Jerusalem Delivered

by Torquato Tasso

  70. “And as we saw for our advantage thee,

  Earst mortall man, these mortall armes to weeld,

  So (sprite divine) our hope assures to see

  With fatall armes of heav’n thou wilt us sheeld.

  Learne now the prayers to receive which wee

  Thee send, and succour to our evils yeeld.

  Thence conquest I denounce, devout we will

  Triumphant vowes at Church to thee fulfill.”

  71. So spake he, and by this the evening darke

  Had quenched all the rayes of lightsome day,

  And with oblivion of ech noysome carke

  Did truce on tears, and on lamentings lay.

  But Godfrey warlicke engins want doth marke,

  Which unsupplide, t’were vaine the wals t’assay.

  He casts where beames to get, and how to make

  The engins frames, and small rest can he take.

  72. Up with the sunne he rose, and follow will

  Himselfe the pompe of solemne funerall.

  To Dudon at the foot of rysing hill

  A sepulchre of cipresse sweete they stall,

  Their barricados neere, and highest spill

  Of palme tree, with his boughs orespreads it all.

  There was he layd, the whiles the priestly throng

  Rest to his soule do pray for in their song.

  73. Amongst the boughes, where hang’d up here and there

  Ensignes and prisond armes of divers sort

  From Syrians and Perians that were

  Earst wonne by him with better sped effort,

  The armes and curets which he usde to weare

  Did cloth the tronke, and tronke did them support.

  Where after was ygrav’d, Here lyes Dudon,

  Yeeld honours dew to this brave champion.

  74. But godly Bulleyn, having brought to end

  This worke so dolorous and so devout,

  The carpenters of all the campe doth send

  With souldiers convoy to the forrest out.

  It lyes twixt valleyes hidden, and a friend

  Of Syria made it knowne to Frankish rout.

  March thither they to cut downe engines take,

  Gainst which the citie no defence may make.

  75. Ech on his mate to fell the plants doth call,

  And gainst the wood to worke unusde outrage.

  Hewne by the yrons piercing edge, downe fall

  The sacred palme-trees and th’ashes savage,

  The maples, pines, the cipresse funerall,

  High firres, beeches, and holmes of thicke bowage,

  The husband elmes, to which the vine sometimes

  Leanes, and with wrythed foot to heaven climes.

  76. Some stroke in ewes, some are in okes enchac’d,

  Which have a thousand times their locked renewd,

  And thousand times (at ech encounter fast)

  The wrath of windes repulsed and subdewd.

  And some on ratling wheeles the burdens plac’d

  Of ornes and ceders with sweete sent imbewd.

  At sound of armes, at divers cry the beasts

  And birdes forsake their caves, and fly their neasts.

