diue and sweet refreshing take 77 So they the streaming showres with showtes and cries Salute which heau'n shed on the thirstie lands The falling liquor from the dropping skies He catcheth in his lap he barehead stands And his bright helme to drinke therein vnties In the fresh streames he diues his sweatie hands Their faces some and some their temples wet And some to keepe the drops large vessels set 78 Nor man alone to ease his burning sore Herein doth diue and wash and hereof drinks But earth it selfe weake feeble faint before Whose solid limmes were cleft with rifts and chinks Receiu'd the falling showres and gathred store Of liquor sweet that through her vaines downe sinks And moisture new infused largely was In trees in plants in herbes in flowres in gras 79 Earth like the patient was whose liuely blood Hath ouercome at last some sicknes strong Whose feeble limmes had been the bait and food Whereon his strange disease depastred long But now restor'd in health and welfare stood As sound as earst as fresh as faire as yong So that forgetting all his griefe and paine His pleasant robes and crownes he takes againe 80 Ceased the raine the sunne began to shine With fruitfull sweet benigne and gentle ray Full of strong powre and vigour masculine As be his beames in Aprill or in May. O happy zeale who trusts in helpe diuine The worlds afflictions thus can driue away Can stormes appease and times and seasons change And conquer fortune fate and dest'nie strange The fourteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument The Lord to Godfrey in a dreame doth shew His will Rinaldo must returne at last They haue their asking who for pardon sew Two knights to finde the Prince are sent in hast But Peter who by vision all foreknew Sendeth the searchers to a wisard plast Deepe in a vault who first at large declares Armidaes traines then how to shun those snanes 1 NOw from the fresh the soft and tender bed Of her still mother gentle night out flew The fleeting baulme on hils and dales she shed With honie drops of pure and pretious dew And on the verdure of greene forrests spred The virgin primrose and the violet blew And sweet breath'd Zephire on his spreading wings Sleepe ease repose rest peace and quiet brings 2 The thoughts and troubles of broad-waking day They softly dipt in milde obliuions lake But he whose Godhead heau'n and earth doth sway In his eternall light did watch and wake And bent on Godfrey downe the gracious ray Of his bright eie still ope for Godfreyes sake To whom a silent dreame the Lord downe sent Which told his will his pleasure and intent 3 Far in the east the golden gate beside Whence Phebus comes a christall port there is And ere the sunne his broad doores open wide The beame of springing day vncloseth this Hence come the dreames by which heau'ns sacred guide Reueales to man those high decrees of his Hence towards Godfrey ere he left his bed A vision strange his golden plumes bespred 4 Such semblances such shapes such purtraites faire Did neuer yet in dreame or sleepe appeare For all the formes in sea in earth or aire The signes in heau'n the stars in euery spheare All what was wondrous vncouth strange and raire All in that vision well presented weare His dreame had plast him in a christall wide Beset with golden fires top bottom side 5 There while he wondreth on the circles vast The stars their motions course and harmonie A knight with shining raies and fire embrast Presents himselfe vnwares before his eie Who with a voice that far for sweetnes past All humaine speech thus said approching nie What Godfrey know'st thou not thy Hugo heere Come and imbrace thy friend and fellow deere 6 He answ'red him that glorious shining light Which in thine eies his glistring beames doth place Estranged hath from my foreknowledge quight Thy countenance thy fauour and thy face This said three times he stretch his hands outright And would in friendly armes the knight embrace And thrice the spirit fled that thrice he twinde Nought in his folded armes but aire and winde 7 Lord Hugo smil'd not as you thinke quoth hee I clothed am in flesh and earthly mould My spirite pure and naked soule you see A Citizen of this celestiall hould This place is heau'n and heere a roome for thee Prepared is among Christs champions bould Ah when quoth he these mortall bonds vnknit Shall I in peace in ease and rest there sit 8 Hugo replide ere many yeeres shall ronne Amid the saints in blisse here shalt thou raine But first great wars must by thy hand be donne Much blood be shed and many Pagans slaine The holy citie by assault be wonne The land set free from seruile yoke againe Wherein thou shalt a Christian Empire frame And after thee shall Baldwine rule the same 9 But to encrease thy loue and great desire To heauen ward this