Jerusalem Delivered

by Torquato Tasso

  VIII

  When Phoebus next unclosed his wakeful eye,

  Up rose the sexton of that place profane,

  And missed the image, where it used to lie,

  Each where he sough in grief, in fear, in vain;

  Then to the king his loss he gan descry,

  Who sore enraged killed him for his pain;

  And straight conceived in his malicious wit,

  Some Christian bade this great offence commit.

  VIII

  But when in heaven appeared the morrow’s light,

  The guard in charge of the polluted fane,

  Not seeing the image where ’twas placed last night,

  And searching for it on all sides in vain,

  Informed the king, who at the tidings grew

  Like one of reason suddenly bereft,

  And justly deemed it was some Christian, who

  Committed had and then concealed the theft.

  IX.

  O fu di man fedele opra furtiva,

  O pur il Ciel quì sua potenza adopra:

  Che di colei ch’è sua Regina e diva,

  68 Sdegna che loco vil l’immagin copra:

  Ch’incerta fama è ancor, se ciò s’ascriva

  Ad arte umana, od a mirabil’opra.

  Ben è pietà, che la pietade e ‘l zelo

  72 Uman cedendo, autor sen creda il Cielo.

  IX

  But whether this were act of mortal hand,

  Or else the Prince of Heaven’s eternal pleasure,

  That of his mercy would this wretch withstand,

  Nor let so vile a chest hold such a treasure,

  As yet conjecture hath not fully scanned;

  By godliness let us this action measure,

  And truth of purest faith will fitly prove

  That this rare grace came down from Heaven above.

  IX

  Whether it were the work of Christian guile,

  Or Heaven did with its influence intervene,

  Indignant that receptacle so vile

  Should harbour her, its Goddess and its Queen,

  Is doubtful still, and it were hard to say

  If the deed should to man or God be given;

  But it is piety — man giving way —

  To ascribe its dubious authorship to Heaven.

  X.

  Il Re ne fa con importuna inchiesta

  Ricercar ogni chiesa, ogni magione:

  Ed a chi gli nasconde, o manifesta

  76 Il furto o il reo, gran pene, e premj impone.

  E’l Mago di spiarne anco non resta

  Con tutte l’arti il ver; ma non s’appone:

  Chè ‘l Cielo (opra sua fosse, o fosse altrui)

  80 Celolla, ad onta degl’incanti, a lui.

  X

  With busy search the tyrant gan to invade

  Each house, each hold, each temple and each tent

  To them the fault or faulty one bewrayed

  Or hid, he promised gifts or punishment,

  His idle charms the false enchanter said,

  But in this maze still wandered and miswent,

  For Heaven decreed to conceal the same,

  To make the miscreant more to feel his shame.

  X

  The king then made them search on every side,

  Each church, each private dwelling, and awards

  Torture to those that did the image hide,

  And for the informer liberal rewards;

  And the magician left unturned no stone

  The truth to fathom, but could not succeed;

  Since, were the act of mortal or its own,

  Heaven, spite of all his spells, concealed the deed.

  XI.

  Ma poichè ‘l Re crudel vide occultarse

  Quel che peccato de’ fedeli ei pensa;

  Tutto in lor d’odio infellonissi, ed arse

  84 D’ira, e di rabbia immoderata immensa.

  Ogni rispetto obblia; vuol vendicarse,

  (Segua che puote) e sfogar l’alma accensa:

  Morrà, dicea, non andrà l’ira a voto,

  88 Nella strage comune il ladro ignoto.

  XI

  But when the angry king discovered not

  What guilty hand this sacrilege had wrought,

  His ireful courage boiled in vengeance hot

  Against the Christians, whom he faulters thought;

  All ruth, compassion, mercy he forgot,

  A staff to beat that dog he long had sought,

  “Let them all die,” quoth he, “kill great and small,

  So shall the offender perish sure withal.

