XXIII.
Egli, seguendo le vestigia impresse,
Rivolse il corso alla selva vicina.
Ma quivi dalle piante orride e spesse
180 Nera e folta così l’ombra dechina;
Che più non può raffigurar tra esse
L’orme novelle, e ‘n dubbio oltre cammina,
Porgendo intorno pur l’orecchie intente,
184 Se calpestío, se romor d’armi sente.
XXIII
He followed on the footsteps he had traced,
Till in high woods and forests old he came,
Where bushes, thorns and trees so thick were placed,
And so obscure the shadows of the same,
That soon he lost the tract wherein he paced;
Yet went he on, which way he could not aim,
But still attentive was his longing ear
If noise of horse or noise of arms he hear.
XXIII.
And following up the footprints freshly made,
His course directed to a neighbouring wood;
But there so dark, so dense fell down the shade
From the thick horrent foliage, that he could
No longer, ‘mid the increasing gloom, select
The recent footmarks, and in doubt proceeds,
Listening with ear attentive, to detect
The clank of armour or the tramp of steeds.
XXIV.
E se pur la notturna aura percuote
Tenera fronde mai d’olmo o di faggio:
O se fera od augello un ramo scuote;
188 Tosto a quel picciol suon drizza il viaggio.
Esce alfin della selva, e per ignote
Strade il conduce dela Luna il raggio
Verso un romor che di lontano udiva,
192 Insin che giunse al loco ond’egli usciva.
XXIV
If with the breathing of the gentle wind,
An aspen leaf but shaked on the tree,
If bird or beast stirred in the bushes blind,
Thither he spurred, thither he rode to see:
Out of the wood by Cynthia’s favor kind,
At last, with travel great and pains, got he,
And following on a little path, he heard
A rumbling sound, and hasted thitherward.
XXIV.
Ev’n did the breath of evening faintly shake
The aspen branches of the elm or beech,
Or did a bird or beast but stir the brake,
That little noise he strove at once to reach.
At last he issued from the wood, and erred
Thro’ paths unknown, led by the moon’s bright beam,
Towards a faint sound he in the distance heard,
Until he reached the spot from whence it came,
XXV.
Giunse dove sorgean da vivo sasso
In molta copia chiare e lucide onde:
E fattosene un rio volgeva abbasso
196 Lo strepitoso piè tra verdi sponde.
Quivi egli ferma addolorato il passo,
E chiama, e solo ai gridi Eco risponde:
E vede intanto con serene ciglia
200 Sorger l’aurora candida e vermiglia.
XXV
It was a fountain from the living stone,
That poured down clear streams in noble store,
Whose conduit pipes, united all in one,
Throughout a rocky channel ghastly roar;
Here Tancred stayed, and called, yet answered none,
Save babbling echo, from the crooked shore;
And there the weary knight at last espies
The springing daylight red and white arise.
XXV.
Arriving where, in lavish overflow,
Clear waters burst forth from the living rock,
And to a river grown, leaped down below,
Thro’ banks of emerald green, with noisy shock.
Here he dejected halts, and pensive calls:
He calls; nor aught save Echo’s voice replies.
Meanwhile he sees from out her orient halls
The dawn in white and vermeil beauty rise.
XXVI.
Geme cruccioso, e incontra il Ciel si sdegna
Che sperata gli neghi alta ventura:
Ma della donna sua, quand’ella vegna
204 Offesa pur, far la vendetta giura.
Di rivolgersi al campo alfin disegna,
Benchè la via trovar non s’assicura;
Chè gli sovvien che presso è il dì prescritto
208 Che pugnar dee col cavalier d’Egitto.
XXVI
He sighed sore, and guiltless heaven gan blame,
That wished success to his desire denied,
And sharp revenge protested for the same,
If aught but good his mistress fair betide;
Then wished he to return the way he came,
Although he wist not by what path to ride,
And time drew near when he again must fight
With proud Argantes, that vain-glorious knight.
XXVI.
Downcast, he groans, and rails in his despair
‘Gainst Heaven, which his great happiness denies,
And for his mistress doth loud vengeance swear,
Should she receive the slightest injuries.
He then decided to retrace his way
Campwards, tho’ knowing not what course to steer;
Since he remembered that approached the day
When he should meet the Egyptian cavalier.
XXVII.
Partesi, e mentre va per dubbio calle,
Ode un corso appressar ch’ognor s’avvanza:
Ed alfine spuntar d’angusta valle
212 Vede uom che di corriero avea sembianza.
Scotea mobile sferza, e dalle spalle
Pendea il corno sul fianco a nostra usanza.
Chiede Tancredi a lui, per quale strada
216 Al campo de’ Cristiani indi si vada.
XXVII
His stalwart steed the champion stout bestrode
And pricked fast to find the way he lost,
But through a valley as he musing rode,
He saw a man that seemed for haste a post,
His horn was hung between his shoulders broad,
As is the guise with us: Tancredi crossed
His way, and gently prayed the man to say,
To Godfrey’s camp how he should find the way.
