Jerusalem Delivered

by Torquato Tasso

  Ma nega il saggio offrir battaglia innante

  Ai novi albóri, e tien gli audaci a freno.

  Nè pur con pugna instabile e vagante

  28 Vuol che si tentin gli avversarj almeno.

  Ben è ragion, dicea, che dopo tante

  Fatiche un giorno io vi ristori appieno.

  Forse ne’ suoi nemici anco la folle

  32 Credenza di se stessi ei nudrir volle.

  IV

  Till morning next, for he refused to fight;

  Their haste and heat he bridled, but not brake,

  Nor yet with sudden fray or skirmish light

  Of these new foes would he vain trial make.

  “After so many wars,” he says, “good right

  It is, that one day’s rest at least you take,”

  For thus in his vain foes he cherish would

  The hope which in their strength they have and hold.

  IV

  But he refused to lead them on before

  The morrow’s dawn, and curbed each fiery knight;

  To test the foeman’s mettle he forbore,

  Nor would engage in desultory fight.

  ‘‘Twere better, after such fatigue,’ he cried,

  ‘One day, at least, we gave up to repose.’

  Vain confidence, it may be, that he tried

  Of their own strength to foster in his foes.

  V.

  Si prepara ciascun, della novella

  Luce aspettando cupido il ritorno.

  Non fu mai l’aria sì serena e bella,

  36 Come all’uscir del memorabil giorno.

  L’alba lieta rideva, e parea ch’ella

  Tutti i raggj del Sole avesse intorno:

  E ‘l lume usato accrebbe, e senza velo

  40 Volle mirar l’opere grandi il Cielo.

  V

  To see Aurora’s gentle beam appear,

  The soldiers armed, prest and ready lay,

  The skies were never half so fair and clear

  As in the breaking of that blessed day,

  The merry morning smiled, and seemed to wear

  Upon her silver crown sun’s golden ray,

  And without cloud heaven his redoubled light

  Bent down to see this field, this fray, this fight.

  V

  The Christians failed not all things to prepare,

  And burned expectant for the dawn’s first ray;

  The sky was never so serene and fair

  As on that ever-memorable day.

  Jocund Aurora smiled, and infinite

  Sunbeams appeared to bathe its birth in gold;

  While, past all wont, Heaven magnified its light,

  Their deeds in unveiled splendour to behold.

  VI.

  Come vide spuntar l’aureo mattino,

  Mena fuori Goffredo il campo instrutto.

  Ma pon Raimondo intorno al Palestino

  44 Tiranno, e de’ fedeli il popol tutto,

  Che dal paese di Soria vicino

  A’ suoi liberator s’era condutto:

  Numero grande, e pur non questo solo,

  48 Ma di Guasconi ancor lascia uno stuolo.

  VI

  When first he saw the daybreak show and shine,

  Godfrey his host in good array brought out,

  And to besiege the tyrant Aladine

  Raymond he left, and all the faithful rout

  That from the towns was come of Palestine

  To serve and succor their deliverer stout,

  And with them left a hardy troop beside

  Of Gascoigns strong, in arms well proved, oft tried.

  VI

  Soon as he saw the golden morning shine,

  His marshalled army forth Prince Godfred led;

  But, as a guard around King Aladine,

  He placed the Christians who from Lebanon fled,

  And had themselves on his protection thrown,

  And with them made Count Raymond duty do;

  Nor trusted them, tho’ large their force alone,

  But left a troop of gallant Gascons too.

  VII.

  Vassene, e tal’ è in vista il sommo Duce,

  Ch’altri certa vittoria indi presume.

  Novo favor del Cielo in lui riluce,

  52 E ‘l fa grande ed augusto oltra il costume.

  Gli empie d’onor la faccia, e vi riduce

  Di giovinezza il bel purpureo lume:

  E nell’atto degli occhj e delle membra

  56 Altro che mortal cosa egli rassembra.

  VII

  Such was Godfredo’s countenance, such his cheer,

  That from his eye sure conquest flames and streams,

  Heaven’s gracious favors in his looks appear,

  And great and goodly more than erst he seems;

  His face and forehead full of noblesse were,

  And on his cheek smiled youth’s purple beams,

  And in his gait, his grace, his acts, his eyes,

  Somewhat, far more than mortal, lives and lies.

  VII

  So looked, as forth he rode, the sovran chief,

  That all on certain vicory presumed;

  Grand and august he was last all belief,

  As with new favour Heaven his face illumed.

  With honour flushed his manly features were;

  There youth brought back its bloom and purple light;

  So shone his eyes, so noble was his air,

  That more than mortal seemed the pious knight

  VIII.

  Ma non molto sen va, che giunge a fronte

  Dell’attendato esercito Pagano:

  E prender fa, nell’arrivare, un monte

  60 Ch’egli ha da tergo, e da sinistra mano.

  E l’ordinanza poi, larga di fronte,

  Di fianchi angusta, spiega inverso il piano;

  Stringe in mezzo i pedoni, e rende alati

  64 Con l’ale de’ cavalli entrambi i lati.

  VIII

  He had not marched far ere he espied

  Of his proud foes the mighty host draw nigh;

  A hill at first he took and fortified

  At his left hand which stood his army by,

  Broad in the front behind more strait uptied

  His army ready stood the fight to try,

  And to the middle ward well armed he brings

  His footmen strong, his horsemen served for wings.

