XX.
Diretro ad essi apparvero i cultori
Dell’Arabia Petrea, della Felice,
Che ‘l soverchio del gelo e degli ardori
156 Non sente mai; se ‘l ver la fama dice:
Ove nascon gl’incensi, e gli altri odori:
Ove rinasce l’immortal fenice
Che tra i fiori odoriferi, ch’aduna
160 All’esequie ai natali, ha tomba e cuna.
XX
Two captains next brought forth their bands to show
Whom Stony sent and Happy Araby,
Which never felt the cold of frost and snow,
Or force of burning heat, unless fame lie,
Where incense pure and all sweet odors grow,
Where the sole phoenix doth revive, not die,
And midst the perfumes rich and flowerets brave
Both birth and burial, cradle hath and grave.
XX
Behind their ranks the yeomen are enrolled
Of Stony and of Happy Araby,
Who never feel excess of heat or cold,
If with the voice of fame the facts agree.
There incense breathes, and other odours; there
The immortal Phoenix doth new life assume,
And finds, ‘mid flowers for ever fresh and fair,
At birth a cradle, and at death a tomb.
XXI.
L’abito di costoro è meno adorno;
Ma l’armi a quei d’Egitto han simiglianti.
Ecco altri Arabi poi che, di soggiorno
164 Certo, non sono stabili abitanti.
Peregrini perpetui usano intorno
Trarne gli alberghi, e le Cittadi erranti.
Han questi femminil voce, e statura:
168 Crin lungo, e negro; e negra faccia, e scura.
XXI
Their clothes not rich, their garments were not gay,
But weapons like the Egyptian troops they had,
The Arabians next that have no certain stay,
No house, no home, no mansion good or bad,
But ever, as the Scythian hordes stray,
From place to place their wandering cities gad:
These have both voice and stature feminine,
Hair long and black, black face, and fiery eyne.
XXI
Less rich and ornamented is their dress,
But armed they’re like Egyptians. Then advance
Other Arabians, who no homes possess
Of fixed abodes, not fixed inhabitants,
Perpetual pilgrims, that in constant flight
Drag migratory towns from place to place;
These women’s voices have, and women’s height,
Long jetty locks, and copper-coloured face.
XXII.
Lunghe canne Indiane arman di corte
Punte di ferro: e in su destrier correnti
Diresti ben che un turbine lor porte;
172 Se pur han turbo sì veloce i venti.
Da Siface le prime erano scorte:
Aldino in guardia ha le seconde genti:
Le terze guida Albiazar ch’è fiero
176 Omicida ladron, non cavaliero.
XXII
Long Indian canes, with iron armed, they bear,
And as upon their nimble steeds they ride,
Like a swift storm their speedy troops appear,
If winds so fast bring storms from heavens wide:
By Syphax led the first Arabians were;
Aldine the second squadron had no guide,
And Abiazar proud, brought to the fight
The third, a thief, a murderer, not a knight.
XXII
Long Indian javelins, tipped with steel, they bear,
And move so fleetly, that each bounding steed,
You’d say, was borne by whirlwind thro’ the air,
If whirlwind e’er possessed such wondrous speed.
By Syphax was the foremost squadron led,
The second by Aldino; in the rear
Follows the third, Albiazar at its head —
A murderous bandit, not a cavalier.
XXIII.
La turba è appresso che lasciate avea
L’isole cinte dalle Arabiche onde,
Da cui, pescando, già raccor solea
180 Conche di perle gravide e feconde.
Sono i Negri con lor, sull’Eritrea
Marina posti alle sinistre sponde:
Quegli Agricalte, e questi Osmida regge
184 Che schernisce ogni fede ed ogni legge.
XXIII
The islanders came then their prince before
Whose lands Arabia’s gulf enclosed about,
Wherein they fish and gather oysters store,
Whose shells great pearls rich and round pour out;
The Red Sea sent with them from his left shore,
Of negroes grim a black and ugly rout;
These Agricalt and those Osmida brought,
A man that set law, faith and truth at naught.
XXIII
Then pass the legions from those isles, around
Whose shores the water of Arabia curls,
Within whose teeming depths are often found
Rich fecund shells impregned with precious pearls;
Their straggling ranks the numerous Negroes close,
On the left coast of the Erythraean born:
These Agricalte leads; Osmida those,
Who holds all faith and every law in scorn.
XXIV.
Gli Etiópi di Meroe indi seguiro:
Meroe che quindi il Nilo isola face,
Ed Astrabora quinci, il cui gran giro
188 È di tre regni, e di due fe capace.
Gli conducea Canario, ed Assimiro:
Re l’uno e l’altro, e di Macon seguace,
E tributario al Califè; ma tenne
192 Santa credenza il terzo, e quì non venne.
XXIV
The Ethiops next which Meroe doth breed,
That sweet and gentle isle of Meroe,
Twixt Nile and Astrabore that far doth spread,
Where two religions are, and kingdoms three,
These Assimiro and Canario led,
Both kings, both Pagans, and both subjects be
To the great Caliph, but the third king kept
Christ’s sacred faith, nor to these wars outstepped.
