Shall take newe strenght newe courage at his vew The heigh built towres the eastren squadrons all Shall conquerd be shall flie shall die shall fall 15 He held his peace and Godfrey answred so O how his presence would recomfort mee You that mans hidden thoughts perceaue and kno If I say truth or if I loue him see But say what messengers shall for him go What shall their speeches what their errand bee Shall I entreat or else command the man With credit neither well performe I can 16 Th' eternall Lord the other knight replide That with so many graces hath thee blest Will that among the troupes thou hast to guide Thou honour'd be and fear'd of most and lest Then speake not thou least blemish some betide Thy sacred Empire if thou make request But when by suit thou mooued art to ruth Then yeeld forgiue and home recall the youth 17 Guelpho shall pray thee God shall him inspire To pardon this offence this fault commit By hastie wrath by rash and headstrong ire To call the knight againe yeeld thou to it And though the youth enwrapt in fond desire Farre hence in loue and loosenes idle sit Yet feare it not he shall returne with speed When most you wish him and when most you need 18 Your hermit Peter to whose sapient hart High heau'n his secrets opens tels and shewes Your messengers direct can to that part Where of the Prince they shall heare certaine newes And learne the way the manner and the art To bring him backe to these thy warlike crewes That all thy souldiours wandred and misgone Heau'n may vnite againe and ioine in one 19 But this conclusion shall my speeches end Know that his blood shall mixed be with thine Whence Barons bold and Worthies shall descend That many great exploits shall bring to fine This said he vanisht from his sleeping friend Like smoake in winde or mist in Titans shine Sleepe fled likewise and in his troubled thought With woonder pleasure ioy with maruell fought 20 The Duke lookt vp and saw the Azure skie With Argent beames of siluer morning spred And started vp for praise and vertue lie In toile and trauell sinne and shame in bed His armes he tooke his sword girt to his thie To his pauilion all his Lords them sped And there in counsell graue the Princes sit For strength by wisedome warre is rul'd by wit 21 Lord Guelpho there within whose gentle brest Heau'n had infus'd that new and sudden thought His pleasing words thus to the Duke addrest Good prince milde though vnaskt kinde vnbesought O let thy mercie grant my iust request Pardon this fault by rage not malice wrought For great offence I grant so late commit My suit too hastie is perchance vnfit 22 But since to Godfrey meeke benigne and kinde For Prince Rinaldo bold I humbly sue And that the sutors selfe is not behinde Thy greatest friends in state or friendship true I trust I shall thy grace and mercie finde Acceptable to me and all this crue Oh call him home this trespasse to amend He shall his blood in Godfreyes seruice spend 23 And if not he who els dares vndertake Of this enchanted wood to cut one tree Gainst death and danger who dares battell make With so bould face so fearlesse hart as he Beat downe these walles these gates in pieces breake Leape ore these rampires heigh thou shalt him see Restore therefore to this desirous band Their wish their hope their strength their sheild their hand 24 To me my nephew to thy selfe restore A trustie helpe when strength of hand thou needs In idlenesse let him consume no more Recall him to his noble acts and deeds Knowne be his worth as was his strength of yore Where ere thy standard broad her crosse outspreeds O let his fame and praise spread far and wide Be thou his Lord his teacher and his guide 25 Thus he entreated and the rest approue His words with friendly murmures whispred low Godfrey as though their suite his minde did moue To that whereon he neuer thought till now How can my hart quoth he if you I loue To your request and suit but bend and bow Let rigor goe that right and iustice bee Wherein you all consent and all agree 26 Rinaldo shall returne let him restraine Henceforth his headstrong wrath and hastie ire And with his hardie deedes let him take paine To correspond your hope and my desire Guelpho thou must call home the knight againe See that with speed he to these tents retire The messengers appoint as likes thy minde And teach them where they should the yongman finde 27 Vpstart the Dane that bore Prince Swenos brand I will quoth he that message vndertake I will refuse no paines by sea or land To giue the knight this sword kept for his sake This man was bold of courage strong of hand Guelpho was glad he did the proffer make Thou shalt quoth he Vbaldo shalt thou haue To goe with thee a knight stout wise and graue 28 Vbaldo in his youth had knowne and seene The fashions strange of many an vncouth land And trauell'd ouer all the Realmes betweene The Articke circle and hot Meroes strand And as a man whose wit his guide had beene Their customes vse he could toongs vnderstand For thy when spent his youthfull seasons weare Lord Guelpho entertain'd and held him deare 29 To these committed was the charge and caire To finde and bring againe the champion bold Guelpho commaunds them to the fort repaire Where Boemond doth his seat and scepter hold For publike fame said that Bertoldoes haire There liu'd there dwelt there stai'd the hermit old That knew they were misled by false report Among them came and parled in this sort 30 Sir knights quoth he if you entend to ride And follow each report fond people say You follow but a rash and trothlesse guide That leades vaine men amisse and makes them stray Neere Ascalon goe to the salt sea side Where a swift brooke fals in with hideous sway An aged sire our friend there shall you finde All what he saith that doe that keepe in minde 31 Of this great voyage which you vndertake Much by his skill and much by mine aduise Hath he foreknowne and welcome for mysake You both shall be the man is kinde and wise Instructed thus no further question make The twaine elected for this enterprise But humblie yeelded to obey his word For what the Hermit said that said the Lord. 32 They tooke their leaue and on their iourney went Their will could brooke no stay their zeale no let To Ascalon their voyage straight they bent Whose broken shores with brackish waues are wet And there they heard how gainst the cliftes besprent With bitter fome the roaring surges bet A tumbling brooke their passage stopt and staid Which late falne raine had proud and puissant maid 33 So proud that ouer all his bankes he grew And through the fieldes ran swift as shaft from
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
such terror breed To court she went their pardon would she get But on the way the courteous king she met 46 Sir king quoth she my name Clorinda hight My fame perchance hath pearst your eares ere now I come to trie my woonted power and might And will defend this land this towne and yow All hard assaies esteeme I eath and light Great actes I reach to to small things I bow To fight in field or to defend this wall Point what you list I nought refuse at all 47 To whom the king what land so far remot From Asias coastes or Phebus glistring raies O glorious virgin that recordeth not Thy fame thine honour worth renowne and praise Since on my side I haue thy succours got I need not feare in these mine aged daies For in thine aide more hope more trust I haue Than in whole armies of these soldiers braue 48 Now Godfrey staies too long he feares I weene Thy courage great keepes all our foes in awe For thee all actions far vnwoorthie beene But such as greatest danger with them drawe Be you commaundresse therefore Princesse queene Of all our forces be thy word a lawe This said the virgin gan her beauoir vale And thankt him first and thus began her tale 49 A thing vnus'd great monarch may it seeme To aske reward for seruice yet to come But so your vertuous bountie I esteeme That I presume for to entreat this grome And seelie maid from danger to redeeme Condemn'd to burne by your vnpartiall dome I not excuse but pitie much their yuth And come to you for mercie and for ruth 50 Yet giue me leaue to tell your highnes this You blame the Christians them my thoughts acquite Nor be displeas'd I say you iudge amis At euerie shot looke not to hit the white All what th'enchantour did perswade you is Against the lore of Macons sacred rite For vs commaundeth mightie Mahomet No idols in his temples pure to set 51 To him therefore this wonder done refar Giue him the praise and honour of the thing Of vs the Gods benigne so carefull ar Least customes strange into their church we bring Let Ismen with his squares and trigons war His weapons be the staffe the glasse the ring But let vs menage war with blowes like knights Our praise in armes our honour lies in fights 52 The virgin held her peace when this was said And though to pitie neuer fram'd his thought Yet for the king admir'd the noble maid His purpose was not to denie her ought I grant them life quoth he your promist aid Against these Frenchmen hath their pardon bought Nor further seeke what their offences bee Guiltlesse I quite guiltie I set them free 53 Thus were they loos'd happiest of humane kinde Olindo blessed be this act of thine True witnes of thy great and heau'nly minde Where sunne moone stars of loue faith vertue shine So foorth they went and left pale death behinde To ioy the blisse of marriage rites diuine With her he would haue dide with him content Was she to liue that would with her haue brent 54 The king as wicked thoughts are most suspitious Suppos'd too fast this tree of vertue grew O blessed Lord why should this Pharoe vicious Thus tyrannize vpon thy Hebrewes trew Who to performe his will vile and malitious Exiled these and all the faithfull crew All that were strong of body stout of minde But kept their wiues and children pledge behinde 55 A hard diuision when the harmlesse sheepe Must leaue their lambes to hungrie wolues in charge But labour's vertues watching ease her sleepe Trouble best winde that driues saluations barge The Christians fled whither they tooke no keepe Some straied wilde among the forrests large Some to Emmaus to the Christian host And conquer would againe their houses lost 56 Emmaus is a citie small that lies From Sions wals distant a little way A man that early on the morne doth rise May thither walke ere third howre of the day Oh when the Christian Lords this towne espies How merie were their harts how fresh how gay But for the sunne enclined fast to west That night there would their chieftaine take his rest 57 Their canuas castles vp they quickly reare And build a citie in an howres space When loe disguised in vnusuall geare Two Barons bold approchen gan the place Their semblance kinde and milde their gestures weare Peace in their hands and friendship in their face From Egypts king ambassadours they come Them many a squire attends and many a grome 58 The first Aletes borne in lowly shed Of parents base a rose sprong from a brier That now his branches ouer Egypt spred No plant in Pharoes garden prospred hier With pleasing tales his Lords vaine eares he fed A flatterer a pickthanke and a lier Curst be estate got with so many a crime Yet this is oft the staire by which men clime 59 Argantes called is that other knight A stranger came he late to Egypt land And there aduanced was to honours hight For he was stout of courage strong of hand Bold was his hart and restlesse was his spright Fierce sterne outragious keene as sharp'ned brand Scorner of God scant to himselfe a frend And prickt his reason on his weapons end 60 These two entreatance made they might be hard Nor was their iust petition long denide The gallants quickly made their court of gard And brought them in where sate their famous guide Whose kingly looke his princely minde declar'd Where noblesse vertue troth and valour bide A slender courtsie made Argantes bold So as one prince salute another wold 61 Aletes laid his right hand on his hart Bent downe his head and cast his eies full low And reu'rence made with courtly grace and art For all that humble lore to him was know His sober lips then did he softly part Whence of pure rhetorike whole streames out flow And thus he said while on the Christian Lords Downe fell the mildew of his sugred words 62 O only worthy whom the earth all feares High God defend thee with his heau'nly sheeld And humble so the harts of all thy peares That their stiffe necks to thy sweete yoke may yeeld These be the sheaues that honours haruest beares The seed thy valiant actes the world the feeld Egypt the headland is where heaped lies Thy fame worth iustice wisedome victories 63 These all together doth our soueraigne hide In secret storehouse of his princely thought And praies he may in long accordance bide With that great Worthie which such wonders wrought Nor that oppose against the comming tide Of profred loue for that he is not tought Your Christian faith for though of diuers kinde The louing vine about her elme is twin'd 64 Receiue therefore in that vnconquered hand The pretious handle of this cup of loue If not religion vertue be the band Twixt you to fasten friendship not to moue But for our mightie king doth vnderstand You meane your powre
