to finde the furious keeper slaine A while she feared but she knew in short That her deare Lord was fled then saw she plaine Ah wofull sight how from her gates the man In haste in feare in wrath in anger ran 36 Whither O cruell leau'st thou me alone She would haue cride her griefe her speeches staid So that her wofull words are backward gone And in her hart a bitter Eccho maide Poore soule of greater skill than she was one Whose knowledge from her thus her ioy conuaid This wist she well yet had desire to proue If art could keepe if charmes recall her loue 37 All what the witches of Thessalia land With lips vnpure yet euer said or spake Words that could make heau'ns rolling circles stand And draw the damned ghostes from Limbo lake All well she knew but yet no time she fand To vse her knowledge or her charmes to make But left her artes and forth she ran to proue If single beautie were best charme for loue 38 She ran nor of her honour tooke regarde Oh where be all her vants and triumphes now Loues Empire great of late she made or marde To her his subiects humbly bend and bow And with her pride mixt was a scorne so harde That to be lou'd she lou'd yet whilst they wow Her louers all she hates that pleas'd her will To conquer men and conqu'red so to kill 39 But now her selfe disdain'd abandoned Ran after him that from her fled in scorne And her despised beautie laboured With humble plaints and praiers to adorne She ran and hasted after him that fled Through frost and snow through brier bush and thorne And sent her cries on message her before That reacht not him till he had reacht the shore 40 O thou that leau'st but halfe behinde quoth shee Of my poore hart and halfe with thee dost carrie O take this part or render that to mee Else kill them both at once ah tarrie tarrie Heare my last words no parting kisse of thee I craue for some more fit with thee to marrie Keepe them vnkinde what fear'st thou if thou stay Thou mai'st denie as well as runne away 41 At this Rinaldo stopt stood still and staid She came sad breathlesse wearie faint and weake So woe begone was neuer Nymph or maid And yet her beauties pride griefe could not breake On him she lookt shee gas'd but nought she said She would not could not or she durst not speake At her he lookt not glanst not if he did Those glances shamefaste were close secret hid 42 As cunning singers ere they straine on hie In loud melodious tunes their gentle voice Prepare the hearers eares to harmonie With fainings sweet low notes and warbles choice So she not hauing yet forgot pardie Her woonted shifts and sleights in Cupides toies A sequence first of sighes and sobbes foorth cast To breed compassion deere than spake at last 43 Suppose not cruell that I come to wow Or pray as Ladies doe their loues and Lords Such were we late if thou disdaine it now Or scorne to grant such grace as loue affords At least yet as an enmie listen thow Sworne foes sometime will talke and chaffer words For what I aske thee maist thou grant right well And lessen nought thy wrath and anger fell 44 If me thou hate and in that hate delight I come not to appease thee hate me still It s like for like I bore great hate and spight Gainst Christians all chiefly I wisht thee ill I was a Pagan borne and all my might Against Godfredo bent mine art and skill I follow'd thee tooke thee and bore thee far To this strange isle and kept thee safe from war 45 And more which more thy hate may iustly moue More to thy losse more to thy shame and griefe I thee enchanted and allur'd to loue Wicked deceit craft worthie sharpe repriefe Mine honor gaue I thee all gifts aboue And of my beauties made thee Lord and chiefe And to my sutors old what I denaid That gaue I thee my louer new vnpraid 46 But reckon that among my faultes and let Those many wrongs prouoke thee so to wrath That hence thou ronne and that at naught thou set This pleasant house so many ioyes which hath Goe trauaile passe the seas fight conquest get Destroy our faith what shall I say our fath Ah no! no longer ours before thy shrine Alone I pray thou cruell saint of mine 47 All only let me goe with thee vnkinde A small request although I were thy foe The spoiler seldome leaues the praie behinde Who triumphes lets his captiues with him goe Among thy pris'ners poore Armida binde And let the campe encrease thy praises soe That thy beguiler so thou couldst beguile And point at me thy thrall and bondslaue vile 48 Despised bondslaue since my Lord doth hate These lockes why keepe I them or hold them deare Come cut them off that to my seruile state My habit answere may and all my geare I follow thee in spite of death and fate Through battles fierce where dangers most appeare Courage I haue and strength enough perchance To lead thy courser spare and beare thy lance 49 I will or beare or be my selfe thy shield And to defend thy life will loose mine owne This breast this bosome soft shall be thy bield Gainst stormes of arrowes darts and weapons throwne Thy foes pardie encountring thee in field Will spare to strike thee mine affection knowne Least me they wound nor will sharpe veng'ance take On thee for this despised beauties sake 50 O wretch dare I still vant or helpe inuoake From this poore beautie scorned and disdained She said no more her teares her speeches broake Which from her eies like streames from springs down rained She would haue caught him by the hand or cloake But he stept backward and himselfe restrained Conquer'd his will his hart ruth soft'ned not There plaintes no ishue loue no entrance got 51 Loue entred not to kindle in his brest Which reason late had quencht his wonted flame Yet entred pitie in the place at lest Loues sister but a chast and sober dame And stirr'd him so that hardly he supprest The springing teares that to his eies vp came But yet euen there his plaints repressed weare And as he could he lookte and fained cheare 52 Madame quoth he for your distresse I grieue And would amend it if I might or could From your wise hart that fond affection driue I cannot hate nor scorne you though I would I seeke no veng'ance wrongs I all forgiue Nor you my seruant nor my foe I hould Truth is you err'de and your estate forgot Too great your hate was and your loue too hot 53 But those are common faultes and faults of kind Excus'd by nature by your sexe and yeares I erred likewise if I pardon find None can condemne you that our trespasse heares Your deare remembrance will I keepe in minde In ioes in woes in comforts hopes and feares Call me
foes droue backe with his sharpe blade That sure and safe he lay as in a shade 87 Thus sau'd thus shielded Raimond gan respire He rose and reard himselfe in little space And in his bosome burnt the double fire Of vengeance wrath his hart shame fill'd his face He lookt around to spie such was his ire The man whose stroake had laid him in that place Whom when he sees not for disdaine he quakes And on his people sharpe reuengement takes 88 The Gascoines turne againe their Lord in haste To venge their losse his band recordred brings The troupe that durst so much now stood agast For where sad feare grew late now boldnes springs Now follow'd they that fled fled they that chast So in one howre altreth the state of things Raimond requites his losse shame hurt and all And with an hundreth deathes reueng'd one fall 89 Whil'st Raimond wreaked thus his iust disdaine On the proud heads of captaines Lords and peares He spies great Sions king amid the traine And to him leapes and high his sword he reares And on his forehead strikes and strikes againe Till helme and head he breakes he cleaues he teares Downe fell the king the guiltlesse land he bit That now keepes him bicause he kept not it 90 Their guides one murdred thus the other gone The troupes diuided were in diuers thought Despaire made some ronne headlong gainst their fone To seeke sharpe death that comes vncall'd vnsought And some that laid their hope on flight alone Fled to their fort againe yet chance so wrought That with the fliers in the victors pas And so the fortresse wonne and conquer'd was 91 The hold was wonne slaine were the men that fled In courtes halles chambers high aboue below Old Raimond fast vp to the leads him sped And there of victorie true signe and show His glorious standard to the winde he spred That so both armies his successe might know But Soliman saw not the towne was lost For far from thence he was and neere the host 92 Into the field he came the lukewarme blood Did smoke and flow through all the purple feild There of sad death the court and pallace stood There did he triumphes lead and trophies beild An armed stead fast by the Soldan yood That had no guide nor lord the raines to weild The tyrant tooke the bridle and bestroad The coursers emptie backe and foorth he road 93 Great yet but short and sodaine was the aid That to the Pagans faint and weake he brought A thunderbolt he was you would haue said Great yet that comes and goes as swift as thought And of his comming swift and flight vnstaid Eternall signes in hardest rockes hath wrought For by his hand an hundreth knights were slaine But time forgot hath all their names but twaine 94 Gildippes faire and Edward thy deare lord Your noble death sad end and woefull fate If so much powre our vulgar toong afford To all strange wits strange eares let me dilate That ages all your loue and sweete accord Your vertue prowesse worth may imitate And some kind seruant of true loue that heares May grace your death my verses with some teares 95 The noble ladie thither boldly flew Where the fierce Soldan fought and him defide Two mightie blowes she gaue the Turke vntrew One cleft his shield the other pierst his side The prince the damsell by her habite knew See see this mankind strumpet see he cride This shamelesse whore for thee fit weapons weare Thy neeld and spindle not a sword and speare 96 This said full of disdaine rage and despite A strong a fierce a deadly stroake he gaue And pierst her armour pierst her bosome white Worthie no blowes but blowes of loue to haue Her dying hand let goe the bridle quite She faints she falles twixt life and death she straue Her lord to helpe her came but came too late Yet was not that his fault it was his fate 97 What should he do to diuers parts him call Iust ire and pittie kind one bids him goe And succour his deare ladie like to fall The other cals for vengeance on his foe Loue biddeth both loue saies he must doe all And with his ire ioines griefe with pittie woe What did he then with his left hand the knight Would hould her vp reuenge her with his right 98 But to resist against a knight so bold Too weake his will and powre deuided weare So that he could not his faire loue vphold Nor kill the cruell man that slew his deare His arme that did his mistres kind enfold The Turke cut off pale grew his lookes and cheare He let her fall himselfe fell by her side And for he could not saue her with her dide 99 As the high elme whom his deare vine hath twind Fast in her hundred armes and houlds embrast Beares downe to earth his spouse and darling kind If storme or cruell steele the tree downe cast And her full grapes to nought doth bruze and grind Spoiles his owne leaues faints withers dies at last And seemes to mourne and die not for his owne But for her death with him that lies orethrowne 100 So fell he mourning mourning for the dame Who life and death had made for euer his They would haue spoke but not one word could frame Deepe sobs their speech sweete sighes their language is Each gazd on others eies and while the same Is lawfull ioine their hands embrace and kis And thus sharpe death their knot of life vntied Togither fainted they togither died 101 But now swift fame her nimble wings dispred And told each where their chance their fate their fall Rinaldo heard the case by one that fled From the fierce Turke and brought him newes of all Disdaine goodwill woe wrath the champion led To take reuenge shame griefe for vengeance call But as he went Adrastus with his blade Forestall'd the way and shew of combate made 102 The giant cride by sundrie signes I note That whom I wish I search thou thou art hee I markt each woorthies sheild his helme his cote And all this day haue call'd and cride for thee To my sweete saint I haue thy head deuote Thou must my sacrifice my offring bee Come let vs heere our strength and courage trie Thou art Armidas foe her champion I. 103 Thus he defide him on his front before And on his throat he stroke him yet the blow His helmet neither brused cleft nor tore But in his saddle made him bend and bow Rinaldo hit him on the flanke so sore That neither art nor hearbe could helpe him now Downe fell the Giant strong one blow such powre Such puissance had so falles a thundred towre 104 With horrour feare amasednesse and dreed Cold were the harts of all that saw the fray And Soliman that view'd that noble deed Trembled his palenesse did his feare bewray For in that stroake he did his ende arreed He wist not what to thinke to doe to say A thing in
