Jerusalem Delivered

by Torquato Tasso

  Or mentre quì tai cose eran passate,

  448 Errò Vafrin tra mille schiere armate.

  LVI

  “Meanwhile the highest buildings of this town

  We may shake down with stones about their ears,

  And with our darts and spears from engines thrown,

  Command that hill Christ’s sepulchre that bears:”

  Thus comforts he their hopes and hearts cast down,

  Awakes their valors, and exiles their fears.

  But while the things hapt thus, Vafrino goes

  Unknown, amid ten thousand armed foes.

  LVI

  Meanwhile with stones we can command from here

  The lofty buildings of the town below,

  And the streets leading to the Sepulchre

  Our catapults can cut off from the foe.’

  Thus, nerve infusing in their sinking hearts,

  Their hopes he freshened and their fears allayed.

  Now while such deeds were doing in these parts,

  ‘Mid countless armèd troops Vafrino strayed.

  LVII.

  All’esercito avverso eletto in spia,

  Già declinando il Sol, partì Vafrino:

  E corse oscura e solitaria via

  452 Notturno e sconosciuto peregrino.

  Ascalona passò, che non uscia

  Dal balcon d’Oriente anco il mattino.

  Poi, quando è nel meriggio il solar lampo,

  456 A vista fu del poderoso campo.

  LVII

  The sun nigh set had brought to end the day,

  When Vafrine went the Pagan host to spy,

  He passed unknown a close and secret way;

  A traveller, false, cunning, crafty, sly,

  Past Ascalon he saw the morning gray

  Step o’er the threshold of the eastern sky,

  And ere bright Titan half his course had run,

  That camp, that mighty host to show begun.

  LVII

  Selected spy against the adverse force,

  Vafrino left by the sun’s setting rays,

  And nightly, unknown pilgrim, bent his course

  By most obscure and unfrequented ways.

  He passed by Ascalon before the sun

  Rose in the east; but when the solar lamp

  Had reached mid heaven, and to decline begun,

  Before him lay the vast Egyptian camp.

  LVIII.

  Vide tende infinite, e ventilanti

  Stendardi in cima azzurri e persi e gialli;

  E tante udì lingue discordi, e tanti

  460 Timpani e corni e barbari metalli,

  E voci di cammelli, e d’elefanti,

  Tra ‘l nitrir de’ magnanimi cavalli,

  Che fra se disse: quì l’Africa tutta

  464 Translata viene, e quì l’Asia è condutta.

  LVIII

  Tents infinite, and standards broad he spies,

  This red, that white, that blue, this purple was,

  And hears strange tongues, and stranger harmonies

  Of trumpets, clarions, and well-sounding brass:

  The elephant there brays, the camel cries.

  The horses neigh as to and fro they pass:

  Which seen and heard, he said within his thought,

  Hither all Asia is, all Afric, brought.

  LVIII

  Tents infinite, and, streaming in the breeze,

  Blue, purple, yellow standards he surveyed,

  While such a Babel of harsh languages,

  Horns, timbals, cymbals, barbarous discord brayed;

  Such cries of camels and of elephants

  Were blent with neighs of the magnanimous horse,

  That he exclaimed: ‘All Afric’s habitants

  Are here transported, and all Asia’s force!’

  LIX.

  Mira egli alquanto pria come sia forte

  Del campo il sito, e qual vallo il circonde.

  Poscia non tenta vie furtive e torte:

  468 Nè dal frequente popolo s’asconde;

  Ma, per dritto sentier, tra regie porte

  Trapassa, ed or dimanda ed or risponde.