blessed place behould These shining lampes these globes of liuing fire How they are turned guided moou'd and rould The Angels singing here and all their quire Then bend thine eies on yonder earth and mould All in that masse that globe and compasse see Land sea spring fountaine man beast grasse and tree 10 How vile how small and of how slender price Is there reward of goodnesse vertues gaine A narrow roome our glorie vaine vp-ties A little circle doth our pride containe Earth like an Isle amid the water lies Which sea sometime is call'd sometime the maine Yet nought therein responds a name so great It s but a lake a pond a marrish streat 11 Thus said the one the other bended downe His lookes to ground and halfe in scorne he smilde He sawe at once earth sea floud castell towne Strangely deuided strangely all compilde And wondred follie man so farre should drowne To set his hart on things so base and vilde That seruile empire searcheth and dombe same And scornes heau'ns blisse yet profreth heau'n the same 12 Wherefore he answred since the Lord not yet Will free my spirit from this cage of clay Least worldly errour vaine my voiage let Teach me to heau'n the best and surest way Hugo replide thy happy foote is set In the true path nor from this passage stray Onely from exile yoong Rinaldo call This giue I thee in charge else nought at all 13 For as the Lord of hoastes the king of blis Hath chosen thee to rule the faithfull band So he thy stratagems appointed is To execute so both shall winne this land The first is thine the second place is his Thou art this armies head and he the hand No other champion can his place supplie And that thou do it doth thy state denie 14 Th'inchanted forrest and her charmed treene With cutting steele shall he to earth downe hew And thy weake armies which too feeble beene To scale againe these wals r'inforced new And fainting lie dispersed on the greene
leaue this wandring pilgrimage And in my natiue soile againe to wonne To get some seely home I had desire Loth still to warme me at anothers fire 34 To Egypt ward where I was borne I went And bore thee with me by a rolling flood Till I with sauage theeues well nie was hent Before the brooke the theeues behinde me stood Thee to forsake I neuer could consent And gladly would I scape those outlawes wood Into the flood I leapt far from the brim My left hand bore thee with the right I swim 35 Swift was the currant in the middle streame A whirlpoole gaped with deuouring iawes The gulph on such mishap ere I could dreame Into his deepe abysse my carkasse drawes There I forsooke thee the wilde waters seame To pitie thee a gentle winde there blowes Whose friendly puffes safe to the shore thee driue Where wet and wearie I at last arriue 36 I tooke thee vp and in my dreame that night When buried was the world in sleepe and shade I saw a champion clad in armour bright That ore my head shaked a flaming balde He said I charge thee execute aright That charge this enfants mother on thee laid Baptise the childe high heau'n esteemes her deare And I her keeper will attend her neare 37 I will her keepe defend saue and protect I made the waters milde the tygresse tame O wretch that heau'nly warnings dost reiect The warriour vanisht hauing said the same Irose and iournayd on my way direct When blushing morne Tithons bed foorth came But for my faith is true and sure I weene And dreames are false you still vnchristened beene 38 A Pagan therefore thee I fostred haue Nor of thy birth the truth did euer tell Since you encreased are in courage braue Your sexe and natures selfe you both excell Full many a realme haue you made bond and slaue Your fortunes last your selfe remember well And how in peace and warre in ioy and teene I haue your seruant and your tutor beene 39 Last morne from skies eric stars exiled weare In deepe and deathlike sleepe my senses dround The selfesame vision did againe appeare With stormy wrathfull lookes and thundring sound Villaine quoth he within short while thy deare Must change her life and leaue this sinfull ground Thine be the losse the torment and the caire This said he fled through skies through cloudes aire 40 Heare then my ioy my hope my darling heare High heau'n some dire misfortune threatned hath Displeasd pardie because I did thee leare A lore repugnant to thy parents faith Ah for my sake this bold attempt forbeare Put off these sable armes appease thy wrath This said he wept she pensiue stood and sad Because like dreame herselfe but lately had 41 With cheerefull smile she answer'd him at last I will this faith obserue it seemes me true Which from my cradle age thou taught me hast I will not change it for religion new Nor with vaine shewes of feare and dreed agast This enterprise forbeare I to pursew No not if death in his most