Jerusalem Delivered

by Torquato Tasso

  E la cara di Cristo e fida ancella,

  68 Ch’elesse il ben della più nobil vita:

  E le vergini chiuse in casta cella,

  Che Dio con alte nozze a se marita:

  E quelle altre magnanime ai tormenti,

  72 Sprezzatrici de’ Regi, e delle genti.

  IX

  And them also whose books and writings tell

  What certain path to heavenly bliss us leads;

  And hermits good, and ancresses that dwell

  Mewed up in walls, and mumble on their beads,

  And virgin nuns in close and private cell,

  Where, but shrift fathers, never mankind treads:

  On these they called, and on all the rout

  Of angels, martyrs, and of saints devout.

  IX

  Those, too, whose pious pens or precepts true

  Pointed Heaven’s path to all that from it erred;

  And her, Christ’s dear and faithful handmaid, who

  The noblest life’s felicity preferred;

  And virgins chaste in convent cell immured,

  Whom to Himself in wedlock God unites;

  And those who firmly tortures had endured,

  Despising crowns and the vain world’s delights.

  X.

  Così cantando, il popolo devoto

  Con larghi giri si dispiega e stende:

  E drizza all’Oliveto il lento moto,

  76 Monte che dalle olive il nome prende:

  Monte per sacra fama al mondo noto,

  Ch’oriental contra le mura ascende:

  E sol da quelle il parte e ne ‘l discosta

  80 La cupa Giosafà che in mezzo è posta.

  X

  Singing and saying thus, the camp devout

  Spread forth her zealous squadrons broad and wide’;

  Toward mount Olivet went all this route,

  So called of olive trees the hills which hide,

  A mountain known by fame the world throughout,

  Which riseth on the city’s eastern side,

  From it divided by the valley green

  Of Josaphat, that fills the space between.

  X

  Chanting such hymns, the pious populace,

  Winding along in ample ‘rcles, came

  Direct towards Olivet with solemn pace,

  Which from the olive tree derives its name;

  A Mount from sacred story wide-world known:

  It to the eastward of the wall doth rise,

  And parting it from the imperial town

  Jehoshaphat’s precipitous valley lies.

  XI.

  Colà s’invia l’esercito canoro,

  E ne suonan le valli ime e profonde,

  E gli alti colli, e le spelonche loro,

  84 E da ben mille parti Eco risponde:

  E quasi par che boscareccio coro

  Fra quegli antri si celi, e in quelle fronde;

  Sì chiaramente replicar s’udia

  88 Or di Cristo il gran nome, or di Maria.

  XI

  Hither the armies went, and chanted shrill,

  That all the deep and hollow dales resound;

  From hollow mounts and caves in every hill,

  A thousand echoes also sung around,

  It seemed some clever, that sung with art and skill,

  Dwelt in those savage dens and shady ground,

  For oft resounds from the banks they hear,

  The name of Christ and of his mother dear.

  XI

  Thither the tuneful army bends its way.

  And with its music the deep valley fills;

  To the high peaks the sounds are borne away,

  And Echo answers from a thousand hills.

  It seemed like sylvan choir that was concealed

  Among the trees, or from the caverns came;

  Such resonant reverberations pealed

  With Jesus’ now, and now with Mary’s name.

  XII.

  D’in sulle mura ad ammirar frattanto

  Cheti si stanno, e attoniti i Pagani

  Que’ tardi avvolgimenti, e l’umil canto,

  92 E le insolite pompe, e i riti estrani.

  Poi che cessò dello spettacol santo

  La novitate, i miseri profani

  Alzar le strida; e di bestemmie e d’onte

  96 Muggì il torrente, e la gran valle, e ‘l monte.

  XII

  Upon the walls the Pagans old and young

  Stood hushed and still, amated and amazed,

  At their grave order and their humble song,

  At their strange pomp and customs new they gazed:

  But when the show they had beholden long,

  An hideous yell the wicked miscreants raised,

  That with vile blasphemies the mountain hoar,

  The woods, the waters, and the valleys roar.

  XII

  Meanwhile the walls the astonished Pagans throng,

  And watch in silent wonder from their heights

  The slow-paced windings, the submissive song,

  And the strange splendour of the outlandish rites;

  But when the pageant’s novelty had ceased,

  Derisive yells the impious miscreants poured;

  And as their taunts and blasphemies increased,

  The torrent, mount, and spacious valley roared.

  XIII.

  Ma dalla casta melodia soave

  La gente di Gesù però non tace:

  Nè si volge a que’ gridi, o cura n’have

  100 Più che di stormo avria d’augei loquace.

  Nè perchè strali avventino, ella pave

  Che giungano a turbar la santa pace

  Di sì lontano; onde a suo fin ben puote

  104 Condur le sacre incominciate note.

  XIII

  But yet with sacred notes the hosts proceed,

  Though blasphemies they hear and cursed things;

  So with Apollo’s harp Pan tunes his reed,

  So adders hiss where Philomela sings;

  Nor flying darts nor stones the Christians dreed,

  Nor arrows shot, nor quarries cast from slings;

  But with assured faith, as dreading naught,

  The holy work begun to end they brought.