  A dimande a risposte astute e pronte

  472 Accoppia baldanzosa audace fronte.

  LIX

  He viewed the camp awhile, her site and seat,

  What ditch, what trench it had, what rampire strong,

  Nor close, nor secret ways to work his feat

  He longer sought, nor hid him from the throng;

  But entered through the gates, broad, royal, great,

  And oft he asked, and answered oft among,

  In questions wise, in answers short and sly;

  Bold was his look, eyes quick, front lifted high:

  LIX

  He first examined was the camp’s site strong,

  And if by trench or outworks fortified;

  Then went not furtive sinuous paths along,

  Nor from the passing people sought to hide,

  But thro’ the imperial portals boldly sped,

  Asking and answering all, nor caused surmise;

  Such forward brazen front accompanied

  His crafty questions and adroit replies.

  LX.

  Di qua di là sollecito s’aggira

  Per le vie, per le piazze, e per le tende.

  I guerrier, i destrier, l’arme rimira;

  476 L’arti, e gli ordini osserva, e i nomi apprende.

  Nè di ciò pago, a maggior cose aspira:

  Spia gli occulti disegni, e parte intende.

  Tanto s’avvolge, e così destro e piano,

  480 Ch’adito s’apre al padiglion soprano.

  LX

  On every side he pried here and there,

  And marked each way, each passage and each tent:

  The knights he notes, their steeds, and arms they bear,

  Their names, their armor, and their government;

  And greater secrets hopes to learn, and hear,

  Their hidden purpose, and their close intent:

  So long he walked and wandered, till he spied

  The way to approach the great pavilions’ side:

  LX

  Here, there, inquisitive, he bent his course,

  Thro’ every street and square and tent he turned,

  Marked well the arms, the infantry, the horse,

  Their habits, names, and discipline he learned;

  Nor yet content, to greater things aspired,

  Their secrets spied, and partly heard them; nay,

  So deftly managed, that, as he desired,

  To the imperial tent he made his way.

  LXI.

  Vede, mirando quì, sdruscita tela,

  Ond’ha varco la voce, onde si scerne:

  Che là proprio risponde, ove son de la

  484 Stanza regal le ritirate interne:

  Sicchè i secreti del signor mal cela

  Ad uom ch’ascolti dalle parti esterne.

  Vafrin vi guata, e par ch’ad altro intenda,

  488 Come sia cura sua conciar la tenda.

  LXI

  There as he looked he saw the canvas rent,

  Through which the voice found eath and open way

  From the close lodgings of the regal tent

  And inmost closet where the captain lay;

  So that if Emireno spake, forth went

  The sound to them that listen what they say,

  There Vafrine watched, and those that saw him thought

  To mend the breach that there he stood and wrought.

  LXI

  Where, looking round, he saw the canvas torn,

  Which left free passage for the voice to come;

  And as it faced it, every sound was borne

  From the recesses of the king’s own room,

  Whose secrets thus were ill-concealed from one

  Who, watchful, listened at the outside; there

  Vafrino watched, as if intent alone

  The
tent’s dissevered canvas to repair.

  LXII.

  Stavasi il Capitan la testa ignudo,

  Le membra armato, e con purpureo ammanto.

  Lunge due paggj avean l’elmo e lo scudo.

  492 Preme egli un’asta, e vi s’appoggia alquanto.

  Guardava un uom di torvo aspetto e crudo,

  Membruto, ed alto, il qual gli era da canto.

  Vafrino è attento, e di Goffredo a nome

  496 Parlar sentendo, alza gli orecchj al nome.

  LXII

  The captain great within bare-headed stood,

  His body armed and clad in purple weed,

  Two pages bore his shield and helmet good,

  He leaning on a bending lance gave heed

  To a big man whose looks were fierce and proud,

  With whom he parleyed of some haughty deed,

  Godfredo’s name as Vafrine watched he heard,

  Which made him give more heed, take more regard:

  LXII

  A purple cloak the belted captain wore,

  And stood bare-headed in the lofty tent;

  His helm and shield two youthful pages bore,

  He held a spear on which he somewhat leant.

  Gazing he was on one of giant frame

  And look most sinister, who waited near.

  Vafrino, listening, heard Prince Godfred’s name

  Pronounced, and, thunderstruck, pricked up his ear.

