Or sound one trumpet shrill to break their sleep.
III.
‘And pray, how long, cooped up in jail like this,
Must we endure a slow disgraceful siege?
I hear indeed the glowing anvils hiss,
And ring of corslet, casque, and shield, my liege,
But see not to what use. These robbers prance
At their free will through all the burghs and plains;
Nor is there one dare check their bold advance,
Or break their slumbers with the clarion’s strains.
IV.
A lor nè i prandj mai turbati e rotti,
Nè molestate son le cene liete;
Anzi egualmente i dì lunghi, e le notti
28 Traggon con sicurezza e con quiete.
Voi da i disagj, e dalla fame indotti
A darvi vinti a lungo andar sarete,
Od a morirne quì come codardi,
32 Quando d’Egitto pur l’ajuto tardi.
IV
“Their time in feasting and good cheer they spend,
Nor dare we once their banquets sweet molest,
The days and night likewise they bring to end,
In peace, assurance, quiet, ease and rest;
But we must yield whom hunger soon will shend,
And make for peace, to save our lives, request,
Else, if th’ Egyptian army stay too long,
Like cowards die within this fortress strong.
IV.
‘Ne’er interrupted by unseemly fights
Are their gay suppers or rich banquets; nay,
Unbroken days and unmolested nights
They pass in calm security away.
But you by famine overcome, I fear,
In the long run will fall an easy prey,
Or like base cowards rot ignobly here,
Should Egypt more her promised aid delay.
V.
Io per me non vuò già ch’ignobil morte
I giorni miei d’oscuro oblio ricopra:
Nè vuò ch’al novo dì, fra queste porte,
36 L’alma luce del Sol chiuso mi scopra.
Di questo viver mio faccia la sorte
Quel che già stabilito è là di sopra:
Non farà già, che senza oprar la spada,
40 Inglorioso e invendicato io cada.
V
“Yet never shall my courage great consent
So vile a death should end my noble days,
Nor on mine arms within these walls ypent
To-morrow’s sun shall spread his timely rays:
Let sacred Heavens dispose as they are bent
Of this frail life, yet not withouten praise
Of valor, prowess, might, Argantes shall
Inglorious die, or unrevenged fall.
V.
‘I, for my part, will not ignoble doom
My glory shroud; nor me another day
Within these gates, as in a living tomb,
The lustre of another sun survey;
With this my life let Destiny do all
That is already ‘stablished in the sky,
But unrevenged at least I will not fall,
Nor without drawing the sword, dishonoured, die.
VI.
Ma quando pur del valor vostro usato
Così non fosse in voi spento ogni seme,
Non di morir pugnando ed onorato,
44 Ma di vita, e di palma anco avrei speme.
A incontrare i nemici e ‘l nostro fato
Andianne pur deliberati insieme;
Chè spesso avvien che ne’ maggior periglj
48 Sono i più audaci gli ottimi consiglj.
VI
“But if the roots of wonted chivalry
Be not quite dead your princely breast within,
Devise not how with frame and praise to die,
But how to live, to conquer and to win;
Let us together at these gates outfly,
And skirmish bold and bloody fight begin;
For when last need to desperation driveth,
Who dareth most he wisest counsel giveth.
VI.
‘But were all sparks of your accustomed might
Extinguished not within your hearts, I see
Not death in open, honourable fight,
But certain hope of life and victory.
Firm and resolved then ‘gainst these plunderers,
And against Fate itself, let us contest,
Since oft in greatest danger it occurs
That most audacious counsels are the best.
VII.
Ma se nel troppo osar tu non isperi,
Nè sei d’uscir con ogni squadra ardito;
Procura almen, che sia per due guerrieri
52 Questo tuo gran litigio or difinito.
E perchè accetti ancor più volentieri
Il capitan de’ Franchi il nostro invito;
L’arme egli scelga, e ‘l suo vantaggio toglia:
56 E le condizion formi a sua voglia.
VII
“But if in field your wisdom dare not venture
To hazard all your troops to doubtful fight,
Then bind yourself to Godfrey by indenture,
To end your quarrels by one single knight:
And for the Christian this accord shall enter
With better will, say such you know your right
That he the weapons, place and time shall choose,
And let him for his best, that vantage use.
VII.
‘But deem’st thou ‘twere too great temerity
In one grand sortie to lead forth thy spears;
Arrange at least that this thy quarrel be
Defined and settled by two cavaliers.
And that the Christian captain may receive
More willingly our challenge, to that knight
Let us the choice of ground and weapons leave,
Let him the terms determine of the fight.
VIII.
