that deare Lord who helpes his seruants trust Who ere they aske grants all things to the iust 28 This said each one his sacred blessing flings Vpon my coarse with broad out stretched hand And mumbled hymnes and psalmes and holy things Which I could neither heare nor vnderstand Arise quoth they with that as I had wings All whole and sound I leapt vp from the land O miracle sweet gentle strange and trew My lims new strength receiu'd and vigour new 29 I gazde on them like one whose hart denai'th To thinke that donne he sees so strangely wrought Till one said thus O thou of little faith What doubts perplex thy vnbeleeuing thought Each one of vs aliuing bodie haith We are Christes chosen seruants feare vs nought Who to auoid the worlds allurements vaine In wilfull penance hermits poore remaine 30 Vs messengers to comfort thee elect That Lord hath sent that rules both heau'n and hell Who often doth his blessed will effect By such weake meanes as wonder is to tell He will not that this body lie neglect Wherein so noble soule did lately dwell To which againe when it vprisen is It shall vnited be in lasting blis 31 I say Lord Swenoes corpes for which prepar'd A tombe there is according to his worth By which his honour shall be far declar'd And his iust praises spred from south to north But lift thine eies vp to the heauens ward Marke yonder light that like the sunne shines forth That shall direct thee with those beames so cleare To finde the bodie of thy maister deare 32 With that I saw from Cinthias siluer face Like to a falling star a beame downe slide That bright as golden line markt out the place And lightned with cleere streames the forrest wide So Latmos shone when Phebe left the chace And laid her downe by her Endimions side Such was the light that well discerne I could His shape his wounds his face though dead yet bould 33 He lay not groueling now but as a knight That euer had to heauenly things desire So towards heau'n the Prince lay bolt vpright Like him that vpward still sought to aspire His right hand closed held his weapon bright Readie to strike and execute his ire His left vpon his brest was humbly laid That men might know that while he dide he praid 34 Whil'st on his wounds with bootlesse teares I wept That neither helped him nor eas'd my care One of those aged fathers to him stept And forst his hand that needlesse weapon spare This sword quoth he hath yet good token kept That of the Pagans blood he drunke his share And blusheth still he could not saue his Lord Rich strong and sharpe was neuer better sword 35 Heau'n therefore will not though the Prince be slaine Who vsed earst to weild this pretious brand That so braue blade vnused should remaine But that it passe from strong to stronger hand Who with like force can weild the same againe And longer shall in grace of fortune stand And with the same shall bitter vengeance take On him that Sweno slew for Swenoes sake 36 Great Soliman kill'd Sweno Soliman For Swenoes sake vpon this sword must die Here take the blade and with it haste thee than Thither where Godfrey doth encamped lie And feare not thou that any shall or can Or stop thy way or lead thy steps awrie For he that doth thee on this message send Thee with his hand shall guide keepe and defend 37 Arriued there it is his blessed will With true report that thou declare and tell The zeale the strength the courage and the skill In thy beloued Lord that late did dwell How for Christes sake he came his blood to spill And sample left to all of doing well That future ages may admire his deed And courage take when his braue end they reed 38 It resteth now thou know that gentle knight That of this sword shall be thy masters haire It is Rinaldo yong with whom in might And martiall skill no champion may compaire Giue it to him and say the heauens bright Of this reuenge to him commit the caire While thus I list'ned what this old man said A wonder new from further speech vs staid 39 For there whereas the wounded body lay A stately tombe with curious worke behold And wond'rous art was built out of the clay Which rising round the carkas did enfold With words engrauen in the marble gray The warriours name his worth and praise that told On which I gazing stood and often read That epitaph of my deere master dead 40 Among his soldiers quoth the hermit heare Must Swenoes corpes remaine in marble chest While vp to heau'n are flowne their spirits deare To liue in endlesse ioy for euer blest His funerall thou hast with many a teare Accompaned it s now high time to rest Come be my guest vntill the morning ray Shall light the world againe then take thy way 41 This said he led me ouer holts and hags Through thornes and bushes scant my legs I drew Till vnderneath an heape of stones and crags At last he brought me to a secret mew Among the beares wilde boares the wolues and stags There dwelt he safe with his disciple trew And fear'd no treason force nor hurt at all His guiltlesse conscience was his castels wall 42 My supper rootes my bed was mosse and leaues But wearinesse in little rest found ease But when the purple morning night bereaues Of late vsurped rule on lands and seas His loathed couch each wakefull hermite leaues To pray rose they and I for so they please I congee tooke when ended was the same And hitherward as they aduis'd me came 43 The Dane his wofull tale had done when thus The good Prince Godfrey answer'd him sir knight Thou bringest tidings sad and dolorous For which our heauie campe laments of right Since so braue troopes and so deere friends to vs One howre hath spent in one vnluckie fight And so appeared hath thy maister stout As lightning doth now kindled now quencht out 44 But such a death and end exceedeth all The conquests vaine of realmes or spoiles of gold Nor aged Romes proud stately capitall Did euer triumph yet like theirs behold They sit in heau'n on thrones celestiall Crowned with glorie for their conquest bold Where each his hurtes I thinke to other showes And glorie in those bloodie wounds and blowes 45 But thou who hast part of thy race to ronne With haps and hazards of this world itost Reioice for those high honours they haue wonne Which cannot be by chance or fortune crost But for thou askest for Bertoldoes sonne Know that he wandreth banisht from this host And till of him new tidings some man tell Within this campe I deeme it best thou dwell 46 These words of theirs in many a soule renewed The sweet remembrance of faire Sophias childe Some with salt teares for him their cheekes bedewed Least euill betide him mongst the Pagans wilde And euery
