Jerusalem Delivered
Page 184
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.
E con la man, nell’ira anco maestra,
Mille colpi ver lui drizza e comparte.
Or al petto, or al capo, or alla destra
236 Tenta ferirlo, ora alla manca parte;
E impetuosa, e rapida la destra
È in guisa tal, che gli occhj inganna e l’arte:
Talch’improvvisa, e inaspettata giunge
240 Ove manco si teme; e fère e punge.
XXX
His hand, too quick to execute his wrath,
Performed all, as pleased his eye and heart,
At head and breast oft times he strucken hath,
Now at the right, now at the other part:
On every side thus did he harm and scath,
And oft beguile his sight with nimble art,
That no defence the prince of wounds acquits,
Where least he thinks, or fears, there most he hits.
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.
Nè cessò mai, finchè nel seno immersa
Gli ebbe una volta, e due la fera spada.
Cade il meschin su la ferita, e versa
244 Gli spirti, e l’alma fuor per doppia strada.
L’arme ripone ancor di sangue aspersa
Il vincitor, nè sovra lui più bada;
Ma si rivolge altrove, e insieme spoglia
248 L’animo crudo, e l’adirata voglia.
XXXI
Nor ceased be, till in Gernando’s breast
He sheathed once or twice his furious blade;
Down fell the hapless prince with death oppressed,
A double way to his weak soul was made;
His bloody sword the victor wiped and dressed,
Nor longer by the slaughtered body stayed,
But sped him thence, and soon appeased hath
His hate, his ire, his rancor and his wrath.
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.
Tratto al tumulto il pio Goffredo intanto
Vede fero spettacolo improvviso:
Steso Gernando, il crin di sangue e ‘l manto
252 Sordido e molle, e pien di morte il viso.
Ode i sospiri, e le querele, e ‘l pianto
Che molti fan sovra il guerriero ucciso.
Stupido chiede: or quì, dove men lece,
256 Chi fu ch’ardì cotanto, e tanto fece?
XXXII
Called by the tumult, Godfrey drew him near,
And there beheld a sad and rueful sight,
The signs of death upon his face appear,
With dust and blood his locks were loathly dight,
Sighs and complaints on each side might he hear,
Made for the sudden death of that great knight:
Amazed, he asked who durst and did so much;
For yet he knew not whom the fault would touch.
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.
Arnaldo, un de’ più cari al Prence estinto,
Narra, e ‘l caso in narrando aggrava molto,
Che Rinaldo l’uccise, e che fu spinto
260 Da leggiera cagion d’impeto stolto:
E che quel ferro, che per Cristo è cinto,
Ne’ campioni di Cristo avea rivolto;
E sprezzato il suo impero, e quel divieto
264 Che fè pur dianzi, e che non è secreto.
XXXIII
Arnoldo, minion of the Prince thus slain,
Augments the fault in telling it, and saith,
This Prince murdered, for a quarrel vain,
By young Rinaldo in his desperate wrath,
And with that sword that should Christ’s law maintain,
One of Christ’s champions bold he killed hath,
And this he did in such a place and hour,
As if he scorned your rule, despised your power.
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.
E che per legge è reo di morte, e deve,
Come l’editto impone, esser punito:
Sì perchè ‘l fallo in se medesmo è greve,
268 Sì perchè ‘n loco tale egli è seguito.
Chè se dell’error suo perdon riceve,
Fia ciascun altro, per l’esempio, ardito;
E che gli offesi poi quella vendetta
272 Vorranno far, ch’a i giudici s’aspetta.
XXXIV
And further adds, that he deserved death
By law, and law should inviolate,
That none offence could greater be uneath,
And yet the place the fault did aggravate:
If he escapes, that mischief would take breath,
And flourish bold in spite of rule and state;
And that Gernando’s friends would venge the wrong,
Although to justice that did first belong,
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 the injured would that vengeance take
Which was alone from the arm of Justice due;
XXXV.
Onde, per tal cagion, discordie e risse
Germoglieran fra quella parte e questa:
Rammentò i merti dell’estinto, e disse
276 Tutto ciò, ch’o pietate, o sdegno desta.
Ma s’oppose Tancredi, e contradisse,
E la causa del reo dipinse onesta.
Goffredo ascolta, e in rigida sembianza
280 Porge più di timor, che di speranza.
XXXV
And by that means, should discord, hate and strife
Raise mutinies, and what therefore ensueth:
Lastly he praised the dead, and still had rife
Against him Tancred argued for life,
With honest reasons to excuse the youth:
The Duke heard all, but with such sober cheer,
As banished hope, and still increased fear.
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.
Soggiunse allor Tancredi: or ti sovvegna,
Saggio Signor, chi sia Rinaldo, e quale:
Qual per se stesso onor gli si convegna,
284 E per la stirpe sua chiara e regale,
E per Guelfo suo zio: non dee chi regna,
Nel castigo, con tutti esser eguale.
