Jerusalem Delivered
Page 163
Mine be the glory of that virtuous act.”
XXI
Desire it was, amazement, and delight,
If ‘twere not love, that moved his villain breast.
‘Tell all,’ he said, ‘my kingly word I plight
That none of mine the Christians shall molest’
And she, ‘The guilty one before you stands:
I took the image. I am she you seek.
The robbery was committed by these hands;
On me your bloody retribution wreak.’
XXII.
Così al pubblico fato il capo altero
Offerse, e ‘l volle in se sola raccorre.
Magnanima menzogna! or quando è il vero
172 Sì bello, che si possa a te preporre?
Riman sospeso, e non sì tosto il fero
Tiranno all’ira, come suol, trascorre.
Poi la richiede: Io vuo’ che tu mi scopra
176 Chi diè consiglio, e chi fu insieme all’opra.
XXII
This spotless lamb thus offered up her blood,
To save the rest of Christ’s selected fold,
O noble lie! was ever truth so good?
Blest be the lips that such a leasing told:
Thoughtful awhile remained the tyrant wood,
His native wrath he gan a space withhold,
And said, “That thou discover soon I will,
What aid? what counsel had’st thou in that ill?”
XXII
Thus her proud head she gave, in prime of youth,
A ransom for the common fate to be.
O noble glorious Falsehood! Where is Truth
So lovely as to be preferred to thee?
Doubting awhile the cruel king remained,
And longer than his wont from anger freed,
At length resumed, ‘I wish to have explained
Who counselled, and who shared with thee the deed.’
XXIII.
Non volli far della mia gloria altrui
Nè pur minima parte, ella gli dice;
Sol di me stessa io consapevol fui,
180 Sol consigliera, e sola esecutrice.
Dunque in te sola, ripigliò colui,
Caderà l’ira mia vendicatrice.
Disse ella: è giusto; esser a me conviene,
184 Se fui sola all’onor, sola alle pene.
XXIII
“My lofty thoughts,” she answered him, “envied
Another’s hand should work my high desire,
The thirst of glory can no partner bide,
With mine own self I did alone conspire.”
“On thee alone,” the tyrant then replied,
“Shall fall the vengeance of my wrath and ire.”
“’Tis just and right,” quoth she, “I yield consent,
Mine be the honor, mine the punishment.”
XXIII
And she, ‘I would not let another, sire,
Partake my glory in the least degree;
Alone did I with my own self conspire,
Alone I planned and acted.’
‘Then on thee
Alone,’ replied infuriate Aladine,
‘My vengeful wrath shall fall.’ ‘I am content,’
She calmly said, ‘since all the honour is mine,
That I alone should bear the punishment.’
XXIV.
Quì comincia il Tiranno a risdegnarsi;
Poi le dimanda: Ov’hai l’imago ascosa?
Non la nascosi, a lui risponde, io l’arsi;
188 E l’arderla stimai laudabil cosa.
Così almen non potrà più violarsi
Per man de’ miscredenti ingiuriosa.
Signore, o chiedi il furto, o ‘l ladro chiedi;
192 Quel non vedrai in eterno, e questo il vedi.
XXIV
The wretch of new enraged at the same,
Asked where she hid the image so conveyed:
“Not hid,” quoth she, “but quite consumed with flame,
The idol is of that eternal maid,
For so at least I have preserved the same,
With hands profane from being eft betrayed.
My Lord, the thing thus stolen demand no more,
Here see the thief that scorneth death therefor.
XXIV
The tyrant now began with freshened ire,
‘Say where thou didst the accursed image hide.’
‘’Tis not concealed; I cast it in the fire,
And deemed the act most laudable,’ she cried,
‘As thus at least no unbeliever’s hand
Could more profane our Goddess’ sanctity;
If thou the theft — if thou the thief demand,
That thou shalt never — this behold in me;
XXV.
Benchè nè furto è il mio, nè ladra io sono;
Giusto è ritor ciò ch’a gran torto è tolto.
Or questo udendo, in minaccevol suono
196 Freme il Tiranno; e ‘l fren dell’ira è sciolto.
Non speri più di ritrovar perdono
Cor pudíco, alta mente, o nobil volto:
E indarno Amor, contra lo sdegno crudo,
200 Di sua vaga bellezza a lei fa scudo.
XXV
“And yet no theft was this, yours was the sin,
I brought again what you unjustly took.”
This heard, the tyrant did for rage begin
To whet his teeth, and bend his frowning look,
No pity, youth; fairness, no grace could win;
Joy, comfort, hope, the virgin all forsook;
Wrath killed remorse, vengeance stopped mercy’s breath
Love’s thrall to hate, and beauty’s slave to death.
XXV
‘Albeit not mine a theft, nor robber I,
To get back what was wrongfully obtained.’
The king, still more incensed at her reply,
Muttered deep threats, nor more his rage restrained.
Vain are your hopes for grace or pardon now,
Immaculate heart, fair face, exalted mind!
