Jerusalem Delivered
Page 203
LXXVI
This jennet was by Tagus bred; for oft
The breeder of these beasts to war assigned,
When first on trees burgeon the blossoms soft
Pricked forward with the sting of fertile kind,
Against the air casts up her head aloft
And gathereth seed so from the fruitful wind
And thus conceiving of the gentle blast,
A wonder strange and rare, she foals at last.
LXXVI.
Born by the Tagus was his destrier, where
At times the mothers of the warrior drove
(When spring’s soft season instigates the mare
With natural instinct and desire of love),
Run open-mouthed against the teeming air,
Which its prolific seeds doth introduce;
And by warm breath impregned (O marvel rare!)
Conceive the greedy mothers, and produce.
LXXVII.
E ben questo Aquilin nato diresti
Di quale aura del Ciel più lieve spiri;
O se veloce sì, ch’orma non resti,
612 Stendere il corso per l’arena il miri;
O se ‘l vedi addoppiar leggieri e presti,
A destra ed a sinistra, angusti giri.
Sovra tal corridore il Conte assiso
616 Move all’assalto, e volge al Cielo il viso.
LXXVII
And had you seen the beast, you would have said
The light and subtile wind his father was;
For if his course upon the sands he made
No sign was left what way the beast did pass;
Or if he menaged were, or if he played,
He scantly bended down the tender grass:
Thus mounted rode the Earl, and as he went,
Thus prayed, to Heaven his zealous looks upbent.
LXXVII.
And of a truth this Aquiline, you’d say,
Was worthy offspring of his sire the wind,
Or if you saw him lightly bound away
Across the sand, nor leave a trace behind,
Or curvet trippingly from left to right
In mazy circles of the narrowest space.
Mounted on such a steed, the noble knight
Dashed to the assault, and heavenwards turned his face:
LXXVIII.
Signor, tu che drizzasti incontra l’empio
Golía l’arme inesperte in Terebinto:
Sicch’ei ne fu, che d’Israel fea scempio,
620 Al primo sasso d’un garzone estinto;
Tu fà ch’or giaccia (e fia pari l’esempio)
Questo fellon da me percosso, e vinto:
E debil vecchio or la superbia opprima,
624 Come debil fanciul l’oppresse in prima.
LXXVIII
“O Lord, that diddest save, keep and defend
Thy servant David from Goliath’s rage,
And broughtest that huge giant to his end,
Slain by a faithful child of tender age;
Like grace, O Lord, like mercy now extend!
Let me this vile blasphemous pride assuage,
That all the world may to thy glory know,
Old men and babes thy foes can overthrow!”
LXXVIII.
‘O God! that erst directedst arms unskilled
In Terebintus ‘gainst Goliah, so
That Judah’s scourge was by a stripling killed,
And the first pebble laid the giant low,
Grant that I make a like example too.
Thy aid to slay this felon, I implore;
May feeble age now arrogance subdue,
As feeble youth accomplished it of yore.’
LXXIX.
Così pregava il Conte: e le preghiere,
Mosse dalla speranza in Dio sicura,
S’alzar volando alle celesti spere,
628 Come va foco al Ciel per sua natura.
Le accolse il Padre eterno, e fra le schiere
Dell’esercito suo tolse alla cura
Un che ‘l difenda: e sano, e vincitore
632 Dalle man di quell’empio il tragga fuore.
LXXIX
Thus prayed the County, and his prayers dear
Strengthened with zeal, with godliness and faith,
Before the throne of that great Lord appear,
In whose sweet grace is life, death in his wrath,
Among his armies bright and legions clear,
The Lord an angel good selected hath,
To whom the charge was given to guard the knight,
And keep him safe from that fierce Pagan’s might.
LXXIX.
Thus prayed the pious count: his prayers sincere,
Moved by firm hope in Jesu, upwards rise,
Winging their flight to the celestial sphere,
As fire ascends by nature to the skies;
The Eternal Father heard, and from the band
Of His supernal hosts an angel chose
Him to protect from the impious Pagan’s hand,
And bring him safe in triumph from his foes.
LXXX.
L’Angelo, che fu già custode eletto
Dall’alta provvidenza al buon Raimondo,
Insin dal primo dì che pargoletto
636 Sen venne a farsi peregrin del mondo;
Or che di novo il Re del ciel gli ha detto
Che prenda in se della difesa il pondo,
Nell’alta rocca ascende, ove dell’oste
640 Divina tutte son l’arme riposte.
LXXX
The angel good, appointed for the guard
Of noble Raymond from his tender eild,
That kept him then, and kept him afterward,
When spear and sword he able was to wield,
Now when his great Creator’s will he heard,
That in this fight he should him chiefly shield,
Up to a tower set on a rock he flies,
Where all the heavenly arms and weapons lies:
LXXX.
