Jerusalem Delivered

by Torquato Tasso

228 Diedi sospetto altrui, nè d’altra cosa.

  Me n’andai sconosciuto, e per foresta

  Camminando di piante orride ombrosa,

  Vidi una tigre, che minacce ed ire

  232 Avea negli occhj, incontro a me venire.

  XXIX

  “Weeping I took thee, in a little chest,

  Covered with herbs and leaves, I brought thee out

  So secretly, that none of all the rest

  Of such an act suspicion had or doubt,

  To wilderness my steps I first addressed,

  Where horrid shades enclosed me round about,

  A tigress there I met, in whose fierce eyes

  Fury and wrath, rage, death and terror lies:

  XXIX

  ‘My tears flowed freely, as receiving thee

  I bore thee off ‘mid leaves and flowers concealed,

  In a small basket, but so dextrously,

  That not to mortal was the fact revealed:

  Unknown I went, when passing through a wood

  Black from forbidding shade, to my surprise

  I saw a tigress coming where I stood,

  Wild threats and fury gleaming in her eyes.

  XXX.

  Sovra un albero i’ salsi, e te su l’erba

  Lasciai; tanta paura il cor mi prese!Giunse l’orribil fera, e, la superba

  236 Testa volgendo, in te lo sguardo intese.

  Mansuefece, e raddolcío l’acerba

  Vista con atto placido e cortese.

  Lenta poi s’avvicina, e ti fa vezzi

  240 Con la lingua: e tu ridi e l’accarezzi.

  XXX

  “Up to a tree I leaped, and on the grass,

  Such was my sudden fear, I left thee lying,

  To thee the beast with furious course did pass,

  With curious looks upon thy visage prying,

  All suddenly both meek and mild she was,

  With friendly cheer thy tender body eying:

  At last she licked thee, and with gesture mild

  About thee played, and thou upon her smiled.

  XXX

  ‘I sprang upon a tree, so smit with dread,

  And thee, poor child, upon the sward forsook;

  The horrid beast then, turning her proud head,

  Approached and fixed on thee a searching look;

  Nathless her murderous instincts she repressed,

  And her aspect became most meek and mild,

  And drawing near, with her huge tongue caressed

  Your tiny form: you patted her and smiled.

  XXXI.

  Ed ischerzando seco, al fero muso

  La pargoletta man sicura stendi.

  Ti porge ella le mamme, e, come è l’uso

  244 Di nutrice, s’adatta, e tu le prendi.

  Intanto io miro timido e confuso,

  Come uom faria novi prodigj orrendi.

  Poichè sazia ti vede omai la belva

  248 Del suo latte, si parte e si rinselva:

  XXXI

  “Her fearful muzzle full of dreadful threat,

  In thy weak hand thou took’st withouten dread;

  The gentle beast with milk-outstretched teat,

  As nurses’ custom, proffered thee to feed.

  As one that wondereth on some marvel great,

  I stood this while amazed at the deed.

  When thee she saw well filled and satisfied,

  Unto the woods again the tigress hied.

  XXXI

  ‘And as with her you fearless ‘gan to play,

  And your small hand upon her muzzle placed,

  She offered you her teats, as is the way

  Of nurses, and disposed them for your taste;

  And you did suck. As I the scene descried,

  I stared like one that some strange portent viewed;

  But when her milk your wants had satisfied,

  She left and sought the covert of the wood.

  XXXII.

  Ed io giù scendo e ti ricolgo, e torno

  Là ‘ve prima fur volti i passi miei:

  E preso in picciol borgo alfin soggiorno,

  252 Celatamente ivi nutrir ti fei.

  Vi stetti insin che ‘l Sol, correndo intorno,

  Portò a’ mortali e dieci mesi e sei.

  Tu con lingua di latte anco snodavi

  256 Voci indistinte, e incerte orme segnavi.

  XXXII

  “She gone, down from the tree I came in haste,

  And took thee up, and on my journey wend,

  Within a little thorp I stayed at last,

  And to a nurse the charge of thee commend,

  And sporting with thee there long time I passed,

  Till term of sixteen months were brought to end,

  And thou begun, as little children do,

  With half clipped words to prattle, and to go.

