dead on the land, all soiled with blood and mire, +“This was some Christian knight,” Vafrino said: +And marking well his arms and rich attire, +He loosed his helm, and saw his visage plain, +And cried, “Alas, here lies Tancredi slain!” + +CIV +The woful virgin tarried, and gave heed +To the fierce looks of that proud Saracine, +Till that high cry, full of sad fear and dread, +Pierced through her heart with sorrow, grief and pine, +At Tancred’s name thither she ran with speed, +Like one half mad, or drunk with too much wine, +And when she saw his face, pale, bloodless, dead, +She lighted, nay, she stumbled from her steed: + +CV +Her springs of tears she looseth forth, and cries, +“Hither why bring’st thou me, ah, Fortune blind? +Where dead, for whom I lived, my comfort lies, +Where war for peace, travail for rest I find; +Tancred, I have thee, see thee, yet thine eyes +Looked not upon thy love and handmaid kind, +Undo their doors, their lids fast closed sever, +Alas, I find thee for to lose thee ever. + +CVI +“I never thought that to mine eyes, my dear, +Thou couldst have grievous or unpleasant been; +But now would blind or rather dead I were, +That thy sad plight might be unknown, unseen! +Alas! where is thy mirth and smiling cheer? +Where are thine eyes’ clear beams and sparkles sheen? +Of thy fair cheek where is the purple red, +And forehead’s whiteness? are all gone, all dead? + +CVII +“Though gone, though dead, I love thee still, behold; +Death wounds, but kills not love; yet if thou live, +Sweet soul, still in his breast, my follies bold +Ah, pardon love’s desires, and stealths forgive; +Grant me from his pale mouth some kisses cold, +Since death doth love of just reward deprive; +And of thy spoils sad death afford me this, +Let me his mouth, pale, cold and bloodless, kiss; + +CVIII +“O gentle mouth! with speeches kind and sweet +Thou didst relieve my grief, my woe and pain, +Ere my weak soul from this frail body fleet, +Ah, comfort me with one dear kiss or twain! +Perchance if we alive had happed to meet, +They had been given which now are stolen, O vain, +O feeble life, betwixt his lips out fly, +Oh, let me kiss thee first, then let me die! + +CIX +“Receive my yielding spirit, and with thine +Guide it to heaven, where all true love hath place:” +This said, she sighed, and tore her tresses fine, +And from her eyes two streams poured on his face, +The man revived, with those showers divine +Awaked, and opened his lips a space; +His lips were open; but fast shut his eyes, +And with her sighs, one sigh from him upflies. + +CX +The dame perceived that Tancred breathed and sighed, +Which calmed her grief somedeal and eased her fears: +“Unclose thine eyes,” she says, “my lord and knight, +See my last services, my plaints and tears, +See her that dies to see thy woful plight, +That of thy pain her part and portion bears; +Once look on me, small is the gift I crave, +The last which thou canst give, or I can have.” + +CXI +Tancred looked up, and closed his eyes again, +Heavy and dim, and she renewed her woe. +Quoth Vafrine, “Cure him first, and then complain, +Medicine is life’s chief friend; plaint her most foe:” +They plucked his armor off, and she each vein, +Each joint, and sinew felt, and handled so, +And searched so well each thrust, each cut and wound, +That hope of life her love and skill soon found. + +CXII +From weariness and loss of blood she spied +His greatest pains and anguish most proceed, +Naught but her veil amid those deserts wide +She had to bind his wounds, in so great need, +But love could other bands, though strange, provide, +And pity wept for joy to see that deed, +For with her amber locks cut off, each wound +She tied: O happy man, so cured so bound! + +CXIII +For why her veil was short and thin, those deep +And cruel hurts to fasten, roll and blind, +Nor salve nor simple had she, yet to keep +Her knight on live, strong charms of wondrous kind +She said, and from him drove that deadly sleep, +That now his eyes he lifted, turned and twined, +And saw his squire, and saw that courteous dame +In habit strange, and wondered whence she came. + +CXIV +He said, “O Vafrine, tell me, whence com’st thou? +And who this gentle surgeon is, disclose;” +She smiled, she sighed, she looked she wist not how, +She wept, rejoiced, she blushed as red as rose. +“You shall know all,” she says, “your surgeon now +Commands you silence, rest and soft repose, +You shall be sound, prepare my guerdon meet,” +His head then laid she in her bosom sweet. + +CXV +Vafrine devised this while how he might bear +His master home, ere night obscured the land, +When lo, a troop of soldiers did appear, +Whom he descried to be Tancredi’s band, +With him when he and Argant met they were; +But when they went to combat hand for hand, +He bade them stay behind, and they obeyed, +But came to seek him now, so long he stayed. + +CXVI +Besides them, many followed that enquest, +But these alone found out the rightest way, +Upon their friendly arms the men addressed +A seat whereon he sat, he leaned, he lay: +Quoth Tancred, “Shall the strong Circassian rest +In this broad field, for wolves and crows a prey? +Ah no, defraud not you that champion brave +Of his just praise, of his due tomb and grave: + +CXVII +“With his dead bones no longer war have I, +Boldly he died and nobly was he slain, +Then let us not that honor him deny +Which after death alonely doth remain:” +The Pagan dead they lifted up on high, +And after Tancred bore him through the plain. +Close by the virgin chaste did Vafrine ride, +As he that was her squire, her guard, her guide. + +CXVIII +“Not home,” quoth Tancred, “to my wonted tent, +But bear me to this royal town, I pray, +That if cut short by human accident +I die, there I may see my latest day, +The place where Christ upon his cross was rent +To heaven perchance may easier make the way, +And ere I yield to Death’s and Fortune’s rage, +Performed shall be my vow and pilgrimage.” + +CXIX +Thus to the city was Tancredi borne, +And fell on sleep, laid on a bed of down. +Vafrino where the damsel might sojourn +A chamber got, close, secret, near his own; +That done he came the mighty duke beforn, +And entrance found, for till his news were known, +Naught was concluded mongst those knights and lords, +Their counsel hung on his report and words. + +CXX +Where weak and weary wounded Raymond laid, +Godfrey was set upon his couch’s side, +And round about the man a ring was made +Of lords and knights that filled the chamber wide; +There while the squire his late discovery said, +To break his talk, none answered, none replied, +“My lord,” he said, “at your command I went +And viewed their camp, each cabin, booth and tent; + +CXXI +“But of that mighty host the number true +Expect not that I can or should descry, +All covered with their armies might you view +The fields, the plains, the dales and mountains high, +I saw what way soe’er they went and drew, +They spoiled the land, drunk floods and fountains dry, +For not whole Jordan could have given them drink, +Nor all the grain in Syria, bread, I think. + +CXXII +“But yet amongst them many bands are found +Both horse and foot, of little force and might, +That keep no order, know no trumpet’s sound, +That draw no sword, but far off shoot and fight, +But yet the Persian army doth abound +With many a footman strong and hardy knight, +So doth the King’s own troop which all is framed +Of soldiers old, the Immortal Squadron named. + +CXXIII +“Immortal called is that band of right, +For of that number never wanteth one, +But in his empty place some other knight +Steps in, when any man is dead or gone: +This army’s leader Emireno hight, +Like whom in wit and strength are few or none, +Who hath in charge in plain and pitched field, +To fight with you, to make you fly or yield. + +CXXIV +“And well I know their army and their host +Within a day or two will here arrive: +But thee Rinaldo it behoveth most +To keep thy noble head, for which they strive, +For all the chief in arms or courage boast +They will the same to Queen Armida give, +And for the same she gives herself in price, +Such hire will many hands to work entice. + +CXXV +“The chief of these that have thy murder sworn, +Is Altamore, the king of Samarcand! +Adrastus