Odoacer then he fought but wrong Oft spoileth right fortune treads courage downe For there he dide for his deere countries sake And of his fathers praise did so partake 72 With him dide Alphorisio Azzo was With his deere brother into exile sent But homewards they in armes againe repas The Herule king opprest from banishment His front through pierced with a dart alas Next them of Est th'Epaminondas went That smiling seemd to cruell death to yeild When Totila was fled and safe his sheild 73 Of Boniface I speake Valerian His sonne in praise and powre succeeded him Who durst sustaine in yeeres though scant a man Of the proud Gothes an hundreth squadrons trim Then he that gainst the Sclaues much honour wan Ernesto threatning stood with visage grim Before him Aldoard the Lombard stout Who from Monscelces bouldly earst shut out 74 There Henrie was and Berengare the bould That seru'd great Charles in his conquests hie Who in each battle giue the onset would A hardie souldiour and a captaine slie After prince Lewes did he well vphould Against his nephew king of Italie He wonne the fielde and tooke that king on liue Next him stood Otho with his children fiue 75 Of Almerike the image next they vew Lord Marques of Ferrara first create Founder of many churches that vpthrew His eies like one that vs'd to contemplate Gainst him the second Azzo stood in rew With Berengarious that did long debate Till after often change of fortunes stroake He wonne and on all Itaile laid the yoake 76 Albert his sonne the Germaines warde among And there his praise and fame was spred so wide That hauing foil'd the Danes in battaile strong His daughter yoong became great Othoes bride Behinde him Hugo stood with warfare long That broake the horne of all the Romaines pride Who of all Italy the Marques hight And Tuscane whole possessed as his right 77 After Tedaldo puissant Boniface And Beatrice his deere possest the stage Nor was there left heire male of that great race T' enioy the scepter state and heritage The Princesse Maude alone supplide the place Supplide the want in number sexe and age For far aboue each scepter throne and crowne The noble Dame aduanst her vaile and gowne 78 With manlike vigor shone her noble looke And more than manlike wrath her face orespred There the fell Normans Guichard there forsooke The field till than who neuer fear'd nor fled Henrie the fourth she beat and from him tooke His standard and in church it offered Which donne the Pope backe to the Vaticane She brought and plast in Peters chaire againe 79 As he that honour'd her and held her deare Azzo the fifth stood by her louely side But the fourth Azzos ofspring far and neare Spred forth and through Germania fructifide Sprong from that branch did Guelpho bold appeare Guelpho his sonne by Cunigond his bride And in Bauarias field transplanted new This Romane grift florisht encreast and grew 80 A branch of Est there in the Guelfian tree Engraffed was which of it selfe was old Whereon you might the Guelfoes fairer see Renew their scepters and their crownes of gold On which heau'ns good aspectes so bended bee That high and broad it spred and florisht bold Till vnderneath his glorious branches lade Halfe Germanie and all vnder his shade 81 This regall plant from his Italian rout Sprong vp as hie and blossom'd faire aboue For nenst Lord Guelpho Bertold issued out With the sixt Azzo whom all vertues loue This was the pedegree of worthies stout Who seem'd in that bright shield to liue and moue Rinaldo waked vp and chear'd his face To see these worthies of his house and race 82 To doe like actes his courage wisht and sought And with that wish transported him so farre That all those deedes which filled aie his thought Townes wonne fortes taken armies kild in warre As if they were things donne indeed and wrought Before his eies he thinks they present arre He hastly armes him and with hope and hast Sure conquest met preuented and imbrast 83 But Charles who had told the death and fall Of the yong Prince of Danes his late deere Lord Gaue him the fatall weapon and withall Yong knight quoth he take with good lucke this sword Your iust strong valiant hand in battaile shall Employ it long for Christes true faith and word And of his former Lord reuenge the wrongs Who lou'd you so that deed to you belongs 84 He answered God for his mercie sake Grant that this hand which holds this weapon good For thy deere maister may sharpe veng'ance take May cleaue the Pagans hart and shed his blood To this but short replie did Charles make And thankt him much nor more on termes they stood For loe the wisard sage that was their guide On their darke iourney hastes them forth to ride 85 High time it is quoth he for you to wend Where Godfrey you awaits and many a knight There may we well arriue ere night doth end And through this darknesse can I guide you right This said vp to his coach they all ascend On his swift wheeles forth roll'd the chariot light He gaue his coursers flit the rod and raine And gallopt forth and eastward droue amaine 86 While silent so through nights darke shade they flie The Hermit thus bespake the yong man stout Of thy great house thy race thine ofspring hie Here hast thou seene the branch the bole the rout And as these worthies borne to chiualrie And deedes of armes it hath tofore brought out So is it so it shall be fertile still Nor time shall end nor age that seed shall kill 87 Would God as drawne from the forgetfull lap Of antique time I haue thine elders showne That so I could the Catalogue vnwrap Of thy great nephewes yet vnborne vnknowne That ere this light they vew their fate and hap I might foretell and how their chance is throwne That like thine elders so thou mightst behold Thy children many famous stout and bold 88 But not by art or skill of things future Can the plaine troath reuealed be and told Although some knowledge doubtfull darke obscure We haue of comming haps in cloudes vprold Nor all which in this cause I know for sure Dare I foretell for of that father old The hermit Peter learn'd I much and hee Withouten vaile heau'ns secrets great doth see 89 But this to him reueal'd by grace diuine By him to me declar'd to thee I say Was neuer race Greeke Barb'rous or Latine Great in times past or famous at this day Richer in hardie knights than this of thine Such blessings heau'n shall on thy children lay That they in fame shall passe in praise orecome The worthies old of Sparta Carthage Rome 90 But mongst the rest I chose Alphonsus bould In vertue first second in place and name He shall be borne when this fraile world growes ould Corrupted poore and bare of men of fame Better than he none shall none
visage ran Like his dead Ladie dead seem'd Tancred good In palenesse stilnesse wounds and streames of blood 71 And his weake sprite to be vnbodied From fleshly prison free that ceaselesse striued Had follow'd her faire soule but lately fled Had not a Christian squadron there arriued To seeke fresh water thither haply led And found the Princesse dead and him depriued Of signes of life yet did the knight remaine On liue nigh dead for her himselfe had flaine 72 Their guide far off the Prince knew by his shield And thither hasted full of greefe and feare Her dead him seeming so he there behield And for that strange mishap shed many a teare He would not leaue the corses faire in field For food to wolues though she a Pagan weare But in their armes the soldiers both vphent And both lamenting brought to Tancreds tent 73 With those deere burthens to their campe they passe Yet would not that dead seeming knight awake At last he deepely groan'd which token was His feeble soule had not her flight yet take The other lay a still and heauie masse Her spirit had that earthen cage forsake Thus were they brought and thus they placed weare In sundry roomes yet both adioyning neare 74 All skill and art his carefull seruants vsed To life againe their dying Lord to bring At last his eies vnclos'd with teares suffused He felt their hands and heard their whispering But how he thither came long time he mused His minde astonisht was with euery thing He gaz'd about his squites in fine he knew Then weake and wofull thus his plaints our threw 75 What liue I yet and doe I breathe and see Of this accursed day the hatefull light This spitefull ray which still vpbraideth mee With that accursed deed I did this night Ah coward hand affraid why shouldst thou bee Thou instrument of death shame and despite Why shouldst thou feare with sharp trenchant knife To cut the threed of this blood-guiltie life 76 Pierce through this bosome and my cruell hart In peeces cleaue breake euery string and vaine But thou to slaughters vile which vsed art Think'st it were pitie so to ease my paine Of lucklesse loue therefore in torments smart A sad example must I still remaine A wofull monster of vnhappie loue Who still must liue least death his comfort proue 77 Still must I liue in anguish griefe and caire Furies my guiltie conscience that torment The ougly shades darke night and troubled aire In grisly formes her slaughter still present Madnes and death about my bed repaire Hell gapeth wide to swallow vp this tent Swift from my selfe I ronne my selfe I feare Yet still my hell within my selfe I beare 78 But where alas where be those reliques sweet Wherein