Jerusalem Delivered
Page 157
Let one the semblance of a king sustain.’
XXXII.
Qui tacque il veglio. Or quai pensier, quai petti
Son chiusi a te, sant’aura, e divo ardore?
Inspiri tu dell’Eremita i detti,
252 E tu gl’imprimi ai cavalier nel core:
Sgombri gl’inserti, anzi gl’innati affetti
Di sovrastar, di libertà, d’onore:
Sicchè Guglielmo e Guelfo, i più sublimi,
256 Chiamar Goffredo per lor Duce i primi.
XXXII
And therewith stayed his speech. O gracious Muse,
What kindling motions in their breasts do fry?
With grace divine the hermit’s talk infuse,
That in their hearts his words may fructify;
By this a virtuous concord they did choose,
And all contentions then began to die;
The Princes with the multitude agree,
That Godfrey ruler of those wars should be.
XVI
Here paused the sage. What thoughts, O sacred Fire,
What soul is proof, blest Spirit, ‘gainst thy arts?
Thou didst the hermit with these words inspire,
Thou didst impress them on the warriors’ hearts,
Removing all ingrafted, innate love,
Of independence or ambitious aim;
So Guelph and William are the first to move,
And pious Godfrey as their chief proclaim.
XXXIII.
L’approvar gli altri. Esser sue parti denno
Deliberare, e comandare altrui.
Imponga ai vinti legge egli a suo senno:
260 Porti la guerra, e quando vuole, e a cui.
Gli altri, già pari, ubbidienti al cenno
Siano or ministri de gl’imperj sui.
Concluso ciò, fama ne vola, e grande
264 Per le lingue degli uomini si spande.
XXXIII
This power they gave him, by his princely right,
All to command, to judge all, good and ill,
Laws to impose to lands subdued by might,
To maken war both when and where he will,
To hold in due subjection every wight,
Their valors to be guided by his skill;
This done, Report displays her tell-tale wings,
And to each ear the news and tidings brings.
XXXIII
The rest approve, and to him delegate
Full powers in council and command to bear,
His, laws on vanquished nations to dictate,
And when and where he pleases war declare:
The rest, his former equals, are to pay
To him obedience as their sovereign head.
Concluded this, Fame, light-winged, flew away,
And thro’ a thousand tongues the tidings spread.
XXXIV.
Ei si mostra ai soldati: e ben lor pare
Degno dell’alto grado ove l’han posto;
E riceve i saluti, e ‘l militare
268 Applauso, in volto placido e composto.
Poich’alle dimostranze umili e care
D’amor, d’ubbidienza ebbe risposto,
Impon che ‘l dì seguente, in un gran campo,
272 Tutto si mostri a lui schierato il Campo.
XXXIV
She told the soldiers, who allowed him meet
And well deserving of that sovereign place.
Their first salutes and acclamations sweet
Received he, with love and gentle grace;
After their reverence done with kind regreet
Requited was, with mild and cheerful face,
He bids his armies should the following day
On those fair plains their standards proud display.
XXXIV
He then confronts the soldiers, and appears
To them well worthy such high rank to bear:
Receiving their salute and warlike cheers
With a majestic yet benignant air.
But when he had acknowledged their display
Of love and loyalty, he straight withdrew,
Commanding the whole camp, the following day
Should, ranged in order, pass in grand review.
XXXV.
Facea nell’Oriente il Sol ritorno,
Sereno e luminoso oltre l’usato;
Quando co’ raggj uscì del novo giorno
276 Sotto l’insegne ogni guerriero armato:
E si mostrò quanto potè più adorno
Al pio Buglion, girando il largo prato.
S’era egli fermo, e si vedea davanti
280 Passar distinti i cavalieri e i fanti.
XXXV
The golden sun rose from the silver wave,
And with his beams enamelled every green,
When up arose each warrior bold and brave,
Glistering in filed steel and armor sheen,
With jolly plumes their crests adorned they have,
And all tofore their chieftain mustered been:
He from a mountain cast his curious sight
On every footman and on every knight.
XXXV
Beyond his wont translucent and serene,
In the flushed orient rose the morrow’s sun,
When ‘neath his flag was each Crusader seen
Armed, as the day to dart his beams begun;
And showed himself in all his brave array
To pious Godfrey, wheeling on the grass.
He kept his place, and saw the grand display
Of marshalled horse and foot before him pass.
XXXVI.
Mente, degli anni, e dell’obblio nemica,
Delle cose custode, e dispensiera,
Vagliami tua ragion, sicch’io ridica
284 Di quel campo ogni Duce, ed ogni schiera:
Suoni e risplenda la lor fama antica,
Fatta dagli anni omai tacita e nera;
Tolto da’ tuoi tesori, orni mia lingua
288 Ciò ch’ascolti ogni età, nulla l’estingua.
XXXVI
My mind, Time’s enemy, Oblivion’s foe,
Disposer true of each noteworthy thing,
Oh, let thy virtuous might avail me so,
That I each troop and captain great may sing,
That in this glorious war did famous grow,
Forgot till now by Time’s evil handling:
This work, derived from my treasures dear,
Let all times hearken, never age outwear.
