Però combatter teco, e riprovarmi;
Benchè non qual guerrier, ma quì venuto
20 Quasi inventor di machine tu parmi.
Fatti scudo de’ tuoi: trova in ajuto
Novi ordigni di guerra, e insolite armi;
Chè non potrai dalle mie mani, o forte
24 Delle donne uccisor, fuggir la morte.
III
“Too late thou com’st, and not alone to war,
But yet the fight I neither shun nor fear,
Although from knighthood true thou errest far,
Since like an engineer thou dost appear,
That tower, that troop, thy shield and safety are,
Strange kind of arms in single fight to bear;
Yet shalt thou not escape, O conqueror strong
Of ladies fair, sharp death, to avenge that wrong.”
III
‘Late thou return’st, and not alone, still I
Grudge not another trial of thy might,
Altho’ thou seemest, in a soldier’s eye,
More like inventor of machines than knight,’
But bring strange arms and engines to this spot,
Go make a shield of thy mechanic bands;
Ev’n then, bold slayer of women, thou shalt not
Again escape destruction at my hands.’
IV.
Sorrise il buon Tancredi un cotal riso
Di sdegno, e in detti alteri ebbe risposto:
Tardo è il ritorno mio; ma pur avviso
28 Che frettoloso e’ ti parrà ben tosto:
E bramerai che te da me diviso
O l’alpe avesse, o fosse il mar frapposto;
E che del mio indugiar non fu cagione
32 Tema o viltà, vedrai col paragone.
IV
Lord Tancred smiled, with disdain and scorn,
And answerd thus, “To end our strife,” quoth he,
“Behold at last I come, and my return,
Though late, perchance will be too soon for thee;
For thou shalt wish, of hope and help forlorn,
Some sea or mountain placed twixt thee and me,
And well shalt know before we end this fray
No fear of cowardice hath caused my stay.
IV
Tancredi smiled with most profound disdain,
And in these haughty terms replied: ‘Tho’ be
Late my return, yet well assured remain
That soon enough it will appear to thee;
Nay, thou wilt wish that ‘twixt thyself and me
Vast oceans rolled, or Alps rose up, since here,
By bitter proof, bold braggart, thou shalt see
If I was stopped by cowardice or fear.
V.
Vienne in disparte pur, tu che omicida
Sei de’ giganti solo e degli eroi:
L’uccisor delle femmine ti sfida.
36 Così gli dice: indi si volge ai suoi,
E fa ritrargli dall’offesa, e grida:
Cessate pur di molestarlo or voi:
Ch’è proprio mio più che comun nemico
40 Questi, ed a lui mi stringe obbligo antico.
V
“But come aside, thou by whose prowess dies
The monsters, knights and giants in all lands,
The killer of weak women thee defies.”
This said, he turned to his fighting bands,
And bids them all retire. “Forbear,” he cries,
“To strike this knight, on him let none lay hands;
For mine he is, more than a common foe,
By challenge new and promise old also.”
V
‘Stand forth, then, thou that deignest to chastise
Giants, and doughty demigods alone:
Thee to thy teeth the woman-slayer defies.’
Thus him addressed; then, turning to his own,
Bade them retire, and their revenge forego,
Nor hurt Arganté, or in life or limb:
‘For he is less public than my private foe:
Old reckonings bind me closely unto him.’
VI.
Or discendine giù solo, o seguíto
Come più vuoi (ripiglia il fier Circasso)
Và in frequentato loco, od in romíto,
44 Chè per dubbio, o svantaggio io non ti lasso.
Sì fatto ed accettato il fero invito,
Muovon concordi alla gran lite il passo.
L’odio in un gli accompagna, e fa il rancore
48 L’un nemico dell’altro or difensore.
VI
“Descend,” the fierce Circassian gan reply,
“Alone, or all this troop for succor take
To deserts waste, or place frequented high,
For vantage none I will the fight forsake:”
Thus given and taken was the bold defy,
And through the press, agreed so, they brake,
Their hatred made them one, and as they went,
Each knight his foe did for despite defend:
VI
‘Ev’n as thou wilt, escorted or alone,
Come down,’ the savage Saracen replied:
‘Select the ground most crowded or most lone;
Whate’er the odds, I do not quit thy side.
Received the challenge, in such terms conveyed,
They went concordant to the mortal strife,
Accompanied by rancorous Hate, who made
One foe the champion of the other’s life.
VII.
Grande è il zelo d’onor, grande il desire
Che Tancredi del sangue ha del Pagano;
Nè la sete ammorzar crede dell’ire,
52 Se n’esce stilla fuor per altrui mano.
E con lo scudo il copre, e: non ferire,
Grida a quanti rincontra anco lontano:
Sì che salvo il nemico infra gli amici
56 Tragge dall’arme irate e vincitrici.
VII
Great was his thirst of praise, great the desire
That Tancred had the Pagan’s blood to spill,
Nor could that quench his wrath or calm his ire
If other hand his foe should foil or kill.