tell Those idle names of his vaine pedegree Then let him say if thee he would excell What lands what realmes his tributaries bee If his forefathers in the graues that dwell Were honored like thine that liue let see Oh how dares one so meane aspire so hie Borne in that seruile countrie Italie 20 Now if he win or if he lose the day Yet is his praise and glorie hence deriued For that the world will to his credit say Loe this is he that with Gernando striued The charge some-deale thee haply honour may That noble Dudon had while here he liued But laid on him he would the office shame Let it suffice he durst desire the same 21 If when this breath from mans fraile bodie flies The soule take keepe or know the things done heare Oh! how lookes Dudon from the glorious skies What wrath what anger in his face appeare On this proud yongling while he bends his eies Marking how high he doth his feathers reare Seeing his rash attempt how soone he dare Though but a boy with his great worth compare 22 He dares not only but he striues and proues Where chastisement were fit there winnes he praise One counsels him his speech him forward moues Another foole approueth all he saies If Godfrey fauour him more than behoues Why then he wrongeth thee an hundreth waies Nor let thy state so far disgraced bee But what thou art and canst let Godfrey see 23 With such false words the kindled fire began To euerie vaine his pois'ned heat to reach It swell'd his scornefull hart and forth it ran At this proud lookes and to audacious speach All that he thought blame-worthie in the man To his disgrace that would he each-where preach He term'd him proud and vaine his worth in fight He call'd foole-hardice rashnes madnes right 24 All that in him was rare or excellent All that was good all that was princely found With such sharpe words as malice could inuent He blam'd such powre hath wicked tongue to wound The youth for euerie where those rumours went Of these reproches heard sometimes the sound Nor did for that his tongue the fault amend Vntill it brought him to his wofull end 25 The cursed feend that set his tongue at large Still bred moe fancies in his idle braine His hart with slanders new did ouercharge And soothed him still in his angrie vaine Amid the campe a place was broad and large Where one faire regiment might easly traine And there in Tilt and harmlesse Turnament Their daies of rest the youthes and gallants spent 26 There as his fortune would it should betide Amid the prease Gernando gan retire To vomit out his venome vnespide Wherewith foule enuie did his hart inspire Rinaldo heard him as he stood beside And as he could not bridle wrath and ire Thou liest cride he lowd and with that word About his head he tost his flaming sword 27 Thunder his voice and lightning seem'd his brand So fell his looke and furious was his cheare Gernando trembled for he saw at hand Pale death and neither helpe nor comfort neare Yet for the soldiers all to witnes stand He made proud signe as though he nought did feare But brauely drew his little helping blade And valiant shew of strong resistance made 28 With that a thousand blades of burnisht steele Glistred on heapes like flames of fire in sight Hundreds that knew not yet the quarell wee le Ranne thither some to gaze and some to fight The emptie aire a sound confus'd did feele Of murmurs low and outcries lowd on hight Like rolling waues and Boreas angrie blasts When roaring seas against the rocks he casts 29 But not for this the wronged warrior staid His iust displeasure and incensed ire He car'd not what the vulgar did or said To vengeance did his courage fierce aspire Among the thickest weapons way he maid His thundring sword made all on heapes retire So that of nere a thousand staid not one But prince Gernando bore the brunt alone 30 His hand too quicke to execute his wrath Performed all as pleas'd his eie and hart At head and brest oft times he strooken hath Now at the right now at the other part On euerie side thus did he harme and scath And oft beguil'd his sight with nimble art That no defence the Prince of wounds acquits Where least he thinkes or feares there most he hits 31 Nor ceased he till in Gernandos brest He sheathed once or twise his furious blade Downe fell the haplesse Prince with death opprest A double way to his weake soule was made His bloodie sword the victor wipte and drest Nor longer by the slaughtred bodie staide But sped him thence and soone appeased hath His hate his ire his rancour and his wrath 32 Call'd by the tumult Godfrey drew him neare And there beheld a sad and rufull sight The signes of death vpon his face appeare With dust and blood his locks were loathly dight Sighes and complaints on each side might he heare Made for the sudden death of that great knight Amaz'd he askt who durst and did so much For yet he knew not whom the fault would tuch 33 Arnoldo minion of the Prince thus slaine Augments the fault in telling it and saith This Prince is murdred for a quarrell vaine By yong Rinaldo in his desp'rate wraith And with that sword that should Christs law maintaine One of Christs champions bold he killed haith And this he did in such a place and howre As if he scorn'd your rule despis'd your powre 34 And further ads that he deserued death By law and law should be inuiolate That none offence could greater be vneath And yet the place the fault did aggrauate If he escapte that mischiefe would take breath And flourish bold in spite of rule and state And that Gernandos friends would venge the wrong Although to iustice that should first belong 35 And by that meanes should discord hate and strife Raise mutinies and what thereof ensu'th Lastly he prais'd the dead and still had rife All words he thought could veng'ance moue or ruth Against him Taucred argued for life With honest reasons to excuse the yuth The Duke heard all but with such sober cheare As banisht hope and still encreased feare 36 Graue Prince quoth Tancred set before thine eies Rinaldos worth and courage what it is How much our hope of conquest in him lies Regard that princely house and race of his He that correcteth euerie fault he spies And iudgeth all alike doth all amis For faultes you know are greater thought or lesse As is the persons selfe that doth transgresse 37 Godfredo answer'd him if high and low Of soueraigne powre alike should feele the stroke Than Tancred ill you counsell vs I trow If Lords should know no law as earst you spoke How vile and base our empire were you know If none but slaues and peasants beare the yoke Weake is the scepter and the powre is small That such prouisoes brings
annext withall 38 But mine was freely giuen ere it was sought Nor that it lesned be I now consent Right well know I both when and where I ought To giue condigne reward and punishment Since you are all in like subiection brought Both high and low obey and be content This heard Tancredie wisely staid his words Such weight the sayings haue of kings and Lords 39 Old Raymond prais'd his speech for old men thinke They euer wisest seeme when most seuere T is best quoth he to make these great ones shrinke The people loue him whom the nobles feare There must the rule to all disorders sinke Where pardons more than punishment appeare For feeble is each kingdome fraile and weake Vnlesse his basis be this feare I speake 40 These words Tancredie heard and pondred well And by them wist how Godfreys thoughts were bent Nor list he longer with these old men dwell But turn'd his horse and to Rinaldo went Who when his noble foe death wounded fell Withdrew him softly to his gorgeous tent There Tancred found him and at large declar'd The words and speeches sharpe which late you hard 41 And said although I wot the outward show Is not true witnes of the secret thought For that some men so subtill are I trow That what they purpose most appeereth nought Yet dare I say Godfredo meanes I know Such knowledge hath his lookes and speeches wrought You shall first prisner be and then be tride As he shall deeme it good and law prouide 42 With that a bitter smile well might you see Ridaldo cast with scorne and hie disdaine Let them in fetters plead their cause quoth hee That are base peasants borne of seruile straine I was free borne I liue and will die free Before these feet be fettred in a chaine These hands were made to shake sharp spears swords Not to be tide in giues and twisted cords 43 If my good seruice reape this recompence To be clapt vp in close and secret mew And as a theefe be after dragd from thence To suffer punishment as law findes dew Let Godfrey come or send I will not hence Vntill we know who shall this bargaine rew That of our tragedie the late done fact May be the first and this the second act 44 Giue me mine armes he cride his squire them brings And clad his head and brest in iron strong About his necke his siluer shield he flings Downe by his side a cutting sword there hong Among this earthes braue Lords and mightie kings Was none so stout so fierce so faire so yong God Mars he seem'd descending from his spheare Or one whose lookes could make great Mars to feare 45 Tancredie labour'd with some pleasing speach His spirits fierce and courage to appease Yong Prince thy valour thus he gan to preach Can chastise all that doe thee wrong at ease I know your vertue can your enmies teach That you can venge you when and where you please But God forbid this day you lift your arme To doe this campe and vs your friends such harme 46 Tell me what will you doe why would you staine Your noble hands in our vnguiltie blood By wounding Christians will you againe Pearse Christ whose parts they are and members good Will you destroy vs for your glorie vaine Vnstaid as rolling waues in Ocean flood Far be it from you so to proue your strength And let your zeale appease your rage at length 47 For Gods loue stay your heat and iust displeasure Appease your wrath your courage fierce asswage Patience a praise forbearance is a treasure Suffrance an angellis a monster rage At least your actions by ensample measure And thinke how I in mine vnbridled age Was wronged yet I nould reuengement take On all this campe for one offenders sake 48 Cilicia