r
 
 -/V ^ i- /"/l C o// 
 
 

 
 ROUTLEDGE'S BRITISH POETS. 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE, 
 
 OB,
 
 But when the pUUng j»un was moiintert hifrli, 
 Jenisalem (behold) appeared in sight.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE, 
 
 [trusaknt gHilrtrtir, 
 
 By TOKQUATO TASSO. 
 
 IBANSLATED BY 
 
 EDWARD FAIRFAX. 
 
 Edited by ROBERT ARIS WILLMOTT, 
 
 INCDMBENT OF BEAR WOOD. 
 
 lUastrat^b bg Corboulb. 
 
 LONDON: 
 GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND CO. 
 
 FAREINGDON STREET. 
 NEW YOKK: IS, HEEKMAN STREET. 
 
 1858.
 
 LONDON : 
 
 SAVILL iND EDWAEBS, PBINIERS, 
 
 CHAIfDOS STEEET.
 
 l: 
 
 ilMVERSITY 01' .:.:d.IFORNU 
 SANTA BARBARA 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 When his life of Waller was in preparation, Johnson asked 
 Mr. Nichols : — " Do you think a few pages of Fairfax would 
 enrich our edition ? Few readers have seen it, and it may 
 please them. But it is not necessary." If Johnson had read 
 the book which he slighted, he might have escaped the dis- 
 grace of writing a dedication for Hoole. 
 
 The text of " Godfrey of BuUoigne" in this edition is 
 formed upon a collation of the first and second Editions. 
 The Archaisms are occasionally modified; for Fairfax is never 
 constant to one rule of grammar, or language, but changes 
 the case or the spelling, as the demand of the rhyme, or the 
 caprice of his fancy, suggested. When the harmony of the 
 stanza is improved by the antique sound, I have generally 
 retained it; and where freedom of choice seemed to be 
 allowed, or recommended, the more natural and familiar form 
 of the word has been adopted. Mere rust never enriches 
 the medal. Moreover, the language of Fairfax is com- 
 monly simple and unaffected, and assumes a modern dress 
 with easy elegance. I was unwilling to crowd the page 
 with notes ; but the old words are explained, and few diffi- 
 cult passages, I trust, have been overlooked. In the Biogra- 
 phical Criticism I endeavoured to collect the facts — too slight 
 and few — which are known respecting Fairfax and his 
 Translation. 
 
 K. A. WiLLMOTT. 
 
 St. Catherike's, 
 August 10, 1858.
 
 EDWARD FAIRFAX. 
 
 A CLOUD hangs ovei- the birth of Edward Fairfax. Accord- 
 ing to one account he was the second son of Sir Thomas 
 Fairfax, "by Dorothy his wife;" while another statement 
 degrades him to " a natural child," and omits the name of 
 his mother. He was born at Denton, the seat of the family, 
 in the parish of Otley, in Yorkshire. The date is not re- 
 corded. The degree of his relationship neither affected the 
 poet's education, nor the regard of his kindred. His 
 brothers, having chosen the profession of arms, distinguished 
 themselves in foreign service ; Thomas was knighted for 
 bravery at Houen ; and Charles, after several noble exploits, 
 perished bravely in 1604. Edward took a shadier path, like 
 a later and more illustrious poet. 
 
 To the attractions of the busy world, 
 Preferring studious leisure. 
 
 He anticipated the opinion of Dry den, that rural recrea- 
 tions abroad, and books at home, are the innocent pleasures of 
 a man who is early wise; and finding a wife to endear his 
 studies, he settled at New Hall, Fuyistone, between his an- 
 cestral home and the forest of Knaresborough. There he 
 spent many fruitful years in the cultivation of literature, and 
 the nurture of his children ; of whom the eldest, William, 
 became tutor to Thomas Stanley, and assisted him in com- 
 piling the Lives of the Philosophers, and the notes on Euri-
 
 VUl EDWARD FAIRFAX. 
 
 pides. Aubrey informs us that he was reckoned a smgular 
 scholar in all kinds of learning. 
 
 The translation of the " Jerusalem Delivered" is the only 
 prominent circumstance in the life of Fairfax ; but no illus- 
 trative particulars have reached us. The date of the publi- 
 cation comprises all that is known of the beginning and the 
 ending of a work which won a reputation for the Author, 
 and preserves it. 
 
 The closing years of the sixteenth century were marked by 
 considerable enterprise in the literature of translation. Phayer 
 opened the gate of Virgil, and Stanyhurst followed him with 
 more learning, but less elegance ; Spenser transposed a few- 
 doubtful notes of the same Master ; Golding copied in richly 
 coloured words some pictures of Ovid ; Kit Marlowe partly 
 told the loves of Hero and Leander ; and Chapman chanted a 
 strain of a higher mood in his seven books of the Iliad. 
 Italian poetry also found loving, if not faithful, expounders. 
 In 1590, Sir John Harrington produced a version of Ariosto's 
 " Orlando," which, though destitute of correctness, animation, 
 or grace, embellished our language by the picturesque scenes 
 and the romantic adventures which it described.* Four 
 years later (1594) five cantos of Tasso's great Poem were given 
 in English by R. C, whom Ritson supposed to be Eichard 
 Carew, the aiithor of a Smwey of Cornwall. Warton quotes 
 Bishop Hall to prove the popularity of the Knights who 
 did Salem's Siege maintain. 
 
 The fragment of E. C. probably caught the eye and woke 
 the ambition of Fairfax. The book certainly attracted notice ; 
 for in the next year was published " An Interlude, intituled 
 Godfrey of Bulloigne, with the Conquest of Jerusalem." 
 
 While Fairfax, long choosing, perhaps, and beginning late, 
 revolved the tale of Christian chivalry, and the magic of 
 
 • "Warton, iii. 392 ; but Mr. Rogers considered some parts to be " verj 
 well done; and the story of Jocondo, admirably."
 
 EDWARD FAIRFAX. IX 
 
 Armida, Tasso was ceasing from his work and his labour ; 
 and when the English "Godfrey" appeared, the Minstrel 
 slept in holy ground. The memory reviews, with tender and 
 pensive interest, the stormy pilgrimage of the Italian and the 
 home life of his English disciple ; and contrasts the simple 
 burial and the group of rustics at Fuyistone, with the 
 gorgeous robe in which a Cardinal arrayed the body of 
 Tasso, and the throng of sumptuous mourners in the blazing 
 church of Saint Onofrio. 
 
 The Translation appeared — a small folio — in 1600, with the 
 title "Godfrey of Bulloigne, or the Recoverie of Jerusalem, 
 done into English Heroical Verse, by Edward Fairefax Gent. 
 Imprinted at London by Ar. Hatfield, for J. Jaggard and M. 
 Lownes." If the fragment of R. C. immediately inspired 
 Fairfax, his version must have occupied more than five years. 
 But the time was probably less. Dryden completed his 
 " Virgil" in little more than three years, having to keep watch 
 over the bad silver of Tonson, as well as the volatile grace of 
 his author; Pope devoted six years to the rendering of the 
 " Iliad ;" Cowper found five years sufficient to transfer the 
 letter, but not the spirit of Homer ; Mickle finished the 
 " Lusiad" in three years ; and Gary spent fifteen upon Dante. 
 Porson would have required, he said, ten years for a literal 
 translation of the " Iliad " in prose. 
 
 Waller reminded Creech of the sufferings of Tasso, and the 
 surly penury of Ben Jonson, for the sake of the compliment 
 to his own happier fortune, 
 
 Thou writ'st for thy delight, and not for bread ; 
 
 and we find Fairfax displaying some of the hesitating taste of 
 an author at his ease. The opening stanza seems to have trou- 
 bled him. In most copies of the first edition, a slip with a new 
 translation is pasted over the old. A Correspondent of 
 " Notes and Queries "* mentions a third effort to improve the 
 
 * Vol. ii. p. 359.
 
 X EDWAED FAIRFAX. 
 
 passage by reprinting the whole leaf, which contains other 
 typographical variations. The copy of the book, includ- 
 ing the three changes, the writer presented to Wordsworth 
 at his particular request. In a later communication, he says, 
 " The course with the translator was no doubt this ; — he first 
 printed his book as the stanza appears under the pasted slip : 
 this version he saw reason to dislike ; and then he had the 
 slip printed with the variation, and pasted over some copies 
 not 3"et issued. Again he was dissatisfied, and thinking he 
 could improve not only upon the first stanza but upon the 
 Argument by which it was preceded, he procured the two 
 pages to be reprinted. It is, however, by no means clear to 
 me that, after all, Fairfax liked his third experiment better 
 than the two others ; otherwise, we should most probably have 
 found it in more copies than the single one I have pointed 
 out." I transcribe the stanza and the Argument : — 
 
 God sends his angel to Tortosa downe ; 
 Godfrey to counsel calls the Christian Peeres, 
 Where all the Lords and Princes of renovrae 
 Choose liim their general ; he straight appeeres 
 ilust'ring his royal host, and in that stowne 
 Sends them to Sion, and their hearts upcheeres. 
 
 The aged tyrant, Judaies land that guides, 
 
 In fear and trouble to resist provides. 
 
 I sing the sacred armies, and the knight 
 That Christ's great tomb enfranchised and set free. 
 Much wrought he by his witte, much by his might, 
 Much in that glorious conquest suff'red he : 
 Hell hindered him in vaine ; in vaine to fight 
 Asia's and Affrick"s people armed be ; 
 
 Heav'n favour"d him : his lords and knights misgone. 
 
 Under his ensigns he reduc'd in one. 
 
 The reader of Chapman remembers his pathetic complaints
 
 EDWARD FAIRFAX. XI 
 
 of the " envious windsucker hovering up and down, and 
 buzzing into every ear that he turned Homer out of the Latin 
 only." Fairfax seems to have escaped the tongue of the viper. 
 It might not be the least blessing of our golden age, that no 
 scribbler, whom public scorn had lashed out of literature, 
 could spit his malignant venom from the shade of a Review, 
 Eitson's insults to Warton were to be the shame of a later 
 day. The poem of Fairfax immediately found a welcome at 
 Court, and we are assured by his kinsman, that James valued 
 it "above all other English poetry." The loveliest pictures 
 of Spenser had been for ten years before the world ; but the 
 suspicious eye of the Monarch detected a satire in the Alle- 
 gory. The favour of a King did for the " Godfrey" what the 
 applause of a poet afterwards performed for a modern trans- 
 lator.* Mr. Gary's " Dante " was lying motionless, if not 
 dead, in the shop of the Publisher, when a notice of it by 
 Coleridge roused a thousand copies from sleep, and put a 
 hundred guineas in the purse of the Writer. 
 
 At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the number 
 of tasteful readers was small, and towards the close of it two 
 years were needed to sell thirteen hundred copies of " Paradise 
 Lost." Nearly twenty-four years went by before the first 
 impression of the " Godfrey " was exhausted. A second 
 edition came out in 1624, by the special desire of James, whose 
 admiration was shared by his son. In later years Charles 
 cheered his imprisonment with the Poem ; a proof, as Hartley 
 Coleridge remarks, of its strange fascination, since the name 
 of Fairfax could not destroy the charm. Mr. Singer believes 
 this edition to have been seen, if not revised, by theAuthor, and 
 discovers pleasing traces of his pen in the prefatory verses. 
 An interval of sixty-three years separated the second edition 
 from the third. There was too much thunder in the air for a 
 
 * Quotations are given in " England's Parnassus," which was published in 
 the same year.
 
 XU EDWARD FAIRFAX. 
 
 sweet song to be heard. But the sky cleared, and in 1687 
 the " Godfrey " was again issued under new patronage. 
 Eoger L'Estrange, after many adventures and escaping the 
 gallows as a spy, was borne back on the tide of the Restora- 
 tion, and rewarded by the Censorship of the Press. 
 L'Estrange had been a frequent dabbler in translation, and 
 through a long and busy life sprinkled the town with little 
 pieces out of Cicero, ^sop, and Seneca. In a happy hour, and 
 inspired, it is thought, by the panegyrics of Waller and 
 Dryden, L'Estrange recommended " Godfrey of BuUoigne " 
 to the enterprise of the bookseller " for the common benefit of 
 himself and the world." When sixty-two years had absorbed 
 the edition of the knight, a desperate editor gave a fourth 
 publication (1749) with brave promises of improvement on his 
 predecessors. The text is everywhere corrupted, and the book 
 is worthless. 
 
 The life of Fairfax begins and ends with his Poem ; nothing 
 is known of him, except that he had the privilege, which 
 another English poet gratefully acknowledged, of dying 
 where he was " roused," it is believed, in 1632. A marble 
 stone marks his burial-place at Fuyistone. Jeremy Collier 
 uttered a familiar truth in the remark, that the countenance 
 seems designed not only for ornament, but information. We 
 should be glad to see a portrait of Fairfax. But the "man" 
 is hid from our eyes, — his look, his demeanour, and his dress. 
 So slight a sketch as Master Beeston preserved of Spenser 
 would be acceptable, — "A little man, wearing short hair, 
 little band, and little cufF." Of his mind, on its spiritual 
 side, we have a brief sketch from his own pen : — 
 
 " I am in religion neither a fantastic Puritan, nor a supersti- 
 tious Papist; but so settled in conscience, that I have the sure 
 ground of God's Word to warrant all I believe, and the com- 
 mendable ordinances of our English Church to approve all I 
 practise: in which course I live a faithful Christian, and an
 
 EDWAED FAIRFAX. XUl 
 
 obedient subject, and so teach my family." This is the tem- 
 perate confession of a good heart, and does not suggest the 
 " Dsemonologie," in which the poet relates the story of witch- 
 craft " acted " under his own roof. But Hartley Coleridge 
 reminds us that, in this instance, Fairfax coincided with the 
 spii-it of his age, and bowed to the wisdom of his ancestors ; — 
 " To have doubted of the existence of witches would then have 
 exposed him to the imputation of Atheism; and as certain 
 disorders were uniformly attributed to diabolical agency, an 
 anxious parent might be excused for mistaking the sj'mptoms 
 In his own offspring."* 
 
 Some productions of Fairfax remain in manuscript ; 
 among them are contributions to the Roman Controversy, a 
 " History of Edward the Black Prince," and " Certain witty 
 Eclogues." The " Eclogues" are said to have been composed 
 after the accession of James to the English throne, " on im- 
 portant subjects relating to the manners, characters, and 
 incidents of the times."f But the fine " strokes of satire," 
 the " lessons of morality," and the " modest hints even to 
 Majesty itself," are either not perceived, or fail to interest the 
 modern reader. Allegories should have a strong light at the 
 back. By the " indulgence " of the family, Mrs. Cooper was 
 enabled to present the fourth Eclogue to the readers of the 
 Muses' Library. The specimen abundantly satisfies the 
 most curious inquirer. It relates the astonishing adventures 
 and the dismal catastrophe of a Lamb, which a wicked Fox 
 succeeds in beguiling. Dryden has not gained our sympathy 
 for the Hind that talked of the Nicene Fathers ; and every, 
 reader feels the absurdity of one beast advising another " to 
 rest her faith upon a Pope and Council." But Fairfax surpassed 
 the audacity of Dryden ; for he introduces the Fox pressing 
 the hand of the Lamb, as he 
 
 " Northern Worthies," vol. i. p. 284. t " The Muses' Library," p. 3G3.
 
