s: But with a thrust an answer sharp she made,


s: And 'twixt his ribs colored somedeal her blade.


s: Lord Guelpho struck again, but hit her not,


s: And not meant him, another's wound he got,


s: That cleft his front in twain above his eye:


s: For all the troops he led gan thither hie,


s: And thither drew eke many a Paynim knight,


s: That fierce, stern, bloody, deadly waxed the fight.


s: Meanwhile the purple morning peeped o'er


s: The eastern threshold to our half of land,


s: From prison loosed was, and what he fand,


s: Those arms he hent, and to the field them bore,


s: Resolved to take his chance what came to hand,


s: As a fierce steed 'scaped from his stall at large,


s: Where he had long been kept for warlike need,


s: Runs through the fields unto the flowery marge


s: Of some green forest where he used to feed,


s: His curled mane his shoulders broad doth charge


s: And from his lofty crest doth spring and spreed,


s: Thunder his feet, his nostrils fire breathe out,


s: And with his neigh the world resounds about.


s: So Argillan rushed forth, sparkled his eyes,


s: His front high lifted was, no fear therein,


s: Lightly he leaps and skips, it seems he flies,


s: And coming near his foes, he sternly cries,


s: As one that forced not all their strength a pin,


s: "You outcasts of the world, you men of naught


s: What hath in you this boldness newly wrought?


s: "Too weak are you to bear a helm or shield


s: Unfit to arm your breast in iron bright,


s: You run half-naked trembling through the field,


s: Your blows are feeble, and your hope in flight,


s: Your facts and all the actions that you wield,


s: The darkness hides, your bulwark is the night,


s: Now she is gone, how will your fights succeed?


s: Now better arms and better hearts you need."


s: While thus he spoke, he gave a cruel stroke


s: Against Algazel's throat with might and main;


s: And as he would have answered him, and spoke,


s: He stopped his words, and cut his jaws in twain;


s: Upon his eyes death spread his misty cloak,


s: He fell, and with his teeth the earth he tore,


s: Raging in death, and full of rage before.


s: And at one wondrous blow his weapon fine,


s: Then through the breast he wounded Ariadine,


s: Whom dying with sharp taunts he gan deride,


s: To his proud scorns thus answereth, ere he dies:


s: "Not thou, whoe'er thou art, shall glory long


s: Like chance awaits thee from a hand more strong,


s: Which by my side will shortly lay thee low:"


s: He smiled, and said, "Of mine hour short or long


s: Let heaven take care; but here meanwhile die thou,


s: Pasture for wolves and crows," on him his foot


s: He set, and drew his sword and life both out.


s: The Soldan's minion, darling, and delight,


s: On whose fair chin the spring-time of his age


s: Yet blossomed out her flowers, small or light;


s: The sweat spread on his cheeks with heat and rage


s: Seemed pearls or morning dews on lilies white,


s: The dust therein uprolled adorned his hair,


s: His face seemed fierce and sweet, wrathful and fair.


s: His steed was white, and white as purest snow


s: Lightning and storm are not so 'swift I trow


s: As he, to run, to stop, to turn and twine;


s: A dart his right hand shaked, prest to throw;


s: His cutlass by his thigh, short, hooked, fine,


s: And braving in his Turkish pomp he shone,


s: In purple robe, o'erfret with gold and stone.


s: The hardy boy, while thirst of warlike praise


s: Gainst every band his childish strength assays,


s: And little danger found, though much he sought,


s: Till Argillan, that watched fit time always


s: In his swift turns to strike him as he fought,


s: Did unawares his snow-white courser slay,


s: And gainst his face, where love and pity stand,


s: To pray him that rich throne of beauty spare,


s: The cruel man stretched forth his murdering hand,


s: To spoil those gifts, whereof he had no share:


s: It seemed remorse and sense was in his brand


s: Which, lighting flat, to hurt the lad forbare;


s: But all for naught, gainst him the point he bent


s: That, what the edge had spared, pierced and rent.


s: Fierce Solyman that with Godfredo strived


s: Who first should enter conquest's glorious gate,


s: Left off the fray and thither headlong drived,


s: When first he saw the lad in such estate;


s: He brake the press, and soon enough arrived


s: To take revenge, but to his aid too late,


s: Because he saw his Lesbine slain and lost,


s: Like a sweet flower nipped with untimely frost.


s: He saw wax dim the starlight of his eyes,


s: In his pale looks kind pity's image lies,


s: That death even mourned, to hear his passing bell.


s: His marble heart such soft impression tries,


s: That midst his wrath his manly tears outwell,


s: Thy kingdoms lost, and not one tear could yield.


s: But when the murderer's sword he hapt to view


s: Dropping with blood of his Lesbino dead,


s: He had no leisure bootless tears to shed;


s: And cleft his shield, his helmet, and his head,


s: Down to his throat; and worthy was that blow


s: Of Solyman, his strength and wrath to show:


s: And not content with this, down from his horse


s: He lights, and that dead carcass rent and tore,


s: Like a fierce dog that takes his angry course


s: To bite the stone which had him hit before.


s: Oh comfort vain for grief of so great force,


s: To wound the senseless earth that feels no sore!


s: But mighty Godfrey 'gainst the Soldan's train


s: Spent not, this while, his force and blows in vain.


s: When from his kingdom he was first cast out,


s: Where living wild with their exiled guide


s: To him in all extremes they faithful bide;


s: For Godfrey's valor small or nothing shrank,


s: Corcutes first he on the face did smite,


s: Then wounded strong Rosteno in the flank,


s: At one blow Selim's head he stroke off quite,


s: The boldest knights, of all that chosen crew,


s: He felled, maimed, wounded, hurt and slew.


s: And all their fierce assaults unhurt sustained,


s: Ere fortune wholly from the Turks decline,


s: While still they hoped much, though small they gained,


s: Behold a cloud of dust, wherein doth shine


s: Lightning of war in midst thereof contained,


s: Whence unawares burst forth a storm of swords,


s: Which tremble made the Pagan knights and lords.


s: These fifty champions were, mongst whom there stands,


s: In silver field, the ensign of Christ's death,


s: If I had mouths and tongues as Briareus hands,


s: What harm this troop wrought to the heathen bands,


s: What knights they slew, I could recount uneath


s: In vain the Turks resist, the Arabians fly;


s: If they fly, they are slain; if fight, they die.


s: Fear, cruelty, grief, horror, sorrow, pain,


s: Run through the field, disguised in divers shapes,


s: Death might you see triumphant on the plain,


s: Drowning in blood him that from blows escapes.


s: The king meanwhile with parcel of his train


s: Comes hastily out, and for sure conquest gapes,


s: And from a bank whereon he stood, beheld


s: The doubtful hazard of that bloody field.


s: The furious couple both at once said nay,


s: Even drunk with shedding blood, and mad with ire,


s: At last they went, and to recomfort thought


s: And stay their troops from flight, but all for nought.


s: They cast their shields and cutting swords arrear,


s: From west to south outstretched long doth lie,


s: Thither they fled, and in a mist of dust,


s: Toward the walls they run, they throng, they thrust.


s: While down the bank disordered thus they ran,


s: The Christian knights huge slaughter on them made;


s: But when to climb the other hill they gan,


s: On that steep brae Lord Guelpho would not than


s: Hazard his folk, but there his soldiers stayed,


s: And safe within the city's walls the king .


s: The relics small of that sharp fight did bring:


s: Meanwhile the Soldan in this latest charge


s: Had done as much as human force was able,


s: All sweat and blood appeared his members large,


s: His breath was short, his courage waxed unstable,


s: His arm grew weak to bear his mighty targe,


s: His hand to rule his heavy sword unable,


s: Which bruised, not cut, so blunted was the blade


s: It lost the use for which a sword was made.


s: Feeling his weakness, he gan musing stand,


s: And in his troubled thought this question tossed,


s: If he himself should murder with his hand,


s: Because none else should of his conquest boast,


s: Or he should save his life, when on the land


s: Lay slain the pride of his subdued host,


s: "At last to fortune's power," quoth he, "I yield,


s: And on my flight let her her trophies build.


s: "Let Godfrey view my flight, and smile to see


s: For armed again soon shall he hear of me,


s: From his proud head the unsettled crown to rent,


s: For, as my wrongs, my wrath etern shall be,


s: Though dead, though slain, though burnt to ashes cold."


s: Ismen from sleep awakes the Soldan great,


s: And into Sion brings the Prince by night


s: Where the sad king sits fearful on his seat,


s: Whom he emboldeneth and excites to fight;


s: Godfredo hears his lords and knights repeat


s: How they escaped Armida's wrath and spite:


s: His Offspring's virtue, good deserts, and praise.


s: A gallant steed, while thus the Soldan said,


s: Came trotting by him, without lord or guide,


s: Quickly his hand upon the reins he laid,


s: The snake that on his crest hot fire out-braid


s: Was quite cut off, his helm had lost the pride,


s: His coat was rent, his harness hacked and cleft,


s: And of his kingly pomp no sign was left.


s: As when a savage wolf chased from the fold,


s: To hide his head runs to some holt or wood,


s: Who, though he filled have while it might hold


s: His greedy paunch, yet hungreth after food,


s: With sanguine tongue forth of his lips out-rolled


s: About his jaws that licks up foam and blood;


s: So from this bloody fray the Soldan hied,


s: His rage unquenched, his wrath unsatisfied.


s: And, as his fortune would, he  scaped free


s: From thousand arrows which about him flew,


s: From swords and lances, instruments that be


s: Of certain death, himself he safe withdrew,


s: Unknown, unseen, disguised, travelled he,


s: By desert paths and ways but used by few,


s: And rode revolving in his troubled thought


s: What course to take, and yet resolved on naught.


s: Thither at last he meant to take his way,


s: To win by fight, by which so oft he lost:


s: Determined thus, he made no longer stay,


s: But thitherward spurred forth his steed in post,


s: Nor need he guide, the way right well he could,


s: Nor though his smarting wounds torment him oft,


s: His body weak and wounded back and side,


s: Yet rested he, nor once his armor doffed,


s: But all day long o'er hills and dales doth ride:


s: But when the night cast up her shade aloft


s: And all earth's colors strange in sables dyed,


s: He light, and as he could his wounds upbound,


s: And shook ripe dates down from a palm he found.


s: To rest his weary limbs awhile he sought,


s: To ease the griefs of his distempered thought,


s: But little ease could so hard lodging yield,


s: His wounds so smarted that he slept right naught,


s: And, in his breast, his proud heart rent in twain,


s: Two inward vultures, Sorrow and Disdain.


s: At length when midnight with her silence deep


s: Did heaven and earth hushed, still, and quiet make,


s: Sore watched and weary, he began to steep


s: His cares and sorrows in oblivion's lake,


s: Some small repose his fainting spirits take;


s: But, while he slept, a voice grave and severe


s: Till better season serve, forbear thy rest;


s: A stranger doth thy lands in thraldom bring,


s: Nice is a slave, by Christian yoke oppressed;


s: Sleepest thou here, forgetful of this thing,


s: That here thy friends lie slain, not laid in chest,


s: Whose bones bear witness of thy shame and scorn!


s: And wilt thou idly here attend the morn?"


s: A man whose presence seemed grave and old,


s: A writhen staff his steps unstable guies,


s: Which served his feeble members to uphold.