then, whose realm lies near the morn, +A hardy giant, bold, and strong of hand, +This king upon an elephant is borne, +For under him no horse can stir or stand; +The third is Tisipherne, as brave a lord +As ever put on helm or girt on sword.” + +CXXVI +This said, from young Rinaldo’s angry eyes, +Flew sparks of wrath, flames in his visage shined, +He longed to be amid those enemies, +Nor rest nor reason in his heart could find. +But to the Duke Vafrine his talk applies, +“The greatest news, my lord, are yet behind, +For all their thoughts, their crafts and counsels tend +By treason false to bring thy life to end.” + +CXXVII +Then all from point to point he gan expose +The false compact, how it was made and wrought, +The arms and ensigns feigned, poison close, +Ormondo’s vaunt, what praise, what thank he sought, +And what reward, and satisfied all those +That would demand, inquire, or ask of aught. +Silence was made awhile, when Godfrey thus,— +“Raymondo, say, what counsel givest thou us?” + +CXXVIII +“Not as we purposed late, next morn,” quoth he, +“Let us not scale, but round besiege this tower, +That those within may have no issue free +To sally out, and hurt us with their power, +Our camp well rested and refreshed see, +Provided well gainst this last storm and shower, +And then in pitched field, fight, if you will; +If not, delay and keep this fortress still. + +CXXIX +“But lest you be endangered, hurt, or slain, +Of all your cares take care yourself to save, +By you this camp doth live, doth win, doth reign, +Who else can rule or guide these squadrons brave? +And for the traitors shall be noted plain, +Command your guard to change the arms they have, +So shall their guile be known, in their own net +So shall they fall, caught in the snare they set.” + +CXXX +“As it hath ever,” thus the Duke begun, +“Thy counsel shows thy wisdom and thy love, +And what you left in doubt shall thus be done, +We will their force in pitched battle prove; +Closed in this wall and trench, the fight to shun, +Doth ill this camp beseem, and worse behove, +But we their strength and manhood will assay, +And try, in open field and open day. + +CXXXI +“The fame of our great conquests to sustain, +Or bide our looks and threats, they are not able, +And when this army is subdued and slain +Then is our empire settled, firm and stable, +The tower shall yield, or but resist in vain, +For fear her anchor is, despair her cable.” +Thus he concludes, and rolling down the west +Fast set the stars, and called them all to rest. + + + + +TWENTIETH BOOK + + +THE ARGUMENT. +The Pagan host arrives, and cruel fight +Makes with the Christians and their faithful power; +The Soldan longs in field to prove his might, +With the old king quits the besieged tower; +Yet both are slain, and in eternal night +A famous hand gives each his fatal hour; +Rinald appeased Armida; first the field +The Christians win, then praise to God they yield. + +I +The sun called up the world from idle sleep, +And of the day ten hours were gone and past +When the bold troop that had the tower to keep +Espied a sudden mist, that overcast +The earth with mirksome clouds and darkness deep, +And saw it was the Egyptian camp at last +Which raised the dust, for hills and valleys broad +That host did overspread and overload. + +II +Therewith a merry shout and joyful cry +The Pagans reared from their besieged hold; +The cranes from Thrace with such a rumor fly, +His hoary frost and snow when Hyems old +Pours down, and fast to warmer regions hie, +From the sharp winds, fierce storms and tempests cold; +And quick, and ready this new hope and aid, +Their hands to shoot, their tongues to threaten made. + +III +From whence their ire, their wrath and hardy threat +Proceeds, the French well knew, and plain espied, +For from the walls and ports the army great +They saw; her strength, her number, pomp, and pride, +Swelled their breasts with valor’s noble heat; +Battle and fight they wished, “Arm, arm!” they cried; +The youth to give the sign of fight all prayed +Their Duke, and were displeased because delayed + +IV +Till morning next, for he refused to fight; +Their haste and heat he bridled, but not brake, +Nor yet with sudden fray or skirmish light +Of these new foes would he vain trial make. +“After so many wars,” he says, “good right +It is, that one day’s rest at least you take,” +For thus in his vain foes he cherish would +The hope which in their strength they have and hold. + +V +To see Aurora’s gentle beam appear, +The soldiers armed, prest and ready lay, +The skies were never half so fair and clear +As in the breaking of that blessed day, +The merry morning smiled, and seemed to wear +Upon her silver crown sun’s golden ray, +And without cloud heaven his redoubled light +Bent down to see this field, this fray, this fight. + +VI +When first he saw the daybreak show and shine, +Godfrey his host in good array brought out, +And to besiege the tyrant Aladine +Raymond he left, and all the faithful rout +That from the towns was come of Palestine +To serve and succor their deliverer stout, +And with them left a hardy troop beside +Of Gascoigns strong, in arms well proved, oft tried. + +VII +Such was Godfredo’s countenance, such his cheer, +That from his eye sure conquest flames and streams, +Heaven’s gracious favors in his looks appear, +And great and goodly more than erst he seems; +His face and forehead full of noblesse were, +And on his cheek smiled youth’s purple beams, +And in his gait, his grace, his acts, his eyes, +Somewhat, far more than mortal, lives and lies. + +VIII +He had not marched far ere he espied +Of his proud foes the mighty host draw nigh; +A hill at first he took and fortified +At his left hand which stood his army by, +Broad in the front behind more strait uptied +His army ready stood the fight to try, +And to the middle ward well armed he brings +His footmen strong, his horsemen served for wings. + +IX +To the left wing, spread underneath the bent +Of the steep hill that saved their flank and side, +The Roberts twain, two leaders good, he sent; +His brother had the middle ward to guide; +To the right wing himself in person went +Down, where the plain was dangerous, broad and wide, +And where his foes with their great numbers would +Perchance environ round his squadrons bold. + +X +There all his Lorrainers and men of might, +All his best armed he placed, and chosen bands, +And with those horse some footmen armed light, +That archers were, used to that service, stands; +The adventurers then, in battle and in fight +Well tried, a squadron famous through all lands, +On the right hand he set, somedeal aside, +Rinaldo was their leader, lord and guide. + +XI +To whom the Duke, “In thee our hope is laid +Of victory, thou must the conquest gain, +Behind this mighty wing, so far displayed, +Thou with thy noble squadron close remain; +And when the Pagans would our backs invade, +Assail them then, and make their onset vain; +For if I guess aright, they have in mind +To compass us, and charge our troops behind.” + +XII +Then through his host, that took so large a scope, +He rode, and viewed them all, both horse and foot; +His face was bare, his helm unclosed and ope, +Lightened his eyes, his looks bright fire shot out; +He cheers the fearful, comforts them that hope, +And to the bold recounts his boasting stout, +And to the valiant his adventures hard, +These bids he look for praise, those for reward. + +XIII +At last he stayed where of his squadrons bold +And noblest troops assembled was best part; +There from a rising bank his will he told, +And all that heard his speech thereat took heart: +And as the molten snow from mountains cold +Runs down in streams with eloquence and art, +So from his lips his words and speeches fell, +Shrill, speedy, pleasant, sweet, and placed well. + +XIV +“My hardy host, you conquerors of the East, +You scourge wherewith Christ whips his heathen fone, +Of victory behold the latest feast, +See the last day for which you wished alone; +Not without cause the Saracens most and least +Our gracious Lord hath gathered here in one, +For all your foes and his assembled are, +That one day’s fight may end seven years of war. + +XV +“This fight shall bring us many victories, +The