Jersusalem Delivered

by Torquato Tasso

  'Gainst Famine yet what shield canst thou provide?

  What strength resist? What sleight her wrath can shun?

  Go, shake the spear, and draw thy flaming blade,

  And try if hunger so be weaker made.

  "The inhabitants each pasture and each plain

  Destroyéd have, each field to waste is laid,

  In fencéd towers bestowéd is their grain

  Before thou cam'st this kingdom to invade,

  These horse and foot, how canst thou them sustain?

  Whence comes thy store? whence thy provision made?

  Thy ships to bring it are, perchance, assigned,

  Oh, that you live so long as please the wind!

  "Perhaps thy fortune doth control the wind,

  Doth loose or bind their blasts in secret cave,

  The sea, pardie, cruel and deaf by kind,

  Will hear thy call, and still her raging wave:

  But if our arméd galleys be assigned

  To aid those ships which Turks and Persians have,

  Say then, what hope is left thy slender fleet?

  Dare flocks of crows, a flight of eagles meet?

  "My lord, a double conquest must you make,

  If you achieve renown by this emprise:

  For if our fleet your navy chase or take,

  For want of victuals all your camp then dies;

  Or if by land the field you once forsake,

  Then vain by sea were hope of victories.

  Nor could your ships restore your lost estate:

  For steed once stolen, we shut the door too late.

  "In this estate, if thou esteemest light

  The proffered kindness of the Egyptian king,

  Then give me leave to say, this oversight

  Beseems thee not, in whom such virtues spring:

  But heavens vouchsafe to guide thy mind aright,

  To gentle thoughts, that peace and quiet bring,

  So that poor Asia her complaints may cease,

  And you enjoy your conquests got, in peace.

  "Nor ye that part in these adventures have,

  Part in his glory, partners in his harms,

  Let not blind Fortune so your minds deceive,

  To stir him more to try these fierce alarms,

  But like the sailor 'scapéd from the wave

  From further peril that his person arms

  By staying safe at home, so stay you all,

  Better sit still, men say, than rise to fall."

  This said Aletes: and a murmur rose

  That showed dislike among the Christian peers,

  Their angry gestures with mislike disclose

  How much his speech offends their noble ears.

  Lord Godfrey's eye three times environ goes,

  To view what countenance every warrior bears,

  And lastly on the Egyptian baron stayed,

  To whom the duke thus for his answer said:

  "Ambassador, full both of threats and praise,

  Thy doubtful message hast thou wisely told,

  And if thy sovereign love us as he says,

  Tell him he sows to reap an hundred fold,

  But where thy talk the coming storm displays

  Of threatened warfare from the Pagans bold:

  To that I answer, as my custom is,

  In plainest phrase, lest my intent thou miss.

  "Know, that till now we suffered have much pain,

  By lands and seas, where storms and tempests fall,

  To make the passage easy, safe, and plain

  That leads us to this venerable wall,

  That so we might reward from Heaven obtain,

  And free this town from being longer thrall;

  Nor is it grievous to so good an end

  Our honors, kingdoms, lives and goods to spend.

  "Nor hope of praise, nor thirst of worldly good,

  Enticéd us to follow this emprise,

  The Heavenly Father keep his sacred brood

  From foul infection of so great a vice:

  But by our zeal aye be that plague withstood,

  Let not those pleasures us to sin entice.

  His grace, his mercy, and his powerful hand

  Will keep us safe from hurt by sea and land.

  "This is the spur that makes our coursers run;

  This is our harbor, safe from danger's floods;

  This is our bield, the blustering winds to shun:

  This is our guide, through forests, deserts, woods:

  This is our summer's shade, our winter's sun:

  This is our wealth, our treasure, and our goods:

  This is our engine, towers that overthrows,

  Our spear that hurts, our sword that wounds our foes.

  Our courage hence, our hope, our valor springs,

  Not from the trust we have in shield or spear,

  Not from the succors France or Grecia brings,

  On such weak posts we list no buildings rear:

  He can defend us from the power of kings,

  From chance of war, that makes weak hearts to fear;

  He can these hungry troops with manna feed,

  And make the seas land, if we passage need.

  "But if our sins us of his help deprive,

  Or his high justice let no mercy fall;

  Yet should our deaths us some contentment give,

  To die, where Christ received his burial,

  So might we die, not envying them that live;

  So would we die, not unrevengéd all:

  Nor Turks, nor Christians, if we perish such,

  Have cause to joy, or to complain too much.

  "These altogether doth our sovereign hide

  In secret store-house of his princely thought,

  And prays he may in long accordance bide,

  With that great worthy which such wonders wrought.

  Nor that oppose against the coming tide

  Of proffered love, for that he is not taught

  Your Christian faith, for though of divers kind,

  The loving vine about her elm is twined.

  "Receive therefore in that unconquered hand

  The precious handle of this cup of love,

  If not religion, virtue be the band

  'Twixt you to fasten friendship not to move:

  But for our mighty king doth understand,

  You mean your power 'gainst Juda land to prove,

  He would, before this threatened tempest fell,

  I should his mind and princely will first tell.

