Jerusalem Delivered

by Torquato Tasso

But presse untimely that still fast arriv’d,

  Some his, some Painims farder time depriv’d.

  29. The Palestines by Christens chaced, gan

  Give ground, were it for guile, or were it feare,

  When of the chacers an unmanly man

  Wav’d by the wind, skrying her sparckled heare,

  Lifts up his hand as at her backe he ran,

  And where she naked show’d, stroke at her there.

  But Tancred cryed out thereof aware

  And with his sword that great blow off he bare.

  30. Yet all in vaine not lights, but on the bound

  Her hitt, twixt whitest necke and fairest hed,

  And her beguiled lockes this slightest wound

  With some few drops, such wise betainted red,

  As gold growes ruddie, which (some rubyes ground

  By skilfull workemen set) doth sparkles shed.

  But furious grew this prince, and onward made

  Against this villaine, and drew out his blade.

  31. T’other avoides, and wrath enkindled hee

  Persewes, they go through aire as arrow-fares.

  Suspenst, she stayes a while and both do see,

  Now parted farre, not them to follow cares,

  But backe retires with those of hers that flee,

  And now showes face, nor Frankes t’assaile she spares.

  Now turnes she, now returns, now fight, now flight

  She makes, nor chac’d, nor chacer term’d aright.

  32. Right so fierce bull sometimes in market place,

  If hornes to dogges he turne, from whence he fled

  They there retire, and if to flight he pace,

  Ech makes returne to chace emboldened.

  At backe Clorinde (while she flight doth trace)

  High holds her shield, and guards thereby her hed.

  Defensed in Monseo pastimes so

  From balls against them throwne, the flyers go.

  33. While these persew, and those persewed fly

  To the high walles, they now approching drew,

  When on the sodaine with a ghastly cry

  Upraysde, backe on them comes the Painim crew.

  First wheeling farre aloofe, then turning ny,

  At backe and sides return’d they fight renew.

  Meanspace Argante downe the mountaine led

  His band t’assault them also on the hed.

  34. The fierce Circasian from the troup out went,

  That his blow first the enimy might gall,

  And whom he strooke he topsie-turvie hent

  To ground, in plumpe both man and horse withall.

  And ere his launce was into shivers rent,

  Many claim’d fellowship in th’others fall.

  Then drawes his sword, and where it home doth come,

  Still killes or felles, or least-wise woundeth some.

  35. Clorind his countermate of life bereaved

  Ardelio strong, who farre in yeares did creepe,

  But of old age, as yet unmastered,

  And fenst by two bigge sonnes, who safe him keepe,

  Could not, for from his fathers care sundred

  Th’eldest Alcandro was, by wound full deepe,

  And Poliferno, who neere him abid,

  Could scarce and scarce himselfe from perill rid.

  36. But Tancred, when he could not over-get

  That villaine, who his horse had swifter pac’d,

  Lookt backe and saw his hardy men had set

  Too farre a course, while sole headlong they chac’d.

  He saw them hemd, he spurres to courser set,

  Turning the raynes, and thither speedes in haste.

  Nor he alone brought succour to his band,

  But eke that troupe which made for neede a stand.

  37. That troup Adventurer which Dudon led,

  Heroicke flowre, the campes sinewes and might.

  Regnold shapt fairest, noblest couraged,

  Fore-runnes them all, lightning takes slower flight.

  Erminia soone his port, soone th’azured

  Shield had deskryde with silver eagle dight,

  And sayes to king that on him fixt his eye,

  “Ther’s he that beares on bravest masterye.

  38. “For trenchant blade he hath of equall prize,

  Or few or none, yet but a child in age.

  If but such sixe were mongst our enemies,

  Ere now had Syria stoupt to serviceage.

  Ere now had neighbour-realmes, where sun doth rise,

  And realms that southmost lye, endur’d bondage,

  And Nile perhaps in vaine from yoke should hide

  His head far distant, nor as yet deskride.

  39. “Regnold he’s called, and his wrathfull hand

  More then all engines force the walles do feare.

  Now turne your eyes where I am pointing, and

  Mark him whose armes green with gold mixed beare.

  That’s Dudon, and by him is led this band,

  This band which hath to name th’ Adventurer:

  A warriour who, well borne and well expert,

  Exceedes in yeeres, nor wanteth in desert.

  40. “That great one seene with blacke becovered so,

  Gernand he hight, brother to Norway king,

  A prouder man the whole earth cannot shoe.

  This sole the price of his acts shadowing

  Those two, who thus in one conjoyned goe,

  And parell white, white have their furnishing.

  Gildip and Edward loves and spouses are

  In loyaltie and martiall prowesse rare.”

  41. So spake she, and they saw downe on the plaine

  How slaughter still encreaseth more and more.

  For Tancred and Reynold brake through the traine,

  That thicke of men and armes enringde tofore.

  And then the band which Dudon led amaine

  Comes in, and on them likewise chargeth sore.

  Argant, Argant himselfe at shocke such wise

  Reynold orethrew that scant he could arise.

  42. Nor had he ris’ne perhaps, save that the horse

  Of Bertolds sonne, that instant tooke a fall,

  And having under-caught his foot, did force

  For plucking it thereout some stay withall.

