XLIII.
Ma, s’ai meriti miei questa mercede
Goffredo rende, e vuol impregionarme
Pur com’io fossi un uom del volgo, e crede
340 A carcere plebeo legato trarme;
Venga egli, o mandi, io terrò fermo il piede:
Giudici fian tra noi la sorte, e l’arme:
Fera tragedia vuol che s’appresenti,
344 Per lor diporto, alle nemiche genti?
XLIII
“If my good service reap this recompense,
To be clapt up in close and secret mew,
And as a thief be after dragged from thence,
To suffer punishment as law finds due;
Let Godfrey come or send, I will not hence
Until we know who shall this bargain rue,
That of our tragedy the late done fact
May be the first, and this the second, act.
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.
Ciò detto, l’armi chiede, e ‘l capo e ‘l busto
Di finissimo acciajo adorno rende,
E fa del grande scudo il braccio onusto,
348 E la fatale spada al fianco appende:
E in sembiante magnanimo ed augusto,
Come folgore suol, nell’armi splende.
Marte, e’ rassembra te, qualor dal quinto
352 Cielo, di ferro scendi e d’orror cinto.
XLIV
“Give me mine arms,” he cried; his squire them brings,
And clad his head, and dressed in iron strong,
About his neck his silver shield he flings,
Down by his side a cutting sword there hung;
Among this earth’s brave lords and mighty kings,
Was none so stout, so fierce, so fair, so young,
God Mars he seemed descending from his sphere,
Or one whose looks could make great Mars to fear.
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.
Tancredi intanto i feri spirti, e ‘l core
Insuperbito d’ammollir procura.
Giovine invitto, dice, al tuo valore
356 So che fia piana ogni erta impresa e dura:
So che fra l’armi sempre, e fra ‘l terrore
La tua eccelsa virtute è più sicura.
Ma non consenta Dio, ch’ella si mostri
360 Oggi sì crudelmente a’ danni nostri.
XLV
Tancredi labored with some pleasing speech
His spirits fierce and courage to appease;
“Young Prince, thy valor,” thus he gan to preach,
“Can chastise all that do thee wrong, at ease,
I know your virtue can your enemies teach,
That you can venge you when and where you please:
But God forbid this day you lift your arm
To do this camp and us your friends such harm.
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.
Dimmi, che pensi far? vorrai le mani
Del civil sangue tuo dunque bruttarte?
E con le piaghe indegne de’ Cristiani
364 Trafigger Cristo, ond’ei son membra e parte?
Di transitorio onor rispetti vani,
Che, qual onda di mar sen viene e parte,
Potranno in te più che la fede, e ‘l zelo
368 Di quella gloria, che n’eterna in Cielo?
XLVI
“Tell me what will you do? why would you stain
Your noble hands in our unguilty blood?
By wounding Christians, will you again
Pierce Christ, whose parts they are and members good?
Will you destroy us for your glory vain,
Unstayed as rolling waves in ocean flood?
Far be it from you so to prove your strength,
And let your zeal appease your rage at length.
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.
Ah non per Dio: vinci te stesso, e spoglia
Questa feroce tua mente superba.
Cedi: non fia timor, ma santa voglia,
372 Ch’a questo ceder tuo palma si serba.
E se pur degna, ond’altri esempio toglia,
È la mia giovinetta etate acerba;
Anch’io fui provocato, e pur non venni
376 Co’ fedeli in contesa, e mi contenni.
XLVII
“For God’s love stay your heat, and just displeasure,
Appease your wrath, your courage fierce assuage,
Patience, a praise; forbearance, is a treasure;
Suffrance, an angel’s is; a monster, rage;
At least you actions by example measure,
And think how I in mine unbridled age
Was wronged, yet I would not revengement take
On all this camp, for one offender’s sake.
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.
Ch’avendo io preso di Cilicia il regno,
E l’insegne spiegatevi di Cristo;
Baldovin sopraggiunse, e con indegno
380 Modo occupollo, e ne fè vile acquisto:
Chè, mostrandosi amico ad ogni segno,
Del suo avaro pensier non m’era avvisto;
Ma con l’arme però di ricovrarlo
384 Non tentai poscia, e forse i’ potea farlo.
XLVIII
“Cilicia conquered I, as all men wot,
And there the glorious cross on high I reared,
But Baldwin came, and what I nobly got
Bereft me falsely when I least him feared;
He seemed my friend, and I discovered not
His secret covetise which since appeared;
Yet strive I not to get mine own by fight,
Or civil war, although perchance I might.
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.
E se pur anco la prigion ricusi,
E i laccj schivi quasi ignobil pondo:
E seguir vuoi l’opinioni e gli usi,
388 Che per leggi d’onore approva il mondo;
Lascia quì me ch’al Capitan ti scusi;
Tu in Antiochia vanne a Boemondo:
Chè di sopporti, in questo impeto primo,
392 A’ suoi giudícj assai sicuro stimo.
XLIX
“If then you scorn to be in prison pent,
If bonds, as high disgrace, your hands refuse;
Or if your thoughts still to maintain are bent
Your liberty, as men of honor use:
To Antioch what if forthwith you went?
