s: Will spare to strike thee, mine affection known,


s: Lest me they wound, nor will sharp vengeance take


s: On thee, for this despised beauty's sake.


s: "O wretch!  dare I still vaunt, or help invoke


s: From this poor beauty, scorned and disdained?"


s: She said no more, her tears her speeches broke,


s: Which from her eyes like streams from springs down rained:


s: She would have caught him by the hand or cloak,


s: But he stepped backward, and himself restrained,


s: Conquered his will, his heart ruth softened not,


s: There plaints no issue, love no entrance got.


s: Love entered not to kindle in his breast,


s: Which Reason late had quenched, his wonted flame;


s: Love's sister, but a chaste and sober dame,


s: And stirred him so, that hardly he suppressed


s: The springing tears that to his eyes up came;


s: But yet even there his plaints repressed were,


s: And, as he could, he looked, and feigned cheer.


s: "Madam," quoth he, "for your distress I grieve,


s: And would amend it, if I might or could.


s: From your wise heart that fond affection drive:


s: I cannot hate nor scorn you though I would,


s: I seek no vengeance, wrongs I all forgive,


s: Truth is, you erred, and your estate forgot,


s: Too great your hate was, and your love too hot.


s: "But those are common faults, and faults of kind,


s: Excused by nature, by your sex and years;


s: None can condemn you, that our trespass hears;


s: Your dear remembrance will I keep in mind,


s: In joys, in woes, in comforts, hopes and fears,


s: Call me your soldier and your knight, as far


s: As Christian faith permits, and Asia's war.


s: "Ah, let our faults and follies here take end,


s: Let both the fame and shame thereof now die,


s: From all the earth where I am known and kenned,


s: I wish this fact should still concealed lie:


s: Nor yet in following me, poor knight, disgrace


s: Your worth, your beauty, and your princely race.


s: "Stay here in peace, I go, nor wend you may


s: With me, my guide your fellowship denies,


s: Stay here or hence depart some better way,


s: And calm your thoughts, you are both sage and wise."


s: While thus he spoke, her passions found no stay,


s: But here and there she turned and rolled her eyes,


s: Thus in foul terms, her bitter wrath forth brast:


s: "Of Sophia fair thou never wert the child,


s: Nor of the Azzain race ysprung thou art,


s: The mad sea-waves thee hare, some tigress wild


s: On Caucasus' cold crags nursed thee apart;


s: Appears, of pity, ruth, or tender heart,


s: Could not my griefs, my woes, my plaints, and all


s: One sigh strain from thy breast, one tear make fall?


s: "What shall I say, or how renew my speech?


s: He scorns me, leaves me, bids me call him mine:


s: The victor hath his foe within his reach;


s: Yet pardons her, that merits death and pine;


s: Hear how he counsels me; how he can preach,


s: Like chaste Xenocrates, gainst love divine;


s: O heavens, O gods!  why do these men of shame,


s: Thus spoil your temples and blaspheme your name?


s: "Go cruel, go, go with such peace, such rest,


s: Such joy, such comfort, as thou leavest me here:


s: My angry soul discharged from this weak breast,


s: Shall haunt thee ever, and attend thee near,


s: And fury-like in snakes and firebrands dressed,


s: Shall aye torment thee, whom it late held dear:


s: And if thou 'scape the seas, the rocks, and sands


s: And come to fight among the Pagan bands,


s: "There lying wounded, mongst the hurt and slain,


s: Of these my wrongs thou shalt the vengeance bear,


s: At thy last gasp; this hope I soon to hear:"


s: Here fainted she, with sorrow, grief and pain,


s: Her latest words scant well expressed were,


s: But in a swoon on earth outstretched she lies,


s: Stiff were her frozen limbs, closed were her eyes.


s: Thou closed thine eyes, Armida, heaven envied


s: Ease to thy grief, or comfort to thy woe;


s: Ah, open then again, see tears down slide


s: From his kind eyes, whom thou esteem'st thy foe,


s: If thou hadst heard, his sighs had mollified


s: Thine anger, hard he sighed and mourned so;


s: And as he could with sad and rueful look


s: His leave of thee and last farewell he took.


s: What should he do?  leave on the naked sand


s: Kindness forbade, pity did that withstand;


s: But hard constraint, alas!  did thence him lead;


s: Away he went, the west wind blew from land


s: Mongst the rich tresses of their pilot's head,


s: And with that golden sail the waves she cleft,


s: To land he looked, till land unseen he left.


s: Waked from her trance, foresaken, speechless, sad,


s: "And is he gone," quoth she, "nor pity had


s: To leave me thus twixt life and death in doubt?


s: Could he not stay?  could not the traitor-lad


s: From this last trance help or recall me out?


s: And do I love him still, and on this sand


s: Still unrevenged, still mourn, still weeping stand?


s: "Fie no!  complaints farewell!  with arms and art


s: I will pursue to death this spiteful knight,


s: Not earth's low centre, nor sea's deepest part,


s: Not heaven, nor hell, can shield him from my might,


s: I will o'ertake him, take him, cleave his heart,


s: Such vengeance fits a wronged lover's spite,


s: I will, but what avail vain words, alas?


s: "O fool!  thou shouldest have been cruel than,


s: For then this cruel well deserved thine ire,


s: When thou in prison hadst entrapped the man,


s: Now dead with cold, too late thou askest fire;


s: But though my wit, my cunning nothing can,


s: Some other means shall work my heart's desire,


s: To thee, my beauty, thine be all these wrongs,


s: Vengeance to thee, to thee revenge belongs.


s: "Thou shalt be his reward, with murdering brand


s: That dare this traitor of his head deprive,


s: O you my lovers, on this rock doth stand


s: The castle of her love for whom you strive,


s: For this revenge myself and kingdom give,


s: Nature gives beauty; fortune, wealth in vain.


s: "But thee, vain gift, vain beauty, thee I scorn,


s: I hate the kingdom which I have to give,


s: Thus raging with fell ire she gan return


s: From that bare shore in haste, and homeward drive,


s: Her locks waved loose, face shone, eyes sparkled fire.


s: When she came home, she called with outcries shrill,


s: A thousand devils in Limbo deep that won,


s: Black clouds the skies with horrid darkness fill,


s: And pale for dread became the eclipsed sun,


s: The whirlwind blustered big on every hill,


s: You might have heard how through the palace wide,


s: Some spirits howled, some barked, some hissed, some cried.


s: A shadow, blacker than the mirkest night,


s: Environed all the place with darkness sad,


s: Wherein a firebrand gave a dreadful light,


s: Vanished the shade, the sun appeared in sight,


s: Pale were his beams, the air was nothing glad,


s: And all the palace vanished was and gone,


s: Nor of so great a work was left one stone.


s: As oft the clouds frame shapes of castles great


s: But are dissolved by wind or Titan's heat,


s: Or like vain dreams soon made, and sooner past:


s: Left aught but rocks and crags, by kind there placed;


s: She in her coach which two old serpents drew,


s: Sate down, and as she used, away she flew.


s: She broke the clouds, and cleft the yielding sky,


s: And bout her gathered tempest, storm and wind,


s: The lands that view the south pole flew she by,


s: And left those unknown countries far behind,


s: The Straits of Hercules she passed, which lie


s: Twixt Spain and Afric, nor her flight inclined


s: To north or south, but still did forward ride


s: O'er seas and streams, till Syria's coasts she spied.


s: But of her country dear she fled the sight,


s: And guided to Asphaltes' lake her chair,


s: Where stood her castle, there she ends her flight,


s: And from her damsels far, she made repair


s: To a deep vault, far from resort and light,


s: Where in sad thoughts a thousand doubts she cast,


s: Till grief and shame to wrath gave place at last.


s: In aid of Zion's king his host shall move;


s: Then will I use all helps that charms afford,


s: And change my shape or sex if so behove:


s: Well can I handle bow, or lance, or sword,


s: The worthies all will aid me, for my love:


s: Farewell, regard of honor; farewell, shame.


s: Reprove for this, he most deserves the blame,


s: My heart and sex, that weak and tender be,


s: He bent to deeds that maidens ill became;


s: His niece a wandering damsel first made he,


s: He spurred my youth, and I cast off my shame,


s: His be the fault, if aught gainst mine estate


s: I did for love, or shall commit for hate."


s: This said, her knights, her ladies, pages, squires


s: In such fair arms and vestures them attires


s: As showed her wealth, and well declared her wit;


s: And forward marched, full of strange desires,


s: Nor rested she by day or night one whit,


s: Till she came there, where all the eastern bands,


s: Their kings and princes, lay on Gaza's sands.


s: The Caliph sends with Godfrey's power to fight;


s: To them adjoins herself and Syria's might.


s: She gives herself to him that kills her knight:


s: He takes his fatal arms, and in his shield


s: His ancestors and their great deeds beheld.


s: Built near the sea, beside it of dry sands


s: Which the strong winds lift from the parched lands


s: And toss like roaring waves in roughest tide,


s: That from those storms poor passengers almost


s: No refuge find, but there are drowned and lost.


s: Within this town, won from the Turks of yore


s: That high emprise to which his thoughts he cast,


s: His regal throne, and there, from countries vast


s: Of his huge empire all the puissant host


s: Assembled he, and mustered on the coast.


s: Come say, my Muse, what manner times these were,


s: And in those times how stood the state of things,


s: What power this monarch had, what arms they bear,


s: What nations subject, and what friends he brings;


s: Or morning star, came princes, dukes and kings,


s: And only thou of half the world well-nigh


s: The armies, lords, and captains canst descry.


s: Rebelled first, and Christ's true faith denied,


s: There set his throne and ruled that kingdom wide,


s: Caliph he hight, and Caliphs since that hour


s: So Nilus old his kings long time had seen


s: That Ptolemies and Pharaohs called had been.


s: Established was that kingdom in short while,


s: And grew so great, that over Asia's lands


s: And Lybia's realms it stretched many a mile,


s: From Syria's coasts as far as Cirene sands,


s: And southward passed gainst the course of Nile,


s: Through the hot clime where burnt Syene stands,


s: Hence bounded in with sandy deserts waste,


s: And thence with Euphrates' rich flood embraced.


s: Maremma, myrrh and spices that doth bring,


s: And all the rich red sea it comprehends,


s: And to those lands, toward the morning spring


s: That lie beyond that gulf, it far extends;


s: Great is that empire, greater by the king


s: That rules it now, whose worth the land amends,


s: And makes more famous, lord thereof by blood,


s: With Turks and Persians war he oft did wage,


s: And oft he won, and sometimes lost the field,


s: Nor could his adverse fortune aught assuage


s: His valor's heat or make his proud heart yield,


s: But when he grew unfit for war through age,


s: He sheathed his sword and laid aside his shield:


s: But yet his warlike mind he laid not down,


s: Nor his great thirst of rule, praise and renown,


s: But by his knights still cruel wars maintained.


s: So wise his words, so quick his wit appears,


s: That of the kingdom large o'er which he reigned,


s: The charge seemed not too weighty for his years;


s: His greatness Afric's lesser kings constrained


s: To tremble at his name, all Ind him fears,


s: And other realms that would his friendship hold;


s: Some armed soldiers sent, some gifts, some gold.


