He did restore I prized not; but he reft
From me, by force, the empire of my heart.
XCVI.
Mal amor si nasconde. A te sovente
Desiosa i’ chiedea del mio signore.
Veggendo i segni tu d’inferma mente:
764 Erminia, mi dicesti, ardi d’amore.
Io te ‘l negai; ma un mio sospiro ardente
Fu più verace testimon del core:
E in vece forse della lingua, il guardo
768 Manifestava il foco onde tutt’ardo.
XCVI
“But who can hide desire, or love suppress?
Oft of his worth with thee in talk I strove,
Thou, by my trembling fit that well could’st guess
What fever held me, saidst, ‘Thou art in love;’
But I denied, for what can maids do less?
And yet my sighs thy sayings true did prove,
Instead of speech, my looks, my tears, mine eyes,
Told in what flame, what fire thy mistress fries.
XCVI
‘Love ill conceals itself: often of thee
Did I, desirous, of my lord enquire;
Thou, seeing the signs of my infirmity,
Didst answer me: “Thou burnest with love’s fire,”
Which I denied: but ah! my passionate sighs
Of my heart’s state far truer witness bore;
And, tho’ my tongue was mute, my tell-tale eyes
Betrayed the fire that burned me to the core.
XCVII.
Sfortunato silenzio; avessi io almeno
Chiesta allor medicina al gran martíre;
S’esser poscia dovea lentato il freno,
772 Quando non gioverebbe, al mio desire.
Partimmi in somma, e le mie piaghe in seno
Portai celate, e ne credei morire.
Alfin, cercando al viver mio soccorso,
776 Mi sciolse amor d’ogni rispetto il morso.
XCVII
“Unhappy silence, well I might have told
My woes, and for my harms have sought relief,
Since now my pains and plaints I utter bold,
Where none that hears can help or ease my grief.
From him I parted, and did close upfold
My wounds within my bosom, death was chief
Of all my hopes and helps, till love’s sweet flame
Plucked off the bridle of respect and shame,
XCVII
‘Unfortunate silence! would that I had then
Demanded medicine for my suffering state,
Since driven afterwards to give such rein
To my desires, when useless and too late.
In short, I left, concealing the wild strife
That raged within my heart, and thought to die.
Seeking at last some solace for my life,
Love burst the barrier of all modesty.
XCVIII.
Sicchè a trovarne il mio signor io mossi,
Ch’egra mi fece, e mi potea far sana.
Ma tra via fero intoppo attraversossi
780 Di gente inclementissima e villana.
Poco mancò che preda lor non fossi;
Pur in parte fuggimmi erma e lontana:
E colà vissi, in solitaria cella,
784 Cittadina di boschi e pastorella.
XCVIII
“And caused me ride to seek my lord and knight,
For he that made me sick could make me sound:
But on an ambush I mischanced to light
Of cruel men, in armour clothed round,
Hardly I scaped their hand by mature flight.
And fled to wilderness and desert ground,
And there I lived in groves and forests wild,
With gentle grooms and shepherds’ daughters mild.
XCVIII
‘So that in quest of my dear lord I went,
That he might cure the wound himself had made;
But on the way met fierce impediment,
Being by a band of lawless loons waylaid;
Into whose hands a prey I nearly fell,
But ‘scaped into a distant wilderness,
And there abode in solitary cell,
Inhabitant of woods, and shepherdess.
XCIX.
Ma poichè quel desio, che fu ripresso
Alcun dì per la tema, in me risorse;
Tornarmi ritentando al loco stesso,
788 La medesma sciagura anco m’occorse.
Fuggir non potei già; ch’era omai presso
Predatrice masnada, e troppo corse.
Così fui presa: e quei che mi rapiro
792 Egizj fur, ch’a Gaza indi sen giro.
XCIX
“But when hot love which fear had late suppressed,
Revived again, there nould I longer sit,
But rode the way I came, nor e’er took rest,
Till on like danger, like mishap I hit,
A troop to forage and to spoil addressed,
Encountered me, nor could I fly from it:
Thus was I ta’en, and those that had me caught,
Egyptians were, and me to Gaza brought,
XCIX
‘But in me when that longing had revived,
Which for a time by terror was repressed,
I left; and when at the same spot arrived,
Me did again the same mishap arrest.
Nor could I fly; this time the robber band
Pursued too swiftly, and was now too near.
Thus was I captured: from far Egypt’s land,
And unto Gaza bound, my captors were,
C.
E in don menarmi al Capitano, a cui
Diedi di me contezza, e ‘l persuasi,
Sicch’onorata, e inviolata fui
796 Que’ dì che con Armida ivi rimasi.
Così venni più volte in forza altrui,
E men sottrassi: ecco i miei duri casi.
Pur le prime catene anco riserva
800 La tante volte liberata, e serva.
C
“And for a present to their captain gave,
Whom I entreated and besought so well,
That he mine honor had great care to save,
And since with fair Armida let me dwell.