XXIV
Then pass the Ethiops that Meroë sends,
An island formed by Astabora here,
There by the mighty Nile; it comprehends
Three realms and two religions in its sphere:
These Assimiro and Canario led;
Both kings and followers of the Prophet, they
Acknowledge Egypt’s Caliph as their head:
The third a Christian is, and stays away.
XXV.
Poi due Regi soggetti anco veniano
Con squadre d’arco armate e di quadrella.
Un Soldano è d’Ormus, che dal gran seno
196 Persico è cinta, nobil terra e bella.
L’altro di Boecan: questa è nel pieno
Del gran flusso marino, isola anch’ella;
Ma quando poi, scemando, il mar s’abbassa,
200 Col piede asciutto il peregrin vi passa.
XXV
After two kings, both subjects also, ride,
And of two bands of archers had the charge,
The first Soldan of Ormus placed in the wide
Huge Persian Bay, a town rich, fair, and large:
The last of Boecan, which at every tide
The sea cuts off from Persia’s southern marge,
And makes an isle; but when it ebbs again,
The passage there is sandy, dry and plain.
XXV
Then come two other vassal kings, whose bands
Are armed with bow and arrow for the war:
Soldan of Ormus one, whose fertile lands
By the great P
ersian Gulf surrounded are.
From Boëcan one, which, when the currents flow,
Becomes an island too, but whensoe’er
The tide recedes, the water falls so low,
That with dry foot the pilgrim passes there.
XXVI.
Nè te, Altamoro, entro al pudíco letto
Potuto ha ritener la sposa amata.
Pianse, percosse il biondo crine e ‘l petto
204 Per distornar la tua fatale andata.
Dunque, dicea, crudel, più che ‘l mio aspetto
Del mar l’orrida faccia a te fia grata?
Fian l’arme al braccio tuo più caro peso,
208 Che ‘l picciol figlio ai dolci scherzi inteso?
XXVI
Nor thee, great Altamore, in her chaste bed
Thy loving queen kept with her dear embrace,
She tore her locks, she smote her breast, and shed
Salt tears to make thee stay in that sweet place,
“Seem the rough seas more calm, cruel,” she said,
“Than the mild looks of thy kind spouse’s face?
Or is thy shield, with blood and dust defiled,
A dearer armful than thy tender child?”
XXVI
Thee, Altamoro, in her virtuous bed,
Thy wife could not detain; tho’, in despair
To stop thy fatal going, tears she shed,
And beat her breast, and tore her golden hair:
‘Has, then, the ocean’s frightful face more charms
Than the fond pleading of my loving gaze?
More pleasing burden, cruel, are thy arms,
Than our dear child, when in thy lap he plays?’
XXVII.
È questi il Re di Sarmacante; e ‘l manco
Che in lui si pregi è il libero diadema:
Così dotto è nell’arme, e così franco
212 Ardir congiunge a gagliardia suprema!
Saprallo ben (l’annunzio) il popol Franco:
Ed è ragion che insino ad or ne tema.
I suoi guerrieri indosso han la corazza,
216 La spada al fianco, ed all’arcion la mazza.
XXVII
This was the mighty king of Samarcand,
A captain wise, well skilled in feats of war,
In courage fierce, matchless for strength of hand,
Great was his praise, his force was noised far;
His worth right well the Frenchmen understand,
By whom his virtues feared and loved are:
His men were armed with helms and hauberks strong,
And by their sides broad swords and maces hong.
XXVII
He is the King of Samarcand, his crown
Is of his merits that of least esteem;
Such skill in arms he unites to such renown
For courage frank, and gallantry extreme.
His arm, I prophesy, the Franks will feel;
Nay, have good reason ev’n to fear it now.
His troops cuirasses wear of polished steel,
Swords at their sides, and mace at saddle-bow.
XXVIII.
Ecco poi, fin dagl’Indi e dall’albergo
Dell’aurora, venuto Adrasto il fero:
Che d’un serpente indosso ha per usbergo
220 Il cuojo verde, e maculato a nero:
E smisurato a un elefante il tergo
Preme così, come si suol destriero.
Gente guida costui di qua dal Gange,
224 Che si lava nel mar che l’Indo frange.
XXVIII
Then from the mansions bright of fresh Aurore
Adrastus came, the glorious king of Ind,
A snake’s green skin spotted with black he wore,
That was made rich by art and hard by kind,
An elephant this furious giant bore,
He fierce as fire, his mounture swift as wind;
Much people brought he from his kingdoms wide,
Twixt Indus, Ganges, and the salt seaside.
XXVIII
Lo! from far India and the East repairs
Fierce Prince Adrastus to the battle’s din;
He on his breast, by way of corselet, wears,
Speckled with green and black, a dragon’s skin;
Upon a monstrous elephant he rides,
As ‘twere a simple steed; his forces he
From this side of the rapid Ganges guides,
Where the swoln Indus breaks upon the sea.
XXIX.