s: This mighty prince assembled had the flower


s: Of all his realms, against the Frenchmen stout,


s: To break their rising empire and their power,


s: Nor of sure conquest had he fear or doubt:


s: When in the plains, old Gaza's walls without,


s: The lords and leaders all their armies bring


s: In battle-ray, mustered before their king.


s: He on his throne was set, to which on height


s: Who clomb an hundred ivory stairs first told,


s: Under a pentise wrought of silver bright,


s: And trod on carpets made of silk and gold;


s: His robes were such as best beseemen might


s: A king, so great, so grave, so rich, so old,


s: And twined of sixty ells of lawn and more


s: A turban strange adorned his tresses hoar.


s: His right hand did his precious sceptre wield,


s: His beard was gray, his looks severe and grave,


s: And from his eyes, not yet made dim with eild,


s: Sparkled his former worth and vigor brave,


s: And state, as his old age and empire crave,


s: Erst painted Jove, Jove thundering down from sky.


s: Whereof the first held in his upright hand


s: The other bare the seal, and causes scanned,


s: Keeping his folk in peace and good accord,


s: And termed was lord chancellor of the land;


s: But marshal was the first, and used to lead


s: His armies forth to war, oft with good speed.


s: Of bold Circassians with their halberts long,


s: About his throne his guards stood in a ring,


s: All richly armed in gilden corslets strong,


s: And by their sides their crooked swords down hing:


s: Thus set, thus seated, his grave lords among,


s: His hosts and armies great beheld the king,


s: And every band as by his throne it went,


s: Their ensigns low inclined, and arms down bent:


s: In four troops, and each his several guide,


s: Which Nile had won out of the salt seaside,


s: His fertile slime first stopped the waters' flow,


s: Then hardened to firm land the plough to bide,


s: That part is now where ships erst anchor cast.


s: The foremost band the people were that dwelled


s: Along the western shore, whence Nile expelled


s: The greedy billows of the swelling main;


s: Araspes was their guide, who more excelled


s: In wit and craft than strength or warlike pain,


s: A treason false, was none so sly, so wise.


s: The people next that gainst the morning rays


s: Along the coasts of Asia have their seat,


s: Arontes led them, whom no warlike praise


s: Ennobled, but high birth and titles great,


s: His helm ne'er made him sweat in toilsome frays,


s: Nor was his sleep e'er broke with trumpet's threat,


s: But from soft ease to try the toil of fight


s: His fond ambition brought this carpet knight.


s: The third seemed not a troop or squadron small,


s: But an huge host; nor seemed it so much grain


s: Yet from one town thereof came all that train,


s: That did a thousand streets and more contain,


s: Great Caire it hight, whose commons from each side


s: Came swarming out to war, Campson their guide.


s: Next under Gazel marched they that plough


s: The fertile lands above that town which lie


s: Up to the place where Nilus tumbling low


s: Falls from his second cataract from high;


s: No weight of helm or hauberk list they try,


s: And richly armed, in their strong foes no dreed


s: Of death but great desire of spoil they breed.


s: That long in deserts lived, in extreme need,


s: On spoils and preys purchased by strength of hand.


s: To battle strong unfit, their king did lead


s: And skirmish short, both ready, bold, and light.


s: Two captains next brought forth their bands to show


s: Which never felt the cold of frost and snow,


s: Or force of burning heat, unless fame lie,


s: Where incense pure and all sweet odors grow,


s: Where the sole phoenix doth revive, not die,


s: And midst the perfumes rich and flowerets brave


s: Both birth and burial, cradle hath and grave.


s: Their clothes not rich, their garments were not gay,


s: The Arabians next that have no certain stay,


s: No house, no home, no mansion good or bad,


s: From place to place their wandering cities gad:


s: These have both voice and stature feminine,


s: Hair long and black, black face, and fiery eyne.


s: Long Indian canes, with iron armed, they bear,


s: And as upon their nimble steeds they ride,


s: Like a swift storm their speedy troops appear,


s: If winds so fast bring storms from heavens wide:


s: Aldine the second squadron had no guide,


s: The third, a thief, a murderer, not a knight.


s: The islanders came then their prince before


s: Whose lands Arabia's gulf enclosed about,


s: Wherein they fish and gather oysters store,


s: Whose shells great pearls rich and round pour out;


s: The Red Sea sent with them from his left shore,


s: These Agricalt and those Osmida brought,


s: A man that set law, faith and truth at naught.


s: The Ethiops next which Meroe doth breed,


s: Twixt Nile and Astrabore that far doth spread,


s: Where two religions are, and kingdoms three,


s: Both kings, both Pagans, and both subjects be


s: To the great Caliph, but the third king kept


s: Christ's sacred faith, nor to these wars outstepped.


s: After two kings, both subjects also, ride,


s: And of two bands of archers had the charge,


s: The first Soldan of Ormus placed in the wide


s: Huge Persian Bay, a town rich, fair, and large:


s: The sea cuts off from Persia's southern marge,


s: And makes an isle; but when it ebbs again,


s: The passage there is sandy, dry and plain.


s: Nor thee, great Altamore, in her chaste bed


s: Thy loving queen kept with her dear embrace,


s: She tore her locks, she smote her breast, and shed


s: Salt tears to make thee stay in that sweet place,


s: "Seem the rough seas more calm, cruel," she said,


s: "Than the mild looks of thy kind spouse's face?


s: Or is thy shield, with blood and dust defiled,


s: A captain wise, well skilled in feats of war,


s: In courage fierce, matchless for strength of hand,


s: Great was his praise, his force was noised far;


s: His worth right well the Frenchmen understand,


s: By whom his virtues feared and loved are:


s: His men were armed with helms and hauberks strong,


s: And by their sides broad swords and maces hong.


s: Then from the mansions bright of fresh Aurore


s: Adrastus came, the glorious king of Ind,


s: A snake's green skin spotted with black he wore,


s: That was made rich by art and hard by kind,


s: He fierce as fire, his mounture swift as wind;


s: Much people brought he from his kingdoms wide,


s: Twixt Indus, Ganges, and the salt seaside.


s: The king's own troop come next, a chosen crew,


s: Of all the camp the strength, the crown, the flower,


s: Wherein each soldier had with honors due


s: Rewarded been, for service ere that hour;


s: Their arms were strong for need, and fair for show,


s: Upon fierce steeds well mounted rode this power,


s: And heaven itself with the clear splendor shone


s: Of their bright armor, purple, gold and stone.


s: And Rimedon, whose rashness took no care


s: To shun death's bitter stroke, in field or fort,


s: Tigranes, Rapold stem, the men that fare


s: By sea, that robbed in each creek and port,


s: Ormond, and Marlabust the Arabian named,


s: Because that land rebellious he reclaimed.


s: Brimarte the scaler, and with him Suifant


s: The breaker of wild horses brought from far;


s: Then the great wresteler strong Aridamant,


s: Whom none surpassed, whom none to match durst vaunt


s: At tilt, at tourney, or in combat brave,


s: With spear or lance, with sword, with mace or glaive.


s: A false Armenian did this squadron guide,


s: That in his youth from Christ's true faith and light


s: To the blind lore of Paganism did slide,


s: Yet to his king he faithful was, and tried


s: True in all causes, his in wrong and right:


s: For strength and courage, young; for wisdom, old.


s: When all these regiments were passed and gone,


s: Appeared Armide, and came her troop to show;


s: Set in a chariot bright with precious stone,


s: Her gown tucked up, and in her hand a bow;


s: In her sweet face her new displeasures shone,


s: Mixed with the native beauties there which grow,


s: And quickened so her looks that in sharp wise


s: It seems she threats and yet her threats entice.


s: Her chariot like Aurora's glorious wain,


s: With carbuncles and jacinths glistered round:


s: Her coachman guided with the golden rein


s: Four unicorns, by couples yoked and bound;


s: Of squires and lovely ladies hundreds twain,


s: Whose rattling quivers at their backs resound,


s: On milk-white steeds, wait on the chariot bright,


s: Their steeds to manage, ready; swift, to flight.


s: Which Hidraort from Syria's kingdom sent,


s: Of her rich wings strange plumes and feathers thin


s: Her crowns and chains with native gold besprent,


s: The world amazed stands; and with her fly


s: An host of wondering birds, that sing and cry:


s: So passed Armida, looked on, gazed on, so,


s: A wondrous dame in habit, gesture, face;


s: There lived no wight to love so great a foe


s: But wished and longed those beauties to embrace,


s: Scant seen, with anger sullen, sad for woe,


s: She conquered all the lords and knights in place,


s: What would she do, her sorrows passed, think you,


s: When her fair eyes, her looks and smiles shall woo?


s: Of his rich throne to mount the lofty stage,


s: To whom his host, his army, and his men,


s: With stately grace the man approached then;


s: The guard asunder cleft and passage made,


s: He to the throne up went, and there he stayed.


s: To earth he cast his eyes, and bent his knee:


s: To whom the king thus gan his will explain,


s: Mongst them, go set the king of Judah free,


s: And let the Frenchmen feel my just disdain,


s: Go meet them, conquer them, leave none alive;


s: Or those that scape from battle, bring captive."


s: Thus spake the tyrant. and the sceptre laid


s: With all his sovereign power upon the knight:


s: "I take this sceptre at your hand," he said,


s: "And with your happy fortune go to fight,


s: And trust, my lord, in your great virtue's aid


s: To venge all Asia's harms, her wrongs to right,


s: Nor e'er but victor will I see your face;


s: Our overthrow shall bring death, not disgrace.


s: "Heavens grant if evil, yet no mishap I dread,


s: Or harm they threaten against this camp of thine,


s: That all that mischief fall upon my head,


s: Theirs be the conquest, and the danger mine;


s: And let them safe bring home their captain dead,


s: Buried in pomp of triumph's glorious shine."


s: He ceased, and then a murmur loud up went,


s: With noise of joy and sound of instrument.


s: Amid the noise and shout uprose the king,


s: That to his royal tent the monarch bring,


s: And there he feasted them and made them cheer,


s: To him and him he talked, and carved each thing,


s: The greatest honored, meanest graced were;


s: And while this mirth, this joy and feast doth last,


s: But when the feast was done, she, that espied


s: All eyes on her fair visage fixed and bent,


s: And by new notes and certain signs described,


s: How love's empoisoned fire their entrails brent,


s: Arose, and where the king sate in his pride,


s: With stately pace and humble gestures, went;


s: And as she could in looks in voice she strove


s: Fierce, stern, bold, angry, and severe to prove.


s: "Great Emperor, behold me here," she said.


s: "For thee, my country, and my faith to fight,


s: And worthy seems this war a princess hight,


s: For by the sword the sceptre is upstayed,


s: This hand can use them both with skill and might,


s: This hand of mine can strike, and at each blow


s: Thy foes and ours kill, wound, and overthrow.


s: "Nor yet suppose this is the foremost day


s: But for the surety of thy realms, and stay


s: Of our religion true, ere this I wrought:


s: Yourself best know if this be true I say,


s: Or if my former deeds rejoiced you aught,


s: When Godfrey's hardy knights and princes strong


s: I captive took, and held in bondage long.


s: "I took them, bound them, and so sent them bound


s: To thee, a noble gift, with whom they had


s: So might thine host an easy way have found


s: To end this doubtful war, with conquest glad,


s: Had not Rinaldo fierce my knights all slain,


s: And set those lords, his friends, at large again.