  XXXII

  ‘I straight jumped down, and, seizing thee, returned

  To where my footsteps first directed were.

  And in a little burg some time sojourned,

  There brought thee up in secresy, and there

  With thee remained till the revolving sun

  Had sixteen months to weary mortals brought:

  To lisp forth half-formed words thou hadst begun,

  And on the ground uncertain footprints wrought.

  XXXIII.

  Ma sendo io colà giunto ove dechina

  L’etate omai cadente alla vecchiezza;

  Ricco e sazio dell’or che la Regina,

  260 Nel partir, diemmi con regale ampiezza;

  Da quella vita errante e peregrina

  Nella patria ridurmi ebbi vaghezza:

  E tra gli antichi amici in caro loco

  264 Viver, temprando il verno al proprio foco.

  XXXIII

  “But having passed the August of mine age,

  When more than half my tap of life was run,

  Rich by rewards given by your mother sage,

  For merits past, and service yet undone,

  I longed to leave this wandering pilgrimage,

  And in my native soil again to won,

  To get some seely home I had desire,

  Loth still to warm me at another’s fire.

  XXXIII

  ‘But having reached that period when the old

  Decline in strength and hasten towards the grave,

  Rich to repletion with thy mother’s gold,

  Which, queen-like, she at my departure gave,

  I longed that roving sort of life to quit,

  And oft for my dear native country sighed;

  I pined once more among old friends to sit,

  And cheer life’s winter at my own fireside.

  XXXIV.

  Partomi, e ver l’Egitto, ove son nato,

  Te conducendo meco, il corso invio:

  E giungo ad un torrente, e riserrato

  268 Quinci da i ladri son, quindi dal rio.

  Che debbo far? te dolce peso amato

  Lasciar non voglio, e di campar desio.

  Mi getto a nuoto, ed una man ne viene

  272 Rompendo l’acqua, e te l’altra sostiene.

  XXXIV

  “To Egypt-ward, where I was born, I went,

  And bore thee with me, by a rolling flood,

  Till I with savage thieves well-nigh was hent;

  Before the brook, the thieves behind me stood:

  Thee to forsake I never could consent,

  And gladly would I ‘scape those outlaws wood,

  Into the flood I leaped far from the brim,

  My left hand bore thee, with the right I swim.

  XXXIV

  ‘Whence towards my native Egypt I disposed

  My homeward course, and thou my flight didst share;

  Then reached a stream, but found myself enclosed

  By robbers here, and by the river there.

  How act? Thou, burthen sweet, could not be left,

  Yet would I ‘scape the threatened robbe
ry;

  I plunged in the stream, and while my right hand cleft

  The foaming flood, the left supported thee.

  XXXV.

  Rapidissimo è il corso, e in mezzo l’onda

  In se medesma si ripiega e gira;

  Ma giunto ove più volge e si profonda,

  276 In cerchio ella mi torce, e giù mi tira.

  Ti lascio allor; ma t’alza e ti seconda

  L’acqua, e secondo all’acqua il vento spira,

  E t’espon salva in su la molle arena;

  280 Stanco anelando io poi vi giungo appena.

  XXXV

  “Swift was the current, in the middle stream

  A whirlpool gaped with devouring jaws,

  The gulf, on such mishap ere I could dream,

  Into his deep abyss my carcass draws,

  There I forsook thee, the wild waters seem

  To pity thee, a gentle wind there blows

  Whose friendly puffs safe to the shore thee drive,

  Where wet and weary I at last arrive:

  XXXV

  ‘Swift rolled its angry waters, and midway

  Whirled round in circling eddies; but being thrown

  Into the centre of the vortex, they

  Whisked me, all helpless, round and dragged me down.

