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
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
so great a vice But by our zeale aye be that plague withstood Let not those pleasures vs to sinne entise His grace his mercie and his powerfull hand Will keepe vs safe from hurt by sea and land 84 This is the spurre that makes our coursers run This is our harbour safe from dangers floods This is our beild the blustring windes to shun This is our guide through desarts forrests woods This is our sommers shade our winters sun This is our wealth our treasure and our goods This is our engin towres that ouerthroes Our speare that hurts our sword that wounds our foes 85 Our courage hence our hope our valour springs Not from the trust we haue in shield or speare Not from the succours France or Grecia brings On such weake postes we list no buildings reare He can defend vs from the powre of kings From chance of war that makes weake harts to feare He can these hungrie troopes with Manna feed And make the seas land if we passage need 86 But if our sinnes vs of his helpe depriue Or his high iustice let no mercie fall Yet should our deaths vs some contentment giue To die where Christ receiu'd his buriall So might we die not enuying them that liue So would we die not vnreuenged all Nor Turkes nor Christians if we perish such Haue cause to ioy or to complaine too much 87 Thinke not that wars we loue and strife affect Or that we hate sweet peace or rest denay Thinke not your soueraignes friendship we reiect Bicause we list not in our conquests stay But for it seemes he would the Iewes protect Pray him from vs that thought aside to lay Nor vs forbid this towne and realme to gaine And he in peace rest ioy long mote he raine 88 This answer giuen Argantes wilde drew nar Trembling for ire and waxing pale for rage Nor could he hold his wrath encreast so far But thus enflam'd bespake the captaine sage Who scorneth peace shall haue his fill of war I thought thy wisdome should thy furie swage But well you shew what ioy you take in fight Which makes you prise our loue and friendship light 89 This said he tooke his mantles formost part And gan the same together fold and wrap Then spake againe with fell and spitefull hart So lions rore enclos'd in traine or trap Thou proud despiser of inconstant Mart I bring thee war and peace clos'd in this lap Take quickly one thou hast no time to muse If peace we rest we fight if war thou chuse 90 His semblant fierce and speeches proud prouoke The soldiers all war at once to crie Nor could they tarie till their chieftaine spoke But for the knight was more enflam'd hereby His lap he opened and spred foorth his cloke To mortall wars he saies I you defie And this he vttred with fell rage and hate And seemed of Ianus church t' vndoe the gate 91 It seemed furie discord madnes fell Flew from his lap when he vnfolds the same His glaring eies with angers venome swell And like the brand of foule Alecto flame He lookt like huge Tiphoius loos'd from hell Againe to shake heau'ns euerlasting frame Or him that built the towre on Shinaar Which threat'neth battell gainst the morning star 92 Godfredo than depart and bid your king Haste hitherward or else within short while For gladly we accept the war you bring Let him expect vs on the banks of Nile He entertain'd them then with banketting And gifts presented to those Pagans vile Aletes had a helmet rich and gay Late found at Nice among the conqu'red pray 93 Argant a sword whereof the web was steele Pommell rich stone hilts gold approu'd by tuch With rarest workmanship all forged wee le The curious art exceld the substance much Thus faire rich sharpe to see to haue to feele Glad was the Painim to enioy it such And said how I this gift can vse and weild Soone shall you see when first we meet in feild 94 Thus tooke they congee and the angrie knight Thus to his fellow parled on their way Goe thou by day but let me walke by night Goe thou to Egypt I at Sion stay The answer giuen thou canst vnfold aright No need of me what I can doe or say Among these armes I will goe wreake my spight Let Paris court it Hector lou'd to fight 95 Thus he who late arriu'd a messengar Departs a foe in act in word in thought The law of nations or the lore of war If he transgresse or no he reaketh nought Thus parted they and ere he wandred far The friendly star-light to the walles him brought Yet his fell hart thought long that little way Greeu'd with each stop tormented with each stay 96 Now spred the night her spangled canopie And sommon'd euery restlesse eie to sleepe On beds of tender grasse the beastes downe lie The fishes slumbred in the silent deepe Vnheard was serpents hisse and dragons crie Birds left to sing and Philomene to weepe Onely that noice heau'ns rolling circles kest Sung lullabie to bring the world to rest 97 Yet neither sleepe nor ease nor shadowes darke Could make the faithfull campe or captaine rest They long'd to see the day to heare the larke Record her hymnes and chant her carols blest They earnd to view the wals the wished marke To which their iourneies long they had addrest Each hart attends each longing eie beholds What beame the eastren window first vnfolds The third Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument The campe at great Hierusalem arriues Clorinda giues them battell in the brest Of faire Erminia Tancreds loue reuiues He iusts with her vnknowne whom he lou'd best Argant th' aduentrers of their guide depriues With stately pompe they lay their Lord in chest Godfrey commands to cut the forrest downe And make strong engins to assault the towne 1 THe purple morning left her crimsen bed And dond her robes of pure vermilion hew Her amber locks she crown'd with roses red In Edens flowrie gardens gathred new When through the campe a murmur shrill was spred Arme arme they cride arme arme the trumpets blew Their merrie noise preuents the ioyfull blast So humme small bees before their swarmes they cast 2 Their captaine rules their courage guides their heate Their forwardnes he staid with gentle raine And yet more easie haply were the feat To stop the currant neere Charybdis maine Or calme the blustring windes on mountaines great Than fierce desires of warlike harts restraine He rules them yet and rankes them in their haste For well he knowes disordred speed makes waste 3 Feath'red their thoughts their feet in wings were dight Swiftly they marcht yet were not tir'd thereby For willing mindes make heauiest burdens light But when the gliding sunne was mounted hie Hierusalem behold appeer'd in sight Hierusalem they view they see they spie Hierusalem with merrie noise they greet With ioyfull shouts and acclamations sweet 4 As when a troope of iolly sailers row
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
ire and courage to prouoke 11 But now to visit Egypts mighty king Vnlesse my iudgement faile you are prepar'd I prophesie about a needlesse thing You suffer shall a voiage long and hard For though you stay the monarch great will bring His new assembled host to Iuda ward No place of seruice there no cause of fight Nor gainst our foes to vse your force and might 12 But if you follow me within this wall With Christian armes hemm'd in on euery side Withouten battaile fight or stroke at all Eu'n at noone day I will you safely guide Where you delight reioice and glorie shall In perils great to see your prowesse tride That noble towne you may preserue and shield Till Egypts host come to renue the field 13 While thus he parled of this aged guest The Turke the words and lookes did both admire And from his hartie eies and furious brest He laid apart his pride his rage and ire And humbly said I willing am and prest To follow where thou leadest reuerend fire And that aduise best fits my angrie vaine That tels of greatest perill greatest paine 14 The old man prais'd his words and for the aire His late receiued wounds to worse disposes A quintessence therein he powred faire That stops the bleeding and incision closes Beholding than before Apolloes chaire How fresh Aurora violets straw'd and roses Its time he saies to wend for Titan bright To wonted labour sommons euery wight 15 And to a chariot that beside did stand Ascended he and with him Soliman He tooke the raines and with a maistring hand Ruled his steades and whipt them now and than The wheeles or horses feet vpon the land Had left no signe nor token where they ran The coursers pant and smoke with lukewarme sweat And foming creame their iron mouthfuls eat 16 The aire about them round a wondrous thing It selfe on heapes in solid thicknes drew The chariot hiding and enuironing The subtile mist no mortall eie could vew And yet no stone from engin cast or sling Could pearse the cloud it was of proofe so trew Yet seene it was to them within which ride And heau'n and earth without all cleere beside 17 His beetle browes the Turke amazed bent He wrinkled vp his front and wildly stared Vpon the cloud and chariot as it went For speed to Cinthias carre right well compared The other seeing his astonishment How he bewondred was and how he fared All sodainly by name the Prince gan call By which awaked thus he spoke withall 18 Who ere thou art aboue all worldly wit That hast these high and wondrous maruailes wrought And know'st the deepe intents which hidden sit In secret closet of mans priuate thought If in thy skilfull hart this lore be writ To tell th' euent of things to end vnbrought Then say what issue and what end the starres Allot to Asias troubles broiles and warres 19 But tell me first thy name and by what art Thou dost these wonders strange aboue our skill For full of maruaile is my troubled hart Tell then and leaue me not amazed still The wisard smil'd and answ'red in some part Easie it is to satisfie thy will Ismen I hight call'd an enchanter great Such skill haue I in magikes secret feat 20 But that I should the sure euents vnfold Of things to come or destinies foretell Too rash is your desire your wish too bold To mortall hart such knowledge neuer fell Our wit and strength on vs bestow'd I hold To shunne th'euils and harmes mongst which we dwell They make their fortune who are stout and wise Wit rules the heau'ns discretion guides the skies 21 That puissant arme of thine that well can rend From Godfreys brow the new vsurped crowne And not alone protect saue and defend From his fierce people this besieged towne Gainst fire and sword with strength and courage bend Aduenture suffer trust tread perils downe And to content and to encourage thee Know this which I as in a cloud foresee 22 I guesse before the ouer-gliding sonne Shall many yeeres meet out by weekes and daies A Prince that shall in fertill Egypt wonne Shall fill all Asia with his prosp'rous fraies I speake not of his actes in quiet donne His policie his rule his wisdomes praise Let this suffice by him these Christians shall In fight subdued flie and conquered fall 23 And their great empire and vsurped state Shall ouerthrowne in dust and ashes lie Their wofull remnant in an angle strate Compast with sea themselues shall fortifie From thee shall spring this Lord of war and fate Whereto great Soliman gan thus replie O happie man to so great praise ibore Thus he reiois'd but yet enuied more 24 And said let chance with good or bad aspect Vpon me looke as sacred heau'ns decree This hart to her I neuer will subiect Nor euer conqu'red shall she looke on mee The moone her chariot shall awrie direct Ere from this course I will diuerted bee While thus he spake it seem'd he breathed fire So fierce his courage was so hot his ire 25 Thus talked they till they arriued beene Nie to the place where Godfreys tents were reared There was a wofull spectacle iseene Death in a thousand ougly formes appeared The Soldan changed hew for greefe and teene On that sad booke his shame and losse he leared Ah with what griefe his men his friends he found And standards proud inglorious lie on ground 26 And saw on visage of some well knowne frend In foule despite a rascall French man tread And there another ragged peasant rend The armes and garments from some champion dead And there with stately pompe by heapes they wend And Christians slaine rolle vp in webs of lead Lastly the Turks and slaine Arabians brought On heapes he saw them burne with fire to nought 27 Deepely he sighed and with naked sword Out of the coach he leaped in the mire But Ismen call'd againe the angrie Lord And with graue words appeas'd his foolish ire The Prince content remounted at his word Towards a hill on droue the aged sire And hasting forward vp the banke they passe Till far behinde the Christian leaguer was 28 There they alight and tooke their way on fout The emptie chariot vanisht out of sight Yet still the cloud enuiron'd them about At their left hand downe went they from the hight Of Sions hill till they approcht the rout On that side where to west he looketh right There Ismen staied and his eie-sight bent Vpon the bushie rocks and thither went 29 A hollow caue was in the craggie stone Wrought out by hand a number yeeres to fore And for of long that way had walked none The vault was hid with plants and bushes hore The wisard stooping in thereat to gone The thornes aside and scratching brambles bore His right hand sought the passage through the cleft And for his guide he gaue the Prince his left 30 What quoth the Soldan by what priuie mine What hidden vault
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
vitall moisture was In trees in plants in herbes in flowres in grasse 58 Sleepe to his quiet dales exiled fled From these vnquiet nights and oft in vaine The souldiers restlesse sought the god in bed But most for thirst they mourn'd and most complaine For Iudais tyrant had strong poison shed Poison that breedes more woe and deadly paine Than Acheron or Stigian waters bring In euerie fountaine cestern well and spring 59 And little Siloe that his store bestowes Of purest Chrystall on the Christian bands The peebles naked in his chanell showes And scantly glides aboue the scorched sands Nor Poe in May when ore his bankes he flowes Nor Ganges watrer of the Indian lands Nor seu'n mouth'd Nile that yeelds all Egypt drinke To quench their thirst the men sufficient thinke 60 He that the gilding riuers earst had seene Adowne their verdant chanels gently rold Or falling streames which to the valleies greene Distill'd from tops of Alpine mountaines cold Those he desir'd in vaine new torments beene Augmented thus with wish of comforts old Those waters coole he dranke in vaine conceit Which more encreast his thirst encreast his heat 61 The sturdie bodies of the warriours strong Whom neither marching far nor tedious way Nor weightie armes which on their shoulders hong Could wearie make nor death it selfe dismay Now weake and feeble cast their limmes along Vnweildie burthens on the burned clay And in each vaine a smouldring fire there dwelt Which dride their flesh and sollid bones did melt 62 Languisht the stead late fierce and profred gras His fodder earst despis'd and from him kest Each step he stumbled and which loftie was And heigh aduanst before now fell his crest His conquests gotten all forgotten pas Nor with desire of glorie sweld his brest The spoiles wonne from his foe his late rewards He now neglects despiseth nought regards 63 Languisht the faithfull dog and wonted caire Of his deare Lord and cabben both forgot Panting he laid and gathred fresher aire To coole the burning in his entrals hot But breathing which wise Nature did prepare To swage the stomackes heat now booted not For little ease alas small helpe they win That breath foorth aire and scalding fire sucke in 64 Thus languished the earth in this estate Lay woefull thousands of the Christians stout The faithfull people grew nie desperate Of hoped conquest shamefull death they dout Of their distresse they talke and oft debate These sad complaints were heard the campe throughout What hope hath Godfrey Shall we still here lie Till all his souldiers all our armies die 65 Alas with what deuice what strength thinkes he To scale these walles or this strong fort to get Whence hath he engins new doth he not see How wrathfull heau'n gainst vs his sword doth whet These tokens showne true signes and witnesse be Our angrie God our proud attempts doth let And scorching sunne so hot his beames outspreeds That not more cooling Inde nor AEthiop needs 66 Or thinkes he it an eath or little thing That vs despis'd neglected and disdain'd Like abiects vile to death he thus should bring That so his Empire may be still maintain'd Is it so great a blisse to be a king When he that weares the crowne with blood is stain'd And buies his scepter with his peoples liues See whither glorie vaine fond mankinde driues 67 See see the man call'd holy iust and good That curteous meeke and humble would be thought Yet neuer car'd in what distresse we stood If his vaine honour were diminisht nought When dried vp from vs is spring and flood His water must from Iordan streames be brought And now he sits at feastes and bankets sweet And mingleth waters fresh with wines of Creet 68 The French thus murmour'd but the Greekish knight Tatine that of this war was wearie growne Why die we here quoth he slaine without fight Kild not subdu'd murdred not ouerthrowne Vpon the Frenchmen let the penance light Of Godfreyes follie let me saue mine owne And as he said without farewell the knight And all his comet stole away by night 69 His bad example many a troupe prepares To imitate when his escape they know Clotharius his band and Ademares And all whose guides in dust were buried low Discharg'd of duties chaines and bondage snares Free from their oath to none they seruice owe But now concluded all on secret flight And shrunke away by thousands euery night 70 Godfredo this both heard and saw and knew Yet nould with death them chastise though he mought But with that faith wherewith he could remew The stedfast hils and seas drie vp to nought He praid the Lord vpon his flocke to rew To ope the springs of grace and ease this drought Out of his lookes shone zeale deuotion faith His hands and eies to heau'n he heaues and saith 71 Father and Lord if in the desarts wast Thou hadst compassion on thy children deare The craggie rocke when Moses cleft and brast And drew forth flowing streames of waters cleare Like mercie Lord like grace on vs downe cast And though our merits lesse than theirs appeare Thy grace supply that want for though they be Thy first borne sonne thy children yet are we 72 These praiers iust from humble hart forth sent Were nothing slow to climbe the starrie skie But swift as winged bird themselues present Before the father of the heauens hie The Lord accepted them and gently bent Vpon the faithfull host his gracious eie And in what paine and what distresse it laid He saw and greeu'd to see and thus he said 73 Mine armies deere till now haue suffred woe Distresse and danger hels infernall powre Their enimie hath beene the world their foe But happie be their actions from this howre What they begin to blessed end shall goe I will refresh them with a gentle showre Rinaldo shall returne th' Egyptian crew They shall encounter conquer and subdew 74 At these high words great heau'n began to shake The fixed stars the planets wandring still Trembled the aire the earth and Ocean quake Spring fountaine riuer forrest dale and hill From north to east a lightning flash out-brake And comming drops presag'd with thunders shrill With ioyfull shoutes the soldiers on the plaine These tokens blesse of long desired raine 75 A sodaine cloud as when Helias praid Not from drie earth exhail'd by Phebus beames Arose moist heau'n his windowes open laid Whence cloudes by heapes out-rush and watrie streames The world ore spred was with a gloomie shade That like a darke and mirksome eu'n it seames The dashing raine from molten skies downe fell And ore their banks the brookes and fountaines swell 76 In sommer season when the cloudie skie Vpon the parched ground doth raine downe send As ducke and mallard in the furrowes drie With merrie noise the promist showres attend And spreading broad their wings displaied lie To keepe the drops that on their plumes descend And where the streames swell to a gathred lake Therein they