s: "Rinaldo is well known," and there a long


s: And true rehearsal made she of his deeds,


s: "This is the knight that since hath done me wrong,


s: Wrong yet untold, that sharp revengement needs:


s: Displeasure therefore, mixed with reason strong,


s: This thirst of war in me, this courage breeds;


s: Nor how he injured me time serves to tell,


s: Let this suffice, I seek revengement fell,


s: "And will procure it, for all shafts that fly


s: Light not in vain; some work the shooter's will,


s: And Jove's right hand with thunders cast from sky


s: Takes open vengeance oft for secret ill:


s: But if some champion dare this knight defy


s: To mortal battle, and by fight him kill,


s: And with his hateful head will me present,


s: That gift my soul shall please, my heart content:


s: "So please, that for reward enjoy he shall,


s: Myself, my beauty, wealth, and kingdoms all,


s: This promise will I keep whate'er befall,


s: And thereto bind myself by oath and word:


s: Now he that deems this purchase worth his pain,


s: Let him step forth and speak, I none disdain."


s: While thus the princess said, his hungry eyne


s: Adrastus fed on her sweet beauty's light,


s: "The gods forbid," quoth he, "one shaft of thine


s: Should be discharged gainst that discourteous knight,


s: His heart unworthy is, shootress divine,


s: To wreak thine ire behold me prest and fit,


s: I will his head cut off, and bring thee it.


s: "I will his heart with this sharp sword divide,


s: And to the vultures cast his carcass out."


s: Thus threatened he, but Tisapherne envied


s: To hear his glorious vaunt and boasting stout,


s: And said, "But who art thou, that so great pride


s: Thou showest before the king, me, and this rout?


s: Pardie here are some such, whose worth exceeds


s: Thy vaunting much yet boast not of their deeds."


s: The Indian fierce replied, "I am the man


s: Whose acts his words and boasts have aye surpassed;


s: But if elsewhere the words thou now began


s: Had uttered been, that speech had been thy last."


s: Thus quarrelled they; the monarch stayed them than,


s: And 'twixt the angry knights his sceptre cast:


s: Thy heart is stout, thy thoughts courageous be;


s: "Thou worthy art that their disdain and ire


s: At thy commands these knights should both appease,


s: That gainst thy foe their courage hot as fire


s: Thou may'st employ, both when and where you please,


s: There all their power and force, and what desire


s: They have to serve thee, may they show at ease."


s: The monarch held his peace when this was said,


s: And they new proffer of their service made.


s: Nor they alone, but all that famous were


s: In feats of arms boast that he shall be dead,


s: All offer her their aid, all say and swear,


s: So many arms moved she against her dear,


s: And swore her darling under foot to tread,


s: But he, since first the enchanted isle he left,


s: Safe in his barge the roaring waves still cleft.


s: By the same way returned the well-taught boat


s: By which it came, and made like haste, like speed;


s: The friendly wind, upon her sail that smote,


s: So turned as to return her ship had need:


s: The youth sometimes the Pole or Bear did note,


s: Or wandering stars which dearest nights forthspread:


s: Sometimes the floods, the hills, or mountains steep,


s: Whose woody fronts o'ershade the silent deep.


s: Now of the camp the man the state inquires,


s: Now asks the customs strange of sundry lands;


s: And sailed, till clad in beams and bright attires


s: The fourth day's sun on the eastern threshold stands:


s: But when the western seas had quenched those fires,


s: Their frigate struck against the shore and sands;


s: Then spoke their guide, "The land of Palestine


s: This is, here must your journey end and mine."


s: The knights she set upon the shore all three,


s: And vanished thence in twinkling of an eye,


s: Uprose the night in whose deep blackness be


s: All colors hid of things in earth or sky,


s: Nor could they house, or hold, or harbor see,


s: Nor track of man or horse, or aught that might


s: Inform them of some path or passage right.


s: When they had mused what way they travel should,


s: From the west shore their steps at last they twined,


s: And lo, far off at last their eyes behold


s: Something, they wist not what, that clearly shined


s: With rays of silver and with beams of gold


s: Which the dark folds of night's black mantle lined.


s: Forward they went and marched against the light,


s: To see and find the thing that shone so bright.


s: That glistered bright gainst Cynthia's silver ray,


s: Therein, like stars in skies, the diamonds show


s: Fret in the gilden helm and hauberk gay,


s: The mighty shield all scored full they view


s: Who to salute them rose, when them he spied.


s: The twain who first were sent in this pursuit


s: Of their wise friend well knew the aged face:


s: But when the wizard sage their first salute


s: Received and quitted had with kind embrace,


s: To the young prince, that silent stood and mute,


s: He turned his speech, "In this unused place


s: For you alone I wait, my lord," quoth he,


s: "My chiefest care your state and welfare be.


s: "For, though you wot it not, I am your friend,


s: And for your profit work, as these can tell,


s: I taught them how Armida's charms to end,


s: And bring you thither from love's hateful cell,


s: Now to my words, though sharp perchance, attend,


s: Nor be aggrieved although they seem too fell,


s: But keep them well in mind, till in the truth


s: A wise and holier man instruct thy youth.


s: "Not underneath sweet shades and fountains shrill,


s: Among the nymphs, the fairies, leaves and flowers;


s: But on the steep, the rough and craggy hill


s: Of virtue stands this bliss, this good of ours:


s: By toil and travel, not by sitting still


s: In pleasure's lap, we come to honor's bowers;


s: Why will you thus in sloth's deep valley lie?


s: "Nature lifts up thy forehead to the skies,


s: And fills thy heart with high and noble thought,


s: That thou to heavenward aye shouldst lift thine eyes,


s: And purchase fame by deeds well done and wrought;


s: She gives thee ire, by which not courage flies


s: To conquests, not through brawls and battles fought


s: For civil jars, nor that thereby you might


s: Your wicked malice wreak and cursed spite.


s: "But that your strength spurred forth with noble wrath,


s: With greater fury might Christ's foes assault,


s: And that your bridle should with lesser scath


s: Each secret vice, and kill each inward fault;


s: Each righteous man beneath heaven's starry vault,


s: And at his will makes it now hot, now cold,


s: Now lets it run, now doth it fettered hold."


s: Thus parleyed he; Rinaldo, hushed and still,


s: Great wisdom heard in those few words compiled,


s: He marked his speech, a purple blush did fill


s: His guilty checks, down went his eyesight mild.


s: The hermit by his bashful looks his will


s: Well understood, and said, "Look up, my child,


s: And painted in this precious shield behold


s: The glorious deeds of thy forefathers old.


s: "Thine elders' glory herein see and know,


s: In virtue's path how they trod all their days,


s: In this true course of honor, fame and praise:


s: Of knightly worth which this bright shield bewrays,


s: That be thy spur to praise!" At last the knight


s: Looked up, and on those portraits bent his sight.


s: Infinite shapes of men there well expressed,


s: And pedigree of all of the house of Est:


s: Come from a Roman spring o'er all the place


s: Flowed pure streams of crystals east and west,


s: With laurel crowned stood the princes old,


s: Their wars the hermit and their battles told.


s: He showed them Caius first, when first in prey


s: To people strange the falling empire went,


s: First Prince of Est, that did the sceptre sway


s: O'er such as chose him lord by tree consent;


s: Need made them stoop, constraint doth force content;


s: After, when Lord Honorius called the train


s: With bloody war, by this fierce people mad,


s: And to be quite destroyed was most afraid,


s: Preserved in peace the folk that him obeyed:


s: Next whom was Forest, who the rage withstood


s: Of the bold Huns, and of their tyrant proud.


s: Whose dragon eyes shone bright with anger's spark,


s: Worse faced than a dog, who viewed him well


s: Supposed they saw him grin and heard him bark;


s: But when in single fight he lost the bell,


s: How through his troops he fled there might you mark,


s: For there was wrought the fatal end and fine,


s: Both of himself and of the town he kept:


s: Into his father's place and honor stepped:


s: Gave place, and when time served again forth leapt,


s: And in the vale of Po built for his seat


s: Against the swelling flood he banked it strong,


s: And thence uprose the fair and noble town


s: Where they of Est should by succession long


s: Command, and rule in bliss and high renown:


s: Gainst Odoacer then he fought, but wrong


s: Oft spoileth right, fortune treads courage down,


s: For there he died for his dear country's sake,


s: And of his father's praise did so partake.


s: But homeward they in arms again repass --


s: The Herule king oppressed -- from banishment.


s: His front through pierced with a dart, alas,


s: That smiling seemed to cruel death to yield,


s: When Totila was fled, and safe his shield.


s: His son, in praise and power succeeded him,


s: Who durst sustain, in years though scant a man,


s: Of the proud Goths an hundred squadrons trim:


s: Then he that gainst the Sclaves much honor wan,


s: Ernesto, threatening stood with visage grim;


s: That served great Charles in his conquest high,


s: Who in each battle give the onset would,


s: He won the field and took that king on live:


s: Next him stood Otho with his children five.


s: His eyes, like one that used to contemplate;


s: Gainst him the second Azzo stood in rew,


s: Till after often change of fortune stroke,


s: Albert his son the Germans warred among,


s: And there his praise and fame was spread so wide,


s: That having foiled the Danes in battle strong,


s: His daughter young became great Otho's bride.


s: Behind him Hugo stood with warfare long,


s: That broke the horn of all the Romans' pride,


s: And Tuscan whole possessed as his right.


s: And Beatrice his dear possessed the stage;


s: Nor was there left heir male of that great race,


s: To enjoy the sceptre, state and heritage;


s: The Princess Maud alone supplied the place,


s: Supplied the want in number, sex and age;


s: For far above each sceptre, throne and crown,


s: The noble dame advanced her veil and gown.


s: With manlike vigor shone her noble look,


s: And more than manlike wrath her face o'erspread,


s: There the fell Normans, Guichard there forsook


s: The field, till then who never feared nor fled;


s: Henry the Fourth she beat, and from him took


s: Which done, the Pope back to the Vatican


s: She brought, and placed in Peter's chair again.


s: As he that honored her and held her dear,


s: Azzo the Fifth stood by her lovely side;


s: But the fourth Azzo's offspring far and near


s: Spread forth, and through Germania fructified;


s: Sprung from the branch did Guelpho bold appear,


s: The Roman graft flourished, increased and grew.


s: A branch of Est there in the Guelfian tree


s: Whereon you might the Guelfoes fairer see,


s: Renew their sceptres and their crowns of gold,


s: Of which Heaven's good aspects so bended be


s: That high and broad it spread and flourished bold,


s: Till underneath his glorious branches laid


s: Sprung up as high, and blossomed fair above,


s: Fornenst Lord Guelpho, Bertold issued out,


s: With the sixth Azzo whom all virtues love;


s: This was the pedigree of worthies stout,


s: Who seemed in that bright shield to live and move.


s: To see these worthies of his house and race.


s: To do like acts his courage wished and sought,


s: And with that wish transported him so far


s: That all those deeds which filled aye his thought,


s: Towns won, forts taken, armies killed in war,


s: As if they were things done indeed and wrought,


s: Before his eyes he thinks they present are,


s: He hastily arms him, and with hope and haste,


s: Sure conquest met, prevented and embraced.