danger none, the labor will be small, +Let not the number of your enemies +Dismay your hearts, grant fear no place at all; +For strife and discord through their army flies, +Their bands ill ranked themselves entangle shall, +And few of them to strike or fight shall come, +For some want strength, some heart, some elbow-room. + +XVI +“This host, with whom you must encounter now, +Are men half naked, without strength or skill, +From idleness, or following the plough, +Late pressed forth to war against their will, +Their swords are blunt, shields thin, soon pierced through, +Their banners shake, their bearers shrink, for ill +Their leaders heard, obeyed, or followed be, +Their loss, their flight, their death I well foresee. + +XVII +“Their captain clad in purple, armed in gold, +That seems so fierce, so hardy, stout and strong, +The Moors or weak Arabians vanquish could, +Yet can he not resist your valors long. +What can he do, though wise, though sage, though bold, +In that confusion, trouble, thrust and throng? +Ill known he is, and worse he knows his host, +Strange lords ill feared are, ill obeyed of most. + +XVIII +“But I am captain of this chosen crew, +With whom I oft have conquered, triumphed oft, +Your lands and lineages long since I knew, +Each knight obeys my rule, mild, easy, soft, +I know each sword, each dart, each shaft I view, +Although the quarrel fly in skies aloft, +Whether the same of Ireland be, or France, +And from what bow it comes, what hand perchance. + +XIX +“I ask an easy and a usual thing, +As you have oft, this day, so win the field, +Let zeal and honor be your virtue’s sting, +Your lives, my fame, Christ’s faith defend and shield, +To earth these Pagans slain and wounded bring, +Tread on their necks, make them all die or yield,— +What need I more exhort you? from your eyes +I see how victory, how conquest flies.” + +XX +Upon the captain, when his speech was done, +It seemed a lamp and golden light down came, +As from night’s azure mantle oft doth run +Or fall, a sliding star, or shining flame; +But from the bosom of the burning sun +Proceeded this, and garland-wise the same +Godfredo’s noble head encompassed round, +And, as some thought, foreshowed he should be crowned. + +XXI +Perchance, if man’s proud thought or saucy tongue +Have leave to judge or guess at heavenly things, +This was the angel which had kept him long, +That now came down, and hid him with his wings. +While thus the Duke bespeaks his armies strong, +And every troop and band in order brings. +Lord Emiren his host disposed well, +And with bold words whet on their courage fell; + +XXII +The man brought forth his army great with speed, +In order good, his foes at hand he spied, +Like the new moon his host two horns did spreed, +In midst the foot, the horse were on each side, +The right wing kept he for himself to lead, +Great Altamore received the left to guide, +The middle ward led Muleasses proud, +And in that battle fair Armida stood. + +XXIII +On the right quarter stood the Indian grim, +With Tisipherne and all the king’s own band; +But where the left wing spread her squadrons trim +O’er the large plain, did Altamoro stand, +With African and Persian kings with him, +And two that came from Meroe’s hot sand, +And all his crossbows and his slings he placed, +Where room best served to shoot, to throw, to cast. + +XXIV +Thus Emiren his host put in array, +And rode from band to band, from rank to rank, +His truchmen now, and now himself, doth say, +What spoil his folk shall gain, what praise, what thank. +To him that feared, “Look up, ours is the day,” +He says, “Vile fear to bold hearts never sank, +How dareth one against an hundred fight? +Our cry, our shade, will put them all to flight.” + +XXV +But to the bold, “Go, hardy knight,” he says, +“His prey out of this lion’s paws go tear:” +To some before his thoughts the shape he lays, +And makes therein the image true appear, +How his sad country him entreats and prays, +His house, his loving wife, and children dear: +“Suppose,” quoth he, “thy country doth beseech +And pray thee thus, suppose this is her speech. + +XXVI +“Defend my laws, uphold my temples brave, +My blood from washing of my streets withhold, +From ravishing my virgins keep, and save +Thine ancestors’ dead bones and ashes cold! +To thee thy fathers dear and parents grave +Show their uncovered heads, white, hoary, old, +To thee thy wife—her breasts with tears o’erspread— +Thy sons, their cradles, shows, thy marriage bed.” + +XXVII +To all the rest, “You for her honor’s sake +Whom Asia makes her champions, by your might +Upon these thieves, weak, feeble, few, must take +A sharp revenge, yet just, deserved and right.” +Thus many words in several tongues he spake, +And all his sundry nations to sharp fight +Encouraged, but now the dukes had done +Their speeches all, the hosts together run. + +XXVIII +It was a great, a strange and wondrous sight, +When front to front those noble armies met, +How every troop, how in each troop each knight +Stood prest to move, to fight, and praise to get, +Loose in the wind waved their ensigns light, +Trembled the plumes that on their crests were set; +Their arms, impresses, colors, gold and stone, +Against the sunbeams smiled, flamed, sparkled, shone. + +XXIX +Of dry topped oaks they seemed two forests thick, +So did each host with spears and pikes abound, +Bent were their bows, in rests their lances stick, +Their hands shook swords, their slings held cobbles round: +Each steed to run was ready, prest and quick, +At his commander’s spur, his hand, his sound, +He chafes, he stamps, careers, and turns about, +He foams, snorts, neighs, and fire and smoke breathes out. + +XXX +Horror itself in that fair sight seemed fair, +And pleasure flew amid sad dread and fear; +The trumpets shrill, that thundered in the air, +Were music mild and sweet to every ear: +The faithful camp, though less, yet seemed more rare +In that strange noise, more warlike, shrill and clear, +In notes more sweet, the Pagan trumpets jar, +These sung, their armors shined, these glistered far. + +XXXI +The Christian trumpets give the deadly call, +The Pagans answer, and the fight accept; +The godly Frenchmen on their knees down fall +To pray, and kissed the earth, and then up leapt +To fight, the land between was vanished all, +In combat close each host to other stepped; +For now the wings had skirmish hot begun, +And with their battles forth the footmen run. + +XXXII +But who was first of all the Christian train, +That gave the onset first, first won renown? +Gildippes thou wert she, for by thee slain +The King of Orms, Hircano, tumbled down, +The man’s breastbone thou clov’st and rent in twain, +So Heaven with honor would thee bless and crown, +Pierced through he fell, and falling hard withal +His foe praised for her strength and for his fall. + +XXXIII +Her lance thus broke, the hardy dame forth drew +With her strong hand a fine and trenchant blade, +And gainst the Persians fierce and bold she flew, +And in their troop wide streets and lanes she made, +Even in the girdling-stead divided new +In pieces twain, Zopire on earth she laid; +And then Alarco’s head she swept off clean, +Which like a football tumbled on the green. + +XXXIV +A blow felled Artaxerxes, with a thrust +Was Argeus slain, the first lay in a trance, +Ismael’s left hand cut off fell in the dust, +For on his wrist her sword fell down by chance: +The hand let go the bridle where it lust, +The blow upon the courser’s ears did glance, +Who felt the reins at large, and with the stroke +Half mad, the ranks disordered, troubled, broke. + +XXXV +All these, and many mo, by time forgot, +She slew and wounded, when against her came +The angry Persians all, cast on a knot, +For on her person would they purchase fame: +But her dear spouse and husband wanted not +In so great need, to aid the noble dame; +Thus joined, the haps of war unhurt they prove, +Their strength was double, double was their love. + +XXXVI +The noble lovers use well might you see, +A wondrous guise, till then unseen, unheard, +To save themselves forgot both he and she, +Each other’s life did keep, defend, and guard; +The strokes that gainst her lord discharged be, +The dame had care to bear, to break, to