dwelt late all loue all ioy all good My furie left them cast in open street Some beast hath torne her flesh and lickt her blood Ah noble pray for sauage beast vnmeet Ah sweet too sweet and far too pretious food Ah seely Nymph whom night and darksome shade To beasts and me far worse than beasts betrade 79 But where you be if still you be I wend To gather vp those reliques deere at least But if some beast hath from the hils descend And on her tender bowels made his feast Let that selfe monster me in peeces rend And deepe entombe me in his hollow cheast For where she buried is there shall I haue A stately tombe a rich and costly graue 80 Thus mourn'd the knight his squires him told at last They had her there for whom those teares he shed A beame of comfort his dim eies out cast Like lightning through thicke cloudes of darknes spred The heauie burthen of his lims in hast With mickle paine he drew forth of his bed And scant of strength to stand to moue or goe Thither he staggred reeling to and froe 81 When he came there and in her brest espide His handiworke that deepe and cruell wound And her sweet face with leaden palenesse dide Where beautie late spred forth her beames around He trembled so that nere his squires beside To hold him vp he had sunke downe to ground And said O face in death still sweet and faire Thou canst not sweeten yet my greefe and caire 82 O faire right hand the pledge of faith and loue Giuen me but late too late in signe of peace How haps it now thou canst not stir nor moue And you deere lims now laid in rest and ease Through which my cruell blade this flood-gate roue Your paines haue end my torments neuer cease O hands O cruell eies accurst alike You gaue the wound you gaue them light to strike 83 But thither now ronne forth my guiltie blood Whither my plaints my sorrowes cannot wend He said no more but as his passion wood Enforced him he gan to teare and rend His haire his face his wounds a purple flood Did from each side in rolling streames descend He had beene slaine but that his paine and woe Bereft his senses and preseru'd him soe 84 Cast on his bed his squires recall'd his spright To execute againe her hatefull charge But tattling fame the sorrowes of the knight And hard mischance had told this while at large Godfrey and all his Lords of worth and might Ran thither and the dutie would discharge Of friendship true and with sweet words the rage Of bitter greefe and woe they would asswage 85 But as a mortall wound the more doth smart The more it searched is handled or sought So their sweete words to his afflicted hart More griefe more anguish paine and torment brought But reuerend Peter that nould set apart Care of his sheepe as a good sheepheard ought His vanitie with graue aduise reprooued And told what mourning Christian knights behooued 86 O Tancred Tancred how farre different From thy beginnings good these follies bee What makes thee deafe what hath thy eiesight blent What mist what cloud thus ouershadeth thee This is a warning good from heau'n downe sent Yet his aduise thou canst not heare nor see Who calleth and conducts thee to the way From which thou willing dost and witting stray 87 To woorthie actions and atchiuements fit For Christian knights he would thee home recall But thou hast left that course and changed it To make thy selfe a heathen damsels thrall But see thy griefe and sorrowes painefull fit Is made the rod to scourge thy sinnes withall Of thine owne good thy selfe the meanes he makes But thou his mercy goodnes grace forsakes 88 Thou dost refuse of heau'n the profred grace And gainst it still rebell with sinfull ire O wretch O whither doth thy rage thee chace Refraine thy griefe bridle thy fond desire At hels wide gate vaine sorrow doth thee place Sorrow misfortunes sonne despaires foule sire O see thine euill thy plaint and woe refraine The guides to death to hell and endlesse paine 89 This said his will to die the patient Abandoned that second death he feared These words
her rich attire And for some-deale perplexed was her sprite Her damaske late now chang'd to purest white 27 The newes of this mishap spred far and neare The people ran both yong and old to gace Olindo also ran and gan to feare His Ladie was some partner in this cace But when he found her bound stript from her geare And vile tormentors ready saw in place He broke the throng and into presence brast And thus bespake the king in rage and haste 28 Not so not so this girle shall beare away From me the honour of so noble feat She durst not did not could not so conuay The massie substance of that Idoll great What sleight had she the wardens to betray What strength to heaue the goddesse from her seat No no my Lord she sailes but with my winde Ah thus he lou'd yet was his loue vnkinde 29 He added further where the shining glasse Lets in the light amid your temples side By broken by-waies did I inward passe And in that window made a postren wide Nor shall therefore this ill-aduised lasse Vsurpe the glorie should this fact betide Mine be these bonds mine be these flames so pure O glorious death more glorious sepulture 30 Sophronia rais'd her modest lookes from ground And on her louer bent her eie-sight milde Tell me what furie what conceit vnsound Presenteth here to death so sweet a childe Is not in me sufficient courage found To beare the anger of this tyrant wilde Or hath fond loue thy hart so ouergone Would'st thou not liue nor let me die alone 31 Thus spake the Nimph yet spake but to the winde She could not alter his well setled thought O miracle O strife of wondrous kinde Where loue and vertue such contention wrought Where death the victor had for meed assignde Their owne neglect each others safetie sought But thus the king was more prouoakt to ire Their strife for bellowes seru'd to angers fire 32 He thinkes such thoughts selfe-guiltinesse findes out They scorn'd his powre and therefore scorn'd the paine Nay nay quoth he let be your strife and dout You both shall win and fit reward obtaine With that the sargeants hent the yong man stout And bound him likewise in a worthlesse chaine Then backe to backe fast to a stake both ties Two harmlesse turtles dight for sacrifies 33 About the pile of fagots sticks and hay The bellowes rais'd the newly kindled flame When thus Olindo in a dolefull lay Begun too late his bootlesse plaints to frame Be these the bonds Is this the hopt-for day Should ioyne me to this long desired dame Is this the fire alike should burne our harts Ah hard reward for louers kinde desarts 34 Far other flames and bonds kinde louers proue But thus our fortune casts the haplesse die Death hath exchang'd againe his shafts with loue And Cupid thus lets borrow'd arrowes flie O Hymen say what furie doth thee moue To lend thy lampes to light a tragedie Yet this contents me that I die for thee Thy flames not mine my death and torment bee 35 Yet happie were my death mine ending blest My torments easie full of sweet delight If this I could obtaine that brest to brest Thy bosome might receiue my yeelded spright And thine with it in heau'ns pure clothing drest Through cleerest skies might take vnited flight Thus he complain'd whom gently she reproued And sweetly spake him thus that so her loued 36 Far other plaints deere friend teares and laments The time the place and our estates require Thinke on thy sinnes which mans old foe presents Before that iudge that quites each soule his hire For his name suffer for no paine torments Him whose iust prayers to his throne aspire Behold the heau'ns thither thine eie-sight bend Thy lookes sighes teares for intercessors send 37 The Pagans lowd cride out to God and man The Christians mourn'd in silent lamentation The tyrants selfe a thing vnus'd began To feele his hart relent with meere compassion But not dispos'd to ruth or mercie than He sped him thence home to his habitation Sophronia stood not greeu'd nor discontented By all that saw her but her selfe lamented 38 The louers standing in this dolefull wise A warriour bold vnwares approched neare In vncouth armes yclad and strange disguise From countries far but new arriued theare A sauage tygresse on her helmet lies The famous badge Clorinda vs'd to beare That woonts in euerie warlike stowre to winne By which bright signe well knowne was that faire Inne 39 She scorn'd the artes these seelie women vse Another thought her nobler humour fed Her loftie hand would of it selfe refuse To touch the daintie needle or nice thred She hated chambers closets secret mewes And in broad fields preseru'd her maidenhed Proud were her lookes yet sweet though stern and stout Her dame a doue thus brought an eagle out 40 While she was yong she vs'd with tender hand The foming steed with froarie bit to steare To tilt and tournay wrestle in the sand To leaue with speed Atlanta swift arreare Through forrests wilde and vnfrequented land To chase the Lion boare or rugged beare The Satyres rough the Fawnes and Fairies wilde She chased oft oft tooke and oft beguilde 41 This lustie Ladie came from Persia late She with the Christians had encountred eft And in their flesh had opened many a gate By which their faithfull soules their bodies left Her eie at first presented her the state Of these poore soules of hope and helpe bereft Greedie to know as is the minde of man Their cause of death swift to the fire she ran 42 The people made her roome and on them twaine Her pearcing eies their fierie weapons dart Silent she saw the one the other plaine The weaker bodie lodg'd the nobler hart Yet him she saw lament as if his paine Were griefe and sorrow for anothers smart And her keepe silence so as if her eies Dumbe orators were to intreat the skies 43 Clorinda chang'd to ruth her warlike mood Few siluer drops her vermile cheekes depaint Her sorrow was for her that speechlesse stood Her silence more preuail'd then his complaint She askt an aged man seem'd graue and good Come say me sire quoth she what hard constraint Would murder here loues queene and beauties king What fault or fate doth to this death them bring 44 Thus she enquir'd and answer short he gaue But such as all the chance at large disclosed She wondred at the case the virgin braue That both were guiltlesse of the fault supposed Her noble thought cast how she might them saue The meanes on suit or battell she reposed Quicke to the fire she ran and quencht it out And thus bespake the sargeants and the rout 45 Be there not one among you all that dare In this your hatefull office ought proceed Till I returne from court nor take you care To reape displeasure for not making speed To doe her will the men themselues prepare In their faint harts her lookes