I pray thee teach Of that hid world what be the lawes and speach 28 As diuers be their nations answred shee Their toongs their rites their lawes so diffrent arre Some pray to beasts some to a stone or tree Some to the earth the sunne or morning starre Their meates vnwholsome vile and hatefull bee Some eate mans flesh and captiues tane in warre And all from Calpes mountaine west that dwell In faith profane in life are rude and fell 29 But will our gracious God the knight replide That with his bloud all sinfull men hath bought His truth for euer and his Gospell hide From all those lands as yet vnknowne vnsought O no quoth she his name both farre and wide Shall there be knowne all learning thither brought Nor shall these long and tedious waies for euer Your world and theirs their lands your kingdoms seuer 30 The time shall come that saylers shall disdaine To talke or argue of Alcides streat And landes and seas that namelesse yet remaine Shall well be knowne their bounders scite and seat The ships encompasse shall the sollid maine As farre as seas outstretch their waters great And measure all the world and with the sunne About this earth this globe this compasse runne 31 A knight of Genes shall haue the hardiment Vpon this wondrous voyage first to wend Nor windes nor waues that ships insunder rent Nor seas vnus'd strange clime or poole vnkend Nor other perill nor astonishment That makes fraile harts of men to bow and bend Within Abilas strait shall keepe and hold The noble spirit of this saylor bold 32 Thy ship Columbus shall her canuasse wing Spread ore that world that yet concealed lies That scant swift fame her lookes shall after bring Though thousand plumes she haue and thousand eies Let her of Bacchus and Alcides sing Of thee to future age let this suffies That of thine actes she some forewarning giue Which shall in verse and noble storie liue 33 Thus talking swift twixt South and West they runne And sliced out twixtfroth and fome their way At once they saw before the setting sunne Behind the rising beame of springing day And when the morne her drops and dewes begunne To scatter broad vpon the flowring lay Farre off a hill and mountaine high they spide Whose top the cloudes enuiron cloath and hide 34 And drawing neere the hill at ease they vew When all the cloudes were molten falne and fled Whose top Pyramide wise did pointed shew High narrow sharpe the sides yet more outspred Thence now and than fire flame and smoake out flew As from that hill where vnder lies in bed Enceladus whence with imperious sway Bright fire breakes out by night blacke smoake by day 35 About the hill lay other Islands small Where other rockes crags clifts and mountaines stood Th'isles fortunate these elder time did call To which high heau'n they fain'd so kinde and good And of his blessings ritch so liberall That without tillage earth giues corne for food And grapes that swell with sweete and pretious wine There without pruning yeelds the fertill vine 36 The Oliue fat there euer buds and flowres The honie drops from hollow okes distill The falling brooke her siluer streames downe powres With gentle murmur from their natiue hill The westren blast tempreth with deawes and showres The sunnie rayes least heat the blossoms kill The fields Elisian as fond heathen saine Were there where soules of men in blisse remaine 37 To these their pilot steard and now quoth shee Your voyage long to end is brought well neare The happie isles of fortune now you see Of which great fame and little truth you heare Sweet wholsome pleasant fertile fat they bee Yet not so rich as fame reports they weare This said towards an island fresh she bore The first of ten that lies next Africkes shore 38 When Charles thus if worthie gouernesse To our good speed such tariance be no let Vpon this isle that heau'n so faire doth blesse To view the place on land a while vs set To know the folke and what God they confesse And all whereby mans hart may knowledge get That I may tell the wonders therein seene Another day and say there haue I beene 39 She answ'red him well fits this high desire Thy noble hart yet cannot I consent For heau'ns decree firme stable and intire Thy wish repugnes and gainst thy will is bent Nor yet the time hath Titans gliding fire Met forth prefixt for this discouerment Nor is it lawfull of the Ocean maine That you the secrets know or knowne explaine 40 To you withouten needle map or card It s giuen to passe these seas and there arriue Where in strong prison lies your knight imbard And of her pray you must the witch depriue If further to aspire you be prepar'd In vaine gainst fate and heau'ns decree you striue While thus she said the first seene isle gaue place And high and rough the second show'd his face 41 They saw how Eastward stretcht in order long The happie islands sweetly flowring lay And how the seas betwixt those Isles inthrong And how they shouldred land from land away In seuen of them the people rude among The shadie trees their sheds had built of clay The rest lay waste vnlesse wilde beastes vnseene Or wanton Nymphes roam'd on the moūtaines greene 42 A secret place they found in one of those Where the cleft shore sea in his bosome takes And twixt his stretched armes doth fold and close An ample Bay a rocke the hauen makes Which to the maine doth his broad backe oppose Whereon the roaring billow cleaues and brakes And here and there two crags like turrets hie Point forth a port to all that saile thereby 43 The quiet seas below lie safe and still The greenewood like a garland growes aloft Sweete caues within coole shades and waters shrill Where lie the Nymphes on Mosse and Iuie soft No anchor there needes hold her frigot still Nor cabble twisted sure though breaking oft Into this desart silent quiet glade Entred the dame and there her hauen made 44 The pallace proudly built quoth she behold That sits on top of yonder mountaines hight Of Christes true faith there lies the champion bold In idlenesse loue fancie folly light When Phoebus shall his rising beames vnfold Prepare you gainst the hill to mount vpright Nor let this stay in your bold harts breed care For saue that one all howres vnluckie are 45 But yet this euening if you make good speed To that hils foote with day-light might you passe Thus said the Dame their guide and they agreed And tooke their leaue and leapt forth on the grasse They found the way that to the hill doth leed And softly went that neither tired was But at the mountaines foot they both arriued Before the sunne his teame in waters diued 46 They saw how from the crags and cliftes below His proud and stately pleasant top grew out And how his sides were clad with
the laurell chast and stubborne oke And all the gentle trees on earth that grew It seemd the land the sea and heau'n aboue All breath'd out fancie sweete and sigh'd out loue 17 Through all this musicke rare and stronge consent Of strange allurements sweete boue meane and measure Seuere firme constant still the knights foorth went Hardning their harts gainst false entising pleasure Twixt leafe and leafe their sight before they sent And after crept themselues at ease and leasure Till they beheld the Queene set with their knight Besides the lake shaded with bowes from sight 18 Her breasts were naked for the day was hot Her lockes vnbound wau'd in the wanton winde Somedeale she swet tir'd with the game you wot Her sweat-drops bright white round like pearles of Inde Her humide eies a firie smile foorth shot That like sunne-beames in siluer fountaines shinde Ore him her lookes she hung and her soft breast The pillow was where he and loue tooke rest 19 His hungrie eies vpon her face he fed And feeding them so pinde himselfe away And she declining often downe her hed His lippes his cheekes his eies kist as he lay Wherewith he sigh'd as if his soule had fled From his fraile breast to hers and there would stay With her beloued sprite the armed pare These follies all beheld and this hot fare 20 Downe by the louers side there pendant was A Christall mirrour bright pure smooth and neat He rose and to his mistresse held the glas A noble Page grac'd with that seruice great She with glad lookes he with enflam'd alas Beautie and loue beheld both in one seat Yet them in sundrie obiects each espies She in the glasse he saw them in her eies 21 Her to commaund to serue it pleas'd the knight He proud of bondage of her Empire shee My deare she said that blessest with thy sight Euen blessed Angels turne thine eies to me For painted in my hart and purtrai'd right Thy woorth thy beauties and perfections bee Of which the forme the shape and fashion best Not in this glas is seene but in my brest 22 And if thou me disdaine yet be content At least so to behold thy louely hew That while thereon thy lookes are fixt and bent Thy happie eies themselues may see and vew So rare a shape no Christall can present No glas containe that heau'n of beauties trew O let the skies thy woorthie mirrour bee And in cleere starres thy shape and image see 23 And with that word she smil'd and nerethelesse Her loue-toies still she vs'd and pleasures bold Her haire that donne she twisted vp in tresse And looser lockes in silken laces roll'd Her curles garland wise she did vpdresse Wherein like ritch ennamell laid on gold The twisted flowrets smil'd and her white brest The Lillies there that spring with Roses drest 24 The iolly Peacocke spreeds not halfe so faire The eied feathers of his pompous traine Nor golden Iris so bendes in the aire Her twentie colour'd bow through cloudes of raine Yet all her ornaments strange rich and raire Her girdle did in price and beautie staine Not that with scorne which Tuscane Guilla lost Nor Venus Ceston could match this for cost 25 Of milde denaies of tender scornes of sweet Repulses warre peace hope despaire ioy feare Of smiles ieastes mirth woe griefe and sad regreet Sighes sorrowes teares embracements kisses deare That mixed first by weight and measure meet Then at an easie fire attempred weare This wondrous girdle did Armida frame And when she would be loued wore the same 26 But when her wooing fit was brought to end Shee congee tooke kist him and went her way For once she vsed euery day to wend Bout her affaires her spels and charmes to say The youth remain'd yet had no powre to bend One step from thence but vsed there to stray Mongst the sweete birds through euerie walke groue Alone saue for an hermit false call'd Loue. 27 And when the silence deepe and friendly shaide Recall'd the louers to their wonted sport In afaire roome for pleasure built they laide And longest nights with ioies made sweet and short Now while the queene her houshold things suruaide And left her Lord her garden and disport The twaine that hidden in the bushes weare Before the Prince in glistring armes appeare 28 As the fierce stead for age withdrawne from warre Wherein the glorious beast had alwaies wonne That in vile rest from fight sequestred farre Feedes with the mares at large his seruice donne If armes he see or heare the trumpets iarre He neieth lowd and thither fast doth ronne And wisheth on his backe the armed knight Longing for iustes for turnament and fight 29 So farde Rinaldo when the glorious light Of their bright harnesse glistred in his eies His noble sprite awaked at that sight His bloud began to warme his hart to rise Though drunke with ease deuoid of wonted might On sleepe till then his weakned vertue lies Vbaldo forward stept and to him heild Of dimonds cleere that pure and pretious sheild 30 Vpon the targe his lookes amas'd he bent And therein all his wanton habite spide His ciuet baulme and perfumes redolent How from his lockes they smoakt and mantle wide His sword that many a Pagan stout had shent Bewrapt with flowres hung idlie by his side So nicely decked that it seemd the knight Wore it for fashion sake but not for fight 31 As when from sleepe and idle dreames abraid A man awakt cals home his wits againe So in beholding his attire he plaid But yet to view himselfe could not sustaine His lookes he downward cast and nought he said Grieu'd shamed sad he would haue died faine And oft he wisht the earth or Ocean wide Would swallow him and so his errours hide 32 Vbaldo tooke the time and thus begonne All Europe now and Asia be in warre And all that Christ adore and fame haue wonne In battaile strong in Syria fighting arre But thee alone Bertoldoes noble sonne This little corner keepes exiled farre From all the world buried in sloth and shame A carpet champion for a wanton dame 33 What letharge hath in drowsinesse vppend Thy courage thus what sloth doth thee infect Vp vp our campe and Godfrey for thee send Thee fortune praise and victorie expect Come fatall champion bring to happie end This enterprise begonne and all that sect Which oft thou shaken hast to earth full low With thy sharpe brand strike downe kill ouerthrow 34 This said the noble infant stood a space Confused speechlesse senslesse ill ashamed But when that shame to iust disdaine gaue place To fierce disdaine from courage sprung vntamed Another rednesse blushed through his face Whence worthie anger shone displeasure flamed His nice attire in scorne he rent and tore For of his bondage vile that witnes bore 35 That donne he hasted from the charmed fort And through the maze past with his searchers twaine Armida of her mount and chiefest port Wondred
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
The flames against the kindlers backward cast 86 The windes droue backe the fire where heaped lie The Pagans weapons where their engins weare Which kindling quickly in that substance drie Burnt all their store and all their warlike geare O glorious captaine whom the Lord from hie Defends whom God preserues and holds so deare For thee heau'n fights to thee the windes from farre Call'd with thy trumpets blast obedient arre 87 But wicked Ismen to his harme that saw How the fierce blast droue backe the fire and flame By art would nature change and thence withdraw Those noisome windes else calme and still the same Twixt two false Wizards without feare or aw Vpon the walles in open sight he came Blacke grisly loathsome grim and ougly faced Like Pluto old betwixt two furies placed 88 And now the wretch those dreadfull words begunne Which tremble make deepe hell and all her flocke Now troubled is the aire the golden sunne His fearefull beames in cloudes did close and locke When from the towre which Ismen could not shunne Out flew a mightie stone late halfe a rocke Which light so iust vpon the Wizards three That driu'n to dust their bones and bodies bee 89 To lesse than nought their members old were torne And shiuer'd were their heads to pieces small As small as are the brused graines of corne When from the mill resolu'd to meale they fall Their damned soules to deepest hell downe borne Far from the ioy and light celestiall The furies plunged in th' infernall lake O mankinde at their ends ensample take 90 This while the engin which the tempest could Had sau'd from burning with his friendly blast Approached had so neere the battred hould That on the walles her bridge at ease she cast But Soliman ran thither fierce and bould To cut the planke whereon the Christians past And had perform'd his will saue that vpreard High in the skies a turret new appeard 91 Farre in the aire vp clombe the fortresse tall Higher than house then steeple church or towre The Pagans trembled to behold the wall And citie subiect to her shot and powre Yet kept the Turke his stand though on him fall Of stones and dartes a sharpe and deadly showre And still to cut the bridge he hopes and striues And those that feare with cheerfull speech reuiues 92 The Angell Michaell to all the rest Vnseene appear'd before Godfredoes eies In pure and heau'nly armour ritchly drest Brighter than Titans raies in cleerest skies Godfrey quoth he this is the moment blest To free this towne that long in bondage lies See see what legions in thine aide I bring For heau'n assists thee and heau'ns glorious king 93 Lift vp thine eies and in the aire behold The sacred armies how they mustred bee That cloud of flesh in which from times of old All mankinde wrapped is I take from thee And from thy senses their thicke mist vnfold That face to face thou maist these spirits see And for a little space right well sustaine Their glorious light and vew those angels plaine 94 Behold the soules of euery Lord and knight That late bore armes and dide for Christes deare sake How on thy side against this towne they fight And of thy ioy and conquest will partake There where the dust and smoke blinde all mens sight Where stones and ruines such an heape doe make There Hugo fights in thickest cloude imbard And vndermines that bulwarks groundworke hard 95 See Dudon yonder who with sword and fire Assailes and helpes to scale the northren port That with bold courage doth thy folke inspire And reares their ladders gainst th' assaulted fort He that high on the mount in graue attire Is clad and crowned stands in kingly sort Is Bishop Ademare a blessed spirite Blest for his faith crown'd for his death and merite 96 But higher lift thy happie eies and vew Where all the sacred hosts of heau'n appeare He lookt and saw where winged armies flew Innumerable pure diuine and cleare A battaile round of squadrons three they shew And all by threes those squadrons ranged weare Which spreading wide in rings still wider goe Mou'd with a stone calme water circleth soe 97 With that he winkte and vanisht was and gone That wondrous vision when he lookt againe His worthies fighting vew'd he one by one And on each side saw signes of conquest plaine For with Rinaldo gainst his yeelding fone His knights were entred and the Pagans slaine This seene the Duke no longer stay could brooke But from the bearer bold his ensigne tooke 98 And on the bridge he stept but there was staid By Soliman who entrance all denide That narrow tree to vertue great was maid The field as in few blowes right soone was tride Here will I giue my life for Sions aid Here will I end my daies the Soldan cride Behinde me cut or breake this bridge that I May kill a thousand Christians first then die 99 But thither fierce Rinaldo threat'ning went And at his sight fled all the Soldans traine What shall I doe if here my life be spent I spend and spill quoth he my blood in vaine With that his steps from Godfrey backe he bent And to him let the passage free remaine Who threat'ning follow'd as the Soldan fled And on the walles the purple crosse dispred 100 About his head he tost he turn'd he cast That glorious ensigne with a thousand twines Thereon the winde breathes with his sweetest blast Thereon with golden raies glad Phebus shines Earth laughes for ioy the streames forbeare their hast Floods clap their hands on mountaines dance the pines And Sions towres and sacred temples smile For their deliu'rance from that bondage vile 101 And now the armies rear'd the happie crie Of victorie glad ioyfull lowd and shrill The hils resound the Eccho showteth hie And Tancred bold that fights and combats still With proud Argantes brought his towre so nie That on the wall against the boasters will In his despite his bridge he also laid And wonne the place and there the crosse displaid 102 But on the southren hill where Raimond fought Against the townesmen and their aged king His hardie Gascoignes gained small or nought Their engin to the walles they could not bring For thither all his strength the Prince had brought For life and safetie sternly combatting And for the wall was feeblest on that cost There were his soldiers best and engins most 103 Besides the towre vpon that quarter found Vnsure vneasie and vneeu'n the way Nor art could helpe but that the rougher ground The rolling masse did often stop and stay But now of victorie the ioyfull sound The king and Raimond heard amid their fray And by the showte they and their soldiers know The towne was entred on the plaine below 104 Which heard Raimondo thus bespake this crew The towne is wonne my friends and doth it yet Resist are we kept out still by these few Shall we no share in this high conquest get But
to point he gan expose The false compact how it was made and wrought The armes and ensignes fained poison close Ormondos vant what praise what thanke he sought And what reward and satisfide all those That would demaund enquire or aske of ought Silence was made a while when Godfrey thus Raimondo say what counsell giu'st thou vs 128 Not as we purpos'd late next morne quoth hee Let vs not scale but round besiege this towre That those within may haue no issue free To sallie out and hurt vs with their powre Our campe well rested and refreshed see Prouided well gainst this last storme and showre And then in pitched field fight if you will If not delay and keepe this fortresse still 129 But least you be endangred hurt or slaine Of all your cares take care your selfe to saue By you this campe doth liue doth winne doth raine Who else can rule or guide these squadrons braue And for the traitors shall be noted plaine Command your garde to change the armes they haue So shall their guile be knowne in their owne net So shall they fall caught in the snare they set 130 As it hath euer thus the Duke begonne Thy counsell shewes thy wisdome and thy loue And what you left in doubt shall thus be donne We will their force in pitched battell proue Clos'd in this wall and trench the fight to shonne Doth ill this campe beseeme and worse behoue But we their strength and manhood will assay And trie in open field and open day 131 The fame of our great conquests to sustaine Or bide our lookes and threates they are not able And when this armie is subdu'd and slaine Then is our empire setled firme and stable The towre shall yeeld or but resist in vaine For feare her anchor is despaire her cable Thus he concludes and rowling downe the west Fast set the starres and call'd them all to rest The twentith Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument The Pagan host arriues and cruell fight Makes with the Christians and their faithfull powre The Soldan longs in field to proue his might With the old king quits the besieged towre Yet both are slaine and in eternall night A famous hand giues each his fatall howre Rinald appeasd Armida first the feild The Christians winne then praise to God they yeild 1 THe sunne call'd vp the world from idle sleepe And of the day ten howres were gone and past When the bould troupe that had the towre to keepe Espide a sodaine mist that ouercast The earth with mirksome clouds and darknes deepe And sawe it was th' Egyptian campe at last Which rais'd the dust for hils and valleies broad That hoast did ouerspread and ouerload 2 Therewith a merrie shout and ioyfull crie The Pagans reard from their besieged hold The cranes from Thrace with such a rumour flie His hoarie frost and snow when Hyems old Powres downe and fast to warmer regions hie From the sharpe winds fierce stormes and tempests cold And quicke and readie this new hope and aid Their hands to shoot their toongs to threaten maid 3 From whence their ire their wrath and hardie threat Proceeds the French well knew and plaine espide For from the wals and ports the army great They saw her strenght her number pompe and pride Swelled their brests with valours noble heat Battaile and fight they wisht arme arme they cride The youth to giue the signe of fight all praid Their Duke and were displeasd bicause delaid 4 Till morning next for he refusd to fight Their haste and heat he bridled but not brake Nor yet with sodaine fray or skirmish light Of these new foes would he vaine triall make After so many warres he saies good right It is that one daies rest at least you take For thus in his vaine foes he cherish would The hope which in their strength they haue and hould 5 To see Auroras gentle beame appeare The souldiers armed prest and ready lay The skies were neuer halfe so faire and cleare As in the breaking of that blessed day The merrie morning smild and seemd to weare Vpon her siluer crowne suns golden ray And without cloud heau'n his redoubled light Bent downe to see this field this fray this fight 6 When first he sawe the day breake shew and shine Godfrey his hoast in good array brought out And to besiege the tyrant Aladine Raimond he left and all the faithfull rout That from the townes was come of Palestine To serue and succour their deliuerer stout And with them left a hardie troupe beside Of Gascoignes strong in armes well prou'd oft tride 7 Such was Godfredoes count'nance such his cheare That from his eie sure conquest flames and streames Heau'ns gracious fauours in his lookes appeare And great and goodly more than earst he seames His face and forehead full of noblesse weare And on his cheeke smiled youthes purple beames And in his gate his grace his actes his eies Somewhat farre more than mortall liues and lies 8 He had not marched farre ere he espied Of his proud foes the mightie hoast draw nie A hill at first he tooke and fortified At his left hand which stood his armie bie Broad in the front behinde more straite vp tied His armie readie stoode the fight to trie And to the middle ward well armd he brings His footemen strong his horsemen serud for wings 9 To the left wing spred vnderneath the bent Of the steepe hill that sau'd their flanke and side The Roberts twaine two leaders good he sent His brother had the middle ward to guide To the right wing himselfe in person went Downe where the plaine was dangrous broad and wide And where his foes with their great numbers would Perchance enuiron round his squadrons bould 10 There all his Lorreners and men of might All his best armd he plast and chosen bands And with those horse some footemen armed light That archers were vsd to that seruice stands Th'aduentrers then in battaile and in fight Well tride a squadron famous through all lands On the right hand he set somedeale aside Rinaldo was their leader lord and guide 11 To whom the Duke in thee our hope is laid Of victorie thou must the conquest gaine Behinde this mightie wing so farre displaid Thou with thy noble squadron close remaine And when the Pagans would our backs inuaide Assaile them then and make their onset vaine For if I gesse aright they haue in minde To compasse vs and charge our troupes behinde 12 Then through his hoast that tooke so large a scope He road and vewd them all both horse and fout His face was bare his helme vnclos'd and ope Lightned his eies his lookes bright fire shot out He cheers the fearefull comforts them that hope And to the bould recounts his boasting stout And to the valiant his aduentures hard These bids he looke for praise those for reward 13 At last he staid whereof his squadrons bold And noblest troupes assembled was