And vainly, Love, against his rancour, thou
An aegis of her beauty hadst designed.
XXVI.
Presa è la bella donna, e incrudelito
Il Re la danna entro un incendio a morte.
Già ‘l velo, e ‘l casto manto è a lei rapito;
204 Stringon le molli braccia aspre ritorte.
Ella si tace; e in lei non sbigottito,
Ma pur commosso alquanto è il petto forte;
E smarrisce il bel volto in un colore,
208 Che non è pallidezza, ma candore.
XXVI
Ta’en was the damsel, and without remorse,
The king condemned her guiltless to the fire,
Her veil and mantle plucked they off by force,
And bound her tender arms in twisted wire:
Dumb was the silver dove, while from her corse
These hungry kites plucked off her rich attire,
And for some deal perplexed was her sprite,
Her damask late, now changed to purest white.
XXVI
Seized is the lovely maid: the cruel king
Condemns to death by fire those peerless charms.
Away her mantle and chaste veil they fling,
And pinion with rough cords her delicate arms.
Silent she was, and if her stout heart grew
Ruffled somewhat, no trace of fear was there.
Her beautiful face now faded to a hue
Which was not pale, but only passing fair.
XXVII.
Divulgossi il gran caso, e quivi tratto
Già ‘l popol s’era: Olindo anco v’accorse;
Dubbia era la persona, e certo il fatto,
212 Venia, che fosse la sua donna in forse.
Come la bella prigionera in atto
Non pur di rea, ma di dannata ei scorse;
Come i ministri al dur
o uficio intenti
216 Vide, precipitoso urtò le genti.
XXVII
The news of this mishap spread far and near,
The people ran, both young and old, to gaze;
Olindo also ran, and gan to fear
His lady was some partner in this case;
But when he found her bound, stript from her gear,
And vile tormentors ready saw in place,
He broke the throng, and into presence brast;
And thus bespake the king in rage and haste:
XXVII
Quick spread the news, and among others drew
Olindo there, and soon a crowd collects;
He the broad fact but not the person knew,
Yet that it is the loved one half suspects.
But when in the act he saw the pinioned fair
Of one not guilty alone, but doomed to die,
And their vile work the officers prepare,
Through the dense crowd he burst, and with a cry,
XXVIII.
Al Re gridò: non è, non è già rea
Costei del furto, e per follia sen vanta.
Non pensò, non ardì, nè far potea
220 Donna sola e inesperta opra cotanta.
Come ingannò i custodi? e della Dea
Con qual’arte involò l’immagin santa?
Se ‘l fece, il narri. Io l’ho, Signor, furata.
224 Ahi tanto amò la non amante amata!
XXXVIII
“Not so, not so this grief shall bear away
From me the honor of so noble feat,
She durst not, did not, could not so convey
The massy substance of that idol great,
What sleight had she the wardens to betray?
What strength to heave the goddess from her seat?
No, no, my Lord, she sails but with my wind.”
Ah, thus he loved, yet was his love unkind!
XXVIII
Screamed to the king, ‘Not she! not she! you err;
She’s guiltless and from vanity vaunts the feat
How could a lone unpractised girl like her,
Plan, dare, or execute a deed so great?
How were the guards deceived, and from the shrine
How was the image of our saint removed?
Let her say how. The theft, O king, was mine.’
Thus deep, alas! the unloved lover loved!
XXIX.
Soggiunse poscia: io là, donde riceve
L’alta vostra Meschita e l’aura e ‘l die;
Di notte ascesi, e trapassai per breve
228 Foro, tentando inaccessibil vie.
A me l’onor, la morte a me si deve;
Non usurpi costei le pene mie.
Mie son quelle catene, e per me questa
232 Fiamma s’accende, e ‘l rogo a me s’appresta.
XXIX
He added further: “Where the shining glass,
Lets in the light amid your temple’s side,
By broken by-ways did I inward pass,
And in that window made a postern wide,
Nor shall therefore this ill-advised lass
Usurp the glory should this fact betide,
Mine be these bonds, mine be these flames so pure,
O glorious death, more glorious sepulture!”
XXIX
Adding, ‘The image from your mosque I stole,
Where it receives the air and light of day;
By night I clomb, and through a little hole
That seemed almost impassable, pushed my way.
As mine the glory was, be mine the pains;
Shall she usurp my martyrdom? this fire
For me ascends to heaven: mine are these chains;
For me alone’s prepared the funeral pyre.’
XXX.
Alza Sofronia il viso, e umanamente
Con occhj di pietade in lui rimira.
A chè ne vieni, o misero innocente?
236 Qual consiglio o furor, ti guida o tira?
Non son’io dunque senza te possente
A sostener ciò che d’un uom può l’ira?
Ho petto anch’io ch’ad una morte crede
240 Di bastar solo, e compagnia non chiede.
XXX
Sophronia raised her modest looks from ground,
And on her lover bent her eyesight mild,
“Tell me, what fury? what conceit unsound
Presenteth here to death so sweet a child?
