Jerusalem Delivered
Page 269
Who durst sustain, in years though scant a man,
Of the proud Goths an hundred squadrons trim:
Then he that gainst the Sclaves much honor wan,
Ernesto, threatening stood with visage grim;
Before him Aldoard, the Lombard stout
Who from Monselce boldly erst shut out.
LXXIII
I speak of Boniface; whose little son,
Valerian, in his father’s footsteps trod;
Nor had a hundred squadrons of the Hun,
So stout his heart and hand, his charge withstood.
Ernesto near, with features stem and hard,
The wild Sclavonians gallantly repelled;
Before him stands intrepid Aldoard,
Who ‘gainst the Lombard king Monselce held.
LXXIV.
Enrico v’era, e Berengario: e dove
Spiega il gran Carlo la sua augusta insegna,
Par ch’egli il primo feritor si trove
588 Ministro o capitan d’impresa degna.
Poi segue Lodovico: e quegli il move
Contra il nipote che in Italia regna:
Ecco in battaglia il vince, e ‘l fa prigione.
592 Eravi poi co’ cinque figlj Ottone.
LXXIV
There Henry was and Berengare the bold
That served great Charles in his conquest high,
Who in each battle give the onset would,
A hardy soldier and a captain sly;
After, Prince Lewis did he well uphold
Against his nephew, King of Italy,
He won the field and took that king on live:
Next him stood Otho with his children five.
LXXIV
Henry is here, and Berenger; and where
The royal standard of great Carlo flies,
It seems he is found to strike first blow, and dare,
As chief or soldier, the most dread emprise;
Then under Lewis serves, who bade him war
Against his nephew, the Italian king;
Whom he defeated, and made prisoner.
Here Otho is, round whom five children cling.
LXXV.
V’era Almerico: e si vedea già fatto
Della Città, donna del Po, Marchese.
Devotamente il Ciel riguarda, in atto
596 Di contemplante, il fondator di chiese.
D’incontro Azzo secondo avean ritratto
Far contra Berengario aspre contese:
Che dopo un corso di fortuna alterno
600 Vinceva, e dell’Italia avea il governo.
LXXV
Of Almeric the image next they view,
Lord Marquis of Ferrara first create,
Founder of many churches, that upthrew
His eyes, like one that used to contemplate;
Gainst him the second Azzo stood in rew,
With Berengarius that did long debate,
Till after often change of fortune stroke,
He won, and on all Italy laid the yoke.
LXXV
Then Almeric comes; already Marquis he
Of the fair city that commands the Po;
Founder of churches, in deep reverie
He stands contemplating the heavens. But, lo!
Azzo the second is in contrast viewed,
Waging ‘gainst Berenger embittered war;
Whom, after varying fortunes, he subdued,
And so became Italia’s emperor.
LXXVI.
Vedi Alberto il figliuolo ir fra’ Germani,
E colà far le sue virtù sì note,
Che, vinti in giostra e vinti in guerra i Dani,
604 Genero il compra Otton con larga dote.
Vedigli a tergo Ugon, quel ch’ai Romani
Fiaccar le corna impetuoso puote:
E che Marchese dell’Italia fia
608 Detto, e Toscana tutta avrà in balía.
LXXVI
Albert his son the Germans warred among,
And there his praise and fame was spread so wide,
That having foiled the Danes in battle strong,
His daughter young became great Otho’s bride.
Behind him Hugo stood with warfare long,
That broke the horn of all the Romans’ pride,
Who of all Italy the marquis hight,
And Tuscan whole possessed as his right.
LXXVI
His son Alberto then, in Germany, gains
Such wide extended fame, that as he fought
And beat in war and tournaments the Danes,
Him, for his son-in-law, great Otho bought.
Impetuous Hugo stands behind, who tamed
The horns of Roman arrogance, and who
Shall Marquis of fair Italy be named,
And all the Tuscan provinces subdue.
LXXVII.
Poscia Tedaldo, e Bonifacio accanto
A Beatrice sua poi v’era espresso.
Non si vedea virile erede a tanto
612 Retaggio, a sì gran padre esser successo.
Seguia Matilda, ed adempía ben quanto
Difetto par nel numero, e nel sesso:
Chè può la saggia e valorosa Donna
616 Sovra corone e scettri alzar la gonna.
LXXVII
After Tebaldo, puissant Boniface
And Beatrice his dear possessed the stage;
Nor was there left heir male of that great race,
To enjoy the sceptre, state and heritage;
The Princess Maud alone supplied the place,
Supplied the want in number, sex and age;
For far above each sceptre, throne and crown,
The noble dame advanced her veil and gown.
LXXVII
Tebaldo here, and Bonifacio there,
Is sculptured near his darling Beatrice.
To sire so great, to heritage so fair,
A male successor envious fate denies.
But well Matilda the defect made good
Of numbers and of sex; the simple gown
She proved how woman, wise and valorous, could
Raise far above the mail-clad monarch’s crown.
LXXVIII.
