LXXIII.
Chè poichè legge d’onestate, e zelo
Non vuol che quì sì lungamente indugi,
A cui ricorro intanto? ove mi celo?
580 O quai contra il Tiranno avrò rifugj?
Nessun loco sì chiuso è sotto il Cielo,
Ch’a lor non s’apra: or perchè tanti indugj?
Veggio la morte, e se ‘l fuggirla è vano,
584 Incontro a lei n’andrò con questa mano.
LXXIII
“And for the modest lore of maidenhood,
Bids me not sojourn with these armed men,
O whither shall I fly, what secret wood
Shall hide me from the tyrant? or what den,
What rock, what vault, what cave can do me good?
No, no, where death is sure, it resteth then
To scorn his power and be it therefore seen,
Armida lived, and died, both like a queen.”
LXXIII.
‘And since the laws of modesty and zeal
Urge my departure, whither shall I fly,
Where seek asylum, or myself conceal
From the fierce tyrant? Not beneath the sky
A spot so secret does the world contain,
But opes to gold; why then delay should I?
Death faces me, and if escape is vain,
Death I will meet, and by my own hand die.’
LXXIV.
Quì tacque; e parve ch’un regale sdegno
E generoso l’accendesse in vista:
E ‘l piè volgendo, di partir fea segno,
588 Tutta negli atti dispettosa e trista.
Il pianto si spargea senza ritegno,
Com’ira suol produrlo a dolor mista:
E le nascenti lagrime, a vederle,
592 Erano a’ rai del Sol cristalli e perle.
LXXIV
With that she looked as if a proud disdain
Kindled displeasure in her noble mind,
The way she came she turned her steps again,
With gesture sad but in disdainful kind,
A tempest railed down her cheeks amain,
With tears of woe, and sighs of anger’s wind;
The drops her footsteps wash, whereon she treads,
And seems to step on pearls, or crystal beads.
LXXIV.
She ceased: a haughty and magnanimous scorn
Seemed to light up the lovely suppliant’s face,
And as her heel gave signal of return,
Grief and disdain in every move they trace;
Her tears in torrents unobstructed flowed,
Such as from sorrow blent with anger run,
And on her lids the rising tear-drops glowed
Like pearls and crystals glistering in the sun.
LXXV.
Le guance asperse di que’ vivi umori,
Che giù cadean sin della veste al lembo,
Parean vermiglj insieme, e bianchi fiori;
596 Se pur gl’irriga un rugiadoso nembo,
Quando su l’apparir de’ primi albóri
Spiegano all’aure liete il chiuso grembo:
E l’alba che gli mira, e se n’appaga,
600 D’adornarsene il crin diventa vaga.
LXXV
Her cheeks on which this streaming nectar fell,
Stilled through the limbeck of her diamond eyes,
The roses white and red resembled well,
Whereon the rory May-dew sprinkled lies
When the fair morn first blusheth from her cell,
And breatheth balm from opened paradise;
Thus sighed, thus mourned, thus wept this lovely queen,
And in each drop bathed a grace unseen.
LXXV.
Her cheeks, besprinkled with those living showers
That from her bosom trickled to her feet,
Appeared like snowy and vermilion flowers,
With the bright pearls of sparkling May-dew wet,
Which, when Aurora first appears, unfold
Their closed-up petals to the jocund air,
And the dawn looking from her throne of gold,
Longs to enwreathe their treasures in her hair.
LXXVI.
Ma il chiaro umor, che di sì spesse stille
Le belle gote e ‘l seno adorno rende,
Opra effetto di foco, il qual in mille
604 Petti serpe celato, e vi s’apprende.
O miracol d’Amor, che le faville
Tragge del pianto, e i cor nell’acqua accende!
Sempre sovra natura egli ha possanza;
608 Ma in virtù di costei se stesso avanza.
LXXVI
Thrice twenty Cupids unperceived flew
To gather up this liquor, ere it fall,
And of each drop an arrow forged new,
Else, as it came, snatched up the crystal ball,
And at rebellious hearts for wildfire threw.
O wondrous love! thou makest gain of all;
For if she weeping sit, or smiling stand,
She bends thy bow, or kindleth else thy brand.
LXXVI.
But the clear drops that in such ceaseless flow,
Her lovely cheeks and snowy breast adorn,
Produce the effect of subtle fires that glow
In breasts of thousands, and concealed there, burn.
O miracle! that Love draws sparks from tears,
And can by water hearts inflame; alas!
He over nature aye the mastery bears,
But through her beauty doth himself surpass.
LXXVII.
Questo finto dolor da molti elíce
Lagrime vere, e i cor più duri spetra.