neuer knots of loue more surer knit 58 Her bodie free captiued was her hart And loue the keies did of that prison beare Prepar'd to goe it was a death to part From that kinde Lord and from that prison deare But thou O honour which esteemed art The chiefest vesture noble Ladies weare Enforcest her against her will to wend To Aladine her mothers dearest frend 59 At Sion was this princesse entertained By that old tyrant and her mother deare Whose losse too soone the wofull damsell plained Her griéfe was such she liu'd not halfe the yeare Yet banishment nor losse of friends constrained The haplesse maid her passions to forbeare For though exceeding were her woe and griefe Of all her sorrowes yet her loue was chiefe 60 The seelie maide in secret longing pined Her hope a mote drawne vp by Phebus raies Her loue a mountaine seem'd whereon bright shined Fresh memorie of Tancreds worth and praise Within her closet if her selfe she shrined A hotter fire her tender hart assaies Taucred at last to raise her hope nigh dead Before those wals did his broad ensigne spread 61 The rest to vew the Christian armie feared Such seem'd their number such their powre and might But she alone her troubled forehead cleared And on them spred her beautie shining bright In euerie squadron when it first appeared Her curious eie sought out her chosen knight And euerie gallant that the rest excels The same seemes him so loue and fancie tels 62 Within the kingly pallace builded hie A turret standeth neere the cities wall From which Erminia might at ease descrie The westren host the plaines and mountaines all And there she stood all the long day to spie From Phebus rising to his euening fall And with her thoughts disputed of his praise And euerie thought a scalding sigh did raise 63 From hence the furious combat she suruaid And felt her hart tremble with fear and paine Her secret thought thus to her fancie said Behold thy deere in danger to be slaine So with suspect with feare and griefe dismaid Attended she her darlings losse or gaine And euer when the Pagan lift his blade The stroke a wound in her weake bosome made 64 But when she saw the end and wist withall Their strong contention should eftsoones begin Amasement strange her courage did appall Her vitall blood was icie cold within Sometimes she sighed sometimes teares let fall To witnes what distresse her hart was in Hopelesse dismai'd pale sad astonished Her loue her feare her feare her torment bred 65 Her idle braine vnto her soule presented Death in an hundred vglie fashions painted And if she slept then was her greefe augmented With such sad visions were her thoughts acquainted She saw her Lord with wounds and hurts tormented How he complain'd call'd for her helpe and fainted And found awakt from that vnquiet sleeping Her hart with panting sore eics red with weeping 66 Yet these presages of his comming ill Not greatest cause of her discomfort weare She saw his blood from his deepe wounds distill Nor what he suffred could she bide or beare Besides report her longing eare did fill Doubling his danger doubling so her feare That she concludes so was her courage lost Her wounded Lord was weake faint dead almost 67 And for her mother had her taught before The secret vertue of each herbe that springs Besides fit charmes for euerie wound or sore Corruption breedeth or misfortune brings An art esteemed in those times of yore Beseeming daughters of great Lords and kings She would her selfe be surgeon to her knight And heale him with her skill or with her sight 68 Thus would she cure her loue and cure her foe She must that had her friends and kinsfolke slaine Some cursed weedes her cunning hand did knoe That could augment his harme encrease his paine But she abhorr'd to be reuenged soe No treason should her spotlesse person staine And vertuelesse she wisht all herbes and charmes Wherewith false men encrease their patients harmes 69 Nor feared she among the bands to stray Of armed men for often had she seene The tragike end of many a bloodie fray Her life had full of haps and hazards beene This made her bold in euerie hard assay More than her feeble sexe became I weene She feared not the shake of euerie reed So cowards are couragious made through need 70 Loue fearelesse hardie and audacious loue Embold'ned had this tender damsell so That where wilde beasts and serpents glide and moue Through Afrikes desarts durst she ride or goe Saue that her honour she esteem'd aboue Her life and bodies safetie told her noe For in the seeret of her troubled thought A doubtfull combat loue and honour fought 71 O spotlesse virgin honour thus begonne That my true lore obserued firmely hast When with thy foes thou didst in bondage wonne Remember then I kept thee pure and chast At libertie now whither wouldst thou ronne To lay that field of princely vertue waste Or lose that iewell Ladies hold so deare Is maidenhood so great a load to beare 72 Or deem'st thou it a praise of little prise The glorious title of a virgins name That thou wilt gad by night in giglet wise Amid thine armed foes to seeke thy shame O foole a woman conquers when she flies Refusall kindleth profers quench the flame Thy Lord will iudge thou sinnest beyond measure If vainly thus thou waste so rich a treasure 73 The slie deceiuer Cupid thus beguild The simple damsell with his filed tong Thou wert not borne quoth he in desarts wilde The cruell beares and sauage beastes among That thou shouldst scorne faire Cithereas childe Or hate those pleasures that to youth belong Nor did the gods thy hart of iron frame To be in loue is neither sinne nor shame 74 Goe then goe whither sweet desire inuiteth How can thy gentle knight so cruell bee Loue in his hart thy greefes and sorrowes writeth For thy laments how he complaineth see Oh cruell woman whom no care exciteth To saue his life that sau'd and honour'd thee He languisheth one foote thou wilt not moue To succour him yet saist thou art in loue 75 No no stay here Argantes wounds to cure And make him strong to shed thy darlings blood Of such reward he may himselfe assure That doth a thanklesse woman so much good Ah may it be thy patience can endure To see the strength of this Circassion wood And not with horror and amazement shrinke When on their future fight thou hapst to thinke 76 Besides the thanks and praises for the deed Suppose what ioy what comfort shalt thou winne When thy soft hand doth wholsome plaisters spreed Vpon the breaches in his iuorie skinne Thence to thy deerest Lord may health succeed Strength to his lims blood to his cheekes so thinne And his rare beauties now halfe dead and more Thou maist to him him to thy selfe restore 77 So shall some part of his aduentures bold And valiant actes henceforth be held
out And through the secret dales they silent pas Where danger least least feare least perill was 97 But when these faire aduentrers entred we are Deepe in a vale Erminia staid her hast To be recall'd she had no cause to feare This formost hazard had she trimly past But dangers new tofore vnseene appeare New perils she descride new doubts she cast The way that her desire to quiet brought More difficult now seem'd than earst she thought 98 Armed to ride among her angrie foes She now perceiu'd it were great ouersight Yet would she not she thought her selfe disclose Vntill she came before her chosen knight To him she purpos'd to present the rose Pure spotlesse cleane vntoucht of mortall wight She staid therefore and in her thoughts more wise She call'd her squire whom thus she gan aduise 99 Thou must quoth she be mine ambassadore Be wise be carefull true and diligent Goe to the campe present thy selfe before The Prince Tancredie wounded in his tent Tell him thy mistresse comes to cure his sore If he to grant her peace and rest consent Gainst whom fierce loue such cruell war hath reased So shall his wounds be cur'd her torments eased 100 And say in him such hope and trust she hath That in his powres she feares no shame nor scorne Tell him thus much and what so ere he sath Vnfold no more but make a quicke returne I for this place is free from harme and scath Within this valley will meanewhile soiorne Thus spake the Princesse and her seruant trew To execute the charge imposed flew 101 And was receiu'd he so discreetly wrought First of the watch that guarded in their place Before the wounded Prince than was he brought Who heard his message kinde with gentle grace Which told he left him tossing in his thought A thousand doubts and turn'd his speedie pace To bring his Ladie and his mistresse word She might be welcome to that courteous Lord. 102 But she impatient to whose desire Greeuous and harmefull seem'd each little stay Recounts his steps and thinks now drawes he nire Now enters in now speakes now comes his way And that which greeu'd her most the carefull squire Lesse speedie seem'd than ere before that day Lastly she forward rode with loue to guide Vntill the Christian tents at hand she spide 103 Inuested in her starrie vaile the night In her kinde armes embraced all this round The siluer moone from sea vprising bright Spred frostie pearle on the canded ground And Cinthia like for beauties glorious light The loue-sicke Nymph threw glistring beames around And counsellors of her old loue she made Those vallies dumbe that silence and that shade 104 Beholding then the campe quoth she O faire And castle-like pauilions richly wrought From you how sweet me thinketh blowes the aire How comforts it my hart my soule my thought Through heau'ns faire grace from gulfe of sad despaire My tossed barke to port well nie is brought In you I seeke redresse for all my harmes Rest midst your weapons peace amongst your armes 105 Receiue me than and let me mercie finde As gentle loue assureth me I shall Among you had I entertainment kinde When first I was the Prince Tancredies thrall I couet not led by ambition blinde You should me in my fathers throne enstall Might I but serue in you my Lord so deare That my content my ioy my comfort weare 106 Thus parled she poore soule and neuer feared The sudden blow of fortunes cruell spight She stood where Phebes splendant beame appeared Vpon her siluer armour double bright The place about her round the shining cleered Of that pure white wherein the Nymph was dight The Tigresse great that on her helmet laid Bore witnes where she went and where she staid 107 So as her fortune would a Christian band Their secret ambush there had closely framed Led by two brothers of Italia land Yong Polipherne and Alicandro named These with their forces watched to withstand Those that brought vittailes to their foes vntamed And kept that passage them Erminia spide And fled as fast as her swift steed could ride 108 But Polipherne before whose watrie eies His aged father strong Clorinda slew When that bright sheeld and siluer helme he spies The Championesse he thought he saw and knew Vpon his hidden mates for aide he cries Gainst his supposed foe and forth he flew As he was rash and heedlesse in his wrath Bending his lance thou art but dead he sath 109 As when a chased hinde her course doth bend To seeke by soile to finde some ease or good Whether from craggie rocke the spring descend Or softly glide within the shadie wood If there the dogs she meet where late she wend To comfort her weake lims in cooling flood Againe she flies swift as she fled at first Forgetting weaknesse wearinesse and thirst 110 So she that thought to rest her wearie spright And quench the endlesse thirst of ardent loue With deare embracements of her Lord and knight But such as marriage rites should first approue When she beheld her foe with weapon bright Threat'ning her death his hastie courser moue Her loue her Lord her selfe abandoned She spurr'd her speedie steed and swift she fled 111 Erminia fled scantly the tender grasse Her Pegasus with his light footesteps bent Her maidens beast for speed did likewise passe Yet diuers waies such was their feare they went The squire who all too late return'd alas With tardie newes from Prince Tancredies tent Fled likewise when he saw his mistresse gone It booted not to soiourne there alone 112 But Alicandro wiser than the rest Who this suppos'd Clorinda saw likewise To follow her yet was he nothing prest But in his ambush still and close he lies A messenger to Godfrey he addrest That should him of this accident aduise How that his brother chas'd with naked blade Clorindas selfe or else Clorindas shade 113 Yet that it was or that it could be she He had small cause or reason to suppose Occasion great and weightie must it be Should make her ride by night among her foes What Godfrey willed that obserued he And with his soldiers lay in ambush close These newes through all the Christian armie went In euerie cabbin talkt and euerie tent 114 Tancred whose thoughts the squire had fild with doubt By his sweet words suppos'd now hearing this Alas the virgin came to seeke me out And for my sake her life in danger is Himselfe foorthwith he singled from the rout And rode in haste though halfe his armes he mis Among those sandie fields and valleis greene To seeke his loue he gallopte fast vnseene The seuenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument A shepherd faire Erminia entertaines Whom whilst Tancredie seekes in vaine to finde He is entrapped in Armidaes traines Raimond with strong Argantes is assignde To fight an Angell to his aide he gaines Sathan that sees the Pagans furie blinde And hastie wrath turne to his losse and