conquer'd I as all men wot And there the glorious crosse on hie I reared But Baldwine came and what I nobly got Bereft me falsly when I least him feared He seem'd my friend and I discouer'd not His secret couetise which since appeered Yet striue I not to get mine owne by fight Or ciuill war although perchance I might 49 If than you scorne to be in prison pent If bonds as hie disgrace your hands refuse Or if your thoughts still to maintaine are bent Your libertie as men of honour vse To Antioch what if forthwith you went And leaue me here your absence to excuse There with Prince Boemond liue in ease and peace Vntill this storme of Godfreys anger cease 50 For soone if forces come from Egypt land Or other nations that vs here confine Godfrey will beaten be with his owne wand And feele he wants that valour great of thine Our campe may seeme an arme without a hand Amid our troopes vnlesse thy eagle shine With that came Guelpho and those words approued And praid him goe if him he fear'd or loued 51 Their speeches soften much the warriors hart And make his wilfull thoughts at last relent So that he yeelds and saith he will depart And leaue the Christian campe incontinent His friends whose loue did neuer shrinke or start Profred their aide what way so ere he went He thankt them all but left them all besides Two bold and trustie squires and so he rides 52 He rides reuoluing in his noble spright Such hawtie thoughts as fill the glorious minde On hard aduentures was his whole delight And now to wondrous actes his will inclinde Alone against the Pagans would he fight And kill their kings from Egypt vnto Inde From Cinthias hils and Nilus vnknowne spring He would fetch praise and glorious conquest bring 53 But Guelpho when the Prince his leaue had take And now had spurr'd his courser on his way No longer tarriance with the rest would make But hastes to finde Godfre do if he may Who seeing him approching forthwith spake Guelpho quoth he for thee I only stay For thee I sent my heralds all about In euerie tent to seeke and finde thee out 54 This said he softly drew the knight aside Where none might heare and then bespake him thus How chanceth it thy nephewes rage and pride Makes him so far forget himselfe and vs Hardly could I beleeue what is betide A murder done for cause so friuolous How I haue lou'd him thou and all can tell But Godfrey lou'd him but whil'st he did well 55 I must prouide that euerie one haue right That all be heard each cause be well discust As far from partiall loue as free from spight I heare complaints yet nought but proues I trust Now if Rinaldo weigh our rule so light And haue the sacred lore of war so brust Take you the charge that he before vs come To cleare himselfe and heare our vpright dome 56 But let him come withouten bond or chaine For still my thoughts to doe him grace are framed But if our powre he haply shall disdaine As well I know his courage yet vntamed To bring him by perswasion take some
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
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
I had mouthes and toongs as Briareus hands If voice as iron tough if iron breath What harme this troope wrought to the heathen bands What knights they slew I could recount vneath In vaine the Turks resist th' Arabians flie For if they flie th' are slaine if fight they die 93 Feare crueltie griefe horrour sorrow paine Ronne through the field disguis'd in diuers shapes Death might you see triumphant on the plaine Drowning in blood him that from blowes escapes The king meane-while with parcell of his traine Comes hastly out and for sure conquest gapes And from a banke whereon he stood beheild The doubtfull hazard of that bloodie feild 94 But when he saw the Pagans shrinke away He sounded the retreat and gan desire His messengers in his behalfe to pray Argantes and Clorinda to retire The furious couple both at once said nay Eu'n drunke with shedding blood and mad with ire At last they went and to recomfort thought And stay their troopes from flight but all for nought 95 For who can gouerne cowardise or feare Their host already was begon to flie They cast their shields and cutting swords arreare As not defended but made slow thereby A hollow dale the cities bulwarks neare From west to south out stretched long doth lie Thither they fled and in a mist of dust Towards the walles they ronne they throng they thrust 96 While downe the banke disordred thus they ran The Christian knights huge slaughter on them maide But when to clime the other hill they gan Old Aladine came fiercely to their aide On that steepe bray Lord Guelpho would not than Hazard his folke but there his soldiers staide And safe within the cities walles the king The reliques small of that sharpe fight did bring 97 Meane-while the Soldan in this latest charge Had done as much as humane force was able All sweat and blood appear'd his members large His breath was short his courage waxt vnstable His arme grew weake to beare his mightie targe His hand to rule his heauie sword vnable Which bruis'd not cut so blunted was the blade It lost the vse for which a sword was made 98 Feeling his weaknesse he gan musing stand And in his troubled thought this question tost If he himselfe should murder with his hand Bicause none else should of his conquest bost Or he should saue his life when on the land Lay slaine the pride of his subdued host At last to fortunes power quoth he I yeild And on my flight let her her trophies beild 99 Let Godfrey vew my flight and smile to see This mine vnworthie second banishment For arm'd againe soone shall he heare of mee From his proud head th'vnsetled crowne to rent For as my wrongs my wrath eterne shall bee And euery howre the bow of war new bent I will arise againe a foe fierce bold Though dead though slaine though burnt to ashes cold The tenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne The argument Ismen from sleepe awakes the Soldan great And into Sion brings the Prince by night Where the sad king sits fearfull on his seat Whom he embold'neth and excites to fight Godfredo heares his Lords and knights repeat How they escapt Armidaes wrath and spight Rinaldo knowne to liue Peter foresaies His ofsprings vertue good desarts and praies 1 A Gallant stead while thus the Soldan said Came trotting by him without Lord or guide Quickly his hand vpon the raines he laid And weake and wearie climbed vp to ride The snake that on his crest hot fire out braid Was quite cut off his helme had lost the pride His coate was rent his harnesse hackt and cleft And of his kingly pompe no signe was left 2 As when a sauage woolfe chas'd from the fold To hide his head runnes to some holt or wood Who though he filled haue while it might hold His greedy panch yet hungreth after food With sanguine toong forth of his lips out rold About his iawes that lickes vp fome and blood So from this bloodie fray the Soldan hied His rage vnquencht his wrath vnsatisfied 3 And as his fortune would he scaped free From thousand arrowes which about him flew From swords and lances instruments that bee Of certaine death himselfe he safe withdrew Vnknowne vnseene disguised trauail'd hee By desart pathes and waies but vs'd by few And rode reuoluing in his troubled thought What course to take and yet resolu'd on nought 4 Thither at last he ment to take his way Where Egypts king assembled all his host To ioine with him and once againe assay To winne by fight by which so oft he lost Determin'd thus he made no longer stay But thither ward spurr'd forth his steed in post Nor need he guide the way right well he could That leades to sandie plaines of Gaza ould 5 Nor though his smarting wounds torment him oft His body weake and wounded backe and side Yet rested he nor once his armour doft But all day long ore hils and dales doth ride But when the night cast vp her shade aloft And all earthes colours strange in sables dide He light and as he could his wounds vpbound And shooke ripe dates downe from a palme he found 6 On them he supped and amid the feild To rest his wearie lims a while he sought He made his pillow of his broken sheild To ease the griefes of his distempred thought But little ease could so hard lodging yeild His wounds so smarted that he slept right nought And in his brest his proud hart rent in twaine Two inward vultures sorrow and disdaine 7 At length when midnight with her silence deepe Did heau'n and earth husht still and quiet make Sore watcht and wearie he began to steepe His cares and sorrowes in obliuions lake And in a little short vnquiet sleepe Some small repose his fainting spirits take But while he slept a voice graue and seueare At vnawares thus thundred in his eare 8 O Soliman thou far renowmed king Till better season serue forbeare thy rest A stranger doth thy lands in thraldome bring Nice is a slaue by Christian yoke opprest Sleepest thou here forgetfull of this thing That here thy friends lie slaine not laid in chest Whose bones beare witnes of thy shame and scorne And wilt thou idly here attend the morne 9 The king awakt and saw before his eies A man whose presence seemed graue and old A writhen staffe his steps vnstable guies Which seru'd his feeble members to vphold And what art thou the Prince in scorne replies What sprite to vexe poore passengers so bold To breake their sleepe or what to thee belongs My shame my losse my veng'ance or my wrongs 10 I am the man of thine intent quoth hee And purpose new that sure coniecture hath And better than thou weenest know I thee I proffer thee my seruice and my faith My speeches therefore sharpe and biting bee Bicause quicke words the whetstones are of wrath Accept in gree my Lord the words I spoke As spurres thine
behooues it me to creepe This sword can finde a better way than thine Although our foes the passage garde and keepe Let not quoth he thy princely foote repine To tread this seeret path though darke and deepe For great king Herod vs'd to tread the same He that in armes had whilome so great fame 31 This passage made he when he would suppresse His subiects pride and them in bondage hold By this he could from that small forteresse Antonia call'd of Antonie the bold Conuay his folke vnseene of more and lesse Eu'n to the middest of the temple old Thence hither where these priuie waies begin And bring vnseene whole armies out and in 32 But now saue I in all this world liues none That knowes the secret of this darksome place Come then where Aladine sits on his throne With Lords and princes set about his grace He feareth more then fitteth such an one Such signes of doubt shew in his cheere and face Fitly you come heare see and keepe you still Till time and season serue then speake your fill 33 This said that narrow entrance past the knight So creepes a camell through a needles eie And through the waies as black as darkest night He followed him that did him rule and guie Strait was the way at first withouten light But further in did further amplifie So that vpright walked at ease the men Ere they had passed halfe that secret den 34 A priuie doore Ismen vnlockt at last And vp they clombe a little vsed staire Thereat the day a feeble beame in cast Dimme was the light and nothing cleene the aire Out of the hollow caue at length they past Into a goodly hall high broad and faire Where crown'd with gold and all in purple clad Sate the sadking among his nobles sad 35 The Turke close in his hollow cloud imbard Vnseene at will did all the prease behold These heauie speeches of the king he hard Who thus from loftie siege his pleasure told My Lords last day our state was much empard Our friends were slaine kild were our soldiers bold Great helpes and greater hopes are vs bereft Nor ought but aide from Egypt