s: "Burnt are your houses, and your people slain,


s: Yet safe your town is, though your walls be gone,


s: Consists your city, not in lime and stone;


s: Your king is safe, and safe is all his train


s: In this strong fort defended from their fone,


s: And on this empty conquest let them boast,


s: Till with this town again, their lives be lost;


s: "And on their heads the loss at last will light,


s: For with good fortune proud and insolent,


s: In spoil and murder spend they day and night,


s: And may amid their preys with little fight


s: At ease be overthrown, killed, slain and spent,


s: Upon them fall, which now draws near this coast.


s: "Meanwhile the highest buildings of this town


s: We may shake down with stones about their ears,


s: And with our darts and spears from engines thrown,


s: Command that hill Christ's sepulchre that bears:"


s: Thus comforts he their hopes and hearts cast down,


s: Awakes their valors, and exiles their fears.


s: But while the things hapt thus, Vafrino goes


s: The sun nigh set had brought to end the day,


s: When Vafrine went the Pagan host to spy,


s: He passed unknown a close and secret way;


s: A traveller, false, cunning, crafty, sly,


s: Step o'er the threshold of the eastern sky,


s: And ere bright Titan half his course had run,


s: That camp, that mighty host to show begun.


s: Tents infinite, and standards broad he spies,


s: This red, that white, that blue, this purple was,


s: And hears strange tongues, and stranger harmonies


s: Of trumpets, clarions, and well-sounding brass:


s: The elephant there brays, the camel cries.


s: The horses neigh as to and fro they pass:


s: Which seen and heard, he said within his thought,


s: He viewed the camp awhile, her site and seat,


s: What ditch, what trench it had, what rampire strong,


s: Nor close, nor secret ways to work his feat


s: He longer sought, nor hid him from the throng;


s: But entered through the gates, broad, royal, great,


s: And oft he asked, and answered oft among,


s: In questions wise, in answers short and sly;


s: Bold was his look, eyes quick, front lifted high:


s: And marked each way, each passage and each tent:


s: The knights he notes, their steeds, and arms they bear,


s: Their names, their armor, and their government;


s: And greater secrets hopes to learn, and hear,


s: Their hidden purpose, and their close intent:


s: So long he walked and wandered, till he spied


s: The way to approach the great pavilions' side:


s: There as he looked he saw the canvas rent,


s: Through which the voice found eath and open way


s: From the close lodgings of the regal tent


s: And inmost closet where the captain lay;


s: The sound to them that listen what they say,


s: There Vafrine watched, and those that saw him thought


s: To mend the breach that there he stood and wrought.


s: The captain great within bare-headed stood,


s: Two pages bore his shield and helmet good,


s: To a big man whose looks were fierce and proud,


s: With whom he parleyed of some haughty deed,


s: Godfredo's name as Vafrine watched he heard,


s: Which made him give more heed, take more regard:


s: Thus spake the chieftain to that surly sir,


s: "Art thou so sure that Godfrey shall be slain?"


s: "I am," quoth he, "and swear ne'er to retire,


s: Except he first be killed, to court again.


s: I will prevent those that with me conspire:


s: But that I may hang up his harness brave


s: At Gair, and under them these words engrave:


s: "'These arms Ormondo took in noble fight


s: From Godfrey proud, that spoiled all Asia's lands,


s: And with them took his life, and here on high,


s: In memory thereof, this trophy stands.' "


s: The duke replied, "Ne'er shall that deed, bold knight,


s: Pass unrewarded at our sovereign's hands,


s: What thou demandest shall he gladly grant,


s: Nor gold nor guerdon shalt thou wish or want.


s: "Those counterfeited armors then prepare,


s: Because the day of fight approacheth fast."


s: "They ready are," quoth he; then both forbare


s: From further talk, these speeches were the last.


s: Vafrine, these great things heard, with grief and care


s: Remained astound, and in his thoughts oft cast


s: What treason false this was, how feigned were


s: Those arms, but yet that doubt he could not clear.


s: From thence he parted, and broad waking lay


s: All that long night, nor slumbered once nor slept:


s: But when the camp by peep of springing day


s: Their banner spread, and knights on horseback leapt,


s: With them he marched forth in meet array,


s: And where they pitched lodged, and with them kept,


s: And then from tent to tent he stalked about,


s: To hear and see, and learn this secret out;


s: Searching about, on a rich throne he fand


s: Armida set with dames and knights around,


s: Sullen she sat, and sighed, it seemed she scanned


s: Some weighty matters in her thoughts profounds,


s: Her eyes, love's twinkling stars, she bent to ground,


s: Weep she, or no, he knows not, yet appears


s: Her humid eyes even great with child with tears.


s: That seemed scant to live, move, or respire,


s: And quaked sometime for love, sometime for ire,


s: And in his cheeks the color went and came,


s: For there wrath's fire now burnt, now shone love's flame.


s: Then from the garland fair of virgins bright,


s: Mongst whom he lay enclosed, rose Altamore,


s: His hot desire he hid and kept from sight,


s: His looks were ruled by Cupid's crafty lore,


s: His left eye viewed her hand, her face, his right


s: Both watched her beauties hid and secret store,


s: And entrance found where her thin veil bewrayed


s: The milken-way between her breasts that laid.


s: Her eyes Armida lift from earth at last,


s: And cleared again her front and visage sad,


s: Midst clouds of woe her looks which overcast


s: She lightened forth a smile, sweet, pleasant, glad;


s: "My lord," quoth she, "your oath and promise passed,


s: Hath freed my heart of all the griefs it had,


s: That now in hope of sweet revenge it lives,


s: Such joy, such ease, desired vengeance gives."


s: "Cheer up thy looks," answered the Indian king,


s: "And for sweet beauty's sake, appease thy woe,


s: Cast at your feet ere you expect the thing,


s: I will present the head of thy strong foe;


s: Else shall this hand his person captive bring


s: And cast in prison deep;" he boasted so.


s: His rival heard him well, yet answered naught,


s: But bit his lips, and grieved in secret thought.


s: "And what say you, my noble lord ?" quoth she.


s: He taunting said, "I that am slow to fight


s: Will follow far behind, the worth to see


s: Of this your terrible and puissant knight,"


s: In scornful words this bitter scoff gave he.


s: "Good reason," quoth the king, "thou come behind,


s: Nor e'er compare thee with the Prince of Ind."


s: Lord Tisiphernes shook his head, and said,


s: "Oh, had my power free like my courage been,


s: Who slow, who weakest is, soon should be seen,


s: Nor thou, nor thy great vaunts make me afraid,


s: But cruel love I fear, and this fair queen."


s: This said, to challenge him the king forth leapt,


s: But up their mistress start, and twixt them stepped:


s: "Will you thus rob me of that gift," quoth she,


s: "Which each hath vowed to give by word and oath?


s: The bond of love and peace between you both;


s: He that displeased is, is displeased with me,


s: For which of you is grieved, and I not wroth?"


s: Thus warned she them, their hearts, for ire nigh broke,


s: In forced peace and rest thus bore love's yoke."


s: All this heard Vafrine as he stood beside,


s: And having learned the truth, he left the tent,


s: That treason was against the Christian's guide


s: Contrived, he wist, yet wist not how it went,


s: By words and questions far off, he tried


s: To find the truth; more difficult, more bent


s: Or of that secret close the intent to spy.


s: All crafts, all wiles, that in his thoughts abide,


s: To know that false compact and practice hid:


s: But chance, what wisdom could not tell, bewrays,


s: Fortune of all his doubt the knots undid,


s: So that prepared for Godfrey's last mishap


s: At ease he found the net, and spied the trap.


s: Thither he turned again where seated was,


s: The angry lover, 'twixt her friends and lords,


s: For in that troop much talk he thought would pass,


s: Each great assembly store of news affords,


s: And with some courtly terms the wench he boards,


s: He feigns acquaintance, and as bold appears


s: As he had known that virgin twenty years.


s: He said, "Would some sweet lady grace me so,


s: To chose me for her champion, friend and knight,


s: Proud Godfrey's or Rinaldo's head, I trow,


s: Should feel the sharpness of my curtlax bright;


s: Ask me the head, fair mistress, of some foe,


s: Further to wade, but thus he broke the ice.


s: Therewith he smiled, and smiling gan to frame


s: His looks so to their old and native grace,


s: Heard him, beheld him, and with bashful face


s: Said, "For thy mistress choose no other dame


s: But me, on me thy love and service place,


s: Would reason with thee, if my knight thou art."


s: Withdrawn, she thus began, "Vafrine, pardie,


s: I know thee well, and me thou knowest of old,"


s: To his last trump this drove the subtle spy,


s: But smiling towards her he turned him bold,


s: "Ne'er that I wot I saw thee erst with eye,


s: Yet for thy worth all eyes should thee behold,


s: Thus much I know right well, for from the same


s: Which erst you gave me different is my name.


s: Her name was Lesbine, mine is Almansore!"


s: "I knew long since," quoth she, "what men thee call,


s: From me thy friend hide not thyself at all,


s: But Tancred's slave, thy fellow-servant since;


s: "Two happy months within that prison kind,


s: And thee a keeper meek and good did find,


s: The same, the same I am; behold me well."


s: The squire her lovely beauty called to mind,


s: And marked her visage fair: "From thee expel


s: All fear," she says, "for me live safe and sure,


s: I will thy safety, not thy harm procure.


s: "But yet I pray thee, when thou dost return,


s: For in this hateful freedom even and morn


s: I sigh for sorrow, mourn and weep for pain:


s: But if to spy perchance thou here sojourn,


s: Great hap thou hast to know these secrets plain,


s: For I their treasons false, false trains can say,


s: Which few beside can tell, none will betray."


s: On her he gazed, and silent stood this while,


s: Armida's sleights he knew, and trains unjust,


s: Women have tongues of craft, and hearts of guile,


s: They will, they will not, fools that on them trust,


s: For in their speech is death, hell in their smile;


s: At last he said, "If hence depart you lust,


s: I will you guide; on this conclude we here,


s: And further speech till fitter time forbear."


s: Forthwith, ere thence the camp remove, to ride


s: They were resolved, their flight that season fits,


s: Vafrine departs, she to the dames beside


s: Returns, and there on thorns awhile she sits,


s: Of her new knight she talks, till time and tide


s: To scape unmarked she find, then forth she gets,


s: There took she horse, and from the camp they rode.


s: And now in deserts waste and wild arrived,


s: Far from the camp, far from resort and sight,


s: Vafrine began, "Gainst Godfrey's life contrived


s: The false compacts and trains unfold aright:"


s: Then she those treasons, from their spring derived,


s: Repeats, and brings their hid deceits to light,


s: "Eight knights," she says, "all courtiers brave, there are,


s: But Ormond strong the rest surpasseth far:


s: "These, whether hate or hope of gain them move,


s: Conspired have, and framed their treason so,


s: That day when Emiren by fight shall prove


s: To win lost Asia from his Christian foe,


s: These, with the cross scored on their arms above,


s: And armed like Frenchmen will disguised go,


s: Like Godfrey's guard that gold and white do wear,


s: Such shall their habit be, and such their gear:


s: "Yet each will bear a token in his crest,


s: That so their friends for Pagans may them know:


s: But in close fight when all the soldiers best


s: Shall mingled be, to give the fatal blow


s: They will keep near, and pierce Godfredo's breast,


s: While of his faithful guard they bear false show,


s: And all their swords are dipped in poison strong,


s: Because each wound shall bring sad death ere long.


