Jerusalem Delivered
Page 168
To thwart us further in our enterprise,
And his own subjects rule in tranquil peace.’
LXXXVIII.
Così rispose, e di pungente rabbia
La risposta ad Argante il cor trafisse:
Nè ‘l celò già, ma con enfiate labbia
700 Si trasse avanti al Capitano, e disse:
Chi la pace non vuol, la guerra s’abbia;
Chè penuria giammai non fu di risse:
E ben la pace ricusar tu mostri,
704 Se non t’acqueti ai primi detti nostri.
LXXXVIII
This answer given, Argantes wild drew nar,
Trembling for ire, and waxing pale for rage,
Nor could he hold, his wrath increased so far,
But thus inflamed bespake the captain sage:
“Who scorneth peace shall have his fill of war,
I thought my wisdom should thy fury ‘suage,
But well you show what joy you take in fight,
Which makes you prize our love and friendship light.”
LXXXVIII
Stung was Arganté to the very core
At Godfrey’s answer; nor could longer hide
His rampant fury, but advanced before
The captain, and with tumid lips replied:
‘Who wills not peace shall have his glut of war;
There lack not causes to unsheathe the sword.
All thoughts of peace thou must indeed abhor,
To slight the terms now offered by our lord.’
LXXXIX.
Indi il suo manto per lo lembo prese,
Curvollo, e fenne un seno, e ‘l seno sporto,
Così pur anco a ragionar riprese,
708 Via più che prima dispettoso e torto:
O sprezzator delle più dubbie imprese,
E guerra, e pace in questo sen t’apporto:
Tua sia l’elezione; or ti consiglia
712 Senz’altro indugio, e qual più vuoi, ti piglia.
LXXXIX
This said, he took his mantle’s foremost part,
And gan the same together fold and wrap;
Then spake again with fell and spiteful heart,
So lions roar enclosed in train or trap,
“Thou proud despiser of inconstant mart,
I bring thee war and peace closed in this lap,
Take quickly one, thou hast no time to muse;
If peace, we rest, we fight, if war thou choose.”
LXXXIX
Then took his mantle by the skirt, and made
With it an urn, which he held forth and burst
Into still greater fury, and inveighed
In tones still more despiteful than at first:
‘Thou who success wouldst hazard on a die,
Lo, War and Peace within this urn I bear.
Thine the selection be — quick, quick reply!
Take which thou wilt, and further parley spare.’
XC.
L’atto fiero, e ‘l parlar tutti commosse
A chiamar guerra in un concorde grido;
Non attendendo che risposto fosse
716 Dal magnanimo lor Duce Goffrido.
Spiegò quel crudo il seno, e ‘l manto scosse,
Ed a guerra mortal, disse, vi sfido.
E ‘l disse in atto sì feroce ed empio,
720 Che parve aprir di Giano il chiuso tempio.
XC
His semblance fierce and speechless proud, provoke
The soldiers all, “War, war,” at once to cry,
Nor could they tarry till their chieftain spoke,
But for the knight was more inflamed hereby,
His lap he opened and spread forth his cloak:
“To mortal wars,” he says, “I you defy;”
And this he uttered with fell rage and hate,
And seemed of Janus’ church to undo the gate.
XC
His taunting attitude and words moved all
To shout for ‘War’ with simultaneous cry.
They paused not even for their general,
The chivalrous Prince Godfrey, to reply.
Unfolding then the urn, he shook his cloak:
‘To mortal war I challenge you,’ he cried,
And with such fierce and impious gesture spoke,
That Janus’ portals seemed to open wide.
XCI.
Parve ch’aprendo il seno, indi traesse
Il furor pazzo, e la discordia fera;
E che ne gli occhj orribili gli ardesse
724 La gran face d’Aletto e di Megera.
Quel grande già, che incontra il cielo eresse
L’alta mole d’error, forse tal era;
E in cotal atto il rimirò Babelle
728 Alzar la fronte, e minacciar le stelle.
XCI
It seemed fury, discord, madness fell
Flew from his lap, when he unfolds the same;
His glaring eyes with anger’s venom swell,
And like the brand of foul Alecto flame,
He looked like huge Tiphoius loosed from hell
Again to shake heaven’s everlasting frame,
Or him that built the tower of Shinaar,
Which threat’neth battle ‘gainst the morning star.
XCI
It seemed he poured forth from the fatal urn
Fierce Discord and mad Fury on the land,
And seemed in his malignant eyes to bum
Alecto’s and Megæra’s flaming brand.
Such looked that mighty one, who to the skies
Erected Error’s giant pile, and even
So Babel saw his proud defiant eyes
Menace with scornful look the unheeding Heaven.
XCII.
Soggiunse allor Goffredo: Or riportate
Al vostro Re che venga e che s’affretti;
Chè la guerra accettiam che minacciate:
732 E s’ei non vien, fra ‘l Nilo suo n’aspetti.
Accommiatò lor poscia in dolci e grate
Maniere, e gli onorò di doni eletti:
Ricchissimo ad Alete un elmo diede,
736 Ch’a Nicea conquistò fra l’altre prede.
XCII
Godfredo then: “Depart, and bid your king
Haste hitherward, or else within short while, —
For gladly we accept the war you bring, —
Let him expect us on the banks of Nile.”