He saved him with his shield, and cried “Retire!”
To all he met, “and do this knight none ill:”
And thus defending gainst his friends his foe,
Through thousand angry weapons safe they go.
VII
Great was the zeal for fame, great the desire
For the Turk’s blood that Tancred’s bosom filled,
Who deemed he could not slake his thirst for ire,
If by another’s hand one drop were spilled.
Him with his shield he covered, shouting: ‘No —
Strike not!’ to those far off. Thus safe from harms,
At length he rescued his most mortal foe
From his friends’ angered and victorious arms.
VIII.
Escon della Cittade, e dan le spalle
Ai padiglion delle accampate genti:
E se ne van dove un girevol calle
60 Gli porta per secreti avvolgimenti:
E ritrovano ombrosa angusta valle
Tra più colli giacer; non altrimenti
Che se fosse un teatro: o fosse ad uso
64 Di battaglie, e di cacce intorno chiuso.
VII
They left the city, and they left behind
Godfredo’s camp, and far beyond it passed,
And came where into creeks and bosoms blind
A winding hill his corners turned and cast,
A valley small and shady dale they find
Amid the mountains steep so laid and placed
As if some theatre or closed place
Had been for men to fight or beasts to chase.
VIII
They left, their shoulders turning on the town,
And on the Christian camp, descending where
A zigzag
pathway led them gently down,
By many a secret turn and winding; there
They found a narrow and umbrageous glade,
Buried among the hills, as though it were
A spacious theatre, on purpose made
For bull-baiting or mimic scenes of war.
IX.
Quì si fermano entrambi: e pur sospeso
Volgeasi Argante alla Cittade afflitta.
Vede Tancredi che ‘l Pagan difeso
68 Non è di scudo, e ‘l suo lontano ei gitta.
Poscia lui dice: or qual pensier t’ha preso?
Pensi ch’è giunta l’ora a te prescritta?
S’antivedendo ciò timido stai,
72 È il tuo timore intempestivo omai.
IX
There stayed the champions both with rueful eyes,
Argantes gan the fortress won to view;
Tancred his foe withouten shield espies,
And said, “Whereon doth thy sad heart devise?
Think’st thou this hour must end thy life untrue?
If this thou fear, and dost foresee thy fate,
Thy fear is vain, thy foresight comes too late.”
IX
Here they both halted, and in sad suspense
Arganté turned towards the afflicted town;
But seeing the Turk without his shield’s defence,
Tancredi nobly flung away his own.
Then said: ‘What thoughts oppress thee? dost thou think
The hour is come prescribed for thee by Fate?
If that foreseeing, thou, dismayed, dost shrink,
Thy fears are now ill-seasoned and too late.’
X.
Penso, risponde, alla Città del regno
Di Giudea antichissima Regina,
Che vinta or cade; e indarno esser sostegno
76 Io procurai della fatal ruina.
E ch’è poca vendetta al mio disdegno
Il capo tuo, che ‘l Cielo or mi destina.
Tacque, e incontra si van con gran risguardo:
80 Chè ben conosce l’un l’altro gagliardo.
X
“I think,” quoth he, “on this distressed town,
The aged Queen of Judah’s ancient land,
Now lost, now sacked, spoiled and trodden down,
Whose fall in vain I strived to withstand,
A small revenge for Sion’s fort o’erthrown,
That head can be, cut off by my strong hand.”
This said, together with great heed they flew,
For each his foe for bold and hardy knew.
X
‘I think on yonder city,’ he replied,
‘Judaea’s glorious and time-honoured Queen,
Which, conquered, falls; while vainly I have tried
Her fate-appointed downfall to sustain.
Ev’n thy proud head, which Heaven now destines me,
To my despite is small atonement due.’
He ceased: the knights advanced most cautiously,
Since each his adversary’s prowess knew.
XI.
È di corpo Tancredi agile e sciolto,
E di man velocissimo, e di piede.
Sovrasta a lui con l’alto capo, e molto
84 Di grossezza di membra Argante eccede.
Girar Tancredi inchino, e in se raccolto
Per avventarsi, e sottentrar si vede:
E con la spada sua la spada trova
88 Nemica, e in disviarla usa ogni prova.
XI
Tancred of body active was and light,
Quick, nimble, ready both of hand and foot;
But higher by the head, the Pagan knight
Of limbs far greater was, of heart as stout:
Tancred laid low and traversed in his fight,
Now to his ward retired, now struck out,
Oft with his sword his foe’s fierce blows he broke,
And rather chose to ward-than bear his stroke.
XI
In frame Tancredi is most lithe and light,
Quick with his hands and most swift-footed; him
The brawny Pagan far exceeds in height,
In magnitude and massiveness of limb.
Collected, crouching, Tancred traversed round,
As if to get beneath his guard he tried,
And with his own his foeman’s falchion found,
Which he strained every means to turn aside.