XXXVI
O Memory! in whose charge inviolate
The guardianship of all things is reposed,
Inform me with thy virtue to relate
What chiefs, what legions, that great camp composed;
Re-echo may the glory of their morn,
Though voiceless now, and black by ages made:
Snatched from thy treasures, may my tongue adorn
That which all time may hear, nor ever fade.
XXXVII.
Prima i Franchi mostrarsi: il Duce loro
Ugone esser solea, del Re fratello.
Nell’Isola di Francia eletti foro
292 Fra quattro fiumi, ampio paese e bello.
Poscia ch’Ugon morì, de’ Giglj d’oro
Seguì l’usata insegna il fier drappello
Sotto Clotareo capitano egregio,
296 A cui, se nulla manca, è il nome regio.
XXXVII
The French came foremost battailous and bold,
Late led by Hugo, brother to their King,
From France the isle that rivers four infold
With rolling streams descending from their spring,
But Hugo dead, the lily fair of gold,
Their wonted ensign they tofore them bring,
Under Clotharius great, a captain good,
And hardy knight ysprong of princes’ blood.
XXXVII
The French were first to muster in advance,
Erst by Prince Hugo the king’s brother led;
All were selected from the Isle of France,
A fine large country by four rivers fed.
When Hugo died, that fierce and battailous band
The golden lilies’ cognisance pursued
Under Clothaire’s illustrious command,
Who, if else perfect, lacketh royal blood.
XXXVIII.
Mille son di gravissima armatura:
Sono altrettanti i cavalier seguenti,
Di disciplina ai primi, e di natura,
300 E d’arme e di sembianza indifferenti;
Normandi tutti, e gli ha Roberto in cura,
Ch’è principe natío di quelle genti.
Poi duo pastor di popoli spiegaro
304 Le squadre lor, Guglielmo, ed Ademaro.
XXXVIII
A thousand were they in strong armors clad,
Next whom there marched forth another band,
That number, nature, and instruction had,
Like them to fight far off or charge at hand,
All valiant Normans by Lord Robert lad,
The native Duke of that renowned land,
Two bishops next their standards proud upbare,
Called Reverend William, and Good Ademare.
XXXVIII
A thousand sheathed in heaviest armour are;
Equal in numbers the next squadron came,
Who with the first were fully on a par,
In look, in nature, discipline and fame:
All Normans, guided to the holy war
By their own Robert, Duke of Normandy.
Then William and the pious Ademar,
Priests of the people, lead their squadrons by.
XXXIX.
L’uno e l’altro di lor, che ne’ divini
Uficj già trattò pio ministero,
Sotto l’elmo premendo i lunghi crini,
308 Esercita dell’arme or l’uso fero:
Dalla Città d’Orange, e dai confini
Quattrocento guerrier scelse il primiero.
Ma guida quei di Poggio in guerra l’altro,
312 Numero egual, nè men nell’arme scaltro.
XXXIX
Their jolly notes they chanted loud and clear
On merry mornings at the mass divine,
And horrid helms high on their heads they bear
When their fierce courage they to war incline:
The first four hundred horsemen gathered near
To Orange town, and lands that it confine:
But Ademare the Poggian youth brought out,
In number like, in hard assays as stout.
XXXIX
And these, for whom nought formerly, but prayer
And holy offices had any charms, —
Beneath the helmet press their flowing hair,
And practise now the cruel use of arms.
From Orange and its confines on the Rhone,
Four hundred cavalry the former brought;
The latter led the men of Puy, who shone
In equal numbers, nor less bravely fought
XL.
Baldovin poscia in mostra addur si vede
Co’ Bolognesi suoi quei del germano:
Che le sue genti il pio fratel gli cede
316 Or ch’ei de’ Capitani è Capitano.
Il conte de’ Carnuti indi succede,
Potente di consiglio, e pro’ di mano.
Van con lui quattrocento: e triplicati
320 Conduce Baldovino in sella armati.
XL
Baldwin, his ensign fair, did next dispread
Among his Bulloigners of noble fame,
His brother gave him all his troops to lead,
When he commander of the field became;
The Count Carinto did him straight succeed,
Grave in advice, well skilled in Mars his game,
Four hundred brought he, but so many thrice
Led Baldwin, clad in gilden arms of price.
XL
Prince Baldwin next advances, leading on,
With his own Boulognese, his brother’s band,
Since pious Godfrey ceded him his own
When chosen captain, captains to command.
To him the gallant Earl of Chartres succeeds,
A valiant knight and prudent counsellor;
He brings four hundred horse — and Baldwin leads
Three times that number mounted to the war.
XLI.