 XIV EDWARD FAIRFAX. 
 
 Softly rais'd her from the tender grass, 
 And squiring along the flow'ry land 
 Still made her suit as through the fields they pass. 
 
 And afterwards, the Fox entertains the Lamb at a banquet 
 served on porcelain a thousand years old. Xo hidden moral 
 can reconcile the judgment to such absurdities ; and with 
 Johnson we prefer the portrait of a dog which we had known. 
 The most robust imagination would pine in these fetters ; 
 and Fairfax shows continually the burden and the gall of 
 the chain. Once, indeed, he had a momentary interval of 
 taste, and wrote this sweet and natural stanza : — 
 
 The golden bee, buzzing with tinsel wings, 
 Suckt amber honey from the silken flower ; 
 The dove sad love-groans on her sack-but sings. 
 The throssel whistles from her oaken-tower ; 
 
 And, sporting, lay the Nymphs of woods and hills, 
 On beds of hearts-ease, rue, and daffadils. 
 
 The Eclogues are twelve in number, and Mrs. Cooper 
 assures us that " the learning they contain is so various and 
 extensive that, according to the evidence of the Poet's son 
 (who has written large annotations on each), no man's read- 
 ing, beside his own, was sufficient to explain his references 
 effectually." 
 
 The " Godfrey of Bulloigne" is to be considered (1) as a 
 Translation, and (2) as a Poem. As a translation, it is want- 
 ing in exactness. The commendation of Hume was either 
 given in ignorance, or in contempt of truth. Fairfax treated 
 his author with an imperial freedom, altered passages as he 
 pleased, and turned a bull-baiting into a buffalo-hunt on 
 the banks of the Yolga. Hoole is open to the same 
 charge. He lopped off whole clusters of lines that perplexed
 
 EDWARD FAIRFAX. XV 
 
 him, and omitted sixteen verses in three stanzas. Drjden's* 
 apology for his treatment of Virgil may be applied to Fair- 
 fax : " The way I have taken is not so strict as metaphrase, 
 nor so loose as paraphrase; some things, too, I have omitted, 
 and sometimes have added of my own; and yet the omissions 
 are of circumstances which would have no grace in English ; 
 and the additions, I also hope, are easily deduced from 
 Virgil's sense. They will seem (at least I have the vanity 
 to think so) not stuck into him, but growing out of him." 
 This theory of omission is extremely questionable. A trans- 
 lator ought to preserve the deformities of the author; and 
 Miss Seward unjustly rebuked Gary for inserting a disagree- 
 able image of Dante. The model of an old church should 
 retain the grinning faces on the water-spouts. Fairfax as 
 often heightens the expression of Tasso as he degrades it. 
 The second, seventh, and eighth lines, in the following 
 stanza, are interpolations of great beauty and elegance : — 
 
 Le guance asperse di que' vivi umori, 
 Che giu cadean fin della veste al lembo, 
 Parean vermigli insieme e bianchi fiori, 
 Se pur gl' irriga un rugia doso nembo, 
 Quando su I'apparir de' primi albori 
 Spieagano all' aura liete il chiuso grembo ; 
 E r alba, che gli mira, e se n' appaga, 
 D' adornarsene il crin diventa vaga. 
 
 Her cheeks, on which the streaming nectar fell, 
 Still'd through the limbeck of her diamond eyes, 
 The roses white and red resembled well, 
 Whereon the rosy May- dew sprinkled lies, 
 When the fair Morning blusheth from her cell, 
 And breatheth balm from open'd Paradise. 
 Thus sigh'd, thus mourn'd, thus wept this lovely Queen, 
 And in each drop there bath'd a grace unseen. 
 * " Prose Works," vol. iv. p. 535.
 
 X\1 EDWARD FAIRFAX. 
 
 In the same spirit he calls Einaldo — 
 
 Star of the sphere and diamond of this ring. 
 
 And in such cases he refutes the saying of Butler* — that a 
 translator dyes an author, like an old stuff, into new colours, 
 but is never able to impart the lustre of the first tincture. 
 The English hues sometimes out-dazzle the Italian. The 
 finest version of a poem can only be a copy in different 
 lights and shades. The identical landscape may not be carried 
 over. For the truth is equal to the grace of the observation 
 — that the beauties of a poem spring up from the soil in 
 ■which they are imbedded, and that the flower withers with- 
 out its root. 
 
 The happiest theory of translation is contained in a letter 
 which Cowper sent to Hayley from Weston, January 5, 1794 : 
 — " There are minutijs in every language, which, transfused 
 into another, will spoil the version. Such extreme fidelity is, 
 in fact, unfaithful. Such close resemblance takes away all 
 likeness. The original is elegant, easy, natural ; the copy is 
 clumsy, strained, unnatural. To what is this owing? To 
 the adoption of terms not congenial to your purpose, and of 
 a context such as no man writing an original work would 
 make use of. Homer is everything that a poet should be. 
 A translation of Homer so made, will be everj-thing a trans- 
 lation of Homer should not be. Because it will be written 
 in no language under heaven. It will be English, and it 
 will be Greek, and, therefore, it will be neither. He is the 
 man best qualified as a translator of Homer who has drenched, 
 and steeped, and soaked himself in the effusions of his genius, 
 till he has imbibed their colour to the bone ; and who, when 
 he is thus dyed through and through, distinguishing between 
 wliat is essentially Greek, and what may be habited in Eng- 
 
 * " Beniains," vol. ii. p. 465.
 
 EDWARD FAIRFAX. XVll 
 
 lish, rejects the former, and is faithful to the latter, as 
 far as the purposes of fine poetry will permit, and no 
 further." 
 
 Cowper could not embody his dream. We have only sis 
 translators who are read for their own sake — Chapman, Fair- 
 fax, Dryden, Pope, Mickle, and Gary; though I remember 
 the delight of Kogers in Cowper's " Homer," the admiration 
 of Campbell, and the tears of his wife. Lamb discovered in 
 Chapman a continuous interest and charm of sound; and 
 Coleridge pronounces his " Iliad" to be an original poem 
 like the " Faery Queen." But the " Godfrey" is fairly 
 entitled to share the praise. The animation of an original 
 lives and breathes throughout it. The style is singularly 
 lucid and musical, suggesting to Dryden a far vision into 
 our numbers, and reminding Hallam of the naturalness of 
 modern language. Fairfax is a simpler Spenser, with a dic- 
 tion often rich and encumbered, but flowing gracefully under 
 the weight of its embroidery and gold. If we stumble on some 
 imtimely words of Spenser — to adopt the phrase of Daniel- 
 there is little difficulty, or obsoleteness. Fairfax has been 
 accused — and with occasional justice — of descending to vulgar 
 idioms ; but the critic, who censured his homeliness, had for- 
 gotten the exquisite song of Marlowe, and the " Paradise 
 Lost" of Milton. 
 
 In the third volume of the " Eetrospective Review," the 
 reader will find an interesting comparison of Fairfax with 
 Carew. The merit of superior accuracy is given to his pre- 
 decessor, who put his feet in the " foot-prints" of Tasso. In 
 particular passages, and probably in general knowledge of his 
 author, Carew has a claim to pre-eminence. But his ear did 
 not second his judgment; and if he had completed his ver- 
 sion, it might have been read for its diligence, but never for 
 its melody. I add the portrait of Armida, for the sake of the
 
 XVlll EDWARD FAIRFAX. 
 
 contrast to the same face drawn by Fairfax, who dared not to 
 have followed the example of Carew, and printed the Italian 
 text on the opposite page. 
 
 CARKW. 
 
 The faire Armida priding in her hew, 
 And in th' endowments of her sexe and age, 
 This charge takes on her, and as ev'ning drew. 
 Doth part and to close wayes her steps engage ; 
 Stout harts she hopes, and arm'd hands to subdew, 
 With her tresses, and wenches equippage, 
 
 But of her parting divers tales are spred 
 
 By set device, t' amuse the people's hed. 
 
 Within few dayes this dame her journey ends, 
 There were the Frankes their large pavillions spred, 
 Whose bewtie rare at his apparence lends : 
 Babbling to eyes and tongues a gazing led, 
 As when some starre or comete strange ascends. 
 And in cleere day through sky his beames doth shed : 
 They flock in plumps this pilgrim faire to view, 
 And to be wizde what cause her hither di-ew. 
 
 Not Argos, Cyprus, Delos, ere present 
 Paternes of shape, or bewtie could so deere, 
 Gold are her lockes, which in white shadow pent, 
 Eft do but glimpse, eft all disclosde appeare, 
 As when new clensde we see the element, 
 Sometimes the Sun shines through white cloud undeere, 
 Sometimes from cloud outgone his raies more bright. 
 He sheads abroad, dubling of day the light. 
 
 The wind new crisples makes in her loose haire, 
 Which nature selfe to wave recrispelled, 
 Her sparing looke a coy regard doth beare, 
 And love's treasures and hers up wympelled,
 
 EDWARD FAIRFAX. XIX 
 
 Sweete roses colour in that visage faire 
 With ivorie is sperst, and mingelled, 
 
 But in her mouth whence breath of love out goes, 
 
 Ruddy alone and single blooms the rose. 
 
 It were a needless task to institute a parallel between 
 Fairfax and recent translators. Hoole's version, wLicli has 
 gained a " trade" popularity, is a mechanical performance — 
 dead and scentless as a garland in wax. The work of Wiffen 
 claims a higher rank; it glows with poetic feeling, and gra- 
 tifies the ear and the taste. But we miss the begruiliner 
 charm of the earlier and mellower tune. In the following 
 stanza the five rivals may be supposed to have put forth all 
 their strength : — 
 
 The dreai-y trumpet blew a dreadful blast. 
 
 And rumbled through the lands and kingdoms under ; 
 
 Through vastness wide it roar'd, and hollows vast, 
 
 And fiU'd the deep with horror, fear, and wonder ! 
 
 Not half so dreadful noise the tempests cast, 
 
 That fall from skies with storms of hail and thunder ; 
 
 Not half so loud the whistling winds do ring. 
 
 Broke from the earthen prisons of their king. 
 
 The trumpet now with hoarse-resounding breath 
 Convenes the spirits in the shades of death ; 
 The hollow caverns tremble at the sound ; 
 The air re-echoes to the noise around ; 
 Not louder thunders shake the distant Pole 
 When through the skies the rattling thunders roll : 
 Not greater tremors heave the lab'ring earth, 
 When vapours pent within contend for birth. 
 
 52
 
 XX EDWARD FAIRFAX. 
 
 BEATTIE. 
 
 Forthwith to summon all the tribes of hell 
 The trump Tartarean pour'd a thundering yell ; 
 Trembled th' unfathomable caverns round, 
 And night's vast void rebellow'd to the sound : 
 Far less the roar that rends th' ethereal world, 
 When bolts of vengeance from on high are hurl'd ; 
 Far less the shock that heaves earth's tottering frame. 
 When its torn entrails spout th' imprison' d flame. 
 
 HUNT. 
 Th' infernal trump, that loud and hoarsely bray'd, 
 Conven'd the inmates of th' eternal shade : 
 Hell's gloomy caverns shook at eVry pore; 
 The murky air return'd the sullen roar : 
 Not half so loud, from upper regions driv'n, 
 Bursts on th' aifrighted world the bolt of HeaVn ; 
 Not such the shock, when from Earth's womb profound 
 Exploding vapours rive the solid ground, 
 
 WIFFEN. 
 
 Its hoarse alarm the Stygian trumpet sounded 
 
 Through the dark dwellings of the damned; the vast 
 
 Tartarean caverns tremblingly rebounded, 
 
 Blind air rebellowing to the dreary blast ; 
 
 Hell quaked with all its millions ; never cast 
 
 Th' ethereal skies a discord so profound. 
 
 When the red lightning's vivid flash was past; 
 
 Nor ever with such tremors rock'd the ground, 
 
 When in its pregnant womb conflicting fires were bound. 
 
 Beattie* remarks upon the version by Fairfax : — " This is 
 
 sonorous, but tautological, and not quite true to the original. 
 
 Faii'fax makes no mention of the earthquake, and introduces 
 
 in the place of it what is really a bathos. Wind was never so 
 
 * " Life," by Forbes, vol. i. p. 126.
 
 EDWAKD FAIRFAX. XXI 
 
 loud as thunder." Of his own rendering he says : — " I 
 attempted the other day, in a solitary walk, to turn this pas- 
 sage into English, and produced the following lines, which 
 are as obstreperous, at least, as the original, hut, I am 
 afraid, not so agreeable." The noise of the verses is suffi- 
 ciently harsh, and recalls the objection of Gray to the 
 "obstreperous" trump of Fame in the " Minstrel," which hurt 
 his ear, though meant to express a jarring sound. Fairfax 
 makes audible the underground roar of Tasso; but Wiifen 
 alone preserves the striking circumstance in the fourth line 
 of the 
 
 Blind air rebellowing to the dreary blast. * 
 
 If the " Godfrey" be regarded as a poem partly original, 
 the Author will be fairly judged; Mr. Hallam proposes to 
 name it, " The Jerusalem Delivered, imitated from Tasso." 
 The boast of Mickle belongs to Fairfax : — " It was not to 
 gratify the dull few whose greatest pleasure in reading a 
 translation is to see what the author exactly says ; it was to 
 give a Poem that might live in the English language, which 
 was the ambition of the translator." Viewed in this light, 
 Fairfax makes strong demands on our admiration ; and he 
 was regarded by his contemporaries and immediate successors 
 as an original writer. 
 