  LXIII.

  Parla il Duce a colui: dunque sicuro

  Sei così tu di dar morte a Goffredo?

  Risponde quegli: io sonne, e in corte giuro

  500 Non tornar mai, se vincitor non riedo.

  Preverrò ben color che meco furo

  Al congiurare: e premio altro non chiedo,

  Se non ch’io possa un bel trofeo dell’armi

  504 Drizzar nel Cairo, e sottopor tai carmi:

  LXIII

  Thus spake the chieftain to that surly sir,

  “Art thou so sure that Godfrey shall be slain?”

  “I am,” quoth he, “and swear ne’er to retire,

  Except he first be killed, to court again.

  I will prevent those that with me conspire:

  Nor other guerdon ask I for my pain

  But that I may hang up his harness brave

  At Gair, and under them these words engrave:

  LXIII

  The chief was saying, ‘Art thou certain then

  Godfred to kill?’ He answered him, ‘Signor,

  Certain I am, and to thy court again

  Swear to return not, save as conqueror;

  Those who conspire with me I will forestall,

  Nor other guerdon ask for, save it be,

  His arms to hang up on Alcairo’s wall,

  With these few lines subscribed in memory:

  LXIV.

  Queste arme in guerra al Capitan Francese,

  Distruggitor dell’Asia, Ormondo trasse,

  Quando gli trasse l’alma; e le sospese,

  508 Perchè memoria ad ogni età ne passe.

  Non fia (l’altro dicea) che ‘l Re cortese

  L’opera grande inonorata lasse.

  Ben ei darà ciò che per te si chiede;

  512 Ma congiunto l’avrai d’alta mercede.

  LXIV

  “‘These arms Ormondo took in noble fight

  From Godfrey proud, that spoiled all Asia’s lands,

  And with them took his life, and here on high,

  In memory thereof, this trophy stands.’”

  The duke replied, “Ne’er shall that deed, bold knight,

  Pass unrewarded at our sovereign’s hands,

  What thou demandest shall he gladly grant,

  Nor gold nor guerdon shalt thou wish or want.

  LXIV

  “‘From the Frank captain, Asia’s plunderer,

  These arms in battle Ormond took, when he

  His life-blood took, and has suspended here,

  That such remembrance should immortal be.”’

  ‘Ne’er will our gracious liege a deed so grand

  Unhonoured leave,’ the chief supreme replied:

  ‘He not alone will grant thy just demand,

  But give thee ample recompense beside.

  LXV.

  Or apparecchia pur l’armi mentite:

  Chè ‘l giorno omai della battaglia è presso.

  Son, rispose, già preste; e quì finite

  516 Queste parole, e ‘l Duce tacque, ed esso.

  Restò Vafrino, alle gran cose udite,

  Sospeso e dubbio, e rivolgea in se stesso

  Qual’arti di congiura, e quali sieno

  520 Le mentite arme, e nol comprese appieno.

  LXV

  “Those counterfeited armors then prepare,

  Because the day of fight approacheth fast.”

  “They ready are,” quoth he; then both forbare

  From further talk, these speeches were the last.

  Vafrine, these great things heard, with grief and care

  Remained astound, and in his thoughts oft cast

  What treason false this was, how feigned were

  Those arms, but yet that doubt he could not clear.

  LXV

  ‘Now, then, the counterfeited arms prepare,

  For, lo! the day of battle draweth nigh.’

  ‘Ready, O prince,’ he answered him, ‘they are.’

  Thus ended parle, nor did the chief reply.

  At these broad hints of danger imminent,

  Vafrino paused in agony of doubt;

  Pondering what was the secret plot, what meant

  Counterfeit arms; and could make nothing out

  LXVI.

  Indi partissi; e quella notte intera

  Desto passò, ch’occhio serrar non volse.

