In that strange noise, more warlike, shrill and clear,
In notes more sweet, the Pagan trumpets jar,
These sung, their armors shined, these glistered far.
XXX
Fair is ev’n horror in so fair a sight,
And from the midst of fear enjoyment springs;
Inspiring no less terror than delight,
The horrible, harmonious trumpet rings.
Still, the Frank camp, tho’ less in number, seems
More splendid to the eye and to the ear:
With greater brilliancy its armour gleams,
Its trumpets’ notes more warlike are and clear.
XXXI.
Fer le trombe Cristiane il primo invito:
Risposer l’altre, ed accettar la guerra.
S’inginocchiaro i Franchi, e riverito
244 Da lor fu il Cielo: indi baciar la terra.
Decresce in mezzo il campo: ecco è sparito:
L’un con l’altro nemico omai si serra.
Già fera zuffa è nelle corna: e innanti
248 Spingonsi già con lor battaglia i fanti.
XXXI
The Christian trumpets give the deadly call,
The Pagans answer, and the fight accept;
The godly Frenchmen on their knees down fall
To pray, and kissed the earth, and then up leapt
To fight, the land between was vanished all,
In combat close each host to other stepped;
For now the wings had skirmish hot begun,
And with their battles forth the footmen run.
XXXI
The Christian clarions the first challenge gave,
The Pagans’ answer and defiance sound;
The Franks kneel down, no less devout than brave,
And, rapt with reverence, kiss the hallowed ground.
The space between decreases, disappears;
The foe on each side charge their charging foes;
Upon the wings engage the cavaliers;
The line advances, cross and crescent close.
XXXII.
Or chi fu il primo feritor Cristiano,
Che facesse d’onor lodati acquisti?
Fosti Gildippe tu che ‘l grande Ircano,
252 Che regnava in Ormus, prima feristi,
(Tanto di gloria alla femminea mano
Concesse il Cielo) e ‘l petto a lui partisti.
Cade il trafitto, e nel cadere egli ode
256 Dar gridando i nemici al colpo lode.
XXXII
But who was first of all the Christian train,
That gave the onset first, first won renown?
Gildippes thou wert she, for by thee slain
The King of Orms, Hircano, tumbled down,
The man’s breastbone thou clov’st and rent in twain,
So Heaven with honor would thee bless and crown,
Pierced through he fell, and falling hard withal
His foe praised for her strength and for his fall.
XXXII
But who, of all the Christians in that fight,
Gave the first blow, and worthy honour gained?
’Twas thou, Gildippe, wast the first to smite
The great Hyrcanus that in Ormus reigned;
And (for such glory to a woman’s blow
The heavens conceded) pierced his brawny breast;
Transfixed, he fell, and, falling, heard the foe
With cheers her more than woman’s skill attest.
XXXIII.
Con la destra viril la donna stringe,
Poi c’ha rotto il troncon, la buona spada:
E contra i Persi il corridor sospinge,
260 E ‘l folto delle schiere apre, e dirada.
Coglie Zopiro là dove uom si cinge,
E fa che quasi bipartito ei cada:
Poi fer la gola, e tronca al crudo Alarco
264 Della voce e del cibo il doppio varco.
XXXIII
Her lance thus broke, the hardy dame forth drew
With her strong hand a fine and trenchant blade,
And gainst the Persians fierce and bold she flew,
And in their troop wide streets and lanes she made,
Even in the girdling-stead divided new
In pieces twain, Zopire on earth she laid;
And then Alarco’s head she swept off clean,
Which like a football tumbled on the green.
XXXIII
The warrior woman having snapt her spear,
With virile arm her trusty sabre drew,
And ‘gainst the Persians urged her destrier,
And charged and broke their densest columns thro’;
Zopirus, where man girds himself, she smote,
(Almost asunder by her sword-cut hewed),
Then clave, Alarco striking in the throat,
The double passage of the voice and food.
XXXIV.
D’un mandritto Artaserse, Argeo di punta,
L’uno atterra stordito, e l’altro uccide.
Poscia i pieghevol nodi, ond’è congiunta
268 La manca al braccio, ad Ismael recide.
Lascia, cadendo, il fren la man disgiunta;
Sugli orecchj al destriero il colpo stride.
Ei che si sente in suo poter la briglia,
272 Fugge a traverso, e gli ordini scompiglia.
XXXIV
A blow felled Artaxerxes, with a thrust
Was Argeus slain, the first lay in a trance,
Ismael’s left hand cut off fell in the dust,
For on his wrist her sword fell down by chance:
The hand let go the bridle where it lust,
The blow upon the courser’s ears did glance,
Who felt the reins at large, and with the stroke
Half mad, the ranks disordered, troubled, broke.
XXXIV
A thrust Argeo, and a downright blow,
Prince Artaxerxes felled, one stunned, one slain;
She next, the left wrist of Ismael cut thro’,
Close to the pliant joint, so that the rein
Dropped from his severed hand; the trenchant stroke
Then falling hissed upon his charger’s ears,
Who, curbed no longer, galloped off and broke
The compact order of the Persian spears.
