Jerusalem Delivered
Page 236
Wherein they ought that dreadful hazard try;
She to Argantes went, who should partake
Of her renown and praise, or with her die.
Ismen with words more hasty still did make
Their virtue great, which by itself did fly,
Two balls he gave them made of hollow brass,
Wherein enclosed fire, pitch, and brimstone was.
XLII
She then consoled him; but as the hour drew nigh
To execute her vaunt, the undaunted fair
Went off and joined Arganté, her ally,
Who the grave perils wished with her to share:
Ismeno spurred their innate courage, which
Flowed of itself, and ere they sought the field,
Gave them two balls, of sulphur made and pitch,
With light in lamp of hollow brass concealed.
XLIII.
Escon notturni, e piani, e per lo colle
Uniti vanno a passo lungo e spesso;
Tanto che a quella parte ove s’estolle
340 La machina nemica omai son presso.
Lor s’infiamman gli spirti, e ‘l cor ne bolle,
Nè può tutto capir dentro se stesso.
Gl’invita al foco, al sangue un fero sdegno.
344 Grida la guardia, e lor dimanda il segno.
XLIII
And forth they went, and over dale and hill
They hasted forward with a speedy pace,
Unseen, unmarked, undescried, until
Beside the engine close themselves they place,
New courage there their swelling hearts did fill,
Rage in their breasts, fury shown in their face,
They yearned to blow the fire, and draw the sword.
The watch descried them both, and gave the word.
XLIII
Softly they steal, ‘neath cover of the night,
And down the hill with rapid footsteps go,
Then reach the spot where towers, in giant height,
The formidable turret of the foe;
Their full hearts throb with feverish desire,
Nor can contain the rage that boils within;
Fierce passions prompt to deeds of blood and fire,
When the guard challenges— ‘The countersign!’
XLIV.
Essi van cheti innanzi; onde la guarda,
All’arme all’arme in alto suon raddoppia.
Ma più non si nasconde, e non è tarda
348 Al corso allor la generosa coppia.
In quel modo che fulmine o bombarda,
Col lampeggiar, tuona in un punto e scoppia;
Muovere, ed arrivar, ferir lo stuolo,
352 Aprirlo, e penetrar, fu un punto solo.
XLIV
Silent they passed on, the watch begun
To rear a huge alarm with hideous cries,
Therewith the hardy couple forward run
To execute their valiant enterprise:
So from a cannon or a roaring gun
At once the noise, the flame, and bullet flies,
They run, they give the charge, begin the fray,
And all at once their foes break, spoil and slay.
XLIV
They still proceed in silence, whence the guard,
‘To arms! to arms!’ shouts with redoubled force;
At this, concealment the bold pair discard,
Nor tardy now is their adventurous course.
As Heaven’s artillery or mortal shells
Fire, thunder, burst, so for each daring Turk
To start, arrive, cut down the sentinels,
Ope and rush in, was but a moment’s work.
XLV.
E forza è pur che, fra mill’arme e mille
Percosse, il lor disegno alfin riesca;
Scopriro i chiusi lumi, e le faville
356 S’appreser tosto all’accensibil’ esca,
Ch’ai legni poi le avvolse, e compartille.
Chi può dir come serpa, e come cresca
Già da più lati il foco? e come folto
360 Turbi il fumo alle stelle il puro volto?
XLV
They passed first through thousand thousand blows,
And then performed their designment bold,
A fiery ball each on the engine throws,
The stuff was dry, the fire took quickly hold,
Furious upon the timber-work it grows,
How it increased cannot well be told,
How it crept up the piece, and how to skies
The burning sparks and towering smoke upflies.
XLV
Not arms of thousands, nor a thousand blows,
Could stop them from effecting their desire;
The lights concealed they hastily unclose,
And set the fierce combustibles on fire,
Then spread and wrap them round the frame of oak.
But how describe from every quarter how
Crept and increased the flames, and how the smoke,
In lurid volumes, stained Heaven’s stainless brow!
XLVI.
Vedi globi di fiamme oscure e miste,
Fra le rote del fumo, in Ciel girarsi.
Il vento soffia, e vigor fa ch’acquiste
364 L’incendio, e in un raccolga i fochi sparsi.
Fere il gran lume con terror le viste
De’ Franchi, e tutti son presti ad armarsi.
La mole immensa e sì temuta in guerra,
368 Cade; e breve ora opre sì lunghe atterra.
XLVI
A mass of solid fire burning bright
Rolled up in smouldering fumes, there bursteth out,
And there the blustering winds add strength and might
And gather close the sparsed flames about:
The Frenchmen trembled at the dreadful light,
To arms in haste and fear ran all the rout,
Down fell the piece dreaded so much in war,
Thus what long days do make one hour doth mar.
XLVI
Mixed with its turbid wreaths, to heaven aspire
Great globes of flame, in many a tortuous maze;
The rising wind, too, fans the raging fire,
Uniting all in one tremendous blaze.
