XV
He held his peace; and Godfrey answered so:
“Oh, how his presence would recomfort me!
You that man’s hidden thoughts perceive and know:
If I say truth, or if I love him, see.
But say, what messengers shall for him go?
What shall their speeches, what their errand be?
Shall I entreat, or else command the man?
With credit neither well perform I can.”
XV
He ceased, and Bouillon said: ‘How dear to me
Were the return of that illustrious youth;
Thou, who dost all my thoughts most secret see,
Knowest if I love him and declare the truth.
What offers should I make? and in what lands
Should I — ah, tell me! — trace his errant flight?
Will’st thou I send entreaties or commands?
And how were that legitimate and right?’
XVI.
Allor ripigliò l’altro: il Rege eterno,
Che te di tante somme grazie onora,
Vuol che da quegli, onde ti diè il governo,
124 Tu sia onorato e riverito ancora.
Però non chieder tu (nè senza scherno
Forse del sommo imperio il chieder fora)
Ma richiesto concedi, ed al perdono
128 Scendi degli altrui preghi al primo suono.
XVI
“The eternal Lord,” the other knight replied,
“That with so many graces hath thee blest,
Will, that among the troops thou hast to guide,
Thou honored be and feared of most and least:
Then speak not thou lest blemish some betide
Thy sacred empire if thou make request;
But when by suit thou moved art to ruth,
Then yield, forgive, and home recall the youth.
XVI
‘The Eternal King,’ the spirit then replied,
‘Who with such favour honours thee, doth will
That they o’er whom ’tis given thee to preside,
Shall honour, reverence, and respect thee still;
But sue not thou; perhaps request from thee,
The sovran chief, derogatory were;
But yield when asked, and stoop to clemency
At the first summons of thy comrades’ prayer.
XVII.
Guelfo ti pregherà (Dio sì l’inspira)
Ch’assolva il fier garzon di quell’errore
In cui trascorse per soverchio d’ira;
132 Sicchè al campo egli torni, ed al suo onore:
E bench’or lunge il giovine delira,
E vaneggia nell’ozio e nell’amore;
Non dubitar però che in pochi giorni,
136 Opportuno al grand’uopo, ei non ritorni.
XVII
“Guelpho shall pray thee, God shall him inspire,
To pardon this offence, this fault commit
By hasty wrath, by rash and headstrong ire,
To call the knight again; yield thou to it:
And though the youth, enwrapped in fond desire,
Far hence in love and looseness idle sit,
Year fear it not, he shall return with speed,
When most you wish him and when most you need.
XVII
‘Guelph, whose kind heart the Almighty will inspire,
Will pray thee pardon the rash boy’s offence,
Which he gave way to from excess of ire,
That to his post of honour at the tents
He may return; and tho’ in love’s soft maze
And wanton ease, the youth now doting lies,
Doubt not he will, ere lapse of many days,
Arrive in well-timed season for the emprise.
XVIII.
Chè ‘l vostro Piero, a cui lo Ciel comparte
L’alta notizia de’ secreti sui,
Saprà drizzare i messaggieri in parte
140 Ove certe novelle avran di lui.
E sarà lor dimostro il modo e l’arte
Di liberarlo, e di condurlo a vui.
Così alfin tutti i tuoi compagni erranti
144 Ridurrà il Ciel sotto i tuoi segni santi.
XVIII
“Your hermit Peter, to whose sapient heart
High Heaven his secrets opens, tells and shews,
Your messengers direct can to that part,
Where of the prince they shall hear certain news,
And learn the way, the manner, and the art
To bring him back to these thy warlike crews,
That all thy soldiers, wandered and misgone,
Heaven may unite again and join in one.
XVIII
‘Since your sage Peter, to whom Heaven imparts
Of its dark secrets cognisance profound,
Will know to guide the messengers to parts
Where of him certain tidings will be found,
And will be shown them both the means and power
To lead him back the distant seas across;
And thus Heaven’s favour will at length restore
Thy errant comrades to the sacred Cross.
XIX.
Or chiuderò il mio dir con una breve
Conclusion che so ch’a te fia cara.
Sarà il tuo sangue al suo commisto: e deve
148 Progenie uscirne gloriosa e chiara.
Quì tacque, e sparve come fumo leve
Al vento, o nebbia al Sole arida e rara:
E sgombrò il sonno, e gli lasciò nel petto
152 Di gioja e di stupor confuso affetto.
XIX
“But this conclusion shall my speeches end:
Know that his blood shall mixed be with thine,
Whence barons bold and worthies shall descend,
That many great exploits shall bring to fine.”
This said, he vanished from his sleeping friend,
Like smoke in wind, or mist in Titan’s shine;
Sleep fled likewise, and in his troubled thought,
With wonder, pleasure; joy, with marvel fought.
XIX
‘Conclude I now will with intelligence
That unto thee will lively pleasure bring:
His blood shall mingle with thine own, from whence
A great illustrious progeny shall spring.’