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
towne With new supplie late were they vittailed When night obscur'd the earth with shadowes browne Their armes and engins on the walles they spred Their slings to cast and stones to tumble downe And all that side which to the northward lies High rampires and strong bulwarks fortifies 2 Their warie king commands now here now there To build this towre to make that bulwarke strong Whither the sunne the moone or stars appere To giue them light to worke no time comes wrong In euerie street new weapons forged were By cunning smithes sweating with labour long While thus the carefull Prince prouision maide To him Argantes came and boasting said 3 How long shall we like prisoners in chaines Captiued lie inclos'd within this wall I see your workmen taking endlesse paines To make new weapons for no vse at all Meane-while these westren theeues destroy the plaines Your townes are burnt your forts and castels fall Yet none of vs dares at these gates out-peepe Or sound one trumpet shrill to breake their sleepe 4 Their time in feasting and good cheere they spend Nor dare we once their bankets sweet molest The daies and nights they bring likewise to end In peace assurance quiet ease and rest But we must yeeld whom hunger soone will shend And make for peace to saue our liues request Else if th' Egyptian armie stay too long Like cowards die within this fortresse strong 5 Yet neuer shall my courage great consent So vile a death should end my noble daies Nor on mine armes within these walles ipent To morrowes sun shall spread his timely raies Let sacred heau'ns dispose as they are bent Of this fraile life yet not withouten praise Of valour prowesse might Argantes shall Inglorious die or vnreuenged fall 6 But if the rootes of wonted chiualrie Be not quite dead your princely brest within Deuise not how with fame and praise to die But how to liue to conquer and to win Let vs together at these gates out-flie And skirmish bold and bloodie fight begin For when last need to desperation driueth Who dareth most he wisest counsell giueth 7 But if in field your wisdome dare not venter To hazard all your troopes to doubtfull fight Then binde your selfe to Godfrey by endenter To end your quarels by one single knight And for the Christian this accord shall enter With better will say such you know your right That he the weapons place and time shall chuse And let him for his best that vantage vse 8 For though your foe had hands like Hector strong With hart vnfear'd and courage sterne and stout Yet no misfortune can your iustice wrong And what that wanteth shall this arme helpe out In spite of fate shall this right hand ere long Returne victorious if hereof you dout Take it for pledge wherein if trust you haue It shall your selfe defend and kingdome saue 9 Bold youth the tyrant thus began to speake Although I with'red seeme with age and yeares Yet are not these old armes so faint and weake Nor this hoare head so full of doubts and feares But when as death this vitall threed shall breake He shall my courage heare my death who heares And Aladine that liu'd a king and knight To his faire morne will haue an euening bright 10 But that which yet I would haue further blaised To thee in secret shall be told and spoken Great Soliman of Nice so far ipraised To be reuenged for his scepter broken The men of armes of Arabie hath raised From Inde to Afrike and when we giue token Attends the fauour of the friendly night To vittaile vs and with our foes to fight 11 Now though Godfredo hold by warlike feat Some castles poore and fortes in vile oppression Care not for that for still our princely seat This stately towne we keepe in our possession But thou appease and calme that courage great Which in thy bosome makes so hot impression And stay fit time which will betide ere long T' encrease thy glorie and reuenge our wrong 12 The Saracine at this was inly spited Who Solimans great worth had long enuied To heare him praised thus he nought delited Nor that the king vpon his aide relied Within your powre sir king he saies vnited Are peace and war nor shall that be denied But for the Turke and his Arabian band He lost his owne shall he defend your land 13 Perchance he comes some heaunly messengare Sent downe to set the Pagan people free Then let Argantes for himselfe take care This sword I trust shall well safeconduct mee But while you rest and all your forces spare That I goe foorth to war at least agree Though not your champion yet a priuate knight I will some Christian proue in single fight 14 The king replied though thy force and might Should be reseru'd to better time and vse Yet that thou challenge some renowned knight Among the Christians bold I not refuse The warrior breathing out desire of fight An herald call'd and said go tell these newes To Godfreys selfe and to the westren Lords And in their hearings boldly say these words 15 Say that a knight who holds in great disdaine To be thus closed vp in secretmew Will with his sword in open field maintaine If any dare denie his words for trew That no deuotion as they falsly faine Hath mou'd the French these countries to subdew But vile ambition and prides hatefull vice Desire of rule and spoile and couetice 16 And that to fight I am not only prest With one or two that dare defend the cause But come the fourth or fift come all the rest Come all that will and all that weapon drawes Let him that yeelds obey the victors hest As wils the lore of mightie Mars his lawes This was the challenge that fierce Pagan sent The herald dond his coate of armes and went 17 And when the man before the presence came Of princely Godfrey and his captaines bold My Lord quoth he may I withouten blame Before your grace my message braue vnfold Thou maist he answer'd we approue the same Withouten feare be thine ambassage told Then quoth the herald shall your highnes see If this ambassage sharpe or pleasing bee 18 The challenge gan he then at large expose With mightie threats high termes and glorious words On euerie side an angrie murmur rose To wrath so moued were the knights and Lords Then Godfrey spake and said the man hath chose An hard exploit but when he feeles our swords I trust we shall so faire intreat the knight As to excuse the fourth or fift of fight 19 But let him come and proue the field I grant Nor wrong nor treason let him doubt or feare Some here shall pay him for his glorious vant Without or guile or vantage that I sweare The herald turn'd when he had ended scant And hasted backe the way he came whileare Nor staid he ought nor once foreslow'd his pace Till he bespake Argantes face to face 20 Arme you
