Jerusalem Delivered

by Torquato Tasso

  When they the frightful mace approaching found.

  XLIII.

  Ecco, da fera compagnia seguíto,

  Sopraggiungeva il Tolosan Raimondo.

  Al periglioso passo il vecchio ardito

  340 Corse, e sprezzò di quei gran colpi il pondo.

  Primo ei ferì; ma invano ebbe ferito:

  Non ferì invano il feritor secondo;

  Chè in fronte il colse, e l’atterrò col peso

  344 Supin, tremante, a braccia aperte, e steso.

  XLIII

  But old Raymondo with his hardy crew

  By chance came thither, to his great mishap;

  To that defended path the old man flew,

  And scorned his blows and him that kept the gap,

  He struck his foe, his blow no blood forth drew,

  But on the front with that he caught a rap,

  Which in a swoon, low in the dust him laid,

  Wide open, trembling, with his arms displayed.

  XLIII

  When, lo! attended by a valorous few,

  Up came Raimondo, county of Toulouse,

  And boldly to the perilous passage flew,

  Scorning the weight of those terrific blows,

  And gave first blow; but gave it all in vain:

  But not in vain the second smiter smote,

  Since caught his brow, upon the bloody plain

  He laid him quivering, with his arms stretched out.

  XLIV.

  Finalmente ritorna anco ne’ vinti

  La virtù che ‘l timore avea fugata:

  E i Franchi vincitori o son rispinti,

  348 O pur caggiono uccisi in su l’entrata.

  Ma il Soldan, che giacere infra gli estinti

  Il tramortito duce ai piè si guata,

  Grida ai suoi cavalier: costui sia tratto

  352 Dentro alle sbarre, e prigionier sia fatto.

  XLIV

  The Pagans gathered heart at last, though fear

  Their courage weak had put to flight but late,

  So that the conquerors repulsed were,

  And beaten back, else slain before the Gate:

  The Soldan, mongst the dead beside him near

  That saw Lord Raymond lie in such estate,

  Cried to his men, “Within these bars,” quoth he,

  “Come draw this knight, and let him captive be.”

  XLIV

  At length that courage fear had chased away

  To the defeated Turks returned again,

  And the Frank victors were repulsed, or they

  Fell at the entrance of the fortress, slain.

  But Solymano, who among the dead

  Saw lying the half-lifeless warrior,

  Cried to his knights: ‘Within the barricade

  Let him be carried, and made prisoner.’

  XLV.

  Si movon quegli ad eseguir l’effetto;

  Ma trovan dura e faticosa impresa:

  Perchè non è d’alcun de’ suoi negletto

  356 Raimondo, e corron tutti in sua difesa.

  Quinci furor, quindi pietoso affetto

  Pugna: nè vil cagione è di contesa.

  Di sì grand’uom la libertà, la vita,

  360 Questi a guardar, quegli a rapir invita.

  XLV

  Forward they rushed to execute his word,

  But hard and dangerous that emprise they found,

  For none of Raymond’s men forsook their lord,

  But to their guide’s defence they flocked round,

  Thence fury fights, hence pity draws the sword,

  Nor strive they for vile cause or on light ground,

  The life and freedom of that champion brave,

  Those spoil, these would preserve, those kill, these save.

  XLV

  Forward they sprang to execute the deed,

  But the task difficult and dangerous found;

  Since not neglectful in the hour of need,

  Raimondo’s followers their fallen lord surround.

  Mad fury there, here pious duty fought;

  Nor was the cause unworthy of the strife,

  Since these to guard his life and freedom sought,

  Those to destroy both liberty and life.

  XLVI.