dreadfull face Wherewith he scareth mankind kept the place 42 Approchen gan the time while thus she spake Wherein they ought that dreadfull hazard trie She to Argantes went who should partake Of her renowne and praise or with her die Ismen with words more hastie still did make Their vertue great which by it selfe did flie Two balles he gaue them made of hollow bras Wherein enclos'd fire pitch and brimston was 43 And foorth they went and ouer dale and hill They hasted forward with a speedie pace Vnseene vnmarked vndeseride vntill Beside the engine close themselues they place New courage there their swelling harts did fill Rage in their breasts furie shone in their face They earnd to blow the fire and draw the sword The watch descride them both and gaue the word 44 Silent they passed on the watch begonne To reare a huge alarme with hideous cries Therewith the hardie couple forward ronne To execute their valiant enterpries So from a cannon or a roaring gonne At once the noise the flame and bullet flies They runne they giue the charge begin the fray And all at once their foes breake spoile and slay 45 They passed first through thousand thousand blowes And then performed their designment bould A firie ball each on the engin throwes The stuffe was drie the fire tooke quickely hould Furious vpon the timber worke it growes How it encreased cannot well be tould How it crept vp the peice and how to skies The burning sparkes and towring smoake vp-flies 46 A masse of sollid fier burning bright Roll'd vp in smouldring fumes there brusteth out And there the blustring winds adde strength and might And gather close the sparsed flames about The Frenchmen trembled at the dreadfull light To armes in haste and feare ran all the rout Downe fell the peice dreaded so much in warre Thus what long daies doth make one houre doth marre 47 Two christian bands this while came to the place With speedie haste where they beheld the fire Argantes to them cride with scornfull grace Your bloud shall quench these flames and quench mine ire This said the maide and he with sober pace Drew backe and to the banke themselues retire Faster then brookes which falling showres encrease Their foes augment and faster on them prease 48 The guilden port was opened and foorth stept With all his souldiers bould the Turkish king Readie to aide them two his force he kept When Fortune should them home with conquest bring Ouer the barres the hardie couple lept And after them a band of Christians fling Whom Soliman droue backe with courage stout And shut the gate but shut Clorinda out 49 Alone was she shut foorth for in that howre Wherein they clos'd the port the virgin went And full of heat and wrath her strength and powre Gaint Arimon that stroake her earst shee bent Shee slew the knight nor Argant in that stowre Wist of her parting or her fierce entent The fight the prease the night and darksome skies Care from his hart had tane sight from his eies 50 But when appeased was her angrie moode Her furie calm'd and setled was her head She saw the gates were shut and how shee stoode Amid her foes she held her selfe for dead While none her markt at last she thought it good To saue her life some other path to tread She feign'd her one of them and close her drew Amid the prease that none her sawe nor knew 51 Then as a wolfe guiltie of some misdeed Flies to some groue to hide himselfe from vew So fauour'd with the night with secret speed Disseured from the prease the damsell flew Tancred alone of her escape tooke heed He on that quarter was artiued new When Arimon she kild he thither came He sawe it markt it and pursu'd the dame 52 He deem'd she was some man of mickle might And on her person would he worship win Ouer the hilles the nimph her
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
I pray thee teach Of that hid world what be the lawes and speach 28 As diuers be their nations answred shee Their toongs their rites their lawes so diffrent arre Some pray to beasts some to a stone or tree Some to the earth the sunne or morning starre Their meates vnwholsome vile and hatefull bee Some eate mans flesh and captiues tane in warre And all from Calpes mountaine west that dwell In faith profane in life are rude and fell 29 But will our gracious God the knight replide That with his bloud all sinfull men hath bought His truth for euer and his Gospell hide From all those lands as yet vnknowne vnsought O no quoth she his name both farre and wide Shall there be knowne all learning thither brought Nor shall these long and tedious waies for euer Your world and theirs their lands your kingdoms seuer 30 The time shall come that saylers shall disdaine To talke or argue of Alcides streat And landes and seas that namelesse yet remaine Shall well be knowne their bounders scite