He entertained them then with banqueting,
And gifts presented to those Pagans vile;
Aletes had a helmet, rich and gay,
Late found at Nice among the conquered prey.
XCII
Then Godfrey added: ‘To your king repair
With this my answer, that he come; meanwhile
Accepted is the war which ye declare,
And should he fail, to expect us at the Nile.’
He then dismissed them in most courteous guise,
And honoured them with gifts of choice display:
To Alethes gave a helmet — a rich prize,
Seized at Nicea with the other prey.
XCIII.
Ebbe Argante una spada, e ‘l fabro egregio
L’else e ‘l pomo le fè gemmato, e d’oro,
Con magisterio tal che perde il pregio
740 Della ricca materia appo il lavoro.
Poi che la tempra, e la ricchezza e ‘l fregio,
Sottilmente da lui mirati foro,
Disse Argante al Buglion: vedrai ben tosto
744 Come da me il tuo dono in uso è posto.
XCIII
Argant a sword, whereof the web was steel,
Pommel, rich stone; hilt gold; approved by touch
With rarest workmanship all forged weel,
The curious art excelled the substance much:
Thus fair, rich, sharp, to see, to have, to feel,
Glad was the Paynim to enjoy it such,
And said, “How I this gift can use and wie
ld,
Soon shall you see, when first we meet in field.”
XCIII
A sword upon Arganté he bestowed,
Whose hilt with gold and jewels was embossed;
And tho’ with lavish brilliancy it glowed,
Its value in the workmanship was lost.
But when he had examined narrowly
How rich the sheath was, and the blade how fine,
He said to Godfrey: ‘Thou wilt shortly see
How I will use this precious gift of thine,’
XCIV.
Indi tolto congedo, e da lui ditto
Al suo compagno, or ce n’andremo omai,
Io ver Gerusalem, tu verso Egitto,
748 Tu col sol nuovo, io co’ notturni rai,
Ch’uopo di mia presenza, o di mio scritto
Essere non può colà dove tu vai;
Reca tu la risposta, io dilungarmi
752 Quinci non vuò, dove si trattan l’armi.
XCIV
Thus took they congee, and the angry knight
Thus to his fellow parleyed on the way,
“Go thou by day, but let me walk by night,
Go thou to Egypt, I at Sion stay,
The answer given thou canst unfold aright,
No need of me, what I can do or say,
Among these arms I will go wreak my spite;
Let Paris court it, Hector loved to fight.”
XCIV
He then took leave, and to his comrade—’ Now
Let us set off at once, our mission done,
I towards Jerusalem, towards Egypt thou;
I at eve’s close, and thou at rise of sun.
No need there is of me or of my art,
Where thou returnest to spread war’s alarms;
Bear thou the answer then: I’ll not depart
When honour, trumpet-tongued, invites to arms.’
XCV.
Così di messaggier fatto è nemico;
Sia fretta intempestiva o sia matura,
La ragion delle genti, e l’uso antico
756 S’offenda o no, ne ‘l pensa egli, ne ‘l cura:
Senza risposta aver va per l’amico
Silenzio delle stelle all’alte mura,
D’indugio impaziente; ed a chi resta
760 Già non men la dimora anco è molesta.
XCV
Thus he who late arrived a messenger
Departs a foe, in act, in word, in thought,
The law of nations or the lore of war,
If he transgresses or no, he recketh naught,
Thus parted they, and ere he wandered far
The friendly star-light to the walls him brought:
Yet his fell heart thought long that little way,
Grieved with each stop, tormented with each stay.
XCV
Arrived ambassador, he leaves as foe.
Was it a timely or untimely haste
That had offended ancient use, or no?
He recks not, nor a single thought doth waste,
Nor heeds reply; but, chafing at delay,
By friendly silence of the stars proceeds
To the high ramparts; while no less their stay
Ill borne impatience in the army breeds.
XCVI.
Era la notte allor ch’alto riposo
Han l’onde e i venti, e parea muto il mondo,
Gli animai lassi, e quei che ‘l mare ondoso,
764 O de’ liquidi laghi alberga il fondo,
E chi si giace in tana, o in mandra ascoso,
E i pinti augelli nell’oblio giocondo
Sotto il silenzio de’ secreti orrori
768 Sopían gli affanni, e raddolciano i cori.
XCVI
Now spread the night her spangled canopy,
And summoned every restless eye to sleep;
On beds of tender grass the beasts down lie,
The fishes slumbered in the silent deep,
Unheard were serpent’s hiss and dragon’s cry,
Birds left to sing, and Philomen to weep,
Only that noise heaven’s rolling circles kest,
Sung lullaby to bring the world to rest.