land is left 36 And well you see far distant is that aid Vpon our heeles our danger treadeth still For your aduise was this assemblie maid Each what he thinketh speake and what he will A whisper soft arose when this was said As gentle winds the groues with murmur fill But with bold face high lookes and merrie cheare Argantes rose the rest their talke forbeare 37 O worthie soueraigne thus began to say The hardie yong man to the tyrant wise What words be these what feares doe you dismay Who knowes not this you need not our aduise But on our hands your hope of conquest lay And for no losse true vertue damnifies Make her our shield pray her vs succours giue And without her let vs not wish to liue 38 Nor say I this for that I ought misdeeme That Egypts promis'd succours faile vs might Doubtfull of my great maisters words to seeme To me were neither lawfull iust nor right I speake these words for spurres I them esteeme To waken vp each dull and fearfull spright And make our harts resolu'd to all assaies To winne with honour or to die with praise 39 Thus much Argantes said and said no more As if the case were cleere of which he spoke Orcano rose of princely stemibore Whose presence mongst them bore a mightie stroke A man esteemed well in armes of yore But now was coupled new in marriage yoke Yong babes he had to fight which made him loth He was a husband and a father both 40 My Lord quoth he I will not reprehend The earnest zeale of this audacious speach From courage sprong which seld is close ipend In swelling stomacke without violent breach And though to you our good Circassian frend In termes too bold and seruent oft doth preach Yet hold I that for good in warlike feat For his great deedes respond his speeches great 41 But if it you beseeme whom grauer age And long experience hath made wise and slie To rule the heat of youth and hardie rage Which somewhat haue misled this knight awrie In equall ballance ponder than and gage Your hopes far distant with your perils nie This townes old walles and rampires new compare With Godfreys forces and his engins rare 42 But if I may say what I thinke vnblamed This towne is strong by nature scite and art But engins huge and instruments are framed Gainst these defences by our aduerse part Who thinkes him most secure is eathest shamed I hope the best yet feare vnconstant Mart And with this siege if we be long vp pent Famine I doubt our store will all be spent 43 For all that store of cattell and of graine Which yesterday within these walles you brought While your proud foes triumphant through the plaine On nought but shedding blood and conquest thought Too little is this citie to sustaine To raise the siege vnlesse some meanes be sought And it must last till the prefixed howre That it be rais'd by Egypts aide and powre 44 But what if that appointed day they mis Or else ere we expect what if they came The victorie yet is not ours for this Oh saue this towne from ruine vs from shame With that same Godfrey still our watfare is These armies soldiers captaines are the same Who haue so oft amid the dustie plaine Turks Persians Syrians and Arabians slaine 45 And thou Argantes wottest what they bee Oft hast thou fled from that victorious host Thy shoulders often hast thou let them see And in thy feet hath beene thy sauegard most Clorinda bright and I fled eeke with thee None than his fellowes had more cause to bost Nor blame I any for in euery fight We shewed courage valour strength and might 46 And though this hardie knight the certaine threat Of neare approching death to heare disdaine Yet to this state of losse and danger great From this strong foe I see the tokens plaine No fort how strong so ere by art or seat Can hinder Godfrey why he should not raine This makes me say to witnes heau'n I bring Zeale to this state loue to my Lord and king 47 The king of Tripolie was well aduised To purchase peace and so preserue his crowne But Soliman who Godfreys loue despised Is either dead or deepe in prison throwne Else fearefull is he run away disguised And scant his life is left him for his owne And yet with gifts with tribute and with gold He might in peace his empire still haue hold 48 Thus spake Orcanes and some inkling gaue In doubtfull words of that he would haue said To sue for peace or yeeld himselfe a slaue He durst not openly his king perswade But at those words the Soldan gan to raue And gainst his will wrapt in the cloud he staid Whom Ismen thus bespake how can you beare These words my
Lord or these reproches heare 49 Oh let me speake quoth he with ire and scorne I burne and gainst my will thus hid I stay This said the smokie cloud was cleft and torne Which like a vaile vpon them stretched lay And vp to open heau'n forthwith was borne And left the Prince in vew of lightsome day With princely looke amid the prease he shin'de And on a sodaine thus declar'd his minde 50 Of whom you speake behold the Soldan here Neither affraid nor ron away for dread And that these slanders lies and fables were This hand shall proue vpon that cowards head I who haue shed a sea of blood well nere And heapt vp mountaines high of Christians dead I in their campe who still maintain'd the fray My men all murdred I that ron away 51 If this or any coward vile beside False to his faith and countrie dares replie And speake of concord with yond men of pride By your good leaue sir king here shall he die The lambes and wolues shall in one fold abide The doues and serpents in one nest shall lie Before one towne vs and these Christians shall In peace and loue vnite within one wall 52 While thus he spoke his broad and trenchant sword His hand held high aloft in threatning guise Dombe stood the knights so dreadfull was his word A storme was in his front fire in his eies He turn'd at last to Sions aged Lord And calm'd his visage sterne in humbler wise Behold quoth he good Prince what aide I bring Since Soliman is ioyn'd with Iudaes king 53 King Aladine from his rich throne vpstart And said oh how I ioy thy face to vew My noble friend it less'neth in some part My greefe for slaughter of my subiects trew My weake estate to stablish come thou art And maist thine owne againe in time renew If heau'ns consent with that the Soldan bold In deere embracements did he long enfold 54 Their greetings done the king resinde his throne To Solman and set himselfe beside In a rich seat adorn'd with gold and stone And Ismen sage did at his elbow bide Of whom he askt what way they two had gone And he declar'd all what had them betide Clorinda bright to Soliman addrest Her salutations first then all the rest 55 Among them rose Ormusses valiant knight Whom late the Soldan with a conuoy sent And when most hot and bloodie was the fight By secret pathes and blinde by-waies he went Till aided by the silence and the night Safe in the cities walles himselfe he pent And there refresht with come and cattell store The pined soldiers famisht nie before 56 With surly count'nance and disdainfull grace Sullen and sad sate the Circassian stout Like a fierce lion grombling in his place His firie eies that turnes and rolles about Nor durst Orcanes vew the Soldans face But still vpon the floore did pore and tout Thus with his Lords and peeres in counselling The Turkish monarch sate with Iudaes king 57 Godfrey this while gaue victorie the raine And following her the streits he opened all Then for his soldiers and his captaines slaine He celebrates a stately funerall And told his campe within a day or twaine He would assault the cities mightie wall And all the heathen there enclos'd doth threat With fire and sword with death and danger great 58 And for he had that noble squadron knowne In the last fight which brought him so great aid To be the Lords and Princes of his owne Who followed late the slie entising maid And with them Tancred who had late beene throwne In prison deepe by that false witch betrai'd Before the hermit and some priuate frends For all those worthies Lords and knights he sends 59 And thus he said some one of you declare Your fortunes whether good or to be blamed And to assist vs with your valours rare In so great need how was your comming framed They blush and on the ground amazed stare For vertue is of little guilt ashamed At last the English Prince with count'nance bold The silence broke and thus their errors told 60 We not elect to that exploit by lot With secret flight from hence our selues withdrew Following false Cupid I denie it not Entised forth by loue and beauties hew A iealous fire burnt in our stomackes hot And by close waies we passed least in vew Her words her lookes alas I know too late Nursed our loue our iealousie our hate 61 At last we gan approach that wofull clime Where fire and brimstone downe from heau'n was sent To take reuenge for sinne and shamefull crime Gainst kinde commit by those who nould repent A lothsome lake of brimstone pitch and lime Oregoes that land earst sweet and redolent And when it moues thence stinch and smoke vp flies Which dim the welkin and infect the skies 62 This is the lake in which yet neuer might Ought that hath weight sinke to the bottome downe But like to corke to leaues or feathers light Stones iron men there fleet and neuer drowne Therein a castle stands to which by sight But ore a narrow bridge no way is knowne Hither vs brought here welcomd vs the witch The house within was stately pleasant ritch 63 The heau'ns were cleere and wholsome was the aire High trees sweet medowes waters pure and good For there in thickest shade of Mirtles faire A christall spring powr'd out a siluer flood Amid the herbes the grasse and flowres rare The falling leaues downe pattred from the wood The birds sung hymnes of loue yet speake I nought Of gold and marble rich and richly wrought 64 Vnder the curtaine of the greene-wood shade Beside the brooke vpon the veluet grasse In massie vessell of pure siluer made A banket rich and costly furnisht was All beastes all birds beguil'd by fowlers trade All fish were there in floods or seas that passe All dainties made by art and at the table An hundreth virgins seru'd for husbands able 65 She with sweet words and false entising smiles Infused loue among the dainties set And with empoys'ned cups our soules beguiles And made each knight himselfe and God forget She rose and turn'd againe within short whiles With changed lookes where wrath and anger met A charming rod a booke with her she brings On which she mumbled strange and secret things 66 She red and change I felt my will and thought I long'd to change my life and place of biding That vertue strange in me no pleasure wrought I leapt into the flood my selfe there hiding My legs and feet both into one were brought Mine armes and hands into my shoulders sliding My skin was full of scales like shields of bras Now made a fish where late a knight I was 67 The rest with me like shape like garments wore And diu'de with me in that quicksiluer streame Such minde to my remembrance then I bore As when on vaine and foolish things men dreame At last our shape it pleas'd her to restore Then
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