  XI

  But when the cruel king perceived that they

  Hid what he deemed the Christians’ crime, he turned

  On them his hate, cast all respect away,

  And with intense immoderate anger burned.

  ‘Revenge myself,’ the tyrant cried, ‘will I,

  And wreak my fury, let what will befall;

  Provided that the unknown robber die,

  In one wide ruin let them perish all.

  XII.

  Purchè ‘l reo non si salvi, il giusto pera

  E l’innocente. Ma qual giusto io dico?

  È colpevol ciascun, nè in loro schiera

  92 Uom fu giammai del nostro nome amico.

  S’anima v’è nel novo error sincera,

  Basti a novella pena un fallo antico.

  Su, su, fedeli miei, su via prendete

  96 Le fiamme, e ‘l ferro, ardete, ed uccidete.

  XII

  “To spill the wine with poison mixed with spares?

  Slay then the righteous with the faulty one,

  Destroy this field that yieldeth naught but tares,

  With thorns this vineyard all is over-gone,

  Among these wretches is not one, that cares

  For us, our laws, or our religion;

  Up, up, dear subjects, fire and weapon take,

  Burn, murder, kill these traitors for my sake.”

  XII

  ‘To find the guilty let the guiltless die,

  The just and innocent. But whom call just?

  They are guilty all, nor is there one that I

  Of the whole brood could ever love or trust:

  And even if any of this crime be clear,

  Let these new pains for old offences pay.

  Up, up, my faithful, up! Why linger here?

  Up, up — with fire and sword consume and slay.’

  XIII.

  Così parla alle turbe, e se n’intese

  La fama tra’ fedeli immantinente,

  Ch’attoniti restar, sì gli sorprese

  100 Il timor della morte omai presente.

  E non è chi la fuga o le difese,

  Lo scusare o ‘l pregare ardisca, o tente;

  Ma le timide genti e irresolute,

  104 Donde meno speraro ebber salute.

  XIII

  This Herod thus would Bethlem’s infants kill,

  The Christians soon this direful news receave,

  The trump of death sounds in their hearing shrill,

  Their weapon, faith; their fortress, was the grave;

  They had no courage, time, device, or will,

  To fight, to fly, excuse, or pardon crave,

  But stood prepared to die, yet help they find,

  Whence least they hope, such knots can Heaven unbind.

  XIII

  Thus to the crowd did he his venom vent,

  And swift the tidings ‘mong the Faithful flew,

  Who were bewildered at the imminent

  Terror of death presented to their view.

  None tried defence or flight — none sought for grace

  Or proffered supplication. But released

  In a strange manner was that timid race,

  And safety found, where it could hope for least.

  XIV.

  Vergine era fra lor di già matura

  Verginità, d’alti pe
nsieri e regj:

  D’alta beltà, ma sua beltà non cura,

  108 O tanto sol quant’onestà sen fregi.

  È il suo pregio maggior, che tra le mura

  D’angusta casa asconde i suoi gran pregj:

  E de’ vagheggiatori ella s’invola

  112 Alle lodi, agli sguardi, inculta e sola.

  XIV

  Among them dwelt, her parents’ joy and pleasure,

  A maid, whose fruit was ripe, not over-yeared,

  Her beauty was her not esteemed treasure;

  The field of love with plough of virtue eared,

  Her labor goodness; godliness her leisure;

  Her house the heaven by this full moon aye cleared,

  For there, from lovers’ eyes withdrawn, alone

  With virgin beams this spotless Cynthia shone.

  XIV

  In maiden prime there dwelt a maiden there

  High-souled and passing beautiful; but she

  Seemed for her peerless beauty not to care,

  Or only as adorning modesty:

  And to her greater merit she withdrew,

  And hid her merits beneath humble roof;

  Away from glances of gallants she flew,

  And from their honeyed words remained aloof.

  XV.