  Pur vinto avrebbe a lungo andar la prova

  Il Soldano ostinato alla vendetta;

  Ch’alla fulminea mazza oppor non giova

  364 O doppio scudo, o tempra d’elmo eletta:

  Ma grande aita, a’ suoi nemici, e nova

  Di qua di là vede arrivare in fretta:

  Chè da’ due lati opposti, in un sol punto,

  368 Il sopran Duce e ‘l gran Guerriero è giunto.

  XLVI

  But yet at last if they had longer fought

  The hardy Soldan would have won the field;

  For gainst his thundering mace availed naught

  Or helm of temper fine or sevenfold shield:

  But from each side great succor now was brought

  To his weak foes, now fit to faint and yield,

  And both at once to aid and help the same

  The sovereign Duke and young Rinaldo came.

  XLVI

  Still stubborn for revenge, the soldan would

  At length have crowned his efforts with success;

  Not doubled shield or finest helmet could

  Withstand the fury of his thundering mace;

  But that he saw the adverse forces get

  New and most powerful succour in the fight,

  Since from two opposite points together met

  The sovran captain and the peerless knight.

  XLVII.

  Come pastor quando, fremendo intorno

  Il vento e i tuoni, e balenando i lampi,

  Vede oscurar di mille nubi il giorno,

  372 Ritrae la greggia dagli aperti campi:

  E sollecito cerca alcun soggiorno

  Ove l’ira del Ciel sicuro scampi;

  Ei col grido indrizzando e con la verga

  376 Le mandre innanzi, agli ultimi s’atterga;

  XLVII

  As when a shepherd, raging round about

  That sees a storm with wind, hail, thunder, rain,

  When gloomy clouds have day’s bright eye put out,

  His tender flocks drives from the open plain

  To some thick grove or mountain’s shady foot,

  Where Heaven’s fierce wrath they may unhurt sustain,

  And with his hook, his whistle and his cries

  Drives forth his fleecy charge, and with them flies:

  XLVII

  Like herd, who, seeing round him lightning play,

  And wind and thunder threaten coming rain,

  And countless clouds obscure the light of day,

  Leads back his cattle from the open plain,

  Seeking, solicitous, some sheltering nook,

  Where he may safely ‘scape Heaven’s wrathful blast;

  And, guiding them by cries and with the crook,

  Urges them on, and is himself the last;

  XLVIII.

  Così il Pagan, che già venir sentía

  L’irreparabil turbo e la tempesta,

  Che di fremiti orrendi il Ciel feria,

  380 D’arme ingombrando e quella parte e questa;

  Le custodite genti innanzi invia

  Nella gran torre, ed egli ultimo resta.

  Ultimo parte, e sì cede al periglio,

  384 Ch’audace appare in provvido consiglio.

  XLVIII

  So fled the Soldan, when he gan descry

  This tempest come from angry war forthcast,

  The armor clashed and lightened gainst the sky,

  And from each side swords, weapons, fire outbrast:

  He sent his folk up to the fortress high,

  To shun the furious storm, himself stayed last,

  Yet to the danger he gave place at length,

  For wit, his courage; wisdom ruled his strength.


  XLVIII

  The Pagan so, when, hopeless, he beheld

  The inevitable storm, and heard the sound

  That to the heavens in horrid menace swelled,

  And saw the arms that bristled all around,

  Sent on his soldiers guarded to the tower,

  And was himself the last that persevered;

  He left the last, so yielding to their power,

  That, altho’ cautious, gallant he appeared.

  XLIX.

  Pur a fatica avvien che si ripari

  Dentro alle porte, e le riserra appena;

  Chè già, rotte le sbarre, ai limitari

  388 Rinaldo vien, nè quivi anco s’affrena.

  Desio di superar chi non ha pari

  In opra d’arme, e giuramento il mena:

  Chè non oblia, che in voto egli promise

  392 Di dar morte a colui che ‘l Dano uccise.

  XLIX

  But scant the knight was safe the gate within,

  Scant closed were the doors, when having broke

  The bars, Rinaldo doth assault begin

  Against the port, and on the wicket stroke

  His matchless might, his great desire to win,

  His oath and promise, doth his wrath provoke,

  For he had sworn, nor should his word be vain,

  To kill the man that had Prince Sweno slain.