declar'd And how defended nobly afterward 9 Defended gainst Corbana valiant knight That all the Persian armies had to guide And brought so many soldiers bold to fight That void of men he left that kingdome wide He told thine actes thy wisdome and thy might And told the deedes of many a Lord beside His speech at length to yong Rinaldo past And told his great atchieuements first and last 10 And how this noble campe of yours of late Besieged had this towne and in what sort And how you praid him to participate Of the last conquest of this noble fort In hardie Sweno opened was the gate Of worthie anger by this braue report So that each hower seemed fiue yeeres long Till he were fighting with these Pagans strong 11 And while the herald told your fights and fraies Himselfe of cowardise reprou'd he thought And him to stay that counsels him or praies He heares not or else heard regardeth nought He feares no perils but whil'st he delaies Least this last worke without his helpe be wrought In this his doubt in this his danger lies No hazard else he feares no perill spies 12 Thus hasting on he hasted on his death Death that to him and vs was fatall guide The rising morne appeared yet vneath When he and we were arm'd and fit to ride The neerest way seem'd best ore hoult and heath We went through desarts waste and forrests wide The streetes and waies he openeth as he goes And sets each land free from intruding foes 13 Now want of food now dang'rous waies we finde Now open war now ambush closely laid Yet past we forth all perils left behinde Our foes or dead or run away affraid Of victorie so happie blew the winde That carelesse all and heedlesse to it maid Vntill one day his tents he hapt to reare To Palestine when we approched neare 14 There did our scoutes returne and bring vs newes That dreadfull noise of horse and armes they heare And that they deem'd by sundrie signes and shewes There was some mightie host of Pagans neare At these sad tidings many chang'd their hewes Some looked pale for dread some shooke for feare Only our noble Lord was alterd nought In looke in face in gesture or in thought 15 But said a crowne prepare you to possesse Of martyrdome or happie victorie For this I hope for that I wish no lesse Of greater merit and of greater glorie Brethren this campe will shortly be I gesse A temple sacred to our memorie To which the holy men of future age To vew our graues shall come in pilgrimage 16 This said he set the watch in order right To garde the campe along the trenches deepe And as he armed was so euery knight He willed on his backe his armes to keepe Now had the stilnesse of the quiet night Drown'd all the world in silence and in sleepe When suddenly we heard a dreadfull sound Which deaft the earth and tremble made the ground 17 Arme arme they cride Prince Sweno at the same Glistring in shining steele leapt formost out His visage shone his noble lookes did flame With kindled brand of courage bold and stout When loe the Pagans to assault vs came And with huge numbers hemm'd vs round about A forrest thicke of speares about vs grew And ouer vs a cloud of arrowes flew 18 Vneuen the fight vnequall was the fray Our enimies were twenty men to one On euery side the slaine and wounded lay Vnseene where nought but glistring weapons shone The number of the dead could no man say So was the place with darknes ouergone The night her mantle blacke vpon vs spreedes Hiding our losses and our valiant deedes 19 But hardie Sweno midst the other traine By his great actes was well descride I wote No darknes could his valours day light staine Such wondrous blowes on euery side he smote A streame of blood a banke of bodies slaine About him made a bulwarke and a mote And when so ere he turn'd his fatall brand Dread in his lookes and death sat in his hand 20 Thus fought we till the morning bright appeared And strowed roses on the azure skie But when her lampe had nights thicke darknes cleared Wherein the bodies dead did buried lie Then our sad cries to heau'n for greefe we reared Our losse apparant was for we descrie How all our campe destroied was almost And all our people well nie slaine and lost 21 Of thousands twaine an hundreth scant suruiued When Sweno murdred saw each valiant knight I know not if his hart in sunder riued For deare compassion of that wofull sight He shew'd no change but said since so depriued We are of all our friends by chance of fight Come follow them the path to heau'n their blood Marks out now angels made of martyrs good 22 This said and glad I thinke of death at hand The signes of heau'nly ioy shone through his eies Of Sarracines against a mightie band With fearelesse hart and constant brest he flies No steele could shield them from his cutting brand But whom he hits without recure he dies He neuer stroke but feld or kild his foe And wounded was himselfe from top to toe 23 Not strength but courage now preseru'd on liue This hardie champion fortresse of our faith Stroken he strikes still stronger more they striue The more they hurt him more he doth them scaith When towards him a furious knight can driue Of members huge fierce lookes and full of wraith That with the aide of many a Pagan crew After long fight at last Prince Sweno slew 24 Ah heauie chance downe fell the valiant yuth Nor mongst vs all did one so strong appeare As to reuenge his death that this is truth By his deere blood and noble bones I sweare That of my life I had nor care nor ruth No wounds I shoun'd no blowes I would off beare And had not heau'n my wished end denied Eu'n there I should and willing should haue died 25 Aliue I fell among my fellowes slaine Yet wounded so that each one thought me dead Nor what our foes did since can I explaine So sore amazed was my hart and head But when I opened first mine eies againe Nights curtaine blacke vpon the earth was spread And through the darknes to my feeble sight Appear'd the twinkling of a slender light 26 Not so much force or iudgement in me lies As to discerne things seene and not mistake I saw like them who ope and shut their eies By turnes now halfe asleepe now halfe awake My bodie eeke another torment tries My wounds began to smart my hurtes to ake For euery sore each member pinched was With nights sharpe aire heau'ns frost and earthes cold gras 27 But still the light approched neare and neare And with the same a whispring murmur ronne Till at my side arriued both they weare When I to spread my feeble eies begonne Two men behold in vestures long appeare With each a lampe in hand who said O sonne In
iourney dight Towards another port there to get in With hideous noise fast after spurr'd the knight She heard and staide and thus her words begin What haste hast thou ride softly take thy breath What bringest thou he answerd warre and death 53 And warre and death quoth she heere maist thou get If thou for battle come with that she staid Tancred to ground his foote in haste downe set And left his stead on foote he saw the maid Their courage hot their ire and wrath they whet And either champion drew a trenchant blaid Togither ran they and togither stroke Like two fierce buls whom rage and loue prouoke 54 Woorthie of royall listes and brightest day Woorthie a golden trompe and lawrell crowne The actions were and woonders of that fray Which sable night did in darke bosome drowne Yet night consent that I their actes display And make their deeds to future ages knowne And in records of long enduring storie Enroll their praise their fame their woorth glorie 55 They neither shrunke nor vantage sought of ground They trauerst not nor skipt from part to part Their blowes were neither false nor faigned found The night their rage would let them vse no art Their swords togither clash with dreadfull sound Their feete stand fast and neither stir nor start They moue their hands steadfast their feete remaine Nor blow nor foine they stroake or thrust in vaine 56 Shame bred desire a sharpe reuenge to take And veng'ance taken gaue new cause of shame So that with haste and little heed they strake Fuell enough they had to feed the flame At last so close their battell fierce they make They could not weild their swords so nie they came They vs'd the hilts and each on other rusht And helme to helme and shield to shield they crusht 57 Thrice his strong armes he fouldes about her waste And thrice was forst to let the virgine goe For she