 Waller owned to Dryden, that he " derived the harmony of 
 his numbers from the 'Godfrey of Bulloigne,' which was turned 
 into English by Mr. Fairfax ;" Milton seems to have loved his 
 Doric rhymes, when his own pastoral pipe was tuned at 
 Horton ; and we breathe the fragrance of his fancy and the 
 sweetness of his pathos in the songs of Herrick. The imitations 
 by Waller are numerous ; and Dryden's assertion that the 
 " well-placing of words for the sweetness of pronunciation was 
 
 •El' aer cieco a quel rumor rimbomba.
 
 XXn EDWARD FAIRFAX. 
 
 not learnt till Mr. WaUer introduced it," can only be exceeded 
 in boldness by his panegyric of Suckling, as a " refiner upon 
 Shakspeare." 
 
 Pope appreciated the metrical genius of Fairfax, and parti- 
 culai'ly because he " well-vowelled his lines !" Indeed, Pope 
 learned more than one secret in versification from his elder 
 brother ; and Headley quotes the following lines of Fairfax 
 in illustration : — 
 
 Twanged the string, out-flew the quarrel long, 
 And through the subtle air did singing pass. 
 
 B. vii. St. 103. 
 LigTiten'd the heaven above, the earth below 
 Roar'd loud. xviii. 37. 
 
 Vanish'd her garments rich, and vestures strange. 
 
 xviii. 35. 
 Campbell numbers the " Jerusalem Delivered" among the 
 glories of the Elizabethan reign. Hallam thinks the " terms 
 too strong " But the Poem sustains the Critic. The story 
 moves forward with the dignity, the splendour, and the 
 changefulness of a pageant. Perhaps the poet's genius 
 shines out with the utmost loveliness in the single lines of 
 thought, or description, which he sows abundantly over his 
 page — lines that murmur in the ear, and linger on the tongue, 
 and charm the memory with a sweet enchantment. But the 
 greatest honour has been awarded to him by a writer who 
 rejoiced in the same " wondi'ous show" of the inward eye, and 
 in a rapture of fancy not less creative. Collins crowned 
 Fairfax. These verses are his coronation and his epitaph ; 
 they form a portion of the address to Home, the author of 
 " Douglas:" — 
 
 Proceed ! nor quit the tales which, simply told. 
 Could once so well my answering bosom pierce ; 
 
 Proceed, in forceful sounds, and colours bold,
 
 EDWARD FAIRFAX. XXIU 
 
 The native legends of thy land rehearse ; 
 
 To such adapt thy lyre, and suit thy powerful verse. 
 
 In scenes like these, which, daring to depart 
 
 From sober truth, are still to nature true, 
 
 And call forth fresh delight to fancy's view, 
 The heroic Muse employed her Tasso's art ! 
 
 How have I trembled, when, at Tancred's stroke, 
 Its gushing blood the gaping cypress pour'd ! 
 
 When each live plant with mortal accents spoke. 
 And the wild blast upheaved the vanished sword ! 
 
 How have I sat, when piped the pensive wind. 
 To hear his harp by British Fairfax strung ! 
 
 Prevailing Poet ! whose undoubting mind 
 Believed the magic wonders which he sung ! 
 
 Hence, at each sound imagination glows ! 
 Hence, at each picture vivid life starts here ! 
 
 Hence, his warm lay with softest sweetness flows ! 
 Melting it flows, pure, murmuring, strong, and clear, 
 And fills the impassioned heart, and wins the harmonious ear !
 
 TO 
 
 HEE HIGH MAJESTY.* 
 
 Wit's rich triumph, Wisdom's glory, 
 Art's chronicle, and Learning's story. 
 
 Tower of goodness, virtue, beauty : 
 Forgive me, that presume to lay 
 My labours in your clear eyes' ray ; 
 
 This boldness springs from faith, zeal, duty. 
 
 Her hand, her lap, her vesture's hem, 
 Muse.touch not for polluting them ; 
 
 All that is hers is pure, clear, holy : 
 Before her foot-stool humble lie, 
 So may she bless thee with her eye ; 
 
 The sun shines not on good things solely. 
 
 Olive of peace. Angel of pleasure, 
 
 What line of praise can your worth measure 
 
 Calm sea of bliss which no shore boundeth ! 
 Fame fills the world no more with lies, 
 But busied in your histories 
 
 Her trumpet those true wonders soundeth : 
 
 * Queen Elizabeth.
 
 TO HER HIGH MAJESTY. 
 
 Fame, say all the good thou may'st, 
 Too little is that all thou say'st ! 
 
 What if herself herself commended ? 
 Should we then know (nere known before) 
 Whether her wit, or worth were more ? 
 
 Ah no ! that book would nere be ended. 
 
 Your Majesty's humble Subject, 
 
 EDWARD FAIREFAX. 
 * The name is thus spelt by the Poet.
 
 THE 
 
 GENIUS OF GODFREY 
 
 TO 
 
 PRINCE CHARLES.* 
 
 Nymphs of Caledon, happy are your bowers, 
 Platted with woodbine, jessamine, and bays, 
 By which a silver stream so gently plays. 
 
 And decks the bank on either side with flowers ; 
 But far more happy were you in those days, 
 
 When as you waited in the stately towers, 
 
 Where Charles was born ; and in his younger hours 
 Did give him suck, and luU'd with your lays. 
 
 You shepherds on the downs your flocks that keep, 
 Happy you were, while your Eliza deign'd 
 To dwell amongst you, who so wisely reign'd 
 
 That never wolf into your fold durst peep : 
 But now a better fortune have you gain'd, 
 
 For Pan himself is careful of your sheep, 
 
 And Charles amidst your cottages doth sleep, 
 As Phcebus did when he a shepherd feign'd. 
 
 You nymphs Hesperides, you happy were, 
 
 While in your power you had the trees of gold ; 
 For none but Hercules, that victor bold. 
 
 Could put your fruit in danger, you in feare ; 
 
 • Preiked to some copies of the edition of 1624.
 
 XXVIU GENIUS OF GODFREY. 
 
 But you Hesperian nymphs (could you have told), 
 Were far more happy, •while your shore did beare 
 Our noble Charles, his like was never there ; 
 
 Who found your climate hot, your love but cold. 
 
 You Naiades, that bathe you in the Seine, 
 
 What triumphs did you make, what feasts, what games? 
 
 When Tagus sent a nymph amongst your dames. 
 Whom they with lilies crown'd, to be their queen : 
 
 But you -with greater joy shall send to James 
 Your ^gle fair ; whom Charles shall take between 
 His princely arms, and crown with garlands green ; 
 
 And then for pomp Tagus shall yield to Thames. 
 
 You captive groves, and you polluted stones. 
 How welcome was to you that warlike Grome, 
 Who from wild satyrs freed the sacred tombe. 
 
 Where for three days our Shepherd laid his bones ? 
 But yet you may expect a better dome. 
 
 When Charles shall pity take of all your groanes, 
 
 And lead an army to expel those drones. 
 That do usurp Hierusalem and Kome.
 
 PREFIXED TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
 1624. 
 
 STo tl^t most illustrious mxti most JtitclUnt ^rina 
 CHARLES, 
 
 PRINCE OF WALES, DUKE OF COKNWALL, 
 EARL OF CHESTER, &c. 
 
 Sir, — The command of his Majesty, seconded by your Highness, 
 hath caused me to renew the impression of this book. 
 
 The former edition had the honour to be dedicated to the late 
 Queen Elizabeth, of famous memory, as appeareth by a worthy 
 Elogy here preserved. I could not leave this second birth of so 
 excellent an Author without a living Patron, and none could be 
 found fitter than your Princely self, who as you have highly com- 
 mended it, so it is to be presumed, you will take it into your safe 
 and Princely protection. For the Author, Torquato Tasso, I may 
 say this of him, that as Plato hath by some been called Moses 
 Ethnicus, so may he be styled Homerus Christianus ; and this will 
 be as fit to be found in the hand of a Christian Prince, as Homer 
 was to lie under the pillow of the Macedonian Emperor. 
 
 All the ornament I could add to this edition, was to illustrate 
 the chief subject of the book, that is, Godfrey of Bullen, the 
 great champion of Christendom ; which I have done, as well as I 
 could, by prefixing his portrait, as it was brought from Jerusalem, 
 and by a brief description of his life out of the best visiters. Here 
 is an example of piety and valour, joined together to redeem one 
 country to the honour of Christ, who redeemed the whole world
 
 XXX EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 
 
 for the benefit of man. Though Godfrey -were the first in this holy 
 band, Robert of Normandy was not the last, a noble branch of your 
 royal Tree : and it were to be wished, that the same spirit would in 
 this latter age inflame all Christian princes to the like design, that 
 the theatre of Mars might be erected in the gates of Jerusalem and 
 Constantinople, which now is too much frequented in the territories 
 of Christendom. A parallel to this enterprize cannot more fitly 
 be given than that of Lepanto, toward which, though our northern 
 princes gave no aid, yet your Royal Father, our Sovereign, hath 
 given a perpetual memory, by his learned and religious poem, 
 worthily imitated in the French, by Du Bartas ; wherein Don Juan 
 d' Austria doth not better follow the example of Godfrey, in the 
 acting, than his Majesty doth Tasso in describing the conquest, 
 which the Christians obtained against the Turks. 
 
 They that have not ability in the Tuscan language (in which it 
 was first penned very curiously) may delight themselves with this 
 translation : which will be so much the more worthy to be read, 
 because, besides the story (which must needs be acceptable to all 
 Christians), and the celebration of so many Heroes, the art of the 
 Poet is admirable, both for the imitation, which is the life of 
 Poetry, and for the Allegory ; for it doth not only contain the truth 
 (^ of an historical narration, sweetened with some poetical fiction, but 
 doth also secretly express a moral sense, showing the practic part 
 of virtue, leading to the consummation of felicity : so that at once 
 the understanding may be informed by the story, the fancy delighted 
 with the colours of poetry, and the will rectified with the examples 
 of morality. Such ends have been aimed at in other Epic Poems, 
 but never more happily attained, than in this ; which ofi"ers itself at 
 the feet of your Highness, presenting to you a view of all the happy 
 success, in your noble and heroical enterprizes, which these great 
 and memorable names are celebrated for, together with the humble 
 service of him who hath published this work anew, 
 At your Highness' command, 
 as your most humble and devoted servant, 
 
 JOHN BILL.
 
 THE LIFE 
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE.* 
 
 That expedition of the Argonauts, who went into Asia to 
 fetch the Golden Fleece, is much celebrated by Poets ; but 
 the expedition of the Christian princes, into the said country, 
 to redeem the Golden Fleece and patrimony of the Lamb of 
 God, is much more to be solemnized ; who, not for gain nor 
 ambition, but for the propagation of Christian religion, and 
 vindication of the Holy Land, undertook this long, diffi- 
 cult, and dangerous enterprize : of whom the poet seems long 
 before to have conceived a prophecy, when he writes — 
 
 Alter erit turn Typhis, et altera quae vehat Argo 
 Delectos Heroas. 
 
 In the year, therefore, 1096, Pope Urban the Second, 
 desirous to enlarge the Christian faith, caused to be pro- 
 claimed a voyage against the Infidels and Saracens, which 
 possessed the Holy Land, called Palestine ; and this at the 
 instance of one Peter the Hermit, chief author and abettor of 
 this voyage, called the Croysade, because such as entered their 
 names for this enterprize, were marked with a red cross, upon 
 the right shoulder ; making this vow — either to die, or return 
 conquerors. The number of them that were gathered toge- 
 
 • From the edition of 1624.
 
 XXXn THE LIFE OF 
 
 ther for this purpose was almost infinite ; for of all nations, 
 men of all qualities, assembled together, drawn on with an 
 emulation of piety and honour. 
 
 When the army was met at Chalcedon, in Asia, it was 
 mustered to be six hundred thousand footmen and one hun- 
 dred thousand horsemen ; aU which went voluntaiily upon 
 their o^vn charge, for the honour of Christian religion. 
 
 Of the French (that I may say nothing of other nations), 
 there went Hugh the Great, brother to Philip King of France; 
 two Roberts — the one Duke of Normandy, and the other 
 Earl of Flanders ; Stephen, Earl of Chartres ; Godfrey, Eus- 
 tace, and Baldwin, the sons of Eustace, Earl of Bulloigne, a 
 sea-town in Picardy. The received opinion is, that Godfrey 
 was Captain-General of this army — it is questioned whether 
 he was Duke of Lorraine : but this is for certain, that he was 
 descended of the ancient and illustrious house of Lorraine, 
 that he was Duke of Bouillon, and Earl of Bulloigne afore- 
 said ; the memorable notes of which are upon record as yet, 
 in that he sold Metz (a chief town in Lorraine) to the inhabi- 
 tants thereof, and the Duchy of Bouillon, to Hubert, Bishop 
 of Liege, to furnish himself with money for this holy expedi- 
 tion. 
 
 And here we may observe the error of some about the 
 name and title of Godfrey, grown upon the likeness of the 
 word : for there is Bologne, a city in Italy, commonly called 
 Bononia, with which, in this place, we have nothing to do ; 
 and there is Boulogne, a sea-town in Picardy, famous amongst 
 us for being besieged by Henry the Eighth, of which our 
 Godfrey seemeth to have been Earl; and thirdly, there is 
 Bouillon, adjoining to the Bishopric of Liege, of which God- 
 frey was styled duke. 
 
 The fii'st enterprize that the Christians undertook, in their 
 entrance into Asia, was the siege of Nicea, a city in Bithynia,
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. XXXlll 
 
 which is yet famous for the Nicene Council ; and that they 
 won from the Turks, in the space of twenty-six days : after 
 which they suhdued other provinces in Asia — as Lycaonia, 
 Cilicia, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Comagena. In the year 
 1098, they won the city Antiochia, upon the river Orontes, 
 after a difficult siege of nine months. At last they came to 
 Jerusalem, which at that time the Saracens held, having 
 newly recovered it from the Turks, after the Turks had pos- 
 sessed it eight years. The Christians won this holy city 
 from the Saracens, after thirty-eight days' siege, in the 
 year 1099, in which they found so much difficulty, that 
 they were ahout to leave the siege, had they not been 
 animated to a new assault by a prodigious and miraculous 
 sight which appeared from Mount Olivet, which, by the 
 shaking of a glittering shield, gave them hope of victorious 
 success. 
 