XXXV.
Questi, e molti altri che in silenzio preme
L’età vetusta, ella di vita toglie.
Stringonsi i Persi, e vanle addosso insieme,
276 Vaghi d’aver le gloriose spoglie.
Ma lo sposo fedel, che di lei teme,
Corre in soccorso alla diletta moglie.
Così congiunta la concorde coppia,
280 Nella fida union le forze addoppia.
XXXV
All these, and many mo, by time forgot,
She slew and wounded, when against her came
The angry Persians all, cast on a knot,
For on her person would they purchase fame:
But her dear spouse and husband wanted not
In so great need, to aid the noble dame;
Thus joined, the haps of war unhurt they prove,
Their strength was double, double was their love.
XXXV
All these, and others, whom the lapse of years
Dooms to oblivion, fair Gildippe slew,
When, thirsting for her spoils, the cavaliers
Of Persia ‘gainst her in a body flew;
At this, her husband’s fears awakened were,
Who thither spurred, his darling wife to aid,
Whence linked together the devoted pair,
In faithful union, double force displayed.
XXXVI.
Arte di schermo nova e non più udita
Ai magnanimi amanti usar vedresti:
Oblia di se la guardia, e l’altrui vita
284 Difende intentamente a quella e questi.
Ribatte i colpi la guerriera a
rdita,
Che vengono al suo caro aspri e molesti:
Egli all’arme, a lei dritte, oppon lo scudo;
288 V’opporria, s’uopo fosse, il capo ignudo.
XXXVI
The noble lovers use well might you see,
A wondrous guise, till then unseen, unheard,
To save themselves forgot both he and she,
Each other’s life did keep, defend, and guard;
The strokes that gainst her lord discharged be,
The dame had care to bear, to break, to ward,
His shield kept off the blows bent on his dear,
Which, if need be, his naked head should bear.
XXXVI
The loyal husband, the magnanimous wife,
Used arts of fence unheard-of and unknown:
They only sought to save each other’s life
With loving care, forgetful of their own.
The unblenching Amazon beat back the blows,
That hard and heavy ‘gainst her dear were sped;
Strokes aimed at her he failed not to oppose
With shield, nay would, if needed, with his head.
XXXVII.
Propria l’altrui difesa, e propria face
L’uno e l’altro di lor l’altrui vendetta.
Egli dà morte ad Artabano audace,
292 Per cui di Boecan l’Isola è retta:
E per l’istessa mano Alvante giace,
Ch’osò pur di colpir la sua diletta.
Ella fra ciglio e ciglio ad Arimonte,
296 Che ‘l suo fedel battea, partì la fronte.
XXXVII
So each saved other, each for other’s wrong
Would vengeance take, but not revenge their own:
The valiant Soldan Artabano strong
Of Boecan Isle, by her was overthrown,
And by his hand, the bodies dead among,
Alvante, that durst his mistress wound, fell down,
And she between the eyes hit Arimont,
Who hurt her lord, and cleft in twain his front.
XXXVII
Each makes the other’s vengeance and defence
His own sole care; audacious Artaban
He killed with sudden savage violence —
By him was ruled the isle of Boëcan;
By the same arm was laid Alvante low,
Who rashly ventured to attack his love,
While Arimont, who gave her lord a blow,
His front from eye to eye Gildippe clove.
XXXVIII.
Tal fean de’ Persi strage: e via maggiore
La fea de’ Franchi il Re di Sarmacante:
Ch’ove il ferro volgeva o ‘l corridore,
300 Uccideva, abbattea cavallo o fante.
Felice è quì colui che prima more,
Nè geme poi sotto il destrier pesante;
Perchè il destrier (se dalla spada resta
304 Alcun mal vivo avanzo) il morde e pesta.
XXXVIII
But Altamore who had that wing to lead
Far greater slaughter on the Christians made;
For where he turned his sword, or twined his steed,
He slew, or man and beast on earth down laid,
Happy was he that was at first struck dead,
That fell not down on live, for whom his blade
Had speared, the same cast in the dusty street
His horse tore with his teeth, bruised with his feet.
XXXVIII
Thus fell the Persians, but more havoc made
The King of Samarcand among the Franks;
Where’er he turned his horse or trenchant blade,
Down fell like levelled com the adverse ranks;
Those blest that did not the first stroke survive,
Nor underneath his ponderous charger got;
Since those that from his sword escaped alive,
His destrier bit and trampled under foot.
XXXIX.
Riman da i colpi d’Altamoro ucciso
Brunellone il membruto, Ardonio il grande.
L’elmetto all’uno e ‘l capo è sì diviso,
308 Ch’ei ne pende sugli omeri a due bande.
Trafitto è l’altro insin là dove il riso
Ha suo principio, e ‘l cor dilata e spande:
Talchè (strano spettacolo ed orrendo!)