all In combat close each hoste to other stept For now the wings had skirmish hot begonne And with their battels forth the footmen ronne 32 But who was first of all the Christian traine That gaue the onset first first wonne renowne Gildippes thou wert she for by thee slaine The king of Orms Hircano tumbled downe The mans brest bone thou clou'st and rent in twaine So heau'n with honour would thee blesse and crowne Pierst through he fell and falling hard withall His foe prais'd for her strength and for his fall 33 Her lannce thus broake the hardie dame forth drew With her strong hand a fine and trenchant blade And gainst the Persians fierce and bold she flew And in their troupe wide streets and lanes she made Euen in the girdling stead deuided new In peeces twaine Zopire on earth she lade And then Alarcos head she swapt off cleene Which like a football tumbled on the greene 34 A blow feld Artaxerxes with a thrust Was Argeus slaine the first lay in a trance Ismaels left hand cut off fell in the dust For on his wrest her sword fell downe by chance The hand let goe the bridle where it lust The blow vpon the coursers eates did glance Who felt the raines at large and with the stroake Halfe mad the rankes disordred troubled broake 35 All these and many moe by time forgot She slew and wounded when against her came The angrie Persians all cast on a knot For on her person would they purchace fame But her deare spouse and husband wanted not In so great need to aide the noble dame Thus ioin'd the haps of warre vnhurt they proue Their strength was double double was their loue 36 The noble louets vse well might you see A wondrous guise till then vnseene vnhard To saue themselues forgot both he and shee Each others life did keepe defend and guard The stroakes that gainst her Lord discharged bee The dame had care to beare to breake to ward His shield kept off the blowes bent on his deare Which if need be his naked head should beare 37 So each sau'd other each for others wrong Would veng'ance take but not reuenge their owne The valiant Soldan Artabano strong Of Boecan isle by her was ouerthrowne And by his hand the bodies dead among Aluante that durst his mistresse wound fell downe And she betweene the eies hit Arimonte Who hurt her Lord and cleft in twaine his fronte 38 But Altamore who had that wing to lead Farre greater slaughter on the Christians made For where he turn'd his sword or twinde his stead He slew or man and beast on earth downe lade Happie was he that was at first strucke dead That fell not downe on liue for whom his blade Had spar'd the same cast in the dustie streete His horse tore with his teeth brus'd with his feete 39 By this braue Persians valour kild and slaine Were strong Brunello and Ardonio great The first his head and helme had cleft in twaine The last in stranger wise he did entreat For through his hart he pierst and through the vaine Where laughter hath his fountaine and his seat So that a dreedfull thing beleeu'd vneath He laught for paine and laught himselfe to death 40 Nor these alone with that accursed knife Of this sweete light and breath depriued lie But with that cruell weapon lost their life Gentonio Guascar Rosimond and Guie Who knowes how many in that fatall strife He slew What knights his courser fierce made die The names and countries of the people slaine Who tels their wounds and deaths who can explaine 41 With this fierce king encounter durst not one Not one durst combat him in equall field Gildippes vndertooke that taske alone No doubt could make her shrinke no danger yield By Thermodonte was neuer Amazone That menag'd steeled axe or caried shield That seem'd so bold as she so stronge so light When foorth she ronne to meet that dreadfull knight 42 She hit him where with gold and ritch anmaile His Diademe did on his helmet flame She broake and cleft the crowne and caus'd him vaile His proud and loftie top his crest downe came Strong seem'd her arme that could so well assaile The Pagan shooke for spite and blusht for shame Forward he rusht and would at once requite Shame with disgrace and with reuenge despite 43 Right on the front he gaue that Ladie kinde A blow so huge so strong so great so sore That out of sense and feeling downe she twinde But her deare knight his loue from ground vpbore Were it their fortune or his noble minde He staid his hand and stroake the dame no more A Lion so stalkes by and with proud eies Beholds but scornes to hurt a man that lies 44 This while Ormondo false whose cruell hand Was arm'd and prest to giue the traitrous blow With all his fellowes mongst Godfredoes band Entred vnseene disguis'd that few them know The theeuish Wolfes when night oreshades the land That seeme like faithfull dogs in shape and show So to the closed folds in secret creepe And entrance seeke to kill some harmlesse sheepe 45 He proched nie and to Godfredoes side The bloodie Pagan now was placed neare But when his colours gold and white he spide And saw the other signes that forged weare See see this traitor false the captaine cride That like a Frenchman would in show appeare Behold how neere his mates and he are crept This said vpon the villaine foorth he lept 46 Deadly he wounded him and that false knight Nor strikes nor wards nor striueth to be gone But as Medusas head ware in his sight Stood like a man new turn'd to marble stone All lances broke vnsheath'd all weapons bright All quiuers emptied were on them alone In parts so many were the traitours cleft That those dead men had no dead bodies left 47 When Godfrey was with Pagan blood bespred He entred then the fight and that was past Where the bold Persian fought and combatted Where the close rankes he op'ned cleft and brast Before the knight the troupes and squadrons fled As Affricke dust before the Southren blast The Duke recall'd them in array them placed Staid those that fled and him assail'd that chaced 48 The champions strong there fought a battell stout Troie neuer saw the like by Xanthus old A conflict sharpe there was meane-while on fout Twixt Baldwine good and Muleasses bold The horsemen also neare the mountaines rout And in both wings a furious skirmish hold And where the barb'rous Duke in person stood Twixt Tisiphernes and Adrastus prood 49 With Emiren Robert the Norman stroue Long time they fought yet neither lost nor wonne The other Roberts helme the Indian cloue And broke his armes their fight would soone be donne From place to place did Tisiphernes roue And found no match against him none durst ronne But where the prease was thickest thither flew The knight and at each stroke feld hurt or slew 50 Thus fought they
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
iron strong But each a glaue had pendant by his side Their bowes and quiuers at their shoulders hong Their horses well enur'd to chace and ride In dietspare vntir'd with labour long Readie to charge and to retire at will Though broken scattred fled they skirmish still 51 Tatine their guide and except Tatine none Of all the Greekes went with the Christian host O sinne O shame O Greece accurst alone Did not this fatall war affront thy coast Yet sattest thou an idle looker on And glad attendest which side wonne or lost Now if thou be a bondslaue vile become No wrong is that but Gods most righteous dome 52 In order last but first in worth and fame Vnfear'd in fight vntir'd with hurt or wound The noble squadron of aduentrers came Terrors to all that tread on Asian ground Cease Orpheus of thy Minois Arthur shame To boast of Launcelot or thy table round Kor these whom antique times with laurell drest These far exceed them thee and all the rest 53 Dudon of Consa was their guide and Lord And for of worth and birth alike they beene They chose him captaine by their free accord For he most actes had done most battails seene Graue was the man in yeeres in lookes in word His locks were gray yet was his courage greene Of worth and might the noble badge he bore Old scarres of greeuous wounds receiu'd of yore 54 After came Eustace well ysteemed man For Godfreyes sake his brother and his owne The king of Norwaies heire Gernando than Proud of his fathers titles scepter crowne Roger of Balnauill and Engerlan For hardie knights approoued were and knowne Besides were numbred in that warlike traine Rambald Gentonio and the Gerards twaine 55 Vbaldo than and puissant Rosimond Of Lancaster the heire in ranke succeed Let none forget Obizo of Tuscaine lond Well worthie praise for many a worthie deed Nor those three brethren Lombards fierce and yond Achilles Sforza and sterne Palameed Nor Ottons shield he conqu'red in those stowres In which a snake a naked childe deuoures 56 Guascher and Raiphe in valour like there was The one and other Guido famous both Germer and Eberard to ouerpas In foule obliuion would my muse be loth With his Gildippes deere Edward alas A louing paire to war among them go'th In bond of vertuous loue together tied Together seru'd they and together died 57 In schoole of loue are all things taught we see There learn'd this maide of armes the irefull guise Still by his side a faithfull garde went shee One trueloue knot their liues together ties No wound to one alone could dang'rous bee But each the smart of others anguish tries If one were hurt the other felt the sore She lost her blood he spent his life therefore 58 But these and all Rinaldo far exceedes Star of this spheare the dimond of this ring The nest where courage with sweete mercie breedes A comet worthie each eies wondering His yeeres are fewer than his noble deedes His fruit is ripe soone as his blossoms spring Armed a Mars might coyest Venus moue And if disarm'd then God himselfe of loue 59 Sophia by Adige flowrie banke him bore Sophia the faire spouse to Bertoldo great Fit mother for that pearle and before The tender impe was wained from the teat The Princesse Maud him tooke in vertues lore She brought him vp fit for each worthie feat Till of these wars the golden trumpe he heares That soundeth glorie fame praise in his eares 60 And then though scantly three times fiue yeeres old He fled alone by many an vnknowne coast Ore Aegean seas by many a Greekish hold Till he arriued at the Christian hoast A noble flight aduentrous braue and bold Whereon a valiant Prince might iustly boast Three yeeres he seru'd in field when scant begin Few golden haires to decke his Iuorie chin 61 The horsemen past their void left stations fill The bands on foote and Reymond them beforne Of Tholouse Lord from lands neere Piraene hill By Garound streames and salt sea billowes worne Fowre thousand foote he brought well arm'd and skill Had they all paines and trauell to haue borne Stout men of armes and with their guide of powre Like Troyes old towne defenst with Ilions towre 62 Next Stephen of Amboise did fiue thousand leed The men he prest from Toures and Blois but late To hard assaies vnfit vnsure at need Yet arm'd to point in well attempted plate The land did like it selfe the people breed The soile is gentle smooth soft delicate Boldly they charge but soone retire for dout Like fire of straw soone kindled soone burnt out 63 The third Alcasto marched and with him The Boaster brought sixe thousand Switzers bold Audacious were their lookes their faces grim Strong castles on the Alpine clifts they hold Their shares and culters broke to armours trim They change that mettall cast in warlike mold And with this band late heards and flocks that guied Now kings and realmes he threat'ned and defied 64 The glorious standard last to heau'n they sprad With Peters keyes ennobled and his crowne With it seuen thousand stout Camillo had Embattailed in wals of iron browne In this aduenture and occasion glad So to reuiue the Romaines old renowne Or proue at least to all of wiser thought Their harts were fertill land although vnwrought 65 But now was passed euery regiment Each band each troope each person worth regard When Godfrey with his Lords to counsell went And thus the Duke his princely will declar'd I will when day next cleeres the firmament Our readie host in haste be all prepar'd Closely to march to Sions noble wall Vnseene vnheard or vndescride at all 66 Prepare you then for trauaile strong and light Fierce to the combat glad to victorie And with that word and warning soone was dight Each soldier longing for neere comming glorie Impatient be they of the morning bright Of honour so them prickt the memorie But yet their chieftaine had conceau'd a feare Within his hart but kept it secret theare 67 For he by faithfull spiall was assured That Egypts king was forward on his way And to arriue at Gaza old procured A fort that on the Sirian fronters lay Nor thinkes he that a man to wars enured Will ought forslow or in his iourney stay For well he knew him for a dang'rous foe An herald cald he then and spake him soe 68 A pinnesse take thee swift as shaft from bowe And speede thee Henrie to the Greekish maine There should arriue as I by letters knowe From one that neuer ought reports in vaine A valiant youth in whom all vertues flowe To helpe vs this great conquest to obtaine The Prince of Danes he is and brings to war A troope with him from vnder th' Artick star 69 And for I doubt the Greekish monarch slie Will vse with him some of his woonted craft To stay his passage or diuert awrie Elsewhere his forces his first iournay laft My herald good and messenger
