s: "I would, when first I knew the hardy maid


s: Have followed her to give her timely aid,


s: Or by her side this breath and life to lose,


s: To make the king the gates again unclose?


s: But he denied, his power did aye restrain


s: My will, my suit was waste, my speech was vain:


s: "Ah, had I gone, I would from danger free


s: Have brought to Sion that sweet nymph again,


s: Or in the bloody fight, where killed was she,


s: In her defence there nobly have been slain:


s: But what could I do more?  the counsels be


s: Of God and man gainst my designments plain,


s: Dead is Clorinda fair, laid in cold grave,


s: Let me revenge her whom I could not save.


s: Hear Heaven, and if he break his oath and word,


s: Upon this head cast thunder in thy wrath:


s: I will destroy and kill that Christian lord


s: Who this fair dame by night thus murdered hath,


s: Nor from my side I will ungird this sword


s: Till Tancred's heart it cleave, and shed his blood,


s: And leave his corpse to wolves and crows for food."


s: This said, the people with a joyful shout


s: Applaud his speeches and his words approve,


s: And calmed their grief in hope the boaster stout


s: Would kill the prince, who late had slain his love.


s: Men purpose, but high gods dispose above,


s: For underneath his sword this boaster died


s: Whom thus he scorned and threatened in his pride.


s: The wicked sprites, whose ugly shapes affray


s: And put to flight the men, whose labor would


s: To their dark shades let in heaven's golden ray:


s: Thither goes Tancred hardy, faithful, bold,


s: His strength and courage: heat the Christian power


s: Annoys, whom to refresh God sends a shower.


s: The smoking tower fell on the scorched grass,


s: When new device found out the enchanter old


s: Of timber fit his foes deprive he would,


s: Such terror bred that late consumed mass:


s: So that the strength of Sion's walls to shake,


s: They should no turrets, rams, nor engines make.


s: From Godfrey's camp a grove a little way


s: Amid the valleys deep grows out of sight,


s: Thick with old trees whose horrid arms display


s: There when the sun spreads forth his clearest ray,


s: Dim, thick, uncertain, gloomy seems the light;


s: As when in evening, day and darkness strive


s: Which should his foe from our horizon drive.


s: But when the sun his chair in seas doth steep,


s: Night, horror, darkness thick the place invade,


s: Which veil the mortal eyes with blindness deep


s: And with sad terror make weak hearts afraid,


s: Thither no groom drives forth his tender sheep


s: To browse, or ease their faint in cooling shade,


s: Nor traveller nor pilgrim there to enter,


s: So awful seems that forest old, dare venture.


s: United there the ghosts and goblins meet


s: To frolic with their mates in silent night,


s: With dragons' wings some cleave the welkin fleet,


s: Some nimbly run o'er hills and valleys light,


s: A wicked troop, that with allurements sweet


s: Draws sinful man from that is good and right,


s: And there with hellish pomp their banquets brought


s: They solemnize, thus the vain Parians thought.


s: No twist, no twig, no bough nor branch, therefore,


s: The Saracens cut from that sacred spring;


s: But yet the Christians spared ne'er the more


s: The trees to earth with cutting steel to bring:


s: Thither went Ismen old with tresses hoar,


s: When night on all this earth spread forth her wing,


s: And there in silence deaf and mirksome shade


s: His characters and circles vain he made:


s: And whispered dreadful charms in ghastly wise,


s: Three times, for witchcraft loveth numbers odd,


s: Toward the east he gaped, westward thrice,


s: He struck the earth thrice with his charmed rod


s: Wherewith dead bones he makes from grave to rise,


s: And thrice the ground with naked foot he smote,


s: And thus he cried loud, with thundering note:


s: "Hear, hear, you spirits all that whilom fell,


s: Cast down from heaven with dint of roaring thunder;


s: And storms and showers pour on these kingdoms under;


s: Hear, all you devils that lie in deepest hell


s: And rend with torments damned ghosts asunder,


s: And of those lands of death, of pain and fear,


s: Thou monarch great, great Dis, great Pluto, hear!


s: "Keep you this forest well, keep every tree,


s: Numbered I give you them and truly told;


s: So every plant a sprite shall hide and hold,


s: With trembling fear make all the Christians flee,


s: When they presume to cut these cedars old:"


s: This said, his charms he gan again repeat,


s: Which none can say but they that use like feat.


s: At those strange speeches, still night's splendent fires


s: Quenched their lights, and shrunk away for doubt,


s: The feeble moon her silver beams retires,


s: And wrapt her horns with folding clouds about,


s: Ismen his sprites to come with speed requires,


s: "Why come you not, you ever damned rout?


s: Till stronger charms and greater words I say.


s: What dreadful terms belong this sacred feat,


s: My tongue, if still your stubborn hearts refuse,


s: That so much dreaded name can well repeat,


s: Which heard, great Dis cannot himself excuse,


s: O great and fearful!" -- More he would have said,


s: But that he saw the sturdy sprites obeyed.


s: Legions of devils by thousands thither come,


s: Such as in sparsed air their biding make,


s: And thousands also which by Heavenly doom


s: But slow they came, displeased all and some


s: Because those woods they should in keeping take,


s: Yet they obeyed and took the charge in hand,


s: And under every branch and leaf they stand.


s: When thus his cursed work performed was,


s: The wizard to his king declared the feat,


s: "My lord, let fear, let doubt and sorrow pass,


s: Henceforth in safety stands your regal seat,


s: Your foe, as he supposed, no mean now has


s: To build again his rams and engines great:"


s: And then he told at large from part to part,


s: All what he late performed by wondrous art.


s: "Besides this help, another hap," quoth he,


s: "Will shortly chance that brings not profit small.


s: And then extreme the scorching heat will be,


s: Which neither rain can quench nor dews that fall,


s: That heat, fire, burning all the heavens foreshow:


s: "So great with us will be the warmth therefore,


s: Yet nill it grieve us in this town so sore,


s: We have sweet shade and waters cold by kind:


s: What shield can they or what refreshing find?


s: Destroy them quite, weak, weary, faint and few:


s: "Thou shalt sit still and conquer; prove no more


s: But if Argantes bold, that hates so sore


s: All cause of quiet peace, though just and right,


s: Provoke thee forth to battle, as before,


s: Find means to calm the rage of that fierce knight,


s: For shortly Heaven will send thee ease and peace,


s: And war and trouble mongst thy foes increase."


s: The king assured by these speeches fair,


s: Held Godfrey's power, his might and strength in scorn,


s: And now the walls he gan in part repair,


s: Which late the ram had bruised with iron horn,


s: With wise foresight and well advised care


s: He fortified each breach and bulwark torn,


s: And all his folk, men, women, children small,


s: With endless toil again repaired the wall.


s: But Godfrey nould this while bring forth his power


s: To give assault against that fort in vain,


s: Till he had builded new his dreadful tower,


s: And reared high his down-fallen rams again:


s: His workmen therefore he despatched that hour


s: To hew the trees out of the forest main,


s: They went, and scant the wood appeared in sight


s: When wonders new their fearful hearts affright:


s: As silly children dare not bend their eye


s: Where they are told strange bugbears haunt the place,


s: Or as new monsters, while in bed they lie,


s: Their fearful thoughts present before their face;


s: So feared they, and fled, yet wist not why,


s: Nor what pursued them in that fearful chase.


s: Except their fear perchance while thus they fled,


s: New chimeras, sphinxes, or like monsters bred:


s: Swift to the camp they turned back dismayed,


s: With words confused uncertain tales they told,


s: That all which heard them scorned what they said


s: And those reports for lies and fables hold.


s: Duke Godfrey thither sent of soldiers bold,


s: To guard the men and their faint arms provoke


s: To cut the dreadful trees with hardy stroke:


s: These drawing near the wood where close ypent


s: The wicked sprites in sylvan pinfolds were,


s: Their eyes upon those shades no sooner bent


s: But frozen dread pierced through their entrails dear;


s: Yet on they stalked still, and on they went,


s: Under bold semblance hiding coward fear,


s: And so far wandered forth with trembling pace,


s: Till they approached nigh that enchanted place:


s: When from the grove a fearful sound outbreaks,


s: As if some earthquake hill and mountain tore,


s: Wherein the southern wind a rumbling makes,


s: Or like sea waves against the scraggy shore;


s: There lions grumble, there hiss scaly snakes,


s: There howl the wolves, the rugged bears there roar,


s: There trumpets shrill are heard and thunders fell,


s: And all these sounds one sound expressed well.


s: Upon their faces pale well might you note


s: Their reason gone, by no device they wot


s: How to press nigh, or stay still where they were,


s: Against that sudden dread their breasts which smote,


s: Their courage weak no shield of proof could bear,


s: At last they fled, and one than all more bold,


s: Excused their flight, and thus the wonders told:


s: "My lord, not one of us there is, I grant,


s: That dares cut down one branch in yonder spring,


s: I think there dwells a sprite in every plant,


s: There keeps his court great Dis infernal king,


s: That without trembling dares attempt the thing,


s: To hear the forest thunder, roar and hiss."


s: This said, Alcasto to his words gave heed,


s: A man both void of wit and void of dreed,


s: Who feared not loss of life nor loss of limb.


s: No savage beasts in deserts wild that feed


s: Nor whirlwind, thunder, earthquake, storm, or aught


s: That in this world is strange or fearful thought.


s: He shook his head, and smiling thus gan say,


s: "The hardiness have I that wood to fell,


s: And those proud trees low in the dust to lay


s: Wherein such grisly fiends and monsters dwell;


s: No shriek of birds, beast's roar, or dragon's yell;


s: But through and through that forest will I wend,


s: Although to deepest hell the paths descend."


s: Thus boasted he, and leave to go desired,


s: And forward went with joyful cheer and will,


s: He viewed the wood and those thick shades admired,


s: He heard the wondrous noise and rumbling shrill;


s: Yet not one foot the audacious man retired,


s: He scorned the peril, pressing forward still,


s: Till on the forest's outmost marge he stepped,


s: A flaming fire from entrance there him kept.


s: The fire increased, and built a stately wall


s: Of burning coals, quick sparks, and embers hot,


s: And with bright flames the wood environed all,


s: That there no tree nor twist Alcasto got;


s: The higher stretched the flames seemed bulwarks tall,


s: With slings and engines strong of every sort; --


s: What mortal wight durst scale so strange a fort?


s: Oh what strange monsters on the battlement


s: In loathsome forms stood to defend the place?


s: Their frowning looks upon the knight they bent,


s: And threatened death with shot, with sword and mace:


s: At last he fled, and though but slow he went,


s: Yet fled the man and with sad fear withdrew,


s: Though fear till then he never felt nor knew.


s: That he had fled long time he never wist,


s: Himself for wonder with his hand he blist,


s: Amazed, ashamed, disgraced, sad, silent, trist,


s: Nor durst he look on man of worth or fame,


s: His pride late great, now greater made his shame.


s: Godfredo called him, but he found delays


s: And causes why he should his cabin keep,


s: At length perforce he comes, but naught he says,


s: Or talks like those that babble in their sleep.


s: His shamefacedness to Godfrey plain bewrays


s: His flight, so does his sighs and sadness deep:


s: Whereat amazed, "What chance is this ?" quoth he.


s: "These witchcrafts strange or nature's wonders be.