XCVI
Tis night! The winds are hushed, the waters still,
And the mute world is wrapped in death-like sleep;
The wearied animals — the fish that fill
Clear lakes, or tenant the unfathomed deep;
The beasts concealed in fold or crouched in lair,
The painted songsters in oblivion gay,
‘Neath the deep horrors of the lightless air
Appease their hearts, and dream their cares away.
XCVII.
Ma ne ‘l campo fedel, ne ‘l Franco Duca
Si discioglie dal sonno, o almen s’accheta;
Tanta in lor cupidigia è che riluca
772 Omai del ciel l’alba aspettata e lieta,
Perchè il cammin lor mostri, e gli conduca
Alla città che al gran passaggio è meta,
Mirando ad or ad or se raggio alcuno
776 Spunti, o rischiari della notte il bruno.
XCVII
Yet neither sleep, nor ease, nor shadows dark,
Could make the faithful camp or captain rest,
They longed to see the day, to hear the lark
Record her hymns and chant her carols blest,
They yearned to view the walls, the wished mark
To which their journeys long they had addressed;
Each heart attends, each longing eye beholds
What beam the eastern window first unfolds.
XCVII
But not the pious chief nor faithful camp
Gives way to sleep, or for a moment rests;
To see the welcome dawn relume her lamp
Creates such longing in their eager breasts
That their approach it might illumined make
To Salem’s walls, the goal of their Crusade:
They watch each moment for one ray to break
And pierce the gloom of night’s invidious shade.
Canto terzo
THIRD BOOK
ARGOMENTO.
Giunge a Gerusalemme il campo: e quivi
In fera guisa è da Clorinda accolto.
Sveglia in Erminia amor Tancredi: e vivi
Fa i proprj incendj al discoprir d’un volto.
Restan gli Avventurier di duce privi:
Ch’un sol colpo d’Argante a lor l’ha tolto.
Pietose essequie fangli. Il pio Buglione,
Ch’antica selva si recida, impone.
THE ARGUMENT.
Clorinda gives them battle, in the breast
Of fair Erminia Tancred’s love revives,
He jousts with her unknown whom he loved best;
Argant th’ adventurers of their guide deprives,
With stately pomp they lay their Lord in chest:
Godfrey commands to cut the forest down,
And make strong engines to assault the town.
I.
Già l’aura messaggiera erasi desta
A nunziar che se ne vien l’aurora:
Ella intanto s’adorna, e l’aurea testa
4 Di rose, colte in Paradiso, infiora;
Quando il campo, ch’ all’arme omai s’appresta,
In voce mormorava alta e sonora,
E prevenia le trombe: e queste poi
8 Dier più lieti e canori i segni suoi.
I
The purple morning left her crimson bed,
And donned her robes of pure vermilion hue,
Her amber locks she crowned with roses red,
In Eden’s flowery gardens gathered new.
When through the camp a murmur shrill was spread,
Arm, arm, they cried; arm, arm, the trumpets blew,
Their merry noise prevents the joyful blast,
So hum small bees, before their swarms they cast.
I
ALREADY
was awake the herald air
To announce that fair Aurora ‘gan to rise,
Who decked herself and wreathed her golden hair
With fresh-blown roses culled in Paradise;
When from the camp, ere yet reveillée rung,
There rose a murmur from the deep-toned throats
Of arming thousands. The shrill trumpet’s tongue
Then pealed forth livelier and more tuneful notes.
II.
Il saggio Capitan con dolce morso
I desiderj lor guida e seconda:
Chè più facil saria svolger il corso
12 Presso Cariddi alla volubil’onda,
O tardar Borea, allor che scuote il dorso
Dell’Apennino, e i legni in mare affonda.
Gli ordina, gl’incammina, e ‘n suon gli regge
16 Rapido sì, ma rapido con legge.
II
Their captain rules their courage, guides their heat,
Their forwardness he stayed with gentle rein;
And yet more easy, haply, were the feat
To stop the current near Charybdis main,
Or calm the blustering winds on mountains great,
Than fierce desires of warlike hearts restrain;
He rules them yet, and ranks them in their haste,
For well he knows disordered speed makes waste.
II
The wise commander with paternal care,
Directs their bent and regulates their force;
Since much more easy near Charybdis ‘twere
To turn the rolling billows from their course,
Or Boreas check when down the Apennines
It sweeps, engulfing vessels in the sea.
He orders, starts, by trumpet rules the lines
Rapidly — still by rule, though rapidly.
III.
Ali ha ciascuno al core, ed ali al piede:
Nè del suo ratto andar però s’accorge.
Ma quando il sol gli aridi campi fiede
20 Con raggj assai ferventi, e in alto sorge;
Ecco apparir Gerusalem si vede:
Ecco additar Gerusalem si scorge:
Ecco da mille voci unitamente
24 Gerusalemme salutar si sente.
III
Feathered their thoughts, their feet in wings were dight,
Swiftly they marched, yet were not tired thereby,
For willing minds make heaviest burdens light.
But when the gliding sun was mounted high,