  "His mind is this, he prays thee be contented

  To joy in peace the conquests thou hast got,

  Be not thy death, or Sion's fall lamented,

  Forbear this land, Judea trouble not,

  Things done in haste at leisure be repented:

  Withdraw thine arms, trust not uncertain lot,

  For oft we see what least we think betide;

  He is thy friend 'gainst all the world beside.

  "True laborer in the vineyard of thy Lord,

  Ere prime thou hast the imposéd day-work done,

  What armies conquered, perished with thy sword?

  What cities sacked? what kingdoms hast thou won?

  All ears are mazed while tongues thine acts record,

  Hands quake for fear, all feet for dread do run,

  And though no realms you may to thraldom bring,

  No higher can your praise, your glory spring.

  "Thy sign is in his Apogæon placed,

  And when it moveth next, must needs descend,

  Chance is uncertain, fortune double faced,

  Smiling at first, she frowneth in the end:

  Beware thine honor be not then disgraced,

  Take heed thou mar not when thou think'st to mend,

  For this the folly is of Fortune's play,

  'Gainst doubtful, certain; much, 'gainst small to lay.

  "Yet still we sail while prosperous blows the wi
nd,

  Till on some secret rock unwares we light,

  The sea of glory hath no banks assigned,

  They who are wont to win in every fight

  Still feed the fire that so inflames thy mind

  To bring more nations subject to thy might;

  'This makes thee blesséd peace so light to hold,

  'Like summer's flies that fear not winter's cold.

  "They bid thee follow on the path, now made

  So plain and easy, enter Fortune's gate,

  Nor in thy scabbard sheathe that famous blade,

  Till settled be thy kingdom, and estate,

  Till Macon's sacred doctrine fall and fade,

  Till woeful Asia all lie desolate.

  'Sweet words I grant, baits and allurements sweet,

  'But greatest hopes oft greatest crosses meet.

  "For, if thy courage do not blind thine eyes,

  If clouds of fury hide not reason's beams,

  Then may'st thou see this desperate enterprise,

  The field of death, watered with danger's streams;

  High state, the bed is where misfortune lies,

  Mars most unfriendly, when most kind he seems,

  'Who climbeth high on earth he hardest lights,

  'And lowest falls attend the highest flights.

  "Tell me if, great in counsel, arms and gold,

  The Prince of Egypt war 'gainst you prepare,

  What if the valiant Turks and Persians bold,

  Unite their forces with Cassanoe's heir?

  Oh then, what marble pillar shall uphold

  The falling trophies of your conquest fair?

  'Trust you the monarch of the Greekish land?

  'That reed will break; and breaking, wound your hand.

  "The Greekish faith is like that half-cut tree

  By which men take wild elephants in Inde,

  A thousand times it hath beguiléd thee,

  As firm as waves in seas, or leaves in wind.

  Will they, who erst denied you passage free,

  Passage to all men free, by use and kind,

  'Fight for your sake? Or on them do you trust

  'To spend their blood, that could scarce spare their dust?

  "But all your hope and trust perchance is laid

  In these strong troops, which thee environ round;

  Yet foes unite are not so soon dismayed

  As when their strength you erst divided found:

  Besides, each hour thy bands are weaker made

  With hunger, slaughter, lodging on cold ground,

  'Meanwhile the Turks seek succors from our king,

  Thus fade thy helps, and thus thy cumbers spring.

  "Suppose no weapon can thy valor's pride

  Subdue, that by no force thou may'st be won,

  Admit no steel can hurt or wound thy side,

  And be it Heaven hath thee such favor done:

  'Gainst Famine yet what shield canst thou provide?

  What strength resist? What sleight her wrath can shun?

  'Go, shake the spear, and draw thy flaming blade,

  'And try if hunger so be weaker made.

  "The inhabitants each pasture and each plain

  Destroyéd have, each field to waste is laid,

  In fencéd towers bestowéd is their grain

  Before thou cam'st this kingdom to invade,

  These horse and foot, how canst thou them sustain?

  Whence comes thy store? whence thy provision made?

  'Thy ships to bring it are, perchance, assigned,

  'Oh, that you live so long as please the wind!

  "Perhaps thy fortune doth control the wind,

  Doth loose or bind their blasts in secret cave,

  The sea, pardie, cruel and deaf by kind,

  Will hear thy call, and still her raging wave:

  But if our arméd galleys be assigned

  To aid those ships which Turks and Persians have,

  'Say then, what hope is left thy slender fleet?

  'Dare flocks of crows, a flight of eagles meet?

  "My lord, a double conquest must you make,

  If you achieve renown by this emprise:

  For if our fleet your navy chase or take,

  For want of victuals all your camp then dies;

  Or if by land the field you once forsake,

  Then vain by sea were hope of victories.

  'Nor could your ships restore your lost estate:

  'For steed once stolen, we shut the door too late.