s: "And for their chieftain wist I knew your guise,


s: What garments, ensigns, and what arms you carry,


s: Those feigned arms he forced me to devise,


s: So that from yours but small or naught they vary;


s: But these unjust commands my thoughts despise,


s: Within their camp therefore I list not tarry,


s: My heart abhors I should this hand defile


s: With spot of treason, or with act of guile.


s: "This is the cause, but not the cause alone:"


s: And there she ceased, and blushed, and on the main


s: Cast down her eyes, these last words scant outgone,


s: She would have stopped, nor durst pronounce them plain.


s: The squire what she concealed would know, as one


s: That from her breast her secret thoughts could strain,


s: "Of little faith," quoth he, "why would'st thou hide


s: Those causes true, from me thy squire and guide?"


s: With that she fetched a sigh, sad, sore and deep,


s: And from her lips her words slow trembling came,


s: "Fruitless," she said, "untimely, hard to keep,


s: Vain modesty farewell, and farewell shame,


s: Why hope you restless love to bring on sleep?


s: Why strive you fires to quench, sweet Cupid's flame?


s: No, no, such cares, and such respects beseem


s: Great ladies, wandering maids them naught esteem.


s: "That night fatal to me and Antioch town,


s: My loss was greater than was seen or known,


s: There ended not, but thence began my woe:


s: Light was the loss of friends, of realm or crown;


s: Ne'er to be found again, for then I lost


s: My wit, my sense, my heart, my soul almost.


s: "Through fire and sword, through blood and death, Vafrine,


s: Which all my friends did burn, did kill, did chase,


s: Thou know'st I ran to thy dear lord and mine,


s: When first he entered had my father's place,


s: And kneeling with salt ears in my swollen eyne;


s: 'Great prince,' quoth I, 'grant mercy, pity, grace,


s: Save not my kingdom, not my life I said,


s: But save mine honor, let me die a maid.'


s: "He lift me by the trembling hand from ground,


s: Nor stayed he till my humble speech was done;


s: But said, 'A friend and keeper hast thou found,


s: Fair virgin, nor to me in vain you run:'


s: A sweetness strange from that sweet voice's sound


s: Pierced my heart, my breast's weak fortress won,


s: Which creeping through my bosom soft became


s: A wound, a sickness, and a quenchless flame.


s: "He visits me, with speeches kind and grave


s: He sought to ease my grief, and sorrows' smart.


s: All that is thine, and at thy will depart:'


s: Alas, he robbed me when he thought he gave,


s: Free was Erminia, but captived her heart,


s: Mine was the body, his the soul and mind,


s: He gave the cage but kept the bird behind.


s: "But who can hide desire, or love suppress?


s: Oft of his worth with thee in talk I strove,


s: Thou, by my trembling fit that well could'st guess


s: What fever held me, saidst, 'Thou art in love;'


s: But I denied, for what can maids do less?


s: And yet my sighs thy sayings true did prove,


s: Instead of speech, my looks, my tears, mine eyes,


s: Told in what flame, what fire thy mistress fries.


s: "Unhappy silence, well I might have told


s: My woes, and for my harms have sought relief,


s: Since now my pains and plaints I utter bold,


s: Where none that hears can help or ease my grief.


s: My wounds within my bosom, death was chief


s: Of all my hopes and helps, till love's sweet flame


s: Plucked off the bridle of respect and shame,


s: "And caused me ride to seek my lord and knight,


s: For he that made me sick could make me sound:


s: Hardly I scaped their hand by mature flight.


s: And fled to wilderness and desert ground,


s: And there I lived in groves and forests wild,


s: With gentle grooms and shepherds' daughters mild.


s: "But when hot love which fear had late suppressed,


s: Revived again, there nould I longer sit,


s: But rode the way I came, nor e'er took rest,


s: A troop to forage and to spoil addressed,


s: Encountered me, nor could I fly from it:


s: Thus was I ta'en, and those that had me caught,


s: "And for a present to their captain gave,


s: That he mine honor had great care to save,


s: And since with fair Armida let me dwell.


s: Ah, see what haps I passed, what dangers fell,


s: Still my first bands I keep, still my first chain.


s: "And he that did this chain so surely bind


s: About my heart, which none can loose but he,


s: Let him not say, 'Go, wandering damsel, find


s: Some other home, thou shalt not bide with me,'


s: But let him welcome me with speeches kind,


s: Thus spake the princess, thus she and her guide


s: Talked day and night, and on their journey ride.


s: Through the highways Vafrino would not pass,


s: A path more secret, safe and short, he knew,


s: And now close by the city's wall he was,


s: When sun was set, night in the east upflew,


s: With drops of blood besmeared he found the grass,


s: And saw where lay a warrior murdered new,


s: That all be-bled the ground, his face to skies


s: He turns, and seems to threat, though dead he lies:


s: He was a Pagan; forward went the squire,


s: Dead on the land, all soiled with blood and mire,


s: "This was some Christian knight," Vafrino said:


s: And marking well his arms and rich attire,


s: He loosed his helm, and saw his visage plain,


s: And cried, "Alas, here lies Tancredi slain!"


s: To the fierce looks of that proud Saracine,


s: Till that high cry, full of sad fear and dread,


s: Pierced through her heart with sorrow, grief and pine,


s: At Tancred's name thither she ran with speed,


s: Like one half mad, or drunk with too much wine,


s: And when she saw his face, pale, bloodless, dead,


s: She lighted, nay, she stumbled from her steed:


s: Her springs of tears she 1ooseth forth, and cries,


s: "Hither why bring'st thou me, ah, Fortune blind?


s: Where dead, for whom I lived, my comfort lies,


s: Where war for peace, travail for rest I find;


s: Tancred, I have thee, see thee, yet thine eyes


s: Looked not upon thy love and handmaid kind,


s: Undo their doors, their lids fast closed sever,


s: Alas, I find thee for to lose thee ever.


s: "I never thought that to mine eyes, my dear,


s: Thou couldst have grievous or unpleasant been;


s: But now would blind or rather dead I were,


s: That thy sad plight might be unknown, unseen!


s: Alas!  where is thy mirth and smiling cheer?


s: Where are thine eyes' clear beams and sparkles sheen?


s: Of thy fair cheek where is the purple red,


s: And forehead's whiteness?  are all gone, all dead?


s: "Though gone, though dead, I love thee still, behold;


s: Death wounds, but kills not love; yet if thou live,


s: Sweet soul, still in his breast, my follies bold


s: Ah, pardon love's desires, and stealths forgive;


s: Grant me from his pale mouth some kisses cold,


s: Since death doth love of just reward deprive;


s: And of thy spoils sad death afford me this,


s: Let me his mouth, pale, cold and bloodless, kiss;


s: "O gentle mouth!  with speeches kind and sweet


s: Thou didst relieve my grief, my woe and pain,


s: Ere my weak soul from this frail body fleet,


s: Ah, comfort me with one dear kiss or twain!


s: Perchance if we alive had happed to meet,


s: They had been given which now are stolen, O vain,


s: O feeble life, betwixt his lips out fly,


s: Oh, let me kiss thee first, then let me die!


s: "Receive my yielding spirit, and with thine


s: Guide it to heaven, where all true love hath place:"


s: This said, she sighed, and tore her tresses fine,


s: And from her eyes two streams poured on his face,


s: The man revived, with those showers divine


s: His lips were open; but fast shut his eyes,


s: And with her sighs, one sigh from him upflies.


s: The dame perceived that Tancred breathed and sighed,


s: Which calmed her grief somedeal and eased her fears:


s: "Unclose thine eyes," she says, "my lord and knight,


s: See my last services, my plaints and tears,


s: See her that dies to see thy woful plight,


s: That of thy pain her part and portion bears;


s: Once look on me, small is the gift I crave,


s: The last which thou canst give, or I can have."


s: Tancred looked up, and closed his eyes again,


s: Quoth Vafrine, "Cure him first, and then complain,


s: Medicine is life's chief friend; plaint her most foe:"


s: They plucked his armor off, and she each vein,


s: Each joint, and sinew felt, and handled so,


s: And searched so well each thrust, each cut and wound,


s: That hope of life her love and skill soon found.


s: From weariness and loss of blood she spied


s: His greatest pains and anguish most proceed,


s: Naught but her veil amid those deserts wide


s: She had to bind his wounds, in so great need,


s: But love could other bands, though strange, provide,


s: For with her amber locks cut off, each wound


s: She tied: O happy man, so cured so bound!


s: For why her veil was short and thin, those deep


s: And cruel hurts to fasten, roll and blind,


s: Nor salve nor simple had she, yet to keep


s: Her knight on live, strong charms of wondrous kind


s: She said, and from him drove that deadly sleep,


s: That now his eyes he lifted, turned and twined,


s: And saw his squire, and saw that courteous dame


s: In habit strange, and wondered whence she came.


s: He said, "O Vafrine, tell me, whence com'st thou?


s: And who this gentle surgeon is, disclose;"


s: She smiled, she sighed, she looked she wist not how,


s: She wept, rejoiced, she blushed as red as rose.


s: "You shall know all," she says, "your surgeon now


s: Commands you silence, rest and soft repose,


s: You shall be sound, prepare my guerdon meet,"


s: His head then laid she in her bosom sweet.


s: Vafrine devised this while how he might bear


s: His master home, ere night obscured the land,


s: When lo, a troop of soldiers did appear,


s: With him when he and Argant met they were;


s: But when they went to combat hand for hand,


s: He bade them stay behind, and they obeyed,


s: But came to seek him now, so long he stayed.


s: Besides them, many followed that enquest,


s: But these alone found out the rightest way,


s: Upon their friendly arms the men addressed


s: A seat whereon he sat, he leaned, he lay:


s: Quoth Tancred, "Shall the strong Circassian rest


s: In this broad field, for wolves and crows a prey?


s: Ah no, defraud not you that champion brave


s: Of his just praise, of his due tomb and grave:


s: "With his dead bones no longer war have I,


s: And after Tancred bore him through the plain.


s: Close by the virgin chaste did Vafrine ride,


s: As he that was her squire, her guard, her guide.


s: "Not home," quoth Tancred, "to my wonted tent,


s: The place where Christ upon his cross was rent


s: To heaven perchance may easier make the way,


s: And ere I yield to Death's and Fortune's rage,


s: Performed shall be my vow and pilgrimage."


s: And fell on sleep, laid on a bed of down.


s: A chamber got, close, secret, near his own;


s: That done he came the mighty duke beforn,


s: And entrance found, for till his news were known,


s: Naught was concluded mongst those knights and lords,


s: Their counsel hung on his report and words.


s: Where weak and weary wounded Raymond laid,


s: Of lords and knights that filled the chamber wide;


s: There while the squire his late discovery said,


s: To break his talk, none answered, none replied,


s: "My lord," he said, "at your command I went


s: And viewed their camp, each cabin, booth and tent;


s: "But of that mighty host the number true


s: All covered with their armies might you view


s: The fields, the plains, the dales and mountains high,


s: I saw what way soe'er they went and drew,


s: They spoiled the land, drunk floods and fountains dry,


s: For not whole Jordan could have given them drink,


s: Nor all the grain in Syria, bread, I think.


s: "But yet amongst them many bands are found


s: Both horse and foot, of little force and might,


s: That keep no order, know no trumpet's sound,


s: That draw no sword, but far off shoot and fight,


s: With many a footman strong and hardy knight,


s: So doth the King's own troop which all is framed


s: Of soldiers old, the Immortal Squadron named.