s: But Charles, who had told the death and fall


s: Of the young prince of Danes, his late dear lord,


s: "Young knight," quoth he, "take with good luck this sword,


s: Your just, strong, valiant hand in battle shall


s: Employ it long, for Christ's true faith and word,


s: And of his former lord revenge the wrongs,


s: Who loved you so, that deed to you belongs."


s: Grant that this hand which holds this weapon good


s: For thy dear master may sharp vengeance take,


s: May cleave the Pagan's heart, and shed his blood."


s: To this but short reply did Charles make,


s: And thanked him much, nor more on terms they stood:


s: For lo, the wizard sage that was their guide


s: On their dark journey hastes them forth to ride.


s: "High time it is," quoth he, "for you to wend


s: Where Godfrey you awaits, and many a knight,


s: There may we well arrive ere night doth end,


s: And through this darkness can I guide you right."


s: This said, up to his coach they all ascend,


s: On his swift wheels forth rolled the chariot light,


s: He gave his coursers fleet the rod and rein,


s: And galloped forth and eastward drove amain;


s: While silent so through night's dark shade they fly,


s: The hermit thus bespake the young man stout:


s: "Of thy great house, thy race, thine offspring high,


s: Here hast thou seen the branch, the bole, the root,


s: And deeds of arms it hath tofore brought out,


s: Nor time shall end, nor age that seed shall kill.


s: "Would God, as drawn from the forgetful lap


s: Of antique time, I have thine elders shown;


s: Of thy great nephews yet unborn, unknown,


s: That ere this light they view, their fate and hap


s: I might foretell, and how their chance is thrown,


s: That like thine elders so thou mightst behold


s: Thy children, many, famous, stout and bold.


s: "But not by art or skill, of things future


s: Can the plain truth revealed be and told,


s: Although some knowledge doubtful, dark, obscure


s: We have of coming haps in clouds uprolled;


s: Nor all which in this cause I know for sure


s: Dare I foretell: for of that father old,


s: The hermit Peter, learned I much, and he


s: Withouten veil heaven's secrets great doth see.


s: "But this, to him revealed by grace divine,


s: Was never race Greek, barbarous, or Latine,


s: Great in times past, or famous at this day,


s: Richer in hardy knights than this of thine;


s: Such blessings Heaven shall on thy children lay


s: That they in fame shall pass, in praise o'ercome,


s: The worthies old of Sparta, Carthage, Rome.


s: "But mongst the rest I chose Alphonsus bold,


s: In virtue first, second in place and name,


s: He shall be born when this frail world grows old,


s: Corrupted, poor, and bare of men of fame,


s: Better than he none shall, none can, or could,


s: The sword or sceptre use or guide the same,


s: To rule in peace or to command in fight,


s: Thine offspring's glory and thy house's light.


s: "His younger age foretokens true shall yield


s: Of future valor, puissance, force and might,


s: From him no rock the savage beast shall shield;


s: At tilt or tourney match him shall no knight:


s: After, he conquer shall in pitched field


s: Great armies and win spoils in single fight,


s: And on his locks, rewards for knightly praise,


s: Shall garlands wear of grass, of oak, of bays.


s: "His graver age, as well that eild it fits,


s: Shall happy peace preserve and quiet blest,


s: And from his neighbors strong mongst whom he sits


s: Shall keep his cities safe in wealth and rest,


s: Shall nourish arts and cherish pregnant wits,


s: Make triumphs great, and feast his subjects best,


s: Reward the good, the evil with pains torment,


s: Shall dangers all foresee, and seen, prevent.


s: "But if it hap against those wicked bands


s: That sea and earth invest with blood and war,


s: And in these wretched times to noble lands


s: Give laws of peace false and unjust that are,


s: That he be sent, to drive their guilty hands


s: From Christ's pure altars and high temples far,


s: Oh, what revenge, what vengeance shall he bring


s: On that false sect, and their accursed king!


s: "Too late the Moors, too late the Turkish king,


s: Gainst him should arm their troops and legions bold


s: For he beyond great Euphrates should bring,


s: Beyond the land where is perpetual spring,


s: The cross, the eagle white, the lily of gold,


s: Of aged Nile reveal the springs unknown."


s: The prince accepted with content and pleasure,


s: Of his concealed joys heaped up the measure.


s: Meanwhile the morning bright was mounted high,


s: And changed Heaven's silver wealth to golden treasure,


s: And high above the Christian tents they view


s: How the broad ensigns trembled, waved and blew,


s: When thus again their leader sage begun,


s: "See how bright Phoebus clears the darksome skies,


s: See how with gentle beams the friendly sun


s: The tents, the towns, the hills and dales descries,


s: Through my well guiding is your voyage done,


s: From danger safe in travel off which lies,


s: Hence without fear of harm or doubt of foe


s: Thus took he leave, and made a quick return,


s: And forward went the champions three on foot,


s: And marching right against the rising morn


s: Meanwhile had speedy fame the tidings borne


s: That to the tents approached these barons stout,


s: And starting from his throne and kingly seat


s: The charms and spirits false therein which lie


s: Entereth their camp, stout, crafty, wise and bold;


s: Sharp is the fight about the bulwarks high


s: Godfrey hath aid from Heaven, by force the town


s: Is won, the Pagans slain, walls beaten down.


s: Arrived where Godfrey to embrace him stood,


s: "My sovereign lord," Rinaldo meekly said,


s: "To venge my wrongs against Gernando proud


s: My honor's care provoked my wrath unstayed;


s: But that I you displeased, my chieftain good,


s: My thoughts yet grieve, my heart is still dismayed,


s: And here I come, prest all exploits to try


s: To make me gracious in your gracious eye."


s: To him that kneeled, folding his friendly arms


s: About his neck, the duke this answer gave:


s: "Let pass such speeches sad, of passed harms.


s: Remembrance is the life of grief; his grave,


s: Your wonted valor use and courage brave;


s: The strong enchantments of the charmed spring.


s: "That aged wood whence heretofore we got,


s: To build our scaling engines, timber fit,


s: Is now the fearful seat, but how none wot,


s: Where ugly fiends and damned spirits sit;


s: To cut one twist thereof adventureth not


s: The boldest knight we have, nor without it


s: This wall can battered be: where others doubt


s: There venture thou, and show thy courage stout."


s: Thus said he, and the knight in speeches few


s: Proffered his service to attempt the thing,


s: To hard assays his courage willing flew,


s: To him praise was no spur, words were no sting;


s: Of his dear friends then he embraced the crew


s: To welcome him which came; for in a ring


s: Stood, of the camp the greatest, chief and best.


s: When with the prince these lords had iterate


s: Their welcomes oft, and oft their dear embrace,


s: Toward the rest of lesser worth and state,


s: He turned, and them received with gentle grace;


s: The merry soldiers bout him shout and prate,


s: With cries as joyful and as cheerful face


s: As if in triumph's chariot bright as sun,


s: Thus marched to his tent the champion good,


s: And there sat down with all his friends around;


s: Now of the war he asked, now of the wood,


s: And answered each demand they list propound;


s: But when they left him to his ease, up stood


s: The hermit, and, fit time to speak once found,


s: "My lord," he said, "your travels wondrous are,


s: Far have you strayed, erred, wandered far.


s: "Much are you bound to God above, who brought


s: You safe from false Armida's charmed hold,


s: And thee a straying sheep whom once he bought


s: And gainst his heathen foes these men of naught


s: Hath chosen thee in place next Godfrey bold;


s: Yet mayest thou not, polluted thus with sin,


s: "The world, the flesh, with their infection vile


s: Pollute the thoughts impure, thy spirit stain;


s: Not Po, not Ganges, not seven-mouthed Nile,


s: Not the wide seas, can wash thee clean again,


s: Only to purge all faults which thee defile


s: His blood hath power who for thy sins was slain:


s: His help therefore invoke, to him bewray


s: Thy secret faults, mourn, weep, complain and pray."


s: This said, the knight first with the witch unchaste


s: His idle loves and follies vain lamented;


s: Then kneeling low with heavy looks downcast,


s: His other sins confessed and all repented,


s: And meekly pardon craved for first and last.


s: The hermit with his zeal was well contented,


s: And said, "On yonder hill next morn go pray


s: That turns his forehead gainst the morning ray.


s: "That done, march to the wood, whence each one brings


s: Such news of furies, goblins, fiends, and sprites,


s: The giants, monsters, and all dreadful things


s: Thou shalt subdue, which that dark grove unites:


s: Let no strange voice that mourns or sweetly sings,


s: Nor beauty, whose glad smile frail hearts delights,


s: Within thy breast make ruth or pity rise,


s: But their false looks and prayers false despise."


s: Thus he advised him, and the hardy knight


s: Thoughtful he passed the day, and sad the night;


s: His arms he took, and in a coat him dight


s: Of color strange, cut in the warlike guise;


s: And on his way sole, silent, forth he went


s: Alone, and left his friends, and left his tent.


s: It was the time when gainst the breaking day


s: Rebellious night yet strove, and still repined,


s: For in the east appeared the morning gray


s: And yet some lamps in Jove's high palace shined,


s: And saw, as round about his eyes he twined,


s: Night's shadows hence, from thence the morning's shine,


s: This bright, that dark; that earthly, this divine.


s: Thus to himself he thought, how many bright


s: And splendent lamps shine in heaven's temple high,


s: Day hath his golden sun, her moon the night,


s: Her fixed and wandering stars the azure sky,


s: That still they live and shine, and ne'er shall die


s: Till, in a moment, with the last day's brand


s: They burn, and with them burn sea, air, and land.


s: And there kneeled down with reverence and fear,


s: His eyes upon heaven's eastern face he bent,


s: His thoughts above all heavens uplifted were:


s: "The sins and errors, which I now repent,


s: And purge my faults and mine offences all."


s: Thus prayed he, with purple wings upflew


s: In golden weed the morning's lusty queen,


s: Begilding with the radiant beams she threw


s: His helm, his harness, and the mountain green;


s: Upon his breast and forehead gently blew


s: The air, that balm and nardus breathed unseen,


s: And o'er his head let down from clearest skies


s: A cloud of pure and precious clew there flies.


s: The heavenly dew was on his garments spread,


s: To which compared, his clothes pale ashes seem,


s: And sprinkled so, that all that paleness fled


s: And thence, of purest white, bright rays outstream;


s: So cheered are the flowers late withered


s: With the sweet comfort of the morning beam,


s: And so, returned to youth, a serpent old


s: The lovely whiteness of his changed weed,


s: The Prince perceived well, and long admired;


s: Toward the forest marched he on with speed,


s: Resolved, as such adventures great required;


s: Thither he came whence shrinking back for dread


s: Of that strange desert's sight the first retired,


s: But not to him fearful or loathsome made


s: That forest was, but sweet with pleasant shade:


s: Forward he passed, mid in the grove before


s: He heard a sound that strange, sweet, pleasing was;


s: There rolled a crystal brook with gentle roar,


s: There sighed the winds as through the leaves they pass,


s: There did the nightingale her wrongs deplore,


s: There sung the swan, and singing died, alas!


s: There lute, harp, cittern, human voice he heard,


s: And all these sounds one sound right well declared.


s: A dreadful thunder-clap at last he heard,


s: The aged trees and plants well-nigh that rent;


s: Yet heard the nymphs and sirens afterward,


s: Birds, winds, and waters, sing with sweet consent:


s: Whereat amazed he stayed, and well prepared


s: For his defence, heedful and slow forth went:


s: Nor in his way his passage aught withstood,


s: Except a quiet, still, transparent flood.