Chè se ‘l nemico avrà due mani, ed una
Anima sola, ancor ch’audace e fera;
Temer non dei per isciagura alcuna,
60 Che la ragion, da me difesa, pera.
Puote, in vece di Fato e di Fortuna,
Darti la destra mia vittoria intera:
Ed a te se medesma or porge in pegno;
64 Chè, se ‘l confidi in lei, salvo è il tuo regno.
VIII
“For though your foe had hands, like Hector strong,
With heart unfeared, and courage stern and stout,
Yet no misfortune can your justice wrong,
And what that wanteth, shall this arm help out,
In spite of fate shall this right hand ere long,
Return victorious: if hereof you doubt,
Take it for pledge, wherein if trust you have,
It shall yourself defend and kingdom save.”
VIII.
‘Then did two hands alone ‘gainst me appear,
And but one soul, however bold and strong,
By no mischance whatever need’st thou fear,
That at my hands thy cause would suffer wrong.
In place of fickle Fate and Destiny,
Trust for thy triumphs to this hand alone:
Take it in pledge of certain victory;
In it confide, and saved’s thy life and throne.’
IX.
Tacque; e rispose il Re: giovane ardente,
Sebben me vedi in grave età seníle,
Non sono al ferro queste man sì lente,
68 Nè sì quest’alma è neghittosa e vile;
Ch’anzi morir volesse ignobilmente,
Che di morte magnanima e gentile;
Quand’io temenza avessi, o dubbio alcuno
72 De’ disagj ch’annunzi, e del digiuno.
IX
“Bold youth,” the tyrant thus began to speak,
“Although I withered seem with age and years,
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Yet are not these old arms so faint and weak,
Nor this hoar head so full of doubts and fears
But whenas death this vital thread shall break,
He shall my courage hear, my death who hears:
And Aladine that lived a king and knight,
To his fair morn will have an evening bright.
IX.
‘Intrepid youth,’ replied the king, ‘although
In me the marks of hoary age you trace,
To draw the sword this arm is not so slow,
Nor is this soul so slothful and so base
That I prefer to rot ignobly here
To dying nobly on the open field,
Had I a doubt or e’en the slightest fear
Of the distress and want thou hast revealed.
X.
Cessi Dio tanta infamia. Or quel ch’ad arte
Nascondo altrui, vuò ch’a te sia palese.
Soliman di Nicea, che brama in parte
76 Di vendicar le ricevute offese,
Degli Arabi le schiere erranti e sparte
Raccolte ha fin dal Libico paese:
E i nemici assalendo all’aria nera,
80 Darne soccorso, e vettovaglia spera.
X
“But that which yet I would have further blazed,
To thee in secret shall be told and spoken,
Great Soliman of Nice, so far ypraised,
To be revenged for his sceptre broken,
The men of arms of Araby hath raised,
From Inde to Africk, and, when we give token,
Attends the favor of the friendly night
To victual us, and with our foes to fight.
X.
‘May God avert such infamy! But now
I’ll tell thee what from others I conceal:
Nicæan Solyman, who burneth how
To avenge his losses, has, with noble zeal,
Contrived from Afric’s deserts to unite
The scattered ranks of many a nomad horde,
And trusts, the foe attacking in the night,
Supplies of food, and succour to afford.
XI.
Tosto fia che quì giunga: or se frattanto
Son le nostre castella oppresse e serve,
Non ce ne caglia, purchè ‘l regal manto
84 E la mia nobil reggia io mi conserve.
Tu l’ardimento, e questo ardore alquanto
Tempra, per Dio, che ‘n te soverchio ferve:
Ed opportuna la stagione aspetta
88 Alla tua gloria, ed alla mia vendetta.
XI
“Now though Godfredo hold by warlike feat
Some castles poor and forts in vile oppression,
Care not for that; for still our princely seat,
This stately town, we keep in our possession,
But thou appease and calm that courage great,
Which in thy bosom make so hot impression;
And stay fit time, which will betide ere long,
To increase thy glory, and revenge our wrong.”
XI.
‘Soon it may be he come; and if meanwhile
Our, castles round are captured and o’erthrown,
Let us not care, if from the foe I still
Preserve my royal sceptre and my throne;
But for God’s sake that fervent spirit prune,
Which in thy bosom burneth to excess,
And wait, O prince, a season opportune
To increase thy glory and my wrongs redress.’
XII.
Forte sdegnossi il Saracino audace,
Ch’era di Solimano emulo antico;
Sì amaramente ora d’udir gli spiace
92 Che tanto sen prometta il Rege amico.
A tuo senno, risponde, e guerra e pace
Farai, Signor, nulla di ciò più dico.
S’indugi pure, e Soliman s’attenda;
96 Ei, che perdè il suo regno, il tuo difenda.
XII
The Saracen at this was inly spited,
Who Soliman’s great worth had long envied,
To hear him praised thus he naught delighted,
Nor that the king upon his aid relied:
“Within your power, sir king,” he says, “united
Are peace and war, nor shall that be denied;
But for the Turk and his Arabian band,
He lost his own, shall he defend your land?