s: But in his empty place some other knight


s: Like whom in wit and strength are few or none,


s: Who hath in charge in plain and pitched field,


s: To fight with you, to make you fly or yield.


s: "And well I know their army and their host


s: To keep thy noble head, for which they strive,


s: For all the chief in arms or courage boast


s: They will the same to Queen Armida give,


s: And for the same she gives herself in price,


s: Such hire will many hands to work entice.


s: "The chief of these that have thy murder sworn,


s: Adrastus then, whose realm lies near the morn,


s: A hardy giant, bold, and strong of hand,


s: For under him no horse can stir or stand;


s: The third is Tisipherne, as brave a lord


s: This said, from young Rinaldo's angry eyes,


s: Flew sparks of wrath, flames in his visage shined,


s: Nor rest nor reason in his heart could find.


s: But to the Duke Vafrine his talk applies,


s: "The greatest news, my lord, are yet behind,


s: For all their thoughts, their crafts and counsels tend


s: By treason false to bring thy life to end."


s: Then all from point to point he gan expose


s: The false compact, how it was made and wrought,


s: The arms and ensigns feigned, poison close,


s: Ormondo's vaunt, what praise, what thank he sought,


s: And what reward, and satisfied all those


s: That would demand, inquire, or ask of aught.


s: Silence was made awhile, when Godfrey thus, --


s: "Raymondo, say, what counsel givest thou us?"


s: "Not as we purposed late, next morn," quoth he,


s: "Let us not scale, but round besiege this tower,


s: That those within may have no issue free


s: To sally out, and hurt us with their power,


s: Provided well gainst this last storm and shower,


s: And then in pitched field, fight, if you will;


s: If not, delay and keep this fortress still.


s: "But lest you be endangered, hurt, or slain,


s: Of all your cares take care yourself to save,


s: By you this camp doth live, doth win, doth reign,


s: Who else can rule or guide these squadrons brave?


s: And for the traitors shall be noted plain,


s: Command your guard to change the arms they have,


s: So shall their guile be known, in their own net


s: So shall they fall, caught in the snare they set."


s: "Thy counsel shows thy wisdom and thy love,


s: And what you left in doubt shall thus be done,


s: We will their force in pitched battle prove;


s: Closed in this wall and trench, the fight to shun,


s: Doth ill this camp beseem, and worse behove,


s: But we their strength and manhood will assay,


s: "The fame of our great conquests to sustain,


s: Or bide our looks and threats, they are not able,


s: Then is our empire settled, firm and stable,


s: The tower shall yield, or but resist in vain,


s: For fear her anchor is, despair her cable."


s: Thus he concludes, and rolling down the west


s: Fast set the stars, and called them all to rest.


s: Makes with the Christians and their faithful power;


s: The Soldan longs in field to prove his might,


s: With the old king quits the besieged tower;


s: Yet both are slain, and in eternal night


s: A famous hand gives each his fatal hour;


s: The Christians win, then praise to God they yield.


s: The sun called up the world from idle sleep,


s: And of the day ten hours were gone and past


s: When the bold troop that had the tower to keep


s: The earth with mirksome clouds and darkness deep,


s: Which raised the dust, for hills and valleys broad


s: The Pagans reared from their besieged hold;


s: The cranes from Thrace with such a rumor fly,


s: Pours down, and fast to warmer regions hie,


s: From the sharp winds, fierce storms and tempests cold;


s: And quick, and ready this new hope and aid,


s: Their hands to shoot, their tongues to threaten made.


s: From whence their ire, their wrath and hardy threat


s: Proceeds, the French well knew, and plain espied,


s: For from the walls and ports the army great


s: They saw; her strength, her number, pomp, and pride,


s: Swelled their breasts with valor's noble heat;


s: Battle and fight they wished, "Arm, arm!" they cried;


s: The youth to give the sign of fight all prayed


s: Their Duke, and were displeased because delayed


s: Till morning next, for he refused to fight;


s: Their haste and heat he bridled, but not brake,


s: Nor yet with sudden fray or skirmish light


s: Of these new foes would he vain trial make.


s: "After so many wars," he says, "good right


s: It is, that one day's rest at least you take,"


s: For thus in his vain foes he cherish would


s: The hope which in their strength they have and hold.


s: The soldiers armed, prest and ready lay,


s: The skies were never half so fair and clear


s: The merry morning smiled, and seemed to wear


s: And without cloud heaven his redoubled light


s: Bent down to see this field, this fray, this fight.


s: When first he saw the daybreak show and shine,


s: Godfrey his host in good array brought out,


s: Raymond he left, and all the faithful rout


s: That from the towns was come of Palestine


s: To serve and succor their deliverer stout,


s: Of Gascoigns strong, in arms well proved, oft tried.


s: Such was Godfredo's countenance, such his cheer,


s: That from his eye sure conquest flames and streams,


s: Heaven's gracious favors in his looks appear,


s: And great and goodly more than erst he seems;


s: His face and forehead full of noblesse were,


s: And on his cheek smiled youth's purple beams,


s: And in his gait, his grace, his acts, his eyes,


s: Somewhat, far more than mortal, lives and lies.


s: Of his proud foes the mighty host draw nigh;


s: At his left hand which stood his army by,


s: Broad in the front behind more strait uptied


s: And to the middle ward well armed he brings


s: His footmen strong, his horsemen served for wings.


s: To the left wing, spread underneath the bent


s: Of the steep hill that saved their flank and side,


s: The Roberts twain, two leaders good, he sent;


s: His brother had the middle ward to guide;


s: To the right wing himself in person went


s: Down, where the plain was dangerous, broad and wide,


s: And where his foes with their great numbers would


s: Perchance environ round his squadrons bold.


s: There all his Lorrainers and men of might,


s: All his best armed he placed, and chosen bands,


s: And with those horse some footmen armed light,


s: That archers were, used to that service, stands;


s: The adventurers then, in battle and in fight


s: Well tried, a squadron famous through all lands,


s: On the right hand he set, somedeal aside,


s: Rinaldo was their leader, lord and guide.


s: To whom the Duke, "In thee our hope is laid


s: Of victory, thou must the conquest gain,


s: Behind this mighty wing, so far displayed,


s: Thou with thy noble squadron close remain;


s: And when the Pagans would our backs invade,


s: Assail them then, and make their onset vain;


s: For if I guess aright, they have in mind


s: To compass us, and charge our troops behind."


s: Then through his host, that took so large a scope,


s: He rode, and viewed them all, both horse and foot;


s: His face was bare, his helm unclosed and ope,


s: Lightened his eyes, his looks bright fire shot out;


s: He cheers the fearful, comforts them that hope,


s: And to the bold recounts his boasting stout,


s: These bids he look for praise, those for reward.


s: At last he stayed where of his squadrons bold


s: And noblest troops assembled was best part;


s: There from a rising bank his will he told,


s: And all that heard his speech thereat took heart:


s: And as the mountain snow from mountains cold


s: Runs down in streams with eloquence and art,


s: So from his lips his words and speeches fell,


s: Shrill, speedy, pleasant, sweet, and placed well.


s: "My hardy host, you conquerors of the East,


s: You scourge wherewith Christ whips his heathen fone,


s: See the last day for which you wished alone;


s: Not without cause the Saracens most and least


s: Our gracious Lord hath gathered here in one,


s: For all your foes and his assembled are,


s: That one day's fight may end seven years of war.


s: "This fight shall bring us many victories,


s: The danger none, the labor will be small,


s: Dismay your hearts, grant fear no place at all;


s: For strife and discord through their army flies,


s: Their bands ill ranked themselves entangle shall,


s: And few of them to strike or fight shall come,


s: For some want strength, some heart, some elbow-room.


s: "This host, with whom you must encounter now,


s: Are men half naked, without strength or skill,


s: Late pressed forth to war against their will,


s: Their swords are blunt, shields thin, soon pierced through,


s: Their banners shake, their bearers shrink, for ill


s: Their leaders heard, obeyed, or followed be,


s: Their loss, their flight, their death I will foresee.


s: "Their captain clad in purple, armed in gold,


s: That seems so fierce, so hardy, stout and strong,


s: The Moors or weak Arabians vanquish could,


s: What can he do, though wise, though sage, though bold,


s: In that confusion, trouble, thrust and throng?


s: Ill known he is, and worse he knows his host,


s: Strange lords ill feared are, ill obeyed of most.


s: With whom I oft have conquered, triumphed oft,


s: Your lands and lineages long since I knew,


s: Each knight obeys my rule, mild, easy, soft,


s: I know each sword, each dart, each shaft I view,


s: Although the quarrel fly in skies aloft,


s: Whether the same of Ireland be, or France,


s: And from what bow it comes, what hand perchance.


s: As you have oft, this day, so win the field,


s: Let zeal and honor be your virtue's sting,


s: Your lives, my fame, Christ's faith defend and shield,


s: To earth these Pagans slain and wounded bring,


s: Tread on their necks, make them all die or yield, --


s: What need I more exhort you?  from your eyes


s: Upon the captain, when his speech was done,


s: It seemed a lamp and golden light down came,


s: As from night's azure mantle oft doth run


s: Or fall, a sliding star, or shining flame;


s: Proceeded this, and garland-wise the same


s: Godfredo's noble head encompassed round,


s: And, as some thought, foreshowed he should be crowned.


s: Perchance, if man's proud thought or saucy tongue


s: Have leave to judge or guess at heavenly things,


s: This was the angel which had kept him long,


s: That now came down, and hid him with his wings.


s: While thus the Duke bespeaks his armies strong,


s: And every troop and band in order brings.


s: And with bold words whet on their courage fell;


s: The man brought forth his army great with speed,


s: In order good, his foes at hand he spied,


s: Like the new moon his host two horns did spreed,


s: In midst the foot, the horse were on each side,


s: The right wing kept he for himself to lead,


s: Great Altamore received the left to guide,


s: On the right quarter stood the Indian grim,


s: With Tisipherne and all the king's own band;


s: But when the left wing spread her squadrons trim


s: O'er the large plain, did Altamoro stand,


s: With African and Persian kings with him,


s: And two that came from Meroe's hot sand,


s: And all his crossbows and his slings he placed,


s: Where room best served to shoot, to throw, to cast.


s: And rode from band to band, from rank to rank,


s: His truchmen now, and now himself, doth say,


s: What spoil his folk shall gain, what praise, what thank.


s: To him that feared, "Look up, ours is the day,"


s: He says, "Vile fear to bold hearts never sank,


s: How dareth one against an hundred fight?


s: Our cry, our shade, will put them all to flight."


s: But to the bold, "Go, hardy knight," he says,


s: "His prey out of this lion's paws go tear:"


s: To some before his thoughts the shape he lays,


s: And makes therein the image true appear,


s: How his sad country him entreats and prays,


s: His house, his loving wife, and children dear:


s: "Suppose," quoth he, "thy country doth beseech


s: And pray thee thus, suppose this is her speech.


s: "Defend my laws, uphold my temples brave,


s: My blood from washing of my streets withhold,


s: From ravishing my virgins keep, and save


s: Thine ancestors' dead bones and ashes cold!


s: To thee thy fathers dear and parents grave


s: Show their uncovered heads, white, hoary, old,


s: To thee thy wife -- her breasts with tears o'erspread --


s: Thy sons, their cradles, shows, thy marriage bed."


s: To all the rest, "You for her honor's sake


s: Whom Asia makes her champions, by your might


s: Upon these thieves, weak, feeble, few, must take


s: A sharp revenge, yet just, deserved and right."