Occupa Guelfo il campo a lor vicino,
Uom che all’alta fortuna agguaglia il merto.
Conta costui per genitor Latino
324 Degli avi Estensi un lungo ordine e certo.
Ma German di cognome e di domíno,
Nella gran casa de’ Guelfoni è inserto.
Regge Carintia, e presso l’Istro e ‘l Reno
328 Ciò che i prischi Suevi e i Reti avieno.
XLI
Guelpho next them the land and place possest,
Whose fortunes good with his great acts agree,
By his Italian sire, fro the house of Est,
Well could he bring his noble pedigree,
A German born with rich possessions blest,
A worthy branch sprung from the Guelphian tree.
‘Twixt Rhene and Danubie the land contained
He ruled, where Swaves and Rhetians whilom reigned.
XLI
Prince Guelpho occupies the adjoining space,
Whose high estate is equalled by his worth;
Who from his father’s Latin stock can trace
Through Este’s house his own Italian birth;
But German by descent in the female line,
He’s now a Guelph, and ruleth in the west,
Carinthia, and ‘twixt Danube and the Rhine
Those realms the Sueves and Rhetians once possessed.
XLII.
A questo, che retaggio era materno,
Acquisti ei giunse gloriosi e grandi.
Quindi gente traea che prende a scherno
332 D’andar contra la morte, ov’ei comandi:
Usa a temprar ne’ caldi alberghi il verno,
E celebrar con lieti inviti i prandi.
Fur cinquemila alla partenza; e appena
336 (De’ Persi avanzo) il terzo or quì ne mena.
XLII
His mother’s heritage was this and right,
To which he added more by conquest got,
From thence approved men of passing might
He brought, that death or danger feared not:
It was their wont in feasts to spend the night,
And pass cold days in baths and houses hot.
Five thousand late, of which now scantly are
The third part left, such is the chance of war.
XLII
To that which was his mother’s heritage,
He joined by conquest great and glorious lands,
And hence brings those who in their generous rage
Would face e’en Death itself, when he commands:
Who in warm dwellings cheat the frost and snow,
And winter pass in feasts and jovial cheer.
Five thousand erst, but scarce a third part now
(Sole remnant of the Persian war) is here.
XLIII.
Seguia la gente poi candida e bionda,
Che tra i Franchi, e i Germani, e ‘l mar si giace,
Ove la Mosa, ed ove il Reno inonda,
340 Terra di biade e d’animai ferace:
E gl’Insulani lor, che d’alta sponda
Riparo fansi all’Ocean vorace:
L’Ocean, che non pur le merci e i legni,
344 Ma intere inghiotte le cittadi, e i regni.
XLIII
The nation then with crisped locks and fair,
That dwell between the seas and Arden Wood,
Where Mosel streams and Rhene the meadows wear,
A battel soil for grain, for pasture
good,
Their islanders with them, who oft repair
Their earthen bulwarks ‘gainst the ocean flood,
The flood, elsewhere that ships and barks devours,
But there drowns cities, countries, towns and towers;
XLIII
Next follows on that flaxen, fair-haired race
Who dwell ‘twixt France, Germania and the main,
Which Rhine and Meuse both inundate — a place
Fruitful in cattle and all kinds of grain.
And the islanders, who ‘gainst the ocean’s rise
Make high embankments to restrain its ire;
Which, not content with ships and merchandise,
Swallows whole towns, and provinces entire.
XLIV.
Gli uni e gli altri son mille: e tutti vanno
Sotto un altro Roberto insieme a stuolo.
Maggior alquanto è lo squadron Britanno:
348 Guglielmo il regge al Re minor figliuolo.
Sono gl’Inglesi sagittarj, ed hanno
Gente con lor, ch’è più vicina al polo.
Questi dall’alte selve irsuti manda
352 La divisa dal mondo ultima Irlanda.
XLIV
Both in one troop, and but a thousand all,
Under another Robert fierce they run.
Then the English squadron, soldiers stout and tall,
By William led, their sovereign’s younger son,
These archers be, and with them come withal,
A people near the Northern Pole that wone,
Whom Ireland sent from loughs and forests hoar,
Divided far by sea from Europe’s shore.
XLIV
Each is a thousand strong; in one command
Another Robert leads them proudly on.
Somewhat more numerous is the British band.
Led by Prince William, the king’s younger son.
The English bowmen are; with them come friends
Who dwell still nearer the north pole: all these
From her dense woods remote Hibernia sends,
That distant Thule of the northern seas.
XLV.
Vien poi Tancredi; e non è alcun fra tanti
(Tranne Rinaldo) o feritor maggiore,
O più bel di maniere e di sembianti,
356 O più eccelso ed intrepido di core.
S’alcun’ombra di colpa i suoi gran vanti
Rende men chiari, è sol follia d’amore:
Nato fra l’arme, amor di breve vista,
360 Che si nutre d’affanni, e forza acquista.