Prepared, the Christians seize their arms, since all
That burst of light with sudden fear dismays;
The dreaded sides of the huge engine fall,
And one short hour destroys the work of days.
XLVII.
Due squadre de’ Cristiani intanto al loco
Dove sorge l’incendio accorron pronte.
Minaccia Argante: io spegnerò quel foco
372 Col vostro sangue, e volge lor la fronte.
Pur ristretto a Clorinda appoco appoco
Cede, e raccoglie i passi a sommo il monte.
Cresce più che torrente a lunga pioggia
376 La turba, e li rincalza, e con lor poggia.
XLVII
Two Christian bands this while came to the place
With speedy haste, where they beheld the fire,
Argantes to them cried with scornful grace,
“Your blood shall quench these flames, and quench mine ire:”
This said, the maid and he with sober pace
Drew back, and to the banks themselves retire,
Faster than brooks which falling showers increase
Their foes augment, and faster on them press.
XLVII
Meanwhile two squadrons of the Christians came
With prompt despatch to where the fire arose.
‘Your blood,’ Arganté shouts, ‘shall quench that flame,’
And turned with threatening front upon his foes.
Still inch by inch with fair Clorinda yields,
With her to gain the ridge’s top intent.
From rains streams less increase, than o’er the fields
The crowds collect, and mount with them the ascent
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XLVIII.
Aperta è l’aurea porta, e quivi tratto
È il Re, ch’armato il popol suo circonda,
Per raccorre i guerrier da sì gran fatto,
380 Quando al tornar fortuna abbian seconda.
Saltano i due sul limitare, e ratto
Diretro ad essi il Franco stuol v’inonda.
Ma l’urta e scaccia Solimano: e chiusa
384 È poi la porta, e sol Clorinda esclusa.
XLVIII
The gilden port was opened, and forth stepped
With all his soldiers bold, the Turkish king,
Ready to aid the two his force he kept,
When fortune should them home with conquest bring,
Over the bars the hardy couple leapt
And after them a band of Christians fling,
Whom Solyman drove back with courage stout,
And shut the gate, but shut Clorinda out.
XLVIII
Wide open lay the Golden Gate, and there, (2)
Girt by his armèd legions, stood the king,
From their great feat to welcome the bold pair,
If favouring fortune should them homeward bring.
Both sprang upon the threshold; on their track
Precipitously dashed the Christian rout;
But Solymano charged and drove them back:
The gate then fell, but shut Clorinda out.
XLIX.
Sola esclusa ne fu, perchè in quell’ora
Ch’altri serrò le porte, ella si mosse:
E corse, ardente e incrudelita, fuora
388 A punir Arimon che la percosse.
Punillo; e ‘l fero Argante avvisto ancora
Non s’era ch’ella sì trascorsa fosse:
Chè la pugna e la calca e l’aer denso
392 Ai cor togliea la cura, agli occhj il senso.
XLIX
Alone was she shut forth, for in that hour
Wherein they closed the port, the virgin went,
And full of heat and wrath, her strength and power
Gainst Arimon, that struck her erst, she bent,
She slew the knight, nor Argant in that stowre
Wist of her parting, or her fierce intent,
The fight, the press, the night, and darksome skies
Care from his heart had ta’en, sight from his eyes.
XLIX
Alone excluded was the warrior maid,
For as they barred the portal she had gone,
With cruel purpose and enfeloned blade,
To punish one who struck her — Arimon.
One stroke sufficed to lay the offender low,
Nor knew Arganté she had left his side,
Since the fierce fight, dense air, and surging foe,
His sight and other senses stupefied.
L.
Ma poi che intepidì la mente irata
Nel sangue del nemico, e in se rivenne,
Vide chiuse le porte, e intorniata
396 Sè da’ nemici: e morta allor si tenne.
Pur veggendo ch’alcuno in lei non guata,
Nov’arte di salvarsi le sovvenne.
Di lor gente s’infinge, e fra gl’ignoti
400 Cheta s’avvolge; e non è chi la noti.
L
But when appeased was her angry mood,
Her fury calmed, and settled was her head,
She saw the gates were shut, and how she stood
Amid her foes, she held herself for dead;
While none her marked at last she thought it good,
To save her life, some other path to tread,
She feigned her one of them, and close her drew
Amid the press that none her saw or knew:
L
But when her angered spirit she had quenched
With the Frank’s blood, and to reflect was led,
Saw the gate closed, and she herself intrenched
By hostile swords, she gave herself for dead.
Still noticing she was observed by none,
To save her life a novel thought arose;
She feigned to be a Christian, and, as one
Unnoticed, stole among her mortal foes.
LI.
Poi, come lupo tacito s’imbosca
Dopo occulto misfatto, e si desvia:
Dalla confusion, dall’aura fosca
404 Favorita e nascosa ella sen gía.
Solo Tancredi avvien che lei conosca.