s: To try the hazard of this dreadful spring,


s: I give him leave the adventure great to prove,


s: Some news he may report us of the thing:"


s: This said, his lords attempt the charmed grove,


s: Yet nothing back but fear and flight they bring,


s: For them inforced with trembling to retire,


s: The sight, the sound, the monsters and the fire.


s: This happed when woful Tancred left his bed


s: To lay in marble cold his mistress dear,


s: The lively color from his cheek was fled,


s: His limbs were weak his helm or targe to bear;


s: Nathless when need to high attempts him led,


s: His valor, boldness, heart and courage brave,


s: To his faint body strength and vigor gave.


s: To this exploit forth went the venturous knight,


s: Fearless, yet heedful; silent, well advised,


s: The terrors of that forest's dreadful sight,


s: Storms, earthquakes, thunders, cries, he all despised:


s: That quickly vanished, in his heart arised


s: When lo, between him and the charmed wood,


s: The knight stepped back and took a sudden pause,


s: And to himself, "What help these arms?" quoth he,


s: "If in this fire, or monster's gaping jaws


s: I headlong cast myself, what boots it me?


s: For common profit, or my country's cause,


s: To hazard life before me none should be:


s: But this exploit of no such weight I hold,


s: For it to lose a prince or champion bold.


s: If I retire, who shall cut down this spring?


s: What if some other knight perform the thing?


s: These flames uprisen to forestall my way


s: Perchance more terror far than danger bring.


s: But hap what shall;" this said, he forward stepped,


s: And through the fire, oh wondrous boldness, leapt!


s: He bolted through, but neither warmth nor heat!


s: He felt, nor sign of fire or scorching flame;


s: Yet wist he not in his dismayed conceit,


s: If that were fire or no through which he came;


s: For at first touch vanished those monsters great,


s: And in their stead the clouds black night did frame


s: And hideous storms and showers of hail and rain;


s: Yet storms and tempests vanished straight again.


s: Stood still, but when the tempest passed he spied,


s: In all his walk no sprite or phantasm stood


s: That stopped his way or passage free denied,


s: Save that the growing trees so thick were set,


s: That oft his sight, and passage oft they let.


s: At length a fair and spacious green he spied,


s: Like calmest waters, plain, like velvet, soft,


s: Wherein a cypress clad in summer's pride,


s: In whose smooth bark upon the evenest side,


s: Strange characters he found, and viewed them oft,


s: Of letters used, which none but they could read.


s: Mongst them he picked out these words at last,


s: Writ in the Syriac tongue, which well he could,


s: "Oh hardy knight, who through these woods hast passed:


s: Where Death his palace and his court doth hold!


s: Oh trouble not these souls in quiet placed,


s: Pardon these ghosts deprived of heavenly light,


s: With spirits dead why should men living fight?"


s: This found he graven in the tender rind,


s: And while he mused on this uncouth writ,


s: Him thought he heard the softly whistling wind


s: His blasts amid the leaves and branches knit


s: And frame a sound like speech of human kind,


s: But full of sorrow grief and woe was it,


s: Whereby his gentle thoughts all filled were


s: With pity, sadness, grief, compassion, fear.


s: He drew his sword at last, and gave the tree


s: A mighty blow, that made a gaping wound,


s: Out of the rift red streams he trickling see


s: That all bebled the verdant plain around,


s: His hair start up, yet once again stroke he,


s: He nould give over till the end he found


s: Of this adventure, when with plaint and moan,


s: As from some hollow grave, he heard one groan.


s: "Enough, enough!" the voice lamenting said,


s: "Tancred, thou hast me hurt, thou didst me drive


s: Who with me lived, whom late I kept on live,


s: My tender rind thy weapon sharp doth rive,


s: Cruel, is't not enough thy foes to kill,


s: But in their graves wilt thou torment them still?


s: Yet not alone within this plant I dwell,


s: For every Pagan lord and Christian peer,


s: Before the city's walls last day that fell,


s: In bodies new or graves I wot not clear,


s: But here they are confined by magic's spell,


s: So that each tree hath life, and sense each bough,


s: A murderer if thou cut one twist art thou."


s: As the sick man that in his sleep doth see


s: Though he suspect, or half persuaded be,


s: Yet still he fears, he quakes, and strives to flee,


s: So fearful is that wondrous form to view;


s: So feared the knight, yet he both knew and thought


s: All were illusions false by witchcraft wrought:


s: But cold and trembling waxed his frozen heart,


s: Such strange effects, such passions it torment,


s: Out of his feeble hand his weapon start,


s: Himself out of his wits nigh, after went:


s: Wounded he saw, he thought, for pain and smart,


s: His lady weep, complain, mourn, and lament,


s: Nor could he suffer her dear blood to see,


s: Or hear her sighs that deep far fetched be.


s: Thus his fierce heart which death had scorned oft,


s: Whom no strange shape or monster could dismay,


s: With feigned shows of tender love made soft,


s: A spirit false did with vain plaints betray;


s: A whirling wind his sword heaved up aloft,


s: And through the forest bare it quite away.


s: O'ercome retired the prince, and as he came,


s: His sword he found, and repossessed the same,


s: His courage further in those forests green;


s: But when to Godfrey's tent he proached nigh,


s: His spirits waked, his thoughts composed been,


s: "My Lord." quoth he, "a witness true am I


s: Of wonders strange, believe it scant though seen,


s: What of the fire, the shades, the dreadful sound


s: You heard, all true by proof myself have found;


s: "A burning fire, so are those deserts charmed,


s: Built like a battled wall to heaven was reared;


s: Whereon with darts and dreadful weapons armed,


s: Of monsters foul mis-shaped whole bands appeared;


s: But through them all I passed, unhurt, unharmed,


s: No flame or threatened blow I felt or feared,


s: Then rain and night I found, but straight again


s: To day, the night, to sunshine turned the rain.


s: "What would you more?  each tree through all that wood


s: Hath sense, hath life, hath speech, like human kind,


s: I heard their words as in that grove I stood,


s: That mournful voice still, still I bear in mind:


s: And, as they were of flesh, the purple blood


s: At every blow streams from the wounded rind;


s: Hath power to cut one leaf, one branch, one bough."


s: While thus he said, the Christian's noble guide


s: Felt uncouth strife in his contentious thought,


s: He thought, what if himself in perzon tried


s: Those witchcrafts strange, and bring those charms to naught,


s: For such he deemed them, or elsewhere provide


s: For timber easier got though further sought,


s: Called by the hermit old that to him said:


s: "Leave off thy hardy thought, another's hands


s: Of these her plants the wood dispoilen shall,


s: Now, now the fatal ship of conquest lands,


s: Her sails are struck, her silver anchors fall,


s: Our champion broken hath his worthless bands,


s: And looseth from the soil which held him thrall,


s: The time draws nigh when our proud foes in field


s: Shall slaughtered lie, and Sion's fort shall yield."


s: This said, his visage shone with beams divine,


s: And more than mortal was his voice's sound,


s: Godfredo's thought to other acts incline,


s: But in the Crab now did bright Titan shine,


s: And scorched with scalding beams the parched ground,


s: His soldiers, weak with labor, faint with sweat:


s: The planets mild their lamps benign quenched out,


s: And cruel stars in heaven did signorize,


s: And hot impressions through the earth and skies,


s: The growing heat still gathered deeper rout,


s: The noisome warmth through lands and kingdoms flies,


s: And worse than both next morn her light outspreads.


s: When Phoebus rose he left his golden weed,


s: And donned a gite in deepest purple dyed,


s: His sanguine beams about his forehead spread,


s: A sad presage of ill that should betide,


s: With vermeil drops at even his tresses bleed,


s: Foreshows of future heat, from the ocean wide


s: When next he rose, and thus increased still


s: Their present harms with dread of future ill,


s: While thus he bent gainst earth his scorching rays,


s: He burnt the flowers, burnt his Clytie dear,


s: The leaves grew wan upon the withered sprays,


s: The grass and growing herbs all parched were,


s: Earth cleft in rifts, in floods their streams decays,


s: The barren clouds with lightning bright appear,


s: And mankind feared lest Climenes' child again


s: Had driven awry his sire's ill-guided wain.


s: As from a furnace flew the smoke to skies,


s: Such smoke as that when damned Sodom brent,


s: Within his caves sweet Zephyr silent lies,


s: Still was the air, the rack nor came nor went,


s: But o'er the lands with lukewarm breathing flies


s: The southern wind, from sunburnt Afric sent,


s: Which thick and warm his interrupted blasts


s: Upon their bosoms, throats, and faces casts.


s: Nor yet more comfort brought the gloomy night,


s: In her thick shades was burning heat uprolled,


s: With blazing stars and gliding fires for gold,


s: Nor to refresh, sad earth, thy thirsty sprite,


s: In trees, in plants, in herbs, in flowers, in grass.


s: From these unquiet nights, and oft in vain


s: The soldiers restless sought the god in bed,


s: But most for thirst they mourned and most complain;


s: For Juda's tyrant had strong poison shed,


s: Poison that breeds more woe and deadly pain,


s: In every fountain, cistern, well and spring:


s: Of purest crystal on the Christian bands,


s: And scantly glides above the scorched sands,


s: Nor Po in May when o'er his banks he flows,


s: Nor Ganges, waterer of the Indian lands,


s: To quench their thirst the men sufficient think.


s: He that the gliding rivers erst had seen


s: Adown their verdant channels gently rolled,


s: Or falling streams which to the valleys green


s: Distilled from tops of Alpine mountains cold,


s: Those he desired in vain, new torments been,


s: Augmented thus with wish of comforts old,


s: Those waters cool he drank in vain conceit,


s: Which more increased his thirst, increased his heat.


s: The sturdy bodies of the warriors strong,


s: Whom neither marching far, nor tedious way,


s: Nor weighty arms which on their shoulders hung,


s: Could weary make, nor death itself dismay;


s: Now weak and feeble cast their limbs along,


s: And in each vein a smouldering fire there dwelt,


s: Which dried their flesh and solid bones did melt.


s: Languished the steed late fierce, and proffered grass,


s: His fodder erst, despised and from him cast,


s: Each step he stumbled, and which lofty was


s: And high advanced before now fell his crest,


s: His conquests gotten all forgotten pass,


s: Nor with desire of glory swelled his breast,


s: The spoils won from his foe, his late rewards,


s: He now neglects, despiseth, naught regards.


s: Languished the faithful dog, and wonted care


s: Panting he laid, and gathered fresher air


s: To cool the burning in his entrails hot:


s: But breathing, which wise nature did prepare


s: To suage the stomach's heat, now booted not,


s: For little ease, alas, small help, they win


s: That breathe forth air and scalding fire suck in.


s: Thus languished the earth, in this estate


s: Lay woful thousands of the Christians stout,


s: Of hoped conquest, shameful death they doubt,


s: Of their distress they talk and oft debate,


s: These sad complaints were heard the camp throughout:


s: "What hope hath Godfrey?  shall we still here lie


s: Till all his soldiers, all our armies die?


s: "Alas, with what device, what strength, thinks he


s: To scale these walls, or this strong fort to get?


s: Whence hath he engines new?  doth he not see,


s: How wrathful Heaven gainst us his sword doth whet?


s: These tokens shown true signs and witness be


s: Our angry God our proud attempts doth let,


s: And scorching sun so hot his beams outspreads,


s: That not more cooling Inde nor Aethiop needs.


s: "Or thinks he it an eath or little thing


s: That us despised, neglected, and disdained,


s: Like abjects vile, to death he thus should bring,


s: That so his empire may be still maintained?