s: "And what art thou?" the prince in scorn replies,


s: "What sprite to vex poor passengers so bold,


s: To break their sleep?  or what to thee belongs


s: My shame, my loss, my vengeance or my wrongs."


s: "I am the man of thine intent," quoth he,


s: "And purpose new that sure conjecture hath,


s: And better than thou weenest know I thee:


s: My speeches therefore sharp and biting be,


s: Because quick words the whetstones are of wrath, --


s: Accept in gree, my lord, the words I spoke,


s: As spurs thine ire and courage to provoke.


s: Unless my judgment fall, you are prepared,


s: You suffer shall a voyage long and hard:


s: For though you stay, the monarch great will bring


s: No place of service there, no cause of fight,


s: Nor gainst our foes to use your force and might.


s: With Christian arms hemmed in on every side,


s: Withouten battle, fight, or stroke at all,


s: Even at noonday, I will you safely guide,


s: Where you delight, rejoice, and glory shall


s: In perils great to see your prowess tried.


s: That noble town you may preserve and shield,


s: While thus he parleyed, of this aged guest


s: The Turk the words and looks did both admire,


s: And from his haughty eyes and furious breast


s: He laid apart his pride, his rage and ire,


s: And humbly said, "I willing am and prest


s: To follow where thou leadest, reverend sire,


s: That tells of greatest peril, greatest pain."


s: The old man praised his words, and for the air


s: His late received wounds to worse disposes,


s: That stops the bleeding, and incision closes:


s: How fresh Aurora violets strewed and roses,


s: "It's time," he says, "to wend, for Titan bright


s: And to a chariot, that beside did stand,


s: He took the reins, and with a mastering hand


s: Ruled his steeds, and whipped them now and than,


s: The wheels or horses' feet upon the land


s: Had left no sign nor token where they ran,


s: The coursers pant and smoke with lukewarm sweat


s: And, foaming cream, their iron mouthfuls eat.


s: The air about them round, a wondrous thing,


s: Itself on heaps in solid thickness drew,


s: The subtle mist no mortal eye could view;


s: And yet no stone from engine cast or sling


s: Could pierce the cloud, it was of proof so true;


s: Yet seen it was to them within which ride,


s: And heaven and earth without, all clear beside.


s: He wrinkled up his front, and wildly stared


s: For speed to Cynthia's car right well compared:


s: How he bewondered was, and how he fared,


s: All suddenly by name the prince gan call,


s: That hast these high and wondrous marvels brought,


s: And know'st the deep intents which hidden sit


s: ]n secret closet of man's private thought,


s: If in thy skilful heart this lot be writ,


s: To tell the event of things to end unbrought;


s: Then say, what issue and what ends the stars


s: Allot to Asia's troubles, broils and wars.


s: "But tell me first thy name, and by what art


s: Thou dost these wonders strange, above our skill;


s: For full of marvel is my troubled heart,


s: Tell then and leave me not amazed still."


s: The wizard smiled and answered, "In some part


s: Ismen I hight, called an enchanter great,


s: Such skill have I in magic's secret feat;


s: "But that I should the sure events unfold


s: Of things to come, or destinies foretell,


s: Too rash is your desire, your wish too bold,


s: To mortal heart such knowledge never fell;


s: Our wit and strength on us bestowed I hold,


s: To shun the evils and harms, mongst which we dwell,


s: They make their fortune who are stout and wise,


s: Wit rules the heavens, discretion guides the skies.


s: "That puissant arm of thine that well can rend


s: From Godfrey's brow the new usurped crown,


s: From his fierce people, this besieged town,


s: Gainst fire and sword with strength and courage bend,


s: Adventure, suffer, trust, tread perils down,


s: Know this, which as I in a cloud foresee:


s: Shall many years mete out by weeks and days,


s: Shall fill all Asia with his prosperous frays,


s: His policy, his rule, his wisdom's praise,


s: Let this suffice, by him these Christians shall


s: In fight subdued fly, and conquered fall.


s: "And their great empire and usurped state


s: Compassed with sea themselves shall fortify,


s: From thee shall spring this lord of war and fate."


s: And said, "Let chance with good or bad aspect


s: Nor ever conquered shall she look on me;


s: Ere from this course I will diverted be."


s: While thus he spake, it seemed he breathed fire,


s: So fierce his courage was, so hot his ire.


s: Thus talked they, till they arrived been


s: Nigh to the place where Godfrey's tents were reared,


s: Death in a thousand ugly forms appeared,


s: The Soldan changed hue for grief and teen,


s: On that sad book his shame and loss he lead,


s: Ah, with what grief his men, his friends he found;


s: And standards proud, inglorious lie on ground!


s: And saw one visage of some well-known friend.


s: In foul despite, a rascal Frenchman tread,


s: The arms and garments from some champion dead,


s: And there with stately pomp by heaps they wend,


s: And Christians slain roll up in webs of lead;


s: Lastly the Turks and slain Arabians, brought


s: On heaps, he saw them burn with fire to naught.


s: And with grave words appeased his foolish ire.


s: The prince content remounted at his sword,


s: And hasting forward up the bank they pass,


s: Till far behind the Christian leaguer was.


s: There they alight and took their way on foot,


s: The empty chariot vanished out of sight,


s: Yet still the cloud environed them about.


s: At their left hand down went they from the height


s: Of Sion's Hill, till they approached the route


s: On that side where to west he looketh right,


s: There Ismen stayed, and his eyesight bent


s: Wrought out by hand a number years tofore,


s: And for of long that way had walked none,


s: The vault was hid with plants and bushes hoar,


s: The thorns aside and scratching brambles bore,


s: His right hand sought the passage through the cleft,


s: And for his guide he gave the prince his left:


s: "What," quoth the Soldan, "by what privy mine,


s: What hidden vault behoves it me to creep?


s: This sword can find a better way than thine,


s: Although our foes the passage guard and keep."


s: "Let not," quoth he, "thy princely foot repine


s: To tread this secret path, though dark and deep;


s: For great King Herod used to tread the same,


s: He that in arms had whilom so great fame.


s: "This passage made he, when he would suppress


s: His subjects' pride, and them in bondage hold;


s: By this he could from that small forteress


s: Thence, hither; where these privy ways begin,


s: And bring unseen whole armies out and in.


s: "But now saye I in all this world lives none


s: That knows the secret of this darksome place,


s: Come then where Aladine sits on his throne,


s: With lords and princes set about his grace;


s: He feareth more than fitteth such an one,


s: Such signs of doubt show in his cheer and face;


s: Fitly you come, hear, see, and keep you still,


s: Till time and season serve, then speak your fill."


s: This said, that narrow entrance passed the knight,


s: So creeps a camel through a needle's eye,


s: And through the ways as black as darkest night


s: He followed him that did him rule and guie;


s: Strait was the way at first, withouten light,


s: Ere they had passed half that secret den,


s: Dim was the light, and nothing clear the air;


s: Out of the hollow cave at length they passed


s: Into a goodly hall, high, broad and fair,


s: Where crowned with gold, and all in purple clad


s: Sate the sad king, among his nobles sad.


s: The Turk, close in his hollow cloud imbarred,


s: Unseen, at will did all the prease behold,


s: These heavy speeches of the king he heard,


s: Who thus from lofty siege his pleasure told;


s: "My lords, last day our state was much impaired,


s: Our friends were slain, killed were our soldiers bold,


s: Great helps and greater hopes are us bereft,


s: "And well you see far distant is that aid,


s: Upon our heels our danger treadeth still,


s: Each what he thinketh speak, and what he will."


s: A whisper soft arose when this was said,


s: As gentle winds the groves with murmur fill,


s: But with bold face, high looks and merry cheer,


s: Argantes rose, the rest their talk forbear.


s: "What words be these?  what fears do you dismay?


s: Who knows not this, you need not our advice!


s: But on your hand your hope of conquest lay,


s: Make her our shield, pray her us succors give,


s: And without her let us not wish to live.


s: "Nor say I this for that I aught misdeem


s: Doubtful of my great master's words to seem


s: To me were neither lawful, just, nor right!


s: I speak these words, for spurs I them esteem


s: To waken up each dull and fearful sprite,


s: And make our hearts resolved to all assays,


s: To win with honor, or to die with praise."


s: Thus much Argantes said, and said no more,


s: As if the case were clear of which he spoke.


s: Whose presence 'mongst them bore a mighty stroke,


s: But now was coupled new in marriage yoke;


s: Young babes he had, to fight which made him loth,


s: "My lord," quoth he, "I will not reprehend


s: The earnest zeal of this audacious speech,


s: From courage sprung, which seld is close ypend


s: In swelling stomach without violent breach:


s: And though to you our good Circassian friend


s: In terms too bold and fervent oft doth preach,


s: Yet hold I that for good, in warlike feat


s: For his great deeds respond his speeches great.


s: And long experience hath made wise and sly,


s: To rule the heat of youth and hardy rage,


s: Which somewhat have misled this knight awry,


s: Your hopes far distant, with your perils nigh;


s: This town's old walls and rampires new compare


s: With Godfrey's forces and his engines rare.


s: "But, if I may say what I think unblamed,


s: This town is strong, by nature, site and art,


s: But engines huge and instruments are framed


s: Gainst these defences by our adverse part,


s: Who thinks him most secure is eathest shamed;


s: I hope the best, yet fear unconstant mart,


s: And with this siege if we be long up pent,


s: Famine I doubt, our store will all be spent.


s: "For all that store of cattle and of grain


s: Which yesterday within these walls you brought,


s: While your proud foes triumphant through the plain


s: On naught but shedding blood, and conquest thought,


s: To raise the siege unless some means be sought;


s: "But what if that appointed day they miss?


s: Or else, ere we expect, what if they came?


s: Oh save this town from ruin, us from shame!


s: With that same Godfrey still our warfare is,


s: These armies, soldiers, captains are the same


s: Turks, Persians, Syrians and Arabians slain.


s: Oft hast thou fled from that victorious host,


s: Thy shoulders often hast thou let them see,


s: And in thy feet hath been thy safeguard most;


s: Clorinda bright and I fled eke with thee,


s: None than his fellows had more cause to boast,


s: We showed courage, valor, strength and might.


s: "And though this hardy knight the certain threat


s: Of near-approaching death to hear disdain;


s: Yet to this state of loss and danger great,


s: From this strong foe I see the tokens plain;


s: No fort how strong soe'er by art or seat,


s: Can hinder Godfrey why he should not reign:


s: This makes me say, -- to witness heaven I bring,


s: Zeal to this state, love to my lord and king --


s: To purchase peace, and so preserve his crown:


s: But Solyman, who Godfrey's love despised,


s: Is either dead or deep in prison thrown;


s: And scant his life is left him for his own,


s: And yet with gifts, with tribute, and with gold,


s: He might in peace his empire still have hold."


s: Thus spake Orcanes, and some inkling gave


s: In doubtful words of that he would have said;


s: To sue for peace or yield himself a slave


s: But at those words the Soldan gan to rave,


s: And gainst his will wrapt in the cloud he stayed,


s: Whom Ismen thus bespake, "How can you bear


s: These words, my lord?  or these reproaches hear?"


s: "Oh, let me speak," quoth he, "with ire and scorn


s: I burn, and gains, my will thus hid I stay!"