disdained to be so embraste No louer would haue strain'd his mistresse soe They tooke their swords againe and each enchaste Deepe wounds in the soft flesh of his strong foe Till weake and wearie faint aliue vneath They both retirde at once at once tooke breath 58 Each other long beheild and leaning stood Vpon their swords whose points in earth were pight When day breake rising from the Eastren flood Put forth the thousand eies of blindfold night Tancred beheild his foes out streaming blood And gaping wounds and waxt proud with the sight O vanitie of mans vnstable minde Puft vp with euerie blast of friendly winde 95 Why ioi'st thou wretch O what shall be thy gaine What trophie for this conquest i st thou reares Thine eies shall shed in case thou be not slaine For euerie drop of blood a sea of teares The bleeding warriours leaning thus remaine Each one to speake one world long time forbeares Tancred the silence broake at last and said For he would know with whom this fight he maid 60 Euill is our chance and hard our fortune is Who here in silence and in shade debate Where light of sunne and witnes all we mis That should our prowesse and our praise dilate If words in armes finde place yet grant me this Tell me thy name thy countrey and estate That I may know this dang'rous combate donne Whom I haue conquerd or who hath me wonne 61 What I nill tell you aske quoth she in vaine Nor mou'd by praier nor constraind by powre But thus much know I am one of those twaine Which late with kindled fire destroi'd the towre Tancred at her proud words sweld with disdaine That hast thou said quoth he in euill howre Thy vaunting speeches and thy silence both Vnciuill wretch hath made my hart more wroth 62 Ire in their chafed breasts renew'd the fray Fierce was the fight though feeble were their might Their strength was gone their cunning was away And furie in their stead maintain'd the fight Their swords both points and edges sharpe embay In purple bloud where so they hit or light And if weake life yet in their bosomes lie They liu'd bicause they both disdain'd to die 63 As Egeans seas when stormes be calm'd againe That roll'd their tumbling waues with troublous blasts Do yet of tempests past some shewes retaine And here and there their swelling billowes casts So though their strength were gone and might were vaine Of their first fiercenes still the furie lasts Wherewith sustain'd they to their tackling stood And heaped wound on wound and blood on blood 64 But now alas the fatall howre arriues That her sweete life must leaue that tender hold His sword into her bosome deepe he driues And bath'd in lukewarme blood his iron cold Betweene her brests the cruell weapon riues Her curious square embost with swelling gold Her knees grow weake the paines of death she feeles And like a falling Cedar bends and reeles 65 The Prince his hand vpon her shield doth streach And low on earth the wounded damsell laith And while she fell with weake and woefull speach Her praiers last and last complaints she saith A spirit new did her those praiers teach Spirit of hope of charitie and faith And though her life to Christ rebellious weare Yet died she his childe and handmaide deare 66 Friend thou hast wonne I pardon thee nor saue This bodie that all torments can endure But saue my soule baptisme I dying craue Come wash away my sinnes with waters pure His hart relenting nigh insunder raue With woefull speech of that sweete creature So that his rage his wrath and anger dide And on his cheekes salt teares for ruthe downe slide 67 With murmur lowd downe from the mountaines side A little runnell tumbled neere the place Thither he ran and fild his helmet wide And quicke return'd to do that worke of grace With trembling hands her beauer he vntide Which done he saw and seeing knew her face And lost therewith his speech and moouing quight O woefull knowledge ah vnhappie sight 68 He died not but all his strength vnites And to his vertues gaue his hart in gard Brideling his greefe with water he requites The life that he bereft with iron hard And while the sacred words the knight recites The Nymphe to heau'n with ioy her selfe prepard And as her life decaies her ioyes encrease She smild and said farewell I die in peace 69 As Violets blew mongst Lillies pure men throw So palenes midst her natiue white begonne Her lookes to heau'n she cast their eies I trow Downeward for pitie bent both heau'n and sunne Her naked hand she gaue the knight in show Of loue and peace her speech alas was donne And thus the virgin fell on endlesse sleepe Loue beautie vertue for your darling weepe 70 But when he saw her gentle soule was went His manly courage to relent began Greefe sorrow anguish sadnes discontent Free empire got and lordship on the man His life within his hart they close vp pent Death through his senses and his
rod But in his chappell vile the image laid On which th' enchanter charmes and witchcrafts said 8 When Phebus next vnclos'd his wakefull eie Vprose the Sexten of that place prophaine And mist the image where it vs'd to lie Each where he sought in greefe in feare in vaine Then to the king his losse he gan descrie Who sore enraged kild him for his paine And straight conceiu'd in his malitious wit Some Christian bad this great offence commit 9 But whether this were act of mortall hand Or else the Prince of heau'ns eternall pleasure That of his mercie would this wretch withstand Nor let so vile a chest hold such a treasure As yet coniecture hath not fully scand By godlines let vs this action measure And truth of purest faith will fitly proue That this rare grace came downe from heau'n aboue 10 With busie search the tyrant gan inuade Each house each hold each temple and each tent To them the fault or faultie one bewrai'd Or hid he promist gifts or punishment His idle charmes the false enchanter said But in this maze still wandred and miswent For heauen decreed to conceale the same To make the miscreant more to feele his shame 11 But when the angrie king discouer'd not What guiltie hand this sacrilege had wrought His irefull courage boild in vengeance hot Against the Christians whom he faulters thought All ruth compassion mercie he forgot A staffe to beate that dog he long had sought Let them all die quoth he kill great and small So shall th' offender perish sure withall 12 To spill the wine with poison mixt who spares Slay then the righteous with the faultie one Destroy this field that yeeldeth nought but tares With thornes this vineyard all is ouergone Among these wretches is not one that cares For vs our lawes or our religion Vp vp deere subiects fire and weapon take Burne murder kill these traitors for my sake 13 This Herod thus would Bethlems infants kill The Christians soone these direfull newes recaue The trumpe of death sounds in their hearing shrill Their weapon faith their fortresse was the graue They had no courage time deuise or will To fight to flie excuse or pardon craue But stood prepar'd to die yet helpe they finde Whence least they hope such knots can heau'n vnbind 14 Among them dwelt her parents ioy and pleasure A maide whose fruit was ripe not oueryeared Her beautie was her not esteemed treasure The field of loue with plow of vertue eared Her labour goodnes godlines her leasure Her house the heau'n by this full moone aye cleared For there from louers eies withdrawne alone With virgin beames this spotlesse Cinthia shone 15 But what avail'd her resolution chaste Whose sobrest lookes were