s: When he that wears the crown with blood is stained


s: And buys his sceptre with his people's lives?


s: See whither glory vain, fond mankind drives.


s: "See, see the man, called holy, just, and good,


s: That courteous, meek, and humble would be thought,


s: Yet never cared in what distress we stood


s: If his vain honor were diminished naught,


s: When dried up from us his spring and flood


s: His water must from Jordan streams be brought,


s: And how he sits at feasts and banquets sweet


s: And mingleth waters fresh with wines of Crete."


s: The French thus murmured, but the Greekish knight


s: Tatine, that of this war was weary grown:


s: "Why die we here," quoth he, "slain without fight,


s: Killed, not subdued, murdered, not overthrown?


s: Upon the Frenchmen let the penance light


s: Of Godfrey's folly, let me save mine own,"


s: And as he said, without farewell, the knight


s: And all whose guides in dust were buried low,


s: Discharged of duty's chains and bondage snares,


s: Free from their oath, to none they service owe,


s: And shrunk away by thousands every night.


s: Godfredo this both heard, and saw, and knew,


s: Yet nould with death them chastise though he mought,


s: But with that faith wherewith he could renew


s: The steadfast hills and seas dry up to naught


s: He prayed the Lord upon his flock to rue,


s: To ope the springs of grace and ease this drought,


s: Out of his looks shone zeal, devotion, faith,


s: His hands and eyes to heaven he heaves, and saith:


s: "Father and Lord, if in the deserts waste


s: Thou hadst compassion on thy children dear,


s: The craggy rock when Moses cleft and brast,


s: And drew forth flowing streams of waters clear,


s: Like mercy, Lord, like grace on us down cast;


s: And though our merits less than theirs appear,


s: Thy grace supply that want, for though they be


s: Thy first-born son, thy children yet are we."


s: These prayers just, from humble hearts forth sent,


s: Were nothing slow to climb the starry sky,


s: But swift as winged bird themselves present


s: Upon the faithful host His gracious eye,


s: And in what pain and what distress it laid,


s: He saw, and grieved to see, and thus He said:


s: "Mine armies dear till now have suffered woe,


s: Distress and danger, hell's infernal power


s: Their enemy hath been, the world their foe,


s: But happy be their actions from this hour:


s: What they begin to blessed end shall go,


s: I will refresh them with a gentle shower;


s: They shall encounter, conquer, and subdue."


s: At these high words great heaven began to shake,


s: The fixed stars, the planets wandering still,


s: Trembled the air, the earth and ocean quake,


s: Spring, fountain, river, forest, dale and hill;


s: From north to east, a lightning flash outbrake,


s: And coming drops presaged with thunders shrill:


s: With joyful shouts the soldiers on the plain,


s: These tokens bless of long-desired rain.


s: Not from dry earth exhaled by Phoebus' beams,


s: Arose, moist heaven his windows open laid,


s: Whence clouds by heaps out rush, and watery streams,


s: The world o'erspread was with a gloomy shade,


s: That like a dark mirksome even it seems;


s: The crashing rain from molten skies down fell,


s: And o'er their banks the brooks and fountains swell.


s: Upon the parched ground doth rain down send,


s: With merry noise the promised showers attend,


s: And spreading broad their wings displayed lie


s: To keep the drops that on their plumes descend,


s: And where the streams swell to a gathered lake,


s: Therein they dive, and sweet refreshing take:


s: So they the streaming showers with shouts and cries


s: Salute, which heaven shed on the thirsty lands,


s: The falling liquor from the dropping skies


s: He catcheth in his lap, he barehead stands,


s: And his bright helm to drink therein unties,


s: In the fresh streams he dives his sweaty hands,


s: Their faces some, and some their temples wet,


s: And some to keep the drops large vessels set.


s: Herein doth dive and wash, and hereof drinks,


s: But earth itself weak, feeble, faint before,


s: Received the falling showers and gathered store


s: Of liquor sweet, that through her veins down sinks,


s: In trees, in plants, in herbs, in flowers, in grass.


s: Earth, like the patient was, whose lively blood


s: Hath overcome at last some sickness strong,


s: Whose feeble limbs had been the bait and food


s: Whereon this strange disease depastured long,


s: But now restored, in health and welfare stood,


s: As sound as erst, as fresh, as fair, as young;


s: So that forgetting all his grief and pain,


s: His pleasant robes and crowns he takes again.


s: Ceased the rain, the sun began to shine,


s: With fruitful, sweet, benign, and gentle ray,


s: Full of strong power and vigor masculine,


s: The world's afflictions thus can drive away,


s: Can storms appease, and times and seasons change,


s: And conquer fortune, fate, and destiny strange.


s: The Lord to Godfrey in a dream doth show


s: They have their asking who for pardon sue:


s: Two knights to find the prince are sent in haste,


s: Sendeth the searchers to a wizard, placed


s: Deep in a vault, who first at large declares


s: Armida's trains, then how to shun those snares.


s: Now from the fresh, the soft and tender bed


s: Of her still mother, gentle night out flew,


s: The fleeting balm on hills and dales she shed,


s: With honey drops of pure and precious dew,


s: And on the verdure of green forests spread


s: The virgin primrose and the violet blue,


s: And sweet-breathed Zephyr on his spreading wings,


s: Sleep, ease, repose, rest, peace and quiet brings.


s: The thoughts and troubles of broad-waking day,


s: They softly dipped in mild Oblivion's lake;


s: But he whose Godhead heaven and earth doth sway,


s: In his eternal light did watch and wake,


s: And bent on Godfrey down the gracious ray


s: Of his bright eye, still ope for Godfrey's sake,


s: To whom a silent dream the Lord down sent.


s: Which told his will, his pleasure and intent.


s: Whence Phoebus comes, a crystal port there is,


s: And ere the sun his broad doors open wide


s: The beam of springing day uncloseth this,


s: Hence comes the dreams, by which heaven's sacred guide


s: Reveals to man those high degrees of his,


s: Hence toward Godfrey ere he left his bed


s: A vision strange his golden plumes bespread.


s: Such semblances, such shapes, such portraits fair,


s: For all the forms in sea, in earth or air,


s: The signs in heaven, the stars in every sphere


s: All that was wondrous, uncouth, strange and rare,


s: His dream had placed him in a crystal wide,


s: Beset with golden fires, top, bottom, side,


s: There while he wondereth on the circles vast,


s: The stars, their motions, course and harmony,


s: A knight, with shining rays and fire embraced,


s: Presents himself unwares before his eye,


s: Who with a voice that far for sweetness passed


s: All human speech, thus said, approaching nigh:


s: "What, Godfrey, knowest thou not thy Hugo here?


s: Come and embrace thy friend and fellow dear!"


s: He answered him, "Thy glorious shining light


s: Which in thine eyes his glistering beams doth place,


s: Estranged hath from my foreknowledge quite


s: Thy countenance, thy favor, and thy face:"


s: This said, three times he stretched his hands outright


s: And would in friendly arms the knight embrace,


s: And thrice the spirit fled, that thrice he twined


s: Naught in his folded arms but air and wind.


s: Lord Hugo smiled, "Not as you think," quoth he,


s: "I clothed am in flesh and earthly mould,


s: My spirit pure, and naked soul, you see,


s: This place is heaven, and here a room for thee


s: Prepared is among Christ's champions bold:"


s: "Ah when," quoth he, "these mortal bonds unknit,


s: Shall I in peace, in ease and rest there sit?"


s: Hugo replied, "Ere many years shall run,


s: Amid the saints in bliss here shalt thou reign;


s: But first great wars must by thy hand be done,


s: Much blood be shed, and many Pagans slain,


s: The land set free from servile yoke again,


s: Wherein thou shalt a Christian empire frame,


s: And after thee shall Baldwin rule the same.


s: "But to increase thy love and great desire


s: To heavenward, this blessed place behold,


s: These shining lamps, these globes of living fire,


s: How they are turned, guided, moved and rolled;


s: The angels' singing hear, and all their choir;


s: Then bend thine eyes on yonder earth and mould,


s: All in that mass, that globe and compass see,


s: Land, sea, spring, fountain, man, beast, grass and tree.


s: "How vile, how small, and of how slender price,


s: Is their reward of goodness, virtue's gain!


s: Which sea sometime is called, sometime the main,


s: Yet naught therein responds a name so great,


s: It's but a lake, a pond, a marish strait."


s: Thus said the one, the other bended down


s: His looks to ground, and half in scorn he smiled,


s: He saw at once earth, sea, flood, castle, town,


s: Strangely divided, strangely all compiled,


s: And wondered folly man so far should drown,


s: To set his heart on things so base and vild,


s: And scorns heaven's bliss, yet proffereth heaven the same.


s: Wherefore he answered, "Since the Lord not yet


s: Will free my spirit from this cage of clay,


s: Teach me to heaven the best and surest way:"


s: In the true path, nor from this passage stray,


s: This give I thee in charge, else naught at all.


s: "For as the Lord of hosts, the King of bliss,


s: Hath chosen thee to rule the faithful band;


s: To execute, so both shall win this land:


s: The first is thine, the second place is his,


s: Thou art this army's head, and he the hand,


s: And that thou do it doth thy state deny.


s: "The enchanted forest, and her charmed treen,


s: With cutting steel shall he to earth down hew,


s: And thy weak armies which too feeble been


s: To scale again these walls reinforced new,


s: And fainting lie dispersed on the green,


s: Shall take new strength new courage at his view,


s: The high-built towers, the eastern squadrons all,


s: Shall conquered be, shall fly, shall die, shall fall."


s: He held his peace; and Godfrey answered so:


s: "Oh, how his presence would recomfort me!


s: You that man's hidden thoughts perceive and know:


s: But say, what messengers shall for him go?


s: What shall their speeches, what their errand be?


s: Shall I entreat, or else command the man?


s: With credit neither well perform I can."


s: "The eternal Lord," the other knight replied,


s: "That with so many graces hath thee blest,


s: Will, that among the troops thou hast to guide,


s: Thou honored be and feared of most and least:


s: Then speak not thou lest blemish some betide


s: But when by suit thou moved art to ruth,


s: Then yield, forgive, and home recall the youth.


s: "Guelpho shall pray thee, God shall him inspire,


s: To pardon this offence, this fault commit


s: By hasty wrath, by rash and headstrong ire,


s: To call the knight again; yield thou to it:


s: And though the youth, enwrapped in fond desire,


s: Far hence in love and looseness idle sit,


s: Year fear it not, he shall return with speed,


s: When most you wish him and when most you need.


s: "Your hermit Peter, to whose sapient heart


s: High Heaven his secrets opens, tells and shews,


s: Your messengers direct can to that part,


s: Where of the prince they shall hear certain news,


s: And learn the way, the manner, and the art


s: To bring him back to these thy warlike crews,


s: That all thy soldiers, wandered and misgone,


s: "But this conclusion shall my speeches end:


s: Know that his blood shall mixed be with thine,


s: Whence barons bold and worthies shall descend,


s: That many great exploits shall bring to fine."


s: This said, he vanished from his sleeping friend,


s: Like smoke in wind, or mist in Titan's shine;


s: Sleep fled likewise, and in his troubled thought,


s: With wonder, pleasure; joy, with marvel fought.


s: The duke looked up, and saw the azure sky


s: With argent beams of silver morning spread,


s: And started up, for praise axed virtue lie


s: In toil and travel, sin and shame in bed:


s: His arms he took, his sword girt to his thigh,


s: To his pavilion all his lords them sped,


s: And there in council grave the princes sit,


s: For strength by wisdom, war is ruled by wit.