 The chief honour of this conquest was given to Godfrey, 
 because he of all others had raised a tower of wood, near the 
 wall of the city, and from thence cast a bridge upon the wall, 
 by which the Christian soldiers made themselves masters of 
 the rampire, and so entered the town. Hei-eupon, by the 
 consent of all the princes, Godfrey of Bouillon was chosen 
 King of Jerusalem : who (showing himself as full of piety as 
 valour), refused to be crowned witli a crown of gold, saying 
 that it was not fit that any man should wear a crown of gold 
 in that city, where Christ, the King of Kings, had worn a 
 crown of thorns : and thereupon made a vow to hold the 
 kingdom of Jerusalem and Syria of the Pope, as a feudatory 
 prince to the Church of Rome. But this, perhaps, was to 
 make some honourable amends for a fault he had committed 
 when being in the service of Henry the Emperor, in his wars 
 against the Pope, he was the first that scaled the walls of 
 Kome, and there planted his victorious ensign. So that he 
 
 c
 
 XXXIV THE LIFE OF 
 
 may be famous amongst Christian princes, in that he con- 
 quered both Turk and Pope. 
 
 The provinces were divided amongst the chief princes: 
 Baldwin, brother to Godfrey, possessed Cilicia, Comagena, 
 and Mesopotamia, and had the title of Count of Edessa, a 
 city in Comagena, which is the same that in the story of 
 Tobias, is called Rages; Tancred obtained the government 
 of Tiberia, and Boemund of Antioch. 
 
 Godfrey, after he had enlarged his victories with the con- 
 quest of divers cities and places in the land of Palestine, 
 reigned one year King of Jerusalem, and then passed to the 
 heavenly Jerusalem. 
 
 His brother Baldwin succeeded him, who increased the 
 kingdom by the conquest of divers famous cities — as Antipa- 
 tris, Csesarea, Ptolemais, Tripolis, Laodicea, and Car of 
 Mesopotamia, and the island Pharos in Egypt. He 
 reigned eighteen years, and left his successor Baldwin de 
 Burgo, his cousin-gernian. In the reign of this king was 
 instituted the Order of the Knights of Jerusalem, who com- 
 monly were called Knights of St. John, and afterwards 
 Knights of Ehodes — who for many years defended Christen- 
 dom against the Turks and Saracens, and won many Islands 
 in the Mediterranean Sea : but since that time the power of 
 the Turk prevailing, and those countries being lost, these 
 Knights hardly maintain themselves within the Straits of the 
 Island Malta. About this time also was the Order of the 
 Templars instituted, to be champions for the Holy War ; but 
 their riot brought them into contempt, and so they were dis- 
 solved. This second Baldwin had great conquests against the 
 Turks and Saracens of Egypt ; winning from them Damascus 
 and Tirus, He died in the year 1131, when he had reigned 
 thirteen years : after him grew dissensions amongst the 
 Christian princes, so that the kings of Jerusalem fell from
 
 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE. XXXV 
 
 their wonted piety and prosperity together ; till at last in the 
 year 1188, the Sultan of Egypt recovered it wholly again, 
 and expelled or destroyed the Christians, when they had en- 
 joyed it eighty-eight years after the first conquest. 
 
 So Godfrey died in the year 1100, the 15th of July, and 
 was buried in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre ; upon 
 whose tomb this is found written, — 
 
 Hic Iacet Inclttvs Dvx, Godfeet Dvx De Bvillon ; 
 Qvi ToTAM IsTAM Teeeam Acqvisivit Cvltti Cheis- 
 TiANO; Cvivs Anima Regnat Cvm Cheisto. Amen. 
 
 ^2
 
 THE 
 
 ALLEGORY OF THE POEM. 
 
 Heeoical Poetry (as a living creature wherein two natures 
 are conjoined) is compounded of Imitation and Allegory : 
 with the one she allureth unto her the minds and ears of 
 men, and marvellously delighteth them ; with the other, either 
 in virtue or knowledge, she instructeth them. And as the 
 heroically written Imitation of another, is nothing else but 
 the pattern and image of human action, so the Allegory 
 of an Heroical Poem is none other than the glass and figure 
 of human life. But Imitation regardeth the actions of man 
 subjected to the outward senses, and about them being prin- 
 cipally employed, seeketh to represent them with effectual 
 and expressive phrases, such as lively set before our corporal 
 ej'^es the things represented : it doth not consider the cus- 
 toms, affections, or discourses of the Mind, as they be inward, 
 but only as they come forth thence, and being manifested in 
 words, in deeds, or working, do accompany the Action. On 
 the other side. Allegory respecteth the passions, the opinions 
 and customs, not only as they do appear, but principally in 
 their being hidden and inward ; and more obscurely doth ex- 
 press them with notes (as a man may say) mystical, such as 
 only the understanders of the nature of things can fully com- 
 prehend. Now, leaving Imitation apart, we will, according 
 to our purpose, speak of Allegory : which, as the life of man 
 is comp( .nd, so it represents to us, sometime the figure of the
 
 XXXVlll THE ALLEGORY OF TUE POEil. 
 
 one, sometime the figure of the other; yet because that com- 
 monly by Man, we understand this compound of the body, 
 soul, or mind, and then man's life is said to be that, which of 
 such compound is proper, in the operations whereof every part 
 thereof concurs, and by working gets that perfection, of the 
 which by her nature she is capable : sometime (although 
 more seldom) by Man is understood, not the compound, but 
 the most noble part, namely the Mind ; according to this last 
 signification, it may be said that the life of man is Contem- 
 plative, and to work simply with the Understanding, foras- 
 much as this life doth seem much to participate of heaven, and 
 as it were changed from humanity, to become angelical. Of 
 the life of the Contemplative Man, the Comedy of Dantes 
 and the Odyssees, are (as it were) in every part thereof a 
 figure; but the civil life is seen to be shadowed throughout 
 the Iliads and ^neids also, although in this there be rather 
 set out a mixture of Action and Contemplation. But since 
 the Contemplative Man is solitary, and the Man of Action 
 liveth in civil company, thence it cometh that Dantes and 
 Ulysses, in their departure from Calypso, are feigned not to 
 be accompanied of the army, or of a multitude of soldiers, 
 but to depart alone ; whereas, Agamemnon and Achilles are 
 described, the one general of the Grecian army, the other 
 leader of many troops of Myrmidons, and .Sneas is seen 
 to be accompanied when he fighteth, or doth other civil acts ; 
 but when he goeth to hell and the Elysian fields, he leaves 
 his followers, accompanied only with his most faithful friend 
 Achates, who never departed from his side. Neither doth 
 the Poet at random feign that he went alone, for that in his 
 voyage there is signified this only contemplation of these 
 pains and rewards which in another world are reserved for 
 good or guilty souls. Moreover, the operation of the Under- 
 standing Speculative, which is the working of one only power,
 
 THE ALLEGORY OP THE POEM. XXXIX 
 
 is comraodiously figured unto us by the action of one alone : 
 but the Operation Political^ which proceedeth together from 
 the other powers of the mind (which are as citizens united 
 in one commonwealth), cannot so commodiously be shadowed 
 of Action wherein many together, and to one end working, 
 do not concur. To these reasons, and to these examples I 
 having regard, have made the Allegory of my Poem such, as 
 now shall be manifested. 
 
 The Army compounded of divers princes, and of other 
 Christian soldiers, signifieth Man, compounded of soul and 
 body, and of a soul not simple, but divided into many and 
 divers powers. Jerusalem, the strong city placed in a rough 
 and hilly country, whereunto as to the last end are directed 
 all the enterprizes of the faithful army, doth here signify the 
 Civil happiness, which may come to a Christian man (as here- 
 after shall be declared) which is a good, very difficult to attain 
 unto, and situated upon the top of the Alpine and wearisome 
 hill of Virtue ; and unto this are turned (as unto the last 
 mark) all the actions of the politic man. Godfrey, which of 
 all the assembly is cliosen chieftain, stands for Understanding, 
 and particularly for that understanding which considereth not 
 the things necessaiy, but the mutable and which may diversely 
 happen, and those by the will of God. And of Princes he is 
 chosen captain of this enterprize, because understanding is of 
 God, and of nature made lord over the other virtues of the 
 soul and body, and commands these, one with civil power, the 
 other with royal command. Kinaldo, Tancredie, and the 
 other princes are in lieu of the other powers of the soul ; and 
 the body here becomes notified by the soldiers less noble. And 
 because that through the imperfection of human nature, and 
 by the deceits of his enemy, man attains not this felicity 
 without many inward difficulties, and without finding by the 
 way many outward impediments, all these are noted unto us
 
 xl THE ALLEGORY OF THE POEM. 
 
 by poetical figures. As the death, of Syrenus, and his com- 
 panions, not being joined to the camp, but slain far oflP, may 
 here shew the losses, which a civil man hath of his friends, 
 followers, and other external goods, instruments of viii;ue, 
 and aids to the attaining of true felicity. The armies of 
 Africk, Asia, and unlucky battles are none other than his 
 enemies, his losses, and the accidents of contrary fortune. But 
 coming to the inward impediments, love, which maketh Tan- 
 credie and the other worthies to dote, and disjoin them from 
 Godfrey, and the disdain which enticeth Einaldo fi-om the 
 enterprize, do signify the conflict and rebellion which the 
 Concupiscent and Ireful powers do make with the Eeasonable. 
 The Devils, which do consult to hinder the conquest of Jeru- 
 salem, are both a figure and a thing figured, and do here 
 represent the very same evils, which do oppose themselves 
 against our civil happiness, so that it may not be to us a lad- 
 der of Christian blessedness. The two magicians, Ismeu and 
 Armida, servants of the devU, which endeavour to remove the 
 Christians from making war, are two devilish temptations 
 which do lay snares for two powers of the soul, from whence 
 all other sins do proceed. Ismen doth signify that temptation 
 which seeketh to deceive with false belief the virtue (as a man 
 may call it) Opinative: Armida is that temptation which 
 layeth siege to the power of our desu-es, so from that proceed 
 the errors of Opinion ; from this, those of the Appetite. The 
 enchantments of Ismen in the wood, deceiving with illusions, 
 signify no other thing than the falsity of the reasons and per- 
 suasions which are engendered in the world; that is, in 
 the variety and multitude of opinions and discourses of men. 
 And since that man followeth vice and flieth vu-tue, either 
 thinking that travels and dangers are evils most grie- 
 vous and insupportable, or judging (as did the Epicure 
 and his followers) that in pleasure and idleness consisted
 
 THE ALLEGORY OP THE POEM. xli 
 
 chiefest felicity ; by this, double is the enchantment and illu- 
 sion. The Fire, the Whirlwind, the Darkness, the Monsters, 
 and other feigned semblances, are the deceiving allurements 
 which do shew us honest travels, and honourable danger under 
 the shape of Evil. The Flowers, the Fountains, the Rivers, the 
 Musical instruments, the Nymphs, are the deceitful entice- 
 ments, which do here set down before us the pleasures and 
 delights of the sense, under the show of Good. So let it 
 suffice to have said thus much of the impediments which a 
 man finds as well within as without himself; yet if the Alle- 
 gory of anything be not well expressed, with these beginnings 
 every man by himself may easily find it out. Now let us 
 pass to the outward and inward helps, with which the Civil 
 man overcoming all difficulty is brought to this desired 
 happiness. The target of Diamond which Raimond recover- 
 eth, and afterward is shewed ready in the defence of Godfrey, 
 ought to be understood for the special safeguard of the Lord 
 God. The Angels do signify sometime Heavenly help, and 
 sometime Inspiration, the which are here shadowed in the 
 dream of Godfrey, and in the records of the Hermit. The 
 Hermit, who for the deliverance of Rinaldo did send the two 
 messengers to the wise man, doth show unto us the super- 
 natural knowledge, received, by God's grace, as the wise man 
 doth human wisdom, forasmuch as of human wisdom, and of 
 the knowledge of the works of Nature, and the mysteries 
 thereof, is bred and established in our minds, justice, tempe- 
 rance, despising of death, and mortal pleasures, magnanimity, 
 and every other moral virtue. And great aid may a civil man 
 receive in every action he attempteth by Contemplation. It 
 is feigned that this wise man was by birth a Pagan, but bein" 
 by the Hermit converted to the true faith, becometh a Chris- 
 tian, and despising his first arroganc}', he doth not much 
 presume of his own wisdom, but yieldeth himself to the
 
 xlii THE ALLEGORY OF THE POEM. 
 
 judgment of his master, albeit that Philosophy he bom and 
 nourished amongst the Gentiles in Egypt and Greece, and 
 from thence have passed over unto us, presumptuous of her- 
 self, a miscreant hold and proud above measure ; but of Saint 
 Thomas and the other holy doctors she is made the disciple 
 and handmaid of divinity, and is become by their endeavour 
 more modest and more religious, nothing daring rashly to 
 aflBrm against that which is revealed to her masters. Neither 
 in vain is the person of the wise man brought in, Rinaldo 
 being able by the only counsel of the Hermit, to be found and 
 brought back again, for that, it is brought in show, that the 
 grace of God doth not work always in men immediately, or by 
 extraordinary ways, but many times worketh by natural 
 means. And it is very reasonable that Godfrey, which in 
 holiness and religion doth excel all other, and is (as hath been 
 said) the figure of Understanding, be specially graced and 
 privileged with favours not communicated to any other. This 
 human wisdom, when it is directed of the superior, or more 
 high virtue, doth deliver the sensible soul from vice, and 
 therein placeth moral Virtue. But because this sufficeth not, 
 Peter the Hermit first confesseth Godfrey and Rinaldo, and 
 converted Tancredie. Godfrey and Rinaldo, being two per- 
 sons, which in our Poem do hold the principal place, it cannot 
 be but pleasing to the reader that I, repeating some of the 
 already spoken things, do particularly lay open the allegorical 
 sense, which under the veil of their actions, lies hidden. God- 
 frey, which holdeth the principal place in this story, is no 
 other in the Allegory but the Understanding, which is signified 
 in many places of the Poem as in that verse, 
 
 By thee the counsel given is, by thee the sceptre rul'd. 
 
 And more plainly in that other : 
 
 Thy soul is of the camp both mind and life.
 
