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
his chinne no signe of manhood bore His youth was forward but with gouernance His words his actions and his portance braue Of future vertue timely tokens gaue 61 Presages ah too true with that a space He sigh'd for griefe then said faine would I know The man in red with such a knightly grace A worthie Lord he seemeth by his show How like to Godfrey lookes he in the face How like in person but some-deale more low Baldwine quoth she that noble Baron hight By birth his brother and his match in might 62 Next looke on him that seemes for counsell fit Whose siluer locks bewray his store of daies Raimond he hight a man of wondrous wit Of Tholouse Lord his wisdome is his praise What he forethinkes doth as he lookes for hit His stratagems haue good successe alwaies With guilden helme beyond him rides the milde And good Prince William Englands kings deere childe 37 With him is Guelpho as his noble mate In birth in actes in armes alike the rest I know him well since I beheld him late By his broad shoulders and his squared brest But my proud foe that quite hath ruinate My high estate and Antioch opprest I see not Boemond that to death did bring Mine aged Lord my father and my king 64 Thus talked they meane-while Godfredo went Downe to the troopes that in the valley staid And for in vaine he thought the labour spent Tassaile those partes that to the mountaines laid Against the northren gate his force he bent Gainst it he campt gainst it his engins plaid All felt the furie of his angrie powre That from those gates lies to the corner towre 65 The townes third part was this or little lesse Fore which the Duke his glorious ensignes spred For so great compasse had that forteresse That round it could not be enuironed With narrow siege nor Babels king I gesse That whilome tooke it such an armie led But all the waies he kept by which his foe Might to or from the citie come or goe 66 His care was next to cast the trenches deepe So to preserue his resting campe by night Least from the citie while his soldiers sleepe They might assaile them with vntimely fight This donne he went where Lords and Princes weepe With dire complaints about the murdred knight Where Dudon dead lay slaughtred on the ground And all the soldiers sate lamenting round 67 His wayling friends adorn'd the mournfull beare With wofull pompe whereon his corpes they laid And when they saw the Bulloigne Prince draw neare All felt new greefe and each new sorrow maid But he withouten shew or change of cheare His springing teares within their fountaines staid His ruefull lookes vpon the coarse he cast Awhile and thus bespake the same at last 68 We need not mourne for thee here laid to rest Earth is thy bed and not thy graue the skies Are for thy soule the cradle and the nest There liue for here thy glorie neuer dies For like a Christian knight and champion blest Thou didst both liue and die now feed thine eies With thy redeemers sight where crown'd with blis Thy faith zeale merit well-deseruing is 69 Our losse not thine prouokes these plaints and teares For when we lost thee then our ship her mast Our chariot lost her wheeles their points our speares The bird of conquest her chiefe feather cast But though thy death far from our armie beares Her chiefest earthlie aide in heau'n yet plast Thou wilt procure vs helpe diuine so reapes He that sowes godly sorrow ioy by heapes 70 For if our God the Lord Armipotent Those armed Angels in our aide downe send That were at Dothan to his Prophet sent Thou wilt come downe with them and well defend Our host and with thy sacred weapons bent Gainst Sions for t these gates and bulwarks rend That so thy hand may win this hold and wee May in these temples praise our Christ for thee 71 Thus he complain'd but now the sable shade Icleped night had thicke enueloped The sun in vaile of double darknes made Sleepe eased care rest brought complaint to bed All night the warie Duke deuising laide How that high wall should best be battered How his strong engins he might aptly frame And whence get timber fit to build the same 72 Vp with the larke the sorrowfull Duke arose Amourner chiefe at Dudons buriall Of Cipresse sad a pile his friends compose Vnder a hill oregrowne with Cedars tall Beside the hearce a fruitfull palme tree groes Ennobled since by this great funerall Where Dudons corpes they softly laid in ground The priestes sung hymnes the soldiers wept around 73 Among the boughes they here and there bestowe Ensignes and armes as witnes of his praise Which he from Pagan Lords that did them owe Had wonne in prosprous sights and happie fraies His shield they fixed on the bole belowe And there this distich vnder-writ which saies This palme with stretched armes doth ouerspread The champion Dudons glorious carkasse dead 74 This worke performed with aduisement good Godfrey his carpenters and men of skill In all the campe sent to an aged wood With conuoy meet to garde them safe from ill Within a valley deepe this forrest stood To Christian eies vnseene vnknowne vntill A Syrian told the Duke who thither sent Those chosen workmen that for timber went 75 And now the axe rag'd in the forrest wilde The Eccho sighed in the groues vnseene The weeping Nymphes fled from their bowres exilde Downe fell the shadie tops of shaking treene Downe came the sacred palmes the ashes wilde The funerall Cipresse Hollie euer greene The weeping Firre thicke Beech and sailing Pine The maried Elme fell with his fruitfull vine 76 The showter Eugh the broad-leau'd Sicamore The barraine Platane and the Wall-nut sound The Myrrhe that her foule sinne doth still deplore The Alder owner of all watrish ground Sweet Iuniper whose shadow hurteth sore Proud Cedar Oake the king of forrests crown'd Thus fell the trees with noice the desarts rore The beastes their caues the birds their nests forlore The fourth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument Sathan his feends and sprites assembleth all And sends them foorth to worke the Christians woe False Hidraort their aide from hell doth call And sends Armida to entrap his foe She telles her birth her fortune and her fall Askes aide allures and winnes the worthies soe That they consent her enterprize to proue She winnes them with deceit craft beautie loue 1 WHile thus their worke went on with luckie speed And reared rammes their horned fronts aduance The ancient foe to man and mortall seed His wannish eies vpon them bent askance And when he saw their labours well succeed He wept for rage and threat'ned dire mischance He chokt his curses to himselfe he spake Such noise wilde buls that softly bellow make 2 At last resoluing in his damned thought To finde some let to stop their warlike feat He gaue command his princes should be
Circassian bie So from a piece two chained bullets flie 55 Now fled the French men when in luckie howre Arriued Guelpho and his helping band He made them turne against this stormie showre And with bold face their wicked foes withstand Sternly they fought that from their wounds downe powre The streames of blood and ronne on either hand The Lord of heauen meane-while vpon this fight From his hie throne bent downe his gracious sight 56 From whence with grace and goodnes compast round He ruleth blesseth keepeth all he wrought Aboue the aire the fire the sea and ground Our sense our wit our reason and our thought Where persons three with powre and glorie crown'd Are all one God who made all things of nought Vnder whose feete subiected to his grace Sit nature fortune motion time and place 57 This is the place from whence like smoke and dust Of this fraile world the wealth the pompe and powre He tosseth tumbleth turneth as he lust And guides our life our death our end and howre No eie how euer vertuous pure and iust Can vew the brightnes of that glorious bowre On euery side the blessed spirits bee Equall in ioies though diffring in degree 58 With harmonie of their celestiall song The pallace ecchoed from the chambers pure At last he Michael call'd in harnesse strong Of neuer yeelding dimonds armed sure Behold quoth he to doe despite and wrong To that deere flocke my mercie hath in cure How sathan from hels loth some prison sends His ghosts his sorites his furies and his fends 59 Goe bid them all depart and leaue the caire Of war to soldiers as doth best pertaine Bid them forbeare t' infect the earth and aire To darken heau'ns faire light bid them refraine Bid them to Acherons blacke flood repaire Fit house for them the house of greefe and paine There let their king himselfe and them torment So I command goe tell them mine intent 60 This said the winged warriour lowe inclinde At his creators feet with reu'rence dew Then spred his golden feathers to the winde And swift as thought away the angell flew He past the light and shining fire assinde The glorious seat of his selected crew The mouer first and circle Christalline The firmament where fixed stars all shine 61 Vnlike in working than in shape and show At this left hand Saturne he left and Ioue And those vntruly errant call'd I trow Since he erres not who them doth guide and moue The fields he passed then whence haile and snow Thunder and raine fall downe from cloudes aboue Where heat and cold drinesse and moisture striue Whose wars all creatures kill and slaine reuiue 62 The horrid darknes and the shadowes dunne Dispersed he with his eternall wings The flames which from his heau'nly eies outrunne Beguilde the earth and all her sable things After a storme so spreadeth forth the sunne His raies and bindes the cloudes in golden strings Or in the stilnesse of a moone-shine eauen A falling star so glideth downe from heauen 63 But when th' infernall troope he proched neare That still the Pagans ire and rage prouoke The angell on his wings himselfe did beare And shooke his lance and thus at last he spoke Haue you not learned yet to know and feare The Lords iust wrath and thunders dreadfull stroke Or in the torments of your endlesse ill Are you still fierce still proud rebellious still 64 The Lord hath sworne to breake the iron bands The brasen gates of Sions for t which close Who is it that his sacred will withstands Against his wrath who dares himselfe oppose Goe hence you curst to your appointed lands The realmes of death of torments and of woes And in the deepes of that infernall lake Your battailes fight and there your triumphes make 65 There tyrannise vpon the soules you finde Condemn'd to woe and double still their paines Where some complaine where some their teeth doe grinde Some howle and weepe some clinke their iron chaines This said they fled and those that staid behinde With his sharpe lance he driueth and constraines They sighing left the lands his siluer sheepe Where Hesperus doth lead doth feed doth keepe 66 And towards hell their lazie wings display To wreake their malice on the damned gostes The birds that follow Titans hottest ray Passe not by so great flocks to warmer costes Nor leaues by so great numbers fall away When winter nips them with his new-come frostes The earth deliu'red from so foule annoy Recall'd her beautie and resum'd her ioy 67 But not for this in fierce Argantes brest Less'ned the rancour or decai'd the ire Although Alecto left him to infest With the hot brands of her infernall fire His armed head with his sharpe blade he blest And those thicke ranks which seemed most intire He broke the strong the weake the high the low Were equallized by his murdring blow 68 Not far from him amid the blood and dust Heads armes and legs Clorinda strowed wide Her sword through Berengarios brest she thrust Quite through his hart where life doth chiefly bide And that fell blow she stroke so sure and iust That at his backe his blood and life forth glide Euen in the mouth she smote Albinus than And cut in twaine the visage of the man 69 Gerniers right hand she from his arme deuided Whereof but late she had receiu'd a wound The hand his sword still held although not guided The fingers halfe on liue stirt'd on the ground So from a serpent slaine the taile deuided Moues in the grasse rolleth and tumbleth round The Championesse so wounded left the knight And gainst Achilles turn'd her weapon bright 70 Vpon his necke light that vnhappie blowe And cut the sinewes and the throte in twaine The head fell downe vpon the earth belowe And soil'd with dust the visage on the plaine The headlesse trunke a wofull thing to knowe Still in the saddle seated did remaine Vntill his stead that felt the raines at large With leapes and flings that burden did discharge 71 While thus this faire and fierce Bellona slew The westren Lords and put their troopes to flight Gildippes raged mongst the Pagan crew And low in dust laid many a worthie knight Like was their sexe their beautie and their hew Like was their youth their courage and their might Yet fortune would they should the battaile trie Of mightier foes for both were fram'd to die 72 Yet wisht they oft and stroue in vaine to meet So great betwixt them was the prease and throng But hardie Guelpha gainst Clorinda sweet Ventred his sword to worke her harme and wrong And with a cutting blow so did her greet That from her side the blood stream'd downe along But with a thrust an answer sharpe she made And twixt his ribs colour'd some-deale her blade 73 Lord Guelpho stroke againe but hit her not For strong Osmida haply passed bie And not meant him anothers wound he got That cleft his front in twaine aboue his