The angel who, by the Divine decree,
Was chosen Raymond’s guardian, at his birth —
Aye, from the hour in which, an infant, he
Began his fatal pilgrimage on earth —
Now that heaven’s King commanded him anew
To undertake the charge of his defence,
With outspread pinions to the fortress flew
Where stored are all heaven’s warlike implements.
LXXXI.
Quì l’asta si conserva, onde il serpente
Percosso giacque, e i gran fulminei strali:
E quegli ch’invisibili alla gente
644 Portan l’orride pesti e gli altri mali:
E quì sospeso è in alto il gran tridente,
Primo terror de’ miseri mortali,
Quando egli avvien che i fondamenti scuota
648 Dell’ampia terra, e le città percuota.
LXXXI
There stands the lance wherewith great Michael slew
The aged dragon in a bloody fight,
There are the dreadful thunders forged new,
With storms and plagues that on poor sinners light;
The massy trident mayest thou pendant view
There on a golden pin hung up on height,
Wherewith sometimes he smites this solid land,
And throws down towns and towers thereon which stand.
LXXXI.
Here is preserved the lance by which, of yore,
The serpent fell; the thundering bolts are here,
And shafts, themselves invisible, that pour
Plagues, pests, and famine on this lower sphere;
Here hangs the trident whose terrific shocks
With dire affright earth’s habitants confound,
When the foundations of the world it rocks,
And levels proudest cities with the ground.
LXXXII.
Si vedea fiammeggiar fra gli altri arnesi<
br />
Scudo di lucidissimo diamante:
Grande che può coprir genti e paesi,
652 Quanti ve n’ha fra il Caucaso, e l’Atlante:
E sogliono da questo esser difesi
Principi giusti, e città caste e sante.
Questo l’Angelo prende, e vien con esso
656 Occultamente al suo Raimondo appresso.
LXXXII
Among the blessed weapons there which stands
Upon a diamond shield his looks he bended,
So great that it might cover all the lands,
Twixt Caucasus and Atlas hills extended;
With it the lord’s dear flocks and faithful bands,
The holy kings and cities are defended,
The sacred angel took this target sheen,
And by the Christian champion stood unseen.
LXXXII.
Sparkling amid the other arms is seen
A diamond shield, of size so marvellous
That it can cover all the lands between
The distant Atlas and the Caucasus;
Beneath the shelter of its aegis lie
Chaste, holy cities — princes just and good;
This the angel took, and with it secretly
Approached the spot where his Raimondo stood.
LXXXIII.
Piene intanto le mura eran già tutte
Di varia turba; e ‘l barbaro Tiranno
Manda Clorinda, e molte genti instrutte,
660 Che, ferme a mezzo il colle, oltre non vanno.
Dall’altro lato in ordine ridutte
Alcune schiere di Cristiani stanno:
E largamente a’ due campioni il campo
664 Voto riman fra l’uno e l’altro Campo.
LXXXIII
But now the walls and turrets round about,
Both young and old with many thousands fill;
The king Clorinda sent and her brave rout,
To keep the field, she stayed upon the hill:
Godfrey likewise some Christian bands sent out
Which armed, and ranked in good array stood still,
And to their champions empty let remain
Twixt either troop a large and spacious plain.
LXXXIII.
By a mixed crowd meanwhile the walls were filled;
When the fell tyrant bold Clorinda sent,
With a strong escort of his troops most skilled,
Who halted half-way down, nor farther went;
To the same end some Christian squadrons reined
Their destriers up upon the other side;
Thus a large space ‘twixt either camp remained
For the two combatants, unoccupied.
LXXXIV.
Mirava Argante, e non vedea Tancredi,
Ma d’ignoto campion sembianze nuove.
Fecesi il Conte innanzi; e, quel che chiedi,
668 È, disse a lui, per tua ventura altrove.
Non superbir però chè me quì vedi
Apparecchiato a riprovar tue prove:
Ch’io di lui posso sostener la vice,
672 O venir come terzo a me quì lice.
LXXXIV
Argantes looked for Tancredi bold,
But saw an uncouth foe at last appear,
Raymond rode on, and what he asked him, told,
Better by chance, “Tancred is now elsewhere,
Yet glory not of that, myself behold
Am come prepared, and bid thee battle here,
And in his place, or for myself to fight,
Lo, here I am, who scorn thy heathenish might.”
LXXXIV.
Arganté stared, not seeing Tancredi there,
the strange features of an unknown knight;
When the count forward strode and said: ‘Elsewhere,
Haply for you, is he you seek in fight.
Yet not exult therefore; you see one here
Prepared your proofs of valour to disprove,
And represent the absent cavalier,
Or on his own account take up your glove,’
LXXXV.
Ne sorride il superbo, e gli risponde:
Che fa dunque Tancredi, e dove stassi?
Minaccia il Ciel con l’arme, e poi s’asconde,
676 Fidando sol ne’ suoi fugaci passi.
Ma fugga pur nel centro, o in mezzo l’onde,
Chè non fia loco ove sicuro il lassi.