s: This said. the smoky cloud was cleft and torn,


s: Which like a veil upon them stretched lay,


s: And up to open heaven forthwith was borne,


s: And left the prince in view of lightsome day,


s: With princely look amid the press he shined,


s: And on a sudden, thus declared his mind.


s: "Of whom you speak behold the Soldan here,


s: And that these slanders, lies and fables were,


s: This hand shall prove upon that coward's head,


s: I, who have shed a sea of blood well near,


s: And heaped up mountains high of Christians dead,


s: I in their camp who still maintained the fray,


s: False to his faith and country, dares reply;


s: And speak of concord with yon men of pride,


s: By your good leave, Sir King, here shall he die,


s: The lambs and wolves shall in one fold abide,


s: The doves and serpents in one nest shall lie,


s: Before one town us and these Christians shall


s: In peace and love unite within one wall."


s: While thus he spoke, his broad and trenchant sword


s: His hand held high aloft in threatening guise;


s: A storm was in his front, fire in his eyes,


s: And calmed his visage stern in humbler wise:


s: "Behold," quoth he, "good prince, what aid I bring,


s: Since 5olyman is joined with Juda's king."


s: King Aladine from his rich throne upstart


s: And said, "Oh how I joy thy face to view,


s: My noble friend!  it lesseneth in some part


s: My grief, for slaughter of my subjects true;


s: My weak estate to stablish come thou art,


s: And mayest thine own again in time renew,


s: If Heavens consent:" with that the Soldan bold


s: In dear embracements did he long enfold.


s: Their greetings done, the king resigned his throne


s: In a rich seat adorned with gold and stone,


s: Of whom he asked what way they two had gone,


s: And he declared all what had them betide:


s: Her salutations first, then all the rest.


s: Among them rose Ormusses' valiant knight,


s: Whom late the Soldan with a convoy sent,


s: And when most hot and bloody was the fight,


s: By secret paths and blind byways he went,


s: Safe in the city's walls himself he pent,


s: And there refreshed with corn and cattle store


s: The pined soldiers famished nigh before.


s: With surly countenance and disdainful grace,


s: Sullen and sad, sat the Circassian stout,


s: Like a fierce lion grumbling in his place,


s: His fiery eyes that turns and rolls about;


s: Nor durst Orcanes view the Soldan's face,


s: But still upon the floor did pore and tout:


s: Thus with his lords and peers in counselling,


s: The Turkish monarch sat with Juda's king.


s: Godfrey this while gave victory the rein,


s: And following her the straits he opened all;


s: Then for his soldiers and his captains slain,


s: He would assault the city's mighty wall,


s: And all the heathen there enclosed doth threat,


s: With fire and sword, with death and danger great.


s: And for he had that noble squadron known,


s: In the last fight which brought him so great aid,


s: Who followed late the sly enticing maid,


s: And with them Tancred, who had late been thrown


s: In prison deep, by that false witch betrayed,


s: Before the hermit and some private friends,


s: For all those worthies, lords and knights, he sends;


s: And thus he said, "Some one of you declare


s: Your fortunes, whether good or to be blamed,


s: In so great need, how was your coming framed?"


s: They blush, and on the ground amazed stare,


s: At last the English prince with countenance bold,


s: The silence broke, and thus their errors told:


s: With secret flight from hence ourselves withdrew,


s: A jealous fire burnt in our stomachs hot,


s: And by close ways we passed least in view,


s: Her words, her looks, alas I know too late,


s: Nursed our love, our jealousy, our hate.


s: "At last we gan approach that woful clime,


s: Where fire and brimstone down from Heaven was sent


s: To take revenge for sin and shameful crime


s: Gainst kind commit, by those who nould repent;


s: A loathsome lake of brimstone, pitch and lime,


s: O'ergoes that land, erst sweet and redolent,


s: And when it moves, thence stench and smoke up flies


s: Which dim the welkin and infect the skies.


s: "This is the lake in which yet never might


s: Aught that hath weight sink to the bottom down,


s: But like to cork or leaves or feathers light,


s: Stones, iron, men, there fleet and never drown;


s: Therein a castle stands, to which by sight


s: But o'er a narrow bridge no way is known,


s: Hither us brought, here welcomed us the witch,


s: The house within was stately, pleasant, rich.


s: "The heavens were clear, and wholsome was the air,


s: High trees, sweet meadows, waters pure and good;


s: For there in thickest shade of myrtles fair


s: A crystal spring poured out a silver flood;


s: Amid the herbs, the grass and flowers rare,


s: The falling leaves down pattered from the wood,


s: The birds sung hymns of love; yet speak I naught


s: Of gold and marble rich, and richly wrought.


s: "Under the curtain of the greenwood shade,


s: A banquet rich and costly furnished was,


s: All beasts, all birds beguiled by fowler's trade,


s: All fish were there in floods or seas that pass,


s: All dainties made by art, and at the table


s: An hundred virgins served, for husbands able.


s: "She with sweet words and false enticing smiles,


s: And with empoisoned cups our souls beguiles,


s: And made each knight himself and God forget:


s: She rose and turned again within short whiles,


s: With changed looks where wrath and anger met,


s: A charming rod, a book with her she brings,


s: On which she mumbled strange and secret things.


s: "She read, and change I felt my will and thought,


s: I longed to change my life, and place of biding,


s: That virtue strange in me no pleasure wrought,


s: I leapt into the flood myself there hiding,


s: My legs and feet both into one were brought,


s: Mine arms and hands into my shoulders sliding,


s: My skin was full of scales, like shields of brass,


s: Now made a fish, where late a knight I was.


s: "The rest with me like shape, like garments wore,


s: And dived with me in that quicksilver stream,


s: Such mind, to my remembrance, then I bore,


s: As when on vain and foolish things men dream;


s: At last our shade it pleased her to restore,


s: Then full of wonder and of fear we seem,


s: Thus threatened us, and made us thus afraid.


s: "'You see,' quoth she, 'my sacred might and skill,


s: How you are subject to my rule and power,


s: I can torment and keep you in this tower,


s: Or make you birds, or trees on craggy hill,


s: To bide the bitter blasts of storm and shower;


s: Or harden you to rocks on mountains old,


s: Or melt your flesh and bones to rivers cold:


s: "'Yet may you well avoid mine ire and wrath,


s: If to my will your yielding hearts you bend,


s: You must forsake your Christendom and faith,


s: And gainst Godfredo false my crown defend.'


s: We all refused, for speedy death each prayeth,


s: Save false Rambaldo, he became her friend,


s: We in a dungeon deep were helpless cast,


s: "Then, for alone they say falls no mishap,


s: Within short while Prince Tancred thither came,


s: But there short while we stayed, the wily dame


s: In other folds our mischiefs would upwrap.


s: Should us disarmed and bound in fetters bring.


s: "Now on our way, the way to death we ride,


s: But Providence Divine thus for us wrought,


s: To great exploits, exceeding human thought,


s: Met us, and all at once our guard defied,


s: And ere he left the fight to earth them brought.


s: And in their harness armed us in the place,


s: Which late were ours, before our late disgrace.


s: "I and all these the hardy champion knew,


s: We saw his valor, and his voice we heard;


s: His life is safe, good fortune long it guard,


s: Three times the golden sun hath risen new,


s: Since us he left and rode to Antioch-ward;


s: But first his armors, broken, hacked and cleft,


s: Unfit for service, there he doft and left."


s: Thus spake the Briton prince, with humble cheer


s: The hermit sage to heaven cast up his eyne,


s: His color and his countenance changed were,


s: With heavenly grace his looks and visage shine,


s: Ravished with zeal his soul approached near


s: The seat of angels pure, and saints divine,


s: And there he learned of things and haps to come,


s: To give foreknowledge true, and certain doom.


s: At last he spoke, in more than human sound,


s: And told what things his wisdom great foresaw,


s: And at his thundering voice the folk around


s: Attentive stood, with trembling and with awe:


s: "Rinaldo lives," he said, "the tokens found


s: From women's craft their false beginnings draw,


s: He lives, and heaven will long preserve his days,


s: To greater glory, and to greater praise.


s: "These are but trifles yet, though Asia's kings


s: Shrink at his name, and tremble at his view,


s: I well foresee he shall do greater things,


s: Shall holy Church preserve her sacred crew,


s: From Caesar's bird he shall the sable train


s: Pluck off, and break her talons sharp in twain.


s: "His children's children at his hardiness


s: And great attempts shall take example fair,


s: They shall defend the state of Peter's chair,


s: To raise the humble up, pride to suppress,


s: To help the innocents shall be their care.


s: This bird of east shall fly with conquest great,


s: As far as moon gives light or sun gives heat;


s: "Her eyes behold the truth and purest light,


s: And thunders down in Peter's aid she brings,


s: And where for Christ and Christian faith men fight,


s: There forth she spreadeth her victorious wings,


s: This virtue nature gives her and this might;


s: Then lure her home, for on her presence hings


s: So Heaven decrees, and so command the skies."


s: These words of his of Prince Rinaldo's death


s: Out of their troubled hearts, the fear had rased;


s: In all this joy yet Godfrey smiled uneath.


s: In his wise thought such care and heed was placed.


s: But now from deeps of regions underneath


s: Night's veil arose, and sun's bright lustre chased,


s: When all full sweetly in their cabins slept,


s: Save he, whose thoughts his eyes still open kept.


s: With grave procession, songs and psalms devout


s: Heaven's sacred aid the Christian lords invoke;


s: That done, they scale the wall which kept them out:


s: The fort is almost won, the gates nigh broke:


s: And lost is that day's conquest by the stroke;


s: The angel cures him, he returns to fight,


s: But lost his labor, for day lost his light.


s: The Christian army's great and puissant guide,


s: To assault the town that all his thoughts had bent,


s: Did ladders, rams, and engines huge provide,


s: When reverend Peter to him gravely went,


s: With words severe thus told his high intent;


s: "Right well, my lord, these earthly strengths you move,


s: But let us first begin from Heaven above:


s: "With public prayer, zeal and faith devout,


s: The aid, assistance, and the help obtain


s: Of all the blessed of the heavenly rout,


s: With whose support you conquest sure may gain;


s: First let the priests before thine armies stout


s: With sacred hymns their holy voices strain.


s: And thou and all thy lords and peers with thee,


s: Thus spake the hermit grave in words severe:


s: Godfrey allowed his counsel, sage, and wise,


s: "Of Christ the Lord," quoth he, "thou servant dear,


s: The great procession, songs and sacrifice,


s: With sacred and with solemn pomp prepare."


s: Next morn the bishops twain, the heremite,


s: And all the clerks and priests of less estate,


s: Each priest adorned was in a surplice white,


s: The bishops donned their albes and copes of state,


s: Above their rochets buttoned fair before,


s: And mitres on their heads like crowns they wore.


s: The glorious sign of our salvation great,


s: With easy pace the choir come all behind,


s: And hymns and psalms in order true repeat,


s: With sweet respondence in harmonious kind


s: Their humble song the yielding air doth beat,


s: "Lastly, together went the reverend pair


s: The mighty duke came next, as princes do,


s: The lords and captains then came two and two,


s: With easy pace thus ordered, passing through


s: The trench and rampire, to the fields they gone,


s: No thundering drum, no trumpet shrill they hear,


s: Their godly music psalms and prayers were.


