440 Zampilletti spruzzar l’erbe di stille.
LV
The passage hard against the mountain steep
These travellers had faint and weary made,
That through those grassy plains they scantly creep;
They walked, they rested oft, they went, they stayed,
When from the rocks, that seemed for joy to weep,
Before their feet a dropping crystal played
Enticing them to drink, and on the flowers
The plenteous spring a thousand streams down pours,
LV
The cavaliers from that steep rough ascent
Felt somewhat tired, and lacked their wonted force;
Whence thro’ the enamelled paths they slowly went,
Now moving on, now halting in their course;
When, lo! a fountain, that their burning drought
Invited them to quench, before them lay;
And from one large and many a lesser spout
The grass besprinkled with its diamond spray;
LVI.
Ma tutta insieme poi tra verdi sponde,
In profondo canal, l’acqua s’aduna:
E sotto l’ombra di perpetue fronde
444 Mormorando sen va gelida e bruna;
Ma trasparente sì che non asconde
Dell’imo letto suo vaghezza alcuna;
E sovra le sue rive alta s’estolle
448 L’erbetta, e vi fa seggio fresco e molle.
LVI
All which, united in the springing grass,
Ate forth a channel through the tender green
And underneath eternal shade did pass,
With murmur shrill, cold, pure, and scantly seen;
Yet so transparent, that perceived was
The bottom rich, and sands that golden been,
And on the brims the silken grass aloft
Proffered them seats, sweet, easy, fresh and soft.
LVI
Converging, then, the different streams unite
In a deep channel, ‘twixt whose verdant sides,
Screened by perennial foliage from the light,
Gelid and brown, the brawling river glides;
But so transparent, that the bottom shows
Whate’er of beautiful within it lies:
Knee-deep the grass along its margent grows,
Which a most fresh luxurious couch supplies.
LVII.
Ecco il fonte del riso, ed ecco il rio
Che mortali periglj in se contiene.
Or quì tener a fren nostro desio,
452 Ed esser cauti molto a noi conviene.
Chiudiam l’orecchie al dolce canto e rio
Di queste del piacer false Sirene.
Così n’andar fin dove il fiume vago
456 Si spande in maggior letto, e forma un lago.
LVII
“See here the stream of laughter, see the spring,”
Quoth they, “of danger and of deadly pain,
Here fond desire must by fair governing
Be ruled, our lust bridled with wisdom’s rein,
Our ears be stopped while these Sirens sing,
Their notes enticing man to pleasure vain.”
Thus passed they forward where the stream did make
An ample pond, a large and spacious lake.
LVII
‘Behold the fount of laughter, and the brook
Whose limpid drops such mortal risks contain.
Here,’ they exclaimed, ‘we must with caution look;
Here all desire and appetite restrain;
Here close our ears against the enchanting strains
Which the fair sirens of false pleasures wake.’
Thus on they went to where the stream attains
Still greater magnitude, and forms a lake,
LVIII.
Quivi di cibi preziosa e cara
Apprestata è una mensa in su le rive:
E scherzando sen van per l’acqua chiara
460 Due donzellette garrule e lascive:
Ch’or si spruzzano il volto, or fanno a gara
Chi prima a un segno destinato arrive.
Si tuffano talora: e ‘l capo e ‘l dorso
464 Scoprono alfin dopo il celato corso.
LVIII
There on a table was all dainty food
That sea, that earth, or liquid air could give,
And in the crystal of the laughing flood
They saw two naked virgins bathe and dive,
That sometimes toying, sometimes wrestling stood,
Sometimes for speed and skill in swimming strive,
Now underneath they dived, now rose above,
And ticing baits laid forth of lust and love.
LVIII
Upon whose edge a banquet was prepared,
Of the most rich and appetising food;
And here two laughing wanton maids repaired,
To sport and frolic in the crystal flood;
Now dashing water in each other’s face,
Now striving who first wins the goal; below
At times they dive, and from their hidden race
At length their heads and dripping shoulders show.
LIX.
Mosser le natatrici ignude e belle
De’ duo’ guerrieri alquanto i duri petti;
Sicchè fermarsi a riguardarle: ed elle
468 Seguian pure i lor giochi, e i lor diletti.
Una intanto drizzossi, e le mammelle
E tutto ciò che più la vista alletti
Mostrò, dal seno insuso, aperto al Cielo:
472 E ‘l lago all’altre membra era un bel velo.
LIX
These naked wantons, tender, fair and white,
Moved so far the warriors’ stubborn hearts,
That on their shapes they gazed with delight;
The nymphs applied their sweet alluring arts,
And one of them above the waters quite,
Lift up her head, her breasts and higher parts,
And all that might weak eyes subdue and take,
Her lower beauties veiled the gentle lake.
