Jerusalem Delivered

by Torquato Tasso

For Asia’s empire; but what tongue can tell

  How desperate was the encounter of those knights,

  Or say how swift and strong their falchions fell?

  I pass untold the horrors that were done,

  Screened as they were by dark invidious night,

  Tho’ worthy they of noontide’s brightest sun,

  And that a world were witness of the sight.

  LI.

  The Christians following their intrepid guide,

  Imbibe his spirit and dash boldly on,

  And a dense squadron of his best armed ride

  Around the homicidal Solyman.

  Nor more the Faithful than the Infidel,

  Nor more of those than these bedewed the plain;

  Alike the victors and the vanquished fell,

  They slew in equal numbers and were slain.

  LII.

  As with like strength and rage, in stubborn fray,

  The south wind here, there blustering Boreas blows.

  Nor will they give unto each other way,

  But cloud to cloud and wave to wave oppose.

  So was beheld that fierce and obstinate fight,

  Where neither side would bend, and neither yield;

  They clash in rancorous hatred and despite,

  ‘Gainst helmet, shield and sword — sword, helm and shield.

  LIII.

  Nor less upon the other side was dense

  The array of troops, or fierce the combat; there

  A thousand clouds of hell’s belligerents

  Entirely filled the spacious fields of air,

  And gave such courage to the Infidel,

  That there were none who meditate retreat;

  Arganté burned beneath the torch of hell,

  Nor wanted that to inflame his native heat

  LIV.

  He had driven back the vanguard of the Cross,

  And entered the entrenchments at a vault,

  And filled with lacerated limbs the fosse,

  To make an easier path for the assault;

  So that the others followed him, and dyed

  The tents they encountered first vermilion red.

  Clorinda kept her station at his side,

  Or little after, scorning to be led.

  LV.

  The Franks were now in flight, when to their aid

  Prince Guelpho galloped with his gallant band;

  Change front at once the fugitives he made,

  The enfeloned Arabs’ fury to withstand.

  Thus raged the battle: blood in rivers flowed,

  As much on one as on the other side,

  When heaven’s Great King from His sublime abode

  His eyes cast down, and the fierce fight descried.

  LVI.

  There dwelleth He who, good and just, from there

  Gives laws to all, all makes and ornaments

  Above the confines of this narrow sphere,

  Beyond dull reason’s reach or mortal’s sense;

  And on Eternity’s majestic seat,

  Resplendent shines, three several lights in one.

  Nature and Fate crouch humbly at His feet,

  Motion, and He who counts the moments gone,

  LVII.

  And Space, and She, who at His slightest nod,

  Whirls and destroys as dust or lightest air

  Gold, empires, earthly glory; and as God

  Disdains for anger of vain man to care,

  There with such radiant splendour is He crowned,

  That dazzled are the purest in his sight;

  His throne unnumbered Seraphim surround,

  Whom equal joys unequally requite.

  LVIII.

  Now as resounding through the heavenly halls

  Rings the full concord of their strains divine,

  The King of kings the archangel Michael calls,

  Whose arms of lucent diamond brightly shine;

  ‘Perceiv’st thou not how hell’s foul fiends,’ He said,

  ‘‘Gainst my dear faithful flock their arms have hurled,

  And from the low abysses of the dead,

  Have upwards risen to disturb the world?

  LIX.

  ‘Go, tell them henceforth to give up the care

  Of war to warriors as is fair and right,

  Nor spread disturbance, nor pollute the air

  Of earth below, nor heaven’s pure regions blight;

  Let them return to their just punishment,

  And Acheron’s gloom, their fit abode, regain,

  And there themselves and all lost souls torment;

  Thus have I ‘stablished, thus I now ordain.’

  LX.

  The winged archangel at these words inclined

  Low at His feet divine, with reverence fraught,

  Then spread his golden pinions to the wind,

  So rapid they as to exceed all thought

  The fire he passed and realms of light where dwelled

  The blest in their immovable abode,

  Next the crystallin and pure cirque beheld,

  That rolling round, with stars unnumbered glowed.

  LXI.

  Now on the left saw Jove and Saturn roll,

  Differing in motion and distinct in sight,

  And the others that can’t deviate from their goal,

  Since moved and quickened by celestial might;

  Then passed from cloudless realms of endless day,

  Shining and bright, whence thunder falls and rain,

  To where the world now feeds and melts away,

  Dies in its struggles now — now lives again;

  LXII.

  And came dividing with immortal plume

  The darkness dense and dreariness profound,

  Gilding with light divine the horrid gloom;

  Light which his face in sparks diffused around;

  Thus after showers of rain the god of day,

  The humid clouds with sheen prismatic dyes;

  So cleaves a shooting star the liquid way,

  And on earth’s lap, falls headlong from the skies.

  LXIII.

  But when arrived where hell’s accursed crew

  To the Turks’ rage fresh stimulants applied,

  He sudden stopped, ev’n as in air he flew,

  Brandished his lance, and thus indignant cried:

  ‘What! have ye still to learn how terribly

  God hurls His bolts? What! ‘gainst His sovran Will,

  Tho’ racked by pangs of extreme misery,

  Live ye still hardened and rebellious still?