s: Lord Guelpho there, within whose gentle breast


s: Heaven had infused that new and sudden thought,


s: His pleasing words thus to the duke addressed:


s: "Good prince, mild, though unasked, kind, unbesought,


s: Pardon this fault by rage not malice wrought;


s: For great offence, I grant, so late commit,


s: But since to Godfrey meek benign and kind,


s: And that the suitor's self is not behind


s: Thy greatest friends in state or friendship true;


s: I trust I shall thy grace and mercy find


s: Oh call him home, this trespass to amend,


s: He shall his blood in Godfrey's service spend.


s: "And if not he, who else dares undertake


s: Gainst death and danger who dares battle make,


s: With so bold face, so fearless heart as he?


s: Beat down these walls, these gates in pieces break,


s: Leap o'er these rampires high, thou shalt him see,


s: Their wish, their hope, their strength, their shield, their hand;


s: A trusty help, when strength of hand thou needs,


s: Known be his worth as was his strength of yore


s: Wher'er thy standard broad her cross outspreads,


s: Oh, let his fame and praise spread far and wide,


s: Be thou his lord, his teacher and his guidel"


s: His words, with friendly murmurs whispered low.


s: Godfrey as though their suit his mind did move


s: To that whereon he never thought tell now,


s: "How can my heart," quoth he, "if you I love,


s: To your request and suit but bend and bow?


s: Henceforth his headstrong wrath and hasty ire,


s: And with his hardy deeds let him take pain


s: Guelpho, thou must call home the knight again,


s: See that with speed he to these tents retire,


s: The messengers appoint as likes thy mind,


s: And teach them where they should the young man find."


s: Up start the Dane that bare Prince Sweno's brand,


s: "I will," quoth he, "that message undertake,


s: To give the knight this sword, kept for his sake."


s: This man was bold of courage, strong of hand,


s: Guelpho was glad he did the proffer make:


s: "Thou shalt," quoth he, "Ubaldo shalt thou have


s: To go with thee, a knight, stout, wise, and grave."


s: The fashions strange of many an uncouth land,


s: And travelled over all the realms between


s: The Arctic circle and hot Meroe's strand,


s: And as a man whose wit his guide had been,


s: Their customs use he could, tongues understand,


s: Forthy when spent his youthful seasons were


s: Lord Guelpho entertained and held him dear.


s: To these committed was the charge and care


s: To find and bring again the champion bold,


s: Guelpho commands them to the fort repair,


s: Where Boemond doth his seat and sceptre hold,


s: For public fame said that Bertoldo's heir


s: There lived, there dwelt, there stayed; the hermit old,


s: That knew they were misled by false report,


s: Among them came, and parleyed in this sort:


s: "Sir knights," quoth he, "if you intend to ride,


s: You follow but a rash and truthless guide


s: That leads vain men amiss and makes them stray;


s: Where a swift brook fails in with hideous sway,


s: An aged sire, our friend, there shall you find,


s: All what he saith, that do, that keep in mind.


s: "Of this great voyage which you undertake,


s: Much by his skill, and much by mine advise


s: Hath he foreknown, and welcome for my sake


s: You both shall be, the man is kind and wise."


s: Instructed thus no further question make


s: For what the hermit said, that said the Lord.


s: They took their leave, and on their journey went,


s: Their will could brook no stay, their zeal, no let;


s: To Ascalon their voyage straight they bent,


s: Whose broken shores with brackish waves are wet,


s: And there they heard how gainst the cliffs, besprent


s: With bitter foam, the roaring surges bet,


s: A tumbling brook their passage stopped and stayed,


s: Which late-fall'n rain had proud and puissant made,


s: So proud that over all his banks he grew,


s: And through the fields ran swift as shaft from bow,


s: While here they stopped and stood, before them drew


s: Crowned with a beechen garland gathered new,


s: Clad in a linen robe that raught down low,


s: In his right hand a rod, and on the flood


s: Against the stream he marched, and dry shod yode.


s: As on the Rhene, when winter's freezing cold


s: Congeals the streams to thick and hardened glass,


s: The beauties fair of shepherds' daughters bold


s: With wanton windlays run, turn, play and pass;


s: Although unfrozen soft and swift it was,


s: And thither stalked where the warriors stayed,


s: To whom, their greetings done, he spoke and said:


s: "Great pains, great travel, lords, you have begun,


s: And of a cunning guide great need you stand,


s: Far off, alas!  is great Bertoldo's son,


s: What soil remains by which you must not run,


s: What promontory, rock, sea, shore or sand


s: Your search must stretch before the prince be found,


s: Beyond our world, beyond our half of ground!


s: But yet vouchsafe to see my cell I pray,


s: In hidden caves and vaults though builded low,


s: Great wonders there, strange things I will bewray,


s: Things good for you to hear, and fit to know:"


s: This said, he bids the river make them way,


s: The flood retired, backward gan to flow,


s: And here and there two crystal mountains rise,


s: So fled the Red Sea once, and Jordan thrice.


s: He took their hands, and led them headlong down


s: Under the flood, through vast and hollow deeps,


s: Such light they had as when through shadows brown


s: Of thickest deserts feeble Cynthia peeps,


s: Their spacious caves they saw all overflown,


s: There all his waters pure great Neptune keeps,


s: And thence to moisten all the earth he brings


s: Seas, rivers, floods, lakes, fountains, wells and springs:


s: Whence Euphrates, whence Tigris' spring they view,


s: Although his head till then no creature knew,


s: But under these a wealthy stream doth go,


s: That sulphur yields and ore, rich, quick and new,


s: Which the sunbeams doth polish, purge and fine,


s: And makes it silver pure, and gold divine.


s: And all his banks the rich and wealthy stream


s: Hath fair beset with pearl and precious stone


s: Like stars in sky or lamps on stage that seem,


s: The darkness there was day, the night was gone,


s: There sparkled, clothed in his azure-beam,


s: The heavenly sapphire, there the jacinth shone,


s: The carbuncle there flamed, the diamond sheen,


s: There glistered bright, there smiled the emerald green.


s: Amazed the knights amid these wonders passed,


s: And fixed so deep the marvels in their thought,


s: That not one word they uttered, till at last


s: Ubaldo spake, and thus his guide besought:


s: "O father, tell me by what skill thou hast


s: These wonders done? and to what place us brought?


s: My heart is drowned in such amazement deep."


s: "You are within the hollow womb," quoth he,


s: "Of fertile earth, the nurse of all things made,


s: And but you brought and guided are by me,


s: Her sacred entrails could no wight invade;


s: My palace shortly shall you splendent see,


s: With glorious light, though built in night and shade.


s: To grace, by baptism, hath my soul restored.


s: "Nor yet by help of devil, or aid from hell,


s: I do this uncouth work and wondrous feat,


s: To raise foul Dis from his infernal seat:


s: But of all herbs, of every spring and well,


s: The hidden power I know and virtue great,


s: And all that kind hath hid from mortal sight,


s: And all the stars, their motions, and their might.


s: "For in these caves I dwell not buried still


s: From sight of Heaven. but often I resort


s: As bare as erst when Vulcan took them short,


s: And how the rest roll, glide and move, I see,


s: How their aspects benign or froward be."


s: "And underneath my feet the clouds I view,


s: Now thick, now thin, now bright with Iris' bow,


s: The frost and snow, the rain, the hail, the dew,


s: The winds, from whence they come and whence they blow,


s: How Jove his thunder makes and lightning new,


s: How with the bolt he strikes the earth below,


s: How comate, crinite, caudate stars are framed


s: I knew; my skill with pride my heart inflamed.


s: "So learned, cunning, wise, myself I thought,


s: That I supposed my wit so high might climb


s: To know all things that God had framed or wrought,


s: Fire, air, sea, earth, man, beast, sprite, place and time;


s: But when your hermit me to baptism brought,


s: And from my soul had washed the sin and crime,


s: Then I perceived my sight was blindness still,


s: "Then saw I, that like owls in shining sun,


s: So gainst the beams of truth our souls are blind,


s: And at my heart, puffed up with folly's wind,


s: Yet still these arts, as I before had done,


s: I practised, such was the hermit's mind:


s: Thus hath he changed my thoughts, my heart, my will,


s: And rules mine art, my knowledge, and my skill.


s: "In him I rest, on him my thoughts depend,


s: My lord, my teacher, and my guide is he,


s: This noble work he strives to bring to end,


s: The hardy youth home to this camp to send


s: From prison strong, my care, my charge shall be;


s: So He commands, and me ere this foretold


s: Your coming oft, to seek the champion bold."


s: While this he said, he brought the champions twain


s: Down to a vault, wherein he dwells and lies,


s: It was a cave, high, wide, large, ample, plain,


s: With goodly rooms, halls, chambers, galleries,


s: All what is bred in rich and precious vein


s: Of wealthy earth, and hid from mortal eyes,


s: There shines, and fair adorned was every part


s: With riches grown by kind, not framed by art:


s: An hundred grooms, quick, diligent and neat,


s: Attendance gave about these strangers bold,


s: Against the wall there stood a cupboard great


s: Of massive plate, of silver, crystal, gold.


s: But when with precious wines and costly meat


s: They filled were, thus spake the wizard old:


s: "Now fits the time, sir knights, I tell and show


s: What you desire to hear, and long to know.


s: "Armida's craft, her sleight and hidden guile


s: You partly wot, her acts and arts untrue,


s: How to your camp she came, and by what wile


s: The greatest lords and princes thence she drew;


s: You know she turned them first to monsters vile,


s: And kept them since closed up in secret mew,


s: Lastly, to Gaza-ward in bonds them sent,


s: Whom young Rinaldo rescued as they went.


s: "What chanced since I will at large declare,


s: To you unknown, a story strange and true.


s: When first her prey, got with such pain and care,


s: Escaped and gone the witch perceived and knew,


s: Her hands she wrung for grief, her clothes she tare,


s: And full of woe these heavy words outthrew:


s: 'Alas!  my knights are slain, my prisoners free,


s: Yet of that conquest never boast shall he,


s: "'He in their place shall serve me, and sustain


s: Their plagues, their torments suffer, sorrows bear,


s: And they his absence shall lament in vain,


s: And wail his loss and theirs with many a tear:'


s: A false and wicked guile, as you shall hear;


s: Thither she hasted where the valiant knight


s: Had overcome and slain her men in fight.


s: "Rinaldo there had dolt and left his own,


s: And in those arms less noted false to ride.


s: A headless corse in fight late overthrown,


s: The witch in his forsaken arms did hide,


s: Whither she wished would come a Christian band:


s: "Their coming might the dame foreknow right well,


s: For secret spies she sent forth thousand ways,


s: Which every day news from the camp might tell,


s: Who parted thence, booties to search or preys:


s: Beside, the sprites conjured by sacred spell,


s: All what she asks or doubts, reveals and says,


s: The body therefore placed she in that part


s: That furthered best her sleight, her craft. and art;


s: "And near the corpse a varlet false and sly


s: She left, attired in shepherd's homely weed,


s: And taught him how to counterfeit and lie


s: As time required, and he performed the deed;


s: With him your soldiers spoke, of jealousy


s: And false suspect mongst them he strewed the seed,


s: That since brought forth the fruit of strife and jar,


s: Of civil brawls, contention, discord, war.