  Pur guardia esser non può che’n tutto celi

  Beltà degna ch’appaja, e che s’ammiri:

  Nè tu il consenti, Amor; ma la riveli

  116 D’un giovenetto ai cupidi desiri.

  Amor, ch’or cieco, or Argo, ora ne veli

  Di benda gli occhj, ora ce gli apri e giri;

  Tu per mille custodie entro ai più casti

  120 Verginei alberghi il guardo altrui portasti.

  XV

  But what availed her resolution chaste,

  Whose soberest looks were whetstones to desire?

  Nor love consents that beauty’s field lie waste,

  Her visage set Olindo’s heart on fire,

  O subtle love, a thousand wiles thou hast,

  By humble suit, by service, or by hire,

  To win a maiden’s hold, a thing soon done,

  For nature framed all women to be won.

  XV

  But beauty cannot wholly be concealed,

  Beauty which but to see is to admire:

  Nor e’en had Love consented, who revealed

  Her charms and did a youthful bosom fire.

  Cupid! who blind at times now Argus art,

  Dost ope and turn, and now blindfold’st the eyes,

  Through thee to maiden’s bower, most vestal part,

  Past thousand guards the glance of lover flies.

  XVI.

  Colei Sofronia, Olindo egli s’appella,

  D’una cittade entrambi, e d’una fede.

  Ei che modesto è sì, com’essa è bella,

  124 Brama assai, poco spera, e nulla chiede;

  Nè sa scoprirsi, o non ardisce: ed ella

  O lo sprezza, o nol vede, o non s’avvede.

  Così finora il misero ha servito

  128 O non visto, o mal noto, o mal gradito.

  XVI

  Sophronia she, Olindo hight the youth,

  Both or one town, both in one faith were taught,

  She fair, he full of bashfulness and truth,

  Loved much, hoped little, and desired nought,

  He durst not speak by suit to purchase ruth,

  She saw not, marked not, wist not what he sought,

  Thus loved, thus served he long, but not regarded,

  Unseen, unmarked, unpitied, unrewarded.

  XVI

  Sophronia she, Olindo he: they were

  Both of one town, in common creed both taught;

  He was as modest as the maid was fair,

  Much wished, hoped little, and demanded nought,

  Nor dared, or knew not how his love to tell;

  She spurned or saw him not, or nought perceived.

  This hitherto is what the youth befell;

  Unseen, unknown, or was but ill received

  XVII.

  S’ode l’annunzio intanto, e che s’appresta

  Miserabile strage al popol loro.

  A lei che generosa è quanto onesta,

  132 Viene in pensier come salvar costoro.

  Move fortezza il gran pensier; l’arresta

  Poi la vergogna, e ‘l virginal decoro.

  Vince fortezza, anzi s’accorda, e face

  136 Sè vergognosa, e la vergogna audace.

  XVII

  To her came message of the murderment,

  Wherein her guiltless friends should hopeless starve,

  She that was noble, wise, as fair and gent,

  Cast how she might their harmless lives preserve,

  Zeal was the spring whence flowed her hardiment,

  From maiden shame yet was she loth to swerve:

  Yet had her courage ta’en so sure a hold,

  That boldness, shamefaced; shame had made her bold.

  XVII

  Meantime was spread abroad the dire decree

  That doomed the Christians to a dreadful death;

  When, no less generous than modest, she

  Resolved to save the sharers of her faith.

  Virtue this great thought wakened, but was stayed

  By virginal propriety and shame,

  But virtue won, nay, joined with it and made

  Itself ashamed, while daring shame became.

  XVIII.

  La vergine tra ‘l volgo uscì soletta,

  Non coprì sue bellezze, e non l’espose;

  Raccolse gli occhj, andò nel vel ristretta,

  140 Con ischive maniere, e generose.

  Non sai ben dir, s’adorna, o se negletta,

  Se caso, od arte il bel volto compose;

  Di Natura, d’Amor, de’ Cieli amici

  144 Le negligenze sue sono artificj.

  XVIII

  And forth she went, a shop for merchandise

  Full of rich stuff, but none for sale exposed,

  A veil obscured the sunshine of her eyes,

  The rose within herself her sweetness closed,

  Each ornament about her seemly lies,

  By curious chance, or careless art, composed;

  For what the most neglects, most curious prove,

  So Beauty’s helped by Nature, Heaven, and Love.