  VIII

  Nor had he far proceeded, when in front

  The encamped Egyptian army he descried,

  And on arriving seized a little mount

  That cover to his left and rear supplied.

  In shallow wings and front extended, he

  Towards the plain country then deployed his ranks;

  In the centre crowded all his infantry,

  And winged with wings of cavalry both flanks.

  IX.

  Nel corno manco, il qual s’appressa all’erto

  Dell’occupato colle e s’assicura,

  Pon l’uno e l’altro principe Roberto.

  68 Dà le parti di mezzo al frate in cura.

  Egli a destra s’alluoga, ove è l’aperto

  E ‘l periglioso più della pianura:

  Ove il nemico, che di gente avanza,

  72 Di circondarlo aver potea speranza.

  IX

  To the left wing, spread underneath the bent

  Of the steep hill that saved their flank and side,

  The Roberts twain, two leaders good, he sent;

  His brother had the middle ward to guide;

  To the right wing himself in person went

  Down, where the plain was dangerous, broad and wide,

  And where his foes with their great numbers would

  Perchance environ round his squadrons bold.

  IX

  The left, that on the rising ground reclined,

  Which did a natural defence oppose,

  To the two princes Robert he assigned,

/>   And for the centre his own brother chose.

  The right he held himself, where the open plain

  Involved most risk, by nature of the ground;

  There, by a dash, the foe might not in vain

  Hope his less numerous forces to surround.

  X.

  E quì i suoi Loteringhi, e quì dispone

  Le meglio armate genti e le più elette.

  Quì, tra’ cavalli arcieri, alcun pedone

  76 Uso a pugnar tra’ cavalier frammette.

  Poscia d’avventurier forma un squadrone,

  E d’altri altronde scelti, e presso il mette.

  Mette loro in disparte al lato destro:

  80 E Rinaldo ne fa duce e maestro.

  X

  There all his Lorrainers and men of might,

  All his best armed he placed, and chosen bands,

  And with those horse some footmen armed light,

  That archers were, used to that service, stands;

  The adventurers then, in battle and in fight

  Well tried, a squadron famous through all lands,

  On the right hand he set, somedeal aside,

  Rinaldo was their leader, lord and guide.

  X

  Here his own Lorrainers, and here he fixed

  The best armed and the choicest of his force;

  And ‘mid horse archers light foot intermixed,

  That were accustomed to engage ‘mid horse.

  The Adventurers, then, and many a chosen knight

  He formed together in a separate band,

  As a reserve upon the army’s right,

  And o’er them placed Rinaldo in command.

  XI.

  Ed a lui dice: in te, Signor, riposta

  La vittoria e la somma è delle cose.

  Tieni tu la tua schiera alquanto ascosta

  84 Dietro a queste ali grandi e spaziose.

  Quando appressa il nemico, e tu di costa

  L’assali, e rendi van quanto e’ propose.

  Proposto avrà (se ‘l mio pensier non falle)

  88 Girando, ai fianchi urtarci ed alle spalle.

  XI

  To whom the Duke, “In thee our hope is laid

  Of victory, thou must the conquest gain,

  Behind this mighty wing, so far displayed,

  Thou with thy noble squadron close remain;

  And when the Pagans would our backs invade,

  Assail them then, and make their onset vain;

  For if I guess aright, they have in mind

  To compass us, and charge our troops behind.”

  XI

  To whom the chief: ‘To thee, upon this field,

  We look for triumph and momentous things;

  Keep thou thy squadron in reserve, concealed

  Behind the cover of these spacious wings;

  And when the foe draws near, his flank assail,

  Thwart his intentions, and his ranks disperse;

  He, if my judgment err not, will not fail,

  Wheeling, to try and take us in reverse.’

  XII.

  Quindi, sovra un corsier, di schiera in schiera

  Parea volar tra’ cavalier, tra’ fanti.

  Tutto il volto scopria per la visiera:

  92 Fulminava negli occhj e ne’ sembianti.

  Confortò il dubbio, e confermò chi spera:

  Ed all’audace rammentò i suoi vanti,

  E le sue prove al forte: a chi maggiori

  96 Gli stipendj promise, a chi gli onori.

  XII

  Then through his host, that took so large a scope,

  He rode, and viewed them all, both horse and foot;

  His face was bare, his helm unclosed and ope,

  Lightened his eyes, his looks bright fire shot out;

  He cheers the fearful, comforts them that hope,

  And to the bold recounts his boasting stout,

  And to the valiant his adventures hard,

  These bids he look for praise, those for reward.

  XII

  From rank to rank, his bounding steed upon,

  From horse to foot, then, Godfred seemed to fly;

  Thro’ the barred ventayle his flushed features shone,

  And lightnings shot forth from his flashing eye.