and seat The ships encompasse shall the sollid maine As farre as seas outstretch their waters great And measure all the world and with the sunne About this earth this globe this compasse runne 31 A knight of Genes shall haue the hardiment Vpon this wondrous voyage first to wend Nor windes nor waues that ships insunder rent Nor seas vnus'd strange clime or poole vnkend Nor other perill nor astonishment That makes fraile harts of men to bow and bend Within Abilas strait shall keepe and hold The noble spirit of this saylor bold 32 Thy ship Columbus shall her canuasse wing Spread ore that world that yet concealed lies That scant swift fame her lookes shall after bring Though thousand plumes she haue and thousand eies Let her of Bacchus and Alcides sing Of thee to future age let this suffies That of thine actes she some forewarning giue Which shall in verse and noble storie liue 33 Thus talking swift twixt South and West they runne And sliced out twixtfroth and fome their way At once they saw before the setting sunne Behind the rising beame of springing day And when the morne her drops and dewes begunne To scatter broad vpon the flowring lay Farre off a hill and mountaine high they spide Whose top the cloudes enuiron cloath and hide 34 And drawing neere the hill at ease they vew When all the cloudes were molten falne and fled Whose top Pyramide wise did pointed shew High narrow sharpe the sides yet more outspred Thence now and than fire flame and smoake out flew As from that hill where vnder lies in bed Enceladus whence with imperious sway Bright fire breakes out by night blacke smoake by day 35 About the hill lay other Islands small Where other rockes crags clifts and mountaines stood Th'isles fortunate these elder time did call To which high heau'n they fain'd so kinde and good And of his blessings ritch so liberall That without tillage earth giues corne for food And grapes that swell with sweete and pretious wine There without pruning yeelds the fertill vine 36 The Oliue fat there euer buds and flowres The honie drops from hollow okes distill The falling brooke her siluer streames downe powres With gentle murmur from their natiue hill The westren blast tempreth with deawes and showres The sunnie rayes least heat the blossoms kill The fields Elisian as fond heathen saine Were there where soules of men in blisse remaine 37 To these their pilot steard and now quoth shee Your voyage long to end is brought well neare The happie isles of fortune now you see Of which great fame and little truth you heare Sweet wholsome pleasant fertile fat they bee Yet not so rich as fame reports they weare This said towards an island fresh she bore The first of ten that lies next Africkes shore 38 When Charles thus if worthie gouernesse To our good speed such tariance be no let Vpon this isle that heau'n so faire doth blesse To view the place on land a while vs set To know the folke and what God they confesse And all whereby mans hart may knowledge get That I may tell the wonders therein seene Another day and say there haue I beene 39 She answ'red him well fits this high desire Thy noble hart yet cannot I consent For heau'ns decree firme stable and intire Thy wish repugnes and gainst thy will is bent Nor yet the time hath Titans gliding fire Met forth prefixt for this discouerment Nor is it lawfull of the Ocean maine That you the secrets know or knowne explaine 40 To you withouten needle map or card It s giuen to passe these seas and there arriue Where in strong prison lies your knight imbard And of her pray you must the witch depriue If further to aspire you be prepar'd In vaine gainst fate and heau'ns decree you striue While thus she said the first seene isle gaue place And high and rough the second show'd his face 41 They saw how Eastward stretcht in order long The happie islands sweetly flowring lay And how the seas betwixt those Isles inthrong And how they shouldred land from land away In seuen of them the people rude among The shadie trees their sheds had built of clay The rest lay waste vnlesse wilde beastes vnseene Or wanton Nymphes roam'd on the moūtaines greene 42 A secret place they found in one of those Where the cleft shore sea in his bosome takes And twixt his stretched armes doth fold and close An ample Bay a rocke the hauen makes Which to the maine doth his broad backe oppose Whereon the roaring billow cleaues and brakes And here and there two crags like turrets hie Point forth a port to all that saile thereby 43 The quiet seas below lie safe and still The greenewood like a garland growes aloft Sweete caues within coole shades and waters shrill Where lie the Nymphes on Mosse and Iuie soft No anchor there needes hold her frigot still Nor cabble twisted sure though breaking oft Into this desart silent quiet glade