Ciascun con lei s’affligge, e fra se dice:
612 Se mercè da Goffredo or non impetra,
Ben fu rabbiosa tigre a lui nutrice,
E ‘l produsse in aspr’alpe orrida pietra,
O l’onda che nel mar si frange e spuma:
616 Crudel, che tal beltà turba e consuma.
LXXVII
This forged plaint drew forth unfeigned tears
From many eyes, and pierced each worthy’s heart;
Each one condoleth with her that her hears,
And of her grief would help her bear the smart:
If Godfrey aid her not, not one but swears
Some tigress gave him suck on roughest part
Midst the rude crags, on Alpine cliffs aloft:
Hard is that heart which beauty makes not soft.
LXXVII.
This counterfeited grief from many eyes
Draws real tears, and melts the hardest heart;
Each is affected, and within him cries,
‘If aid Prince Godfred doth not now impart,
Surely fierce tigress was his nurse, and he
‘Mid Alpine crags of flinty stone was born,
Or ‘mid the foaming billows of the sea;
Cruel! to let such beauty vainly mourn.’
LXXVIII.
Ma il giovinetto Eustazio, in cui la face
Di pietade e d’amore è più fervente,
Mentre bisbiglia ciascun altro, e tace,
620 Si tragge avanti, e parla audacemente:
O germano e Signor, troppo tenace
Del suo primo proposto è la tua mente;
Se al consenso comun che brama e prega,
624 Arrendevole alquanto or non si piega.
LXXVIII
But jolly Eustace, in whose breast the brand
Of love and pity kindled had the flame,
While others softly whispered underhand,
Before the duke with comely boldness came:
“Brother and lord,” quoth he, “too long you stand
In your first purpose, yet vouchsafe to frame
Your thoughts to ours, and lend this virgin aid:
Thanks are half lost when good turns are delayed.
LXXVIII.
But youthful Eustace, in whose heart the flame
Of love and pity greater warmth awoke,
While others whisper, nor their thoughts proclaim,
Stept proudly forward and thus boldly spoke:
‘My liege and brother, thy unswerving breast
Too closely to its first intent adheres,
Thus to refuse the wishes of the rest,
Nor yield a little to our common prayers.
LXXIX.
Non dico io già, che i Principi, che a cura
Si stanno quì de’ popoli soggetti,
Torcano il piè dalle oppugnate mura,
628 E sian gli uficj lor da lor negletti:
Ma fra noi che guerrier siam di ventura,
Senza alcun proprio peso, e meno astretti
Alle leggi degli altri, elegger diece
632 Difensori del giusto a te ben lece.
LXXIX
“And think not that Eustace’s talk assays
To turn these forces from this present war,
Or that I wish you should your armies raise
From Sion’s walls, my speech tends not so far:
But we that venture all for fame and praise,
That to no charge nor service bounden are,
Forth of our troop may ten well spared be
To succor her, which naught can weaken thee.
LXXIX.
‘I do not say that chiefs, upon whom falls
The care of subject hosts of soldiery,
Should turn their backs on these beleaguered walls,
Or that their duties should neglected be;
But among us Adventurers, who bear
No personal charge, and are less bound by laws,
‘Twere well befitting thy imperial care
To choose ten champions in so just a cause.
LXXX.
Ch’al servigio di Dio già non si toglie
L’uom ch’innocente vergine difende;
Ed assai care al Ciel son quelle spoglie,
636 Che d’ucciso tiranno altri gli appende.
Quando dunque all’impresa or non m’invoglie
Quell’util certo che da lei s’attende,
Mi ci move il dover, ch’a dar tenuto
640 È l’ordin nostro alle donzelle ajuto.
LXXX
“And know, they shall in God’s high service fight,
That virgins innocent save and defend:
Dear will the spoils be in the Heaven’s sight,
That from a tyrant’s hateful head we rend:
Nor seemed I forward in this lady’s right,
With hope of gain or profit in the end;
But for I know he arms unworthy bears,
To help a maiden’s cause that shuns or fears.
LXXX.
‘Still in the service of his God he toils,
Who draws his sword the guiltless to defend,
And in His sight how precious are the spoils
That, wrung from slaughtered tyrants, we suspend.
But though I put completely out of sight
The advantage that this emprise had repaid,
Still duty calls me: I were recreant knight,
E’er to refuse a helpless damsel aid.
LXXXI.
Ah non sia ver, per Dio, che si ridica
In Francia, o dove in pregio è cortesia,
Che si fugga da noi rischio o fatica
644 Per cagion così giusta, e così pia.
Io per me quì depongo elmo e lorica:
Quì mi scingo la spada, e più non fia
Ch’adopri indegnamente arme o destriero,
648 O ‘l nome usurpi mai di cavaliero.
LXXXI
“Ah! be it not pardie declared in France,
Or elsewhere told where courtesy is in prize,
That we forsook so fair a chevisance,
For doubt or fear that might from fight arise;
Else, here surrender I both sword and lance,
And swear no more to use this martial guise;
For ill deserves he to be termed a knight,
That bears a blunt sword in a lady’s right.”
LXXXI.
‘And Heaven forbid it were proclaimed in France,
Or where’er else are valued honour’s laws,
That, false knights, we refused to break a lance
In such a sacred and so just a cause!