whetstones to desire Nor loue consents that beauties field lie waste Her visage set Olindoes hart on fire O subtile loue a thousand wiles thou hast By humble suit by seruice or by hire To win a maidens hold a thing soone donne For nature fram'd all women to be wonne 16 Sophronia she Olindo hight the yuth Both of one towne both in one faith were taught She faire he full of bashfulnes and truth Lou'd much hop'd little and desired nought He durst not speake by suit to purchase ruth She saw not markt not wist not what he sought Thus lou'd thus seru'd he long but not regarded Vnseene vnmarkt vnpitied vnrewarded 17 To her came message of the murderment Wherein her guiltlesse friends should hopelesse sterue She that was noble wise as faire and gent Cast how she might their harmlesse liues preserue Zeale was the spring whence flow'd her hardiment From maidens shame yet was she loth to swerue Yet had her courage tane so sure a hold That boldnes shamefast shame had made her bold 18 And foorth she went a shop for merchandise Full of rich stuffe but none for sale exposed A vaile obscur'd the sunshine of her eies The rose within her selfe her sweetnes closed Each ornament about her seemely lies By curious chance or carelesse art composed For what the most neglects most curious proue So beautie 's helpt by nature heau'n and loue 19 Admir'd of all on went this noble maid Vntill the presence of the king she gained Nor for he sweld with ire was she affraid But his fierce wrath with fearlesse grace sustained I come quoth she but be thine anger staid And causelesse rage gainst faultlesse soules restrained I come to shew thee and to bring thee both The wight whose fact hath made thy hart so wroth 20 Her modest boldnes and that light'ning ray Which her sweete beautie streamed on his face Had strooke the Prince with wonder and dismay Changed his cheere and cleer'd his moodie grace That had her eies dispos'd their lookes to play The king had snared been in loues strong lace But wayward beautie doth not fancie moue A frowne forbids a smile engendreth loue 21 It was amazement wonder and delight Although not loue that mou'd his cruell sence Tell on quoth he vnfold the chance aright Thy peoples liues I grant for recompence Then she behold the faulter here in sight This hand committed that suppos'd offence I tooke the image mine that fault that fact Mine be the glorie of that vertuous act 22 This spotlesse lambe thus offred vp her blood To saue the rest of Christs selected fold O noble lie was euer truth so good Blest be the lips that such a leasing told Thoughtfull awhile remain'd the tyrant wood His natiue wrath he gan a space withhold And said that thou discouer soone I will What aide what counsell hadst thou in that ill 23 My loftie thoughts she answer'd him enuide Anothers hand should worke my high desire The thirst of glorie can no partner bide With mine owne selfe I did alone conspire On thee alone the tyrant then replide Shall fall the vengeance of my wrath and ire T is iust and right quoth she I yeeld consent Mine be the honour mine the punishment 24 The wretch of new enraged at the same Askt where she hid the image so conuai'd Not hid quoth she but quite consum'd with flame The idoll is of that eternall maid For so at least I haue preseru'd the same With hands profane from being eft betraid My Lord the thing thus stolne demaund no more Here see the theefe that scorneth death therefore 25 And yet no theft was this yours was the sin I brought againe what you vniustly tooke This heard the tyrant did for rage begin To whet his teeth and bend his frowning looke No pitie youth fairenesse no grace could win Ioy comfort hope the virgin all forsooke Wrath kill'd remorse vengeance stopt mercies breath Loue 's thrall to hate and beautie slaue to death 26 Tane was the damsell and without remorse The king condemn'd her guiltlesse to the fire Her vaile and mantle pluckt they off by force And bound her tender armes in twisted wire Dumbe was this siluer doue while from her corse These hungrie kites pluckt off
one his valiant prowesse shewed And of his battailes stories long compilde Telling the Dane his actes and conquests past Which made his eares amaz'd his hart agast 47 Now when remembrance of the youth had wrought A tender pitie in each softned minde Behold returned home with all they cought The bands that were to forrage late assinde And with them in abundance great they brought Both flockes and herds of euery sort and kinde And corne although not much and hay to feed Their noble steads and coursers when they need 48 They also brought of misaduenture sad Tokens and signes seem'd too apparant trew Rinaldoes armour frusht and hackt they had Oft pearsed through with blood besmeared new About the campe for alwaies rumors bad Are furthest spred these wofull tidings flew Thither assembled straight both hie and low Longing to see what they were loth to know 49 His heauie hawberke was both seene and knowne And his broad shield wherein displaied flies The bird that proues her chickens for her owne By looking gainst the sun with open eies That shield was to the Pagans often showne In many a hard and hardie enterpries But now with many a gash and many a stroke They see and sigh to see it frusht and broke 50 While all his soldiers whispred vnder hand And here and there the fault and cause doe lay Godfrey before him called Aliprand Captaine of those that brought of late this pray A man who did on points of vertue stand Blamelesse in words and true what ere he say Say quoth the Duke where you this armour had Hide not the truth but tell it good or bad 51 He answer'd him as far from hence thinke I As on two daies a speedie post well rideth To Gaza ward a little plaine doth lie It selfe among the steepie hils which hideth Through it slow falling from the mountaines hie A rolling brooke twixt bush and bramble glideth Clad with thick shade of boughes of broad leau'd treene Fit place for men to lie in wait vnseene 52 Thither to seeke some flocks or heards we went Perchance close hid vnder the greene wood shaw And found the springing grasse with blood besprent A warriour tumbled in his blood we saw His armes though dustie bloodie hackt and rent Yet well we knew when neere the coarse we draw To which to view his face in vaine I started For from his bodie his faire head was parted 53 His right hand wanted eeke with many a wound The trunke through pearsed was from backe to brest A little by his emptie helme we found The siluer Eagle shining on his crest To spie at whom to aske we gazed round A churle towards vs his steps addrest But when vs armed by the coarse he spide He ran away his fearfull face to hide 54 But we pursu'd him tooke him spake him faire Till comforted at last he answere made How that the day before he saw repaire A band of soldiers from that forrests shade Of whom one caried by the golden haire A head but late cut off with murdring blade The face was faire and yong and on the chin No signe of beard to bud did yet begin 53 And how in sindall wrapt away he bore That head with him hung at his saddle bow And how the murth'rers by the armes they wore For soldiers of our campe he well did know The carkasse I disarm'd and weeping sore Bicause I guest who should that harnesse owe Away I brought it but first order gaue That noble body should be laid in graue 56 But if it be his trunke whom I beleeue A nobler tombe his worth deserueth well This said good Aliprando tooke his leeue Of