XII.
Ma disteso ed eretto il fero Argante
Dimostra arte simíle, atto diverso.
Quanto egli può va col gran braccio innante:
92 E cerca il ferro no, ma il corpo avverso;
Quel tenta aditi novi in ogni instante:
Questi gli ha il ferro al volto ogn’or converso.
Minaccia, e intento a proibirgli stassi
96 Furtive entrate, e subiti trapassi.
XII
But bold and bolt upright Argantes fought,
Unlike in gesture, like in skill and art,
His sword outstretched before him far he brought,
Nor would his weapon touch, but pierce his heart,
To catch his point Prince Tancred strove and sought,
But at his breast or helm’s unclosed part
He threatened death, and would with stretched-out brand
His entrance close, and fierce assaults withstand.
XII
But bolt upright the fierce Circassian stood,
And with like skill, but unlike manner, fought;
With arm stretched out far as at least he could,
Tancredi’s body, not his sword, he sought,
Who every moment new approaches tried;
But he, with sword directed toward his face,
Kept him at bay, and, menacing, denied
Each furtive entrance and each sudden pass.
XIII.
Così pugna naval, quando non spira
Per lo piano del mare Africo o Noto,
Fra due legni ineguali egual si mira;
100 Ch’un d’altezza preval, l’altro di moto.
L’un con volte e rivolte assale e gira
Da prora a poppa: e si sta l’altro immoto;
E quando il più leggier se gli avvicina,
104 D’alta parte minaccia alta ruina.
XIII
With a tall ship so doth a galley fight,
When the still winds stir not the unstable main;
Where this in nimbleness as that in might
Excels; that stands, this goes and comes again,
And shifts from prow to poop with turnings light;
Meanwhile the other doth unmoved remain,
And on her nimble foe approaching nigh,
Her weighty engines tumbleth down from high.
XIII
Thus when no zephyr curls the glassy sea,
The tempest o’er, two ships are seen to fight,
Altho’ unequal, with equality,
Since what this gains from speed, that has in height;
This to the charge returns a thousand times, and veers
From stem to stem; unmoved, the other bides,
And when the dwarf its giant rival nears,
Hurls down destruction from its lofty sides.
XIV.
Mentre il Latin di sottentrar ritenta,
Sviando il ferro che si vede opporre,
Vibra Argante la spada, e gli appresenta
108 La punta agli occhj: egli al riparo accorre;
Ma lei sì presta allor, sì violenta
Cala il Pagan, che ‘l difensor precorre,
E ‘l fere al fianco; e visto il fianco infermo
112 Grida: lo schermitor vinto è di schermo.
XIV
The Christian sought to enter on his foe,
Voiding his point, which at his breast was bent;
Argantes at his face a thrust did throw,
Which while the Prince awards and doth prevent,
His ready ha
nd the Pagan turned so,
That all defence his quickness far o’erwent,
And pierced his side, which done, he said and smiled,
“The craftsman is in his own craft beguiled.”
XIV
While to rush in again the Latin tries,
And beat the blade that gleams before him back,
Arganté thrusts his sword, and ‘gainst his eyes
Directs its point; he parries the attack:
But with such violence the Pagan aimed,
That ere the Christian champion had recoiled,
He struck his side, and shouted, seeing him maimed,
‘At his own game behold the fencer’s foiled.’
XV.
Fra lo sdegno Tancredi e la vergogna
Si rode, e lascia i soliti riguardi:
E in cotal guisa la vendetta agogna,
116 Che sua perdita stima il vincer tardi.
Sol risponde col ferro alla rampogna,
E ‘l drizza all’elmo, ove apre il passo ai guardi.
Ribatte Argante il colpo, e risoluto
120 Tancredi a mezza spada è già venuto.
XV
Tancredi bit his lip for scorn and shame,
Nor longer stood on points of fence and skill,
But to revenge so fierce and fast he came
As if his hand could not o’ertake his will,
And at his visor aiming just, gan frame
To his proud boast an answer sharp, but still
Argantes broke the thrust; and at half-sword,
Swift, hardy, bold, in stepped the Christian lord.
XV
Twixt shame and rage Tancredi was consumed,
And cast aside all caution; with such heat
For quick revenge his fiery spirit fumed,
That tardy triumph he had deemed defeat.
His sword alone replied to that rebuke,
Where the barred ventayle light admits: his aim
Arganté parried; when, with resolute look,
‘Gainst him Tancredi at half sword’s length came.
XVI.
Passa veloce allor col piè sinestro,
E con la manca al dritto braccio il prende;
E con la destra intanto il lato destro
124 Di punte mortalissime gli offende.
Questa, diceva, al vincitor maestro
Il vinto schermidor risposta rende.
Freme il Circasso, e si contorce, e scuote,
128 Ma il braccio prigionier ritrar non puote.
XVI
With his left foot fast forward gan he stride,
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