Vario è l’istesso error ne’ gradi varj:
288 E sol l’egualità giusta è co’ pari.
XXXVI
“Great Prince,” quoth Tancred; “set before thine eyes
Rinaldo’s worth and courage what it is,
How much our hope of conquest in him lies;
Regard that princely house and race of his;
He that correcteth every fault he spies,
And judgeth all alike, doth all amiss;
For faults, you know, are greater thought or less,
As is the person’s self that doth transgress.”
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.
Risponde il Capitan: da i più sublimi
Ad ubbidire imparino i più bassi.
Mal, Tancredi, consigli, e male stimi,
292 Se vuoi che i grandi in sua licenza io lassi.
Qual fora imperio il mio, s’a’vili ed imi,
Sol Duce della plebe, io comandassi?
Scettro impotente, e vergognoso impero;
296 Se con tal legge è dato, io più nol chero.
XXXVII
Godfredo answered him; “If high and low
Of sovereign power alike should feel the stroke,
Then, Tancred, ill you counsel us, I trow;
If lords should know no law, as erst you spoke,
How vile and base our empire were you know,
If none but slaves and peasants bear the yoke;
Weak is the sceptre and the power is small
That such provisos bring annexed withal.
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.
Ma libero fu dato, e venerando:
Nè vuo’ ch’alcun d’autorità lo scemi.
E so ben io come si deggia, e quando
300 Ora diverse impor le pene e i premj,
Ora, tenor d’egualità serbando,
Non separar dagl’infimi i supremi.
Così dicea, nè rispondea colui,
304 Vinto da riverenza, ai detti sui.
XXXVIII
“But mine was freely given ere ’twas sought,
Nor that it lessened be I now consent;
Right well know I both when and where I ought
To give condign reward and punishment,
Since you are all in like subjection brought,
Both high and low obey, and be content.”
This heard, Tancredi wisely stayed his words,
Such weight the sayings have of kings and lords.
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.
Raimondo, imitator della severa
Rigida antichità, lodava i detti.
Con quest’arti, dicea, chi bene impera
308 Si rende venerabile ai soggetti;
Chè già non è la disciplina intera,
Ov’uom perdono, e non castigo aspetti.
Cade ogni regno, e ruinosa è senza
312 La base del timor ogni clemenza.
XXXIX
Old Raymond praised his speech, for old men think
They ever wisest seem when most severe,
“’Tis best,” quoth he, “to make these great ones shrink,
The people love him whom the nobles fear:
There must the rule to all disorders sink,
Where pardons more than punishments appear;
For feeble is each kingdom, frail and weak,
Unless his basis be this fear I speak.”
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.
Tal ei parlava: e le parole accolse
Tancredi, e più fra lor non si ritenne;
Ma ver Rinaldo immantinente volse
316 Un suo destrier, che parve aver le penne.
Rinaldo, poi ch’al fier nemico tolse
L’orgoglio e l’alma, al padiglion sen venne.
Quì Tancredi trovollo, e delle cose
320 Dette e risposte appien la somma espose.
XL
These words Tancredi heard and pondered well,
And by them wist how Godfrey’s thoughts were bent,
Nor list he longer with these old men dwell,
But turned his horse and to Rinaldo went,
Who, when his noble foe death-wounded fell,
Withdrew him softly to his gorgeous tent;
There Tancred found him, and at large declared
The words and speeches sharp which late you heard.
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.
Soggiunse poi: bench’io sembianza esterna
Del cor non stimi testimon verace;
Chè ‘n parte troppo cupa, e troppo interna
324 Il pensier de’ mortali occulto giace:
Pur ardisco affermar, a quel ch’io sc
erna
Nel Capitan, che in tutto anco nol tace,
Ch’egli ti voglia all’obbligo soggetto
328 De’ rei comune, e in suo poter ristretto.
XLI
And said, “Although I wot the outward show
Is not true witness of the secret thought,
For that some men so subtle are, I trow,
That what they purpose most appeareth naught;
Yet dare I say Godfredo means, I know,
Such knowledge hath his looks and speeches wrought,
You shall first prisoner be, and then be tried
As he shall deem it good and law provide.”
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.
Sorrise allor Rinaldo, e con un volto
In cui tra ‘l riso lampeggiò lo sdegno:
Difenda sua ragion ne’ ceppi involto
332 Chi servo è, disse, o d’esser servo è degno;
Libero i’ nacqui e vissi, e morrò sciolto,
Pria che man porga o piede a laccio indegno:
Usa alla spada è questa destra ed usa
336 Alle palme, e vil nodo ella ricusa.
XLII
With that a bitter smile well might you see
Rinaldo cast, with scorn and high disdain,
“Let them in fetters plead their cause,” quoth he,
“That are base peasants, born of servile stain,
I was free born, I live and will die free
Before these feet be fettered in a chain:
These hands were made to shake sharp spears and swords,
Not to be tied in gyves and twisted cords.
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.