s: To thee, O Father, Son, and sacred Sprite,


s: To Christ's dear mother, Mary, vlrgin bright,


s: Psalms of thanksgiving and of praise they sing;


s: To them that angels down from heaven to fight


s: Gainst the blasphemous beast and dragon bring;


s: Washed the sacred font in Jordan's flood.


s: Him likewise they invoke, called the Rock


s: Whereon the Lord, they say, his Church did rear,


s: Whose true successors close or else unlock


s: The blessed gates of grace and mercy dear;


s: And all the elected twelve the chosen flock,


s: Of his triumphant death who witness bear;


s: And them by torment, slaughter, fire and sword


s: And them also whose books and writings tell


s: What certain path to heavenly bliss us leads;


s: And hermits good, and ancresses that dwell


s: Mewed up in walls, and mumble on their beads,


s: And virgin nuns in close and private cell,


s: Where, but shrift fathers, never mankind treads:


s: On these they called, and on all the rout


s: Of angels, martyrs, and of saints devout.


s: Singing and saying thus, the camp devout


s: Spread forth her zealous squadrons broad and wide';


s: Toward mount Olivet went all this route,


s: So called of olive trees the hills which hide,


s: A mountain known by fame the world throughout,


s: Which riseth on the city's eastern side,


s: Of Josaphat, that fills the space between.


s: Hither the armies went, and chanted shrill,


s: That all the deep and hollow dales resound;


s: From hollow mounts and caves in every hill,


s: It seemed some clever, that sung with art and skill,


s: Dwelt in those savage dens and shady ground,


s: For oft resounds from the banks they hear,


s: The name of Christ and of his mother dear.


s: Stood hushed and still, amated and amazed,


s: At their grave order and their humble song,


s: At their strange pomp and customs new they gazed:


s: But when the show they had beholden long,


s: An hideous yell the wicked miscreants raised,


s: That with vile blasphemies the mountain hoar,


s: The woods, the waters, and the valleys roar.


s: But yet with sacred notes the hosts proceed,


s: Though blasphemies they hear and cursed things;


s: So with Apollo's harp Pan tunes his reed,


s: Nor flying darts nor stones the Christians dreed,


s: Nor arrows shot, nor quarries cast from slings;


s: But with assured faith, as dreading naught,


s: The holy work begun to end they brought.


s: A table set they on the mountain's height


s: At either end of virgin wax there brent;


s: In costly vestments sacred William dight,


s: With fear and trembling to the altar went,


s: And prayer there and service loud begins,


s: Both for his own and all the army's sins.


s: Humbly they heard his words that stood him nigh,


s: The rest far off upon him bent their eyes,


s: "You servants of the Lord depart," he cries:


s: And blessed all those warlike companies;


s: And they dismissed returned the way they came,


s: Their order as before, their pomp the same.


s: Within their camp arrived, this voyage ended,


s: Toward his tent the duke himself withdrew,


s: Upon their guide by heaps the bands attended,


s: Till his pavilion's stately door they view,


s: There to the Lord his welfare they commended,


s: And with him left the worthies of the crew,


s: Whom at a costly and rich feast he placed,


s: And with the highest room old Raymond graced.


s: Now when the hungry knights sufficed are


s: With meat, with drink, with spices of the best,


s: Quoth he, "When next you see the morning star,


s: To assault the town be ready all and prest:


s: This of repose, of quiet, peace, and rest;


s: Go, take your ease this evening, and this night,


s: And make you strong against to-morrow's fight."


s: They took their leave, and Godfrey's heralds rode


s: And published it through all the lodgings broad,


s: That gainst the morn each should himself provide;


s: Meanwhile they might their hearts of cares unload,


s: And rest their tired limbs that eveningtide;


s: Thus fared they till night their eyes did close,


s: Night friend to gentle rest and sweet repose.


s: With little sign as yet of springing day


s: Out peeped, not well appeared the rising morn,


s: The plough yet tore not up the fertile lay,


s: Nor to their feed the sheep from folds return,


s: The birds sate silent on the greenwood spray


s: Amid the groves unheard was hound and horn,


s: When trumpets shrill, true signs of hardy fights,


s: Called up to arms the soldiers, called the knights:


s: "Arm, arm at once!" an hundred squadrons cried,


s: And with their cry to arm them all begin.


s: His hauberk strong he wonts to combat in,


s: And donned a breastplate fair, of proof untried,


s: Such one as footmen use, light, easy, thin.


s: Scantly the warlord thus clothed had his gromes,


s: When aged Raymond to his presence comes.


s: And furnished to us when he the man beheld,


s: By his attire his secret thought he guessed,


s: "Where is," quoth he, "your sure and trusty shield?


s: Your helm, your hauberk strong?  where all the rest?


s: Why be you half disarmed?  why to the field


s: Approach you in these weak defences dressed?


s: I see this day you mean a course to run,


s: Wherein may peril much, small praise be won.


s: To set first foot this conquered wall above?


s: Of less account some knight thereto object


s: Whose loss so great and harmful cannot prove;


s: My lord, your life with greater care protect,


s: And love yourself because all us you love,


s: Your happy life is spirit, soul, and breath


s: Of all this camp, preserve it then from death."


s: To this he answered thus, "You know," he said,


s: When I was girded with this noble blade,


s: For Christ's true faith to fight in every land,


s: And give directions, but with shield and sword


s: To fight, to win, or die for Christ my Lord.


s: "When all this camp in battle strong shall be


s: Ordained and ordered, well disposed all,


s: And all things done which to the high degree


s: Then reason is it, nor dissuade thou me,


s: That I likewise assault this sacred wall,


s: Lest from my vow to God late made I swerve:


s: He shall this life defend, keep and preserve."


s: Thus he concludes, and every hardy knight


s: His sample followed, and his brethren twain,


s: Toward that side bent their defensive might


s: Which lies exposed to view of Charles's wain


s: And Zephyrus' sweet blasts, for on that part


s: The town was weakest, both by side and art.


s: On all parts else the fort was strong by site,


s: With mighty hills defenced from foreign rage,


s: His subjects born and bands that serve for wage,


s: From this exploit he spared nor great nor lite,


s: To fire of angry war still brought new fuel,


s: Stones, darts, lime, brimstone and bitumen cruel.


s: All full of arms and weapons was the wall,


s: Under whose basis that fair plain doth run,


s: There stood the Soldan like a giant tall,


s: So stood at Rhodes the Coloss of the sun,


s: Waist high, Argantes showed himself withal,


s: At whose stern looks the French to quake begun,


s: In silver arms like rising Cynthia shone.


s: Her rattling quiver at her shoulders hung,


s: Therein a flash of arrows feathered weel.


s: In her left hand her bow was bended strong,


s: Therein a shaft headed with mortal steel,


s: Her foes who first her quarries' strength should feel,


s: When Niobe she killed and all her brood.


s: From gate to gate, from wall to wall he flew,


s: He comforts all his bands with speeches sweet,


s: New regiments he placed and weapons new.


s: The matrons grave within their temples high


s: To idols false for succors call and cry,


s: "O Macon, break in twain the steeled lance


s: On wicked Godfrey with thy righteous hands,


s: Against thy name he doth his arm advance,


s: His rebel blood pour out upon these sands;"


s: These cries within his ears no enterance


s: Could find, for naught he hears, naught understands.


s: While thus the town for her defence ordains,


s: His armies Godfrey ordereth on the plains;


s: His forces first on foot he forward brought,


s: And gainst these towers which to assail he thought,


s: In battles twain his strength he doth depart,


s: Between them crossbows stood, and engines wrought


s: From whence like thunder's dint or lightnings new


s: Against the bulwark stones and lances flew.


s: His men at arms did back his bands on foot,


s: The light horse ride far off and serve for wings,


s: He gave the sign, so mighty was the rout


s: Of those that shot with bows and cast with slings,


s: Such storms of shafts and stones flew all about,


s: That many a Pagan proud to death it brings,


s: Some died, some at their loops durst scant outpeep,


s: Some fled and left the place they took to keep.


s: The hardy Frenchmen, full of heat and haste,


s: Ran boldly forward to the ditches large,


s: And o'er their heads an iron pentice vast


s: They built, by joining many a shield and targe,


s: Some with their engines ceaseless shot and cast,


s: And volleys huge of arrows sharp discharge,


s: Upon the ditches some employed their pain


s: To fill the moat and even it with the plain.


s: With slime or mud the ditches were not soft,


s: But dry and sandy, void of waters clear,


s: Though large and deep the Christians fill them oft,


s: Adrastus first advanced his crest aloft,


s: And through the falling storm did upward climb


s: Of stones, darts, arrows, fire, pitch and lime:


s: That half way up with mickle pain he got,


s: As from some engine great it had been shot,


s: It broke his helm, he tumbled from the height,


s: The strong Circassian cast that wondrous weight;


s: Not mortal was the blow, yet with the fall


s: On earth sore bruised the man lay in a swoon.


s: Argantes gan with boasting words to call,


s: "Who cometh next?  this first is tumbled down,


s: Come, hardy soldiers, come, assault this wall,


s: I will not shrink, nor fly, nor hide my crown,


s: If in your trench yourselves for dread you hold,


s: There shall you die like sheep killed in their fold."


s: Thus boasted he; but in their trenches deep,


s: The hidden squadrons kept themselves from scath,


s: The curtain made of shields did well off keep


s: Both darts and shot, and scorned all their wrath.


s: But now the ram upon the rampiers steep,


s: With dreadful horns of iron tough tree great,


s: The walls and bulwarks trembled at his threat.


s: The weights behind, the engine tumbled down


s: And battered flat the battlements and wall:


s: It crushed the steeled shield in pieces small,


s: And beat the helmet to the wearers' crown,


s: And on the ruins of the walls and stones,


s: Dispersed left their blood their brains and bones.


s: The fierce assailants kept no longer close


s: But their bold fronts to chance of war expose,


s: And gainst those towers let their virtue shine,


s: The ground-works deep some closely undermine,


s: The walls before the Frenchmen shrink and shake,


s: And gaping sign of headlong falling make:


s: And fallen they had, so far the strength extends


s: Of that fierce ram and his redoubted stroke,


s: But that the Pagan's care the place defends


s: And saved by warlike skill the wall nigh broke:


s: For to what part soe'er the engine bends,


s: Their sacks of wool they place the blow to choke,


s: Whose yielding breaks the strokes thereon which light,


s: So weakness oft subdues the greatest might.


s: While thus the worthies of the western crew


s: Maintained their brave assault and skirmish hot,


s: And from her bow no steeled shaft there flew


s: But that some blood the cursed engine got,


s: Blood of some valiant knight or man of fame,


s: For that proud shootress scorned weaker game.


s: The first she hit among the Christian peers


s: Was the bold son of England's noble king,


s: Above the trench himself he scantly rears,


s: But she an arrow loosed from the string,


s: The wicked steel his gauntlet breaks and tears,


s: And through his right hand thrust the piercing sting;


s: Disabled thus from fight, he gan retire,


s: Groaning for pain, but fretting more for ire.