GODFREY of Bulloigne or The Recouerie of Ierusalem Done into English Heroicall verse by EDWARD FAIREFAX Gent. Imprinted at London by Ar. Hatfield for I. Iaggard and M. Lownes 1600 To her High Maiestie WIts rich triumph Wisdomes glorie Arts chronicle Learnings storie Towre of goodnes vertue bewtie Forgiue me that presume to lay My labours in your cleere eies ray This boldnes springs frō faith zeal dewtie Her hand her lap her vestures hem Muse touch not for polluting them All that is hers is pure cleere holie Before her footstoole humble lie So may she blesse thee with her eie The sunne shines not on good things solie Oliue of peace Angell of pleasure What line of praise can your worth measure Calme sea of blisse which no shore boundeth Fame fils the world no more with lies But busied in your histories Her trumpet those true wonders soundeth O Fame say all the good thou maist Too little is that all thou saist What if her selfe her selfe commended Should we then know nere knowne before Whether her wit or worth were more Ah no! that booke would nere be ended Your Maiesties humble subiect EDWARD FAIREFAX The Allegorie of the Poem HEroicall Poetrie as a liuing Creature wherein two natures are conioined is compounded of Imitation and Allegorie with the one she allureth vnto her the mindes and eares of men and maruellously delighteth them with the other either in vertue or knowledge she instructeth them And as the heroically written Imitation of an Other is nothing else but the patterne and image of humane action so the Allegorie of an Heroicall Poeme is none other than the glasse and figure of humane life But Imitation regardeth the Actions of man subiected to the outward senses and about them being principally imployed seeketh to represent them with effectuall and expressiue phrases such as liuely set before our corporall eies the things represented It doth not consider the customes affections or discourses of the Minde as they be inward but onely as they come forth thence and being manifested in words in deedes or working doe accompanie the Action On the other side Allegorie respecteth the passions the opinions and customes not onely as they doe appeare but principally in their being hidden inward and more obscurely doth expresse them with notes as a man may say misticall such as only the vnderstanders of the nature of things can fully comprehend Now leauing Imitation apart we will according to our purpose speake of Allegorie which as the life of man is compound so it represents to vs sometime the figure of the one sometime the figure of the other yet because that commonly by Man we vnderstand this compound of the bodie soule or minde and then mans life is said to be that which of such compound is proper in the operations whereof euerie part thereof concurres and by working gets that perfection of the which by her nature she is capable sometime although more seldome by Man is vnderstood not the compound but the most noble part namely the Minde According to this last signification it may be said that the life of man is Contemplatiue and to worke simplie with the Vnderstanding forasmuch as this life doth seeme much to participate of heauen and as it were changde from humanitie to become angelicall Of the life of the Contemplatiue Man the Comedie of Dante 's and the Odyssees are as it were in euerie part thereof a figure but the ciuill life is seene to be shadowed throughout the Iliads and Aeneids also although in this there be rather set out a mixture of Action and Contemplation But since the Contemplatiue Man is solitarie and the Man of Action liueth in ciuill companie thence it commeth that Dante 's Ulysses in their departure from Calipse are fained not to be accompanied of the armie or of a multitude of soldiers but to depart alone whereas Agamemnon and Achilles are described the one Generall of the Grecian Armie the other leader of many troupes of Mirmidons and Aeneas is seene to be accompanied when he fighteth or doth other ciuill actes but when he goeth to hell and the Elisian fields he leaues his followers accompanied onely with his most faithfull friend Achates who neuer departed from his side Neither doth the Poet at randon faine that he went alone for that in his voiage there is signified this onely Contemplation of these paines and rewardes which in another world are reserued for good or guiltie soules Moreouer the operation of the Vnderstanding speculatiue which is the working of one only power is commodiously figured vnto vs by the action of one alone but the Operation Politicall which proceedeth together from the other powers of the minde which are as citizens vnited in one common-wealth cannot so commodiously be shadowed of Action wherein many together and to one end working doe not concurre To these reasons and to these examples I hauing regarde haue made the Allegorie of my Poem such as now shall be manifested The Army compounded of diuers Princes and of other Christian souldiers signifieth Man compounded of soule and bodie and of a soule not simple but diuided into many and diuers powers Ierusalem the strong citie placed in a rough and hilly countrey whereunto as to the last ende are directed all the enterprises of the faithfull armie doth here signifie the Ciuill happines which may come to a Christian man as hereafter shall be declared which is a good verie difficult to attaine vnto and situated vpon the top of the Alpine and wearisome hill of virtue and vnto this are turned as vnto the last marke all the Actions of the politicke man Godfrey which of all the assembly is chosen Chieftaine stands for Vnderstanding particularly for that vnderstanding which considereth not the things necessarie but the mutable and which may diuersly happen those by the wil of God And of Princes he is chose Captaine of this enterprise because vnderstanding is of God and of Nature made Lord ouer the other virtues of the soule and bodie and commaunds these one with ciuill power the other with roiall command Rinaldo Tancredie and the other Princes are in liew of the other powers of the soule and the Bodie here becomes notified by the souldiers lesse noble And because that through the imperfection of humaine nature and by the deceits of his enemy man attaines not this felicitie without many inward difficulties and without finding by the way many outward impediments all these are noted vnto vs by Poeticall figures As the death of Syrenus and his companions not being ioined to the campe but slaine farre off may here shew the losses which a ciuill man hath of his friends followers and other externall goods instruments of vertue aids to the attaining of true felicitie The armies of Affricke Asia and vnluckly battels are none other than his enemies his losses and the accidents of contrarie fortune But comming to the inward impediments loue which maketh Tancredie and the
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
the helme and pearse the seuenfold targe The troope by Dudon led perform'd no lesse But in they come and giue a furious charge Argantes selfe feld at one single blow Inglorious bleeding lay on earth full low 42 Nor had the boaster euer risen more But that Rinaldoes horse eu'n then downe fell And with the fall his leg opprest so sore That for a space there must he algates dwell Meane-while the Pagan troopes were nie forlore Swiftly they fled glad they escapt so well Argantes and with him Clorinda stout For banke and bulwarke seru'd to saue the rout 43 These fled the last and with their force sustained The Christians rage that follow'd them so neare Their scattred troopes to safetie well they trained And while the res'due fled the brunt these beare Dudon pursu'd the victorie he gained And on Tigranes nobly broke his speare Then with his sword headlesse to ground him cast So gard'ners branches lop that spring too fast 44 Algazers breast-plate of fine temper made Nor Corbans helmet forg'd by magike art Could saue their owners for Lord Dudons blade Cleft Corbans head and pearst Algazers hart And their proud soules downe to th' infernall shade From Amurath and Mahomet depart Nor strong Argantes thought his life was sure He could not safely flie nor fight secure 45 The angrie Pagan bit his lips for teene He ran he staid he fled he turn'd againe Vntill at last vnmarkt vnuiew'd vnseene When Dudon had Almansor newly slaine Within his side he sheath'd his weapon keene Downe fell the Worthie on the dustie plaine And lifted vp his feeble eies vneath Opprest with leaden sleepe of iron death 46 Three times he stroue to view heau'ns golden ray And rais'd him on his feeble elbow thries And thrise he tumbled on the lowly lay And three times clos'd againe his dying eies He speakes no word yet makes he signes to pray He sighes he faints he grones and then he dies Argantes proud to spoile the corps disdain'd But shooke his sword with blood of Dudon stain'd 47 And turning to the Christian knights he cride Lordings behold this bloodie reeking blade Last night was giuen me by your noble guide Tell him what proofe thereof this day is made Needs must this please him well that is betide That I so well can vse this martiall trade To whom so rare a gift he did present Tell him the workman fits the instrument 48 If further proofe hereof he long to see Say it still thirsts and would his hart blood drinke And if he haste not to encounter mee Say I will finde him when he least doth thinke The Christians at his words enraged bee But he to shun their ire doth safely shrinke Vnder the shelter of the neighbour wall Well guarded with his troopes and soldiers all 49 Like stormes of haile the stones fell downe from hie Cast from the bulwarks flankers ports and towres The shafts and quarries from their engins flie As thicke as falling drops in Aprill showres The French withdrew they list not prease too nie The Sarrasins escaped all the powres But now Rinaldo from the earth vp lept Where by the leg his steed had long him kept 50 He came and breathed vengeance from his brest Gainst him that noble Dudon late had slaine And being come thus spake he to the rest Warriours why stand you gazing here in vaine Pale death our valiant leader hath opprest Come wreake his losse whom bootlesse you complaine These walles are weake they keepe but cowards out No rampier can withstand a courage stout 51 Of double iron brasse or adamant Or if this wall were built of flaming fire Yet should the Pagan vile a fortresse want To shrowd his coward head safe from mine ire Come follow then and bid base feare auant The harder worke deserues the greater hire And with that word close to the walles he starts Nor feares he arrowes quarries stones or darts 52 Aboue the waues as Neptune lift his eies To chide the windes that Troian ships opprest And with his count nance calin'd seas windes and skies So lookt Rinaldo when he shooke his crest Before those walles each Pagan feares and flies His dreadfull sight or trembling staid at lest Such dread his awfull visage on them cast So seeme poore doues at goshaukes sight agast 53 The herald Sigiere now from Godfrey came To will them stay and calme their courage hot Retire quoth he Godfrey commands the same To wreake your ire this season fitteth not Though loth Rinaldo staid and stopt the flame That boyled in his hardie stomacke hot His bridled furie grew thereby more fell So riuers stopt aboue their banks doe swell 54 The bands retire not dang'red by their foes In their retrait so wise were they and warie To murdred Dudon each lamenting goes From wonted vse of ruth they list not varie Vpon their friendly armes they soft impose The noble burden of his corps to carie Meane-while Godfredo from a mountaine great Beheld the sacred cittie and her seat 55 Hierusalem is seated on two hils Of height vnlike and turned side to side The space betweene a gentle valley fils From mount to mount expansed faire and wide Three sides are sure imbard with crags and hils The rest is easie scant to rise espide But mightie bulwarks fence that plainer part So art helpes nature nature strength'neth art 56 The towne is stor'd of troughes and cestrens made To keepe fresh water but the countrie seames Deuoid of grasse vnfit for plowmens trade Not fertill moist with riuers wels and streames There grow few trees to make the sommers shade To shield the parched land from scorching beames Saue that a wood stands sixe mile from the towne With aged Cedars darke and shadowes browne 57 By East among the dustie valleis glide The siluer streames of Iordans christall flood By West the midland sea with bounders tide Of sandie shores where Ioppa whilome stood By North Samaria stands and on that side The golden calfe was rear'd in Bethel wood Bethleem by South where Christ incarnate was A pearle in steele a diamond set in brasse 58 While thus the Duke on euery side descried The cities strength the walles and gates about And saw where least the same was fortified Where weakest seem'd the walles to keepe him out Erminia as he armed rode him spied And thus bespake the heathen tyrant stout See Godfrey there in purple clad and gold His stately port and princely looke behold 59 Well seemes he borne to be with honour crown'd So well the lore he knowes of regiment Peerelesse in fight in counsell graue and sound The double gift of glorie excellent Among these armies is no warriour found Grauer in speech bolder in Turnament Raimond pardie in counsell match him might Tancred and yong Rinaldo like in fight 60 To whom the king he likes me well therefore I knew him whilome in the court of France When I from Egypt went Ambassadore I saw him there breake many a sturdie lance And yet
paine Else if I proue seuere both you be blamed That force my gentle nature gainst my thought To rigor least our lawes returne to nought 57 Lord Guelpho answered thus what hart can beare Such slanders false deuis'd by hate and spight Or with staid patience reproches heare And not reuenge by battaile and by fight The Norway Prince hath bought his follie deare But who with words could stay the angrie knight A foole is he that comes to preach or prate When men with swords their right and wrong debate 58 And where you wish he should himselfe submit To heare the censure of your vpright lawes Alas that cannot be for he is flit Out of this campe withouten stay or pause There take my gage behold I offer it To him that first accus'd him in this cause Or any else that dare and will maintaine That for his pride the Prince was iustly slaine 59 I say with reason Lord Gernandos pride He hath abated if he haue offended Gainst your commands who are his Lord and guide Oh pardon him that fault shall be amended If he be gone quoth Godfrey let him ride And braule elsewhere here let all strife be ended And you Lord Guelpho for your nephewes sake Breed vs no new nor quarrels old awake 60 This while the faire and false Armida striued To get her promist aide in sure possession The day to end with endlesse plaint she driued Wit beautie craft for her made intercession But when the earth was once of light depriued And westren seas felt Titans hot impression Twixt two old knights and matrons twaine she went Where pitched was her faire and curious tent 61 But this false Queene of craft and slie inuention Whose lookes loues arrowes were whose eies his quiuers Whose beautie matchlesse free from reprehension A wonder left by heau'n to after liuers Among the Christian Lords had bred contention Who first should quench his flames in Cupids riuers With all her weapons and her darts rehersed Had not Godfredos constant bosome persed 62 To change his modest thought the dame procureth And profreth heapes of loues entising treasure But as the faulcon newly gorg'd endureth Her keeper lure her oft but comes at leasure So he whom fulnesse of delight assureth What long repentance comes of loues short pleasure Her crafts her artes her selfe and all despiseth So base affections fall when vertue riseth 63 And not one foot his stedfast foot was moued Out of that heau'nly path wherein he paced Yet thousand wiles and thousand waies she proued To haue that castle faire of goodnes raced She vs'd those lookes and smiles that most behoued To melt the frost which his hard hart imbraced And gainst his brest a thousand shot she ventred Yet was the fort so strong it was not entred 64 The Dame who thought that one blinke of her eie Could make the chastest hart feele loues sweet paine Oh how her pride abated was hereby When all her sleights were voide her crafts were vaine Some other where she would her forces trie Where at more ease she might more vantage gaine As tired soldiers whom some fort keepes out Thence raise their siege and spoile the townes about 65 But yet alwaies the wilie witch could finde Could not Tancredres hart to loue-ward moue His sailes were filled with another winde He list no blast of new affection proue For as one poison doth exclude by kinde Anothers force so loue excludeth loue These two alone nor more nor lesse the Dame Could win the rest all burnt in her sweet flame 66 The Princesse though her purpose would not frame As late she hoped and as still she would Yet for the Lords and knights of greatest name Became her pray as earst you heard it told She thought ere truth-reuealing time or fame Bewraid her act to lead them to some hold Where chains bands she meant to make them proue Compos'd by Vulcan not by gentle loue 67 The time prefixt at length was come and past Which Godfrey had set downe to lend her aid When at his feet her selfe to earth she cast The howre is come my Lord she humbly said And if the tyrant haply heare at last His banisht neece hath your assistance praid He will in armes to saue his kingdome rise So shall we harder make this enterprise 68 Before report can bring the tyrant newes Or his espials certifie their king O let thy goodnes these few champions chuse That to her kingdome should thy handmaid bring Who except heauen to aide the right refuse Recouer shall her crowne from whence shall spring Thy profit for betide thee peace or war Thine all her cities all her subiects ar 69 The captaine sage the damsell faire assured His word was past and should not be recanted And she with sweet and humble grace endured To let him point those ten which late he granted But to be one each one sought and procured No suit entreatie intercession wanted Their enuie each at others loue exceeded And all importunate made more than needed 70 She that well saw the secret of their harts And knew how best to warme them in their blood Against them threw the cursed poyson'd darts Of iealousie and griefe at others good For loue she wist was weake without those arts And slow for iealousie is Cupids food For the swift steed runs not so fast alone As when some straine some striue him to outgone 71 Her words in such alluring sort she framed Her lookes entising and her wowing smiles That euerie one his fellowes fauours blamed That of their mistris he receiu'd erewhiles This foolish crew of louers vnashamed Mad with the poyson of her secret wiles Ran forward still in this disordred sort Nor could Godfredoes bridle raine them short 72 He that would satisfie each good desire Withouten partiall loue of euerie knight Although he sweld with shame with griefe and ire To see these follies and these fashions light Yet since by no aduice they would retire Another way he sought to set them right Write all your names quoth he and see whom chance Of lot to this exploit will first aduance 73 Their names were writ and in a helmet shaken While each did fortunes grace and aid implore At last they drew them and the formost taken The Earle of Pembrooke was Artimidore Doubtlesse the Countie thought his bread well baken Next Gerrard follow'd then with tresses hore Old Wenceslaus that felt Cupids rage Now in his doting and his dying age 74 Oh how contentment in their foreheads shined Their lookes with ioy thoughts sweld with secret pleasure These three it seemed good successe defined To make the Lords of loue and beauties treasure Their doubtfull fellowes at their hap repined And with small patience wait fortunes leasure Vpon his lips that red the scrowles attending As if their liues were on his words depending 75 Guascar the fourth Ridolpho him succeedes Then Vldericke whom loue list so aduance Lord William of Ronciglion next he reedes Then Eberard