s: Thus many words in several tongues he spake,


s: And all his sundry nations to sharp fight


s: Their speeches all, the hosts together run.


s: It was a great, a strange and wondrous sight,


s: When front to front those noble armies met,


s: How every troop, how in each troop each knight


s: Stood prest to move, to fight, and praise to get,


s: Loose in the wind waved their ensigns light,


s: Trembled the plumes that on their crests were set;


s: Their arms, impresses, colors, gold and stone,


s: Against the sunbeams smiled, flamed, sparkled, shone.


s: Of dry topped oaks they seemed two forests thick,


s: So did each host with spears and pikes abound,


s: Bent were their bows, in rests their lances stick,


s: Their hands shook swords, their slings held cobbles round:


s: Each steed to run was ready, prest and quick,


s: At his commander's spur, his hand, his sound,


s: He chafes, he stamps, careers, and turns about,


s: He foams, snorts, neighs, and fire and smoke breathes out.


s: Horror itself in that fair fight seemed fair,


s: And pleasure flew amid sad dread and fear;


s: The trumpets shrill, that thundered in the air,


s: The faithful camp, though less, yet seemed more rare


s: In that strange noise, more warlike, shrill and clear,


s: In notes more sweet, the Pagan trumpets jar,


s: These sung, their armors shined, these glistered far.


s: The Christian trumpets give the deadly call,


s: The Pagans answer, and the fight accept;


s: The godly Frenchmen on their knees down fall


s: To pray, and kissed the earth, and then up leapt


s: To fight, the land between was vanished all,


s: In combat close each host to other stepped;


s: For now the wings had skirmish hot begun,


s: And with their battles forth the footmen run.


s: But who was first of all the Christian train,


s: That gave the onset first, first won renown?


s: Gildippes thou wert she, for by thee slain


s: The King of Orms, Hircano, tumbled down,


s: The man's breastbone thou clov'st and rent in twain,


s: So Heaven with honor would thee bless and crown,


s: Pierced through he fell, and falling hard withal


s: His foe praised for her strength and for his fall.


s: Her lance thus broke, the hardy dame forth drew


s: With her strong hand a fine and trenchant blade,


s: And gainst the Persians fierce and bold she flew,


s: And in their troop wide streets and lanes she made,


s: In pieces twain, Zopire on earth she laid;


s: And then Alarco's head she swept off clean,


s: Which like a football tumbled on the green.


s: Was Argeus slain, the first lay in a trance,


s: Ismael's left hand cut off fell in the dust,


s: For on his wrist her sword fell down by chance:


s: The hand let go the bridle where it lust,


s: The blow upon the courser's ears did glance,


s: Who felt the reins at large. and with the stroke


s: Half mad, the ranks disordered, troubled, broke.


s: She slew and wounded, when against her came


s: For on her person would they purchase fame:


s: But her dear spouse and husband wanted not


s: In so great need, to aid the noble dame;


s: Thus joined, the haps of war unhurt they prove,


s: Their strength was double, double was their love.


s: The noble lovers use well might you see,


s: A wondrous guise, till then unseen, unheard,


s: To save themselves forgot both he and she,


s: Each other's life did keep, defend, and guard;


s: The strokes that gainst her lord discharged be,


s: The dame had care to bear, to break, to ward,


s: His shield kept off the blows bent on his dear,


s: Which, if need be, his naked head should bear.


s: So each saved other, each for other's wrong


s: Would vengeance take, but not revenge their own:


s: Alvante, that durst his mistress wound, fell down,


s: Who hurt her lord, and cleft in twain his front.


s: Far greater slaughter on the Christians made;


s: For where he turned his sword, or twined his steed,


s: He slew, or man and beast on earth down laid,


s: Happy was he that was at first struck dead,


s: That fell not down on live, for whom his blade


s: Had speared, the same cast in the dusty street


s: His horse tore with his teeth, bruised with his feet.


s: By this brave Persian's valor, killed and slain


s: The first his head and helm had cleft in twain,


s: The last in stranger-wise he did intreat,


s: For through his heart he pierced, and his seat,


s: Where laughter hath his fountain and his seat,


s: So that, a dreadful thing, believed uneath,


s: He laughed for pain, and laughed himself to death.


s: Nor these alone with that accursed knife,


s: Of this sweet light and breath deprived lie;


s: But with that cruel weapon lost their life


s: He slew?  what knights his courser fierce made die?


s: The names and countries of the people slain


s: Who tells?  their wounds and deaths who can explain?


s: With this fierce king encounter durst not one.


s: Not one durst combat him in equal field,


s: No doubt could make her shrink, no danger yield,


s: Who managed steeled axe, or carried shield,


s: That seemed so bold as she, so strong, so light,


s: When forth she run to meet that dreadful knight.


s: She hit him, where with gold and rich anmail,


s: She broke and cleft the crown, and caused him veil


s: His proud and lofty top, his crest down came,


s: Strong seemed her arm that could so well assail:


s: The Pagan shook for spite and blushed for shame,


s: Forward he rushed, and would at once requite


s: Shame with disgrace, and with revenge despite.


s: Right on the front he gave that lady kind


s: A blow so huge, so strong, so great, so sore,


s: That out of sense and feeling, down she twined:


s: But her dear knight his love from ground upbore,


s: Were it their fortune, or his noble mind,


s: He stayed his hand and strook the dame no more:


s: A lion so stalks by, and with proud eyes


s: Beholds, but scorns to hurt a man that lies.


s: This while Ormondo false, whose cruel hand


s: Was armed and prest to give the trait'rous blow,


s: With all his fellows mongst Godfredo's band


s: Entered unseen, disguised that few them know:


s: The thievish wolves, when night o'ershades the land,


s: That seem like faithful dogs in shape and show,


s: And entrance seek; to kill some harmless sheep.


s: He proached nigh, and to Godfredo's side


s: But when his colors gold and white he spied,


s: And saw the other signs that forged were,


s: "See, see, this traitor false!" the captain cried,


s: "That like a Frenchman would in show appear,


s: Behold how near his mates and he are crept!"


s: This said, upon the villain forth he leapt;


s: Deadly he wounded him, and that false knight


s: Nor strikes nor wards nor striveth to be gone;


s: But, as Medusa's head were in his sight,


s: Stood like a man new turned to marble stone,


s: All lances broke, unsheathed all weapons bright,


s: In parts so many were the traitors cleft,


s: That those dead men had no dead bodies left.


s: When Godfrey was with Pagan blood bespread,


s: He entered then the fight and that was past


s: Where the bold Persian fought and combated,


s: Where the close ranks he opened, cleft and brast;


s: Before the knight the troops and squadrons fled,


s: As Afric dust before the southern blast;


s: The Duke recalled them, in array them placed,


s: Stayed those that fled, and him assailed that chased.


s: The champions strong there fought a battle stout,


s: A conflict sharp there was meanwhile on foot


s: The horsemen also near the mountains rout,


s: And in both wings, a furious skirmish hold,


s: And where the barbarous duke in person stood,


s: Long time they fought, yet neither lost nor won;


s: The other Robert's helm the Indian clove,


s: And broke his arms, their fight would soon be done:


s: From place to place did Tisiphernes rove,


s: And found no match, against him none dust run,


s: But where the press was thickest thither flew


s: The knight, and at each stroke felled, hurt, or slew.


s: Thus fought they long, yet neither shrink nor yield,


s: In equal balance hung their hope and fear:


s: All full of broken lances lay the field,


s: All full of arms that cloven and shattered were;


s: Of swords, some to the body nail the shield,


s: Some cut men's throats, and some their bellies tear;


s: Of bodies, some upright, some grovelling lay,


s: And for themselves eat graves out of the clay.


s: Beside his lord slain lay the noble steed,


s: There friend with friend lay killed like lovers true,


s: There foe with foe, the live under the dead,


s: A hoarse unperfect sound did eachwhere spread,


s: Whence neither silence, nor plain outcries flew:


s: There fury roars, ire threats, and woe complains,


s: One weeps, another cries, he sighs for pains.


s: The arms that late so fair and glorious seem,


s: Now soiled and slubbered, sad and sullen grow,


s: The steel his brightness lost, the gold his beam;


s: The colors had no pride nor beauty's show;


s: The plumes and feathers on their crests that stream,


s: The hosts both clad in blood, in dust and mire,


s: Had changed their cheer, their pride, their rich attire.


s: But now the Moors, Arabians, Ethiops black,


s: Of the left wing that held the utmost marge,


s: Spread forth their troops, and purposed at the back


s: And side their heedless foes to assail and charge:


s: Slingers and archers were not slow nor slack


s: To shoot and cast, when with his battle large


s: Rinaldo came, whose fury, haste and ire,


s: Seemed earthquake, thunder, tempest, storm and fire.


s: The first he met was Asimire, his throne


s: He cut his neck in twain, flesh, skin and bone,


s: The sable head down tumbled on the sand;


s: But when by death of this black prince alone


s: The taste of blood and conquest once he fand,


s: Whole squadrons then, whole troops to earth he brought,


s: Things wondrous, strange, incredible he wrought.


s: He gave more deaths than strokes, and yet his blows


s: Upon his feeble foes fell oft and thick,


s: To move three tongues as a fierce serpent shows,


s: Which rolls the one she hath swift, speedy, quick,


s: So thinks each Pagan; each Arabian trows


s: He wields three swords, all in one hilt that stick;


s: His readiness their eyes so blinded hath,


s: Their dread that wonder bred, fear gave it faith.


s: Fell down on heaps, drowned each in other's blood,


s: Upon their people ran the knights he brings,


s: Pricked forward by their guide's example good,


s: Killed were the Pagans, broke their bows and slings:


s: Some died, some fell; some yielded, none withstood:


s: A massacre was this, no fight; these put


s: Their foes to death, those hold their throats to cut.


s: Small while they stood, with heart and hardy face,


s: On their bold breasts deep wounds and hurts to bear,


s: But fled away, and troubled in the chase


s: Their ranks disordered be with too much fear:


s: Rinaldo followed them from place to place,


s: Till quite discomfit and dispersed they were.


s: That done, he stays, and all his knights recalls,


s: And scorns to strike his foe that flies or falls.


s: Like as the wind stopped by some wood or hill,


s: Grows strong and fierce, tears boughs and trees in twain,


s: But with mild blasts, more temperate, gentle, still,


s: Blows through the ample field or spacious plain;


s: Against the rocks as sea-waves murmur shrill,


s: Rinaldo so, when none his force withstood,


s: Assuaged his fury, calmed his angry mood;


s: He scorned upon their fearful backs that fled


s: To wreak his ire and spend his force in vain,


s: But gainst the footmen strong his troops he led,


s: Whose side the Moors had open left and plain,


s: That battle, all were run away or slain,


s: Upon their flank with force and courage stout


s: His men at arms assailed the bands on foot:


s: He brake their pikes, and brake their close array,


s: Entered their battle, felled them down around,


s: The ears of ripened corn strikes flat to ground:


s: With blood, arms, bodies dead, the hardened clay


s: Plastered the earth, no grass nor green was found;


s: The horsemen running through and through their bands,


s: Kill, murder, slay, few scape, not one withstands.


s: Sate on her golden chariot mounted high,


s: She knew the man when first his arms she spied,


s: Love, hate, wrath, sweet desire strove in her eye,


s: He changed somedeal his look and countenance bold,


s: She changed from frost to fire, from heat to cold.