Spira spiriti maschj il nobil volto:
Mostra vigor più che viril lo sguardo.
Là sconfiggea i Normandi, e in fuga volto
620 Si dileguava il già invitto Guiscardo.
Quì rompea Enrico il quarto: ed, a lui tolto,
Offriva al tempio imperial stendardo:
Quì riponea il Pontefice soprano
624 Nel gran soglio di Pietro in Vaticano.
LXXVIII
With manlike vigor shone her noble look,
And more than manlike wrath her face o’erspread,
There the fell Normans, Guichard there forsook
The field, till then who never feared nor fled;
Henry the Fourth she beat, and from him took
His standard, and in Church it offered;
Which done, the Pope back to the Vatican
She brought, and placed in Peter’s chair again.
LXXVIII
Her noble face breathes masculine strength; her glance
Appears to flash with more than manly might:
The Normans here are routed; the advance
Of Guiscard, yet unconquered, turned to flight;
Henry the Fourth is by her arm o’erthrown,
By her the temple with his flag is graced;
And in the Vatican, on Peter’s throne,
By her the Sovereign Pontiff is replaced.
LXXIX.
Poi vedi in guisa d’uom che onori ed ami,
Ch’or l’è al fianco Azzo il quinto, or la seconda:
Ma d’Azzo il quarto in più felici rami
628 Germogliava la prole alma e feconda.
Va dove par che la Germania il chiami
Guelfo il figliuol, figliuol di Cunigonda:
E ‘l buon germe Roman con de
stro fato
632 È ne’ campi Bavarici traslato.
LXXIX
As he that honored her and held her dear,
Azzo the Fifth stood by her lovely side;
But the fourth Azzo’s offspring far and near
Spread forth, and through Germania fructified;
Sprung from the branch did Guelpho bold appear,
Guelpho his son by Cunigond his bride,
And in Bavaria’s field transplanted new
The Roman graft flourished, increased and grew.
LXXIX
Azzo the fifth her follows, or his place
Keeps at her side from reverence and love;
But the fourth Azzo’s fair and fruitful race
In wider and more prosperous branches throve.
Since Guelph, his son, by Cunigond his queen,
To what he deemed Germania’s summons yields,
And the good Roman stock is haply seen
By him transplanted to Bavarian fields.
LXXX.
Là d’un gran ramo Estense ei par ch’innesti
L’arbore di Guelfon, ch’è per se vieto.
Quel ne’ suoi Guelfi rinnovar vedresti
636 Scettri e corone d’or, più che mai lieto:
E col favor de’ bei lumi celesti
Andar poggiando, e non aver divieto.
Già confina col Ciel, già mezza ingombra
640 La gran Germania, e tutta anco l’adombra.
LXXX
A branch of Est there in the Guelfian tree
Engrafted was, which of itself was old,
Whereon you might the Guelfoes fairer see,
Renew their sceptres and their crowns of gold,
Of which Heaven’s good aspects so bended be
That high and broad it spread and flourished bold,
Till underneath his glorious branches laid
Half Germany, and all under his shade.
LXXX
Ingrafted thence, from Este’s branches grew
The Guelphic tree, already waxing old,
Whose Guelphic offshoots you may see renew,
More bright than e’er, its diadems of gold;
And by the heavenly light’s benignant grace,
No hindrance meeting with, become so tall,
That, level with the sky, it filled the space
Of half Germania, and o’ershadowed all.
LXXXI.
Ma ne’ suoi rami Italici fioriva
Bella non men la regal pianta a prova;
Bertoldo quì d’incontra a Guelfo usciva:
644 Quì Azzo il sesto i suoi prischi rinnova.
Questa è la serie degli eroi, che viva
Nel metallo spirante par si mova.
Rinaldo sveglia, in rimirando, mille
648 Spirti d’onor dalle natíe faville.
LXXXI
This regal plant from his Italian rout
Sprung up as high, and blossomed fair above,
Fornenst Lord Guelpho, Bertold issued out,
With the sixth Azzo whom all virtues love;
This was the pedigree of worthies stout,
Who seemed in that bright shield to live and move.
Rinaldo waked up and cheered his face,
To see these worthies of his house and race.
LXXXI
Nor less luxuriance seemed the royal tree
In its Italian branches to diffuse;
Bertoldo here confronting Guelph you see;
Here the sixth Azzo the old stock renews.
This ends the list of his heroic sires,
That life-like on the breathing ore are wrought;
Aroused, Rinaldo from his native fires
A thousand sparks of kindred honour caught:
LXXXII.
E d’emula virtù l’animo altero
Commosso avvampa: ed è rapito in guisa,
Che ciò che immaginando ha nel pensiero,
652 Città battuta e presa, e gente uccisa,
Pur come sia presente, e come vero
Dinanzi agli occhj suoi vedere avvisa:
E s’arma frettoloso: e con la spene
656 Già la vittoria usurpa, e la previene.
LXXXII
To do like acts his courage wished and sought,
And with that wish transported him so far
That all those deeds which filled aye his thought,
Towns won, forts taken, armies killed in war,
As if they were things done indeed and wrought,
Before his eyes he thinks they present are,
He hastily arms him, and with hope and haste,
Sure conquest met, prevented and embraced.