LIX
The nude and lovely swimmers somewhat swayed
The hardened bosoms of the warrior knights;
So much so, that to gaze at them they stayed,
While they kept up their gambols and delights.
Meanwhile, one, rising up, her snowy breast,
With all that most allures the eye, revealed,
From the waist upwards, to the heavens, undressed;
Her other limbs the lake’s blue veil concealed.
LX.
Qual mattutina stella esce dall’onde
Rugiadosa e stillante: o come fuore
Spuntò nascendo già dalle feconde
476 Spume dell’Ocean la Dea d’Amore;
Tale apparve costei: tal le sue bionde
Chiome stillavan cristallino umore.
Poi girò gli occhj, e pur allor s’infinse
480 Que’ duo’ vedere, e in se tutta si strinse.
LX
As when the morning star, escaped and fled
From greedy waves, with dewy beams up flies,
Or as the Queen of Love, new born and bred
Of the Ocean’s fruitful froth, did first arise:
So vented she her golden locks forth shed
Round pearls and crystal moist therein which lies:
But when her eyes upon the knights she cast,
She start, and feigned her of their sight aghast.
LX
As from the waves peep forth the star of mom,
The dew distilling of its watery home;
Or as the Queen of Love, when newly born,
Rose from the azure sea’s prolific foam;
So she appeared — ev’n so her golden hair
Distilled the crystalline transparent lymph.
Then looking round, she feigned to see the pair,
And s
hrank into herself — the modest nymph!
LXI.
E ‘l crin, che in cima al capo avea raccolto
In un sol nodo, immantinente sciolse,
Che, lunghissimo in giù cadendo e folto,
484 D’un aureo manto i molli avorj involse.
O che vago spettacolo è lor tolto!
Ma non men vago fu chi loro il tolse.
Così dall’acque e da’ capelli ascosa
488 A lor si volse lieta e vergognosa.
LXI
And her fair locks, that in a knot were tied
High on her crown, she ‘gan at large unfold;
Which falling long and thick and spreading wide,
The ivory soft and white mantled in gold:
Thus her fair skin the dame would clothe and hide,
And that which hid it no less fair was hold;
Thus clad in waves and locks, her eyes divine,
From them ashamed did she turn and twine.
LXI
And the auburn locks that, in a single braid,
Enwreathed her forehead, instantly unrolled,
Whose long thick masses, falling down, arrayed
The tender ivory in a veil of gold.
The sight thus reft them, how surpassing fair!
Nor less the change their admiration claimed,
As, hidden by the water and her hair,
She towards them turned, half smiling, half ashamed.
LXII.
Rideva insieme, e insieme ella arrossia:
Ed era nel rossor più bello il riso,
E nel riso il rossor che le copria
492 Insino al mento il delicato viso.
Mosse la voce poi sì dolce e pia,
Che fora ciascun altro indi conquiso:
O fortunati peregrin, cui lice
496 Giungere in questa sede alma e felice!
LXII
Withal she smiled and she blushed withal,
Her blush, her smilings, smiles her blushing graced:
Over her face her amber tresses fall,
Whereunder Love himself in ambush placed:
At last she warbled forth a treble small,
And with sweet looks her sweet songs interlaced;
“Oh happy men I that have the grace,” quoth she,
“This bliss, this heaven, this paradise to see.
LXII
The siren smiled, and thro’ her dimples blushed,
And from her blushes lovelier was her smile,
And from her smiles the scarlet tints that flushed
Her delicate face were fairer, lovelier still;
Then spoke with voice so tender and so sweet,
That all the world had yielded to her speech:
‘O fortunate pilgrims! whom this calm retreat
Indulgent fortune has vouchsafed to reach.
LXIII.
Questo è il porto del mondo; e quì il ristoro
Delle sue noje, e quel piacer si sente
Che già sentì ne’ secoli dell’oro
500 L’antica e senza fren libera gente.
L’arme che sin a quì d’uopo vi foro,
Potete omai depor sicuramente,
E sacrarle in quest’ombra alla quiete:
504 Chè guerrieri quì sol d’Amor sarete.
LXIII
“This is the place wherein you may assuage
Your sorrows past, here is that joy and bliss
That flourished in the antique golden age,
Here needs no law, here none doth aught amiss:
Put off those arms and fear not Mars his rage,
Your sword, your shield, your helmet needless is;
Then consecrate them here to endless rest,
You shall love’s champions be, and soldiers blest.
LXIII
‘This is the haven of the world; here rest
From all its cares, and taste that bliss untold
Which happy mortals formerly possessed,
Uncurbed, unfettered, in the Age of Gold.
Here ye in safety may your arms depose,
Till now required, and, in this halcyon grove,
Them consecrate henceforward to repose;
Since here ye’ll be but paladins of Love.
LXIV.
E dolce campo di battaglia il letto
Fiavi, e l’erbetta morbida de’ prati.