s: Lord Stephen of Amboise on the ditch's brim,


s: From back to breast an arrow pierced him,


s: The other was shot through from side to side:


s: Then as he managed brave his courser trim,


s: On his left arm he hit the Flemings' guide,


s: He stopped, and from the wound the reed out-twined,


s: High on the bank, withdrawn to breathe a space,


s: His hand he lifted up to feel the place,


s: And nailed his hand unto his wounded face,


s: He fell, and with his blood distained the land,


s: While Palamede stood near the battlement,


s: And upward still his hardy footings bent,


s: On his right eye he caught a deadly clap,


s: Through his right eye Clorinda's seventh shaft went,


s: And in his neck broke forth a bloody gap;


s: Which late to scale and win he trusted well.


s: Thus shot the maid: the duke with hard assay


s: And sharp assault, meanwhile the town oppressed,


s: Against that part which to his campward lay


s: An engine huge and wondrous he addressed,


s: A tower of wood built for the town's decay


s: As high as were the walls and bulwarks best,


s: And yet on wheels it rolled, moved, and went.


s: This rolling fort his nigh approaches made,


s: And darts and arrows spit against his foes,


s: As ships are wont in fight, so it assayed


s: With the strong wall to grapple and to close,


s: The Pagans on each side the piece invade,


s: And all their force against this mass oppose,


s: Sometimes the wheels, sometimes the battlement


s: With timber, logs and stones, they broke and rent,


s: So thick flew stones and darts, that no man sees


s: The azure heavens, the sun his brightness lost,


s: The clouds of weapons, like to swarms of bees,


s: Move the air, and there each other crossed:


s: And look how falling leaves drop down from trees,


s: When the moist sap is nipped with timely frost,


s: Or apples in strong winds from branches fall;


s: For on their part the greatest slaughter light,


s: They had no shelter gainst so sharp a shower,


s: Some left on live betook themselves to flight,


s: So feared they this deadly thundering tower:


s: But Solyman stayed like a valiant knight,


s: And some with him, that trusted in his power,


s: Argantes with a long beech tree in hand,


s: Ran thither, this huge engine to withstand:


s: With this he pushed the tower, and back it drives


s: The length of all his tree, a wondrous way,


s: The band that used the ram, this season strives


s: To cut the cords, wherein the woolpacks lay,


s: Which done, the sacks down in the trenches fall,


s: The tower above, the ram beneath doth thunder,


s: What lime and stone such puissance could abide?


s: The wall began, new bruised and crushed asunder,


s: Godfrey himself and his brought safely under


s: The shattered wall, where greatest breach he spied,


s: Himself he saves behind his mighty targe,


s: A shield not used but in some desperate charge.


s: From hence he sees where Solyman descends,


s: Down to the threshold of the gaping breach,


s: And there it seems the mighty prince intends


s: Argantes, and with him the maid, defends


s: The walls above, to which the tower doth reach,


s: His noble heart, when Godfrey this beheld,


s: With courage new with wrath and valor swelled.


s: He turned about and to good Sigiere spake,


s: Who bare his greatest shield and mighty bow,


s: "That sure and trusty target let me take,


s: And enter first, the way is eath and low,


s: And time requires that by some noble feat


s: I should make known my strength and puissance great."


s: He scant had spoken, scant received the charge,


s: And through that part a hole made wide and large,


s: Where his strong sinews fastened were and knit.


s: Clorinda, thou this arrow didst discharge,


s: And let the Pagans bless thy hand for it,


s: For by that shot thou savedst them that day


s: From bondage vile, from death and sure decay.


s: The wounded duke, as though he felt no pain,


s: Still forward went, and mounted up the breach


s: His high attempt at first he nould refrain,


s: And after called his lords with cheerful speech;


s: But when his leg could not his weight sustain,


s: He saw his will did far his power outreach,


s: And more he strove his grief increased the more,


s: The bold assault he left at length therefore:


s: And with his hand he beckoned Guelpho near,


s: And said, "I must withdraw me to my tent,


s: My place and person in mine absence bear,


s: Supply my want, let not the fight relent,


s: I go and straight return: "this said, he went,


s: On a light steed he leaped, and o'er the green


s: He rode, but rode not, as he thought, unseen.


s: When Godfrey parted, parted eke the heart, .


s: The strength and fortune of the Christian bands,.


s: Courage increased in their adverse part,


s: Wrath in their hearts, and vigor in their hands:


s: Valor, success, strength, hardiness and art,


s: Failed in the princes of the western lands,


s: Their swords were blunt, faint was their trumpet's blast,


s: Their sun was set, or else with clouds o'ercast.


s: That fearful band that late for dread was fled!


s: The women that Clorinda's strength behold,


s: They weapons got, and fight like men they would,


s: Their gowns tucked up, their locks were loose and spread,


s: Sharp darts they cast, and without dread or fear,


s: Exposed their breasts to save their fortress dear.


s: But that which most dismayed the Christian knights,


s: Was Guelpho's sudden fall in all men's sights,


s: Who tumbled headlong down, his footing lost,


s: But whence it came none wist, nor from what coast;


s: And with like blow, which more their hearts dismayed,


s: Beside him low in dust old Raymond laid:


s: And Eustace eke within the ditches large,


s: To narrow shifts and last extremes they drive,


s: Upon their foes so fierce the Pagans charge,


s: And with good-fortune so their blows they give,


s: That whom they hit, in spite of helm or targe,


s: They deeply wound, or else of life deprive.


s: At this their good success Argantes proud,


s: Waxing more fell, thus roared and cried aloud:


s: "This is not Antioch, nor the evening dark


s: Can help your privy sleights with friendly shade,


s: The sun yet shines, your falsehood can we mark,


s: In other wise this bold assault is made;


s: Of praise and glory quenched is the spark


s: That made you first these eastern lands invade,


s: Why cease you now?  why take you not this fort?


s: What!  are you weary for a charge so short?"


s: Increased the fury in the brain-sick knight,


s: That he esteemed that large and ample fort


s: Too strait a field, wherein to prove his might,


s: There where the breach had framed a new-made port,


s: Himself he placed, with nimble skips and light,


s: He cleared the passage out, and thus he cried


s: To Solyman, that fought close by his side:


s: "Come, Solyman, the time and place behold,


s: That of our valors well may judge the doubt,


s: What sayest thou?  amongst these Christians bold,


s: First leap he forth that holds himself most stout:"


s: While thus his will the mighty champion told,


s: Fury the first provoked, disdain the last,


s: Who scorned the challenge ere his lips it passed.


s: Each spited other for his virtue's sake,


s: So many soldiers this fierce couple slew,


s: So many shields they cleft and helms they break,


s: So many ladders to the earth they threw,


s: That well they seemed a mount thereof to make,


s: Or else some vamure fit to save the town,


s: Instead of that the Christians late beat down.


s: The folk that strove with rage and haste before


s: Who first the wall and rampire should ascend,


s: Retire, and for that honor strive no more,


s: Scantly they could their limbs and lives defend,


s: They fled, their engines lost the Pagans tore


s: In pieces small, their rams to naught they rend,


s: With so great force and rage their beams they brake.


s: The Pagans ran transported with their ire,


s: Now here, now there, and woful slaughters wrought,


s: Two burning pines against the tower they brought,


s: So from the palace of their hellish sire,


s: When all this world they would consume to naught,


s: The fury sisters come with fire in hands,


s: Shaking their snaky locks and sparkling brands:


s: But noble Tancred, who this while applied


s: When of these knights the wondrous acts he spied,


s: And saw the champions with their burning pines,


s: He left his talk, and thither forthwith hied,


s: To stop the rage of those fell Saracines.


s: And with such force the fight he there renewed,


s: That now they fled and lost who late pursued.


s: Thus changed the state and fortune of the fray,


s: Meanwhile the wounded duke, in grief and teen,


s: His other friends whom his mishap dismay,


s: With grief and tears about assembled been:


s: He strove in haste the weapon out to wind,


s: And broke the reed, but left the head behind.


s: He bade them take the speediest way they might,


s: And to lay ope the depth thereof to sight,


s: He willed them open, search and lance the wound,


s: "Send me again," quoth he, "to end this fight,


s: And leaning on a broken spear, he thrust


s: His leg straight out, to him that cure it must.


s: Was he that undertook to cure the knight,


s: All what green herbs or waters pure could do,


s: He knew their power, their virtue, and their might,


s: He could restore to health death-wounded men,


s: And make their names immortal with his pen.


s: The mighty duke yet never changed cheer,


s: But grieved to see his friends lamenting stand;


s: The leech prepared his cloths and cleansing gear,


s: And with a belt his gown about him band,


s: Now with his herbs the steely head to tear


s: Out of the flesh he proved, now with his hand,


s: Now with his hand, now with his instrument


s: He shaked and plucked it, yet not forth it went.


s: His labor vain, his art prevailed naught,


s: His luck was ill, although his skill were good,


s: To such extremes the wounded prince he brought,


s: That with fell pain he swooned as he stood:


s: But the angel pure, that kept him, went and sought


s: This herb is rough, and bears a purple flower,


s: And in his budding leaves lies all his power.


s: Bewrayed this herb unto the mountain goat,


s: That when her sides a cruel shaft hath rift,


s: With it she shakes the reed out of her coat;


s: This in a moment fetched the angel swift,


s: And brought from Ida hill, though far remote,


s: Pure nectar from that spring of Lydia than,


s: The cunning leech to bathe the wound began,


s: The bleeding stanched, no vermile drop outran,


s: The leg again waxed strong with vigor new:


s: Erotimus cried out, "This hurt and wound


s: No human art or hand so soon makes sound:


s: "Some angel good I think come down from skies


s: Thy surgeon is, for here plain tokens are


s: Of grace divine which to thy help applies,


s: Thy weapon take and haste again to war."


s: In precious cloths his leg the chieftain ties,


s: Naught could the man from blood and fight debar;


s: A sturdy lance in his right hand he braced,


s: His shield he took, and on his helmet laced:


s: And with a thousand knights and barons bold,


s: Toward the town he hasted from his camp,


s: In clouds of dust was Titan's face enrolled,


s: Trembled the earth whereon the worthies stamp,


s: His foes far off his dreadful looks behold,


s: Which in their hearts of courage quenched the lamp,


s: A chilling fear ran cold through every vein,


s: Lord Godfrey shouted thrice and all his train:


s: Their sovereign's voice his hardy people knew,


s: And his loud cries that cheered each fearful heart;


s: Thereat new strength they took and courage new,


s: And to the fierce assault again they start.


s: The Pagans twain this while themselves withdrew


s: Within the breach to save that battered part,


s: And with great loss a skirmish hot they hold


s: In trusty plate, with fierce and dreadful look;


s: At first approach against Argantes stout


s: Headed with poignant steel a lance he shook,


s: No casting engine with such force throws out


s: It whistled in the air, the fearless knight


s: Opposed his shield against that weapon's might.


s: The dreadful blow quite through his target drove,


s: And bored through his breastplate strong and thick,


s: The purple-blood out-streamed from the quick;


s: To wrest it out the wounded Pagan strove


s: And little leisure gave it there to stick;


s: At Godfrey's head the lance again he cast,


s: And said, "Lo, there again thy dart thou hast."


s: The spear flew back the way it lately came,


s: And would revenge the harm itself had done,


s: But missed the mark whereat the man did aim,


s: He stepped aside the furious blow to shun:


s: But Sigiere in his throat received the same,


s: The murdering weapon at his neck out-run,


s: Nor aught it grieved the man to lose his breath,


s: Since in his prince's stead he suffered death.