Entred the dame and there her hauen made 44 The pallace proudly built quoth she behold That sits on top of yonder mountaines hight Of Christes true faith there lies the champion bold In idlenesse loue fancie folly light When Phoebus shall his rising beames vnfold Prepare you gainst the hill to mount vpright Nor let this stay in your bold harts breed care For saue that one all howres vnluckie are 45 But yet this euening if you make good speed To that hils foote with day-light might you passe Thus said the Dame their guide and they agreed And tooke their leaue and leapt forth on the grasse They found the way that to the hill doth leed And softly went that neither tired was But at the mountaines foot they both arriued Before the sunne his teame in waters diued 46 They saw how from the crags and cliftes below His proud and stately pleasant top grew out And how his sides were clad with
and eat 65 While thus she sung her sister lur'de them nie With many a gesture kinde and louing show To musicks sound as dames in court applie Their cunning feet and dance now swift now slow But still the knights vnmoued passed bie These vaine delights for wicked charmes they know Nor could their heau'nly voice or angels looke Surprise their harts if eie or eare they tooke 66 For if that sweetnes once but toucht their harts And profred there to kindle Cupids fire Straight armed reason to his charge vpstarts And quencheth lust and killeth fond desire Thus scorned were the dames their wiles and arts And to the pallace gates the knights retire While in their streames the damsels diued sad Asham'd disgraste for that repulse they had The sixteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument The searchers passe through all the pallace bright Where in sweet prison lies Rinaldo pent And doe so much that full of rage and spight With them he goes sad shamed discontent With plaints and prayers to retaine her knight Armida striues he heares but thence he went And she forlorne her pallace great and faire Destroies for griefe and flies thence through the aire 1 THE pallace great is builded rich and round And in the center of the inmost hold There lies a garden sweet on fertile ground Fairer than that where grew the trees of gold The cunning sprites had buildings rear'd around With doores and entries false a thousand fold A labyrinth they made that fortresse braue Like Dedals prison or Porsennaes graue 2 The knights past through the castles largest gate Though round about an hundreth ports there shine The doore leaues fram'd of carued siluer plate Vpon their golden hinges turne and twine They staid to view this worke of wit and state The workmanship excell'd the substance fine For all the shapes in that rich mettall wrought Saue speech of liuing bodies wanted nought 3 Alcides there sate telling tales and sponne Among the feeble troupes of damsels milde He that the firie gates of hell had wonne And heau'n vpheld false loue stood by and smild Armd with his club faire Iolee foorth ronne His club with bloud of monsters foule defilde And on her backe his lions skin had shee Too rough a barke for such a tender tree 4 Beyond was made a sea whose azure flood The hoarie froth crusht from the surges blew Wherein two nauies great well ranged stood Of warlike ships fire from their armes out flew The waters burnt about their vessels good Such flames the gold therein enchased threw Caesar his Romaines hence the Asian kings Thence Antonie and Indian princes brings 5 The Ciclades seem'd to swim amid the maine And hill gainst hill and mount gainst mountaine smote With such great furie met those armies twaine Here burnt a ship there sunke a barke or bote Here darts and wildefire flew there drown'd or slaine Of princes dead the bodies fleete and flote Here Caesar wins and yonder conquerd beene The eastren ships there fled th' Egyptian queene 6 Antonius eeke himselfe to flight betooke The Empire lost to which he would aspire Yet fled not he nor fight for feare forsooke But follow'd her drawne on by fond desire Well might you see within his troubled looke Striue and contend loue courage shame and ire Oft lookt he backt oft gaz'de he on the fight But oftner on his mistresse and her flight 7 Then in the secret creekes of fruitfull Nile Cast in her lappe he would sadde death awate And in the pleasure of her louely smile Sweeten the bitter stroake of cursed fate All this did art with curious hand compile In the rich mettall of that princely gate The knights these stories viewed first and last Which seene they forward preas'd and in they past 8 As through his chanell crookt Meander glides With turnes and twines and rowles now to now fro Whose streames run foorth there to the salt sea sides Here backe returne and to their springward go Such crooked pathes such