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
aide implore Of kinne and friends but I in this sad plight Inuoke thy helpe my kingdome to inuade So doth thy vertue so my need perswade 41 In thee I hope thy succours I inuoke To win the crowne whence I am dispossest For like renowne awaiteth on the stroke To cast the haughtie downe or raise th' opprest Nor greater glorie brings a scepter broke Than doth deliu'rance of a maid distrest And since thou canst at will performe the thing More is thy praise to make than kill a king 42 But if thou would'st thy succours due excuse Bicause in Christ I haue no hope nor trust Ah yet for vertues sake thy vertue vse Who scorneth gold because it lies in dust Be witnes heau'n if thou to grant refuse Thou dost forsake a maid in cause most iust And for thou shalt at large my fortunes know I will my wrongs and their great treasons show 43 Prince Arbilan that raigned in his life On faire Damascus was my noble sire Borne of meane race he was yet got to wife The Queene Charicha such was the fire Of her hot loue but soone the fatall knife Had cut the threed that kept their ioyes intire For so mishap her cruell lot had cast My birth her death my first day was her last 44 And ere fiue yeeres were fully come and gone Since his deere spouse to hastie death did yeild My father also dide consum'd with mone And sought his loue amid th' Elisian feild His crowne and me poore orphan left alone Mine vncle gouern'd in my tender eild For well he thought if mortall men haue faith In brothers brest true loue his mansion haith 45 He tooke the charge of me and of the crowne And with kinde shewes of loue so brought to passe That through Damascus great report was blowne How good how iust how kinde mine vncle was Whether he kept his wicked hate vnknowne And hid the serpent in the flowring grasse Or that true faith did in his bosome wonne Bicause he ment to match me with his sonne 46 Which sonne within short while did vndertake Degree of knighthood as beseem'd him well Yet neuer durst he for his Ladies sake Breake sword or lance aduanst in loftie cell As faire he was as Cithereas make As proud as he that signoriseth hell In fashions way-ward and in loue vnkinde For Cupid deignes not wound a currish minde 47 This Paragon should Queene Armida wed A goodly swaine to be a Princesse pheare A louely partner of a Ladies bed A noble head a golden crowne to weare His glosing sire his errand daily sed And sugred speeches whispred in mine eare To make me take this darling in mine armes But still the adder stopt her eares from charmes 48 At last he left me with a troubled grace Through which transparent was his inward spight Me thought I red the storie in his face Of these mishaps that on me since haue light Since that foule spirits haunt my resting place And gastly visions breake my sleepe by night Greefe horror feare my fainting soule did kill For so my minde foreshew'd my comming ill 49 Three times the shape of my deere mother came Pale sad dismaid to warne me in my dreame Alas how far transformed from the same Whose eies shone earst like Titans glorious beame Daughter she saies flie flie behold thy dame Foreshowes the treasons of thy wretched eame Who poyson gainst thy harmlesse life prouides This said to shapelesse aire vnseene she glides 50 But what auailes high walles or bulwarks strong Where fainting cowards haue the peece to gard My sexe too weake mine age was all too yong To vndertake alone a worke so hard To wander wilde the desart woods among A banisht maid of wonted ease debard So grieuous seem'd that leifer were my death And there t' expire where first I drew my breath 51 I fear'd deadly euill if long I staid And yet to flie had neither will nor powre Nor durst my hart declare it waxt affraid Least so I hasten might my dying howre Thus restlesse waited I vnhappie maid What hand should first plucke vp my springing flowre Euen as the wretch condemn'd to lose his life Awaites the falling of the murdring knife 52 In these extremes for so my fortune would Perchance preserue me to my further ill One of my noble fathers seruants ould That for his goodnes bore his childe good will With store of teares this treason gan vnfould And said my guardian would his pupill kill And that himselfe if promise made he kept Should giue me poison dire ere next I slept 53 And further told me if I wisht to liue I must conuay my selfe by secret flight And offred than all succours he could giue To aide his mistris banisht from her right His words of comfort feare to exile driue The dread of death made lesser dangers light So we concluded when the shadowes dim Obscur'd the earth I should depart with him 54 Of close escapes the aged patronesse Blacker than earst her sable mantle spred When with two trustie maides in great distresse Both from mine vncle and my realme I fled Oft lookt I backe but hardly could suppresse Those streames of teares mine eies vncessant shed For when I looked on my kingdome lost It was a griefe a death an hell almost 55 My steeds drew on the burden of my limmes But still my lookes my thoughts drew backe as fast So fare the men that from the hauens brims Far out to sea by sudden storme are cast Swift ore the grasse the rolling chariot swims Through waies vnknowne all night all day we hast At last nie tir'd a castle strong we fand The vtmost border of my natiue land 56 The fort Arontes was for so the knight Was call'd that my deliu'rance thus had wrought But when the tyrant saw by mature flight I had escapt the treasons of his thought The rage encreased in the cursed wight Gainst me and him that me to safetie brought And vs accus'd we would haue poysoned Him but descride to saue our liues we fled 57 And that in lew of his approued truth To poison him I hired had my guide That he dispatched mine vnbridled yuth Might range at will in no subiection tide And that each night I slept O foule vntruth Mine honor lost by this Arontes side But heau'n I pray send downe reuenging fire When so base loue shall change my chaste desire 58 Not that he sitteth on my regall throne Nor that he thirst to drinke my lukewarme blood So greeueth me as this despite alone That my renowne which euer blamelesse stood Hath lost the light wherewith it alwaies shone With forged lies he makes his tale so good And holds my subiects harts in such suspence That none takes armour for their Queenes defence 59 And though he doe my regall throne possesse Cloathed in purple crown'd with burnisht gold Yet is his hate his rancour nere the lesse Since nought asswageth malice when t is old He threats to burne Arontes
Before the Duke with comely boldnes came Brother and Lord quoth he too long you stand In your first purpose yet vouchsafe to frame Your thoughts to ours and lend this virgin aid Thanks are halfe lost when good turnes are delaid 79 And thinke not that Eustaces talke assaies To turne these forces from this present war Or that I wish you should your armies raise From Sions walles my speech tends not so far But we that venter all for fame and praise That to no charge nor seruice bounden ar Foorth of our troope may ten well spared bee To succour her which nought can weaken thee 80 And know they shall in Gods high seruice fight That virgins innocent saue and defend Deere will the spoiles be in the heauens sight That from a tyrants hatefull head we rend Nor seem'd I forward in this Ladies right With hope of gaine or profit in the end But for I know he armes vnwoorthie beares To helpe a maidens cause that shunnes or feares 81 Ah! be it not pardie declar'd in France Or elsewhere told where courtsie is in prise That we forsooke so faire a cheuisance For doubt or feare that might from fight arise Else here surrender I both sword and lance And sweare no more to vse this martiall guise For ill deserues he to be term'd a knight That beares a blunt sword in a Ladies right 82 Thus parled he and with confused sound The rest approued what the gallant said Their Generall the knights encompast round With humble grace and earnest suit they praid I yeeld quoth he and be it happie found What I haue granted let her haue your aid Yours be the thanks for yours the danger is If ought succeed as much I feare amis 83 But if with you my words may credit finde O temper then this heat misguides you soe Thus much he said but they with fancie blinde Accept his grant and let his counsell goe What works not beautie maris relenting minde Is eath to moue with plaints and shewes of woe Her lips cast forth a chaine of sugred words That captiue led most of the Christian Lords 84 Eustace recall'd her and bespake her thus Beauties chiefe darling let these sorrowes bee For such assistance shall you finde in vs As with your need or will may best agree With that she cheer'd her forehead dolorous And smil'd for ioy that Phebus blusht to see And had she daign'd her vaile for to remoue The god himselfe once more had falne in loue 85 With that she broke the silence once againe And gaue the knight great thanks in little speach She said she would his handmaid poore remaine So far as honours lawes receiu'd no breach Her humble gestures made the res'due plaine Dumbe eloquence perswading more than speach Thus women know and thus they vse the guise T' enchant the valiant and beguile the wise 86 And when she saw her enterprise had got Some wished meane of quicke and good proceeding She thought to strike the iron that was hot For euerie action hath his howre of speeding Medea or false Circe changed not So far the shapes of men as her eies spreeding Altred their harts and with her Sirens sound In lust their minds their harts in loue she drown'd 87 All wilie sleights that subtile women know Howrely she vs'd to catch some louer new None kend the bent of her vnstedfast bow For with the time her thoughts her lookes renew From some she cast her modest eies below At some her gazing glances roauing flew And while she thus pursewd her wanton sport She spurd the slow and rain'd the forward short 88 If some as hopelesse that she would be wonne Forbore to loue because they durst not moue her On them her gentle lookes to smile begonne As who say she is kinde if you dare proue her On euerie hart thus shone this lustfull sonne All stroue to serue to please to wowe to loue her And in their harts that chaste and bashfull weare Her eies hot glance dissolu'd the frost of feare 89 On them who durst with fingring bold assay To touch the softnes of her tender skin She lookt as coy as if she list not play And made as things of worth were hard to win Yet tempred so her deignfull lookes alway That outward scorne shew'd store of grace within Thus with false hope their longing harts she fired For hardest gotten things are most desired 90 Alone sometimes she walkt in secret where To ruminate vpon her discontent Within her eie-lids sat the swelling teare Not powred forth though sprong from sad lament And with this craft a thousand soules welneare In snares of foolish ruth and loue she hent And kept as slaues by which we fitly proue That witlesse pitie breedeth fruitlesse loue 91 Sometimes as if her hope vnloosed had The chaines of griefe wherein her thoughts lay fettered Vpon her minions lookt she blithe and glad In that deceitfull lore so was she lettered Not glorious Titan in his brightnes clad The sun-shine of her face in luster bettered For when she list to cheare her beauties so She smil'd away the cloudes of griefe and wo. 92 Her double charme of smiles and sugred words Lulled on sleepe the vertue of their sences Reason small aide gainst those assaults affords Wisedome no warrant from those sweet offences Cupids deepe riuers haue their shallow fordes His griefes bring ioyes his losses recompences He breedes the sore and cures vs of the paine Achilles lance that wounds and heales againe 93 While thus she them torments twixt frost and fier Twixt ioy and griefe twixt hope and restlesse feare The slie enchantresse felt her gaine the nier These were her flockes that golden fleeces beare But if some one durst vtter his desier And by complaining make his grieues appeare He labored hard rocks with plaints to moue She had not learn'd the Gamut then of loue 94 For downe she bent her bashfull eies to ground And dond the weede of womens modest grace Downe from her eies welled the pearles round Vpon the bright Ennamell of her face Such honie drops on springing flowres are found When Phebus holds the crimsen morne in chace Full seem'd her lookes of anger and of shame Yet pitie shone transparent through the same 95 If she perceiued by his outward cheare That any would his loue by talke bewray Sometimes she heard him sometimes stopt her eare And played fast and loose the liue-long day Thus all her louers kinde deluded weare Their earnest suit got neither yea nor nay But like the sort of wearie huntsmen fare That hunt all day and lose at night the hare 96 These were the artes by which she captiued A thousand soules of yong and lustie knights These were the armes where with loue conquered Their feeble harts subdew'd in wanton fights What wonder if Achilles were mis-led Or great Alcides at their Ladies sights Since these true champions of the Lord aboue Were thralles to beautie yeelden slaues to loue The fifth Booke
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