  The Painim troupe this while seekes to endorce, (turn tail

  Defeated, flying, chac’d the citie wall.

  Sole Argant and Clorinda bancke and barre,

  Gainst fury that at backe orefloweth, are.

  43. Last rancke they guard, and brunt at heeles some space

  Upon them makes a stay, and is represt,

  So as those folke with lesse endaunger’d case

  Might fly, who first to flight themselves addrest.

  Dudon, fierie through victorie, gives chase

  To flyers, and the fierce Tygran opprest.

  With shocke of horses, and then with drawne blade,

  His body headlesse kisse the ground he made.

  44. Nor Algazzar good of tough corslet tooke,

  Nor mightie Corban of his strong helmet,

  For in the nape and backe them he so strooke

  That wound to face and brest did passage get.

  And by his hand eke their sweet lodge forsooke

  The soules of Amurate and Mehemet,

  And of fell Almansor, nor great Circasse,

  One step by him can unannoyed passe.

  45. Argant frets to himselfe, and eft he makes

  A stand, and turnes, and then retires againe.

  At last so suddaine turnd, to him he rakes,

  And rought his side with a reverse so maine,

  That deepe the blade it bathes therein, and takes

  Life by that blow from Frankish captaine.

  He falles, and eyes that scarce could open looke,

  Any yron sleepe and hardest quiet tooke.

  46. Thrice he them opens, and the heav�
�ns sweete rayes

  Sought to enjoy, and on his arme arose,

  And thrice he fell, and his eyne over-layes

  A darkesome vayle. In th’end weari’d they close,

  His limmes dissolve, dead, cold, a sweat displayes,

  And sensibly a sencelesse stifnes growes.

  Upon the corps (now dead) no longer stay

  Fierce Argant brookes, but hies forth on his way.

  47. Yet for all that though going keepe no stay,

  He turn’d to Frankes and “Oh ye knights,” he cride.

  “This bloudie sword is that with which the day

  Last past your lord in guift me gratifide.

  Tell him how now thereof I tooke assay,

  For glad he would this newes be certifide,

  And deere must take it that his present faire

  Is knowne by proofe so great a worth to beare.

  48. “Tell him henceforth account he looking make,

  In his owne guts the same more sure to prove,

  And if t’assaile no over speede he take,

  I’le come unlookt, be he the ground above.”

  The Christians, angred at so fell a crake, (boast

  From all sides with all hands against him move,

  But mongst the rest he was too safety ronne,

  And for his guard had wall befriending wonne.

  49. The guarders, busie, straight themselves addresse

  To haile downe stones aloft from garrets so,

  And with such fast supply the number lesse

  Quivers with arrowes stuffed ev’ry bow,

  That to retrait forst is of Frankes the presse,

  And Saracins into the citie go.

  But Reynold now from groveling horses side

  His foot out having pluckt, was thither hide.

  50. He came on the barbarian homicide,

  A sharpe revenge for Dudons death to take,

  And being come to his, aloud he cride,

  “What looke you for? What lingring ist you make?

  Since slaughtred lies the knight that was our guide,

  Why running haste we not his death to wrake?

  In so great cause of just displeasure can

  A brittle wall thwart us a stoppage than?

  51. “No not if double ire or adamant

  This walling high not to be pierced were,

  From higher prowesse yours, that fierce Argant

  With begged safetie should him neastle there.

  Goe we unto th’assault, and selfe instant.”

  Before the rest (so said) first doth he steare,

  For his undaunted courage ought affright,

  Nor arrowes showre, nor storme all stony might.

  52. He tossng his stout head lifts up his face,

  Full of so terrible an hardiment,

  That to the hearts of those who guard the palce

  An ycy cold of feare unwonted went.

  Whiles some he cheeres, and some he doth menace,

  In commeth one, who slakes his eger bent.

  For Godfrey to them sent the good Sigiere,

  Of his grave charges messenger severe.

  53. Who in his name their over-hardinesse

  Uncries, and straight to turne doth straight impose.

  “Returne,” he sayes, “for to your wrathfulnesse

  Nor place serves fit, nor season tidie growes.

  Godfrey commaunds it you this word expresse,

  Regnold now raines, who earst was spurre to those.

  Though inward much he frets, and out reveald

  More signes then one of anger ill conceald.”

  54. Backe turne the bandes, nor their returne at all

  Was by the counterwaything foe distrest.

  Nor Dudons corps of his last funerall

  In any portion did defrauded rest.

  Upon their kindest armes his friends loyall

  Him beare, a burden deere and nobellest.

  Bulleyn the while viewes from an higher part

  Of that strong citie both the site and art.

  55. Hierusalem upon two hils is set,

  Of height uneven, and turnde front to front.

  His middle part a lowly vale doth fret,

  Which it devides and t’one from t’other mount.

  Three sides are coasted with a combrous let, (obstruction

  Fourth easie way ,nor to ascend they count,

  But with high raysed walles it selfe defends

  The playner part which gainst the North extends.

  56. Within the citie sundry cesterns are,

  Raine to receive, and brookes and living springs.