  I left thee then, but favouring currents bore

  And placed thee safely on the sandy beach;

  The breeze, too, helped to carry thee ashore:

  I, faint and panting, scarce the land could reach.

  XXXVI.

  Lieto ti prendo: e poi la notte, quando

  Tutte in alto silenzio eran le cose,

  Vidi in sogno un guerrier che, minacciando,

  284 A me sul volto il ferro ignudo pose.

  Imperioso disse: io ti comando

  Ciò che la madre sua primier t’impose

  Che battezzi l’infante; ella è diletta

  288 Del Cielo, e la sua cura a me s’aspetta.

  XXXVI

  “I took thee up, and in my dream that night,

  When buried was the world in sleep and shade,

  I saw a champion clad in armor bright

  That o’er my head shaked a flaming blade,

  He said, ‘I charge thee execute aright,

  That charge this infant’s mother on thee laid,

  Baptize the child, high Heaven esteems her dear,

  And I her keeper will attend her near:

  XXXVI

  ‘With joy I took thee up, but in the night,

  When Nature slept in silence most profound,

  Dreaming, I saw the figure of a knight

  Brandish a sword; he menacingly frowned,

  And sternly cried, “I charge thee to revere

  Her mother’s first injunctions unto thee;

  Baptize this infant, who to Heaven is dear,

  And whose safe care entrusted is to me.

  XXXVII.

  Io la guardo e difendo: io spirto diedi

  Di pietate alle fere, e mente all’acque.

  Misero te, se al sogno tuo non credi

  292 Ch’è del Ciel messaggiero; e quì si tacque.

  Svegliaimi e sorsi, e di là mossi i piedi,

  Come del giorno il primo raggio nacque:

  Ma perchè mia fe vera, e l’ombre false

  296 Stimai, di tuo battesmo a me non calse,

  XXXVII

  “‘I will her keep, defend, save and protect,

  I made the waters mild, the tigress tame,

  O wretch that heavenly warnings dost reject!’

  The warrior vanished having said the same.

  I rose and journeyed on my way direct

  When blushing morn from Tithon’s bed forth came,

  But for my faith is true and sure I ween,

  And dreams are false, you still unchristened been.

  XXXVII

  ‘ “I guard her and defend; ’twas I that gave

  Sense to the stream, compassion to the beast;

  And woe! if thou my solemn warning brave,

  Who am God’s messenger.” This said, he ceased.

  I, waking, rose, and from the spot withdrew

  With the first twinkle of the morning star;

  But, the shade deeming false and my creed true,

  To have thee christened took no further care,

  XXXVIII.

  Nè de i preghi materni; onde nudrita

  Pagana fosti, e ‘l vero a te celai.

  Crescesti, e, in arme valorosa e ardita,

  300 Vincesti il sesso e la natura assai:

  Fama e terre acquistasti: e qual tua vita

  Sia stata poscia, tu medesma il sai:

  E sai non men che servo insieme e padre

  304 Io t’ho seguita fra guerriere squadre.

  XXXVIII

  “A Pagan therefore thee I fostered have,

  Nor of thy birth the truth did ever tell,

  Since you increased are in courage brave,

  Your sex and nature’s-self you both excel,

  Full many a realm have you made bond and slave,

  Your fortunes last yourself remember well,

  And how in peace and war, in joy and teen,

  I have your servant, and your tutor been.

  XXXVIII

  ‘Nor of thy mother’s wish: whence thou wast bred

  A Pagan, and I hid from thee the truth.

  Thou grew’st in years, hast nobly fought and bled,

  O’ercome thy sex and nature, and in youth

  Both fame and lands acquired. Thyself dost know

  What since that early period has occurred;

  Thou know’st I have been thy slave and father too,

  And at thy side through hostile squadrons spurred.

  XXXIX.

  Jer poi su l’alba alla mia mente, oppressa

  D’alta quiete e simile alla morte,

  Nel sonno s’offerì l’imago stessa;

  308 Ma in più turbata vista, e in suon più forte,

  Ecco (dicea) fellon, l’ora s’appressa

  Che dee cangiar Clorinda e vita e sorte:

  Mia sarà mal tuo grado, e tuo fia il duolo.