s: The prince passed by the chariot of his dear


s: Like one that did his thoughts elsewhere bestow,


s: Yet suffered not her knights and lovers near


s: One drew his sword, another couched his spear,


s: Disdain her ire new sharped and kindled hath,


s: But love appeased her, love assuaged her wrath.


s: His fire, not dead, though buried in displeasure,


s: Three times her angry hand the bow updrew,


s: And thrice again let slack the string at leisure;


s: But wrath prevailed at last, the reed outflew,


s: For love finds mean, but hatred knows no measure,


s: Outflew the shaft, but with the shaft, this charm,


s: This wish she sent: Heaven grant it do no harm:


s: She bids the reed return the way it went,


s: And pierce her heart which so unkind could prove,


s: Such force had love, though lost and vainly spent,


s: What strength hath happy, kind and mutual love?


s: But she that gentle thought did straight repent,


s: Wrath, fury, kindness, in her bosom strove,


s: She would, she would not, that it missed or hit,


s: Her eyes, her heart, her wishes followed it.


s: But yet in vain the quarrel lighted not,


s: For on his hauberk hard the knight it hit,


s: Too hard for woman's shaft or woman's shot,


s: Instead of piercing, there it broke and split;


s: He turned away, she burnt with fury hot,


s: And thought he scorned her power, and in that fit


s: Shot oft and oft, her shafts no entrance found,


s: And while she shot, love gave her wound on wound.


s: "And is he then unpierceable," quoth she,


s: "That neither force nor foe he needs regard?


s: His limbs, perchance, armed with that hardness be,


s: Which makes his heart so cruel and so hard,


s: No shot that flies from eye or hand I see


s: Hurts him, such rigor doth his person guard,


s: Armed, or disarmed; his foe or mistress kind


s: Despised alike, like hate, like scorn I find.


s: "But what new form is left, device or art,


s: By which, to which exchanged, I might find grace?


s: For in my knights, and all that take my part,


s: I see no help; no hope, no trust I place;


s: To his great prowess, might, and valiant heart,


s: All strength is weak, all courage vile and base."


s: This said she, for she saw how through the field


s: Her champions fly, faint, tremble, fall and yield.


s: But to be slain or taken stands in fear,


s: Though with a bow a javelin long she have,


s: Yet weak was Phebe's bow, blunt Pallas' spear.


s: But, as the swan, that sees the eagle brave


s: Threatening her flesh and silver plumes to tear,


s: Falls down, to hide her mongst the shady brooks:


s: Such were her fearful motions, such her looks.


s: But Altamore, this while that strove and sought


s: From shameful flight his Persian host to stay,


s: That was discomfit and destroyed to nought,


s: Whilst he alone maintained the fight and fray,


s: Seeing distressed the goddess of his thought,


s: All care both of his honor and his host:


s: If she were safe, let all the world be lost.


s: To the ill-guarded chariot swift he flew,


s: His weapon made him way with bloody war:


s: His feeble bands, his people murdered are,


s: He saw their loss, but aided not his crew,


s: And on that side the woful prince beheld


s: The battle lost, no help nor hope remained;


s: But on the other wing the Christians yield,


s: One of the Roberts was nigh slain in field;


s: The other by the Indian strong constrained


s: To yield himself his captive and his slave;


s: Thus equal loss and equal foil they have.


s: And either camp well ordered, ranged and knit,


s: Renewed the furious battle, fight and fray,


s: New streams of blood were shed, new swords them hit;


s: New combats fought, new spoils were borne away,


s: And unresolved and doubtful, on each side,


s: Did praise and conquest, Mars and Fortune ride.


s: Between the armies twain while thus the fight


s: Waxed sharp, hot, cruel, though renewed but late,


s: The Soldan clomb up to the tower's height,


s: And saw far off their strife and fell debate,


s: As from some stage or theatre the knight


s: Saw death, blood, murder, woe and horror strange,


s: And the great acts of fortune, chance, and change.


s: Then burnt with wrath, and self-consuming ire,


s: Such haste he had; he donned his helmet good,


s: "Up, up!" he cried, "no more, no more, within


s: This fortress stay, come follow, die or win."


s: That made him leave the fortress he possessed,


s: This day should fall, to rise again more blessed;


s: Of life, and would meet death with constant breast,


s: Furious and fierce he did the gates unbar,


s: And sudden rage brought forth, and sudden war.


s: Nor stayed he till the folk on whom he cried


s: But with his fury called from every side,


s: The rest run out, and Aladine forth hies,


s: The cowards had no fear, the wise no care,


s: This was not hope, nor courage, but despair.


s: The dreadful Turk with sudden blows down cast


s: The first he met, nor gave them time to plain


s: Or pray, in murdering them he made such haste


s: That dead they fell ere one could see them slain;


s: From mouth to mouth, from eye to eye forth passed


s: The fear and terror, that the faithful train


s: Of Syrian folk, not used to dangerous fight,


s: Were broken, scattered, and nigh put to flight.


s: But with less terror, and disorder less,


s: The Gascoigns kept array, and kept their ground,


s: Though most the loss and peril them oppress,


s: Unwares assailed they were, unready found.


s: Of beast or eager hawk, doth slay and wound


s: So many sheep or fowls, weak, feeble, small,


s: As his sharp sword killed knights and soldiers tall.


s: It seemed his thirst and hunger 'suage he would


s: With their slain bodies, and their blood poured out,


s: Slew their besiegers, killed the Gascoign rout:


s: But Raymond ran to meet the Soldan bold,


s: Though his right hand by proof too well he know,


s: Which laid him late for dead at one huge blow.


s: They met, and Raymond fell amid the field,


s: This blow again upon his forehead light,


s: It was the fault and weakness of his eild,


s: Age is not fit to bear strokes of such might,


s: Each one lift up his sword, advanced his shield,


s: Those would destroy, and these defend the knight.


s: On went the Soldan, for the man he thought


s: Was slain, or easily might be captive brought.


s: Among the rest he ran, he raged, he smote,


s: And in small space, small time, great wonders wrought


s: To kill and murder, matter new he sought:


s: As from his supper poor with hungry throat


s: A peasant hastes, to a rich feast ybrought;


s: So from this skirmish to the battle great


s: He ran, and quenched with blood his fury's heat.


s: Where battered was the wall he sallied out,


s: And to the field in haste and heat he goes,


s: With him went rage and fury, fear and doubt


s: Remained behind, among his scattered foes:


s: To win the conquest strove his squadron stout,


s: Which he unperfect left; yet loth to lose


s: The day, the Christians fight, resist and die,


s: And ready were to yield, retire and fly.


s: The Gascoign bands retired, but kept array,


s: The fight was near the place where Tancred lay,


s: His house was full of noise and great affright,


s: He rose and 1ooked forth to see the fray,


s: Though every limb were weak, faint, void of might;


s: He saw the country lie, his men o'erthrown,


s: Some beaten back, some killed, some felled down.


s: Courage in noble hearts that ne'er is spent,


s: Yet fainted not, though faint were every limb,


s: But reinforced each member cleft and rent,


s: And want of blood and strength supplied in him;


s: In his left hand his heavy shield he hent,


s: Nor seemed the weight too great, his curtlax trim


s: His right hand drew, nor for more arms he stood


s: Or stayed, he needs no more whose heart is good:


s: But coming forth, cried, "Whither will you run,


s: And leave your leader to his foes in prey?


s: What!  shall these heathen of his armor won,


s: In their vile temples hang up trophies gay?


s: Go home to Gascoign then, and tell his son


s: That where his father died, you ran away:"


s: This said, against a thousand armed foes,


s: He did his breast weak, naked, sick, oppose.


s: And with his heavy, strong and mighty targe,


s: That with seven hard bulls' hides was surely lined,


s: And strengthened with a cover thick and large


s: Of stiff and well-attempered steel behind,


s: He shielded Raymond from the furious charge,


s: From swords, from darts, from weapons of each kind,


s: And all his foes drove back with his sharp blade,


s: That sure and safe he lay, as in a shade.


s: Thus saved, thus shielded, Raymond 'gan respire,


s: He rose and reared himself in little space,


s: Of vengeance; wrath his heart; shame filled his face;


s: He looked around to spy, such was his ire,


s: The man whose stroke had laid him in that place,


s: Whom when he sees not, for disdain he quakes,


s: And on his people sharp revengement takes.


s: The Gascoigns turn again, their lord in haste


s: To venge their loss his hand recorded brings,


s: The troop that durst so much now stood aghast,


s: For where sad fear grew late, now boldness springs,


s: Now followed they that fled, fled they that chased;


s: So in one hour altereth the state of things,


s: Raymond requites his loss, shame, hurt and all,


s: And with an hundred deaths revenged one fall.


s: Whilst Raymond wreaked thus his just disdain


s: On the proud-heads of captains, lords and peers,


s: He spies great Sion's king amid the train,


s: And to him leaps, and high his sword he rears,


s: And on his forehead strikes, and strikes again,


s: Till helm and head he breaks, he cleaves, he tears;


s: Down fell the king, the guiltless land he bit,


s: That now keeps him, because he kept not it.


s: Their guides, one murdered thus, the other gone,


s: The troops divided were, in diverse thought,


s: Despair made some run headlong gainst their fone,


s: To seek sharp death that comes uncalled, unsought;


s: And some, that laid their hope on flight alone,


s: Fled to their fort again; yet chance so wrought,


s: That with the flyers in the victors pass,


s: And so the fortress won and conquered was.


s: The hold was won, slain were the men that fled,


s: In courts, halls, chambers high; above, below,


s: Old Raymond fast up to the leads him sped,


s: And there, of victory true sign and show,


s: His glorious standard to the wind he spread,


s: That so both armies his success might know.


s: For far from thence he was. and near the host;


s: Into the field he came, the lukewarm blood


s: Did smoke and flow through all the purple field,


s: There of sad death the court and palace stood,


s: There did he triumphs lead, and trophies build;


s: That had no guide, nor lord the reins to wield,


s: The tyrant took the bridle, and bestrode


s: The courser's empty back, and forth he rode.


s: Great, yet but short and sudden was the aid


s: That to the Pagans, faint and weak, he brought,


s: A thunderbolt he was, you would have said,


s: Great, yet that comes and goes as swift as thought


s: And of his coming swift and flight unstayed


s: Eternal signs in hardest rocks hath wrought,


s: For by his hand a hundred knights were slain,


s: But time forgot hath all their names but twain;


s: Gildippes fair, and Edward thy dear lord,


s: Your noble death, sad end, and woful fate,


s: If so much power our vulgar tongue afford,


s: To all strange wits, strange ears let me dilate,


s: That ages all your love and sweet accord,


s: Your virtue, prowess, worth may imitate,


s: And some kind servant of true love that hears,


s: May grace your death, my verses, with some tears.


s: Where first the Soldan fought, and him defied,


s: Two mighty blows she gave the Turk untrue,


s: One cleft his shield, the other pierced his side;


s: The prince the damsel by her habit knew,


s: "See, see this mankind strumpet, see," he cried,


s: Thy neeld and spindle, not a sword and spear."


s: This said, full of disdain, rage and despite,


s: A strong, a fierce, a deadly stroke he gave,


s: And pierced her armor, pierced her bosom white,


s: Worthy no blows, but blows of love to have:


s: She faints, she falls, 'twixt life and death she strave,


s: Her lord to help her came, but came too late,


s: Yet was not that his fault, it was his fate.