bow While here they stopt and stood before them drew An aged sire graue and benigne in show Crown'd with a beechen garland gathred new Clad in a linnen roabe that raught downe low In his right hand a rod and on the flood Against the streame he marcht and drieshod yood 34 As on the Rhene when winters freesing cold Congeales the streames to thicke and hardned glas The beauies faire of Shepheards daughters bold With wanton winde laies ronne turne play and pas So on this riuer past the wisard old Although vnfrosen soft and swift it was And thither stalked where the warrious staid To whom their greetings done he spoke and said 35 Great paines great trauaile Lords you haue begonne And of a cunning guide great need you stand Farre off alas is great Bertoldoes sonne Imprison'd in a waste and desart land What soile remaines by which you must not ronne What promontorie rocke sea shore or sand Your search must stretch before the prince be found Beyond our world beyond our halfe of ground 36 But yet vouchsafe to see my cell I pray In hidden caues and vaults though builded low Great wonders there strange things I will bewray Things good for you to heare and fit to know This said he bids the riuer make them way The floud retirde and backward gan to flow And here and there two christall mountaines rise So fled the red sea once and Iordan thrise 37 He tooke their hands and led them headlong downe Vnder the flood through vast and hollow deepes Such light they had as when through shadowes browne Of thickest desarts feeble Cinthia peepes There spacious caues they sawe all ouerflowne There all his waters pure great Neptune keepes And thence to moisten all the earth he brings Seas riuers flouds lakes fountaines wels and springs 38 Whence Ganges Indus Volga Ister Poe Whence Euphrates whence Tygresse spring they vew Whence Tanais whence Nilus comes alsoe Although his head till then no creature knew But vnder these a wealthie streame doth goe That Sulphur yeelds and Oare rich quicke and new Which the sunbeames doth polish purge and fine And makes it siluer pure and gold diuine 39 And all his bankes the rich and wealthie streame Hath faire beset with pearle and precious stone Like stars in skie or lampes on stage that seame The darknes there was day the night was gone There sparkled clothed in his azure beame The heau'nly Zaphire there the Iacinth shone The Carbuncle there flamde the Dimond sheene There glistred bright there smilde the Emrauld greene 40 Amas'd the knights amid these woonders past And fixt so deepe the marueiles in their thought That not one word they vttred till at last Vbaldo spake and thus his guide besought O father tell me by what skill thou hast These wonders donne and to what place vs brought For well I know not if I wake or sleepe My hart is drownd in such amazement deepe 41 You are within the hollow wombe quoth he Of fertill earth the nurse of all things made And but you brought and guided are by me Her sacred entrals could no wight inuade My pallace shortly shall you splendant see With glorious light though built in night and shade A Pagan was I borne but yet the Lord To grace by baptisme hath my soule restor'd 42 Nor yet by helpe of deuill or aide from hell I doe this vncouth worke and woondrous feat The Lord forbid I vse or charme or spell To raise foule Dis from his infernall seat But of all herbes of euery spring and well The hidden powre I know and vertue great And all that kinde hath hid from mortall sight And all the starres their motions and their might 43 For in these caues I dwell not buried still From sight of heau'n but often I resort To tops of Libanon or Carmell hill And there in liquid aire my selfe disport There Mars and Venus I behold at will As bare as earst when Vulcan tooke them short And how the rest roule glide and moue I see How their aspects benigne or froward bee 44 And vnderneath my feet the cloudes I view Now thicke now thin now bright with Iris bow The frost and snow the raine the haile the dew The windes from whence they come and whence they blow How Ioue his thunder makes and lightning new How with the boult he strikes the earth below How comate crinite caudate starres are fram'd I knew my skill with pride my hart enflam'd 45 So learned cunning wise my selfe I thought That I suppos'd my wit so high might clime To know all things that God had fram'd or wrought Fire aire sea earth man beast sprite place and time But when your hermit me to baptisme brought And from my soule had washt the sinne and crime Then I perceiu'd my sight was blindnes still My wit was follie ignorance my skill 46 Then saw I that like owles in shining sonne So gainst the beames of truth our soules are blinde And at my selfe to smile I then begonne And at my hart puft vp with follies winde Yet still these artes as I before had donne I practised such was the hermits minde Thus hath he chang'd my thoughts my hart my will And rules mine art my knowledge and my skill 47 In him I rest on him my thoughts depend My Lord my teacher and my guide is he This noble worke he striues to bring to end He is the Architect the workmen we The hardie youth home to this campe to send From prison strong my care my charge shall be So he commands and me ere this foretold Your comming oft to seeke the champion bold 48 While this he said he brought the champions twaine Downe to a vault wherein he dwels and lies It was a caue high wide large ample plaine With goodly roomes halles chambers galleries All what is bred in rich and pretious vaine Of wealthie earth and hid from mortall eies There shines and faire adorn'd was euery part With riches growne by kinde not fram'd by art 49 An hundreth groomes quicke diligent and neat Attendance gaue about these strangers bold Against the wall there stood a cupboord great Of massie plate of siluer christall gold But when with pretious wines and costly meat They filled were thus spake the wisard old Now fits the time sir knights I tell and show What you desire to heare and long to know 50 Armidaes craft her sleight and hidden guile You partly wote her actes and artes vntrew How to your campe she came and by what wile The greatest Lords and Princes thence she drew You know she turn'd them first to monsters vile And kept them since clos'd vp in secret mew Lastly to Gaza ward in bonds them sent Whom yoong Rinaldo rescude as they went 51 What chanced since I will at large declare To you vnknowne a storie strange and trew When first her pray got with such paine and care Escapte and gone the witch perceiu'd and knew Her hands she wroong for griefe
to finde the furious keeper slaine A while she feared but she knew in short That her deare Lord was fled then saw she plaine Ah wofull sight how from her gates the man In haste in feare in wrath in anger ran 36 Whither O cruell leau'st thou me alone She would haue cride her griefe her speeches staid So that her wofull words are backward gone And in her hart a bitter Eccho maide Poore soule of greater skill than she was one Whose knowledge from her thus her ioy conuaid This wist she well yet had desire to proue If art could keepe if charmes recall her loue 37 All what the witches of Thessalia land With lips vnpure yet euer said or spake Words that could make heau'ns rolling circles stand And draw the damned ghostes from Limbo lake All well she knew but yet no time she fand To vse her knowledge or her charmes to make But left her artes and forth she ran to proue If single beautie were best charme for loue 38 She ran nor of her honour tooke regarde Oh where be all her vants and triumphes now Loues Empire great of late she made or marde To her his subiects humbly bend and bow And with her pride mixt was a scorne so harde That to be lou'd she lou'd yet whilst they wow Her louers all she hates that pleas'd her will To conquer men and conqu'red so to kill 39 But now her selfe disdain'd abandoned Ran after him that from her fled in scorne And her despised beautie laboured With humble plaints and praiers to adorne She ran and hasted after him that fled Through frost and snow through brier bush and thorne And sent her cries on message her before That reacht not him till he had reacht the shore 40 O thou that leau'st but halfe behinde quoth shee Of my poore hart and halfe with thee dost carrie O take this part or render that to mee Else kill them both at once ah tarrie tarrie Heare my last words no parting kisse of thee I craue for some more fit with thee to marrie Keepe them vnkinde what fear'st thou if thou stay Thou mai'st denie as well as runne away 41 At this Rinaldo stopt stood still and staid She came sad breathlesse wearie faint and weake So woe begone was neuer Nymph or maid And yet her beauties pride griefe could not breake On him she lookt shee gas'd but nought she said She would not could not or she durst not speake At her he lookt not glanst not if he did Those glances shamefaste were close secret hid 42 As cunning singers ere they straine on hie In loud melodious tunes their gentle voice Prepare the hearers eares to harmonie With fainings sweet low notes and warbles choice So she not hauing yet forgot pardie Her woonted shifts and sleights in Cupides toies A sequence first of sighes and sobbes foorth cast To breed compassion deere than spake at last 43 Suppose not cruell that I come to wow Or pray as Ladies doe their loues and Lords Such were we late if thou disdaine it now Or scorne to grant such grace as loue affords At least yet as an enmie listen thow Sworne foes sometime will talke and chaffer words For what I aske thee maist thou grant right well And lessen nought thy wrath and anger fell 44 If me thou hate and in that hate delight I come not to appease thee hate me still It s like for like I bore great hate and spight Gainst Christians all chiefly I wisht thee ill I was a Pagan borne and all my might Against Godfredo bent mine art and skill I follow'd thee tooke thee and bore thee far To this strange isle and kept thee safe from war 45 And more which more thy hate may iustly moue More to thy losse more to thy shame and griefe I thee enchanted and allur'd to loue Wicked deceit craft worthie sharpe repriefe Mine honor gaue I thee all gifts aboue And of my beauties made thee Lord and chiefe And to my sutors old what I denaid That gaue I thee my louer new vnpraid 46 But reckon that among my faultes and let Those many wrongs prouoke thee so to wrath That hence thou ronne and that at naught thou set This pleasant house so many ioyes which hath Goe trauaile passe the seas fight conquest get Destroy our faith what shall I say our fath Ah no! no longer ours before thy shrine Alone I pray thou cruell saint of mine 47 All only let me goe with thee vnkinde A small request although I were thy foe The spoiler seldome leaues the praie behinde Who triumphes lets his captiues with him goe Among thy pris'ners poore Armida binde And let the campe encrease thy praises soe That thy beguiler so thou couldst beguile And point at me thy thrall and bondslaue vile 48 Despised bondslaue since my Lord doth hate These lockes why keepe I them or hold them deare Come cut them off that to my seruile state My habit answere may and all my geare I follow thee in spite of death and fate Through battles fierce where dangers most appeare Courage I haue and strength enough perchance To lead thy courser spare and beare thy lance 49 I will or beare or be my selfe thy shield And to defend thy life will loose mine owne This breast this bosome soft shall be thy bield Gainst stormes of arrowes darts and weapons throwne Thy foes pardie encountring thee in field Will spare to strike thee mine affection knowne Least me they wound nor will sharpe veng'ance take On thee for this despised beauties sake 50 O wretch dare I still vant or helpe inuoake From this poore beautie scorned and disdained She said no more her teares her speeches broake Which from her eies like streames from springs down rained She would haue caught him by the hand or cloake But he stept backward and himselfe restrained Conquer'd his will his hart ruth soft'ned not There plaintes no ishue loue no entrance got 51 Loue entred not to kindle in his brest Which reason late had quencht his wonted flame Yet entred pitie in the place at lest Loues sister but a chast and sober dame And stirr'd him so that hardly he supprest The springing teares that to his eies vp came But yet euen there his plaints repressed weare And as he could he lookte and fained cheare 52 Madame quoth he for your distresse I grieue And would amend it if I might or could From your wise hart that fond affection driue I cannot hate nor scorne you though I would I seeke no veng'ance wrongs I all forgiue Nor you my seruant nor my foe I hould Truth is you err'de and your estate forgot Too great your hate was and your loue too hot 53 But those are common faultes and faults of kind Excus'd by nature by your sexe and yeares I erred likewise if I pardon find None can condemne you that our trespasse heares Your deare remembrance will I keepe in minde In ioes in woes in comforts hopes and feares Call me