certaine troath he had no more to tell Sore sigh'd the Duke so did these newes him greeue Feares in his hart doubts in his bosome dwell He earnd to know to sinde and learne the truth And punish would them that had slaine the yuth 57 But now the night despred her lazie wings Ore the broad fields of heau'ns bright wildernesse Sleepe the soules rest and ease of carefull things Buried in happie peace both more and lesse Thou Argillan alone whom sorrow stings Still wakest musing on great deedes I gesse Nor suffrest in thy watchfull eies to creepe The sweet repose of milde and gentle sleepe 58 This man was strong of lims and all his saies Were bold of readie toong and working spright Nere Trento borne bred vp in braules and fraies In iarres in quarrels and in ciuill fight For which exil'd the hils and publike waies He fill'd with blood and robb'ries day and night Vntill to Asiaes wars at last he came And boldly there he seru'd and purchas'd fame 59 He clos'd his eies at last when day drew neare Yet slept he not but senselesse lay opprest With strange amazednes and sodaine feare Which false Alecto breathed in his brest His working powres within deluded weare Stone still he quiet lay yet tooke no rest For to his thought the feend her selfe presented And with strange visions his weake braine tormented 60 A murdred bodie huge beside him stood Of head and right hand both but lately spoiled His left hand bore the head whose visage good Both pale and wan with dust and gore defoiled Yet spake though dead with whose sad words the blood Forth at his lips in huge abundance boiled Flie Argillan from this false campe flie far Whose guide a traitor captaines murdrers ar 61 Godfrey hath murdred me by treason vile What fauour than hope you my trustie frends His villaine hart is full of fraud and guile To your destruction all his thoughts he bends Yet if thou thirst of praise for noble stile If in thy strength thou trust thy strength that ends All hard assaies flie not first with his blood Appease my ghost wandring by Lethe flood 62 I will thy weapon whet enflame thine ire Arme thy right hand and strengthen euery part This said euen while she spake she did inspire With furie rage and wrath his troubled hart The man awakte and from his eies like fire The poys'ned sparks of headstrong madnes start And armed as he was forth is he gone And gath'red all th' Italian bands in one 63 He gath'red them where lay the armes that late Were good Rinaldoes then with semblance stout And furious words his fore conceiued hate In bitter speeches thus he vomits out Is not this people barb'rous and ingrate In whom troath findes no place faith takes no rout Whose thirst vnquenched is of blood and gold Whom no yoke boweth bridle none can hold 64 So much we suffred haue these seu'n yeeres long Vnder this seruile and vnworthie yoke That thorow Rome and Italie our wrong A thousand yeeres hereafter shall be spoke I count not how Cilicias kingdome strong Subdued was by Prince Tancredies stroke Nor how false Baldwine him that land bereaues Of vertues haruest fraud there reapt the sheaues 65 Nor speake I how each howre at euery need Quicke ready resolute at all assaies
With fire and sword we hasted forth with speed And bore the brunt of all their fights and fraies But when we had perform'd and done the deed At ease and leasure they diuide the praies We reaped nought but trauaile for our toile Their was the praise the realmes the gold the spoile 66 Yet all this season were we willing blinde Offended vnreueng'd wrong'd but vnwroken Light greefes could not prouoke our quiet minde But now alas the mortall blow in stroken Rinaldo haue they slaine and law of kinde Of armes of nations and of high heau'n broken Why doth not heau'n kill them with fire and thunder To swallow them why cleaues not earth asunder 67 They haue Rinaldo slaine the sword and sheeld Of Christes true faith and vnreueng'd he lies Still vnreuenged lieth in the feeld His noble corpes to feed the crowes and pies Who murdred him who shall vs certaine yeeld Who sees not that although he wanted eies Who knowes not how th' Italian chiualrie Proud Godfrey and false Baldwine both enuie 68 What need we further proofe heau'n heau'n I sweare Will not consent herein we be beguiled This night I saw his murdred sprite appeare Pale sad and wan with wounds and blood defiled A spectacle full both of greefe and feare Godfrey for murdring him the ghost reuiled I saw it was no dreame before mine eies How ere I looke still still me thinkes it flies 69 What shall we doe shall we be gouern'd still By this false hand contaminate with blood Or else depart and trauaile forth vntill To Euphrates we come that sacred flood Where dwels a people voide of martiall skill Whose cities rich whose land is fat and good Where kingdoms great we may at ease prouide Far from these French mens malice from their pride 70 Than let vs goe and no reuengement take For this braue knight though it lie in our power No no that courage rather newly wake Which neuer sleepes in feare and dread one hower And this pestifrous serpent poys'ned snake Of all our knights that hath destroi'd the flower First let vs slay and his deserued end Ensample make to him that kils his frend 71 I will I will if your couragious force Dareth so much as it can well performe Teare out his cursed hart without remorse The neast of treason false and guile enorme Thus spake the angrie knight with headlong corse The rest him followed like a furious storme Arme arme they cride to armes the soldiers ran And as they ron arme arme cride euery man 72 Mongst them Alecto strowed wastefull fire Enuenoming the harts of most and least Follie disdaine madnes strife rancour ire Thirst to shed blood in euery brest encreast This ill spread far and till it set on fire With rage th' Italian lodgings neuer ceast From thence vnto the Switzers campe it went And last infected euery English tent 73 Not publike losse of their beloued knight Alone stirr'd vp their rage and wrath vntamed But fore-conceiued greefes and quarrels light Their ire still nourished and still enflamed Awaked was each former cause of spright The Frenchmen cruell and vniust they named And with bold threats they made their hatred knowne Hate seeld kept close and oft vnwisely showne 74 Like boyling liquor in a seething pot That fumeth swelleth hie and bubbleth fast Till ore the brimmes among the embers hot Part of the broth and of the scum it cast Their rage and wrath those few appeased not In whom of wisdome yet remain'd some tast Camillo William Tancred were away And all whose greatnes might their madnes stay 75 Now headlong ran to harnesse in this heat These furious people all on heapes confused The roaring trumpets battaile gan to threat As it in time of mortall war is vsed The messengers ran to Godfredo great And bod him arme while on this noise he mused And Baldwin first well clad in iron hard Stept to his side a sure and faithfull gard 76 Their murmurs heard to heau'n he lift his eine As was his wont to God for aide he fled O Lord thou knowest this right hand of mine Abhorred euer ciuill blood to shed Illumine their darke soules with light diuine Represse their rage by hellish furie bred The innocencie of my guiltlesse minde Thou know'st and make these know with furie blinde 77 This said he felt infused in each vaine A sacred heat from heau'n aboue distilled A hear in man that courage could constraine That his graue looke with awfull boldnesse filled Well garded