  "In this estate, if thou esteemest light

  The proffered kindness of the Egyptian king,

  Then give me leave to say, this oversight

  Beseems thee not, in whom such virtues spring:

  But heavens vouchsafe to guide thy mind aright,

  To gentle thoughts, that peace and quiet bring,

  'So that poor Asia her complaints may cease,

  'And you enjoy your conquests got, in peace.

  "Nor ye that part in these adventures have,

  Part in his glory, partners in his harms,

  Let not blind Fortune so your minds deceive,

  To stir him more to try these fierce alarms,

  But like the sailor 'scapéd from the wave

  From further peril that his person arms

  'By staying safe at home, so stay you all,

  'Better sit still, men say, than rise to fall."

  This said Aletes: and a murmur rose

  That showed dislike among the Christian peers,

  Their angry gestures with mislike disclose

  How much his speech offends their noble ears.

  Lord Godfrey's eye three times environ goes,

  To view what countenance every warrior bears,

  'And lastly on the Egyptian baron stayed,

  'To whom the duke thus for his answer said:

  "Ambassador, full both of threats and praise,

  Thy doubtful message hast thou wisely told,

  And if thy sovereign love us as he says,

  Tell him he sows to reap an hundred fold,

  But where thy talk the coming storm displays

  Of threatened warfare from the Pagans bold:

  'To that I answer, as my custom is,

  'In plainest phrase, lest my intent thou miss.

  "Know, that till now we suffered have much pain,

  By lands and seas, where storms and tempests fall,

  To make the passage easy, safe, and plain

  That leads us to this venerable wall,

  That so we might reward from Heaven obtain,

  And free this town from being longer thrall;

  'Nor is it grievous to so good an end

  'Our honors, kingdoms, lives and goods to spend.

  "Nor hope of praise, nor thirst of worldly good,

  Enticéd us to follow this emprise,

  The Heavenly Father keep his sacred brood

  From foul infection of so great a vice:

  But by our zeal aye be that plague withstood,

  Let not those pleasures us to sin entice.

  'His grace, his mercy, and his powerful hand

  'Will keep us safe from hurt by sea and land.

  "This is the spur that makes our coursers run;

  This is our harbor, safe from danger's floods;

  This is our bield, the blustering winds to shun:

  This is our guide, through forests, deserts, woods:

  This is our summer's shade, our winter's sun:

  This is our wealth, our treasure, and our goods:

  'This is our engine, towers that overthrows,

  'Our spear that hurts, our sword that wounds our foes.

  Our courage hence, our hope, our valor springs,

  Not from the trust we have in shield or spear,

  Not from the succors France or Grecia brings,

  On such weak posts we list no buildings rear:

  He can defend us from the power of kings,

>   From chance of war, that makes weak hearts to fear;

  'He can these hungry troops with manna feed,

  'And make the seas land, if we passage need.

  "But if our sins us of his help deprive,

  Or his high justice let no mercy fall;

  Yet should our deaths us some contentment give,

  To die, where Christ received his burial,

  So might we die, not envying them that live;

  So would we die, not unrevengéd all:

  'Nor Turks, nor Christians, if we perish such,

  'Have cause to joy, or to complain too much.

  "Think not that wars we love, and strife affect,

  Or that we hate sweet peace, or rest denay,

  Think not your sovereign's friendship we reject,

  Because we list not in our conquests stay:

  But for it seems he would the Jews protect,

  Pray him from us that thought aside to lay,

  'Nor us forbid this town and realm to gain,

  'And he in peace, rest, joy, long more may reign."

  This answer given, Argantes wild drew nar,

  Trembling for ire, and waxing pale for rage,

  Nor could he hold, his wrath increased so far,

  But thus inflamed bespake the captain sage:

  "Who scorneth peace shall have his fill of war,

  I thought my wisdom should thy fury 'suage,

  'But well you show what joy you take in fight,

  'Which makes you prize our love and friendship light."

  This said, he took his mantle's foremost part,

  And gan the same together fold and wrap;

  Then spake again with fell and spiteful heart,

  So lions roar enclosed in train or trap,

  "Thou proud despiser of inconstant mart,

  I bring thee war and peace closed in this lap,

  'Take quickly one, thou hast no time to muse;

  'If peace, we rest, we fight, if war thou choose."

  His semblant fierce and speeches proud, provoke

  The soldiers all, "War, war," at once to cry,

  Nor could they tarry till their chieftain spoke,

  But for the knight was more inflamed hereby,

  His lap he opened and spread forth his cloak:

  "To mortal wars," he says, "I you defy;"

  'And this he uttered with fell rage and hate,

  'And seemed of Janus' church to undo the gate.

  It seeméd fury, discord, madness fell

  Flew from his lap, when he unfolds the same;

  His glaring eyes with anger's venom swell,

  And like the brand of foul Alecto flame,

  He looked like huge Tiphoius loosed from hell

  Again to shake heaven's everlasting frame,

  'Or him that built the tower of Shinaar,

  'Which threat'neth battle 'gainst the morning star.

  Godfredo then: "Depart, and bid your king