s: On the green banks which that fair stream inbound,


s: Flowers and odors sweetly smiled and smelled,


s: Which reaching out his stretched arms around,


s: And through the grove one channel passage found;


s: That in the wood; in that, the forest dwelled:


s: Trees clad the streams; streams green those trees aye made


s: And so exchanged their moisture and their shade.


s: The knight some way sought out the flood to pass,


s: And as he sought, a wondrous bridge appeared,


s: A bridge of gold, a huge and weighty mass,


s: On arches great of that rich metal reared;


s: When through that golden way he entered was,


s: Down fell the bridge, swelled the stream, and weared


s: The work away, nor sign left where it stood,


s: He turned, amazed to see it troubled so,


s: Like sudden brooks increased with molten snow,


s: The billows fierce that tossed to and fro,


s: The whirlpools sucked down to their bosoms low;


s: But on he went to search for wonders mo,


s: Through the thick trees there high and broad which grow,


s: And in that forest huge and desert wide,


s: The more he sought, more wonders still he spied.


s: Whereso he stepped, it seemed the joyful ground


s: Renewed the verdure of her flowery weed,


s: A fountain here, a wellspring there he found;


s: Here bud the roses, there the lilies spread


s: Flourished with blossoms new, new leaves, new seed,


s: And on the boughs and branches of those treen,


s: The bark was softened, and renewed the green.


s: Of songs and sweet complaints of lovers kind,


s: To which respond the birds, the streams, the wind,


s: But yet unseen those nymphs, those singers were,


s: Unseen the lutes, harps, viols which they bear.


s: He looked, he listened, yet his thoughts denied


s: To think that true which he both heard and see,


s: The myrtle spread her mighty branches wide,


s: Higher than pine or palm or cypress tree:


s: That forest's lady and that desert's queen.


s: And there a marvel great and strange began;


s: And from his fertile hollow womb forth ran,


s: Clad in rare weeds and strange habiliment,


s: An hundred plants beside, even in his sight,


s: Childed an hundred nymphs, so great, so dight.


s: The Dryads painted whom wild Satyrs love,


s: Whose arms half-naked, locks untrussed be,


s: And silken robes tucked short above their knee;


s: Such seemed the sylvan daughters of this grove,


s: Save that instead of shafts and boughs of tree,


s: She bore a lute, a harp, or cittern she.


s: And sung and danced to move his weaker sense,


s: As centres are with their circumference;


s: The tree they compassed eke, and gan to sing,


s: That woods and streams admired their excellence;


s: "Welcome, dear lord, welcome to this sweet grove,


s: Welcome our lady's hope, welcome her love.


s: "Thou com'st to cure our princess, faint and sick


s: For love, for love of thee, faint, sick, distressed;


s: Late black, late dreadful was this forest thick,


s: Fit dwelling for sad folk with grief oppressed,


s: See with thy coming how the branches quick


s: Revived are, and in new blosoms dressed:"


s: This was their song, and after, from it went


s: First a sweet sound, and then the myrtle rent.


s: How would they wonder if they had behold


s: Such sights as from the myrtle high did pass?


s: Thence came a lady fair with locks of gold,


s: That like in shape, in face and beauty was


s: To sweet Armide; Rinaldo thinks he spies


s: Her gestures, smiles, and glances of her eyes.


s: Which twenty passions strange at once bewrays:


s: "And art thou come," quoth she, "returned at last


s: To her from whom but late thou ran'st thy ways?


s: Com'st thou to comfort me for sorrows past?


s: To ease my widow nights and careful days?


s: Or comest thou to work me grief and harm?


s: Why nilt thou speak? -- why not thy face disarm?


s: "Com'st thou a friend or foe? I did not frame


s: Nor opened flowers and fountains as you came,


s: To welcome him with joy that brings me woe:


s: Put off thy helm, rejoice me with the flame


s: Of thy bright eyes, whence first my fires did grow.


s: Kiss me, embrace me, if you further venture,


s: Love keeps the gate, the fort is eath to enter."


s: Thus as she woos she rolls her rueful eyes


s: With piteous look, and changeth oft her cheer,


s: An hundred sighs from her false heart upflies,


s: She sobs, she mourns, it is great ruth to hear;


s: The hardest breast sweet pity mollifies,


s: What stony heart resists a woman's tear?


s: But yet the knight, wise, wary, not unkind,


s: Drew forth his sword and from her careless twined.


s: Toward the tree he marched, she thither start,


s: Before him stepped, embraced the plant and cried,


s: To cut my tree, this forest's joy and pride,


s: Put up thy sword, else pierce therewith the heart


s: For through this breast, and through this heart unkind


s: To this fair tree thy sword shall passage find."


s: He lift his brand, nor cared though oft she prayed,


s: And she her form to other shape did change;


s: Such monsters huge when men in dreams are laid


s: Oft in their idle fancies roam and range:


s: Her body swelled, her face obscure was made,


s: Vanished her garments, her face and vestures strange,


s: Like Briareus armed with an hundred hands.


s: With fifty swords, and fifty targets bright,


s: She threatened death, she roared, cried and fought,


s: Each other nymph in armor likewise dight,


s: A Cyclops great became: he feared them naught,


s: But on the myrtle smote with all his might,


s: That groaned like living souls to death nigh brought,


s: The sky seemed Pluto's court, the air seemed hell,


s: Therein such monsters roar, such spirits yell.


s: Lightened the heavens above, the earth below


s: Roared loud, that thundered, and this shook;


s: Blustered the tempests strong, the whirlwinds blow,


s: The bitter storm drove hailstones in his look;


s: But yet his arm grew neither weak nor slow,


s: Till low to earth the wounded tree down bended;


s: Then fled the spirits all, the charms all ended.


s: The heavens grew clear, the air waxed calm and still,


s: Of withcrafts free, quite void of spirits ill;


s: Of horror full, but horror there innate;


s: He further proved if aught withstood his will


s: To cut those trees as did the charms of late,


s: And finding naught to stop him, smiled, and said,


s: "O shadows vain!  O fools, of shades afraid!"


s: From thence home to the campward turned the knight,


s: The hermit cried, upstarting from his seat,


s: "Now of the wood the charms have lost their might,


s: The sprites are conquered, ended is the feat,


s: See where he comes!"  In glistering white all dight


s: Appeared the man, bold, stately, high and great,


s: With wondrous splendor gainst the golden sun.


s: The camp received him with a joyful cry,


s: A cry the dales and hills about that flied;


s: Then Godfrey welcomed him with honors high,


s: His glory quenched all spite, all envy killed:


s: "To yonder dreadful grove," quoth he, "went I,


s: And from the fearful wood, as me you willed,


s: Have driven the sprites away, thither let be


s: Your people sent, the way is safe and free."


s: Sent were the workmen thither, thence they brought


s: And though by skilless builders framed and wrought


s: Their engines rude and rams were late elect,


s: Yet now the forts and towers from whence they fought


s: William, of all the Genoese lord and guide,


s: Which late ruled all the seas from side to side;


s: The Pagan fleet the seas moist empire won,


s: His men with all their stuff and store in haste


s: Home to the camp with their commander run,


s: In skill, in wit, in cunning him surpassed


s: Of carpenters an hundred large he brought,


s: That what their lord devised made and wrought.


s: This man began with wondrous art to make,


s: Not rams, not mighty brakes, not slings alone,


s: Wherewith the firm and solid walls to shake,


s: To cast a dart, or throw a shaft or stone;


s: But framed of pines and firs, did undertake


s: To build a fortress huge, to which was none


s: Yet ever like, whereof he clothed the sides


s: Against the balls of fire with raw bull's hides.


s: The beams, the studs and puncheons joined he fast;


s: To beat the city's wall, beneath forth brust


s: A ram with horned front, about her waist


s: A bridge the engine from her side out thrust,


s: And from her top a turret small up stood,


s: Strong, surely armed, and builded of like wood.


s: Set on an hundred wheels the rolling mass,


s: On the smooth lands went nimbly up and down,


s: Though full of arms and armed men it was,


s: Yet with small pains it ran, as it had flown:


s: Wondered the camp so quick to see it pass,


s: They praised the workmen and their skill unknown,


s: And on that day two towers they builded more,


s: Like that which sweet Clorinda burned before.


s: Their works concealed and their labors hid,


s: Upon that wall which next the camp confines


s: They placed spies, who marked all they did:


s: They saw the ashes wild and squared pines,


s: How to the tents, trailed from the grove, they slid:


s: And engines huge they saw, yet could not tell


s: How they were built, their forms they saw not well.


s: Their engines eke they reared, and with great art


s: Repaired each bulwark, turret, port and tower,


s: To bide the storm of every warlike stoure,


s: Till as they thought no sleight or force of Mart


s: To undermine or scale the same had power;


s: Of wicked fire, wild, wondrous, strange and rare.


s: Fetched from that lake where Sodom erst did sink,


s: And from that flood which nine times compassed hell


s: Some of the liquor hot he brought, I think,


s: Wherewith the quenchless fire he tempered well,


s: To make it smoke and flame and deadly stink:


s: And for his wood cut down, the aged sire


s: Would thus revengement take with flame and fire.


s: While thus the camp, and thus the town were bent,


s: These to assault, these to defend the wall,


s: A speedy dove through the clear welkin went,


s: Straight o'er the tents, seen by the soldiers all;


s: With nimble fans the yielding air she rent,


s: Nor seemed it that she would alight or fall,


s: Till she arrived near that besieged town,


s: Then from the clouds at last she stooped down:


s: But lo, from whence I nolt, a falcon came,


s: Armed with crooked bill and talons long,


s: And  twixt the camp and city crossed her game,


s: That durst nor bide her foe's encounter strong;


s: But right upon the royal tent down came,


s: And there, the lords and princes great among,


s: When the sharp hawk nigh touched her tender head


s: In Godfrey's lap she fell, with fear half dead:


s: The duke received her, saved her, and spied,


s: As he beheld the bird, a wondrous thing,


s: By a small thread, and thrust under her wing,


s: He loosed forth the writ and spread it wide,


s: And read the intent thereof, "To Judah's king,"


s: Thus said the schedule, "honors high increase,


s: "Fear not, renowned prince, resist, endure


s: Till the third day, or till the fourth at most,


s: I come, and your deliverance will procure,


s: And kill your coward foes and all their host."


s: This secret in that brief was closed up sure,


s: Writ in strange language, to the winged post


s: Given to transport; for in their warlike need


s: The east such message used, oft with good speed.


s: The duke let go the captive dove at large,


s: And she that had his counsel close betrayed,


s: Traitress to her great Lord, touched not the marge


s: Of Salem's town, but fled far thence afraid.


s: The duke before all those which had or charge


s: Or office high, the letter read, and said:


s: "See how the goodness of the Lord foreshows


s: "No longer then let us protract the time,


s: But scale the bulwark of this fortress high,


s: Through sweat and labor gainst those rocks sublime


s: Let us ascend, which to the southward lie;


s: Hard will it be that way in arms to climb,


s: But yet the place and passage both know I,


s: And that high wall by site strong on that part,


s: Is least defenced by arms, by work and art.