shed 20 You happie trees for euer keepe quoth shee This wofull storie in your tender rinde Another day vnder your shade may bee Will come to rest againe some louer kinde Who if these trophies of my greefes he see Shall feele deere pitie pearse his gentle minde With that she sigh'd and said too late I prooue There is no troath in fortune trust in loue 21 Yet may it be if gracious heau'ns attend The earnest suit of a distressed wight At my entreat they will vouchsafe to send To these huge desarts that vnthankfull knight That when to earth the man his eies shall bend And sees my graue my tombe and ashes light My wofull death his stubborne hart may moue With teares and sorrowes to reward my loue 22 So though my life hath most vnhappie beene At least yet shall my spirit dead be blest My ashes cold shall buried on this greene Enioy that good this bodie nere possest Thus she complained to the senselesse treene Floods in her eies and fires were in her brest But he for whom these streames of teares she shed Wandred far off alas as chance him led 23 He follow'd on the footsteps he had traced Till in high woods and forrests old he came Where bushes thornes and trees so thicke were placed And so obscure the shadowes of the same That soone he lost the tract wherein he paced Yet went he on which way he could not ame But still attentiue was his longing eare If noise of horse or noise of armes he heare 24 If with the breathing of the gentle winde An aspen leafe but shaked on the tree If bird or beast stird in the bushes blinde Thither he spurr'd thither he rode to see Out of the wood by Cinthiaes fauour kinde At last with trauaile great and paines got hee And following on a little path he hard A rumbling sound and hasted thitherward 25 It was a fountaine from the liuing stone That powred downe cleree streames in noble store Whose conduit pipes vnited all in one Throughout a rockie chanell gastly rore Here Tancred staid and call'd yet answer'd none Saue babbling Eccho from the crooked shore And there the wearie knight at last espies The springing day-light red and white arise 26 He sighed sore and guiltlesse heau'n gan blame That wisht successe to his desires denide And sharpe reuenge protested for the same If ought but good his mistresse faire betide Than wisht he to returne the way he came Although he wist not by what path to ride And time drew nere when he againe must fight With proud Argantes that vaine-glorious knight 27 His stalworth steed the champion stout bestroad And pricked fast to finde the way he lost But through a valley as he musing road He saw a man that seem'd for haste a post His horne was hung betweene his shoulders broad As is the guise with vs Tacredie crost His way and gently praid the man to say To Godfreys campe how he should finde the way 28 Sir in the Italian language answer'd hee I ride where noble Boemond hath me sent The Prince thought this his vncles man should bee And after him his course with speed he bent A fortresse stately built at last they see Bout which a muddie stinking lake there went There they arriu'd when Titan went to rest His wearie lims in nights vntroubled nest 29 The currer gaue the fort a warning blast The draw-bridge was let downe by them within If thou a Christian be quoth he thou mast Till Phebus shine againe here take thine Inne The Countie of Cosenza three daies past This castle from the Turks did nobly winne The Prince beheld the piece which scite and art Impregnable had made on euery part 30 He fear'd within a pile so fortified Some secret treason or enchantment lay But had he knowne euen there he should haue died Yet should his lookes no signe of feare bewray For where so euer will or chance him guied His strong victorious hand still made him way Yet for the combat he must shortly make No new aduentures list he vndertake 31 Before the castle in a medow plaine Beside the bridges end he staid and stood Nor was entreated by the speeches vaine Of his false guide to passe beyond the flood Vpon the bridge appear'd a warlike swaine From top to toe all clad in armour good Who brandishing a broad and cutting sword Thus threat'ned death with many an idle word 32 O thou whom chance or will brings to the soile Where faire Armida doth the scepter guide Thou canst not flie of armes thy selfe despoile And let thy hands with iron chaines be tide Enter and rest thee from thy wearie toile Within this dungeon shalt thou safe abide And neuer hope againe to see the day Or that thy haire for age shall turne to gray 33 Except thou sweare her valiant knights to aid Against those traitors of the Christian crew Tancred at this discourse a little staid His armes his gesture and his voice he knew It was Rambaldo who for that false maid Forsooke his countrie and religion trew And of that fort defender chiefe became And those vile customes stablisht in the same 34 The warrior answer'd blushing red for shame Cursed Apostate and vngracious wight I am that Tancred who defend the name Of Christ and haue beene ay his faithfull knight His rebell foes can I subdue and tame As thou shalt finde before we end this fight And thy false hart cleft with this vengefull sword Shall feele the ire of thy forsaken Lord. 35 When that great name Rambaldoes eares did fill He shooke for feare and looked pale for dread Yet proudly said Tancred thy hap was ill To wander hither where thou art but dead Where nought can helpe thy courage strength and skill To Godfrey will I send thy cursed head That he may see how for Armidaes sake Of him and of his Christ a scorne I make 36 This said the day to sable night was turned That scant one could anothers armes descrie But soone an hundreth lampes and torches burned That cleared all the earth and all the skie The castell seem'd a stage with lights adorned On which men play some pompous tragedie Within a tarras sat on high the Queene And heard and saw and kept her selfe vnseene 37 The noble Baron whet his courage hot And buskt him boldly to the dreadfull fight Vpon his horse long while he taried not Bicause on foot he saw the Pagan knight Who vnderneath his trustie sheeld was got His sword was drawne clos'd was his helmet bright Gainst whom the Prince marcht on a stately pace Wrath in his voice rage in his eies and face 38 His foe his furious charge not well abiding Trauerst his ground and started here and there But he though faint and wearie both with riding Yet followed fast and still opprest him nere And on what side he felt Rambaldo sliding On that his forces most imployed were Now at his helme now at his hawberke bright He
thundred blowes now at his face and sight 39 Against those members battrie chiefe he maketh Wherein mans life keepes chiefest residence At his proud threats the Gascoigne warriour quaketh An vncouth feare appalled euery sence To nimble shifts the knight himselfe betaketh And skippeth here and there for his defence Now with his targe now with his trustie blade Against his blowes he good resistance made 40 Yet no such quicknesse for defenee he vsed As did the Prince to worke him harme and scath His sheeld was cleft in twaine his helmet brused And in his blood his other armes did bath On him he heaped blowes with thrusts confused And more or lesse each stroke annoy'd him hath He fear'd and in his troubled bosome stroue Remorse of conscience shame disdaine and loue 41 At last so carelesse foule despaire him made He ment to proue his fortune ill or good His shield cast downe he tooke his helplesse blade In both his hands which yet had drawne no blood And with such force vpon the Prince he lade That neither plate nor maile the blow withstood The wicked steele seaz'd deepe in his right side And with his streaming blood his bases dide 42 Another stroke he lent him on the brow So great that lowdly roong the sounding steele Yet pearst he not the helmet with the blow Although the owner twise or thrise did reele The Prince whose lookes his sdainfull anger show Now meant to vse his puissance euery deele He shakt his head and crasht his teeth for ire His lips breath'd wrath eies sparkled shining fire 43 The Pagan wretch no longer could sustaine The dreadfull terror of his fierce aspect Against the threat'ned blow he saw right plaine No tempred armour could his life protect He leapt aside the stroke fell downe in vaine Against a pillour neere the bridge erect Thence flaming fire and thousand sparks out start And kill with feare the coward Pagans hart 44 Toward the bridge the fearefull Painim fled And in swift flight his hope of life reposed Himselfe fast after Lord Tancredie sped And now in equall pace almost they closed When all the burning lampes extinguished The shining fort his goodly splendute losed And all those stars on heau'ns blew face that shone With Cinthiaes selfe dispeared were and gone 45 Amid those witchcrafts and that ouglie shade No further could the Prince pursue the chace Nothing he saw yet forward still he made With doubtfull steps and ill assured pace At last his foot vpon a threshold trade And ere he wist he entred had the place With gastly noise the doore leaues shut behinde And clos'd him fast in prison darke and blinde 46 As in our seas in the Commachian bay A seelie fish with streames enclosed striueth To shun the furie and auoid the sway Wherewith the currant in that whirlepoole driueth Yet seeketh all in vaine but findes no way Out of that watrie prison where she diueth For with such force there be the tides in brought There entreth all that will thence issueth nought 47 This prison so entrapt that valiant knight Of which the gate was fram'd by subtile traine To close without the helpe of humane wight So sure none could vndoe the leaues againe Against the doores he bended all his might But all his forces were imploy'd in vaine At last a voice gan to him lowdly call Yeeld thee quoth it thou art Armidaes thrall 48 Within this dungeon buried shalt thou spend The res'due of thy wofull daies and yeares The champion list not more with words contend But in his hart kept close his griefes and feares He blamed loue chance gan he reprehend And gainst enchantment huge complaints he reares It were small losse softly he thus begunne To lose the brightnes of the shining sunne 49 But I alas the golden beame forgoe Of my far brighter sunne nor can I say If these poore eies shall ere be blessed soe As once againe to vew that shining ray Then thought he on his proud Circassian foe And said ah how shall I performe that fray He and the world with him will Tancred blamē This is my griefe my fault mine endlesse shame 50 While those high spirits of this champion good With loue and honours care are thus opprest While he torments himselfe Argantes wood Waxt wearie of his bed and of his rest Such hate of peace and such desire of blood Such thirst of glorie boiled in his brest That though he scant could stir or stand vpright Yet long'd he for th' appointed day to fight 51 The night which that expected day fore-went Scantly the Pagan clos'd his eies to sleepe He told how night her sliding howers spent And rose ere springing day began to peepe He call'd for armour which incontinent Was brought by him that vs'd the same to keepe That harnesse rich old Aladine him gaue A worthie present for a champion braue 52 He dond them on nor loug their riches eied Nor did he ought with so great weight incline His wonted sword vpon his thigh he tied The blade was old and tough of temper fine As when a comet far and wide descried In scorne of Phebus midst bright hean'n doth shine And tidings sad of death and mischiefe brings To mightie Lords to monarches and to kings 53 So shone the Pagan in bright armour clad And roll'd his eies great swolne with ire and blood His dreadfull gestures threat'ned horror sad And ouglie death vpon his forehead stood Not one of all his squires the courage had T' approch their maister in his angrie mood Aboue his head he shooke his naked blade And gainst the subtile aire vaine battaile made 54 That Christian theefe quoth he that was so bold To combat me in hard and single fight Shall wounded fall inglorious on the mold His locks with clods of blood and dust bedight And liuing shall with watrie eies behold How from his backe I teare his harnesse bright Nor shall his dying words me so entreat But that I le giue his flesh to dogs for meat 55 Like as a bull when prickt with iealousie He spies the riuall of his hot desire Through all the fields doth bellow rore and crie And with his thund'ring voice augments his ire And threat'ning battaile to the emptie skie Teares with his horne each tree plant bush and brire And with his foot casts vp the sand on hight Defying his strong foe to deadly fight 56 Such was the Pagans furie such his crie An herald call'd he than and thus he spake Goe to the campe and in my name defie The man that combats for his Iesus sake This said vpon his steed he mounted hie And with him did his noble pris'ner take The towne he thus forsooke and on the greene He ran as mad or franticke he had beene 57 A bugle small he winded lowd and shrill That made resound the fields and valleis neare Lowder than thunder from Olimpus hill Seemed that dreadfull blast to all that heare The Christian Lords of prowesse strength
seed so from the fruitfull winde And thus conceauing of the gentle blast A wonder strange and rare she foales at last 77 And had you seene the beast you would haue said The light and subtill winde his father was For if his course vpon the sands he maid No signe was left what way the beast did pas Or if he menag'd were or if he plaid He scantly bended downe the tender gras Thus mounted rode the Earle and as he went Thus prai'd to heau'n his zealous lookes vp bent 78 O Lord that diddest saue keepe and defend Thy seruant Dauid from Golias rage And broughtest that huge giant to his end Slaine by a faithfull childe of tender age Like grace O Lord like mercie now extend Let me this vile blasphemous pride asswage That all the world may to thy glorie know Old men and babes thy foes can ouerthrow 79 Thus prai'd the Countie and his praiers deare Strength'ned with zeale with godlines and faith Before the throne of that great Lord appeare In whose sweet grace is life death in his wraith Among his armies bright and legions cleare The Lord an angell good selected haith To whom the charge was giuen to garde the knight And keepe him safe from that fierce Pagans might 80 The angell good appointed for the guard Of noble Raimond from his tender eild That kept him than and kept him afterward When speare and sword he able was to weild Now when his great creators will he hard That in this fight he should him chiefly sheild Vp to a towre set on a rocke he flies Where all the heau'nly armes and weapons lies 81 There stands the lance wherewith great Michael slew The aged dragon in a bloodie fight There are the dreadfull thunders forged new With stormes and plagues that on poore sinners light The massie trident maist thou pendant vew There on a golden pinne hung vp on hight Wherewith sometimes he smites this solid land And throwes down towns towres theron which stand 82 Among the blessed weapons there which stands Vpon a diamond shield his lookes he bended So great that it might couer all the lands Twixt Caucasus and Atlas hils extended With it the Lords deere flocks and faithfull bands The holy kings and cities are defended The sacred Angell tooke this target sheene And by the Christian champion stood vnseene 83 But now the walles and turrets round about Both yong and old with many thousands fill The king Clorinda sent and her braue rout To keepe the field she staid vpon the hill Godfrey likewise some Christian bands sent out Which arm'd and rankt in good aray stood still And to their champions emptie let remaine Twixt either troope a large and spacious plaine 84 Argantes looked for Tancredie bold But saw an vncouth foe at last appeare Raimond rode on and what he askt him told Better thy chance Tancred is now else-wheare Yet glorie not of that my selfe behold Am come prepar'd and bid thee battaile heare And in his place or for my selfe to fight Loe here I am who scorne thy heath'nish might 85 The Pagan cast a scornefull smile and said But where is Tancred is he still in bed His lookes late seem'd to make high heau'n affraid But now for dread he is or dead or fled But were earthes center or the deepe sea maid His lurking hole it should not saue his hed Thou liest he saies to say so braue a knight Is fled from thee who thee exceedes in might 86 The angrie Pagan said I haue not spilt My labour then if thou his place supplie Goe take the field and le ts see how thou wilt Maintaine thy foolish words and that braue lie Thus parled they to meet in equall tilt Each tooke his aime at others helme on hie Eu'n in the sight his foe good Raimond hit But shakt him not he did so firmely sit 87 The fierce Circassian missed of his blowe A thing which seld befell the man before The angell by vnseene his forced did knowe And far awrie the poinant weapon bore He burst his lance against the sand belowe And bit his lips for rage and curst and swore Against his foe return'd he swift as winde Halfe mad in armes a second match to finde 88 Like to a ram that buttes with horned head So spurr'd he forth his horse with desp'rate race Raimond at his right hand let slide his stead And as he past strooke at the Pagans face He turn'd againe the Earle nothing dread Yet stept aside and to his rage gaue place And on his helme with all his strength gan smite Which was so hard his courtlax could not bite 89 The Sarracine imploi'd his art and force To gripe his foe within his mightie armes But he auoided nimbly with his horse He was no prentise in those fierce allarmes About him made he many a winding corse No strength no sleight the subtile warriour harmes His nimble steed obeid his ready hand And where he stept no print left in the sand 90 As when a captaine doth besiege some hold Set in a marish or high on a hill And trieth waies and wiles a thousand fold To bring the piece subiected to his will So far'd the Countie with the Pagan bold And when he did his head and brest none ill His weaker partes he wisely gan assaile And entrance searched oft twixt maile and maile 91 At last he hit him on a place or twaine That on his armes the red blood trickled downe And yet himselfe vntouched did remaine No naile was broke no plume cut from his crowne Argantes raging spent his strength in vaine Waste were his strokes his thrusts were idle throwne Yet preas'd he on and doubled still his blowes And where he hits he neither cares nor knowes 92 Among a thousand blowes the Sarracine At last stroake one when Raymond was so neare That not the swiftnes of his Aquiline Could his deere Lord from that huge danger beare But loe at hand vnseene was helpe diuine Which saues when worldly comforts none appeare The angell on his targe receiu'd that stroke And on that shield Argantes sword was broke 93 The sword was broke therein no wonder lies If earthly tempred mettall could not hold Against that target forg'd aboue the skies Downe fell the blade in peeces on the mold The proud Circassian scant beleeu'd his eies Though nought were left him but the hilts of gold And full of thoughts amaz'd a while he stood Wondring the Christians armour was so good 94 The brittle web of that rich sword he thought Was broke through hardnes of the Counties sheeld And so thought Raimond who discou'red nought What succour heau'n did for his safetie yeeld But when he saw the man gainst whom he fought Vnweaponed still stood he in the feeld His noble hart esteem'd the glorie light At such aduantage if he slew the knight 95 Goe fetch he would haue said another blade When in his hart a better thought arose How for Christes glorie he was
ease and safe retired Yet coward dread lacks order feare wants art Deafe to attend commanded or desired But Godfrey that perceiu'd in his wise hart How his bold knights to victorie aspired Fresh soldiers sent to make more quicke pursuit And helpe to gather conquests pretious fruit 115 But this alas was not th' appointed day Set downe by heau'n to end this mortall war The westren Lords this time had borne away The prise for which they trauail'd had so far Had not the diuels that saw the sure decay Of their faise kingdome by this bloodie war At once made heau'n and earth with darknes blinde And stird vp tempests stormes and blustring winde 116 Heau'ns glorious lampe wrapt in an ouglie vaile Of shadowes darke was hid from mortall eie And hels grim blacknes did bright skies assaile On euerie side the fierie light'nings flie The thunders roare the streaming raine and haile Powre downe and make that sea which earst was drie The tempests rend the Oakes and Cedars brake And make not trees but rocks and mountaines shake 117 The raine the lightning and the raging winde Bet in the French-mens eies with hideous force The soldiers staid amaz'd in hart and minde The terror such stopped both man and horse Surprised with this euill no way they finde Whither for succour to direct their corse But wise Clorinda soone th' aduantage spied And spurring forth thus to her soldiers cried 118 You hardie men at armes behold quoth shee How heau'n how iustice in our aide doth fight Our visages are from this tempest free Our hands at will may weild our weapons bright The furie of this friendly storme you see Vpon the foreheads of our foes doth light And blindes their eies then let vs take the tide Come follow me good fortune be our guide 119 This said against her foes on rode the Dame And turn'd their backs against the winde and raine Vpon the French with furious rage she came And scorn'd those idle blowes they stroke in vaine Argantes at the instant did the same And them who chased him now chas'd againe Nought but his fearefull backe each Christian showes Against the tempest and against their blowes 120 The cruell haile and deadly wounding blade Vpon their shoulders smote them as they fled The blood new spilt while thus they slaughter made The water falne from skies had died red Among the murdred bodies Pyrrhus lade And valiant Raiphe his hart blood there out bled The first subdu'd by strong Argantes might The second conqu'red by that virgin knight 121 Thus fled the French and them pursu'd in chace The wicked sprites and all the Syrian traine But gainst their force and gainst the fell menace Of haile and winde of tempest and of raine Godfrey alone turn'd his audacious face Blaming his Barons for their feare so vaine Himselfe the campe gate boldly stood to keepe And sau'd his men within his trenches deepe 122 And twise vpon Argantes proud he flew And beat him backward maugre all his might And twise his thirstie sword he did imbrew In Pagans blood where thickest was the fight At last himselfe with all his folke withdrew And that daies conquest gaue the virgin bright Which got she home retir'd and all her men And thus she chas'd this lion to his den 123 Yet ceased not the furie and the ire Of these huge stormes of winde of raine and haile Now was it darke now shone the light'ning fire The winde and water euery place assaile No banke was safe no rampire left intire No tent could stand when beame and cordage faile Winde thunder raine all gaue a dreadfull sound And with that musicke deaft the trembling ground The eight Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument Amessenger to Godfrey sage doth tell The Prince of Denmarks valour death and end Th' Italians trusting signes vntrue too well Thinke their Rinaldo slaine the wicked fend Breedes furie in their brests their bosomes swell With ire and hate and war and strife forth send They threaten Godfrey he praies to the Lord And calmes their furie with his looke and word 1 NOw were the skies of stormes and tempests cleered Lord AEolus shut vp his windes in hold The siluer mantled morning fresh appeared With roses crown'd and buskind high with gold The spirits yet which had these tempests reared Their malice would still more and more vnfold And one of them that Astragor was named His speeches thus to foule Alecto framed 2 Alecto see we could not stop nor stay The knight that to our foes new tidings brings Who from the hands escapt with life away Of that great Prince chiefe of all Pagan kings He comes the fall of his slaine Lord to say Of death and losse he tels and such sad things Great newes he brings and greatest danger is Bertoldoes sonne shall be call'd home for this 3 Thou know'st what would befall bestir thee than Preuent with craft what force could not withstand Turne to their euill the speeches of the man With his owne weapon wound Godfredoes hand Kindle debate infect with poyson wan The English Switzer and Italian band Great tumults moue make braules and quarrels rife Set all the campe on vprore and at strife 4 This act beseemes thee well and of the deed Much maist thou boast before our Lord and king Thus said the sprite perswasion small did need The monster grants to vndertake the thing Meane-while the knight whose comming thus they dreed Before the campe his wearie lims doth bring And well nie breathlesse warriors bold he cride Who shall conduct me to your famous guide 5 An hundreth stroue the strangers guide to bee To harken newes the knights by heapes assemble The man fell lowly downe vpon his knee And kist the hand that made proud Babel tremble Right puissant Lord whose valiant actes quoth hee The sands and starres in number best resemble Would God some gladder newes I might vnfold And there he paws'd and sigh'd then thus he told 6 Sweno the king of Denmarks only haire The stay and staffe of his declining eild Longed to be among these squadrons faire Who for Christes faith here serue with speare and sheild No wearinesse no stormes of sea or aire No such contents as crownes and scepters yeild No deere entreaties of so kinde a sire Could in his bosome quench that glorious fire 7 He thirsted sore to learne this warlike art Of thee great Lord and master of the same And was ashamed in his noble hart That neuer act he did deserued fame Besides the newes and tidings from each part Of yong Rinaldoes worth and praises came But that which most his courage stirred haith Is zeale religion godlinesse and faith 8 He hasted forward than without delay And with him tooke of knights a chosen band Directly toward Thrace we tooke the way To Bizance old chiefe fortresse of that land There the Greeke monarch gently praid him stay And there an herald sent from you we fand How Antioch was wonne who first