s: What should he do?  to diverse parts him call


s: The other calls for vengeance on his foe;


s: Love biddeth both, love says he must do all,


s: And with his ire joins grief, with pity woe.


s: What did he then?  with his left hand the knight


s: Would hold her up, revenge her with his right.


s: Too weak his will and power divided were;


s: So that he could not his fair love uphold,


s: Nor kill the cruel man that slew his dear.


s: His arm that did his mistress kind enfold,


s: The Turk cut off, pale grew his looks and cheer,


s: He let her fall, himself fell by her side,


s: And, for he could not save her, with her died.


s: As the high elm, whom his dear vine hath twined


s: Fast in her hundred arms and holds embraced,


s: Bears down to earth his spouse and darling kind


s: If storm or cruel steel the tree down cast,


s: And her full grapes to naught doth bruise and grind,


s: Spoils his own leaves, faints, withers, dies at last,


s: And seems to mourn and die, not for his own,


s: But for her death, with him that lies o'erthrown:


s: So fell he mourning, mourning for the dame


s: Whom life and death had made forever his;


s: They would have spoke, but not one word could frame,


s: Deep sobs their speech, sweet sighs their language is,


s: Each gazed on other's eyes, and while the same


s: Is lawful, join their hands, embrace and kiss:


s: And thus sharp death their knot of life untied,


s: But now swift fame her nimble wings dispread,


s: And told eachwhere their chance, their fate, their fall,


s: Rinaldo heard the case, by one that fled


s: From the fierce Turk and brought him news of all.


s: Disdain, good-will, woe, wrath the champion led


s: To take revenge; shame, grief, for vengeance call;


s: Forestalled the way, and show of combat made.


s: The giant cried, "By sundry signs I note


s: That whom I wish, I search, thou, thou art he,


s: I marked each worthy's shield, his helm, his coat,


s: And all this day have called and cried for thee,


s: To my sweet saint I have thy head devote,


s: Come let us here our strength and courage try,


s: Thus he defied him, on his front before,


s: And on his throat he struck him, yet the blow


s: His helmet neither bruised, cleft nor tore,


s: But in his saddle made him bend and bow;


s: That neither art nor herb could help him now;


s: Down fell the giant strong, one blow such power,


s: Such puissance had; so falls a thundered tower.


s: With horror, fear, amazedness and dread,


s: Cold were the hearts of all that saw the fray,


s: And Solyman, that viewed that noble deed,


s: Trembled, his paleness did his fear bewray;


s: For in that stroke he did his end areed,


s: He wist not what to think, to do, to say,


s: A thing in him unused, rare and strange,


s: But so doth heaven men's hearts turn, alter, change.


s: As when the sick or frantic men oft dream


s: In their unquiet sleep and slumber short,


s: And think they run some speedy course, and seem


s: To move their legs and feet in hasty sort,


s: Yet feel their limbs far slower than the stream


s: Of their vain thoughts that bears them in this sport,


s: And oft would speak, would cry, would call or shout,


s: Yet neither sound, nor voice, nor word send out:


s: And did enforce his strength, his might, his ire,


s: Yet felt not in himself his courage old,


s: His wonted force, his rage and hot desire,


s: His eyes, that sparkled wrath and fury bold,


s: Grew dim and feeble, fear had quenched that fire,


s: And in his heart an hundred passions fought,


s: Yet none on fear or base retire he thought.


s: While unresolved he stood, the victor knight


s: Arrived, and seemed in quickness, haste and speed,


s: In boldness, greatness, goodliness and might,


s: The Turk small while resists, not death nor fight


s: Made him forget his state or race, through dreed,


s: He fled no strokes, he fetched no groan nor sigh,


s: Bold were his motions last, proud, stately, high.


s: Now when the Soldan, in these battles past


s: That Antheus-like oft fell oft rose again,


s: Evermore fierce, more fell, fell down at last


s: To lie forever, when this prince was slain,


s: Fortune, that seld is stable, firm or fast,


s: No longer durst resist the Christian train,


s: But ranged herself in row with Godfrey's knights,


s: With them she serves, she runs, she rides, she fights.


s: The Pagan troops, the king's own squadron fled,


s: Of all the east, the strength, the pride, the flower,


s: It lost that title proud, and lost all power;


s: To him that with the royal standard fled,


s: My king's great banner, and his standard brave?


s: To be the witness of thy fear and flight,


s: Coward, dost thou thy lord and captain see


s: In battle strong, and runn'st thyself from fight?


s: What seek'st thou?  safety?  come, return with me,


s: The way to death is path to virtue right,


s: Here let him fight that would escape; for this


s: The man returned and swelled with scorn and shame,


s: The duke with speeches grave exhorts the rest;


s: He threats, he strikes sometime, till back they came,


s: And rage gainst force, despair gainst death addressed.


s: A battle now, some hope dwelt in his breast,


s: Who fought and seemed to win, when all was lost;


s: Wonders that day wrought noble Tisipherne,


s: The Flemings fled before the champion stern,


s: His glorious deeds to praise and fame etern


s: His life's short date prolonged, enlarged and drew,


s: And then, as he that set sweet life at nought,


s: The greatest peril, danger, most he sought.


s: He spied Rinaldo, and although his field


s: And though the silver bird amid his shield


s: Were armed gules; yet he the champion knows.


s: And says, "Here greatest peril is, heavens yield


s: Strength to my courage, fortune to my blows,


s: Help, Macon, for his arms I vow to thee."


s: Thus prayed he, but all his vows were vain,


s: Mahound was deaf, or slept in heavens above,


s: And as a lion strikes him with his train,


s: His native wrath to quicken and to move,


s: And sharped his courage on the whetstone love;


s: Himself he saved behind his mighty targe,


s: And forward spurred his steed and gave the charge.


s: The Christian saw the hardy warrior come,


s: And leaped forth to undertake the fight,


s: The people round about gave place and room,


s: And wondered on that fierce and cruel sight,


s: Some praised their strength, their skill and courage some,


s: Such and so desperate blows struck either knight,


s: That all that saw forgot both ire and strife,


s: Their wounds, their hurts, forgot both death and life.


s: One struck, the other did both strike and wound,


s: His arms were surer, and his strength was more;


s: From Tisipheme the blood streamed down around;


s: His shield was deft, his helm was rent and tore.


s: The dame, that saw his blood besmear the ground,


s: His armor broke, limbs weak, wounds deep and sore,


s: And all her guard dead, fled, and overthrown,


s: Thought, now her field lay waste, her hedge lay down:


s: Environed with so brave a troop but late,


s: She feared bondage, and her life did hate,


s: All hope of conquest and revenge was gone,


s: Half mad and half amazed from where she sate,


s: She leaped down, and fled from friends' and fone,


s: On a swift horse she mounts, and forth she rides


s: Alone, save for disdain and love, her guides.


s: Alone fled from the fight and cruel fray,


s: Leaving her lord to loss and sure decay.


s: Followed her flying sails and lost the day:


s: Would follow, but his foe forbids the same.


s: But when the Pagan's joy and comfort fled,


s: It seemed the sun was set, the day was night,


s: Gainst the brave prince with whom he combated


s: He turned, and on the forehead struck the knight:


s: When thunders forged are in Typhoius' bed,


s: Not Brontes' hammer falls so swift, so right;


s: The furious stroke fell on Rinaldo's crest,


s: And made him bend his head down to his breast.


s: The champion in his stirrups high upstart,


s: And cleft his hauberk hard and tender side,


s: And sheathed his weapon in the Pagan's heart,


s: The castle where man's life and soul do bide;


s: The cruel sword his breast and hinder part


s: With double wound unclosed, and opened wide;


s: And two large doors made for his life and breath,


s: Which passed, and cured hot love with frozen death.


s: This done, Rinaldo stayed and looked around,


s: Where he should harm his foes, or help his friends;


s: Nor of the Pagans saw he squadron sound:


s: Each standard falls, ensign to earth descends;


s: There all his wrath, his rage, and rancor ends,


s: He called to mind how, far from help or aid,


s: Well saw he when she fled, and with that sight


s: He promised her to be her friend and knight


s: When erst he left her in the island bare:


s: The way she fled he ran and rode aright,


s: Her palfrey's feet signs in the grass outware:


s: But she this while found out an ugly shade,


s: Fit place for death, where naught could life persuade.


s: Well pleased was she with those shadows brown,


s: And yet displeased with luck, with life, with love;


s: There from her steed she lighted, there laid down


s: Her bow and shafts, her arms that helpless prove.


s: "There lie with shame," she says, "disgraced, o'erthrown,


s: Blunt are the weapons, blunt the arms I move,


s: Weak to revenge my harms, or harm my foe,


s: My shafts are blunt, ah, love, would thine were so!


s: Not one draw blood, one wound or rend his skin?


s: All other breasts to you are marble stone,


s: Dare you then pierce a woman's bosom thin?


s: Employ your force this fort is eath to win,


s: And love will shoot you from his mighty bow,


s: Weak is the shot that dripile falls in snow.


s: "I pardon will your fear and weakness past,


s: Be strong, mine arrows, cruel, sharp, gainst me,


s: Ah, wretch, how is thy chance and fortune cast,


s: If placed in these thy good and comfort be?


s: But since all hope is vain all help is waste,


s: Since hurts ease hurts, wounds must cure wounds in thee;


s: Then with thine arrow's stroke cure stroke of love,


s: Death for thy heart must salve and surgeon prove.


s: I bear not with me this strange plague to hell:


s: Love, stay behind, come thou with me disdain,


s: And vex that knight with dreams and visions fell,


s: And tell him, when twixt life and death I strove


s: My last wish, was revenge -- last word, was love."


s: And with that word half mad, half dead, she seems,


s: An arrow, poignant, strong and sharp she took,


s: When her dear knight found her in these extremes,


s: Now fit to die, and pass the Stygian brook,


s: Now prest to quench her own and beauty's beams;


s: Now death sat on her eyes, death in her look,


s: When to her back he stepped, and stayed her arm


s: Stretched forth to do that service last, last harm.


s: She turns and, ere she knows, her lord she spies,


s: Whose coming was unwished, unthought, unknown,


s: She shrieks, and twines away her  sdainful eyes


s: From his sweet face, she falls dead in a swoon,


s: Falls as a flower half cut, that bending lies:


s: He held her up, and lest she tumble down,


s: Under her tender side his arm he placed,


s: His hand her girdle loosed, her gown unlaced;


s: With tears, tears of remorse, of ruth, of sorrow.


s: With the fresh drops fallen from the silver morrow,


s: So she revives, and cheeks empurpled shows


s: Moist with their own tears and with tears they borrow;


s: Thrice looked she up, her eyes thrice closed she;


s: As who say, "Let me die, ere look on thee."


s: And his strong arm, with weak and feeble hand


s: She would have thrust away, loosed and untwined:


s: Oft strove she, but in vain, to break that band,


s: For he the hold he got not yet resigned,


s: Herself fast bound in those dear knots she fand,


s: Dear, though she feigned scorn, strove and repined:


s: At last she speaks, she weeps, complains and cries;


s: Yet durst not, did not, would not see his eyes.


s: As cruel, say, what chance thee hither guideth,


s: Would'st thou prevent her death whose heart forlorn


s: For thee, for thee death's strokes each hour divideth?


s: Com'st thou to save my life?  alas, what scorn,


s: No, no, thy crafts and sleights I well descry,


s: "Thy triumph is not great nor well arrayed


s: Unless in chains thou lead a captive dame:


s: A dame now ta'en by force, before betrayed,


s: This is thy greatest glory, greatest fame:


s: Time was that thee of love and life I prayed,


s: Let death now end my love. my life, my shame.


