Jerusalem Delivered

by Torquato Tasso

  XIX.

  With vans expanded, through the various parts

  Of the wide world they spread themselves, and straight

  Began to use their old infernal arts,

  And new and diverse frauds to fabricate;

  But say, O Muse! how first with loss they smote

  The Christian forces, and from whence it came.

  Thou know’st it; but of deeds so far remote

  Has scarcely reached us the faint breath of fame.

  XX.

  Reggea Damasco e le città vicine

  Idraote famoso e nobil mago;

  Che fin da’ suoi prim’anni all’indovine

  156 Arti si diede, e ne fu ognor più vago.

  Ma che giovar, se non potè del fine

  Di quella incerta guerra esser presago?

  Ned aspetto di stelle erranti o fisse,

  160 Nè risposta d’Inferno il ver predisse?

  XX

  The town Damascus and the lands about

  Ruled Hidraort, a wizard grave and sage,

  Acquainted well with all the damned rout

  Of Pluto’s reign, even from his tender age;

  Yet of this war he could not figure out

  The wished ending, or success presage,

  For neither stars above, nor powers of hell,

  Nor skill, nor art, nor charm, nor devil could tell.

  XX.

  Prince Idraotes, a famed wizard, reigned

  O’er proud Damascus and the cities near;

  He from his early youth had knowledge gained

  Of magic, and now prized it more than e’er.

  But what availed it, could he not the end

  Of the great conflict, doubtful still, foretell?

  Nor from the fixed or wandering stars portend

  The truth, nor yet from oracles of hell?

  XXI.

  Giudicò questi (ahi cieca umana mente,

  Come i giudícj tuoi son vani e torti!)

  Ch’all’esercito invitto d’Occidente

  164 Apparecchiasse il Ciel ruine e morti:

  Però credendo che l’Egizia gente

  La palma dell’impresa alfin riporti,

  Desia che ‘l popol suo nella vittoria

  168 Sia dell’acquisto a parte, e della gloria.

  XXI

  And yet he thought, — Oh, vain conceit of man,

  Which as thou wishest judgest things to come! —

  That the French host to sure destruction ran,

  Condemned quite by Heaven’s eternal doom:

  He thinks no force withstand or vanquish can

  The Egyptian strength, and therefore would that some

  Both of the prey and glory of the fight

  Upon this Syrian folk would haply light.

  XXI.

  He judged (ah, poor, short-sighted mind of man,

  How vain, how warped the judgments of thy breast!)

  That Heaven did ruin and destruction plan

  Against the unconquered army of the West;

  But deeming in the end the Egyptians would

  The laurels of the enterprise obtain,

  He wished his people in the victory should

  As well the profit as the glory gain.

  XXII.

  Ma perchè il valor Franco ha in grande stima,

  Di sanguigna vittoria i danni teme;

  E va pensando con qual’arte in prima

  172 Il poter de’ Cristiani in parte sceme:

  Sicchè più agevolmente indi s’opprima

  Dalle sue genti, e dall’Egizie insieme.

  In questo suo pensier il sovraggiunge

  176 L’Angelo iniquo, e più l’instiga e punge.

  XXII

  But for he held the Frenchmen’s worth in prize,

  And feared the doubtful gain of bloody war,

  He, that was closely false and slyly war,

  Cast how he might annoy them most from far:

  And as he gan upon this point devise, —

  As counsellors in ill still nearest are, —

  At hand was Satan, ready ere men need,

  If once they think, to make them do, the deed.

  XXII.

  Still fearing that the war might bloody be,

  And to himself result in certain loss,

  He ‘gan to think by what contrivance he

  Might shake the nascent influence of the Cross,

  So that the Egyptians with his troops combined

  With greater ease the Franks might triumph o’er.

  His evil genius came while in this mind

  He was, and spurred and egged him on still more.

  XXIII.

  Esso il consiglia, e gli ministra i modi

  Onde l’impresa agevolar si puote.