 THE ALLEGORY OF THE POEM. xliii 
 
 And Life is added, because in the powers more noble, the 
 less noble are contained : therefore Einaldo, which in action 
 is in the second degree of honour, ought also to be placed in 
 the Allegory in the answerable degree : but what this power 
 of the mind, holding the second degree of dignity, is, shall be 
 now manifested. The Ireful virtue is that, which amongst 
 all the powers of the mind, is less estranged from the nobility 
 of the soul, insomuch that Plato (doubting) seeketh whether 
 it differeth from reason, or no. And such is it in the mind, 
 as the chieftain in an assembly of soldiers : for as of these 
 the office is to obey their princes, which do give directions 
 and commandments to fight against their enemies : so is it 
 the duty of the ireful, warlike, and sovereign part of the 
 mind, to be armed with reason against concupiscence, and 
 with that vehemency and fierceness, (which is proper unto it) 
 to resist and drive away whatsoever impediment to felicity. 
 But when it doth not obey Reason, but suffers itself to be 
 carried of her own violence, it falleth out, that it fighteth not 
 against Concupiscence, but by Concupiscence, like a dog that 
 biteth not the thieves, but the cattle committed to his keep- 
 ing. This violent, fierce, and unbridled fury, as it cannot be 
 fully noted by one man of war, is nevertheless principally 
 signified by Rinaldo, where it is said of him, that being 
 
 - — —A right warlike knight 
 
 Did scorn by reason's rule to fight. 
 
 Wherein (whilst fighting against Gernando, he did pass the 
 bounds of civil revenge, and whilst he served Armida) may 
 be noted unto us. Anger, not governed by Reason : whilst he 
 disenchanteth the wood, entereth the city, breaketh the 
 enemy's array. Anger, directed by Reason. His return and 
 reconciliation to Godfrey, noteth Obedience, causing the Ireful 
 power to yield to the Reasonable. In these reconciliations
 
 xliv THE ALLEGORY OF THE POEil. 
 
 two things are signified : first, Godfrey with civil modera- 
 tion, is acknowledged to be superior to Einaldo, teaching us 
 that Eeason conimandeth Anger, not imperiously, but cour- 
 teously and ci\Tlly: contrariwise in that, by imprisoning 
 ArgiUanus imperiously, the sedition is quieted ; it is given us 
 to understand the power of the Mind to be over the body, 
 regal and predominate : secondly, that as the Reasonable part 
 ought not (for herein the Stoics were very much deceived) to 
 exclude the Ireful from actions, nor usurp the offices thereof, 
 for this usurpation should be against nature and justice, but 
 it ought to make her her companion and handmaid : so ought 
 not Godfrey to attempt the adventure of the wood himself, 
 thereby arrogating to himself the other offices belonging to 
 Einaldo. Less skill should then be showed, and less regard 
 had to the profit which the Poet, as subjected to policy, 
 ought to have for his aim, if it had been feigned that by 
 Godfrey only all was wrought which was necessary for the 
 conquering of Jerusalem. Neither is there contrariety or 
 difierence from that which hath been said, in putting down 
 Einaldo and Godfrey for that figure of the Eeasouable and of 
 the Ireful virtue, which Hugo speaks of in his dream, whereas 
 hi compareth the one to the Head, the other to the right Hand 
 of the army, because the head (if we believe Plato) is the 
 seat of Eeason, and the right hand, if it be not the seat of 
 Wrath, it is at least hermost principal instrument. Finally, 
 to come to the conclusion, the Army, wherein Einaldo and the 
 other worthies by the grace of God and advice of man are 
 returned and obedient to their chieftain, signifieth man 
 brought again into the state of natural justice and heavenly 
 obedience : where the superior powers do command, as they 
 ought, and the inferior do obey, as they should. Then the 
 wood is easily disenchanted, the city vanquished, the enemy's 
 army discomfited, that is, all external impediments being
 
 THE ALLEGORY OF THE POEM. xlv 
 
 easily overcome, man attaineth the Politic happiness. But 
 for that this Politic blessedness ought not to be the last mark 
 of a Christian man, but he ought to look more high, that is 
 to everlasting felicity, for this cause Godfrey doth not desire 
 to win the earthly Jerusalem, to have therein only temporal 
 dominion, but because herein may be celebrated the worship 
 of God, and that the Holy Sepulchre may be the more freely 
 visited by godly strangers and devout pilgrims ; and the Poem 
 is shut up in the prayers of Godfrey, it is showed unto us, 
 that the Understanding being travelled and wearied in civil 
 actions, ought in the end to rest in devotion, and in the con- 
 templation of the eternal blessedness of the other most happy 
 and immortal Life.
 
 COMMENDATORY VERSES 
 PREFIXED TO THE EDITION OF 1687. 
 
 Long this stupendous work has lain obscur'd, 
 
 From gloomy times a long eclipse endur'd ; 
 
 But now it rises like a cloudless sun, 
 
 And brings as great a tide of glory on. 
 
 Hail, heav'nly Poem ! while these strains we hear, 
 
 The soul does mount into the ravish'd ear. 
 
 We feel no anguish, and we lose our care ! 
 
 So wondrous are the actions here enroll'd ! 
 
 And in such high, harmonious numbers told ! 
 
 See here, you dull translators, look with shame 
 Upon this stately monument of fame. 
 And, to amaze you more, reflect how long 
 It is, since first 'twas taught the English tongue : 
 In what a dark age it was brought to light ; 
 Dark ? No, our age is dark, and that was bright. 
 Of all those versions which now brightest shine, 
 Most (Fairfax) are but foils to set off thine : 
 Ev'n Horace can't of too much justice boast. 
 His unaffected easy style is lost ; 
 And Ogilby's the lumber of the stall ; 
 But thy translation does atone for all.
 
 xlviii COMMENDATORY VERSES, 
 
 'Tis true, some few exploded words we find, 
 To which we've obligation to be kind ; 
 For, if the truth is scann'd, we must allow 
 They're better than the new admitted now : 
 Our language is at best, and it will fail 
 As th' inundations of French words prevail. 
 Let Waller be our standard, all beyond, 
 Tho' spoke at court, is foppery and fond. 
 
 For thee too, Tasso, I a wreath would twine. 
 If my low strain could reach the praise of thine. 
 Homer came first, and much to him is due, 
 Virgil, the next, does claim our wonder too, 
 And the third place must be conferred on you : 
 Thy work is thro' with the same spirit fir'd, 
 "Will last as long, and be as much admir'd : 
 Co-equal, you with them have fix'd your name, 
 And make up the Triumviri of everlasting fame ! 
 
 If lofty verse undaunted thoughts inspire. 
 And fill the hero's breast with martial fire. 
 Augment his thirst to glory while he reads, 
 And spur him on to high advent'rous deeds ; 
 May that great chief, who does the Turk engage. 
 Makes armies tremble, and restrains their rage ; 
 May he (a scourge to infidels unblest) 
 Take pattern by the warrior here exprest. 
 And drive like him, with an avenging hand, 
 Those unbelievers from the sacred land : 
 Free the great sepulchre of Christ once more, 
 And be what mighty Godfrey was before. 
 
 EGBERT GOULD.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 §00ii 11]^ ixxst 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 God sends Ms angel to Tortosa doion, 
 Godfrey unites the Christian peers and hnights ; 
 And all the lords and princes qfrenoton 
 Choose him their Duke, to rule the wars and fights. 
 Se mustereth all his host, whose number known, 
 Se sends them to the fort that Sion hights ;^ 
 The aged tyrant Juda's land that guides. 
 In fear and trouble to resist provides. 
 
 1. 
 
 I siNa the war made in the Holy Land, 
 
 And the great Chief that Christ's great tomb did free : 
 
 Much wrought he with his wit, much with his hand. 
 
 Much in that brave achievement suifer'd he ; 
 
 In vain doth hell the man of God withstand. 
 
 In vain the world's great princes armed be ; 
 
 For Heav'n him favour'd ; and he brought again 
 Under one standard all his scatter'd train.^ 
 
 O heavenly Muse, that not with fading bays 
 Deckest thy brow by th' Heliconian spring, 
 But sittest crown'd with stars' immortal rays 
 In Heaven, where legions of bright angels sing ; 
 
 1 Hights — adorns. 
 * The translator improved his earlier attempt : 
 
 The sacred armies, and the godly knight. 
 That the great sepulchre of Christ did free, 
 I sing; much wrought his valour and foresight. 
 And in that glorious war much suffred he ; 
 In vain 'gainst him did hell oppose her might. 
 In vain the Turks and Morians armed be : 
 His soldiers vrild (to brawls and mutines prest) 
 Beduced he to peace, so Ueav'n him blest. 
 
 B
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE j OR, 
 
 Inspire life in my wit, my thoughts np-raise. 
 
 My verse ennoble, and forgive the thing. 
 
 If fictions light I mix with truth divine, ^ 
 
 And fill these lines with others' praise than thine. 
 
 3. 
 
 Thither thou know'st the world is best inelin'd, 
 Where luring Parnas most his sweet imparts. 
 And truth, convey'd in verse of gentle kind. 
 To read perhaps will move the dullest hearts : 
 So we (if children young diseased we find) 
 Anoint with sweets the vessel's foremost parts. 
 
 To make them taste the potions sharp we give; 
 
 They diink deceived ; and so deceived, they live. 
 
 4. 
 Ye noble Princes, that protect and save 
 The pilgrim Muses, and their ship defend 
 From rock of ignorance, and error's wave. 
 Your gracious eyes upon this labour bend : 
 To yoii these tales of love and conquests brave 
 I dedicate, to you this work I send : 
 
 jMy Muse hereafter shall perhaps unfold 
 
 Your fights, your battles, and your combats bold. 
 
 5. 
 
 For if the Christian princes ever strive 
 To win fair Greece out of the tyrant's hands. 
 And those i;surping Ismaelites deprive 
 Of woful Thrace, which now captived stands, 
 You must from realms and seas the Turks forth drive. 
 As Godfrey chased them from Juda's lands, 
 And in this legend, all that glorious deed 
 Eead, whilst you ai'm you ; arm you, whilst you read. 
 
 6. 
 
 Six years were run, since first in martial guise 
 The Christian lords warraid' the eastern land, 
 Kice by assault, and Antioch by surprise, 
 Both fair, both rich, both won, both conquer'd stand; 
 And this defended they in noblest wise, 
 'Gainst Persian knights and many a valiant band: 
 Tortosa won (lest winter might them shend-). 
 They drew to holds, and coming spring attend. 
 
 ' Warraid — made tear on, * f>]iPni\—^eitroff,
 
 JEKUSALEM DELIVERED. 
 
 7. 
 The sullen season now was come and gone. 
 That forced them late cease from their noble war. 
 When God Almighty, from his lofty throne, 
 Set in those parts of Heaven that purest are 
 (As far above the clear stars ev'ry one. 
 As it is hence up to the highest star), 
 
 Look'd down, and all at once this world behield, 
 Each land, each city, countrj^, town, and field. 
 
 All things he view'd, at last in Syria stay'd 
 Upon the Christian lords his gracious eye. 
 That wondrous look wherewith he oft survey 'd 
 Men's secret thoughts that most concealed lie. 
 He cast on puissant Godfrey, that assay 'd 
 To drive the Turks from Sion's bulwarks hie. 
 And (full of zeal and faith) esteemed light 
 All worldly honour, empire, treasure, might. 
 
 9. 
 
 In Baldwin next he spied another thought. 
 Whom spirits proud to vain ambition move ; 
 Tancred he saw his life's joy set at nought. 
 So woe begone was he with pains of love : 
 Boemond the conquer'd folk of Antioch brought 
 The gentle yoke of Christian rule to prove : 
 
 He taught them laws, statutes, and customs new, 
 Ai'ts, cratts, obedience, and religion true. 
 
 10. 
 And with such care his busy work he plied, 
 That to nought else his acting thoughts he bent, 
 In 3'oung Rinaldo fierce desires he spied, 
 And noble heart of rest impatient: 
 To wealth or sovereign power he nought applied 
 His wits, but all to virtue excellent ; 
 
 Patterns and rules of skill and courage bold 
 He took fi'om Guelpho, and his fathers old. 
 
 11. 
 
 Thus when the Lord discover'd had and seen 
 The hidden secrets of each worthy's breast, 
 Out of the hierarchies of angels sheen' 
 The gentle Gabriel call'd he from the rest, 
 1 Sheen — bright, 
 
 b2
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OK, 
 
 'Twixt God and souls of men that righteous been^ 
 
 Ambassador is he, for ever blest ; 
 
 The just commands of Heaven's Eternal King, 
 'Twixt skies and eai'th, he up and down doth bring. 
 
 12. 
 
 To whom the Lord thus spake — " Godfredo find. 
 And in my name ask him, why doth he rest? 
 Why be his arms to ease and peace resign'd? 
 Why frees he not Jerusalem distrest ? 
 His peers to counsel call, each baser mind 
 Let him stir up ; for chieftain of the rest 
 
 I choose him here, the earth shall him allow ; 
 
 His fellows late shall be his subjects now." 
 
 13. 
 
 This said, the angel swift himself prepared 
 To execute the charge imposed aright ; 
 In form of airy members fair imbarred. 
 His spirits pure were subject to our sight, 
 Like to a man in show and shape he fared, 
 Rut full of heav'nly majesty and might ; 
 
 A stripling seem'd he thrice five winters old, 
 And radiant beams adorn'd his locks of gold. 
 
 14. 
 
 Of silver wings he took a shining pair. 
 Fringed with gold, unwearied, nimble, swift; 
 With these he parts the winds, the clouds, the air, 
 And over seas and earth himself doth lift : 
 Thus clad he cut the spheres and circles fair. 
 And the pure skies with sacred feathers clift : 
 On Libanon at first his foot he set. 
 And shook his wings with rory- May-dews wet. 
 
 15. 
 
 Then to Tortosa's confines swiftly sped 
 The sacred messenger with headlong flight ; 
 Above the eastern wave appeared red 
 The rising sun, yet scantly half in sight; 
 Godfrey e'en then his morn-devotions sed,^ 
 (As was his custom) when with Titan bright 
 Appear'd the angel, in his shape divine, 
 Whose glory far obscured Phoebus' shine. 
 
 1 Been— fie. ^ 'RoTj—dewy. s Sed—said.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. O 
 
 16. 
 
 " Godfrey," quotli he, " behold the season fit 
 To war, for which thou waited hast so long. 
 Now serves the time (if thou o'erslip not it) 
 To free Jerusalem from thrall and wrong : 
 Thou with thy lords in council quickly sit ; 
 Comfort the feeble, and confirm the strong; 
 
 The Lord of Hosts their general doth make thee. 
 And for their chieftain they shall gladly take thee. 
 
 17. 
 
 " I, messenger from everlasting Jove, 
 
 In his great name thus his behests do tell; 
 
 Oh, what sure hope of conquest ought thee move? 
 
 What zeal, what love should in thy bosom dwell ?" 
 
 This said, he vanish'd to those seats above. 
 
 In height and clearness which the rest excell. 
 
 Down fell the Duke, his joints dissolved asunder. 
 Blind with the light, and stricken dead with wonder. 
 
 18. 
 