forth he went to meet the traine Of those that would reuenge Rinaldo killed And though their threats he heard and saw them bent To armes on euery side yet on he went 78 Aboue his hawberke strong a cote he ware Embrodred faire with pearle and rich stone His hands were naked and his face was bare Wherein a lampe of maiestie bright shone He shooke his golden mace wherewith he dare Resist the force of his rebellious fone Thus he appear'd and thus he gan them teach In shape an angell and a God in speach 79 What foolish words what threats be these I heare What noise of armes who dares these tumults moue Am I so honour'd stand you so in feare Where is your late obedience where your loue Of Godfreys falshood who can witnes beare Who dare or will these accusations proue Perchance you looke I should entreaties bring Sue for your fauours or excuse the thing 80 Ah God forbid these lands should heare or see Him so disgrast at whose great name they quake This scepter and my noble actes for mee A true defence before the world can make Yet for sharpe iustice gouerned shall bee With clemencie I will no veng'ance take For this offence but for Rinaldoes loue I pardon you hereafter wiser proue 81 But Argillanoes guiltie blood shall wash This staine away who kindled this debate And led by hastie rage and furie rash To these disorders first vndid the gate While thus he spoke the lightning beames did flash Out of his eies of maiestie and state That Argillan who would haue thought it shooke For feare and terrour conqu'red with his looke 82 The rest with vndiscreet and foolish wrath Who threatned late with words of shame and pride Whose hands so ready were to harme and scath And brandished bright swords on euery side Now husht and still attend what Godfrey sath With shame and feare their bashfull lookes they hide And Argillan they let in chaines be bound Although their weapons him enuiron'd round 83 So when a lion shakes his dreadfull maine And beates his taile with courage proud and wroth If his commander come who first tooke paine To tame his youth his loftie crest downe go'th His threats he feareth and obaies the raine Of thraldome base and seruiceage though loth Nor can his sharpe teeth nor his armed pawes Force him rebell against his rulers lawes 84 Fame is a winged warriour they beheild With semblant fierce and furious looke that stood And in his
full of wonder and of feare we seame And with an irefull looke the angrie maid Thus threat'ned vs and made vs thus affraid 68 You see quoth she my sacred might and skill How you are subiect to my rule and powre In endlesse thraldome damned if I will I can torment and keepe you in this towre Or make you birdes or trees on craggie hill To bide the bitter blastes of storme and showre Or harden you to rocks on mountaines old Or melt your flesh and bones to riuers cold 69 Yet may you well auoid mine ire and wraith If to my will your yeelding harts you bend You must forsake your Christendome and faith And gainst Godfredo false my crowne defend We all refus'd for speedie death each prai'th Saue false Rambaldo he became her frend We in a dungeon deepe were helplesse cast In miserie and iron chained fast 70 Then for alone they say falles no mishap Within short while Prince Tancred thither came And was vnwares surprised in the trap But there short while we staid the wilie dame In other foldes our mischiefes would vpwrap From Hidraort an hundreth horsemen came Whose guide a Baron bold to Egypts king Should vs disarm'd and bound in fetters bring 71 Now on our way the way to death we ride But prouidence diuine thus for vs wrought Rinaldo whose high vertue is his guide To great exploits exceeding humane thought Met vs and all at once our garde defide And ere he left the fight to earth them brought And in their harnesse arm'd vs in the place Which late were ours before our late disgrace 72 I and all these the hardie champion knew We saw his valour and his voice we hard Then is the rumor of his death vntrew His life is safe good fortune long it gard Three times the golden sunne hath risen new Since vs he left and rode to Antioch ward But first his armours broken hackt and cleft Vnfit for seruice there he doft and left 73 Thus spake the Briton prince with humble cheare The Hermit sage to heau'n cast vp his eine His colour and his count'nance changed weare With heauenly grace his lookes and visage shine Rauisht with zeale his soule approched neare The seat of angels pure and saints diuine And there he learnd of things and haps to come To giue foreknowledge true and certaine dome 74 At last he spoke in more then humane sound And told what things his wisedome great foresaw And at his thundring voice the folke around Attentiue stood with trembling and with awe Rinaldo liues he said the tokens found From womens craft their false beginnings draw He liues and heau'n will long preserue his daies To greater glorie and to greater praise 75 These are but trifles yet though Asias kings Shrinke at his name and tremble at his vew I well foresee he shall do greater things And wicked emprours conquer and subdew Vnder the shadow of his eagles wings Shall holie church preserue hir sacred crew From Caesars bird he shall the sable traine Plucke off and breake her talons sharpe in twaine 76 His childrens children at his hardinesse And great attempts shall take ensample faire From emperours vniust in all distresse They shall defend the state of Peters chaire To raise the humble vp pride to suppresse To helpe the innocents shall be their caire This bird of East shall flie with conquest great As farre as moone giues light or sunne giues heat 77 Her eies behold the truth and purest light And thunders downe in Peters aide shee brings And where for Christ and christian faith men fight There foorth shee spreadeth hir victorious wings This vertue Nature giues hir and this might Then lure her home for on her presence hings The happie end of this great enterpries So heau'n decrees and so command the skies 78 These words of his of Prince Rinaldoes death Out of their troubled harts the feare had raced In all this ioy yet Godfrey smil'd vneath In his wise thought such care and heed was placed But now from deepes of regions vnderneath Nights vaile arose and sunnes bright luster chaced When all full sweetly in their cabbins slept Saue he whose thoughts his eies still open kept The eleuenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument With graue procession songs and psalmes deuout Heau'ns sacred aide the Christian Lords inuoke That done they soale the wall which kept them out The fort is almost wonne the gates nie broke Godfrey is wounded by Clorinda stout And lost is that daies conquest by the stroke The Angell cures him he returnes to fight But lost his labour for day lost his light 1 THe Christian armies great and puissant guide T' assault the towne that all his thoughts had bent Did ladders rammes and engins huge prouide When reuerent Peter to him grauely went And drawing him with sober grace aside With words seuere thus told his high intent Right wel my Lord these earthly strengthes you moue But let vs first begin from heau'n aboue 2 With publike praier zeale and faith deuout The aide assistance and the helpe obtaine Of all the blessed of the heau'nly root With whose support you conquest sure may gaine First let the priestes before thine armies stout With sacred hymnes their holy voices straine And thou and all thy Lords and peeres with thee Of godlinesse