Thus taken oft, escaped oft I have,
Ah, see what haps I passed, what dangers fell,
So often captive, free so oft again,
Still my first bands I keep, still my first chain.
C
‘Me to their captain as their prize they led,
Whom with account so plausible I gained,
That both respected and unviolated
I was, while with Armida I remained.
Thus many times a captive I became,
Thus oft escaped; such my adventures are.
Still, tho’ enslaved and freed so oft, the same
First chains that bound, still keep me prisoner.
CI.
Oh! pur colui, che circondolle intorno
All’alma sì che non fia chi le scioglia,
Non dica: errante ancella, altro soggiorno
804 Cercati pure: e me seco non voglia;
Ma pietoso gradisca il mio ritorno,
E nell’antica mia prigion m’accoglia.
Così diceagli Erminia: e insieme andaro
808 La notte e ‘l giorno ragionando a paro.
CI
“And he that did this chain so surely bind
About my heart, which none can loose but he,
Let him not say, ‘Go, wandering damsel, find
Some other home, thou shalt not bide with me,’
But let him welcome me with speeches kind,
And in my wonted prison set me free:”
Thus spake the princess, thus she and her guide
Talked day and night, and on their journey ride.
CI
‘And oh! may he, who has around my heart
Wound such indis
soluble ties, not say,
Seek, errant maid, some other home; thou art
Not worthy ‘Neath Tancredi’s roof to stay.
But may he welcome my return; ah! may
He let me in my former jail abide.’
Thus spake Erminia, and thus night and day
The pair rode on, conversing side by side.
CII.
Il più usato sentier lasciò Vafrino,
Calle cercando o più sicuro o corto.
Giunsero in loco alla Città vicino,
812 Quando è il Sol nell’Occaso, e imbruna l’Orto:
E trovaron di sangue atro il cammino:
E poi vider nel sangue un guerrier morto,
Che le vie tutte ingombra, e la gran faccia
816 Tien volta ai Cielo, e morto anco minaccia.
CII
Through the highways Vafrino would not pass,
A path more secret, safe and short, he knew,
And now close by the city’s wall he was,
When sun was set, night in the east upflew,
With drops of blood besmeared he found the grass,
And saw where lay a warrior murdered new,
That all be-bled the ground, his face to skies
He turns, and seems to threat, though dead he lies:
CII
Vafrino left the high road now, and sought
Either a shorter or securer way,
Which their steps nearly to the city brought,
As from the westering sun the east grew gray;
When, lo! black blood-gouts they began to trace;
Begrimed with blood, then found a warrior dead,
Who blocked the path up, and whose monster face
Heavenward was turned, and, dead, still menacèd.
CIII.
L’uso dell’arme, e ‘l portamento estrano
Pagan mostrarlo: e lo scudier trascorse.
Un altro alquanto ne giacea lontano,
820 Che tosto agli occhj di Vafrino occorse.
Egli disse fra se: questi è Cristiano.
Più il mise poscia il vestir bruno in forse.
Salta di sella, e gli discopre il viso:
824 Ed oimè, grida, è quì Tancredi ucciso.
CIII
His harness and his habit both betrayed
He was a Pagan; forward went the squire,
And saw whereas another champion laid
Dead on the land, all soiled with blood and mire,
“This was some Christian knight,” Vafrino said:
And marking well his arms and rich attire,
He loosed his helm, and saw his visage plain,
And cried, “Alas, here lies Tancredi slain!”
CIII
The fashion of his arms and strange array
Proved him a Pagan, so the squire passed on,
When, at some distance off, another lay,
Whom, when Vafrino cast his eyes upon,
He thought this surely must a Christian be,
And the dark armour more confirmed his doubt;
Whence springing down to see his face, ‘Ah me!
Tancredi’s slain!’ he wildly shouted out
CIV.
A riguardar sovra il guerrier feroce
La male avventurosa era fermata;
Quando dal suon della dolente voce
828 Per lo mezzo del cor fu saettata.
Al nome di Tancredi ella veloce
Accorse in guisa d’ebra e forsennata.
Vista la faccia scolorita e bella,
832 Non scese no, precipitò di sella.
CIV
The woful virgin tarried, and gave heed
To the fierce looks of that proud Saracine,
Till that high cry, full of sad fear and dread,
Pierced through her heart with sorrow, grief and pine,
At Tancred’s name thither she ran with speed,
Like one half mad, or drunk with too much wine,
And when she saw his face, pale, bloodless, dead,
She lighted, nay, she stumbled from her steed:
CIV
To look at the grim Saracen had stayed
The unfortunate princess, when, like a dart,
The ringing, piercing accents, that betrayed
Vafrino’s agony, transfixed her heart.
At Tancred’s name she gallopped madly there,
Like one with wine or sudden frenzy flown;
And seeing that face all colourless and fair,
Vaulted not — no, but from her selle dashed down:
CV.
