Jersusalem Delivered

by Torquato Tasso

  While thus he parleyed, of this agéd guest

  The Turk the words and looks did both admire,

  And from his haughty eyes and furious breast

  He laid apart his pride, his rage and ire,

  And humbly said, "I willing am and prest

  To follow where thou leadest, reverend sire,

  And that advice best fits my angry vein

  That tells of greatest peril, greatest pain."

  The old man praised his words, and for the air

  His late receivéd wounds to worse disposes,

  A quintessence therein he pouréd fair,

  That stops the bleeding, and incision closes:

  Beholding then before Apollo's chair

  How fresh Aurora violets strewed and roses,

  "It's time," he says, "to wend, for Titan bright

  To wonted labor summons every wight."

  And to a chariot, that beside did stand,

  Ascended he, and with him Solyman,

  He took the reins, and with a mastering hand

  Ruléd his steeds, and whipped them now and than,

  The wheels or horses' feet upon the land

  Had left no sign nor token where they ran,

  The coursers pant and smoke with lukewarm sweat

  And, foaming cream, their iron mouthfuls eat.

  The air about them round, a wondrous thing,

  Itself on heaps in solid thickness drew,

  The chariot hiding and environing,

  The subtle mist no mortal eye could view;

  And yet no stone from engine cast or sling

  Could pierce the cloud, it was of proof so true;

  Yet seen it was to them within which ride,

  And heaven and earth without, all clear beside.

  His beetle brows the Turk amazéd bent,

  He wrinkled up his front, and wildly stared

  Upon the cloud and chariot as it went,

  For speed to Cynthia's car right well compared:

  The other seeing his astonishment

  How he bewondered was, and how he fared,

  All suddenly by name the prince gan call,

  By which awakéd thus he spoke withal:

  "Whoe'er thou art above all worldly wit

  That hast these high and wondrous marvels wrought,

  And know'st the deep intents which hidden sit

  In secret closet of man's private thought,

  If in thy skilful heart this lot be writ,

  To tell the event of things to end unbrought;

  Then say, what issue and what ends the stars

  Allot to Asia's troubles, broils and wars.

  "But tell me first thy name, and by what art

  Thou dost these wonders strange, above our skill;

  For full of marvel is my troubled heart,

  Tell then and leave me not amazéd still."

  The wizard smiled and answered, "In some part

  Easy it is to satisfy thy will,

  Ismen I hight, called an enchanter great,

  Such skill have I in magic's secret feat.

  "But that I should the sure events unfold

  Of things to come, or destinies foretell,

  Too rash is your desire, your wish too bold,

  To mortal heart such knowledge never fell;

  Our wit and strength on us bestowed I hold,

  To shun the evils and harms, mongst which we dwell

  They make their fortune who are stout and wise,

  Wit rules the heavens, discretion guides the skies

  "That puissant arm of thine that well can rend

  From Godfrey's brow the new usurpéd crown,

  And not alone protect, save and defend

  From his fierce people, this besiegéd town,

  Gainst fire and sword with strength and courage bend,

  Adventure, suffer, trust, tread perils down,

  And to content, and to encourage thee,

  Know this, which as I in a cloud foresee:

  "I guess, before the over-gliding sun

  Shall many years mete out by weeks and days,

  A prince that shall in fertile Egypt won,

  Shall fill all Asia with his prosperous frays,

  I speak not of his acts in quiet done,

  His policy, his rule, his wisdom's praise,

  Let this suffice, by him these Christians shall

  In fight subduéd fly, and conquered fall.

  "And their great empire and usurpéd state

  Shall overthrown in dust and ashes lie,

  Their woful remnant in an angle strait

  Compassed with sea themselves shall fortify,

  From thee shall spring this lord of war and fate."

  Whereto great Solyman gan thus reply:

  "O happy man to so great praise ybore!"

  Thus he rejoiced, but yet enviéd more;

  And said, "Let chance with good or bad aspect

  Upon me look as sacred Heaven's decree,

  This heart to her I never will subject,

  Nor ever conquered shall she look on me;

  The moon her chariot shall awry direct

  Ere from this course I will diverted be."

  While thus he spake, it seemed he breathéd fire,

  So fierce his courage was, so hot his ire.

  Thus talkéd they, till they arrivéd been

  Nigh to the place where Godfrey's tents were reared,

  There was a woful spectacle yseen,

  Death in a thousand ugly forms appeared,

  The Soldan changéd hue for grief and teen,

  On that sad book his shame and loss he lered,

  Ah, with what grief his men, his friends he found;

  And standards proud, inglorious lie on ground!

  And saw one visage of some well-known friend,

  In foul despite, a rascal Frenchman tread,

  And there another ragged peasant rend

  The arms and garments from some champion dead,

  And there with stately pomp by heaps they wend,

  And Christians slain roll up in webs of lead;

  Lastly the Turks and slain Arabians, brought

  On heaps, he saw them burn with fire to naught.