  LXIV.

  “Tis fixed in Heaven that at the Cross’s sign,

  Sion shall bow her walls and ope her gates:

  Why then provoke the Almighty’s wrath divine,

  Why any longer battle with the Fates?

  Begone, accursed, to your dark realm — begone,

  To pains and death in perpetuity,

  And in those regions which are all your own,

  Your future battles and your triumphs be.

  LXV.

  ‘Go, vent your cruelty in hell beneath;

  There the damned torture with your deadliest pains,

  ‘Mid shrieks eternal, and the gnash of teeth,

  The clash of iron, and of clanking chains.’

  This said, he drove out with his fatal lance

  Those whom he saw reluctant to take flight.

  With many a groan, they left the fair expanse

  Of golden stars and everlasting light,

  LXVI.

  And spread their wings towards hell’s eternal night,

  The damned to harry with fresh tortures. Ne’er

  Passes the sea of birds so great a flight,

  When gathering they to warmer climes repair;

  Nor on the ground so many leaves to fall

  At the first cold of autumn’s frosts are seen.

  The world, delivered from their baneful thrall,

  Her g
loomy look casts off, and smiles again.

  LXVII.

  Yet not for this his courage and his ire,

  In the fierce bosom of Arganté sank,

  Altho’ no more Alecto breathed her fire,

  Or with her scourge infernal lashed his flank.

  His ruthless steel he whirled where’er the crowd

  Of Franks was thickest, and with equal blow

  Mowed down both great and small, and the most proud

  And lofty heads laid level with the low.

  LXVIII.

  Not far Clorinda is, nor seemeth less

  With severed limbs to strew that scene of strife:

  Berlinger’s breast she pierced with rare address

  Right to the heart — abode of fragile life,

  And drove the blade so home, that all imbued

  With gouts of gore, it issued from his back;

  Next Albin struck where first the child takes food;

  Cleft Gallo’s face, nor paused in her attack;

  LXIX.

  But Gernier’s hand, that erst herself did wound,

  Lopped from his arm, cast bleeding on the plain,

  The trembling fingers quivered on the ground,

  And struggled still the falchion to retain:

  Like tail of serpent that attempts in vain,

  When from its body severed, to unite.

  Disabled thus she left him, and amain

  Turned on Achilles, and with all her might,

  LXX.

  Planted between his nape and neck a blow,

  Which the nerves cutting thro’, the windpipe tore,

  Whence circling round, the head fell down below,

  The face begriming with foul dust, before

  The trunk itself had fallen, which still remained

  Firm in its seat (heart-rending spectacle!)

  Until, no longer by the curb restrained,

  The destrier plunging flung it from the selle.

  LXXI.

  While thus the fierce undaunted amazon

  Broke thro’, and scourged the squadrons of the West,

  Her troops in equal numbers overthrown,

  The strength of haught Gildippe’s arm confessed.

  Alike the spirit, as their sex the same,

  That either maiden’s valorous bosom nerved;

  But to make proof thereof’s not granted them,

  Since for a mightier foe by Fate reserved.

  LXXII.

  Here one, there the other charged, yet neither fair

  The serried ranks of her opponents broke;

  At this Prince Guelpho, with drawn scimetar,

  Approached Clorinda, and a sweeping stroke

  Let drive, and stained somewhat the thirsty blade

  In her fair flank. To his abrupt attack

  One savage thrust she in rejoinder made,

  And ‘twixt his ribs the injury paid back.

  LXXIII.

  Guelph struck again, but failed in his intent,

  Since there by chance Osmida, passing by,

  Received the blow for fair Clorinda meant,

  And which his forehead gashed from eye to eye.

  But numbers now of those whom Guelpho led,

  Collecting quickly to his succour flew;

  Thither too masses of the Pagans sped,

  Whence more tumultuous the contest grew.

  LXXIV.

  Her purple brow already had the dawn

  From heaven’s imperial balcony displayed,

  When, ‘mid those tumults from his bonds withdrawn,

  Himself had furious Argillano freed;

  And having round him in his hurry thrown

  The arms that first chance offered to his view,

  He came for recent errors to atone

  By new achievements, and by honours new.

  LXXV.

  As from imperial stalls a generous steed,

  There kept for purposes of war, repairs,

  Scouring the country round, to seek, now freed,

  The well-known stream, the pastures, and the mares,

  Aloft, exulting, his haught crest he throws,

  O’er which his mane in folds luxuriant plays;

  Earth rings beneath his tramp — he snorts, he glows,

  And fills the welkin with sonorous neighs;

  LXXVI.

  Such came Argillan; so he tossed his head,

  So burned his glance, and with a step so fleet,

  He bounding forward to the battle sped,

  As scarce to imprint the dust beneath his feet;

  The foe addressing with the indifference

  Of one that dareth all and heedeth nought:

  ‘Dregs of the world! vile inept Arabs! whence

  Have ye so much unusual courage caught?