I, for my part, cast helm and mail aside,
My stainless sword ungird, for I will ne’er
Unworthily bear arms or steed bestride,
Or more usurp the name of cavalier.’
LXXXII.
Così favella, e seco in chiaro suono
Tutto l’ordine suo concorde freme;
E chiamando il consiglio utile e buono,
652 Co’ preghi il Capitan circonda e preme.
Cedo, egli disse allora, e vinto sono
Al concorso di tanti uniti insieme.
Abbia, se parvi, il chiesto don costei,
656 Dai vostri si, non dai consiglj miei.
LXXXII
Thus parleyed he, and with confused sound,
The rest approved what the gallant said,
Their general their knights encompassed round,
With humble grace, and earnest suit they prayed:
“I yield,” quoth he, “and it be happy found,
What I have granted, let her have your aid:
Yours be the thanks, for yours the danger is,
If aught succeed, as much I fear, amiss.
LXXXII.
Thus spake, and all the ranks of chivalry,
Deeming his counsel worthy and most meet,
Shout loud assent, and with concordant cry,
Press round the captain and his grace entreat.
‘I yield,’ he said at length, ‘nor can refuse
Where all with such unanimous voice combine;
Let her obtain this favour, if you choose,
From your opinion, since opposed is mine.
LXXXIII.
Ma se Goffredo di credenza alquanto
Pur trova in voi, temprate i vostri affetti.
Tanto sol disse; e basta lor ben tanto,
660 Perchè ciascun quel ch’ei concede, accetti.
Or chè non può di bella donna il pianto,
Ed in lingua amorosa i dolci detti?
Esce da vaghe labbra aurea catena,
664 Che l’alme a suo voler prende ed affrena.
LXXXIII
“But if with you my words may credit find,
Oh temper then this heat misguides you so!”
Thus much he said, but they with fancy blind,
Accept his grant, and let his counsel go.
What works not beauty, man’s relenting mind
Is eath to move with plaints and shows of woe:
Her lips cast forth a chain of sugared words,
That captive led most of the Christian lords.
LXXXIII.
‘But if ye still to Godfred’s voice give heed,
Temper your transports, nor thus wildly rave.’
Nor uttered more — enough ’twas to concede —
All were contented with the boon he gave.
What cannot thus fair woman’s tears obtain,
What the sweet accents of her siren tongue?
From beauty’s lips proceeds a golden chain
That in its trammels fetters old and young.
LXXXIV.
Eustazio lei richiama, e dice: omai
Cessi, vaga donzella, il tuo dolore:
Chè tal da noi soccorso in breve avrai,
668 Qual par che più richiegga il tuo timore.
Serenò allora i nubilosi rai
Armida, e sì ridente apparve fuore,
Ch’innamorò di sue bellezze il Cielo,
672 Asciugandosi gli occhj col bel velo.
LXXXIV
Eustace recalled her, and bespake her thus:
“Beauty’s chief darling, let those sorrows be,
For such
assistance shall you find in us
As with your need, or will, may best agree:”
With that she cheered her forehead dolorous,
And smiled for joy, that Phoebus blushed to see,
And had she deigned her veil for to remove,
The God himself once more had fallen in love.
LXXXIV.
Eustace at this recalled the lovely maid.
‘Thy sorrow cease,’ he said, ‘and dry thy tears,
Since we will give thee such immediate aid
As seems most needful to dispel thy fears.’
At once Armida’s cloudy looks subside,
While such a sunny smile her aspect warms,
That, as her eyes with her fair veil she dried,
The heavens became enamoured of her charms.
LXXXV.
Rendè lor poscia in dolci e care note
Grazie per l’alte grazie a lei concesse,
Mostrando che sariano al mondo note
676 Mai sempre, e sempre nel suo core impresse:
E ciò che lingua esprimer ben non puote,
Muta eloquenza ne’ suoi gesti espresse:
E celò sì sotto mentito aspetto
680 Il suo pensier, ch’altrui non diè sospetto.
LXXXV
With that she broke the silence once again,
And gave the knight great thanks in little speech,
She said she would his handmaid poor remain,
So far as honor’s laws received no breach.
Her humble gestures made the residue plain,
Dumb eloquence, persuading more than speech:
Thus women know, and thus they use the guise,
To enchant the valiant, and beguile the wise.
LXXXV.
She then returned, in sweet and gentle tone,
Thanks for such ample measure of their grace,
Saying it should to the whole world be known,
And in her heart retain a lasting place.
Her looks with voiceless eloquence revealed
All that her tongue failed fully to express,
And so her thoughts beneath false face concealed,
That there were none suspected the princess.
LXXXVI.
Quinci vedendo che furtuna arriso
Al gran principio di sue frodi avea,
Prima che ‘l suo pensier le sia preciso,
684 Dispon di trarre al fine opra sì rea;
E far con gli atti dolci, e col bel viso,
Più che con l’arti lor Circe o Medea;
E in voce di Sirena, ai suoi concenti
Jerusalem Delivered Page 180