  XLIX

  Scarce with great travail had he shelter got

  Within the gates — they scarcely bolted were —

  When burst the bars, Rinaldo faltered not,

  But gained the threshold, nor ev’n halted there.

  Zeal to surpass him unsurpassed before,

  And his vow, led him every nerve to strain;

  Since not forgotten was the oath he swore,

  Vengeance to wreak on him who slew the Dane.

  L.

  E ben allor allor l’invitta mano

  Tentato avria l’inespugnabil muro:

  Nè forse colà dentro era il Soldano

  396 Dal fatal suo nemico assai sicuro;

  Ma già suona a ritratta il Capitano:

  Già l’orizonte d’ogn’intorno è scuro.

  Goffredo alloggia nella terra, e vuole

  400 Rinnovar poi l’assalto al novo Sole.

  L

  And now his armed hand that castle great

  Would have assaulted, and had shortly won,

  Nor safe pardie the Soldan there a seat

  Had found his fatal foes’ sharp wrath to shun,

  Had not Godfredo sounded the retreat;

  For now dark shades to shroud the earth begun,

  Within the town the duke would lodge that night,

  And with the morn renew the assault and fight.

  L

  And then, ev’n then, the unconquered boy had tried

  To take, altho’ impregnable, the wall;

  Nor safe, perhaps, were Solyman inside,

  From his predestined foe; but hark, a call!

  The captain’s clarions sounded a retreat,

  And the horizon all around grew black;

  His troops Prince Godfred bivouacked in the street,

  So as at sunrise to renew the attack.

  LI.

  Diceva ai suoi, lietissimo in sembianza,

  Favorito ha il gran Dio l’armi Cristiane:

  Fatto è il sommo de’ fatti, e poco avanza

  404 Dell’opra, e nulla del timor rimane.

  La torre (estrema, e misera speranza

  Degl’infedeli) espugnerem dimane.

  Pietà frattanto a confortar v’inviti,

  408 Con sollecito amor, gli egri e i feriti.

  LI

  With cheerful look thus to his folk he said,

  “High God hath holpen well his children dear,

  This work is done, the rest this night delayed

  Doth little labor bring, less doubt, no fear,

  This tower, our foe’s weak hope and latest aid,

  We conquer will, when sun shall next appear:

  Meanwhile with love and tender ruth go see

  And comfort those which hurt and wounded be;

  LI

  And them addressed in joyous cheering strains:

  ‘Almighty God has blest His host’s career;

  The worst is over, and there now remains

  Little for us to do, and nought to fear.

  The tower — last anchor of the infidel

  Well storm to-morrow, at the dawn of day;

  Meanwhile let pity, all who hear, impel

  To tend with zeal the sick and maimed. Away!

  LII.

  Ite, e curate quei c’han fatto acquisto

  Di questa patria a noi col sangue loro.

  Ciò più conviensi ai cavalier di Cristo,

  412 Che desio di vendetta o di tesoro.

  Troppo, ahi troppo di strage oggi s’è visto,

  Troppa in alcuni avidità dell’oro.

  Rapir più oltra, e incrudelir i’ vieto.

  416 Or divulghin le trombe il mio divieto.

  LII

  “Go cure their wounds which boldly ventured

  Their lives, and spilt their bloods to get this hold,

  That fitteth more this host for Christ forth led,

  Than thirst of vengeance, or desire of gold;

  Too much, ah, too much blood this day is shed!

  In some we too much haste to spoil behold,

  But I command no more you spoil and kill,

  And let a trumpet publish forth my will.”

  LII

  ‘Away! and heal all those who have sacrificed

  Their precious blood these hallowed realms to gain;

  More fitting that for cavaliers of Christ,

  Than sordid gold or vengeance to obtain.

