Book Read Free

Jerusalem Delivered

Page 213

by Torquato Tasso


  I.

  Ma il gran mostro infernal che vede queti

  Que’ già torbidi cori, e l’ire spente:

  E cozzar contra ‘l fato, e i gran decreti

  4 Svolger non può dell’immutabil mente;

  Si parte, e, dove passa, i campi lieti

  Secca, e pallido il Sol si fa repente:

  E d’altre furie ancora e d’altri mali

  8 Ministro, a nova impresa affretta l’ali.

  I

  The grisly child of Erebus the grim,

  Who saw these tumults done and tempest spent,

  Gainst stream of grace who ever strove to swim

  And all her thoughts against Heaven’s wisdom bent,

  Departed now, bright Titan’s beams were dim

  And fruitful lands waxed barren as she went.

  She sought the rest of her infernal crew,

  New storms to raise, new broils, and tumults new.

  I.

  BUT the infernal monster who beheld

  Their stormy bosoms calm, and anger spent,

  And saw ‘gainst Fate how vainly she rebelled,

  Or tried to change the changeless Mind’s intent,

  Departs; and where her shadow passes, dries

  The smiling fields, and pales the sun’s pure light;

  And for some further hellish enterprise

  Bearing fresh ills and fury, hastes her flight.

  II.

  Ella, che dall’esercito Cristiano,

  Per industria sapea de’ suoi consorti,

  Il figliuol di Bertoldo esser lontano,

  12 Tancredi e gli altri più temuti e forti;

  Disse: che più s’aspetta? or Solimano

  Inaspettato venga, e guerra porti.

  Certo (o ch’io spero) alta vittoria avremo

  16 Di campo mal concorde, e in parte scemo.

  II

  She, that well wist her sisters had enticed,

  By their false arts, far from the Christian host,

  Tancred, Rinaldo, and the rest, best prized

  For martial skill, for might esteemed most,

  Said, of these discords and these strifes advised,

  “Great Solyman, when day his light hath lost,

  These Christians shall assail with sudden war,

  And kill them all while thus they strive and jar.”

  II.

  She who, from the arts of her foul consorts, knew

  That the Frank camp had for the moment lost

  Bertholdo’s son and Prince Tancredi too,

  With the most brave and dreaded of the host,

  Exclaimed, ‘Why longer wait? Let Solyman

  Fall on them now, and strike a sudden blow.

  I hope, nay, feel most certain we should gain

  An easy triumph o’er the weakened foe.’

  III.

  Ciò detto, vola ove fra squadre erranti,

  Fattosen duce, Soliman dimora:

  Quel Soliman di cui non fu, tra quanti

  20 Ha Dio rubelli, uom più feroce allora:

  Nè, se per nova ingiuria i suoi giganti

  Rinnovasse la terra, anco vi fora:

  Questi fu Re de’ Turchi, ed in Nicea

  24 La sede dell’imperio aver solea.

  III

  With that where Solyman remained she flew,

  And found him out with his Arabian bands,

  Great Solyman, of all Christ’s foes untrue,

  Boldest of courage, mightiest of his hands,

  Like him was none of all that earth-bred crew

  That heaped mountains on the Aemonian sands,

  Of Turks he sovereign was, and Nice his seat,

  Where late he dwelt, and ruled that kingdom great.

  III.

  This said, she ‘mid the errant squadrons flew,

  Where, chief self-made, encamped was Solyman —

  That Solyman than whom was not, she knew,

  Of all God’s rebels a more desperate one,

  Nor had been — no; though earth again rebelled,

  And for fresh strife renewed her Titans. He

  Was the Turks’ king, and in Nicæa held

  The seat supreme of his authority.

  IV.