s: Yet let not thy false hand bereave this breath,


s: For if it were thy gift, hateful were death.


s: "Cruel, myself an hundred ways can find,


s: To rid me from thy malice, from thy hate,


s: If weapons sharp, if poisons of all kind,


s: If fire, if strangling fail, in that estate,


s: Yet ways enough I know to stop this wind:


s: A thousand entries hath the house of fate.


s: Ah, leave these flatteries, leave weak hope to move,


s: Cease, cease, my hope is dead, dead is my love."


s: Thus mourned she, and from her watery eyes


s: Disdain and love dropped down, rolled up in tears;


s: From his pure fountains ran two streams likewise,


s: Wherein chaste pity and mild ruth appears:


s: Thus with sweet words the queen he pacifies,


s: "Madam, appease your grief, your wrath, your fears,


s: For to be crowned, not scorned, your life I save;


s: Your foe nay, but your friend, your knight, your slave.


s: "But if you trust no speech. no oath, no word;


s: Yet in mine eyes, my zeal, my truth behold:


s: For to that throne, whereof thy sire was lord,


s: I will restore thee, crown thee with that gold,


s: And if high Heaven would so much grace afford


s: As from thy heart this cloud this veil unfold


s: Should equalize thy fortune, state and fame."


s: Thus plaineth he, thus prays, and his desire


s: Endears with sighs that fly and tears that fall;


s: That as against the warmth of Titan's fire,


s: Snowdrifts consume on tops of mountains tall,


s: So melts her wrath; but love remains entire.


s: "Behold," she says, "your handmaid and your thrall:


s: My life, my crown, my wealth use at your pleasure;"


s: Thus death her life became, loss proved her tensure.


s: That saw his royal standard laid on ground,


s: Saw Rimedon, that ensign's prop and post,


s: By Godfrey's noble hand killed with one wound,


s: And all his folk discomfit, slain and lost,


s: No coward was in this last battle found,


s: But rode about and sought, nor sought in vain,


s: Some famous hand of which he might be slain;


s: Against Lord Godfrey boldly out he flew,


s: For nobler foe he wished not, could not spy,


s: Of desperate courage showed he tokens true,


s: Where'er he joined, or stayed, or passed by,


s: "Behold of thy strong hand I come to die,


s: Yet trust to overthrow thee with my fall,


s: My castle's ruins shall break down thy wall."


s: This said, forth spurred they both, both high advance


s: Their swords aloft, both struck at once, both hit,


s: His left arm wounded had the knight of France,


s: His shield was pierced, his vantbrace cleft and split,


s: The Pagan backward fell, half in a trance,


s: And as he sought to rise, Godfredo's sword


s: Pierced him through, so died that army's lord.


s: Of his great host, when Emiren was dead,


s: Fled the small remnant that alive remained;


s: Great Altamore on foot, with blood all stained,


s: With half a sword, half helm upon his head,


s: Gainst whom a hundred fought, yet not one gained.


s: "Cease, cease this strife," he cried: "and thou, brave knight,


s: Yield, I am Godfrey, yield thee to my might!"


s: He that till then his proud and haughty heart


s: When that great name he heard, from the north part


s: Of our wide world renowned to Aethiop's end,


s: Answered, "I yield to thee, thou worthy art,


s: I am thy prisoner, fortune is thy friend:


s: Of glory shall be rich, and rich of gold:


s: "God shield," quoth Godfrey, "that my noble mind


s: Should praise and virtue so by profit measure,


s: All that thou hast from Persia and from Inde


s: Enjoy it still, therein I take no pleasure;


s: I set no rent on life, no price on blood,


s: I fight, and sell not war for gold or good."


s: This said, he gave him to his knights to keep


s: And after those that fled his course he bent;


s: They to their rampiers fled and trenches deep,


s: Yet could not so death's cruel stroke prevent:


s: The camp was won, and all in blood doth steep


s: The blood in rivers streamed from tent to tent,


s: It soiled, defiled, defaced all the prey,


s: Shields, helmets, armors, plumes and feathers gay.


s: Thus conquered Godfrey, and as yet the sun


s: Dived not in silver waves his golden wain,


s: But daylight served him to the fortress won


s: To the high temple with his noble train,


s: And there hung up his arms, and there he bows


s: His knees, there prayed, and there performed his vows.


s: ............Of Cerberus and blackest Midnight born


s: ............Where brooding Darkness spreads his jealous wings,


s: The frolic wind that breathes the spring,


s: Straight mine eye hath caught new pleasures,


s: His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn


s: And, stretched out all the chimney's length,


s: Where throngs of knights and barons bold,


s: The melting voice through mazes running,


s: ............Or fill the fixed mind with all your toys!


s: ............And fancies fond with gaudy shapes possess,


s: O'erlaid with black, staid Wisdom's hue;


s: Or that starred Ethiop queen that strove


s: The Sea-Nymphs, and their powers offended.


s: And join with thee calm Peace and Quiet,


s: Spare Fast, that oft with gods doth diet,


s: That in trim gardens takes his pleasure;


s: But, first and chiefest, with thee bring


s: Sweet bird, that shunn'st the noise of folly,


s: Thus, Night, oft see me in thy pale career,


s: Not tricked and frounced, as she was wont


s: Or fright them from their hallowed haunt.


s: As may with sweetness, through mine ear,


s: The ATTENDANT SPIRIT, afterwards in the habit of THYRSIS.


s: The Chief Persons which presented were:--


s: The ATTENDANT SPIRIT descends or enters.


s: BEFORE the starry threshold of Jove's court


s: My mansion is, where those immortal shapes


s: Above the smoke and stir of this dim spot


s: Which men call Earth, and, with low-thoughted care,


s: Confined and pestered in this pinfold here,


s: Strive to keep up a frail and feverish being,


s: Unmindful of the crown that Virtue gives,


s: After this mortal change, to her true servants


s: Amongst the enthroned gods on sainted seats.


s: Yet some there be that by due steps aspire


s: To lay their just hands on that golden key


s: To Such my errand is; and, but for such,


s: I would not soil these pure ambrosial weeds


s: With the rank vapours of this sin-worn mould.


s: But to my task. Neptune, besides the sway


s: Of every salt flood and each ebbing stream,


s: Took in by lot, 'twixt high and nether Jove,


s: That, like to rich and various gems, inlay


s: By course commits to several government,


s: And gives them leave to wear their sapphire crowns


s: And wield their little tridents. But this Isle,


s: The greatest and the best of all the main,


s: And all this tract that fronts the falling sun


s: Has in his charge, with tempered awe to guide


s: An old and haughty nation, proud in arms:


s: Where his fair offspring, nursed in princely lore,


s: Are coming to attend their father's state,


s: And new-intrusted sceptre. But their way


s: Lies through the perplexed paths of this drear wood,


s: Threats the forlorn and wandering passenger;


s: And here their tender age might suffer peril,


s: But that, by quick command from sovran Jove,


s: I was despatched for their defence and guard:


s: What never yet was heard in tale or song,


s: From old or modern bard, in hall or bower.


s: Bacchus, that first from out the purple grape


s: Crushed the sweet poison of misused wine,


s: Coasting the Tyrrhene shore, as the winds listed,


s: On Circe's island fell. (Who knows not Circe,


s: The daughter of the Sun, whose charmed cup


s: And downward fell into a grovelling swine?)


s: This Nymph, that gazed upon his clustering locks,


s: With ivy berries wreathed, and his blithe youth,


s: Much like his father, but his mother more,


s: Whom therefore she brought up, and Comus named:


s: Who, ripe and frolic of his full-grown age,


s: At last betakes him to this ominous wood,


s: And, in thick shelter of black shades imbowered,


s: To quench the drouth of Phoebus; which as they taste


s: (For most do taste through fond intemperate thirst),


s: Soon as the potion works, their human count'nance,


s: The express resemblance of the gods, is changed


s: Or ounce or tiger, hog, or bearded goat,


s: Not once perceive their foul disfigurement,


s: But boast themselves more comely than before,


s: And all their friends and native home forget,


s: Therefore, when any favoured of high Jove


s: Chances to pass through this adventurous glade,


s: I shoot from heaven, to give him safe convoy,


s: These my sky-robes, spun out of Iris' woof,


s: And take the weeds and likeness of a swain


s: That to the service of this house belongs,


s: Who, with his soft pipe and smooth-dittied song,


s: Well knows to still the wild winds when they roar,


s: And hush the waving woods; nor of less faith


s: And in this office of his mountain watch


s: Likeliest, and nearest to the present aid


s: Of hateful steps; I must be viewless now.


s: COMUS enters, with a charming-rod in one hand, his glass in the


s: other: with him a rout of monsters, headed like sundry sorts of


s: beasts, but otherwise like men and women, their apparel


s: They come in making a riotous and unruly noise, with torches in


s: COMUS. The star that bids the shepherd fold


s: Lead in swift round the months and years.


s: The sounds and seas, with all their finny drove,


s: Now to the moon in wavering morrice move;


s: Trip the pert fairies and the dapper elves.


s: The wood-nymphs, decked with daisies trim,


s: Which these dun shades will ne'er report.


s: Dark-veiled Cotytto, to whom the secret flame


s: Of midnight torches burns! mysterious dame,


s: That ne'er art called but when the dragon womb


s: Of Stygian darkness spets her thickest gloom,


s: Wherein thou ridest with Hecat', and befriend


s: Of all thy dues be done, and none left out,


s: Break off, break off! I feel the different pace


s: Of some chaste footing near about this ground.


s: Run to your shrouds within these brakes and trees;


s: Our number may affright. Some virgin sure


s: Benighted in these woods! Now to my charms,


s: Be well stocked with as fair a herd as grazed


s: Of power to cheat the eye with blear illusion,


s: And give it false presentments, lest the place


s: And my quaint habits breed astonishment,


s: And put the damsel to suspicious flight;


s: Which must not be, for that's against my course.


s: I, under fair pretence of friendly ends,


s: And well-placed words of glozing courtesy,


s: And hug him into snares. When once her eye


s: Whom thrift keeps up about his country gear.


s: But here she comes; I fairly step aside,


s: And hearken, if I may her business hear.


s: LADY. This way the noise was, if mine ear be true,


s: My best guide now. Methought it was the sound


s: Such as the jocund flute or gamesome pipe


s: Stirs up among the loose unlettered hinds,


s: When, for their teeming flocks and granges full,


s: In wanton dance they praise the bounteous Pan,


s: And thank the gods amiss. I should be loth


s: To meet the rudeness and swilled insolence


s: Of such late wassailers; yet, oh! where else


s: In the blind mazes of this tangled wood?


s: My brothers, when they saw me wearied out


s: With this long way, resolving here to lodge


s: Under the spreading favour of these pines,


s: Stepped, as they said, to the next thicket-side


s: To bring me berries, or such cooling fruit


s: They left me then when the grey-hooded Even,


s: Rose from the hindmost wheels of Phoebus' wain.


s: But where they are, and why they came not back,


s: Is now the labour of my thoughts. 'Tis likeliest


s: They had engaged their wandering steps too far;


s: And envious darkness, ere they could return,


s: Had stole them from me. Else, O thievish Night,


s: Why shouldst thou, but for some felonious end,


s: In thy dark lantern thus close up the stars


s: That Nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps


s: This is the place, as well as I may guess,


s: Whence even now the tumult of loud mirth


s: Was rife, and perfect in my listening ear;


s: Yet nought but single darkness do I find.