Is not in me sufficient courage found,
To bear the anger of this tyrant wild?
Or hath fond love thy heart so over-gone?
Wouldst thou not live, nor let me die alone?”
XXX
Sophronia raised her head, and on him bent
Her eyes, where glistened a compassionate tear.
‘What art thou come for, wretched innocent?
What rash resolve, what frenzy guides thee here?
Can I not bear without thy aid the breath
Of man’s vain anger, and despise his power?
I have a heart, too, that makes light of death,
Nor need companion in this fatal hour.’
XXXI.
Parla così all’amante, e nol dispone
Sì ch’egli si disdica, e pensier mute.
O spettacolo grande, ove a tenzone
244 Sono amore e magnanima virtute!
Ove la morte al vincitor si pone
In premio; e ‘l mal del vinto è la salute!
Ma più s’irrita il Re, quant’ella, ed esso
248 È più costante in incolpar se stesso.
XXXI
Thus spake the nymph, yet spake but to the wind,
She could not alter his well-settled thought;
O miracle! O strife of wondrous kind!
Where love and virtue such contention wrought,
Where death the victor had for meed assigned;
Their own neglect, each other’s safety sought;
But thus the king was more provoked to ire,
Their strife for bellows served to anger’s fire.
XXXI
Thus she appealed, but could not cause that he
His words retracted or would change his thought.
Oh noble sight! in such dispute to see
Exalted virtue and affection brought!
Where for the victor the reward is death,
And life is what the vanquished has to fear!
This more provokes the king: as with one breath
To accuse themselves they fondly persevere.
XXXII.
Pargli che vilipeso egli ne resti;
E che’n disprezzo suo sprezzin le pene.
Credasi, dice, ad ambo, e quella e questi
252 Vinca, e la palma sia qual si conviene.
Indi accenna ai sergenti, i quai son presti
A legar il garzon di lor catene.
Sono ambo stretti al palo stesso, e volto
256 È il tergo al tergo, e ‘l volto ascoso al volto.
XXXII
He thinks, such thoughts self-guiltiness finds out,
They scorned his power, and therefore scorned the pain,
“Nay, nay,” quoth he, “let be your strife and doubt,
You both shall win, and fit reward obtain.”
With that the sergeants hent the young man stout,
And bound him likewise in a worthless chain;
Then back to back fast to a stake both ties,
Two harmless turtles dight for sacrifice.
XXXII
It seemed that thus his orders they contemn,
And that in scorn of him they scorn the pain.
‘ — Believed be both,’ he cried, ‘let both of them
Win, and their fitting recompense obtain.’
Then gave the sign; the sergeants were not slack
Around the youth the fatal chain to place.
Both were now bound to the same stake, and back
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sp; To back was turned, and face concealed from face.
XXXIII.
Composto è lor d’intorno il rogo omai,
E già le fiamme il mantice v’incíta:
Quando il fanciullo in dolorosi lai
260 Proruppe, e disse a lei ch’è seco unita:
Questo dunque è quel laccio, ond’io sperai
Teco accoppiarmi in compagnia di vita?
Questo è quel foco, ch’io credea che i cori
264 Ne dovesse infiammar d’eguali ardori?
XXXIII
About the pile of fagots, sticks and hay,
The bellows raised the newly-kindled flame,
When thus Olindo, in a doleful lay,
Begun too late his bootless plaints to frame:
“Be these the bonds? Is this the hoped-for day,
Should join me to this long-desired dame?
Is this the fire alike should burn our hearts?
Ah, hard reward for lovers’ kind desarts!
XXXIII
Round them the pyre stood ready piled, and nursed
Already had the bellows’ breath the flames,
When into piteous plants Olindo burst,
And to his pinioned partner thus exclaims:
‘Are these the bonds, then, that I fondly thought
Would us in life-long company unite?
Are these the flames with which my own heart caught,
I hoped in thine would equal fervour light?
XXXIV.
Altre fiamme, altri nodi Amor promise:
Altri ce n’apparecchia iniqua sorte.
Troppo, ahi ben troppo, ella già noi divise!
268 Ma duramente or ne congiunge in morte.
Piacemi almen, poichè in sì strane guise
Morir pur dei, del rogo esser consorte,
Se del letto non fui: duolmi il tuo fato,
272 Il mio non già, poich’io ti moro a lato.
XXXIV
“Far other flames and bonds kind lovers prove,
But thus our fortune casts the hapless die,
Death hath exchanged again his shafts with love,
And Cupid thus lets borrowed arrows fly.
O Hymen, say, what fury doth thee move
To lend thy lamps to light a tragedy?
Yet this contents me that I die for thee,
Thy flames, not mine, my death and torment be.
XXXIV
‘ — Far other flames Love promised: other knots
Than those thwart Destiny prepared hath.
Too, ah! too long, it has disjoined our lots,