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
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
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
iron strong But each a glaue had pendant by his side Their bowes and quiuers at their shoulders hong Their horses well enur'd to chace and ride In dietspare vntir'd with labour long Readie to charge and to retire at will Though broken scattred fled they skirmish still 51 Tatine their guide and except Tatine none Of all the Greekes went with the Christian host O sinne O shame O Greece accurst alone Did not this fatall war affront thy coast Yet sattest thou an idle looker on And glad attendest which side wonne or lost Now if thou be a bondslaue vile become No wrong is that but Gods most righteous dome 52 In order last but first in worth and fame Vnfear'd in fight vntir'd with hurt or wound The noble squadron of aduentrers came Terrors to all that tread on Asian ground Cease Orpheus of thy Minois Arthur shame To boast of Launcelot or thy table round Kor these whom antique times with laurell drest These far exceed them thee and all the rest 53 Dudon of Consa was their guide and Lord And for of worth and birth alike they beene They chose him captaine by their free accord For he most actes had done most battails seene Graue was the man in yeeres in lookes in word His locks were gray yet was his courage greene Of worth and might the noble badge he bore Old scarres of greeuous wounds receiu'd of yore 54 After came Eustace well ysteemed man For Godfreyes sake his brother and his owne The king of Norwaies heire Gernando than Proud of his fathers titles scepter crowne Roger of Balnauill and Engerlan For hardie knights approoued were and knowne Besides were numbred in that warlike traine Rambald Gentonio and the Gerards twaine 55 Vbaldo than and puissant Rosimond Of Lancaster the heire in ranke succeed Let none forget Obizo of Tuscaine lond Well worthie praise for many a worthie deed Nor those three brethren Lombards fierce and yond Achilles Sforza and sterne Palameed Nor Ottons shield he conqu'red in those stowres In which a snake a naked childe deuoures 56 Guascher and Raiphe in valour like there was The one and other Guido famous both Germer and Eberard to ouerpas In foule obliuion would my muse be loth With his Gildippes deere Edward alas A louing paire to war among them go'th In bond of vertuous loue together tied Together seru'd they and together died 57 In schoole of loue are all things taught we see There learn'd this maide of armes the irefull guise Still by his side a faithfull garde went shee One trueloue knot their liues together ties No wound to one alone could dang'rous bee But each the smart of others anguish tries If one were hurt the other felt the sore She lost her blood he spent his life therefore 58 But these and all Rinaldo far exceedes Star of this spheare the dimond of this ring The nest where courage with sweete mercie breedes A comet worthie each eies wondering His yeeres are fewer than his noble deedes His fruit is ripe soone as his blossoms spring Armed a Mars might coyest Venus moue And if disarm'd then God himselfe of loue 59 Sophia by Adige flowrie banke him bore Sophia the faire spouse to Bertoldo great Fit mother for that pearle and before The tender impe was wained from the teat The Princesse Maud him tooke in vertues lore She brought him vp fit for each worthie feat Till of these wars the golden trumpe he heares That soundeth glorie fame praise in his eares 60 And then though scantly three times fiue yeeres old He fled alone by many an vnknowne coast Ore Aegean seas by many a Greekish hold Till he arriued at the Christian hoast A noble flight aduentrous braue and bold Whereon a valiant Prince might iustly boast Three yeeres he seru'd in field when scant begin Few golden haires to decke his Iuorie chin 61 The horsemen past their void left stations fill The bands on foote and Reymond them beforne Of Tholouse Lord from lands neere Piraene hill By Garound streames and salt sea billowes worne Fowre thousand foote he brought well arm'd and skill Had they all paines and trauell to haue borne Stout men of armes and with their guide of powre Like Troyes old towne defenst with Ilions towre 62 Next Stephen of Amboise did fiue thousand leed The men he prest from Toures and Blois but late To hard assaies vnfit vnsure at need Yet arm'd to point in well attempted plate The land did like it selfe the people breed The soile is gentle smooth soft delicate Boldly they charge but soone retire for dout Like fire of straw soone kindled soone burnt out 63 The third Alcasto marched and with him The Boaster brought sixe thousand Switzers bold Audacious were their lookes their faces grim Strong castles on the Alpine clifts they hold Their shares and culters broke to armours trim They change that mettall cast in warlike mold And with this band late heards and flocks that guied Now kings and realmes he threat'ned and defied 64 The glorious standard last to heau'n they sprad With Peters keyes ennobled and his crowne With it seuen thousand stout Camillo had Embattailed in wals of iron browne In this aduenture and occasion glad So to reuiue the Romaines old renowne Or proue at least to all of wiser thought Their harts were fertill land although vnwrought 65 But now was passed euery regiment Each band each troope each person worth regard When Godfrey with his Lords to counsell went And thus the Duke his princely will declar'd I will when day next cleeres the firmament Our readie host in haste be all prepar'd Closely to march to Sions noble wall Vnseene vnheard or vndescride at all 66 Prepare you then for trauaile strong and light Fierce to the combat glad to victorie And with that word and warning soone was dight Each soldier longing for neere comming glorie Impatient be they of the morning bright Of honour so them prickt the memorie But yet their chieftaine had conceau'd a feare Within his hart but kept it secret theare 67 For he by faithfull spiall was assured That Egypts king was forward on his way And to arriue at Gaza old procured A fort that on the Sirian fronters lay Nor thinkes he that a man to wars enured Will ought forslow or in his iourney stay For well he knew him for a dang'rous foe An herald cald he then and spake him soe 68 A pinnesse take thee swift as shaft from bowe And speede thee Henrie to the Greekish maine There should arriue as I by letters knowe From one that neuer ought reports in vaine A valiant youth in whom all vertues flowe To helpe vs this great conquest to obtaine The Prince of Danes he is and brings to war A troope with him from vnder th' Artick star 69 And for I doubt the Greekish monarch slie Will vse with him some of his woonted craft To stay his passage or diuert awrie Elsewhere his forces his first iournay laft My herald good and messenger
Some new-found land and countrie to descrie Through dang'rous seas and vnder stars vnknow Thrall to the faithlesse waues and trothlesse skie If once the wished shore begin to show They all salute it with a ioyfull crie And each to other shew the land in hast Forgetting quite their paines and perils past 5 To that delight which their first sight did breed That pleased so the secret of their thought A deepe repentance did foorthwith succeed That reu'rend feare and trembling with it brought Scantly they durst their feeble eies despreed Vpon that towne where Christ was sold and bought Where for our sinnes he faultlesse suffred paine There where he dide and where he liu'd againe 6 Softwords low speech deepe sobs sweete sighes salt teares Rose from their brests with ioy and pleasure mixt For thus fares he the Lord aright that feares Feare on deuotion ioy on faith is fixt Such noice their passions make as when one heares The hoarse sea waues rore hollow rocks betwixt Or as the winde in houltes and shadie greaues A murmur makes among the boughes and leaues 7 Their naked feet troad on the dustie way Following th'ensample of their zealous guide Their searffes their crests their plumes and feathers gay They quickly doft and willing laid aside Their moulten harts their woonted pride alay Along their watrie cheekes warme teares downe slide And then such secret speech as this they vsed While to himselfe each one himselfe accused 8 Flower of goodnes root of lasting blisse Thou well of life whose streames were purple blood That flowed here to clense the fowle amisse Of sinfull man behold this brinish flood That from my melting hart distilled is Receiue in gree these teares O Lord so good For neuer wretch with sinne so ouergone Had fitter time or greater cause to mone 9 This while the warie watchman looked ouer From tops of Sions towres the hils and dales And saw the dust the fields and pastures couer As when thicke mistes arise from moorie vales At last the sun-bright shieldes he gan discouer And glistring helmes for violence none that fales The mettall shone like lightning bright in skies And man and horse amid the dust descries 10 Then lowd he cries O what a dust ariseth Oh how it shines with shields and targets cleere Vp vp to armes for valiant hart despiseth The threat'ned storme of death and danger neere Behold your foes then further thus deuiseth Haste haste for vaine delay encreaseth feare These horrid cloudes of dust that yonder flie Your comming foes doth hide and hide the skie 11 The tender children and the fathers old The aged matrons and the virgin chast That durst not shake the speare nor target hold Themselues deuoutly in their temples plast The rest of members strong and courage bold On hardie brestes their harnesse dond in haste Some to the walles some to the gates them dight Their king meane-while directs them all aright 12 All things well ordred he withdrew with speed Vp to a turret high two ports betweene That so he might be neare at euerie need And ouerlooke the lands and furrowes greene Thither he did the sweet Erminia leed That in his court had entertained beene Since Christians Antioch did to bondage bring And slew her father who thereof was king 13 Against their foes Clorinda sallied out And many a Baron bold was by her side Within the postern stood Argantes stout To rescue her if ill mote her betide With speeches braue she cheer'd her warlike rout And with bold words them hart'ned as they ride Let vs by some braue act quoth she this day Of Asias hopes the ground-worke found and lay 14 While to her folke thus spake the virgin braue Thereby behold foorth past a Christian band Towards the campe that herds of cattell draue For they that morne had forraid all the land The fierce Virago would that bootie saue Whom their commander singled hand for hand A mightie man at armes who Guardo hight But far too weake to match with her in fight 15 They met and low in dust was Guardo laid Twixt either armie from his cell downe kest The Pagans shout for ioy and hopefull said Those good beginnings would haue endings blest Against the rest on went the noble maid She broke the helme and pearst the armed brest Her men the paths rode through made by her sword They passe the streame where she had found the ford 16 Soone was the pray out of their hands recou'red By step and step the Frenchmen gan retire Till on a little hill at last they hou'red Whose strength preseru'd them from Clorindas ire When as a tempest that hath long been cou'red In watrie cloudes breakes out with sparkling fire With his strong squadron Lord Tancredie came His hart with rage his eies with courage flame 17 Mast great the speare was which the gallant bore That in his warlike pride he made to shake As windes tall Cedars tosse on mountaines hore The king that wondred at his brau'rie spake To her that neere him seated was before Who felt her hart with loues hot feuer quake Well should'st thouknow quoth he each Christian knight By long acquaintance though in armour dight 18 Say who is he showes so great worthinesse That rides so ranke and bends his lance so fell To this the Princesse said nor more nor lesse Her hart with sighes her eies with teares did swell But sighes and teares she wisely could suppresse Her loue and passion she dissembled well And stroue her loue and hot desire to couer Till hart with sighes and eies with teares ron ouer 19 At last she spake and with a craftie slight Her secret loue disguis'd in clothes of hate Alas too well she saies I know that knight I saw his force and courage prooued late Too late I view'd when his powre and might Shooke downe the pillar of Cassanoes state Alas what wounds he giues how fierce how fell No phisicke helpes them cure nor magicks spell 20 Tancred he hight O Macon would he weare My thrall ere fates him of this life depriue For to his hatefull head such spite I beare I would him reaue his cruell hart on liue Thus said she they that her complainings heare In other sense her wishes credit giue She sigh'd withall they constred all amisse And thought she wisht to kill who long'd to kisse 71 This while foorth prickt Clorinda from the throng And gainst Tancredie set her speare in rest Vpon their helmes they crackt their lances long And from her head her guilden caske he kest For euery lace he broke and euery thong And in the dust threw downe her plumed crest About her shoulders shone her golden locks Like sunnie beames on Alablaster rocks 22 Her lookes with fire her eies with lightning blaze Sweet was her wrath what then would be her smile Tancred whereon think'st thou what dost thou gaze Hast thou forgot her in so short a while The same is she the shape of whose sweet face The god of
paine Else if I proue seuere both you be blamed That force my gentle nature gainst my thought To rigor least our lawes returne to nought 57 Lord Guelpho answered thus what hart can beare Such slanders false deuis'd by hate and spight Or with staid patience reproches heare And not reuenge by battaile and by fight The Norway Prince hath bought his follie deare But who with words could stay the angrie knight A foole is he that comes to preach or prate When men with swords their right and wrong debate 58 And where you wish he should himselfe submit To heare the censure of your vpright lawes Alas that cannot be for he is flit Out of this campe withouten stay or pause There take my gage behold I offer it To him that first accus'd him in this cause Or any else that dare and will maintaine That for his pride the Prince was iustly slaine 59 I say with reason Lord Gernandos pride He hath abated if he haue offended Gainst your commands who are his Lord and guide Oh pardon him that fault shall be amended If he be gone quoth Godfrey let him ride And braule elsewhere here let all strife be ended And you Lord Guelpho for your nephewes sake Breed vs no new nor quarrels old awake 60 This while the faire and false Armida striued To get her promist aide in sure possession The day to end with endlesse plaint she driued Wit beautie craft for her made intercession But when the earth was once of light depriued And westren seas felt Titans hot impression Twixt two old knights and matrons twaine she went Where pitched was her faire and curious tent 61 But this false Queene of craft and slie inuention Whose lookes loues arrowes were whose eies his quiuers Whose beautie matchlesse free from reprehension A wonder left by heau'n to after liuers Among the Christian Lords had bred contention Who first should quench his flames in Cupids riuers With all her weapons and her darts rehersed Had not Godfredos constant bosome persed 62 To change his modest thought the dame procureth And profreth heapes of loues entising treasure But as the faulcon newly gorg'd endureth Her keeper lure her oft but comes at leasure So he whom fulnesse of delight assureth What long repentance comes of loues short pleasure Her crafts her artes her selfe and all despiseth So base affections fall when vertue riseth 63 And not one foot his stedfast foot was moued Out of that heau'nly path wherein he paced Yet thousand wiles and thousand waies she proued To haue that castle faire of goodnes raced She vs'd those lookes and smiles that most behoued To melt the frost which his hard hart imbraced And gainst his brest a thousand shot she ventred Yet was the fort so strong it was not entred 64 The Dame who thought that one blinke of her eie Could make the chastest hart feele loues sweet paine Oh how her pride abated was hereby When all her sleights were voide her crafts were vaine Some other where she would her forces trie Where at more ease she might more vantage gaine As tired soldiers whom some fort keepes out Thence raise their siege and spoile the townes about 65 But yet alwaies the wilie witch could finde Could not Tancredres hart to loue-ward moue His sailes were filled with another winde He list no blast of new affection proue For as one poison doth exclude by kinde Anothers force so loue excludeth loue These two alone nor more nor lesse the Dame Could win the rest all burnt in her sweet flame 66 The Princesse though her purpose would not frame As late she hoped and as still she would Yet for the Lords and knights of greatest name Became her pray as earst you heard it told She thought ere truth-reuealing time or fame Bewraid her act to lead them to some hold Where chains bands she meant to make them proue Compos'd by Vulcan not by gentle loue 67 The time prefixt at length was come and past Which Godfrey had set downe to lend her aid When at his feet her selfe to earth she cast The howre is come my Lord she humbly said And if the tyrant haply heare at last His banisht neece hath your assistance praid He will in armes to saue his kingdome rise So shall we harder make this enterprise 68 Before report can bring the tyrant newes Or his espials certifie their king O let thy goodnes these few champions chuse That to her kingdome should thy handmaid bring Who except heauen to aide the right refuse Recouer shall her crowne from whence shall spring Thy profit for betide thee peace or war Thine all her cities all her subiects ar 69 The captaine sage the damsell faire assured His word was past and should not be recanted And she with sweet and humble grace endured To let him point those ten which late he granted But to be one each one sought and procured No suit entreatie intercession wanted Their enuie each at others loue exceeded And all importunate made more than needed 70 She that well saw the secret of their harts And knew how best to warme them in their blood Against them threw the cursed poyson'd darts Of iealousie and griefe at others good For loue she wist was weake without those arts And slow for iealousie is Cupids food For the swift steed runs not so fast alone As when some straine some striue him to outgone 71 Her words in such alluring sort she framed Her lookes entising and her wowing smiles That euerie one his fellowes fauours blamed That of their mistris he receiu'd erewhiles This foolish crew of louers vnashamed Mad with the poyson of her secret wiles Ran forward still in this disordred sort Nor could Godfredoes bridle raine them short 72 He that would satisfie each good desire Withouten partiall loue of euerie knight Although he sweld with shame with griefe and ire To see these follies and these fashions light Yet since by no aduice they would retire Another way he sought to set them right Write all your names quoth he and see whom chance Of lot to this exploit will first aduance 73 Their names were writ and in a helmet shaken While each did fortunes grace and aid implore At last they drew them and the formost taken The Earle of Pembrooke was Artimidore Doubtlesse the Countie thought his bread well baken Next Gerrard follow'd then with tresses hore Old Wenceslaus that felt Cupids rage Now in his doting and his dying age 74 Oh how contentment in their foreheads shined Their lookes with ioy thoughts sweld with secret pleasure These three it seemed good successe defined To make the Lords of loue and beauties treasure Their doubtfull fellowes at their hap repined And with small patience wait fortunes leasure Vpon his lips that red the scrowles attending As if their liues were on his words depending 75 Guascar the fourth Ridolpho him succeedes Then Vldericke whom loue list so aduance Lord William of Ronciglion next he reedes Then Eberard
neuer knots of loue more surer knit 58 Her bodie free captiued was her hart And loue the keies did of that prison beare Prepar'd to goe it was a death to part From that kinde Lord and from that prison deare But thou O honour which esteemed art The chiefest vesture noble Ladies weare Enforcest her against her will to wend To Aladine her mothers dearest frend 59 At Sion was this princesse entertained By that old tyrant and her mother deare Whose losse too soone the wofull damsell plained Her griéfe was such she liu'd not halfe the yeare Yet banishment nor losse of friends constrained The haplesse maid her passions to forbeare For though exceeding were her woe and griefe Of all her sorrowes yet her loue was chiefe 60 The seelie maide in secret longing pined Her hope a mote drawne vp by Phebus raies Her loue a mountaine seem'd whereon bright shined Fresh memorie of Tancreds worth and praise Within her closet if her selfe she shrined A hotter fire her tender hart assaies Taucred at last to raise her hope nigh dead Before those wals did his broad ensigne spread 61 The rest to vew the Christian armie feared Such seem'd their number such their powre and might But she alone her troubled forehead cleared And on them spred her beautie shining bright In euerie squadron when it first appeared Her curious eie sought out her chosen knight And euerie gallant that the rest excels The same seemes him so loue and fancie tels 62 Within the kingly pallace builded hie A turret standeth neere the cities wall From which Erminia might at ease descrie The westren host the plaines and mountaines all And there she stood all the long day to spie From Phebus rising to his euening fall And with her thoughts disputed of his praise And euerie thought a scalding sigh did raise 63 From hence the furious combat she suruaid And felt her hart tremble with fear and paine Her secret thought thus to her fancie said Behold thy deere in danger to be slaine So with suspect with feare and griefe dismaid Attended she her darlings losse or gaine And euer when the Pagan lift his blade The stroke a wound in her weake bosome made 64 But when she saw the end and wist withall Their strong contention should eftsoones begin Amasement strange her courage did appall Her vitall blood was icie cold within Sometimes she sighed sometimes teares let fall To witnes what distresse her hart was in Hopelesse dismai'd pale sad astonished Her loue her feare her feare her torment bred 65 Her idle braine vnto her soule presented Death in an hundred vglie fashions painted And if she slept then was her greefe augmented With such sad visions were her thoughts acquainted She saw her Lord with wounds and hurts tormented How he complain'd call'd for her helpe and fainted And found awakt from that vnquiet sleeping Her hart with panting sore eics red with weeping 66 Yet these presages of his comming ill Not greatest cause of her discomfort weare She saw his blood from his deepe wounds distill Nor what he suffred could she bide or beare Besides report her longing eare did fill Doubling his danger doubling so her feare That she concludes so was her courage lost Her wounded Lord was weake faint dead almost 67 And for her mother had her taught before The secret vertue of each herbe that springs Besides fit charmes for euerie wound or sore Corruption breedeth or misfortune brings An art esteemed in those times of yore Beseeming daughters of great Lords and kings She would her selfe be surgeon to her knight And heale him with her skill or with her sight 68 Thus would she cure her loue and cure her foe She must that had her friends and kinsfolke slaine Some cursed weedes her cunning hand did knoe That could augment his harme encrease his paine But she abhorr'd to be reuenged soe No treason should her spotlesse person staine And vertuelesse she wisht all herbes and charmes Wherewith false men encrease their patients harmes 69 Nor feared she among the bands to stray Of armed men for often had she seene The tragike end of many a bloodie fray Her life had full of haps and hazards beene This made her bold in euerie hard assay More than her feeble sexe became I weene She feared not the shake of euerie reed So cowards are couragious made through need 70 Loue fearelesse hardie and audacious loue Embold'ned had this tender damsell so That where wilde beasts and serpents glide and moue Through Afrikes desarts durst she ride or goe Saue that her honour she esteem'd aboue Her life and bodies safetie told her noe For in the seeret of her troubled thought A doubtfull combat loue and honour fought 71 O spotlesse virgin honour thus begonne That my true lore obserued firmely hast When with thy foes thou didst in bondage wonne Remember then I kept thee pure and chast At libertie now whither wouldst thou ronne To lay that field of princely vertue waste Or lose that iewell Ladies hold so deare Is maidenhood so great a load to beare 72 Or deem'st thou it a praise of little prise The glorious title of a virgins name That thou wilt gad by night in giglet wise Amid thine armed foes to seeke thy shame O foole a woman conquers when she flies Refusall kindleth profers quench the flame Thy Lord will iudge thou sinnest beyond measure If vainly thus thou waste so rich a treasure 73 The slie deceiuer Cupid thus beguild The simple damsell with his filed tong Thou wert not borne quoth he in desarts wilde The cruell beares and sauage beastes among That thou shouldst scorne faire Cithereas childe Or hate those pleasures that to youth belong Nor did the gods thy hart of iron frame To be in loue is neither sinne nor shame 74 Goe then goe whither sweet desire inuiteth How can thy gentle knight so cruell bee Loue in his hart thy greefes and sorrowes writeth For thy laments how he complaineth see Oh cruell woman whom no care exciteth To saue his life that sau'd and honour'd thee He languisheth one foote thou wilt not moue To succour him yet saist thou art in loue 75 No no stay here Argantes wounds to cure And make him strong to shed thy darlings blood Of such reward he may himselfe assure That doth a thanklesse woman so much good Ah may it be thy patience can endure To see the strength of this Circassion wood And not with horror and amazement shrinke When on their future fight thou hapst to thinke 76 Besides the thanks and praises for the deed Suppose what ioy what comfort shalt thou winne When thy soft hand doth wholsome plaisters spreed Vpon the breaches in his iuorie skinne Thence to thy deerest Lord may health succeed Strength to his lims blood to his cheekes so thinne And his rare beauties now halfe dead and more Thou maist to him him to thy selfe restore 77 So shall some part of his aduentures bold And valiant actes henceforth be held
seed so from the fruitfull winde And thus conceauing of the gentle blast A wonder strange and rare she foales at last 77 And had you seene the beast you would haue said The light and subtill winde his father was For if his course vpon the sands he maid No signe was left what way the beast did pas Or if he menag'd were or if he plaid He scantly bended downe the tender gras Thus mounted rode the Earle and as he went Thus prai'd to heau'n his zealous lookes vp bent 78 O Lord that diddest saue keepe and defend Thy seruant Dauid from Golias rage And broughtest that huge giant to his end Slaine by a faithfull childe of tender age Like grace O Lord like mercie now extend Let me this vile blasphemous pride asswage That all the world may to thy glorie know Old men and babes thy foes can ouerthrow 79 Thus prai'd the Countie and his praiers deare Strength'ned with zeale with godlines and faith Before the throne of that great Lord appeare In whose sweet grace is life death in his wraith Among his armies bright and legions cleare The Lord an angell good selected haith To whom the charge was giuen to garde the knight And keepe him safe from that fierce Pagans might 80 The angell good appointed for the guard Of noble Raimond from his tender eild That kept him than and kept him afterward When speare and sword he able was to weild Now when his great creators will he hard That in this fight he should him chiefly sheild Vp to a towre set on a rocke he flies Where all the heau'nly armes and weapons lies 81 There stands the lance wherewith great Michael slew The aged dragon in a bloodie fight There are the dreadfull thunders forged new With stormes and plagues that on poore sinners light The massie trident maist thou pendant vew There on a golden pinne hung vp on hight Wherewith sometimes he smites this solid land And throwes down towns towres theron which stand 82 Among the blessed weapons there which stands Vpon a diamond shield his lookes he bended So great that it might couer all the lands Twixt Caucasus and Atlas hils extended With it the Lords deere flocks and faithfull bands The holy kings and cities are defended The sacred Angell tooke this target sheene And by the Christian champion stood vnseene 83 But now the walles and turrets round about Both yong and old with many thousands fill The king Clorinda sent and her braue rout To keepe the field she staid vpon the hill Godfrey likewise some Christian bands sent out Which arm'd and rankt in good aray stood still And to their champions emptie let remaine Twixt either troope a large and spacious plaine 84 Argantes looked for Tancredie bold But saw an vncouth foe at last appeare Raimond rode on and what he askt him told Better thy chance Tancred is now else-wheare Yet glorie not of that my selfe behold Am come prepar'd and bid thee battaile heare And in his place or for my selfe to fight Loe here I am who scorne thy heath'nish might 85 The Pagan cast a scornefull smile and said But where is Tancred is he still in bed His lookes late seem'd to make high heau'n affraid But now for dread he is or dead or fled But were earthes center or the deepe sea maid His lurking hole it should not saue his hed Thou liest he saies to say so braue a knight Is fled from thee who thee exceedes in might 86 The angrie Pagan said I haue not spilt My labour then if thou his place supplie Goe take the field and le ts see how thou wilt Maintaine thy foolish words and that braue lie Thus parled they to meet in equall tilt Each tooke his aime at others helme on hie Eu'n in the sight his foe good Raimond hit But shakt him not he did so firmely sit 87 The fierce Circassian missed of his blowe A thing which seld befell the man before The angell by vnseene his forced did knowe And far awrie the poinant weapon bore He burst his lance against the sand belowe And bit his lips for rage and curst and swore Against his foe return'd he swift as winde Halfe mad in armes a second match to finde 88 Like to a ram that buttes with horned head So spurr'd he forth his horse with desp'rate race Raimond at his right hand let slide his stead And as he past strooke at the Pagans face He turn'd againe the Earle nothing dread Yet stept aside and to his rage gaue place And on his helme with all his strength gan smite Which was so hard his courtlax could not bite 89 The Sarracine imploi'd his art and force To gripe his foe within his mightie armes But he auoided nimbly with his horse He was no prentise in those fierce allarmes About him made he many a winding corse No strength no sleight the subtile warriour harmes His nimble steed obeid his ready hand And where he stept no print left in the sand 90 As when a captaine doth besiege some hold Set in a marish or high on a hill And trieth waies and wiles a thousand fold To bring the piece subiected to his will So far'd the Countie with the Pagan bold And when he did his head and brest none ill His weaker partes he wisely gan assaile And entrance searched oft twixt maile and maile 91 At last he hit him on a place or twaine That on his armes the red blood trickled downe And yet himselfe vntouched did remaine No naile was broke no plume cut from his crowne Argantes raging spent his strength in vaine Waste were his strokes his thrusts were idle throwne Yet preas'd he on and doubled still his blowes And where he hits he neither cares nor knowes 92 Among a thousand blowes the Sarracine At last stroake one when Raymond was so neare That not the swiftnes of his Aquiline Could his deere Lord from that huge danger beare But loe at hand vnseene was helpe diuine Which saues when worldly comforts none appeare The angell on his targe receiu'd that stroke And on that shield Argantes sword was broke 93 The sword was broke therein no wonder lies If earthly tempred mettall could not hold Against that target forg'd aboue the skies Downe fell the blade in peeces on the mold The proud Circassian scant beleeu'd his eies Though nought were left him but the hilts of gold And full of thoughts amaz'd a while he stood Wondring the Christians armour was so good 94 The brittle web of that rich sword he thought Was broke through hardnes of the Counties sheeld And so thought Raimond who discou'red nought What succour heau'n did for his safetie yeeld But when he saw the man gainst whom he fought Vnweaponed still stood he in the feeld His noble hart esteem'd the glorie light At such aduantage if he slew the knight 95 Goe fetch he would haue said another blade When in his hart a better thought arose How for Christes glorie he was
ease and safe retired Yet coward dread lacks order feare wants art Deafe to attend commanded or desired But Godfrey that perceiu'd in his wise hart How his bold knights to victorie aspired Fresh soldiers sent to make more quicke pursuit And helpe to gather conquests pretious fruit 115 But this alas was not th' appointed day Set downe by heau'n to end this mortall war The westren Lords this time had borne away The prise for which they trauail'd had so far Had not the diuels that saw the sure decay Of their faise kingdome by this bloodie war At once made heau'n and earth with darknes blinde And stird vp tempests stormes and blustring winde 116 Heau'ns glorious lampe wrapt in an ouglie vaile Of shadowes darke was hid from mortall eie And hels grim blacknes did bright skies assaile On euerie side the fierie light'nings flie The thunders roare the streaming raine and haile Powre downe and make that sea which earst was drie The tempests rend the Oakes and Cedars brake And make not trees but rocks and mountaines shake 117 The raine the lightning and the raging winde Bet in the French-mens eies with hideous force The soldiers staid amaz'd in hart and minde The terror such stopped both man and horse Surprised with this euill no way they finde Whither for succour to direct their corse But wise Clorinda soone th' aduantage spied And spurring forth thus to her soldiers cried 118 You hardie men at armes behold quoth shee How heau'n how iustice in our aide doth fight Our visages are from this tempest free Our hands at will may weild our weapons bright The furie of this friendly storme you see Vpon the foreheads of our foes doth light And blindes their eies then let vs take the tide Come follow me good fortune be our guide 119 This said against her foes on rode the Dame And turn'd their backs against the winde and raine Vpon the French with furious rage she came And scorn'd those idle blowes they stroke in vaine Argantes at the instant did the same And them who chased him now chas'd againe Nought but his fearefull backe each Christian showes Against the tempest and against their blowes 120 The cruell haile and deadly wounding blade Vpon their shoulders smote them as they fled The blood new spilt while thus they slaughter made The water falne from skies had died red Among the murdred bodies Pyrrhus lade And valiant Raiphe his hart blood there out bled The first subdu'd by strong Argantes might The second conqu'red by that virgin knight 121 Thus fled the French and them pursu'd in chace The wicked sprites and all the Syrian traine But gainst their force and gainst the fell menace Of haile and winde of tempest and of raine Godfrey alone turn'd his audacious face Blaming his Barons for their feare so vaine Himselfe the campe gate boldly stood to keepe And sau'd his men within his trenches deepe 122 And twise vpon Argantes proud he flew And beat him backward maugre all his might And twise his thirstie sword he did imbrew In Pagans blood where thickest was the fight At last himselfe with all his folke withdrew And that daies conquest gaue the virgin bright Which got she home retir'd and all her men And thus she chas'd this lion to his den 123 Yet ceased not the furie and the ire Of these huge stormes of winde of raine and haile Now was it darke now shone the light'ning fire The winde and water euery place assaile No banke was safe no rampire left intire No tent could stand when beame and cordage faile Winde thunder raine all gaue a dreadfull sound And with that musicke deaft the trembling ground The eight Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument Amessenger to Godfrey sage doth tell The Prince of Denmarks valour death and end Th' Italians trusting signes vntrue too well Thinke their Rinaldo slaine the wicked fend Breedes furie in their brests their bosomes swell With ire and hate and war and strife forth send They threaten Godfrey he praies to the Lord And calmes their furie with his looke and word 1 NOw were the skies of stormes and tempests cleered Lord AEolus shut vp his windes in hold The siluer mantled morning fresh appeared With roses crown'd and buskind high with gold The spirits yet which had these tempests reared Their malice would still more and more vnfold And one of them that Astragor was named His speeches thus to foule Alecto framed 2 Alecto see we could not stop nor stay The knight that to our foes new tidings brings Who from the hands escapt with life away Of that great Prince chiefe of all Pagan kings He comes the fall of his slaine Lord to say Of death and losse he tels and such sad things Great newes he brings and greatest danger is Bertoldoes sonne shall be call'd home for this 3 Thou know'st what would befall bestir thee than Preuent with craft what force could not withstand Turne to their euill the speeches of the man With his owne weapon wound Godfredoes hand Kindle debate infect with poyson wan The English Switzer and Italian band Great tumults moue make braules and quarrels rife Set all the campe on vprore and at strife 4 This act beseemes thee well and of the deed Much maist thou boast before our Lord and king Thus said the sprite perswasion small did need The monster grants to vndertake the thing Meane-while the knight whose comming thus they dreed Before the campe his wearie lims doth bring And well nie breathlesse warriors bold he cride Who shall conduct me to your famous guide 5 An hundreth stroue the strangers guide to bee To harken newes the knights by heapes assemble The man fell lowly downe vpon his knee And kist the hand that made proud Babel tremble Right puissant Lord whose valiant actes quoth hee The sands and starres in number best resemble Would God some gladder newes I might vnfold And there he paws'd and sigh'd then thus he told 6 Sweno the king of Denmarks only haire The stay and staffe of his declining eild Longed to be among these squadrons faire Who for Christes faith here serue with speare and sheild No wearinesse no stormes of sea or aire No such contents as crownes and scepters yeild No deere entreaties of so kinde a sire Could in his bosome quench that glorious fire 7 He thirsted sore to learne this warlike art Of thee great Lord and master of the same And was ashamed in his noble hart That neuer act he did deserued fame Besides the newes and tidings from each part Of yong Rinaldoes worth and praises came But that which most his courage stirred haith Is zeale religion godlinesse and faith 8 He hasted forward than without delay And with him tooke of knights a chosen band Directly toward Thrace we tooke the way To Bizance old chiefe fortresse of that land There the Greeke monarch gently praid him stay And there an herald sent from you we fand How Antioch was wonne who first
that deare Lord who helpes his seruants trust Who ere they aske grants all things to the iust 28 This said each one his sacred blessing flings Vpon my coarse with broad out stretched hand And mumbled hymnes and psalmes and holy things Which I could neither heare nor vnderstand Arise quoth they with that as I had wings All whole and sound I leapt vp from the land O miracle sweet gentle strange and trew My lims new strength receiu'd and vigour new 29 I gazde on them like one whose hart denai'th To thinke that donne he sees so strangely wrought Till one said thus O thou of little faith What doubts perplex thy vnbeleeuing thought Each one of vs aliuing bodie haith We are Christes chosen seruants feare vs nought Who to auoid the worlds allurements vaine In wilfull penance hermits poore remaine 30 Vs messengers to comfort thee elect That Lord hath sent that rules both heau'n and hell Who often doth his blessed will effect By such weake meanes as wonder is to tell He will not that this body lie neglect Wherein so noble soule did lately dwell To which againe when it vprisen is It shall vnited be in lasting blis 31 I say Lord Swenoes corpes for which prepar'd A tombe there is according to his worth By which his honour shall be far declar'd And his iust praises spred from south to north But lift thine eies vp to the heauens ward Marke yonder light that like the sunne shines forth That shall direct thee with those beames so cleare To finde the bodie of thy maister deare 32 With that I saw from Cinthias siluer face Like to a falling star a beame downe slide That bright as golden line markt out the place And lightned with cleere streames the forrest wide So Latmos shone when Phebe left the chace And laid her downe by her Endimions side Such was the light that well discerne I could His shape his wounds his face though dead yet bould 33 He lay not groueling now but as a knight That euer had to heauenly things desire So towards heau'n the Prince lay bolt vpright Like him that vpward still sought to aspire His right hand closed held his weapon bright Readie to strike and execute his ire His left vpon his brest was humbly laid That men might know that while he dide he praid 34 Whil'st on his wounds with bootlesse teares I wept That neither helped him nor eas'd my care One of those aged fathers to him stept And forst his hand that needlesse weapon spare This sword quoth he hath yet good token kept That of the Pagans blood he drunke his share And blusheth still he could not saue his Lord Rich strong and sharpe was neuer better sword 35 Heau'n therefore will not though the Prince be slaine Who vsed earst to weild this pretious brand That so braue blade vnused should remaine But that it passe from strong to stronger hand Who with like force can weild the same againe And longer shall in grace of fortune stand And with the same shall bitter vengeance take On him that Sweno slew for Swenoes sake 36 Great Soliman kill'd Sweno Soliman For Swenoes sake vpon this sword must die Here take the blade and with it haste thee than Thither where Godfrey doth encamped lie And feare not thou that any shall or can Or stop thy way or lead thy steps awrie For he that doth thee on this message send Thee with his hand shall guide keepe and defend 37 Arriued there it is his blessed will With true report that thou declare and tell The zeale the strength the courage and the skill In thy beloued Lord that late did dwell How for Christes sake he came his blood to spill And sample left to all of doing well That future ages may admire his deed And courage take when his braue end they reed 38 It resteth now thou know that gentle knight That of this sword shall be thy masters haire It is Rinaldo yong with whom in might And martiall skill no champion may compaire Giue it to him and say the heauens bright Of this reuenge to him commit the caire While thus I list'ned what this old man said A wonder new from further speech vs staid 39 For there whereas the wounded body lay A stately tombe with curious worke behold And wond'rous art was built out of the clay Which rising round the carkas did enfold With words engrauen in the marble gray The warriours name his worth and praise that told On which I gazing stood and often read That epitaph of my deere master dead 40 Among his soldiers quoth the hermit heare Must Swenoes corpes remaine in marble chest While vp to heau'n are flowne their spirits deare To liue in endlesse ioy for euer blest His funerall thou hast with many a teare Accompaned it s now high time to rest Come be my guest vntill the morning ray Shall light the world againe then take thy way 41 This said he led me ouer holts and hags Through thornes and bushes scant my legs I drew Till vnderneath an heape of stones and crags At last he brought me to a secret mew Among the beares wilde boares the wolues and stags There dwelt he safe with his disciple trew And fear'd no treason force nor hurt at all His guiltlesse conscience was his castels wall 42 My supper rootes my bed was mosse and leaues But wearinesse in little rest found ease But when the purple morning night bereaues Of late vsurped rule on lands and seas His loathed couch each wakefull hermite leaues To pray rose they and I for so they please I congee tooke when ended was the same And hitherward as they aduis'd me came 43 The Dane his wofull tale had done when thus The good Prince Godfrey answer'd him sir knight Thou bringest tidings sad and dolorous For which our heauie campe laments of right Since so braue troopes and so deere friends to vs One howre hath spent in one vnluckie fight And so appeared hath thy maister stout As lightning doth now kindled now quencht out 44 But such a death and end exceedeth all The conquests vaine of realmes or spoiles of gold Nor aged Romes proud stately capitall Did euer triumph yet like theirs behold They sit in heau'n on thrones celestiall Crowned with glorie for their conquest bold Where each his hurtes I thinke to other showes And glorie in those bloodie wounds and blowes 45 But thou who hast part of thy race to ronne With haps and hazards of this world itost Reioice for those high honours they haue wonne Which cannot be by chance or fortune crost But for thou askest for Bertoldoes sonne Know that he wandreth banisht from this host And till of him new tidings some man tell Within this campe I deeme it best thou dwell 46 These words of theirs in many a soule renewed The sweet remembrance of faire Sophias childe Some with salt teares for him their cheekes bedewed Least euill betide him mongst the Pagans wilde And euery
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
of comfort to his hart downe went And that darke night of sorrow somewhat cleared Yet now and then his griefe deepe sighes foorth sent His voice shrill plaints and sad laments oft reared Now to himselfe now to his murdred loue He spoke who heard perchance from heau'n aboue 90 Till Phoebus rising from his euening fall To her for her he mournes he cals he cries The nightingall so when her children small Some churle takes before their parents eies Alone dismaid quite bare of comforts all Tires with complaints the seas the shores the skies Till in sweete sleepe against the morning bright She fall at last so mourn'd so slept the knight 91 And clad in starrie vale amid his dreame For whose sweete sake he mourn'd appeard the maid Fairer than earst yet with that heau'nly beame Not out of knowledge was her louely shaid With lookes of ruth her eies celestiall seame To pitie his sad plight and thus she said Behold how faire how glad thy loue appeares And for my sake my deare forbeare these teares 92 Thine be the thankes my soule thou madest flit At vnawares out of her earthly nest Thine be the thankes thou hast aduanced it In Abrahams deare bosome long to rest There still I loue thee there for Tancred fit A seat prepared is among the blest There in eternall ioy eternall light Thou shalt thy loue enioy and she her knight 93 Vnlesse thy selfe thy selfe heau'ns ioies enuie And thy vaine sorrow thee of blisse depriue Liue know I loue thee that I nill denie As angels men as saints may wights on liue This said of zeale and loue foorth of her eie An hundreth glorious beames bright shining driue Amid which raies her selfe she clos'd from sight And with new ioy new comfort left her knight 94 Thus comforted he wakt and men discreet In surgerie to cure his wounds were sought Meane-while of his deare loue the reliques sweet As best he could to graue with pompe he brought Her tombe was not of viride Spartane greet Nor yet by cunning hand of Scopas wrought But built of polisht stone and thereon laid The liuely shape and purtrait of the maid 95 With sacred burning lamps in order long And mournfull pompe the corps were brought to ground Her armes vpon a leauelesse pine were hong The herse with cypresse armes with lawrell crown'd Next day the Prince whose loue and courage strong Drew foorth his limmes weake feeble and vnsound To visite went with care and reu'rence meet The buried ashes of his mistresse sweet 96 Before her new made tombe at last arriued The wofull prison of his liuing spright Pale cold sad comfortlesse of sense depriued Vpon the marble gray he fixt his sight Two streames of teares were from his eies deriued Thus with a sad alas began the knight Oh marble deare on my deare mistresse plast My flames within without my teares thou hast 97 Not of dead bones art thou the mournfull graue But of quicke loue the fortresse and the hold Still in my hart thy woonted brands I haue More bitter farre alas but not more cold Receaue these sighes these kisses sweete recaue In liquid drops of melting teares enrold And giue them to that bodie pure and chast Which in thy bosome cold entombd thou hast 98 For if her happie soule her eie doth bend On that sweet body which it lately drest My loue thy pittie cannot her offend Anger and wrath is not in angels blest She pardon will the trespasse of her frend That hope relieues me with these griefes opprest This hand she knowes hath onely sinn'd not I Who liuing lou'd her and for loue now die 99 And louing will I die O happie day When ere it chanceth but O farre more blest If as about thy polisht sides I stray My bones within thy hollow graue might rest Togither should in heau'n our spirits stay Togither should our bodies lie in chest So happie death should ioyne what life doth seuer O death O life sweete both both blessed euer 100 Meanewhile the newes in that besieged towne Of this mishap was whispred here and there Foorthwith it spred and for too true was knowne Her wofull losse was talked euery where Mingled with cries and plaints to heau'n vp throwne As if the cities selfe new taken were With conqu'ring foes or as if flame and fire Nor house nor church nor streete had left intire 101 But all mens eies were on Arsetes bent His sighes were deepe his lookes full of despaire Out of his wofull eies no teare there went His hart was hardned with his too much care His siluer locks with dust he foule besprent He knockt his breast his face he rent and tare And while the prease flockt to the Eunuch ould Thus to the people spake Argantes bould 102 I would when first I knew the hardie maid Excluded was among her Christian foes Haue follow'd her to giue her timely aid Or by her side this breath and life to lose What did I not or what left I vnsaid To make the king the gates againe vnclose But he denide his powre did are restraine My will my suit was waste my speech was vaine 103 Ah had I gone I would from danger free Haue brought to Sion that sweete nymph againe Or in the bloudie fight where kild was shee In her defence there noblie haue beene slaine But what could I do more the counsels bee Of God and man gainst my designments plaine Dead is Clorinda faire laid in colde graue Let me reuenge her whom I could not saue 104 Hierusalem heare what Argantes saith Heare heau'n and if he breake his oath and word Vpon this head cast thunder in thy wrath I will destroy and kill that Christian Lord Who this faire dame by night thus murdred hath Nor from my side I will vngird this sword Till Tancreds hart it cleaue and shed his blood And leaue his corse to wolues and crowes for food 105 This said the people with a ioyfull shoute Applaud his speeches and his words approue And calm'd their griefe in hope the boaster stoute Would kill the Prince who late had slaine his loue O promise vaine it otherwise fell out Men purpose but high Gods dispose aboue For vnderneath his sword this boaster dide Whom thus he scorn'd and threat'ned in his pride The thirteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument Ismeno sets to garde the forrest ould The wicked sprites whose ougly shapes affray And put to flight the men whose labour would To their darke shades let in heau'ns golden ray Thither goes Tancred hardie faithfull bould But foolish pitie lets him not assay His strength and courage heat the Christian powre Annoies whom to refresh Gods sends a showre 1 BVt scant dissolued into ashes cold The smoking towre fell on the scorched grasse When new deuise found out th' enchanter old By which the towne besieg'd secured was Of timber fit his foes depriue he wold Such terrour bred that late consumed masse So that the strength of Sions
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
she till Egypts lord In aide of Sions king his host shall moue Then will I vse all helps that charmes afford And change my shape or sexe if so behoue Well can I handle bowe or launce or sword The worthies all will aide me for my loue I seeke reuenge and to obtaine the same Farewell regard of honour farewell shame 73 Nor let mine vncle and protector me Reproue for this he most deserues the blame My hart and sex that weake and tender be He bent to deedes that maidens euill became His neece a wandring damsell first made he He spurr'd my youth and I cast off my shame His be the fault if ought gainst mine estate I did for loue or shall commit for hate 74 This said her knights her ladies pages squires She all assembleth and for iourney fit In such faire armes and vestures them attires As shew'd her wealth and well declar'd her wit And forward marched full of strange desires Nor rested she by day or night one whit Till she came there where all the eastren bands Their kings and princes lay on Gazaes sands The seuenteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument Egypts great host in battaile ray forth brought The Caliph sends with Godfreyes powre to fight Armida who Rinaldoes ruine sought To them adioynes her selfe and Sirias might To satisfie her cruell will and thought She giues her selfe to him that kils her knight He takes his fatall armes and in his sheild His ancestors and their great deedes beheild 1 GAza the citie on the frontire stands Of Iudaes realme as men to Egypt ride Built neare the sea beside it of drie sands Huge wildernesses lie and desarts wide Which the strong windes lift from the parched lands And tosse like roring waues in roughest tide That from those stormes poore passengers almost No refuge finde but there are down'd and lost 2 Within this towne wonne from the Turkes of yore Strong garrison the king of Egypt plast And for it neerer was and fitted more That high emprise to which his thoughts he cast He left great Memphis and to Gaza bore His regall throne and there from countries vast Of his huge Empire all the puissant hoast Assembled he and mustred on the coast 3 Come say my muse what manner times these weare And in those times how stood the state of things What powre this monarch had what armes they beare What nations subiect and what friends he brings For from all landes the Southren Ocean neare Or morning starre came Princes Dukes and Kings And onely thou of halfe the world welnie The armies Lords and Captaines canst descrie 4 When Egypt from the Greekish Emperour Rebelled first and Christes true faith denide Of Mahomets descent a warriour There set his throne and rulde that kingdome wide Caliph he hight and Caliphes since that houre Are his successors named all beside So Nilus old his kings long time had seene That Ptolemies and Pharoes call'd had beene 5 Establisht was that kingdome in short while And grew so great that ouer Asias landes And Libias Realmes it stretched many a mile From Syrias coastes as far as Cirene sandes And Southward passed gainst the course of Nile Through the hot clime where burnt Siene standes Hence bounded in with sandie desartes wast And thence with Euphrates ritch flood embrast 6 Maremma Myrrhe and spices that doth bring And all the ritch red sea it comprehends And to those landes toward the morning spring That lie beyond that gulph it farre extends Great is that Empire greater by the king That rules it now whose worth the land amends And makes more famous Lord thereof by blood By wisedome valour and all vertues good 7 With Turkes and Persians war he oft did wage And oft he wonne and sometime lost the feild Nor could his aduerse fortune ought asswage His valours heat or make his proud hart yeild But when he grew vnfit for war through age He sheath'd his sword and laid aside his sheild But yet his warlike minde he laid not downe Nor his great thirst of rule praise and renowne 8 But by his knights still cruell wars maintain'd So wise his words so quicke his wit appeares That of the kingdome large ore which he rain'd The charge seem'd not too weightie for his yeares His greatnes Africks lesser kings constrain'd To tremble at his name all Inde him feares And other realmes that would his friendship hold Some armed soldiers sent some gifts some gold 9 This mightie Prince assembled had the flowre Of all his realmes against the French men stout To breake their rising empire and their powre Nor of sure conquest had he feare or dout To him Armida came eu'n at the howre When in the plaines old Gazaes walles without The Lords and leaders all their armies bring In battaile ray mustred before their king 10 He on his throne was set to which on hight Who clombe an hundred iuorie staires first told Vnder a pentise wrought of siluer bright And troade on carpets made of silke and gold His robes were such as best beseemen might A king so great so graue so rich so old And twin'd of sixtie elles of lawne and more A Turbant strange adorn'd his tresses hore 11 His right hand did his pretious scepter weild His beard was gray his lookes seuere and graue And from his eies not yet made dim with eild Sparkled his former worth and vigor braue His gestures all the maiestie vpheild And state as his old age and empire craue So Phidias caru'd Apelles so pardie Earst painted Ioue Ioue thundring downe from skie 12 On either side him stood a noble lord Whereof the first held in his vpright hand Of seuere iustice the vnpartiall sword The other bore the seale and causes scand Keeping his folke in peace and good accord And termed was Lord Chancelour of the land But Marshall was the first and vs'd to leed His armies foorth to warre oft with good speed 13 Of bould Circassians with their halberds long About his throne his guard stood in a ring All richly armd in guilden corslets strong And by their sides their crooked swords downe hing Thus set thus seated his graue lords among His hoasts and armies great beheld the king And euery band as by his throne it went Their ensigâ— low enclind and armes downe bent 14 Their squadrâ—â— first the men of Egypt show In fowre â—ooâ—es and each his feu'rall guide Of the hie â—â—â—ntrie two two of the low Which Nile had wonne out of the salt sea side Hiâ— fertill slime first stopt the waters flow Then hardned to firme land the plough to bide So Egypt still encreast within farre plast That part is now where ships earst anchor cast 15 The formost band the people were that dwell'd In Alexandrias rich and fertile plaine Along the westren shore whence Nile expell'd The greedie billowes of the swelling maine Araspes was their guide who more excell'd In wit and craft than strength or warlike paine To place an
Odoacer then he fought but wrong Oft spoileth right fortune treads courage downe For there he dide for his deere countries sake And of his fathers praise did so partake 72 With him dide Alphorisio Azzo was With his deere brother into exile sent But homewards they in armes againe repas The Herule king opprest from banishment His front through pierced with a dart alas Next them of Est th'Epaminondas went That smiling seemd to cruell death to yeild When Totila was fled and safe his sheild 73 Of Boniface I speake Valerian His sonne in praise and powre succeeded him Who durst sustaine in yeeres though scant a man Of the proud Gothes an hundreth squadrons trim Then he that gainst the Sclaues much honour wan Ernesto threatning stood with visage grim Before him Aldoard the Lombard stout Who from Monscelces bouldly earst shut out 74 There Henrie was and Berengare the bould That seru'd great Charles in his conquests hie Who in each battle giue the onset would A hardie souldiour and a captaine slie After prince Lewes did he well vphould Against his nephew king of Italie He wonne the fielde and tooke that king on liue Next him stood Otho with his children fiue 75 Of Almerike the image next they vew Lord Marques of Ferrara first create Founder of many churches that vpthrew His eies like one that vs'd to contemplate Gainst him the second Azzo stood in rew With Berengarious that did long debate Till after often change of fortunes stroake He wonne and on all Itaile laid the yoake 76 Albert his sonne the Germaines warde among And there his praise and fame was spred so wide That hauing foil'd the Danes in battaile strong His daughter yoong became great Othoes bride Behinde him Hugo stood with warfare long That broake the horne of all the Romaines pride Who of all Italy the Marques hight And Tuscane whole possessed as his right 77 After Tedaldo puissant Boniface And Beatrice his deere possest the stage Nor was there left heire male of that great race T' enioy the scepter state and heritage The Princesse Maude alone supplide the place Supplide the want in number sexe and age For far aboue each scepter throne and crowne The noble Dame aduanst her vaile and gowne 78 With manlike vigor shone her noble looke And more than manlike wrath her face orespred There the fell Normans Guichard there forsooke The field till than who neuer fear'd nor fled Henrie the fourth she beat and from him tooke His standard and in church it offered Which donne the Pope backe to the Vaticane She brought and plast in Peters chaire againe 79 As he that honour'd her and held her deare Azzo the fifth stood by her louely side But the fourth Azzos ofspring far and neare Spred forth and through Germania fructifide Sprong from that branch did Guelpho bold appeare Guelpho his sonne by Cunigond his bride And in Bauarias field transplanted new This Romane grift florisht encreast and grew 80 A branch of Est there in the Guelfian tree Engraffed was which of it selfe was old Whereon you might the Guelfoes fairer see Renew their scepters and their crownes of gold On which heau'ns good aspectes so bended bee That high and broad it spred and florisht bold Till vnderneath his glorious branches lade Halfe Germanie and all vnder his shade 81 This regall plant from his Italian rout Sprong vp as hie and blossom'd faire aboue For nenst Lord Guelpho Bertold issued out With the sixt Azzo whom all vertues loue This was the pedegree of worthies stout Who seem'd in that bright shield to liue and moue Rinaldo waked vp and chear'd his face To see these worthies of his house and race 82 To doe like actes his courage wisht and sought And with that wish transported him so farre That all those deedes which filled aie his thought Townes wonne fortes taken armies kild in warre As if they were things donne indeed and wrought Before his eies he thinks they present arre He hastly armes him and with hope and hast Sure conquest met preuented and imbrast 83 But Charles who had told the death and fall Of the yong Prince of Danes his late deere Lord Gaue him the fatall weapon and withall Yong knight quoth he take with good lucke this sword Your iust strong valiant hand in battaile shall Employ it long for Christes true faith and word And of his former Lord reuenge the wrongs Who lou'd you so that deed to you belongs 84 He answered God for his mercie sake Grant that this hand which holds this weapon good For thy deere maister may sharpe veng'ance take May cleaue the Pagans hart and shed his blood To this but short replie did Charles make And thankt him much nor more on termes they stood For loe the wisard sage that was their guide On their darke iourney hastes them forth to ride 85 High time it is quoth he for you to wend Where Godfrey you awaits and many a knight There may we well arriue ere night doth end And through this darknesse can I guide you right This said vp to his coach they all ascend On his swift wheeles forth roll'd the chariot light He gaue his coursers flit the rod and raine And gallopt forth and eastward droue amaine 86 While silent so through nights darke shade they flie The Hermit thus bespake the yong man stout Of thy great house thy race thine ofspring hie Here hast thou seene the branch the bole the rout And as these worthies borne to chiualrie And deedes of armes it hath tofore brought out So is it so it shall be fertile still Nor time shall end nor age that seed shall kill 87 Would God as drawne from the forgetfull lap Of antique time I haue thine elders showne That so I could the Catalogue vnwrap Of thy great nephewes yet vnborne vnknowne That ere this light they vew their fate and hap I might foretell and how their chance is throwne That like thine elders so thou mightst behold Thy children many famous stout and bold 88 But not by art or skill of things future Can the plaine troath reuealed be and told Although some knowledge doubtfull darke obscure We haue of comming haps in cloudes vprold Nor all which in this cause I know for sure Dare I foretell for of that father old The hermit Peter learn'd I much and hee Withouten vaile heau'ns secrets great doth see 89 But this to him reueal'd by grace diuine By him to me declar'd to thee I say Was neuer race Greeke Barb'rous or Latine Great in times past or famous at this day Richer in hardie knights than this of thine Such blessings heau'n shall on thy children lay That they in fame shall passe in praise orecome The worthies old of Sparta Carthage Rome 90 But mongst the rest I chose Alphonsus bould In vertue first second in place and name He shall be borne when this fraile world growes ould Corrupted poore and bare of men of fame Better than he none shall none
can or could The sword or scepter vse or guide the same To rule in peace or to command in fight Thine ofsprings glorie and thy houses light 91 His yonger age foretokens true shall yeild Of future valour puissance force and might From him no rocke the sauage beast shall sheild At tilt or turnay match him shall no knight After he conquer shall in pitched feild Great armies and win spoiles in single fight And on his locks rewards for knightly praise Shall garlands weare of grasse of oke of baies 92 His grauer age as well that eild it fits Shall happie peace preserue and quiet blest And from his neighbours strong mongst whom he sits Shall keepe his cities safe in wealth and rest Shall nourish artes and cherish pregnant wits Make triumphes great and feast his subiects best Reward the good the euill with paines torment Shall dangers all foresee and seene preuent 93 But if it hap against those wicked bands That sea and earth infest with blood and warre And in these wretched times to noble lands Giue lawes of peace false and vniust that arre That he be sent to driue their guiltie hands From Christes pure altars and high temples farre O what reuenge what veng'ance shall he bring On that false sect and their accursed king 94 Too late the Moores too late the Turkish king Gainst him should arme their troupes and legions bold For he beyond great Euphrates should bring Beyond the frosen tops of Taurus cold Beyond the land where is perpetuall spring The crosse the Eagle white the lillie of gold And by baptising of the Ethiops browne Of aged Nile reueale the springs vnknowne 95 Thus said the hermit and his prophesie The Prince accepted with content and pleasure The secret thought of his posteritie Of his concealed ioyes heapt vp the measure Meane-while the morning bright was mounted hie And chang'd heau'ns siluer wealth to golden treasure And high aboue the Christian tents they vew How the broad ensignes trembled wau'd and blew 96 When thus againe their leader sage begonne See how bright Phebus cleeres the darksome skies See how with gentle beames the friendly sonne The tents the townes the hils and dales descries Through my well guiding is your voiage donne From danger safe in trauaile oft which lies Hence without feare of harme or doubt of foe March to the campe I may no neerer goe 97 Thus tooke he leaue and made a quicke returne And forward went the champions three on fout And marching right against the rising morne A readie passage to the campe found out Meane-while had speedie fame the tidings borne That to the tents approacht these Barons stout And starting from his throne and kingly seat To entertaine them rose Godfredo great The eighteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument The charmes and spirits false therein which lie Rinaldo chaseth from the forrest old The host of Egypt comes Vafrine the spie Entreth their campe stout craftie wise and bold Sharpe is the fight about the bulwarks hie And ports of Zion to assault the hold Godfrey hath aide from heau'n by force the towne Is wonne the Pagans slaine walles beaten downe 1 ARriu'd where Godfrey to imbrace him stood My soueraigne Lord Rinaldo meekely said To venge my wrongs against Gernando prood My honours care prouokt my wrath vnstaid But that I you displeasd my chieftaine good My thoughts yet grieue my hart is still dismai'd And here I come prest all exploits to trie To make me gracious in your gracious eie 2 To him that kneel'd folding his friendly armes About his necke the Duke this answere gaue Let passe such speeches sad of passed harmes Remembrance is the life of griefe his graue Forgetfulnes and for amends in armes Your wonted valour vse and courage braue For you alone to happie end must bring The strong enchantments of the charmed spring 3 That aged wood whence heretofore we got To build our scaling engins timber fit Is now the fearfull seat but how none wot Where ougly feends and damned spirits sit To cut one twist thereof aduentreth not The boldest knight we haue nor without it This wall can battred be where others dout There venter thou and show thy courage stout 4 Thus said he and the knight in speeches few Profred his seruice to attempt the thing To hard assaies his courage willing flew To him praise was no spur words were no sting Of his deare friends then he embrast the crew To welcome him which came for in a ring About him Guelfo Tancred and the rest Stood of the campe the greatest chiefe and best 5 When with the Prince these Lords had iterate Their welcomes oft and oft their deare embrace Towards the rest of lesser woorth and state He turn'd and them receiu'd with gentle grace The merrie souldiours bout him shout and prate With cries as ioyfull and as cheerefull face As if in triumphes chariot bright as sunne He had return'd Affricke or Asia wonne 6 Thus marched to his tent the champion good And there sate downe with all his friends around Now of the warre he askt now of the wood And answer'd each demaund they list propound But when they left him to his ease vpstood The Hermit and fit time to speake once found My Lord he said your trauels woondrous arre Farre haue you straied erred wandred farre 7 Mutch are you bound to God aboue who brought You safe from false Armidas charmed hold And thâ—e a straying sheepe whom once he bought Hath now againe reduced to his fold And against his heathen foes these men of nought Hath chosen thee in place next Godfrey bold Yet mai'st thou not polluted thus with sinne In his high seruice warre or fight beginne 8 The world the flesh with their infection vile Pollute the thoughts impure thy spirit staine Not Poe not Ganges not seu'n mouthed Nile Not the wide seas can wash thee cleane againe Onely to purge all faults which thee defile His blood hath powre who for thy sinnes was slaine His helpe therefore inuoake to him bewray Thy secret faultes mourne weepe complaine and pray 9 This said the knight first with the Witch vnchast His idle loues and follies vaine lamented Then kneeling low with heauie lookes downe cast His other sinnes confest and all repented And meekely pardon crau'd for first and last The Hermit with his zeale was well contented And said on yonder hill next morne goe pray That turnes his forehead gainst the morning ray 10 That done march to the wood whence each one brings Such newes of furies gobblings feends and sprites The Giants monsters and all dreedfull things Thou shalt subdue which that darke groue vnites Let no strange voice that mournes or sweetly sings Nor beautie whose glad smile fraile harts delites Within thy breast make ruth or pitie rise But their false lookes and praiers false despise 11 Thus he aduis'd him and the hardie knight Prepar'd him gladly to this enterprise Thoughtfull he past the day and sad the
foes droue backe with his sharpe blade That sure and safe he lay as in a shade 87 Thus sau'd thus shielded Raimond gan respire He rose and reard himselfe in little space And in his bosome burnt the double fire Of vengeance wrath his hart shame fill'd his face He lookt around to spie such was his ire The man whose stroake had laid him in that place Whom when he sees not for disdaine he quakes And on his people sharpe reuengement takes 88 The Gascoines turne againe their Lord in haste To venge their losse his band recordred brings The troupe that durst so much now stood agast For where sad feare grew late now boldnes springs Now follow'd they that fled fled they that chast So in one howre altreth the state of things Raimond requites his losse shame hurt and all And with an hundreth deathes reueng'd one fall 89 Whil'st Raimond wreaked thus his iust disdaine On the proud heads of captaines Lords and peares He spies great Sions king amid the traine And to him leapes and high his sword he reares And on his forehead strikes and strikes againe Till helme and head he breakes he cleaues he teares Downe fell the king the guiltlesse land he bit That now keepes him bicause he kept not it 90 Their guides one murdred thus the other gone The troupes diuided were in diuers thought Despaire made some ronne headlong gainst their fone To seeke sharpe death that comes vncall'd vnsought And some that laid their hope on flight alone Fled to their fort againe yet chance so wrought That with the fliers in the victors pas And so the fortresse wonne and conquer'd was 91 The hold was wonne slaine were the men that fled In courtes halles chambers high aboue below Old Raimond fast vp to the leads him sped And there of victorie true signe and show His glorious standard to the winde he spred That so both armies his successe might know But Soliman saw not the towne was lost For far from thence he was and neere the host 92 Into the field he came the lukewarme blood Did smoke and flow through all the purple feild There of sad death the court and pallace stood There did he triumphes lead and trophies beild An armed stead fast by the Soldan yood That had no guide nor lord the raines to weild The tyrant tooke the bridle and bestroad The coursers emptie backe and foorth he road 93 Great yet but short and sodaine was the aid That to the Pagans faint and weake he brought A thunderbolt he was you would haue said Great yet that comes and goes as swift as thought And of his comming swift and flight vnstaid Eternall signes in hardest rockes hath wrought For by his hand an hundreth knights were slaine But time forgot hath all their names but twaine 94 Gildippes faire and Edward thy deare lord Your noble death sad end and woefull fate If so much powre our vulgar toong afford To all strange wits strange eares let me dilate That ages all your loue and sweete accord Your vertue prowesse worth may imitate And some kind seruant of true loue that heares May grace your death my verses with some teares 95 The noble ladie thither boldly flew Where the fierce Soldan fought and him defide Two mightie blowes she gaue the Turke vntrew One cleft his shield the other pierst his side The prince the damsell by her habite knew See see this mankind strumpet see he cride This shamelesse whore for thee fit weapons weare Thy neeld and spindle not a sword and speare 96 This said full of disdaine rage and despite A strong a fierce a deadly stroake he gaue And pierst her armour pierst her bosome white Worthie no blowes but blowes of loue to haue Her dying hand let goe the bridle quite She faints she falles twixt life and death she straue Her lord to helpe her came but came too late Yet was not that his fault it was his fate 97 What should he do to diuers parts him call Iust ire and pittie kind one bids him goe And succour his deare ladie like to fall The other cals for vengeance on his foe Loue biddeth both loue saies he must doe all And with his ire ioines griefe with pittie woe What did he then with his left hand the knight Would hould her vp reuenge her with his right 98 But to resist against a knight so bold Too weake his will and powre deuided weare So that he could not his faire loue vphold Nor kill the cruell man that slew his deare His arme that did his mistres kind enfold The Turke cut off pale grew his lookes and cheare He let her fall himselfe fell by her side And for he could not saue her with her dide 99 As the high elme whom his deare vine hath twind Fast in her hundred armes and houlds embrast Beares downe to earth his spouse and darling kind If storme or cruell steele the tree downe cast And her full grapes to nought doth bruze and grind Spoiles his owne leaues faints withers dies at last And seemes to mourne and die not for his owne But for her death with him that lies orethrowne 100 So fell he mourning mourning for the dame Who life and death had made for euer his They would haue spoke but not one word could frame Deepe sobs their speech sweete sighes their language is Each gazd on others eies and while the same Is lawfull ioine their hands embrace and kis And thus sharpe death their knot of life vntied Togither fainted they togither died 101 But now swift fame her nimble wings dispred And told each where their chance their fate their fall Rinaldo heard the case by one that fled From the fierce Turke and brought him newes of all Disdaine goodwill woe wrath the champion led To take reuenge shame griefe for vengeance call But as he went Adrastus with his blade Forestall'd the way and shew of combate made 102 The giant cride by sundrie signes I note That whom I wish I search thou thou art hee I markt each woorthies sheild his helme his cote And all this day haue call'd and cride for thee To my sweete saint I haue thy head deuote Thou must my sacrifice my offring bee Come let vs heere our strength and courage trie Thou art Armidas foe her champion I. 103 Thus he defide him on his front before And on his throat he stroke him yet the blow His helmet neither brused cleft nor tore But in his saddle made him bend and bow Rinaldo hit him on the flanke so sore That neither art nor hearbe could helpe him now Downe fell the Giant strong one blow such powre Such puissance had so falles a thundred towre 104 With horrour feare amasednesse and dreed Cold were the harts of all that saw the fray And Soliman that view'd that noble deed Trembled his palenesse did his feare bewray For in that stroake he did his ende arreed He wist not what to thinke to doe to say A thing in
blasphemous beast and dragon bring To him also that of our Sauiour good Washed the sacred front in Iordans flood 8 Him likewise they inuoke called the rocke Whereon the Lord they say his Church did reare Whose true successors close or else vnlocke The blessed gates of grace and mercie deare And all th'elected twelue the chosen flocke Of his triumphant death who witnes beare And them by torment slaughter fire and sword Who martyrs died to confirme his word 9 And them also whose bookes and writings tell What certaine path to heau'nly blisse vs leades And hermits good and ancresses that dwell Mewed vp in walles and mumble on their beades And virgin nunnes in close and priuate cell Where but shrift fathers neuer mankinde treades On these they called and on all the rout Of angels martyrs and of saints deuout 10 Singing and saying thus the campe deuout Spred forth her zealous squadrons broad and wide Towards mount Oliuet went all this rout So call'd of Oliue trees the hill which hide A mountaine knowne by fame the world throughout Which riseth on the cities eastren side From it deuided by the valley greene Of Iosaphat that fils the space betweene 11 Hither the armies went and chanted shrill That all the deepe and hollow dales resound From hollow mounts and caues in euery hill A thousand Ecchoes also sung around It seem'd some quire that sung with art and skill Dwelt in those sauage dennes and shadie ground For oft resounded from the banks they heare The name of Christ and of his mother deare 12 Vpon the walles the Pagans old and yong Stood husht and still amated and amased At their graue order and their humble song At their strange pompe and customes new they gased But when the shew they had beholden long An hideous yell the wicked miscreants rased That with vile blasphemies the mountaines hoare The woods the waters and the valleis roare 13 But yet with sacred notes the hostes proceed Though blasphemies they heare and cursed things So with Apolloes harpe Pan tunes his reed So adders hisse where Philomela sings Nor flying dartes nor stones the Christians dreed Nor arrowes shot nor quarries cast from flings But with assured faith as dreading nought The holy worke begun to end they brought 14 A table set they on the mountaines hight To minister thereon the Sacrament In golden candlesticks a hallowed light At either end of virgin waxe there brent In costly vestments sacred William dight With feare and trembling to the altar went And praier there and seruice lowd beginnes Both for his owne and all the armies sinnes 15 Humbly they heard his words that stood him nie The rest far off vpon him bent their eies But when he ended had the seruice hie You seruants of the Lord depart he cries His hands he lifted than vp to the skie And blessed all those warlike companies And they dismist return'd the way they came Their order as before their pompe the same 16 Within their campe arriu'd this voiage ended Towards his tent the Duke himselfe withdrew Vpon their guide by heapes the bands attended Till his pauilions stately doore they vew There to the Lord his welfare they commended And with him left the worthies of the crew Whom at a costly and rich feast he placed And with the highest roome old Raimond graced 17 Now when the hungrie knights sufficed ar With meat with drinke with spices of the best Quoth he when next you see the morning star Tassault the towne be ready all and prest Tomorrow is a day of paines and war This of repose of quiet peace and rest Goe take your ease this euening and this night And make you strong against tomorrowes fight 18 They tooke their leaue and Godfreys haralds road To intimate his will on euery side And publisht it through all the lodgings broad That gainst the morne each should himselfe prouide Meane-while they might their harts of cares vnload And rest their tired limmes that euening tide Thus fared they till night their eies did close Night frend to gentle rest and sweet repose 19 With little signe as yet of springing day Out peept not well appear'd the rising morne The plough yet tore not vp the fertile lay Nor to their feed the sheepe from folds retorne The birds sate silent on the greene wood spray Amid the groues vnheard was hound and horne When trumpets shrill true signes of hardie fights Call'd vp to armes the soldiers call'd the knights 20 Arme arme at once an hundreth squadrons cride And with their crie to arme them all begin Godfrey arose that day he laid aside His hawberke strong he wontes to combat in And dond a brestplate faire of proofe vntride Such one as footmen vse light easie thin Scantly their Lord thus clothed had his gromes When aged Raimond to his presence comes 21 And furnisht thus when he the man beheild By his attire his secret thought he guest Where is quoth he your sure and trustie sheild Your helme your hawberke strong where all the rest Why be you halfe disarm'd why to the feild Approch you in these weake defences drest I see this day you meane a course to ronne Wherein may perill much small praise be wonne 22 Alas doe you that idle praise expect To set first foot this conquered wall aboue Of lesse account some knight thereto obiect Whose losse so great and harmfull cannot proue My Lord your life with greater care protect And loue your selfe bicause all vs you loue Your happie life is spirit soule and breath Of all this campe preserue it than from death 23 To this he answered thus you know he sade In Clarimont by mightie Vrbans hand When I was girded with this noble blade For Christes true faith to fight in euery land To God eu'n than a secret vow I made Not as a captaine here this day to stand And giue directions but with shield and sword To fight to winne or die for Christ my Lord. 24 When all this campe in battaile strong shall bee Ordain'd and ordred well disposed all And all things done which to the high degree And sacred place I hold belongen shall Then reason is it nor disswade thou mee That I likewise assault this sacred wall Least from my vow to God late made I swerue He shall this life defend keepe and preserue 25 Thus he concludes and euery hardie knight His sample follow'd and his brethren twaine The other Princes put on harnesse light As footemen vse but all the Pagan traine Towards that side bent their defensiue might That lies expos'd to vew of Charles waine And Zephirus sweet blastes for on that part The towne was weakest both by scite and art 26 On all parts else the fort was strong by scite With mighty hils defenst from forraine rage And to this part the tyrant gan vnite His subiects borne and bands that serue for wage From this exploit he spar'd nor great nor lite The aged men and boyes of tender age