  Donna, a cui di beltà le prime lodi

  180 Concedea l’Oriente, è sua nipote.

  Gli accorgimenti e le più occulte frodi,

  Ch’usi o femmina o maga, a lei son note.

  Questa a se chiama, e seco i suoi consiglj

  184 Comparte, e vuol che cura ella ne pigli.

  XXIII

  He counselled him how best to hunt his game,

  What dart to cast, what net, what toil to pitch,

  A niece he had, a nice and tender dame,

  Peerless in wit, in nature’s blessings rich,

  To all deceit she could her beauty frame,

  False, fair and young, a virgin and a witch;

  To her he told the sum of this emprise,

  And praised her thus, for she was fair and wise:

  XXIII.

  He counselled him, and ministered the ways

  That would the labour of the emprise decrease.

  A maid, to whom all Asia gave the praise

  Of greatest beauty, was the wizard’s niece.

  The frauds most skilful and the arts most fine

  Of witch and woman she completely knew:

  Whence her he called, imparted his design,

  Which he entreated her to carry through.

  XXIV.

  Dice: o diletta mia, che sotto biondi

  Capelli, e fra sì tenere sembianze,

  Canuto senno, e cor virile ascondi,

  188 E già nell’arti mie me stesso avanze;

  Gran pensier volgo; e se tu lui secondi,

  Seguiteran gli effetti alle speranze:

  Tessi la tela ch’io ti mostro ordita,

  192 Di cauto vecchio esecutrice ardita.

  XXIV

  “My dear, who underneath these locks of gold,

  And native brightness of thy lovely hue,

  Hidest grave thoughts, ripe wit, and wisdom old,

  More skill than I, in all mine arts untrue,

  To thee my purpose great I must unfold,

  This enterprise thy cunning must pursue,

  Weave thou to end this web which I begin,

  I will the distaff hold, come thou and spin.

  XXIV.

  ‘Darling,’ he said,’who ‘neath those locks of gold,

  And ‘neath an aspect of such gentleness,

  Conceal’st a head so wise, a heart so bold,

  And dost myself in my own art surpass,

  Great schemes I meditate. Success will crown

  Our warmest hopes, if in them thoult engage;

  Weave then the web whose textile threads I have spun.

  And dauntless execute the plans of age.

  XXV.

  Vanne al campo nemico: ivi s’impieghi

  Ogn’arte femminil, ch’amore alletti:

  Bagna di pianto, e fà melati i preghi:

  196 Tronca e confondi co’ sospiri i detti:

  Beltà dolente e miserabil pieghi

  Al tuo volere i più ostinati petti:

  Vela il soverchio ardir con la vergogna,

  200 E fà manto del vero alla menzogna.

  XXV

  “Go to the Christians’ host, and there assay

  All subtle sleights that wome
n use in love,

  Shed brinish tears, sob, sigh, entreat and pray,

  Wring thy fair hands, cast up thine eyes above,

  For mourning beauty hath much power, men say,

  The stubborn hearts with pity frail to move;

  Look pale for dread, and blush sometime for shame,

  In seeming truth thy lies will soonest frame.

  XXV.

  ‘Go to the hostile camp, and there employ

  Each art of woman that to love allures.

  Go, bathed in tears; with sweets thy prayers alloy;

  With deep-drawn sighs confound thy overtures.

  Let beauty, weeping and forlorn, not fail

  To bend unyielding age and wilful youth;

  Excessive boldness with coy blushes veil,

  And let thy falsehood wear the mask of truth.

  XXVI.

  Prendi, s’esser potrà, Goffredo all’esca

  De’ dolci sguardi, e de’ bei detti adorni;

  Sicch’all’uomo invaghito omai rincresca

  204 L’incominciata guerra, e la distorni.

  Se ciò non puoi, gli altri più grandi adesca:

  Menagli in parte, ond’alcun mai non torni.

