Jersusalem Delivered

by Torquato Tasso

  As when some strain, some strive him to outgone.

  Her words in such alluring sort she framed,

  Her looks enticing, and her wooing smiles,

  That every one his fellows' favors blamed,

  That of their mistress he received erewhiles:

  This foolish crew of lovers unashamed,

  Mad with the poison of her secret wiles,

  Ran forward still, in this disordered sort,

  Nor could Godfredo's bridle rein them short.

  He that would satisfy each good desire,

  Withouten partial love, of every knight,

  Although he swelled with shame, with grief and ire

  To see these follies and these fashions light;

  Yet since by no advice they would retire,

  Another way he sought to set them right:

  "Write all your names," quoth he, "and see whom chance

  Of lot, to this exploit will first advance."

  Their names were writ, and in an helmet shaken,

  While each did fortune's grace and aid implore;

  At last they drew them, and the foremost taken

  The Earl of Pembroke was, Artemidore,

  Doubtless the county thought his bread well baken;

  Next Gerrard followed, then with tresses hoar

  Old Wenceslaus, that felt Cupid's rage

  Now in his doating and his dying age.

  Oh how contentment in their foreheads shined!

  Their looks with joy; thoughts swelled with secret pleasure,

  These three it seeméd good success designed

  To make the lords of love and beauty's treasure:

  Their doubtful fellows at their hap repined,

  And with small patience wait Fortune's leisure,

  Upon his lips that read the scrolls attending,

  As if their lives were on his words depending.

  Guasco the fourth, Ridolpho him succeeds,

  Then Ulderick whom love list so advance,

  Lord William of Ronciglion next he reads,

  Then Eberard, and Henry born in France,

  Rambaldo last, whom wicked lust so leads

  That he forsook his Saviour with mischance;

  This wretch the tenth was who was thus deluded,

  The rest to their huge grief were all excluded.

  O'ercome with envy, wrath and jealousy,

  The rest blind Fortune curse, and all her laws,

  And mad with love, yet out on love they cry,

  That in his kingdom let her judge their cause:

  And for man's mind is such, that oft we try

  Things most forbidden, without stay or pause,

  In spite of fortune purposed many a knight

  To follow fair Armida when 'twas night.

  To follow her, by night or else by day,

  And in her quarrel venture life and limb.

  With sighs and tears she gan them softly pray

  To keep that promise, when the skies were dim,

  To this and that knight did she plain and say,

  What grief she felt to part withouten him:

  Meanwhile the ten had donned their armor best,

  And taken leave of Godfrey and the rest.

  The duke advised them every one apart,

  How light, how trustless was the Pagan's faith,

  And told what policy, what wit, what art,

  Avoids deceit, which heedless men betray'th;

  His speeches pierce their ear, but not their heart,

  Love calls it folly, whatso wisdom saith:

  Thus warned he leaves them to their wanton guide,

  Who parts that night; such haste had she to ride.

  The conqueress departs, and with her led

  These prisoners, whom love would captive keep,

  The hearts of those she left behind her bled,

  With point of sorrow's arrow piercéd deep.

  But when the night her drowsy mantle spread,

  And filled the earth with silence, shade and sleep,

  In secret sort then each forsook his tent,

  And as blind Cupid led them blind they went.

  Eustatio first, who scantly could forbear,

  Till friendly night might hide his haste and shame,

  He rode in post, and let his beast him bear

  As his blind fancy would his journey frame,

  All night he wandered and he wist not where;

  But with the morning he espied the dame,

  That with her guard up from a village rode

  Where she and they that night had made abode.

  Thither he galloped fast, and drawing near

  Rambaldo knew the knight, and loudly cried,

  "Whence comes young Eustace, and what seeks he here?"

  "I come," quoth he, "to serve the Queen Armide,

  If she accept me, would we all were there

  Where my good-will and faith might best be tried."

  "Who," quoth the other, "choseth thee to prove

  This high exploit of hers?" He answered, "Love."

  "Love hath Eustatio chosen, Fortune thee,

  In thy conceit which is the best election?"

  "Nay, then, these shifts are vain," replied he,

  "These titles false serve thee for no protection,

  Thou canst not here for this admitted be

  Our fellow-servant, in this sweet subjection."

  "And who," quoth Eustace, angry, "dares deny

  My fellowship?" Rambaldo answered, "I."

  And with that word his cutting sword he drew,

  That glittered bright, and sparkled flaming fire;

  Upon his foe the other champion flew,

  With equal courage, and with equal ire.

  The gentle princess, who the danger knew,

  Between them stepped, and prayed them both retire.

  "Rambald," quoth she, "why should you grudge or plain

  If I a champion, you an helper gain?

  "If me you love, why wish you me deprived

  In so great need of such a puissant knight?

  But welcome Eustace, in good time arrived,

  Defender of my state, my life, my right.