This said, he vanished like a wreath of smoke
Before the wind, or cloud before the sun:
The startling news the prince’s slumbers broke,
And did his heart with joy and stupor stun.
XX.
Apre allora le luci il pio Buglione,
E nato vede e già cresciuto il giorno:
Onde lascia i riposi, e sovrappone
156 L’arme alle membra faticose intorno.
E poco stante a lui nel padiglione
Veniano i duci al solito soggiorno,
Ove a consiglio siedono, e per uso
160 Ciò ch’altrove si fa, quivi è concluso.
XX
The duke looked up, and saw the azure sky
With argent beams of silver morning spread,
And started up, for praise axed virtue lie
In toil and travel, sin and shame in bed:
His arms he took, his sword girt to his thigh,
To his pavilion all his lords them sped,
And there in council grave the princes sit,
For strength by wisdom, war is ruled by wit.
XX
At this he opened his bewildered eyes,
And seeing the day had some time risen, sprung
From off his couch, and, making haste to rise,
Upon his wearied limbs his armour flung.
To him soon afterwards the leaders went,
Since they were aye accustomed to repair
And meet for council in the captain’s tent,
Where all was planned that was performed elsewhere.
XXI.
&n
bsp; Quivi il buon Guelfo, che il novel pensiero
Infuso avea nell’inspirata mente,
Incominciando a ragionar primiero,
164 Disse a Goffredo: o principe clemente,
Perdono a chieder ne vegn’io, che in vero
È perdon di peccato anco recente:
Onde potrà parer, per avventura,
168 Frettolosa dimanda ed immatura.
XXI
Lord Guelpho there, within whose gentle breast
Heaven had infused that new and sudden thought,
His pleasing words thus to the duke addressed:
“Good prince, mild, though unasked, kind, unbesought,
Oh let thy mercy grant my just request,
Pardon this fault by rage not malice wrought;
For great offence, I grant, so late commit,
My suit too hasty is, perchance unfit.
XXI
Here generous Guelpho, as the novel plan
Worked in his Heaven-inspired, magnanimous mind,
First of all those that sat around, began,
Saying to Godfred: ‘Prince most just and kind,
I come to ask for pardon, which, ’tis true,
Is pardon for a crime of recent date;
Whence the demand, perhaps, for which I sue
May seem ill-timed and too precipitate.
XXII.
Ma pensando che chiesto al pio Goffredo
Per lo forte Rinaldo è tal perdono:
E riguardando a me che in grazia il chiedo,
172 Che vile affatto intercessor non sono;
Agevolmente d’impetrar mi credo
Questo ch’a tutti fia giovevol dono.
Deh consenti ch’ei rieda, e che, in ammenda
176 Del fallo, in pro comune il sangue spenda.
XXII
But since to Godfrey meek benign and kind,
For Prince Rinaldo bold, I humbly sue,
And that the suitor’s self is not behind
Thy greatest friends in state or friendship true;
I trust I shall thy grace and mercy find
Acceptable to me and all this crew;
Oh call him home, this trespass to amend,
He shall his blood in Godfrey’s service spend.
XXII
‘But when I think the pardon we require
Is for Rinaldo, from the pious chief,
And that myself, who ask the favour, sire,
Am no mean intercessor, my belief
Is that, with ease, I shall this grace obtain,
A boon to all productive of great good.
Let him return, and, to wipe out this stain,
Shed for the common weal his precious blood.
XXIII.
E chi sarà, s’egli non è, quel forte
Ch’osi troncar le spaventose piante?
Chi girà incontra ai rischj della morte
180 Con più intrepido petto e più costante?
Scuoter le mura, ed atterrar le porte
Vedrailo, e salir solo a tutti innante.
Rendi al tuo campo omai rendi, per Dio,
184 Lui ch’è sua alta speme e suo desio.
XXIII
“And if not he, who else dares undertake
Of this enchanted wood to cut one tree?
Gainst death and danger who dares battle make,
With so bold face, so fearless heart as he?
Beat down these walls, these gates in pieces break,
Leap o’er these rampires high, thou shalt him see,
Restore therefore to this desirous band
Their wish, their hope, their strength, their shield, their hand;
XXIII
‘Who but himself, with strength and zeal replete,
Dare fell the forest that has cowed the rest?
Who death encounter, and its dangers meet
With more intrepid and determined breast?
You’ll see him barriers prostrate, ramparts shake,
Mount the breach singly foremost of us all.
Him to the camp restore, for Jesus’ sake;
Our cherished idol, our high hope recall.
XXIV.
Rendi il nipote a me sì valoroso,
E pronto esecutor rendi a te stesso:
Nè soffrir ch’egli torpa in vil riposo;
188 Ma rendi insieme la sua gloria ad esso.
Segua il vessillo tuo vittorioso:
Sia testimonio a sua virtù concesso:
Faccia opre di se degne in chiara luce,
192 E rimirando te maestro e duce.
XXIV
“To me my nephew, to thyself restore
A trusty help, when strength of hand thou needs,
In idleness let him consume no more,
Recall him to his noble acts and deeds!
