Jersusalem Delivered

by Torquato Tasso

  And sends them forth to work the Christians woe,

  False Hidraort their aid from hell doth call,

  And sends Armida to entrap his foe:

  She tells her birth, her fortune, and her fall,

  Asks aid, allures and wins the worthies so

  That they consent her enterprise to prove;

  She wins them with deceit, craft, beauty, love.

  WHILE thus their work went on with lucky speed,

  And rearéd rams their hornéd fronts advance,

  The Ancient Foe to man, and mortal seed,

  His wannish eyes upon them bent askance;

  And when he saw their labors well succeed,

  He wept for rage, and threatened dire mischance.

  He choked his curses, to himself he spake,

  Such noise wild bulls that softly bellow make.

  At last resolving in his damnéd thought

  To find some let to stop their warlike feat,

  He gave command his princes should be brought

  Before the throne of his infernal seat.

  O fool! as if it were a thing of naught

  God to resist, or change his purpose great,

  Who on his foes doth thunder in his ire,

  Whose arrows hailstones be and coals of fire.

  The dreary trumpet blew a dreadful blast,

  And rumbled through the lands and kingdoms under,

  Through wasteness wide it roared, and hollows vast,

  And filled the deep with horror, fear and wonder,

  Not half so dreadful noise the tempests cast,

  That fall from skies with storms of hail and thunder,

  Not half so loud the whistling winds do sing,

  Broke from the earthen prisons of their King.

  The peers of Pluto's realm assembled been

  Amid the palace of their angry King,

  In hideous forms and shapes, tofore unseen,

  That fear, death, terror and amazement bring,

  With ugly paws some trample on the green,

  Some gnaw the snakes that on their shoulders hing,

  And some their forkéd tails stretch forth on high,

  And tear the twinkling stars from trembling sky.

  There were Silenus' foul and loathsome route,

  There Sphinxes, Centaurs, there were Gorgons fell,

  There howling Scillas, yawling round about,

  There serpents hiss, there seven-mouthed Hydras yell,

  Chimera there spues fire and brimstone out,

  And Polyphemus blind supporteth hell,

  Besides ten thousand monsters therein dwells

  Misshaped, unlike themselves, and like naught else.

  About their prince each took his wonted seat

  On thrones red-hot, ybuilt of burning brass,

  Pluto in middest heaved his trident great,

  Of rusty iron huge that forgéd was,

  The rocks on which the salt sea billows beat,

  And Atlas' tops, the clouds in height that pass,

  Compared to his huge person mole-hills be,

  So his rough front, his horns so lifted he.

  The tyrant proud frowned from his lofty cell,

  And with his looks made all his monsters tremble,

  His eyes, that full of rage and venom swell,

  Two beacons seem, that men to arms assemble,

  His feltered locks, that on his bosom fell,

  On rugged mountains briars and thorns resemble,

  His yawning mouth, that foaméd clotted blood,

  Gaped like a whirlpool wide in Stygian flood.

  And as Mount Etna vomits sulphur out,

  With clifts of burning crags, and fire and smoke,

  So from his mouth flew kindled coals about,

  Hot sparks and smells that man and beast would choke,

  The gnarring porter durst not whine for doubt;

  Still were the Furies, while their sovereign spoke,

  And swift Cocytus stayed his murmur shrill,

  While thus the murderer thundered out his will:

  "Ye powers infernal, worthier far to sit

  About the sun, whence you your offspring take,

  With me that whilom, through the welkin flit,

  Down tumbled headlong to this empty lake;

  Our former glory still remember it,

  Our bold attempts and war we once did make

  Gainst him, that rules above the starry sphere,

  For which like traitors we lie damnéd here.

  "And now instead of clear and gladsome sky,

  Of Titan's brightness, that so glorious is,

  In this deep darkness lo we helpless lie,

  Hopeless again to joy our former bliss,

  And more, which makes my griefs to multiply,

  That sinful creature man, elected is;

  And in our place the heavens possess he must,

  Vile man, begot of clay, and born of dust.

  "Nor this sufficed, but that he also gave

  His only Son, his darling to be slain,

  To conquer so, hell, death, sin and the grave,

  And man condemnéd to restore again,

  He brake our prisons and would algates save

  The souls that here should dwell in woe and pain,

  And now in heaven with him they live always

  With endless glory crowned, and lasting praise.

  "But why recount I thus our passéd harms?

  Remembrance fresh makes weakened sorrows strong,

  Expulséd were we with injurious arms

  From those due honors, us of right belong.

  But let us leave to speak of these alarms,

  And bend our forces gainst our present wrong:

  Ah! see you not, how he attempted hath

  To bring all lands, all nations to his faith?

  "Then, let us careless spend the day and night,

  Without regard what haps, what comes or goes,

  Let Asia subject be to Christians' might,

  A prey be Sion to her conquering foes,

  Let her adore again her Christ aright,

  Who her before all nations whilom chose;

  In brazen tables be his lore ywrit,

  And let all tongues and lands acknowledge it.