Egli quivi è sorgiunto alquanto pria;
Vi giunse allor ch’essa Arimone uccise:
408 Vide, e segnolla, e dietro a lei si mise.
LI
Then as a wolf guilty of some misdeed
Flies to some grove to hide himself from view,
So favored with the night, with secret speed
Dissevered from the press the damsel flew:
Tancred alone of her escape took heed,
He on that quarter was arrived new,
When Arimon she killed he thither came,
He saw it, marked it, and pursued the dame.
LI
Then as a wolf slinks cowering to his lair,
Some dark deed done, and shuns the beaten way,
So, favoured by the darkness of the air
And wild confusion, she retired away.
Alone Tancredi the occurrence knew;
For he, arriving but a short time back,
The combat reached as Arimon she slew,
Then watched her, marked, and followed on her track.
LII.
Vuol nell’armi provarla: un uom la stima
Degno, a cui sua virtù si paragone.
Va girando colei l’alpestre cima
412 Verso altra porta, ove d’entrar dispone.
Segue egli impetuoso; onde assai prima
Che giunga, in guisa avvien che d’armi suone
Ch’ella si volge, e grida: o tu, chè porte,
416 Chè corri sì? Risponde: guerra, e morte.
LII
He deemed she was some man of mickle might,
And on her person would he worship win,
Over the hills the nymph her journey dight
Toward another port, there to get in:
With hideous noise fast after spurred the knight,
She heard and stayed, and thus her words begin,
“What haste hast thou? ride softly, take thy breath,
What bringest thou?” He answered, “War and death.”
LII
He wished to prove her strength in arms; a knight
He deemed her, worthy with himself to mate;
But she went winding round the rugged height,
To gain admission at some other gate.
But as behind the impetuous Tancred sped,
His armour rattled, whence, with angry breath,
Upon him turning, ‘Why such haste?’ she said;
‘What bring’st thou me?’ He answered, ‘War and Death.’
LIII.
Guerra e morte avrai, disse, io non rifiuto
Darlati, se la cerchi: e ferma attende.
Non vuol Tancredi, che pedon veduto
420 Ha il suo nemico, usar cavallo, e scende.
E impugna l’uno e l’altro il ferro acuto,
Ed aguzza l’orgoglio, e l’ire accende.
E vansi a ritrovar non altrimenti
424 Che due tori gelosi, e d’ira ardenti.
LIII
“And war and death,” quoth she, “here mayest thou get
If thou for battle come,” with that she stayed:
Tancred to ground his foot in haste down set,
And left his steed, on foot he saw the maid,
Their courage hot, their ire and wrath they whet,
And either champion drew a trenchant blade,
Together ran they, and together stroke,
Like two fierce bulls whom rage and love provoke.
LIII
‘War thou shalt have, and Death,’ C
lorinda cried;
‘I’ll give thee both.’ This said, the maiden halts;
And seeing his foe on foot, with knightly pride
At once Tancredi from his destrier vaults,
And having drawn his broadsword, she her brand
(Their self-love sharpened and their anger fired),
They for the dread encounter take their stand,
Like two young bulls by jealous rage inspired.
LIV.
Degne d’un chiaro Sol, degne d’un pieno
Teatro, opre sarian sì memorande.
Notte, che nel profondo oscuro seno
428 Chiudesti e nell’oblio fatto sì grande,
Piacciati ch’io ne ‘l tragga, e in bel sereno
Alle future età lo spieghi, e mande.
Viva la fama loro, e tra lor gloria
432 Splenda del fosco tuo l’alta memoria.
LIV
Worthy of royal lists and brightest day,
Worthy a golden trump and laurel crown,
The actions were and wonders of that fray
Which sable knight did in dark bosom drown:
Yet night, consent that I their acts display
And make their deeds to future ages known,
And in records of long enduring story
Enrol their praise, their fame, their worth and glory.
LIV
Worthy those deeds, instead of envious gloom,
Of crowded lists and clearest sunshine were.
O Night, that hidest in thy lightless womb
And in oblivion screenest feats so rare,
Grant that I draw them thenceforth, and consign
To future ages their full blaze of light,
That their fame live, and thro’ their glory shine
Undying memory of thy darkness — Night!
LV.
Non schivar, non parar, non ritirarsi
Voglion costor, nè quì destrezza ha parte.
Non danno i colpi or finti, or pieni, or scarsi:
436 Toglie l’ombra e ‘l furor l’uso dell’arte.
Odi le spade orribilmente urtarsi
A mezzo il ferro; il piè d’orma non parte:
Sempre è il piè fermo, e la man sempre in moto:
440 Nè scende taglio in van, nè punta a vuoto.
LV
They neither shrunk, nor vantage sought of ground,
They traverse not, nor skipped from part to part,
Their blows were neither false nor feigned found,
The night, their rage would let them use no art,