  XVIII

  Thro’ the dense crowds the maid walked forth alone,

  Nor did her loveliness expose nor hide:

  Wrapt in a veil she went, with eyes cast down,

  Distant her manner was and dignified.

  ‘Twere hard to say if study or neglect,

  If art or chance her lovely face composed;

  Her seeming negligence appeared effect

  By nature, love, and friendly Heaven disposed.

  XIX.

  Mirata da ciascun passa, e non mira

  L’altera donna, e innanzi al Re sen viene;

  Nè perchè irato il veggia, il piè ritira,

  148 Ma il fero aspetto intrepida sostiene.

  Vengo, Signor (gli disse) e ‘ntanto l’ira

  Prego sospenda, e ‘l tuo popolo affrene:

  Vengo a scoprirti, e vengo a darti preso

  152 Quel reo che cerchi, onde sei tanto offeso.

  XIX

  Admired of all, on went this noble maid,

  Until the presence of the king she gained,

  Nor for he swelled with ire was she afraid,

  But his fierce wrath with fearless grace sustained,

  “I come,” quoth she, “but be thine anger stayed,

  And causeless rage ‘gainst faultless souls restrained —

  I come to show thee, and to bring thee both,

  The wight whose fact hath made thy heart so wroth.”

  XIX

  Gazed at by all, on passes without heed

  The high-souled dame, and the king’s presence gains,

  Nor tho’ hi
s looks breathe fury, would recede,

  But without flinching his fierce look sustains.

  ‘I come,’ she said ‘(but first, O mighty king,

  Restrain thy minions and thy wrath assuage),

  I come to name, and in thy presence bring

  Secured, the culprit who has roused thy rage.’

  XX.

  All’onesta baldanza, all’improvviso

  Folgorar di bellezze altere e sante,

  Quasi confuso il Re, quasi conquiso,

  156 Frenò lo sdegno, e placò il fier sembiante.

  S’egli era d’alma, o se costei di viso

  Severa manco, ei diveniane amante;

  Ma ritrosa beltà ritroso core

  160 Non prende: e sono i vezzi esca d’Amore.

  XX

  Her molest boldness, and that lightning ray

  Which her sweet beauty streamed on his face,

  Had struck the prince with wonder and dismay,

  Changed his cheer, and cleared his moody grace,

  That had her eyes disposed their looks to play,

  The king had snared been in love’s strong lace;

  But wayward beauty doth not fancy move,

  A frown forbids, a smile engendereth love.

  XX

  Her modest boldness, and the light that flashed

  From her majestic, saint-like loveliness,

  Almost o’ercame the tyrant, who abashed,

  Smoothed his fierce brow, and did his wrath repress.

  Then, had he been less stern, or she possessed

  Aspect less stem, his heart had been subdued;

  But haughty beauty wins not haughty breast,

  Endearments are Love’s appetising food.

  XXI.

  Fu stupor, fu vaghezza, e fu diletto,

  S’amor non fu, che mosse il cor villano.

  Narra (ei le dice) il tutto: ecco io commetto,

  164 Che non s’offenda il popol tuo Cristiano.

  Ed ella: il reo si trova al tuo cospetto:

  Opra è il furto, Signor, di questa mano:

  Io l’immagine tolsi: io son colei,

  168 Che tu ricerchi, e me punir tu dei.

  XXI

  It was amazement, wonder and delight,

  Although not love, that moved his cruel sense;

  “Tell on,” quoth he, “unfold the chance aright,

  Thy people’s lives I grant for recompense.”

  Then she, “Behold the faulter here in sight,

  This hand committed that supposed offence,

  I took the image, mine that fault, that fact,