  Poi distingue i consiglj: alfin le dice:

  208 Per la fe, per la patria il tutto lice.

  XXVI

  “Take with the bait Lord Godfrey, if thou may’st;

  Frame snares of look, strains of alluring speech;

  For if he love, the conquest then thou hast,

  Thus purposed war thou may’st with ease impeach,

  Else lead the other Lords to deserts waste,

  And hold them slaves far from their leader’s reach:”

  Thus taught he her, and for conclusion, saith,

  “All things are lawful for our lands and faith.”

  XXVI.

  ‘Take, if thou canst, Prince Godfred with the bait

  Of thy sweet glances and refined address;

  So that, enthralled by love, he terminate

  The war begun, and further strife repress.

  If that can’t be, the other chieftains lure;

  Coax them away, by thy soft ways trepann’d,

  Ne’er to return.’ Then gave details mature;

  Adding: ‘All’s lawful for our faith and land.’

  XXVII.

  La bella Armida di sua forma altera,

  E de’ doni del sesso e dell’etate,

  L’impresa prende; e in su la prima sera

  212 Parte, e tiene sol vie chiuse e celate:

  E ‘n treccia, e ‘n gonna femminile spera

  Vincer popoli invitti, e schiere armate.

  Ma son del suo partir tra ‘l volgo, ad arte,

  216 Diverse voci poi diffuse e sparte.

  XXVII

  The sweet Armida took this charge on hand,

  A tender piece, for beauty, sex and age,

  The sun was sunken underneath the land,

  When she began her wanton pilgrimage,

  In silken weeds she trusteth to withstand,

  And conquer knights in warlike equipage,

  Of their night ambling dame the Syrians prated,

  Some good, some bad, as they her loved or hated.

  XXVII.

  The fair Armida, of her beauty proud,

  And of the gifts her sex and youth imparts,

  Accepts the charge, and beneath twilights shroud,

  By the most lone and secret paths, departs;

  And, with her woman’s robe and flowing hair,

  Hopes to o’ercome an armed unconquered race;

  While of her flight a thousand rumours are

  On purpose spread and scattered through the place.

  XXVIII.

  Dopo non molti dì vien la Donzella

  Dove spiegate i Franchi avean le tende.

  All’apparir della beltà novella

  220 Nasce un bisbiglio, e ‘l guardo ognun v’intende;

  Siccome là, dove cometa o stella,

  Non più vista di giorno, in ciel risplende:

  E traggon tutti per veder chi sia

  224 Sì bella peregrina, e chi l’invia.

  XXVIII

  Within few days the nymph arrived there

  Where puissant Godfrey had his tents ypight;

  Upon her strange attire, and visage clear,

  Gazed each soldier, gazed every knight:

  As when a comet doth in skies appear,

  The people stand amazed at the light;

  So wondered they and each at other sought,

  What mister wight she was, and whence ybrought.

  XXVIII.

  Few days elapsed ere reached the damsel where

  Stood ranged in order the Crusaders’ tents.

  At the appearance of such beauty rare

  A buzz arose; all gazed in rapt suspense,

  As if in heaven, in the broad light of day,

  Resplendent shone a comet or a star;

  And round her flocked the Christians to survey

  And learn the errand of the pilgrim fair.

  XXIX.

  Argo non mai, non vide Cipro o Delo,

  D’abito o di beltà forme sì care.

  D’auro ha la chioma; ed or dal bianco velo

  228 Traluce involta, or discoperta appare.

  Così qualor si rasserena il cielo,

  Or da candida nube il Sol traspare;

  Or dalla nube uscendo, i raggj intorno

  232 Più chiari spiega, e ne raddoppia il giorno.

  XXIX

  Yet never eye to Cupid’s service vowed

  Beheld a face of such a lovely pride;

  A tinsel veil her amber locks did shroud,

  That strove to cover what it could not hide,

  The golden sun behind a silver cloud,

  So streameth out his beams on every side,

  The marble goddess, set at Cnidos, naked

  She seemed, were she unclothed, or that awaked.