eie Neare Guelpho now the battaile waxed hot For all the troopes he led gan thither hie And thither drew eeke many a Painim knight That fierce sterne bloodie deadly waxt the fight 74 Meane-while the purple morning peeped ore The eastren threshold to our halfe of land And Argillano in this great vprore From prison loosed was and what he fand Those armes he hent and to the field them bore Resolu'd to take his chance what came to hand And with great actes amid the Pagan host Would winne againe his reputation lost 75 As a fierce stead scapte from his stall at large Where he had long beene kept for warlike need Runnes through the fieldes vnto the flowrie marge Of some greene forrest where he vs'de to feed His curled maine his shoulders broad doth charge And from his loftie crest doth spring and spreed Thunder his feet his nostrels fire breath out And with his neie the world resoundes about 76 So Argillan rusht forth sparkled his eies His front high lifted was no feare therein Lightly he leapes and skips it seemes he flies He left no signe in dust imprinted thin And comming nere his foes he sternly cries As one that forst not all their strength a pin You outcasts of the world you men of nought What hath in you this boldnesse newly wrought 77 Too weake are you to beare an helme or sheild Vnfit to arme your brest in iron bright You runne halfe naked trembling through the feild Your blowes are feeble and your hope in flight Your factes and all the actions that you weild The darknes hides your bulwarke is the night Now she is gone how will your fights succeed Now better armes and better harts you need 78 While thus he spoke he gaue a cruell stroke Against Algazells throte with might and maine And as he would haue answer'd him and spoke He stopt his words and cut his iawes in twaine Vpon his eies death spred his mistie cloke A chilling frost congealed euery vaine He fell and with his teeth the earth he tore Raging in death and full of rage before 79 Then by his puissance mightie Salddine Proud Agricalt and Muleasses dide And at one wondrous blow his weapon fine Did Adiazell in two parts deuide Then through the brest he wounded Ariadine Whom dying with sharpe taunts he gan deride He lifting vp vneath his feeble eies To his proud scornes thus answ'reth ere he dies 80 Not thou who ere thou art shall glorie long Thy happie conquest in my death I trow Like chance awaites thee from a hand more strong Which by my side will shortly lay thee low He smilde and said of mine howre short or long Let heau'n take care but here meane-while die thow Pasture for woolues and crowe on him his fout He set and drew his sword and life both out 81 Among this squadron rode a gentle page The Soldans minion darling and delite On whose faire chin the spring-time of his age Yet blossom'd out her flowres small or lite The sweat spred on his cheekes with heat and rage Seem'd pearles or morning dewes on lillies white The dust therein vprold adorn'd his haire His face seem'd fierce and sweet wrathfull and faire 82 His stead was white and white as purest snow That falles on tops of aged Appenine Lightning and storme are not so swift I trow As he to run to stop to turne and twine A dart his right hand shaked prest to throw His curtlax by his thigh short hooked fine And brauing in his Turkish pompe he shone In purple robe ore fret with gold and stone 83 The hardie boy while thirst of warlike praise Bewitched so his vnaduised thought Gainst euery band his childish strength assaies And little danger found though much he sought Till Argillan that watcht fit time alwaies In his swift turnes to strike him as he fought Did vnawares his snowe-white courser slay And vnder him his maister tumbling lay 84 And gainst his face where loue and pitie stand To pray him that rich throne of beautie spare The cruell man stretcht forth his murdring hand To spoile those gifts whereof he had no share It seem'd remorse and sense was in his brand Which lighting flat to hurt the lad forbare But all for nought gainst him the point he bent That what the edge had spared pearst and rent 85 Fierce Soliman that with Godfredo striued Who first should enter conquests glorious gate Left off the fray and thither headlong driued When first he saw the lad in such estate He brake the prease and soone enough arriued To take reuenge but to his aide too late Bicause he saw his Lesbine slaine and lost Like a sweet flower nipt with vntimely frost 86 He saw waxe dim the starre-light of his eies His iuorie necke vpon his shoulders fell In his pale lookes kinde pities image lies That death eu'n mourn'd to heare his passing bell His marble hart such soft impression tries That midst his wrath his manly teares outwell Thou weepest Soliman thou that beheild Thy kingdoms lost and not one teare couldst yeild 87 But when the murdrers sword he hapt to vew Dropping with blood of his Lesbino dead His pitie vanisht ire and rage renew He had no leasure bootlesse teares to shead But with his blade on Argillano flew And cleft his shield his helmet and his head Downe to his throte and worthie was that blow Of Soliman his strength and wrath to show 88 And not content with this downe from his horse He light and that dead carkas rent and tore Like a fierce dog that takes his angrie corse To bite the stone which had him hit before O comfort vaine for greefe of so great force To wound the senselesse earth that feeles no sore But mightie Godfrey gainst the Soldans traine Spent not this while his force and blowes in vaine 89 A thousand hardie Turkes afront he had In sturdie iron arm'd from head to fout Resolu'd in all aduentures good or bad In actions wise in execution stout Whom Soliman into Arabia lad When from his kingdome he was first cast out Where liuing wilde with their exiled guide To him in all extremes they faithfull bide 90 All these in thickest order sure vnite For Godfreys valour small or nothing shranke Corcutes first he on the face did smite Then wounded strong Rosteno in the flanke At one blowe Selims head he stroke off quite Then both Rossanoes armes in euery ranke The boldest knights of all that chosen crew He felled maimed wounded hurt and slew 91 While thus he killed many a Sarracine And all their fierce assaults vnhurt sustained Ere fortune wholy from the Turks decline While still they hoped much though small they gained Behold a cloud of dust wherein doth shine Lightning of war in midst thereof contained Whence vnawares burst forth a storme of swords Which tremble made the Pagan knights and Lords 92 These fiftie champions were mongst whom there stands In siluer field the ensigne of Christes death If
I had mouthes and toongs as Briareus hands If voice as iron tough if iron breath What harme this troope wrought to the heathen bands What knights they slew I could recount vneath In vaine the Turks resist th' Arabians flie For if they flie th' are slaine if fight they die 93 Feare crueltie griefe horrour sorrow paine Ronne through the field disguis'd in diuers shapes Death might you see triumphant on the plaine Drowning in blood him that from blowes escapes The king meane-while with parcell of his traine Comes hastly out and for sure conquest gapes And from a banke whereon he stood beheild The doubtfull hazard of that bloodie feild 94 But when he saw the Pagans shrinke away He sounded the retreat and gan desire His messengers in his behalfe to pray Argantes and Clorinda to retire The furious couple both at once said nay Eu'n drunke with shedding blood and mad with ire At last they went and to recomfort thought And stay their troopes from flight but all for nought 95 For who can gouerne cowardise or feare Their host already was begon to flie They cast their shields and cutting swords arreare As not defended but made slow thereby A hollow dale the cities bulwarks neare From west to south out stretched long doth lie Thither they fled and in a mist of dust Towards the walles they ronne they throng they thrust 96 While downe the banke disordred thus they ran The Christian knights huge slaughter on them maide But when to clime the other hill they gan Old Aladine came fiercely to their aide On that steepe bray Lord Guelpho would not than Hazard his folke but there his soldiers staide And safe within the cities walles the king The reliques small of that sharpe fight did bring 97 Meane-while the Soldan in this latest charge Had done as much as humane force was able All sweat and blood appear'd his members large His breath was short his courage waxt vnstable His arme grew weake to beare his mightie targe His hand to rule his heauie sword vnable Which bruis'd not cut so blunted was the blade It lost the vse for which a sword was made 98 Feeling his weaknesse he gan musing stand And in his troubled thought this question tost If he himselfe should murder with his hand Bicause none else should of his conquest bost Or he should saue his life when on the land Lay slaine the pride of his subdued host At last to fortunes power quoth he I yeild And on my flight let her her trophies beild 99 Let Godfrey vew my flight and smile to see This mine vnworthie second banishment For arm'd againe soone shall he heare of mee From his proud head th'vnsetled crowne to rent For as my wrongs my wrath eterne shall bee And euery howre the bow of war new bent I will arise againe a foe fierce bold Though dead though slaine though burnt to ashes cold The tenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument Ismen from sleepe awakes the Soldan great And into Sion brings the Prince by night Where the sad king sits fearfull on his seat Whom he embold'neth and excites to fight Godfredo heares his Lords and knights repeat How they escapt Armidaes wrath and spight Rinaldo knowne to liue Peter foresaies His ofsprings vertue good desarts and praies 1 A Gallant stead while thus the Soldan said Came trotting by him without Lord or guide Quickly his hand vpon the raines he laid And weake and wearie climbed vp to ride The snake that on his crest hot fire out braid Was quite cut off his helme had lost the pride His coate was rent his harnesse hackt and cleft And of his kingly pompe no signe was left 2 As when a sauage woolfe chas'd from the fold To hide his head runnes to some holt or wood Who though he filled haue while it might hold His greedy panch yet hungreth after food With sanguine toong forth of his lips out rold About his iawes that lickes vp fome and blood So from this bloodie fray the Soldan hied His rage vnquencht his wrath vnsatisfied 3 And as his fortune would he scaped free From thousand arrowes which about him flew From