Circassian bie So from a piece two chained bullets flie 55 Now fled the French men when in luckie howre Arriued Guelpho and his helping band He made them turne against this stormie showre And with bold face their wicked foes withstand Sternly they fought that from their wounds downe powre The streames of blood and ronne on either hand The Lord of heauen meane-while vpon this fight From his hie throne bent downe his gracious sight 56 From whence with grace and goodnes compast round He ruleth blesseth keepeth all he wrought Aboue the aire the fire the sea and ground Our sense our wit our reason and our thought Where persons three with powre and glorie crown'd Are all one God who made all things of nought Vnder whose feete subiected to his grace Sit nature fortune motion time and place 57 This is the place from whence like smoke and dust Of this fraile world the wealth the pompe and powre He tosseth tumbleth turneth as he lust And guides our life our death our end and howre No eie how euer vertuous pure and iust Can vew the brightnes of that glorious bowre On euery side the blessed spirits bee Equall in ioies though diffring in degree 58 With harmonie of their celestiall song The pallace ecchoed from the chambers pure At last he Michael call'd in harnesse strong Of neuer yeelding dimonds armed sure Behold quoth he to doe despite and wrong To that deere flocke my mercie hath in cure How sathan from hels loth some prison sends His ghosts his sorites his furies and his fends 59 Goe bid them all depart and leaue the caire Of war to soldiers as doth best pertaine Bid them forbeare t' infect the earth and aire To darken heau'ns faire light bid them refraine Bid them to Acherons blacke flood repaire Fit house for them the house of greefe and paine There let their king himselfe and them torment So I command goe tell them mine intent 60 This said the winged warriour lowe inclinde At his creators feet with reu'rence dew Then spred his golden feathers to the winde And swift as thought away the angell flew He past the light and shining fire assinde The glorious seat of his selected crew The mouer first and circle Christalline The firmament where fixed stars all shine 61 Vnlike in working than in shape and show At this left hand Saturne he left and Ioue And those vntruly errant call'd I trow Since he erres not who them doth guide and moue The fields he passed then whence haile and snow Thunder and raine fall downe from cloudes aboue Where heat and cold drinesse and moisture striue Whose wars all creatures kill and slaine reuiue 62 The horrid darknes and the shadowes dunne Dispersed he with his eternall wings The flames which from his heau'nly eies outrunne Beguilde the earth and all her sable things After a storme so spreadeth forth the sunne His raies and bindes the cloudes in golden strings Or in the stilnesse of a moone-shine eauen A falling star so glideth downe from heauen 63 But when th' infernall troope he proched neare That still the Pagans ire and rage prouoke The angell on his wings himselfe did beare And shooke his lance and thus at last he spoke Haue you not learned yet to know and feare The Lords iust wrath and thunders dreadfull stroke Or in the torments of your endlesse ill Are you still fierce still proud rebellious still 64 The Lord hath sworne to breake the iron bands The brasen gates of Sions for t which close Who is it that his sacred will withstands Against his wrath who dares himselfe oppose Goe hence you curst to your appointed lands The realmes of death of torments and of woes And in the deepes of that infernall lake Your battailes fight and there your triumphes make 65 There tyrannise vpon the soules you finde Condemn'd to woe and double still their paines Where some complaine where some their teeth doe grinde Some howle and weepe some clinke their iron chaines This said they fled and those that staid behinde With his sharpe lance he driueth and constraines They sighing left the lands his siluer sheepe Where Hesperus doth lead doth feed doth keepe 66 And towards hell their lazie wings display To wreake their malice on the damned gostes The birds that follow Titans hottest ray Passe not by so great flocks to warmer costes Nor leaues by so great numbers fall away When winter nips them with his new-come frostes The earth deliu'red from so foule annoy Recall'd her beautie and resum'd her ioy 67 But not for this in fierce Argantes brest Less'ned the rancour or decai'd the ire Although Alecto left him to infest With the hot brands of her infernall fire His armed head with his sharpe blade he blest And those thicke ranks which seemed most intire He broke the strong the weake the high the low Were equallized by his murdring blow 68 Not far from him amid the blood and dust Heads armes and legs Clorinda strowed wide Her sword through Berengarios brest she thrust Quite through his hart where life doth chiefly bide And that fell blow she stroke so sure and iust That at his backe his blood and life forth glide Euen in the mouth she smote Albinus than And cut in twaine the visage of the man 69 Gerniers right hand she from his arme deuided Whereof but late she had receiu'd a wound The hand his sword still held although not guided The fingers halfe on liue stirt'd on the ground So from a serpent slaine the taile deuided Moues in the grasse rolleth and tumbleth round The Championesse so wounded left the knight And gainst Achilles turn'd her weapon bright 70 Vpon his necke light that vnhappie blowe And cut the sinewes and the throte in twaine The head fell downe vpon the earth belowe And soil'd with dust the visage on the plaine The headlesse trunke a wofull thing to knowe Still in the saddle seated did remaine Vntill his stead that felt the raines at large With leapes and flings that burden did discharge 71 While thus this faire and fierce Bellona slew The westren Lords and put their troopes to flight Gildippes raged mongst the Pagan crew And low in dust laid many a worthie knight Like was their sexe their beautie and their hew Like was their youth their courage and their might Yet fortune would they should the battaile trie Of mightier foes for both were fram'd to die 72 Yet wisht they oft and stroue in vaine to meet So great betwixt them was the prease and throng But hardie Guelpha gainst Clorinda sweet Ventred his sword to worke her harme and wrong And with a cutting blow so did her greet That from her side the blood stream'd downe along But with a thrust an answer sharpe she made And twixt his ribs colour'd some-deale her blade 73 Lord Guelpho stroke againe but hit her not For strong Osmida haply passed bie And not meant him anothers wound he got That cleft his front in twaine aboue 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
visage ran Like his dead Ladie dead seem'd Tancred good In palenesse stilnesse wounds and streames of blood 71 And his weake sprite to be vnbodied From fleshly prison free that ceaselesse striued Had follow'd her faire soule but lately fled Had not a Christian squadron there arriued To seeke fresh water thither haply led And found the Princesse dead and him depriued Of signes of life yet did the knight remaine On liue nigh dead for her himselfe had flaine 72 Their guide far off the Prince knew by his shield And thither hasted full of greefe and feare Her dead him seeming so he there behield And for that strange mishap shed many a teare He would not leaue the corses faire in field For food to wolues though she a Pagan weare But in their armes the soldiers both vphent And both lamenting brought to Tancreds tent 73 With those deere burthens to their campe they passe Yet would not that dead seeming knight awake At last he deepely groan'd which token was His feeble soule had not her flight yet take The other lay a still and heauie masse Her spirit had that earthen cage forsake Thus were they brought and thus they placed weare In sundry roomes yet both adioyning neare 74 All skill and art his carefull seruants vsed To life againe their dying Lord to bring At last his eies vnclos'd with teares suffused He felt their hands and heard their whispering But how he thither came long time he mused His minde astonisht was with euery thing He gaz'd about his squites in fine he knew Then weake and wofull thus his plaints our threw 75 What liue I yet and doe I breathe and see Of this accursed day the hatefull light This spitefull ray which still vpbraideth mee With that accursed deed I did this night Ah coward hand affraid why shouldst thou bee Thou instrument of death shame and despite Why shouldst thou feare with sharp trenchant knife To cut the threed of this blood-guiltie life 76 Pierce through this bosome and my cruell hart In peeces cleaue breake euery string and vaine But thou to slaughters vile which vsed art Think'st it were pitie so to ease my paine Of lucklesse loue therefore in torments smart A sad example must I still remaine A wofull monster of vnhappie loue Who still must liue least death his comfort proue 77 Still must I liue in anguish griefe and caire Furies my guiltie conscience that torment The ougly shades darke night and troubled aire In grisly formes her slaughter still present Madnes and death about my bed repaire Hell gapeth wide to swallow vp this tent Swift from my selfe I ronne my selfe I feare Yet still my hell within my selfe I beare 78 But where alas where be those reliques sweet Wherein dwelt late all loue all ioy all good My furie left them cast in open street Some beast hath torne her flesh and lickt her blood Ah noble pray for sauage beast vnmeet Ah sweet too sweet and far too pretious food Ah seely Nymph whom night and darksome shade To beasts and me far worse than beasts betrade 79 But where you be if still you be I wend To gather vp those reliques deere at least But if some beast hath from the hils descend And on her tender bowels made his feast Let that selfe monster me in peeces rend And deepe entombe me in his hollow cheast For where she buried is there shall I haue A stately tombe a rich and costly graue 80 Thus mourn'd the knight his squires him told at last They had her there for whom those teares he shed A beame of comfort his dim eies out cast Like lightning through thicke cloudes of darknes spred The heauie burthen of his lims in hast With mickle paine he drew forth of his bed And scant of strength to stand to moue or goe Thither he staggred reeling to and froe 81 When he came there and in her brest espide His handiworke that deepe and cruell wound And her sweet face with leaden palenesse dide Where beautie late spred forth her beames around He trembled so that nere his squires beside To hold him vp he had sunke downe to ground And said O face in death still sweet and faire Thou canst not sweeten yet my greefe and caire 82 O faire right hand the pledge of faith and loue Giuen me but late too late in signe of peace How haps it now thou canst not stir nor moue And you deere lims now laid in rest and ease Through which my cruell blade this flood-gate roue Your paines haue end my torments neuer cease O hands O cruell eies accurst alike You gaue the wound you gaue them light to strike 83 But thither now ronne forth my guiltie blood Whither my plaints my sorrowes cannot wend He said no more but as his passion wood Enforced him he gan to teare and rend His haire his face his wounds a purple flood Did from each side in rolling streames descend He had beene slaine but that his paine and woe Bereft his senses and preseru'd him soe 84 Cast on his bed his squires recall'd his spright To execute againe her hatefull charge But tattling fame the sorrowes of the knight And hard mischance had told this while at large Godfrey and all his Lords of worth and might Ran thither and the dutie would discharge Of friendship true and with sweet words the rage Of bitter greefe and woe they would asswage 85 But as a mortall wound the more doth smart The more it searched is handled or sought So their sweete words to his afflicted hart More griefe more anguish paine and torment brought But reuerend Peter that nould set apart Care of his sheepe as a good sheepheard ought His vanitie with graue aduise reprooued And told what mourning Christian knights behooued 86 O Tancred Tancred how farre different From thy beginnings good these follies bee What makes thee deafe what hath thy eiesight blent What mist what cloud thus ouershadeth thee This is a warning good from heau'n downe sent Yet his aduise thou canst not heare nor see Who calleth and conducts thee to the way From which thou willing dost and witting stray 87 To woorthie actions and atchiuements fit For Christian knights he would thee home recall But thou hast left that course and changed it To make thy selfe a heathen damsels thrall But see thy griefe and sorrowes painefull fit Is made the rod to scourge thy sinnes withall Of thine owne good thy selfe the meanes he makes But thou his mercy goodnes grace forsakes 88 Thou dost refuse of heau'n the profred grace And gainst it still rebell with sinfull ire O wretch O whither doth thy rage thee chace Refraine thy griefe bridle thy fond desire At hels wide gate vaine sorrow doth thee place Sorrow misfortunes sonne despaires foule sire O see thine euill thy plaint and woe refraine The guides to death to hell and endlesse paine 89 This said his will to die the patient Abandoned that second death he feared These words
diue and sweet refreshing take 77 So they the streaming showres with showtes and cries Salute which heau'n shed on the thirstie lands The falling liquor from the dropping skies He catcheth in his lap he barehead stands And his bright helme to drinke therein vnties In the fresh streames he diues his sweatie hands Their faces some and some their temples wet And some to keepe the drops large vessels set 78 Nor man alone to ease his burning sore Herein doth diue and wash and hereof drinks But earth it selfe weake feeble faint before Whose solid limmes were cleft with rifts and chinks Receiu'd the falling showres and gathred store Of liquor sweet that through her vaines downe sinks And moisture new infused largely was In trees in plants in herbes in flowres in gras 79 Earth like the patient was whose liuely blood Hath ouercome at last some sicknes strong Whose feeble limmes had been the bait and food Whereon his strange disease depastred long But now restor'd in health and welfare stood As sound as earst as fresh as faire as yong So that forgetting all his griefe and paine His pleasant robes and crownes he takes againe 80 Ceased the raine the sunne began to shine With fruitfull sweet benigne and gentle ray Full of strong powre and vigour masculine As be his beames in Aprill or in May. O happy zeale who trusts in helpe diuine The worlds afflictions thus can driue away Can stormes appease and times and seasons change And conquer fortune fate and dest'nie strange The fourteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument The Lord to Godfrey in a dreame doth shew His will Rinaldo must returne at last They haue their asking who for pardon sew Two knights to finde the Prince are sent in hast But Peter who by vision all foreknew Sendeth the searchers to a wisard plast Deepe in a vault who first at large declares Armidaes traines then how to shun those snanes 1 NOw from the fresh the soft and tender bed Of her still mother gentle night out flew The fleeting baulme on hils and dales she shed With honie drops of pure and pretious dew And on the verdure of greene forrests spred The virgin primrose and the violet blew And sweet breath'd Zephire on his spreading wings Sleepe ease repose rest peace and quiet brings 2 The thoughts and troubles of broad-waking day They softly dipt in milde obliuions lake But he whose Godhead heau'n and earth doth sway In his eternall light did watch and wake And bent on Godfrey downe the gracious ray Of his bright eie still ope for Godfreyes sake To whom a silent dreame the Lord downe sent Which told his will his pleasure and intent 3 Far in the east the golden gate beside Whence Phebus comes a christall port there is And ere the sunne his broad doores open wide The beame of springing day vncloseth this Hence come the dreames by which heau'ns sacred guide Reueales to man those high decrees of his Hence towards Godfrey ere he left his bed A vision strange his golden plumes bespred 4 Such semblances such shapes such purtraites faire Did neuer yet in dreame or sleepe appeare For all the formes in sea in earth or aire The signes in heau'n the stars in euery spheare All what was wondrous vncouth strange and raire All in that vision well presented weare His dreame had plast him in a christall wide Beset with golden fires top bottom side 5 There while he wondreth on the circles vast The stars their motions course and harmonie A knight with shining raies and fire embrast Presents himselfe vnwares before his eie Who with a voice that far for sweetnes past All humaine speech thus said approching nie What Godfrey know'st thou not thy Hugo heere Come and imbrace thy friend and fellow deere 6 He answ'red him that glorious shining light Which in thine eies his glistring beames doth place Estranged hath from my foreknowledge quight Thy countenance thy fauour and thy face This said three times he stretch his hands outright And would in friendly armes the knight embrace And thrice the spirit fled that thrice he twinde Nought in his folded armes but aire and winde 7 Lord Hugo smil'd not as you thinke quoth hee I clothed am in flesh and earthly mould My spirite pure and naked soule you see A Citizen of this celestiall hould This place is heau'n and heere a roome for thee Prepared is among Christs champions bould Ah when quoth he these mortall bonds vnknit Shall I in peace in ease and rest there sit 8 Hugo replide ere many yeeres shall ronne Amid the saints in blisse here shalt thou raine But first great wars must by thy hand be donne Much blood be shed and many Pagans slaine The holy citie by assault be wonne The land set free from seruile yoke againe Wherein thou shalt a Christian Empire frame And after thee shall Baldwine rule the same 9 But to encrease thy loue and great desire To heauen ward this blessed place behould These shining lampes these globes of liuing fire How they are turned guided moou'd and rould The Angels singing here and all their quire Then bend thine eies on yonder earth and mould All in that masse that globe and compasse see Land sea spring fountaine man beast grasse and tree 10 How vile how small and of how slender price Is there reward of goodnesse vertues gaine A narrow roome our glorie vaine vp-ties A little circle doth our pride containe Earth like an Isle amid the water lies Which sea sometime is call'd sometime the maine Yet nought therein responds a name so great It s but a lake a pond a marrish streat 11 Thus said the one the other bended downe His lookes to ground and halfe in scorne he smilde He sawe at once earth sea floud castell towne Strangely deuided strangely all compilde And wondred follie man so farre should drowne To set his hart on things so base and vilde That seruile empire searcheth and dombe same And scornes heau'ns blisse yet profreth heau'n the same 12 Wherefore he answred since the Lord not yet Will free my spirit from this cage of clay Least worldly errour vaine my voiage let Teach me to heau'n the best and surest way Hugo replide thy happy foote is set In the true path nor from this passage stray Onely from exile yoong Rinaldo call This giue I thee in charge else nought at all 13 For as the Lord of hoastes the king of blis Hath chosen thee to rule the faithfull band So he thy stratagems appointed is To execute so both shall winne this land The first is thine the second place is his Thou art this armies head and he the hand No other champion can his place supplie And that thou do it doth thy state denie 14 Th'inchanted forrest and her charmed treene With cutting steele shall he to earth downe hew And thy weake armies which too feeble beene To scale againe these wals r'inforced new And fainting lie dispersed on the greene