ward, +His shield kept off the blows bent on his dear, +Which, if need be, his naked head should bear. + +XXXVII +So each saved other, each for other’s wrong +Would vengeance take, but not revenge their own: +The valiant Soldan Artabano strong +Of Boecan Isle, by her was overthrown, +And by his hand, the bodies dead among, +Alvante, that durst his mistress wound, fell down, +And she between the eyes hit Arimont, +Who hurt her lord, and cleft in twain his front. + +XXXVIII +But Altamore who had that wing to lead +Far greater slaughter on the Christians made; +For where he turned his sword, or twined his steed, +He slew, or man and beast on earth down laid, +Happy was he that was at first struck dead, +That fell not down on live, for whom his blade +Had speared, the same cast in the dusty street +His horse tore with his teeth, bruised with his feet. + +XXXIX +By this brave Persian’s valor, killed and slain +Were strong Brunello and Ardonia great; +The first his head and helm had cleft in twain, +The last in stranger-wise he did intreat, +For through his heart he pierced, and through the vein +Where laughter hath his fountain and his seat, +So that, a dreadful thing, believed uneath, +He laughed for pain, and laughed himself to death. + +XL +Nor these alone with that accursed knife, +Of this sweet light and breath deprived lie; +But with that cruel weapon lost their life +Gentonio, Guascar, Rosimond, and Guy; +Who knows how many in that fatal strife +He slew? what knights his courser fierce made die? +The names and countries of the people slain +Who tells? their wounds and deaths who can explain? + +XLI +With this fierce king encounter durst not one. +Not one durst combat him in equal field, +Gildippes undertook that task alone; +No doubt could make her shrink, no danger yield, +By Thermodont was never Amazone, +Who managed steeled axe, or carried shield, +That seemed so bold as she, so strong, so light, +When forth she run to meet that dreadful knight. + +XLII +She hit him, where with gold and rich anmail, +His diadem did on his helmet flame, +She broke and cleft the crown, and caused him veil +His proud and lofty top, his crest down came, +Strong seemed her arm that could so well assail: +The Pagan shook for spite and blushed for shame, +Forward he rushed, and would at once requite +Shame with disgrace, and with revenge despite. + +XLIII +Right on the front he gave that lady kind +A blow so huge, so strong, so great, so sore, +That out of sense and feeling, down she twined: +But her dear knight his love from ground upbore, +Were it their fortune, or his noble mind, +He stayed his hand and strook the dame no more: +A lion so stalks by, and with proud eyes +Beholds, but scorns to hurt a man that lies. + +XLIV +This while Ormondo false, whose cruel hand +Was armed and prest to give the trait’rous blow, +With all his fellows mongst Godfredo’s band +Entered unseen, disguised that few them know: +The thievish wolves, when night o’ershades the land, +That seem like faithful dogs in shape and show, +So to the closed folds in secret creep, +And entrance seek; to kill some harmless sheep. + +XLV +He proached nigh, and to Godfredo’s side +The bloody Pagan now was placed near: +But when his colors gold and white he spied, +And saw the other signs that forged were, +“See, see, this traitor false!” the captain cried, +“That like a Frenchman would in show appear, +Behold how near his mates and he are crept!” +This said, upon the villain forth he leapt; + +LXVI +Deadly he wounded him, and that false knight +Nor strikes nor wards nor striveth to be gone; +But, as Medusa’s head were in his sight, +Stood like a man new turned to marble stone, +All lances broke, unsheathed all weapons bright, +All quivers emptied were on them alone, +In parts so many were the traitors cleft, +That those dead men had no dead bodies left. + +LXVII +When Godfrey was with Pagan blood bespread, +He entered then the fight and that was past +Where the bold Persian fought and combated, +Where the close ranks he opened, cleft and brast; +Before the knight the troops and squadrons fled, +As Afric dust before the southern blast; +The Duke recalled them, in array them placed, +Stayed those that fled, and him assailed that chased. + +LXVIII +The champions strong there fought a battle stout, +Troy never saw the like by Xanthus old: +A conflict sharp there was meanwhile on foot +Twixt Baldwin good and Muleasses bold: +The horsemen also near the mountains root, +And in both wings, a furious skirmish hold, +And where the barbarous duke in person stood, +Twixt Tisiphernes and Adrastus proud; + +XLIX +With Emiren Robert the Norman strove, +Long time they fought, yet neither lost nor won; +The other Robert’s helm the Indian clove, +And broke his arms, their fight would soon be done: +From place to place did Tisiphernes rove, +And found no match, against him none dust run, +But where the press was thickest thither flew +The knight, and at each stroke felled, hurt, or slew. + +L +Thus fought they long, yet neither shrink nor yield, +In equal balance hung their hope and fear: +All full of broken lances lay the field, +All full of arms that cloven and shattered were; +Of swords, some to the body nail the shield, +Some cut men’s throats, and some their bellies tear; +Of bodies, some upright, some grovelling lay, +And for themselves eat graves out of the clay. + +LI +Beside his lord slain lay the noble steed, +There friend with friend lay killed like lovers true, +There foe with foe, the live under the dead, +The victor under him whom late he slew: +A hoarse unperfect sound did eachwhere spread, +Whence neither silence, nor plain outcries flew: +There fury roars, ire threats, and woe complains, +One weeps, another cries, he sighs for pains. + +LII +The arms that late so fair and glorious seem, +Now soiled and slubbered, sad and sullen grow, +The steel his brightness lost, the gold his beam; +The colors had no pride nor beauty’s show; +The plumes and feathers on their crests that stream, +Are strowed wide upon the earth below: +The hosts both clad in blood, in dust and mire, +Had changed their cheer, their pride, their rich attire. + +LIII +But now the Moors, Arabians, Ethiops black, +Of the left wing that held the utmost marge, +Spread forth their troops, and purposed at the back +And side their heedless foes to assail and charge: +Slingers and archers were not slow nor slack +To shoot and cast, when with his battle large +Rinaldo came, whose fury, haste and ire, +Seemed earthquake, thunder, tempest, storm and fire. + +LIV +The first he met was Asimire, his throne +That set in Meroe’s hot sunburnt land, +He cut his neck in twain, flesh, skin and bone, +The sable head down tumbled on the sand; +But when by death of this black prince alone +The taste of blood and conquest once he fand, +Whole squadrons then, whole troops to earth he brought, +Things wondrous, strange, incredible he wrought. + +LV +He gave more deaths than strokes, and yet his blows +Upon his feeble foes fell oft and thick, +To move three tongues as a fierce serpent shows, +Which rolls the one she hath swift, speedy, quick, +So thinks each Pagan; each Arabian trows +He wields three swords, all in one hilt that stick; +His readiness their eyes so blinded hath, +Their dread that wonder bred, fear gave it faith. + +LVI +The Afric tyrants and the negro kings +Fell down on heaps, drowned each in other’s blood, +Upon their people ran the knights he brings, +Pricked forward by their guide’s example good, +Killed were the Pagans, broke their bows and slings: +Some died, some fell; some yielded, none withstood: +A massacre was this, no fight; these put +Their foes to death, those hold their throats to cut. + +LVII +Small while they stood, with heart and hardy face, +On their bold breasts deep wounds and hurts to bear, +But fled away, and troubled in the chase +Their ranks disordered be with too much fear: +Rinaldo followed them from place to place, +Till quite discomfit and dispersed they were. +That done, he stays, and all his knights recalls, +And scorns to strike his foe that flies or falls. + +LVIII +Like as the wind stopped by some wood or hill, +Grows strong and fierce, tears boughs and trees in twain, +But with mild blasts, more