by Torquato Tasso(1544-1595) Published 1581 in Parma, Italy. Translated by Edward Fairfax (1560-1635); translation first published in London, 1600. This electronic edition was edited, proofed, and prepared by Douglas B. Killings (DeTroyes@AOL.COM), November, 1995.
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 renownChoose 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. IThe 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. IIO 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. IIIThither 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. IVYe 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. VFor if the Christian Princes ever strive To win fair Greece out of the tyrants’ hands, And those usurping Ismaelites depriveOf 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. VISix 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. VIIThe 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. VIIIAll 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: IXIn 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; XAnd 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. XIThus when the Lord discovered had, and seen The hidden secrets of each worthy’s breast, Out of the hierarchies of angels sheenThe 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. XIITo 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.” XIIIThis 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. XIVOf 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. XVThen to Tortosa’s confines swiftly sped The sacred messenger, with headlong flight; Above the eastern wave appeared redThe 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. XVIIIBut when recovered, he considered more, The man, his manner, and his message said; If erst he wished, now he longed soreTo 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. XIXThe 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. XXThe 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 faithSome 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 runThe 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 foreseeFrom Egypt will the Pagans succored be.” XXIXThis 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 managingOf 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.” XXXIIAnd 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. XXXIIIThis 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. XXXIVShe 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. XXXVThe 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. XXXVIMy 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. XXXVIIThe 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. XXXVIIIA 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. XXXIXTheir 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. XLBaldwin, 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. XLIGuelpho 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. XLIIHis 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. XLIIIThe 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; XLIVBoth 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. XLVTancredi 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. XLVIFame 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. XLVIIA 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. XLVIIIHer 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. XLIXWell 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. LTwo 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; LITatine 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. LIIIn 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. LIIIDudon 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. LIVAfter 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. LVUbaldo 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. LVIGuascher 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. LVIIIn 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. LVIIIBut 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. LIXSophia by Adige’s flowery bank him bore, Sophia the fair, spouse to Bertoldo great, Fit mother for that pearl, and beforeThe 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. LXAnd 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. LXIThe 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. LXIINext 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. LXIIIThe 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. LXIVThe 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. LXVBut 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. LXVIIFor 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 inuredWill 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 awryElsewhere 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. LXXIAurora 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. LXXIISome 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. LXXIIIMeanwhile 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. LXXIVTheir 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 appliedTo even the paths and make the highways plain, They filled the pits, and smoothed the rougher ground, And opened every strait they closed found. LXXVThey 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. LXXVIThe King of Tripoli in every holdShut 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. LXXVIIThose 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. LXXVIIIAlong 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. LXXIXGreat 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. LXXXAll 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. LXXXIThe 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. LXXXIIThe fear of ill exceeds the evil we fear, For so our present harms still most annoy us, Each mind is prest and open every earTo hear new tidings though they no way joy us, This secret rumor whispered everywhereAbout the town, these Christians will destroy us, The aged king his coming evil that knew, Did cursed thoughts in his false heart renew. LXXXIIIThis aged prince ycleped Aladine,Ruled in care, new sovereign of this state, A tyrant erst, but now his fell engineHis 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. LXXXIVFor 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. LXXXVHis 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.” LXXXVIIIThus 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? LXXXIXHis 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. XCSo 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 slainTo 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 areDespised, defies the Duke to mortal war. IWhile 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. IIA 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 liesOf 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.” VIIAdvised thus, the king impatientFlew in his fury to the house of God, The image took, with words unreverentAbused 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. VIIIWhen 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. IXBut 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. XWith 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. XIBut 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.” XIIIThis 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. XIVAmong 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. XVBut 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. XVISophronia 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. XVIITo 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. XVIIIAnd 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. XIXAdmired 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.” XXHer 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. XXIIt 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.” XXIIThis 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.” XXIVThe 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. XXVITa’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. XXVIIThe news of this mishap spread far and near, The people ran, both young and old, to gaze; Olindo also ran, and gan to fearHis 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 form her seat? No, no, my Lord, she sails but with my wind.” Ah, thus he loved, yet was his love unkind! XXIXHe 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!” XXXSophronia 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?” XXXIThus 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. XXXIIHe 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. XXXIIIAbout 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 moveTo 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.” XXXVIIThe 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 thanHe sped him thence home to his habitation: Sophronia stood not grieved nor discontented, By all that saw her, but herself, lamented. XXXVIIIThe 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. XXXIXShe 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. XLWhile 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. XLIThis 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. XLIIThe 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 painWere grief and sorrow for another’s smart, And her keep silence so, as if her eyesDumb orators were to entreat the skies. XLIIIClorinda 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?” XLIVThus 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.” XLVIITo whom the king, “What land so far remote From Asia’s coasts, or Phoebus’ glistering rays, O glorious virgin, that recordeth notThy 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 MahometNo 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 areLest 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.” LIIThe 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.” LIIIThus 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. LIVThe 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. LVA 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. LVIEmmaus is a city small, that liesFrom 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. LVIITheir 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. LVIIIThe 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. LIXArgantes 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. LXThese 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; LXIAletes 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 tideOf 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 fightStill 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 dismayedAs 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 assignedTo 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 armsBy staying safe at home, so stay you all, Better sit still, men say, than rise to fall.” LXXXThis 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 endOur 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.” LXXXVIIIThis 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.” LXXXIXThis 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.” XCHis 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. XCIIt 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. XCIIGodfredo 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. XCIIIArgant 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.” XCIVThus 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.” XCVThus 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. XCVINow 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. XCVIIYet 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. IThe 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. IITheir captain rules their courage, guides their heat, Their forwardness he stayed with gentle rein; And yet more easy, haply, were the featTo 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. IIIFeathered 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. IVAs 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. VTo that delight which their first sight did breed, That pleased so the secret of their thought A deep repentance did forthwith succeedThat 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. VISoft 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. VIITheir 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