bow While here they stopt and stood before them drew An aged sire graue and benigne in show Crown'd with a beechen garland gathred new Clad in a linnen roabe that raught downe low In his right hand a rod and on the flood Against the streame he marcht and drieshod yood 34 As on the Rhene when winters freesing cold Congeales the streames to thicke and hardned glas The beauies faire of Shepheards daughters bold With wanton winde laies ronne turne play and pas So on this riuer past the wisard old Although vnfrosen soft and swift it was And thither stalked where the warrious staid To whom their greetings done he spoke and said 35 Great paines great trauaile Lords you haue begonne And of a cunning guide great need you stand Farre off alas is great Bertoldoes sonne Imprison'd in a waste and desart land What soile remaines by which you must not ronne What promontorie rocke sea shore or sand Your search must stretch before the prince be found Beyond our world beyond our halfe of ground 36 But yet vouchsafe to see my cell I pray In hidden caues and vaults though builded low Great wonders there strange things I will bewray Things good for you to heare and fit to know This said he bids the riuer make them way The floud retirde and backward gan to flow And here and there two christall mountaines rise So fled the red sea once and Iordan thrise 37 He tooke their hands and led them headlong downe Vnder the flood through vast and hollow deepes Such light they had as when through shadowes browne Of thickest desarts feeble Cinthia peepes There spacious caues they sawe all ouerflowne There all his waters pure great Neptune keepes And thence to moisten all the earth he brings Seas riuers flouds lakes fountaines wels and springs 38 Whence Ganges Indus Volga Ister Poe Whence Euphrates whence Tygresse spring they vew Whence Tanais whence Nilus comes alsoe Although his head till then no creature knew But vnder these a wealthie streame doth goe That Sulphur yeelds and Oare rich quicke and new Which the sunbeames doth polish purge and fine And makes it siluer pure and gold diuine 39 And all his bankes the rich and wealthie streame Hath faire beset with pearle and precious stone Like stars in skie or lampes on stage that seame The darknes there was day the night was gone There sparkled clothed in his azure beame The heau'nly Zaphire there the Iacinth shone The Carbuncle there flamde the Dimond sheene There glistred bright there smilde the Emrauld greene 40 Amas'd the knights amid these woonders past And fixt so deepe the marueiles in their thought That not one word they vttred till at last Vbaldo spake and thus his guide besought O father tell me by what skill thou hast These wonders donne and to what place vs brought For well I know not if I wake or sleepe My hart is drownd in such amazement deepe 41 You are within the hollow wombe quoth he Of fertill earth the nurse of all things made And but you brought and guided are by me Her sacred entrals could no wight inuade My pallace shortly shall you splendant see With glorious light though built in night and shade A Pagan was I borne but yet the Lord To grace by baptisme hath my soule restor'd 42 Nor yet by helpe of deuill or aide from hell I doe this vncouth worke and woondrous feat The Lord forbid I vse or charme or spell To raise foule Dis from his infernall seat But of all herbes of euery spring and well The hidden powre I know and vertue great And all that kinde hath hid from mortall sight And all the starres their motions and their might 43 For in these caues I dwell not buried still From sight of heau'n but often I resort To tops of Libanon or Carmell hill And there in liquid aire my selfe disport There Mars and Venus I behold at will As bare as earst when Vulcan tooke them short And how the rest roule glide and moue I see How their aspects benigne or froward bee 44 And vnderneath my feet the cloudes I view Now thicke now thin now bright with Iris bow The frost and snow the raine the haile the dew The windes from whence they come and whence they blow How Ioue his thunder makes and lightning new How with the boult he strikes the earth below How comate crinite caudate starres are fram'd I knew my skill with pride my hart enflam'd 45 So learned cunning wise my selfe I thought That I suppos'd my wit so high might clime To know all things that God had fram'd or wrought Fire aire sea earth man beast sprite place and time But when your hermit me to baptisme brought And from my soule had washt the sinne and crime Then I perceiu'd my sight was blindnes still My wit was follie ignorance my skill 46 Then saw I that like owles in shining sonne So gainst the beames of truth our soules are blinde And at my selfe to smile I then begonne And at my hart puft vp with follies winde Yet still these artes as I before had donne I practised such was the hermits minde Thus hath he chang'd my thoughts my hart my will And rules mine art my knowledge and my skill 47 In him I rest on him my thoughts depend My Lord my teacher and my guide is he This noble worke he striues to bring to end He is the Architect the workmen we The hardie youth home to this campe to send From prison strong my care my charge shall be So he commands and me ere this foretold Your comming oft to seeke the champion bold 48 While this he said he brought the champions twaine Downe to a vault wherein he dwels and lies It was a caue high wide large ample plaine With goodly roomes halles chambers galleries All what is bred in rich and pretious vaine Of wealthie earth and hid from mortall eies There shines and faire adorn'd was euery part With riches growne by kinde not fram'd by art 49 An hundreth groomes quicke diligent and neat Attendance gaue about these strangers bold Against the wall there stood a cupboord great Of massie plate of siluer christall gold But when with pretious wines and costly meat They filled were thus spake the wisard old Now fits the time sir knights I tell and show What you desire to heare and long to know 50 Armidaes craft her sleight and hidden guile You partly wote her actes and artes vntrew How to your campe she came and by what wile The greatest Lords and Princes thence she drew You know she turn'd them first to monsters vile And kept them since clos'd vp in secret mew Lastly to Gaza ward in bonds them sent Whom yoong Rinaldo rescude as they went 51 What chanced since I will at large declare To you vnknowne a storie strange and trew When first her pray got with such paine and care Escapte and gone the witch perceiu'd and knew Her hands she wroong for griefe
frost and snow The height was greene with herbes and flowrets sout Like hairie lockes the trees about him grow The rocks of ice keepe watch and warde about The tender roses and the lillies new Thus art can nature change and kinde subdew 47 Within a thicke a darke and shadie plot At the hils foote that night the warriours dwell But when the sunne his rayes bright shining hot Dispred of golden light th' eternall well Vp vp they cride and fiercely vp they got And climed boldly gainst the mountaine fell But forth there crept from whence I cannot say An ougly serpent which forestall'd their way 48 Armed with golden scales his head and crest He lifted high his necke sweld great with ire Flamed his eies and hiding with his brest All the broad path he poyson breath'd and fire Now reacht he forth in foldes and forward prest Now would he backe in rowles and heapes retire Thus he presents himselfe to garde the place The knights preas'd forward with assured pace 49 Charles drew forth his brand to strike the snake Vbaldo cride stay my companion deare Will you with sword or weapon battaile make Against this monster that affronts vs heare This said he gan his charmed rod to shake So that the serpent durst not hisse for feare But fled and dead for dread fell on the gras And so the passage plaine eath open was 50 A little higher on the way they met A lion fierce that hugely roard and cride His crest he reared hie and open set Of his broad gaping iawes the fornace wide His sterne his backe oft smote his rage to whet But when the sacred staffe he once espide A trembling feare through his bold hart was spred His natiue wrath was gone and swift he fled 51 The hardie couple on their way forth wend And met an host that on them rore and gape Of sauage beastes tofore vnseene vnkend Diffring in voice in semblance and in shape All monsters which hot Affricke doth forth send Twixt Nilus Atlas and the southren cape Were all there met and all wilde beastes besides Hircania breedes or Hircane forrests hides 52 But yet that fierce that strange and sauage host Could not in presence of those worthies stand But fled away their hart and courage lost When Lord Vbaldo shooke his charming wand No other let their passage stopt or crost Till on the mountaines top themselues they fand Saue that the ice the frost and drifted snow Oft made them feeble wearie faint and slow 53 But hauing passed all that frosen ground And ouergone that winter sharpe and keene A warme milde pleasant gentle skie they found That ouerspred a large and ample greene The windes breath'd Spikenard Myrrhe and balme around The blastes there firme vnchanged stable beene Nor as elsewhere the windes now rise now fall And Phebus there aie shines sets not at all 54 Not as elsewhere now sunshine bright now showres Now heat now cold there enterchanged weare But euerlasting spring milde heau'n downe powres In which nor raine nor storme nor cloudes appeare Nursing to fields their grasse to grasse his flowres To flowres their smell to trees the leaues they beare There by a lake a stately pallace stands That ouerlookes all mountaines seas and lands 55 The passage hard against the mountaine steepe These trauailers had faint and wearie maide That through those grassie plaines they scantly creepe They walkt they rested oft they went they staide When from the rocks that seem'd for ioy to weepe Before their feete a dropping christall plaide Entising them to drinke and on the flowres The plentious spring a thousand streams downe powres 56 All which vnited in the springing grasse Eate foorth a chanell through the tender greene And vnderneath eternall shade did passe With murmur shrill colde pure and scantly seene Yet so transparent that perceiued was The bottome rich and sands that golden beene And on the brimmes the silken grasse aloft Proffred them seates sweete easie fresh and soft 57 See heare the streame of laughter see the spring Quoth they of danger and of deadly paine Heere fond desire must by faire gouerning Be rulde our lust bridled with wisedomes raine Our eares be stopped while these Syrens sing Their notes entising man to pleasure vaine Thus past they forward where the streame did make An ample pond a large and spatious lake 58 There on a table was all daintie food That sea that earth or liquid aire could giue And in the cristall of the laughing flood They sawe two naked virgins bathe and diue That sometimes toying sometimes wrastling stood Sometimes for speed and skill in swimming striue Now vnderneath they diude now rose aboue And tising baites laid foorth of lust and loue 59 These naked wantons tender faire and white Mooued so farre the warriours stubborne harts That on their shapes they gazed with delite The Nymphes applide their sweete alluring artes And one of them aboue the waters quite Lift vp her head her brests and higher partes And all that might weake eies subdew and take Her lower beauties vaild the gentle lake 60 As when the morning starre escapt and fled From greedie waues with dewie beames vp flies Or as the Queene of loue new borne and bred Of th' Oceans fruitfull froth did first arise So vented she her golden lockes foorth shed Round pearles and cristall moist therein which lies But when her eies vpon the knights she cast She start and fain'd her of their sight agast 61 And her faire lockes that on a knot were tide High on her crowne she gan at large vnfold Which falling long and thicke and spreading wide The iuorie soft and white mantled in gold Thus her faire skin the dame would cloath and hide And that which hid it no lesse faire was hold Thus clad in waues and lockes her eies diuine From them ashamed did she turne and twine 62 With all she smiled and she blusht withall Her blush her smiling smiles her blushing graced Ouer her face her amber tresses fall Where vnder loue himselfe in ambush placed At last she warbled forth a treble small And with sweet lookes her sweet songs enterlaced O happie men that haue the grace quoth shee This blisse this heau'n this paradise to see 63 This is the place wherein you may asswage Your sorrowes past here is that ioy and blis That florisht in the antique golden age Here needes no law here none doth ought amis Put off those armes and feare not Mars his rage Your sword your shield your helmet needlesse is Then consecrate them here to endlesse rest You shall loues champions be and soldiers blest 64 The fields for combat here are beds of downe Or heaped lillies vnder shadie brakes But come and see our queene with golden crowne That all her seruants blest and happie makes She will admit you gently for her owne Numbred with those that of her ioy partakes But first within this lake your dust and sweat Wash off and at that table sit
Odoacer then he fought but wrong Oft spoileth right fortune treads courage downe For there he dide for his deere countries sake And of his fathers praise did so partake 72 With him dide Alphorisio Azzo was With his deere brother into exile sent But homewards they in armes againe repas The Herule king opprest from banishment His front through pierced with a dart alas Next them of Est th'Epaminondas went That smiling seemd to cruell death to yeild When Totila was fled and safe his sheild 73 Of Boniface I speake Valerian His sonne in praise and powre succeeded him Who durst sustaine in yeeres though scant a man Of the proud Gothes an hundreth squadrons trim Then he that gainst the Sclaues much honour wan Ernesto threatning stood with visage grim Before him Aldoard the Lombard stout Who from Monscelces bouldly earst shut out 74 There Henrie was and Berengare the bould That seru'd great Charles in his conquests hie Who in each battle giue the onset would A hardie souldiour and a captaine slie After prince Lewes did he well vphould Against his nephew king of Italie He wonne the fielde and tooke that king on liue Next him stood Otho with his children fiue 75 Of Almerike the image next they vew Lord Marques of Ferrara first create Founder of many churches that vpthrew His eies like one that vs'd to contemplate Gainst him the second Azzo stood in rew With Berengarious that did long debate Till after often change of fortunes stroake He wonne and on all Itaile laid the yoake 76 Albert his sonne the Germaines warde among And there his praise and fame was spred so wide That hauing foil'd the Danes in battaile strong His daughter yoong became great Othoes bride Behinde him Hugo stood with warfare long That broake the horne of all the Romaines pride Who of all Italy the Marques hight And Tuscane whole possessed as his right 77 After Tedaldo puissant Boniface And Beatrice his deere possest the stage Nor was there left heire male of that great race T' enioy the scepter state and heritage The Princesse Maude alone supplide the place Supplide the want in number sexe and age For far aboue each scepter throne and crowne The noble Dame aduanst her vaile and gowne 78 With manlike vigor shone her noble looke And more than manlike wrath her face orespred There the fell Normans Guichard there forsooke The field till than who neuer fear'd nor fled Henrie the fourth she beat and from him tooke His standard and in church it offered Which donne the Pope backe to the Vaticane She brought and plast in Peters chaire againe 79 As he that honour'd her and held her deare Azzo the fifth stood by her louely side But the fourth Azzos ofspring far and neare Spred forth and through Germania fructifide Sprong from that branch did Guelpho bold appeare Guelpho his sonne by Cunigond his bride And in Bauarias field transplanted new This Romane grift florisht encreast and grew 80 A branch of Est there in the Guelfian tree Engraffed was which of it selfe was old Whereon you might the Guelfoes fairer see Renew their scepters and their crownes of gold On which heau'ns good aspectes so bended bee That high and broad it spred and florisht bold Till vnderneath his glorious branches lade Halfe Germanie and all vnder his shade 81 This regall plant from his Italian rout Sprong vp as hie and blossom'd faire aboue For nenst Lord Guelpho Bertold issued out With the sixt Azzo whom all vertues loue This was the pedegree of worthies stout Who seem'd in that bright shield to liue and moue Rinaldo waked vp and chear'd his face To see these worthies of his house and race 82 To doe like actes his courage wisht and sought And with that wish transported him so farre That all those deedes which filled aie his thought Townes wonne fortes taken armies kild in warre As if they were things donne indeed and wrought Before his eies he thinks they present arre He hastly armes him and with hope and hast Sure conquest met preuented and imbrast 83 But Charles who had told the death and fall Of the yong Prince of Danes his late deere Lord Gaue him the fatall weapon and withall Yong knight quoth he take with good lucke this sword Your iust strong valiant hand in battaile shall Employ it long for Christes true faith and word And of his former Lord reuenge the wrongs Who lou'd you so that deed to you belongs 84 He answered God for his mercie sake Grant that this hand which holds this weapon good For thy deere maister may sharpe veng'ance take May cleaue the Pagans hart and shed his blood To this but short replie did Charles make And thankt him much nor more on termes they stood For loe the wisard sage that was their guide On their darke iourney hastes them forth to ride 85 High time it is quoth he for you to wend Where Godfrey you awaits and many a knight There may we well arriue ere night doth end And through this darknesse can I guide you right This said vp to his coach they all ascend On his swift wheeles forth roll'd the chariot light He gaue his coursers flit the rod and raine And gallopt forth and eastward droue amaine 86 While silent so through nights darke shade they flie The Hermit thus bespake the yong man stout Of thy great house thy race thine ofspring hie Here hast thou seene the branch the bole the rout And as these worthies borne to chiualrie And deedes of armes it hath tofore brought out So is it so it shall be fertile still Nor time shall end nor age that seed shall kill 87 Would God as drawne from the forgetfull lap Of antique time I haue thine elders showne That so I could the Catalogue vnwrap Of thy great nephewes yet vnborne vnknowne That ere this light they vew their fate and hap I might foretell and how their chance is throwne That like thine elders so thou mightst behold Thy children many famous stout and bold 88 But not by art or skill of things future Can the plaine troath reuealed be and told Although some knowledge doubtfull darke obscure We haue of comming haps in cloudes vprold Nor all which in this cause I know for sure Dare I foretell for of that father old The hermit Peter learn'd I much and hee Withouten vaile heau'ns secrets great doth see 89 But this to him reueal'd by grace diuine By him to me declar'd to thee I say Was neuer race Greeke Barb'rous or Latine Great in times past or famous at this day Richer in hardie knights than this of thine Such blessings heau'n shall on thy children lay That they in fame shall passe in praise orecome The worthies old of Sparta Carthage Rome 90 But mongst the rest I chose Alphonsus bould In vertue first second in place and name He shall be borne when this fraile world growes ould Corrupted poore and bare of men of fame Better than he none shall none