  Deeply he sighéd, and with naked sword

  Out of the coach he leapéd in the mire,

  But Ismen called again the angry lord,

  And with grave words appeased his foolish ire.

  The prince content remounted at his word,

  Toward a hill on drove the agéd sire,

  And hasting forward up the bank they pass,

  Till far behind the Christian leaguer was.

  There they alight and took their way on foot,

  The empty chariot vanished out of sight,

  Yet still the cloud environed them about.

  At their left hand down went they from the height

  Of Sion's Hill, till they approached the route

  On that side where to west he looketh right,

  There Ismen stayéd, and his eyesight bent

  Upon the bushy rocks, and thither went.

  A hollow cave was in the craggy stone,

  Wrought out by hand a number years tofore,

  And for of long that way had walkéd none,

  The vault was hid with plants and bushes hoar,

  The wizard stooping in thereat to gone,

  The thorns aside and scratching brambles bore,

  His right hand sought the passage through the cleft,

  And for his guide he gave the prince his left:

  "What," quoth the Soldan, "by what privy mine,

  What hidden vault behoves it me to creep?

  This sword can find a better way than thine,

  Although our foes the passage guard and keep."

  "Let not," quoth he, "thy princely foot repine

  To tread this secret path, though dark and deep;

  For great King Herod used to tread the same,

  He that in arms
had whilom so great fame.

  "This passage made he, when he would suppress

  His subjects' pride, and them in bondage hold;

  By this he could from that small forteress

  Antonia called, of Antony the bold,

  Convey his folk unseen of more and less

  Even to the middest of the temple old,

  Thence, hither; where these privy ways begin,

  And bring unseen whole armies out and in.

  "But now save I in all this world lives none

  That knows the secret of this darksome place,

  Come then where Aladine sits on his throne,

  With lords and princes set about his grace;

  He feareth more than fitteth such an one,

  Such signs of doubt show in his cheer and face;

  Fitly you come, hear, see, and keep you still,

  Till time and season serve, then speak your fill."

  This said, that narrow entrance passed the knight,

  So creeps a camel through a needle's eye,

  And through the ways as black as darkest night

  He followed him that did him rule and guie;

  Strait was the way at first, withouten light,

  But further in, did further amplify;

  So that upright walkéd at ease the men

  Ere they had passéd half that secret den,

  A privy door Ismen unlocked at last,

  And up they clomb a little-uséd stair,

  Thereat the day a feeble beam in cast,

  Dim was the light, and nothing clear the air;

  Out of the hollow cave at length they passed

  Into a goodly hall, high, broad and fair,

  Where crowned with gold, and all in purple clad

  Sate the sad king, among his nobles sad.

  The Turk, close in his hollow cloud imbarred,

  Unseen, at will did all the prease behold,

  These heavy speeches of the king he heard,

  Who thus from lofty siege his pleasure told;

  "My lords, last day our state was much impaired,

  Our friends were slain, killed were our soldiers bold,

  Great helps and greater hopes are us bereft,

  Nor aught but aid from :

  "And well you see far distant is that aid,

  Upon our heels our danger treadeth still,

  For your advice was this assembly made,

  Each what he thinketh speak, and what he will."

  A whisper soft arose when this was said,

  As gentle winds the groves with murmur fill,

  But with bold face, high looks and merry cheer,

  Argantes rose, the rest their talk forbear.

  "O worthy sovereign," thus began to say

  The hardy young man to the tyrant wise,

  "What words be these? what fears do you dismay?

  Who knows not this, you need not our advice!

  But on your hand your hope of conquest lay,

  And, for no loss true virtue damnifies,

  Make her our shield, pray her us succors give,

  And without her let us not wish to live.

  "Nor say I this for that I aught misdeem

  That Egypt's promised succors fail us might,

  Doubtful of my great master's words to seem

  To me were neither lawful, just, nor right!

  I speak these words, for spurs I them esteem

  To waken up each dull and fearful sprite,

  And make our hearts resolved to all assays,

  To win with honor, or to die with praise."

  Thus much Argantes said, and said no more,

  As if the case were clear of which he spoke.

  Orcano rose, of princely stem ybore,

  Whose presence 'mongst them bore a mighty stroke,

  A man esteeméd well in arms of yore,

  But now was coupled new in marriage yoke;

  Young babes he had, to fight which made him loth,

  He was a husband and a father both.

  "My lord," quoth he, "I will not reprehend

  The earnest zeal of this audacious speech,

  From courage sprung, which seld is close ypend

  In swelling stomach without violent breach:

  And though to you our good Circassian friend

  In terms too bold and fervent oft doth preach,

  Yet hold I that for good, in warlike feat

  For his great deeds respond his speeches great.