s: Even then the Soldan struck with monstrous main


s: He reeled awhile and staggered with the pain,


s: And wheeling round fell grovelling on the sand:


s: Godfrey no longer could the grief sustain


s: Of these displeasures, but with flaming brand,


s: Up to the breach in heat and haste he goes,


s: And hand to hand there combats with his foes;


s: And there great wonders surely wrought he had,


s: Mortal the fight, and fierce had been the fray,


s: But that dark night, from her pavilion sad,


s: Her cloudy wings did on the earth display,


s: To cause the knights their arms aside to lay;


s: Godfrey withdrew, and to their tents they wend,


s: And thus this bloody day was brought to end.


s: The weak and wounded ere he left the field,


s: The godly duke to safety thence conveyed,


s: Nor to his foes his engines would he yield,


s: In them his hope to win the fortress laid;


s: Then to the tower he went, and it beheeld,


s: The tower that late the Pagan lords dismayed


s: But now stood bruised, broken, cracked and shivered,


s: From some sharp storm as it were late delivered.


s: From dangers great escaped, but late it was,


s: And now to safety brought well-nigh it seems,


s: The roaring billows and the raging streams,


s: Breaks on some hidden rocks her ribs and beams;


s: Or as a steed rough ways that well hath passed,


s: Before his inn stumbleth and falls at last:


s: Such hap befell that tower, for on that side


s: Gainst which the Pagans' force and battery bend,


s: Two wheels were broke whereon the piece should ride,


s: The maimed engine could no further wend,


s: The troop that guarded it that part provide


s: Till carpenters and cunning workmen came


s: Whose skill should help and rear again the same.


s: Thus Godfrey bids, and that ere springing-day,


s: The cracks and bruises all amend they should,


s: About the piece, he kept with soldiers bold:


s: But the loud rumor, both of that they say,


s: And that they do, is heard within the hold,


s: A thousand lights about the tower they view,


s: And what they wrought all night both saw and knew.


s: Her birth, her offspring, and her native land;


s: Disguised she fireth Godfrey's rolling fort.


s: The burned piece falls smoking on the sand:


s: With Tancred long unknown in desperate sort


s: She fights, and falls through pierced with his brand:


s: Christened she dies; with sighs, with plaints and tears.


s: He wails her death; Argant revengement swears.


s: Now in dark night was all the world embarred;


s: The careful French kept heedful watch and ward,


s: While their high tower the workmen newly dressed,


s: The weakened bulwarks, late to earth down kest,


s: Their rampiers broke and bruised walls to mend,


s: Lastly their hurts the wounded knights attend.


s: Their wounds were dressed, part of the work was brought


s: A dull desire to rest deep midnight wrought,


s: His heavy rod sleep on their eyelids lays:


s: Yet rested not Clorinda's working thought,


s: Which thirsted still for fame and warlike praise,


s: From place to place, which to herself thus said:


s: Strange things have done, and purchased great renown,


s: Among our foes out of the walls they ran,


s: Their rams they broke and rent their engines down:


s: I used my bow, of naught else boast I can,


s: My self stood safe meanwhile within this town,


s: And happy was my shot, and prosperous too,


s: But that was all a woman's hand could do.


s: "On birds and beasts in forests wild that feed


s: With strong and hardy knights herself to show.


s: And spend my days in secret cell unknow?"


s: Thus thought, thus mused, thus devised the maid,


s: And turning to the knight, at last thus said:


s: "My thoughts are full, my lord, of strange desire


s: Whether high God my mind therewith inspire


s: Or of his will his God mankind doth make,


s: Among our foes behold the light and fire,


s: I will among them wend, and burn or break


s: The tower, God grant therein I have my will


s: And that performed, betide me good or ill.


s: "But if it fortune such my chance should be,


s: Mine eunuch, whom I dearly love, with thee


s: I leave my faithful maids, and all my train,


s: Those woful damsels and that aged swain,


s: Help them, my lord, in that distressed case,


s: Their feeble sex, his age, deserveth grace."


s: Argantes wondering stood, and felt the effect


s: Of true renown pierce through his glorious mind,


s: "And wilt thou go," quoth he, "and me neglect,


s: Disgraced, despised, leave in this fort behind?


s: Shall I while these strong walls my life protect


s: Behold thy flames and fires tossed in the wind,


s: And will be still, in praise, in death, in harms.


s: "This heart of mine death's bitter stroke despiseth,


s: For praise this life, for glory take this breath."


s: "My soul and more," quoth she, "thy friendship prizeth,


s: For this thy proffered aid required uneath,


s: But if, as God forbid, this night thou fall,


s: Ah!  who shall then, who can, defend this wall!"


s: "Too late these 'scuses vain," the knight replied,


s: "You bring; my will is firm, my mind is set,


s: This said, they hasted to the palace wide


s: About their prince where all his lords were met,


s: Clorinda spoke for both, and said, "Sir king,


s: Attend my words, hear, and allow the thing:


s: "Argantes here, this bold and hardy knight,


s: Will undertake to burn the wondrous tower,


s: Bury in sleep our foes at deadest hour."


s: The king with that cast up his hands on height,


s: The tears for joy upon his cheeks down pour.


s: "Praised," quoth he, "be Macon whom we serve,


s: This land I see he keeps and will preserve:


s: "Nor shall so soon this shaken kingdom fall,


s: While such unconquered hearts my state defend:


s: But for this act what praise or guerdon shall


s: I give your virtues, which so far extend?


s: Let fame your praises sound through nations all,


s: And fill the world therewith to either end,


s: Take half my wealth and kingdom for your meed?


s: You are rewarded half even with the deed."


s: Thus spake the prince, and gently 'gan distrain,


s: Now him, now her, between his friendly arms:


s: "Nor I," quoth he, "bear this broad sword in vain,


s: Take me with you: ah." Quoth Clorinda, "no!


s: Whom leave we here of prowess if you go?"


s: Argantes was his proffered aid to scorn,


s: "Right noble prince, as aye hath been your use


s: Your self so still you bear and long have borne,


s: Bold in all acts, no danger can affright


s: Your heart, nor tired is your strength with fight.


s: "If you went forth great things perform you would,


s: That you, who most excel in courage bold,


s: At once should leave this town in these extremes,


s: Nor would I that these twain should leave this hold,


s: My heart their noble lives far worthier deems,


s: If this attempt of less importance were,


s: Or weaker posts so great a weight could bear.


s: "But for well-guarded is the mighty tower


s: With hardy troops and squadrons round about,


s: Nor fit the time to send whole armies out,


s: This pair who passed have many a dreadful stowre,


s: And proffer now to prove this venture stout,


s: Alone to this attempt let them go forth,


s: Alone than thousands of more price and worth.


s: "Thou, as it best beseems a mighty king,


s: With ready bands besides the gate attend,


s: That when this couple have performed the thing,


s: And shall again their footsteps homeward bend,


s: From their strong foes upon them following


s: Thou may'st them keep, preserve, save and defend:"


s: Thus said the king, "The Soldan must consent,"


s: Silent remained the Turk, and discontent.


s: Then Ismen said, "You twain that undertake


s: This hard attempt, awhile I pray you stay,


s: That this great engine burn to ashes may;


s: Haply the guard that now doth watch and wake,


s: Will then lie tumbled sleeping on the lay;"


s: Thus they conclude, and in their chambers sit,


s: To wait the time for this adventure fit.


s: Clorinda there her silver arms off rent,


s: Her helm, her shield, her hauberk shining bright,


s: Wherein withouten plume herself she dight;


s: For thus disguised amid her foes she meant


s: To pass unseen, by help of friendly night,


s: That from her cradle nursed and kept the dame.


s: This aged sire had followed far and near,


s: Through lands and seas, the strong and hardy maid,


s: He saw her leave her arms and wonted gear,


s: Her danger nigh that sudden change foresaid:


s: By his white locks from black that changed were


s: In following her, the woful man her prayed,


s: To leave that fond attempt, but prayed in vain.


s: "At last," quoth he, "since hardened to thine ill,


s: Thy cruel heart is to thy loss prepared,


s: That my weak age, nor tears that down distil,


s: Not humble suit, nor plaint, thou list regard;


s: Attend awhile, strange things unfold I will,


s: Hear both thy birth and high estate declared;


s: Follow my counsel, or thy will that done,"


s: "Senapus ruled, and yet perchance doth reign


s: In mighty Ethiop, and her deserts waste,


s: The lore of Christ both he and all his train


s: Of people black, hath kept and long embraced,


s: And with his queen, as her chief eunuch, placed;


s: Black was this queen as jet, yet on her eyes


s: Sweet loveliness, in black attired, lies.


s: "The fire of love and frost of jealousy,


s: Her husband's troubled soul alike torment,


s: The foe to love and plague to sweet content,


s: He mewed her up from sight of mortal eye,


s: Nor day he would his beams on her had bent:


s: She, wise and lowly, by her husband's pleasure,


s: Her joy, her peace, her will, her wish did measure.


s: "Her prison was a chamber, painted round


s: With goodly portraits and with stories old,


s: As white as snow there stood a virgin bound,


s: Besides a dragon fierce, a champion bold


s: The monster did with poignant spear through wound,


s: The gored beast lay dead upon the mould;


s: The gentle queen before this image laid.


s: She plained, she mourned, she wept, she sighed, she prayed:


s: "At last with child she proved, and forth she brought,


s: And thou art she, a daughter fair and bright,


s: In her thy color white new terror wrought,


s: She wondered on thy face with strange affright,


s: But yet she purposed in her fearful thought


s: To hide thee from the king, thy father's sight,


s: Lest thy bright hue should his suspect approve,


s: "And to her spouse to show she was disposed


s: And for the tower wherein she lay enclosed,


s: To me, on whose true faith she most reposed,


s: She gave thee, ere thou couldest christened be,


s: Nor could I since find means thee to baptize,


s: In Pagan lands thou knowest it's not the guise.


s: "To me she gave thee, and she wept withal,


s: To foster thee in some far distant place.


s: Who can her griefs and plaints to reckoning call,


s: How oft she swooned at the last embrace:


s: Her streaming tears amid her kisses fall,


s: Her sighs, her dire complaints did interlace?


s: And looking up at last, ' O God,' quoth she,


s: 'Who dost my heart and inward mourning see,


s: "'If mind and body spotless to this day,


s: That in thy presence am an abject vilde,


s: Preserve this babe, whose mother must denay


s: To nourish it, preserve this harmless child,


s: Oh let it live, and chaste like me it make,


s: But for good fortune elsewhere sample take.


s: "'Thou heavenly soldier which delivered hast


s: That sacred virgin from the serpent old,


s: If on thine altars I have offerings placed,


s: And sacrificed myrrh, frankincense and gold,


s: On this poor child thy heavenly looks down cast,


s: With gracious eye this silly babe behold;'


s: This said, her strength and living sprite was fled,


s: She sighed, she groaned, she swooned in her bed.


s: "Weeping I took thee, in a little chest,


s: Covered with herbs and leaves, I brought thee out


s: To wilderness my steps I first addressed,


s: Where horrid shades enclosed me round about,


s: A tigress there I met, in whose fierce eyes


s: Fury and wrath, rage, death and terror lies:


s: "Up to a tree I leaped, and on the grass,


s: Such was my sudden fear, I left thee lying,


s: To thee the beast with furious course did pass,


s: With curious looks upon thy visage prying,


s: All suddenly both meek and mild she was,


s: With friendly cheer thy tender body eying:


s: At last she licked thee, and with gesture mild


s: About thee played, and thou upon her smiled.