  "So shall our sacred altars all be his,

  Our holy idols tumbled in the mould,

  To him the wretched man that sinful is

  Shall pray, and offer incense, myrrh and gold;

  Our temples shall their costly deckings miss,

  With naked walls and pillars freezing cold,

  Tribute of souls shall end, and our estate,

  Or Pluto reign in kingdoms desolate.

  "Oh, be not then the courage perished clean,

  That whilom dwelt within your haughty thought,

  When, armed with shining fire and weapons keen,

  Against the angels of proud Heaven we fought,

  I grant we fell on the Phlegrean green,

  Yet good our cause was, though our fortune naught;

  For chance assisteth oft the ignobler part,

  We lost the field, yet lost we not our heart.

  "Go then, my strength, my hope, my Spirits go,

  These western rebels with your power withstand,

  Pluck up these weeds, before they overgrow

  The gentle garden of the Hebrews' land,

  Quench out this spark, before it kindle so

  That Asia burn, consuméd with the brand.

  Use open force, or secret guile unspied;

  For craft is virtue against a foe defied.

  "Among the knights and worthies of their train,

  Let some like outlaws wander uncouth ways,

  Let some be slain in field, let some again

  Make oracles of women's yeas and nays,

  And pine in foolish love, let some complain

  On Godfrey's rule, and mutinies gainst him raise,

  Turn each one's sword ag
ainst his fellow's heart,

  Thus kill them all or spoil the greatest part."

  Before his words the tyrant ended had,

  The lesser devils arose with ghastly roar,

  And throngéd forth about the world to gad,

  Each land they filléd, river, stream and shore,

  The goblins, fairies, fiends and furies mad,

  Rangéd in flowery dales, and mountains hoar,

  And under every trembling leaf they sit,

  Between the solid earth and welkin flit.

  About the world they spread forth far and wide,

  Filling the thoughts of each ungodly heart

  With secret mischief, anger, hate and pride,

  Wounding lost souls with sin's empoisoned dart.

  But say, my Muse, recount whence first they tried

  To hurt the Christian lords, and from what part,

  Thou knowest of things performed so long agone,

  This latter age hears little truth or none.

  The town Damascus and the lands about

  Ruled Hidraort, a wizard grave and sage,

  Acquainted well with all the damnéd rout

  Of Pluto's reign, even from his tender age;

  Yet of this war he could not figure out

  The wishéd ending, or success presage,

  For neither stars above, nor powers of hell,

  Nor skill, nor art, nor charm, nor devil could tell.

  And yet he thought,—Oh, vain conceit of man,

  Which as thou wishest judges things to come!—

  That the French host to sure destruction ran,

  Condemnéd quite by Heaven's eternal doom:

  He thinks no force withstand or vanquish can

  The Egyptian strength, and therefore would that some

  Both of the prey and glory of the fight

  Upon this Syrian folk would haply light.

  But for he held the Frenchmen's worth in prize,

  And feared the doubtful gain of bloody war,

  He, that was closely false and slyly wise,

  Cast how he might annoy them most from far:

  And as he gan upon this point devise,—

  As counsellors in ill still nearest are,—

  At hand was Satan, ready ere men need,

  If once they think, to make them do, the deed.

  He counselled him how best to hunt his game,

  What dart to cast, what net, what toil to pitch.

  A niece he had, a nice and tender dame,

  Peerless in wit, in nature's blessings rich,

  To all deceit she could her beauty frame,

  False, fair and young, a virgin and a witch;

  To her he told the sum of this emprise,

  And praised her thus, for she was fair and wise:

  "My dear, who underneath these locks of gold,

  And native brightness of thy lovely hue,

  Hidest grave thoughts, ripe wit, and wisdom old,

  More skill than I, in all mine arts untrue,

  To thee my purpose great I must unfold,

  This enterprise thy cunning must pursue,

  Weave thou to end this web which I begin,

  I will the distaff hold, come thou and spin.

  "Go to the Christians' host, and there assay

  All subtle sleights that women use in love,

  Shed brinish tears, sob, sigh, entreat and pray,

  Wring thy fair hands, cast up thine eyes above,

  For mourning beauty hath much power, men say,

  The stubborn hearts with pity frail to move;

  Look pale for dread, and blush sometime for shame,

  In seeming truth thy lies will soonest frame.

  "Take with the bait Lord Godfrey, if thou may'st;

  Frame snares of look, strains of alluring speech;

  For if he love, the conquest then thou hast,

  Thus purposed war thou may'st with ease impeach,

  Else lead the other Lords to deserts waste,

  And hold them slaves far from their leader's reach:"

  Thus taught he her, and for conclusion, saith,

  "All things are lawful for our lands and faith."

  The sweet Armida took this charge on hand,

  A tender piece, for beauty, sex and age,

  The sun was sunken underneath the land,

  When she began her wanton pilgrimage,

  In silken weeds she trusteth to withstand,

  And conquer knights in warlike equipage,

  Of their night ambling dame the Syrians prated,

  Some good, some bad, as they her loved or hated.