And leave me here your absence to excuse,
There with Prince Boemond live in ease and peace,
Until this storm of Godfrey’s anger cease.
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.
Ben tosto fia (se pur quì contra avremo
L’arme d’Egitto, od altro stuol Pagano)
Ch’assai più chiaro il tuo valore estremo
396 N’apparirà, mentre starai lontano:
E senza te parranne il campo scemo,
Quasi corpo, cui tronco è braccio o mano.
Qui Guelfo sopraggiunge, e i detti approva:
400 E vuol che senza indugio indi si mova.
L
“For soon, if forces come from Egypt land,
Or other nations that us here confine,
Godfrey will beaten be with his own wand,
And feel he wants that valor great of thine,
Our camp may seem an arm without a hand,
Amid our troops unless thy eagle shine:”
With that came Guelpho and those words approved,
And prayed him go, if him he feared or loved.
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.
Ai lor consiglj la sdegnosa mente
Dell’audace garzon si volge e piega:
Tal ch’egli di partirsi immantinente
404 Fuor di quell’oste ai fidi suoi non nega.
Molta intanto è concorsa amica gente:
E seco andarne, ognun procura e prega.
Egli tutti ringrazia, e seco prende
408 Sol due scudieri, e sul cavallo ascende.
LI
Their speeches soften much the warrior’s heart,
And make his wilful thoughts at last relent,
So that he yields, and saith he will depart,
And leave the Christian camp incontinent.
His friends, whose love did never shrink or start,
Preferred their aid, what way soe’er he went:
He thanked them all, but left them all, besides
Two bold and trusty squires, and so he rides.
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.
Parte; e porta un desio d’eterna ed alma
Gloria, ch’a nobil core è sferza e sprone:
A magnanime imprese intenta ha l’alma,
412 Ed insolite cose oprar dispone:
Gir fra’ nemici; ivi o cipresso o palma
Acquistar per la fede, ond’è campione:
Scorrer l’Egitto, e penetrar sin dove
416 Fuor d’incognito fonte il Nilo move.
LII
He rides, revolving in his noble spright
Such haughty thoughts as fill the glorious mind;
On hard adventures was his whole delight,
And now to wondrous acts his will inclined;
Alone against the Pagans would he fight,
And kill their kings from Egypt unto Inde,
From Cynthia’s hills and Nilus’ unknown spring
He would fetch praise and glorious conquest bring.
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.
Ma Guelfo, poi che ‘l giovine feroce,
Affrettato al partir, preso ha congedo;
Quivi non bada, e se ne va veloce
420 Ove egli stima ritrovar Goffredo.
Il qual, come lui vede, alza la voce;
Guelfo, dicendo, appunto or te richiedo:
E mandato ho pur ora in varie parti
424 Alcun de’ nostri araldi a ricercarti.
LIII
But Guelpho, when the prince his leave had take
And now had spurred his courser on his way,
No longer tarriance with the rest would make,
But tastes to find Godfredo, if he may:
Who seeing him approaching, forthwith spake,
“Guelpho,” quoth he, “for thee I only stay,
For thee I sent my heralds all about,
In every tent to seek and find thee out.”
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.
Poi fa ritrarre ogn’altro, e in basse note
Ricomincia con lui grave sermone:
Veracemente, o Guelfo, il tuo nipote
428 Troppo trascorre, ov’ira il cor gli sprone;
E male addursi, a mia credenza, or puote
Di questo fatto suo giusta cagione.
Ben caro avrò, che la ci rechi tale;
432 Ma Goffredo con tutti è Duce eguale.
LIV
This said, he softly drew the knight aside
Where none might hear, and then bespake him thus:
“How chanceth it thy nephew’s rage and pride,
Make
s him so far forget himself and us?
Hardly could I believe what is betide,
A murder done for cause so frivolous,
How I have loved him, thou and all can tell;
But Godfrey loved him but whilst he did well.
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.
E sarà del legitimo e del dritto
Custode in ogni caso e difensore;
Serbando sempre, al giudicare, invitto
436 Dalle tiranne passioni il core.
Or se Rinaldo a violar l’editto,
E della disciplina il sacro onore
Costretto fu, come alcun dice; ai nostri
440 Giudícj venga ad inchinarsi, e ‘l mostri.
LV
“I must provide that every one have right,
That all be heard, each cause be well discussed,
As far from partial love as free from spite,
I hear complaints, yet naught but proves I trust:
Now if Rinaldo weigh our rule too light,
And have the sacred lore of war so brust,
Take you the charge that he before us come
To clear himself and hear our upright dome.
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.
A sua ritenzion libero vegna;
Questo ch’io posso, ai merti suoi consento.
Ma s’egli sta ritroso, e se ne sdegna,
444 (Conosco quel suo indomito ardimento)
Tu di condurlo, e provveder t’ingegna
Ch’ei non isforzi uom mansueto e lento
Ad esser delle leggi, e dell’impero
448 Vendicator, quanto è ragion, severo.
LVI
“But let him come withouten bond or chain,
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