s: What might this be? A thousand fantasies


s: Of calling shapes, and beckoning shadows dire,


s: And airy tongues that syllable men's names


s: On sands and shores and desert wildernesses.


s: These thoughts may startle well, but not astound


s: The virtuous mind, that ever walks attended


s: By a strong siding champion, Conscience.


s: O, welcome, pure-eyed Faith, white-handed Hope,


s: Thou hovering angel girt with golden wings,


s: That He, the Supreme Good, to whom all things ill


s: Are but as slavish officers of vengeance,


s: Would send a glistering guardian, if need were,


s: To keep my life and honour unassailed. . . .


s: Turn forth her silver lining on the night?


s: Turn forth her silver lining on the night,


s: And casts a gleam over this tufted grove.


s: Such noise as I can make to be heard farthest


s: I'll venture; for my new-enlivened spirits


s: Prompt me, and they perhaps are not far off.


s: Sweet Echo, sweetest nymph, that liv'st unseen


s: Nightly to thee her sad song mourneth well:


s: So may'st thou be translated to the skies,


s: And give resounding grace to all Heaven's harmonies!


s: COMUS. Can any mortal mixture of earth's mould


s: Breathe such divine enchanting ravishment?


s: Sure something holy lodges in that breast,


s: And with these raptures moves the vocal air


s: How sweetly did they float upon the wings


s: Of silence, through the empty-vaulted night,


s: Of darkness till it smiled! I have oft heard


s: Culling their potent herbs and baleful drugs,


s: Who, as they sung, would take the prisoned soul,


s: And chid her barking waves into attention,


s: And fell Charybdis murmured soft applause.


s: Yet they in pleasing slumber lulled the sense,


s: And in sweet madness robbed it of itself;


s: But such a sacred and home-felt delight,


s: I never heard till now. I'll speak to her,


s: And she shall be my queen.--Hail, foreign wonder!


s: Whom certain these rough shades did never breed,


s: Dwell'st here with Pan or Sylvan, by blest song


s: To touch the prosperous growth of this tall wood.


s: LADY. Nay, gentle shepherd, ill is lost that praise


s: Not any boast of skill, but extreme shift


s: Compelled me to awake the courteous Echo


s: COMUS: What chance, good lady, hath bereft you thus?


s: LADY. Dim darkness and this leafy labyrinth.


s: COMUS. Could that divide you from near-ushering guides?


s: LADY. They left me weary on a grassy turf.


s: COMUS. By falsehood, or discourtesy, or why?


s: LADY. To seek i' the valley some cool friendly spring.


s: COMUS. And left your fair side all unguarded, Lady?


s: LADY. They were but twain, and purposed quick return.


s: COMUS. Perhaps forestalling night prevented them.


s: COMUS. Imports their loss, beside the present need?


s: LADY. No less than if I should my brothers lose.


s: COMUS. Were they of manly prime, or youthful bloom?


s: LADY. As smooth as Hebe's their unrazored lips.


s: COMUS. Two such I saw, what time the laboured ox


s: In his loose traces from the furrow came,


s: And the swinked hedger at his supper sat.


s: That crawls along the side of yon small hill,


s: Plucking ripe clusters from the tender shoots;


s: Their port was more than human, as they stood.


s: That in the colours of the rainbow live,


s: And play i' the plighted clouds. I was awe-strook,


s: And, as I passed, I worshiped. If those you seek,


s: It were a journey like the path to Heaven


s: LADY.                          Gentle villager,


s: What readiest way would bring me to that place?


s: COMUS. Due west it rises from this shrubby point.


s: LADY. To find out that, good shepherd, I suppose,


s: In such a scant allowance of star-light,


s: Would overtask the best land-pilot's art,


s: Without the sure guess of well-practised feet.


s: COMUS. I know each lane, and every alley green,


s: Dingle, or bushy dell, of this wild wood,


s: And every bosky bourn from side to side,


s: My daily walks and ancient neighbourhood;


s: And, if your stray attendance be yet lodged,


s: Or shroud within these limits, I shall know


s: Ere morrow wake, or the low-roosted lark


s: From her thatched pallet rouse. If otherwise,


s: But loyal cottage, where you may be safe


s: Which oft is sooner found in lowly sheds,


s: With smoky rafters, than in tapestry halls


s: And courts of princes, where it first was named,


s: Less warranted than this, or less secure,


s: I cannot be, that I should fear to change it.


s: Eye me, blest Providence, and square my trial


s: To my proportioned strength! Shepherd, lead on.


s: ELD. BRO. Unmuffle, ye faint stars; and thou, fair moon,


s: That wont'st to love the traveller's benison,


s: Stoop thy pale visage through an amber cloud,


s: In double night of darkness and of shades;


s: Or, if your influence be quite dammed up


s: With black usurping mists, some gentle taper,


s: Though a rush-candle from the wicker hole


s: With thy long levelled rule of streaming light,


s: SEC. BRO.                    Or, if our eyes


s: Be barred that happiness, might we but hear


s: The folded flocks, penned in their wattled cotes,


s: Or sound of pastoral reed with oaten stops,


s: Or whistle from the lodge, or village cock


s: Count the night-watches to his feathery dames,


s: 'T would be some solace yet, some little cheering,


s: In this close dungeon of innumerous boughs.


s: But, oh, that hapless virgin, our lost sister!


s: Where may she wander now, whither betake her


s: From the chill dew, amongst rude burs and thistles


s: Perhaps some cold bank is her bolster now,


s: Or 'gainst the rugged bark of some broad elm


s: Leans her unpillowed head, fraught with sad fears.


s: Or, while we speak, within the direful grasp


s: ELD. BRO. Peace, brother: be not over-exquisite


s: For, grant they be so, while they rest unknown,


s: What need a man forestall his date of grief,


s: And run to meet what he would most avoid?


s: Or, if they be but false alarms of fear,


s: And the sweet peace that goodness bosoms ever,


s: As that the single want of light and noise


s: (Not being in danger, as I trust she is not)


s: Could stir the constant mood of her calm thoughts,


s: Virtue could see to do what Virtue would


s: By her own radiant light, though sun and moon


s: Were in the flat sea sunk. And Wisdom's self


s: Where, with her best nurse, Contemplation,


s: She plumes her feathers, and lets grow her wings,


s: Were all to-ruffled, and sometimes impaired.


s: He that has light within his own clear breast


s: May sit i' the centre, and enjoy bright day:


s: But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts


s: SEC. BRO.                             'Tis most true


s: Far from the cheerful haunt of men and herds,


s: For who would rob a hermit of his weeds,


s: His few books, or his beads, or maple dish,


s: But Beauty, like the fair Hesperian tree


s: Laden with blooming gold, had need the guard


s: To save her blossoms, and defend her fruit,


s: From the rash hand of bold Incontinence.


s: You may as well spread out the unsunned heaps


s: Uninjured in this wild surrounding waste.


s: I fear the dread events that dog them both,


s: Lest some ill-greeting touch attempt the person


s: Secure without all doubt or controversy;


s: Yet, where an equal poise of hope and fear


s: That I incline to hope rather than fear,


s: As you imagine; she has a hidden strength,


s: SEC. BRO.                         What hidden strength,


s: Unless the strength of Heaven, if you mean that?


s: ELD. BRO. I mean that too, but yet a hidden strength,


s: Which, if Heaven gave it, may be termed her own.


s: She that has that is clad in complete steel,


s: And, like a quivered nymph with arrows keen,


s: May trace huge forests, and unharboured heaths,


s: Infamous hills, and sandy perilous wilds;


s: Where, through the sacred rays of chastity,


s: No savage fierce, bandite, or mountaineer,


s: Yea, there where very desolation dwells,


s: By grots and caverns shagged with horrid shades,


s: She may pass on with unblenched majesty,


s: Be it not done in pride, or in presumption.


s: Some say no evil thing that walks by night,


s: Blue meagre hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost,


s: That breaks his magic chains at curfew time,


s: Antiquity from the old schools of Greece


s: Hence had the huntress Dian her dread bow


s: Fair silver-shafted queen for ever chaste,


s: And spotted mountain-pard, but set at nought


s: The frivolous bolt of Cupid; gods and men


s: Feared her stern frown, and she was queen o' the woods.


s: What was that snaky-headed Gorgon shield


s: That wise Minerva wore, unconquered virgin,


s: Wherewith she freezed her foes to congealed stone,


s: And noble grace that dashed brute violence


s: That, when a soul is found sincerely so,


s: Driving far off each thing of sin and guilt,


s: Tell her of things that no gross ear can hear;


s: Till oft converse with heavenly habitants


s: Begin to cast a beam on the outward shape,


s: And turns it by degrees to the soul's essence,


s: Till all be made immortal. But, when lust,


s: By unchaste looks, loose gestures, and foul talk,


s: Imbodies, and imbrutes, till she quite loose


s: Such are those thick and gloomy shadows damp


s: Oft seen in charnel-vaults and sepulchres,


s: Lingering and sitting by a new-made grave,


s: As loth to leave the body that it loved,


s: SEC. BRO. How charming is divine Philosophy!


s: Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose,


s: And a perpetual feast of nectared sweets,


s: Some far-off hallo break the silent air.


s: SEC. BRO. Methought so too; what should it be?


s: ELD. BRO.                                      For


s: Either some one, like us, night-foundered here,


s: Or else some neighbour woodman, or, at worst,


s: Some roving robber calling to his fellows.


s: SEC. BRO. Heaven keep my sister! Again, again, and near!


s: ELD. BRO.                                   I'll hallo!


s: If he be friendly, he comes well: if not,


s: Defence is a good cause, and Heaven be for us!


s: The ATTENDANT SPIRIT, habited like a shepherd.


s: That hallo I should know. What are you? speak.


s: Come not too near; you fall on iron stakes else.


s: SPIR. What voice is that? my young Lord? speak again.


s: SEC. BRO. O brother, 't is my father's Shepherd, sure.


s: ELD. BRO. Thyrsis! whose artful strains have oft delayed


s: The huddling brook to hear his madrigal,


s: And sweetened every musk-rose of the dale.


s: How camest thou here, good swain? Hath any ram


s: Slipped from the fold, or young kid lost his dam,


s: Or straggling wether the pent flock forsook?


s: How couldst thou find this dark sequestered nook?


s: SPIR. O my loved master's heir, and his next joy,


s: As a strayed ewe, or to pursue the stealth


s: Of pilfering wolf; not all the fleecy wealth


s: That doth enrich these downs is worth a thought


s: To this my errand, and the care it brought.


s: ELD. BRO. To tell thee sadly, Shepherd, without blame


s: SPIR. Ay me unhappy! then my fears are true.


s: ELD. BRO. What fears, good Thyrsis? Prithee briefly


s: SPIR. I'll tell ye. 'T is not vain or fabulous


s: (Though so esteemed by shallow ignorance)


s: What the sage poets, taught by the heavenly Muse,


s: And rifted rocks whose entrance leads to Hell;


s: For such there be, but unbelief is blind.


s: Immured in cypress shades, a sorcerer dwells,


s: Of Bacchus and of Circe born, great Comus,


s: Deep skilled in all his mother's witcheries,


s: By sly enticement gives his baneful cup,


s: With many murmurs mixed, whose pleasing poison


s: The visage quite transforms of him that drinks,


s: Fixes instead, unmoulding reason's mintage