waies this pallace hides Yet all the maze their mappe described so That through the labyrinth they got in fine As Theseus did by Ariadnaies line 9 When they had passed all those troubled waies The garden sweete spred foorth her greene to shew The moouing christall from the fountaines plaies Faire trees high plants strange herbes and flowrets new Sunshinie hils dales hid from Phoebus raies Groues arbours mossie caues at once they vew And that which beautie most most woonder brought No where appeard the arte which all this wrought 10 So with the rude the polisht mingled was That naturall seemd all and euery part Nature would craft in counterfaiting pas And imitate her imitator art Milde was the aire the skies were cleere as glas The trees no whirlewind felt not tempest smart But ere their fruit drop off the blossome comes This springs that fals that ripeneth and this blomes 11 The leaues vpon the selfesame bow did hide Beside the yoong the old and ripened figge Here fruit was greene there ripe with vermile side The apples new and old grew on one twigge The fruitful vine her armes spred high and wide That bended vnderneath their clusters bigge The grapes were tender here hard yoong and sowre There purple ripe and nectar sweete foorth powre 12 The ioyous birds hid vnder greenewood shade Sung merrie notes on euery branch and bow The winde that in the leaues and waters plaid With murmur sweete now song and whistled now Ceased the birds the winde loud answere made And while they sung it rumbled soft and low Thus were it happe or cunning chance or art The winde in this strange musicke bore his part 13 With partie coloured plumes and purple bill A woondrous bird among the rest there flew That in plaine speech sung louelaies loud and shrill Her leden was like humaine language trew So much she talkt and with such wit and skill That strange it seemed how much good she knew Her feathred fellowes all stood husht to heare Dombe was the winde the waters silent weare 14 The gentlie budding rose quoth she behold That first scant peeping foorth with virgin beames Halfe ope halfe shut her beauties doth vpfold In their deare leaues and lesse seene fairer seames And after spreeds them foorth more broad and bold Then languisheth and dies in last extreames Nor seemes the same that decked bed and boure Of many a ladie late and paramoure 15 So in the passing of a day doth pas The bud and blossome of the life of man Nor ere doth flourish more but like the gras Cut downe becommeth withred pale and wan O gather then the rose while time thou has Short is the day done when it scant began Gather the rose of loue while yet thou mast Louing be lou'd embrasing be embrast 16 He ceast and as approouing all he spoke The quire of birds their heau'nly tunes renew The turtles sigh'd and sighes with kisses broke The foules to shades vnseene by paires withdrew It seemd
The flames against the kindlers backward cast 86 The windes droue backe the fire where heaped lie The Pagans weapons where their engins weare Which kindling quickly in that substance drie Burnt all their store and all their warlike geare O glorious captaine whom the Lord from hie Defends whom God preserues and holds so deare For thee heau'n fights to thee the windes from farre Call'd with thy trumpets blast obedient arre 87 But wicked Ismen to his harme that saw How the fierce blast droue backe the fire and flame By art would nature change and thence withdraw Those noisome windes else calme and still the same Twixt two false Wizards without feare or aw Vpon the walles in open sight he came Blacke grisly loathsome grim and ougly faced Like Pluto old betwixt two furies placed 88 And now the wretch those dreadfull words begunne Which tremble make deepe hell and all her flocke Now troubled is the aire the golden sunne His fearefull beames in cloudes did close and locke When from the towre which Ismen could not shunne Out flew a mightie stone late halfe a rocke Which light so iust vpon the Wizards three That driu'n to dust their bones and bodies bee 89 To lesse than nought their members old were torne And shiuer'd were their heads to pieces small As small as are the brused graines of corne When from the mill resolu'd to meale they fall Their damned soules to deepest hell downe borne Far from the ioy and light celestiall The furies plunged in th' infernall lake O mankinde at their ends ensample take 90 This while the engin which the tempest could Had sau'd from burning with his friendly blast Approached had so neere the battred hould That on the walles her bridge at ease she cast But Soliman ran thither fierce and bould To cut the planke whereon the Christians past And had perform'd his will saue that vpreard High in the skies a turret new appeard 91 Farre in the aire vp clombe the fortresse