as thine His deere embracements shall thee strait enfold Together ioin'd in marriage rites diuine Lastly high place of honour shalt thou hold Among the matrons sage and dames Latine In Italie a land as each one tels Where valour true and true religion dwels 78 With such vaine hopes the seelie maid abused Promist her selfe mountaines and hils of gold Yet were her thoughts with doubts and feares confused How to escape vnseene out of that hold Because the watchmen euery minute vsed To garde the walles against the Christians bold And in such furie and such heat of war The gates or seld or neuer opened ar 79 With strong Clorinda was Erminia sweet In surest linkes of deerest friendship bound With her she vs'd the rising sunne to greet And her when Phebus glided vnder ground She made the louely partner of her sheet In both their harts one will one thought was found Nor ought she hid from that Virago bold Except her loue that tale to none she told 80 That kept she secret if Clorinda hard Her make complaints or secretly lament To other cause her sorrow she refard Matter enough she had of discontent Like as the bird that hauing close imbard Her tender yong ones in the springing bent To draw the searcher further from her neast Cries and complaines most where she needeth least 81 Alone within her chambers secret part Sitting one day vpon her heauie thought Deuising by what meanes what sleight what art Her close departure should be safest wrought Assembled in her vnresolued hart An hundreth passions stroue and ceaselesse fought At last she saw high hanging on the wall Clorindaes siluer armes and sigh'd withall 82 And sighing softly to her selfe she said How blessed is this virgin in her might How I enuie the glorie of the maid Yet enuie not her shape or beauties light Her steps are not with trailing garments staid Nor chambers hide her valours shining bright But arm'd she rides and breaketh sword and speare Nor is her strength restrain'd by shame or feare 83 Alas why did not heau'n these members fraile With liuely force and vigor strengthen so That I this silken gowne and slendervaile Might for a brestplate and an helme forgoe Then should not heat nor cold nor raine nor haile Nor stormes that fall nor blustring windes that bloe Withhold me but I would both day and night In pitched field or priuate combat fight 84 Nor haddest thou Argantes first begonne With my deare Lord that fierce and cruell fight But I to that encounter would haue ronne And haply tane him captiue by my might Yet should he finde our furious combat donne His thraldome easie and his bondage light For fetters mine embracements should he proue For diet kisses sweet for keeper loue 85 Or else my tender bosome opened wide And hart through pearsed with his cruell blade The bloodie weapon in my wounded side Might cure the wound which loue before had made Then should my soule in rest and quiet slide Downe to the valleies of th' Elisian shade And my mishap the knight perchance would moue To shed some teares vpon his murdred loue 86 Alas impossible are all these things Such wishes vaine afflict my wofull spright Why yeeld I thus to plaints and sorrowings As if all hope and helpe were perisht quight My hart dares much it soares with Cupids wings Why vse I not for once these armours bright I may sustaine a while this shield aloft Though I be tender feeble weake and soft 87 Loue strong bold mightie neuer-tired loue Supplieth force to all his seruants trew The fearefull stags he doth to battaile moue Till each his hornes in others blood imbrew Yet meane not I the haps of war to proue A stratageme I haue deuised new Clorinda like in this faire harnesse dight I will escape out of the towne this night 88 I know the men that haue the gate to ward If she command dare not her will denie In what sort else could I beguile the gard This way is only left this will I trie O gentle loue in this aduenture hard Thine handmaide guide assist and fortifie The time the howre now fitteth best the thing While stout Clorinda talketh with the king 89 Resolued thus without delay she went As her strong passion did her rashly guide And those bright armes downe from the rafter hent Within her closet did she closely hide That might she doe vnseene for she had sent The rest on sheeuelesse errands from her side And night her stealthes brought to their wished end Night patronesse of theeues and louers frend 90 Some sparkling fires on heau'ns bright visage shone His azure robe the orient blewnesse lost When she whose wit and reason both were gone Call'd for a squire she lou'd and trusted most To whom and to a maid a faithfull one Part of her will she told how that in post She would depart from Iudais king and fain'd That other cause her sudden flight constrain'd 91 The trustie squire prouided needments meet As for their iourney fitting most should bee Meane-while her vesture pendant to her feet Erminia doft as earst determin'd shee Stript to her petticote the virgin sweet So slender was that wonder was to see Her handmaid readie at her mistresse will To arme her helpt though simple were her skill 92 The rugged steele oppressed and offended Her daintie necke and locks of shining gold Her tender arme so feeble was it bended When that huge target it presum'de to hold The burnisht steele bright raies far off extended She faigned courage and appeared bold Fast by her side vnseene smil'd Venus sonne As earst he laughed when Alcides sponne 93 Oh with what labour did her shoulders beare That heauie burden and how slow she went Her maid to see that all the coasts were cleere Before her mistresse through the streetes was sent Loue gaue her courage loue exiled feare Loue to her tired lims new vigor lent Till she approched where the squire abode There tooke they horse forthwith and forward rode 94 Disguis'd they went and by vnused waies And secret pathes they stroue vnseene to gone Vntill the watch they meet which sore affraies These soldiers new when swords and weapons shone Yet none to stop their iourney once assaies But place and passage yeelded euery one For that white armour and that helmet bright Were knowne and feared in the darkest night 95 Erminia though some-deale she were dismaid Yet went she on and goodly count'nance bore She doubted least her purpose were bewraid Her too much boldnes she repented sore But now the gate her feare and passage staid The heedlesse porter she beguil'd therefore I am Clorinda ope the gates she cride Where as the king commands thus late I ride 96 Her womans voice and termes all framed beene Most like the speeches of the Princesse stout Who would haue thought on horsebacke to haue seene That feeble damsell armed round about The porter her obei'd and she betweene Her trustie squire and maiden sallied
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
behooues it me to creepe This sword can finde a better way than thine Although our foes the passage garde and keepe Let not quoth he thy princely foote repine To tread this seeret path though darke and deepe For great king Herod vs'd to tread the same He that in armes had whilome so great fame 31 This passage made he when he would suppresse His subiects pride and them in bondage hold By this he could from that small forteresse Antonia call'd of Antonie the bold Conuay his folke vnseene of more and lesse Eu'n to the middest of the temple old Thence hither where these priuie waies begin And bring vnseene whole armies out and in 32 But now saue I in all this world liues none That knowes the secret of this darksome place Come then where Aladine sits on his throne With Lords and princes set about his grace He feareth more then fitteth such an one Such signes of doubt shew in his cheere and face Fitly you come heare see and keepe you still Till time and season serue then speake your fill 33 This said that narrow entrance past the knight So creepes a camell through a needles eie And through the waies as black as darkest night He followed him that did him rule and guie Strait was the way at first withouten light But further in did further amplifie So that vpright walked at ease the men Ere they had passed halfe that secret den 34 A priuie doore Ismen vnlockt at last And vp they clombe a little vsed staire Thereat the day a feeble beame in cast Dimme was the light and nothing cleene the aire Out of the hollow caue at length they past Into a goodly hall high broad and faire Where crown'd with gold and all in purple clad Sate the sadking among his nobles sad 35 The Turke close in his hollow cloud imbard Vnseene at will did all the prease behold These heauie speeches of the king he hard Who thus from loftie siege his pleasure told My Lords last day our state was much empard Our friends were slaine kild were our soldiers bold Great helpes and greater hopes are vs bereft Nor ought but aide from Egypt land is left 36 And well you see far distant is that aid Vpon our heeles our danger treadeth still For your aduise was this assemblie maid Each what he thinketh speake and what he will A whisper soft arose when this was said As gentle winds the groues with murmur fill But with bold face high lookes and merrie cheare Argantes rose the rest their talke forbeare 37 O worthie soueraigne thus began to say The hardie yong man to the tyrant wise What words be these what feares doe you dismay Who knowes not this you need not our aduise But on our hands your hope of conquest lay And for no losse true vertue damnifies Make her our shield pray her vs succours giue And without her let vs not wish to liue 38 Nor say I this for that I ought misdeeme That Egypts promis'd succours faile vs might Doubtfull of my great maisters words to seeme To me were neither lawfull iust nor right I speake these words for spurres I them esteeme To waken vp each dull and fearfull spright And make our harts resolu'd to all assaies To winne with honour or to die with praise 39 Thus much Argantes said and said no more As if the case were cleere of which he spoke Orcano rose of princely stemibore Whose presence mongst them bore a mightie stroke A man esteemed well in armes of yore But now was coupled new in marriage yoke Yong babes he had to fight which made him loth He was a husband and a father both 40 My Lord quoth he I will not reprehend The earnest zeale of this audacious speach From courage sprong which seld is close ipend In swelling stomacke without violent breach And though to you our good Circassian frend In termes too bold and seruent oft doth preach Yet hold I that for good in warlike feat For his great deedes respond his speeches great 41 But if it you beseeme whom grauer age And long experience hath made wise and slie To rule the heat of youth and hardie rage Which somewhat haue misled this knight awrie In equall ballance ponder than and gage Your hopes far distant with your perils nie This townes old walles and rampires new compare With Godfreys forces and his engins rare 42 But if I may say what I thinke vnblamed This towne is strong by nature scite and art But engins huge and instruments are framed Gainst these defences by our aduerse part Who thinkes him most secure is eathest shamed I hope the best yet feare vnconstant Mart And with this siege if we be long vp pent Famine I doubt our store will all be spent 43 For all that store of cattell and of graine Which yesterday within these walles you brought While your proud foes triumphant through the plaine On nought but shedding blood and conquest thought Too little is this citie to sustaine To raise the siege vnlesse some meanes be sought And it must last till the prefixed howre That it be rais'd by Egypts aide and powre 44 But what if that appointed day they mis Or else ere we expect what if they came The victorie yet is not ours for this Oh saue this towne from ruine vs from shame With that same Godfrey still our watfare is These armies soldiers captaines are the same Who haue so oft amid the dustie plaine Turks Persians Syrians and Arabians slaine 45 And thou Argantes wottest what they bee Oft hast thou fled from that victorious host Thy shoulders often hast thou let them see And in thy feet hath beene thy sauegard most Clorinda bright and I fled eeke with thee None than his fellowes had more cause to bost Nor blame I any for in euery fight We shewed courage valour strength and might 46 And though this hardie knight the certaine threat Of neare approching death to heare disdaine Yet to this state of losse and danger great From this strong foe I see the tokens plaine No fort how strong so ere by art or seat Can hinder Godfrey why he should not raine This makes me say to witnes heau'n I bring Zeale to this state loue to my Lord and king 47 The king of Tripolie was well aduised To purchase peace and so preserue his crowne But Soliman who Godfreys loue despised Is either dead or deepe in prison throwne Else fearefull is he run away disguised And scant his life is left him for his owne And yet with gifts with tribute and with gold He might in peace his empire still haue hold 48 Thus spake Orcanes and some inkling gaue In doubtfull words of that he would haue said To sue for peace or yeeld himselfe a slaue He durst not openly his king perswade But at those words the Soldan gan to raue And gainst his will wrapt in the cloud he staid Whom Ismen thus bespake how can you beare These words my