  "But if it you beseem, whom graver age

  And long experience hath made wise and sly,

  To rule the heat of youth and hardy rage,

  Which somewhat have misled this knight awry,

  In equal balance ponder then and gauge

  Your hopes far distant, with your perils nigh;

  This town's old walls and rampires new compare

  With Godfrey's forces and his engines rare.

  "But, if I may say what I think unblamed,

  This town is strong, by nature, site and art,

  But engines huge and instruments are framed

  Gainst these defences by our adverse part,

  Who thinks him most secure is eathest shamed;

  I hope the best, yet fear unconstant mart,

  And with this siege if we be long up pent,

  Famine I doubt, our store will all be spent.

  "For all that store of cattle and of grain

  Which yesterday within these walls you brought,

  While your proud foes triumphant through the plain

  On naught but shedding blood, and conquest thought,

  Too little is this city to sustain,

  To raise the siege unless some means be sought;

  And it must last till the prefixéd hour

  That it be raised by Egypt's aid and power.

  "But what if that appointed day they miss?

  Or else, ere we expect, what if they came?

  The victory yet is not ours for this,

  Oh save this town from ruin, us from shame!

  With that same Godfrey still our warfare is,

  These armies, soldiers, captains are the same

  Who have so oft amid the dusty plain

  Turks, Persians, Syrians and Arabians slain.

  "And thou Argantes wotest what they be;

  Oft hast thou fled from that victorious host,

  Thy shoulders often hast thou let them see,

  And in thy feet hath been thy safeguard most;

  Clorinda bright and I fled eke with thee,

  None than his fellows had more cause to boast,

  Nor blame I any; for in every fight

  We showéd courage, valor, strength and might.

  "And though this hardy knight the certain threat

  Of near-approaching death to hear disdain;

  Yet to this state of loss and danger great,

  From this strong foe I see the tokens plain;

  No fort how strong soe'er by art or seat,

  Can hinder Godfrey why he should not reign:

  This makes me say,—to witness heaven I bring,

  Zeal to this state, love to my lord and king—

  "The king of Tripoli was well advised

  To purchase peace, and so preserve his crown:

  But Solyman, who Godfrey's love despised,

  Is either dead or deep in prison thrown;

  Else fearful is he run away disguised,

  And scant his life is left him for his own,

  And yet with gifts, with tribute, and with gold,

  He might in peace his empire still have hold."

  Thus spake Orcanes, and some inkling gave

  In doubtful words of that he would have said;

  To sue for peace or yield himself a slave

  He durst not openly his king persuade:

  But at those words the Soldan gan to rave,

  And gainst his will wrapt in the cloud he stayed,

  Whom Ismen thus bespake, "How can you bear
/>
  These words, my lord? or these reproaches hear?"

  "Oh, let me speak," quoth he, "with ire and scorn

  I burn, and gainst my will thus hid I stay!"

  This said, the smoky cloud was cleft and torn,

  Which like a veil upon them stretchéd lay,

  And up to open heaven forthwith was borne,

  And left the prince in view of lightsome day,

  With princely look amid the press he shined,

  And on a sudden, thus declared his mind.

  "Of whom you speak behold the Soldan here,

  Neither afraid nor run away for dread,

  And that these slanders, lies and fables were,

  This hand shall prove upon that coward's head,

  I, who have shed a sea of blood well near,

  And heaped up mountains high of Christians dead,

  I in their camp who still maintained the fray,

  My men all murdered, I that run away.

  "If this, or any coward vile beside,

  False to his faith and country, dares reply;

  And speak of concord with yon men of pride,

  By your good leave, Sir King, here shall he die,

  The lambs and wolves shall in one fold abide,

  The doves and serpents in one nest shall lie,

  Before one town us and these Christians shall

  In peace and love unite within one wall."

  While thus he spoke, his broad and trenchant sword

  His hand held high aloft in threatening guise;

  Dumb stood the knights, so dreadful was his word;

  A storm was in his front, fire in his eyes,

  He turned at last to Sion's agéd lord,

  And calmed his visage stern in humbler wise:

  "Behold," quoth he, "good prince, what aid I bring,

  Since Solyman is joined with Juda's king."

  King Aladine from his rich throne upstart

  And said, "Oh how I joy thy face to view,

  My noble friend! it lesseneth in some part

  My grief, for slaughter of my subjects true;

  My weak estate to stablish come thou art,

  And mayest thine own again in time renew,

  If Heavens consent:" with that the Soldan bold

  In dear embracements did he long enfold.

  Their greetings done, the king resigned his throne

  To Solyman, and set himself beside,

  In a rich seat adorned with gold and stone,

  And Ismen sage did at his elbow bide,

  Of whom he asked what way they two had gone,

  And he declared all what had them betide:

  Clorinda bright to Solyman addressed

  Her salutations first, then all the rest.

  Among them rose Ormusses' valiant knight,

  Whom late the Soldan with a convoy sent,

  And when most hot and bloody was the fight,

  By secret paths and blind byways he went,