XXVII.
He left; and while ‘mid cross roads wandering,
Heard the approach of horse, near and more near;
At length perceived from out the valley spring
One that did like a courier appear.
A whip he shook, and from his shoulders hung
A horn that reached his flank, as is our mode.
Tancredi asked him, in the Syrian tongue,
To the Crusaders’ camp the shortest road.
XXVIII.
Quegli Italico parla: Or là m’invio,
Dove m’ha Boemondo in fretta spinto.
Segue Tancredi lui che del gran zio
220 Messaggio stima, e crede al parlar finto.
Giungono al fin là dove un sozzo e rio
Lago impaluda, ed un castel n’è cinto,
Nella stagion che ‘l Sol par che s’immerga
224 Nell’ampio nido ove la notte alberga.
XXVIII
“Sir,” in the Italian language answered he,
“I ride where noble Boemond hath me sent:”
The prince thought this his uncle’s man should be,
And after him his course with speed he bent,
A fortress stately built at last they see,
Bout which a muddy stinking lake there went,
There they arrived when Titan went to rest
His weary limbs in night’s untroubled nest.
XXVIII.
He in Italian: ‘Thither am I bent,
Despatched post h
aste by Boëmond.’ Deceived,
Him Tancred followed, deeming he was sent
By his great uncle, and the cheat believed.
At length they reached a stagnant lake, amid
Whose poisonous waters a proud castle lay,
Just at the moment when, his glory hid
In the broad nest of night, down sank the day.
XXIX.
Suona il corriero in arrivando il corno,
E tosto giù calar si vede un ponte.
Quando Latin sia tu, quì far soggiorno
228 Potrai, gli dice, infin che ‘l Sol rimonte;
Chè questo loco, e non è il terzo giorno,
Tolse ai Pagani di Cosenza il Conte.
Mira il loco il Guerrier, che d’ogni parte
232 Inespugnabil fanno il sito e l’arte.
XXIX
The courier gave the fort a warning blast;
The drawbridge was let down by them within:
“If thou a Christian be,” quoth he, “thou mayest
Till Phoebus shine again, here take thine inn,
The County of Cosenza, three days past,
This castle from the Turks did nobly win.”
The prince beheld the piece, which site and art
Impregnable had made on every part.
XXIX.
Arrived, the courier wound his bugle horn,
And straight was seen a drawbridge to descend.
‘Here thou canst tarry till to-morrow morn,
If,’ said he, ‘Latin, or the Christian’s friend.
From the fierce Pagan Count Cosenza took
This island fort, not three days since it fell.’
The place, as there Tancredi fixed his look,
Its site and art had made impregnable.
XXX.
Dubita alquanto poi ch’entro sì forte
Magione alcuno inganno occulto giaccia.
Ma come avvezzo ai rischj della morte,
236 Motto non fanne, e nol dimostra in faccia;
Ch’ovunque il guidi elezione o sorte,
Vuol che sicuro la sua destra il faccia.
Pur l’obligo ch’egli ha d’altra battaglia,
240 Fa che di nova impresa or non gli caglia.
XXX
He feared within a pile so fortified
Some secret treason or enchantment lay,
But had he known even there he should have died,
Yet should his looks no sign of fear betray;
For wheresoever will or chance him guide,
His strong victorious hand still made him way:
Yet for the combat he must shortly make,
No new adventures list he undertake.
XXX.
A doubt he felt that some mysterious snare
Might lurk concealed within so strong a place;
But since accustomed risks of death to dare,
He expressed it not, nor showed it by his face:
Where’er by choice or fortune led, the knight
Alone for safety on his arm relies;
Still for another fray his promised plight
Him rendered loth to any new emprise.
XXXI.
Sicchè incontra al castello, ove in un prato
Il curvo ponte si distende e posa,
Ritiene alquanto il passo, ed invitato
244 Non segue la sua scorta insidiosa.
Sul ponte intanto un cavaliero armato
Con sembianza apparia fera e sdegnosa;
Ch’avendo nella destra il ferro ignudo,
248 In suon parlava minaccioso e crudo.
XXXI
Before the castle, in a meadow plain
Beside the bridge’s end, he stayed and stood,
Nor was entreated by the speeches vain
Of his false guide, to pass beyond the flood.
Upon the bridge appeared a warlike swain,
From top to toe all clad in armor good,
Who brandishing a broad and cutting sword,
Thus threatened death with many an idle word.
XXXI.
He therefore paused before the citadel,
In a broad meadow on the other side,
Where the curved drawbridge, stretching over, fell,
And though invited, followed not his guide;
When, lo! on it a belted cavalier,
Of savage and exasperated look,
Who with his right hand grasped a naked spear,
In this despiteful, threatening language spoke:
XXXII.