Noi menerenvi anzi il regale aspetto
508 Di lei, che quì fa i servi suoi beati:
Che v’accorrà nel bel numero eletto
Di quei ch’alle sue gioje ha destinati.
Ma pria la polve in queste acque deporre
512 Vi piaccia, e ‘l cibo a quella mensa torre.
LXIV
“The fields for combat here are beds of down,
Or heaped lilies under shady brakes;
But come and see our queen with golden crown,
That all her servants blest and happy makes,
She will admit you gently for her own,
Numbered with those that of her joy partakes:
But first within this lake your dust and sweat
Wash off, and at that table sit and eat.”
LXIV
‘The bed henceforth will be your field of fight,
And the enamell’d greensward’s yielding breast.
Now we will lead you to the royal sight
Of her who maketh all her servants blest;
She will receive you in the lists of those
Destined to share her joys: but in this lake
Pray first the dust that covers you depose,
And from you table some refreshment take.’
LXV.
L’una disse così: l’altra concorde
L’invito accompagnò d’atti e di sguardi,
Siccome al suon delle canore corde
516 S’accompagnano i passi or presti or tardi.
Ma i cavalieri hanno indurate e sorde
L’alme a que’ vezzi perfidi e bugiardi:
E il lusinghiero aspetto e il parlar dolce
520 Di fuor s’aggira, e solo i sensi molce.
LXV
While thus she sung, her sister lured them nigh
With many a gesture kind and loving show,
To music’s sound as dames in court apply
Their cunning feet, and dance now swift now slow:
But still the knights unmoved passed by,
These vain delights for wicked charms they know,
Nor could their heavenly voice or angel’s look,
Surprise their hearts, if eye or ear they took.
LXV
Thus spake the one, the other in accord,
With becks and smiles, accompanied her; so
Musicians on the tuneful harpischord
The dance accompany, now swift, now slow.
But the two knights had souls of iron; each
Was deaf to their false wiles and treacherous art;
Their winning looks and captivating speech
Touched the frail flesh, but left untouched the heart.
LXVI.
E se di tal dolcezza entro trasfusa
Parte penétra, onde il desio germoglie;
Tosto ragion, nell’armi sue rinchiusa,
524 Sterpa e riseca le nascenti voglie.
L’una coppia riman vinta e delusa:
L’altra sen va, neppur congedo toglie.
Essi entrar nel palagio: esse nell’acque
528 Tuffarsi; a lor sì la repulsa spiacque.
LXVI
For if that sweetness once but touched their hearts,
And proffered there to kindle Cupid’s fire,
Straight armed Reason to his charge up starts,
And quencheth Lust, and killeth fond Desire;
Thus scorned were the dames, their wiles and arts
And to the palace gates the knights retire,
While in their stream the damsels dived sad,
Ashamed, disgraced, for that repulse they had.
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LXVI
Ev’n if some seeds of their bewitching charms
Entered within, where germinates desire,
Soon reason came to root out with her arms
The nascent wish, and quench the rising fire.
One pair, thus baffled, stays; one will not take
Leave of the wheedling sirens, but departs:
This to the palace goes, that in the lake
Plunges — repulse so mortified their hearts.
Canto sedicesimo
SIXTEENTH BOOK
ARGOMENTO.
Entrano i due guerrier nell’ampio tetto,
Ove in dolce prigion Rinaldo stassi:
E fan sì, ch’ei pien d’ira e di dispetto,
Move al partir di là con loro i passi.
Per ritenere il cavalier diletto,
Prega e piange la Maga; egli al fin vassi.
Essa per vendicare il suo gran duolo,
Strugge il palagio, e va per l’aria a volo.
THE ARGUMENT.
Where in sweet prison lies Rinaldo pent,
And do so much, that full of rage and spite,
With them he goes sad, shamed, discontent:
With plaints and prayers to retain her knight
Armida strives; he hears, but thence he went,
And she forlorn her palace great and fair
Destroys for grief, and flies thence through the air.
I.
Tondo è il ricco edifizio, e nel più chiuso
Grembo di lui, ch’è quasi centro al giro,
Un giardin v’ha, ch’adorno è sovra l’uso
4 Di quanti più famosi unqua fioriro.
D’intorno inosservabile e confuso
Ordin di logge i Demon fabbri ordiro:
E tra le oblique vie di quel fallace
8 Ravvolgimento impenetrabil giace.
I
The palace great is builded rich and round,
And in the centre of the inmost hold
There lies a garden sweet, on fertile ground,
Fairer than that where grew the trees of gold:
The cunning sprites had buildings reared around
With doors and entries false a thousandfold,
A labyrinth they made that fortress brave,
Like Daedal’s prison, or Porsenna’s grave.
I
ROUND is the rich and ornate edifice,
And in its central, innermost recess,
A far more fair and wondrous garden lies
Than dreams can picture or the tongue express;
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