and faith ensamples bee 3 Thus spake the hermit graue in words seueare Godfrey allow'd his counsell sage and wise Of Christ the Lord quoth he thou seruant deare I yeeld to follow thy diuine aduise And while the Princes I assemble heare The great procession songs and sacrifice With Bishop William thou and Ademare With sacred and with solemne pompe prepare 4 Next morne the Bishops twaine the heremite And all the clarks and priests of lesse estate Did in the middest of the campe vnite Within a place for praier consecrate Each priest adorn'd was in a surplesse white The Bishops dond their albes and copes of state Aboue their rockets button'd faire before And miters on their heads like crownes they wore 5 Peter alone before spred to the winde The glorious signe of our saluation great With easie pace the quire come all behinde And hymnes and psalmes in order true repeat With sweet respondence in harmonious kinde Their humble song the yeelding aire doth beat Lastly together went the reuerend pare Of prelates sage William and Ademare 6 The mighty Duke came next as Princes do Without companion marching all alone The Lords and captaines came by two and two The soldiers for their garde were arm'd each one With easie pace thus ordred passing throw The trench and rampire to the fields they gone No thundring drum no trumpet shrill they heate Their godly musicke psalmes and praiers weare 7 To thee O Father Sonne and sacred Spright One true eternall euerlasting king To Christes deere mother Marie virgin bright Psalmes of thankes giuing and of praise they sing To them that angels downe from heau'n to fight Gainst the
and eat 65 While thus she sung her sister lur'de them nie With many a gesture kinde and louing show To musicks sound as dames in court applie Their cunning feet and dance now swift now slow But still the knights vnmoued passed bie These vaine delights for wicked charmes they know Nor could their heau'nly voice or angels looke Surprise their harts if eie or eare they tooke 66 For if that sweetnes once but toucht their harts And profred there to kindle Cupids fire Straight armed reason to his charge vpstarts And quencheth lust and killeth fond desire Thus scorned were the dames their wiles and arts And to the pallace gates the knights retire While in their streames the damsels diued sad Asham'd disgraste for that repulse they had The sixteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument The searchers passe through all the pallace bright Where in sweet prison lies Rinaldo pent And doe so much that full of rage and spight With them he goes sad shamed discontent With plaints and prayers to retaine her knight Armida striues he heares but thence he went And she forlorne her pallace great and faire Destroies for griefe and flies thence through the aire 1 THE pallace great is builded rich and round And in the center of the inmost hold There lies a garden sweet on fertile ground Fairer than that where grew the trees of gold The cunning sprites had buildings rear'd around With doores and entries false a thousand fold A labyrinth they made that fortresse braue Like Dedals prison or Porsennaes graue 2 The knights past through the castles largest gate Though round about an hundreth ports there shine The doore leaues fram'd of carued siluer plate Vpon their golden hinges turne and twine They staid to view this worke of wit and state The workmanship excell'd the substance fine For all the shapes in that rich mettall wrought Saue speech of liuing bodies wanted nought 3 Alcides there sate telling tales and sponne Among the feeble troupes of damsels milde He that the firie gates of hell had wonne And heau'n vpheld false loue stood by and smild Armd with his club faire Iolee foorth ronne His club with bloud of monsters foule defilde And on her backe his lions skin had shee Too rough a barke for such a tender tree 4 Beyond was made a sea whose azure flood The hoarie froth crusht from the surges blew Wherein two nauies great well ranged stood Of warlike ships fire from their armes out flew The waters burnt about their vessels good Such flames the gold therein enchased threw Caesar his Romaines hence the Asian kings Thence Antonie and Indian princes brings 5 The Ciclades seem'd to swim amid the maine And hill gainst hill and mount gainst mountaine smote With such great furie met those armies twaine Here burnt a ship there sunke a barke or bote Here darts and wildefire flew there drown'd or slaine Of princes dead the bodies fleete and flote Here Caesar wins and yonder conquerd beene The eastren ships there fled th' Egyptian queene 6 Antonius eeke himselfe to flight betooke The Empire lost to which he would aspire Yet fled not he nor fight for feare forsooke But follow'd her drawne on by fond desire Well might you see within his troubled looke Striue and contend loue courage shame and ire Oft lookt he backt oft gaz'de he on the fight But oftner on his mistresse and her flight 7 Then in the secret creekes of fruitfull Nile Cast in her lappe he would sadde death awate And in the pleasure of her louely smile Sweeten the bitter stroake of cursed fate All this did art with curious hand compile In the rich mettall of that princely gate The knights these stories viewed first and last Which seene they forward preas'd and in they past 8 As through his chanell crookt Meander glides With turnes and twines and rowles now to now fro Whose streames run foorth there to the salt sea sides Here backe returne and to their springward go Such crooked pathes such waies this pallace hides Yet all the maze their mappe described so That through the labyrinth they got in fine As Theseus did by Ariadnaies line 9 When they had passed all those troubled waies The garden sweete spred foorth her greene to shew The moouing christall from the fountaines plaies Faire trees high plants strange herbes and flowrets new Sunshinie hils dales hid from Phoebus raies Groues arbours mossie caues at once they vew And that which beautie most most woonder brought No where appeard the arte which all this wrought 10 So with the rude the polisht mingled was That naturall seemd all and euery part Nature would craft in counterfaiting pas And imitate her imitator art Milde was the aire the skies were cleere as glas The trees no whirlewind felt not tempest smart But ere their fruit drop off the blossome comes This springs that fals that ripeneth and this blomes 11 The leaues vpon the selfesame bow did hide Beside the yoong the old and ripened figge Here fruit was greene there ripe with vermile side The apples new and old grew on one twigge The fruitful vine her armes spred high and wide That bended vnderneath their clusters bigge The grapes were tender here hard yoong and sowre There purple ripe and nectar sweete foorth powre 12 The ioyous birds hid vnder greenewood shade Sung merrie notes on euery branch and bow The winde that in the leaues and waters plaid With murmur sweete now song and whistled now Ceased the birds the winde loud answere made And while they sung it rumbled soft and low Thus were it happe or cunning chance or art The winde in this strange musicke bore his part 13 With partie coloured plumes and purple bill A woondrous bird among the rest there flew That in plaine speech sung louelaies loud and shrill Her leden was like humaine language trew So much she talkt and with such wit and skill That strange it seemed how much good she knew Her feathred fellowes all stood husht to heare Dombe was the winde the waters silent weare 14 The gentlie budding rose quoth she behold That first scant peeping foorth with virgin beames Halfe ope halfe shut her beauties doth vpfold In their deare leaues and lesse seene fairer seames And after spreeds them foorth more broad and bold Then languisheth and dies in last extreames Nor seemes the same that decked bed and boure Of many a ladie late and paramoure 15 So in the passing of a day doth pas The bud and blossome of the life of man Nor ere doth flourish more but like the gras Cut downe becommeth withred pale and wan O gather then the rose while time thou has Short is the day done when it scant began Gather the rose of loue while yet thou mast Louing be lou'd embrasing be embrast 16 He ceast and as approouing all he spoke The quire of birds their heau'nly tunes renew The turtles sigh'd and sighes with kisses broke The foules to shades vnseene by paires withdrew It seemd