temperate, gentle, still, +Blows through the ample field or spacious plain; +Against the rocks as sea-waves murmur shrill, +But silent pass amid the open main: +Rinaldo so, when none his force withstood, +Assuaged his fury, calmed his angry mood; + +LIX +He scorned upon their fearful backs that fled +To wreak his ire and spend his force in vain, +But gainst the footmen strong his troops he led, +Whose side the Moors had open left and plain, +The Africans that should have succored +That battle, all were run away or slain, +Upon their flank with force and courage stout +His men at arms assailed the bands on foot: + +LX +He brake their pikes, and brake their close array, +Entered their battle, felled them down around, +So wind or tempest with impetuous sway +The ears of ripened corn strikes flat to ground: +With blood, arms, bodies dead, the hardened clay +Plastered the earth, no grass nor green was found; +The horsemen running through and through their bands, +Kill, murder, slay, few scape, not one withstands. + +LXI +Rinaldo came where his forlorn Armide +Sate on her golden chariot mounted high, +A noble guard she had on every side +Of lords, of lovers, and much chivalry: +She knew the man when first his arms she spied, +Love, hate, wrath, sweet desire strove in her eye, +He changed somedeal his look and countenance bold, +She changed from frost to fire, from heat to cold. + +LXII +The prince passed by the chariot of his dear +Like one that did his thoughts elsewhere bestow, +Yet suffered not her knights and lovers near +Their rival so to scape withouten blow, +One drew his sword, another couched his spear, +Herself an arrow sharp set in her bow, +Disdain her ire new sharped and kindled hath, +But love appeased her, love assuaged her wrath. + +LXIII +Love bridled fury, and revived of new +His fire, not dead, though buried in displeasure, +Three times her angry hand the bow updrew, +And thrice again let slack the string at leisure; +But wrath prevailed at last, the reed outflew, +For love finds mean, but hatred knows no measure, +Outflew the shaft, but with the shaft, this charm, +This wish she sent: Heaven grant it do no harm: + +LXIV +She bids the reed return the way it went, +And pierce her heart which so unkind could prove, +Such force had love, though lost and vainly spent, +What strength hath happy, kind and mutual love? +But she that gentle thought did straight repent, +Wrath, fury, kindness, in her bosom strove, +She would, she would not, that it missed or hit, +Her eyes, her heart, her wishes followed it. + +LXV +But yet in vain the quarrel lighted not, +For on his hauberk hard the knight it hit, +Too hard for woman’s shaft or woman’s shot, +Instead of piercing, there it broke and split; +He turned away, she burnt with fury hot, +And thought he scorned her power, and in that fit +Shot oft and oft, her shafts no entrance found, +And while she shot, love gave her wound on wound. + +LXVI +“And is he then unpierceable,” quoth she, +“That neither force nor foe he needs regard? +His limbs, perchance, armed with that hardness be, +Which makes his heart so cruel and so hard, +No shot that flies from eye or hand I see +Hurts him, such rigor doth his person guard, +Armed, or disarmed; his foe or mistress kind +Despised alike, like hate, like scorn I find. + +LXVII +“But what new form is left, device or art, +By which, to which exchanged, I might find grace? +For in my knights, and all that take my part, +I see no help; no hope, no trust I place; +To his great prowess, might, and valiant heart, +All strength is weak, all courage vile and base.” +This said she, for she saw how through the field +Her champions fly, faint, tremble, fall and yield. + +LXVIII +Nor left alone can she her person save, +But to be slain or taken stands in fear, +Though with a bow a javelin long she have, +Yet weak was Phebe’s bow, blunt Pallas’ spear. +But, as the swan, that sees the eagle brave +Threatening her flesh and silver plumes to tear, +Falls down, to hide her mongst the shady brooks: +Such were her fearful motions, such her looks. + +LXIX +But Altamore, this while that strove and sought +From shameful flight his Persian host to stay, +That was discomfit and destroyed to nought, +Whilst he alone maintained the fight and fray, +Seeing distressed the goddess of his thought, +To aid her ran, nay flew, and laid away +All care both of his honor and his host: +If she were safe, let all the world be lost. + +LXX +To the ill-guarded chariot swift he flew, +His weapon made him way with bloody war: +Meanwhile Lord Godfrey and Rinaldo slew +His feeble bands, his people murdered are, +He saw their loss, but aided not his crew, +A better lover than a leader far, +He set Armida safe, then turned again +With tardy succor, for his folk were slain. + +LXXI +And on that side the woful prince beheld +The battle lost, no help nor hope remained; +But on the other wing the Christians yield, +And fly, such vantage there the Egyptians gained, +One of the Roberts was nigh slain in field; +The other by the Indian strong constrained +To yield himself his captive and his slave; +Thus equal loss and equal foil they have. + +LXXII +Godfredo took the time and season fit +To bring again his squadrons in array, +And either camp well ordered, ranged and knit, +Renewed the furious battle, fight and fray, +New streams of blood were shed, new swords them hit; +New combats fought, new spoils were borne away, +And unresolved and doubtful, on each side, +Did praise and conquest, Mars and Fortune ride. + +LXXIII +Between the armies twain while thus the fight +Waxed sharp, hot, cruel, though renewed but late, +The Soldan clomb up to the tower’s height, +And saw far off their strife and fell debate, +As from some stage or theatre the knight +Saw played the tragedy of human state, +Saw death, blood, murder, woe and horror strange, +And the great acts of fortune, chance, and change. + +LXXIV +At first astonished and amazed he stood +Then burnt with wrath, and self-consuming ire, +Swelled his bosom like a raging flood, +To be amid that battle; such desire, +Such haste he had; he donned his helmet good, +His other arms he had before entire, +“Up, up!” he cried, “no more, no more, within +This fortress stay, come follow, die or win.” + +LXXV +Whether the same were Providence divine +That made him leave the fortress he possessed, +For that the empire proud of Palestine +This day should fall, to rise again more blessed; +Or that he breaking felt the fatal line +Of life, and would meet death with constant breast, +Furious and fierce he did the gates unbar, +And sudden rage brought forth, and sudden war. + +LXXVI +Nor stayed he till the folk on whom he cried +Assemble might, but out alone he flies, +A thousand foes the man alone defied, +And ran among a thousand enemies: +But with his fury called from every side, +The rest run out, and Aladine forth hies, +The cowards had no fear, the wise no care, +This was not hope, nor courage, but despair. + +LXXVII +The dreadful Turk with sudden blows down cast +The first he met, nor gave them time to plain +Or pray, in murdering them he made such haste +That dead they fell ere one could see them slain; +From mouth to mouth, from eye to eye forth passed +The fear and terror, that the faithful train +Of Syrian folk, not used to dangerous fight, +Were broken, scattered, and nigh put to flight. + +LXXVIII +But with less terror, and disorder less, +The Gascoigns kept array, and kept their ground, +Though most the loss and peril them oppress, +Unwares assailed they were, unready found. +No ravening tooth or talon hard I guess +Of beast or eager hawk, doth slay and wound +So many sheep or fowls, weak, feeble, small, +As his sharp sword killed knights and soldiers tall. + +LXXIX +It seemed his thirst and hunger ’suage he would +With their slain bodies, and their blood poured out, +With him his troops and Aladino old +Slew their besiegers, killed the Gascoign rout: +But Raymond ran to meet the Soldan bold, +Nor to encounter him had fear or doubt, +Though his right hand by proof too well he know, +Which laid him late for dead at one huge blow. + +LXXX +They met, and Raymond fell amid the field, +This blow again upon his forehead light, +It was the fault and weakness of his