  TO PHILIP SIDNEY, A MAN MOST DISTINGUISHED BY BREEDING AND VIRTUE,

  SCIPIO GENTILI SENDS HIS GREETINGS

  SUCH is your kindness and good will towards myself, Philip Sidney, and your devotion to Alberico my brother, that, although of all people I am the least capable of displaying some measure of gratitude, yet of all people I think upon it the most. Though I think you understand this full well, I make and, as long as I live, shall make the effort that others understand this also. And for the purpose nothing seems more suitable than literary memorials, thanks almost exclusively to which we bring it about that there be at least a few more who perceive our mind’s devotion to, and veneration of, another: the silent letters of literature bestow, if not more enthusiasm than that of those who display their duty to the same man by every manner of pursuit, at least much more of eloquence and fulsomeness. And so permit me yourself to enjoy this greatest profit of my devotion, that I be recognized as one of the particular devotees of your virtues; and pray grant me your forgiveness, if I attempt to accomplish this by a literary token and testimony of whatever quality it may be. When I can achieve a trifle more thanks to liesure and education (if I can ever achieve anything), possibly something will be offered up by myself which is not wholly unworthy of this splendor of your name and high repute. In the meantime willingly receive this Plutonis Consilium as if it were a offertory bowl of my reverence towards yourself, made out of gold (for it is Tasso’s), on which (if I may speak with my fellow jurisconsults) I desire the inscription and certain emblems to be spoken of as my own. “ O, a worthy Christmas present!” someone says. “A most worthy one indeed,” I shall reply. In human affairs there is nothing to be hoped for more than that for the same reason we are affected by the greatest happiness, and those with whom we have hatreds contracted both by nature and by religion, are affected by the greatest pains and torments. Pluto is pained and tormented by His advent, in which we most greatly rejoice, and by the entry of God’s savior into this life. And it pains him in those ways, which the most talented poet could invent on the basis of his own pain, but that I could not emulate in my imitation, ways that are almost divine. Wherefore I would wish to have things said by myself, lest I seem to have introduced into the Walsingham household (not only most distinguished in its own right, and most excellent for the honors it has received, but also most blessed for the kinship of the Sidneys, and also sanctified above all others by its domestic discipline) that is out of keeping with this season, and with piety’s reverence. Farewell. WRITTEN AT LONDON

  THE FOURTH SONG

  [THE ARGUMENT In the holy war, the Christians had cut down nearly all the wood in the neighboring forests for the manufacture of siege engines, and had contrived a mass of these huge in comparison with any others. When Pluto saw this, fearing lest the city be captured straightway, he determined to oppose them. Therefore he made up his mind to gather a council of his demons, and to deliver a speech, in which he incited them to the final destruction of the Christian armies.]

  1. Whilst on so faire exploytes they bend their mind,

  Which to effect use may employ with haste,

  He that graund foe was aie to humaine kind,

  His wannish eyes doth on the Christians cast:

  Who for they joyfull and contented find,

  Both lips through rage he champs, and gnaweth fast:

  And his fell griefe, as some begoared bull,

  Roaring and sighing, out hebelkes at full. (belches

  2. Then having tossed ech devise in braine,

  Which might the Christians wrap in wretched case,

  He gives commaund that gathred be his traine

  (A ghastly senate) to his royall place,

  As t’ were, o foole, attempt of easie paine

  Against the will divine t’ oppose thy face:

  Foole, that compares with heavens, and forgeates

  How Gods incenst right hand doth thunder threats.

  3. The dwellers of th’ eternall shades he calles,

  By hellish trumpet of hoarse jarring sound,

  At such a dynne the wide darke vaulted walles

  All quake, the misty thicke aire gan rebound.

  Nor whistling so the flash downe ever falles

  From upper regions of the sky to ground,

  Nor shogged earth so ever bideth throwes, (shaken

  When bigge in wombe she doth the vapours close.

  4. The deities of the deepe from all about

  In divers troupes soone meete at t’ haughty gates.

  How strangy shapes them, (oh) how ugly clout!

  What dread, what death in their fell eyes amates! (daunts

  With savage insteps some the soyle bestrout, (bestride

  With lockes of wrythed snakes some tire their pates:

 
A dragging hugy tayle their croupper bindes,

  Which as a rod oft foldes and oft unwindes.

  5. There thousands uncleane Harpyes might you vew,

  And thousands Centaures, Sphinges, Gorgons pale,

  And gulffy Scillaes an huge barcking crew:

  There serpents hisse, and Hidras whistle bale,

  And sootie sparckles up Chimeras spew:

  Eke Gerions, Poliphems an ugly tale:

  And in new monsters not earst heard or seene,

  Confusde and mixt in one hewes sundry beene.

  6. Part on the right, part on the left this band

  Siedgeth it selfe their wreakfull king before, (sits

  Pluto sits in the mids, and with right hand

  His rusty waightie scepter up he bore.

  Not rocke in sea so mad, nor cragge at land,

  Nor Calp or Atlas great high vaunceth more:

  Yea matcht with him they but as hilockes shoe,

  So his great front, so his great hornes up goe.