tall Higher than house then steeple church or towre The Pagans trembled to behold the wall And citie subiect to her shot and powre Yet kept the Turke his stand though on him fall Of stones and dartes a sharpe and deadly showre And still to cut the bridge he hopes and striues And those that feare with cheerfull speech reuiues 92 The Angell Michaell to all the rest Vnseene appear'd before Godfredoes eies In pure and heau'nly armour ritchly drest Brighter than Titans raies in cleerest skies Godfrey quoth he this is the moment blest To free this towne that long in bondage lies See see what legions in thine aide I bring For heau'n assists thee and heau'ns glorious king 93 Lift vp thine eies and in the aire behold The sacred armies how they mustred bee That cloud of flesh in which from times of old All mankinde wrapped is I take from thee And from thy senses their thicke mist vnfold That face to face thou maist these spirits see And for a little space right well sustaine Their glorious light and vew those angels plaine 94 Behold the soules of euery Lord and knight That late bore armes and dide for Christes deare sake How on thy side against this towne they fight And of thy ioy and conquest will partake There where the dust and smoke blinde all mens sight Where stones and ruines such an heape doe make There Hugo fights in thickest cloude imbard And vndermines that bulwarks groundworke hard 95 See Dudon yonder who with sword and fire Assailes and helpes to scale the northren port That with bold courage doth thy folke inspire And reares their ladders gainst th' assaulted fort He that high on the mount in graue attire Is clad and crowned stands in kingly sort Is Bishop Ademare a blessed spirite Blest for his faith crown'd for his death and merite 96 But higher lift thy happie eies and vew Where all the sacred hosts of heau'n appeare He lookt and saw where winged armies flew Innumerable pure diuine and cleare A battaile round of squadrons three they shew And all by threes those squadrons ranged weare Which spreading wide in rings still wider goe Mou'd with a stone calme water circleth soe 97 With that he winkte and vanisht was and gone That wondrous vision when he lookt againe His worthies fighting vew'd he one by one And on each side saw signes of conquest plaine For with Rinaldo gainst his yeelding fone His knights were entred and the Pagans slaine This seene the Duke no longer stay could brooke But from the bearer bold his ensigne tooke 98 And on the bridge he stept but there was staid By Soliman who entrance all denide That narrow tree to vertue great was maid The field as in few blowes right soone was tride Here will I giue my life for Sions aid Here will I end my daies the Soldan cride Behinde me cut or breake this bridge that I May kill a thousand Christians first then die 99 But thither fierce Rinaldo threat'ning went And at his sight fled all the Soldans traine What shall I doe if here my life be spent I spend and spill quoth he my blood in vaine With that his steps from Godfrey backe he bent And to him let the passage free remaine Who threat'ning follow'd as the Soldan fled And on the walles the purple crosse dispred 100 About his head he tost he turn'd he cast That glorious ensigne with a thousand twines Thereon the winde breathes with his sweetest blast Thereon with golden raies glad Phebus shines Earth laughes for ioy the streames forbeare their hast Floods clap their hands on mountaines dance the pines And Sions towres and sacred temples smile For their deliu'rance from that bondage vile 101 And now the armies rear'd the happie crie Of victorie glad ioyfull lowd and shrill The hils resound the Eccho showteth hie And Tancred bold that fights and combats still With proud Argantes brought his towre so nie That on the wall against the boasters will In his despite his bridge he also laid And wonne the place and there the crosse displaid 102 But on the southren hill where Raimond fought Against the townesmen and their aged king His hardie Gascoignes gained small or nought Their engin to the walles they could not bring For thither all his strength the Prince had brought For life and safetie sternly combatting And for the wall was feeblest on that cost There were his soldiers best and engins most 103 Besides the towre vpon that quarter found Vnsure vneasie and vneeu'n the way Nor art could helpe but that the rougher ground The rolling masse did often stop and stay But now of victorie the ioyfull sound The king and Raimond heard amid their fray And by the showte they and their soldiers know The towne was entred on the plaine below 104 Which heard Raimondo thus bespake this crew The towne is wonne my friends and doth it yet Resist are we kept out still by these few Shall we no share in this high conquest get But