Known be his worth as was his strength of yore
Wher’er thy standard broad her cross outspreads,
Oh, let his fame and praise spread far and wide,
Be thou his lord, his teacher and his guidel”
XXIV
‘To me a nephew, to thyself restore
An agent prompt to fend and to attack;
Ah, let him sleep in vile repose no more,
But to himself his former fame give back;
Ah, let him follow thy victorious arm,
And let the world the noble stripling see
Achievements worthy of himself perform,
In admiration, peerless chief, of thee.
XXV.
Così pregava; e ciascun altro i preghi,
Con favorevol fremito, seguia.
Onde Goffredo allor, quasi egli pieghi
196 La mente a cosa non pensata in pria,
Come esser può, dicea, che grazia i’ neghi
Che da voi si dimanda e si desia?
Ceda il rigore: e sia ragione e legge
200 Ciò che il consenso universale elegge.
XXV
Thus he entreated, and the rest approve
His words, with friendly murmurs whispered low.
Godfrey as though their suit his mind did move
To that whereon he never thought tell now,
“How can my heart,” quoth he, “if you I love,
To your request and suit but bend and bow?
Let rigor go, that right and justice be
Wherein you all consent and all agree.
XXV
Thus he entreated, and the others rent
The air with shouts Rinaldo to restore.
Whence Godfred said, as if his mind was bent
On things not thought of or conceived before:
‘How were it possible, where all unite
As with one voice, my pardon to refuse?
Let rigour yield, and that be law and right
Which the desire expressed by all doth choose.
XXVI.
Torni Rinaldo, e da quì innanzi affrene
Più moderato l’impeto dell’ire:
E risponda con l’opre all’alta spene
204 Di lui concetta, ed al comun desire.
Ma il richiamarlo, o Guelfo, a te conviene:
Frettoloso egli fia, credo, al venire.
Tu scegli il messo, e tu l’indrizza dove
208 Pensi che ‘l fero giovine si trove.
XXVI
“Rinaldo shall return; let him restrain
Henceforth his headstrong wrath and hasty ire,
And with his hardy deeds let him take pain
To correspond your hope and my desire:
Guelpho, thou must call home the knight again,
See that with speed he to these tents retire,
The messengers appoint as likes thy mind,
And teach them where they should the young man find.”
XXVI
‘Let him return, but from henceforward rein
With tighter bridle his impetuous ire,
And the great hopes conceived of him sustain
By deeds that may
respond to our desire.
Him to recall, O Guelpho, be thy care;
Nor do I think he’ll loiter o’er the ground:
Choose, then, an envoy, and direct him where
Thou deem’st the froward stripling may be found.’
XXVII.
Tacque; e disse sorgendo il guerrier Dano:
Esser io chieggio il messaggier che vada;
Nè ricuso cammin dubbio o lontano,
212 Per far il don dell’onorata spada.
Questi è di cor fortissimo e di mano,
Onde al buon Guelfo assai l’offerta aggrada.
Vuol ch’ei sia l’un de’ messi, e che sia l’altro
216 Ubaldo, uom cauto, ed avveduto, e scaltro.
XXVII
Up start the Dane that bare Prince Sweno’s brand,
“I will,” quoth he, “that message undertake,
I will refuse no pains by sea or land,
To give the knight this sword, kept for his sake.”
This man was bold of courage, strong of hand,
Guelpho was glad he did the proffer make:
“Thou shalt,” quoth he, “Ubaldo shalt thou have
To go with thee, a knight, stout, wise, and grave.”
XXVII
Ceasing, the Danish warrior rose and said:
‘To be the chosen envoy I demand;
Nor path so long, so doubtful do I dread,
To place the honoured sabre in his hand.’
His offer greatly pleased Prince Guelph, for he
Had heart and hand no trials ever bent.
He wills him one, and that the other be
Ubaldo — cautious, crafty, provident:
XXVIII.
Veduti Ubaldo, in giovinezza, e cerchi
Varj costumi avea, varj paesi,
Peregrinando dai più freddi cerchj
220 Del nostro mondo agli Etiópi accesi:
E com’uom che virtute e senno merchi,
Le favelle, le usanze, e i riti appresi.
Poscia, in matura età, da Guelfo accolto
224 Fu tra’ compagni, e caro a lui fu molto.
XXVIII
Ubaldo in his youth had known and seen
The fashions strange of many an uncouth land,
And travelled over all the realms between
The Arctic circle and hot Meroe’s strand,
And as a man whose wit his guide had been,
Their customs use he could, tongues understand,
Forthy when spent his youthful seasons were
Lord Guelpho entertained and held him dear.
Jerusalem Delivered Page 248