s: "Thou, Raymond, on this side with all thy might


s: Assault the wall, and by those crags ascend,


s: My squadrons with mine engines huge shall fight


s: And gainst the northern gate my puissance bend,


s: That so our foes, beguiled with the sight,


s: Our greatest force and power shall there attend,


s: While my great tower from thence shall nimbly slide,


s: And batter down some worse defended side;


s: "Camillo, thou not far from me shalt rear


s: Another tower, close to the walls ybrought."


s: This spoken, Raymond old, that sate him near,


s: And while he talked great things tossed in his thought,


s: Said, "To Godfredo's counsel, given us here,


s: Naught can be added, from it taken naught:


s: Yet this I further wish, that some were sent


s: To spy their camp, their secret and intent,


s: "That may their number and their squadrons brave


s: Describe, and through their tents disguised mask."


s: Quoth Tancred, "Lo, a subtle squire I have,


s: A man quick, ready, bold, sly to deceive,


s: To answer, wise, and well advised to ask;


s: Well languaged, and that with time and place,


s: Can change his look, his voice, his gait, his grace."


s: Sent for, he came, and when his lord him told


s: What Godfrey's pleasure was and what his own,


s: He smiled and said forthwith he gladly would.


s: "I go," quoth he, "careless what chance be thrown,


s: And where encamped be these Pagans bold,


s: Their camp even at noon-day I enter shall,


s: And number all their horse and footmen all;


s: "How great, how strong, how armed this army is,


s: And what their guide intends, I will declare,


s: And hidden thoughts shall open lie and bare."


s: Thus Vafrine spoke, nor longer stayed on this,


s: But for a mantle changed the coat he ware,


s: Naked was his neck, and bout his forehead bold,


s: Of linen white full twenty yards he rolled.


s: His weapons were a Syrian bow and quiver,


s: His gestures barbarous, like the Turkish train,


s: Wondered all they that heard his tongue deliver


s: Of every land the language true and plain:


s: Both people would have thought him; forth he rides


s: On a swift steed, o'er hills and dales that glides.


s: But ere the third day came the French forth sent


s: Their pioneers to even the rougher ways,


s: Nor aught their labor interrupts or stays;


s: The nights in busy toll they likewise spent


s: And with long evenings lengthened forth short days,


s: Till naught was left the hosts that hinder might


s: To use their utmost power and strength in fight.


s: That day, which of the assault the day forerun,


s: The godly duke in prayer spent well-nigh,


s: And all the rest, because they had misdone,


s: Then oft the duke his engines great begun


s: To show where least he would their strength apply;


s: His foes rejoiced, deluded in that sort,


s: To see them bent against their surest port:


s: His greatest engine to that side he brought


s: Where plainest seemed the wall, where with their might


s: The flankers least could hurt them as they fought;


s: And to the southern mountain's greatest height


s: To raise his turret old Raymondo sought;


s: And thou Camillo on that part hadst thine,


s: Where from the north the walls did westward twine.


s: But when amid the eastern heaven appeared


s: The rising morning bright as shining glass,


s: The troubled Pagans saw, and seeing feared,


s: How the great tower stood not where late it was,


s: And here and there tofore unseen was reared


s: Of timber strong a huge and fearful mass,


s: And numberless with beams, with ropes and strings,


s: They view the iron rams, the barks and slings.


s: The Syrian people now were no whit slow,


s: Their best defences to that side to bear,


s: Where Godfrey did his greatest engine show,


s: From thence where late in vain they placed were:


s: But he who at his back right well did know


s: To him called Guelpho, and the Roberts twain,


s: And said, "On horseback look you still remain,


s: "And have regard, while all our people strive


s: To scale this wall, where weak it seems and thin,


s: And at our backs unlooked-for war begin."


s: This said, three fierce assaults at once they give,


s: The hardy soldiers all would die or win,


s: And on three parts resistance makes the king,


s: And rage gainst strength, despair gainst hope doth bring.


s: That shook, unwieldy with their proper weight,


s: And marched gainst Raymond to the mountain's height;


s: Great Solyman gainst Godfrey took the field;


s: Fornenst Camillo stood Argantes straight


s: Where Tancred strong he found, so fortune will


s: That this good prince his wonted foe shall kill.


s: The archers shot their arrows sharp and keen,


s: Dipped in the bitter juice of poison strong,


s: The shady face of heaven was scantly seen,


s: Hid with the clouds of shafts and quarries long;


s: Yet weapons sharp with greater fury been


s: Cast from the towers the Pagan troops among,


s: For thence flew stones and clifts of marble rocks,


s: Trees shod with iron, timber, logs and blocks.


s: A thunderbolt seemed every stone, it brake


s: His limbs and armors on whom so it light,


s: But all his shape and face disfigured quite;


s: The lances stayed not in the wounds they make,


s: But through the gored body took their flight,


s: From side to side, through flesh, through skin and rind


s: They flew, and flying, left sad death behind.


s: But yet not all this force and fury drove


s: But to revenge these deadly blows they strove,


s: With darts that fly, with stones and trees that fall;


s: For need so cowards oft courageous prove,


s: For liberty they fight, for life and all,


s: And oft with arrows, shafts, and stones that fly,


s: This while the fierce assailants never cease,


s: But sternly still maintain a threefold charge,


s: And gainst the clouds of shafts draw nigh at ease,


s: The armed towers close to the bulwarks press,


s: And strive to grapple with the battled marge,


s: And launch their bridges out, meanwhile below


s: With iron fronts the rams the walls down throw.


s: And far unworthy him this service thought,


s: If mongst the common sort his pains he spent;


s: Renown so got the prince esteemed naught:


s: And where most harm, most danger was, he fought,


s: And where the wall high, strong and surest was,


s: That part would he assault, and that way pass.


s: All hardy knights, whom Dudon late did guide,


s: "Oh shame," quoth he, "this wall no war doth find,


s: When battered is elsewhere each part, each side;


s: Each way is eath to him that dares abide,


s: Come let us scale this wall, though strong and high,


s: And with your shields keep off the darts that fly."


s: With him united all while thus he spake,


s: Their targets hard above their heads they threw,


s: Which joined in one an iron pentise make


s: That from the dreadful storm preserved the crew.


s: Defended thus their speedy course they take,


s: And to the wall without resistance drew,


s: The knights, from all that flew and all that fell.


s: A ladder huge, an hundred steps of height,


s: And move as winds do reeds or rushes light,


s: Sometimes a tree, a rock, a dart or spear,


s: Fell from above, yet forward clomb the knight,


s: And upward fearless pierced, careless still,


s: Though Mount Olympus fell, or Ossa hill:


s: Upon his shoulders and his shield he bore,


s: One hand the ladder held whereon he stood,


s: The other bare his targe his face before;


s: Provoked, with him the place assaulted sore,


s: And ladders long against the wall they clap,


s: One died, another fell; he forward went,


s: And these he comforts, and he threateneth those,


s: Now with his hand outstretched the battlement


s: Well-nigh he reached, when all his armed foes


s: Ran thither, and their force and fury bent


s: To throw him headlong down, yet up he goes,


s: A wondrous thing, one knight whole armed bands


s: Alone, and hanging in the air, withstands:


s: Withstands, and forceth his great strength so far,


s: That like a palm whereon huge weight doth rest,


s: His virtues higher rise the more oppressed,


s: Till all that would his entrance bold debar,


s: He backward drove, upleaped and possessed


s: The wall, and safe and easy with his blade,


s: To all that after came, the passage made.


s: There killing such as durst and did withstand,


s: He reached forth his friendly conquering hand,


s: And next himself helped him to mount the wall.


s: Their lives to greater harms and dangers thrall,


s: For there not man with man, nor knight with knight


s: Contend, but engines there with engines fight.


s: For in that place the Paynims reared a post,


s: Which late had served some gallant ship for mast,


s: Pointed with iron sharp, to it made fast


s: With ropes which as men would the dormant tossed,


s: Now out, now in, now back, now forward cast.


s: In his swift pulleys oft the men withdrew


s: The tree, and oft the riding-balk forth threw:


s: The mighty beam redoubted oft his blows,


s: And with such force the engine smote and hit,


s: That her broad side the tower wide open throws,


s: Her joints were broke, her rafters cleft and split;


s: But yet gainst every hap whence mischief grows,


s: Prepared the piece, gainst such extremes made fit,


s: Launch forth two scythes, sharp, cutting, long and broad


s: And cut the ropes whereon the engine rode:


s: As an old rock, which age or stormy wind


s: Tears from some craggy hill or mountain steep,


s: Doth break, doth bruise, and into dust doth grind


s: Woods, houses, hamlets, herds, and folds of sheep,


s: So fell the beam, and down with it all kind


s: Of arms, of weapons, and of men did sweep,


s: Wherewith the towers once or twice did shake,


s: Trembled the walls, the hills and mountains quake.


s: And had great hope even then the place to win;


s: But lo, a fire, with stench, with smoke and flame


s: Withstood his passage, stopped his entrance in:


s: Such burning Aetna yet could never frame,


s: When from her entrails hot her fires begin,


s: Such vapors warm from scorching air down rain.


s: There balls of wildfire, there fly burning spears,


s: This flame was black, that blue, this red as blood;


s: Stench well-nigh choked them, noise deafs their ears,


s: Smoke blinds their eyes, fire kindleth on the wood;


s: Nor those raw hides which for defence it wears


s: Could save the tower, in such distress it stood;


s: For now they wrinkle, now it sweats and fries,


s: Now burns, unless some help come down from skies.


s: Nor changed he color, countenance or place,


s: But comforts those that from the scaldered hides


s: With water strove the approaching flames to chase:


s: In these extremes the prince and those he guides


s: Half roasted stood before fierce Vulcan's face,


s: When lo, a sudden and unlooked-for blast


s: The flames against the kindlers backward cast:


s: The winds drove back the fire, where heaped lie


s: The Pagans' weapons, where their engines were,


s: Which kindling quickly in that substance dry,


s: Burnt all their store and all their warlike gear:


s: O glorious captain!  whom the Lord from high


s: Defends, whom God preserves, and holds so dear;


s: For thee heaven fights, to thee the winds, from far,


s: Called with thy trumpet's blast, obedient are!


s: How the fierce blast drove back the fire and flame,


s: By art would nature change, and thence withdraw


s: Those noisome winds, else calm and still the same;


s: 'Twixt two false wizards without fear or awe


s: Black, grisly, loathsome, grim and ugly faced,


s: Like Pluto old, betwixt two furies placed;


s: And now the wretch those dreadful words begun,


s: Which trouble make deep hell and all her flock,


s: His fearful beams in clouds did close and lock,


s: When from the tower, which Ismen could not shun,


s: Out fled a mighty stone, late half a rock,


s: Which light so just upon the wizards three,


s: That driven to dust their bones and bodies be.


s: To less than naught their members old were torn,


s: And shivered were their heads to pieces small,


s: As small as are the bruised grains of corn


s: When from the mill dissolved to meal they fall;


s: Their damned souls, to deepest hell down borne


s: The furies plunged in the infernal lake:


s: This while the engine which the tempest cold


s: Had saved from burning with his friendly blast,


s: Approached had so near the battered hold


s: That on the walls her bridge at ease she cast:


s: But Solyman ran thither fierce and bold,


s: To cut the plank whereon the Christians passed.