swords and lances instruments that bee Of certaine death himselfe he safe withdrew Vnknowne vnseene disguised trauail'd hee By desart pathes and waies but vs'd by few And rode reuoluing in his troubled thought What course to take and yet resolu'd on nought 4 Thither at last he ment to take his way Where Egypts king assembled all his host To ioine with him and once againe assay To winne by fight by which so oft he lost Determin'd thus he made no longer stay But thither ward spurr'd forth his steed in post Nor need he guide the way right well he could That leades to sandie plaines of Gaza ould 5 Nor though his smarting wounds torment him oft His body weake and wounded backe and side Yet rested he nor once his armour doft But all day long ore hils and dales doth ride But when the night cast vp her shade aloft And all earthes colours strange in sables dide He light and as he could his wounds vpbound And shooke ripe dates downe from a palme he found 6 On them he supped and amid the feild To rest his wearie lims a while he sought He made his pillow of his broken sheild To ease the griefes of his distempred thought But little ease could so hard lodging yeild His wounds so smarted that he slept right nought And in his brest his proud hart rent in twaine Two inward vultures sorrow and disdaine 7 At length when midnight with her silence deepe Did heau'n and earth husht still and quiet make Sore watcht and wearie he began to steepe His cares and sorrowes in obliuions lake And in a little short vnquiet sleepe Some small repose his fainting spirits take But while he slept a voice graue and seueare At vnawares thus thundred in his eare 8 O Soliman thou far renowmed king Till better season serue forbeare thy rest A stranger doth thy lands in thraldome bring Nice is a slaue by Christian yoke opprest Sleepest thou here forgetfull of this thing That here thy friends lie slaine not laid in chest Whose bones beare witnes of thy shame and scorne And wilt thou idly here attend the morne 9 The king awakt and saw before his eies A man whose presence seemed graue and old A writhen staffe his steps vnstable guies Which seru'd his feeble members to vphold And what art thou the Prince in scorne replies What sprite to vexe poore passengers so bold To breake their sleepe or what to thee belongs My shame my losse my veng'ance or my wrongs 10 I am the man of thine intent quoth hee And purpose new that sure coniecture hath And better than thou weenest know I thee I proffer thee my seruice and my faith My speeches therefore sharpe and biting bee Bicause quicke words the whetstones are of wrath Accept in gree my Lord the words I spoke As spurres thine
left the feild The godly Duke to safetie thence conuaid Nor to his foes his engins would he yeild In them his hope to win the fortresse laid Then to the towre he went and it beheild The towre that late the Pagan Lords dismaid But now stood brused broken crackt and shiuered From some sharpe storme as it were late deliuered 84 From dangers great escapt but late it was And now to safetie brought welnie it seames But as a ship that vnder saile doth pas The roaring billowes and the raging streames And drawing nie the wished port alas Breakes on some hidden rocke her ribs and beames Or as a stead rough waies that well hath past Before his Inne stumbleth and fals at last 85 Such hap befell that towre for on that side Gainst which the Pagans force and battrie bend Two wheeles were broke whereon the peece should ride The maymed engin could no further wend The troupe that guarded it that part prouide To vnderprop with posts and it defend Till carpenters and cunning workemen came Whose skill should helpe and reare againe the same 86 Thus Godfrey bids and that ere springing day The cracks and bruses all amend they should Each open passage and each priuie way About the piece he kept with souldiers bould But the loud rumour both of that they say And that they do is heard within the hould A thousand lights about the towre they vew And what they wrought all night both saw and knew The twelfth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument Clorinda heares her Eunuch old report Her birth her of spring and her natiue land Disguis'd she fireth Godfreys rolling fort The burned peece falles smoking on the sand With Tancred long vnknowne in desp'rate sort She fights and falles through pearsed with his brand Christned she dies with sighes with plaints and teares He wailes her death Argant reuengement sweares 1 NOw in darke night was all the world imbard But yet the tired armies tooke no rest The carefull French keptheedfull watch and ward While their high towre the workemen newly drest The Pagan crew to reinforce prepar'd The weak'ned bulwarks late to earth downe kest Their rampires broke and brused walles to mend Lastly their hurts the wounded knights attend 2 Their wounds were drest part of the worke was brought To wished end part left to other daies A dull desire to rest deepe midnight wrought His heauie rod sleepe on their eye-lids laies Yet rested not Clorindaes working thought Which thirsted still for fame and warlike praise Argantes eeke accompaned the maid From place to place which to her selfe thus said 3 This day Argantes strong and Soliman Strange things haue done and purchast great renowne Among our foes out of the walles they ran Their rammes they broke and rent their engins downe Ivs'd my bow of nought else boast I can My selfe stood safe meane-while within this towne And happie was my shot and prosprous too But that was all a womans hand could doo 4 On birds and beastes in forrests wilde that feed It were more fit mine arrowes to bestow Than for a feeble maid in warlike deed With strong and hardie knights her selfe to show Why take I not againe my virgins weed And spend my daies in secret cell vnknow Thus thought thus mused thus deuis'd the maid And turning to the knight at last thus said 5 My thoughts are full my Lord of strange desire Some high attempt of warre to vndertake Whether high God my minde therewith inspire Or of his will his God mankind doth make Among our foes behold the light and fire I will among them wend and burne or brake The towre God grant therein I haue my will And that perform'd betide me good or ill 6 But if it fortune such my chance should bee That to this towne I neuer turne againe Mine Eunuch whom I deerely loue with thee I leaue my faithfull maides and all my traine To Egypt then conducted safely see Those wofull damsels and that aged swaine Helpe them my Lord in that distressed case Their feeble sex his age deserueth grace 7 Argantes wondring stood and felt th' effect Of true renowne peirce through his glorious minde And wilt thou go quoth he and me neglect Disgras'd despis'd leaue in this fort behind Shall I while these strong wals my life protect Behold thy flames and fires tost in the wind No no thy fellow haue I beene in armes And will be still in praise in death in harmes 8 This hart of mine deaths bitter stroke despiseth For praise this life for glory take this breath My soule the more quoth she thy friendship priseth For this thy profer'd aid requir'd vneath I but a woman am no losse ariseth To this besieged citie by my death But if as Gods forbid this night thou fall Ah who shall then who can defend this wall 9 Too late these scuces vaine the knight replide You bring my will is firme my minde is set I follow you where so you list me guide Or go before if you my purpose let This said they hasted to the pallace wide About their prince where all his Lords were met Clorinda spoke for both and said sir king Attend my words heare and allow the thing 10 Argantes here this bold and hardie knight Will vndertake to burne the wondrous towre And I with him only we stay till night Burie in sleepe our foes at deadest howre The king with that cast vp his hands on hight The teares for ioy vpon his cheekes downe powre Praised quoth he be Macon whom we serue This land I see he keepes and will preserue 11 Nor shall so soone this shaken kingdome fall While such vnconquer'd harts my state defend But for this act what praise or guerdon shall I giue your vertues which so far extend Let fame your praises sound through nations all And fill the world therewith to either end Take halfe my wealth and kingdome for your meed You are rewarded halfe eu'n with the deed 12 Thus spake the Prince and gently gan distraine Now him now her betweene his friendly armes The Soldan by no longer could refraine That noble enuie which his bosome warmes Nor I quoth he beare this broad sword in vaine Nor yet vnexpert am in night alarmes Take me with you ah quoth Clorinda noe Whom leaue we here of prowesse if you goe 13 This spoken readie with a proud refuse Argantes was his proffred aid to scorne Whom Aladine preuents and with excuse To Soliman thus gan his speeches torne Right noble Prince as aie hath beene your vse Your selfe so still you beare and long haue borne Bold in all actes no danger can affright Your hart nor tired is your strength with fight 14 If you went forth great things performe you would In my conceit yet far vnfit it seames That you who most excell in courage bould At once should leaue this towne in these extreames Nor would I that these twaine should leaue this sould My hart their noble liues far