Lord or these reproches heare 49 Oh let me speake quoth he with ire and scorne I burne and gainst my will thus hid I stay This said the smokie cloud was cleft and torne Which like a vaile vpon them stretched lay And vp to open heau'n forthwith was borne And left the Prince in vew of lightsome day With princely looke amid the prease he shin'de And on a sodaine thus declar'd his minde 50 Of whom you speake behold the Soldan here Neither affraid nor ron away for dread And that these slanders lies and fables were This hand shall proue vpon that cowards head I who haue shed a sea of blood well nere And heapt vp mountaines high of Christians dead I in their campe who still maintain'd the fray My men all murdred I that ron away 51 If this or any coward vile beside False to his faith and countrie dares replie And speake of concord with yond men of pride By your good leaue sir king here shall he die The lambes and wolues shall in one fold abide The doues and serpents in one nest shall lie Before one towne vs and these Christians shall In peace and loue vnite within one wall 52 While thus he spoke his broad and trenchant sword His hand held high aloft in threatning guise Dombe stood the knights so dreadfull was his word A storme was in his front fire in his eies He turn'd at last to Sions aged Lord And calm'd his visage sterne in humbler wise Behold quoth he good Prince what aide I bring Since Soliman is ioyn'd with Iudaes king 53 King Aladine from his rich throne vpstart And said oh how I ioy thy face to vew My noble friend it less'neth in some part My greefe for slaughter of my subiects trew My weake estate to stablish come thou art And maist thine owne againe in time renew If heau'ns consent with that the Soldan bold In deere embracements did he long enfold 54 Their greetings done the king resinde his throne To Solman and set himselfe beside In a rich seat adorn'd with gold and stone And Ismen sage did at his elbow bide Of whom he askt what way they two had gone And he declar'd all what had them betide Clorinda bright to Soliman addrest Her salutations first then all the rest 55 Among them rose Ormusses valiant knight Whom late the Soldan with a conuoy sent And when most hot and bloodie was the fight By secret pathes and blinde by-waies he went Till aided by the silence and the night Safe in the cities walles himselfe he pent And there refresht with come and cattell store The pined soldiers famisht nie before 56 With surly count'nance and disdainfull grace Sullen and sad sate the Circassian stout Like a fierce lion grombling in his place His firie eies that turnes and rolles about Nor durst Orcanes vew the Soldans face But still vpon the floore did pore and tout Thus with his Lords and peeres in counselling The Turkish monarch sate with Iudaes king 57 Godfrey this while gaue victorie the raine And following her the streits he opened all Then for his soldiers and his captaines slaine He celebrates a stately funerall And told his campe within a day or twaine He would assault the cities mightie wall And all the heathen there enclos'd doth threat With fire and sword with death and danger great 58 And for he had that noble squadron knowne In the last fight which brought him so great aid To be the Lords and Princes of his owne Who followed late the slie entising maid And with them Tancred who had late beene throwne In prison deepe by that false witch betrai'd Before the hermit and some priuate frends For all those worthies Lords and knights he sends 59 And thus he said some one of you declare Your fortunes whether good or to be blamed And to assist vs with your valours rare In so great need how was your comming framed They blush and on the ground amazed stare For vertue is of little guilt ashamed At last the English Prince with count'nance bold The silence broke and thus their errors told 60 We not elect to that exploit by lot With secret flight from hence our selues withdrew Following false Cupid I denie it not Entised forth by loue and beauties hew A iealous fire burnt in our stomackes hot And by close waies we passed least in vew Her words her lookes alas I know too late Nursed our loue our iealousie our hate 61 At last we gan approach that wofull clime Where fire and brimstone downe from heau'n was sent To take reuenge for sinne and shamefull crime Gainst kinde commit by those who nould repent A lothsome lake of brimstone pitch and lime Oregoes that land earst sweet and redolent And when it moues thence stinch and smoke vp flies Which dim the welkin and infect the skies 62 This is the lake in which yet neuer might Ought that hath weight sinke to the bottome downe But like to corke to leaues or feathers light Stones iron men there fleet and neuer drowne Therein a castle stands to which by sight But ore a narrow bridge no way is knowne Hither vs brought here welcomd vs the witch The house within was stately pleasant ritch 63 The heau'ns were cleere and wholsome was the aire High trees sweet medowes waters pure and good For there in thickest shade of Mirtles faire A christall spring powr'd out a siluer flood Amid the herbes the grasse and flowres rare The falling leaues downe pattred from the wood The birds sung hymnes of loue yet speake I nought Of gold and marble rich and richly wrought 64 Vnder the curtaine of the greene-wood shade Beside the brooke vpon the veluet grasse In massie vessell of pure siluer made A banket rich and costly furnisht was All beastes all birds beguil'd by fowlers trade All fish were there in floods or seas that passe All dainties made by art and at the table An hundreth virgins seru'd for husbands able 65 She with sweet words and false entising smiles Infused loue among the dainties set And with empoys'ned cups our soules beguiles And made each knight himselfe and God forget She rose and turn'd againe within short whiles With changed lookes where wrath and anger met A charming rod a booke with her she brings On which she mumbled strange and secret things 66 She red and change I felt my will and thought I long'd to change my life and place of biding That vertue strange in me no pleasure wrought I leapt into the flood my selfe there hiding My legs and feet both into one were brought Mine armes and hands into my shoulders sliding My skin was full of scales like shields of bras Now made a fish where late a knight I was 67 The rest with me like shape like garments wore And diu'de with me in that quicksiluer streame Such minde to my remembrance then I bore As when on vaine and foolish things men dreame At last our shape it pleas'd her to restore Then
of comfort to his hart downe went And that darke night of sorrow somewhat cleared Yet now and then his griefe deepe sighes foorth sent His voice shrill plaints and sad laments oft reared Now to himselfe now to his murdred loue He spoke who heard perchance from heau'n aboue 90 Till Phoebus rising from his euening fall To her for her he mournes he cals he cries The nightingall so when her children small Some churle takes before their parents eies Alone dismaid quite bare of comforts all Tires with complaints the seas the shores the skies Till in sweete sleepe against the morning bright She fall at last so mourn'd so slept the knight 91 And clad in starrie vale amid his dreame For whose sweete sake he mourn'd appeard the maid Fairer than earst yet with that heau'nly beame Not out of knowledge was her louely shaid With lookes of ruth her eies celestiall seame To pitie his sad plight and thus she said Behold how faire how glad thy loue appeares And for my sake my deare forbeare these teares 92 Thine be the thankes my soule thou madest flit At vnawares out of her earthly nest Thine be the thankes thou hast aduanced it In Abrahams deare bosome long to rest There still I loue thee there for Tancred fit A seat prepared is among the blest There in eternall ioy eternall light Thou shalt thy loue enioy and she her knight 93 Vnlesse thy selfe thy selfe heau'ns ioies enuie And thy vaine sorrow thee of blisse depriue Liue know I loue thee that I nill denie As angels men as saints may wights on liue This said of zeale and loue foorth of her eie An hundreth glorious beames bright shining driue Amid which raies her selfe she clos'd from sight And with new ioy new comfort left her knight 94 Thus comforted he wakt and men discreet In surgerie to cure his wounds were sought Meane-while of his deare loue the reliques sweet As best he could to graue with pompe he brought Her tombe was not of viride Spartane greet Nor yet by cunning hand of Scopas wrought But built of polisht stone and thereon laid The liuely shape and purtrait of the maid 95 With sacred burning lamps in order long And mournfull pompe the corps were brought to ground Her armes vpon a leauelesse pine were hong The herse with cypresse armes with lawrell crown'd Next day the Prince whose loue and courage strong Drew foorth his limmes weake feeble and vnsound To visite went with care and reu'rence meet The buried ashes of his mistresse sweet 96 Before her new made tombe at last arriued The wofull prison of his liuing spright Pale cold sad comfortlesse of sense depriued Vpon the marble gray he fixt his sight Two streames of teares were from his eies deriued Thus with a sad alas began the knight Oh marble deare on my deare mistresse plast My flames within without my teares thou hast 97 Not of dead bones art thou the mournfull graue But of quicke loue the fortresse and the hold Still in my hart thy woonted brands I haue More bitter farre alas but not more cold Receaue these sighes these kisses sweete recaue In liquid drops of melting teares enrold And giue them to that bodie pure and chast Which in thy bosome cold entombd thou hast 98 For if her happie soule her eie doth bend On that sweet body which it lately drest My loue thy pittie cannot her offend Anger and wrath is not in angels blest She pardon will the trespasse of her frend That hope relieues me with these griefes opprest This hand she knowes hath onely sinn'd not I Who liuing lou'd her and for loue now die 99 And louing will I die O happie day When ere it chanceth but O farre more blest If as about thy polisht sides I stray My bones within thy hollow graue might rest Togither should in heau'n our spirits stay Togither should our bodies lie in chest So happie death should ioyne what life doth seuer O death O life sweete both both blessed euer 100 Meanewhile the newes in that besieged towne Of this mishap was whispred here and there Foorthwith it spred and for too true was knowne Her wofull losse was talked euery where Mingled with cries and plaints to heau'n vp throwne As if the cities selfe new taken were With conqu'ring foes or as if flame and fire Nor house nor church nor streete had left intire 101 But all mens eies were on Arsetes bent His sighes were deepe his lookes full of despaire Out of his wofull eies no teare there went His hart was hardned with his too much care His siluer locks with dust he foule besprent He knockt his breast his face he rent and tare And while the prease flockt to the Eunuch ould Thus to the people spake Argantes bould 102 I would when first I knew the hardie maid Excluded was among her Christian foes Haue follow'd her to giue her timely aid Or by her side this breath and life to lose What did I not or what left I vnsaid To make the king the gates againe vnclose But he denide his powre did are restraine My will my suit was waste my speech was vaine 103 Ah had I gone I would from danger free Haue brought to Sion that sweete nymph againe Or in the bloudie fight where kild was shee In her defence there noblie haue beene slaine But what could I do more the counsels bee Of God and man gainst my designments plaine Dead is Clorinda faire laid in colde graue Let me reuenge her whom I could not saue 104 Hierusalem heare what Argantes saith Heare heau'n and if he breake his oath and word Vpon this head cast thunder in thy wrath I will destroy and kill that Christian Lord Who this faire dame by night thus murdred hath Nor from my side I will vngird this sword Till Tancreds hart it cleaue and shed his blood And leaue his corse to wolues and crowes for food 105 This said the people with a ioyfull shoute Applaud his speeches and his words approue And calm'd their griefe in hope the boaster stoute Would kill the Prince who late had slaine his loue O promise vaine it otherwise fell out Men purpose but high Gods dispose aboue For vnderneath his sword this boaster dide Whom thus he scorn'd and threat'ned in his pride The thirteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument Ismeno sets to garde the forrest ould The wicked sprites whose ougly shapes affray And put to flight the men whose labour would To their darke shades let in heau'ns golden ray Thither goes Tancred hardie faithfull bould But foolish pitie lets him not assay His strength and courage heat the Christian powre Annoies whom to refresh Gods sends a showre 1 BVt scant dissolued into ashes cold The smoking towre fell on the scorched grasse When new deuise found out th' enchanter old By which the towne besieg'd secured was Of timber fit his foes depriue he wold Such terrour bred that late consumed masse So that the strength of Sions