s: And had performed his will, save that upreared


s: High in the skies a turret new appeared;


s: Far in the air up clomb the fortress tall,


s: Higher than house, than steeple, church or tower;


s: Yet kept the Turk his stand, though on him fall


s: Of stones and darts a sharp and deadly shower,


s: And still to cut the bridge he hopes and strives,


s: And those that fear with cheerful speech revives.


s: Unseen, appeared before Godfredo's eyes,


s: In pure and heavenly armor richly dressed,


s: Brighter than Titan's rays in clearest skies;


s: "Godfrey," quoth he, "this is the moment blest


s: To free this town that long in bondage lies,


s: See, see what legions in thine aid I bring,


s: For Heaven assists thee, and Heaven's glorious King:


s: "Lift up thine eyes, and in the air behold


s: The sacred armies, how they mustered be,


s: That cloud of flesh in which for times of old


s: All mankind wrapped is, I take from thee,


s: And from thy senses their thick mist unfold,


s: That face to face thou mayest these spirits see,


s: And for a little space right well sustain


s: Their glorious light and view those angels plain.


s: "Behold the souls of every lord and knight


s: That late bore arms and died for Christ's dear sake,


s: How on thy side against this town they fight,


s: And of thy joy and conquest will partake:


s: There where the dust and smoke blind all men's sight,


s: Where stones and ruins such an heap do make,


s: There Hugo fights, in thickest cloud imbarred,


s: And undermines that bulwark's groundwork hard.


s: "See Dudon yonder, who with sword and fire


s: Assails and helps to scale the northern port,


s: That with bold courage doth thy folk inspire


s: And rears their ladders gainst the assaulted fort:


s: He that high on the mount in grave attire


s: Is clad, and crowned stands in kingly sort,


s: Blest for his faith, crowned for his death and merit.


s: "But higher lift thy happy eyes, and view


s: Where all the sacred hosts of Heaven appear."


s: He looked, and saw where winged armies flew,


s: A battle round of squadrons three they show


s: And all by threes those squadrons ranged were,


s: Which spreading wide in rings still wider go,


s: Moved with a stone calm water circleth so.


s: With that he winked, and vanished was and gone;


s: That wondrous vision when he looked again,


s: His worthies fighting viewed he one by one,


s: And on each side saw signs of conquest plain,


s: For with Rinaldo gainst his yielding lone,


s: His knights were entered and the Pagans slain,


s: This seen, the duke no longer stay could brook,


s: But from the bearer bold his ensign took:


s: And on the bridge he stepped, but there was stayed


s: That narrow tree to virtue great was made,


s: The field as in few blows right soon was tried,


s: "Here will I give my life for Sion's aid,


s: Here will I end my days," the Soldan cried,


s: "Behind me cut or break this bridge, that I


s: May kill a thousand Christians first, then die."


s: But thither fierce Rinaldo threatening went,


s: And at his sight fled all the Soldan's train,


s: "What shall I do?  If here my life be spent,


s: I spend and spill," quoth he, "my blood in vain!"


s: With that his steps from Godfrey back he bent,


s: Who threatening followed as the Soldan fled,


s: And on the walls the purple Cross dispread:


s: About his head he tossed, he turned, he cast,


s: That glorious ensign, with a thousand twines,


s: Thereon the wind breathes with his sweetest blast,


s: Thereon with golden rays glad Phoebus shines,


s: Earth laughs for joy, the streams forbear their haste,


s: Floods clap their hands, on mountains dance the pines,


s: And Sion's towers and sacred temples smile


s: For their deliverance from that bondage vile.


s: Of victory, glad, joyful, loud, and shrill.


s: The hills resound, the echo showereth high,


s: And Tancred bold, that fights and combats still


s: With proud Argantes, brought his tower so nigh,


s: That on the wall, against the boaster's will,


s: In his despite, his bridge he also laid,


s: And won the place, and there the cross displayed.


s: But on the southern hill, where Raymond fought


s: Against the townsmen and their aged king,


s: His hardy Gascoigns gained small or naught;


s: Their engine to the walls they could not bring,


s: For thither all his strength the prince had brought,


s: And for the wall was feeblest on that coast,


s: There were his soldiers best, and engines most.


s: Besides, the tower upon that quarter found


s: Nor art could help, but that the rougher ground


s: The rolling mass did often stop and stay;


s: The king and Raymond heard amid their fray;


s: And by the shout they and their soldiers know,


s: The town was entered on the plain below.


s: Which heard, Raymondo thus bespake this crew,


s: "The town is won, my friends, and doth it yet


s: Resist?  are we kept out still by these few?


s: Shall we no share in this high conquest get?"


s: But from that part the king at last withdrew,


s: He strove in vain their entrance there to let,


s: And to a stronger place his folk he brought,


s: Where to sustain the assault awhile he thought.


s: The walls were won, the gates were opened wide,


s: Now bruised, broken down, destroyed fall


s: The ports and towers that battery durst abide;


s: Rageth the sword, death murdereth great and small,


s: And proud 'twixt woe and horror sad doth ride.


s: Here runs the blood, in ponds there stands the gore,


s: And drowns the knights in whom it lived before.


s: Argantes strong: the king and Soldan fly


s: To David's tower, and save their persons so;


s: Finds where her lord for dead on earth doth lie;


s: First she laments, then cures him: Godfrey hears


s: Ormondo's treason, and what marks he bears.


s: Now death or fear or care to save their lives


s: From their forsaken walls the Pagans chase:


s: Yet neither force nor fear nor wisdom drives


s: The constant knight Argantes from his place;


s: Alone against ten thousand foes he strives,


s: Yet dreadless, doubtless, careless seemed his face,


s: Nor death, nor danger, but disgrace he fears,


s: And still unconquered, though o'erset, appears.


s: With his broad sword Tancredi came and smote:


s: By his strong blows, his armor and his coat;


s: For once they fought, and when night stayed that fray,


s: New time they chose to end their combat hot,


s: But Tancred failed, wherefore the Pagan knight


s: Cried, "Tancred, com'st thou thus, thus late to fight?


s: "Too late thou com'st, and not alone to war,


s: But yet the fight I neither shun nor fear,


s: Although from knighthood true thou errest far,


s: Since like an engineer thou dost appear,


s: That tower, that troop, thy shield and safety are,


s: Strange kind of arms in single fight to bear;


s: Yet shalt thou not escape, O conqueror strong


s: Of ladies fair, sharp death, to avenge that wrong."


s: Lord Tancred smiled, with disdain and scorn,


s: And answerd thus, "To end our strife," quoth he,


s: Though late, perchance will be too soon for thee;


s: For thou shalt wish, of hope and help forlorn,


s: Some sea or mountain placed twixt thee and me,


s: And well shalt know before we end this fray


s: No fear of cowardice hath caused my stay.


s: "But come aside, thou by whose prowess dies


s: The monsters, knights and giants in all lands,


s: This said, he turned to his fighting bands,


s: And bids them all retire. "Forbear," he cries,


s: "To strike this knight, on him let none lay hands;


s: "Descend," the fierce Circassian gan reply,


s: "Alone, or all this troop for succor take


s: To deserts waste, or place frequented high,


s: For vantage none I will the fight forsake:"


s: And through the press, agreed so, they brake,


s: Their hatred made them one, and as they went,


s: Each knight his foe did for despite defend:


s: Great was his thirst of praise, great the desire


s: That Tancred had the Pagan's blood to spill,


s: Nor could that quench his wrath or calm his ire


s: If other hand his foe should foil or kill.


s: He saved him with his shield, and cried "Retire!"


s: To all he met, "and do this knight none ill:"


s: And thus defending gainst his friends his foe,


s: Through thousand angry weapons safe they go.


s: They left the city, and they left behind


s: Godfredo's camp, and far beyond it passed,


s: And came where into creeks and bosoms blind


s: A winding hill his corners turned and cast,


s: Amid the mountains steep so laid and placed


s: Had been for men to fight or beasts to chase.


s: There stayed the champions both with rueful eyes,


s: Tancred his foe withouten shield espies,


s: And said, "Whereon doth thy sad heart devise?


s: Think'st thou this hour must end thy life untrue?


s: If this thou fear, and dost foresee thy fate,


s: Thy fear is vain, thy foresight comes too late."


s: "I think," quoth he, "on this distressed town,


s: Now lost, now sacked, spoiled and trodden down,


s: Whose fall in vain I strived to withstand,


s: A small revenge for Sion's fort o'erthrown,


s: That head can be, cut off by my strong hand."


s: This said, together with great heed they flew,


s: For each his foe for bold and hardy knew.


s: Quick, nimble, ready both of hand and foot;


s: But higher by the head, the Pagan knight


s: Of limbs far greater was, of heart as stout:


s: Tancred laid low and traversed in his fight,


s: Now to his ward retired, now struck out,


s: Oft with his sword his foe's fierce blows he broke,


s: And rather chose to ward-than bear his stroke.


s: But bold and bolt upright Argantes fought,


s: Unlike in gesture, like in skill and art,


s: His sword outstretched before him far he brought,


s: Nor would his weapon touch, but pierce his heart,


s: To catch his point Prince Tancred strove and sought,


s: But at his breast or helm's unclosed part


s: He threatened death, and would with stretched-out brand


s: His entrance close, and fierce assaults withstand.


s: With a tall ship so doth a galley fight,


s: When the still winds stir not the unstable main;


s: Where this in nimbleness as that in might


s: Excels; that stands, this goes and comes again,


s: And shifts from prow to poop with turnings light;


s: Meanwhile the other doth unmoved remain,


s: Her weighty engines tumbleth down from high.


s: The Christian sought to enter on his foe,


s: Voiding his point, which at his breast was bent;


s: Argantes at his face a thrust did throw,


s: Which while the Prince awards and doth prevent,


s: That all defence his quickness far o'erwent,


s: And pierced his side, which done, he said and smiled,


s: "The craftsman is in his own craft beguiled."


s: Tancredi bit his lip for scorn and shame,


s: Nor longer stood on points of fence and skill,


s: But to revenge so fierce and fast he came


s: As if his hand could not o'ertake his will,


s: To his proud boast an answer sharp, but still


s: Argantes broke the thrust; and at half-sword,


s: Swift, hardy, bold, in stepped the Christian lord.


s: With his left foot fast forward gan he stride,


s: And with his left the Pagan's right arm bent,


s: With his right hand meanwhile the man's right side


s: He cut, he wounded, mangled, tore and rent.


s: "To his victorious teacher," Tancred cried,


s: "His conquered scholar hath this answer sent;"


s: Argantes chafed, struggled, turned and twined,


s: Yet could not so his captive arm unbind:


s: His sword at last he let hang by the chain,


s: And griped his hardy foe in both his hands,


s: In his strong arms Tancred caught him again,


s: And thus each other held and wrapped in bands.


s: With greater might Alcides did not strain


s: On holdfast knots their brawny arms they cast,


s: And whom he hateth most, each held embraced:


s: Such was their wrestling, such their shocks and throws


s: That down at once they tumbled both to ground,


s: Argantes, -- were it hap or skill, who knows,


s: His better hand loose and in freedom found;


s: But the good Prince, his hand more fit for blows,


s: With his huge weight the Pagan underbound;


s: But he, his disadvantage great that knew,


s: Let go his hold, and on his feet up flew:


s: And caught a rap ere he was reared upright.