s: "And as she wished so the soldiers thought


s: By Godfrey's practice that the prince was slain,


s: Yet vanished that suspicion false to naught


s: When truth spread forth her silver wings again


s: This was her first deceit, her foremost train;


s: What next she practised, shall you hear me tell,


s: Against our knight, and what thereof befell.


s: "Armida hunted him through wood and plain,


s: Till on Orontes' flowery banks he stayed,


s: There, where the stream did part and meet again


s: A pillar fair was pight beside the main,


s: Near which a little frigate floating laid,


s: The marble white the prince did long behold,


s: And this inscription read, there writ in gold:


s: "'Whoso thou art whom will or chance doth bring


s: With happy steps to flood Orontes' sides,


s: Know that the world hath not so strange a thing,


s: Twixt east and west, as this small island hides,


s: Then pass and see, without more tarrying.'


s: The hasty youth to pass the stream provides,


s: And for the cogs was narrow, small and strait,


s: Alone he rowed, and bade his squires there wait;


s: "Landed he stalks about, yet naught he sees


s: But verdant groves, sweet shades, and mossy rocks


s: With caves and fountains, flowers, herbs and trees,


s: So that the words he read he takes for mocks:


s: But that green isle was sweet at all degrees,


s: Wherewith enticed down sits he and unlocks


s: His closed helm, and bares his visage fair,


s: To take sweet breath from cool and gentle air.


s: Meanwhile he heard, and thither turned his sight,


s: And tumbling in the troubled stream took keep


s: How the strong waves together rush and fight,


s: Whence first he saw, with golden tresses, peep


s: And then her neck, her breasts, and all, as low


s: As he for shame could see, or she could show.


s: "So in the twilight does sometimes appear


s: And though no siren but a sprite this were


s: Yet by her beauty seemed it she had been


s: One of those sisters false which haunted near


s: The Tyrrhene shores and kept those waters sheen,


s: Like theirs her face, her voice was, and her sound,


s: And thus she sung, and pleased both skies and ground:


s: "'Ye happy youths, who April fresh and May


s: Do not your tender limbs to toil engage;


s: In calm streams, fishes; birds, in sunshine play,


s: So nature saith, yet gainst her sacred will


s: Why still rebel you, and why strive you still?


s: "'O fools who youth possess, yet scorn the same,


s: A precious, but a short-abiding treasure,


s: Prized by the world 'bove reason all and measure,


s: And honor, glory, praise, renown and fame,


s: That men's proud harts bewitch with tickling pleasure,


s: With each wind blasted, spoiled with every shower.


s: "'But let your happy souls in joy possess


s: Your passed harms salve with forgetfulness,


s: Haste not your coming evils with thought and care,


s: Regard no blazing star with burning tress,


s: Nor storm, nor threatening sky, nor thundering air,


s: This wisdom is, good life, and worldly bliss,


s: Kind teacheth us, nature commands us this.'


s: "Thus sung the spirit false, and stealing sleep,


s: To which her tunes enticed his heavy eyes,


s: By step and step did on his senses creep,


s: Not thunders loud could from this slumber deep,


s: Of quiet death true image, make him rise:


s: Then from her ambush forth Armida start,


s: Swearing revenge, and threatening torments smart.


s: "But when she looked on his face awhile,


s: And saw how sweet he breathed, how still he lay,


s: How his fair eyes though closed seemed to smile,


s: At first she stayed, astound with great dismay,


s: Then sat her down, so love can art beguile,


s: And as she sat and looked, fled fast away


s: Her wrath, that on his forehead gazed the maid,


s: As in his spring Narcissus tooting laid;


s: From his fair cheeks the globes of silver sweat,


s: And cool air gathered with a trembling fan,


s: Thus, who would think it, his hot eye-glance can


s: Of that cold frost dissolve the hardness great


s: Which late congealed the heart of that fair dame,


s: "Of woodbines, lilies, and of roses sweet,


s: Which proudly flowered through that wanton plain,


s: All platted fast, well knit, and joined meet,


s: She framed a soft but surely holding chain,


s: Wherewith she bound his neck his hands and feet;


s: Thus bound, thus taken, did the prince remain,


s: And in a coach which two old dragons drew,


s: She laid the sleeping knight, and thence she flew:


s: "Nor turned she to Damascus' kingdoms large,


s: Nor to the fort built in Asphalte's lake,


s: But jealous of her dear and precious charge,


s: And of her love ashamed, the way did take,


s: To the wide ocean whither skiff or barge


s: And there to frolic with her love awhile,


s: She chose a waste, a sole and desert isle.


s: "An isle that with her fellows bears the name


s: Of Fortunate, for temperate air and mould,


s: There in a mountain high alight the dame,


s: A hill obscured with shades of forests old,


s: Upon whose sides the witch by art did frame


s: Continual snow, sharp frost and winter cold,


s: But on the top, fresh, pleasant, sweet and green,


s: Beside a lake a palace built this queen.


s: "There in perpetual sweet and flowering spring,


s: She lives at ease, and joys her lord at will;


s: The hardy youth from this strange prison bring


s: And overcome each monster and each thing,


s: That guards the palace or that keeps the hill,


s: Nor shall you want a guide, or engines fit,


s: To bring you to the mount, or conquer it.


s: "Beside the stream, yparted shall you find


s: A dame, in visage young, but old in years,


s: Her curled locks about her front are twined,


s: This shall conduct you swift as air or wind,


s: Or that flit bird that Jove's hot weapon bears,


s: A faithful pilot, cunning, trusty, sure,


s: "At the hill's foot, whereon the witch doth dwell,


s: The serpents hiss, and cast their poison vilde,


s: The ugly boars do rear their bristles fell,


s: There gape the bears, and roar the lions wild;


s: Their rage and wrath, and make them meek and mild.


s: Yet on the top and height of all the hill,


s: The greatest danger lies, and greatest ill:


s: "There welleth out a fair, clear, bubbling spring,


s: Whose waters pure the thirsty guests entice,


s: But in those liquors cold the secret sting


s: Of strange and deadly poison closed lies,


s: One sup thereof the drinker's heart doth bring


s: To sudden joy, whence laughter vain doth rise,


s: Nor that strange merriment once stops or stays,


s: Till, with his laughter's end, he end his days:


s: "Then from those deadly, wicked streams refrain


s: Your thirsty lips, despise the dainty cheer


s: Nor those false damsels once vouchsafe to hear,


s: That in melodious tunes their voices strain,


s: Whose faces lovely, smiling, sweet, appear;


s: But you their looks, their voice, their songs despise,


s: "The house is builded like a maze within,


s: With turning stairs, false doors and winding ways,


s: The shape whereof plotted in vellum thin


s: I will you give, that all those sleights bewrays,


s: In midst a garden lies, where many a gin


s: And net to catch frail hearts, false Cupid lays;


s: There in the verdure of the arbors green,


s: With your brave champion lies the wanton queen.


s: "But when she haply riseth from the knight,


s: And hath withdrawn her presence from the place,


s: Then take a shield I have of diamonds bright,


s: And hold the same before the young man's face,


s: That he may glass therein his garments light,


s: And wanton soft attire, and view his case,


s: That with the sight shame and disdain may move


s: His heart to leave that base and servile love.


s: "Now resteth naught that needful is to tell,


s: But that you go secure, safe, sure and bold,


s: And pass the dangers all I have foretold,


s: For neither art, nor charm, nor magic spell,


s: Can stop your passage or your steps withhold,


s: Your coming aught foreknow or once foresee:


s: "And eke as safe from that enchanted fort


s: But now the time doth us to rest exhort,


s: And you must rise by peep of springing day."


s: This said, he led them through a narrow port,


s: There glad and full of thoughts he left his guests,


s: And in his wonted bed the old man rests.


s: The well instructed knights forsake their host,


s: And come where their strange bark in harbor lay,


s: The monarch's ships and armies in array:


s: Their wind and pilot good, the seas in post


s: They pass, and of long journeys make short way:


s: The far-sought isle they find; Armida's charms


s: They scorn, they shun her sleights, despise her arms.


s: The rosy-fingered morn with gladsome ray


s: When their grave host came where the warriors lay,


s: And with him brought the shield, the rod, the map.


s: "Arise," quoth he, "ere lately broken day,


s: In his bright arms the round world fold or wrap,


s: All what I promised, here I have them brought,


s: Enough to bring Armida's charms to naught."


s: In sturdy steel and stubborn plate they dight,


s: Before the old man stalked, they followed him


s: Through gloomy shades of sad and sable night,


s: Through vaults obscure again and entries dim,


s: The way they came their steps remeasured right;


s: But at the flood arrived, "Farewell," quoth he,


s: "Good luck your aid, your guide good fortune be."


s: The flood received them in his bottom low


s: And lilt them up above his billows thin;


s: The waters so east up a branch or bough,


s: By violence first plunged and dived therein:


s: But when upon the shore the waves them throw,


s: The knights for their fair guide to look begin,


s: And gazing round a little bark they spied,


s: Wherein a damsel sate the stern to guide.


s: Upon her front her locks were curled new,


s: Her eyes were courteous, full of peace and love;


s: In look a saint, an angel bright in show,


s: So in her visage grace and virtue strove;


s: Her robe seemed sometimes red and sometimes blue,


s: And changed still as she did stir or move;


s: That look how oft man's eye beheld the same


s: So oft the colors changed, went and came.


s: The feathers so, that tender, soft, and plain,


s: About the dove's smooth neck close couched been,


s: But change their hue gainst glimpse of Phoebus' sheen;


s: And now of rubies bright a vermeil chain,


s: Now make a carknet rich of emeralds green;


s: Now mingle both, now alter, turn and change


s: To thousand colors, rich, pure, fair, and strange.


s: "Enter this boat, you happy men," she says,


s: "Wherein through raging waves secure I ride,


s: To which all tempest, storm, and wind obeys,


s: All burdens light, benign is stream and tide:


s: My lord, that rules your journeys and your ways,


s: Hath sent me here, your servant and your guide."


s: This said, her shallop drove she gainst the sand,


s: And anchor cast amid the steadfast land.


s: They entered in, her anchors she upwound,


s: And launched forth to sea her pinnace flit,


s: Spread to the wind her sails she broad unbound,


s: Swelled the flood that all his banks he drowned


s: To bear the greatest ship of burthen fit;


s: Yet was her fatigue little, swift and light,


s: That at his lowest ebb bear it he might.


s: Swifter than thought the friendly wind forth bore


s: With curded foam and froth the billows hoar


s: At last they came where all his watery store


s: The flood in one deep channel did engrave,


s: And forth to greedy seas his streams he sent,


s: And so his waves, his name, himself he spent.


s: The wondrous boat scant touched the troubled main


s: But all the sea still, hushed and quiet was,


s: Vanished the clouds, ceased the wind and rain,


s: The tempests threatened overblow and pass,


s: A gentle breathing air made even and plain


s: The azure face of heaven's smooth looking-glass,


s: And heaven itself smiled from the skies above


s: With a calm clearness on the earth his love.


s: By Ascalon they sailed, and forth drived,


s: Toward the west their speedy course they frame,


s: A little port when first it took that name;


s: But since, by others' loss so well it thrived


s: And there the shores and borders of the land


s: They found as full of armed men as sand.