  XIII

  But not for that did Jesus’ flock refrain

  From their sweet melody and touching words;

  Nor did they heed them, nor more notice deign

  Than to so many flocks of chattering birds;

  Nor feared, though by far-darted shafts pursued,

  That such could check their harmony divine,

  But hoped they would be able to conclude

  The hymns begun with such devout design.

  XIV.

  Poscia in cima del colle ornan l’altare

  Che di gran cena al sacerdote è mensa:

  E d’ambo i lati luminosa appare

  108 Sublime lampa in lucid’oro accensa.

  Quivi altre spoglie, e pur dorate e care,

  Prende Guglielmo, e pria tacito pensa:

  Indi la voce in chiaro suon dispiega,

  112 Se stesso accusa, e Dio ringrazia e prega.

  XIV

  A table set they on the mountain’s height

  To minister thereon the sacrament,

  In golden candlesticks a hallowed light

  At either end of virgin wax there brent;

  In costly vestments sacred William dight,

  With fear and trembling to the altar went,

  And prayer there and service loud begins,

  Both for his own and all the army’s sins.

  XIV

  An altar, then, on the hill-top they raised,

  Where the Lord’s Supper by the priest was spread;

  On either side refulgent cressets blazed

  Of burnished gold suspended over head.

  William put on more costly vestments here;

  But first in silent meditation stays,
/>   Then lifting up his voice in accents clear,

  With self-arraignment and thanksgiving prays.

  XV.

  Umili intorno ascoltano i primieri:

  Le viste i più lontani almen v’han fisse.

  Ma poichè celebrò gli alti misteri

  116 Del puro sacrifizio: itene, ei disse:

  E, in fronte alzando ai popoli guerrieri

  La man sacerdotal, gli benedisse.

  Allor sen ritornar le squadre píe

  120 Per le dianzi da lor calcate vie.

  XV

  Humbly they heard his words that stood him nigh,

  The rest far off upon him bent their eyes,

  But when he ended had the service high,

  “You servants of the Lord depart,” he cries:

  His hands he lifted then up to the sky,

  And blessed all those warlike companies;

  And they dismissed returned the way they came,

  Their order as before, their pomp the same.

  XV

  Those near him listened with attentive ear;

  Those far, ’twas all they could, kept fixed their eyes;

  But when he had performed the rites austere

  Of the pure Lamb’s mysterious sacrifice,

  ‘Depart,’ he said, and, raising up his hands,

  With priestly unction the Crusaders blest;

  Then to the camp returned the pious bands

  By the same path that coming they had pressed.

  XVI.

  Giunti nel vallo, e l’ordine disciolto,

  Si rivolge Goffredo a sua magione:

  E l’accompagna stuol calcato e folto

  124 Insino al limitar del padiglione.

  Quivi gli altri accomiata, indietro volto,

  Ma ritien seco i duci il pio Buglione:

  E gli raccoglie a mensa, e vuol ch’a fronte

  128 Di Tolosa gli sieda il vecchio Conte.

  XVI

  Within their camp arrived, this voyage ended,

  Toward his tent the duke himself withdrew,

  Upon their guide by heaps the bands attended,

  Till his pavilion’s stately door they view,

  There to the Lord his welfare they commended,

  And with him left the worthies of the crew,

  Whom at a costly and rich feast he placed,

  And with the highest room old Raymond graced.

  XVI

  The encampment entered and dismissed the ranks,

  Godfred at once to his pavilion went,

  Escorted by a dense array of Franks,

  Ev’n to the threshold of the imperial tent.

  Here he took leave of them, retaining none

  But the great chiefs to join his festive board;

  And in the honoured seat that faced his own,

  Placed with respect Toulouse’s aged lord.

  XVII.

  Poi che de’ cibi il natural amore

  Fu in lor ripresso, e l’importuna sete,

  Disse ai duci il gran Duce: al novo albóre

  132 Tutti all’assalto voi pronti sarete.

  Quel sia giorno di guerra e di sudore,

  Questo sia d’apparecchio e di quiete.

  Dunque ciascun vada al riposo, e poi

  136 Se medesmo prepari e i guerrier suoi.

  XVII

  Now when the hungry knights sufficed are

  With meat, with drink, with spices of the best,

  Quoth he, “When next you see the morning star,

  To assault the town be ready all and prest:

  To-morrow is a day of pains and war,

  This of repose, of quiet, peace, and rest;

  Go, take your ease this evening, and this night,

  And make you strong against to-morrow’s fight.”

  XVII

  But when their thirst and natural appetite

  For food was sated, Godfred added: ‘All

  Prepared must be, with the dawn’s earliest light,

  To carry by assault you rampired wall.

  As that will be a day of sweat and blows,

  So this to rest and preparation spare:

  Let each withdraw, then, and enjoy repose,

  And for the fight himself and troops prepare.’

  XVIII.

