Became so frantic that beyond all thought,
Despite and anger carried him away.
XVIII.
So that Avemus’ evil spirit, who
The opening saw with such advantage fraught,
In silence to his fevered bosom flew,
And deftly seized the rudder of his thought,
And evermore inflamed his rage and hate,
Goading to madness his excited breast,
And caused a voice his soul to penetrate,
Which in these terms the haughty prince addressed:
XIX.
‘Rinaldo vies with thee: thus much avail
The idle numbers of his ancestry?
Let him his vassals and allies detail,
Who on a par would place himself with thee;
His sceptre show, and his dead sires compare
With thy live kings in regal dignity.
Ah! what a prince of poor estate may dare,
A prince, too, born in servile Italy!
XX.
‘Henceforth, or vanquished or victorious, he
Was victor when thy rival he became,
Since men (and ‘twill his proudest honour be)
Will say, to blows he with Gemando came;
The post held by Dudoné formerly
Thee with fresh splendour and renown had lit,
And still not less would have received from thee;
He dimmed its brilliancy in seeking it.
XXI.
‘And if the voiceless, breathless soul bestow
A passing thought upon the affairs of men,
What just resentment thinkest thou wilt show
Thy former captain, old Dudoné, when
From his bright home amid the starry spheres,
Upon you haughty boy he turns his eye;
Who, making light of his desert and years,
Audacious stripling, dares with him to vie? —
XXII.
‘Ay, dares and strives forsooth, and carries back
Applause and honour, not reproach and blame;
Nor do advisers and abettors lack
Encouragement and praise — O common shame! —
But should Prince Godfred see it, and permit
Him to defraud thee of thy rightful due,
Suffer it not: thou must not suffer it,
But show him who thou art, and what canst do.’
XXIII.
These words fresh fuel to his ire impart;
Like shaken torch, his passions fiercer rise,
Nor keep within his swoln and pregnant heart,
But from his bold tongue burst, and flashing eyes.
All that he thinks Rinaldo can defame,
He publishes to his disparagement;
He paints him proud, and dares his courage blame
As rash, foolhardy, and improvident.
XXIV.
And all that is magnanimous and fair,
Generous and high-souled in the illustrious youth,
He censures, as though blemishes they were,
And into shade malignly casts the truth;
And stormed so, that at length his rival heard
The wide-spread blasts of his malignant breath;
Yet would not hold his tongue, nor, undeterred,
That frenzy curb, which led him to his death.
XXV.
Since the foul fiend that moved his tongue in lieu
Of exiled reason and his thoughts expressed,
Caused him his unjust insults to renew,
And added fuel to his burning breast
Within the camp was place of great extent,
Where a choice band oft met for martial games,
And there, in wrestling and the tournament,
Increased the skill and vigour of their frames.
XXVI.
Now here, what time the crowd was thickest, he
Accused Rinaldo, and upon him flung,
Prompted by hell — as was his destiny —
The envenomed arrows of his spiteful tongue.
Rinaldo near, as thus his slanders rung,
No longer could contain himself, but roared,
‘You lie! ‘at once on his traducer sprung,
And quick as thought unsheathed his vengeful sword.
XXVII.
Thunder his voice, his steel the flash appeared
Heralding fall of thunderbolt His fate
Gemando seeing, shook, and from it feared
No means there were himself to extricate.
But all the camp being witness, he put on
An air of bravery and confidence;
His foe awaiting, and with sabre drawn,
Stood firmly in a posture of defence.
XXVIII.
At this burst forth a simultaneous flash,
As from their scabbards myriad falchions flew;
Since thither numbers of the young and rash,
Hustling and jostling from all quarters drew.
The cries confused of that tumultuous host,
Resounding through the air, resemblance bore
To what is heard upon the wild sea-coast,
When the wind mingles with the billows’ roar.
XXIX.
But not for menace or entreaty would
The insulted knight repress his fury’s fires;
Heedless of cries and obstacles that could
His progress bar, to vengeance he aspires.
Away he dashes amid men and arms,
Whirling to right and left his thundering sword;
Thus clears the way, and spite of guardian swarms,
Singly confronts the pale Norwegian lord;
XXX.
And with his hand by rage unmastered still,
Against him feigned and aimed a thousand blows;
Now chest, now head he sought with wary skill,
The right side now, and now the other chose.
So rapid and impetuous was his hand,
As to deceive all art, and mock the eye;
Then, where expected least, the flashing brand
Falls, strikes, and penetrates his adversary.
XXXI.
Nor pause did ever the avenging sword,
Till it was buried twice through his cuirass;
The wretched prince sank ‘neath the wounds, and poured
His soul and spirit through the double pass.