can or could The sword or scepter vse or guide the same To rule in peace or to command in fight Thine ofsprings glorie and thy houses light 91 His yonger age foretokens true shall yeild Of future valour puissance force and might From him no rocke the sauage beast shall sheild At tilt or turnay match him shall no knight After he conquer shall in pitched feild Great armies and win spoiles in single fight And on his locks rewards for knightly praise Shall garlands weare of grasse of oke of baies 92 His grauer age as well that eild it fits Shall happie peace preserue and quiet blest And from his neighbours strong mongst whom he sits Shall keepe his cities safe in wealth and rest Shall nourish artes and cherish pregnant wits Make triumphes great and feast his subiects best Reward the good the euill with paines torment Shall dangers all foresee and seene preuent 93 But if it hap against those wicked bands That sea and earth infest with blood and warre And in these wretched times to noble lands Giue lawes of peace false and vniust that arre That he be sent to driue their guiltie hands From Christes pure altars and high temples farre O what reuenge what veng'ance shall he bring On that false sect and their accursed king 94 Too late the Moores too late the Turkish king Gainst him should arme their troupes and legions bold For he beyond great Euphrates should bring Beyond the frosen tops of Taurus cold Beyond the land where is perpetuall spring The crosse the Eagle white the lillie of gold And by baptising of the Ethiops browne Of aged Nile reueale the springs vnknowne 95 Thus said the hermit and his prophesie The Prince accepted with content and pleasure The secret thought of his posteritie Of his concealed ioyes heapt vp the measure Meane-while the morning bright was mounted hie And chang'd heau'ns siluer wealth to golden treasure And high aboue the Christian tents they vew How the broad ensignes trembled wau'd and blew 96 When thus againe their leader sage begonne See how bright Phebus cleeres the darksome skies See how with gentle beames the friendly sonne The tents the townes the hils and dales descries Through my well guiding is your voiage donne From danger safe in trauaile oft which lies Hence without feare of harme or doubt of foe March to the campe I may no neerer goe 97 Thus tooke he leaue and made a quicke returne And forward went the champions three on fout And marching right against the rising morne A readie passage to the campe found out Meane-while had speedie fame the tidings borne That to the tents approacht these Barons stout And starting from his throne and kingly seat To entertaine them rose Godfredo great The eighteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument The charmes and spirits false therein which lie Rinaldo chaseth from the forrest old The host of Egypt comes Vafrine the spie Entreth their campe stout craftie wise and bold Sharpe is the fight about the bulwarks hie And ports of Zion to assault the hold Godfrey hath aide from heau'n by force the towne Is wonne the Pagans slaine walles beaten downe 1 ARriu'd where Godfrey to imbrace him stood My soueraigne Lord Rinaldo meekely said To venge my wrongs against Gernando prood My honours care prouokt my wrath vnstaid But that I you displeasd my chieftaine good My thoughts yet grieue my hart is still dismai'd And here I come prest all exploits to trie To make me gracious in your gracious eie 2 To him that kneel'd folding his friendly armes About his necke the Duke this answere gaue Let passe such speeches sad of passed harmes Remembrance is the life of griefe his graue Forgetfulnes and for amends in armes Your wonted valour vse and courage braue For you alone to happie end must bring The strong enchantments of the charmed spring 3 That aged wood whence heretofore we got To build our scaling engins timber fit Is now the fearfull seat but how none wot Where ougly feends and damned spirits sit To cut one twist thereof aduentreth not The boldest knight we haue nor without it This wall can battred be where others dout There venter thou and show thy courage stout 4 Thus said he and the knight in speeches few Profred his seruice to attempt the thing To hard assaies his courage willing flew To him praise was no spur words were no sting Of his deare friends then he embrast the crew To welcome him which came for in a ring About him Guelfo Tancred and the rest Stood of the campe the greatest chiefe and best 5 When with the Prince these Lords had iterate Their welcomes oft and oft their deare embrace Towards the rest of lesser woorth and state He turn'd and them receiu'd with gentle grace The merrie souldiours bout him shout and prate With cries as ioyfull and as cheerefull face As if in triumphes chariot bright as sunne He had return'd Affricke or Asia wonne 6 Thus marched to his tent the champion good And there sate downe with all his friends around Now of the warre he askt now of the wood And answer'd each demaund they list propound But when they left him to his ease vpstood The Hermit and fit time to speake once found My Lord he said your trauels woondrous arre Farre haue you straied erred wandred farre 7 Mutch are you bound to God aboue who brought You safe from false Armidas charmed hold And thâ—e a straying sheepe whom once he bought Hath now againe reduced to his fold And against his heathen foes these men of nought Hath chosen thee in place next Godfrey bold Yet mai'st thou not polluted thus with sinne In his high seruice warre or fight beginne 8 The world the flesh with their infection vile Pollute the thoughts impure thy spirit staine Not Poe not Ganges not seu'n mouthed Nile Not the wide seas can wash thee cleane againe Onely to purge all faults which thee defile His blood hath powre who for thy sinnes was slaine His helpe therefore inuoake to him bewray Thy secret faultes mourne weepe complaine and pray 9 This said the knight first with the Witch vnchast His idle loues and follies vaine lamented Then kneeling low with heauie lookes downe cast His other sinnes confest and all repented And meekely pardon crau'd for first and last The Hermit with his zeale was well contented And said on yonder hill next morne goe pray That turnes his forehead gainst the morning ray 10 That done march to the wood whence each one brings Such newes of furies gobblings feends and sprites The Giants monsters and all dreedfull things Thou shalt subdue which that darke groue vnites Let no strange voice that mournes or sweetly sings Nor beautie whose glad smile fraile harts delites Within thy breast make ruth or pitie rise But their false lookes and praiers false despise 11 Thus he aduis'd him and the hardie knight Prepar'd him gladly to this enterprise Thoughtfull he past the day and sad the
night And ere the siluer morne began to rise His armes he tooke and in a coate him dight Of colour strange cut in the warlike guise And on his way sole silent forth he went Alone and left his friends and left his tent 12 It was the time when gainst the breaking day Rebellious night yet stroue and still repined For in the East appear'd the morning gray And yet some lampes in Ioues high pallace shined When to mount Oliuet he tooke his way And saw as round about his eies he twined Nights shadowes hence from thēce the morning shine This bright that darke that earthly this diuine 13 Thus to himselfe he thought how many bright And splendant lamps shine in heau'ns temple hie Day hath his golden sun her moone the night Her sixt and wandring stars the azure skie So framed all by their creators might That still they liue and shine and nere shall die Till in a moment with the last daies brand They burne and with them burnes sea aire and land 14 Thus as he mused to the top he went And there kneeld downe with reuerence and feare His eies vpon heau'ns eastren face he bent His thoughts aboue all heau'ns vplifted weare The sinnes and errours which I now repent Of mine vnbridled youth O father deare Remember not but let thy mercy fall And purge my faults and mine offences all 15 Thus praied he with purple wings vpflew In golden weed the mornings lustie queene Begilding with the radiantbeames she threw His helme his harnesse and the mountaine greene Vpon his brest and forehead gently blew The aire that balme and nardus breath'd vnseene And ore his head let downe from cleerest skies A cloud of pure and precious dew there flies 16 The heau'nly dew was on his garments spred To which compar'd his clothes pale ashes seame And spinkled so that all that palenesse fled And thence of purest white bright raies outstreame So cheered are the flowres late withered With the sweete comfort of the morning beame And so returnd to youth a serpent old Adornes her selfe in new and natiue gold 17 The louely whitenesse of his changed weed The prince perceiued well and long admirde Toward the forrest marcht he on with speed Resolu'd as such aduentures great requir'de Thither he came whence shrinking backe for dreed Of that strange desarts sight the first retir'de But not to him fearefull or loathsome made That forrest was but sweete with pleasant shade 18 Forward he past and in the groue before He heard a sound that strange sweete pleasing was There roll'd a christall brooke with gentle rore There sigh'd the windes as through the leaues they pas There did the Nightingale her wrongs deplore There sung the swan and singing dide alas There lute harpe cittren humaine voice he hard And all these sounds one sound right well declard 19 A dreedfull thunderclap at last he hard The aged trees and plants welnie that rent Yet heard he Nymphes and Sirens afterward Birdes windes and waters sing with sweete consent Whereat amazd he staid and well prepard For his defence heedfull and slow foorthwent Nor in his way his passage ought withstood Except a quiet still transparent flood 20 On the greene banks which that faire streame inbound Flowers and odours sweetely smilde and smeld Which reaching out his stretched armes around All the large desart in his bosome held And through the groue on chanell passage found That in the wood in that the forrest dweld Trees clad the streames streames greene those trees aie made And so exchangd their moisture and their shade 21 The knight some way sought out the floud to pas And as he sought a wondrous bridge appeard A bridge of golde a huge and weightie mas On arches great of that rich mettall reard When through that golden way he entred was Downe fell the bridge swelled the streame and weard The worke away not signe left where it stood And of a riuer calme became a flood 22 He turnd amasd to see it troubled soe Like sodaine brookes encreast with molten snow The billowes fierce that tossed to and froe The whirlpooles suckt downe to their bosoms low But on he went to search for wonders moe Through the thicke trees there high and broad which grow And in that forrest huge and desart wide The more he sought more wonders still he spide 23 Where so he stept it seem'd the ioyfull ground Renew'd the verdure of her flowrie weed A fountaine here a welspring there he found Here bud the Roses there the Lillies spreed The aged wood ore and about him round Flourisht with blossomes new new leaues new seed And on the boughes and branches of those treene The barke was softned and renew'd the greene 24 The Manna on each leafe did pearled lie The hony stilled from the tender rinde Againe he heard that woondrous harmonie Of songs and sweete complaints of louers kinde The humaine voices sung a triple hie To which respond the birdes the streames the winde But yet vnseene those Nymphes those singers weare Vnseene the lutes harpes viols which they beare 25 He lookte he listned yet this thoughts denide To thinke that true which he both heard and see A Mirtle in an ample plaine hespide And thither by a beaten path went hee The Mirtle spred her mightie branches wide Higher than Pine or Palme or Cipresse tree And farre aboue all other plants was seene That forrests Ladie and that desarts queene 26 Vpon the tree his eies Rinaldo bent And there a maruell great and strange began An aged Oake beside him cleft and rent And from his fertill hollow wombe forth ran Clad in rare weedes and strange habiliment A Nymph for age able to goe to man An hundreth plants beside euen in his sight Childed an hundreth Nymphes so great so dight 27 Such as on stages play such as we see The Dryads painted whom wilde Satires loue Whose armes halfe naked lockes vntrussed bee With buskins laced on their legs aboue And silken roabes tuckt short aboue their knee Such seem'd the Siluan daughters of this groue Saue that in stead of shafts and boughes of tree She bore a lute a harpe or cittern shee 28 And wantonly they cast them in a ring And sung and danst to moue her weaker sense Rinaldo round about enuironing As centers are with their circumference The tree they compast eeke and gan to sing That woods and streames admir'd their excellence Welcome deere Lord welcome to this sweet groue Welcome our Ladies hope welcome her loue 29 Thou com'st to cure our Princesse faint and sicke For loue for loue of thee faint sicke distressed Late blacke late dreadfull was this forrest thicke Fit dwelling for sad folke with griefe oppressed See with thy comming how the branches quicke Reuiued are and in new blossoms dressed This was their song and after from it went First a sweet sound and then the myrtle rent 30 If antique times admir'd Silenus old That oft appeer'd set on his lasie asse How
stinke And for his wood cut dówne the aged sire Would thus reuengement take with flame and fire 49 While thus the campe and thus the towne were bent These to assault these to defend the wall A speedie doue through the cleare welkin went Straight ore the tents seene by the souldiers all With nimble fannes the yeilding aire she rent Nor seemd it that she would alight or fall Till she arriu'd neere that besieged towne Then from the clouds at last she stouped downe 50 But loe from whence I nolte a falcon came Armed with crooked bill and talons long And twixt the campe and cittie crost her game That durst not bide her foes encounter strong But right vpon the royall tent downe came And there the lordes and princes great among When the sharpe hauke nie toucht her tender head In Godfreyes lappe she fell with feare halfe dead 51 The Duke receiu'd her saued her and spide As he beheld the bird a wondrous thing About her necke a letter close was tide By a small thred and trust vnder her winge He loosed foorth the writ and spred it wide And read th' intent thereof To Iudaies king Thus said the scedule honors high encrease Th'Egyptian chiefetaine wisheth health and peace 52 Feare not renowned prince resist endure Till the third day or till the fourth at most I come and your deliuerance will procure And kill your coward foes and all their host This secret in that briefe was clos'd vp sure Writ in strange language to the winged post Giu'n to transport for in their warlike need The East such message vs'd oft with good speed 53 The Duke let goe the captiue doue at large And she that had his counsell close bewraid Traitresse to her great Lord toucht not the marge Of Salems towne but fled farre thence afraid The Duke before all those which had or charge Or office high the letter red and said See how the goodnes of the Lord foreshoes The secret purpose of our craftie foes 54 No longer then let vs protract the time But scale the bulwarke of this fortresse hie Through sweat and labour gainst those rockes sublime Let vs ascend which to the Southward lie Hard will it be that way in armes to clime But yet the place and passage both know I And that high wall by sciâ—e strong on that part Is least defenst by armes by worke and art 55 Thou Raimond on this side with all thy might Assault the wall and by those cragges ascend My squadrons with mine engins huge shall fight And gainst the Northren gate my puissance bend That so our foes beguiled with the sight Our greatest force and powre shall there attend While my great towre from thence shall nimbly slide And batter downe some worse defended side 56 Camillo thou not farre from me shalt reare Another towre close to the walles ibrought This spoken Raimond old that sate him neare And while he talkte great things tost in his thought Said to Godfredoes counsell giuen vs heare Nought can be added from it taken nought Yet this I further wish that some were sent To spie their campe their secret and entent 57 That may their number and their squadrons braue Describe and through their tents disguised maske Quoth Tancred loe a subtle squire I haue A person fit to vndertake this taske A man quicke readie bold slie to deceaue To answere wise and well aduisde to aske Well languaged and that with time and place Can change his looke his voice his gate his grace 58 Sent for he came and when his lord him tould What Godfreyes pleasure was and what his owne He smilde and said foorthwith he gladly would I goe quoth he carelesse what chance be throwne And where encamped be these Pagans bould Will walke in euery tent a spie vnknowne Their campe euen at noone day I enter shall And number all their horse and footemen all 59 How great how strong how arm'd this army is And what their guide entendes I will declare To me the secrets of that hart of his And hidden thoughts shall open lie and bare Thus Vafrine spoke nor longer staid on this But for a mantle changd the cote he ware Nakte was his necke and bout his forehead bould Of linnen whitefull twentie yeards he rould 60 His weapons were a Syrian bow and quiuer His gestures barb'rous like the Turkish traine Wondred all they that heard his toong deliuer Of euery land the language true and plaine In Tite a borne Phenician by the riuer Of Nile a knight bred in th' Egyptian maine Both people would haue thought him foorth he rides On a swift stead ore hils and dales that glides 61 But ere the third day came the French foorth sent Their pioners to eeu'n the rougher waies And readie made each warlike instrument Nor ought their labour interrupts or staies The nights in busie toile they likewise spent And with long eueninges lenghtned foorth short daies Till nought was left the hosts that hinder might To vse their vtmost powre and strength in fight 62 That day which of th' assault the day foreronne The godly Duke in praier spent welnie And all the rest bicause they had misdonne The Sacrament receiue and mercie crie Then oft the Duke his engins great begonne To shew where least he would their strength applie His foes reiois'd deluded in that sort To see them bent against their surest port 63 But after aided by the friendly night His greatest engin to that side he brought Where plainest seem'd the wall where with their might The flankers least could hurt them as they fought And to the Southren mountaines greatest hight To raise his turret old Raimondo sought And thou Camillo on that part hadst thine Where from the North the wals did Westward twine 64 But when amid the Estren heau'n appear'd The rising morning bright as shining glas The troubled Pagans saw and seeing fear'd How the great towre stood not where late it was And here and there tofore vnseene was rear'd Of timber strong a huge and fearfull mas And numberlesse with beames with roapes and strings They view the iron rammes the brakes and slings 65 The Syrian people now were no whit slow Their best defences to that side to beare Where Godfrey did his greatest engin show From thence where late in vaine they placed weare But he who at his backe rightwell did know The hoste of Egypt to be proaching neare To him call'd Guelfo and the Roberts twaine And said on horsebacke looke you still remaine 66 And haue regard while all our people striue To scale this wall where weake it seemes and thin Least vnawares some sudden hoste arriue And at our backes vnlookte for warre begin This said three fierce assaults at once they giue The hardie souldiours all would die or win And on three parts resistance makes the king And rage gainst streÌ„gth despaire gainst hope doth bring 67 Himselfe vpon his limmes with feeble eild That shooke vnweildie with their
proper weight His armour laid and long vnused sheild And marcht gainst Raimond to the mountaines height Great Soliman gainst Godfrey tooke the feild Forenenst Camillo stood Argantes streight Where Tancred strong he found so fortune will That this good Prince his wonted foe shall kill 68 The archers shot their arrowes sharpe and keene Dipt in the bitter iuice of poyson strong The shadie face of heau'n was scantly seene Hid with the cloudes of shaftes and quarries long Yet weapons sharpe with greater furie beene Cast from the towres the Pagan troupes among For thence flew stones and clifts of marble rockes Trees shod with iron timber logges and blockes 69 A thunderbolt seem'd euerie stone it brake His lims and armours so on whom it light That life and soule it did not onely take But all his shape and face disfigur'd quight The launces stai'd not in the wounds they make But through the gored bodie tooke their flight From side to side through flesh through skin and rinde They flew and flying left sad death behinde 70 But yet not all this force and furie droue The Pagan people to forsake the wall But to reuenge these deadly blowes they stroue With dartes that flie with stones and trees that fall For need so cowards oft couragious proue For libertie they fight for life and all And oft with arrowes shaftes and stones that flie Giue bitter answere to a sharpe replie 71 This while the fierce assailants neuer cease But sternly still maintaine a threefold charge And gainst the cloudes of shaftes draw nie at ease Vnder a pentise made of many a targe The armed towres close to the bulwarks prease And striue to grapple with the battled marge And lanch their bridges out meane-while below With iron fronts the rammes the walles downe throw 72 Yet still Rinaldo vnresolued went And far vnworthie him this seruice thought If mongst the common sort his paines he spent Renowne so got the Prince esteemed nought His angrie lookes on euerie side he bent And where most harme most danger was he sought And where the wall high strong and surest was That part would he assault and that way pas 73 And turning to the worthies him behind All hardie knights whom Dudon late did guide O shame quoth he this wall no warre doth find When battred is elsewhere each part each side All paine is safetie to a valiant mind Each way is eath to him that dares abide Come let vs scale this wall though strong and hie And with your shieldes keepe off the darts that flie 74 With him vnited all while thus he spake Their targets hard aboue their heads they threw Which ioynd in one an iron pentise make That from the dreadfull storme preseru'd the crew Defended thus their speedie course they take And to the wall without resistance drew For that strong penticle protected well The knights from all that flew and all that fell 75 Against the fort Rinaldo gan vpreare A ladder huge an hundreth steps of hight And in his arme the same did easlie beare And mooue as windes do reeds or rushes light Sometime a tree a rocke a dart or speare Fell from aboue yet forward clombe the knight And vpward fearelesse preased carelesse still Though mount Olympus fell or Ossa hill 76 A mount of ruines and of shaftes a wood Vpon his shoulders and his shield he bore One hand the ladder held whereon he stood The other bare his targe his face before His hardie troupe by his ensample good Prouokt with him the place assaulted sore And ladders long against the wall they clappe Vnlike in courage yet vnlike in happe 77 One dide an other fell he forward went And these he comforts and he threatneth those Now with his hand outstrecht the battlement Welnie he reacht when all his armed foes Ran thither and their force and furie bent To throw him headlong downe yet vp he goes A wondrous thing one knight whole armed bands Alone and hanging in the aire withstands 78 Withstands and forceth his great strength so farre That like a palme whereon huge weight doth rest His forces so resisted stronger arre His vertues higher rise the more opprest Till all that would his entrance bould debarre He backewarde droue vpleaped and possest The wall and safe and easie with his blade To all that after came the passage made 79 There killing such as durst and did withstand To noble Eustace that was like to fall He reached foorth his friendly conqu'ring hand And next himselfe helpt him to mount the wall This while Godfredo and his people fand Their liues to greater harmes and dangers thrall For there not man with man nor knight with knight Contend but engins there with engins fight 80 For in that place the Paynims rear'd a post Which late had seru'd some gallant ship for mast And ouer it another beame they crost Pointed with iron sharpe to it made fast With ropes which as men would the dormant tost Now out now in now backe now forward cast In his swift pullies oft the men withdrew The tree and oft the riding balke foorth threw 81 The mightie beame redoubled oft his blowes And with such force the engine smote and hit That her broad side the towre wide open throwes Her ioints were broke her rafters cleft and split But yet gainst euery hap whence mischiefe growes Prepard the piece gainst such extreames made fit Lanch foorth two sithes sharpe cutting long broad And cut the ropes whereon the engin road 82 As an oulde rocke which age or stormie wind Teares from some craggie hill or mountaine steepe Doth breake doth bruse and into dust doth grind Woods houses hamlets herds and fould of sheepe So fell the beame and downe with it all kind Of armes of weapons and of men did sweepe Wherewith the towres once or twise did shake Trembled the wals the hils and mountaines quake 83 Victorious Godfrey boldly forward came And had great hope euen then the place to win But loe a fire with stinch with smoake and flame Withstood his passage stopt his entrance in Such burnings Etna yet could neuer frame When from her entrals hot her fires begin Nor yet in sommer on the Indian plaine Such vapours warme from scorching aire downe raine 84 There balles of wilde fire there flie burning speares This flame was blacke that blew this red as blood Stinch welnie choaketh them noise deafes their eares Smoake blindes their eies fire kindleth on the wood Nor those raw hides which for defence it weares Could saue the towre in such distresse it stood For now they wrinkle now it sweates and fries Now burnes vnlesse some helpe come down from skies 85 The hardie Duke before his folke abides Nor chang'd he colour countenance or place But comforts those that from the scaldred hides With water stroue th'approching flames to chace In these extremes the Prince and those he guides Halfe roasted stood before fierce Vulcans face When loe a sudden and vnlookt for blast
