340 Quelle genti fuggir, che fuggian prime.
Segue Dudon nella vittoria ardente
I fuggitivi, e ‘l fer Tigrane opprime
Con l’urto del cavallo; e con la spada
344 Fa che scemo del capo a terra cada.
XLIII
These fled the last, and with their force sustained
The Christians’ rage, that followed them so near;
Their scattered troops to safety well they trained,
And while the residue fled, the brunt these bear;
Dudon pursued the victory he gained,
And on Tigranes nobly broke his spear,
Then with his sword headless to ground him cast,
So gardeners branches lop that spring too fast.
XLIII.
They were the last to bear the battle’s brunt,
And stem the torrent surging in their rear,
Which made it easy for all those in front,
To escape the Christians that still followed near.
Dudoné, flushed with victory, overthrew
Tigranes by a charge of his bold horse;
His sabre then the veteran soldier drew,
And on the greensward stretched the headless corse.
XLIV.
Nè giova ad Algazzarre il fino usbergo,
Ned a Corban robusto il forte elmetto;
Chè in guisa lor ferì la nuca e ‘l tergo,
348 Che ne passò la piaga al viso, al petto:
E per sua mano ancor del dolce albergo
L’alma uscì d’Amuratte, e di Meemetto,
E del crudo Almansor; nè ‘l gran Circasso
352 Può sicuro da lui mover il passo.
XLIV
Algazar’s breastplate, of fine temper made,
Nor Corban’s helmet, forged by magic art,
Could save their owners, for Lord Dudon’s blade
Cleft Corban’s head, and pierced Algazar’s heart,
And their proud souls down to the infernal shade,
From Amurath and Mahomet depart;
Not strong Argantes thought his life was sure,
He could not safely fly, nor fight secure.
XLIV.
What now avails thy corslet, Algazar?
Corbano, what thy helmet’s steel-bound crest?
Since through your nape and back he pierced so far,
That the point issued at the face and breast.
His arm expelled then from their sweet abode
The souls of Amurath and Mahomet;
Almansor’s too; nor e’en Arganté could
Securely stir, so close was he beset.
XLV.
Freme in se stesso Argante, e pur talvolta
Si ferma e volge, e poi cede pur anco.
Alfin così improvviso a lui si volta,
356 E di tanto rovescio il coglie al fianco,
Che dentro il ferro vi s’immerge, e tolta
È dal colpo la vita al Duce Franco.
Cade, e gli occhj ch’appena aprir si ponno,
360 Dura quiete preme, e ferreo sonno.
XLV
The angry Pagan bit his lips for teen,
He ran, he stayed, he fled, he turned again,
Until at last unmarked, unviewed, unseen,
When Dudon had Almansor newly slain,
Within his side he sheathed his weapon keen,
Down fell the worthy on the dusty plain,
And lifted up his feeble eyes uneath,
Opprest with leaden sleep, of iron death.
XLV.
With frantic rage the great Circassian burned,
Now stopped, faced round, still yielded to the Frank.
At length so suddenly on him he turned,
And caught him with such fury on the flank,
That his sword’s point therein was buried deep,
And by the blow the Christian leader slain.
He falls: unwelcome rest and iron sleep
Weigh down those lids that scarce can ope again.
XLVI.
Gli aprì tre volte, e i dolci rai del Cielo
Cercò fruire, e sovra un braccio alzarsi:
E tre volte ricadde, e fosco velo
364 Gli occhj adombrò, che stanchi alfin serrarsi.
Si dissolvono i membri, e ‘l mortal gelo
Irrigiditi, e di sudor gli ha sparsi.
Sovra il corpo già morto il fero Argante
368 Punto non bada, e via trascorre avante.
XLVI
Three times he strove to view Heaven’s golden ray,
And raised him on his feeble elbow thrice,
And thrice he tumbled on the lowly lay,
And three times closed again his dying eyes,
He speaks no word, yet makes his signs to pray;
He sighs, he faints, he groans, and then he dies;
Argantes proud to spoil the corpse disdained,
But shook his sword with blood of Dudon stained.
XLVI.
Yet thrice he oped them, and heaven’s pleasant light
Sought to enjoy; and thrice his body raised
Upon his arm, thrice fell. The shades of night
In death at last his languid eyeballs glazed;
His limbs relax, a mortal icy chill
Stiffens and bathes them in a dank cold sweat.
Arganté paused not o’er the corse, but still
Pushed on ahead with undiminished whet.
XLVII.
Con tutto ciò, sebben d’andar non cessa,
Si volge ai Franchi, e grida: o cavalieri,
Questa sanguigna spada è quella stessa,
372 Che ‘l Signor vostro mi donò pur jeri:
Ditegli come in uso oggi l’ho messa;
Ch’udirà la novella ei volentieri:
E caro esser gli dee che ‘l suo bel dono
376 Sia conosciuto al paragon sì buono.
XLVII
And turning to the Christian knights, he cried:
“Lordlings, behold, this bloody reeking blade
Last night was given me by your noble guide,
Tell him what proof thereof this day is made,
Needs must this please him well that is betide,
That I so well can use this martial trade,
To whom so rare a gift he did present,
Tell him the workman fits the instrument.