your souldiour and your knight as farre As Christian faith permits and Asias warre 54 Ah let our faults and follies here take end And let our errours past you satisfie And in this Angle of the world ipend Let both the fame and shame thereof now die From all the earth where I am knowne and kend I wish this fact should still concealed lie Nor yet in following me poore knight disgrace Your woorth your beautie and your princely race 55 Stay here in peace I goe nor wend you may With me my guide your fellowship denies Stay here or hence depart some better way And calme your thoughts you are both sage and wise While thus he spoke her passions found no stay But here and there she turn'd and roll'd her eies And staring on his face a while at last Thus in foule termes her bitter wrath forth brast 56 Of Sophia faire thou neuer wert the childe Nor of the Azzaine race isprong thou art The mad sea waues thee bore some Tigresse wilde On Caucasus cold crags nurst thee apart Ah cruell man in whom no token milde Appeeres of pitie ruth or tender hart Could not my griefes my woes my plaints and all One sigh straine from thy breast one teare make fall 57 What shall I say or how renew my speach He scornes me leaues me bids me call him mine The victor hath his foe within his reach Yet pardons her that merits death and pine Heare how he counsels me how he gan preach Like chast Xenocrates gainst loue diuine Oh heau'ns oh gods why doe these men of shame Thus spoile your Temples and blaspheme your name 58 Go cruell go go with such peace such rest Such ioy such comfort as thou leau'st me heare My angrie soule discharg'd from this weake brest Shall haunt thee euer and attend thee neare And furie like in snakes and fire brands drest Shall aie torment thee whom it late held deare And if thou scape the seas the rockes and sands And come to fight amid the Pagan bands 59 There lying wounded mongst the hurt and slaine Of these my wrongs thou shalt the vengeance beare And oft Armida shalt thou call in vaine At thy last gaspe this hope I soone to heare Heare fainted she with sorrow griefe and paine Her latest words scant well expressed were But in a swoune on earth outstretcht she lies Stiffe were her frozen limmes clos'd were her eies 60 Thou clos'd thine eies Armida heau'n enuide Ease to thy griefe or comfort to thy woe Ah open them againe see teares downe slide From his kinde eies whom thou esteemes thy foe If thou hadst heard his sighes had mollifide Thine anger hard he sigh'd and mourned soe And as he could with sad and rufull looke His leaue of thee and last farewell he tooke 61 What should he do leaue on the naked sand This wofull ladie halfe aliue halfe dead Kindnesse forbod pittie did that withstand But hard constraint alas did thence him lead Away he went the west winde blew from land Mongst the rich tresses of their pilots head And with that golden saile the waues she cleft To land he lookt till land vnseene he left 62 Wakt from her traunce forsaken speechlesse sad Armida wildly star'd and gas'd about And is he gone quoth she nor pittie had To leaue me thus twixt life and death in doubt Could he not stay could not the traitor lad From this last trance helpe or recall me out And do I loue him still and on this sand Still vnreuengde still mourne still weeping stand 63 Fie no complaintes farewell with armes and art I will pursue to death this spitefull knight Not earthes low center nor seas deepest part Nor heau'n nor hell can shield him from my might I will oretake him take him cleaue his hart Such veng'ance fits a wronged louers spight In crueltie that cruell knight surpasse I will but what auaile vaine words alasse 64 O foole thou shouldest haue beene cruell than For than this cruell well deseru'd thine ire When thou in prison hadst entrapt the man Now dead with cold too late thou askest fire But though my wit my cunning nothing can Some other meanes shall worke my harts desire To thee my beautie thine be all these wrongs Veng'ance to thee to thee reuenge belongs 65 Thou shalt be his reward with murdring brand That dare this traitor of his head depriue O you my louers on this rocke doth stand The castle of her loue for whom you striue I thee sole heire of all Damascus land For this reuenge my selfe and kingdome giue If by this price my will I cannot gaine Nature giues beautie fortune wealth in vaine 66 But thee vaine gift vaine beautie thee I scorne I hate the kingdome which I haue to giue I hate my selfe and rue that I was borne Onely in hope of sweet reuenge I liue Thus raging with fell ire she gan returne From that bare shore in haste and homeward driue And as true witnesse of her franticke ire Her lockes wau'd loose face shone eies sparkled fire 67 When she came home she call'd with outcries shrill A thousand deuils in Limbo deepe that wonne Blacke cloudes the skies with horrid darknes fill And pale for dread became th' eclipsed sonne The whirlewinde blustred big on euerie hill And hell to roare vnder her feet begonne You might haue heard how through the pallace wide Some spirits howld some barkt some hist some cride 68 A shadow blacker than the mirkest night Enuiron'd all the place with darknes sad Wherein a firebrand gaue a dreadfull light Kindled in hell by Tisiphone the mad Vanisht the shade the sun appeard in sight Pale were his beames the aire was nothing glad And all the pallace vanisht was and gone Nor of so great a worke was left one stone 69 As oft the clouds frame shapes of castles great Amid the aire that little time do last But are dissolu'd by winde or Titans heat Or like vaine dreames soone made and sooner past The pallace vanisht so nor in his seat Left ought but rockes and crags by kind there plast She in her coach which two old serpents drew Sat downe and as she vs'd away she flew 70 She broake the clouds and cleft the yeelding skie And bout her gathred tempest storme and winde The lands that view the south pole flew she bie And left those vnknowne countries farre behinde The straites of Hercules she past which lie Twixt Spaine and Africke nor her flight enclinde To north or south but still did forward ride Ore seas and streames till Syrias coasts she spide 71 Nor went she forward to Damascus faire But of her countrie deare she fled the sight And guided to Asphaltes lake her chaire Where stood her castle there she ends her flight And from her damsels farre she made repaire To a deepe vault far from resort and light Where in sad thoughts a thousand doubtes she cast Till griefe and shame to wrath gaue place at last 72 I will not hence quoth