312 Ridea sforzato, e si moria ridendo.
XXXIX
By this brave Persian’s valor, killed and slain
Were strong Brunello and Ardonia great;
The first his head and helm had cleft in twain,
The last in stranger-wise he did intreat,
For through his heart he pierced, and his seat,
Where laughter hath his fountain and his seat,
So that, a dreadful thing, believed uneath,
He laughed for pain, and laughed himself to death.
XXXIX
By Altamoro’s arm were thus laid low,
Ardon the great, and Brunellon the strong,
The head and helm of one were severed so,
That on his back they in two pieces hung;
Pierced was the other in that cruel fight,
Where heart-expanding laughter takes its rise,
So that (most horrid and unnatural sight),
Constrained he laughs, and wildly laughing dies.
XL.
Nè solamente discacciò costoro
La spada micidial dal dolce mondo;
Ma spinti insieme a crudel morte foro
316 Gentonio, Guasco, Guido, e ‘l buon Rosmondo.
Or chi narrar potria quanti Altamoro
N’abbatte, e frange il suo destrier col pondo?
Chi dire i nomi delle genti uccise?
320 Chi del ferir, chi del morir le guise?
XL
Nor these alone with that accursed knife,
Of this sweet light and breath deprived lie;
But with that cruel weapon lost their life
Gentonio, Guascar, Rosimond, and Guy;
Who knows how many in that fatal strife
He slew? what knights his courser fierce made die?
The names and countries of the people slain
Who tells? their wounds and deaths who can explain?
XL
Nor did his homicidal scimetar,
Alone drive those from the attractive world,
But with them into fell destruction were
Gentonio, Guasco, Rosmond, Guido, hurled.
Who can recount how many Altamore
Slew, or were crushed his charger’s weight beneath?
Who tell the names his slaughtered victims bore,
The manner of their wounds or of their death?
XLI.
Non è chi con quel fero omai s’affronte:
Nè chi pur lunge d’assalirlo accenne.
Sol rivolse Gildippe in lui la fronte,
324 Nè da quel dubbio paragon s’astenne.
Nulla Amazone mai sul Termodonte
Imbracciò scudo, o maneggiò bipenne
Audace sì, com’ella audace inverso
328 Al furor va del formidabil Perso.
XLI
With this fierce king encounter durst not one.
Not one durst combat him in equal field,
Gildippes undertook that task alone;
No doubt could make her shrink, no danger yield,
By Thermodont was never Amazone,
Who managed steeled axe, or carried shield,
That seemed so bold as she, so strong, so light,
When forth she run to meet that dreadful knight.
XLI
There was not one his fury dared confront,
Or ev’n to assail him from a distance feigned;
‘Gainst him alone Gildippe turned her front,
Nor from the questionable test refrained.
On Thermodonte’s banks ne’er Amazon
Brandished the shield or two-edged falchion so
To meet her furious formidable foe.
XLII.
Ferillo, ove splendea d’oro e di smalto
Barbarico diadema in sull’elmetto:
E ‘l ruppe, e sparse; onde il superbo ed alto
332 Suo capo a forza egli è chinar costretto.
Ben di robusta man parve l’assalto
Al Re Pagano, e n’ebbe onta e dispetto:
Nè tardò in vendicar le ingiurie sue:
336 Chè l’onta e la vendetta a un tempo fue.
XLII
She hit him, where with gold and rich anmail,
His diadem did on his helmet flame,
She broke and cleft the crown, and caused him veil
His proud and lofty top, his crest down came,
Strong seemed her arm that could so well assail:
The Pagan shook for spite and blushed for shame,
Forward he rushed, and would at once requite
Shame with disgrace, and with revenge despite.
XLII
She struck where golden and enamelled glowed,
Upon his helmet the barbaric crown,
Which she so shivered, that the Persian bowed,
Forced by the stroke, his haughty forehead down.
Well judged the Pagan king, that from some strong
And stalwart arm that vigorous onslaught came,
Whence shamed, despiteful, he revenged the wrong;
Revenge was simultaneous with his shame.
XLIII.
Quasi in quel punto in fronte egli percosse
La donna di ferita in modo fella;
Che d’ogni senso e di vigor la scosse:
340 Cadea; ma ‘l suo fedel la tenne in sella.
Fortuna loro, o sua virtù pur fosse;
Tanto bastogli, e non ferì più in ella;
Quasi leon magnanimo, che lassi
344 Sdegnando uom che si giaccia, e guardi e passi.
XLIII
Right on the front he gave that lady kind
A blow so huge, so strong, so great, so sore,
That out of sense and feeling, down she twined:
But her dear knight his love from ground upbore,
Were it their fortune, or his noble mind,
He stayed his hand and strook the dame no more:
A lion so stalks by, and with proud eyes
Beholds, but scorns to hurt a man that lies.
XLIII
For the same moment, with such violence
He struck Gildippe’s forehead, that she fell,
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