  E distendeva, incontro ai Greci lidi,

  Dal Sangario al Meandro il suo confine:

  Ove albergar già Misi, e Frigj, e Lidj,

  28 E le genti di Ponto, e le Bitine.

  Ma poi che contra i Turchi, e gli altri infidi

  Passar nell’Asia l’armi peregrine,

  Fur sue terre espugnate, ed ei sconfitto

  32 Ben fu due fiate in general conflitto.

  IV

  The lands forenenst the Greekish shore he held,

  From Sangar’s mouth to crooked Meander’s fall,

  Where they of Phrygia, Mysia, Lydia dwelled,

  Bithynia’s towns, and Pontus’ cities all:

  But when the hearts of Christian princes swelled,

  And rose in arms to make proud Asia thrall,

  Those lands were won where he did sceptre wield

  And he twice beaten was in pitched field.

  IV.

  And from the Sangar to Meander spread

  His broad dominions towards the Grecian coast,

  By Mysians, Phrygians, Lydians tenanted,

  By Pontus’ people and Bithynia’s host;

  But when against the Turks and their allies

  The Pilgrim armies into Asia passed,

  In general action he was worsted twice,

  His throne subverted, and his lands laid waste.

  V.

  E ritentata avendo invan la sorte,

  E spinto a forza dal natío paese,

  Ricoverò del Re d’Egitto in corte,

  36 Ch’oste gli fu magnanimo e cortese:

  Ed ebbe a grado che guerrier sì forte

  Gli s’offrisse compagno all’alte imprese;

  Proposto avendo già vietar l’acquisto

  40 Di Palestina ai cavalier di Cristo.

  V

  When Fortune oft he had in vain assayed,

  And spent his forces, which availed him naught,

  To Egypt’s king himself he close conveyed,

  Who welcomed him as he could best have thought,

  Glad in his heart, and inly well apayed,

  That to his court so great a lord was brought:

  For he decreed his armies huge to bring

  To succor Juda land and Juda’s king.

  V.

  Once more his fortune having vainly tried,

  And being constrained to fly, the battle lost,

  To Egypt’s king for shelter he applied,

  Who proved a friendly and magnanimous host;

  Delighted he that warrior so brave,

  Offered himself as comrade in the emprise,

  He being determined Palestine to save,

  And thwart the Christians of their sought-for prize.

  VI.

  Ma prima ch’egli apertamente loro

  La destinata guerra annunziasse:

  Volle che Solimano, a cui molto oro

  44 Diè per tal uso, gli Arabi assoldasse.

  Or mentre ei d’Asia, e dal paese Moro

  L’oste accogliea, Soliman venne, e trasse

  Agevolmente a se gli Arabi avari,

  48 Ladroni, in ogni tempo, e mercenarj.

  VI

  But, ere he open war proclaimed, he would

  That Solyman should kindle first the fire,

  And with huge sums of false enticing gold

  The Arabian thieves he sent him forth to hire,

  While he the Asian lords and Morians hold

  Unites; the Soldan won to his desire

  Those outlaws, ready aye for gold to fight,

  The hope of gain hath such alluring might.

  VI.

  But ere he openly to them declared

  The bitter war he meant to prosecute,

  He willed, with largess f
or that purpose spared,

  That Solyman the Arabs should recruit.

  Thus while each day his host more numerous grew,

  From Moorish tribes and Asiatic hordes,

  With ease the soldan to his standard drew

  The greedy Arabs’ mercenary swords.

  VII.

  Così fatto lor duce, or d’ogn’intorno

  La Giudea scorre, e fa prede e rapine:

  Sicchè ‘l venire è chiuso e ‘l far ritorno

  52 Dall’esercito Franco alle marine.

  E rimembrando ognor l’antico scorno,

  E dell’imperio suo l’alte ruine,

  Cose maggior nel petto acceso volve;

  56 Ma non ben s’assicura, o si risolve.

  VII

  Thus made their captain to destroy and burn,

  In Juda land he entered is so far,

  That all the ways whereby he should return

  By Godfrey’s people kept and stopped are,

  And now he gan his former losses mourn,

  This wound had hit him on an elder scar,

  On great adventures ran his hardy thought,

  But naught assured, he yet resolved on naught.

  VII.