weare In feates of armes boast that he shall be dead All offer her their aid all say and sweare To take reuenge on his condemned head So many armes mou'd she against her deare And swore her darling vnder foote to tread But he since first th'inchanted isle he left Safe in his barge the roaring waues still cleft 54 By the same way return'd the well taught bote By which it came and made like haste like speed The friendly winde vpon her saile that smote So turn'd as to returne her ship had need The youth sometime the pole or beare did note Or wandring starres which cleerest nights forth spreed Sometimes the floods the hils or mountaines steepe Whose woodie frontes oreshade the silent deepe 55 Now of the campe the man the state enquires Now askes the customes strange of sundrie landes And sail'd till clad in beames and bright attires The fourth daies sunne on th'Eastren threshold standes But when the Westren seas had quencht those fires Their frigot stroake against the shore and sandes Then spoke their guide the lande of Palestine This is here must your iourney end and mine 56 The Knights she set vpon the shore all three And vanisht thence in twinkling of an eie Vprose the night in whose deepe blacknes bee All colours hid of things in earth or skie Nor could they house or hold or harbour see Or in that desart signe of dwelling spie Nor trackt of man or horse or ought that might Enforme them of some path or passage right 57 When they had mus'd what way they trauaile should From the waste shore their steps at last they twinde And loe far off at last their eies behould Something they wist not what that cleerely shinde With raies of siluer and with beames of gould Which the darke foulds of nights blacke mantle linde Forward they went and marched gainst the light To see and finde the thing that shone so bright 58 High on a tree they saw an armour new That glistred bright gainst Cint hias siluer ray Therein like stars in skies the dimonds shew Fret in the gilden helme and hawberke gay The mightie shield all scored full they vew Of pictures faire ranged in meet array To keepe them sate an aged man beside Who to salute them rose when them he spide 59 The twaine who first were sent in this pursute Of their wise friend well knew the aged face But when the wisard sage their first salute Receiu'd and quited had with kinde embrace To the yong Prince that silent stood and mute He turn'd his speech in this vnused place For you alone I waite my Lord quoth he My chiefest care your state and welfare be 60 For though you wote it not I am your frend And for your profit worke as these can tell I taught them how Armidaes charmes to end And bring you hither from loues hatefull cell Now to my words though sharpe perchance attend Nor be aggreeu'd although they seeme too fell But keepe them well in minde till in the truth A wise and holier man instruct thy yuth 61 Not vnderneath sweete shades and fountaines shrill Among the nymphes the fairies leaues and flours But on the steepe the rough and craggie hill Of vertue standes this blis this good of ours By toile and trauaile not by sitting still In pleasures lap we come to honors bours Why will you thus in sloathes deepe valley lie The royall Eagles on high mountaines flie 62 Nature liftes vp thy forehead to the skies And fils thy hart with high and noble thought That thou to heau'nward aie should'st lift thine eies And purchase fame by deedes well donne and wrought She giues thee ire by which hot courage flies To conquest not through braules and battailes fought For ciuill iarres nor that thereby you might Your wicked malice wreake and cursed spight 63 But that your strength sourr'd forth with noble wraith With greater furie might Christes foes assault And that your bridle should with lesser scaith Each secret vice and kill each inward fault For so his godly anger ruled haith Each righteous man beneath heau'ns starrie vault And at his will makes it now hot now cold Now lets it ronne now doth it fettred hold 64 Thus parled he Rinaldo husht and still Great wisdome heard in those few words compilde He markt his speech a purple blush did fill His guiltie cheekes downe went his eie-sight milde The hermit by his bashfull lookes his will Well vnderstood and said looke vp my childe And painted in this pretious shield behold The glorious deeds of thy forefathers old 65 Thine elders glorie herein see and know In vertues path how they troade all their daies Whom thou art farre behinde a runner slow In this true course of honour fame and praies Vp vp thy selfe incite by the faire show Of Knigtly worth which this bright shield bewraies That be thy spurre to praise at last the knight Lookt vp and on those purtraites bent his sight 66 The cunning workeman had in little space Infinite shapes of men there well exprest For there described was the worthie race And pedegree of all the house of Est Come from a Romaine spring ore all the place Flowed pure streames of Christall East and West With Laurell crowned stood the Princes old Their warres the Hermit and their battailes told 67 He show'd him Caius first when first in pray To people strange the falling empire went First Prince of Est that did the scepter sway Ore such as chose him Lord by free consent His weaker neighbours to his rule obey Need made them stoupe constraint doth force content After when Lord Honorius call'd the traine Of sauage Gothes into his land againe 68 And when all Italic did burne and flame With bloodie war by this fierce people maid When Rome a captiue and a slaue became And to be quite destroi'd was most affraid Aurelius to his euerlasting fame Preseru'd in peace the folke that him obai'd Next whom was Forrest who the rage withstood Of the bold Hunnes and of their tyrant prood 69 Knowne by his looke was Attila the fell Whose dragon eies shone bright with angers sparke Worse faced than a dog who vew'd him well Suppos'd they saw him grin and heard him barke But when in single fight he lost the bell How through his troupes he fled there might you marke And how Lord Forrest after fortified Aquilias towne and how for it he died 70 For there was wrought the fatall end and fine Both of himselfe and of the towne he kept But his great sonne renowned Acarine Into his fathers place and honour stept To cruell fate not to the Hunnes Altine Gaue place and when time seru'd againe forth lept And in the vale of Poe built for his seat Of many a village small a citie great 71 Against the swelling flood he bankt it strong And thence vprose the faire and noble towne Where they of Est should by succession long Command and rule in blisse and high renowne Gainst
know as one That from her breast her secret thoughts could straine Of little faith quoth he why wouldst thou hide Those causes true from me thy squire and guide 91 With that she fecht a sigh sad sore and deepe And from her lips her words slow trembling came Fruitlesse she said vntimely hard to keepe Vaine modestie farewell and farewell shame Why hope you restlesse loue to bring on sleepe Why striue your fires to quench sweete Cupids flame No no such cares and such respects beseeme Great Ladies wandring maides them nought esteeme 92 That night fatall to me and Antioch towne Then made a praie to her commaunding foe My losse was greater than was seene or knowne There ended not but thence began my woe Light was the losse of friends of Realme or crowne But with my state I lost my selfe alsoe Nere to be found againe for then I lost My wit my sense my hart my soule almost 93 Through fire and sword through blood and death Vafrine Which all my friends did burne did kill did chace Thou know'st I ronne to thy deere Lord and mine When first he entred had my fathers place And kneeling with salt teares in my swolne eine Great Prince quoth I grant mercie pitie grace Saue not my kingdome not my life I saide But saue mine honour let me die a maide 94 He lift me by the trembling hand from ground Nor staide he till my humble speech was donne But said a friend and keeper hast thou found Faire virgin nor to me in vaine you ronne A sweetnesse strange from that sweet voices sound Pierced my hart my brests weake fortresse wonne Which creeping through my bosome soft became A wound a sickenes and a quenchlesse flame 95 He visits me with speeches kinde and graue He sought to ease my griefes and sorrowes smart He said I giue thee libertie recaue All that is thine and at thy will depart Alas he robb'd me when he thought he gaue Free was Erminia but captiu'd her hart Mine was the bodie his the soule and minde He gaue the cage but kept the birde behinde 96 But who can hide desire or loue suppresse Oft of his worth with thee in talke I stroue Thou by my trembling fit that well couldst guesse What feauer held me saidst thou art in loue But I denaid for what can maids doe lesse And yet my sighes thy sayings true did proue In stead of speech my lookes my teares mine eies Told in what flame what fire thy mistresse fries 97 Vnhappie silence well I might haue told My woes and for my harmes haue sought reliefe Since now my paines and plaints I vtter bold Where none that heares can helpe or ease my griefe From him I parted and did close vpfold My wounds within my bosome death was chiefe Of all my hopes and helpes till loues sweet flame Pluckt off the bridle of respect and shame 98 And caus'd me ride to seeke my Lord and knight For he that made me sicke could make me sound But on an ambush I mischanst to light Of cruell men in armour clothed round Hardly I scapt their hands by mature flight And fled to wildernesse and desart ground And there I liu'd in groues and forrests wilde With gentle groomes and shepheards daughters milde 99 But when hot loue which feare had late supprest Reuiu'd againe there nould I longer sit But rode the way I came nor ere tooke rest Till on like danger like mishap I hit A troupe to forrage and to spoile addrest Encountred me nor could I flie from it Thus was I tane and those that had me cought Egyptians were and me to Gaza brought 100 And for a present to their captaine gaue Whom I entreated and besought so well That he mine honour had great care to saue And since with faire Armida let me dwell Thus taken oft escaped oft I haue Ah see what haps I past what dangers fell So often captiue free so oft againe Still my first bandes I keepe still my first chaine 101 And he that did this chaine so surely binde About my hart which none can loose but hee Let him not say goe wandring damsell finde Some other home thou shalt not bide with mee But let him welcome me with speeches kinde And in my wonted prison set me free Thus spake the Princesse thus she and her guide Talkt day and night and on their iourney ride 102 Through the high waies Vafrino would not pas A path more secret safe and short he knew And now close by the cities wall he was When sunne was set night in the East vpflew With drops of blood besmeerd he found the gras And saw where lay a warriour murdred new That all