eild, +Age is not fit to bear strokes of such might, +Each one lift up his sword, advanced his shield, +Those would destroy, and these defend the knight. +On went the Soldan, for the man he thought +Was slain, or easily might be captive brought. + +LXXXI +Among the rest he ran, he raged, he smote, +And in small space, small time, great wonders wrought +And as his rage him led and fury hot, +To kill and murder, matter new he sought: +As from his supper poor with hungry throat +A peasant hastes, to a rich feast ybrought; +So from this skirmish to the battle great +He ran, and quenched with blood his fury’s heat. + +LXXXII +Where battered was the wall he sallied out, +And to the field in haste and heat he goes, +With him went rage and fury, fear and doubt +Remained behind, among his scattered foes: +To win the conquest strove his squadron stout, +Which he unperfect left; yet loth to lose +The day, the Christians fight, resist and die, +And ready were to yield, retire and fly. + +LXXXIII +The Gascoign bands retired, but kept array, +The Syrian people ran away outright, +The fight was near the place where Tancred lay, +His house was full of noise and great affright, +He rose and looked forth to see the fray, +Though every limb were weak, faint, void of might; +He saw the country lie, his men o’erthrown, +Some beaten back, some killed, some felled down. + +LXXXIV +Courage in noble hearts that ne’er is spent, +Yet fainted not, though faint were every limb, +But reinforced each member cleft and rent, +And want of blood and strength supplied in him; +In his left hand his heavy shield he hent, +Nor seemed the weight too great, his curtlax trim +His right hand drew, nor for more arms he stood +Or stayed, he needs no more whose heart is good: + +LXXXV +But coming forth, cried, “Whither will you run, +And leave your leader to his foes in prey? +What! shall these heathen of his armor won, +In their vile temples hang up trophies gay? +Go home to Gascoign then, and tell his son +That where his father died, you ran away:” +This said, against a thousand armed foes, +He did his breast weak, naked, sick, oppose. + +LXXXVI +And with his heavy, strong and mighty targe, +That with seven hard bulls’ hides was surely lined, +And strengthened with a cover thick and large +Of stiff and well-attempered steel behind, +He shielded Raymond from the furious charge, +From swords, from darts, from weapons of each kind, +And all his foes drove back with his sharp blade, +That sure and safe he lay, as in a shade. + +LXXXVII +Thus saved, thus shielded, Raymond ’gan respire, +He rose and reared himself in little space, +And in his bosom burned the double fire +Of vengeance; wrath his heart; shame filled his face; +He looked around to spy, such was his ire, +The man whose stroke had laid him in that place, +Whom when he sees not, for disdain he quakes, +And on his people sharp revengement takes. + +LXXXVIII +The Gascoigns turn again, their lord in haste +To venge their loss his band recorded brings, +The troop that durst so much now stood aghast, +For where sad fear grew late, now boldness springs, +Now followed they that fled, fled they that chased; +So in one hour altereth the state of things, +Raymond requites his loss, shame, hurt and all, +And with an hundred deaths revenged one fall. + +LXXXIX +Whilst Raymond wreaked thus his just disdain +On the proud-heads of captains, lords and peers, +He spies great Sion’s king amid the train, +And to him leaps, and high his sword he rears, +And on his forehead strikes, and strikes again, +Till helm and head he breaks, he cleaves, he tears; +Down fell the king, the guiltless land he bit, +That now keeps him, because he kept not it. + +XC +Their guides, one murdered thus, the other gone, +The troops divided were, in diverse thought, +Despair made some run headlong gainst their fone, +To seek sharp death that comes uncalled, unsought; +And some, that laid their hope on flight alone, +Fled to their fort again; yet chance so wrought, +That with the flyers in the victors pass, +And so the fortress won and conquered was. + +XCI +The hold was won, slain were the men that fled, +In courts, halls, chambers high; above, below, +Old Raymond fast up to the leads him sped, +And there, of victory true sign and show, +His glorious standard to the wind he spread, +That so both armies his success might know. +But Solyman saw not the town was lost, +For far from thence he was, and near the host; + +XCII +Into the field he came, the lukewarm blood +Did smoke and flow through all the purple field, +There of sad death the court and palace stood, +There did he triumphs lead, and trophies build; +An armed steed fast by the Soldan yood, +That had no guide, nor lord the reins to wield, +The tyrant took the bridle, and bestrode +The courser’s empty back, and forth he rode. + +XCIII +Great, yet but short and sudden was the aid +That to the Pagans, faint and weak, he brought, +A thunderbolt he was, you would have said, +Great, yet that comes and goes as swift as thought +And of his coming swift and flight unstayed +Eternal signs in hardest rocks hath wrought, +For by his hand a hundred knights were slain, +But time forgot hath all their names but twain; + +XCIV +Gildippes fair, and Edward thy dear lord, +Your noble death, sad end, and woful fate, +If so much power our vulgar tongue afford, +To all strange wits, strange ears let me dilate, +That ages all your love and sweet accord, +Your virtue, prowess, worth may imitate, +And some kind servant of true love that hears, +May grace your death, my verses, with some tears. + +XCV +The noble lady thither boldly flew, +Where first the Soldan fought, and him defied, +Two mighty blows she gave the Turk untrue, +One cleft his shield, the other pierced his side; +The prince the damsel by her habit knew, +“See, see this mankind strumpet, see,” he cried, +“This shameless whore, for thee fit weapons were +Thy neeld and spindle, not a sword and spear.” + +XCVI +This said, full of disdain, rage and despite, +A strong, a fierce, a deadly stroke he gave, +And pierced her armor, pierced her bosom white, +Worthy no blows, but blows of love to have: +Her dying hand let go the bridle quite, +She faints, she falls, ’twixt life and death she strave, +Her lord to help her came, but came too late, +Yet was not that his fault, it was his fate. + +XCVII +What should he do? to diverse parts him call +Just ire and pity kind, one bids him go +And succor his dear lady, like to fall, +The other calls for vengeance on his foe; +Love biddeth both, love says he must do all, +And with his ire joins grief, with pity woe. +What did he then? with his left hand the knight +Would hold her up, revenge her with his right. + +XCVIII +But to resist against a knight so bold +Too weak his will and power divided were; +So that he could not his fair love uphold, +Nor kill the cruel man that slew his dear. +His arm that did his mistress kind enfold, +The Turk cut off, pale grew his looks and cheer, +He let her fall, himself fell by her side, +And, for he could not save her, with her died. + +XCIX +As the high elm, whom his dear vine hath twined +Fast in her hundred arms and holds embraced, +Bears down to earth his spouse and darling kind +If storm or cruel steel the tree down cast, +And her full grapes to naught doth bruise and grind, +Spoils his own leaves, faints, withers, dies at last, +And seems to mourn and die, not for his own, +But for her death, with him that lies o’erthrown: + +C +So fell he mourning, mourning for the dame +Whom life and death had made forever his; +They would have spoke, but not one word could frame, +Deep sobs their speech, sweet sighs their language is, +Each gazed on other’s eyes, and while the same +Is lawful, join their hands, embrace and kiss: +And thus sharp death their knot of life untied, +Together fainted they, together died. + +CI +But now swift fame her nimble wings dispread, +And told eachwhere their chance, their fate, their fall, +Rinaldo heard the case, by one that fled +From the fierce Turk and brought him news of all. +Disdain, good-will, woe, wrath the champion led +To take revenge; shame, grief, for vengeance call; +But as he went, Adrastus with his blade +Forestalled the way, and show of combat made. + +CII +The giant cried, “By sundry signs I note +That whom I wish, I search, thou, thou art he, +I marked each worthy’s shield, his helm, his coat, +And all this day have called and cried for thee, +To my sweet saint I have thy head devote, +Thou must my sacrifice, my offering be, +Come let us here our strength and courage try, +Thou art Armida’s foe, her champion I.” + +CIII +Thus he defied him, on his front before, +And on his throat he struck him, yet the blow +His helmet neither bruised, cleft nor tore, +But in his saddle made him bend and bow; +Rinaldo hit him on the flank so sore, +That neither art nor herb could help him now; +Down fell the giant strong, one blow such power, +Such puissance had; so falls a thundered tower. + +CIV +With horror, fear, amazedness and dread, +Cold were the hearts of all that saw the fray, +And Solyman, that viewed that noble deed, +Trembled, his paleness did his fear bewray; +For in that stroke he did his end areed, +He wist not what to think, to do, to say, +A thing in him unused, rare and strange, +But so doth heaven men’s hearts turn, alter, change. + +CV +As when the sick or frantic men oft dream +In their unquiet sleep and slumber short, +And think they run some speedy course, and seem +To move their legs and feet in hasty sort, +Yet feel their limbs far slower than the stream +Of their vain thoughts that bears them in this sport, +And oft would speak, would cry, would call or shout, +Yet neither sound, nor voice, nor word send out: + +CVI +So run to fight the angry Soldan would, +And did enforce his strength, his might, his ire, +Yet felt not in himself his courage old, +His wonted force, his rage and hot desire, +His eyes, that sparkled wrath and fury bold, +Grew dim and feeble, fear had quenched that fire, +And in his heart an hundred passions fought, +Yet none on fear or base retire he thought. + +CVII +While unresolved he stood, the victor knight +Arrived, and seemed in quickness, haste and speed, +In boldness, greatness, goodliness and might, +Above all princes born of human seed: +The Turk small while resists, not death nor fight +Made him forget his state or race, through dreed, +He fled no strokes, he fetched no groan nor sigh, +Bold were his motions last, proud, stately, high. + +CVIII +Now when the Soldan, in these battles past +That Antheus-like oft fell oft rose again, +Evermore fierce, more fell, fell down at last +To lie forever, when this prince was slain, +Fortune, that seld is stable, firm or fast, +No longer durst resist the Christian train, +But ranged herself in row with Godfrey’s knights, +With them she serves, she runs, she rides, she fights. + +CIX +The Pagan troops, the king’s own squadron fled, +Of all the east, the strength, the pride, the flower, +Late called Immortal, now discomfited, +It lost that title proud, and lost all power; +To him that with the royal standard fled, +Thus Emireno said, with speeches sour, +“Art not thou he to whom to bear I gave +My king’s great banner, and his standard brave? + +CX +“This ensign, Rimedon, I gave not thee +To be the witness of thy fear and flight, +Coward, dost thou thy lord and captain see +In battle strong, and runn’st thyself from fight? +What seek’st thou? safety? come, return with me, +The way to death is path to virtue right, +Here let him fight that would escape; for this +The way to honor, way to safety is.” + +CXI +The man returned and swelled with scorn and shame, +The duke with speeches grave exhorts the rest; +He threats, he strikes sometime, till back they came, +And rage gainst force, despair gainst death addressed. +Thus of his broken armies gan he frame +A battle now, some hope dwelt in his breast, +But Tisiphernes bold revived him most, +Who fought and seemed to win, when all was lost; + +CXII +Wonders that day wrought noble Tisipherne, +The hardy Normans all he overthrew; +The Flemings fled before the champion stern, +Gernier, Rogero, Gerard bold he slew; +His glorious deeds to praise and fame etern +His life’s short date prolonged, enlarged and drew, +And then, as he that set sweet life at nought, +The greatest peril, danger, most he sought. + +CXIII +He spied Rinaldo, and although his field +Of azure purple now and sanguine shows, +And though the silver bird amid his shield +Were armed gules; yet he the champion knows. +And says, “Here greatest peril is, heavens yield +Strength to my courage, fortune to my blows, +That fair Armida her revenge may see, +Help, Macon, for his arms I vow to thee.” + +CXIV +Thus prayed he, but all his vows were vain, +Mahound was deaf, or slept in heavens above, +And as a lion strikes him with his train, +His native wrath to quicken and to move, +So he awaked his fury and disdain, +And sharped his courage on the whetstone love; +Himself he saved behind his mighty targe, +And forward spurred his steed and gave the charge. + +CXV +The Christian saw the hardy warrior come, +And leaped forth to undertake the fight, +The people round about gave place and room, +And wondered on that fierce and cruel sight, +Some praised their strength, their skill and courage some, +Such and so desperate blows struck either knight, +That all that saw forgot both ire and strife, +Their wounds, their hurts, forgot both death and life. + +CXVI +One struck, the other did both strike and wound, +His arms were surer, and his strength was more; +From Tisipherne the blood streamed down around; +His shield was cleft, his helm was rent and tore. +The dame, that saw his blood besmear the ground, +His armor broke, limbs weak, wounds deep and sore, +And all her guard dead, fled, and overthrown, +Thought, now her field lay waste, her hedge lay down: + +CXVII +Environed with so brave a troop but late, +Now stood she in her chariot all alone, +She feared bondage, and her life did hate, +All hope of conquest and revenge was gone, +Half mad and half amazed from where she sate, +She leaped down, and fled from friends’ and fone, +On a swift horse she mounts, and forth she rides +Alone, save for disdain and love, her guides. + +CXVIII +In days of old, Queen Cleopatra so +Alone fled from the fight and cruel fray, +Against Augustus great his happy foe, +Leaving her lord to loss and sure decay. +And as that lord for love let honor go, +Followed her flying sails and lost the day: +So Tisipherne the fair and fearful dame +Would follow, but his foe forbids the same. + +CXIX +But when the Pagan’s joy and comfort fled, +It seemed the sun was set, the day was night, +Gainst the brave prince with whom he combated +He turned, and on the forehead struck the knight: +When thunders forged are in Typhoius’ bed, +Not Brontes’ hammer falls so swift, so right; +The furious stroke fell on Rinaldo’s crest, +And made him bend his head down to his breast. + +CXX +The champion in his stirrups high upstart, +And cleft his hauberk hard and tender side, +And sheathed his weapon in the Pagan’s heart, +The castle where man’s life and soul do bide; +The cruel sword his breast and hinder part +With double wound unclosed, and opened wide; +And two large doors made for his life and breath, +Which passed, and cured hot love with frozen death. + +CXXI +This done, Rinaldo stayed and looked around, +Where he should harm his foes, or help his friends; +Nor of the Pagans saw he squadron sound: +Each standard falls, ensign to earth descends; +His fury quiet then and calm he found, +There all his wrath, his rage, and rancor ends, +He called to mind how, far from help or aid, +Armida fled, alone, amazed, afraid: + +CXXII +Well saw he when she fled, and with that sight +The prince had pity, courtesy and care; +He promised her to be her friend and knight +When erst he left her in the island bare: +The way she fled he ran and rode aright, +Her palfrey’s feet signs in the grass outware: +But she this while found out an ugly shade, +Fit place for death, where naught could life persuade. + +CXXIII +Well pleased was she with those shadows brown, +And yet displeased with luck, with life, with love; +There from her steed she lighted, there laid down +Her bow and shafts, her arms that helpless prove. +“There lie with shame,” she says, “disgraced, o’erthrown, +Blunt are the weapons, blunt the arms I move, +Weak to revenge my harms, or harm my foe, +My shafts are