s: The passengers to landward turned their sight,


s: And there saw pitched many a stately tent,


s: Soldier and footman, captain, lord and knight,


s: Between the shore and city, came and went:


s: Huge elephants, strong camels, coursers light,


s: With horned hoofs the sandy ways outrent,


s: With mighty anchors fastened, swim and float;


s: Some spread their sails, some with strong oars sweep


s: The waters smooth, and brush the buxom wave,


s: Their breasts in sunder cleave the yielding deep,


s: The broken seas for anger foam and rave,


s: When thus their guide began, "Sir knights, take keep


s: How all these shores are spread with squadrons brave


s: And troops of hardy knights, yet on these sands


s: The monarch scant hath gathered half his bands.


s: And aid from other lands they here attend,


s: For twixt the noon-day sun and morning star,


s: All realms at his command do bow and bend;


s: So that I trust we shall return from far,


s: And bring our journey long to wished end,


s: Before this king or his lieutenant shall


s: These armies bring to Zion's conquered wall."


s: While thus she said, as soaring eagles fly


s: Mongst other birds securely through the air,


s: And mounting up behold with wakeful eye,


s: The radiant beams of old Hyperion's hair,


s: Twixt ship and ship, withouten fear or care


s: Who should her follow, trouble, stop or stay,


s: And forth to sea made lucky speed and way.


s: Themselves fornenst old Raffia's town they fand,


s: A town that first to sailors doth appear


s: They passed, and seas where Casius hill doth stand


s: That with his trees o'erspreads the waters near,


s: Against whose roots breaketh the brackish wave


s: Where Jove his temple, Pompey hath his grave:


s: By his seven mouths renowned in stories old,


s: They pass the town built by the Grecian bold,


s: And Pharaoh's tower and isle removed of yore


s: Far from the land, now joined to the shore:


s: Both Crete and Rhodes they left by north unseen,


s: And sailed along the coasts of Afric lands,


s: Whose sea towns fair, but realms more inward been


s: All full of monsters and of desert sands:


s: With her five cities then they left Cyrene,


s: Where that old temple of false Hammon stands:


s: Whence spring the silent streams of Lethe flood.


s: The greater Syrte, that sailors often cast


s: In peril great of death and loss extreme,


s: They compassed round about, and safely passed,


s: The Cape Judeca and flood Magra's stream;


s: Then Tripoli, gainst which is Malta placed,


s: That low and hid, to lurk in seas doth seem:


s: The little Syrte then, and Alzerhes isle,


s: Where dwelt the folk that Lotos ate erewhile.


s: Next Tunis on the crooked shore they spied,


s: Whose bay a rock on either side defends,


s: Tunis all towns in beauty, wealth and pride


s: Above, as far as Libya's bounds extends;


s: Gainst which, from fair Sicilia's fertile side,


s: The dame there pointed out where sometime stood


s: Rome's stately rival whilom, Carthage proud;


s: Great Carthage low in ashes cold doth lie,


s: Her ruins poor the herbs in height scant pass,


s: So cities fall, so perish kingdoms high,


s: Their pride and pomp lies hid in sand and grass:


s: Then why should mortal man repine to die,


s: Whose life, is air; breath, wind; and body, glass?


s: From thence the seas next Bisert's walls they cleft,


s: And far Sardinia on their right hand left.


s: Numidia's mighty plains they coasted then,


s: Where wandering shepherds used their flocks to feed,


s: Of pirates false, Oran they left with speed,


s: Where now the realms of Fez and Maroc be,


s: Gainst which Granada's shores and coasts they see.


s: Now are they there, where first the sea brake in


s: By great Alcides' help, as stories feign,


s: True may it be that where those floods begin


s: Before the sea there through did passage win


s: And parted Afric from the land of Spain,


s: Abila hence, thence Calpe great upsprings,


s: Such power hath time to change the face of things.


s: Four times the sun had spread his morning ray


s: Since first the dame launched forth her wondrous barge


s: And never yet took port in creek or bay,


s: But fairly forward bore the knights her charge;


s: Now through the strait her jolly ship made way,


s: But if the sea in midst of earth was great,


s: Oh what was this, wherein earth hath her seat?


s: They saw not Gades, nor the mountains near,


s: Fled was the land, and towns on land that stood,


s: Heaven covered sea, sea seemed the heavens to bear.


s: "At last, fair lady," quoth Ubaldo good,


s: "That in this endless main dost guide us here,


s: Or other lands here be wherein men dwell."


s: "Great Hercules," quoth she, "when he had quailed


s: The monsters fierce in Afric and in Spain,


s: And all along your coasts and countries sailed,


s: Within his pillars would he have impaled


s: Till Lord Ulysses did those bounders pass,


s: "He passed those pillars, and in open wave


s: Of the broad sea first his bold sails untwined,


s: Naught helped him his skill gainst tide and wind;


s: With him all witness of his voyage brave


s: Lies buried there, no truth thereof we find,


s: And they whom storm hath forced that way since,


s: Are drowned all, or unreturned from thence:


s: "So that this mighty sea is yet unsought,


s: Where thousand isles and kingdoms lie unknown,


s: Not void of men as some have vainly thought,


s: But peopled well, and wonned like your own;


s: The land is fertile ground, but scant well wrought,


s: Air wholesome, temperate sun, grass proudly grown."


s: "But," quoth Ubaldo, "dame, I pray thee teach


s: Of that hid world, what be the laws and speech?"


s: "As diverse be their nations," answered she,


s: "Their tongues, their rites, their laws so different are;


s: Some pray to beasts, some to a stone or tree,


s: Some to the earth, the sun, or morning star;


s: Their meats unwholesome, vile, and hateful be,


s: Some eat man's flesh, and captives ta'en in war,


s: And all from Calpe's mountain west that dwell,


s: In faith profane, in life are rude and fell."


s: "But will our gracious God," the knight replied,


s: "That with his blood all sinful men hath bought,


s: From all those lands, as yet unknown, unsought?"


s: "Oh no," quoth she, "his name both far and wide


s: Shall there be known, all learning thither brought,


s: Nor shall these long and tedious ways forever


s: Your world and theirs, their lands, your kingdoms sever.


s: "The time shall come that sailors shall disdain


s: And lands and seas that nameless yet remain,


s: Shall well be known, their boundaries, site and seat,


s: The ships encompass shall the solid main,


s: As far as seas outstretch their waters great,


s: And measure all the world, and with the sun


s: About this earth, this globe, this compass, run.


s: "A knight of Genes shall have the hardiment


s: Upon this wondrous voyage first to wend,


s: Nor winds nor waves, that ships in sunder rent,


s: Nor seas unused, strange clime, or pool unkenned,


s: That makes frail hearts of men to bow and bend,


s: Within Abilas' strait shall keep and hold


s: "Thy ship, Columbus, shall her canvas wing


s: Spread o'er that world that yet concealed lies,


s: That scant swift fame her looks shall after bring,


s: Though thousand plumes she have, and thousand eyes;


s: That of thine acts she some forewarning give,


s: Which shall in verse and noble story live."


s: Thus talking, swift twixt south and west they run,


s: And sliced out twixt froth and foam their way;


s: At once they saw before, the setting sun;


s: Behind, the rising beam of springing day;


s: And when the morn her drops and dews begun


s: To scatter broad upon the flowering lay,


s: Far off a hill and mountain high they spied,


s: Whose top the clouds environ, clothe and hide;


s: And drawing near, the hill at ease they view,


s: When all the clouds were molten, fallen and fled,


s: Whose top pyramid-wise did pointed show,


s: High, narrow, sharp, the sides yet more outspread,


s: Thence now and then fire, flame and smoke outflew,


s: As from that hill, whereunder lies in bed


s: Bright fire breaks out by night, black smoke by day.


s: Where other rocks, crags, cliffs, and mountains stood,


s: The Isles Fortunate these elder time did call,


s: To which high Heaven they reigned so kind and good,


s: That without tillage earth gives corn for food,


s: And grapes that swell with sweet and precious wine


s: There without pruning yields the fertile vine.


s: The olive fat there ever buds and flowers,


s: The honey-drops from hollow oaks distil,


s: The falling brook her silver streams downpours


s: With gentle murmur from their native hill,


s: The western blast tempereth with dews and showers


s: The sunny rays, lest heat the blossoms kill,


s: The fields Elysian, as fond heathen sain,


s: Were there, where souls of men in bliss remain.


s: To these their pilot steered, "And now," quoth she,


s: "Your voyage long to end is brought well-near,


s: Of which great fame, and little truth, you hear,


s: Sweet, wholesome, pleasant, fertile, fat they be,


s: Yet not so rich as fame reports they were."


s: This said, toward an island fresh she bore,


s: The first of ten, that lies next Afric's shore;


s: When Charles thus, "If, worthy governess,


s: To our good speed such tarriance be no let,


s: Upon this isle that Heaven so fair doth bless,


s: To view the place, on land awhile us set,


s: To know the folk and what God they confess,


s: And all whereby man's heart may knowledge get,


s: That I may tell the wonders therein seen


s: Another day, and say, there have I been."


s: She answered him, "Well fits this high desire


s: For Heaven's decree, firm, stable, and entire,


s: Thy wish repugns, and gainst thy will is bent,


s: Nor yet the time hath Titan's gliding fire


s: Met forth, prefixed for this discoverment,


s: That you the secrets know, or known explain.


s: It's given to pass these seas, and there arrive


s: Where in strong prison lies your knight imbarred,


s: And of her prey you must the witch deprive:


s: In vain gainst fate and Heaven's decree you strive."


s: While thus she said, the first seen isle gave place,


s: And high and rough the second showed his face.


s: They saw how eastward stretched in order long,


s: The happy islands sweetly flowering lay;


s: And how the seas betwixt those isles enthrong,


s: And how they shouldered land from land away:


s: The shady trees their sheds had built of clay,


s: The rest lay waste, unless wild beasts unseen,


s: Or wanton nymphs, roamed on the mountains green.


s: A secret place they found in one of those,


s: Where the cleft shore sea in his bosom takes,


s: And 'twixt his stretched arms doth fold and close


s: Which to the main doth his broad back oppose,


s: Whereon the roaring billow cleaves and breaks,


s: And here and there two crags like turrets high,


s: Point forth a port to all that sail thereby:


s: The quiet seas below lie safe and still,


s: The green wood like a garland grows aloft,


s: Sweet caves within, cool shades and waters shrill,


s: Where lie the nymphs on moss and ivy soft;


s: No anchor there needs hold her frigate still,


s: Nor cable twisted sure, though breaking oft:


s: Entered the dame, and there her haven made.


s: "The palace proudly built," quoth she, "behold,


s: That sits on top of yonder mountain's height,


s: Of Christ's true faith there lies the champion bold


s: When Phoebus shall his rising beams unfold,


s: Prepare you gainst the hill to mount upright,


s: Nor let this stay in your bold hearts breed care,


s: For, save that one, all hours unlucky are;


s: "But yet this evening, if you make good speed,


s: To that hill's foot with daylight might you pass."


s: Thus said the dame their guide, and they agreed,


s: And took their leave and leaped forth on the grass;


s: They found the way that to the hill doth lead,


s: But at the mountain's foot they both arrived,


s: Before the sun his team in waters dived.


s: They saw how from the crags and clefts below


s: His proud and stately pleasant top grew out,


s: And how his sides were clad with frost and snow,


s: The height was green with herbs and flowerets sout,


s: Like hairy locks the trees about him grow,


s: The rocks of ice keep watch and ward about,


s: Thus art can nature change, and kind subdue.