  I wish my hapless self no longer lived,

  When I esteem such good assistance light."

  Thus talked they on, and travelled on their way

  Their fellowship increasing every day.

  From every side they come, yet wist there none

  Of others coming or of others' mind,

  She welcomes all, and telleth every one,

  What joy her thoughts in his arrival find.

  But when Duke Godfrey wist his knights were gone,

  Within his breast his wiser soul divined

  Some hard mishap upon his friends should light,

  For which he sighed all day, and wept all night.

  A messenger, while thus he mused, drew near,

  All soiled with dust and sweat, quite out of breath,

  It seemed the man did heavy tidings bear,

  Upon his looks sate news of loss and death:

  "My lord," quoth he, "so many ships appear

  At sea, that Neptune bears the load uneath,

  From Egypt come they all, this lets thee weet

  William Lord Admiral of the Genoa fleet,

  "Besides a convoy coming from the shore

  With victual for this noble camp of thine

  Surpriséd was, and lost is all that store,

  Mules, horses, camels laden, corn and wine;

  Thy servants fought till they could fight no more,

  For all were slain or captives made in fine:

  The Arabian outlaws them assailed by night,

  When least they feared, and least they looked for fight.

  "Their frantic boldness doth presume so far,

  That many Christians have they falsely slain,

  And like a raging flood they sparséd are,

  And overflow each country, field
and plain;

  Send therefore some strong troops of men of war,

  To force them hence, and drive them home again,

  And keep the ways between these tents of thine

  And those broad seas, the seas of Palestine."

  From mouth to mouth the heavy rumor spread

  Of these misfortunes, which disperséd wide

  Among the soldiers, great amazement bred;

  Famine they doubt, and new come foes beside:

  The duke, that saw their wonted courage fled,

  And in the place thereof weak fear espied,

  With merry looks these cheerful words he spake,

  To make them heart again and courage take.

  "You champions bold, with me that 'scapéd have

  So many dangers, and such hard assays,

  Whom still your God did keep, defend and save

  In all your battles, combats, fights and frays,

  You that subdued the Turks and Persians brave,

  That thirst and hunger held in scorn always,

  And vanquished hills, and seas, with heat and cold,

  Shall vain reports appal your courage bold?

  "That Lord who helped you out at every need,

  When aught befell this glorious camp amiss,

  Shall fortune all your actions well to speed,

  On whom his mercy large extended is;

  Tofore his tomb, when conquering hands you spreed,

  With what delight will you remember this?

  Be strong therefore, and keep your valors high

  To honor, conquest, fame and victory."

  Their hopes half dead and courage well-nigh lost,

  Revived with these brave speeches of their guide;

  But in his breast a thousand cares he tost,

  Although his sorrows he could wisely hide;

  He studied how to feed that mighty host,

  In so great scarceness, and what force provide

  He should against the Egyptian warriors sly,

  And how subdue those thieves of Araby.

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  Sixth Book

  THE ARGUMENT

  Argantes calls the Christians out to just:

  Otho not chosen doth his strength assay,

  But from his saddle tumbleth in the dust,

  And captive to the town is sent away:

  Tancred begins new fight, and when both trust

  To win the praise and palm, night ends the fray:

  Erminia hopes to cure her wounded knight,

  And from the city arméd rides by night.

  BUT better hopes had them recomforted

  That lay besiegéd in the sacred town;

  With new supply late were they victualléd,

  When night obscured the earth with shadows brown;

  Their armies and engines on the walls they spread,

  Their slings to cast, and stones to tumble down;

  And all that side which to the northward lies,

  High rampiers and strong bulwarks fortifies.

  Their wary king commands now here now there,

  To build this tower, to make that bulwark strong,

  Whether the sun, the moon, or stars appear,

  To give them time to work, no time comes wrong:

  In every street new weapons forgéd were,

  By cunning smiths, sweating with labor long;

  While thus the careful prince provision made,

  To him Argantes came, and boasting said:

  "How long shall we, like prisoners in chains,

  Captívéd lie inclosed within this wall?

  I see your workmen taking endless pains

  To make new weapons for no use at all;

  Meanwhile these eastern thieves destroy the plains,

  Your towns are burnt, your forts and castles fall,

  Yet none of us dares at these gates out-peep,

  Or sound one trumpet shrill to break their sleep.

  "Their time in feasting and good cheer they spend,

  Nor dare we once their banquets sweet molest,

  The days and nights likewise they bring to end,

  In peace, assurance, quiet, ease and rest;

  But we must yield whom hunger soon will shend,

  And make for peace, to save our lives, request,

  Else, if th' Egyptian army stay too long,

  Like cowards die within this fortress strong.