blunt, ah, love, would thine were so! + +CXXIV +Alas, among so many, could not one, +Not one draw blood, one wound or rend his skin? +All other breasts to you are marble stone, +Dare you then pierce a woman’s bosom thin? +See, see, my naked heart, on this alone +Employ your force this fort is eath to win, +And love will shoot you from his mighty bow, +Weak is the shot that dripile falls in snow. + +CXXV +“I pardon will your fear and weakness past, +Be strong, mine arrows, cruel, sharp, gainst me, +Ah, wretch, how is thy chance and fortune cast, +If placed in these thy good and comfort be? +But since all hope is vain all help is waste, +Since hurts ease hurts, wounds must cure wounds in thee; +Then with thine arrow’s stroke cure stroke of love, +Death for thy heart must salve and surgeon prove. + +CXXVI +“And happy me if, being dead and slain, +I bear not with me this strange plague to hell: +Love, stay behind, come thou with me disdain, +And with my wronged soul forever dwell; +Or else with it turn to the world again +And vex that knight with dreams and visions fell, +And tell him, when twixt life and death I strove +My last wish, was revenge—last word, was love.” + +CXXVII +And with that word half mad, half dead, she seems, +An arrow, poignant, strong and sharp she took, +When her dear knight found her in these extremes, +Now fit to die, and pass the Stygian brook, +Now prest to quench her own and beauty’s beams; +Now death sat on her eyes, death in her look, +When to her back he stepped, and stayed her arm +Stretched forth to do that service last, last harm. + +CXXVIII +She turns and, ere she knows, her lord she spies, +Whose coming was unwished, unthought, unknown, +She shrieks, and twines away her sdainful eyes +From his sweet face, she falls dead in a swoon, +Falls as a flower half cut, that bending lies: +He held her up, and lest she tumble down, +Under her tender side his arm he placed, +His hand her girdle loosed, her gown unlaced; + +CXXIX +And her fair face, fair bosom he bedews +With tears, tears of remorse, of ruth, of sorrow. +As the pale rose her color lost renews +With the fresh drops fallen from the silver morrow, +So she revives, and cheeks empurpled shows +Moist with their own tears and with tears they borrow; +Thrice looked she up, her eyes thrice closed she; +As who say, “Let me die, ere look on thee.” + +CXXX +And his strong arm, with weak and feeble hand +She would have thrust away, loosed and untwined: +Oft strove she, but in vain, to break that band, +For he the hold he got not yet resigned, +Herself fast bound in those dear knots she fand, +Dear, though she feigned scorn, strove and repined: +At last she speaks, she weeps, complains and cries; +Yet durst not, did not, would not see his eyes. + +CXXXI +“Cruel at thy departure, at return +As cruel, say, what chance thee hither guideth, +Would’st thou prevent her death whose heart forlorn +For thee, for thee death’s strokes each hour divideth? +Com’st thou to save my life? alas, what scorn, +What torment for Armida poor abideth? +No, no, thy crafts and sleights I well descry, +But she can little do that cannot die. + +CXXXII +“Thy triumph is not great nor well arrayed +Unless in chains thou lead a captive dame: +A dame now ta’en by force, before betrayed, +This is thy greatest glory, greatest fame: +Time was that thee of love and life I prayed, +Let death now end my love, my life, my shame. +Yet let not thy false hand bereave this breath, +For if it were thy gift, hateful were death. + +CXXXIII +“Cruel, myself an hundred ways can find, +To rid me from thy malice, from thy hate, +If weapons sharp, if poisons of all kind, +If fire, if strangling fail, in that estate, +Yet ways enough I know to stop this wind: +A thousand entries hath the house of fate. +Ah, leave these flatteries, leave weak hope to move, +Cease, cease, my hope is dead, dead is my love.” + +CXXXIV +Thus mourned she, and from her watery eyes +Disdain and love dropped down, rolled up in tears; +From his pure fountains ran two streams likewise, +Wherein chaste pity and mild ruth appears: +Thus with sweet words the queen he pacifies, +“Madam, appease your grief, your wrath, your fears, +For to be crowned, not scorned, your life I save; +Your foe nay, but your friend, your knight, your slave. + +CXXXV +“But if you trust no speech, no oath, no word; +Yet in mine eyes, my zeal, my truth behold: +For to that throne, whereof thy sire was lord, +I will restore thee, crown thee with that gold, +And if high Heaven would so much grace afford +As from thy heart this cloud this veil unfold +Of Paganism, in all the east no dame +Should equalize thy fortune, state and fame.” + +CXXXVI +Thus plaineth he, thus prays, and his desire +Endears with sighs that fly and tears that fall; +That as against the warmth of Titan’s fire, +Snowdrifts consume on tops of mountains tall, +So melts her wrath; but love remains entire. +“Behold,” she says, “your handmaid and your thrall: +My life, my crown, my wealth use at your pleasure;” +Thus death her life became, loss proved her treasure. + +CXXXVII +This while the captain of the Egyptian host,— +That saw his royal standard laid on ground, +Saw Rimedon, that ensign’s prop and post, +By Godfrey’s noble hand killed with one wound, +And all his folk discomfit, slain and lost, +No coward was in this last battle found, +But rode about and sought, nor sought in vain, +Some famous hand of which he might be slain; + +CXXXVIII +Against Lord Godfrey boldly out he flew, +For nobler foe he wished not, could not spy, +Of desperate courage showed he tokens true, +Where’er he joined, or stayed, or passed by, +And cried to the Duke as near he drew, +“Behold of thy strong hand I come to die, +Yet trust to overthrow thee with my fall, +My castle’s ruins shall break down thy wall.” + +CXXXIX +This said, forth spurred they both, both high advance +Their swords aloft, both struck at once, both hit, +His left arm wounded had the knight of France, +His shield was pierced, his vantbrace cleft and split, +The Pagan backward fell, half in a trance, +On his left ear his foe so hugely smit, +And as he sought to rise, Godfredo’s sword +Pierced him through, so died that army’s lord. + +CXL +Of his great host, when Emiren was dead, +Fled the small remnant that alive remained; +Godfrey espied as he turned his steed, +Great Altamore on foot, with blood all stained, +With half a sword, half helm upon his head, +Gainst whom a hundred fought, yet not one gained. +“Cease, cease this strife,” he cried: “and thou, brave knight, +Yield, I am Godfrey, yield thee to my might!” + +CXLI +He that till then his proud and haughty heart +To act of humbleness did never bend, +When that great name he heard, from the north part +Of our wide world renowned to Aethiop’s end, +Answered, “I yield to thee, thou worthy art, +I am thy prisoner, fortune is thy friend: +On Altamoro great thy conquest bold +Of glory shall be rich, and rich of gold: + +CXLII +“My loving queen, my wife and lady kind +Shall ransom me with jewels, gold and treasure.” +“God shield,” quoth Godfrey, “that my noble mind +Should praise and virtue so by profit measure, +All that thou hast from Persia and from Inde +Enjoy it still, therein I take no pleasure; +I set no rent on life, no price on blood, +I fight, and sell not war for gold or good.” + +CXLIII +This said, he gave him to his knights to keep +And after those that fled his course he bent; +They to their rampiers fled and trenches deep, +Yet could not so death’s cruel stroke prevent: +The camp was won, and all in blood doth steep +The blood in rivers streamed from tent to tent, +It soiled, defiled, defaced all the prey, +Shields, helmets, armors, plumes and feathers gay. + +CXLIV +Thus conquered Godfrey, and as yet the sun +Dived not in silver waves his golden wain, +But daylight served him to the fortress won +With his victorious host to turn again, +His bloody coat he put not off, but run +To the high temple with his noble train, +And there hung up his arms, and there he bows +His knees, there prayed, and there performed his vows. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JERUSALEM DELIVERED *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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