  Whence made their captain, with his lawless host

  He overran and plundered Judah, so

  That ‘twixt the Christian army and the coast

  Was barred communication to and fro;

  And brooding o’er his wrongs and the dire fate

  Of his subverted empire, he revolved

  Within his burning breast exploits more great,

  But how to effect them, wavered, unresolved.

  VIII.

  A costui viene Aletto: e da lei tolto

  È ‘l sembiante d’un uom d’antica etade.

  Vota di sangue, empie di crespe il volto,

  60 Lascia barbuto il labbro, e ‘l mento rade:

  Dimostra il capo in lunghe tele avvolto;

  La veste oltra ‘l ginocchio al piè gli cade,

  La scimitarra al fianco, e ‘l tergo carco

  64 Della faretra, e nelle mani ha l’arco.

  VIII

  To him Alecto came, and semblant bore

  Of one whose age was great, whose looks were grave,

  Whose cheeks were bloodless, and whose locks were hoar

  Mustaches strouting long and chin close shave,

  A steepled turban on her head she wore,

  Her garment wide, and by her side, her glaive,

  Her gilden quiver at her shoulders hung,

  And in her hand a bow was, stiff and strong.

  VIII.

  To him came fierce Alecto; as a man

  Advanced in life the infernal fiend appeared,

  ‘Neath whose seamed skin no genial currents ran;

  His chin was shorn, his lip displayed a beard,

  A folded turban round his head was tied,

  An ample robe fell down his knees below,

  A scimetar hung jangling at his side,

  His back a quiver bore, his hand a bow.

  IX.

  Noi, gli dice ella, or trascorriam le vote

  Piaggie, e le arene sterili e deserte:

  Ove nè far rapina omai si puote,

  68 Nè vittoria acquistar che loda merte.

  Goffredo intanto la Città percuote,

  E già le mura ha con le torri aperte:

  E già vedrem, s’ancor si tarda un poco,

  72 Insin di qua le sue ruine, e ‘l foco.

  IX

  “We have.” Quoth she, “through wildernesses gone,

  Through sterile sands, strange paths, and uncouth ways,

  Yet spoil or booty have we gotten none,

  Nor victory deserving fame or praise,

  Godfrey meanwhile to ruin stick and stone

  Of this fair town, with battery sore assays;

  And if awhile we rest, we shall behold

  This glorious city smoking lie in mould.

  IX.

  ‘We,’ she exclaimed, ‘are passing thro’ this plain

  Of sterile sands, thro’ trackless unknown ways,

  Where we can neither plunder get, nor gain

  Victory deserving of the faintest praise,

  While Godfred shakes the city, and the wall

  Has breached already with his thundering towers;

  Yes, we shall see, if more we loiter, fall

  On it the fiery ruin of the Giaours.

  X.

  Dunque accesi tugurj, e gregge, e buoi

  Gli alti trofei di Soliman saranno?

  Così racquisti il regno? e così i tuoi

  76 Oltraggj vendicar ti credi, e ‘l danno?

  Ardisci, ardisci: entro ai ripari suoi,

  Di notte, opprimi il barbaro Tiranno.

  Credi al tuo vecchio Araspe, il cui consiglio

  80 E nel regno provasti, e nell’esiglio.

  X

  “Are sheep-cotes burnt, or preys of sheep or kine,

  The cause why Solyman these bands did arm?

  Canst thou that kingdom lately lost of thine

  Recover thus, or thus redress thy harm?

  No, no, when heaven’s small candles next shall shine,

  Within their tents give them a bold alarm;

  Believe Araspes old, whose grave advice

  Thou hast in exile proved, and proved in Nice.

  X.

  ‘What then — shall Rocks and herds, and cabins fired,

  The exalted trophies of the soldan be?

  Is it thus thy kingdom will be reacquired,

  And thus revenged the outrages on thee?

  Up, up! take heart, and in his camp surprise

  The tyrant, under covert of the night;

  In exile trust thy Araspes, nor despise

  Counsels, that thou, when reigning, hast found right.

  XI.