His steel the victor sheathed, though reeking still,
Nor took more notice of his fallen foe,
But turned elsewhere, and his embittered will
Cast off, now sated by his overthrow.
XXXII.
Godfred being meanwhile to the tumult led,
All of a sudden saw the appalling sight:
Gemando fallen, his hair and cloak blood-red,
And his face smitten with death’s ghastly blight.
He heard the plaints and lamentations raised,
And saw the tears o’er the slain warrior poured.
‘Who has thus dared,’ he shouted all amazed,
‘Here, where ’twas most forbid, to draw the sword?’
XXXIII.
Amaldo, dearest comrade of the dead,
Tells how (and telling aggravates the case)
Rinaldo slew him, by mad impulse led,
And but from trifling motives, to disgrace
And turn that falchion, in Christ’s service worn,
Against a champion of the Cross; that he
Despised his rule and held in utter scorn
That law of which he could not ignorant be;
XXXIV.
And that by law death was the offender’s fate,
Blood needed blood, as it was there laid down;
Death, since the crime was in itself so great,
Death, since in place so sacred it was done;
That bad example for the rest ’twould make,
Should grace on such enormities ensue,
And that t
he injured would that vengeance take
Which was alone from the arm of Justice due;
XXXV.
That thence would quarrels and disunion spread
Between the rival factions of each knight
He called to mind the merits of the dead
With all that could or wrath or ruth excite.
But Tancred contradicted him and took
Part with the absent slandered cavalier.
Prince Godfred listened, but his rigid look
Less cause for hope afforded than for fear.
XXXVI.
Then Tancred added: ‘Sire, remember who
And what Rinaldo is, his claims, his worth,
What personal honour to himself is due,
What to his princely and illustrious birth,
What to his uncle Guelph, It is not wise
To the same level punishment to adjust;
In different ranks the same crime different is:
Twixt peers alone equality is just’
XXXVII.
The lowliest should,’ the pious chief replies,
‘Obedience learn from those of high estate.
Ill dost thou argue, Tancred, ill advise
That I forsooth gave licence to the great;
What were my power if I but swayed the base,
And o’er the mob alone dominion bore?
My sceptre mockery, my command disgrace:
On such conditions I would rule no more.
XXXVIII.
‘No, free it was entrusted to my care,
And none shall e’er curtail it or oppose,
And well I know both when I should and where
Different rewards and punishments impose.
And now preserving strict equality,
No difference make ‘twixt vassals and their lords.’
Thus spoke Prince Godfred, nor could answer he,
O’ercome with reverence by his Godlike words.
XXXIX.
Raymond, in school of antique strictness bred,
His words applauded as both just and wise:
‘Who fairly rules with arts like these,’ he said,
‘Makes himself honoured in his subjects’ eyes.
Imperfect is the government of kings
Where man expects not punishment, but grace;
Empires decay, since clemency but brings
Ruin, that has not wholesome fear for base,’
XL.
Thus Raymond spake: his speech Tancredi heard,
Nor longer tarried in their company,
But with hot haste to Prince Rinaldo spurred
His noble charger, which appeared to fly.
Rinaldo had his own pavilion gained,
Soon as in death he had quenched his fierce foe’s pride;
Here Tancred found him, and the sum explained
Of charge and answer made on either side,
XLI.
Concluding thus— ‘Although external signs
I deem no real index of the heart,
Since mortals hide their unavowed designs
In too internal and too deep a part,
Yet from what Godfred’s tell-tale looks betrayed,
Which were not silent all, assert I dare,
Thee he would from thy pride of place degrade
The common lot of criminals to share.’
XLII.
At that Rinaldo smiled, and with a look
Where through his smiles outflashed disdainful pride,
‘Let them in fetters plead their cause who brook
Slaves to remain or helots are,’ he cried;
‘Free I was born and lived, and free will die,
Ere hand or foot submit to shameful chain;
This hand is used to arms and victory,
And to vile bonds will ne’er submission deign.
XLIII.
‘But should Prince Godfred render this reward
To my deserts, or dare imprison me
And drag me hence with ignominious cord,
To ignoble jail as one of low degree,
Let him or come or send, I will not budge;
And will be seen a bloody tragedy
(As arms and fate our differences judge),
Choice entertainment for the enemy.
XLIV.
‘Bring me my arms!’ this said, he loudly cried,
And in steel suit got ready for the field,
The fatal sword suspended from his side,
And his arm loaded with the massy shield.
Most chivalrous and princely was his mien
As he in armour shone like flashing leven,
Resembling thee, horrific Mars, when seen
Descending down from the fifth cirque of heaven.
XLV.