 But, when recover'd, he consider'd more 
 The man, his manner, and his message said ; 
 If erst he wished, now he longed sore. 
 To end that war, whereof he lord was made ; 
 Nor swell'd his breast with uncouth pride therefore, 
 That Heav'n on him above this charge had laid. 
 But for his great Creator would the same. 
 His will increased : so fire augmenteth flame. 
 
 19. 
 
 The captains, call'd forthwith from ev'ry tent. 
 
 Unto the rendezvous he then invites ; 
 
 Letter on letter, post on post he sent, 
 
 Entreatance fair with counsel he unites, 
 
 All what a noble courage could augment. 
 
 The sleeping spark of valour what incites 
 
 He used, that all their thoughts to honour reased. 
 Some prais'd, some pray'd, some counselled, all pleased. 
 
 20. 
 
 The captains, soldiers, all (save Boemond) came. 
 And pitch'd their tents, some in the fields without, 
 Some of green boughs their slender cabins frame. 
 Some lodged were Tortosa's streets about.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 Of all the host the chief of worth and name 
 Assembled been, a senate grave and stout ; 
 Then Godfrey (after silence kept a space) 
 Lilt up his voice, and spake with princely grace. 
 
 21. 
 
 " Warriors (whom God himself elected hath 
 
 His worship true in Sion to restore, 
 
 And sti;l preserv'd from danger, harm, and scath, 
 
 By many a sea, and many an unknown shore) 
 
 You have subjected lately to his faith 
 
 Some provinces rebellious long before : 
 
 And after conquests great, have in the same 
 Erected trophies to his Cross and Xame. 
 
 " But not for this our homes we first forsook. 
 And from our native soil have march'd so far : 
 jSTor us to dangerous seas have we betook, 
 Expos'd to hazard of so far-sought war. 
 Of glory vain to gain an idle smook,^ 
 And lands posse^;s, that wild and barb'rous are : 
 That for our conquests were too mean a prey. 
 To shed oivr bloods, to work our souls' decay. 
 
 23. 
 
 " But this the scope was of our former thought. 
 
 Of Sion's fort to scale the noble wall. 
 
 The Christian folk from bondage to have brought, 
 
 Wherein, alas, they long have lived thrall,^ 
 
 In Palestine an empire to have wrought. 
 
 Where Godliness might reign perpetuall, 
 
 And none be left that pilgrims might denay' 
 To see Christ's Tomb, and promisd vows to pay. 
 
 24. 
 
 "What to this hour successively is done 
 
 Was full of peril, to our honour small, 
 
 Xought to our first designment ; if we shun 
 
 The purpos'd end, or here lie fixed all, 
 
 What boots it us these wars to have begun ? 
 
 Or Europe rais'd to make proud Asia thrall ? 
 If our beginnings have this ending known, 
 Not kingdoms rais'd, but armies overthrown ? 
 
 Smo6k—imol-e. ^ Thrall — t)J bondage, * Denaj- — deny.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 
 
 25. 
 
 " Not as we list erect we empires new 
 On frail foundations, laid in earthly mold, 
 Whereof our faith and country be but few, 
 Among the thousands stout of Pagans bold. 
 Where nought behoves us trust to Greece untrue, 
 And western aid we far remov'd behold : 
 
 Who buildeth thus, methinks, so buiideth lie. 
 As if his work should his sepulchre be. 
 
 26. 
 " Turks, Persians conquered, Antiochia won. 
 Be glorious acts, and full of glorious praise. 
 By Heav'n's mere grace, not bj' our prowess done : 
 Those conquests were achiev'd by wondrous ways. 
 If now from that directed course we run. 
 The God of battles thus before us lays. 
 His loving kindness shall we lose I doubt. 
 And be a by-word to the lands about. 
 
 27. 
 
 " Let not these blessings, then, sent from above, 
 
 Abused be, or spilt in profane wise,' 
 
 But let the issue correspondent prove 
 
 To good beginnings of each enterprise ; 
 
 The gentle season might our courage move. 
 
 Now ev'ry passage plain and open lies : 
 What lets^ us then the great Jerusalem 
 With valiant squadrons round about to hem ? 
 
 28. 
 " Lords, I protest, and hearken all to it 
 Ye times and ages, future, present, past, 
 Hear all ye blessed in the heav'ns that sit. 
 The time for this achievement hast'neth fast : 
 The longer rest worse will the season fit. 
 Our sureties shall with doubts be overcast. 
 If we foreslow^ the siege, I well foresee 
 From Egypt will the Pagans succour'd be." 
 
 29. 
 This said, the Hermit Peter rose and spake, 
 (Who sat in council those great lords among) 
 " At my request this war was undertake. 
 In private cell who erst liv'd closed long ; 
 • Wise — manner, ^ Lets — hinders. * Foreslow — delay.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 What Godfrey wills, of that no question make, 
 There cast no doubts where truth is plain and strong ; 
 Your acts, I trust, will correspond his speech, 
 Yet one thing more I would you gladly teach. 
 
 30. 
 
 " These strifes (unless I far mistake the thing) 
 
 And discords rais'd oft in disoi-der'd sort. 
 
 Your disobedience and ill managing 
 
 Of actions, lost for want of due support. 
 
 Refer I justly to a further spring. 
 
 Spring of sedition, stril'e, oppression, tort ;^ 
 I mean commanding power to sundry given, 
 In thought, opinion, worth, estate, uneven. 
 
 31. 
 
 " Where divers lords divided empire hold. 
 Where causes be by gifts not justice tried. 
 Where offices be falsely bought and sold, 
 Needs must the lordship there from vu-tue slide. 
 Of friendly parts one body then uphold. 
 Create one head the rest to rule and guide : 
 To one the regal power and sceptre give, 
 That henceforth may your king and sov'reign live." 
 
 32. 
 
 And therewith stay'd his speech. O gracious Muse, 
 What kindling motions in their breasts do fry ? 
 With grace divine the Hermit's talk infuse, 
 That in their hearts his words may fructify ; 
 Bj' this a virtuous concord they did choose, 
 And all contentions then began to die ; 
 The princes with the multitude agree. 
 That Godfrey ruler of those wai-s should be. 
 
 33. 
 
 This power they gave him, by his princely right 
 All to command, to judge all, good and ill. 
 Laws to impose to lands subdued by might, 
 To maken war both when and where he will. 
 To hold in due subjection every wight. 
 Their valours to be guided by his skill; 
 
 This done. Report displays her tell-tale wings, 
 And to each ear the news and tidings brings. 
 
 ' Tort — icrong.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 
 
 34. 
 
 She told the soldiers, who allow'd him meet 
 And well deserving of that sovereign place : 
 Their first salutes and acclamations sweet 
 Keceived he with love and gentle grace ; 
 After their reverence done with kind regreet 
 Eequited was, with mild and cheerful face. 
 He bids his armies should the following day 
 On those fair plains their standards proud display. 
 
 35. 
 
 The golden sun rose from the silver wave. 
 And with his beams enamell'd ev'ry green. 
 When up arose each warrior bold and brave. 
 Glistering in filed steel, and armour sheen : 
 With jolly plumes their crests adorn'd they have. 
 And all tofore their chieftain muster'd been : 
 He from a mountain cast his curious sight 
 On every footman, and on every knight. 
 
 86. 
 
 My mind, time's enemy, oblivion's foe, 
 Disposer true of each note- worthy thing, 
 O let thy virtuous might avail me so. 
 That I each troop and captain great may sing, 
 That in this glorious war did famous grow. 
 Forgot till now by time's evil handling : 
 This work (derived from thy treasures dear) 
 Let all times hearken, never age outwear. 
 
 37. 
 
 The French came foremost battailous and bold, 
 Late led by Hugo, brother to their king, 
 From France the isle that rivers four enfold 
 With rolling streams descending from their spring ; 
 But Hugo dead, the lily fair of gold 
 Their wonted ensign they tofore them bring, 
 Under Clotharius great, a captain good, 
 And hardy knight isprong of princes' blood. 
 
 38. 
 
 A thousand were they in strong armours clad. 
 Next whom there marched forth another band. 
 That number, nature, and instruction had, 
 Like them to fight far off, or charge at hand ;
 
 V. 
 
 10 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OB, 
 
 All valiant Xortnaus by Lord Robert lad/ 
 The native duke of that renowned laud ; 
 
 Two bishops next their standards proud up bare, 
 Call'd reverend William, and good Ademare. 
 
 39. 
 
 Their jolly notes they chanted loud and clear, 
 Ao On merry mornings at the Mass divine, 
 
 Q And horrid helms high on their heads they bear, 
 
 ^ When their fierce courage they to war incline : 
 
 ^ The first four hundi-ed horsemen gather'd near 
 
 To Orange town, and lands that it confine : 
 But Ademare the Poggian youth brought out, 
 ■=■_ In number like, in hard assays- as stout. 
 
 >^ 40. 
 
 Baldwin his ensign fair did next dispread 
 
 'i Among his Bidloigners of noble fame, 
 
 His brother gave him all his troops to lead 
 When he commander of the field became, 
 The Count Carinto did him straight succeed. 
 Grave in advice, well skill'd in Mars his game ; 
 Four hundred bi"Ought he, but so many thrice 
 Led Baldwin, clad in gilden arms of price. 
 
 41. 
 
 Guelpho next them the land and place possest. 
 Whose fortunes good with his great acts agree. 
 By his Italian sire, fro th' house of Est 
 Well could he bring his noble pedigree ; 
 A German born with rich possessions blest, 
 A worthy branch sprung from the Guelphian tree. 
 'Twixt Rhene and Danubie the land eontain"d 
 He rul'd, where Swaves and Rhetians whilome reign 'd. 
 
 42. 
 
 His mother's heritage was this and right. 
 To which he added more by conquest got, 
 From thence approved men of passing might 
 He brought, that death or danger feared not : 
 It was their wont in feasts to spend the night. 
 And pass cold days in baths and houses hot. 
 Five thousand late, of which now scantly are 
 The third part left, such is the chance of wai*. 
 
 1 Lad — led, ' Assays — undertaking!.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 11 
 
 43. 
 
 The nation then with crisped locks and fair, 
 That dwell between the seas and Arden wood, 
 Where Mosel streams and Rhene the meadows wear, 
 A battel' soil for grain, for pasture good ; 
 Their Islanders with them, who oft repair 
 Their earthen bulwarks 'gainst the ocean flood, 
 The flood, elsewhere that ships and barks devours, 
 But there drowns cities, countries, towns, and tow'rs. 
 
 Both in one troop, and but a thousand all, 
 Under another Robert fierce they run ; 
 Then th' English squadron, soldiers stout and tall. 
 By William led, their sovereign's younger son ; 
 These archers be, and with them come withall 
 A people near the Northern Pole that won,' 
 
 Whom Ireland sent from loughs and forests hoar, 
 
 Divided far by sea from Europe's shore. 
 
 45. 
 
 Tancredie next, nor 'mongst them all was one, 
 Rinald except, a prince of greater might. 
 With majesty his noble count'nance shone, 
 High were his thoughts, his heart was bold in fight. 
 No shameful vice his worth had over-gone, 
 His fault was love, by unadvised sight 
 Bred in the dangers of advent'rous arms. 
 And nursed with griefs, with sorrows, woes, and harms. 
 
 46. 
 Fame tells, that on that ever-blessed day. 
 When Christian swords with Persian blood were dyed. 
 The furious Prince Tancredie from that fray 
 His coward foes chased through forests wide. 
 Till tired with the fight, the heat, the way. 
 He sought some place to rest his wearied side. 
 And drew him near a silver stream, that play'd 
 Among wild herbs, under the green-wood shade. 
 
 47. 
 A Pagan damsel there unwares he met. 
 In shining steel, all save her visage fair. 
 Her hair unbound she made a wanton net 
 To catch sweet breathing, from the cooling air. 
 1 Battel-fniifful. 2 W on— dwell.
 
 12 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 On her at gaze his longing looks he set ; 
 
 Sight, wonder ; wonder, love ; love bred his care. 
 love, wonder ; love new bom, new bred, 
 Now grown, now ai-m'd, this champion captive led. 
 
 Her helm the virgin donn'd, and but some wight 
 She feai-'d might come to aid him as they fought. 
 Her courage earn'd^ to have assail'd the knight ; 
 Yet thence she fled, uncompanied, unsought, 
 And left her image in his heart ipight ; 
 Her sweet idea wander'd through his thought ; 
 Her shape, her gesture, and her place iu mind 
 He kept, and blew love's lire with that wind. 
 
 49. 
 
 Well might you read his sickness in his eyes, 
 Their banks were full, their tide was at the flow, 
 His help far off", his hurt within him lies, 
 His hopes unsprung, his cares wei-e fit to mow ; 
 Eight hundred horse (from Champain came) he guies,' 
 Champain a land where wealth, ease, pleasure grow. 
 Rich Nature's pomp and pride ; the Tirrhene main 
 There woos the hiUs, hills woo the valleys plain. 
 
 50. 
 
 Two hundred Greeks came next, in fight well tried. 
 
 Not surely arra'd in steel or iron strong, 
 
 But each a glave^ had pendant bj^ his side ; 
 
 Their bows and quivers at their shoulders hung; 
 
 Their horses well inured to chace and ride. 
 
 In diet spare, untired with labour long ; 
 Read}^ to charge, and to retire at will. 
 Though broken, scatt'red, fled, they skirmish still. 
 
 51. 
 
 Tatine their guide, and except Tatine, none 
 Of all the Greeks went with the Christian host ; 
 
 sin, O shame, Greece accurst alone ! 
 Did not this fatal war aff"ront thy coast ? 
 Yet satest thou an idle looker-on. 
 
 And glad attendest^ which side won or lost : 
 Now if thou be a bondslave vile become, 
 No wrong is that, but God's most righteous dome. 
 
 1 Earned — yearned. 2 Guies — leads, or command*. 
 * Glave — broadsword, * Attendest — icaiteit.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 13 
 
 52. 
 In order last, but first in worth and fame, 
 Unfear'd in fight, untir'd with hurt or wound, 
 The noble squadron of advent'rers came, 
 Terrors to all that tread on Asian ground ; 
 Cease Orpheus of thy Minois, Arthur shame 
 To boast of Launcelot, or thy Table round : 
 
 Tor these whom antique times with laurel drest. 
 These far exceed them, thee, and all the rest. 
 