  Ma, quando poi di novo ogni bandiera

  524 All’aure mattutine il campo sciolse,

  Anch’ei marciò con l’altra gente in schiera:

  Fermossi anch’egli ov’ella albergo tolse:

  E pur anco tornò di tenda in tenda

  528 Per udir cosa, onde il ver meglio intenda.

  LXVI

  From thence he parted, and broad waking lay

  All that long night, nor slumbered once nor slept:

  But when the camp by peep of springing day

  Their banner spread, and knights on horseback leapt,

  With them he marched forth in meet array,

  And where they pitched lodged, and with them kept,

  And then from tent to tent he stalked about,

  To hear and see, and learn this secret out;

  LXVI

  Whence he departed, and remained the whole

  Long night awake, nor would his eyelids close:

  But when the camp had every banderol

  Spread to the matin breezes, he arose,

  And with the other troops in consort went;

  And when they halted, halted, and again,

  Restless, impatient, roved from tent to tent,

  To glean some news that might the facts explain.

  LXVII.

  Cercando trova in sede alta e pomposa

  Fra cavalieri Armida, e fra donzelle:

  Che stassi in se romíta, e sospirosa

  532 Fra se co’ suoi pensier par che favelle.

  Su la candida man la guancia posa,

  E china a terra le amorose stelle.

  Non sa se pianga o no: ben può vederle

  536 Umidi gli occhj, e gravidi di perle.

  LXVII

  Searching about, on a rich throne he fand

  Armida set with dames and knights around,

  Sullen she sat, and sighed, it seemed she scanned

  Some weighty matters in her thoughts profounds,

  Her rosy cheek leaned on her lily hand,

  Her eyes, love’s twinkling stars, she bent to ground,

  Weep she, or no, he knows not, yet appears

  Her humid eyes even g
reat with child with tears.

  LXVII

  And found, while searching, on a pompous throne,

  Armida, girt by maids and knights; apart,

  The enchantress sat, dejected and alone,

  And seemed to commune with her own sad heart.

  On her fair hands reposed her cheek; she kept

  Fixed on the ground those amorous stars, her eyes;

  Nor could he say for certain if they wept,

  But in them teeming pearls could recognise.

  LXVIII.

  Vedele incontra il fero Adrasto assiso

  Che par ch’occhio non batta e che non spiri;

  Tanto da lei pendea: tanto in lei fiso

  540 Pasceva i suoi famelici desiri!

  Ma Tisaferno, or l’uno or l’altro in viso

  Guardando, or vien che brami, or che s’adiri:

  E segna il mobil volto or di colore

  544 Di rabbioso disdegno, ed or d’amore.

  LXVIII

  He saw before her set Adrastus grim,

  That seemed scant to live, move, or respire,

  So was he fixed on his mistress trim,

  So gazed he, and fed his fond desire;

  But Tisiphern beheld now her now him,

  And quaked sometime for love, sometime for ire,

  And in his cheeks the color went and came,

  For there wrath’s fire now burnt, now shone love’s flame.

  LXVIII

  In front of her sat fierce Adrastus, who

  Seemed not to breathe, or ev’n his eyelids move;

  As on her, motionless, he seemed to glue

  His hungry eyes, and feed his passionate love.

  But Tisapherne, as him or her he scanned,

  With anger kindled or with passion burned,

  As envy on one, and love on the other hand,

  Now pale, now red, his changing features turned.

  LXIX.

  Scorge poscia Altamor che, in cerchio accolto

  Fra le donzelle, alquanto era in disparte.

  Non lascia il desir vago a freno sciolto;

  548 Ma gira gli occhj cupidi con arte.

  Volge un guardo alla mano, uno al bel volto:

  Talora insidia più guardata parte:

  E là s’interna ove mal cauto apria,

  552 Fra due mamme, un bel vel secreta via.

  LXIX

  Then from the garland fair of virgins bright,

  Mongst whom he lay enclosed, rose Altamore,

  His hot desire he hid and kept from sight,

  His looks were ruled by Cupid’s crafty lore,