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
stolne O vaine O feeble life betwixt his lips out flie O let me kisse thee first then let me die 109 Receiue my yeilded spirit and with thine Guide it to heau'n where all true loue hath place This saide she sigh'd and tore her tresses fine And from her eies two streames powrde on his face The man reuiued with those showres diuine Awakt and opened his lips a space His lips were open but fast shut his eies And with her sighes one sigh from him vpflies 110 The dame perceiu'd that Tancred breath'd and sight Which calm'd her grieues somedeale and eas'd her feares Vnclose thine eies she saies my Lord and knight See my last seruices my plaints and teares See her that dies to see thy woefull plight That of thy paine her part and portion beares Once looke on me small is the gift I craue The last which thou canst giue or I can haue 111 Tancred lookt vp and clos'd his eies againe Heauie and dim and she renew'd her woe Quoth Vafrine cure him first and then complaine Med'cine is lifes chiefe friend plaint her most foe They pluckt his armour off and she each vaine Each ioint and sinew felt and handled soe And searcht so well each thrust each cut and wound That hope of life her loue and skill soone found 112 From wearinesse and losse of blood she spide His greatest paines and anguish most proceede Nought but her vaile amid those desarts wide She had to binde his wounds in so great neede But loue could other bands though strange prouide And pitie wept for ioy to see that deede For with her amber lockes cut off each wound She tide O happie man so cur'd so bound 113 For why her vaile was short and thin those deepe And cruell hurtes to fasten rowle and binde Nor salue nor simple had she yet to keepe Her knight on liue strong charmes of wondrous kinde She said and from him droue that deadly sleepe That now his eies he lifted turn'd and twinde And saw his squire and saw that curteous dame In habit strange and wondred whence she came 114 He said O Vafrine tell me whence com'st thow And who this gentle surgeon is disclose She smil'd she sigh'd she lookt she wist not how She wept reioist she blusht as red as rose You shall know all she saies your surgeon now Commands you silence rest and soft repose You shall be sound prepare my guerdon meete His head then laid she in her bosome sweete 115 Vafrine deuis'd this while how he might beare His maister home ere night obscur'd the land When loe a troupe of soldiers did appeare Whom he descride to be Tancredies band With him when he and Argant met they weare But when they went to combat hand for hand He bod them stay behinde and they obaid But came to seeke him now so long he staid 116 Besides them many follow'd that enquest But these alone found out the rightest way Vpon their friendly armes the men addrest A seat whereon he sate he lean'd he lay Quoth Tancred shall the strong Circassian rest In this broad field for wolues and crowes a pray Ah no defraud not you that champion braue Of his iust praise of his due tombe and graue 117 With his dead bones no longer warre haue I Boldly he dide and noblie was he slaine Then let vs not that honour him denie Which after death alonely doth remaine The Pagan dead they lifted vp on hie And after Tancred bore him through the plaine Close by the virgin chast did Vafrine ride As he that was her squire her guard her guide 118 Not home quoth Tancred to my wonted tent But beare me to this roiall towne I pray That if cut short by humaine accident I die there I may see my latest day The place where Christ vpon his crosse was rent To heau'n perchance may easier make the way And ere I yeeld to deathes and fortunes rage Perform'd shall be my vow and pilgrimage 119 Thus to the cittie was Tancredie borne And fell on sleepe laid on a bed of downe Vafrino where the damsell might soiorne A chamber got close secret neere his owne That done he came the mightie Duke beforne And entrance found for till his newes were knowne Nought was concluded mongst those knights Lords Their counsell hung on his report and words 120 Where weake and wearie wounded Raimond laid Godfrey was set vpon his couches side And round about the man a ring was maid Of lords and knights that fild the chamber wide There while the squire his late discou'rie said To breake his talke none answerd none replide My lord he said at your command I went And vew'd their campe each cabbin booth and tent 121 But of that mightie hoast the number trew Expect not that I can or should descrie All couerd with their armies might you vew The fieldes the plaines the dales and mountaines hie I saw what way so ere they went and drew They spoild the land drunke flouds and fountaines drie For not whole Iordan could haue giu'n them drinke Nor all the graine in Syria bread I thinke 122 But yet amongst them many bands are found Both horse and foote of little force and might That keep no order know no trumpets sound That draw no sword but farre off shoot and fight But yet the Persian army doth abound With many a footeman strong and hardie knight So doth the kings owne troupe which all is framed Of souldiours old th' immortall squadron named 123 Immortall called is that band of right For of that number neuer wanteth one But in his emptie place some other knight Steps in when any man is dead or gone This armies leader Emireno hight Like whom in wit and strength are fewe or none Who hath in charge in plaine and pitched feild To fight with you to make you flie or yeild 124 And well I know their armie and their host Within a day or two will here arriue But thee Rinaldo it behooueth most To keepe thy noble head for which they striue For all the chiefe in armes or courage bost They will the same to queene Armida giue And for the same she giues her selfe in price Such hire will many hands to worke entice 125 The chiefe of these that haue thy murder sworne Is Altamore the king of Sarmachand Adrastus then whose realme lies neere the morne A hardie giant bould and strong of hand This king vpon an elephant is borne For vnder him no horse can stirre or stand The third is Tisipherne as braue a lord As euer put on helme or guirt on sword 126 This said from yong Rinaldoes angrie eies Flew sparks of wrath flames in his visage shinde He long'd to be amid those enimies Nor rest nor reason in his hart could finde But to the Duke Vafrine his talke applies The greatest newes my Lord are yet behinde For all their thoughts their crafts and counsels tend By treason false to bring thy life to end 127 Then all from point
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
long yet neither shrinke nor yeild In equall ballance hung their hope and feare All full of broken lances lay the feild All full of armes that clou'n and shattred weare Of swords some to the body naile the sheild Some cut mens throtes and some their bellies teare Of bodies some vpright some groueling lay And for themselues eat graues out of the clay 51 Beside his lord slaine lay the noble stead There friend with friend lay kild like louers trew There foe with foe the liue vnder the dead The victor vnder him whom late he slew A hoarce vnperfect sound did each where spread Whence neither silence nor plaine outcries flew There furie roares ire threats and woe complaines One weepes another cries he sighes for paines 52 The armes that late so faire and glorious seame Now soild and slubbred sad and sullen grow The steele his brightnes lost the gould his beame The colours had no pride nor beauties show The plumes and feathers on their crests that streame Are strowed wide vpon the earth below The hosts both clad in blood in dust and mire Had changd their cheare their pride their rich attire 53 But now the Moores Arabians Ethiops blacke Of the left wing that held the vtmost marge Spread forth their troupes and purpos'd at the backe And side their heedlesse foes t'assaile and charge Slingers and Archers were not slow nor slacke To shoot and cast when with his battell large Rinaldo came whose furie haste and ire Seem'd earthquake thunder tempest storme and fire 54 The first he met was Asmire his throne That set in Meroës hot sunne-burnt land He cut his necke in twaine flesh skin and bone The sable head downe tumbled on the sand But when by death of this blacke Prince alone The taste of blood and conquest once he fand Whole squadrons then whole troupes to earth he brought Things wondrous strange incredible he wrought 55 He gaue moe deaths than stroakes and yet his blowes Vpon his feeble foes fell oft and thicke To mooue three toongs as a fierce serpent showes Which rolles the one she hath swift speedie quicke So thinkes each Pagan each Arabian trowes He weilds three swords all in one hilt that sticke His readinesse their eies so blinded hath Their dreed that wounder bred feare gaue it fath 56 The Affricke tyrants and the Negro kings Fell downe on heapes drown'd each in others blood Vpon their people ranne the knights he brings Prickt forward by their guides ensample good Kild were the Pagans broake their bowes and slings Some dide some fell some yeelded none withstood A massacre was this no fight these put Their foes to death those hold their throates to cut 57 Small while they stood with hart and hardie face On their bold brests deepe wounds and hurts to beare But fled away and