bebled the ground his face to skies He turnes and seemes to threat though dead he lies 103 His harnesse and his habit both bewraid He was a Pagan forward went the squire And saw whereas another champion laid Dead on the land all soild with blood and mire This was some Christian knight Vafrino said And marking well his armes and ritch attire He loos'd his helme and saw his visage plaine And cride alas here lies Tancredie slaine 104 The woefull virgin tarried and gaue heed To the fierce lookes of that proud Saracine Till that high crie full of sad feare and dreed Pierst through her hart with sorrow griefe and pine At Tancreds name thither she ranne with speed Like one halfe mad or drunke with too much wine And when she sawe his face pale bloodlesse dead She lighted nay she tumbled from her stead 105 Her springs of teares she looseth foorth and cries Hither why bringst thou me ah fortune blinde Where dead for whom I liu'd my comfort lies Where warre for peace trauell for rest I finde Tancred I haue thee see thee yet thine eies Lookte not vpon thy loue and handmaide kinde Vndoe their doores their lids fast closed seuer Alas I finde thee for to lose thee euer 106 I neuer thought that to mine eies my deare Thou could'st haue greeuous or vnpleasant beene But now would blinde or rather dead I weare That thy sad plight might be vnknowne vnseene Alas where is thy mirth and smiling cheare Where are thine eies cleere beames and sparkles sheene Of thy faire cheeke where is the purple read And foreheads whitnes are all gone all dead 107 Though gone though dead I loue thee still behold Death wounds but kils not loue yet if thou liue Sweete soule still in his brest my follies bold Ah pardon loues desires and stealthes forgiue Grant me from his pale mouth some kisses cold Since death doth loue of iust reward depriue And of thy spoiles sad death affoord me this Let me his mouth pale cold and bloodlesse kis 108 O gentle mouth with speeches kinde and sweete Thou didst relieue my griefe my woe and paine Ere my weake soule from this fraile bodie fleete Ah comfort me with one deare kisse or twaine Perchance if we aliue had hapt to meete They had beene giu'n which now are
stolne O vaine O feeble life betwixt his lips out flie O let me kisse thee first then let me die 109 Receiue my yeilded spirit and with thine Guide it to heau'n where all true loue hath place This saide she sigh'd and tore her tresses fine And from her eies two streames powrde on his face The man reuiued with those showres diuine Awakt and opened his lips a space His lips were open but fast shut his eies And with her sighes one sigh from him vpflies 110 The dame perceiu'd that Tancred breath'd and sight Which calm'd her grieues somedeale and eas'd her feares Vnclose thine eies she saies my Lord and knight See my last seruices my plaints and teares See her that dies to see thy woefull plight That of thy paine her part and portion beares Once looke on me small is the gift I craue The last which thou canst giue or I can haue 111 Tancred lookt vp and clos'd his eies againe Heauie and dim and she renew'd her woe Quoth Vafrine cure him first and then complaine Med'cine is lifes chiefe friend plaint her most foe They pluckt his armour off and she each vaine Each ioint and sinew felt and handled soe And searcht so well each thrust each cut and wound That hope of life her loue and skill soone found 112 From wearinesse and losse of blood she spide His greatest paines and anguish most proceede Nought but her vaile amid those desarts wide She had to binde his wounds in so great neede But loue could other bands though strange prouide And pitie wept for ioy to see that deede For with her amber lockes cut off each wound She tide O happie man so cur'd so bound 113 For why her vaile was short and thin those deepe And cruell hurtes to fasten rowle and binde Nor salue nor simple had she yet to keepe Her knight on liue strong charmes of wondrous kinde She said and from him droue that deadly sleepe That now his eies he lifted turn'd and twinde And saw his squire and saw that curteous dame In habit strange and wondred whence she came 114 He said O Vafrine tell me whence com'st thow And who this gentle surgeon is disclose She smil'd she sigh'd she lookt she wist not how She wept reioist she blusht as red as rose You shall know all she saies your surgeon now Commands you silence rest and soft repose You shall be sound prepare my guerdon meete His head then laid she in her bosome sweete 115 Vafrine deuis'd this while how he might beare His maister home ere night obscur'd the land When loe a troupe of soldiers did appeare Whom he descride to be Tancredies band With him when he and Argant met they weare But when they went to combat hand for hand He bod them stay behinde and they obaid But came to seeke him now so long he staid 116 Besides them many follow'd that enquest But these alone found out the rightest way Vpon their friendly armes the men addrest A seat whereon he sate he lean'd he lay Quoth Tancred shall the strong Circassian rest In this broad field for wolues and crowes a pray Ah no defraud not you that champion braue Of his iust praise of his due tombe and graue 117 With his dead bones no longer warre haue I Boldly he dide and noblie was he slaine Then let vs not that honour him denie Which after death alonely doth remaine The Pagan dead they lifted vp on hie And after Tancred bore him through the plaine Close by the virgin chast did Vafrine ride As he that was her squire her guard her guide 118 Not home quoth Tancred to my wonted tent But beare me to this roiall towne I pray That if cut short by humaine accident I die there I may see my latest day The place where Christ vpon his crosse was rent To heau'n perchance may easier make the way And ere I yeeld to deathes and fortunes rage Perform'd shall be my vow and pilgrimage 119 Thus to the cittie was Tancredie borne And fell on sleepe laid on a bed of downe Vafrino where the damsell might soiorne A chamber got close secret neere his owne That done he came the mightie Duke beforne And entrance found for till his newes were knowne Nought was concluded mongst those knights Lords Their counsell hung on his report and words 120 Where weake and wearie wounded Raimond laid Godfrey was set vpon his couches side And round about the man a ring was maid Of lords and knights that fild the chamber wide There while the squire his late discou'rie said To breake his talke none answerd none replide My lord he said at your command I went And vew'd their campe each cabbin booth and tent 121 But of that mightie hoast the number trew Expect not that I can or should descrie All couerd with their armies might you vew The fieldes the plaines the dales and mountaines hie I saw what way so ere they went and drew They spoild the land drunke flouds and fountaines drie For not whole Iordan could haue giu'n them drinke Nor all the graine in Syria bread I thinke 122 But yet amongst them many bands are found Both horse and foote of little force and might That keep no order know no trumpets sound That draw no sword but farre off shoot and fight But yet the Persian army doth abound With many a footeman strong and hardie knight So doth the kings owne troupe which all is framed Of souldiours old th' immortall squadron named 123 Immortall called is that band of right For of that number neuer wanteth one But in his emptie place some other knight Steps in when any man is dead or gone This armies leader Emireno hight Like whom in wit and strength are fewe or none Who hath in charge in plaine and pitched feild To fight with you to make you flie or yeild 124 And well I know their armie and their host Within a day or two will here arriue But thee Rinaldo it behooueth most To keepe thy noble head for which they striue For all the chiefe in armes or courage bost They will the same to queene Armida giue And for the same she giues her selfe in price Such hire will many hands to worke entice 125 The chiefe of these that haue thy murder sworne Is Altamore the king of Sarmachand Adrastus then whose realme lies neere the morne A hardie giant bould and strong of hand This king vpon an elephant is borne For vnder him no horse can stirre or stand The third is Tisipherne as braue a lord As euer put on helme or guirt on sword 126 This said from yong Rinaldoes angrie eies Flew sparks of wrath flames in his visage shinde He long'd to be amid those enimies Nor rest nor reason in his hart could finde But to the Duke Vafrine his talke applies The greatest newes my Lord are yet behinde For all their thoughts their crafts and counsels tend By treason false to bring thy life to end 127 Then all from point
best part There from a rising banke his will he told And all that heard his speech thereat tooke hart And as the molten snow from mountaines cold Runs downe in streames with eloquence and art So from his lips his words and speeches fell Shrill speedie pleasant sweete and placed well 14 My hardie host you conqu'rours of the East You scourge wherewith Christ whips his heathen fone Of victorie behould the latest feast See the last day for which you wisht alone Not without cause the Sarzens most and least Our gratious Lord hath gathred here in one For all your foes and his assembled arre That one daies fight may end seaune yeares of warre 15 This fight shall bring vs many victories The danger none the labour will be small Let not the number of your enimies Dismay your harts grant feare no place at all For strife and discord through their armie flies Their bands ill rankt themselues entangle shall And fewe of them to strike or fight shall come For some want strength some hart some elbow rome 16 This host with whom you must encounter now Are men halfe naked without strength or skill From idlenes or following the plow Late pressed foorth to warre against their will Their swordes are blunt shieldes thinne soone pierced throw Their banners shake their bearers shrinke for ill Their leaders heard obaid or follow'd bee Their losse their flight their death I well foresee 17 Their captaine clad in purple armd in gould That seemes so fierce so hardie stout and strong The Moores or weake Arabians vanquish could Yet can he not resist your valours long What can he do though wise though sage though bould In that confusion trouble thrust and throng Ill knowne he is and woorse he knowes his host Strange lords ill feard are ill obaid of most 18 But I am captaine of this chosen crew With whom I oft haue conquer'd triumpht oft Your lands and linages long since I knew Each knight obaies my rule milde easie soft I know each sword each dart each shaft I vew Although the quarrell flie in skies aloft Whether the same of Ireland be or France And from what bowe it comes what hand perchance 19 I aske an easie and an vsual thing As you haue oft this day so winne the feild Let zeale and honour be your vertues sting Your liues my fame Christs faith defend and sheild To earth these Pagans slaine and wounded bring Tread on their necks make them all die or yeild What need I more exhort you from your eies I see how victorie how conquest flies 20 Vpon the captaine when his speech was donne It seemd a lampe and golden light downe came As from nights azure mantle oft doth ronne Or fall a sliding starre or shining flame But from the bosome of the burning sonne Proceeded this and garland wise the same Godfredoes noble head encompast round And as some thought foreshewd he should be cround 21 Perchance if mans proud thought or saucie tong Haue leaue to iudge or guesse at heau'nly things This was the angell which had kept him long That now came downe and hid him with his wings While thus the Duke bespeakes his armies stronge And euerie troupe and band in order brings Lord Emiren his hoast disposed well And with bould words whet on their courage fell 22 The man brought foorth his armie great with speed In order good his foes at hand he spide Like the newe moone his hoast two hornes did spreed In midst the foote the horse were on each side The right wing kept he for himselfe to leed Great Altamore receau'd the left to guide The middle ward led Muleasses prood And in that battaile faire Armida stood 23 On the right quarter stood the Indian grim With Tisipherne and all the kings owne band But where the left winge spred her squadrons trim Ore the large plaine did Altamoro stand With Aphrican and Persian kings with him And two that came from Meroes hot sand And all his crosbowes and his slinges he plast Where roome best seru'd to shoot to throw to cast 24 Thus Emiren his host put in array And road from band to band from ranke to ranke His Truchmen now and now himselfe doth say What spoile his folke shall gaine what praise what thanke To him that feard looke vp ours is the day He saies vile feare to bould harts neuer sanke How dareth one against an hundreth fight Our crie our shade will put them all to flight 25 But to the bould go hardie knight he saies His praie out of this lions pawes go teare To some before his thoughts the shape he laies And makes therein the image true appeare How his sad countrie him entreats and praies His house his louing wife and children deare Suppose quoth he thy countrie doth beseech And pray thee thus suppose this is her speech 26 Defend my lawes vphold my temples braue My blood from washing of my streetes withhold From rauishing my virgins keepe and saue Thine auncestors dead bones and ashes cold To thee thy fathers deare and parents graue Shew their vncoured heads white hoarie old To thee thy wife her brests with teares orespred Thy sonnes their cradles shewes thy mariage bed 27 To all the rest you for her honours sake Whom Asia makes her champions by your might Vpon these theeues weake feeble fewe must take A sharpe reuenge yet iust deserud and right Thus many words in seu'rall toongs he spake And all his sundry nations to sharpe fight Encouraged but now the Dukes had donne Their speeches all the hoasts togither ronne 28 It was a great a strange and wondrous fight When front to front those noble armies met How euerie troupe how in each troupe each knight Stood prest to moue to fight and praise to get Loose in the winde waued their ensignes light Trembled the plumes that on their crests were set Their armes impreses colours gold and stone Gainst the sunne beames smild flamed sparkled shone 29 Of drie topt Oakes they seemd two forrests thicke So did each hoste with speares and pikes abound Bent were their bowes in rests their launces sticke Their hands shooke swords their slings held cobles round Each stead to runne was readie prest and quicke At his commaunders spurre his hand his sound He chafes he stampes careers and turnes about He fomes snorts neies and fire and smoake breaths out 30 Horrour it selfe in that faire sight seem'd faire And pleasure flew amid sad dreed and feare The trumpets shrill that thundred in the aire Were musicke milde and sweete to euerie eare The faithfull campe though lesse yet seem'd more raire In that strange noice more warlike shrill and cleare In notes more sweete the Pagan trumpets iarre These sung their armours shin'd these glistred farre 31 The Christian trumpets giue the deadly call The Pagans answere and the fight accept The godly Frenchmen on their knees downe fall To pray and kist the earth and then vplept To fight the land betweene was vanisht
lucke with life with loue There from her stead she lighted there laid downe Her bowe and shafts her armes that helpelesse proue There lie with shame she saies disgrast orethrowne Blunt are the weapons blunt the armes I moue Weake to reuenge my harmes or harme my foe My shafts are blunt ah loue would thine were soe 124 Alas among so many could not one Not one draw blood one wound or rend his skin All other brests to you are marble stone Dare you than pierce a womans bosome thin See see my naked hart on this alone Imploy your force this fort is eath to win And loue will shoote you from his mightie bow Weake is the shot that dripile falles in snow 125 I pardon will your feare and weakenes past Be strong mine arrowes cruell sharpe gainst mee Ah wretch how is thy chance and fortune cast If plast in these thy good and comfort bee But since all hope is vaine all helpe is wast Since hurts ease hurts wounds must cure wounds in thee Then with thine arrowes stroake cure stroakes of loue Death for thy hart must salue and surgeon proue 126 And happie me if being dead and slaine I beare not with me this strange plague to hell Loue staie behind come thou with me disdaine And with my wronged soule for euer dwell Or else with it turne to the world againe And vexe that knight with dreames and visions fell And tell him when twixt life and death I stroue My last wish was reuenge last word was loue 127 And with that word halfe mad halfe dead she seames An arrow poignant strong and sharpe she tooke When her deare knight found her in these extreames Now fit to die and passe the Stygian brooke Now prest to quench her owne and beauties beames Now death sate on her eies death in her looke When to her backe he stept and staid her arme Stretcht foorth to doe that seruice last last harme 128 She turnes and ere she knowes her Lord she spies Whose comming was vnwisht vnthought vnknowne She shrikes and twines away her sdeignfull eies From his sweete face she falles dead in a swoune Falles as a flowre halfe cut that bending lies He held her vp and least she tumble downe Vnder her tender side his arme he plast His hand her girdle loos'd her gowne vnlast 129 And her faire face faire bosome he bedewes With teares teares of remorse of ruth of sorrow As the pale Rose her colour lost renewes With the fresh drops falne from the siluer morrow So she reuiues and cheekes empurpled shewes Moist with their owne teares and with teares they borrow Thrice lookte she vp her eies thrice closed shee As who say let me die ere looke on thee 130 And his strong arme with weake and feeble hand She would haue thrust away loos'd and vntwined Oft stroue she but in vaine to breake that band For he the â—old he got not yet resined Her selfe fast bound in those deare knots she fand Deare though she faigned scorne stroue and repined At last she speakes she weepes complaines and cries Yet durst not did not would not see his eies 131 Cruell at thy departure at retorne As cruell say what chance thee hither guideth Wouldst thou preuent her death whose hart forlorne For thee for thee deathes stroakes each howre deuideth Comst thou to saue my life alas what scorne What torment for Armida poore abideth No no thy crafts and sleights I well descrie But she can little doe that cannot die 132 Thy triumph is not great nor well arrai'd Vnlesse in chaines thou lead a captiue dame A dame now tane by force before betrai'd This is thy greatest glorie greatest fame Time was that thee of loue and life I prai'd Let death now end my loue my life my shame Yet let not thy false hand bereaue this breath For if it were thy guift hatefull were death 133 Cruell my selfe an hundreth waies can finde To rid me from thy malice from thy hate If weapons sharpe if poisons of all kinde If fire if strangling faile in that estate Yet waies enough I know to stop this winde A thousand entries hath the house of fate Ah leaue these flattries leaue weake hope to moue Cease cease my hope is dead dead is my loue 134 Thus mourned shee and from her watrie eies Disdaine and loue dropt downe roll'd vp in teares From his pure fountaines ranne two streames likewise Wherein chast pitie and milde ruth appeares Thus with sweete words the Queene he pacifies Madame appease your griefe your wrath your feares For to be crown'd not scorn'd your life I saue Your foe nay but your friend your knight your slaue 135 But if you trust no speech no oath no word Yet in mine eies my zeale my truth behold For to that throne whereof thy fire was Lord I will restore thee crowne thee with that gold And if high heau'n would so much grace afford As from thy hart this cloude this vaile vnfold Of Paganisme in all the East no dame Should equalize thy fortune state and fame 136 Thus plaineth he thus praies and his desire Endeares with sighes that flie and teares that fall That as against the warm'th of Titans fire Snow drifts consume on tops of mountaines tall So melts her wrath but loue remaines entire Behold she saies your handmaid and your thrall My life my crowne my wealth vse at your pleasure Thus death her life became losse prou'd her treasure 137 This while the Captaine of th' Egyptian host That saw his roiall standard laid on ground Saw Rimedon that ensignes prop and post By Godfreies noble hand kild with one wound And all his folke discomfit slaine and lost No coward was in this last batrell found But road about and sought nor sought in vaine Some famous hand of which he might be slaine 138 Against lord Godfrey bouldly out he flew For nobler foe he wisht not could not spie Of desprate courage shew'd he tokens trew Where ere he ioind or staid or passed bie And cried to the Duke as neere he drew Behold of thy strong hand I come to die Yet trust to ouerthrow thee with my fall My castles ruines shall breake downe thy wall 139 This said foorth spurr'd they both both high aduance Their swords aloft both stroake at once both hit His left arme wounded had the knight of France His shield was pierst his vantbrace cleft and split The Pagan backward fell halfe in a trance On his left eare his foe so hugely smit And as he sought to rise Godfredoes sword Pierced him through so dide that armies Lord. 140 Of his great host when Emiren was dead Fled the small remnant that aliue remained Godfrey espied as he turnd his stead Great Altamore on foote with blood all stained With halfe a sword halfe helme vpon his head Gainst whom an hundreth fought yet not one gained Cease cease this strife he cride and thou braue knight Yeeld I am Godfrey yeeld thee to my might 141 He that till then his proud and haughtie hart To act of humblenes did neuer bend When that great name he heard from the north part Of our wide world renown'd to Aethiops end Answer'd I yeeld to thee thou worthy art I am thy pris'ner fortune is thy frend On Altamoro great thy conquest bold Of glorie shall be rich and rich of gold 142 My louing queene my wife and Lady kinde Shall ransome me with iewels gold and treasure God shield quoth Godfrey that my noble minde Should praise and vertue so by profit measure All that thou hast from Persia and from Inde Enioy it still therein I take no pleasure I set no rent on life no price on blood I fight and fell not warre for gold or good 143 This said he gaue him to his knights to keepe And after those that fled his course he bent They to their rampires fled and trenches deepe Yet could not so deathes cruell stroke preuent The campe was wonne and all in blood doth steepe The blood in riuers stream'd from tent to tent It soil'd defilde defaced all the pray Shields helmets armours plumes and feathers gay 144 Thus conquer'd Godfrey and as yet the sonne Diu'd not in siluer waues his golden waine But day-light seru'd him to the fortresse wonne With his victorious host to turne againe His bloodie cote he put not off but ronne To the high Temple with his noble traine And there hung vp his armes and there he bowes His knees there prai'd and there perform'd his vowes FINIS Printed at London by Ar. Hatfield for John Jaggard and M. Lownes 1600.
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