O tu, che (siasi tua fortuna, o voglia)
Al paese fatal d’Armida arrive,
Pensi indarno al fuggire: or l’arme spoglia,
252 E porgi ai laccj suoi le man cattive.
Entra pur dentro alla guardata soglia
Con queste leggi ch’ella altrui prescrive:
Nè più sperar di riveder il cielo
256 Per volger d’anni, o per cangiar di pelo,
XXXII
“O thou, whom chance or will brings to the soil,
Where fair Armida doth the sceptre guide,
Thou canst not fly, of arms thyself despoil,
And let thy hands with iron chains be tied;
Enter and rest thee from thy weary toil.
Within this dungeon shalt thou safe abide,
And never hope again to see the day,
Or that thy hair for age shall turn to gray;
XXXII.
‘O thou that com’st from fancy of thine own,
Or led by Fortune to Armida’s lands,
Renounce all thoughts of flight, thy arms lay down,
And in her fetters place thy captive hands;
Enter within her closely-guarded wall,
Nor hope again to see the light of day
(This the condition she prescribes to all),
Though years roll by, though thy brown locks turn grey,
XXXIII.
Se non giuri d’andar con gli altri sui
Contra ciascun che da Gesù s’appella.
S’affisa a quel parlar Tancredi in lui,
260 E riconosce l’arme, e la favella.
Rambaldo di Guascogna era costui,
Che partì con Armida, e sol per ella
Pagan si fece, e difensor divenne
264 Di quell’usanza rea ch’ivi si tenne.
XXXIII
“Except thou swear her valiant knights to aid
Against those traitors of the Christian crew.”
Tancred at this discourse a little stayed,
His arms, his gesture, and his voice he knew:
It was Rambaldo, who for that false maid
Forsook his country and religion true,
And of that fort defender chief became,
And those vile customs stablished in the same.
XXXIII.
‘Unless thou swear her forces to augment,
And march ‘gainst those that bear Christ’s hated name.’
His eyes on him who spoke Tancredi bent,
And speech and arms both recognised: the same
False Gascon renegade, Rambaldo, who
Fled with Armida, and for her became
Pagan and, sole of all the true, untrue,
The rites defended of that impious dame.
XXXIV.
Di santo sdegno il pio guerrier si tinse
Nel volto, e gli rispose: empio fellone,
Quel Tancredi son io che ‘l ferro cinse
268 Per Cristo sempre, e fui di lui campione:
E in sua virtute i suoi rubelli vinse,
Come vuò che tu veggia al paragone;
Chè dall’ira del Ciel ministra eletta
272 È questa destra a far di te vendetta.
XXXIV
The warrior answered, blushing red for shame,
“Cursed apostate, and ungracious wight,
I am that Tancred who defend the name
Of Christ, and have been aye his faithful knight;
His rebel foes can I subdue and tame,
As thou shalt find before we end this fight;
And thy false heart cleft with this vengeful sword,
Shall feel the ire of thy forsaken Lord.”
XXXIV.
The pious soldier blushed with holy scorn
As thus he answered him: ‘Vile traitor, know
I am that Tancred who for aye has borne
The sword for Christ, and am His foeman’s foe;
And through His grace His rebels have subdued,
As when we close in combat thou shalt see;
Since this right hand, with Heaven’s own wrath indued,
Selected is for vengeance upon thee.’
XXXV.
Turbossi, udendo il glorioso nome,
L’empio guerriero, e scolorissi in viso.
Pur celando il timor, gli disse: or come,
276 Misero, vieni ove rimanga ucciso?
Quì saran le tue forze oppresse e dome,
E questo altero tuo capo reciso:
E manderollo ai Duci Franchi in dono,
280 S’altro da quel che soglio oggi non sono.
XXXV
When that great name Rambaldo’s ears did fill,
He shook for fear and looked pale for dread,
Yet proudly said, “Tancred, thy hap was ill
To wander hither where thou art but dead,
Where naught can help, thy courage, strength and skill;
To Godfrey will I send thy cursed head,
That he may see, how for Armida’s sake,
Of him and of his Christ a scorn I make.”
XXXV.
The apostate soldier at that glorious name
Confounded stood; the colour left his cheek;
Yet still concealing his alarm and shame,
He cried: ‘Why dost thou thy destruction seek?
Here, wretched, vainly will thy strength be spent,
Low in the dust will thy haught head be seen,
And as a present to Prince Godfred sent,
Unless I am changed from what I have ever been.’
XXXVI.
Così dice il Pagano; e perchè il giorno
Spento era omai, sì che vedeasi appena;
Apparir tante lampade d’intorno,
284 Che ne fu l’aria lucida e serena.
Splende il castel, come in teatro adorno
Suol fra notturne pompe altera scena:
Ed in eccelsa parte Armida siede,
288 Onde, senz’esser vista, ed ode e vede.
XXXVI
Jerusalem Delivered Page 199