  Non ci aspetta egli e non ci teme, e sprezza

  Gli Arabi, ignudi in vero e timorosi:

  Nè creder mai potrà che gente avvezza

  84 Alle prede alle fughe, or cotanto osi:

  Ma fieri gli farà la tua fierezza

  Contra un campo che giaccia inerme, e posi.

  Così gli disse; e le sue furie ardenti

  88 Spirogli al seno, e si mischiò tra’ venti.

  XI

  “He feareth naught, he doubts no sudden broil

  From these ill-armed and worse-hearted bands,

  He thinks this people, used to rob and spoil,

  To such exploit dares not lift up their hands;

  Up then and with thy courage put to foil

  This fearless camp, while thus secure it stands.”

  This said, her poison in his breast she hides,

  And then to shapeless air unseen she glides.

  XI.

  ‘He nor expects, nor fears us; nay, he slights

  The timorous Arabs, naked as they are,

  Nor deems that those accustomed but to flights,

  To raids and rapine, such a feat would dare;

  But brave they will be by thy bravery made,

  Nor fear a camp unarmed, in sleep reclined.’

  In him her burning fury she conveyed,

  As thus she spake, then mingled with the wind.

  XII.

  Grida il Guerrier, levando al Ciel la mano,

  O tu, che furor tanto al cor m’irriti,

  Ned uom sei già, sebben sembiante umano

  92 Mostrasti; ecco io ti seguo ove m’inviti.

  Verrò, farò là monti ov’ora è piano;

  Monti d’uomini estinti, e di feriti:

  Farò fiumi di sangue. Or tu sia meco,

  96 E reggi l’arme mie per l’aer cieco.

  XII

  The Soldan cried, “O thou which in my thought

  Increased hast my rage and fury so,

  Nor seem’st a wight of mortal metal wrought,

  I follow thee, whereso thee list to go,

  Mountains of men by
dint of sword down brought

  Thou shalt behold, and seas of red blood flow

  Where’er I go; only be thou my guide

  When sable night the azure skies shall hide.”

  XII.

  Raising his hands to heaven, the warrior spoke:

  ‘Oh thou whose fury doth my own excite,

  Not man thou art, tho’ mortal be thy look;

  Behold, I follow where thy words invite;

  I’ll go, and mountains raise where now is plain,

  Mountains of dead and wounded I’ll erect,

  Rivers of blood I’ll make; but ah, remain,

  And thro’ the lightless air my arms direct.’

  XIII.

  Tace, e senza indugiar le turbe accoglie,

  E rincora parlando il vile e ‘l lento:

  E nell’ardor delle sue stesse voglie

  100 Accende il campo a seguitarlo intento.

  Dà il segno Aletto della tromba, e scioglie

  Di sua man propria il gran vessillo al vento.

  Marcia il campo veloce, anzi sì corre,

  104 Che della fama il volo anco precorre.

  XIII

  When this was said, he mustered all his crew,

  Reproved the cowards, and allowed the bold:

  His forward camp, inspired with courage new,

  Was ready dight to follow where he would:

  Alecto’s self the warning trumpet blew

  And to the wind his standard great unrolled,

  Thus on they marched, and thus on they went,

  Of their approach their speed the news prevent.

  XIII.

  This said, the crowds he mustered, while his words

  The vile incited, and cheered on the slow;

  And his example fired the Arab hordes

  With his own warmth to march against the foe.

  Then gave Alecto the trump’s signal blast,

  And the great standard with her own hands freed;

  Marched the fleet host, nay sped, so that they passed

  The flight of Fame in their precipitate speed.

  XIV.

  Va seco Aletto, e poi lo lascia, e veste

  D’uom che rechi novelle abito e viso:

  E nell’ora che par che ‘l mondo reste

  108 Fra la notte e fra ‘l dì dubbio e diviso,

  Entra in Gerusalemme, e, tra le meste

  Turbe passando, al Re dà l’alto avviso

  Del gran campo che giunge, e del disegno;

  112 E del notturno assalto e l’ora, e ‘l segno.

 

‹ Prev