troubled in the chace Their rankes disordred be with too much feare Rinaldo follow'd them from place to place Till quite discomfit and disperst they weare That done he staies and all his knights recalles And scornes to strike his foe that flies or falles 58 Like as the winde stopt by some wood or hill Growes strong and fierce teares boughes and trees in twaine But with milde blasts more temprate gentle still Blowes through the ample field or spatious plaine Against the rockes as sea-waues murmur shrill But silent passe amid the open maine Rinaldo so when none his force withstood Asswagd his furie calmd his angrie mood 59 He scornd vpon their fearefull backes that fled To wreake his ire and spend his force in vaine But gainst the footemen strong his troupes he led Whose side the Moores had open left and plaine The Affricanes that should haue succoured That battaile all were ronne away or slaine Vpon their flanke with force and courage stout His men at armes assaild the bands on fout 60 He brake their pikes and brake their close array Entred their battaile feld them downe around So winde or tempest with impetious sway The eares of ripened corne strikes flat to ground With blood armes bodies dead the hardned clay Plastred the earth no grasse nor greene was found The horsemen running through through their bands Kill murder slay few scape not one withstands 61 Rinaldo came where his forlorne Armide Sate on her golden chariot mounted hie A noble guard she had on euery side Of lords of louers and much chiualrie She knew the man when first his armes she spide Loue hate wrath sweet desire stroue in her eie He changd some deale his looke countnance bold She changd from frost to fire from heat to cold 62 The prince past by the chariot of his deare Like one that did his thoughts elsewhere bestow Yet suffred not her knights and louers neare Their riuall so to scape withouten blow One drew his sword another coucht his speare Herselfe an arrow sharpe set in her bow Disdaine her ire new sharpt and kindled hath But loue appeasd her loue asswagd her wrath 63 Loue brideled furie and reuiu'd of new His fire not dead though buried in displeasure Three times her angrie hand the bow vp drew And thrice againe let slacke the string at leasure But wrath preuail'd at last the reed out flew For loue findes meane but hatred knowes no measure Out flew the shaft but with the shaft this charme This wish she sent heau'ns grant it doe no harme 64 She bids the reed returne the way it went And pearse her hart which so vnkinde could proue Such force had loue though lost and vainly spent What strength hath happie kinde and mutuall loue But she that gentle thought did straight repent Wrath furie kindnes in her bosome stroue She would she would not that it mist or hit Her eies her hart her wishes followed it 65 But yet in vaine the quarrell lighted not For on his hawberke hard the knight it hit Too hard for womans shaft or womans shot In stead of pearsing there it broke and split He turn'd away she burnt with furie hot And thought he scorn'd her powre and in that fit Shot oft and oft her shaftes no entrance found And while she shot loue gaue her wound on wound 66 And is he then vnpearceable quoth shee That neither force nor foe he needes regard His lims perchance arm'd with that hardnes bee Which makes his hart so cruell and so hard No shot that flies from eie or hand I see Hurtes him such rigor doth his person gard Arm'd or disarm'd his foe or mistresse kinde Despis'd alike like hate like scorne I finde 67 But what new forme is left deuise or art By which to which exchang'd I might finde grace For in my knights and all that take my part I see no helpe no hope no trust I place To his great prowesse might and valiant hart All strength is weake all courage vile and bace This said she for she saw how through the feild Her champions flie faint tremble fall and yeild 68 Nor left alone can she her person
saue But to be slaine or taken stands in feare Though with her bow a iauelin long she haue Yet weake was Phebes bow blunt Pallas speare But as the swan that sees the Eagle braue Threatning her flesh and siluer plumes to teare Falles downe to hide her mongst the shadie brookes Such were her fearfull motions such her lookes 69 But Altamore this while that stroue and sought From shamefull flight his Persian host to stay That was discomfit and destroi'd to nought Whilst he alone mantain'd the fight and fray Seeing distrest the goddesse of his thought To aide her ran nay flew and laid away All care both of his honour and his host If she were safe let all the world be lost 70 To the ilguarded chariot swift he flew His weapon made him way with bloodie warre Meane-while Lord Godfrey and Rinaldo slew His feeble bands his people murdred arre He saw their losse but aided not his crew A better louer than a leader farre He set Armida safe then turn'd againe With tardie succour for his folke were slaine 71 And on that side the woefull Prince behield The battell lost no helpe nor hope remain'd But on the other wing the Christians yield And flie such vantage there th' Egyptians gain'd One of the Roberts was nigh slaine in field The other by the Indian strong constrain'd To yeeld himselfe his captiue and his slaue Thus equall losse and equall foile they haue 72 Godfredo tooke the time and season fit To bring againe his squadrons in array And either campe well ordred rang'd and knit Renew'd the furious battel fight and fray New streames of blood were shed new swords them hit New combats fought new spoiles were borne away And vnresolu'd and doubtfull on each side Did praise and conquest Mars and Fortune ride 73 Betweene the armies twaine while thus the fight Waxt sharpe hot cruell though renewd but late The Soldan clombe vp to the towers hight And sawe farre off their strife and fell debate As from some stage or theatre the knight Saw plaid the tragedie of humaine state Sawe death blood murder woe and horrour strange And the great acts of fortune chance and change 74 At first astonisht and amazd he stood Then burnt with wrath and selfe consuming ire Swelled his bosome like a raging flood To be amid that battaile such desire Such haste he had he dond his helmet good His other armes he had before entire Vp vp he cride no more no more within This fortresse stay come follow die or win 75 Whether the same were prouidence diuine That made him leaue the fortresse he possest For that the empire proud of Palestine This day should fall to rise againe more blest Or that he breaking felt the fatall line Of life and would meete death with constant brest Furious and fierce he did the gates vnbarre And sodaine rage brought foorth and sodaine warre 76 Nor staide he till the folke on whom he cride Assemble might but out alone he flies A thousand foes the man alone defide And ronne among a thousand enimies But with his furie cald from euery side The rest ronne out and Aladine foorth hies The cowards had no feare the wise no caire This was not hope nor courage but despaire 77 The dreadfull Turke with sodaine blowes downe cast The first he met nor gaue them time to plaine Or pray in murdring them he made such haste That dead they fell ere one could see them slaine From mouth to mouth from eie to eie foorth past The feare and terrour that the faithfull traine Of Syrian folke not vsd to dangrous fight Were broken scattred and nigh put to flight 78 But with lesse terrour and disorder lesse The Gascoignes kept array and kept their ground Though most the losse and perill them oppresse Vnwares assaild they were vnreadie found No rauning tooth or tallon hard I guesse Of beast or eager hauke doth slay and wound So many sheepe or foules weake feeble small As his sharpe sword kild knights and souldiours tall 79 It seemd his thirst and hunger swage he would With their slaine bodies and their blood powrd out With him his troupes and Aladino ould Slew their besiegers kild the Gascoigne rout But Raimond ranne to meete the Soldan bould Nor to encounter him had feare or dout Though his right hand by proofe too well he know Which laid him late for dead at one huge blow 80 They met and Raimond fell amid the feild This blow againe vpon his forehead light It was the fault and weakenes of his eild Age is not fit to beare stroakes of such might Each one lift vp his sword aduanst his sheild Those would destroy and these defend the knight On went the Soldan for the man he thought Was slaine or easlie might be captiue brought 81 Among the rest he ranne he ragd he smote And in small space small time great wonders wrought And as his rage him led and furie hote To kill and murder matter new he sought As from his supper poore with hungrie throte A peasant hasts to a rich feast ibrought So from this skirmish to the battaile great He ranne and quencht with blood his furies heat 82 Where battred was the wall he sallied out And to the field in haste and heat he goes With him went rage and furie feare and dout Remaind behind among his scattred foes To win the conquest stroue his squadron stout Which he vnperfect left yet loth to loes The day the Christians fight resist and die And readie were to yeeld retire and flie 83 The Gascoigne bands retir'd but kept array The Syrian people ran away outright The fight was neere the place where Tancred lay His house was full of noise and great affright He rose and looked foorth to see the fray Though euery limme were weake faint voide of might He sawe the countie lie his men orethrowne Some beaten backe some kild some felled downe 84 Courage in noble harts that nere is spent Yet fainted not though faint were euery lim But reinforst each member cleft and rent And want of blood and strenght supplide in him In his left hand his heauie shield he hent Nor seemd the weight too great his curtlax trim His tight hand drew nor for more armes he stood Or staid he needs no more whose hart is good 85 But comming foorth cride whither will you ronne And leaue your leader to his foes in pray What shall these heathen of his armour wonne In their vile temples hang vp trophies gay Go home to Gascoigne then and tell his sonne That where his father dide you ran away This said against a thousand armed foes He did his brest weake naked sicke oppoes 86 And with his heauie stronge and mightie targe That with seau'n hard buls hides was surely lind And strengthned with a couer thicke and large Of stiffe and well attempred steele behind He shielded Raimond from the furious charge From swords from darts from weapons of each kind And all his
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
lucke with life with loue There from her stead she lighted there laid downe Her bowe and shafts her armes that helpelesse proue There lie with shame she saies disgrast orethrowne Blunt are the weapons blunt the armes I moue Weake to reuenge my harmes or harme my foe My shafts are blunt ah loue would thine were soe 124 Alas among so many could not one Not one draw blood one wound or rend his skin All other brests to you are marble stone Dare you than pierce a womans bosome thin See see my naked hart on this alone Imploy your force this fort is eath to win And loue will shoote you from his mightie bow Weake is the shot that dripile falles in snow 125 I pardon will your feare and weakenes past Be strong mine arrowes cruell sharpe gainst mee Ah wretch how is thy chance and fortune cast If plast in these thy good and comfort bee But since all hope is vaine all helpe is wast Since hurts ease hurts wounds must cure wounds in thee Then with thine arrowes stroake cure stroakes of loue Death for thy hart must salue and surgeon proue 126 And happie me if being dead and slaine I beare not with me this strange plague to hell Loue staie behind come thou with me disdaine And with my wronged soule for euer dwell Or else with it turne to the world againe And vexe that knight with dreames and visions fell And tell him when twixt life and death I stroue My last wish was reuenge last word was loue 127 And with that word halfe mad halfe dead she seames An arrow poignant strong and sharpe she tooke When her deare knight found her in these extreames Now fit to die and passe the Stygian brooke Now prest to quench her owne and beauties beames Now death sate on her eies death in her looke When to her backe he stept and staid her arme Stretcht foorth to doe that seruice last last harme 128 She turnes and ere she knowes her Lord she spies Whose comming was vnwisht vnthought vnknowne She shrikes and twines away her sdeignfull eies From his sweete face she falles dead in a swoune Falles as a flowre halfe cut that bending lies He held her vp and least she tumble downe Vnder her tender side his arme he plast His hand her girdle loos'd her gowne vnlast 129 And her faire face faire bosome he bedewes With teares teares of remorse of ruth of sorrow As the pale Rose her colour lost renewes With the fresh drops falne from the siluer morrow So she reuiues and cheekes empurpled shewes Moist with their owne teares and with teares they borrow Thrice lookte she vp her eies thrice closed shee As who say let me die ere looke on thee 130 And his strong arme with weake and feeble hand She would haue thrust away loos'd and vntwined Oft stroue she but in vaine to breake that band For he the â—old he got not yet resined Her selfe fast bound in those deare knots she fand Deare though she faigned scorne stroue and repined At last she speakes she weepes complaines and cries Yet durst not did not would not see his eies 131 Cruell at thy departure at retorne As cruell say what chance thee hither guideth Wouldst thou preuent her death whose hart forlorne For thee for thee deathes stroakes each howre deuideth Comst thou to saue my life alas what scorne What torment for Armida poore abideth No no thy crafts and sleights I well descrie But she can little doe that cannot die 132 Thy triumph is not great nor well arrai'd Vnlesse in chaines thou lead a captiue dame A dame now tane by force before betrai'd This is thy greatest glorie greatest fame Time was that thee of loue and life I prai'd Let death now end my loue my life my shame Yet let not thy false hand bereaue this breath For if it were thy guift hatefull were death 133 Cruell my selfe an hundreth waies can finde To rid me from thy malice from thy hate If weapons sharpe if poisons of all kinde If fire if strangling faile in that estate Yet waies enough I know to stop this winde A thousand entries hath the house of fate Ah leaue these flattries leaue weake hope to moue Cease cease my hope is dead dead is my loue 134 Thus mourned shee and from her watrie eies Disdaine and loue dropt downe roll'd vp in teares From his pure fountaines ranne two streames likewise Wherein chast pitie and milde ruth appeares Thus with sweete words the Queene he pacifies Madame appease your griefe your wrath your feares For to be crown'd not scorn'd your life I saue Your foe nay but your friend your knight your slaue 135 But if you trust no speech no oath no word Yet in mine eies my zeale my truth behold For to that throne whereof thy fire was Lord I will restore thee crowne thee with that gold And if high heau'n would so much grace afford As from thy hart this cloude this vaile vnfold Of Paganisme in all the East no dame Should equalize thy fortune state and fame 136 Thus plaineth he thus praies and his desire Endeares with sighes that flie and teares that fall That as against the warm'th of Titans fire Snow drifts consume on tops of mountaines tall So melts her wrath but loue remaines entire Behold she saies your handmaid and your thrall My life my crowne my wealth vse at your pleasure Thus death her life became losse prou'd her treasure 137 This while the Captaine of th' Egyptian host That saw his roiall standard laid on ground Saw Rimedon that ensignes prop and post By Godfreies noble hand kild with one wound And all his folke discomfit slaine and lost No coward was in this last batrell found But road about and sought nor sought in vaine Some famous hand of which he might be slaine 138 Against lord Godfrey bouldly out he flew For nobler foe he wisht not could not spie Of desprate courage shew'd he tokens trew Where ere he ioind or staid or passed bie And cried to the Duke as neere he drew Behold of thy strong hand I come to die Yet trust to ouerthrow thee with my fall My castles ruines shall breake downe thy wall 139 This said foorth spurr'd they both both high aduance Their swords aloft both stroake at once both hit His left arme wounded had the knight of France His shield was pierst his vantbrace cleft and split The Pagan backward fell halfe in a trance On his left eare his foe so hugely smit And as he sought to rise Godfredoes sword Pierced him through so dide that armies Lord. 140 Of his great host when Emiren was dead Fled the small remnant that aliue remained Godfrey espied as he turnd his stead Great Altamore on foote with blood all stained With halfe a sword halfe helme vpon his head Gainst whom an hundreth fought yet not one gained Cease cease this strife he cride and thou braue knight Yeeld I am Godfrey yeeld thee to my might 141 He that till then his proud and haughtie hart To act of humblenes did neuer bend When that great name he heard from the north part Of our wide world renown'd to Aethiops end Answer'd I yeeld to thee thou worthy art I am thy pris'ner fortune is thy frend On Altamoro great thy conquest bold Of glorie shall be rich and rich of gold 142 My louing queene my wife and Lady kinde Shall ransome me with iewels gold and treasure God shield quoth Godfrey that my noble minde Should praise and vertue so by profit measure All that thou hast from Persia and from Inde Enioy it still therein I take no pleasure I set no rent on life no price on blood I fight and fell not warre for gold or good 143 This said he gaue him to his knights to keepe And after those that fled his course he bent They to their rampires fled and trenches deepe Yet could not so deathes cruell stroke preuent The campe was wonne and all in blood doth steepe The blood in riuers stream'd from tent to tent It soil'd defilde defaced all the pray Shields helmets armours plumes and feathers gay 144 Thus conquer'd Godfrey and as yet the sonne Diu'd not in siluer waues his golden waine But day-light seru'd him to the fortresse wonne With his victorious host to turne againe His bloodie cote he put not off but ronne To the high Temple with his noble traine And there hung vp his armes and there he bowes His knees there prai'd and there perform'd his vowes FINIS Printed at London by Ar. Hatfield for John Jaggard and M. Lownes 1600.