  Within few days the nymph arrivéd there

  Where puissant Godfrey had his tents ypight;

  Upon her strange attire, and visage clear,

  Gazéd each soldier, gazéd every knight:

  As when a comet doth in skies appear,

  The people stand amazéd at the light;

  So wondered they, and each at other sought

  What mister wight she was, and whence ybrought.

  Yet never eye to Cupid's service vowed

  Beheld a face of such a lovely pride;

  A tinsel veil her amber locks did shroud,

  That strove to cover what it could not hide,

  The golden sun behind a silver cloud,

  So streameth out his beams on every side,

  The marble goddess, set at Cnidos, naked

  She seemed, were she unclothed, or that awakéd.

  The gamesome wind among her tresses plays,

  And curleth up those growing riches short;

  Her spareful eye to spread his beams denays,

  But keeps his shot where Cupid keeps his fort;

  The rose and lily on her cheek assays

  To paint true fairness out in bravest sort,

  Her lips, where blooms naught but the single rose,

  Still blush, for still they kiss while still they close.

  Her breasts, two hills o'erspread with purest snow,

  Sweet, smooth and supple, soft and gently swelling,

  Between them lies a milken dale below,

  Where love, youth, gladness, whiteness make their dwelling,

  Her breasts half hid, and half were laid to show,

  Her envious vesture greedy sight repelling;

  So was the wanton clad, as if this much

  Should please the eye, the rest unseen, the touch.

  As when the sunbeams dive through Tagus' wave

  To spy the store-house of his springing gold,

  Love-piercing thought so through her mantle drave,

  And in her gentle bosom wandered bold;

  It viewed the wondrous beauty virgins have,

  And all to fond desire with vantage told,

  Alas! what hope is left, to quench his fire

  That kindled is by sight, blown by desire.

  Thus passéd she, praised, wished, and wondered at,

  Among the troops who there encampéd lay,

  She smiled for joy, but well dissembled that,

  Her greedy eye chose out her wishéd prey;

  On all her gestures seeming virtue sat,

  Toward the imperial tent she asked the way:

  With that she met a bold and lovesome knight,

  Lord Godfrey's youngest brother, Eustace hight.

  This was the fowl that first fell in the snare,

  He saw her fair, and hoped to find her kind;

  The throne of Cupid had an easy stair,

  His bark is fit to sail with every wind,

  The breach he makes no wisdom can repair:

  With reverence meet the baron low inclined,

  And thus his purpose to the virgin told,

  For youth, use, nature, all had made him bold.

  "Lady, if thee beseem a stile so low,

  In whose sweet looks such sacred beauty shine,—

  For never yet did Heaven such grace bestow

  On any daughter born of Adam's line—


  Thy name let us, though far unworthy, know,

  Unfold thy will, and whence thou art in fine,

  Lest my audacious boldness learn too late

  What honors due become thy high estate."

  "Sir Knight," quoth she, "your praises reach too high

  Above her merit you commenden so,

  A hapless maid I am, both born to die

  And dead to joy, that live in care and woe,

  A virgin helpless, fugitive pardie,

  My native soil and kingdom thus forego

  To seek Duke Godfrey's aid, such store men tell

  Of virtuous ruth doth in his bosom dwell.

  "Conduct me then that mighty duke before,

  If you be courteous, sir, as well you seem."

  "Content," quoth he, "since of one womb ybore,

  We brothers are, your fortune good esteem

  To encounter me whose word prevaileth more

  In Godfrey's hearing than you haply deem:

  Mine aid I grant, and his I promise too,

  All that his sceptre, or my sword, can do."

  He led her easily forth when this was said,

  Where Godfrey sat among his lords and peers,

  She reverence did, then blushed, as one dismayed

  To speak, for secret wants and inward fears,

  It seemed a bashful shame her speeches stayed,

  At last the courteous duke her gently cheers;

  Silence was made, and she began her tale,

  They sit to hear, thus sung this nightingale:

  "Victorious prince, whose honorable name

  Is held so great among our Pagan kings,

  That to those lands thou dost by conquest tame

  That thou hast won them some content it brings;

  Well known to all is thy immortal fame,

  The earth, thy worth, thy foe, thy praises sings,

  And Paynims wrongéd come to seek thine aid,

  So doth thy virtue, so thy power persuade.

  And I though bred in Macon's heathenish lore,

  Which thou oppressest with thy puissant might,

  Yet trust thou wilt an helpless maid restore,

  And repossess her in her father's right:

  Others in their distress do aid implore

  Of kin and friends; but I in this sad plight

  Invoke thy help, my kingdom to invade,

  So doth thy virtue, so my need persuade.

  "In thee I hope, thy succors I invoke,

  To win the crown whence I am dispossest;

  For like renown awaiteth on the stroke

  To cast the haughty down or raise the opprest;

  Nor greater glory brings a sceptre broke,

  Than doth deliverance of a maid distrest;

  And since thou canst at will perform the thing,

  More is thy praise to make, than kill a king.

  "But if thou would'st thy succors due excuse,