  Tolser’ essi congedo; e manifesto

  Quinci gli Araldi, a suon di trombe, fero

  Ch’essere all’arme apparecchiato e presto

  140 Dee con la nova luce ogni guerriero.

  Così in parte al ristoro, e in parte questo

  Giorno si diede all’opre ed al pensiero;

  Sinchè fè nova tregua alla fatica

  144 La cheta notte del riposo amica.

  XVIII

  They took their leave, and Godfrey’s heralds rode

  To intimate his will on every side,

  And published it through all the lodgings broad,

  That gainst the morn each should himself provide;

  Meanwhile they might their hearts of cares unload,

  And rest their tired limbs that eveningtide;

  Thus fared they till night their eyes did close,

  Night friend to gentle rest and sweet repose.

  XVIII

  They then took leave, and, by the trumpet’s sound,

  The heralds straight the chiefs commands convey,

  That every soldier under arms be found,

  Marshalled and ready at the dawn of day.

  Thus they that morn gave partly to repose,

  And part to preparation and deep thought,

  Until calm Night, rest’s silent friend, arose,

  And a fresh respite to their labours brought

  XIX.

  Ancor dubbia l’aurora, ed immaturo

  Nell’Oriente il parto era del giorno:

  Nè i terreni fendea l’aratro duro:

  148 Nè fea il pastore ai prati anco ritorno.

  Stava tra i rami ogni augellin sicuro,

  E in selva non s’udia latrato, o corno;

  Quando a cantar la mattutina tromba

  152 Comincia all’arme, all’arme il Ciel rimbomba.

  XIX

  With little sign as yet of springing day

  Out peeped, not well appeared the rising morn,

  The plough yet tore not up the fertile lay,

  Nor to their feed the sheep from folds return,

  The birds sate silent on the greenwood spray

  Amid the groves unheard was hound and horn,

  When trumpets shrill, true signs of hardy fights,

  Called up to arms the soldiers, called the knights:

  XIX

  Still doubtful was the dawn, the birth of day

  But faintly in the Orient was discerned;

  No iron share cleaved yet the dewsprent clay,

  Nor had the shepherds to the fields returned;

  Still on the boughs slept safe each little bird;

  Free were the woods from hound or hunter’s cry;

  When, at the morning’s bugle call, was heard

  ‘To arms!’—’ to arms!’ re-echoed through the sky.

  XX.

  All’arme all’arme subito ripiglia

  Il grido universal di cento schiere.

  Sorge il forte Goffredo, e già non piglia

  156 La gran corazza usata o lo schiniere:

  Ne veste un’altra, ed un pedon somiglia

  In arme speditissime e leggiere:

  Ed indosso avea già l’agevol pondo;

  160 Quando gli sovraggiunse il buon Raimondo.

  XX

  “Arm, arm at once!” an hundred squadrons cried,

  And with their cry to arm them all begin.

  Godfrey arose, that day he laid aside

  His hauberk strong he wonts to combat in,

  And donned a breastplate fair, of proof untried,

  Such one as footmen use, light, easy, thin.

  Scantly the warlord thus clothed had his gromes,

  When a
ged Raymond to his presence comes.

  XX

  ‘To arms!’ ‘to arms!’ Those joyous, welcome words

  Concordant thousands thunder as one man.

  Aroused, Prince Godfred rises up, nor girds

  His golden cuishes or great breastplate on,

  But now the arms of a foot soldier wore,

  Not stiff or hard, but lissome and most light;

  Their easy burden he already bore,

  When gallant Raymond joined the pious knight;

  XXI.

  Questi, veggendo armato in cotal modo

  Il Capitano, il suo pensier comprese.

  Ov’è, gli disse, il grave usbergo e sodo?

  164 Ov’è, Signor, l’altro ferrato arnese?

  Perchè sei parte inerme? Io già non lodo

  Che vada con sì debili difese.

  Or, da tai segni, in te ben argomento

  168 Che sei di gloria ad umil meta intento.

  XXI

  And furnished to us when he the man beheld,

  By his attire his secret thought he guessed,

  “Where is,” quoth he, “your sure and trusty shield?

  Your helm, your hauberk strong? where all the rest?

  Why be you half disarmed? why to the field

  Approach you in these weak defences dressed?

  I see this day you mean a course to run,

  Wherein may peril much, small praise be won.

  XXI

  And seeing the captain armed in such a mode,

  His secret purpose instantly divined.

  ‘Where is,’ he cried, ‘thy corslet’s solid load?

  Why leave thine iron armature behind,

  And thus half armed go forth? I can’t approve

  That thou shouldst with such poor defence depart;

  To me, signor, these indications prove

  That bent on humble goal of fame thou art.

  XXII.

  Deh che ricerchi tu? privata palma

  Di salitor di mura? altri le saglia:

  Ed esponga men degna ed util’alma

  172 (Rischio debito a lui) nella battaglia.

  Tu riprendi, Signor, l’usata salma:

  E di te stesso a nostro pro ti caglia.

  L’anima tua, mente del campo e vita,

  176 Cautamente, per Dio, sia custodita.

  XXII

  “Alas, do you that idle prise expect,

  To set first foot this conquered wall above?

  Of less account some knight thereto object

  Whose loss so great and harmful cannot prove;