and harmelesse sheepe hath set So searcht he high and low about that hold Where he might enter without stop or let In the great court he stai'd his foes aboue Attend th' assault and would their fortune proue 36 There lay by chance a posted tree therebie Kept for some needfull vse what ere it were The armed gallies not so thicke nor hie Their tall and loftie masts at Genes vpreare This beame the knight against the gates made flie From his strong hands all weights which lift and beare Like a light lance the tree he shooke and tost And brus'd the gate the threshold and the post 37 No marble stone no mettall strong outbore The wondrous might of that redoubled blow The brasen henges from the walles it tore It breoke the lockes and laid the dores downe low No iron tamme no engin could do more Nor cannons great that thunderbolts forth throw His people like a flowing streame inthrong And after them entred the victor strong 38 The wofull slaughter blacke and loathsome maid That house sometime the sacred house of God O heau'nly iustice if thou be delaid On wretched sinners sharper fals thy rod In them this place profaned which inuaid Thou kindled ire and mercy all forbod Vntill with their hart blouds the Pagans vile This temple washt which they did late defile 39 But Soliman this while himselfe fast sped Vp to the fort which Dauids towre is named And with him all the souldiers left he led And gainst each entrance new defences framed The tyrant Aladine eeke thither fled To whom the Soldan thus farre off exclamed Come come renowned king vp to this rocke Thy selfe within this fortresse safe vplocke 40 For well this fortresse shall thee and thy crowne Defend awhile heere may we safe remaine Alas quoth he alas for this faire towne Which cruell warre beates downe eeu'n with the plaine My life is done mine empire troden downe I raind I liu'd but now nor liue nor raine For now alas behold the fatall howre That ends our liues and ends our kingly powre 41 Where is your vertue where your wisedome graue And courage stout the angrie Soldan said Let chance our kingdomes take which earst she gaue Yet in our harts our kingly worth is laid But come and in this fort your person saue Refresh your wearie limmes and strength decaid Thus counseld he and did to saftie bring Within that fort the weake and aged king 42 His iron mace in both his hands he hent And on his thigh his trustie sword he tide And to the entrance fierce and fearlesse went And kept the strait and all the French defide The blowes were mortall which he gaue or lent For whom he hit he slew else by his side Laid low on earth that all fled from the place Where they beheld that great and dreedfull mace 43 But old Raimondo with his hardie crew By chance came thither to his great mishap To that defended path the old man flew And scorn'd his blowes and him that kept the gap He stroake his foe his blow no blood foorth drew But on the front with that he caught a rap Which in a swoune low in the dust him laid Wide open trembling with his armes displaid 44 The Pagans gathred hart at last though feare Their courage weake had put to flight but late So that the conquerours repulsed weare And beaten backe else slaine before the gate The Soldan mongst the dead beside him neare That saw Lord Raimond lie in such estate Cride to his men within these barres quoth he Come draw this knight and let him captiue be 45 Forward they rusht to execute his word But hard and dang'rous that emprise they found For none of Raimonds men forsooke their Lord But to their guides defence they flocked round Thence furie fights hence pitie drawes the sword Nor striue they for vile cause or on light ground The life and freedome of that champion braue Those spoile these would preserue those kill these saue 46 But yet at last if they had longer fought The hardie Soldane would haue wonne the field For gainst his thundring mace auailed nought Or helme of temper fine or seu'nfold shield But from each side great succour now was brought To his weake foes now fit to faint and yield And both at once to aide and helpe the same The soueraigne Duke and yoong Rinaldo came 47 As when a shepherd raging round about That sees a storme with winde haile thunder raine When gloomy cloudes haue daies bright eie put out His tender flockes driues from the open plaine To some thicke groue or mountaines shadie fout Where heau'ns fierce wrath they may vnhurt sustaine And with his hooke his whistle and his cries Driues foorth his fleecie charge and with them flies 48 So fled the Soldan when he gan descrie This tempest come from angrie warre foorth cast The armours clashte and lightned gainst the skie And from each side swords weapons fire out brast He sent his folke vp to the fortresse hie To shunne the furious storme himselfe staid last Yet to the danger he gaue place at length For wit his courage wisedome rulde his strength 49 But scant the knight was safe the gate within Scant closed were the doores when hauing broake The barres Rinaldo doth assault begin Against the port and on the wicket stroake His matchlesse might his great desire to win His oath and promise doth his wrath prouoake For he had sworne nor should his word be vaine To kill the man that had Prince Sweno slaine 50 And now his armed hand that castle great Would haue assaulted and had shortly wonne Nor safe pardie the Soldan there a seat Had found his fatall foes sharpe wrath to shonne Had not Godfredo sounded the retreat For now darke shades to shrowd the earth begonne Within the towne the Duke would lodge that night And with the morne renew th' assault and fight 51 With cheerefull looke thus to his folke he said High God hath holpen well his children deare This worke is donne the rest this night delai'd Doth little labour bring lesse doubt no feare This towre our foes weake hope and latest aid We conquer will when sunne shall next appeare Meane-while with loue and tender ruth goe see And comfort those which hurt and wounded bee 52 Goe cure their wounds which boldly ventured Their liues and spilt their bloods to get this hold That fitteth more this host for Christ forth led Then thirst of veng'ance or desire of gold Too much ah too much blood this day is shed In some we too much haste to spoile behold But I command no more you spoile and kill And let a trumpet publish forth my will 53 This said he went where Raimond panting lay Wakt from the swonne wherein he late had beene Nor Soliman with countenance lesse gay Bespake his troupes and kept his griefe vnseene My friends you are vnconquered this day In spite of fortune still our hope is greene For vnderneath great
him vnused rare and strange But so doth heau'n mens harts turne alter change 105 As when the sicke or frantike men oft dreame In their vnquiet sleepe and slumber short And thinke they ronne some speedie course and seame To mooue their legs and feete in hastie sort Yet feele their limmes farre slower than the streame Of their vaine thoughts that beares them in this sport And oft would speake would crie would call or shout Yet neither sound nor voice nor word send out 106 So runne to fight the angrie Soldan would And did enforce his strength his might his ire Yet felt not in himselfe his courage ould His woonted force his rage and hot desire His eies that sparkled wrath and furie bould Grew dim and feeble feare had quencht that fire And in his hart an hundreth passions fought Yet not on feare or base retire he thought 107 While vnresolu'd he stood the victor knight Arriu'd and seem'd in quicknesse haste and speed In boldnesse greatnes goodlines and might Aboue all Princes borne of humaine seed The Turke small while resists not death nor fight Made him forget his state or race through dreed He fled no stroakes he fetcht no groane nor sigh Bold were his motions last proud stately high 108 Now when the Soldan in these battel 's past That Antheus like oft fell oft rose againe Euer more fierce more fell fell downe at last To lie for euer when this Prince was slaine Fortune that seld is stable firme or fast No longer durst resist the Christian traine But rang'd her selfe in row with Godfreics knights With them she serues she ronnes she rides she fights 109 The Pagan troupes the kings owne squadron fled Of all the East the strength the pride the flowre Late call'd immortall now discomfited It lost that title proud and lost all powre To him that with the royall standard fled Thus Emireno said with speeches sowre Art not thou he to whom to beare I gaue My kings great banner and his standard braue 110 This ensigne Rimedon I gaue not thee To be the witnesse of thy feare and flight Coward dost thou thy Lord and Captaine see In battell strong and ronn'st thy selfe from fight What seek'st thou saftie come returne with mee The way to death is path to vertue right Here let him fight that would escape for this The way to honour way to saftie is 111 The man return'd and sweld with scorne and shame The Duke with speeches graue exhorts the rest He threates he strikes sometime till backe they came And rage gainst force despaire gainst death addrest Thus of his broken armies gan he frame A battell now some hope dwelt in his brest But Tisiphernes bold reuiu'd him most Who fought and seem'd to winne when all was lost 112 Wonders that day wrought noble Tisipherne The hardie Normans all he ouerthrew The Flemmings fled before the champion sterne Gernier Rogero Gerard bold he slew His glorious deeds to praise and fame eterne His liues short date prolong'd enlarg'd and drew And then as he that set sweete life at nought The greatest perill danger most he sought 113 He spide Rinaldo and although his feild Of azure purple now and sanguine showes And though the siluer bird amid his sheild Were armed gules yet he the champion knowes And saies here greatest perill is heau'ns yeild Strength to my courage fortune to my blowes That faire Armida her reuenge may see Helpe Macon for his armes I vow to thee 114 Thus praied he but all his vowes were vaine Mahound was deafe or slept in heauens aboue And as a lion strikes him with his traine His natiue wrath to quicken and to moue So he awakte his furie and disdaine And sharpt his courage on the whetstone loue Himselfe he sau'd behinde his mightie targe And forward spurr'd his stead and gaue the charge 115 The Christian saw the hardie warriour come And leaped forth to vndertake the fight The people round about gaue place and rome And wondred on that fierce and cruell sight Some prais'd their strength their skill and courage some Such and so desp'rate blowes strooke either knight That all that saw forgot both ire and strife Their wounds their hurts forgot both death and life 116 One stroke the other did both strike and wound His armes were surer and his strength was more From Tisipherne the blood stream'd downe around His shield was cleft his helme was rent and tore The dame that saw his blood besmeare the ground His armour broke limmes weake wounds deepe and sore And all her garde dead fled and ouerthrowne Thought now her field lay wast her hedge lay downe 117 Enuiron'd with so braue a troupe but late Now stood she in her chariot all alone She feared bondage and her life did hate All hope of conquest and reuenge was gone Halfe mad and halfe amas'd from where she sate She leaped downe and fled from friends and fone On a swift horse she mounts and forth she rides Alone saue for disdaine and loue her guides 118 In daies of old Queene Cleopatra soe Alone fled from the fight and cruell fray Against Augustus great his happie foe Leauing her Lord to losse and sure decay And as that Lord for loue let honour goe Follow'd her flying sailes and lost the day So Tisipherne the faire and fearfull dame Would follow but his foe forbids the same 119 But when the Pagans ioy and comfort fled It seem'd the sunne was set the day was night Gainst the braue Prince with whom he combatted He turn'd and on the forehead stroake the knight When thunders forg'd are in Tiphoius bed Not Brontes hammer falles so swift so right The furious stroake fell on Rinaldoes crest And made him bend his head downe to his brest 120 The champion in his stirrups high vpstart And cleft his hawberke hard and tender side And sheath'd his weapon in the Pagans hart The castle where mans life and soule do bide The cruell sword his brest and hinder part With double wound vnclos'd and op'ned wide And two large doores made for his life and breath Which past and curde hot loue with frosen death 121 This done Rinaldo staid and lookte around Where he should harme his foes or helpe his friends Nor of the Pagans saw he squadron sound Each standard falles ensigne to earth descends His furie quiet than and calme he found There all his wrath his rage and rancour ends He call'd to minde how farre from helpe or aid Armida fled alone amas'd affraid 122 Well sawe he when she fled and with that sight The Prince had pirie curtesie and care He promist her to be her friend and knight When earst he left her in the island bare The way she fled he ranne and road aright Her palfraies feete signes in the grasse out ware But she this while found out an ougly shade Fit place for death where nought could life perswade 123 Well pleased was she with those shadowes browne And yet displeasd with
lucke with life with loue There from her stead she lighted there laid downe Her bowe and shafts her armes that helpelesse proue There lie with shame she saies disgrast orethrowne Blunt are the weapons blunt the armes I moue Weake to reuenge my harmes or harme my foe My shafts are blunt ah loue would thine were soe 124 Alas among so many could not one Not one draw blood one wound or rend his skin All other brests to you are marble stone Dare you than pierce a womans bosome thin See see my naked hart on this alone Imploy your force this fort is eath to win And loue will shoote you from his mightie bow Weake is the shot that dripile falles in snow 125 I pardon will your feare and weakenes past Be strong mine arrowes cruell sharpe gainst mee Ah wretch how is thy chance and fortune cast If plast in these thy good and comfort bee But since all hope is vaine all helpe is wast Since hurts ease hurts wounds must cure wounds in thee Then with thine arrowes stroake cure stroakes of loue Death for thy hart must salue and surgeon proue 126 And happie me if being dead and slaine I beare not with me this strange plague to hell Loue staie behind come thou with me disdaine And with my wronged soule for euer dwell Or else with it turne to the world againe And vexe that knight with dreames and visions fell And tell him when twixt life and death I stroue My last wish was reuenge last word was loue 127 And with that word halfe mad halfe dead she seames An arrow poignant strong and sharpe she tooke When her deare knight found her in these extreames Now fit to die and passe the Stygian brooke Now prest to quench her owne and beauties beames Now death sate on her eies death in her looke When to her backe he stept and staid her arme Stretcht foorth to doe that seruice last last harme 128 She turnes and ere she knowes her Lord she spies Whose comming was vnwisht vnthought vnknowne She shrikes and twines away her sdeignfull eies From his sweete face she falles dead in a swoune Falles as a flowre halfe cut that bending lies He held her vp and least she tumble downe Vnder her tender side his arme he plast His hand her girdle loos'd her gowne vnlast 129 And her faire face faire bosome he bedewes With teares teares of remorse of ruth of sorrow As the pale Rose her colour lost renewes With the fresh drops falne from the siluer morrow So she reuiues and cheekes empurpled shewes Moist with their owne teares and with teares they borrow Thrice lookte she vp her eies thrice closed shee As who say let me die ere looke on thee 130 And his strong arme with weake and feeble hand She would haue thrust away loos'd and vntwined Oft stroue she but in vaine to breake that band For he the â—old he got not yet resined Her selfe fast bound in those deare knots she fand Deare though she faigned scorne stroue and repined At last she speakes she weepes complaines and cries Yet durst not did not would not see his eies 131 Cruell at thy departure at retorne As cruell say what chance thee hither guideth Wouldst thou preuent her death whose hart forlorne For thee for thee deathes stroakes each howre deuideth Comst thou to saue my life alas what scorne What torment for Armida poore abideth No no thy crafts and sleights I well descrie But she can little doe that cannot die 132 Thy triumph is not great nor well arrai'd Vnlesse in chaines thou lead a captiue dame A dame now tane by force before betrai'd This is thy greatest glorie greatest fame Time was that thee of loue and life I prai'd Let death now end my loue my life my shame Yet let not thy false hand bereaue this breath For if it were thy guift hatefull were death 133 Cruell my selfe an hundreth waies can finde To rid me from thy malice from thy hate If weapons sharpe if poisons of all kinde If fire if strangling faile in that estate Yet waies enough I know to stop this winde A thousand entries hath the house of fate Ah leaue these flattries leaue weake hope to moue Cease cease my hope is dead dead is my loue 134 Thus mourned shee and from her watrie eies Disdaine and loue dropt downe roll'd vp in teares From his pure fountaines ranne two streames likewise Wherein chast pitie and milde ruth appeares Thus with sweete words the Queene he pacifies Madame appease your griefe your wrath your feares For to be crown'd not scorn'd your life I saue Your foe nay but your friend your knight your slaue 135 But if you trust no speech no oath no word Yet in mine eies my zeale my truth behold For to that throne whereof thy fire was Lord I will restore thee crowne thee with that gold And if high heau'n would so much grace afford As from thy hart this cloude this vaile vnfold Of Paganisme in all the East no dame Should equalize thy fortune state and fame 136 Thus plaineth he thus praies and his desire Endeares with sighes that flie and teares that fall That as against the warm'th of Titans fire Snow drifts consume on tops of mountaines tall So melts her wrath but loue remaines entire Behold she saies your handmaid and your thrall My life my crowne my wealth vse at your pleasure Thus death her life became losse prou'd her treasure 137 This while the Captaine of th' Egyptian host That saw his roiall standard laid on ground Saw Rimedon that ensignes prop and post By Godfreies noble hand kild with one wound And all his folke discomfit slaine and lost No coward was in this last batrell found But road about and sought nor sought in vaine Some famous hand of which he might be slaine 138 Against lord Godfrey bouldly out he flew For nobler foe he wisht not could not spie Of desprate courage shew'd he tokens trew Where ere he ioind or staid or passed bie And cried to the Duke as neere he drew Behold of thy strong hand I come to die Yet trust to ouerthrow thee with my fall My castles ruines shall breake downe thy wall 139 This said foorth spurr'd they both both high aduance Their swords aloft both stroake at once both hit His left arme wounded had the knight of France His shield was pierst his vantbrace cleft and split The Pagan backward fell halfe in a trance On his left eare his foe so hugely smit And as he sought to rise Godfredoes sword Pierced him through so dide that armies Lord. 140 Of his great host when Emiren was dead Fled the small remnant that aliue remained Godfrey espied as he turnd his stead Great Altamore on foote with blood all stained With halfe a sword halfe helme vpon his head Gainst whom an hundreth fought yet not one gained Cease cease this strife he cride and thou braue knight Yeeld I am Godfrey yeeld thee to my might 141 He that till then his proud and haughtie hart To act of humblenes did neuer bend When that great name he heard from the north part Of our wide world renown'd to Aethiops end Answer'd I yeeld to thee thou worthy art I am thy pris'ner fortune is thy frend On Altamoro great thy conquest bold Of glorie shall be rich and rich of gold 142 My louing queene my wife and Lady kinde Shall ransome me with iewels gold and treasure God shield quoth Godfrey that my noble minde Should praise and vertue so by profit measure All that thou hast from Persia and from Inde Enioy it still therein I take no pleasure I set no rent on life no price on blood I fight and fell not warre for gold or good 143 This said he gaue him to his knights to keepe And after those that fled his course he bent They to their rampires fled and trenches deepe Yet could not so deathes cruell stroke preuent The campe was wonne and all in blood doth steepe The blood in riuers stream'd from tent to tent It soil'd defilde defaced all the pray Shields helmets armours plumes and feathers gay 144 Thus conquer'd Godfrey and as yet the sonne Diu'd not in siluer waues his golden waine But day-light seru'd him to the fortresse wonne With his victorious host to turne againe His bloodie cote he put not off but ronne To the high Temple with his noble traine And there hung vp his armes and there he bowes His knees there prai'd and there perform'd his vowes FINIS Printed at London by Ar. Hatfield for John Jaggard and M. Lownes 1600.