s: At the hill's foot that night the warriors dwell,


s: But when the sun his rays bright, shining, hot,


s: Dispread of golden light the eternal well,


s: "Up, up," they cried, and fiercely up they got,


s: And climbed boldly gainst the mountain fell;


s: But forth there crept, from whence I cannot say,


s: An ugly serpent which forestalled their way.


s: Armed with golden scales his head and crest


s: He lifted high, his neck swelled great with ire,


s: Flamed his eyes, and hiding with his breast


s: All the broad path, he poison breathed and fire,


s: Now reached he forth in folds and forward pressed,


s: Now would he back in rolls and heaps retire,


s: Thus he presents himself to guard the place,


s: The knights pressed forward with assured pace:


s: Charles drew forth his brand to strike the snake;


s: Will you with sword or weapon battle make


s: Against this monster that affronts us here?"


s: This said, he gan his charmed rod to shake,


s: So that the serpent durst not hiss for fear,


s: But fled, and dead for dread fell on the grass,


s: And so the passage plain, eath, open was.


s: A lion fierce that hugely roared and cried,


s: Of his broad-gaping jaws the furnace wide,


s: His stern his back oft smote, his rage to whet,


s: But when the sacred staff he once espied


s: A trembling fear through his bold heart was spread,


s: His native wrath was gone, and swift he fled.


s: The hardy couple on their way forth wend,


s: And met a host that on them roar and gape,


s: Of savage beasts, tofore unseen, unkend,


s: Differing in voice, in semblance, and in shape;


s: All monsters which hot Afric doth forthsend,


s: Twixt Nilus, Atlas, and the southern cape,


s: Were all there met, and all wild beasts besides


s: Hyrcania breeds, or Hyrcane forest hides.


s: But yet that fierce, that strange and savage host


s: Could not in presence of those worthies stand,


s: But fled away, their heart and courage lost,


s: When Lord Ubaldo shook his charming wand.


s: No other let their passage stopped or crossed;


s: Till on the mountain's top themselves they land,


s: Save that the ice, the frost, and drifted snow,


s: Oft made them feeble, weary, faint and slow.


s: But having passed all that frozen ground,


s: And overgone that winter sharp and keen,


s: A warm, mild, pleasant, gentle sky they found,


s: That overspread a large and ample green,


s: The winds breathed spikenard, myrrh, and balm around,


s: The blasts were firm, unchanged, stable been,


s: Not as elsewhere the winds now rise now fall,


s: And Phoebus there aye shines, sets not at all.


s: Not as elsewhere now sunshine bright now showers,


s: Now heat now cold, there interchanged were,


s: But everlasting spring mild heaven down pours, --


s: In which nor rain, nor storm, nor clouds appear, --


s: Nursing to fields, their grass; to grass, his flowers;


s: To flowers their smell; to trees, the leaves they bear:


s: There by a lake a stately palace stands,


s: That overlooks all mountains, seas and lands:


s: The passage hard against the mountain steep


s: These travellers had faint and weary made,


s: That through those grassy plains they scantly creep;


s: They walked, they rested oft, they went, they stayed,


s: When from the rocks, that seemed for joy to weep,


s: Before their feet a dropping crystal played


s: Enticing them to drink, and on the flowers


s: The plenteous spring a thousand streams down pours,


s: All which, united in the springing grass,


s: Ate forth a channel through the tender green


s: With murmur shrill, cold, pure, and scantly seen;


s: The bottom rich, and sands that golden been,


s: Proffered them seats, sweet, easy, fresh and soft.


s: "See here the stream of laughter, see the spring,"


s: Quoth they, "of danger and of deadly pain,


s: Be ruled, our lust bridled with wisdom's rein,


s: Our ears be stopped while these Sirens sing,


s: Their notes enticing man to pleasure vain."


s: Thus passed they forward where the stream did make


s: An ample pond, a large and spacious lake.


s: That sea, that earth, or liquid air could give,


s: And in the crystal of the laughing flood


s: They saw two naked virgins bathe and dive,


s: That sometimes toying, sometimes wrestling stood,


s: Sometimes for speed and skill in swimming strive,


s: Now underneath they dived, now rose above,


s: And ticing baits laid forth of lust and love.


s: These naked wantons, tender, fair and white,


s: Moved so far the warriors' stubborn hearts,


s: That on their shapes they gazed with delight;


s: The nymphs applied their sweet alluring arts,


s: Lift up her head, her breasts and higher parts,


s: And all that might weak eyes subdue and take,


s: Her lower beauties veiled the gentle lake.


s: As when the morning star, escaped and fled


s: From greedy waves, with dewy beams up flies,


s: Or as the Queen of Love, new born and bred


s: Of the Ocean's fruitful froth, did first arise:


s: So vented she her golden locks forth shed


s: Round pearls and crystal moist therein which lies:


s: But when her eyes upon the knights she cast,


s: She start, and feigned her of their sight aghast.


s: And her fair locks, that in a knot were tied


s: High on her crown, she 'gan at large unfold;


s: Which falling long and thick and spreading wide,


s: The ivory soft and white mantled in gold:


s: Thus her fair skin the dame would clothe and hide,


s: And that which hid it no less fair was hold;


s: Thus clad in waves and locks, her eyes divine,


s: From them ashamed did she turn and twine.


s: Withal she smiled and she blushed withal,


s: Her blush, her smilings, smiles her blushing graced:


s: Whereunder Love himself in ambush placed:


s: At last she warbled forth a treble small,


s: And with sweet looks her sweet songs interlaced;


s: "Oh happy men I that have the grace," quoth she,


s: "This bliss, this heaven, this paradise to see.


s: "This is the place wherein you may assuage


s: Your sorrows past, here is that joy and bliss


s: That flourished in the antique golden age,


s: Here needs no law, here none doth aught amiss:


s: Put off those arms and fear not Mars his rage,


s: Your sword, your shield, your helmet needless is;


s: Then consecrate them here to endless rest,


s: You shall love's champions be, and soldiers blest.


s: "The fields for combat here are beds of down,


s: But come and see our queen with golden crown,


s: That all her servants blest and happy makes,


s: Numbered with those that of her joy partakes:


s: But first within this lake your dust and sweat


s: Wash off, and at that table sit and eat."


s: While thus she sung, her sister lured them nigh


s: With many a gesture kind and loving show,


s: To music's sound as dames in court apply


s: Their cunning feet, and dance now swift now slow:


s: But still the knights unmoved passed by,


s: These vain delights for wicked charms they know,


s: Nor could their heavenly voice or angel's look,


s: Surprise their hearts, if eye or ear they took.


s: For if that sweetness once but touched their hearts,


s: And proffered there to kindle Cupid's fire,


s: Straight armed Reason to his charge up starts,


s: And quencheth Lust, and killeth fond Desire;


s: Thus scorned were the dames, their wiles and arts


s: And to the palace gates the knights retire,


s: While in their stream the damsels dived sad,


s: Ashamed, disgraced, for that repulse they had.


s: The searchers pass through all the palace bright


s: Where in sweet prison lies Rinaldo pent,


s: And do so much, that full of rage and spite,


s: With them he goes sad, shamed, discontent:


s: With plaints and prayers to retain her knight


s: Armida strives; he hears, but thence he went,


s: And she forlorn her palace great and fair


s: Destroys for grief, and flies thence through the air.


s: The palace great is builded rich and round,


s: There lies a garden sweet, on fertile ground,


s: Fairer than that where grew the trees of gold:


s: The cunning sprites had buildings reared around


s: With doors and entries false a thousandfold,


s: A labyrinth they made that fortress brave,


s: Like Daedal's prison, or Porsenna's grave.


s: The knights passed through the castle's largest gate,


s: Though round about an hundred ports there shine,


s: The door-leaves framed of carved silver-plate,


s: Upon their golden hinges turn and twine.


s: They stayed to view this work of wit and state.


s: The workmanship excelled the substance fine,


s: For all the shapes in that rich metal wrought,


s: Save speech, of living bodies wanted naught.


s: Alcides there sat telling tales, and spun


s: Among the feeble troops of damsels mild,


s: And heaven upheld; false Love stood by and smiled:


s: Armed with his club fair Iole forth run,


s: His club with blood of monsters foul defiled,


s: And on her back his lion's skin had she,


s: Too rough a bark for such a tender tree.


s: Beyond was made a sea, whose azure flood


s: The hoary froth crushed from the surges blue,


s: Wherein two navies great well ranged stood


s: Of warlike ships, fire from their arms outflew,


s: The waters burned about their vessels good,


s: Such flames the gold therein enchased threw,


s: Caesar his Romans hence, the Asian kings


s: Thence Antony and Indian princes brings.


s: The Cyclades seemed to swim amid the main,


s: And hill gainst hill, and mount gainst mountain smote,


s: With such great fury met those armies twain;


s: Here burnt a ship, there sunk a bark or boat,


s: Here darts and wild-fire flew, there drowned or slain


s: Of princes dead the bodies fleet and float;


s: Here Caesar wins, and yonder conquered been


s: The empire lost to which he would aspire,


s: Yet fled not he nor fight for fear forsook,


s: But followed her, drawn on by fond desire:


s: Well might you see within his troubled look,


s: Strive and contend, love, courage, shame and ire;


s: Oft looked he back, oft gazed he on the fight,


s: But oftener on his mistress and her flight.


s: Then in the secret creeks of fruitful Nile,


s: Cast in her lap, he would sad death await,


s: Sweeten the bitter stroke of cursed fate:


s: All this did art with curious hand compile


s: In the rich metal of that princely gate.


s: The knights these stories viewed first and last,


s: Which seen, they forward pressed, and in they passed:


s: As through his channel crooked Meander glides


s: With turns and twines, and rolls now to, now fro,


s: Whose streams run forth there to the salt sea sides


s: Here back return and to their springward go:


s: Such crooked paths, such ways this palace hides;


s: Yet all the maze their map described so,


s: That through the labyrinth they got in fine,


s: When they had passed all those troubled ways,


s: The garden sweet spread forth her green to show,


s: The moving crystal from the fountains plays,


s: Fair trees, high plants, strange herbs and flowerets new,


s: Sunshiny hills, dales hid from Phoebus' rays,


s: Groves, arbors, mossy caves, at once they view,


s: And that which beauty moat, most wonder brought,


s: Nowhere appeared the art which all this wrought.


s: So with the rude the polished mingled was


s: Nature would craft in counterfeiting pass,


s: Mild was the air, the skies were clear as glass,


s: The trees no whirlwind felt, nor tempest smart,


s: But ere the fruit drop off, the blossom comes,


s: This springs, that falls, that ripeneth and this blooms.


s: The leaves upon the self-same bough did hide


s: Beside the young the old and ripened fig,


s: Here fruit was green, there ripe with vermeil side,


s: The apples new and old grew on one twig,


s: The fruitful vine her arms spread high and wide


s: That bended underneath their clusters big,


s: The grapes were tender here, hard, young and sour,


s: There purple ripe, and nectar sweet forth pour.


s: The joyous birds, hid under greenwood shade,


s: Sung merry notes on every branch and bough,


s: The wind that in the leaves and waters played


s: With murmur sweet, now sung, and whistled now;


s: Ceased the birds, the wind loud answer made,


s: And while they sung, it rumbled soft and low;


s: Thus were it hap or cunning, chance or art,


s: The wind in this strange music bore his part.