Menti, replica l’altro, a dir ch’uom tale
680 Fugga da te; ch’assai di te più vale.
LXXXV
The Pagan cast a scornful smile and said,
“But where is Tancred, is he still in bed?
His looks late seemed to make high heaven afraid;
But now for dread he is or dead or fled;
But whe’er earth’s centre or the deep sea made
His lurking hole, it should not save his head.”
“Thou liest,” he says, “to say so brave a knight
Is fled from thee, who thee exceeds in might.”
LXXXV.
Smiling, the braggart scornfully replied:
‘What doth Tancredi? Where is his retreat?
He threatens Heaven with arms, and yet doth hide,
For safety trusting to his nimble feet;
But let him to earths — oceans centre flee,
No spot shall screen him from my vengeance due,’
‘You lie,’ replied the count, ‘to say that he
Flees, who is worth a thousand such as you,’
LXXXVI.
Freme il Circasso irato, e dice: or prendi
Del campo tu, chè in vece sua t’accetto:
E tosto e’ si parrà come difendi
684 L’alta follia del temerario detto.
Così mossero in giostra, e i colpi orrendi
Parimente drizzaro ambi all’elmetto:
E ‘l buon Raimondo, ove mirò, scontrollo,
688 Nè dar gli fece nell’arcion pur crollo.
LXXXVI
The angry Pagan said, “I have not spilt
My labor then, if thou his place supply,
Go take the field, and let’s see how thou wilt
Maintain thy foolish words and that brave lie;”
Thus parleyed they to meet in equal tilt,
Each took his aim at other’s helm on high,
Even in the fight his foe good Raymond hit,
But shaked him not, he did so firmly sit.
LXXXVI.
At this outroared the furious Saracen:
‘Take you the field then, and his place supply,
And quickly we shall see how you maintain
The bold bravado of those words, “You lie!”’
Thus to the tilt they spurred — their blood inflamed,
Each aiming at the other’s helm; and tho’
Raimondo struck the Pagan where he aimed,
He scarcely moved him in his saddle-bow.
LXXXVII.
Dall’altra parte il fero Argante corse
(Fallo insolito a lui) l’arringo invano:
Chè ‘l difensor celeste il colpo torse
692 Dal custodito cavalier Cristiano.
Le labbra, il crudo, per furor si morse,
E ruppe l’asta, bestemmiando, al piano.
Poi tragge il ferro, e va contra Raimondo
696 Impetuoso al paragon secondo.
LXXXVII
The fierce Circassian missed of his blow,
A thing which seld befell the man before,
The angel, by unseen, his force did know,
And far awry the poignant weapon bore,
He burst his lance against the sand below,
And bit his lips for rage, and cursed and swore,
Against his foe returned he swift as wind,
Half mad in arms a second match to find.
LXXXVII.
On the other hand, Arganté was descried
Vainly (rare case with him) to use his spear,
S
ince the good angel turned the stroke aside
From the protected Christian cavalier.
His teeth with fury the foiled savage gnashed,
His spear he cursed and shivered on the plain,
Then drew his sword, and at Raimondo dashed
A second time with all his might and main,
LXXXVIII.
E ‘l possente corsiero urta per dritto,
Quasi monton ch’al cozzo il capo abbassa.
Schiva Raimondo l’urto, al lato dritto
700 Piegando il corso, e ‘l fere in fronte, e passa.
Torna di novo il cavalier d’Egitto:
Ma quegli pur di novo a destra il lassa;
E pur sull’elmo il coglie, e indarno sempre;
704 Chè l’elmo adamantine avea le tempre.
LXXXVIII
Like to a ram that butts with horned head,
So spurred he forth his horse with desperate race:
Raymond at his right hand let slide his steed,
And as he passed struck at the Pagan’s face;
He turned again, the earl was nothing dread,
Yet stept aside, and to his rage gave place,
And on his helm with all his strength gan smite,
Which was so hard his courtlax could not bite.
LXXXVIII.
And pressed his steed straightforward, in despite,
As when a ram bows down his head to butt;
But Raymond shunned his charge, and to the right
Wheeled, and delivered on his front a cut.
The Egyptian cavalier turned round again,
To the right again the wary Christian sprung,
And caught him on his helm — but all in vain,
Upon the adamant his sabre rung.
LXXXIX.
Ma il feroce Pagan, che seco vuole
Più stretta zuffa, a lui s’avventa e serra.
L’altro, ch’al peso di sì vasta mole
708 Teme d’andar col suo destriero a terra,
Quì cede, ed indi assale; e par che vole,
Intorniando con girevol guerra;
E i lievi imperj il rapido cavallo
712 Segue del freno, e non pone orma in fallo.
LXXXIX
The Saracen employed his art and force
To grip his foe within his mighty arms,
But he avoided nimbly with his horse,
He was no prentice in those fierce alarms,
About him made he many a winding course,
No strength, nor sleight the subtle warrior harms,
His nimble steed obeyed his ready hand,