  7. In his fierce looke an horred majestie

  Encreaseth terrour, and more proud it makes,

  Ruddy his eyes and plaguefull venomy:

  His countenance as lucklesse comete flakes,

  A beard bigge, bushy, knotted gristelly:

  And as a gulfe where bottome none is vewd,

  He yawnes his jawes with clottie bloud embrewd.

  8. Like as the sulphure fumes encroaching flame,

  And stinke, and thunder up from Etna steeme,

  From his fell mouth such blacky belches came,

  And such the scent, and such the sparckles seeme.

  The helhounds barcking (while he spake) became

  Silent, his voice mute made men Hidra deeme,

  Cocytus flowed backe the deepes appall,

  When his loud roarings to these speeches fall:

  9. “You hellish powres, whose birth-right shold advance,

  High bove the sun your there deserved throane,

  And whom from realmes so blest that great mischance

  Earst to this ghastly denne with me hath throwne:

  Both others old suspects and fierce vengeance,

  And our brave on-set over well are knowne,

  At pleasure now on starres empyreth he,

  And as we rebell soules condemned be.

  10. “And in the liew of faire and clearest day

  Of gold-bright sunne, and of the faring starres,

  In this darke depth he us confines to stay,

  And from aspiring to earst honour barres,

  Then (ah this thought how heavie doth it way:

  This tis which sharpely wounds a new my skarres)

  To those faire heavenly seats he man hath cauld,

  Vile man from vilest durst on eareth ycrauld.

  11. “Nor this suffizde, but did his sonne betake

  In pray to death to worke our greater skath.

  He came, and downe th’ infernall gates he brake,

  And in our kingdomes durst new tread a path,

  And fetcht the soules which lot our owne did make,

  And to rich spoyles to sky conveyed hath,

  Triumphant victour, and us to upbrayd,

  Of vanquisht hell, th’ ensignes he there displayed.

  12. “But why do I be speech revive my woe?

  Who hath not earst told of our wrongs the skore?

  Where was the place? Or who the time can shoe,

  When ever he has used prankes forbore:

  Our thoughts no longer backe to th’ old must goe,

  But cast to cure more then one present fore.

  Ah! See you not hither his drifts to fall,

  That ev’ry nation on his name may call?

  13. “Shall we still sluggards then waste day and howre?

  Nor any worthy carke our courage wake?

  And shall we brooke that hourely greater powre

  His faithfull people may in Asia take?

  That Jury he subdew? That his honour,

  And that his name more large and great he make?

  That other tongs it sound? That other verse

  It write? New brasse and marble it reherse?

  14. “That all our idols downe to th’ earth be throwne?

  To him our alters by the world turned?

  To him the vowes up-hanged? To him alone

  All incense burnt? Gold and mirrhe offered?

  What where to us earst closd was temple none,

  Now to our artes no way rest opened?

  That of so many soules the wonted pay

  Ceast? And an emptie realme Dan Pluto sway?

  15. “Ah be it farre, of that first woorth as yet

  In you the sprites quite are not under brought,

  When round with steele, and haughty flames beset,

  Against celestiall empire earst we fought,

  We could (I not deny) no conquest get,

  Yet valure did adorne so great a thought:

  Be what it will that victory him gave,

  Of hearts invict we yet the glory have.

  16. “But why thus linger I? Oh you my crew!

  Goe trusty on. Oh you my power and might!

  Goe hastie on, and these caitives subdew,

  Ere their stoupt forces rise to higher flight,

  Ere whole consumed be the realme Hebrew,

  Of this encroaching flame quench out the light:

  Amongst them preace, and to their utter harme,

  Now heds with wiles, now hands with forces arme.

  17. “My will shall dest’ny be disperst, let some

  A wandring walke, let slaughter some uprake,

  Let some with carkes of fond love overcome,

  A sweete glance, a coy smile their idol make,

  Let weapons some against their leader clomme,

  Let them grow mutinous, and parties take:

  Let campe with losse and ruine be accloyd, (pierced

  And ev’n his markes rest with it selfe destroyd.”