s: With party-colored plumes' and purple bill,


s: A wondrous bird among the rest there flew,


s: That in plain speech sung love-lays loud and shrill,


s: So much she talked, and with such wit and skill,


s: That strange it seemed how much good she knew,


s: Her feathered fellows all stood hush to hear,


s: "The gently budding rose," quoth she, "behold,


s: That first scant peeping forth with virgin beams,


s: Half ope, half shut, her beauties doth upfold


s: In their dear leaves, and less seen, fairer seems,


s: And after spreads them forth more broad and bold,


s: Then languisheth and dies in last extremes,


s: Nor seems the same, that decked bed and bower


s: Nor e'er doth flourish more, but like the grass


s: Cut down, becometh withered, pale and wan:


s: Oh gather then the rose while time thou hast


s: Short is the day, done when it scant began,


s: Gather the rose of love, while yet thou mayest,


s: Loving, be loved; embracing, be embraced."


s: He ceased, and as approving all he spoke,


s: The choir of birds their heavenly tunes renew,


s: The turtles sighed, and sighs with kisses broke,


s: The fowls to shades unseen by pairs withdrew;


s: It seemed the laurel chaste, and stubborn oak,


s: And all the gentle trees on earth that grew,


s: It seemed the land, the sea, and heaven above,


s: All breathed out fancy sweet, and sighed out love.


s: Through all this music rare, and strong consent


s: Of strange allurements, sweet  bove mean and measure,


s: Severe, firm, constant, still the knights forthwent,


s: Hardening their hearts gainst false enticing pleasure,


s: Twixt leaf and leaf their sight before they sent,


s: And after crept themselves at ease and leisure,


s: Till they beheld the queen, set with their knight


s: Besides the lake, shaded with boughs from sight:


s: Her breasts were naked, for the day was hot,


s: Her locks unbound waved in the wanton wind;


s: Some deal she sweat, tired with the game you wot,


s: Her sweat-drops bright, white, round, like pearls of Ind;


s: That like sunbeams in silver fountains shined,


s: O'er him her looks she hung, and her soft breast


s: The pillow was, where he and love took rest.


s: And feeding them so, pined himself away;


s: His lips, his cheeks, his eyes kissed, as he lay,


s: Wherewith he sighed, as if his soul had fled


s: From his frail breast to hers, and there would stay


s: These follies all beheld and this hot fare.


s: Down by the lovers' side there pendent was


s: A crystal mirror, bright, pure, smooth, and neat,


s: He rose, and to his mistress held the glass,


s: A noble page, graced with that service great;


s: She, with glad looks, he with inflamed, alas,


s: Beauty and love beheld, both in one seat;


s: She, in the glass, he saw them in her eyes:


s: Her, to command; to serve, it pleased the knight;


s: He proud of bondage; of her empire, she;


s: "My dear," he said, "that blessest with thy sight


s: Even blessed angels, turn thine eyes to me,


s: For painted in my heart and portrayed right


s: Thy worth, thy beauties and perfections be,


s: Of which the form; the shape and fashion best,


s: Not in this glass is seen, but in my breast.


s: That while thereon thy looks are fixed and bent


s: Thy happy eyes themselves may see and view;


s: No glass contain that heaven of beauties true;


s: And in dear stars try shape and image see."


s: And with that word she smiled, and ne'ertheless


s: Her love-toys still she used, and pleasures bold!


s: Her hair, that done, she twisted up in tress,


s: And looser locks in silken laces rolled,


s: Her curles garlandwise she did up-dress,


s: The twisted flowers smiled, and her white breast


s: The lilies there that spring with roses dressed.


s: The jolly peacock spreads not half so fair


s: Her twenty-colored bow, through clouds of rain;


s: Yet all her ornaments, strange, rich and rare,


s: Her girdle did in price and beauty stain,


s: Nor that, with scorn, which Tuscan Guilla lost,


s: Igor Venus Ceston, could match this for cost.


s: Of mild denays, of tender scorns, of sweet


s: Repulses, war, peace, hope, despair, joy, fear,


s: Of smiles, jests, mirth, woe, grief, and sad regreet,


s: Sighs, sorrows, tears, embracements, kisses dear,


s: That mixed first by weight and measure meet,


s: And, when she would be loved, wore the same.


s: But when her wooing fit was brought to end,


s: She congee took, kissed him, and went her way;


s: Bout her affairs, her spells and charms to say:


s: The youth remained, yet had no power to bend


s: One step from thence, but used there to stray


s: Mongst the sweet birds, through every walk and grove


s: Alone, save for an hermit false called Love.


s: And when the silence deep and friendly shade


s: Recalled the lovers to their wonted sport,


s: In a fair room for pleasure built, they laid,


s: And longest nights with joys made sweet and short.


s: Now while the queen her household things surveyed,


s: And left her lord her garden and disport,


s: The twain that hidden in the bushes were


s: Before the prince in glistering arms appear:


s: As the fierce steed for age withdrawn from war


s: Wherein the glorious beast had always wone,


s: That in vile rest from fight sequestered far,


s: Feeds with the mares at large, his service done,


s: If arms he see, or hear the trumpet's jar,


s: He neigheth loud and thither fast doth run,


s: And wiseth on his back the armed knight,


s: Longing for jousts, for tournament and fight:


s: So fared Rinaldo when the glorious light


s: Of their bright harness glistered in his eyes,


s: His blood began to warm, his heart to rise,


s: Though, drunk with ease, devoid of wonted might


s: On sleep till then his weakened virtue lies.


s: Ubaldo forward stepped, and to him hield


s: Of diamonds clear that pure and precious shield.


s: Upon the targe his looks amazed he bent,


s: How from his locks they smoked and mantle wide,


s: His sword that many a Pagan stout had shent,


s: Bewrapped with flowers, hung idly by his side,


s: So nicely decked that it seemed the knight


s: Wore it for fashion's sake but not for fight.


s: As when, from sleep and idle dreams abraid,


s: But yet to view himself could not sustain,


s: His looks he downward cast and naught he said,


s: Grieved, shamed, sad, he would have died fain,


s: And oft he wished the earth or ocean wide


s: Would swallow him, and so his errors hide.


s: And all that Christ adore and fame have won,


s: In battle strong, in Syria fighting are;


s: From all the world, buried in sloth and shame,


s: "What letharge hath in drowsiness up-penned


s: Thy courage thus?  what sloth doth thee infect?


s: Up, up, our camp and Godfrey for thee send,


s: Thee fortune, praise and victory expect,


s: Come, fatal champion, bring to happy end


s: Which oft thou shaken hast to earth full low


s: With thy sharp brand strike down, kill, overthrow."


s: This said, the noble infant stood a space


s: Confused, speechless, senseless, ill-ashamed;


s: But when that shame to just disdain gave place,


s: To fierce disdain, from courage sprung untamed,


s: Another redness blushed through his face,


s: Whence worthy anger shone, displeasure flamed,


s: His nice attire in scorn he rent and tore,


s: For of his bondage vile that witness bore;


s: That done, he hasted from the charmed fort,


s: And through the maze passed with his searchers twain.


s: Wondered to find the furious keeper slain,


s: Awhile she feared, but she knew in short,


s: That her dear lord was fled, then saw she plain,


s: Ah, woful sight!  how from her gates the man


s: In haste, in fear, in wrath, in anger ran.


s: "Whither, O cruel!  leavest thou me alone?"


s: She would have cried, her grief her speeches stayed,


s: So that her woful words are backward gone,


s: Poor soul, of greater skill than she was one


s: Whose knowledge from her thus her joy conveyed,


s: This wist she well, yet had desire to prove


s: If art could keep, if charms recall her love.


s: With lips unpure yet ever said or spake,


s: Words that could make heaven's rolling circles stand,


s: And draw the damned ghosts from Limbo lake,


s: All well she knew, but yet no time she fand


s: To use her knowledge or her charms to make,


s: But left her arts, and forth she ran to prove


s: If single beauty were best charm for love.


s: Oh where be all her vaunts and triumphs now?


s: Love's empire great of late she made or marred,


s: To her his subjects humbly bend and bow,


s: And with her pride mixed was a scorn so hard,


s: That to be loved she loved, yet whilst they woo


s: Her lovers all she hates; that pleased her will


s: To conquer men, and conquered so, to kill.


s: Ran after him; that from her fled in scorn,


s: With humble plaints and prayers to adorn:


s: Through frost and snow, through brier, bush and thorn,


s: And sent her cries on message her before,


s: That reached not him till he had reached the shore.


s: "Oh thou that leav'st but half behind," quoth she,


s: "Of my poor heart, and half with thee dost carry,


s: Oh take this part, or render that to me,


s: Else kill them both at once, ah tarry, tarry:


s: Hear my last words, no parting kiss of thee


s: I crave, for some more fit with thee to marry


s: Keep them, unkind; what fear'st thou if thou stay?


s: At this Rinaldo stopped, stood still, and stayed,


s: She came, sad, breathless, weary, faint and weak,


s: And yet her beauty's pride grief could not break,


s: On him she looked, she gazed, but naught she said,


s: She would not, could not, or she durst not speak,


s: At her he looked not, glanced not, if he did,


s: Those glances shamefaced were, close, secret, hid.


s: As cunning singers, ere they strain on high,


s: In loud melodious tunes, their gentle voice,


s: With feignings sweet, low notes and warbles choice:


s: Her wonted shifts and sleights in Cupid's toys,


s: A sequence first of sighs and sobs forthcast,


s: To breed compassion dear, then spake at last:


s: Or pray, as ladies do their loves and lords;


s: Such were we late, if thou disdain it now,


s: Or scorn to grant such grace as love affords,


s: Sworn foes sometimes will talk and chaffer words,


s: For what I ask thee, may'st thou grant right well,


s: And lessen naught thy wrath and anger fell.


s: "If me thou hate, and in that hate delight,


s: I come not to appease thee, hate me still,


s: It's like for like; I bore great hate and spite


s: Gainst Christians all, chiefly I wish thee ill:


s: Against Godfredo bent, mine art and skill:


s: I followed thee, took thee, and bore thee far,


s: To this strange isle, and kept thee safe from war.


s: "And more, which more thy hate may justly move,


s: More to thy loss, more to thy shame and grief,


s: Wicked deceit, craft worthy sharp reprief;


s: And of my beauties made thee lord and chief,


s: That gave I thee, my lover new, unprayed.


s: "But reckon that among, my faults, and let


s: Those many wrongs provoke thee so to wrath,


s: That hence thou run, and that at naught thou set


s: This pleasant house, so many joys which hath;


s: Go, travel, pass the seas, fight, conquest get,


s: Destroy our faith, what shall I say, our faith?


s: Ah no!  no longer ours; before thy shrine


s: A small request although I were thy foe,


s: The spoiler seldom leaves the prey behind,


s: Who triumphs lets his captives with him go;


s: And let the camp increase thy praises so,


s: That thy beguiler so thou couldst beguile,


s: And point at me, thy thrall and bondslave vile.


s: "Despised bondslave, since my lord doth hate


s: These locks, why keep I them or hold them dear?


s: Come cut them off, that to my servile state


s: I follow thee in spite of death and fate,


s: Through battles fierce where dangers most appear,


s: Courage I have, and strength enough perchance,


s: To lead thy courser spare, and bear thy lance:


s: "I will or bear, or be myself, thy shield,


s: And to defend thy life. will lose mine own:


s: This breast, this bosom soft shall be thy bield


s: Gainst storms of arrows, darts and weapons thrown;


s: Thy foes, pardie, encountering thee in field,