XLVII.
With that, although he ceased not to give way,
Turned to the Franks he cried, ‘This blood-stained sword,
Is the same precious gift that yesterday
Was to myself presented by your lord;
Tell him how I to-day have used it. He
Such welcome news most willingly will hear;
Nay, should rejoice that its great value be
Established by probation so severe.
XLVIII.
Ditegli che vederne omai s’aspetti
Nelle viscere sue più certa prova:
E quando d’assalirne ei non s’affretti,
380 Verrò, non aspettato, ov’ei si trova.
Irritati i Cristiani ai feri detti,
Tutti ver lui già si moveano a prova;
Ma con gli altri esso è già corso in sicuro
384 Sotto la guardia dell’amico muro.
XLVIII
“If further proof thereof he long to see,
Say it still thirsts, and would his heart-blood drink;
And if he haste not to encounter me,
Say I will find him when he least doth think.”
The Christians at his words enraged be,
But he to shun their ire doth safely shrink
Under the shelter of the neighbor wall,
Well guarded with his troops and soldiers all.
XLVIII.
‘Tell him its point he may expect to see
In his own bowels, as a proof more sure;
And should he haste not his attack on me,
I will the means to fin
d him out procure,’
The Franks, incensed at his insulting speech,
Rushed to cut down the braggart, but with all
The rest he fled beyond the Christians’ reach,
‘Neath the safe shelter of the friendly wall.
XLIX.
I difensori a grandinar le pietre
Dall’alte mura in guisa incominciaro;
E quasi innumerabili faretre,
388 Tante saette agli archi ministraro;
Che forza è pur, che ‘l Franco stuol s’arretre:
E i Saracin nella cittade entraro.
Ma già Rinaldo, avendo il piè sottratto
392 Al giacente destrier, s’era quì tratto.
XLIX
Like storms of hail the stones fell down from high,
Cast from their bulwarks, flankers, ports and towers,
The shafts and quarries from their engines fly,
As thick as falling drops in April showers:
The French withdrew, they list not press too nigh,
The Saracens escaped all the powers,
But now Rinaldo from the earth upleapt,
Where by the leg his steed had long him kept;
XLIX.
Its stout defenders then to hail began
Such showers of stones on their advancing foes,
And countless quivers in each barbican
Supplied such flights of arrows to their bows,
That the Frank troops compelled were to recede,
And let the Pagans gain the sheltering town,
When, his foot having from his fallen horse freed,
In eager haste Rinaldo thundered down.
L.
Venia per far nel barbaro omicida
Dell’estinto Dudone aspra vendetta;
E fra’ suoi giunto, alteramente grida:
396 Or qual indugio è questo? e chè s’aspetta?
Poich’è morto il Signor che ne fu guida,
Chè non corriamo a vendicarlo in fretta?
Dunque in sì grave occasion di sdegno
400 Esser può fragil muro a noi ritegno?
L
He came and breathed vengeance from his breast
‘Gainst him that noble Dudon late had slain;
And being come thus spoke he to the rest,
“Warriors, why stand you gazing here in vain?
Pale death our valiant leader had opprest,
Come wreak his loss, whom bootless you complain.
Those walls are weak, they keep but cowards out
No rampier can withstand a courage stout.
L.
He sought dire vengeance ‘gainst the homicide
Who had so brutally Dudoné slain,
And having reached his squadron, proudly cried,
‘What wait ye for? Why thus inert remain?
Since dead is he who was our leader — why
Not hasten forward to avenge his fall?
What! with such cause for animosity,
Blench at the barrier of a fragile wall?
LI.
Non, se di ferro doppio, o d’adamante
Questa muraglia impenetrabil fosse,
Colà dentro sicuro il fero Argante
404 S’appiatteria dalle vostr’alte posse.
Andiam pure all’assalto: ed egli innante
A tutti gli altri in questo dir si mosse;
Chè nulla teme la sicura testa
408 O di sassi o di strai, nembo o tempesta.
LI
“Of double iron, brass or adamant,
Or if this wall were built of flaming fire,
Yet should the Pagan vile a fortress want
To shroud his coward head safe from mine ire;
Come follow then, and bid base fear avaunt,
The harder work deserves the greater hire;”
And with that word close to the walls he starts,
Nor fears he arrows, quarries, stones or darts.
LI.
‘Not, if you wall impenetrable were,
Of adamant or doubled iron made,
Could fierce Arganté find protection there,
Or there the vigour of your arms evade;
On to the assault — advance! As thus he spoke,
Before them all the youthful hero sprang;
His fearless forehead feared no hostile stroke,
Though showers of stones and arrows round him rang.
LII.