Nella squadra che segue è scelto il fiore
Della regal milizia; e v’ha quei tutti,
Che con larga mercè, con degno onore,
228 E per guerra e per pace eran condutti:
Ch’armati a sicurezza, ed a terrore
Vengono in su destrier possenti instrutti:
E de’ purpurei manti, e della luce
232 Dell’acciajo e dell’oro il Ciel riluce.
XXIX
The king’s own troop come next, a chosen crew,
Of all the camp the strength, the crown, the flower,
Wherein each soldier had with honors due
Rewarded been, for service ere that hour;
Their arms were strong for need, and fair for show,
Upon fierce steeds well mounted rode this power,
And heaven itself with the clear splendor shone
Of their bright armor, purple, gold and stone.
XXIX
The troop succeeding in its ranks contained
The flower of all the imperial army; they
To serve in peace and war-time were retained
By fitting honours and most liberal pay.
Armed both for safety and their foes’ affright,
They on strong well-broke steeds prance proudly by,
And with their purple mantles, and the light
Of gold and steel, illuminate the sky.
XXX.
Fra questi è il crudo Alarco, ed Odemaro
Ordinator di squadre, ed Idraorte:
E Rimedon, che per l’audacia è chiaro,
236 Sprezzator de’ mortali, e della morte:
E Tigrane, e Rapoldo il gran corsaro,
Già de’ mari tiranno, e Ormondo il forte,
E Marlabusto Arabico, a chi il nome
240 L’Arabie dier, che ribellanti ha dome.
XXX
Mongst these Alarco fierce, and Odemare
The muster master was, and Hidraort,
And Rimedon, whose rashness took no care
To shun death’s bitter stroke, in field or fort,
Tigranes, Rapold stem, the men that fare
By sea, that robbed in each creek and port,
Ormond, and Marlabust the Arabian named,
Because that land rebellious he reclaimed.
XXX
‘Mong them Alarco is, and Odemar,
Idraort, and Rimedon, who hath
Great reputation from bold feats in war,
Scorner alike of mortals and of death.
Rapoldo, the sea-king, and corsair famed;
Tigranes, and Ormond, the powerful hight,
And Marlabusto the Arabian, named
So from the Arabs he subdued in fight.
XXXI.
Evvi Orindo, Arimon, Pirga, Brimarte
Espugnator delle Città, Suifante
Domator de’ cavalli, e tu dell’arte
244 Della lotta maestro, Aridamante,
E Tisaferno il folgore di Marte,
A cui non è chi d’agguagliar si vante,
O se in arcione, o se pedon contrasta,
248 O se rota la spada, o corre l’asta.
XXXI
There Pirga, Arimon, Orindo are,
Brimarte the scaler, and with him Suifant
The breaker of wild horses brought from far;
Then the great wresteler strong Aridamant,
And Tisapherne, the thunderbolt of war,
Whom none surpassed, whom no
ne to match durst vaunt
At tilt, at tourney, or in combat brave,
With spear or lance, with sword, with mace or glaive.
XXXI
There Pirga, Arimon, Orindo were;
Brimarté, conqueror of towns; Siphant,
Tamer of horse; and thou, beyond compare,
First in the wrestler’s art, Aridamant;
And Tisaphernes, thunderbolt of Mars,
Whom none can vaunt to match as cavalier,
Whether on horseback or on foot he wars,
The broadsword whirls or hurls the massy spear.
XXXII.
Guida un Armen la squadra, il qual tragitto
Al Paganesmo nell’età novella
Fè dalla vera fede: ed ove ditto
252 Fu già Clemente, ora Emiren s’appella:
Per altro uom fido, e caro al Re d’Egitto
Sovra quanti per lui calcar mai sella;
E duce insieme, e cavalier soprano
256 Per cor, per senno, e per valor di mano.
XXXII
A false Armenian did this squadron guide,
That in his youth from Christ’s true faith and light
To the blind lore of Paganism did slide,
That Clement late, now Emireno, hight;
Yet to his king he faithful was, and tried
True in all causes, his in wrong and right:
A cunning leader and a soldier bold,
For strength and courage, young; for wisdom, old.
XXXII
Them an Armenian leads, who left the truth
Of Jesus’ word, and turned Mahometan,
Ev’n in the prime and vigour of his youth;
His name Clementè erst, now Emiren.
Still true he was to Egypt’s king, and dear
Beyond all other princes of the land;
Uniting worth of chief and cavalier,
In heart, in judgment, and in strength of hand.
XXXIII.
Nessun più rimanea; quando improvvisa
Armida apparve, e dimostrò sua schiera.
Venia sublime in un gran carro assisa,
260 Succinta in gonna, e faretrata arciera.
E mescolato il novo sdegno in guisa
Col natío dolce in quel bel volto s’era,
Che vigor dalle; e cruda ed acerbetta
264 Par che minacci, e minacciando alletta.
XXXIII
When all these regiments were passed and gone,
Appeared Armide, and came her troop to show;
Set in a chariot bright with precious stone,
Jerusalem Delivered Page 265