 53. 
 Dudon of Consa was their guide and lord. 
 And for of worth and birth alike they been, 
 They chose him captain, by their free accord. 
 For he most acts had done, most battles seen : 
 Grave was the man in years, in looks, in word ; 
 His locks were gray, yet was his courage green. 
 Of worth and might the noble badge he bore. 
 Old scars of grievous wounds, receiv'd of yore. 
 
 54. 
 After came Eustace, well-esteemed man 
 For Godfrey's sake his brother, and his own : 
 The King of Norway's heir Gernando than. 
 Proud of his father's title, sceptre, crown : 
 Eoger of Balnavill, and Engerlan, 
 For hardy knights approved were and known : 
 Besides were number'd in that warlike train 
 Eambald, Gentonio, and the Gerards twain. 
 
 55. 
 
 Ubaldo then, and puissant Eosimond 
 
 Of Lancaster the heir, in rank succeed : 
 
 Let none forget Obize of Tuscain lond. 
 
 Well worthy praise for many a worthy deed : 
 
 Nor those three brethren, Lombards fierce and yond,' 
 
 Achilles, Sforza, and stern Palaraeed : 
 
 Nor Otton's shield, he conquer'd in those stowres,^ 
 Li which a snake a naked child devoures. 
 
 56. 
 Guascher, and Eaiphe in valour like there was ; 
 The one and other Guido, famous both : 
 Germer and Eberard to overpass 
 In foul oblivion would my muse be loth : 
 
 1 Yoni—iavage. 2 Stowres—battlei.
 
 14 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 "With his Gildippes dear, Edward alas, 
 A loving pair, to war among them go'th ; 
 In bond of virtuous love together tied. 
 Together served they, and together died. 
 
 57. 
 
 In school of love are all things taught we see ; 
 There learned this maid of arms the ireful guise ; 
 Still by his side a faithful guard went she, 
 One true-love knot their lives together ties. 
 No wound to one alone could dang'rous be. 
 But each the smart of other's anguish tries : 
 
 If one were hurt, the other felt the sore ; 
 
 She lost her blood, he spent his life therefore. 
 
 58. 
 
 But these and all Einaldo far exceeds. 
 Star of this sphere, the diamond of this ring, 
 The nest, where courage with sweet mercy breeds : 
 A comet worthy each ej'e's wondering ; 
 His 3'ears are fewer than his noble deeds. 
 His fruit is ripe soon as his blossoms spring ; 
 Armed, a Mars, might coyest Venus move. 
 And if disarmed, then god himself of love. 
 
 59. 
 
 Sophia by Adige flow'ry bank him bore, 
 Sophia the fair, spouse to Bertoldo great. 
 Fit mother for that pearl, and e'en before 
 The tender imp was weaned from the teat, 
 The Princess Maud him took ; in virtue's lore 
 She brought him up fit for each worthy feat ; 
 Till of these wars the golden trump he hears, 
 That soimdeth fame, praise, glorj-, in his ears. 
 
 60. 
 
 And then (though scantly three times five years old^ 
 He fled alone, by many an unknown coast. 
 O'er JEgean seas by many a Greekish hold, 
 Till he arrived at tlie Christian host ; 
 A noble flight, advent'rous, brave and bold, 
 Whereon a valiant prince might justly boast: 
 Three years he served in field, when scant begin 
 Few golden hairs to deck his ivory chin.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 15 
 
 61. 
 
 The horsemen past, their void-left stations fill 
 The bands on foot, and Keymond them beforne. 
 Of Tholouse Lord, from lands near Piraene Hill, 
 By Garound streams and salt sea billows worne. 
 Four thousand foot he brought well arm'd, and skill 
 Had they all pains and travel to have borne : 
 
 Stout men of arms, and with their guide of power 
 Like Troy's old town, defenst with llion's Tower. 
 
 62. 
 
 N«xt Stephen of Amboise did five thousand lead, 
 
 The men he press'd from Tours and Blois but late. 
 
 To hard assays unfit, unsure at need. 
 
 Yet armed to point in well attemper 'd plate. 
 
 The land did like itself the people breed ; 
 
 The soil is gentle, smooth, soft, delicate ; 
 
 Boldly they charge, but soon retire for doubt, 
 Like fire of straw, soou kindled, soon burnt out. 
 
 63. 
 
 The third Alcasto marched, and with him 
 The boaster brought six thousand Switzers bold ; 
 Audacious were their looks, their faces grim. 
 Strong castles on the Alpine clifts they hold : 
 Their shares and culters broke, to armours trim 
 They change that metal, cast in warlike mould ; 
 
 And with this band, late herds and flocks that guide. 
 Now Kings and realms he threat'ned and defied. 
 
 64. 
 
 The glorious Standard last to heaven they sprad,^ 
 
 With Peter's keys ennobled, and his crown; 
 
 With it seven thousand stout Camillo had, 
 
 Embattailed in walls of iron brown : 
 
 In this adventure and occasion glad 
 
 So to revive the Roman's old renown. 
 
 Or prove at least to all of wiser thought, 
 
 Their hearts were fertile laud, although unwrought. 
 
 65. 
 
 But now was passed every regiment, 
 Each band, each troop, each person worth regard. 
 When Godfrey with his lords to Council went. 
 And thus the Duke his princely will declar'd : 
 
 1 Sprad — spread.
 
 16 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 "I will when day next clears the firmament. 
 Our ready host in haste be all prepar'd, 
 Closely to march to Siou's noble wall. 
 Unseen, unheard, or undescried at all. 
 
 66. 
 " Prepare you then for travail strong and light. 
 Fierce to the combat, glad to victory," 
 And with that word and warning soon was dight^ 
 Each soldier, longing for near coming glory. 
 Impatient be they of the morning bright, 
 Of honour so them prick'd the memory : 
 But yet their chieftain had conceiv'd a fear 
 Within his heart, but kept it secret there. 
 
 67. 
 For he by faithful spiaP was assured. 
 That Egypt's king was forward on his way. 
 And to arrive at Gaza old procured, 
 A fort, that on the Syrian frontiers lay. 
 Nor thinks he that a man to wars inured 
 Will aught foreslow, or in his joui-ney stay ; 
 For well he knew him for a dang'rous foe : 
 An herald called he then, and spake him so. 
 
 68. 
 
 " A pinnace take thee swift as shaft from bow. 
 And speed thee (Henrie) to the Greekish main, 
 There should arrive (as I by letters know 
 From one that never aught reports in vain) 
 A valiant youth in whom all virtues How, 
 To help us this great conquest to obtain : 
 
 The Prince of Danes he is, and brings to war 
 A troop with him fi'om under th' Ai-tick star. 
 
 69. 
 
 " And for I doubt the Greekish monarch sly 
 Will use with him some of his wonted craft. 
 To stay his passage, or divei't awry 
 Elsewhere his forces, his first journey laft,^ 
 My herald good, and messenger well try. 
 See that these succours be not us beraft, 
 
 But send him thence with such convenient speed, 
 As with his honour stands, and with our need. 
 1 Dight — arrayed. ^ Spial— spy. * Laft — left.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 17 
 
 70. 
 " Eetnrn not thou, but legier^ stay behind, 
 And move the Greekish prince to send us aid ; 
 Tell him his kingly promise doth him bind 
 To give us succours, by his cov'nant made." 
 This said, and thus instruct, his letters sign'd 
 The trusty herald took, nor longer stay'd. 
 But sped him thence to do his lord's behest. 
 And thus the Duke reduced his thoughts to rest. 
 
 71. 
 Aurora bright her crystal gates unbar'd. 
 And bridegroom-like forth stept the glorious sun. 
 When trumpets loud and clarions shrill were hard,^ 
 And every one to rouse him fierce begun. 
 Sweet music to each heart for war prepar'd, 
 The soldiers glad by heaps to harness run ; 
 So if with drought endanger 'd be their grain, 
 Poor ploughmen joj', when thunders promise rain. 
 
 72. 
 
 Some shirts of mail, some coats of plate put on. 
 
 Some donn'd a curace,^ some a corslet bright. 
 
 And halbert some, and some a haberion -^ 
 
 So ev'ry one in arms was quickly dight ; 
 
 His wonted guide each soldier tends upon ; 
 
 Loose in the wind waved their banners light ; 
 
 Their Standard royal towards Heav'n they spread. 
 The Cross triumphant on the Pagans dead. 
 
 73. 
 
 Meanwhile the car that bears the lightning brand. 
 
 Upon the eastern hill was mounted hie, 
 
 And smote the glist'ring armies as they stand. 
 
 With quiv'ring beams which dazed the wond'ring eye, 
 
 That Phaeton-like it fired sea and land, 
 
 The sparkles seem'd up to the skies to fly, 
 
 The horses' neigh, and clattering armours' sown,' 
 
 Pursue the echo over dale and down. 
 
 74 
 Their general did with due care provide 
 To save his men from ambush and from train ; 
 Some troops of horse (that lightly armed ride) 
 He sent to scour the woods and forests main ; 
 
 ' Legier — ambassador. ^ Hard — heard. ^ Curace — cuirass. 
 
 * Haberion — a steel breast-plate. 5 Sown — sound. 
 
 C
 
 18 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE j 05,, 
 
 His pioneers their busy work applied 
 
 To even the paths, and make the highways plain ; 
 
 They fill'd the pits, and smooth'd the rougher ground, 
 And open'd ev'ry strait they closed found. 
 
 75. 
 
 They meet no forces gather'd hy their foe, 
 No towers defenst with rampire, moat, or wall, 
 No stream, no wood, no mountain could foreslow 
 Their hasty pace, or stop their march at all : 
 So when his banks the prince of rivers, Poe, 
 Doth overswell, he breaks with hideous fall 
 
 The mossy rocks and trees o'ergrown with age. 
 Nor aught withstands his fury and his rage. 
 
 76. 
 
 The king of Tripoly in ev'ry hold 
 
 Shut up his men, munition, and his treasure ; 
 The straggling troops sometimes assail he would. 
 Save that he durst not move them to displeasure ; 
 He stay'd their rage with presents, gifts, and gold, 
 And led them through his land at ease and leisure : 
 To keep his realm in peace and rest he chose, 
 With what conditions Godfrey list impose. 
 
 77. 
 
 Those of Mount Seir (that neighboureth by east 
 The Holy City) faithful folk each one, 
 Down from the hill descended most and least, 
 And to the Christian Duke by heaps they gone. 
 And welcome him and his with joy and feast. 
 On him they smile, on him they gaze alone. 
 And were his guides as faithful from that day 
 As Hesperus, that leads the sun his way. 
 
 78. 
 
 Along the sands his armies safe they guide, 
 By ways secure, to them well-known before : 
 Upon the tumbling billows fraughted' ride 
 The armed ships, coasting along the shore. 
 Which for the camp might every day provide 
 To bring munition good, and victuals store : 
 Tlie Isles of Greece sent in provision meet. 
 And stoi'e of wine from Scios came, and Crete. 
 
 1 YTSiUghteA—Jreighted.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 19 
 
 79. 
 Great Neptune grieved underneath the load 
 Of ships, hulks, galleys, barks, and brigandines ; 
 In all the mid-earth seas was left no road, 
 Wherein the Pagan his bold sails untwines ; 
 Spread was the huge Arraado, wide and broad, 
 From Venice, Genes, and towns which them confines. 
 
 From Holland, England, France, and Sicil sent, 
 
 And all for Juda ready bound and bent. 
 
 80. 
 All these together were combin'd, and knit 
 With surest bonds of love and friendship strong ; 
 Together sail'd they, fraught with all things fit 
 To service done by land that might belong. 
 And when occasion serv'd disbarked it. 
 Then sail'd the Asian coasts and isles along : 
 
 Thither with speed their hasty course they plied, 
 Where Christ the Lord for our offences died. 
 
 8L 
 The brazen trump of iron-winged fame, 
 (That mingleth faithful truth with forged lies) 
 Foretold the heathen how the Christians came, 
 How thitherward the conqu'ring army hies. 
 Of ev'ry knight it sounds the worth and name, 
 Each troop, each band, each squadron it descries, 
 
 Andthreat'nethdeathtothose, fire, sword, and slaughter, 
 Who held captived Israel's fairest daughter. 
 
 82. 
 The fear of 111 exceeds the ill we fear, 
 For so our present harms still most annoy us, 
 Each mind is prest, and open every ear 
 To hear new tidings, though they no way joy us : 
 This secret rumour whispered everywhere 
 About the town, — these Christians will destroy us, 
 The aged king, his coming ill that knew. 
 Did cursed thoughts in his false heart renew. 
 
 83. 
 
 This aged prince, ycleped Aladine, 
 Kuled in care, new sov'reign of this state, 
 A tyrant erst, but now his fell ingine' 
 His graver age did somewhat mitigate : 
 J Iiig}jie— disposition, 
 
 c 2
 
 20 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 He heard the western lords would undermine 
 His city's wall, and lay his towers prostrate ; 
 To former fear he adds a new-come doubt, 
 Treason he fears within, and force without. 
 
 84. 
 
 For nations twain inhabit there and dwell. 
 Of sundry faith, together in that town ; 
 The lesser part on Christ believed well, 
 On Termagant the more, and on Mahown : 
 But when this king had made his conquest fell. 
 And brought that region subject to his crown. 
 Of burdens all he set the Paynims large. 
 And on poor Christians laid the double charge. 
 
 85. 
 
 His native wrath reviv'd with this new thought, 
 With age and years that weak'ned was of yore ; 
 Such madness in his cruel bosom wrought. 
 That now than ever blood he thirsteth more : 
 So stings a snake that to the fire is brought. 
 Which harmless lay benumb'd with cold before ; 
 
 A lion so his rage renewed hath, 
 
 (Though tame before) if he be moved to wrath. 
 
 86. 
 
 " I see (quoth he) some expectation vain 
 In these false Christians, and some new content, 
 Our common loss they trust will be their gain. 
 They laugh, we weep ; they joy, while we lament : 
 And more, perchance, by treason or by train. 
 To murder us they secretly consent : 
 Or otherwise to work us harm and woe, 
 To ope the gates, and so let in our foe. 
 
 87. 
 
 " But lest they should effect their cursed will. 
 Let us destroy this serpent on his nest. 
 Both young and old, let us this people kill. 
 The tender infants at their mothers' breast. 
 Their houses bum, their holy temples fill 
 With bodies slain, of those that lov'd them best. 
 And on that tomb they hold so much in price, 
 Let's offer up their priests in sacrifice."
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 21 
 
 Thus thought the tyi'ant in his trait' rous mind. 
 
 But durst not follow what he had decreed. 
 
 Yet if the innocents some mercy find, 
 
 From cowardice, not truth, did that proceed ; 
 
 His noble foes durst not his craven kind 
 
 Exasperate by such a bloody deed. 
 