s: But as against the blustering winds a pine


s: Now bends his top, now lifts his head on height,


s: His courage so, when it 'gan most decline,


s: The man reinforced, and advanced his might,


s: And with fierce change of blows renewed the fray,


s: Where rage for skill, horror for art, bore sway.


s: The purple drops from Tancred's sides down railed,


s: But from the Pagan ran whole streams of blood,


s: Wherewith his force grew weak, his courage quailed


s: Tancred that saw his feeble arm now failed


s: To strike his blows, that scant he stirred or stood,


s: Assuaged his anger, and his wrath allayed,


s: And stepping back, thus gently spoke and said:


s: "Yield, hardy knight, and chance of war or me


s: Confess to have subdued thee in this fight,


s: I will no trophy, triumph, spoil of thee,


s: Nor glory wish, nor seek a victor's right


s: More terrible than erst;" herewith grew he


s: And all awaked his fury, rage and might,


s: And said, "Dar'st thou of vantage speak or think,


s: Or move Argantes once to yield or shrink?


s: "Use, use thy vantage, thee and fortune both


s: I scorn, and punish will thy foolish pride:"


s: As a hot brand flames most ere it forth go'th,


s: So he, when blood was lost, with anger wroth,


s: Revived his courage when his puissance died,


s: And would his latest hour which now drew nigh,


s: He joined his left hand to her sister strong,


s: And with them both let fall his weighty blade.


s: Tancred to ward his blow his sword up slung,


s: But that it smote aside, nor there it stayed,


s: It glanced, and many wounds at once it made:


s: Yet Tancred feared naught, for in his heart


s: Found coward dread no place, fear had no part.


s: His fearful blow he doubled, but he spent


s: His force in waste, and all his strength in vain;


s: For Tancred from the blow against him bent,


s: Leaped aside, the stroke fell on the plain.


s: With thine own weight o'erthrown to earth thou went,


s: Argantes stout, nor could'st thyself sustain,


s: Thyself thou threwest down, O happy man,


s: Upon whose fall none boast or triumph can!


s: His gaping wounds the fall set open wide,


s: The streams of blood about him made a lake,


s: Helped with his left hand, on one knee he tried


s: To rear himself, and new defence to make:


s: The courteous prince stepped back, and "Yield thee!" cried,


s: No hurt he proffered him, no blow he strake.


s: Meanwhile by stealth the Pagan false him gave


s: A sudden wound, threatening with speeches brave:


s: Herewith Tancredi furious grew, and said,


s: "Villain, dost thou my mercy so despise?"


s: Therewith he thrust and thrust again his blade,


s: And through his ventil pierced his dazzled eyes,


s: Argantes died, yet no complaint he made,


s: But as he furious lived he careless dies;


s: Bold, proud, disdainful, fierce and void of fear


s: His motions last, last looks, last speeches were.


s: Tancred put up his sword, and praises glad


s: Gave to his God that saved him in this fight;


s: But yet this bloody conquest feebled had


s: So much the conqueror's force, strength and might,


s: That through the way he feared which homeward led


s: He had not strength enough to walk upright;


s: Yet as he could his steps from thence he bent,


s: And foot by foot a heavy pace forth-went;


s: His legs could bear him but a little stound,


s: And more he hastes, more tired, less was his speed,


s: On his right hand, at last, laid on the ground


s: He leaned, his hand weak like a shaking reed,


s: Dazzled his eyes, the world on wheels ran round,


s: Day wrapped her brightness up in sable weed;


s: At length he swooned, and the victor knight


s: Naught differed from his conquered foe in fight.


s: But while these lords their private fight pursue,


s: Made fierce and cruel through their secret hate,


s: The victor's ire destroyed the faithless crew


s: From street to street, and chased from gate to gate.


s: Who can describe, or paint the woful state,


s: Or with fit words this spectacle express


s: Who can?  or tell the city's great distress?


s: Blood, murder, death, each street, house, church defiled,


s: There heaps of slain appear, there mountains high;


s: There underneath the unburied hills up-piled


s: There the sad mother with her tender child


s: Doth tear her tresses loose, complain and fly,


s: Draws to his lust the virgin chaste and fair.


s: But through the way that to the west-hill yood


s: Whereon the old and stately temple stands,


s: All soiled with gore and wet with lukewarm blood


s: Rinaldo ran, and chased the Pagan bands;


s: Above their heads he heaved his curtlax good,


s: Life in his grace, and death lay in his hands,


s: Nor helm nor target strong his blows off bears,


s: Best armed there seemed he no arms that wears;


s: His force, and scorns the naked folk to wound;


s: Them whom no courage arms, no arms defends,


s: He chased with his looks and dreadful sound:


s: Oh, who can tell how far his force extends?


s: How these he scorns, threats those, lays them on ground?


s: Fled all, all that well armed or naked were:


s: Fast fled the people weak, and with the same


s: Which, burned and builded oft, still keeps the name


s: Of the first founder, wise King Solomon;


s: That prince this stately house did whilom frame


s: Of cedar trees, of gold and marble stone;


s: Now not so rich, yet strong and sure it was,


s: With turrets high, thick walls, and doors of brass.


s: The knight arrived where in warklike sort


s: The men that ample church had fortified.


s: And closed found each wicket, gate and port,


s: He left his frowning looks, and twice that fort


s: From his high top down to the groundwork eyed,


s: And entrance sought, and twice with his swift foot


s: Which kind 'twixt him and harmless sheep hath set:


s: So searched he high and low about that hold,


s: Where he might enter without stop or let,


s: In the great court he stayed, his foes above


s: Attend the assault, and would their fortune prove.


s: There lay by chance a posted tree thereby,


s: Kept for some needful use, whate'er it were,


s: Their tall and lofty masts at Genes uprear;


s: This beam the knight against the gates made fly


s: From his strong hands all weights which lift and bear,


s: Like a light lance that tree he shook and tossed,


s: And bruised the gate, the threshold and the post.


s: No marble stone, no metal strong outbore


s: The wondrous might of that redoubled blow,


s: The brazen hinges from the wall it tore,


s: It broke the locks, and laid the doors down low,


s: Nor cannons great that thunderbolts forth throw,


s: His people like a flowing stream inthrong,


s: And after them entered the victor strong;


s: The woful slaughter black and loathsome made


s: That house, sometime the sacred house of God,


s: On wretched sinners sharper falls thy rod!


s: In them this place profaned which invade


s: Thou kindled ire, and mercy all forbode,


s: Until with their hearts' blood the Pagans vile


s: This temple washed which they did late defile.


s: But Solyman this while himself fast sped


s: Up to the fort which David's tower is named,


s: And with him all the soldiers left he led,


s: And gainst each entrance new defences framed:


s: To whom the Soldan thus, far off, exclaimed,


s: Thyself, within this fortress safe uplock:


s: "For well this fortress shall thee and thy crown


s: Defend, awhile here may we safe remain."


s: "Alas!" quoth he, "alas, for this fair town,


s: Which cruel war beats down even with the plain,


s: My life is done, mine empire trodden down,


s: I reigned, I lived, but now nor live nor reign;


s: That ends our life, and ends our kingly power."


s: "Where is your virtue, where your wisdom grave,


s: And courage stout?" the angry Soldan said,


s: "Let chance our kingdoms take which erst she gave,


s: Yet in our hearts our kingly worth is laid;


s: But come, and in this fort your person save,


s: Refresh your weary limbs and strength decayed:"


s: Thus counselled he, and did to safety bring


s: Within that fort the weak and aged king.


s: His iron mace in both his hands he hent,


s: And on his thigh his trusty sword he tied,


s: And to the entrance fierce and fearless went,


s: And kept the strait, and all the French defied:


s: The blows were mortal which he gave or lent,


s: For whom he hit he slew, else by his side


s: Laid low on earth, that all fled from the place


s: Where they beheld that great and dreadful mace.


s: By chance came thither, to his great mishap;


s: And scorned his blows and him that kept the gap,


s: He struck his foe, his blow no blood forth drew,


s: But on the front with that he caught a rap,


s: Which in a swoon, low in the dust him laid,


s: Wide open, trembling, with his arms displayed.


s: The Pagans gathered heart at last, though fear


s: Their courage weak had put to flight but late,


s: And beaten back, else slain before the Gate:


s: The Soldan, mongst the dead beside him near


s: That saw Lord Raymond lie in such estate,


s: Cried to his men, "Within these bars," quoth he,


s: "Come draw this knight, and let him captive be."


s: Forward they rushed to execute his word,


s: But hard and dangerous that emprise they found,


s: For none of Raymond's men forsook their lord,


s: But to their guide's defence they flocked round,


s: Thence fury fights, hence pity draws the sword,


s: Nor strive they for vile cause or on light ground,


s: The life and freedom of that champion brave,


s: Those spoil, these would preserve, those kill, these save.


s: But yet at last if they had longer fought


s: The hardy Soldan would have won the field;


s: For gainst his thundering mace availed naught


s: Or helm of temper fine or sevenfold shield:


s: But from each side great succor now was brought


s: To his weak foes, now fit to faint and yield,


s: And both at once to aid and help the same


s: The sovereign Duke and young Rinaldo came.


s: That sees a storm with wind, hail, thunder, rain,


s: When gloomy clouds have day's bright eye put out,


s: His tender flocks drives from the open plain


s: To some thick grove or mountain's shady foot,


s: Where Heaven's fierce wrath they may unhurt sustain,


s: And with his hook, his whistle and his cries


s: Drives forth his fleecy charge, and with them flies:


s: This tempest come from angry war forthcast,


s: The armor clashed and lightened gainst the sky,


s: And from each side swords, weapons, fire outbrast:


s: He sent his folk up to the fortress high,


s: To shun the furious storm, himself stayed last,


s: Yet to the danger he gave place at length,


s: For wit, his courage; wisdom ruled his strength.


s: But scant the knight was safe the gate within,


s: Scant closed were the doors, when having broke


s: Against the port, and on the wicket stroke


s: His matchless might, his great desire to win,


s: His oath and promise, doth his wrath provoke,


s: For he had sworn, nor should his word be vain,


s: To kill the man that had Prince Sweno slain.


s: And now his armed hand that castle great


s: Would have assaulted, and had shortly won,


s: Had found his fatal foes' sharp wrath to shun,


s: For now dark shades to shroud the earth begun,


s: Within the town the duke would lodge that night,


s: And with the morn renew the assault and fight.


s: With cheerful look thus to his folk he said,


s: "High God hath holpen well his children dear,


s: This work is done, the rest this night delayed


s: Doth little labor bring, less doubt, no fear,


s: This tower, our foe's weak hope and latest aid,


s: We conquer will, when sun shall next appear:


s: Meanwhile with love and tender ruth go see


s: And comfort those which hurt and wounded be;


s: "Go cure their wounds which boldly ventured


s: Their lives, and spilt their bloods to get this hold,


s: That fitteth more this host for Christ forth led,


s: Than thirst of vengeance, or desire of gold;


s: Too much, ah, too much blood this day is shed!


s: In some we too much haste to spoil behold,


s: But I command no more you spoil and kill,


s: And let a trumpet publish forth my will."


s: This said, he went where Raymond panting lay,


s: Waked from the swoon wherein he late had been.


s: Bespake his troops, and kept his grief unseen;


s: "My friends, you are unconquered this day,


s: In spite of fortune still our hope is green,


s: For underneath great shows of harm and fear,


s: Our dangers small, our losses little were: