and reconciliation to Godfrey noteth Obedience causing the Irefull power to yeelde to the Reasonable In these Reconciliations two things are signified first Godfrey with ciuill moderation is acknowledged to be superiour to Rinaldo teaching vs that Reason commandeth Anger not imperiously but curteouslie and ciuillie contrariwise in that by imprisoning Argillanus imperiously the sedition is quieted it is giuen vs to vnderstand the power of the Minde to be ouer the bodie regall and predominate Secondly that as the reasonable part ought not for heerein the Stoiks were very much deceiued to exclude the Irefull from actions nor vsurpe the offices thereof for this vsurpation shoulde bee against nature and iustice but it ought to make her her companion and handmaid So ought not Godfrey to attempt the aduenture of the wood himselfe thereby arrogating to himselfe the other offices belonging to Reinaldo Lesse skill should then be shewed and lesse regard had to the profite which the Poet as subiected to policie ought to haue for his aime if it had been fained that by Godfrey onlie all was wrought which was necessarie for the conquering of Ierusalem Neither is there contrarietie or difference from that which hath been said in putting downe Rinaldo and Godfrey for that figure of the Reasonable and of the Irefull vertue which Hugo speakes of in his dreame wheras he compareth the one to the Head the other to the right Hand of the army bicause the Head if we belieue Plato is the seat of Reason and the right Hand if it be not the seat of wrath it is at least her most principall instrument Finally to come to the conclusion the army wherein Rinaldo and the other Woorthies by the grace of God and aduise of Man are returned and obedient to their chieftaine signifieth man brought againe into the state of naturall Iustice and heauenly obedience where the superior powers do command as they ought and the inferiour do obey as they should Then the wood is easily disinchanted the citty vanquished the enimies armie discomfited that is all externall impediments being easily ouercome man attaineth the politike happines But for that this Politike blessednes ought not to be the last marke of a Christian man but he ought to looke more high that is to Euerlasting felicitie for this cause Godfrey doth not desire to win the earthly Ierusalem to haue therein onely temporall dominion but bicause heerein may be celebrated the worship of God and that the Holy sepulchre may be the more freely visited of godly strangers and deuout Pilgrims and the Poem is shut vp in the praiers of Godfrey it is shewed vnto vs that the Vnderstanding being trauelled and wearied in ciuill actions ought in the ende to rest in deuotion and in the contemplation of the eternall blessednes of the other most happie and immortall life FINIS The first Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument God sends his Angell to Tortosa downe Godfrey vnites the Christianpeeres and knights And all the Lords and Princes of renowne Choose him their Duke to rule the wars and fights He mustreth all his host whose number knowne He sends them to the fort that Sion hights The aged Tyrant Iudaes land that guides In feare and trouble to resist prouides 1 THE sacred armies and the godly knight That the great sepulcher of Christ did free I sing much wrought his valour and foresight And in that glorious war much suffred hee In vaine gainst him did Hell oppose her might In vaine the Turks and Morians armed bee His soldiers wilde to braules and mutines prest Reduced he to peace so heau'n him blest 2 O heauenly muse that not with fading baies Deckest thy brow by th'Heliconian spring But sittest crownd with stars immortall raies In heauen where legions of bright Angels sing Inspire life in my wit my thoughts vpraise My verse ennoble and forgiue the thing If fictions light I mixe with truth diuine And fill these lines with others praise then thine 3 Thither thouknow'st the world is best inclinde Where luring Parnase most his sweete imparts And truth conuay'd in verse of gentle kinde To reade perhaps will moue the dullest harts So we if children yong diseas'd we finde Annoint with sweets the vessels formost parts To make them taste the potions sharpe we giue They drinke deceiu'd and so deceiu'd they liue 4 Ye noble Princes that protect and saue The pilgrim muses and their ship defend From rocke of ignorance and errors waue Your gracious eies vpon this labour bend To you these tales of loue and conquests braue I dedicate to you this worke I send My muse hereafter shall perhaps vnfold Your fights your battailes and your combats bold 5 For if the Christian Princes euer striue To win faire Greece out of the tyrants hands And those vsurping Ismalites depriue Of wofull Thrace which now captiued stands You must from realmes and seas the Turkes forth driue As Godfrey chased them from Iudais lands And in this legend all that glorious deede Read whil'st you arme you arme you whil'st you reed 6 Sixe yeeres were ronne since first in martiall guize The Christian Lords warraid the eastren land Nice by assault and Antioch by surprize Both faire both rich both wonne both conquer'd stand And this defended they in noblest wize Gainst Persian knights and many a valiant band Tottosa wonne least winter might them shend They drew to holds and comming spring attend 7 The sullen season now was come and gone That forst them late cease from their noble war When God almightie from his loftie throne Set in those parts of heau'n that purest ar As far aboue the cleere stars euery one As it is hence vp to the highest star Look'd downe and all at once this world behield Each land each citie countrie towne and field 8 All things he view'd at last in Syria stai'd Vpon the Christian Lords his gracious eie That wondrous looke wherewith he oft suruai'd Mens secret thoughts that most concealed lie He cast on puissant Godfrey that assai'd To driue the Turks from Sions bulwarks hie And full of zeale and faith esteemed light All worldly honour empire treasure might 9 In Baldwine next he spide another thought Whom spirits proud to vaine ambition moue Tancred he saw his liues ioy set at nought So woe begon was he with paines of loue Boemond the conquer'd folke of Antioch brought The gentle yoke of Christian rule to proue He taught them lawes statutes and customes new Arts craftes obedience and religion trew 10 And with such care his busie worke he plied That to nought els his acting thoughts he bent In yong Rinaldo fierce desires he spied And noble hart of rest impatient To wealth or soueraigne powre he nought applied His wits but all to vertue excellent Patternes and rules of skill and courage bolde He tooke from Guelpho and his fathers olde 11 Thus when the Lord discouer'd had and seene The hidden secrets of each worthies brest Out of the Hierarchies of Angels sheene
The gentle Gabriell call'd he from the rest Twixt God and soules of men that righteous beene Ambassador is he for euer blest The iust commaunds of heau'ns eternall king Twixt skies and earth he vp and downe doth bring 12 To whom the Lord thus spake Godfredo finde And in my name aske him why doth he rest Why be his armes to ease and peace resignde Why frees he not Hierusalem distrest His Peeres to counsell call each baser minde Let him stir vp for chieftaîne of the rest I chose him heere the earth shall him allow His fellowes late shall be his subiects now 13 This said the Angell swift himselfe preparde To execute the charge impos'd aright In forme of airie members faire imbarde His spirits pure were subiect to our sight Like to a man in shew and shape he farde But full of heau'nly maiestie and might A stripling seem'd he thrice fiue winters olde And radiant beames adorn'd his locks of golde 14 Of siluer wings he tooke a shining paire Fringed with gold vnwearied nimble swift With these he parts the windes the clouds the aire And ouer seas and earth himselfe doth lift Thus clad he cut the spheares and circles faire And the pure skies with sacred feathers clift On Libanon at first his foote he set And shooke his wings with roarie May-dewes wet 15 Then to Tortosas confines swiftly sped The sacred messenger with headlong flight Aboue the eastern waue appeered red The rising sunne yet scantly halfe in sight Godfrey euen then his morne deuotions sed As was his custome when with Titan bright Appeer'd the Angell in his shape diuine Whose glorie far obscured Phebus shine 16 Godfrey quoth he behold the season fit To war for which thou waited hast so long Now serues the time if thou oreslip not it To free Hierusalem from thrall and wrong Thou with thy Lords in counsell quickly sit Comfort the feeble and confirme the strong The Lord of hosts their Generall doth make thee And for their chiestaine they shall gladly take thee 17 I messenger from euerlasting Ioue In his great name thus his behests doe tell Oh what sure hope of conquest ought thee moue What zeale what loue should in thy bosome dwell This said he vanisht to those seats aboue In height and cleerenes which the rest excell Downe fell the Duke his ioints dissolu'd asunder Blinde with the light and stroken dead with wonder 18 But when recou'red he consid'red more The man his maner and his message saide If earst he wished now he longed sore To end that war whereof he Lord was made Nor sweld his brest with vncouth pride therefore That heau'n on him aboue this charge had laide But for his great Creator would the same His will encreast so fire augmenteth flame 19 The captaines cald foorthwith from euery tent Vnto the Rende-vous he them inuites Letter on letter post on post he sent Entreatance faire with counsell he vnites All what a noble courage could augment The sleeping sparke of valour what incites He vs'd that all their thoughts to honour reased Some prais'd some prai'd some counselled all pleased 20 The captaines soldiers all saue Boemound came And pitcht their tents some in the fields without Some of greene boughes their slender cabbins frame Some lodged were Tortosas streetes about Of all the host the chiefe of worth and name Assembled beene a senate graue and stout Then Godfrey after silencekept a space Lift vp his voice and spake with princely grace 21 Warriors whom God himselfe elected hath His worship true in Sion to restore And still preseru'd from danger harme and scath By many a sea and many an vnknowne shore You haue subiected lately to his faith Some prouinces rebellious long before And after conquests great haue in the same Erected trophies to his crosse and name 22 But not for this our homes we first forsooke And from our natiue soile haue march'd so far Nor vs to dangrous seas haue we betooke Expos'd to hazard of so far sought war Of glorie vaine to gaine an idle smooke And lands possesse that wilde and barbrous ar That for our conquests were too meane a pray To shed our bloods to worke our soules decay 23 But this the scope was of our former thought Of Sions for t to scale the noble wall The Christian folke from bondage to haue brought Wherein alas they long haue liued thrall In Palestine an empire to haue wrought Where godlines might raigne perpetuall And none be left that pilgrims might denay To see Christes tombe and promis'd vowes to pay 24 What to this howre successiuely is donne Was full of perill to our honour small Nought to our first designment if we shonne The purpos'd end or here lie fixed all What bootes it vs these wars to haue begonne Or Europe rais'd to make proud Asia thrall If our beginnings haue this ending knowne Notkingdoms rais'd but armies ouerthrowne 25 Not as we list erect we empires new On fraile foundations laid in earthly molde Whereof our faith and countrie be but few Among the thousands stout of Pagans bolde Where no ught behooues vs trust to Greece vntrew And westren aide we far remou'd beholde Who buildeth thus me thinkes so buildeth he As if his worke should his sepulcher be 26 Turks Persians conquer'd Antiochia wonne Be glorious actes and full of glorious praise By heau'ns meere grace not by our prowesse donne Those conquests were atchieu'd by wondrous waies If now from that directed course we ronne The God of battailes thus before vs laies His louing kindnes shall we loose I dout And be a by-word to the lands about 27 Let not these blessings then sent from aboue Abused be or spilt in prophane wise But let the issue correspondent proue To good beginnings of each enterprise The gentle season might our courage moue Now euery passage plaine and open lies What lets vs than the great Hierusalem With valiant squadrons round about to hem 28 Lords I protest and harken all to it Ye times and ages future present past Heare all ye blessed in the heau'ns that sit The time for this atchieument hastneth fast The longer rest worse will the season fit Our suretie shall with doubts be ouercast If we foreslowe the siege I well foresee From Egypt will the Pagans succour'd bee 29 This said the hermite Peter rose and spake Who sate in counsell those great Lords among At my request this war was vndertake In priuate cell who earst liu'd closed long What Godfrey wils of that no question make There cast no doubts where truth is plaine and strong Your actes I trust will correspond his speach Yet one thing more I would you gladly teach 30 These striues vnles I far mistake the thing And discords rais'd oftin disordred sort Your disobedience and ill menaging Of actions lost for want of due support Refer I iustly to a further spring Spring of sedition strife oppression tort I meane commanding powre to sundry giuen In thought opinion worth estate
rod But in his chappell vile the image laid On which th' enchanter charmes and witchcrafts said 8 When Phebus next vnclos'd his wakefull eie Vprose the Sexten of that place prophaine And mist the image where it vs'd to lie Each where he sought in greefe in feare in vaine Then to the king his losse he gan descrie Who sore enraged kild him for his paine And straight conceiu'd in his malitious wit Some Christian bad this great offence commit 9 But whether this were act of mortall hand Or else the Prince of heau'ns eternall pleasure That of his mercie would this wretch withstand Nor let so vile a chest hold such a treasure As yet coniecture hath not fully scand By godlines let vs this action measure And truth of purest faith will fitly proue That this rare grace came downe from heau'n aboue 10 With busie search the tyrant gan inuade Each house each hold each temple and each tent To them the fault or faultie one bewrai'd Or hid he promist gifts or punishment His idle charmes the false enchanter said But in this maze still wandred and miswent For heauen decreed to conceale the same To make the miscreant more to feele his shame 11 But when the angrie king discouer'd not What guiltie hand this sacrilege had wrought His irefull courage boild in vengeance hot Against the Christians whom he faulters thought All ruth compassion mercie he forgot A staffe to beate that dog he long had sought Let them all die quoth he kill great and small So shall th' offender perish sure withall 12 To spill the wine with poison mixt who spares Slay then the righteous with the faultie one Destroy this field that yeeldeth nought but tares With thornes this vineyard all is ouergone Among these wretches is not one that cares For vs our lawes or our religion Vp vp deere subiects fire and weapon take Burne murder kill these traitors for my sake 13 This Herod thus would Bethlems infants kill The Christians soone these direfull newes recaue The trumpe of death sounds in their hearing shrill Their weapon faith their fortresse was the graue They had no courage time deuise or will To fight to flie excuse or pardon craue But stood prepar'd to die yet helpe they finde Whence least they hope such knots can heau'n vnbind 14 Among them dwelt her parents ioy and pleasure A maide whose fruit was ripe not oueryeared Her beautie was her not esteemed treasure The field of loue with plow of vertue eared Her labour goodnes godlines her leasure Her house the heau'n by this full moone aye cleared For there from louers eies withdrawne alone With virgin beames this spotlesse Cinthia shone 15 But what avail'd her resolution chaste Whose sobrest lookes were whetstones to desire Nor loue consents that beauties field lie waste Her visage set Olindoes hart on fire O subtile loue a thousand wiles thou hast By humble suit by seruice or by hire To win a maidens hold a thing soone donne For nature fram'd all women to be wonne 16 Sophronia she Olindo hight the yuth Both of one towne both in one faith were taught She faire he full of bashfulnes and truth Lou'd much hop'd little and desired nought He durst not speake by suit to purchase ruth She saw not markt not wist not what he sought Thus lou'd thus seru'd he long but not regarded Vnseene vnmarkt vnpitied vnrewarded 17 To her came message of the murderment Wherein her guiltlesse friends should hopelesse sterue She that was noble wise as faire and gent Cast how she might their harmlesse liues preserue Zeale was the spring whence flow'd her hardiment From maidens shame yet was she loth to swerue Yet had her courage tane so sure a hold That boldnes shamefast shame had made her bold 18 And foorth she went a shop for merchandise Full of rich stuffe but none for sale exposed A vaile obscur'd the sunshine of her eies The rose within her selfe her sweetnes closed Each ornament about her seemely lies By curious chance or carelesse art composed For what the most neglects most curious proue So beautie 's helpt by nature heau'n and loue 19 Admir'd of all on went this noble maid Vntill the presence of the king she gained Nor for he sweld with ire was she affraid But his fierce wrath with fearlesse grace sustained I come quoth she but be thine anger staid And causelesse rage gainst faultlesse soules restrained I come to shew thee and to bring thee both The wight whose fact hath made thy hart so wroth 20 Her modest boldnes and that light'ning ray Which her sweete beautie streamed on his face Had strooke the Prince with wonder and dismay Changed his cheere and cleer'd his moodie grace That had her eies dispos'd their lookes to play The king had snared been in loues strong lace But wayward beautie doth not fancie moue A frowne forbids a smile engendreth loue 21 It was amazement wonder and delight Although not loue that mou'd his cruell sence Tell on quoth he vnfold the chance aright Thy peoples liues I grant for recompence Then she behold the faulter here in sight This hand committed that suppos'd offence I tooke the image mine that fault that fact Mine be the glorie of that vertuous act 22 This spotlesse lambe thus offred vp her blood To saue the rest of Christs selected fold O noble lie was euer truth so good Blest be the lips that such a leasing told Thoughtfull awhile remain'd the tyrant wood His natiue wrath he gan a space withhold And said that thou discouer soone I will What aide what counsell hadst thou in that ill 23 My loftie thoughts she answer'd him enuide Anothers hand should worke my high desire The thirst of glorie can no partner bide With mine owne selfe I did alone conspire On thee alone the tyrant then replide Shall fall the vengeance of my wrath and ire T is iust and right quoth she I yeeld consent Mine be the honour mine the punishment 24 The wretch of new enraged at the same Askt where she hid the image so conuai'd Not hid quoth she but quite consum'd with flame The idoll is of that eternall maid For so at least I haue preseru'd the same With hands profane from being eft betraid My Lord the thing thus stolne demaund no more Here see the theefe that scorneth death therefore 25 And yet no theft was this yours was the sin I brought againe what you vniustly tooke This heard the tyrant did for rage begin To whet his teeth and bend his frowning looke No pitie youth fairenesse no grace could win Ioy comfort hope the virgin all forsooke Wrath kill'd remorse vengeance stopt mercies breath Loue 's thrall to hate and beautie slaue to death 26 Tane was the damsell and without remorse The king condemn'd her guiltlesse to the fire Her vaile and mantle pluckt they off by force And bound her tender armes in twisted wire Dumbe was this siluer doue while from her corse These hungrie kites pluckt off
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
39 But when with threats they both had whetted keene Their eager rage their furie spite and ire They turn'd their steeds and left large space betweene To make their forces greater proaching nire With termes that warlike and that worthie beene O sacred muse my hawtie thoughts inspire And make a trumpet of my slender quill To thunder out this furious combat shrill 40 These sonnes of Mauors bore in stead of speares Two knottie masts which none but they could lift Each foming steed so fast his master beares That neuer beast bird shaft flew halfe so swift Such was their furie as when Boreas teares The shattred crags from Taurus northren clift Vpon their helmes their lances long they broke And vp to heau'n flew splinters sparks and smoke 41 The shocke made all the towres and turrets quake And woods and mountaines all nie-hand resound Yet could not all that force and furie shake The valiant champions nor their persons wound Together hurtled both their steedes and brake Each others necke the riders lay on ground But they great masters of wars dreadfull art Pluckt forth their swords and soone from earth vp start 42 Close at his surest warde each warriour lieth He wisely guides his hand his foot his eie This blow he proueth that defence he trieth He trauerseth retireth preaseth nie Now strikes he out and now he falsifieth This blowe he wardeth that he lets slip bie And for aduantage oft he lets some part Discouer'd seeme thus art deludeth art 43 The Pagan ill defenst with sword or targe Tancredies thigh as he suppos'd espide And reaching forth gainst it his weapon large Quite naked to his foe leaues his left side Tancred auoideth quicke his furious charge And gaue him eeke a wound deepe sore and wide That donne himselfe safe to his ward retired His courage prais'd by all his skill admired 44 The proud Circassian saw his streaming blood Downe from his wound as from a fountaine running He sigh'd for rage and trembled as he stood He blam'd his fortune follie want of cunning He lift his sword aloft for ire nigh wood And forward rusht Tancred his furie shunning With a sharpe thrust once more the Pagan hit To his broad shoulder where his arme is knit 45 Like as a beare through pearsed with a dart Within the secret woods no further flieth But bites the senselesse weapon mad with smart Seeking reuenge till vnreueng'd she dieth So mad Argantes far'd when his proud hart Wound vpon wound and shame on shame espieth Desire of veng'ance so orecame his senses That he forgot all dangers all defenses 46 Vniting force extreme with endlesse wrath Supporting both with youth and strength vntired His thundring blowes so fast about he la'th That skies and earth the flying sparkles fired His foe to strike one blow no leasure hath Scantly he breathed though he oft desired His warlike skill and cunning all was waste Such was Argantes force and such his haste 47 Long time Tancredie had in vaine attended When this huge storme should ouerblow and pas Some blowes his mightie target well defended Some fell beside and wounded deepe the gras But when he saw the tempest neuer ended Nor that the Painims force ought weaker was He high aduanst his cutting sword at length And rage to rage oppos'd and strength to strength 48 Wrath bore the sway both art and reason faile Furie new force and courage new supplies Their armours forged were of mettall fraile On euery side thereof huge cantels flies The land was strowed all with plate and maile That on the earth on that their warme blood lies And at each rush and euery blowe they smote Thunder the noise the sparks seem'd lightning hote 49 The Christian people and the Pagans gazed On this fierce combat wishing oft the end Twixt hope and feare they stood long time amased To see the knights assaile and eeke defend Yet neither signe they made nor noise they raised But for the issue of the fight attend And stood as still as life and sense they wanted Saue that their harts within their bosoms panted 50 Now were they tired both and well-nie spent Their blowes shew'd greater will then powre to wound But night her gentle daughter darknes sent With friendly shade to ouerspread the ground Two heralds to the fighting champions went To part the fray as law of armes them bound Aridens borne in France and wise Pindore The man that brought the challenge proud before 51 These men their scepters interpose betweene The doubtfull hazards of vncertaine fight For such their priuilege hath euer beene The law of nations doth defend their right Pindore began stay stay you warriors keene Equall your honour equall is your might Forbeare this combate so we deeme it best Giue nighther due and grant your persons rest 52 Man goeth forth to labour with the sunne But with the night all creatures draw to sleepe Nor yet of hidden praise in darknes wonne The valiant hart of noble knight takes keepe Argantes answer'd him the fight begonne Now to forbeare doth wound my hart right deepe Yet will I stay so that this Christian sweare Before you both againe to meet me heare 53 I sweare quoth Tancred but sweare thou likewise To make returne thy prisner eeke with thee Else for atchieuement of this enterprise None other time but this expect of mee Thus sware they both the heralds both deuise What time for this exploite should fittest bee And for their wounds of rest and cure had need To meet againe the sixt day was decreed 54 This fight was deepe imprinted in their harts That saw this bloodie fray to ending brought An horror great possest their weaker parts Which made them shrinke who on this combat thought Much speech was of the praise and high desarts Of these braue champions that so nobly fought But which for knightly worth was most ipraised Of that was doubt and disputation raised 55 All long to see them end this doubtfull fray And as they fauour so they wish successe These hope true vertue shall obtaine the day Those trust on furie strength and hardinesse But on Erminia most this burthen lay Whose lookes her trouble and her feare expresse For on this dang'rous combats doubtfull end Her ioy her comfort hope and life depend 96 Her the sole daughter of that haplesse king That of proud Antioch late wore the crowne The Christian soldiers to Tancredie bring When they had sackt and spoil'd that glorious towne But he in whom all good and vertue spring The virgins honour sau'd and her renowne And when her citie and her state was lost Then was her person lou'd and honour'd most 57 He honour'd her seru'd her and leaue her gaue And will'd her goe whither and when she list Her gold and iewels had he care to saue And them restored all she nothing mist She that beheld his youth and person braue When by this deed his noble minde she wist Laid ope her hart for Cupids shaft to hit Who
champion made How Godfrey had him to this combat chose The armies honour on his shoulder lade To hazards new he list not that expose While thus his thoughts debated on the cace The hilts Argantes hurled at his face 96 And forward spurr'd his mounture fierce withall Within his armes longing his foe to straine Vpon whose helme the heauie blowe did fall And bent well nie the mettall to his braine But he whose courage was heroicall Leapt by and makes the Pagans onset vaine And woundes his hand which he outstretched saw Fiercer than eagles talent lions paw 97 Now here now there on euery side he road With nimble speed and spurr'd now out now in And as he went and came still laid on load Where Lord Argantes armes were weake and thin All that huge force which in his armes aboad His wrath his ire his great desire to win Against his foe together all he bent And heau'n and fortune furthred his intent 98 But he whose courage for no perill failes Well arm'd and better harted scornes his powre Like a tall ship when spent are all her sailes Which still resists the rage of storme and showre Whose mightie ribs fast bound with bands and nailes Withstands fierce Neptunes wrath for many an howre And yeelds not vp her brused keele to windes In whose sterne blasts no ruth nor grace she findes 99 Argantes such thy present danger was When Sathan stirr'd to aide thee at thy need In humane shape he forg'd an airie mas And made the shade a body seeme indeed Well might the spirit for Clorinda pas Like her it was in armour and in weed In stature beautie countenance and face In lookes in speech in gesture and in pace 100 And for the sprite should seeme the same indeed From where she was whose show and shape it had Towards the wall it road with faigned speed Where stood the people all dismaid and sad To see their knight of helpe haue so great need And yet the law of armes all helpe forbad There in a turret sat a soldier stout To watch and at a loope-hole peeped out 101 The spirit spake to him call'd Oradine The noblest archer then that handled bow O Oradin quoth she who straight as line Canst shoot and hit each marke set high or low If yonder knight alas be slaine in fine As likest is great ruth it were you know And greater shame if his victorious foe Should with his spoiles triumphant homeward goe 102 Now proue thy skill thine arrowes sharpe head dip In yonder theeuish French-mans guiltie blood I promise thee thy soueraigne shall not slip To giue thee large rewards for such a good Thus said the sprite the man did laugh and skip For hope of future gaine nor longer stood But from his quiuer huge a shaft he hent And set it in his mightie bowe new bent 103 Twanged the string out flew the quarell long And through the subtile aire did singing pas It hit the knight the buckles rich among Wherewith his pretious girdle fast'ned was It brused them and pearst his hawberke strong Some little blood downe trickled on the gras Light was the wound the angell by vnseene The sharpe head blunted of the weapon keene 104 Raimond drew forth the shaft as much behoued And with the steele his blood out streaming came With bitter words his foe he than reproued For breaking faith to his eternall shame Godfrey whose carefull eies from his beloued Were neuer turned saw and markt the same And when he vew'd the wounded Countie bleed He sigh'd and feared more perchance than need 105 And with his words and with his threat'ning eies He stirr'd his captaines to reuenge that wrong Forthwith the spurred courser forward hies Within their rests put were their lances long From either side a squadron braue out flies And boldly made a fierce encounter strong The raised dust to ouerspread begunne Their shining armes and far more shining sunne 106 Of breaking speares of ringing helme and shield A dreadfull rumour roard on euery side There lay an horse another through the field Ran masterlesse dismounted was his guide Here one lay dead there did another yeeld Some sigh'd some sobb'd some praied and some cride Fierce was the fight and longer still it lasted Fiercer and fewer still themselues they wasted 107 Argantes nimbly leapt amid the throng And from a soldier wrung an iron mace And breaking through the ranks and ranges long Therewith he passage made himselfe and place Raimond he sought the thickest prease among To take reuenge for late recein'd disgrace A grecdie woolfe he seem'd and would asswage With Raimonds blood his hunger and his rage 108 The way he found not easie as he would But fierce encounters put him oft to paine He met Ormanno and Rogero bould Of Balnauile Guie and the Gerards twaine Yet nothing might his rage and haste withhould These worthies stroue to stop him but in vaine With these strong lets increased still his ire Like riuers stopt or closely smouldred fire 109 He slew Ormanno wounded Guie and laid Rogero lowe among the people slaine On euery side new troopes the man inuaid Yet all their blowes were waste their onsets vaine But while Argantes thus his prises plaid And seem'd alone this skirmish to sustaine The Duke his brother call'd and thus he spake Goe with thy troope fight for thy Sauiours sake 110 There enter in where hottest is the fight Thy force against the left wing strongly bend This said so braue an onset gaue the knight That many a Painim bold there made his end The Turks too weake seem'd to sustaine his might And could not from his powre their liues defend Their ensignes rent and broke was their array And men and horse on heapes together lay 111 Orethrowne likewise away the right wing ran Nor was there one againe that turn'd his face Saue bold Argantes else fled euery man Feare droue them thence on heapes with headlong chace He staid alone and battaile new began Fiue hundreth men weapon'd with sword and mace So great resistance neuer could haue made As did Argantes with his single blade 112 The strokes of swords and thrusts of many a speare The shocke of many a iust he long sustained He seem'd of strength enough this charge to beare And time to strike now here now there he gained His armours broke his members brused weare He sweat and bled yet courage still he fained But now his foes vpon him preas'd so fast That with their weight they bore him backe at last 113 His backe against this storme at length he turned Whose headlong furie bore him backward still Not like to one that fled but one that murned Bicause he did his foes no greater ill His threat'ning eies like flaming torches burned His courage thirsted yet more blood to spill And euery way and euery meane he sought To stay his flying mates but all for nought 114 This good he did while thus he plaid his part His bands and troopes at
With fire and sword we hasted forth with speed And bore the brunt of all their fights and fraies But when we had perform'd and done the deed At ease and leasure they diuide the praies We reaped nought but trauaile for our toile Their was the praise the realmes the gold the spoile 66 Yet all this season were we willing blinde Offended vnreueng'd wrong'd but vnwroken Light greefes could not prouoke our quiet minde But now alas the mortall blow in stroken Rinaldo haue they slaine and law of kinde Of armes of nations and of high heau'n broken Why doth not heau'n kill them with fire and thunder To swallow them why cleaues not earth asunder 67 They haue Rinaldo slaine the sword and sheeld Of Christes true faith and vnreueng'd he lies Still vnreuenged lieth in the feeld His noble corpes to feed the crowes and pies Who murdred him who shall vs certaine yeeld Who sees not that although he wanted eies Who knowes not how th' Italian chiualrie Proud Godfrey and false Baldwine both enuie 68 What need we further proofe heau'n heau'n I sweare Will not consent herein we be beguiled This night I saw his murdred sprite appeare Pale sad and wan with wounds and blood defiled A spectacle full both of greefe and feare Godfrey for murdring him the ghost reuiled I saw it was no dreame before mine eies How ere I looke still still me thinkes it flies 69 What shall we doe shall we be gouern'd still By this false hand contaminate with blood Or else depart and trauaile forth vntill To Euphrates we come that sacred flood Where dwels a people voide of martiall skill Whose cities rich whose land is fat and good Where kingdoms great we may at ease prouide Far from these French mens malice from their pride 70 Than let vs goe and no reuengement take For this braue knight though it lie in our power No no that courage rather newly wake Which neuer sleepes in feare and dread one hower And this pestifrous serpent poys'ned snake Of all our knights that hath destroi'd the flower First let vs slay and his deserued end Ensample make to him that kils his frend 71 I will I will if your couragious force Dareth so much as it can well performe Teare out his cursed hart without remorse The neast of treason false and guile enorme Thus spake the angrie knight with headlong corse The rest him followed like a furious storme Arme arme they cride to armes the soldiers ran And as they ron arme arme cride euery man 72 Mongst them Alecto strowed wastefull fire Enuenoming the harts of most and least Follie disdaine madnes strife rancour ire Thirst to shed blood in euery brest encreast This ill spread far and till it set on fire With rage th' Italian lodgings neuer ceast From thence vnto the Switzers campe it went And last infected euery English tent 73 Not publike losse of their beloued knight Alone stirr'd vp their rage and wrath vntamed But fore-conceiued greefes and quarrels light Their ire still nourished and still enflamed Awaked was each former cause of spright The Frenchmen cruell and vniust they named And with bold threats they made their hatred knowne Hate seeld kept close and oft vnwisely showne 74 Like boyling liquor in a seething pot That fumeth swelleth hie and bubbleth fast Till ore the brimmes among the embers hot Part of the broth and of the scum it cast Their rage and wrath those few appeased not In whom of wisdome yet remain'd some tast Camillo William Tancred were away And all whose greatnes might their madnes stay 75 Now headlong ran to harnesse in this heat These furious people all on heapes confused The roaring trumpets battaile gan to threat As it in time of mortall war is vsed The messengers ran to Godfredo great And bod him arme while on this noise he mused And Baldwin first well clad in iron hard Stept to his side a sure and faithfull gard 76 Their murmurs heard to heau'n he lift his eine As was his wont to God for aide he fled O Lord thou knowest this right hand of mine Abhorred euer ciuill blood to shed Illumine their darke soules with light diuine Represse their rage by hellish furie bred The innocencie of my guiltlesse minde Thou know'st and make these know with furie blinde 77 This said he felt infused in each vaine A sacred heat from heau'n aboue distilled A hear in man that courage could constraine That his graue looke with awfull boldnesse filled Well garded forth he went to meet the traine Of those that would reuenge Rinaldo killed And though their threats he heard and saw them bent To armes on euery side yet on he went 78 Aboue his hawberke strong a cote he ware Embrodred faire with pearle and rich stone His hands were naked and his face was bare Wherein a lampe of maiestie bright shone He shooke his golden mace wherewith he dare Resist the force of his rebellious fone Thus he appear'd and thus he gan them teach In shape an angell and a God in speach 79 What foolish words what threats be these I heare What noise of armes who dares these tumults moue Am I so honour'd stand you so in feare Where is your late obedience where your loue Of Godfreys falshood who can witnes beare Who dare or will these accusations proue Perchance you looke I should entreaties bring Sue for your fauours or excuse the thing 80 Ah God forbid these lands should heare or see Him so disgrast at whose great name they quake This scepter and my noble actes for mee A true defence before the world can make Yet for sharpe iustice gouerned shall bee With clemencie I will no veng'ance take For this offence but for Rinaldoes loue I pardon you hereafter wiser proue 81 But Argillanoes guiltie blood shall wash This staine away who kindled this debate And led by hastie rage and furie rash To these disorders first vndid the gate While thus he spoke the lightning beames did flash Out of his eies of maiestie and state That Argillan who would haue thought it shooke For feare and terrour conqu'red with his looke 82 The rest with vndiscreet and foolish wrath Who threatned late with words of shame and pride Whose hands so ready were to harme and scath And brandished bright swords on euery side Now husht and still attend what Godfrey sath With shame and feare their bashfull lookes they hide And Argillan they let in chaines be bound Although their weapons him enuiron'd round 83 So when a lion shakes his dreadfull maine And beates his taile with courage proud and wroth If his commander come who first tooke paine To tame his youth his loftie crest downe go'th His threats he feareth and obaies the raine Of thraldome base and seruiceage though loth Nor can his sharpe teeth nor his armed pawes Force him rebell against his rulers lawes 84 Fame is a winged warriour they beheild With semblant fierce and furious looke that stood And in his
ire and courage to prouoke 11 But now to visit Egypts mighty king Vnlesse my iudgement faile you are prepar'd I prophesie about a needlesse thing You suffer shall a voiage long and hard For though you stay the monarch great will bring His new assembled host to Iuda ward No place of seruice there no cause of fight Nor gainst our foes to vse your force and might 12 But if you follow me within this wall With Christian armes hemm'd in on euery side Withouten battaile fight or stroke at all Eu'n at noone day I will you safely guide Where you delight reioice and glorie shall In perils great to see your prowesse tride That noble towne you may preserue and shield Till Egypts host come to renue the field 13 While thus he parled of this aged guest The Turke the words and lookes did both admire And from his hartie eies and furious brest He laid apart his pride his rage and ire And humbly said I willing am and prest To follow where thou leadest reuerend fire And that aduise best fits my angrie vaine That tels of greatest perill greatest paine 14 The old man prais'd his words and for the aire His late receiued wounds to worse disposes A quintessence therein he powred faire That stops the bleeding and incision closes Beholding than before Apolloes chaire How fresh Aurora violets straw'd and roses Its time he saies to wend for Titan bright To wonted labour sommons euery wight 15 And to a chariot that beside did stand Ascended he and with him Soliman He tooke the raines and with a maistring hand Ruled his steades and whipt them now and than The wheeles or horses feet vpon the land Had left no signe nor token where they ran The coursers pant and smoke with lukewarme sweat And foming creame their iron mouthfuls eat 16 The aire about them round a wondrous thing It selfe on heapes in solid thicknes drew The chariot hiding and enuironing The subtile mist no mortall eie could vew And yet no stone from engin cast or sling Could pearse the cloud it was of proofe so trew Yet seene it was to them within which ride And heau'n and earth without all cleere beside 17 His beetle browes the Turke amazed bent He wrinkled vp his front and wildly stared Vpon the cloud and chariot as it went For speed to Cinthias carre right well compared The other seeing his astonishment How he bewondred was and how he fared All sodainly by name the Prince gan call By which awaked thus he spoke withall 18 Who ere thou art aboue all worldly wit That hast these high and wondrous maruailes wrought And know'st the deepe intents which hidden sit In secret closet of mans priuate thought If in thy skilfull hart this lore be writ To tell th' euent of things to end vnbrought Then say what issue and what end the starres Allot to Asias troubles broiles and warres 19 But tell me first thy name and by what art Thou dost these wonders strange aboue our skill For full of maruaile is my troubled hart Tell then and leaue me not amazed still The wisard smil'd and answ'red in some part Easie it is to satisfie thy will Ismen I hight call'd an enchanter great Such skill haue I in magikes secret feat 20 But that I should the sure euents vnfold Of things to come or destinies foretell Too rash is your desire your wish too bold To mortall hart such knowledge neuer fell Our wit and strength on vs bestow'd I hold To shunne th'euils and harmes mongst which we dwell They make their fortune who are stout and wise Wit rules the heau'ns discretion guides the skies 21 That puissant arme of thine that well can rend From Godfreys brow the new vsurped crowne And not alone protect saue and defend From his fierce people this besieged towne Gainst fire and sword with strength and courage bend Aduenture suffer trust tread perils downe And to content and to encourage thee Know this which I as in a cloud foresee 22 I guesse before the ouer-gliding sonne Shall many yeeres meet out by weekes and daies A Prince that shall in fertill Egypt wonne Shall fill all Asia with his prosp'rous fraies I speake not of his actes in quiet donne His policie his rule his wisdomes praise Let this suffice by him these Christians shall In fight subdued flie and conquered fall 23 And their great empire and vsurped state Shall ouerthrowne in dust and ashes lie Their wofull remnant in an angle strate Compast with sea themselues shall fortifie From thee shall spring this Lord of war and fate Whereto great Soliman gan thus replie O happie man to so great praise ibore Thus he reiois'd but yet enuied more 24 And said let chance with good or bad aspect Vpon me looke as sacred heau'ns decree This hart to her I neuer will subiect Nor euer conqu'red shall she looke on mee The moone her chariot shall awrie direct Ere from this course I will diuerted bee While thus he spake it seem'd he breathed fire So fierce his courage was so hot his ire 25 Thus talked they till they arriued beene Nie to the place where Godfreys tents were reared There was a wofull spectacle iseene Death in a thousand ougly formes appeared The Soldan changed hew for greefe and teene On that sad booke his shame and losse he leared Ah with what griefe his men his friends he found And standards proud inglorious lie on ground 26 And saw on visage of some well knowne frend In foule despite a rascall French man tread And there another ragged peasant rend The armes and garments from some champion dead And there with stately pompe by heapes they wend And Christians slaine rolle vp in webs of lead Lastly the Turks and slaine Arabians brought On heapes he saw them burne with fire to nought 27 Deepely he sighed and with naked sword Out of the coach he leaped in the mire But Ismen call'd againe the angrie Lord And with graue words appeas'd his foolish ire The Prince content remounted at his word Towards a hill on droue the aged sire And hasting forward vp the banke they passe Till far behinde the Christian leaguer was 28 There they alight and tooke their way on fout The emptie chariot vanisht out of sight Yet still the cloud enuiron'd them about At their left hand downe went they from the hight Of Sions hill till they approcht the rout On that side where to west he looketh right There Ismen staied and his eie-sight bent Vpon the bushie rocks and thither went 29 A hollow caue was in the craggie stone Wrought out by hand a number yeeres to fore And for of long that way had walked none The vault was hid with plants and bushes hore The wisard stooping in thereat to gone The thornes aside and scratching brambles bore His right hand sought the passage through the cleft And for his guide he gaue the Prince his left 30 What quoth the Soldan by what priuie mine What hidden vault
behooues it me to creepe This sword can finde a better way than thine Although our foes the passage garde and keepe Let not quoth he thy princely foote repine To tread this seeret path though darke and deepe For great king Herod vs'd to tread the same He that in armes had whilome so great fame 31 This passage made he when he would suppresse His subiects pride and them in bondage hold By this he could from that small forteresse Antonia call'd of Antonie the bold Conuay his folke vnseene of more and lesse Eu'n to the middest of the temple old Thence hither where these priuie waies begin And bring vnseene whole armies out and in 32 But now saue I in all this world liues none That knowes the secret of this darksome place Come then where Aladine sits on his throne With Lords and princes set about his grace He feareth more then fitteth such an one Such signes of doubt shew in his cheere and face Fitly you come heare see and keepe you still Till time and season serue then speake your fill 33 This said that narrow entrance past the knight So creepes a camell through a needles eie And through the waies as black as darkest night He followed him that did him rule and guie Strait was the way at first withouten light But further in did further amplifie So that vpright walked at ease the men Ere they had passed halfe that secret den 34 A priuie doore Ismen vnlockt at last And vp they clombe a little vsed staire Thereat the day a feeble beame in cast Dimme was the light and nothing cleene the aire Out of the hollow caue at length they past Into a goodly hall high broad and faire Where crown'd with gold and all in purple clad Sate the sadking among his nobles sad 35 The Turke close in his hollow cloud imbard Vnseene at will did all the prease behold These heauie speeches of the king he hard Who thus from loftie siege his pleasure told My Lords last day our state was much empard Our friends were slaine kild were our soldiers bold Great helpes and greater hopes are vs bereft Nor ought but aide from Egypt land is left 36 And well you see far distant is that aid Vpon our heeles our danger treadeth still For your aduise was this assemblie maid Each what he thinketh speake and what he will A whisper soft arose when this was said As gentle winds the groues with murmur fill But with bold face high lookes and merrie cheare Argantes rose the rest their talke forbeare 37 O worthie soueraigne thus began to say The hardie yong man to the tyrant wise What words be these what feares doe you dismay Who knowes not this you need not our aduise But on our hands your hope of conquest lay And for no losse true vertue damnifies Make her our shield pray her vs succours giue And without her let vs not wish to liue 38 Nor say I this for that I ought misdeeme That Egypts promis'd succours faile vs might Doubtfull of my great maisters words to seeme To me were neither lawfull iust nor right I speake these words for spurres I them esteeme To waken vp each dull and fearfull spright And make our harts resolu'd to all assaies To winne with honour or to die with praise 39 Thus much Argantes said and said no more As if the case were cleere of which he spoke Orcano rose of princely stemibore Whose presence mongst them bore a mightie stroke A man esteemed well in armes of yore But now was coupled new in marriage yoke Yong babes he had to fight which made him loth He was a husband and a father both 40 My Lord quoth he I will not reprehend The earnest zeale of this audacious speach From courage sprong which seld is close ipend In swelling stomacke without violent breach And though to you our good Circassian frend In termes too bold and seruent oft doth preach Yet hold I that for good in warlike feat For his great deedes respond his speeches great 41 But if it you beseeme whom grauer age And long experience hath made wise and slie To rule the heat of youth and hardie rage Which somewhat haue misled this knight awrie In equall ballance ponder than and gage Your hopes far distant with your perils nie This townes old walles and rampires new compare With Godfreys forces and his engins rare 42 But if I may say what I thinke vnblamed This towne is strong by nature scite and art But engins huge and instruments are framed Gainst these defences by our aduerse part Who thinkes him most secure is eathest shamed I hope the best yet feare vnconstant Mart And with this siege if we be long vp pent Famine I doubt our store will all be spent 43 For all that store of cattell and of graine Which yesterday within these walles you brought While your proud foes triumphant through the plaine On nought but shedding blood and conquest thought Too little is this citie to sustaine To raise the siege vnlesse some meanes be sought And it must last till the prefixed howre That it be rais'd by Egypts aide and powre 44 But what if that appointed day they mis Or else ere we expect what if they came The victorie yet is not ours for this Oh saue this towne from ruine vs from shame With that same Godfrey still our watfare is These armies soldiers captaines are the same Who haue so oft amid the dustie plaine Turks Persians Syrians and Arabians slaine 45 And thou Argantes wottest what they bee Oft hast thou fled from that victorious host Thy shoulders often hast thou let them see And in thy feet hath beene thy sauegard most Clorinda bright and I fled eeke with thee None than his fellowes had more cause to bost Nor blame I any for in euery fight We shewed courage valour strength and might 46 And though this hardie knight the certaine threat Of neare approching death to heare disdaine Yet to this state of losse and danger great From this strong foe I see the tokens plaine No fort how strong so ere by art or seat Can hinder Godfrey why he should not raine This makes me say to witnes heau'n I bring Zeale to this state loue to my Lord and king 47 The king of Tripolie was well aduised To purchase peace and so preserue his crowne But Soliman who Godfreys loue despised Is either dead or deepe in prison throwne Else fearefull is he run away disguised And scant his life is left him for his owne And yet with gifts with tribute and with gold He might in peace his empire still haue hold 48 Thus spake Orcanes and some inkling gaue In doubtfull words of that he would haue said To sue for peace or yeeld himselfe a slaue He durst not openly his king perswade But at those words the Soldan gan to raue And gainst his will wrapt in the cloud he staid Whom Ismen thus bespake how can you beare These words my
full of wonder and of feare we seame And with an irefull looke the angrie maid Thus threat'ned vs and made vs thus affraid 68 You see quoth she my sacred might and skill How you are subiect to my rule and powre In endlesse thraldome damned if I will I can torment and keepe you in this towre Or make you birdes or trees on craggie hill To bide the bitter blastes of storme and showre Or harden you to rocks on mountaines old Or melt your flesh and bones to riuers cold 69 Yet may you well auoid mine ire and wraith If to my will your yeelding harts you bend You must forsake your Christendome and faith And gainst Godfredo false my crowne defend We all refus'd for speedie death each prai'th Saue false Rambaldo he became her frend We in a dungeon deepe were helplesse cast In miserie and iron chained fast 70 Then for alone they say falles no mishap Within short while Prince Tancred thither came And was vnwares surprised in the trap But there short while we staid the wilie dame In other foldes our mischiefes would vpwrap From Hidraort an hundreth horsemen came Whose guide a Baron bold to Egypts king Should vs disarm'd and bound in fetters bring 71 Now on our way the way to death we ride But prouidence diuine thus for vs wrought Rinaldo whose high vertue is his guide To great exploits exceeding humane thought Met vs and all at once our garde defide And ere he left the fight to earth them brought And in their harnesse arm'd vs in the place Which late were ours before our late disgrace 72 I and all these the hardie champion knew We saw his valour and his voice we hard Then is the rumor of his death vntrew His life is safe good fortune long it gard Three times the golden sunne hath risen new Since vs he left and rode to Antioch ward But first his armours broken hackt and cleft Vnfit for seruice there he doft and left 73 Thus spake the Briton prince with humble cheare The Hermit sage to heau'n cast vp his eine His colour and his count'nance changed weare With heauenly grace his lookes and visage shine Rauisht with zeale his soule approched neare The seat of angels pure and saints diuine And there he learnd of things and haps to come To giue foreknowledge true and certaine dome 74 At last he spoke in more then humane sound And told what things his wisedome great foresaw And at his thundring voice the folke around Attentiue stood with trembling and with awe Rinaldo liues he said the tokens found From womens craft their false beginnings draw He liues and heau'n will long preserue his daies To greater glorie and to greater praise 75 These are but trifles yet though Asias kings Shrinke at his name and tremble at his vew I well foresee he shall do greater things And wicked emprours conquer and subdew Vnder the shadow of his eagles wings Shall holie church preserue hir sacred crew From Caesars bird he shall the sable traine Plucke off and breake her talons sharpe in twaine 76 His childrens children at his hardinesse And great attempts shall take ensample faire From emperours vniust in all distresse They shall defend the state of Peters chaire To raise the humble vp pride to suppresse To helpe the innocents shall be their caire This bird of East shall flie with conquest great As farre as moone giues light or sunne giues heat 77 Her eies behold the truth and purest light And thunders downe in Peters aide shee brings And where for Christ and christian faith men fight There foorth shee spreadeth hir victorious wings This vertue Nature giues hir and this might Then lure her home for on her presence hings The happie end of this great enterpries So heau'n decrees and so command the skies 78 These words of his of Prince Rinaldoes death Out of their troubled harts the feare had raced In all this ioy yet Godfrey smil'd vneath In his wise thought such care and heed was placed But now from deepes of regions vnderneath Nights vaile arose and sunnes bright luster chaced When all full sweetly in their cabbins slept Saue he whose thoughts his eies still open kept The eleuenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument With graue procession songs and psalmes deuout Heau'ns sacred aide the Christian Lords inuoke That done they soale the wall which kept them out The fort is almost wonne the gates nie broke Godfrey is wounded by Clorinda stout And lost is that daies conquest by the stroke The Angell cures him he returnes to fight But lost his labour for day lost his light 1 THe Christian armies great and puissant guide T' assault the towne that all his thoughts had bent Did ladders rammes and engins huge prouide When reuerent Peter to him grauely went And drawing him with sober grace aside With words seuere thus told his high intent Right wel my Lord these earthly strengthes you moue But let vs first begin from heau'n aboue 2 With publike praier zeale and faith deuout The aide assistance and the helpe obtaine Of all the blessed of the heau'nly root With whose support you conquest sure may gaine First let the priestes before thine armies stout With sacred hymnes their holy voices straine And thou and all thy Lords and peeres with thee Of godlinesse and faith ensamples bee 3 Thus spake the hermit graue in words seueare Godfrey allow'd his counsell sage and wise Of Christ the Lord quoth he thou seruant deare I yeeld to follow thy diuine aduise And while the Princes I assemble heare The great procession songs and sacrifice With Bishop William thou and Ademare With sacred and with solemne pompe prepare 4 Next morne the Bishops twaine the heremite And all the clarks and priests of lesse estate Did in the middest of the campe vnite Within a place for praier consecrate Each priest adorn'd was in a surplesse white The Bishops dond their albes and copes of state Aboue their rockets button'd faire before And miters on their heads like crownes they wore 5 Peter alone before spred to the winde The glorious signe of our saluation great With easie pace the quire come all behinde And hymnes and psalmes in order true repeat With sweet respondence in harmonious kinde Their humble song the yeelding aire doth beat Lastly together went the reuerend pare Of prelates sage William and Ademare 6 The mighty Duke came next as Princes do Without companion marching all alone The Lords and captaines came by two and two The soldiers for their garde were arm'd each one With easie pace thus ordred passing throw The trench and rampire to the fields they gone No thundring drum no trumpet shrill they heate Their godly musicke psalmes and praiers weare 7 To thee O Father Sonne and sacred Spright One true eternall euerlasting king To Christes deere mother Marie virgin bright Psalmes of thankes giuing and of praise they sing To them that angels downe from heau'n to fight Gainst the
walles to shake They should no turrets rammes nor engins make 2 From Godfreyes campe a groue a little way Amid the vallies deepe growes out of sight Thicke with old trees whose horrid armes display An ougly shade like euerlasting night There when the sunne spreads forth his clearest ray Dim thicke vncertaine gloomie seemes the light As when in eu'ning day and darknes striue Which should his foe from our horizon driue 3 But when the sunne his chaire in seas doth steepe Night horrour darknes thicke the place inuade Which vaile the mortall eies with blindnes deepe And with sad terrour make weake harts affraide Thither no groome driues forth his tender sheepe To brouze or ease their faint in cooling shade Nor trauellor nor pilgrime there to enter So awfull seemes that forrest old dare venter 4 Vnited there the ghostes and gobblins meet To frolicke with their mates in silent night With dragons wings some cleaue the welkin fleet Some nimbly ronne ore hils and vallies light A wicked troupe that with allurement sweet Drawes sinfull man from that is good and right And there with hellish pompe their bankets brought They solemnise thus the vaine Pagans thought 5 No twist no twig no bough nor branch therefore The Saracines cut from that sacred spring But yet the Christians spared nere the more The trees to earth with cutting steele to bring Thither went Ismen old with tresses hore When night on all this earth spred forth her wing And there in silence deafe and mirksome shade His characters and circles vaine he made 6 He in the circle set one foot vnshod And whispred dreadfull charmes in gastly wise Three times for witchcraft loueth numbers od Toward the east he gaped westward thrise He stroke the earth thrise with his charmed rod Wherewith dead bones he makes from graues to rise And thrise the ground with naked foote he smote And thus he cried lowd with thundring note 7 Heare heare you spirits all that whilome fell Cast downe from heau'n with dint of roaring thunder Heare you amid the emptie aire that dwell And stormes and showres powre on these kingdoms vnder Heare all you deuils that lie in deepest hell And rend with torments damned ghostes asunder And of those lands of death of paine and feare Thou monarch great great Dis great Pluto heare 8 Keepe you this forrest well keepe euery tree Numbred I giue you them and truly tould As soules of men in bodies cloathed be So euerie plant a sprite shall hide and hould With trembling feare make all the Christians flee When they presume to cut these Cedars ould This said his charmes he gan againe repeat Which none can say but they that vse like feat 9 At those strange speeches still nights splendant fires Quenched their lights and shrunke away for doubt The feeble moone her siluer beames retires And wrapt her hornes with foulding cloudes about Ismen his sprites to come with speed requires Why come you not you euer damned rout Why tarrie you so long pardie you stay Till stronger charmes and greater words I say 10 I haue not yet forgot for want of vse What dreadfull tearmes belong this sacred feat My toong if still your stubburne harts refuse That so much dreaded name can well repeat Which heard great Dis cannot himselfe excuse But hither runne from his eternall seat O great and fearfull more he would haue said But that he saw the sturdie sprites obaid 11 Legions of deuills by thousands thither come Such as in sparsed aire their biding make And thousands also which by heauenly dome Condemned lie in deepe Auemus lake But slow they came displeased all and some Bicause those woods they should in keeping take Yet they obai'd and tooke the charge in hand And vnder euerie branch and leafe they stand 12 When thus his cursed worke performed was The wisard to his king declar'd the feat My Lord let feare let doubt and sorrow pas Henceforth in safetie stands your regall seat Your foe as he suppos'd no meane now has To build againe his rams and engins great And then he told at large from part to part All what he late perform'd by wondrous art 13 Besides this helpe another hap quoth hee Will shortly chance that brings not profit small Within few daies Mars and the Sunne I see Their fi rie beames vnite in Leo shall And then extreme the scorching heat will bee Which neither raine can quench nor dewes that fall So placed are the Planets high and low That heat fire burning all the heau'ns forshow 14 So great with vs will be the warmth therefore As with the Garamantes or those of Inde Yet nill it grieue vs in this towne so sore We haue sweet shade and waters cold by kinde Our foes abroad will be tormented more What shield can they or what refreshing finde Heau'n will them vanquish first then Egypts crew Destroy them quite weake wearie faint and few 15 Thou shalt sit still and conquer proue no more The doubtfull hazard of vncertaine fight But if Argantes bold that hates so sore All cause of quiet peace though iust and right Prouoke thee forth to battaile as before Finde meanes to calme the rage of that fierce knight For shortly heau'n will send thee ease and peace And war and trouble mongst thy foes encrease 16 The king assured by these speeches faire Held Godfreyes powre his might and strength in scorne And now the walles he gan in part repaire Which late the ram had brus'd with iron horne With wise foresight and well aduised caire He fortifide each breach and bulwarke torne And all his folke men women children small With endlesse toile againe repair'd the wall 17 But Godfrey nould this while bring forth his powre To giue assault against that fort in vaine Till he had builded new his dreadfull towre And reared high his downe-falne rammes againe His workmen therefore he dispatcht that howre To hew the trees out of the forrest maine They went and scant the wood appear'd in sight When wonders new their fearfull harts affright 18 As seely children dare not bend their eie Where they are told strange Bugbeares haunt the place Or as new monsters while in bed they lie Their fearefull thoughts present before their face So feared they and fled yet wist not why Nor what pursu'd them in that fearefull chace Except their feare perchance while thus they fled New Chimeres Sphinges or like monsters bred 19 Swift to the campe they turned backe dismai'd With words confus'd vncertaine tales they told That all which heard them scorned what they said And those reportes for lies and fables hold A chosen crew in shining armes arrai'd Duke Godfrey thither sent of soldiers bold To garde the men and their faint armes prouoke To cut the dreadfull trees with hardie stroke 20 These drawing neere the wood where close ipent The wicked sprites in syluan pinfoldes weare Their eies vpon those shades no sooner bent But frosen dread pearst through their entrals deare
vitall moisture was In trees in plants in herbes in flowres in grasse 58 Sleepe to his quiet dales exiled fled From these vnquiet nights and oft in vaine The souldiers restlesse sought the god in bed But most for thirst they mourn'd and most complaine For Iudais tyrant had strong poison shed Poison that breedes more woe and deadly paine Than Acheron or Stigian waters bring In euerie fountaine cestern well and spring 59 And little Siloe that his store bestowes Of purest Chrystall on the Christian bands The peebles naked in his chanell showes And scantly glides aboue the scorched sands Nor Poe in May when ore his bankes he flowes Nor Ganges watrer of the Indian lands Nor seu'n mouth'd Nile that yeelds all Egypt drinke To quench their thirst the men sufficient thinke 60 He that the gilding riuers earst had seene Adowne their verdant chanels gently rold Or falling streames which to the valleies greene Distill'd from tops of Alpine mountaines cold Those he desir'd in vaine new torments beene Augmented thus with wish of comforts old Those waters coole he dranke in vaine conceit Which more encreast his thirst encreast his heat 61 The sturdie bodies of the warriours strong Whom neither marching far nor tedious way Nor weightie armes which on their shoulders hong Could wearie make nor death it selfe dismay Now weake and feeble cast their limmes along Vnweildie burthens on the burned clay And in each vaine a smouldring fire there dwelt Which dride their flesh and sollid bones did melt 62 Languisht the stead late fierce and profred gras His fodder earst despis'd and from him kest Each step he stumbled and which loftie was And heigh aduanst before now fell his crest His conquests gotten all forgotten pas Nor with desire of glorie sweld his brest The spoiles wonne from his foe his late rewards He now neglects despiseth nought regards 63 Languisht the faithfull dog and wonted caire Of his deare Lord and cabben both forgot Panting he laid and gathred fresher aire To coole the burning in his entrals hot But breathing which wise Nature did prepare To swage the stomackes heat now booted not For little ease alas small helpe they win That breath foorth aire and scalding fire sucke in 64 Thus languished the earth in this estate Lay woefull thousands of the Christians stout The faithfull people grew nie desperate Of hoped conquest shamefull death they dout Of their distresse they talke and oft debate These sad complaints were heard the campe throughout What hope hath Godfrey Shall we still here lie Till all his souldiers all our armies die 65 Alas with what deuice what strength thinkes he To scale these walles or this strong fort to get Whence hath he engins new doth he not see How wrathfull heau'n gainst vs his sword doth whet These tokens showne true signes and witnesse be Our angrie God our proud attempts doth let And scorching sunne so hot his beames outspreeds That not more cooling Inde nor AEthiop needs 66 Or thinkes he it an eath or little thing That vs despis'd neglected and disdain'd Like abiects vile to death he thus should bring That so his Empire may be still maintain'd Is it so great a blisse to be a king When he that weares the crowne with blood is stain'd And buies his scepter with his peoples liues See whither glorie vaine fond mankinde driues 67 See see the man call'd holy iust and good That curteous meeke and humble would be thought Yet neuer car'd in what distresse we stood If his vaine honour were diminisht nought When dried vp from vs is spring and flood His water must from Iordan streames be brought And now he sits at feastes and bankets sweet And mingleth waters fresh with wines of Creet 68 The French thus murmour'd but the Greekish knight Tatine that of this war was wearie growne Why die we here quoth he slaine without fight Kild not subdu'd murdred not ouerthrowne Vpon the Frenchmen let the penance light Of Godfreyes follie let me saue mine owne And as he said without farewell the knight And all his comet stole away by night 69 His bad example many a troupe prepares To imitate when his escape they know Clotharius his band and Ademares And all whose guides in dust were buried low Discharg'd of duties chaines and bondage snares Free from their oath to none they seruice owe But now concluded all on secret flight And shrunke away by thousands euery night 70 Godfredo this both heard and saw and knew Yet nould with death them chastise though he mought But with that faith wherewith he could remew The stedfast hils and seas drie vp to nought He praid the Lord vpon his flocke to rew To ope the springs of grace and ease this drought Out of his lookes shone zeale deuotion faith His hands and eies to heau'n he heaues and saith 71 Father and Lord if in the desarts wast Thou hadst compassion on thy children deare The craggie rocke when Moses cleft and brast And drew forth flowing streames of waters cleare Like mercie Lord like grace on vs downe cast And though our merits lesse than theirs appeare Thy grace supply that want for though they be Thy first borne sonne thy children yet are we 72 These praiers iust from humble hart forth sent Were nothing slow to climbe the starrie skie But swift as winged bird themselues present Before the father of the heauens hie The Lord accepted them and gently bent Vpon the faithfull host his gracious eie And in what paine and what distresse it laid He saw and greeu'd to see and thus he said 73 Mine armies deere till now haue suffred woe Distresse and danger hels infernall powre Their enimie hath beene the world their foe But happie be their actions from this howre What they begin to blessed end shall goe I will refresh them with a gentle showre Rinaldo shall returne th' Egyptian crew They shall encounter conquer and subdew 74 At these high words great heau'n began to shake The fixed stars the planets wandring still Trembled the aire the earth and Ocean quake Spring fountaine riuer forrest dale and hill From north to east a lightning flash out-brake And comming drops presag'd with thunders shrill With ioyfull shoutes the soldiers on the plaine These tokens blesse of long desired raine 75 A sodaine cloud as when Helias praid Not from drie earth exhail'd by Phebus beames Arose moist heau'n his windowes open laid Whence cloudes by heapes out-rush and watrie streames The world ore spred was with a gloomie shade That like a darke and mirksome eu'n it seames The dashing raine from molten skies downe fell And ore their banks the brookes and fountaines swell 76 In sommer season when the cloudie skie Vpon the parched ground doth raine downe send As ducke and mallard in the furrowes drie With merrie noise the promist showres attend And spreading broad their wings displaied lie To keepe the drops that on their plumes descend And where the streames swell to a gathred lake Therein they
diue and sweet refreshing take 77 So they the streaming showres with showtes and cries Salute which heau'n shed on the thirstie lands The falling liquor from the dropping skies He catcheth in his lap he barehead stands And his bright helme to drinke therein vnties In the fresh streames he diues his sweatie hands Their faces some and some their temples wet And some to keepe the drops large vessels set 78 Nor man alone to ease his burning sore Herein doth diue and wash and hereof drinks But earth it selfe weake feeble faint before Whose solid limmes were cleft with rifts and chinks Receiu'd the falling showres and gathred store Of liquor sweet that through her vaines downe sinks And moisture new infused largely was In trees in plants in herbes in flowres in gras 79 Earth like the patient was whose liuely blood Hath ouercome at last some sicknes strong Whose feeble limmes had been the bait and food Whereon his strange disease depastred long But now restor'd in health and welfare stood As sound as earst as fresh as faire as yong So that forgetting all his griefe and paine His pleasant robes and crownes he takes againe 80 Ceased the raine the sunne began to shine With fruitfull sweet benigne and gentle ray Full of strong powre and vigour masculine As be his beames in Aprill or in May. O happy zeale who trusts in helpe diuine The worlds afflictions thus can driue away Can stormes appease and times and seasons change And conquer fortune fate and dest'nie strange The fourteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument The Lord to Godfrey in a dreame doth shew His will Rinaldo must returne at last They haue their asking who for pardon sew Two knights to finde the Prince are sent in hast But Peter who by vision all foreknew Sendeth the searchers to a wisard plast Deepe in a vault who first at large declares Armidaes traines then how to shun those snanes 1 NOw from the fresh the soft and tender bed Of her still mother gentle night out flew The fleeting baulme on hils and dales she shed With honie drops of pure and pretious dew And on the verdure of greene forrests spred The virgin primrose and the violet blew And sweet breath'd Zephire on his spreading wings Sleepe ease repose rest peace and quiet brings 2 The thoughts and troubles of broad-waking day They softly dipt in milde obliuions lake But he whose Godhead heau'n and earth doth sway In his eternall light did watch and wake And bent on Godfrey downe the gracious ray Of his bright eie still ope for Godfreyes sake To whom a silent dreame the Lord downe sent Which told his will his pleasure and intent 3 Far in the east the golden gate beside Whence Phebus comes a christall port there is And ere the sunne his broad doores open wide The beame of springing day vncloseth this Hence come the dreames by which heau'ns sacred guide Reueales to man those high decrees of his Hence towards Godfrey ere he left his bed A vision strange his golden plumes bespred 4 Such semblances such shapes such purtraites faire Did neuer yet in dreame or sleepe appeare For all the formes in sea in earth or aire The signes in heau'n the stars in euery spheare All what was wondrous vncouth strange and raire All in that vision well presented weare His dreame had plast him in a christall wide Beset with golden fires top bottom side 5 There while he wondreth on the circles vast The stars their motions course and harmonie A knight with shining raies and fire embrast Presents himselfe vnwares before his eie Who with a voice that far for sweetnes past All humaine speech thus said approching nie What Godfrey know'st thou not thy Hugo heere Come and imbrace thy friend and fellow deere 6 He answ'red him that glorious shining light Which in thine eies his glistring beames doth place Estranged hath from my foreknowledge quight Thy countenance thy fauour and thy face This said three times he stretch his hands outright And would in friendly armes the knight embrace And thrice the spirit fled that thrice he twinde Nought in his folded armes but aire and winde 7 Lord Hugo smil'd not as you thinke quoth hee I clothed am in flesh and earthly mould My spirite pure and naked soule you see A Citizen of this celestiall hould This place is heau'n and heere a roome for thee Prepared is among Christs champions bould Ah when quoth he these mortall bonds vnknit Shall I in peace in ease and rest there sit 8 Hugo replide ere many yeeres shall ronne Amid the saints in blisse here shalt thou raine But first great wars must by thy hand be donne Much blood be shed and many Pagans slaine The holy citie by assault be wonne The land set free from seruile yoke againe Wherein thou shalt a Christian Empire frame And after thee shall Baldwine rule the same 9 But to encrease thy loue and great desire To heauen ward this blessed place behould These shining lampes these globes of liuing fire How they are turned guided moou'd and rould The Angels singing here and all their quire Then bend thine eies on yonder earth and mould All in that masse that globe and compasse see Land sea spring fountaine man beast grasse and tree 10 How vile how small and of how slender price Is there reward of goodnesse vertues gaine A narrow roome our glorie vaine vp-ties A little circle doth our pride containe Earth like an Isle amid the water lies Which sea sometime is call'd sometime the maine Yet nought therein responds a name so great It s but a lake a pond a marrish streat 11 Thus said the one the other bended downe His lookes to ground and halfe in scorne he smilde He sawe at once earth sea floud castell towne Strangely deuided strangely all compilde And wondred follie man so farre should drowne To set his hart on things so base and vilde That seruile empire searcheth and dombe same And scornes heau'ns blisse yet profreth heau'n the same 12 Wherefore he answred since the Lord not yet Will free my spirit from this cage of clay Least worldly errour vaine my voiage let Teach me to heau'n the best and surest way Hugo replide thy happy foote is set In the true path nor from this passage stray Onely from exile yoong Rinaldo call This giue I thee in charge else nought at all 13 For as the Lord of hoastes the king of blis Hath chosen thee to rule the faithfull band So he thy stratagems appointed is To execute so both shall winne this land The first is thine the second place is his Thou art this armies head and he the hand No other champion can his place supplie And that thou do it doth thy state denie 14 Th'inchanted forrest and her charmed treene With cutting steele shall he to earth downe hew And thy weake armies which too feeble beene To scale againe these wals r'inforced new And fainting lie dispersed on the greene
Shall take newe strenght newe courage at his vew The heigh built towres the eastren squadrons all Shall conquerd be shall flie shall die shall fall 15 He held his peace and Godfrey answred so O how his presence would recomfort mee You that mans hidden thoughts perceaue and kno If I say truth or if I loue him see But say what messengers shall for him go What shall their speeches what their errand bee Shall I entreat or else command the man With credit neither well performe I can 16 Th' eternall Lord the other knight replide That with so many graces hath thee blest Will that among the troupes thou hast to guide Thou honour'd be and fear'd of most and lest Then speake not thou least blemish some betide Thy sacred Empire if thou make request But when by suit thou mooued art to ruth Then yeeld forgiue and home recall the youth 17 Guelpho shall pray thee God shall him inspire To pardon this offence this fault commit By hastie wrath by rash and headstrong ire To call the knight againe yeeld thou to it And though the youth enwrapt in fond desire Farre hence in loue and loosenes idle sit Yet feare it not he shall returne with speed When most you wish him and when most you need 18 Your hermit Peter to whose sapient hart High heau'n his secrets opens tels and shewes Your messengers direct can to that part Where of the Prince they shall heare certaine newes And learne the way the manner and the art To bring him backe to these thy warlike crewes That all thy souldiours wandred and misgone Heau'n may vnite againe and ioine in one 19 But this conclusion shall my speeches end Know that his blood shall mixed be with thine Whence Barons bold and Worthies shall descend That many great exploits shall bring to fine This said he vanisht from his sleeping friend Like smoake in winde or mist in Titans shine Sleepe fled likewise and in his troubled thought With woonder pleasure ioy with maruell fought 20 The Duke lookt vp and saw the Azure skie With Argent beames of siluer morning spred And started vp for praise and vertue lie In toile and trauell sinne and shame in bed His armes he tooke his sword girt to his thie To his pauilion all his Lords them sped And there in counsell graue the Princes sit For strength by wisedome warre is rul'd by wit 21 Lord Guelpho there within whose gentle brest Heau'n had infus'd that new and sudden thought His pleasing words thus to the Duke addrest Good prince milde though vnaskt kinde vnbesought O let thy mercie grant my iust request Pardon this fault by rage not malice wrought For great offence I grant so late commit My suit too hastie is perchance vnfit 22 But since to Godfrey meeke benigne and kinde For Prince Rinaldo bold I humbly sue And that the sutors selfe is not behinde Thy greatest friends in state or friendship true I trust I shall thy grace and mercie finde Acceptable to me and all this crue Oh call him home this trespasse to amend He shall his blood in Godfreyes seruice spend 23 And if not he who els dares vndertake Of this enchanted wood to cut one tree Gainst death and danger who dares battell make With so bould face so fearlesse hart as he Beat downe these walles these gates in pieces breake Leape ore these rampires heigh thou shalt him see Restore therefore to this desirous band Their wish their hope their strength their sheild their hand 24 To me my nephew to thy selfe restore A trustie helpe when strength of hand thou needs In idlenesse let him consume no more Recall him to his noble acts and deeds Knowne be his worth as was his strength of yore Where ere thy standard broad her crosse outspreeds O let his fame and praise spread far and wide Be thou his Lord his teacher and his guide 25 Thus he entreated and the rest approue His words with friendly murmures whispred low Godfrey as though their suite his minde did moue To that whereon he neuer thought till now How can my hart quoth he if you I loue To your request and suit but bend and bow Let rigor goe that right and iustice bee Wherein you all consent and all agree 26 Rinaldo shall returne let him restraine Henceforth his headstrong wrath and hastie ire And with his hardie deedes let him take paine To correspond your hope and my desire Guelpho thou must call home the knight againe See that with speed he to these tents retire The messengers appoint as likes thy minde And teach them where they should the yongman finde 27 Vpstart the Dane that bore Prince Swenos brand I will quoth he that message vndertake I will refuse no paines by sea or land To giue the knight this sword kept for his sake This man was bold of courage strong of hand Guelpho was glad he did the proffer make Thou shalt quoth he Vbaldo shalt thou haue To goe with thee a knight stout wise and graue 28 Vbaldo in his youth had knowne and seene The fashions strange of many an vncouth land And trauell'd ouer all the Realmes betweene The Articke circle and hot Meroes strand And as a man whose wit his guide had beene Their customes vse he could toongs vnderstand For thy when spent his youthfull seasons weare Lord Guelpho entertain'd and held him deare 29 To these committed was the charge and caire To finde and bring againe the champion bold Guelpho commaunds them to the fort repaire Where Boemond doth his seat and scepter hold For publike fame said that Bertoldoes haire There liu'd there dwelt there stai'd the hermit old That knew they were misled by false report Among them came and parled in this sort 30 Sir knights quoth he if you entend to ride And follow each report fond people say You follow but a rash and trothlesse guide That leades vaine men amisse and makes them stray Neere Ascalon goe to the salt sea side Where a swift brooke fals in with hideous sway An aged sire our friend there shall you finde All what he saith that doe that keepe in minde 31 Of this great voyage which you vndertake Much by his skill and much by mine aduise Hath he foreknowne and welcome for mysake You both shall be the man is kinde and wise Instructed thus no further question make The twaine elected for this enterprise But humblie yeelded to obey his word For what the Hermit said that said the Lord. 32 They tooke their leaue and on their iourney went Their will could brooke no stay their zeale no let To Ascalon their voyage straight they bent Whose broken shores with brackish waues are wet And there they heard how gainst the cliftes besprent With bitter fome the roaring surges bet A tumbling brooke their passage stopt and staid Which late falne raine had proud and puissant maid 33 So proud that ouer all his bankes he grew And through the fieldes ran swift as shaft from
bow While here they stopt and stood before them drew An aged sire graue and benigne in show Crown'd with a beechen garland gathred new Clad in a linnen roabe that raught downe low In his right hand a rod and on the flood Against the streame he marcht and drieshod yood 34 As on the Rhene when winters freesing cold Congeales the streames to thicke and hardned glas The beauies faire of Shepheards daughters bold With wanton winde laies ronne turne play and pas So on this riuer past the wisard old Although vnfrosen soft and swift it was And thither stalked where the warrious staid To whom their greetings done he spoke and said 35 Great paines great trauaile Lords you haue begonne And of a cunning guide great need you stand Farre off alas is great Bertoldoes sonne Imprison'd in a waste and desart land What soile remaines by which you must not ronne What promontorie rocke sea shore or sand Your search must stretch before the prince be found Beyond our world beyond our halfe of ground 36 But yet vouchsafe to see my cell I pray In hidden caues and vaults though builded low Great wonders there strange things I will bewray Things good for you to heare and fit to know This said he bids the riuer make them way The floud retirde and backward gan to flow And here and there two christall mountaines rise So fled the red sea once and Iordan thrise 37 He tooke their hands and led them headlong downe Vnder the flood through vast and hollow deepes Such light they had as when through shadowes browne Of thickest desarts feeble Cinthia peepes There spacious caues they sawe all ouerflowne There all his waters pure great Neptune keepes And thence to moisten all the earth he brings Seas riuers flouds lakes fountaines wels and springs 38 Whence Ganges Indus Volga Ister Poe Whence Euphrates whence Tygresse spring they vew Whence Tanais whence Nilus comes alsoe Although his head till then no creature knew But vnder these a wealthie streame doth goe That Sulphur yeelds and Oare rich quicke and new Which the sunbeames doth polish purge and fine And makes it siluer pure and gold diuine 39 And all his bankes the rich and wealthie streame Hath faire beset with pearle and precious stone Like stars in skie or lampes on stage that seame The darknes there was day the night was gone There sparkled clothed in his azure beame The heau'nly Zaphire there the Iacinth shone The Carbuncle there flamde the Dimond sheene There glistred bright there smilde the Emrauld greene 40 Amas'd the knights amid these woonders past And fixt so deepe the marueiles in their thought That not one word they vttred till at last Vbaldo spake and thus his guide besought O father tell me by what skill thou hast These wonders donne and to what place vs brought For well I know not if I wake or sleepe My hart is drownd in such amazement deepe 41 You are within the hollow wombe quoth he Of fertill earth the nurse of all things made And but you brought and guided are by me Her sacred entrals could no wight inuade My pallace shortly shall you splendant see With glorious light though built in night and shade A Pagan was I borne but yet the Lord To grace by baptisme hath my soule restor'd 42 Nor yet by helpe of deuill or aide from hell I doe this vncouth worke and woondrous feat The Lord forbid I vse or charme or spell To raise foule Dis from his infernall seat But of all herbes of euery spring and well The hidden powre I know and vertue great And all that kinde hath hid from mortall sight And all the starres their motions and their might 43 For in these caues I dwell not buried still From sight of heau'n but often I resort To tops of Libanon or Carmell hill And there in liquid aire my selfe disport There Mars and Venus I behold at will As bare as earst when Vulcan tooke them short And how the rest roule glide and moue I see How their aspects benigne or froward bee 44 And vnderneath my feet the cloudes I view Now thicke now thin now bright with Iris bow The frost and snow the raine the haile the dew The windes from whence they come and whence they blow How Ioue his thunder makes and lightning new How with the boult he strikes the earth below How comate crinite caudate starres are fram'd I knew my skill with pride my hart enflam'd 45 So learned cunning wise my selfe I thought That I suppos'd my wit so high might clime To know all things that God had fram'd or wrought Fire aire sea earth man beast sprite place and time But when your hermit me to baptisme brought And from my soule had washt the sinne and crime Then I perceiu'd my sight was blindnes still My wit was follie ignorance my skill 46 Then saw I that like owles in shining sonne So gainst the beames of truth our soules are blinde And at my selfe to smile I then begonne And at my hart puft vp with follies winde Yet still these artes as I before had donne I practised such was the hermits minde Thus hath he chang'd my thoughts my hart my will And rules mine art my knowledge and my skill 47 In him I rest on him my thoughts depend My Lord my teacher and my guide is he This noble worke he striues to bring to end He is the Architect the workmen we The hardie youth home to this campe to send From prison strong my care my charge shall be So he commands and me ere this foretold Your comming oft to seeke the champion bold 48 While this he said he brought the champions twaine Downe to a vault wherein he dwels and lies It was a caue high wide large ample plaine With goodly roomes halles chambers galleries All what is bred in rich and pretious vaine Of wealthie earth and hid from mortall eies There shines and faire adorn'd was euery part With riches growne by kinde not fram'd by art 49 An hundreth groomes quicke diligent and neat Attendance gaue about these strangers bold Against the wall there stood a cupboord great Of massie plate of siluer christall gold But when with pretious wines and costly meat They filled were thus spake the wisard old Now fits the time sir knights I tell and show What you desire to heare and long to know 50 Armidaes craft her sleight and hidden guile You partly wote her actes and artes vntrew How to your campe she came and by what wile The greatest Lords and Princes thence she drew You know she turn'd them first to monsters vile And kept them since clos'd vp in secret mew Lastly to Gaza ward in bonds them sent Whom yoong Rinaldo rescude as they went 51 What chanced since I will at large declare To you vnknowne a storie strange and trew When first her pray got with such paine and care Escapte and gone the witch perceiu'd and knew Her hands she wroong for griefe
streames he sent And so his waues his name himselfe he spent 9 The wondrous boate scant toucht the troubled maine But all the sea still husht and quiet was Vanisht the clouds ceased the winde and raine The tempests threatned ouerblow and pas A gentle breathing aire made eu'n and plaine The azure face of heau'ns smooth looking glas And heau'n it selfe smild from the skies aboue With a calme cleernesse on the earth his loue 10 By Ascalon they failed and foorth driued Towards the west their speedie course they frame In sight of Gaza till the barke arriued A little port when first it tooke that name But since by others losse so well it thriued A citie great and rich that it became And there the shores and borders of the land They found as full of armed men as sand 11 The passengers to landward turnd their sight And there sawe pitched many a stately tent Souldiour and footman captaine lord and knight Betweene the shore and cittie came and went Huge elephants strong camels coursers light With horned hoofes the sandie waies out rent And in the hauen many a ship and boate With mightie anchores fastned swim and floate 12 Some spred their sailes some with strong owers sweepe The waters smooth and brush the buxome waue Their breasts insunder cleaue the yeelding deepe The broken seas for anger fome and raue When thus their guide began sir knights take keepe How all these shores are spred with squadrons braue And troupes of hardie knights yet on these sands The monarch scant hath gathred halfe his bands 13 Of Egypt onely these the forces are And aid from other lands they here attend For twixt the nooneday sun and morning starre All realmes at his command do bowe and bend So that I trust we shall returne from farre And bring our iourney long to wished end Before this king or his lieutenant shall These armies bring to Sions conquerd wall 14 While thus she said as soaring eagles flie Mongst other birdes securely through the aire And mounting vp behold with wakefull eie The radiant beames of old Hiperious haire Her gondelay so passed swiftly bie Twixt ship and ship withouten feare or caire Who should her follow trouble stop or stay And foorth to sea made luckie speed and way 15 Themselues forenenst old Raphias towne they fand A towne that first to sailers doth appeere As they from Syria passe to Egypt land The sterill coastes of barren Rinoceere They past and seas where Casius hill doth stand That with his trees orespreads the waters neere Against whose rootes breaketh the brackish waue Where Ioue his temple Pompeie hath his graue 16 Then Damiata next where they behold How to the sea his tribute Nilus paies By his seu'n mouthes renown'd in stories old And by an hundreth more ignoble waies They past the towne built by the Grecian bold Of him call'd Alexandria till our daies And Pharos towre and isle remou'd of yore Far from the land now ioyned to the shoer 17 Both Creet and Rhodes they left by North vnseene And sail'd along the coastes of Africke lands Whose sea townes faire but realmes more inward beene All full of monsters and of desart sands With her fiue cities then they left Cireene Where that old temple of false Hammon stands Next Prolemais and that sacred wood Whence spring the silent streames of Lethe flood 18 The greater Sirtes that sailers often cast In perill great of death and losse extreame They compast round about and safely past Then Cape Iudeca and flood Magras streame Then Tripolie gainst which is Malta plast That low and hid to lurke in seas doth seame The little Sirtes then and Alzerbes I le Where dwelt the folke that Lotos eate erewhile 19 Next Tunis on the crooked shore they spide Whose bay a rocke on either side defends Tunis all townes in beautie wealth and pride Aboue as far as Libias bounds extends Gainst which from faire Scicilias fertile side His rugged front great Lilebenni bends The Dame there pointed out where sometimes stoud Romes stately riuall whilome Carthage proud 20 Great Carthage lowe in ashes cold doth lie Her ruines poore the herbes in height scant passe So cities fall so perish kingdomes hie Their pride and pompe lies hid in sand and grasse Then why should mortall man repine to die Whose life is aire breath winde and bodie glasse From thence the seas next Biserts walles they cleft And far Sardignia on their right hand left 21 Numidias mightie plaines they coasted then Where wandring shepherds vs'd their flockes to feed Then Bugia and Argiere th' infamous den Of Pirates false Oran they left with speed All Tingitan they swiftly ouer-ren Where Elephants and angrie Lyons breed Where now the Realmes of Fesse and Marocke bee Gainst which Granadoes shores and coastes they see 22 Now are they there where first the sea brake in By great Alcides helpe as stories faine True may it be that where those floodes begin It whilome was a firme and solid maine Before the sea there through did passage win And parted Africke from the land of Spaine Abila hence thence Calpe great vp springs Such powre hath time to change the face of things 23 Foure times the sunne had spred his morning ray Since first the Dame launcht foorth her wandrous barge And neuer yet tooke port in creeke or bay But fairely forward bore the knights her charge Now through the strait her iolly ship made way And boldly sail'd vpon the Ocean large But if the sea in midst of earth was great O what was this wherein earth hath her seat 24 Now deepe engulphed in the mightie flood They saw not Gades nor the mountaines neare Fled was the land and townes on lande that stood Heau'n cou'red sea sea seem'd the heau'ns to beare At last faire Ladie quoth Vbaldo good That in this endlesse maine dost guide vs heare If euer man before here sailed tell Or other landes here be wherein men dwell 27 Great Hercules quoth she when he had quaild The monsters fierce in Affricke and in Spaine And all along your coastes and countries saild Yet durst he not assay the Ocean maine Within his pillours would he haue impaild The ouerdaring wit of mankinde vaine Till Lord Vlysses did those bounders pas To see and know he so desirous was 26 He past those pillours and in open waue Of the broad sea first his bould sailes vntwind But yet the greedie Ocean was his graue Nought helped him his skill gainst tide and wind With him all witnesse of his voyage braue Lies buried there no truth thereof we find And they whom storme hath forced that way sence Are drowned all or vnreturn'd from thence 27 So that this mightie sea is yet vnsought Where thousand Isles and kingdomes lie vnknowne Not voide of men as some haue vainely thought But peopled well and wonned like your owne The land is fertill ground but scant well wrought Aire wholesome temp'rate sunne grasse proudly growne But quoth Vbaldo dame
to finde the furious keeper slaine A while she feared but she knew in short That her deare Lord was fled then saw she plaine Ah wofull sight how from her gates the man In haste in feare in wrath in anger ran 36 Whither O cruell leau'st thou me alone She would haue cride her griefe her speeches staid So that her wofull words are backward gone And in her hart a bitter Eccho maide Poore soule of greater skill than she was one Whose knowledge from her thus her ioy conuaid This wist she well yet had desire to proue If art could keepe if charmes recall her loue 37 All what the witches of Thessalia land With lips vnpure yet euer said or spake Words that could make heau'ns rolling circles stand And draw the damned ghostes from Limbo lake All well she knew but yet no time she fand To vse her knowledge or her charmes to make But left her artes and forth she ran to proue If single beautie were best charme for loue 38 She ran nor of her honour tooke regarde Oh where be all her vants and triumphes now Loues Empire great of late she made or marde To her his subiects humbly bend and bow And with her pride mixt was a scorne so harde That to be lou'd she lou'd yet whilst they wow Her louers all she hates that pleas'd her will To conquer men and conqu'red so to kill 39 But now her selfe disdain'd abandoned Ran after him that from her fled in scorne And her despised beautie laboured With humble plaints and praiers to adorne She ran and hasted after him that fled Through frost and snow through brier bush and thorne And sent her cries on message her before That reacht not him till he had reacht the shore 40 O thou that leau'st but halfe behinde quoth shee Of my poore hart and halfe with thee dost carrie O take this part or render that to mee Else kill them both at once ah tarrie tarrie Heare my last words no parting kisse of thee I craue for some more fit with thee to marrie Keepe them vnkinde what fear'st thou if thou stay Thou mai'st denie as well as runne away 41 At this Rinaldo stopt stood still and staid She came sad breathlesse wearie faint and weake So woe begone was neuer Nymph or maid And yet her beauties pride griefe could not breake On him she lookt shee gas'd but nought she said She would not could not or she durst not speake At her he lookt not glanst not if he did Those glances shamefaste were close secret hid 42 As cunning singers ere they straine on hie In loud melodious tunes their gentle voice Prepare the hearers eares to harmonie With fainings sweet low notes and warbles choice So she not hauing yet forgot pardie Her woonted shifts and sleights in Cupides toies A sequence first of sighes and sobbes foorth cast To breed compassion deere than spake at last 43 Suppose not cruell that I come to wow Or pray as Ladies doe their loues and Lords Such were we late if thou disdaine it now Or scorne to grant such grace as loue affords At least yet as an enmie listen thow Sworne foes sometime will talke and chaffer words For what I aske thee maist thou grant right well And lessen nought thy wrath and anger fell 44 If me thou hate and in that hate delight I come not to appease thee hate me still It s like for like I bore great hate and spight Gainst Christians all chiefly I wisht thee ill I was a Pagan borne and all my might Against Godfredo bent mine art and skill I follow'd thee tooke thee and bore thee far To this strange isle and kept thee safe from war 45 And more which more thy hate may iustly moue More to thy losse more to thy shame and griefe I thee enchanted and allur'd to loue Wicked deceit craft worthie sharpe repriefe Mine honor gaue I thee all gifts aboue And of my beauties made thee Lord and chiefe And to my sutors old what I denaid That gaue I thee my louer new vnpraid 46 But reckon that among my faultes and let Those many wrongs prouoke thee so to wrath That hence thou ronne and that at naught thou set This pleasant house so many ioyes which hath Goe trauaile passe the seas fight conquest get Destroy our faith what shall I say our fath Ah no! no longer ours before thy shrine Alone I pray thou cruell saint of mine 47 All only let me goe with thee vnkinde A small request although I were thy foe The spoiler seldome leaues the praie behinde Who triumphes lets his captiues with him goe Among thy pris'ners poore Armida binde And let the campe encrease thy praises soe That thy beguiler so thou couldst beguile And point at me thy thrall and bondslaue vile 48 Despised bondslaue since my Lord doth hate These lockes why keepe I them or hold them deare Come cut them off that to my seruile state My habit answere may and all my geare I follow thee in spite of death and fate Through battles fierce where dangers most appeare Courage I haue and strength enough perchance To lead thy courser spare and beare thy lance 49 I will or beare or be my selfe thy shield And to defend thy life will loose mine owne This breast this bosome soft shall be thy bield Gainst stormes of arrowes darts and weapons throwne Thy foes pardie encountring thee in field Will spare to strike thee mine affection knowne Least me they wound nor will sharpe veng'ance take On thee for this despised beauties sake 50 O wretch dare I still vant or helpe inuoake From this poore beautie scorned and disdained She said no more her teares her speeches broake Which from her eies like streames from springs down rained She would haue caught him by the hand or cloake But he stept backward and himselfe restrained Conquer'd his will his hart ruth soft'ned not There plaintes no ishue loue no entrance got 51 Loue entred not to kindle in his brest Which reason late had quencht his wonted flame Yet entred pitie in the place at lest Loues sister but a chast and sober dame And stirr'd him so that hardly he supprest The springing teares that to his eies vp came But yet euen there his plaints repressed weare And as he could he lookte and fained cheare 52 Madame quoth he for your distresse I grieue And would amend it if I might or could From your wise hart that fond affection driue I cannot hate nor scorne you though I would I seeke no veng'ance wrongs I all forgiue Nor you my seruant nor my foe I hould Truth is you err'de and your estate forgot Too great your hate was and your loue too hot 53 But those are common faultes and faults of kind Excus'd by nature by your sexe and yeares I erred likewise if I pardon find None can condemne you that our trespasse heares Your deare remembrance will I keepe in minde In ioes in woes in comforts hopes and feares Call me
ratling quiuers at their backes resound On milke white steedes waite on the chariot bright Their steeds to menage readie swift to flight 35 Follow'd her troupe led foorth by Aradin Which Hidraort from Syrias kingdome sent As when the new borne Phoenix doth begin To flie to Ethiope ward at the faire bent Of her ritch wings strange plumes and feathers thin Her crownes and chaines with natiue gold besprent The world amazed stands and with her flie An hoste of wondring birdes that sing and crie 36 So past Armida lookt on gaz'd on soe A woondrous dame in habite gesture face There liu'd no wight to loue so great a foe But wisht and long'd those beauties to imbrace Scant seene with anger sullen sad for woe She conquer'd all the Lords and knights in place What would shee doe her sorowes past thinke you When her faire eies her lookes and smiles shall wowe 37 She past the king commaunded Emiren Of his ritch throne to mount the loftie stage To whom his hoste his armie and his men He would commit now in his grauer age With stately grace the man approched then His lookes his comming honour did presage The guard asunder cleft and passage maide He to the throne vp went and there he staide 38 To earth he cast his eies and bent his knee To whom the king thus gan his will explaine To thee this scepter Emiren to thee These armies I commit my place sustaine Mongst them goe set the king of Iuda free And let the Frenchmen feele my iust disdaine Goe meete them conquer them leaue none on liue Or those that scape from battell bring captiue 39 Thus spake the tyrant and the scepter laid With all his soueraigne powre vpon the knight I take this scepter at your hand he said And with your happie fortune goe to fight And trust my Lord in your great vertues aid To venge all Asias harmes her wrongs to right Nor ere but victor will I see your face Our ouerthrow shall bring death not disgrace 40 Heau'ns grant if euill yet no mishap I dread Or harme they threaten gainst this campe of thine That all that mischiefe fall vpon my head Theirs be the conquest and the danger mine And let them safe bring home their captaine dead Buried in pompe of triumphes glorious shine He ceas'd and then a murmur lowd vp went With noise of ioy and sound of instrument 41 Amid the noise and shout vprose the king Enuironed with many a noble peere That to his royall tent the monarch bring And there he feasted them and made them cheere To him and him he talkt and caru'd each thing The greatest honour'd meanest graced weere And while this mirth this ioy and feast doth last Armida found fit time her nets to cast 42 But when the feast was done she that espide All cies on her faire visage fixt and bent And by true notes and certaine signes descride How loues impoisned fire theri entrals brent Arose and where the king sate in his pride With stately pace and humble gestures went And as she could in lookes in voice she stroue Fierce sterne bould angrie and seuere to proue 43 Great Emperour behold me heere she said For thee my countrey and my faith to fight A dame a virgin but a royall maid And worthie seemes this warre a princesse hight For by the sword the scepter is vpstaid This hand can vse them both with skill and might This hand of mine can strike and at each blow Thy foes and ours kill wound and ouerthrow 44 Nor yet suppose this is the formost day Wherein to warre I bent my noble thought But for the suretie of thy realmes and stay Of our religion true ere this I wrought Yourselfe best know if this be true I say Or if my former deeds reiois'd you ought When Godfreyes hardie knights and princes strong I captiue tooke and held in bondage long 45 I tooke them bound them and so sent them bound To thee a noble gift with whom they had Condemned low in dungeon vnder ground For euer dwelt in woe and torment sad So might thine hoast an easie way haue found To end this doubtfull warre with conquest glad Had not Rinaldo fierce my knights all slaine And set those lords his friends at large againe 46 Rinaldo is well knowne and there a longe And true rehearsall made she of his deeds This is the knight that since hath done me wrong Wrong yet vntold that sharpe reuengement needs Displeasure therefore mixt with reason strong This thirst of warre in me this courage breedes Nor how hee iniur'd me time serues to tell Let this suffice I seeke reuengement fell 47 And will procure it for all shaftes that flie Light not in vaine some worke the shooters will And Ioues right hand with thunders cast from skie Takes open vengeance oft for secret ill But if some champion dare this knight defie To mortall battaile and by fight him kill And with his hatefull head will me present That gift my soule shall please my hart content 48 So please that for reward enioy he shall The greatest gift I can or may afford My selfe my beautie wealth and kingdomes all To marrie him and take him for my lord This promise will I keepe what ere befall And thereto binde my selfe by oath and word Now he that deemes this purchase woorth his paine Let him step foorth and speake I none disdaine 49 While thus the Princesse said his hungrie eine Adrastus fed on her sweete beauties light The gods forbid quoth he one shaft of thine Should be dischargd gainst that discourteous knight His hart vnwoorthie is shootresse diuine Of thine artillerie to feele the might To wreake thine ire behold me prest and fit I will his head cut off and bring thee it 50 I will his hart with this sharpe sword diuide And to the vultures cast his carkasse out Thus threatned he but Tisipherne enuide To heare his glorious vaunt and boasting stout And said but who art thou that so great pride Thou shew'st before the king me and this rout Pardie heere are some such whose woorth exceeds Thy vaunting much yet boast not of their deeds 51 The Indian fierce replide I am the man Whose acts his words and boasts haue aie surpast But if elsewhere the words thou now began Had vttred beene that speech had beene thy last Thus quarrell'd they they monarch staid them than And twixt the angrie knights his scepter cast Then to Armida said faire Queene I see Thy hart is stout thy thoughts couragious bee 52 Thou worthy art that their disdaine and ire At thy commaunds these knights should both appease That gainst thy foe their courage hot as fire Thou maist imploy both when and where thou please There all their powre and force and what desire They haue to serue thee may they shew at ease The monarch held his peace when this was said And they new proffer of their seruice maid 53 Nor they alone but all that famous
weare In feates of armes boast that he shall be dead All offer her their aid all say and sweare To take reuenge on his condemned head So many armes mou'd she against her deare And swore her darling vnder foote to tread But he since first th'inchanted isle he left Safe in his barge the roaring waues still cleft 54 By the same way return'd the well taught bote By which it came and made like haste like speed The friendly winde vpon her saile that smote So turn'd as to returne her ship had need The youth sometime the pole or beare did note Or wandring starres which cleerest nights forth spreed Sometimes the floods the hils or mountaines steepe Whose woodie frontes oreshade the silent deepe 55 Now of the campe the man the state enquires Now askes the customes strange of sundrie landes And sail'd till clad in beames and bright attires The fourth daies sunne on th'Eastren threshold standes But when the Westren seas had quencht those fires Their frigot stroake against the shore and sandes Then spoke their guide the lande of Palestine This is here must your iourney end and mine 56 The Knights she set vpon the shore all three And vanisht thence in twinkling of an eie Vprose the night in whose deepe blacknes bee All colours hid of things in earth or skie Nor could they house or hold or harbour see Or in that desart signe of dwelling spie Nor trackt of man or horse or ought that might Enforme them of some path or passage right 57 When they had mus'd what way they trauaile should From the waste shore their steps at last they twinde And loe far off at last their eies behould Something they wist not what that cleerely shinde With raies of siluer and with beames of gould Which the darke foulds of nights blacke mantle linde Forward they went and marched gainst the light To see and finde the thing that shone so bright 58 High on a tree they saw an armour new That glistred bright gainst Cint hias siluer ray Therein like stars in skies the dimonds shew Fret in the gilden helme and hawberke gay The mightie shield all scored full they vew Of pictures faire ranged in meet array To keepe them sate an aged man beside Who to salute them rose when them he spide 59 The twaine who first were sent in this pursute Of their wise friend well knew the aged face But when the wisard sage their first salute Receiu'd and quited had with kinde embrace To the yong Prince that silent stood and mute He turn'd his speech in this vnused place For you alone I waite my Lord quoth he My chiefest care your state and welfare be 60 For though you wote it not I am your frend And for your profit worke as these can tell I taught them how Armidaes charmes to end And bring you hither from loues hatefull cell Now to my words though sharpe perchance attend Nor be aggreeu'd although they seeme too fell But keepe them well in minde till in the truth A wise and holier man instruct thy yuth 61 Not vnderneath sweete shades and fountaines shrill Among the nymphes the fairies leaues and flours But on the steepe the rough and craggie hill Of vertue standes this blis this good of ours By toile and trauaile not by sitting still In pleasures lap we come to honors bours Why will you thus in sloathes deepe valley lie The royall Eagles on high mountaines flie 62 Nature liftes vp thy forehead to the skies And fils thy hart with high and noble thought That thou to heau'nward aie should'st lift thine eies And purchase fame by deedes well donne and wrought She giues thee ire by which hot courage flies To conquest not through braules and battailes fought For ciuill iarres nor that thereby you might Your wicked malice wreake and cursed spight 63 But that your strength sourr'd forth with noble wraith With greater furie might Christes foes assault And that your bridle should with lesser scaith Each secret vice and kill each inward fault For so his godly anger ruled haith Each righteous man beneath heau'ns starrie vault And at his will makes it now hot now cold Now lets it ronne now doth it fettred hold 64 Thus parled he Rinaldo husht and still Great wisdome heard in those few words compilde He markt his speech a purple blush did fill His guiltie cheekes downe went his eie-sight milde The hermit by his bashfull lookes his will Well vnderstood and said looke vp my childe And painted in this pretious shield behold The glorious deeds of thy forefathers old 65 Thine elders glorie herein see and know In vertues path how they troade all their daies Whom thou art farre behinde a runner slow In this true course of honour fame and praies Vp vp thy selfe incite by the faire show Of Knigtly worth which this bright shield bewraies That be thy spurre to praise at last the knight Lookt vp and on those purtraites bent his sight 66 The cunning workeman had in little space Infinite shapes of men there well exprest For there described was the worthie race And pedegree of all the house of Est Come from a Romaine spring ore all the place Flowed pure streames of Christall East and West With Laurell crowned stood the Princes old Their warres the Hermit and their battailes told 67 He show'd him Caius first when first in pray To people strange the falling empire went First Prince of Est that did the scepter sway Ore such as chose him Lord by free consent His weaker neighbours to his rule obey Need made them stoupe constraint doth force content After when Lord Honorius call'd the traine Of sauage Gothes into his land againe 68 And when all Italic did burne and flame With bloodie war by this fierce people maid When Rome a captiue and a slaue became And to be quite destroi'd was most affraid Aurelius to his euerlasting fame Preseru'd in peace the folke that him obai'd Next whom was Forrest who the rage withstood Of the bold Hunnes and of their tyrant prood 69 Knowne by his looke was Attila the fell Whose dragon eies shone bright with angers sparke Worse faced than a dog who vew'd him well Suppos'd they saw him grin and heard him barke But when in single fight he lost the bell How through his troupes he fled there might you marke And how Lord Forrest after fortified Aquilias towne and how for it he died 70 For there was wrought the fatall end and fine Both of himselfe and of the towne he kept But his great sonne renowned Acarine Into his fathers place and honour stept To cruell fate not to the Hunnes Altine Gaue place and when time seru'd againe forth lept And in the vale of Poe built for his seat Of many a village small a citie great 71 Against the swelling flood he bankt it strong And thence vprose the faire and noble towne Where they of Est should by succession long Command and rule in blisse and high renowne Gainst
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
would they wonder if they had behold Such sights as from the myrtle high did passe Thence came a Ladie faire with lockes of gold That like in shape in face and beautie was To sweet Armida Rinald thinkes he spies Her gestures smiles and glances of her eies 31 On him a sad and smiling looke she cast Which twenty passions strange at once bewraies And art thou come quoth she return'd at last To her from whom but late thou ranst thy waies Comst thou to comfort me for sorrowes past To ease my widow nights and carefull daies Or comest thou to worke me griefe and harme Why nilt thou speake Why not thy face disarme 32 Comst thou a friend or foe I did not frame That golden bridge to entertaine my foe Nor op'ned flowres and fountaines as you came To welcome him with ioy that brings me woe Put off thy helme reioice me with the flame Of thy bright eies whence first my fires did groe Kisse me embrace me if you further venter Loue keepes the gate the fort is eath to enter 33 Thus as she wowes she rowles her ruefull eies With pitious looke and changeth oft her cheare An hundreth sighes from her false hart vpflies She sobbes she mournes it is great ruth to heare The hardest brest sweete pitie mollifies What stonie hart resists a womans teare But yet the knight wise warie not vnkind Drew foorth his sword and from her carelesse twind 34 Towards the tree he marcht she thither start Before him stept embrast the plant and cride Ah neuer do me such a spitefull part To cut my tree this forrests ioy and pride Put vp thy sword else pierce therewith the hart Of thy forsaken and despis'd Armide For through this brest and through this hart vnkind To this faire tree thy sword shall passage find 35 He list his brand nor car'd though oft she praid And she her forme to other shape did change Such monsters huge when men in dreames are laid Oft in their idle fancies roame and range Her bodie sweld her face obscure was maid Vanisht her garments rich and vestures strange A giantesse before him high she stands Like Briareus armd with an hundreth hands 36 With fiftie swords and fiftie targets bright She threatned death she roared cride and fought Each other nymph in armour likewise dight A Cyclops great became he feard them nought But on the myrtle smote with all his might That groand like liuing soules to death nie brought The skie seemd Plutoes court the aire seemd hell Therein such monsters roare such spirits yell 37 Lightned the heau'n aboue the earth below Roared aloud that thundred and this shooke Blustred the tempests strong the whirlwinds blow The bitter storme droue hailestones in his looke But yet his arme grew neither weake nor slow Nor of that furie heed or care he tooke Till low to earth the wounded tree downe bended Then fled the spirits all the charmes all ended 38 The heau'ns grew cleere the aire waxt calme and still The wood returned to his wonted state Of witchcrafts free quite void of spirits ill Of horrour full but horrour there innate He further prou'd if ought withstood his will To cut those trees as did the charmes of late And finding nought to stop him smilde and said O shadowes vaine O fooles of shades affraid 39 From thence home to the campward turn'd the knight The hermit cride vpstarting from his seat Now of the wood the charmes haue lost their might The sprites are conquer'd ended is the feat See where he comes in glistring white all dight Appear'd the man bold stately high and great His eagles siluer wings to shine begunne With wondrous splendure gainst the golden sunne 40 The campe receiu'd him with a ioyfull crie A crie the dales and hils about that fild Then Godfrey welcomd him with honours hie His glorie quencht all spite all enuie kild To yonder dreadfull groue quoth he went I And from the fearfull wood as me you wild Haue driuen the sprites away thither let bee Your people sent the way is safe and free 41 Sent were the workmen thither thence they brought Timber enough by good aduise select And though by skillesse builders fram'd and wrought Their engins rude and rammes were late elect Yet now the forts and towres from whence they fought Were framed by a cunning architect William of all the Genoas Lord and guide Which late rul'd all the seas from side to side 42 But forced to retire from him at last The Pagan fleet the seas moist empire wunne His men with all their stuffe and store in hast Home to the campe with their commander runne In skill in wit in cunning him surpast Yet neuer enginer beneath the sunne Of Carpenters an hundreth large he brought That what their Lord deuised made and wrought 43 This man begunne with woondrous arte to make Not rammes not mightie brakes not slings alone Wherewith the firme and solid walles to shake To cast a dart or throw a shaft or stone But fram'd of Pines and Firres did vndertake To build a fortresse huge to which was none Yet euer like whereof he cloath'd the sides Against the balles of fire with raw bulles hides 44 In mortesses and sockets framed iust The beames the studdes and punchions ioyn'd he fast To beat the cities wall beneath forth brust A ramme with horned front about her wast A bridge the engine from her side out thrust Which on the wall when need requir'd she cast And from her top a turret small vpstood Strong surely arm'd and builded of like wood 45 Set on an hundreth wheeles the rolling mas On the smoothe landes went nimbly vp and downe Though full of armes and armed men it was Yet with small paines it ran as it had flowne Woondred the campe so quicke to see it pas They prais'd the workmen and their skill vnknowne And on that day two towres they builded more Like that which sweet Clorinda burnt before 46 Yet wholy were not from the Saracines Their workes concealed and their labours hid Vpon that wall which next the campe confines They placed spies who marked all they did They saw the ashes wilde and squared Pines How to the tents trail'd from the groue they slid And engins huge they saw yet could not tell How they were built their formes they saw not well 47 Their engins eeke they reard and with great art Repair'd each bulwarke turret port and towre And fortifide the plaine and easie part To bide the storme of euerie warlike stowre Till as they thought no sleight or force of mart To vndermine or scale the same had powre And false Ismeno gan new balles prepare Of wicked fire wilde wondrous strange and rare 48 He mingled brimstone with Bitumen fell Fetch from that lake where Sodome earst did sinke And from that flood which nine times compast hell Some of the liquor whot he brought I thinke Wherewith the quenchlesse fire he tempred well To make it smoake and flame and deadly