LXXXII
And his proud spirit, burning to renew
His sires’ renown, to such a pitch doth rise,
That, as if present, palpable, and true,
That seems to float before his ravished eyes,
Which Fancy’s coinage stamped upon the brain:
The city captured — thousands slaughtered — he
Impatient arms, and, in reliant vein,
Usurps anticipated victory.
LXXXIII.
Ma Carlo, il quale a lui del regio erede
Di Dania già narrata avea la morte,
La destinata spada allor gli diede.
660 Prendila, disse, e sia con lieta sorte:
E solo in pro della Cristiana fede
L’adopra, giusto e pio, non men che forte.
E fa del primo suo signor vendetta,
664 Che t’amò tanto: e ben a te s’aspetta.
LXXXIII
But Charles, who had told the death and fall
Of the young prince of Danes, his late dear lord,
Gave him the fatal weapon, and withal,
“Young knight,” quoth he, “take with good luck this sword,
Your just, strong, valiant hand in battle shall
Employ it long, for Christ’s true faith and word,
And of his former lord revenge the wrongs,
Who loved you so, that deed to you belongs.”
LXXXIII
Then Charles, who had of Denmark’s royal lord
Already told him the sad tragedy,
Placed in his noble hand the destined sword.
‘Take it,’ he cried, ‘and may it prosperous be;
But only use it for the Christian faith;
With it, be no less strong than just and true;
But first avenge its former master’s death,
Who loved thee so: this much from thee is due.
LXXXIV.
Rispose egli al Guerriero: ai Cieli piaccia,
Che la man che la spada ora riceve
Con lei del suo signor vendetta faccia:
668 Paghi con lei ciò che per lei si deve.
Carlo rivolto a lui, con lieta faccia,
Lunghe grazie ristrinse in sermon breve.
Ma lor s’offriva intento, ed al viaggio
672 Notturno gli affrettava il nobil Saggio.
LXXXIV
He answered, “God for his mercy’s sake,
Grant that this hand which holds this weapon good
For thy dear master may sharp vengeance take,
May cleave the Pagan’s heart, and shed his blood.”
To this but short reply did Charles make,
And thanked him much, nor more on terms they stood:
For lo, the wizard sage that was their guide
On their dark journey hastes them forth to ride.
LXXXIV
‘Ah, would to Heaven!’ replied the noble knight,
‘That this my hand, which takes his falchion, may
The murder of its former lord requite,
And with it, its indebtedness repay.’
Charles turning round to him, with look all cheered,
Into few words unmeasured thanks compressed;
Meanwhile the noble hermit interfered,
And to their midnight ma
rch the warriors pressed.
LXXXV.
Tempo è, dicea, di girne ove t’attende
Goffredo e ‘l campo; e ben giungi opportuno.
Or n’andiam pur; chè alle Cristiane tende
676 Scorger ben vi saprò per l’aer bruno.
Così dice egli; e poi sul carro ascende,
E lor v’accoglie senza indugio alcuno:
E rallentando a’ suoi destrieri il morso,
680 Gli sferza, e drizza all’Oriente il corso.
LXXXV
“High time it is,” quoth he, “for you to wend
Where Godfrey you awaits, and many a knight,
There may we well arrive ere night doth end,
And through this darkness can I guide you right.”
This said, up to his coach they all ascend,
On his swift wheels forth rolled the chariot light,
He gave his coursers fleet the rod and rein,
And galloped forth and eastward drove amain;
LXXXV
‘Time ’tis,’ he said, ‘ to go where you await
The captain and the camp in fond suspense;
Come, for I can your course facilitate
Thro’ the thick darkness to the Christian tents,’
Thus spoke, then mounts his chariot, and admits
The noble knights therein without delay;
And slacking in his coursed mouths the bits,
Lashes them on, and eastward bends his way.
LXXXVI.
Taciti se ne gían per l’aria nera;
Quando al Garzon si volge il Vecchio, e dice:
Veduto hai tu della tua stirpe altera
684 I rami, e la vetusta alta radice.
E sebben ella dell’età primiera
Stata è fertil d’eroi madre, e felice;
Non è, nè fia di partorir mai stanca;
688 Chè per vecchiezza in lei virtù non manca.
LXXXVI
While silent so through night’s dark shade they fly,
The hermit thus bespake the young man stout:
“Of thy great house, thy race, thine offspring high,
Here hast thou seen the branch, the bole, the root,
And as these worthies born to chivalry
And deeds of arms it hath tofore brought out,
So is it, so it shall be fertile still,
Nor time shall end, nor age that seed shall kill.
LXXXVI
Through the black air they fly, abstracted, mute,
When to the youth the old man turned and said:
‘Thou hast seen the branches and the ancient root