E in lui versò d’inessicabil vena
Lacrime, e voce di sospiri mista:
In che misero punto or quì mi mena
836 Fortuna! ah che veduta amara e trista!
Dopo gran tempo i’ ti ritrovo appena,
Tancredi, e ti riveggio, e non son vista;
Vista non son da te, benchè presente,
840 E trovando ti perdo eternamente.
CV
Her springs of tears she looseth forth, and cries,
“Hither why bring’st thou me, ah, Fortune blind?
Where dead, for whom I lived, my comfort lies,
Where war for peace, travail for rest I find;
Tancred, I have thee, see thee, yet thine eyes
Looked not upon thy love and handmaid kind,
Undo their doors, their lids fast closed sever,
Alas, I find thee for to lose thee ever.
CV
And tears in torrents inexhaustible
(Her words with sobs commingling) o’er him shed.
‘Ah, sight appalling and most horrible,
At what a moment am I hither led?
I see thee, Tancred, stretched upon the ground,
And yet my presence thy closed eyes ignore;
After long absence thou art no sooner found,
Than lost again, alas! for evermore.
CVI.
Misera, non credea ch’agli occhj miei
Potessi in alcun tempo esser nojoso:
Or cieca farmi volentier torrei
844 Per non vederti, e riguardar non oso.
Oimè! de’ lumi già sì dolci e rei
Ov’è la fiamma? ov’è il bel raggio ascoso?
Delle fiorite guancie il bel vermiglio
848 Ov’è fuggito? ov’è il seren del ciglio?
CVI
“I never thought that to mine eyes, my dear,
Thou couldst have grievous or unpleasant been;
But now would blind or rather dead I were,
That thy sad plight might be unknown, unseen!
Alas! where is thy mirth and smiling cheer?
Where are thine eyes’ clear beams and sparkles sheen?
Of thy fair cheek where is the purple red,
And forehead’s whiteness? are all gone, all dead?
CVI
‘Ne’er had I deemed that thou couldst ever be
Unsightly, darling, in my loving sight;
Yet now I would welcome blindness, not to see
Thy mangled form, beloved, ill-fated knight!
I dare not look. Of those dear, guilty eyes
Where is the fire — ah, where the lustre now?
Where of those blooming cheeks the damask dyes,
Where the calm sunshine of that noble brow?
CVII.
Ma chè? squallido e scuro anco mi piaci;
Anima bella, se quinci entro gire,
S’odi il mio pianto, alle mie voglie audaci
852 Perdona il furto, e ‘l temerario ardire.
Dalle pallide labbra i freddi bacj,
Che più caldi sperai, vuò pur rapire.
Parte torrò di sue ragioni a morte,
856 Baciando queste labbra esangui e smorte.
CVII
“Though gone, though dead, I love thee still, behold;
Death wounds, but kills not love; yet if thou live,
Sweet soul, still in his breast, my foll
ies bold
Ah, pardon love’s desires, and stealths forgive;
Grant me from his pale mouth some kisses cold,
Since death doth love of just reward deprive;
And of thy spoils sad death afford me this,
Let me his mouth, pale, cold and bloodless, kiss;
CVII
‘No matter, lovely soul, if thou survive
Within you dark and squalid form, which still
Is dear as ever; hear, and ah, forgive
The theft and daring of my longing will,
As from these pallid lips cold kisses I
Snatch, which I fondly hoped had been more warm:
From Death some portion of his victory
I’ll wrest, in kissing this inanimate form.
CVIII.
Pietosa bocca, che solevi in vita
Consolar il mio duol di tue parole,
Lecito sia ch’anzi la mia partita
860 D’alcun tuo caro bacio io mi console.
E forse allor, s’era a cercarlo ardita,
Quel davi tu, ch’ora convien che invole.
Lecito sia ch’ora ti stringa, e poi
864 Versi lo spirto mio fra i labbri tuoi.
CVIII
“O gentle mouth! with speeches kind and sweet
Thou didst relieve my grief, my woe and pain,
Ere my weak soul from this frail body fleet,
Ah, comfort me with one dear kiss or twain!
Perchance if we alive had happed to meet,
They had been given which now are stolen, O vain,
O feeble life, betwixt his lips out fly,
Oh, let me kiss thee first, then let me die!
CVIII
‘Compassionate mouth, whose kindly eloquence
Was, living, wont to cheer my cheerless dole,
Grant that I may, ere my departure hence,
Myself at least with one dear kiss console!
Then had I dared to ask, it may be thou
Hadst given what I now steal; ah, then, before
I die, let me embrace thee once, and now
Within thy lips my sinking spirit pour.
CIX.
Raccogli tu l’anima mia seguace:
Drizzala tu dove la tua sen gío.
Così parla gemendo, e si disface
868 Quasi per gli occhj, e par conversa in rio.
Rivenne quegli a quell’umor vivace,
E le languide labbra alquanto aprío:
Aprì le labbra, e, con le luci chiuse,
Jerusalem Delivered Page 286