  The hopeful he confirms, the doubtful cheers,

  Recalls to mind their vauntings to the bold,

  And to the brave past proofs; some cavaliers

  He wins by hopes of honour, some of gold

  XIII.

  Alfin colà fermossi, ove le prime

  E più nobili squadre erano accolte:

  E cominciò, da loco assai sublime,

  100 Parlare, ond’è rapito ogn’uom ch’ascolte.

  Come in torrenti dalle alpestri cime

  Soglion giù derivar le nevi sciolte,

  Così correan volubili e veloci

  104 Dalla sua bocca le canore voci.

  XIII

  At last he stayed where of his squadrons bold

  And noblest troops assembled was best part;

  There from a rising bank his will he told,

  And all that heard his speech thereat took heart:

  And as the mountain snow from mountains cold

  Runs down in streams with eloquence and art,

  So from his lips his words and speeches fell,

  Shrill, speedy, pleasant, sweet, and placed well.

  XIII

  Then on a height he halted, where his first

  And noblest troops were posted, and from thence

  Into a flood of such rapt language burst,

  That all entranced were by its eloquence.

  As snow-drifts, loosened by the genial south,

  O’er Alpine peaks rush down in torrents, so

  Rapid and voluble, from Godfred’s mouth,

  Melted by zeal, the tuneful periods flow.

  XIV.

  O de’ nemici di Gesù flagello,

  Campo mio domator dell’Oriente;

  Ecco l’ultimo giorno: eccovi quello

  108 Che già tanto bramaste omai presente.

  Nè senza alta cagion, che’l suo rubello

  Popolo in un s’accoglia, il Ciel consente.

  Ogni vostro nimico ha quì congiunto,

  112 Per finir molte guerre in un sol punto.

  XIV

  “My hardy host, you conquerors of the East,

  You scourge wherewith Christ whips his heathen fone,

  Of victory behold the latest feast,

  See the last day for which you wished alone;

  Not without cause the Saracens most and least

  Our gracious Lord hath gathered here in one,

  For all your foes and his assembled are,

  That one day’s fight may end seven years of war.

  XIV

  ‘Scourge of Christ’s foes, my gallant camp, my bold,

  Intrepid victors of the Orient, lo!

  Come is the final fatal day. Behold!

  The longed for moment is before you now.

  Nor without deep design doth Heaven consent

  That in one host is joined the Pagan power.

  Together here are all your foemen pent,

  That many wars ye end in one brief hour.

  XV.

  Noi raccorrem molte vittorie in una:

  Nè fia maggiore il rischio o la fatica.

  Non sia, non sia tra voi temenza alcuna

  116 In veder così grande oste nemica:

  Chè, discorde fra se, mal si raguna:

  E negli ordini suoi se stessa intrica.

  E di chi pugni il numero fia poco;

  120 Mancherà il core a molti, a molti il loco.

  XV

  “This fight shall bring us many victories,

  The danger none, the labor will be small,

  Let not the number of your enemies

  Dismay your hearts, grant fear no place at all;

  For strife and discord through their army flies,


  Their bands ill ranked themselves entangle shall,

  And few of them to strike or fight shall come,

  For some want strength, some heart, some elbow-room.

  XV

  ‘Well many victories concentrate in one,

  In which not more fatigue or risk there will be;

  Let there, then, none be, bold crusaders, none

  Alarmed a host so numerous to see.

  Ill — can such jarring elements unite,

  Or you, confused by opposite orders, face;

  Small will the number be of those that fight:

  Some will want heart, and some sufficient space.

  XVI.

  Quei che incontra verranci, uomini ignudi

  Fian per lo più, senza vigor, senz’arte;

  Che dal lor ozio, o dai servili studj

  124 Sol violenza or allontana e parte.

  Le spade omai tremar, tremar gli scudi,

  Tremar veggio le insegne in quella parte:

  Conosco i suoni incerti, e i dubbj moti:

  128 Veggio la morte loro ai segni noti.

  XVI

  “This host, with whom you must encounter now,

  Are men half naked, without strength or skill,

  From idleness, or following the plough,

  Late pressed forth to war against their will,

  Their swords are blunt, shields thin, soon pierced through,

  Their banners shake, their bearers shrink, for ill

  Their leaders heard, obeyed, or followed be,

  Their loss, their flight, their death I will foresee.

  XVI

  ‘Those who will front us are mere savages,

  Who, for the most part, without strength or skill,

  From servile calling or ignoble ease

  Are hither dragged to fight against their will.

  Their swords and shields I see wave to and fro,

  Their ensigns tremble, tho’ no wind there be;

  Their wavering movements, faltering sounds I know,

  And by sure signs their certain doom foresee.

  XVII.

  Quel Capitan che cinto d’ostro e d’oro

  Dispon le squadre, e par sì fero in vista;

  Vinse forse talor l’Arabo, o ‘l Moro;

  132 Ma il suo valor non fia ch’a noi resista.

  Che farà (benchè saggio) in tanta loro

  Confusione e sì torbida e mista?

  Mal noto è, credo, e mal conosce i sui:

  136 Ed a pochi può dir: tu fosti, io fui.

  XVII

  “Their captain clad in purple, armed in gold,