  Without the earth about of grasse is bare,

  Fountaines or lakes (barraine) none forth it brings.

  Nor is it seene gladsome, or proud to fare

  With trees, nor yeelds gainst suns rayes shadowings,

  Save where some sixe miles off a wood upgrowes

  With noysome bugbears, that dark ghastly showes.

  57. That side where rising first appeares the day

  The noble wave of happy Jordan flankes,

  And on the westerne part of Midland Sea

  It buts upon the sandy strowed bankes.

  The north Betel (to golden calfe where they

  An alter raysd) and eke Samaria rankes.

  Bethlem is plast where South brings showry cloud,

  Whose hap was earst in lap great birth to shrowd.

  58. While Godfrey now both of the towne and land

  The lofty rampires and the site surveyes,

  And him bethinkes where best his campe may stand,

  And where foes weakest wall t’assaile with ease,

  Erminia skryes him, and with stretched hand

  Him points to Painim king, and farder sayes,

  “That Godfrey is, who, clad in purple pall,

  Beares port so king-like and majesticall.

  59. “He (certes) borne seemes a soveraigne,

  So th’arts to rule and to command he knowes.

  Nor is he meaner knight than captaine,

  But all the points of double valure owes.

  Nor man more warlike this so great a traine

  Mongst all then him, nor more advised showes.

  In counsell Raymond sole, and sole in warre

  Reynold and Tancred his coegals are.”

  60. The Painym king replies, “Him well I beare

  In mind, as earst seene at great Court of France,

  When I Egyptian messenger was there.

  In noble justs I saw him ply his launce,

  And though his yeeres, which then young springing were,

  No tire of downe did on his cheekes advaunce,

  Yet both his words and workes, and semblant brave,

  Of greatest hopes ev’n then fortoken gave.”

  61. Foretoken ah too true, with that troubled

  Ey-lids downe clines he, then them reares anew,

  And sayes, “Tell me, whats he coat-armoured,

  Whom weare, and t’ others match to march we view?

  Oh how by this he is resembelled!

  Though seemes to want a part of stature dew.”

  “Thats Baldwyn,” answer’d she. “To him showes he,

  Brother by face, but more by facts to be.

  62. “Next marke the man on t’other side in guize,

  That stands of one who counsaile doth endite.

  He Reymond hights, whom I to you for wise

  Did so commend, a man all hoary white,

  Skild to contrive more warlicke policies

  Theres neither Frankish nor Italian sprite.

  But he that with guilt-helme doth farder stand,

  Good William is, kings sonne of Brittish land.

  63. “With him is Gwelfe, and equall strives to goe

  In brave deedes, in great bloud, in high calling.

  Full well by those square shoulders him I knowe,

  And by that breast whose cheasted up rysing.
<
br />   But mongst these squadrons mine owne greatest foe

  (Though wide I looke) to sight I cannot bring.

  I meane that Boemund, that murderer,

  Of my bloud royall cruel raviner.”

  64. So talked they, the whiles the captaine,

  When he the walles had viewd, to his descends,

  And for he deemes the citie should in vaine

  Assaulte receive where steepenesse most ascends,

  Against the northerne gate, he on the plaine

  That with it joynes, his pitched tents extends,

  And thence proceeding neere the towre below

  Cald Angolar, the rest he doth bestow.

  65. The circuit of the campe might neere comprize

  The cities third part, or but little lesse,

  For to enclose it round the same suffize

  At full could not, such were her hugynesse.

  But all the wayes (at least) which might supplyes

  Afford, Godfrey to stop gan him addresse,

  And causeth to be sei’zd ech passage fit

  That serv’d to come and go too and from it.

  66. A charge he gives his tents should fortifide

  With ditches deepe and with strong trenches bee,

  Which it from townesmens sallyes on th’one side,

  And straunge assaults might on t’other free.

  Then after these dew workes to end were hide,

  Dudons carcasse he tooke a mind to see,

  And thither went where that good captaine ded

  With sad and tearefull troupe was compassed.

  67. His faithfull friends adorned his great beare

  With noble pomp, where plast aloft he lyes,

  When Godfrey enters, and the people reare

  More dolefull playning and more tatling cryes.

  But with a looke nor troubled nor yet cleare

  Good Bulleyn bridles his affects and tyes

  His tongue. Then when his sight on him had stayed,

  Fixed in muse somewhile at last he sayd:

  68. “To thee nor plaint nor dole are dew, for death

  If world thee sent, heav’n gives thee birth againe,

  And here where off thou threwest thy mortall sheath,

  Steps of thy glory printed deepe remaine.

  Thou liv’dst as champion of the Christen faith,

  And so thou did’st, now joyest thou, and faine

  In God doest feede thine eyes, o soule of blisse,

  And crownd and palmd thy well deserving is.

  69. “Blessed live thou for our condition.

  Not thy mis-hap invites these teares to fall,

  Sith at thy parting parts a portion

  Of us, most worthy and most strong withall.

  But if from us an earthly aide is gon,

  Depriv’d by that which death the vulgar call,

  An heav’nly aide for us thy suit may gaine,

  For mongst th’elect thee heav’n doth entertaine.