stinke And for his wood cut dówne the aged sire Would thus reuengement take with flame and fire 49 While thus the campe and thus the towne were bent These to assault these to defend the wall A speedie doue through the cleare welkin went Straight ore the tents seene by the souldiers all With nimble fannes the yeilding aire she rent Nor seemd it that she would alight or fall Till she arriu'd neere that besieged towne Then from the clouds at last she stouped downe 50 But loe from whence I nolte a falcon came Armed with crooked bill and talons long And twixt the campe and cittie crost her game That durst not bide her foes encounter strong But right vpon the royall tent downe came And there the lordes and princes great among When the sharpe hauke nie toucht her tender head In Godfreyes lappe she fell with feare halfe dead 51 The Duke receiu'd her saued her and spide As he beheld the bird a wondrous thing About her necke a letter close was tide By a small thred and trust vnder her winge He loosed foorth the writ and spred it wide And read th' intent thereof To Iudaies king Thus said the scedule honors high encrease Th'Egyptian chiefetaine wisheth health and peace 52 Feare not renowned prince resist endure Till the third day or till the fourth at most I come and your deliuerance will procure And kill your coward foes and all their host This secret in that briefe was clos'd vp sure Writ in strange language to the winged post Giu'n to transport for in their warlike need The East such message vs'd oft with good speed 53 The Duke let goe the captiue doue at large And she that had his counsell close bewraid Traitresse to her great Lord toucht not the marge Of Salems towne but fled farre thence afraid The Duke before all those which had or charge Or office high the letter red and said See how the goodnes of the Lord foreshoes The secret purpose of our craftie foes 54 No longer then let vs protract the time But scale the bulwarke of this fortresse hie Through sweat and labour gainst those rockes sublime Let vs ascend which to the Southward lie Hard will it be that way in armes to clime But yet the place and passage both know I And that high wall by sciâ—e strong on that part Is least defenst by armes by worke and art 55 Thou Raimond on this side with all thy might Assault the wall and by those cragges ascend My squadrons with mine engins huge shall fight And gainst the Northren gate my puissance bend That so our foes beguiled with the sight Our greatest force and powre shall there attend While my great towre from thence shall nimbly slide And batter downe some worse defended side 56 Camillo thou not farre from me shalt reare Another towre close to the walles ibrought This spoken Raimond old that sate him neare And while he talkte great things tost in his thought Said to Godfredoes counsell giuen vs heare Nought can be added from it taken nought Yet this I further wish that some were sent To spie their campe their secret and entent 57 That may their number and their squadrons braue Describe and through their tents disguised maske Quoth Tancred loe a subtle squire I haue A person fit to vndertake this taske A man quicke readie bold slie to deceaue To answere wise and well aduisde to aske Well languaged and that with time and place Can change his looke his voice his gate his grace 58 Sent for he came and when his lord him tould What Godfreyes pleasure was and what his owne He smilde and said foorthwith he gladly would I goe quoth he carelesse what chance be throwne And where encamped be these Pagans bould Will walke in euery tent a spie vnknowne Their campe euen at noone day I enter shall And number all their horse and footemen all 59 How great how strong how arm'd this army is And what their guide entendes I will declare To me the secrets of that hart of his And hidden thoughts shall open lie and bare Thus Vafrine spoke nor longer staid on this But for a mantle changd the cote he ware Nakte was his necke and bout his forehead bould Of linnen whitefull twentie yeards he rould 60 His weapons were a Syrian bow and quiuer His gestures barb'rous like the Turkish traine Wondred all they that heard his toong deliuer Of euery land the language true and plaine In Tite a borne Phenician by the riuer Of Nile a knight bred in th' Egyptian maine Both people would haue thought him foorth he rides On a swift stead ore hils and dales that glides 61 But ere the third day came the French foorth sent Their pioners to eeu'n the rougher waies And readie made each warlike instrument Nor ought their labour interrupts or staies The nights in busie toile they likewise spent And with long eueninges lenghtned foorth short daies Till nought was left the hosts that hinder might To vse their vtmost powre and strength in fight 62 That day which of th' assault the day foreronne The godly Duke in praier spent welnie And all the rest bicause they had misdonne The Sacrament receiue and mercie crie Then oft the Duke his engins great begonne To shew where least he would their strength applie His foes reiois'd deluded in that sort To see them bent against their surest port 63 But after aided by the friendly night His greatest engin to that side he brought Where plainest seem'd the wall where with their might The flankers least could hurt them as they fought And to the Southren mountaines greatest hight To raise his turret old Raimondo sought And thou Camillo on that part hadst thine Where from the North the wals did Westward twine 64 But when amid the Estren heau'n appear'd The rising morning bright as shining glas The troubled Pagans saw and seeing fear'd How the great towre stood not where late it was And here and there tofore vnseene was rear'd Of timber strong a huge and fearfull mas And numberlesse with beames with roapes and strings They view the iron rammes the brakes and slings 65 The Syrian people now were no whit slow Their best defences to that side to beare Where Godfrey did his greatest engin show From thence where late in vaine they placed weare But he who at his backe rightwell did know The hoste of Egypt to be proaching neare To him call'd Guelfo and the Roberts twaine And said on horsebacke looke you still remaine 66 And haue regard while all our people striue To scale this wall where weake it seemes and thin Least vnawares some sudden hoste arriue And at our backes vnlookte for warre begin This said three fierce assaults at once they giue The hardie souldiours all would die or win And on three parts resistance makes the king And rage gainst streÌ„gth despaire gainst hope doth bring 67 Himselfe vpon his limmes with feeble eild That shooke vnweildie with their
proper weight His armour laid and long vnused sheild And marcht gainst Raimond to the mountaines height Great Soliman gainst Godfrey tooke the feild Forenenst Camillo stood Argantes streight Where Tancred strong he found so fortune will That this good Prince his wonted foe shall kill 68 The archers shot their arrowes sharpe and keene Dipt in the bitter iuice of poyson strong The shadie face of heau'n was scantly seene Hid with the cloudes of shaftes and quarries long Yet weapons sharpe with greater furie beene Cast from the towres the Pagan troupes among For thence flew stones and clifts of marble rockes Trees shod with iron timber logges and blockes 69 A thunderbolt seem'd euerie stone it brake His lims and armours so on whom it light That life and soule it did not onely take But all his shape and face disfigur'd quight The launces stai'd not in the wounds they make But through the gored bodie tooke their flight From side to side through flesh through skin and rinde They flew and flying left sad death behinde 70 But yet not all this force and furie droue The Pagan people to forsake the wall But to reuenge these deadly blowes they stroue With dartes that flie with stones and trees that fall For need so cowards oft couragious proue For libertie they fight for life and all And oft with arrowes shaftes and stones that flie Giue bitter answere to a sharpe replie 71 This while the fierce assailants neuer cease But sternly still maintaine a threefold charge And gainst the cloudes of shaftes draw nie at ease Vnder a pentise made of many a targe The armed towres close to the bulwarks prease And striue to grapple with the battled marge And lanch their bridges out meane-while below With iron fronts the rammes the walles downe throw 72 Yet still Rinaldo vnresolued went And far vnworthie him this seruice thought If mongst the common sort his paines he spent Renowne so got the Prince esteemed nought His angrie lookes on euerie side he bent And where most harme most danger was he sought And where the wall high strong and surest was That part would he assault and that way pas 73 And turning to the worthies him behind All hardie knights whom Dudon late did guide O shame quoth he this wall no warre doth find When battred is elsewhere each part each side All paine is safetie to a valiant mind Each way is eath to him that dares abide Come let vs scale this wall though strong and hie And with your shieldes keepe off the darts that flie 74 With him vnited all while thus he spake Their targets hard aboue their heads they threw Which ioynd in one an iron pentise make That from the dreadfull storme preseru'd the crew Defended thus their speedie course they take And to the wall without resistance drew For that strong penticle protected well The knights from all that flew and all that fell 75 Against the fort Rinaldo gan vpreare A ladder huge an hundreth steps of hight And in his arme the same did easlie beare And mooue as windes do reeds or rushes light Sometime a tree a rocke a dart or speare Fell from aboue yet forward clombe the knight And vpward fearelesse preased carelesse still Though mount Olympus fell or Ossa hill 76 A mount of ruines and of shaftes a wood Vpon his shoulders and his shield he bore One hand the ladder held whereon he stood The other bare his targe his face before His hardie troupe by his ensample good Prouokt with him the place assaulted sore And ladders long against the wall they clappe Vnlike in courage yet vnlike in happe 77 One dide an other fell he forward went And these he comforts and he threatneth those Now with his hand outstrecht the battlement Welnie he reacht when all his armed foes Ran thither and their force and furie bent To throw him headlong downe yet vp he goes A wondrous thing one knight whole armed bands Alone and hanging in the aire withstands 78 Withstands and forceth his great strength so farre That like a palme whereon huge weight doth rest His forces so resisted stronger arre His vertues higher rise the more opprest Till all that would his entrance bould debarre He backewarde droue vpleaped and possest The wall and safe and easie with his blade To all that after came the passage made 79 There killing such as durst and did withstand To noble Eustace that was like to fall He reached foorth his friendly conqu'ring hand And next himselfe helpt him to mount the wall This while Godfredo and his people fand Their liues to greater harmes and dangers thrall For there not man with man nor knight with knight Contend but engins there with engins fight 80 For in that place the Paynims rear'd a post Which late had seru'd some gallant ship for mast And ouer it another beame they crost Pointed with iron sharpe to it made fast With ropes which as men would the dormant tost Now out now in now backe now forward cast In his swift pullies oft the men withdrew The tree and oft the riding balke foorth threw 81 The mightie beame redoubled oft his blowes And with such force the engine smote and hit That her broad side the towre wide open throwes Her ioints were broke her rafters cleft and split But yet gainst euery hap whence mischiefe growes Prepard the piece gainst such extreames made fit Lanch foorth two sithes sharpe cutting long broad And cut the ropes whereon the engin road 82 As an oulde rocke which age or stormie wind Teares from some craggie hill or mountaine steepe Doth breake doth bruse and into dust doth grind Woods houses hamlets herds and fould of sheepe So fell the beame and downe with it all kind Of armes of weapons and of men did sweepe Wherewith the towres once or twise did shake Trembled the wals the hils and mountaines quake 83 Victorious Godfrey boldly forward came And had great hope euen then the place to win But loe a fire with stinch with smoake and flame Withstood his passage stopt his entrance in Such burnings Etna yet could neuer frame When from her entrals hot her fires begin Nor yet in sommer on the Indian plaine Such vapours warme from scorching aire downe raine 84 There balles of wilde fire there flie burning speares This flame was blacke that blew this red as blood Stinch welnie choaketh them noise deafes their eares Smoake blindes their eies fire kindleth on the wood Nor those raw hides which for defence it weares Could saue the towre in such distresse it stood For now they wrinkle now it sweates and fries Now burnes vnlesse some helpe come down from skies 85 The hardie Duke before his folke abides Nor chang'd he colour countenance or place But comforts those that from the scaldred hides With water stroue th'approching flames to chace In these extremes the Prince and those he guides Halfe roasted stood before fierce Vulcans face When loe a sudden and vnlookt for blast
him vnused rare and strange But so doth heau'n mens harts turne alter change 105 As when the sicke or frantike men oft dreame In their vnquiet sleepe and slumber short And thinke they ronne some speedie course and seame To mooue their legs and feete in hastie sort Yet feele their limmes farre slower than the streame Of their vaine thoughts that beares them in this sport And oft would speake would crie would call or shout Yet neither sound nor voice nor word send out 106 So runne to fight the angrie Soldan would And did enforce his strength his might his ire Yet felt not in himselfe his courage ould His woonted force his rage and hot desire His eies that sparkled wrath and furie bould Grew dim and feeble feare had quencht that fire And in his hart an hundreth passions fought Yet not on feare or base retire he thought 107 While vnresolu'd he stood the victor knight Arriu'd and seem'd in quicknesse haste and speed In boldnesse greatnes goodlines and might Aboue all Princes borne of humaine seed The Turke small while resists not death nor fight Made him forget his state or race through dreed He fled no stroakes he fetcht no groane nor sigh Bold were his motions last proud stately high 108 Now when the Soldan in these battel 's past That Antheus like oft fell oft rose againe Euer more fierce more fell fell downe at last To lie for euer when this Prince was slaine Fortune that seld is stable firme or fast No longer durst resist the Christian traine But rang'd her selfe in row with Godfreics knights With them she serues she ronnes she rides she fights 109 The Pagan troupes the kings owne squadron fled Of all the East the strength the pride the flowre Late call'd immortall now discomfited It lost that title proud and lost all powre To him that with the royall standard fled Thus Emireno said with speeches sowre Art not thou he to whom to beare I gaue My kings great banner and his standard braue 110 This ensigne Rimedon I gaue not thee To be the witnesse of thy feare and flight Coward dost thou thy Lord and Captaine see In battell strong and ronn'st thy selfe from fight What seek'st thou saftie come returne with mee The way to death is path to vertue right Here let him fight that would escape for this The way to honour way to saftie is 111 The man return'd and sweld with scorne and shame The Duke with speeches graue exhorts the rest He threates he strikes sometime till backe they came And rage gainst force despaire gainst death addrest Thus of his broken armies gan he frame A battell now some hope dwelt in his brest But Tisiphernes bold reuiu'd him most Who fought and seem'd to winne when all was lost 112 Wonders that day wrought noble Tisipherne The hardie Normans all he ouerthrew The Flemmings fled before the champion sterne Gernier Rogero Gerard bold he slew His glorious deeds to praise and fame eterne His liues short date prolong'd enlarg'd and drew And then as he that set sweete life at nought The greatest perill danger most he sought 113 He spide Rinaldo and although his feild Of azure purple now and sanguine showes And though the siluer bird amid his sheild Were armed gules yet he the champion knowes And saies here greatest perill is heau'ns yeild Strength to my courage fortune to my blowes That faire Armida her reuenge may see Helpe Macon for his armes I vow to thee 114 Thus praied he but all his vowes were vaine Mahound was deafe or slept in heauens aboue And as a lion strikes him with his traine His natiue wrath to quicken and to moue So he awakte his furie and disdaine And sharpt his courage on the whetstone loue Himselfe he sau'd behinde his mightie targe And forward spurr'd his stead and gaue the charge 115 The Christian saw the hardie warriour come And leaped forth to vndertake the fight The people round about gaue place and rome And wondred on that fierce and cruell sight Some prais'd their strength their skill and courage some Such and so desp'rate blowes strooke either knight That all that saw forgot both ire and strife Their wounds their hurts forgot both death and life 116 One stroke the other did both strike and wound His armes were surer and his strength was more From Tisipherne the blood stream'd downe around His shield was cleft his helme was rent and tore The dame that saw his blood besmeare the ground His armour broke limmes weake wounds deepe and sore And all her garde dead fled and ouerthrowne Thought now her field lay wast her hedge lay downe 117 Enuiron'd with so braue a troupe but late Now stood she in her chariot all alone She feared bondage and her life did hate All hope of conquest and reuenge was gone Halfe mad and halfe amas'd from where she sate She leaped downe and fled from friends and fone On a swift horse she mounts and forth she rides Alone saue for disdaine and loue her guides 118 In daies of old Queene Cleopatra soe Alone fled from the fight and cruell fray Against Augustus great his happie foe Leauing her Lord to losse and sure decay And as that Lord for loue let honour goe Follow'd her flying sailes and lost the day So Tisipherne the faire and fearfull dame Would follow but his foe forbids the same 119 But when the Pagans ioy and comfort fled It seem'd the sunne was set the day was night Gainst the braue Prince with whom he combatted He turn'd and on the forehead stroake the knight When thunders forg'd are in Tiphoius bed Not Brontes hammer falles so swift so right The furious stroake fell on Rinaldoes crest And made him bend his head downe to his brest 120 The champion in his stirrups high vpstart And cleft his hawberke hard and tender side And sheath'd his weapon in the Pagans hart The castle where mans life and soule do bide The cruell sword his brest and hinder part With double wound vnclos'd and op'ned wide And two large doores made for his life and breath Which past and curde hot loue with frosen death 121 This done Rinaldo staid and lookte around Where he should harme his foes or helpe his friends Nor of the Pagans saw he squadron sound Each standard falles ensigne to earth descends His furie quiet than and calme he found There all his wrath his rage and rancour ends He call'd to minde how farre from helpe or aid Armida fled alone amas'd affraid 122 Well sawe he when she fled and with that sight The Prince had pirie curtesie and care He promist her to be her friend and knight When earst he left her in the island bare The way she fled he ranne and road aright Her palfraies feete signes in the grasse out ware But she this while found out an ougly shade Fit place for death where nought could life perswade 123 Well pleased was she with those shadowes browne And yet displeasd with