  XXIX.

  Not Argos, Delos, nor did Cyprus e’er

  Such model see of beauty or of mien;

  Wimpled in snowy gauze, her golden hair

  Now flashes through, now all exposed is seen:

  So when the skies clear up, erst veiled in haze,

  Through fleecy clouds the sun transparent shines,

  Now bursting forth, still brighter beams displays,

  And in redoubled light the day enshrines.

  XXX.

  Fa nove crespe l’aura al crin disciolto,

  Che natura per se rincrespa in onde:

  Stassi l’avaro sguardo in se raccolto,

  236 E i tesori d’amore, e i suoi nasconde.

  Dolce color di rose in quel bel volto

  Fra l’avorio si sparge e si confonde:

  Ma nella bocca, ond’esce aura amorosa,

  240 Sola rosseggia, e semplice la rosa.

  XXX

  The gamesome wind among her tresses plays,

  And curleth up those growing riches short;

  Her spareful eye to spread his beams denays,

  But keeps his shot where Cupid keeps his fort;

  The rose and lily on her cheek assays

  To paint true fairness out in bravest sort,

  Her lips, where blooms naught but the single rose,

  Still blush, for still they kiss while still they close.

  XXX.

  Through her loose tresses, waved by Nature, steals

  (Crisping fresh curls therein) the sportive air;

  Her glance, concentred in itself, conceals

  Love’s treasure and its own with miser care.

  In her fair cheek the damask of the rose

  With ivory’s white diffuses and combines;

  But her sweet lips — whence air, love-breathing, blows —

  The simple rose unmixed encamadines.

  XXXI.

  Mostra il bel petto le sue nevi ignude,

  Onde il foco d’amor si nutre e desta: />
  Parte appar delle mamme acerbe e crude,

  244 Parte altrui ne ricopre invida vesta:

  Invida, ma s’agli occhj il varco chiude,

  L’amoroso pensier già non arresta;

  Chè non ben pago di bellezza esterna,

  248 Negli occulti secreti anco s’interna.

  XXXI

  Her breasts, two hills o’erspread with purest snow,

  Sweet, smooth and supple, soft and gently swelling,

  Between them lies a milken dale below,

  Where love, youth, gladness, whiteness make their dwelling,

  Her breasts half hid, and half were laid to show,

  So was the wanton clad, as if this much

  Should please the eye, the rest unseen, the touch.

  XXXI.

  Her beauteous bosom flaunts its naked snows,

  Whence is awaked and fed Love’s ardent fire;

  Her breasts in part their budding charms disclose,

  In part are hidden by her envious tire.

  Envious! But if to sight it bars approach,

  It cannot check the amorous thoughts, which, not

  Content with mere external form, encroach

  And penetrate to the most secret spot.

  XXXII.

  Come per acqua, o per cristallo intero

  Trapassa il raggio, e nol divide o parte;

  Per entro il chiuso manto osa il pensiero

  252 Sì penetrar nella vietata parte:

  Ivi si spazia, ivi contempla il vero

  Di tante maraviglie a parte a parte:

  Poscia al desio le narra e le descrive,

  256 E ne fa le sue fiamme in lui più vive.

  XXXII

  As when the sunbeams dive through Tagus’ wave,

  To spy the store-house of his springtime gold,

  Love-piercing thought so through her mantle drave,

  And in her gentle bosom wandered bold;

  It viewed the wondrous beauty virgins have,

  And all to fond desire with vantage told,

  Alas! what hope is left, to quench his fire

  That kindled is by sight, blown by desire.

  XXXII.

  And as through water or clear glass a ray

  Passes entire, nor parts it nor divides,

  So through the barrier robe thought makes its way,

  And to forbidden places boldly glides.

  There spatiates freely, there the truth surveys

  Of each rare marvel separately; and thence

  The lovely picture to desire displays,