  312 Ciò disse, e poi n’andò per l’aria a volo.

  XXXIX

  “Last morn, from skies ere stars exiled were,

  In deep and deathlike sleep my senses drowned,

  The self-same vision did again appear,

  With stormy wrathful looks, and thundering sound,

  ‘Villain,’ quoth he, ‘within short while thy dear

  Must change her life, and leave this sinful ground,

  Thine be the loss, the torment, and the care,’

  This said, he fled through skies, through clouds and air.

  XXXIX

  ‘But yester morn, at day-breads earliest beam,

  Oppressed by slumber that resembled death,

  I saw the self-same figure in a dream;

  More stern his look was, and with louder breath,

  “Traitor!” he cried, “behold Clorinda’s doom

  Approaches fast; the hour is almost due.

  Mine she shall yet, in spite of thee, become;

  The grief be thine: “this said, away he flew.

  XL.

  Or odi dunque tu, che ‘l Ciel minaccia

  A te, diletta mia, strani accidenti.

  Io non so: forse a lui vien che dispiaccia

  316 Ch’altri impugni la fe de’ suoi parenti:

  Forse è la vera fede. Ah giù ti piaccia

  Depor quest’arme e questi spirti ardenti.

  Quì tace e piagne: ed ella pensa e teme;

  320 Chè un altro simil sogno il cor le preme.

  XL

  “Hear then my joy, my hope, my darling, hear,

  High Heaven some dire misfortune threatened hath,

  Displeased pardie, because I did thee lere

  A lore repugnant to thy parents’ faith;

  Ah, for my sake, this bold attempt forbear; />
  Put off these sable arms, appease thy wrath.”

  This said, he wept, she pensive stood and sad,

  Because like dream herself but lately had.

  XL

  ‘Take heed then, dearest, for the angered skies

  Menace thee with some strange misfortune soon:

  I know not how. Perhaps their threats arise

  That others should their fathers’ faith impugn;

  Perhaps that faith is true. Then doff thy arms,

  Curb thy bold spirit, nor with Heaven contest.’

  He ceased, and wept; she, too, felt strange alarms,

  Since such another dream her heart oppressed.

  XLI.

  Rasserenando il volto, alfin gli dice:

  Quella fe seguirò che vera or parmi:

  Che tu col latte già della nutrice

  324 Sugger mi festi, e che vuoi dubbia or farmi:

  Nè per temenza lascerò (nè lice

  A magnanimo cor) l’impresa e l’armi.

  Non se la morte, nel più fer sembiante

  328 Che sgomenti i mortali, avessi innante.

  XLI

  With cheerful smile she answered him at last,

  “I will this faith observe, it seems me true,

  Which from my cradle age thou taught me hast;

  I will not change it for religion new,

  Nor with vain shows of fear and dread aghast

  This enterprise forbear I to pursue,

  No, not if death in his most dreadful face

  Wherewith he scareth mankind, kept the place.”

  XLI

  Still brightening up her brow, she said at last:

  ‘I’ll hold that faith which I consider true,

  But o’er which thou the veil of doubt wouldst cast,

  That faith which with my nurse’s milk I drew;

  No fear shall turn me from this enterprise

  (To draw back now no generous spirit could);

  No, not if Death himself, in fiercest guise

  That mortal eye e’er saw, before me stood.’

  XLII.

  Poscia il consola: e perchè il tempo giunge

  Ch’ella deve ad effetto il vanto porre;

  Parte, e con quel guerrier si ricongiunge

  332 Che si vuol seco al gran periglio esporre.

  Con lor s’aduna Ismeno, e instiga e punge

  Quella virtù che per se stessa corre:

  E lor porge di zolfo e di bitumi

  336 Due palle, e in cavo rame ascosi lumi.

  XLII

  Approachen gan the time, while thus she spake,