toong which well he could O hardie knight who through these woods hast past Where death his pallace and his court doth hould O trouble not these soules in quiet plast O be not cruell as thy hart is bould Pardon these ghoasts depriu'd of heau'nly light With spirits dead why should men liuing fight 40 This found he grauen in the tender rinde And while he mused on this vncouth writ Him thought he heard the softly whistling winde His blastes amid the leaues and branches knit And frame a sound like speech of humaine kinde But full of sorrow griefe and woe was it Whereby his gentle thoughts all filled weare With pitie sadnes greefe compassion feare 41 He drew his sword at last and gaue the tree A mightie blow that made a gaping wound Out of the rift red streames he trickling see That all bebled the verdant plaine around His haire start vp yet once againe stroake he He nould giue ouer till the end he found Of this aduenture when with plaint and mone As from some hollow graue he heard one grone 42 Enough enough the voice lamenting said Tancred thou hast me hurt thou didst me driue Out of the bodie of a noble maid Who with me liu'd whom late I kept on liue And now within this woefull Cipresse laid My tender rinde thy weapon sharpe doth riue Cruell i st not enough thy foes to kill But in their graues wilt thou torment them still 43 I was Clorinda now imprison'd heere Yet not alone within this plant I dwell For euerie Pagan Lord and Christian peere Before the cities walles last day that fell In bodies new or graues I wote not cleere But here they are confin'd by magikes spell So that each tree hath life and sense each bou A murdrer if thou cut one twist art thou 44 As the sicke man that in his sleepe doth see Some oughly dragon or some chimere new Though he suspect or halfe perswaded bee It is an idle dreame no monster trew Yet still he feares he quakes and striues to flee So fearefull is that wondrous forme to vew So feard the knight yet he both knew and thought All were illusions false by witchcraft wrought 45 But cold and trembling waxt his frozen hart Such strange affects such passions it torment Out of his feeble hand his weapon start Himselfe out of his wits nigh after went Wounded he saw he thought for paine and smart His Ladie weepe complaine mourne and lament Nor could he suffer her deere blood to see Or heare her sighes that deepe far fetched be 46 Thus his fierce hart which death had scorned oft Whom no strange shape or monster could dismay With faigned showes of tender loue made soft A spirit false did with vaine plaints betray A whirling winde his sword heau'd vp aloft And through the forrest bare it quite away Orecome retir'd the Prince and as he came His sword he found and repossest the same 47 Yet nould returne he had no minde to trie His courage further in those forrests greene But when to Godfreyes tent he proched nie His spirits wakte his thoughts composed beene My Lord quoth he a witnesse true am I Of woonders strange beleeued scant though seene What of the fire the shades the dreadfull sound You heard all true by proofe my selfe haue found 48 A burning fire so are those desarts charmed Built like a batled wall to heau'n was reared Whereon with dartes and dreadfull weapons armed Of monsters foule mishapt whole bands appeared But through them all I past vnhurt vnharmed No flame or threatned blow I felt or feared Then raine and night I found but straight againe To day the night to sunshine turnd the raine 49 What would you more each tree through all that wood Hath sense hath life hath speech like humaine kind I heard their words as in that groue I stood That mournfull voice still still I beare in minde And as they were of flesh the purple blood At euery blow streames from the wounded rind No no not I nor any else I trow Hath powre to cut one leafe one branch one brow 50 While thus he said the Christians noble guide Felt vncouth strife in his contentious thought He thought what if himselfe in person tride Those witchcrafts strange and bring those charmes to nought For such he deem'd them or elsewhere prouide For timber easier got though further sought But from his studie he at last abraid Call'd by the Hermit old that to him said 51 Leaue off thy hardie thought an others hands Of these her plants the wood dispoilen shall Now now the fatall ship of conquest lands Her sailes are strucke her siluer anchores fall Our champion broken hath his worthlesse bands And looseth from the soile which held him thrall The time drawes nie when our proud foes in field Shall slaughtred lie and Sions for t shall yield 52 This said his visage shone with beames diuine And more than mortall was his voices sound Godfredos thought to other actes encline His working braine was neuer idle found But in the Crabbe now did bright Titan shine And scorcht with scalding beames the parched ground And made vnfit for toile or warlike feat His souldiers weake with labour faint with sweat 53 The Planets milde their lamps benigne quencht out And cruell starres in heau'n did signories Whose influence cast fierie flames about And hot impressions through the earth and skies The growing heat still gathred deeper rout The noisome warmth through lands and kingdomes flies A harmefull night a hurtfull day succeeds And woorse than both next morne her light outspreeds 54 When Phaebus rose he left his golden weed And dond a gite in deepest purple dide His sanguine beames about his forhead spreed A sad presage of ill that should betide With vermile drops at eau'n his tresses bleed Foreshowes of future heat from th' Ocean wide When next he rose and thus encreased still Their present harmes with dread of future ill 55 While thus he bent gainst earth his scorching raies He burnt the flowrets burnt his Clitie deare The leaues grew wan vpon the withred spraies The grasse and growing hearbs all parched weare Earth cleft in riftes in floods their streames decaies The barren cloudes with lightning bright appeare And mankind feard least Climenes childe againe Had driuen awry his fires il-guided waine 56 As from a furnace flew the smoake to skies Such smoake as that when damned Sodome brent Within his caues sweete Zephire silent lies Still was the aire the racke nor came nor went But ore the lands with lukewarme breathing flies The southren winde from sunburnt Africke sent Which thicke and warme his interrupted blasts Vpon their bosomes throates and faces casts 57 Nor yet more comfort brought the gloomienight In her thicke shades was burning heat vprold Her fable mantle was embrodred bright With blazing starres and gliding fires for gold Nor to refresh sad earth thy thirstie spright The niggard Moone let fall her May-dewes cold And dried vp the
her clothes she tare And full of woe these heauie words out threw Alas my knights are slaine my pris'ners free Yet of that conquest neuer boast shall hee 52 He in their place shall serue me and sustaine Their plagues their torments suffer sorrowes beare And they his absence shall lamentin vaine And waile his losse and theirs with many a teare Thus talking to her selfe she did ordaine A false and wicked guile as you shall heare Thither she hasted where the valiant knight Had ouercome and slaine her men in fight 53 Rinaldo there had doft and left his owne And on his backe a Pagans harnesse tide Perchance he deemed so to passe vnknowne And in those armes lesse noted safe to ride A headlesse corse in fight late ouerthrowne The Witch in his forsaken armes did hide And by a brooke expos'd it on the sand Whither she wisht would come a Christian band 54 Their comming might the dame foreknow right well For secret spies she sent foorth thousand waies Which euery day newes from the campe might tell Who parted thence booties to search or praies Beside the sprights coniur'd by sacred spell All what she askes or doubts reueales and saies The bodie therefore plast she in that part That furthred best her sleight her craft and art 55 And neere the corpes a varlet false and slie She left attirde in shepheards homely weed And taught him how to counterfeit and lie As time requir'd and he perform'd the deed With him your souldiers spoke of iealousie And false suspect mongst them he strow'd the seede That since brought foorth the fruit of strife and iarre Of ciuill brawles contention discord warre 56 And as she wished so the soldiers thought By Godfreyes practise that the Prince was slaine Yet vanisht that suspicion false to nought When truth spred forth her siluer wings againe Her false deuises thus Armida wrought This was her first deceit her formost traine What next she practis'd shall you heare me tell Against our knight and what thereof befell 57 Armida hunted him through wood and plaine Till on Orontes flowrie banks he staid There where the streame did part and meet againe And in the midst a gentle Island maid A pillour faire was pight beside the maine Nere which a little frigot floting laid The marble white the Prince did long behold And this inscription read there writ in gold 58 Who so thou art whom will or chance doth bring With happie steps to flood Orontes sides Know that the world hath not so strange a thing Twixt east and west as this small Island hides Then passe and see without more tarrying The hastie youth to passe the streame prouides And for the cogge was narrow small and strait Alone he row'd and bod his squires there wait 59 Landed he stalkes about yet nought he sees But verdant groues sweet shades and mossie rockes With caues and fountaines flowers herbes and trees So that the words he red he takes for mockes But that greene Isle was sweet at all degrees Wherewith entis'd downe sits he and vnlockes His closed helme and bares his visage faire To take sweet breath from coole and gentle aire 60 A rumbling sound amid the waters deepe Meanewhile he heard and thither turn'd his sight And tumbling in the troubled streame tooke keepe How the strong waues together rush and fight Whence first he saw with golden tresses peepe The rising visage of a virgin bright And then her necke her brests and all as low As he for shame could see or she could show 61 So in the twylight doth sometimes appeare A Nymph a Goddesse or a Fairie queene And though no Siren but a sprite this weare Yet by her beautie seem'd it she had beene One of those sisters false which haunted neare The Tirrhene shores and kept those waters sheene Like theirs her face her voice was and her sound And thus she sung and pleas'd both skies and ground 62 Ye happy youthes whom Aprill fresh and May Attire in flowring greene of lustie age For glorie vainc or vertues idle ray Doe not your tender limmes to toile engage In calme streames fishes birds in sunshine play Who followeth pleasure he is onely sage So nature saith yet gainst her sacred will Why still rebell you and why strine you still 63 O fooles who youth possesse yet scorne the same A pretious but a short abiding treasure Vertue it selfe is but an idle name Priz'd by the world boue reason all and measure And honour glorie praise renowme and fame That mens proud harts bewitch with tickling pleasure An Eccho is a shade a dreame a flowre With each winde blasted spoil'd with euery showre 64 But let your happie soules in ioy possesse The Iuorie castels of your bodies faire Your passed harmes salue with forgetfulnesse Haste not your comming euils with thought and caire Regard no blazing star with burning tresse Nor storme nor threatning skie nor thundring aire This wisdome is good life and worldly blis Kinde teacheth vs nature commands vs this 65 Thus sung the spirit false and stealing sleepe To which her tunes entis'd his heauie eies By step and step did on his senses creepe Still euery limme therein vnmoued lies Not thunders lowd could from this slumber deepe Of quiet death true image make him rise Then from her ambush forth Armida start Swearing reuenge and threatning torments smart 66 But when shee looked on his face a while And saw how sweet he breath'd how still he lay How his faire eies though closed seeme to smile At first she staid astound with great dismay Then sat her downe so loue can arte beguile And as she sate and lookt fled fast away Her wrath that on his forehead gazde the maid As in his spring Narcissus tooting laid 67 And with a vaile she wiped now and than From his faire cheeke the globes of siluer sweat And coole aire gathred with a trembling fan To mittigate the rage of melting heat Thus who would thinke it his hot eieglance can Of that cold frost dissolue the hardnesse great Which late congeald the hart of that faire dame Who late a foe a louer now became 68 Of woodbines lillies and of roses sweete Which proudly flowred through that wanton plaine All pletted fast well knit and ioyned meete She fram'd a soft but surely holding chaine Wherewith she bound his necke his hands and feete Thus bound thus taken did the prince remaine And in a coach which two old dragons drew She laid the sleeping knight and thence she flew 69 Nor turnd she to Damascus kingdomes large Nor to the fort builtin Asphaltes lake But iealous of her deare and precious charge And of her loue asham'd the way did take To the wide Ocean whither skiffe or barge From vs doth selde or neuer voiage make And there to frolike with her loue awhile She chose a waste a sole and desart I le 70 An Isle that with her fellowes beares the name Of fortunate for temperate aire and mould There in