  Much, too much carnage has been seen to-day,

  In some too great avidity of wealth;

  Let blow the trumps, and my commands convey;

  Forbid henceforth is cruelty and stealth.’

  LIII.

  Tacque: e poi se n’andò là dove il Conte

  Riavuto dal colpo anco ne geme.

  Nè Soliman con meno ardita fronte

  420 Ai suoi ragiona, e ‘l duol nell’alma preme:

  Siate, o compagni, di Fortuna all’onte

  Invitti, insin che verde è fior di speme:

  Chè sotto alta apparenza di fallace

  424 Spavento, oggi men grave il danno giace.

  LIII

  This said, he went where Raymond panting lay,

  Waked from the swoon wherein he late had been.

  Nor Solyman with countenance less gay

  Bespake his troops, and kept his grief unseen;

  “My friends, you are unconquered this day,

  In spite of fortune still our hope is green,

  For underneath great shows of harm and fear,

  Our dangers small, our losses little were:

  LIII

  He ceased, and went to where Toulouse’s count,

  Restored somewhat, continued still to groan.

  Nor Solymano, with less hardy front,

  Keeping his care concealed, addressed his own:

  ‘In spite of Fate, my friends, unconquered be,

  While Hope is green nor fades into the sear;

  Since ‘neath false terror, in reality

  Our losses are much less than they appear.

  LIV.

  Prese i nemici han sol le mura e i tetti

  E ‘l volgo umil, non la Cittade han presa:

  Chè nel capo del Re, ne’ vostri petti,

  428 Nelle man vostre è la Città compresa.

  Veggio il Re salvo, e salvi i suoi più eletti:

  Veggio che ne circonda alta difesa.

  Vano trofeo d’abbandonata terra

  432 Abbiansi i Franchi, alfin perdran la guerra.

  LIV

  “Burnt are your houses, and your people slain,

  Yet safe yo
ur town is, though your walls be gone,

  For in yourselves and in your sovereign

  Consists your city, not in lime and stone;

  Your king is safe, and safe is all his train

  In this strong fort defended from their fone,

  And on this empty conquest let them boast,

  Till with this town again, their lives be lost;

  LIV

  ‘The foe alone has ta’en our lowliest bands,

  The walls, and roofs; the city is not won;

  That is comprised in your own breasts and hands,

  And in the head that wears the royal crown.

  The king is safe with those of most renown,

  Secure defence surrounding us I see;

  Let then vain trophies of th’ abandoned town

  The Franks retain; repulsed at length they’ll be.

  LV.

  E certo i’ son che perderanla alfine;

  Chè nella sorte prospera insolenti

  Fian volti agli omicidj, alle rapine,

  436 Ed agl’ingiuriosi abbracciamenti:

  E saran di leggier tra le ruine,

  Tra gli stupri e le prede oppressi e spinti,

  Se in tanta tracotanza omai sorgiunge

  440 L’oste d’Egitto: e non puote esser lunge.

  LV

  “And on their heads the loss at last will light,

  For with good fortune proud and insolent,

  In spoil and murder spend they day and night,

  In riot, drinking, lust and ravishment,

  And may amid their preys with little fight

  At ease be overthrown, killed, slain and spent,

  If in this carelessness the Egyptian host

  Upon them fall, which now draws near this coast.

  LV

  ‘Convinced I am they’ll lose at last; besides

  That, being so vapouring in prosperity,

  They’ll turn to rapine and to homicides,

  And to unbridled sensuality.

  And, for it can’t be far, should Egypt’s host

  Come, when to such excesses they give way,

  With plunder gorged and ‘mid the ruins lost,

  They to our swords will fall an easy prey.

  LVI.

  Intanto noi signoreggiar co’ sassi

  Potrem della Città gli alti edificj:

  Ed ogni calle, onde al Sepolcro vassi,

  444 Torran le nostre machine ai nemici.

  Così, vigor porgendo ai cor già lassi,

  La speme rinnovò negl’infelici.