  LXXVII.

  ‘To bear the shield, or helmet’s weight unfit,

  Or back or breast with armour to enclose,

  Half naked and affrighted, ye commit

  To speed your safety, to the wind your blows;

  By aid of night are your achievements done,

  Courage alone in darkness you acquire.

  Where is your refuge, now that she is gone?

  Arms and more solid valour you require.’

  LXXVIII.

  Ere he had finished, Algazel he smote

  Upon the neck with such severity,

  That the fell scimetar transfixed his throat,

  And quashed the word just rising in reply.

  A sudden horror veiled the wretch’s eyes,

  An icy coldness ran through every vein;

  He falls, and, filled with fury, as he dies,

  Malign, despiteful, bites the odious plain.

  LXXIX.

  He then by various modes did Saladin,

  And Agricalt, and Muleasses kill,

  And with one stroke divided to the chine

  One who stood near, by name Aldiazil.

  Piercing his breast, he struck down Ariadine,

  And did his fall with bitter taunts deride;

  He, looking up, while on the ground supine,

  Thus to his haught, contemptuous words replied:

  LXXX.

  ‘Not thou, whoe’er thou art, shalt triumph long

  In this my death; proud conqueror, for thee

  Like fate is preordained; an arm more strong

  Shall stretch thy lifeless carcass beside me.’

  Grimly he smiled, and answered him: ‘Let God

  Care for my lot; meanwhile die thou, and feast

  The dogs and birds; ‘then on his body trod,

  And with one tug, both steel and soul released.

  LXXXI.

  Among the archers and the lancers rode

  One of the pages of King Solyman,

  On whose smooth chin no indication showed

  That spring to strew its first flowers had begun;

  The sweat that moistened his soft cheeks was fair

  As glistening dew-drops or bright pearls; fresh grace

  The dust imparted to his unkempt hair,

  And anger ev’n looked charming in that face.

  LXXXII.

  The graceful stripling rode a destrier, white

  As snow fresh fallen upon the Apennines;

  Less swift is whirlwind, rising flame less light,

  Than it to wheel and curvet through the lines:

  Grasped by the middle, he a javelin bore,

  A scimetar hung jangling at his side;

  Tunic of purple, gold-inwove, he wore,

  That shone resplendent with barbaric pride.

  LXXXIII.

  While the young boy, whose heart the new delights

  Of glory charmed, endeavoured to molest,

  By dashing in among them, the Frank knights,

  Nor was there any could his course arrest,

  Argillan watched his opportunity

  To launch his spear, as round and round he flies —

  Caught it, and
slew his destrier stealthily,

  And o’er him stood, before he had time to rise,

  LXXXIV.

  And ‘gainst his suppliant face, which vainly strove

  Itself with arms of pity to defend,

  The inexorable steel Argillan drove

  The choicest gift of Nature to offend;

  But the sword seemed more human than the man,

  Since, turning, it fell flat; but what availed

  The sabred ruth, since with fresh force he ran

  Him thro’ the place where he at first had failed?

  LXXXV.

  But Solymano, who, not far from there

  Engaged in battle had with Godfred been,

  Forsook the fight, and turned his destrier,

  Soon as he had his page’s peril seen,

  And quickly oped thro’ closest crowds a lane,

  For vengeance — yes, but for assistance — no,

  Since he beheld — ah, grief! — his Lesbin slain,

  Like a fair flower in bloom of youth laid low.

  LXXXVI.

  So gently did his trembling eyelids close,

  And droop so gracefully his neck, the youth

  So well became his pallor, and the throes

  Of death inspired such sympathetic ruth,

  That his heart melts, than marble erst more cold,

  And, ‘mid his anger, scalding tear-drops rise:

  What! weep’st thou, Solyman, that didst behold

  Thy realm’s destruction with unmoistened eyes?

  LXXXVII.

  But when he saw the sabre smoking still

  With the youths blood, all pity disappears,

  And seethed and burned his maddened anger, till

  It dried the very sources of his tears;

  He on Argillan rushed with sword on high,

  And cleft opposing shield, helm, head, and throat.

  Of Solymano’s animosity

  That mighty blow did well the strength denote.

  LXXXVIII.

  Nor yet content, upon the inanimate corse

  He sought, dismounted, to do battle; so

  A mastiff seizes with enfeloned force

  The unconscious stone that gave the cruel blow.

  Of overpowering dole vain vain relief,

  To wreak one’s vengeance on insensate clay!

  Meanwhile not thus the gallant Christian chief

  His blows and anger idly threw away.

  LXXXIX.

  Sheathed in chain armour, iron helm, and shield,

  With Solyman a thousand Turks campaigned,

  Who to fatigue were never known to yield,

  Of dauntless courage and in all points trained;

  The remnant of his ancient guard they were,

  That in the deserts of wild Araby

  Did aye their liege’s hapless fortunes share,

  And still were faithful in adversity.

  XC.

  These in close order linked together, yield

  Little or nothing to the valorous Frank;