  18. Gods rebell soules stay could no longer barre

  That these last words might sort unto an end,

  But flying foorth a new to view ech starre,

  From their deepe plunged might abroad they wend,

  Much like the stormes of broylly whistling jarre,

  Whom native caves foorth from their intrayls send,

  To darke the welkin and a warre to band

  Against great realmes, both fo sea and land.

  19. Full soone to sundry coasts with wings displaide,

  These through the world made their divers starts,

  And of entrappings straunge and new they laid

  Sly framed plots, and gan apply their arts.

  But of their first annoyes (o Muse) me aide,

  To shew how source they tooke, and from what parts.

  Thou wotst it well, fame brings thus farre unneath (reduced

  Of so great workes to us a feeble breath.

  20. A famous noble wisard, Hidraote,

  Ruled Damascus and the cities neere,

  Who from his youth to arts of uncouth note

  Addict, did day by day them more endeere.

  But whereto booted this, if they ne mote (could not

  Of these uncertaine broyles the issue cleere,

  Nor of the fixt or wandring starres th’aspect,

  Nor Hels swart cunning could to truth direct.

  21. His jugement led (ah blinded humaine mind,

  How vaine and wrested wrong thy judgements are!)

  That to the campe of westerne armes combinde

  The sky sole death and ruines did prepare.

  So deeming palme for this attempt assigned

  Should in the end fall to th’ Egyptians share,

  He sought a portion of his people might

  Of victory and gaines and glory light.

  22. But for Frankes valure high he holds in price,

  And harmes of bloody victorie doth feare.

  He casts his p
enworths by some queint device (pennyworth

  The Christians force peecemeale-wise to impaire,

  So as them downe more easily at a trice

  His and th’ Egyptians armes unite may beare.

  In this conceit the angell blacke him neeres,

  And more him pricks, and more him onward steeres.

  23. He counsell lendeth, and affords the meanes

  Which may to this exploit give easie passe.

  There dwelt a wench whose peereles bewty steines

  Ech easterne ladie, and his neice she was.

  The cunningst spels and fardest fetched treines

  Of witch or womans skill well couth the lasse. (knew

  He her doth call, he her of counsell makes,

  And unto her the whole charge he betakes.

  24. “My deere,” he sayes, “who under golden haire,

  And with a looke so delicate in show,

  Dost aged wit and manly stomacke beare,

  And in mine owne skils farre my selfe outgo,

  Thy seconding my huge conceiv’d affaire

  Will to our hopes cause glad successes flow.

  Weave thou the web begun by my device,

  Of warie age as bold executurice.

  25. “Go to the en’mies campe, and there employ

  Ech womans wile, which love may serfe to slocke, (stir

  Let plants with prayres bedewd beare sweet alloy,

  Let broken wordes with deepe sighes enter shocke,

  Let dolefull bewties pityed annoy,

  Winne to thy will ev’n harts of stiffest blocke.

  Thy too much boldnes shadow under shame,

  And cloke of truth unto thy leazings frame. (lies

  26. “Catch (if it may be) Godfrey with the traine

  Of thy sweete lookes, and of thy speeches faire,

  That warre begun, the mans besotted braine

  May loath, and it divert some other where.

  If this faile others of the greatst enchaine,

  And leade where all returne they may despeire.”

  Then he his counsels sorts, and endeth thus,

  “For faith and countrey not misseemeth us.”

  27. The faire Armida, priding in her hew,

  And in th’ endowments of her sexe and age,

  This charge takes on her, and as ev’ning drew,

  Doth part, and to close wayes her steps engage.

  Stout harts she hopes, and arm’d hands to subdew

  With her tresses, and wenches equippage.

  But of her parting divers tales are spred

  By set device, t’amuze the peoples hed.

  28. Within few dayes this dame her journey ends