s: "Her fearful muzzle full of dreadful threat,


s: In thy weak hand thou took'st withouten dread;


s: The gentle beast with milk-outstretched teat,


s: As nurses' custom, proffered thee to feed.


s: As one that wondereth on some marvel great,


s: When thee she saw well filled and satisfied,


s: "She gone, down from the tree I came in haste,


s: And took thee up, and on my journey wend,


s: And to a nurse the charge of thee commend,


s: And sporting with thee there long time I passed,


s: Till term of sixteen months were brought to end,


s: With half clipped words to prattle, and to go.


s: "But having passed the August of mine age,


s: When more than half my tap of life was run,


s: Rich by rewards given by your mother sage,


s: For merits past, and service yet undone,


s: I longed to leave this wandering pilgrimage,


s: Loth still to warm me at another's fire.


s: And bore thee with me, by a rolling flood,


s: Till I with savage thieves well-nigh was hent;


s: Before the brook, the thieves behind me stood:


s: And gladly would I 'scape those outlaws wood,


s: Into the flood I leaped far from the brim,


s: My left hand bore thee, with the right I swim.


s: "Swift was the current, in the middle stream


s: The gulf, on such mishap ere I could dream,


s: There I forsook thee, the wild waters seem


s: Whose friendly puffs safe to the shore thee drive,


s: "I took thee up, and in my dream that night,


s: When buried was the world in sleep and shade,


s: That o'er my head shaked a flaming blade,


s: That charge this infant's mother on thee laid,


s: Baptize the child, high Heaven esteems her dear,


s: "'I will her keep, defend, save and protect,


s: I made the waters mild, the tigress tame,


s: O wretch that heavenly warnings dost reject!'


s: The warrior vanished having said the same.


s: When blushing morn from Tithon's bed forth came,


s: But for my faith is true and sure I ween,


s: And dreams are false, you still unchristened been.


s: "A Pagan therefore thee I fostered have,


s: Nor of thy birth the truth did ever tell,


s: Since you increased are in courage brave,


s: Your sex and nature's-self you both excel,


s: Full many a realm have you made bond and slave,


s: Your fortunes last yourself remember well,


s: And how in peace and war, in joy and teen,


s: I have your servant, and your tutor been.


s: "Last morn, from skies ere stars exiled were,


s: In deep and deathlike sleep my senses drowned,


s: With stormy wrathful looks, and thundering sound,


s: 'Villain,' quoth he, 'within short while thy dear


s: Must change her life, and leave this sinful ground,


s: Thine be the loss, the torment, and the care,'


s: This said, he fled through skies, through clouds and air.


s: "Hear then my joy, my hope, my darling, hear,


s: High Heaven some dire misfortune threatened hath,


s: Displeased pardie, because I did thee lere


s: Ah, for my sake, this bold attempt forbear;


s: Put off these sable arms, appease thy wrath."


s: This said, he wept, she pensive stood and sad,


s: Because like dream herself but lately had.


s: With cheerful smile she answered him at last,


s: "I will this faith observe, it seems me true,


s: Which from my cradle age thou taught me hast;


s: Nor with vain shows of fear and dread aghast


s: No, not if death in his most dreadful face


s: Wherewith he scareth mankind, kept the place."


s: Approachen gan the time, while thus she spake,


s: Wherein they ought that dreadful hazard try;


s: She to Argantes went, who should partake


s: Of her renown and praise, or with her die.


s: Ismen with words more hasty still did make


s: Their virtue great, which by itself did fly,


s: Two balls he gave them made of hollow brass,


s: Wherein enclosed fire, pitch, and brimstone was.


s: And forth they went, and over dale and hill


s: Beside the engine close themselves they place,


s: New courage there their swelling hearts did fill,


s: Rage in their breasts, fury shown in their face,


s: They yearned to blow the fire, and draw the sword.


s: The watch descried them both, and gave the word.


s: To rear a huge alarm with hideous cries,


s: At once the noise, the flame, and bullet flies,


s: They run, they give the charge, begin the fray,


s: And all at once their foes break, spoil and slay.


s: They passed first through thousand thousand blows,


s: And then performed their designment bold,


s: The stuff was dry, the fire took quickly hold,


s: How it crept up the piece, and how to skies


s: The burning sparks and towering smoke upflies.


s: Rolled up in smouldering fumes, there bursteth out,


s: And there the blustering winds add strength and might


s: And gather close the sparsed flames about:


s: The Frenchmen trembled at the dreadful light,


s: To arms in haste and fear ran all the rout,


s: Down fell the piece dreaded so much in war,


s: Thus what long days do make one hour doth mar.


s: Two Christian bands this while came to the place


s: With speedy haste, where they beheld the fire,


s: Argantes to them cried with scornful grace,


s: "Your blood shall quench these flames, and quench mine ire:"


s: This said, the maid and he with sober pace


s: Drew back, and to the banks themselves retire,


s: Faster than brooks which falling showers increase


s: Their foes augment, and faster on them press.


s: The gilden port was opened, and forth stepped


s: With all his soldiers bold, the Turkish king,


s: When fortune should them home with conquest bring,


s: And after them a band of Christians fling,


s: Whom Solyman drove back with courage stout,


s: And shut the gate, but shut Clorinda out.


s: Alone was she shut forth, for in that hour


s: Wherein they closed the port, the virgin went,


s: And full of heat and wrath, her strength and power


s: Gainst Arimon, that struck her erst, she bent,


s: She slew the knight, nor Argant in that stowre


s: Wist of her parting, or her fierce intent,


s: The fight, the press, the night, and darksome skies


s: Care from his heart had ta'en, sight from his eyes.


s: Her fury calmed, and settled was her head,


s: She saw the gates were shut, and how she stood


s: Amid her foes, she held herself for dead;


s: While none her marked at last she thought it good,


s: To save her life, some other path to tread,


s: She feigned her one of them, and close her drew


s: Amid the press that none her saw or knew:


s: Flies to some grove to hide himself from view,


s: So favored with the night, with secret speed


s: Dissevered from the press the damsel flew:


s: He saw it, marked it, and pursued the dame.


s: He deemed she was some man of mickle might,


s: Over the hills the nymph her journey dight


s: With hideous noise fast after spurred the knight,


s: She heard and stayed, and thus her words begin,


s: "What haste hast thou? ride softly, take thy breath,


s: What bringest thou?" He answered, "War and death."


s: "And war and death," quoth she, "here mayest thou get


s: If thou for battle come," with that she stayed:


s: Tancred to ground his foot in haste down set,


s: And left his steed, on foot he saw the maid,


s: Their courage hot, their ire and wrath they whet,


s: And either champion drew a trenchant blade,


s: Like two fierce bulls whom rage and love provoke.


s: Worthy of royal lists and brightest day,


s: The actions were and wonders of that fray


s: Which sable knight did in dark bosom drown:


s: Yet night, consent that I their acts display


s: And make their deeds to future ages known,


s: Enrol their praise, their fame, their worth and glory.


s: They neither shrunk, nor vantage sought of ground,


s: They traverse not, nor skipped from part to part,


s: Their blows were neither false nor feigned found,


s: The night, their rage would let them use no art,


s: Their swords together clash with dreadful sound,


s: Their feet stand fast, and neither stir nor start,


s: They move their hands, steadfast their feet remain,


s: Nor blow nor loin they struck, or thrust in vain.


s: Shame bred desire a sharp revenge to take,


s: And vengeance taken gave new cause of shame:


s: So that with haste and little heed they strake,


s: At last so close their battle fierce they make,


s: They could not wield their swords, so nigh they came,


s: They used the hilts, and each on other rushed,


s: And helm to helm, and shield to shield they crushed.


s: Thrice his strong arms he folds about her waist,


s: And thrice was forced to let the virgin go,


s: No lover would have strained his mistress so:


s: They took their swords again, and each enchased


s: Deep wounds in the soft flesh of his strong foe,


s: Till weak and weary, faint, alive uneath,


s: They both retired at once, at once took breath.


s: Each other long beheld, and leaning stood


s: Upon their swords, whose points in earth were pight,


s: When day-break, rising from the eastern flood,


s: Put forth the thousand eyes of blindfold night;


s: Tancred beheld his foe's out-streaming blood,


s: And gaping wounds, and waxed proud with the sight,


s: Puffed up with every blast of friendly wind!


s: Why joy'st thou, wretch?  Oh, what shall be thy gain?


s: What trophy for this conquest is't thou rears?


s: Thine eyes shall shed, in case thou be not slain,


s: The bleeding warriors leaning thus remain,


s: Each one to speak one word long time forbears,


s: Tancred the silence broke at last, and said,


s: For he would know with whom this fight he made:


s: "Evil is our chance and hard our fortune is


s: Who here in silence, and in shade debate,


s: Where light of sun and witness all we miss


s: That should our prowess and our praise dilate:


s: If words in arms find place, yet grant me this,


s: Tell me thy name, thy country, and estate;


s: That I may know, this dangerous combat done,


s: Whom I have conquered, or who hath me won."


s: "What I nill tell, you ask," quoth she, "in vain,


s: Nor moved by prayer, nor constrained by power,


s: But thus much know, I am one of those twain


s: Which late with kindled fire destroyed the tower."


s: Tancred at her proud words swelled with disdain,


s: "That hast thou said," quoth he, "in evil hour;


s: Thy vaunting speeches, and thy silence both,


s: Uncivil wretch, hath made my heart more wroth."


s: Ire in their chafed breasts renewed the fray,


s: Fierce was the fight, though feeble were their might,


s: Their strength was gone, their cunning was away,


s: And fury in their stead maintained the fight,


s: Their swords both points and edges sharp embay


s: In purple blood, whereso they hit or light,


s: And if weak life yet in their bosoms lie,


s: They lived because they both disdained to die.


s: As Aegean seas when storms be calmed again


s: That rolled their tumbling waves with troublous blasts,


s: Do yet of tempests past some shows retain,


s: And here and there their swelling billows casts;


s: So, though their strength were gone and might were vain,


s: Of their first fierceness still the fury lasts,


s: Wherewith sustained, they to their tackling stood,


s: And heaped wound on wound, and blood on blood.


s: That her sweet life must leave that tender hold,


s: His sword into her bosom deep he drives,


s: And bathed in lukewarm blood his iron cold,


s: Between her breasts the cruel weapon rives


s: Her curious square, embossed with swelling gold,


s: Her knees grow weak, the pains of death she feels,


s: And like a falling cedar bends and reels.


s: The prince his hand upon her shield doth stretch,


s: And low on earth the wounded damsel layeth,


s: And while she fell, with weak and woful speech,


s: Her prayers last and last complaints she sayeth,


s: A spirit new did her those prayers teach,


s: And though her life to Christ rebellious were,


s: Yet died she His child and handmaid dear.


s: "Friend, thou hast won, I pardon thee, nor save


s: This body, that all torments can endure,


s: But save my soul, baptism I dying crave,


s: Come wash away my sins with waters pure:"


s: His heart relenting nigh in sunder rave,


s: With woful speech of that sweet creature,


s: So that his rage, his wrath, and anger died,


s: And on his cheeks salt tears for ruth down slide.