Ei crollando il gran capo, alza la faccia
Piena di sì terribile ardimento,
Che sin dentro alle mura i cori agghiaccia
412 Ai difensor d’insolito spavento.
Mentre egli altri rincora, altri minaccia,
Sopravvien chi reprime il suo talento:
Chè Goffredo lor manda il buon Sigiero,
416 De’ gravi imperj suoi nunzio severo.
LII
Above the waves as Neptune lift his eyes
To chide the winds, that Trojan ships opprest,
And with his countenance calmed seas, winds and skies;
So looked Rinaldo, when he shook his crest
Before those walls, each Pagan fears and flies
His dreadful sight, or trembling stayed at least:
Such dread his awful visage on them cast.
So seem poor doves at goshawks’ sight aghast.
LII.
And tossing his haught head he raised his glance,
With such portentous resolution filled,
That even inside the walls the combatants
Were to the heart by fright unwonted chilled.
But while the slack he menaced, and fresh cheer
Gave to the valiant, crippled were his hands,
Since to him Godfred sent the good Sigier,
Grave rigid messenger of grave commands.
LIII.
Questi sgrida, in suo nome, il troppo ardire,
E incontinente il ritornar impone.
Tornatene, dicea, ch’alle vostr’ire
420 Non è il loco opportuno, o la stagione.
Goffredo il vi comanda. A questo dire
Rinaldo sè frenò, ch’altrui fu sprone:
Benchè dentro ne frema, e in più d’un segno
424 Dimostri fuore il mal celato sdegno.
LIII
The herald Ligiere now from Godfrey came,
To will them stay and calm their courage hot;
“Retire,” quoth he, “Godfrey commands the same;
To wreak your ire this season fitteth not;”
Though loth, Rinaldo stayed, and stopped the flame,
That boiled in his hardy stomach hot;
His bridled fury grew thereby more fell,
So rivers, stopped, above their banks do swell.
LIII.
He in his name chid his excessive fire,
And bade him his adventurous steps retrace.
‘Return,’ he cried; ‘for this display of ire
Ill-fitting is the season and the place.
Thus Godfred orders,’ From the strong redoubt
Rinaldo, who had spurred the rest, withdraws,
Although he fumed within and showed without
How disappointed at being baulked he was.
LIV.
Tornar le schiere indietro, e dai nemici
Non fu il ritorno lor punto turbato.
Nè in parte alcuna de gli estremi uficj
428 Il corpo di Dudon restò fraudato.
Su le pietose braccia i fidi amici
Portarlo, caro peso ed onorato.
Mira intanto il Buglion d’eccelsa parte
432 Della forte Cittade il sito e l’arte.
LIV
The hands retire, not dangered by their foes
In their retreat, so wise were they and wary,
To murdered Dudon each lamenting goes,
From wonted use of ruth they list not vary.
Upon their friendly arms they soft impose
The noble burden of his
corpse to carry:
Meanwhile Godfredo from a mountain great
Beheld the sacred city and her seat.
LIV.
The Franks retired, nor by the Pagan force
Or menaced or disturbed was their retreat;
Nor was defrauded brave Dudoné’s corse
Of its last honours, but with reverence meet,
On sympathising arms his faithful friends
That precious and most honoured burden bore.
Godfred meanwhile an eminence ascends,
The city’s site and fences to explore.
LV.
Gerusalem sovra due colli è posta
D’impari altezza, e volti fronte a fronte:
Va per lo mezzo suo valle interposta
436 Che lei distingue, e l’un dall’altro monte.
Fuor da tre lati ha malagevol costa:
Per l’altro vassi, e non par che si monte.
Ma d’altissime mura è più difesa
440 La parte piana, e incontra Borea stesa.
LV
Hierusalem is seated on two hills
Of height unlike, and turned side to side,
The space between, a gentle valley fills,
From mount to mount expansed fair and wide.
Three sides are sure imbarred with crags and hills,
The rest is easy, scant to rise espied:
But mighty bulwarks fence that plainer part,
So art helps nature, nature strengtheneth art.
LV.
Upon two ridges of unequal height,(5)
That front each other, stands Jerusalem,
Through which there runs a narrow vale, whose site
Divides the town in two, and severs them.
Three sides a steep ascent the place defends,
But on the fourth you go, nor seem to rise,
And this plain side, which towards the north extends,
By loftiest ramparts more defended is.
LVI.
La Città dentro ha lochi, in cui si serba
L’acqua che piove, e laghi e fonti vivi:
Ma fuor la terra intorno è nuda d’erba,
444 E di fontane sterile, e di rivi.
Nè si vede fiorir lieta e superba
D’alberi, e fare schermo ai raggj estivi;
Se non se in quanto oltra sei miglia un bosco
448 Sorge d’ombre nocenti orrido e fosco.
LVI
The town is stored of troughs and cisterns, made
To keep fresh water, but the country seems
Devoid of grass, unfit for ploughmen’s trade,
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