  "Yet never shall my courage great consent

  So vile a death should end my noble days,

  Nor on mine arms within these walls ypent

  To-morrow's sun shall spread his timely rays:

  Let sacred Heavens dispose as they are bent

  Of this frail life, yet not withouten praise

  Of valor, prowess, might, Argantes shall

  Inglorious die, or unrevengéd fall.

  "But if the roots of wonted chivalry

  Be not quite dead your princely breast within,

  Devise not how with fame and praise to die,

  But how to live, to conquer and to win;

  Let us together at these gates outfly,

  And skirmish bold and bloody fight begin;

  For when last need to desperation driveth,

  Who dareth most he wisest counsel giveth.

  "But if in field your wisdom dare not venture

  To hazard all your troops to doubtful fight,

  Then bind yourself to Godfrey by indenture,

  To end your quarrels by one single knight:

  And for the Christian this accord shall enter

  With better will, say such you know your right

  That he the weapons, place and time shall choose,

  And let him for his best, that vantage use.

  "For though your foe had hands, like Hector strong,

  With heart unfeared, and courage stern and stout,

  Yet no misfortune can your justice wrong,

  And what that wanteth, shall this arm help out,

  In spite of fate shall this right hand ere long,

  Return victorious: if hereof you doubt,

  Take it for pledge, wherein if trust you have,

  It shall yourself defend and kingdom save."

  "Bold youth," the tyrant thus began to speak,

  "Although I withered seem with age and years,

  Yet are not these old arms so faint and weak,

  Nor this hoar head so full of doubts and fears

  But whenas death this vital thread shall break,

  He shall my courage hear, my death who hears:

  And Aladine that lived a king and knight,

  To his fair morn will have an evening bright.

  "But that which yet I would have further blazed,

  To thee in secret shall be told and spoken,

  Great Soliman of Nice, so far praised,

  To be revengéd for his sceptre broken,

  The men of arms of Araby hath raised,

  From Inde to Africk, and, when we give token,

  Attends the favor of the friendly night

  To victual us, and with our foes to fight.

  "Now though Godfredo hold by warlike feat

  Some castles poor and forts in vile oppression,

  Care not for that; for still our princely seat,

  This stately town, we keep in our possession,

  But thou appease and calm that courage great,

  Which in thy bosom makes so hot impression;

  And stay fit time, which will betide are long,

  To increase thy glory, and revenge our wrong."

  The Saracen at this was inly spited,

  Who Soliman's great worth had long envíed,

  To hear him praiséd thus he naught delighted,

  Nor that the king upon his aid relied:

  "Within your power, sir king," he says, "united

  Are peace and war, nor shall that be denied;

  But for the Turk and his Arabian band,

  He lost his own sha
ll he defend your land?

  "Perchance he comes some heavenly messenger,

  Sent down to set the Pagan people free,

  Then let Argantes for himself take care,

  This sword, I trust, shall well safe-conduct me:

  But while you rest and all your forces spare,

  That I go forth to war at least agree;

  Though not your champion, yet a private knight,

  I will some Christian prove in single fight."

  The king repliéd, "Though thy force and might

  Should be reserved to better time and use;

  Yet that thou challenge some renownéd knight,

  Among the Christians bold I not refuse."

  The warrior breathing out desire of fight,

  An herald called, and said, "Go tell these news

  To Godfrey's self, and to the western lords,

  And in their hearings boldly say these words:

  "Say that a knight, who holds in great disdain

  To be thus closéd up in secret mew,

  Will with his sword in open field maintain,

  If any dare deny his words for true,

  That no devotion, as they falsely feign,

  Hath moved the French these countries to subdue;

  But vile ambition, and pride's hateful vice,

  Desire of rule, and spoil, and covetice.

  "And that to fight I am not only prest

  With one or two that dare defend the cause,

  But come the fourth or fifth, come all the rest,

  Come all that will, and all that weapon draws,

  Let him that yields obey the victor's hest,

  As wills the lore of mighty Mars his laws:"

  This was the challenge that fierce Pagan sent,

  The herald donned his coat-of-arms, and went.

  And when the man before the presence came

  Of princely Godfrey, and his captains bold:

  "My Lord," quoth he, "may I withouten blame

  Before your Grace, my message brave unfold?"

  "Thou mayest," he answered, "we approve the same;

  Withouten fear, be thine ambassage told."

  "Then," quoth the herald, "shall your highness see,

  If this ambassage sharp or pleasing be."

  The challenge gan he then at large expose,

  With mighty threats, high terms and glorious words;

  On every side an angry murmur rose,

  To wrath so movéd were the knights and lords.

  Then Godfrey spake, and said, "The man hath chose

  An hard exploit, but when he feels our swords,

  I trust we shall so far entreat the knight,

  As to excuse the fourth or fifth of fight.

  "But let him come and prove, the field I grant,

  Nor wrong nor treason let him doubt or fear,

  Some here shall pay him for his glorious vaunt,