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
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
know as one That from her breast her secret thoughts could straine Of little faith quoth he why wouldst thou hide Those causes true from me thy squire and guide 91 With that she fecht a sigh sad sore and deepe And from her lips her words slow trembling came Fruitlesse she said vntimely hard to keepe Vaine modestie farewell and farewell shame Why hope you restlesse loue to bring on sleepe Why striue your fires to quench sweete Cupids flame No no such cares and such respects beseeme Great Ladies wandring maides them nought esteeme 92 That night fatall to me and Antioch towne Then made a praie to her commaunding foe My losse was greater than was seene or knowne There ended not but thence began my woe Light was the losse of friends of Realme or crowne But with my state I lost my selfe alsoe Nere to be found againe for then I lost My wit my sense my hart my soule almost 93 Through fire and sword through blood and death Vafrine Which all my friends did burne did kill did chace Thou know'st I ronne to thy deere Lord and mine When first he entred had my fathers place And kneeling with salt teares in my swolne eine Great Prince quoth I grant mercie pitie grace Saue not my kingdome not my life I saide But saue mine honour let me die a maide 94 He lift me by the trembling hand from ground Nor staide he till my humble speech was donne But said a friend and keeper hast thou found Faire virgin nor to me in vaine you ronne A sweetnesse strange from that sweet voices sound Pierced my hart my brests weake fortresse wonne Which creeping through my bosome soft became A wound a sickenes and a quenchlesse flame 95 He visits me with speeches kinde and graue He sought to ease my griefes and sorrowes smart He said I giue thee libertie recaue All that is thine and at thy will depart Alas he robb'd me when he thought he gaue Free was Erminia but captiu'd her hart Mine was the bodie his the soule and minde He gaue the cage but kept the birde behinde 96 But who can hide desire or loue suppresse Oft of his worth with thee in talke I stroue Thou by my trembling fit that well couldst guesse What feauer held me saidst thou art in loue But I denaid for what can maids doe lesse And yet my sighes thy sayings true did proue In stead of speech my lookes my teares mine eies Told in what flame what fire thy mistresse fries 97 Vnhappie silence well I might haue told My woes and for my harmes haue sought reliefe Since now my paines and plaints I vtter bold Where none that heares can helpe or ease my griefe From him I parted and did close vpfold My wounds within my bosome death was chiefe Of all my hopes and helpes till loues sweet flame Pluckt off the bridle of respect and shame 98 And caus'd me ride to seeke my Lord and knight For he that made me sicke could make me sound But on an ambush I mischanst to light Of cruell men in armour clothed round Hardly I scapt their hands by mature flight And fled to wildernesse and desart ground And there I liu'd in groues and forrests wilde With gentle groomes and shepheards daughters milde 99 But when hot loue which feare had late supprest Reuiu'd againe there nould I longer sit But rode the way I came nor ere tooke rest Till on like danger like mishap I hit A troupe to forrage and to spoile addrest Encountred me nor could I flie from it Thus was I tane and those that had me cought Egyptians were and me to Gaza brought 100 And for a present to their captaine gaue Whom I entreated and besought so well That he mine honour had great care to saue And since with faire Armida let me dwell Thus taken oft escaped oft I haue Ah see what haps I past what dangers fell So often captiue free so oft againe Still my first bandes I keepe still my first chaine 101 And he that did this chaine so surely binde About my hart which none can loose but hee Let him not say goe wandring damsell finde Some other home thou shalt not bide with mee But let him welcome me with speeches kinde And in my wonted prison set me free Thus spake the Princesse thus she and her guide Talkt day and night and on their iourney ride 102 Through the high waies Vafrino would not pas A path more secret safe and short he knew And now close by the cities wall he was When sunne was set night in the East vpflew With drops of blood besmeerd he found the gras And saw where lay a warriour murdred new That all bebled the ground his face to skies He turnes and seemes to threat though dead he lies 103 His harnesse and his habit both bewraid He was a Pagan forward went the squire And saw whereas another champion laid Dead on the land all soild with blood and mire This was some Christian knight Vafrino said And marking well his armes and ritch attire He loos'd his helme and saw his visage plaine And cride alas here lies Tancredie slaine 104 The woefull virgin tarried and gaue heed To the fierce lookes of that proud Saracine Till that high crie full of sad feare and dreed Pierst through her hart with sorrow griefe and pine At Tancreds name thither she ranne with speed Like one halfe mad or drunke with too much wine And when she sawe his face pale bloodlesse dead She lighted nay she tumbled from her stead 105 Her springs of teares she looseth foorth and cries Hither why bringst thou me ah fortune blinde Where dead for whom I liu'd my comfort lies Where warre for peace trauell for rest I finde Tancred I haue thee see thee yet thine eies Lookte not vpon thy loue and handmaide kinde Vndoe their doores their lids fast closed seuer Alas I finde thee for to lose thee euer 106 I neuer thought that to mine eies my deare Thou could'st haue greeuous or vnpleasant beene But now would blinde or rather dead I weare That thy sad plight might be vnknowne vnseene Alas where is thy mirth and smiling cheare Where are thine eies cleere beames and sparkles sheene Of thy faire cheeke where is the purple read And foreheads whitnes are all gone all dead 107 Though gone though dead I loue thee still behold Death wounds but kils not loue yet if thou liue Sweete soule still in his brest my follies bold Ah pardon loues desires and stealthes forgiue Grant me from his pale mouth some kisses cold Since death doth loue of iust reward depriue And of thy spoiles sad death affoord me this Let me his mouth pale cold and bloodlesse kis 108 O gentle mouth with speeches kinde and sweete Thou didst relieue my griefe my woe and paine Ere my weake soule from this fraile bodie fleete Ah comfort me with one deare kisse or twaine Perchance if we aliue had hapt to meete They had beene giu'n which now are
forteresse And murder him vnlesse he yeeld the hold And me and mine threates not with war but death Thus causelesse hatred endlesse is vneath 60 And so he trusts to wash away the staine And hide his shamefull fact with mine offence And saith he will restore the throne againe To his late honour and due excellence And therefore would I should be algates slaine For while I liue his right is in suspence This is the cause my guiltlesse life is sought For on my ruine is his safetie wrought 61 And let the tyrant haue his harts desire Let him performe the crueltie he ment My guiltlesse blood must quench the ceaslesse fire On which my endlesse teares were bootlesse spent Vnlesse thou helpe to thee renowmed fire I flie a virgin orphan innocent And let these teares that on thy feet distill Redeeme the drops of blood he thirsts to spill 62 By these thy glorious feet that tread secure On necks of tyrants by thy conquests braue By that right hand and by those temples pure Thou seekes to free from Macons lore I craue Helpe for this sicknes none but thou canst cure My life and kingdome let thy mercie saue From death and ruine but in vaine I proue thee If right if truth if iustice cannot moue thee 63 Thou who dost all thou wishest at thy will And neuer willest ought but what is right Preserue this guiltlesse blood they seeke to spill Thine be my kingdome saue it with thy might Among these captains Lords and knights of skill Appoint me ten approued most in fight Who with assistance of my friends and kin May serue my kingdome lost againe to win 64 For loe a knight that hath a gate to ward A man of chifest trust about his king Hath promised so to beguile the gard That me and mine he vndertakes to bring Safe where the tyrant haply sleepeth hard He counseld me to vndertake this thing Of thee some little succour to intreat Whose name alone accomplish can the feat 65 This said his answer did the Nymph attend Her lookes her sighes her gestures all did pray him But Godfrey wisely did his grant suspend He doubts the worst and that awhile did stay him He knowes who feares no God he loues no frend He feares the heathen false would thus betray him But yet such ruth dwelt in his princely minde That gainst his wisdome pitie made him kinde 66 Besides the kindnes of his gentle thought Readie to comfort each distressed wight The maidens offer profit with it brought For if the Syrian kingdome were her right That wonne the way were easie which he sought To bring all Asia subiect to his might There might he raise munition armes and treasure To worke th' Egyptian king and his displeasure 67 Thus was his noble hart long time betwixt Feare and remorse not granting nor denaying Vpon his eies the dame her lookings fixt As if her life and death lay on his saying Some teares she shed with sighes and sobbings mixt As if her hope were dead through his delaying At last her earnest suit the Duke denaid But with sweet words thus would content the maid 68 If not in seruice of our God we fought In meaner quarrell if this sword were shaken Well might thou gather in thy gentle thought So faire a Princesse should not be forsaken But since these armies from the worlds end brought To free this sacred towne haue vndertaken It were vnfit we turn'd our strength away And victorie euen in her comming stay 69 I promise thee and on my princely word The burden of thy wish and hope repose That when this chosen temple of the Lord Her holy doores shall to his saints vnclose In rest and peace then this victorious sword Shall execute due vengeance on thy foes But if for pitie of a worldlie dame I left this worke such pitie were my shame 70 At this the Princesse bent her eies to ground And stood vnmou'd though not vnmarkt a space The secret bleeding of her inward wound Shed heau'nly dew vpon her angels face Poore wretch quoth she in teares and sorrowes drown'd Death be thy peace the graue thy resting place Since such thy hap that least thou mercie finde The gentlest hart on earth is proou'd vnkind 71 Where none attends what bootes it to complaine Mens froward harts are mou'd with womens teares As marble stones are pearst with drops of raine No plaints finde passage through vnwilling eares The tyrant haply would his wrath restraine Heard he these praiers ruthlesse Godfrey heares Yet not thy fault is this my chance I see Hath made eu'n pitie pitilesse in thee 72 So both thy goodnes and good hap denaid me Griefe sorrow mischiefe care hath ouerthrowne me The star that rul'd my birth-day hath betraid me My Genius sees his charge but dares not owne me Of Queene-like state my flight hath disarraid me My father dide ere he fiue yeeres had knowne me My kingdome lost and lastly resteth now Downe with the tree sith broke is euery bow 73 And for the modest lore of maidenhood Bids me not soiourne with these armed men Oh whither shall I flie what secret wood Shall hide me from the tyrant or what den What rocke what vault what caue can doe me good No no where death is sure it resteth then To scorne his powre and be it therefore seene Armida liu'd and dide both like a Queene 74 With that she lookt as if a proud disdaine Kindled displeasure in her noble minde The way she came she turn'd her steps againe With gestures sad but in disdainfull kinde A tempest railed downe her cheekes amaine With teares of woe and sighes of angers winde The drops her footsteps wash whereon she treads And seemes to step on pearles or christall beads 75 Her cheekes on which this streaming Nectar fell Still'd through the limbecke of her diamondeies The roses white and red resembled well Whereon the roarie May-deaw sprinkled lies When the faire morne first blusheth from her cell And breatheth balme from opened paradies Thus sigh'd thus mourn'd thus wept this louely queene And in each drop bathed a grace vnseene 76 Thrice twenty Cupids vnperceiued flew To gather vp this licour ere it fall And of each drop an arrow forged new Else as it came snatcht vp the christall ball And at rebellious harts for wilde fire threw O wondrous loue thou makest gaine of all For if she weeping sit or smiling stand She bends thy bow or kindleth else thy brand 77 This forged plaint drew forth vnfained teares From many eies and pearst each worthies hart Each one condoleth with her that her heares And of her griefe would helpe her beare the smart If Godfrey aide her not not one but sweares Some tygresse gaue him sucke on roughest part Midst the rude crags on Alpine cliffes aloft Hard is that hart which beautie makes not soft 78 But iollie Eustace in whose brest the brand Of loue and pitie kindled had the flame While other softly whispred vnder hand