Meanwhile Tancredi tried to mollify
His haughty heart, and fiery spirit soothe:
‘Unconquered boy,’ he said, ‘thy gallantry
The roughest task I know can render smooth.
Thy gallantry is most secure, I know,
Amid the terrors of the bloodiest fray;
But Heaven forbid thou shouldst its virtue show,
By injuring us so cruelly to-day.
XLVI.
‘What wouldst thou? say, wouldst thou thy hands imbrue
In brother’s blood and suicidal war?
Wouldst thou the breasts of Christ’s own flock pierce through
The Christ himself, of whom they members are?
Can vain regard for fleeting honour here,
Which comes and goes like sea-waves, in thine eyes
More influence have than zeal, O cavalier,
For glory which is deathless in the skies?
XLVII.
‘For God’s sake, no! o’ercome thyself, and still
Thy headstrong spirit, and thy pride lay down;
Yield not from fear, but from a pious will,
And glorious palms will thy compliance crown.
And if thou’lt deign example to pursue,
From what occurred in inexperienced age,
Know, though the Faithful once provoked me too,
I shunned all quarrel, and restrained my rage.
XLVIII.
‘For having gained Cilicia’s realm, and there
The glorious banner of the Cross displayed,
Later came Baldwin, who, by means unfair,
Despoiled me of the conquest I had made.
His wily face such friendly purpose wore,
As to conceal his thoughts and avarice hide;
Yet I to get it back by force forbore,
Although success were certain, had I tried.
XLIX.
‘But if confinement thy haught soul refuse.
And fetters spurn as ignominious weight,
And those observances to follow choose,
Which men, as laws of honour, advocate;
Leave me to excuse thee to the captain here,
And thou to Boëmond, at Antioch, fly.
Since I scarce deem it safe for thee to bear
The first outburst of his severity.
L.
‘But rest assured, should ‘gainst our arms combine
The Egyptian hordes, or other Pagan band,
That still more brightly will thy valour shine,
Thee absent, wandering in a foreign land.
Without Rinaldo will the camp appear
Maimed, like a trunk bereft of arm or hand.’
Here Guelph arrived, and urged the cavalier
To leave at once, nor their joint prayers withstand.
LI.
The fiery youth’s exasperated heart
Yields to their judgment, to their counsel bends;
He now no more refuses to depart
From the Frank army and his faithful friends.
Meanwhile his comrades had around him flown,
And with him begged permission to proceed;
He thanked them all, but took
with him alone
Two trusty squires, and vaulted on his steed.
LII.
Away he rides, inspired by love of fame,
That powerful stimulant to noble breast:
On glorious deeds his soul had fixed its aim,
Which did a thousand rare exploits suggest:
‘Mid hostile tribes to go, and gather there
Cypress or palm, in honour of his God;
Scour Egypt’s plains, and penetrate to where
From their dark source Nile’s mystic waters flowed.
LIII.
But Guelpho, soon as the hot-headed knight,
Thus pressed to go, had taken leave, behind
No longer stayed, but bent his rapid flight
To where he expected the camp’s chief to find.
Who, when he saw him, raised his voice and cried:
‘Guelph! thou art the one I most desired to see,
And have this moment sent on every side
Our fleetest heralds to make search for thee.’
LIV.
Then having caused the others to recede,
In voice subdued began this grave discourse:
‘Truly thy nephew doth all bounds exceed
When o’er his spirit rage exerts its force:
He scarce can bring, O Guelph, in my belief,
For deed so heinous justifying cause,
Though could he do so, it were great relief;
But all ranks Godfred rules with equal laws,
LV.
‘And will the guardian and defender be
In every case of what is just and right,
Keeping his heart for equal judgment free
From tyrant passions that o’errule it might.
Now if Rinaldo was, as some pretend,
Constrained to violate our well-known laws
And discipline’s stem rules, then let him bend
To our tribunal, and make good his cause.
LVI.
‘Let him come freely, nor this grace abuse,
Which to his worth I am content to show;
But should he prove rebellious and refuse —
For well his fiery temperament I know —
Be it thine to bring, and see the cavalier
Forces not one most merciful, to be
Avenger, when by duty forced, severe
Of outraged justice and authority.’
LVII.
Thus spake Prince Godfred, and thus Guelph replied:
‘The soul that shrinks from infamy could not
Hear words so false and wounding to its pride,
And not revenge the insult on the spot.
If the bold youth the foul-mouthed slanderer slew,
Who can set bounds to justifiable ire?
Who count the blows and weigh the sentence due,
When burns the contest and the soul’s on fire?
LVIII.
‘But what thou askest, that the cavalier
Should to thy sovran judgment bow his head,
It grieves me, cannot be; since far from here
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