XII.
This nettled sorely the bold cavalier,
Who was the soldant rival, and as such
Was most profoundly mortified to hear
That on his aid the king relied so much.
‘Peace, sire, and war on thy sole will depend,’
Arganté said; ‘that’s thy affair alone.
Wait then; the mighty Solyman attend,
And let him save thy realm who lost his own.
XIII.
Vengane a te, quasi celeste messo,
Liberator del popolo Pagano:
Ch’io, quanto a me, bastar credo a me stesso,
100 E sol vuò libertà da questa mano.
Or, nel riposo altrui, siami concesso
Ch’io ne discenda a guerreggiar nel piano:
Privato cavalier, non tuo campione,
104 Verrò co’ Franchi a singolar tenzone.
XIII
“Perchance he comes some heavenly messenger,
Sent down to set the Pagan people free,
Then let Argantes for himself take care,
This sword, I trust, shall well safe-conduct me:
But while you rest and all your forces spare,
That I go forth to war at least agree;
Though not your champion, yet a private knight,
I will some Christian prove in single fight.”
XIII.
‘Let him, celestial messenger, descend,
And to the Pagans liberty afford;
I, for my part, upon myself depend,
And trust for freedom solely from my sword.
Grant then that I, while others shun the fight
In slothful ease, to you arena go,
Not as thy champion, but as simple knight,
And singly there do battle with the foe.
XIV.
Replica il Re: sebben l’ira e la spada
Dovresti riserbare a miglior uso;
Che tu sfidi però, se ciò t’aggrada,
108 Alcun guerrier nemico, io non ricuso.
Così gli disse; ed ei punto non bada.
Và, dice ad un araldo, or colà giuso,
Ed al Duce de’ Franchi, udendo l’oste,
112 Fà queste mie non picciole proposte.
XIV
The king replied, “Though thy force and might
Should be reserved to better time and use;
Yet that thou challenge some renowned knight,
Among the Christians bold I not refuse.”
The warrior breathing out desire of fight,
An herald called, and said, “Go tell those news
To Godfrey’s self, and to the western lords,
And in their hearings boldly say these words:
XIV.
‘Although for worthier object,’ answered he,
‘Thou shouldst reserve thy wrath and sword, still I
Refuse thee not, if such thy pleasure be,
The foe to single combat to defy.’
He ceased. Arganté not a moment lost,
But to a herald: ‘To the camp repair,
And to their chief, in hearing of the host,
This my not unimportant challenge bear:
XV.
Ch’un cavalier, che d’appiattarsi in questo
Forte cinto di muri a sdegno prende,
Brama di far con l’armi or manifesto
116 Quanto la sua possanza oltre si stende:
E ch’a duello di venirne è presto,
Nel pian ch’è fra le mura e l’alte tende,
Per prova di valore: e che disfida
120 Qual più de’ Franchi in sua virtù si fida.
XV
“Say that a knight, who holds in great disdain
To be thus closed up in secret mew,
Will with his sword in open field maintain,
If any dare deny his words for true,
That no devotion, as they falsely feign,
Hath moved the French these countries to subdue;
But vile ambition, and pride’s hateful vice,
Desire of rule, and spoil, and covetice.
XV.
‘Say that a knight who holds it in disdain
To crouch ‘mid ramparts, and in trenches lie,
Will in the open field with arms maintain,
Should any dare the facts he states deny,
That ’tis not zeal for faith the Frank inspires,
Or honest end they seek in this campaign,
But only ambitious, covetous desires,
The thirst of rapine and the lust to reign.
XVI.
E che non solo è di pugnare accinto
E con uno, e con due del campo ostíle;
Ma dopo il terzo, il quarto accetta, e ‘l quinto,
124 Sia di volgare stirpe, o di gentile:
Dia, se vuol, la franchigia, e serva il vinto
Al vincitor, come di guerra è stile.
Così gl’impone: ed ei vestissi allotta
128 La purpurea dell’arme aurata cotta.
XVI
“And that to fight I am not only prest
With one or two that dare defend the cause,
But come the fourth or fifth, come all the rest,
Come all that will, and all that weapon draws,
Let him that yields obey the victor’s hest,
As wills the lore of mighty Mars his laws:”
This was the challenge that fierce Pagan sent,
The herald donned his coat-of-arms, and went.
XVI.
‘And that he is not only against one
Or two of yonder camp in arms arrayed,
But proudly dares a third, fourth, fifth, come on,
Be they of gentle or plebeian grade.
Let him accord safe conduct if he will,
And let the vanquished with the victor rest.’
Arganté thus his orders gave. Meanwhile,
The herald in his purple tabard dressed.
XVII.
E poi che giunse alla regal presenza
Del Principe Goffredo, e de’ Baroni,
Jerusalem Delivered Page 189