s: With murmur loud down from the mountain's side


s: Thither he ran and filled his helmet wide,


s: And quick returned to do that work of grace,


s: With trembling hands her beaver he untied,


s: Which done he saw, and seeing, knew her face,


s: And lost therewith his speech and moving quite,


s: He died not, but all his strength unites,


s: And to his virtues gave his heart in guard,


s: Bridling his grief, with water he requites


s: And while the sacred words the knight recites,


s: The nymph to heaven with joy herself prepared;


s: And as her life decays her joys increase,


s: She smiled and said, "Farewell, I die in peace."


s: As violets blue mongst lilies pure men throw,


s: So paleness midst her native white begun;


s: Her looks to heaven she cast, their eyes I trow


s: Downward for pity bent both heaven and sun,


s: Her naked hand she gave the knight, in show


s: Of love and peace, her speech, alas, was done,


s: And thus the virgin fell on endless sleep, --


s: Love, Beauty, Virtue, for your darling weep!


s: But when he saw her gentle soul was went,


s: Grief, sorrow, anguish. sadness, discontent,


s: Free empire got and lordship on the man,


s: His life within his heart they close up pent,


s: Death through his senses and his visage ran:


s: Like his dead lady, dead seemed Tancred good,


s: In paleness, stillness, wounds and streams of blood.


s: From fleshly prison free that ceaseless strived,


s: Had followed her fair soul but lately fled


s: Had not a Christian squadron there arrived,


s: And found the princess dead, and him deprived


s: Of signs of life; yet did the knight remain


s: On live, nigh dead, for her himself had slain.


s: Their guide far off the prince knew by his shield,


s: And thither hasted full of grief and fear,


s: Her dead, him seeming so, he there beheld,


s: And for that strange mishap shed many a tear;


s: He would not leave the corpses fair in field


s: For food to wolves, though she a Pagan were,


s: But in their arms the soldiers both uphent,


s: And both lamenting brought to Tancred's tent.


s: With those dear burdens to their camp they pass,


s: Yet would not that dead seeming knight awake,


s: At last he deeply groaned, which token was


s: His feeble soul had not her flight yet take:


s: Her spirit had that earthen cage forsake;


s: Thus were they brought, and thus they placed were


s: In sundry rooms, yet both adjoining near.


s: All skill and art his careful servants used


s: To life again their dying lord to bring,


s: At last his eyes unclosed, with tears suffused,


s: He felt their hands and heard their whispering,


s: But how he thither came long time he mused,


s: His mind astonished was with everything;


s: He gazed about, his squires in fine he knew,


s: Then weak and woful thus his plaints out threw:


s: "What, live I yet?  and do I breathe and see


s: This spiteful ray which still upbraideth me


s: With that accursed deed I did this night,


s: Ah, coward hand, afraid why should'st thou be;


s: Thou instrument of death, shame and despite,


s: Why should'st thou fear, with sharp and trenchant knife,


s: To cut the thread of this blood-guilty life?


s: "Pierce through this bosom, and my cruel heart


s: In pieces cleave, break every string and vein;


s: But thou to slaughters vile which used art,


s: Think'st it were pity so to ease my pain:


s: Of luckless love therefore in torments' smart


s: Who still must live, lest death his comfort prove:


s: "Still must I live in anguish, grief, and care;


s: Furies my guilty conscience that torment,


s: The ugly shades, dark night, and troubled air


s: In grisly forms her slaughter still present,


s: Hell gapeth wide to swallow up this tent;


s: "But where, alas, where be those relics sweet,


s: Wherein dwelt late all love, all joy, all good?


s: Some beast hath torn her flesh and licked her blood,


s: Ah noble prey!  for savage beast unmeet,


s: Ah sweet!  too sweet, and far too precious food,


s: Ah, seely nymph!  whom night and darksome shade


s: To beasts, and me, far worse than beasts, betrayed.


s: "But where you be, if still you be, I wend


s: To gather up those relics dear at least,


s: But if some beast hath from the hills descend,


s: And on her tender bowels made his feast,


s: Let that fell monster me in pieces rend,


s: For where she buried is, there shall I have


s: A stately tomb, a rich and costly grave."


s: Thus mourned the knight, his squires him told at last,


s: They had her there for whom those tears he shed;


s: Like lightning through thick clouds of darkness spread,


s: With mickle pain, he drew forth of his bed,


s: And scant of strength to stand, to move or go,


s: Thither he staggered, reeling to and fro.


s: When he came there, and in her breast espied


s: His handiwork, that deep and cruel wound,


s: And her sweet face with leaden paleness dyed,


s: Where beauty late spread forth her beams around,


s: He trembled so, that nere his squires beside


s: To hold him up, he had sunk down to ground,


s: And said, "O face in death still sweet and fair!


s: Thou canst not sweeten yet my grief and care:


s: "O fair right hand, the pledge of faith and love?


s: Given me but late, too late, in sign of peace,


s: How haps it now thou canst not stir nor move?


s: And you, dear limbs, now laid in rest and ease,


s: Through which my cruel blade this flood-gate rove,


s: Your pains have end, my torments never cease,


s: You gave the wound, you gave them light to strike.


s: "But thither now run forth my guilty blood,


s: Whither my plaints, my sorrows cannot wend."


s: He said no more, but, as his passion wood


s: His hair, his face, his wounds, a purple flood


s: Did from each side in rolling streams descend,


s: He had been slain, but that his pain and woe


s: Bereft his senses, and preserved him so.


s: Cast on his bed his squires recalled his sprite


s: But tattling fame the sorrows of the knight


s: And hard mischance had told this while at large:


s: Godfrey and all his lords of worth and might,


s: Ran thither, and the duty would discharge


s: Of friendship true, and with sweet words the rage


s: Of bitter grief and woe they would assuage.


s: But as a mortal wound the more doth smart


s: The more it searched is, handled or sought;


s: So their sweet words to his afflicted heart


s: More grief, more anguish, pain and torment brought


s: Care of his sheep, as a good shepherd ought,


s: And told what mourning Christian knights behoved:


s: From thy beginnings good these follies be?


s: What makes thee deaf?  what hath thy eyesight blent?


s: What mist, what cloud thus overshadeth thee?


s: This is a warning good from heaven down sent,


s: Yet His advice thou canst not hear nor see


s: Who calleth and conducts thee to the way


s: From which thou willing dost and witting stray:


s: For Christian knights He would thee home recall;


s: But thou hast left that course and changed it,


s: To make thyself a heathen damsel's thrall;


s: But see, thy grief and sorrow's painful fit


s: Is made the rod to scourge thy sins withal,


s: Of thine own good thyself the means He makes,


s: But thou His mercy, goodness, grace forsakes.


s: "Thou dost refuse of heaven the proffered


s: And gainst it still rebel with sinful ire,


s: Oh wretch!  Oh whither doth thy rage thee chase?


s: Refrain thy grief, bridle thy fond desire,


s: At hell's wide gate vain sorrow doth thee place,


s: Sorrow, misfortune's son, despair's foul fire:


s: Oh see thine evil, thy plaint and woe refrain,


s: The guides to death, to hell, and endless pain."


s: These words of comfort to his heart down went,


s: And that dark night of sorrow somewhat cleared;


s: Yet now and then his grief deep sighs forth sent,


s: His voice shrill plaints and sad laments oft reared,


s: Now to himself, now to his murdered love,


s: He spoke, who heard perchance from heaven above.


s: Till Phoebus' rising from his evening fall


s: To her, for her, he mourns, he calls, he cries;


s: The nightingale so when her children small


s: Some churl takes before their parents' eyes,


s: Alone, dismayed, quite bare of comforts all,


s: Tires with complaints the seas, the shores, the skies,


s: Till in sweet sleep against the morning bright


s: She fall at last; so mourned, so slept the knight.


s: And clad in starry veil, amid his dream,


s: For whose sweet sake he mourned, appeared the maid,


s: Fairer than erst, yet with that heavenly beam.


s: Not out of knowledge was her lovely shade,


s: With looks of ruth her eyes celestial seem


s: To pity his sad plight, and thus she said,


s: "Behold how fair, how glad thy love appears,


s: And for my sake, my dear, forbear these tears.


s: "Thine be the thanks, my soul thou madest flit


s: Thine be the thanks, thou hast advanced it


s: There still I love thee, there for Tancred fit


s: Thou shalt thy love enjoy, and she her knight;


s: "Unless thyself, thyself heaven's joys envy,


s: And thy vain sorrow thee of bliss deprive,


s: Live, know I love thee, that I nill deny,


s: As angels, men: as saints may wights on live:"


s: This said, of zeal and love forth of her eye


s: An hundred glorious beams bright shining drive,


s: Amid which rays herself she closed from sigh,


s: And with new joy, new comfort left her knight.


s: Thus comforted he waked, and men discreet


s: In surgery to cure his wounds were sought,


s: Meanwhile of his dear love the relics sweet,


s: As best he could, to grave with pomp he brought:


s: Her tomb was not of varied Spartan greet,


s: Nor yet by cunning hand of Scopas wrought,


s: But built of polished stone, and thereon laid


s: The lively shape and portrait of the maid.


s: And mournful pomp the corpse was brought to ground


s: Her arms upon a leafless pine were hung,


s: The hearse, with cypress; arms, with laurel crowned:


s: Next day the prince, whose love and courage strong


s: Drew forth his limbs, weak, feeble, and unsound,


s: To visit went, with care and reverence meet,


s: Before her new-made tomb at last arrived,


s: Pale, cold, sad, comfortless, of sense deprived,


s: Upon the marble gray he fixed his sight,


s: Two streams of tears were from his eyes derived:


s: Thus with a sad "Alas!" began the knight,


s: "0 marble dear on my dear mistress placed!


s: My flames within, without my tears thou hast.


s: "Not of dead bones art thou the mournful grave,


s: But of quick love the fortress and the hold,


s: Still in my heart thy wonted brands I have


s: More bitter far, alas!  but not more cold;


s: Receive these sighs, these kisses sweet receive,


s: In liquid drops of melting tears enrolled,


s: And give them to that body pure and chaste,


s: Which in thy bosom cold entombed thou hast.


s: "For if her happy soul her eye doth bend


s: On that sweet body which it lately dressed,


s: Anger and wrath is not in angels blessed,


s: She pardon will the trespass of her friend,


s: That hope relieves me with these griefs oppressed,


s: This hand she knows hath only sinned, not I,


s: Who living loved her, and for love now die:


s: Whene'er it chanceth!  but oh far more blessed


s: My bones within thy hollow grave might rest,


s: Together should in heaven our spirits stay,


s: Together should our bodies lie in chest;


s: So happy death should join what life doth sever,


s: Meanwhile the news in that besieged town


s: Of this mishap was whispered here and there,


s: Forthwith it spread, and for too true was known,


s: Mingled with cries and plaints to heaven upthrown,


s: With conquering foes, or as if flame and fire,


s: Nor house, nor church, nor street had left entire.


s: But all men's eyes were on Arsetes bent,


s: His sighs were deep, his looks full of despair,


s: Out of his woful eyes no tear there went,


s: His heart was hardened with his too much care,


s: His silver locks with dust he foul besprent,


s: He knocked his breast, his face he rent and tare,


s: And while the press flocked to the eunuch old,