 For if he need, what grace could then be got, , 
 
 If thus of peace he broke, or loosed the knot ? 
 
 89. 
 
 His villain heart his cursed rage restrained, 
 To other thoughts he bent his fierce desire ; 
 The suburbs iuvst flat with the earth he plained. 
 And burnt their buildings with devouring fire : 
 Loth was the wretch the Frenchmen should have gained 
 Or help or ease, by finding ought entire : 
 Cedron, Bethsaida, and each wat'ring els 
 Empoisoned he, both fountains, springs, and wels. 
 
 90. 
 
 So wary wise this child of darkness was. 
 The city's self he strongly fortifies ; 
 Three sides by site it well defenced has, 
 That's only weak that to the northward lies ; 
 With mighty bars of long-enduring brass. 
 The steel-bound doors, and iron gates he ties ; 
 
 And, lastly, legions armed well, provides 
 
 Of subjects born, and hired aid besides.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 |00li tilt Su0nlr. 
 
 THE AEGUMENT. 
 
 Ismeno CMjiires, hut his charms are vain : 
 Aladine will kill the Christians in his ire : 
 Sophronia and Olindo would, he slain 
 To save the rest, the Icing grants their desire ; 
 Clorinda hears their fact and fortunes plain, 
 Their pardon gets, and keeps them from the fire : 
 Argantes, when Aletes' speeches are 
 Despised, defies the Duke to mo7'tal war. 
 
 1. 
 
 While thus the tyrant bends his thoughts to arms, 
 Ismeno 'gan to-fore' his sight appear, 
 Ismen dead bones laid in cold graves that warms 
 And makes them speak, smell, taste, touch, see, and hear ; 
 Ismen (with terror of his mighty charms) 
 That makes great Dis in deepest hell to fear ; 
 That binds and looses souls condemn'd to woe. 
 And sends the devils on errands to and fro. 
 
 2. 
 
 A Christian once, Macon- he now adores. 
 Nor could he quite his wonted faith forsake. 
 But in his wicked arts both oft implores 
 Help from the Lord, and aid from Pluto blake;' 
 He, from deep caves by Acheron's dark shores — 
 (Where circles vain and spells he us'd to make) 
 
 T'advise his king in these extremes is come ; 
 
 Achitophel so counsell'd Absalome. 
 
 1 To-fore— if^rc. 2 Macon— JTaAome^. 3 Blake— iZacit.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED, 23 
 
 3. 
 
 " My liege," he says, " the camp fast hither moves, 
 The axe is laid unto this cedar's root. 
 But let us work as valiant men behoves, 
 For boldest hearts good fortune helpeth out : 
 Your princely care your kingly wisdom proves, 
 Well have you labour'd, well foreseen about ; 
 If each performs his charge and duty so, 
 Nought but his grave here conquer shall your foe. 
 
 " From surest castle of my secret cell 
 I come, partaker of your good and ill, 
 What counsel sage, or magic's sacred spell 
 May profit us, all that perform I will : 
 The sprites impure from bliss that whilome fell 
 Shall to your service bow, constrained by skill ; 
 But how we must begin this enterprise, 
 I will your highness thus in brief advise. 
 
 "Within the Christians' church, from light of skies, 
 
 An hidden altar stands, far out of sight, 
 
 On which the image consecrated lies 
 
 Of Christ's dear Mother, call'd a Virgin bright ; 
 
 An hundred lamps aye burn before her eyes ; 
 
 She in a slender veil of tinsel dight. 
 On every side great plenty doth behold 
 Of off 'rings brought, myrrh, frankincense, and gold. 
 
 "This idol would I have removed away 
 
 From thence, and by your princely hand transport, 
 
 In Macon's sacred temple safe it lay, 
 
 Which then I will enchant in wondrous sort. 
 
 That while the image in that church doth stay, 
 
 No strength of arms shall win this noble fort. 
 
 Or shake this puissant wall ; such passing might 
 Have spells and charms, if they be said aright." 
 
 7. 
 
 Advised thus, the king impatient 
 Flew in his fury to the House of God, 
 The image took, with words unreverent 
 Abused the prelates, who that deed forbod ;
 
 24 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE j OR, 
 
 Swift with his prey away the tyrant went, 
 
 Of God's sharp justice nought he fear'd the rod, 
 
 But in his chapel vUe the image laid. 
 
 On which th' enchanter charms and witchcrafts said. 
 
 When Phoehus next unclosed his wakeful eye, 
 Up rose the sexton of that place profane, 
 And miss'd the image where it used to lie ; 
 Each where he sought in grief, in fear, in vain ; 
 Then to the king his loss he 'gan descry. 
 Who sore enraged killed him for his pain ; 
 And straight conceived in his malicious wit. 
 Some Christian bad this gi'eat offence commit. 
 
 9. 
 
 But whether this were act of mortal hand. 
 Or else the Prince of Heav'n's eternal pleasure. 
 That of his mercy would this wretch withstand, 
 Nor let so vile a chest hold such a treasure. 
 As yet conjecture hath not fully scau'd; 
 By godliness let us this action measure. 
 And truth of purest faith will fitly prove. 
 That this rare grace came down iiom Heav'n above. 
 
 10. 
 
 With busy search the tyrant 'gan t'invade 
 Each house, each hold, each temple, and each tent; 
 To them the fault or faulty one bewray'd 
 Or hid, he promis'd gifts or punishment : 
 His idle charms the false enchanter said. 
 But in this maze still wander'd and mis-went ; 
 For Heaven decreed to conceal the same. 
 To make the miscreant more to feel his shame. 
 
 11. 
 
 But when the angry king discover'd not 
 
 What guilty hand this sacrilege had wrought. 
 
 His ireful courage boiled in vengeance hot 
 
 Against the Christians, whom he faulters^ thought ; 
 
 All ruth, compassion, mercy, he forgot, 
 
 A staff to beat that dog he long had sought : 
 
 " Let them all die," quoth he, " kill great and small. 
 So shall th' offender parish sure withall. 
 
 1 Fanlters — offender!.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 25 
 
 12. 
 
 " To spill the wine with poison mixt who spares ? 
 
 Slay then the righteous with the faulty one, 
 
 Destroy this field that yieldeth nought but tares ; 
 
 With thorns this vineyard all is over-gone ; 
 
 Among these wretches is not one that cares 
 
 For us, our laws, or our religion ; 
 
 Up, up, dear subjects, fire and weapon take. 
 Burn, murder, kill these traitors for my sake." 
 
 13. 
 
 This Herod thus would Bethlem's infants kill : 
 The Christians soon this direful news recave :' 
 The trump of death sounds in their hearing shrill : 
 Their weapon, faith ; their fortress was the grave ; 
 They had no courage, time, device, or will, 
 To fight, to fly, excuse, or pardon crave. 
 
 But stood prepared to die ; yet help they find. 
 Whence least they hope; such knots can Heav'n unbind. 
 
 14. 
 
 Among them dwelt (her parents' joy and pleasure) 
 A maid, whose fruit was ripe, not over-yeared, 
 Her beauty was her not esteemed treasure ; 
 The field of love with plough of virtue eared -^ 
 Her labour goodness ; godliness her leisure ; 
 Her house the heav'n by this full moon aye cleared; 
 For there, from lovers' eyes withdrawn, alone 
 With virgin beams this spotless Cynthia shone. 
 
 15. 
 
 But what avail'd her resolution chaste, 
 
 Whose sob'rest looks were whetstones to desire ? 
 
 Nor love consents that beauty's field lie waste ; 
 
 Her visage set Olindo's heart on fire. 
 
 subtile love, a thousand wiles thou hast. 
 
 By humble suit, by service, or by hire 
 
 To win a maiden's hold, a thing soon done, 
 For Nature framed all women to be won. 
 
 16. 
 Sophronia she, Olindo hight the youth. 
 Both of one town, both in one faith were taught ; 
 She fair, he full of bashfulness and truth. 
 Loved much, hoped little, and desired nought. 
 
 ' Eecave — receive, * 'Baxedi— ploughed.
 
 26 GODFFvEY OF BULLOIGNE ; OE, 
 
 He durst not speak by suit to purchase ruth, 
 She saw not, mark'd not, wist not what he sought : 
 Thus lov'd, thus serv'd he long, but not regarded, 
 Unseen, uumarkt, unpitied, unrewarded. 
 
 17. 
 
 To her came message of the murderment. 
 Wherein her guiltless friends, should hopeless stirve,. 
 She that was noble, wise, as fair and gent,' 
 Cast how she might their harmless lives preserve ; 
 Zeal was the spring whence flow'd her hardiment,^ 
 From maiden shame yet was she loth to swerve : 
 Yet had her courage ta'en so sure a hold. 
 That boldness, shamefast ;^ shame had made her bold. 
 
 18. 
 
 And forth she went, a shop for merchandise 
 Full of rich stuff, but none for sale exposed ; 
 A veil obscur'd the sunshine of her eyes, 
 The rose within herself her sweetness closed ; 
 Each ornament about her seemly lies. 
 By curious chance, or careless art, composed ; 
 
 For what the most neglects, most curious prove ; 
 
 So beauty's helpt by nature, heav'n and love. 
 
 19. 
 
 Admir'd of all, on went this noble maid. 
 Until the presence of the King she gained; 
 Nor for he swell'd with ire was she afraid. 
 But his fierce wrath with fearless grace sustained ; 
 " I come," quoth she (" but be thine anger stay'd. 
 And causeless rage 'gainst faultless souls restrained) 
 I come to show thee, and to bring thee both 
 The wight whose fact'* hath made thy heart so wroth." 
 
 20. 
 
 Her modest boldness, and that lightning ray. 
 Which her sweet beauty streamed on his face. 
 Had strook the prince with wonder and dismay. 
 Changed his cheer,* and clear'd his moody grace ; 
 That had her eyes dispos'd their looks to play, 
 The King had snared been in love's strong lace ; 
 
 But wayward beauty doth not fancy move ; 
 
 A frown forbids, a smile engend'reth love. 
 
 1 Gent — coitrfeous. '^ Hardiment — courage. ^ Shamefast — modest. 
 * Fact — deed. ^ Cheer— welcome.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 27 
 
 21. 
 
 It was amazement, wonder, and delight, 
 (Although not love) that moved his cruel sense ; 
 " Tell on," quoth he, " unfold the chance aright, 
 Thy peoples lives I grant for recompence." 
 Then she, " Behold the faulter* here in sight. 
 This hand committed that supposed offence; 
 
 I took the image, mine that fault, that fact. 
 
 Mine be the glory of that virtuous act." 
 
 22. 
 
 This spotless lamb thus ofFer'd up her blocd, 
 To save the rest of Christ's selected fold. 
 
 noble lie ! Was ever truth so good ? 
 Blest be the lips that such a leasing- told : 
 Thoughtful awhile remain'd the tyrant wood,^ 
 His native wrath he gan a space withhold. 
 
 And said, " That thou discover soon I will. 
 What aid, what counsel hadst thou in that ill?" 
 
 23. 
 
 " My lofty thoughts," she answer'd him, "envied 
 Another's hand should work my high desire, 
 The thirst of glory can no pai'tner bide. 
 With mine own self I did alone conspire." 
 " On thee alone," the tyrant then replied, 
 " Shall fall the vengeance of my wrath and ire." 
 " 'Tis just and right," quoth she, " I j'ield consent. 
 Mine be the honour, mine the punishment." 
 
 24. 
 The wretch, of new enraged at the same, 
 Ask'd where she hid the image so convey'd : 
 " Not hid," quoth she, " but quite consumed with flame. 
 The idol is of that eternal maid. 
 For so at least I have preserved the same, 
 With hands profane from being eft* betray 'd. 
 My lord, the thing thus stol'n demand no more : 
 Here see the thief, that scorneth death therefore. 
 
 25. 
 
 " And yet no theft was this, yours was the sin ; 
 
 1 brought again what you unjustly took." 
 This heard, the tyrant did for rage begin 
 
 To whet his teeth, and bend his frowning look; 
 
 1 Faulter — wrong-doer. ^ Jjeasing— falsehood. 
 
 * Wood— :fierce. * Eft — mjain.
 
 28 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 No pity, youth ; fairness, no grace could win ; 
 
 Joy, comfort, hope, the virgin all forsook ; 
 
 Wrath kill'd removse,vengeance stopt mercy's breath. 
 Love's thrall to hate, and beauty slave to death. 
 
 26. 
 
 Ta'en was the damsel, and without remorse. 
 The King condemn'd her (guiltless) to the fire ; 
 Her veil and mantle pluckt they off by force, 
 And bound her tender arms in twisted wire: 
 Dumb was this silver dove, while from her corse 
 These hungry kites pluckt off her rich attire ; 
 And for some-deal pei^plexed was her sprite. 
 Her damask late now changed to purest white. 
 
 27. 
 
 The news of this mishap spread far and near. 
 
 The people ran, both young and old, to gaze ; 
 
 Olindo also ran, and gan to fear 
 
 His lady was some partner in this case ; 
 
 But when he found her bound, stript from her gear, 
 
 And vUe tormentors ready saw in place. 
 
 He broke the throng, and into presence brast,^ 
 And thus bespake the King in rage and haste. 
 
 28. 
 
 " Not so, not so this girl shall bear away 
 From me the honour of so noble feat. 
 She durst not, did not, could not so convey 
 The massy substance of that idol great ; 
 What sleight had she the wardens to betray ? 
 What strength to heave the goddess from her seat ? 
 No, no, mj- lord, she sails but with my wind :" 
 (Ah thus he loved, yet was his love unkind.) 
 
 29. 
 
 He added further, — " Where the shining glass 
 Lets in the light amid your temple's side, 
 By broken byeways did I inward pass, 
 And in that window made a postern wide. 
 Nor shall therefore this ill-advised lass 
 Usurp the glory should this fact betide : 
 
 Mine be these bonds, mine be these flames so pure ; 
 
 glorious death, more glorious sepulture." 
 
 1 Brast — burst.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 29 
 
 30. 
 Sophronia raised her modest looks from ground. 
 And on her lover bent her eyesight mild ; — 
 " Tell me, what fury, what conceit unsound 
 Presenteth here to death so sweet a child ? 
 Is not in me sufficient courage found. 
 To bear the anger of this tyrant wild p 
 
 Or hath fond love thy heart so overgone ? 
 
 Wouldst thou not live, nor let me die alone P" 
 
 31. 
 
 Thus spake the nymph, yet spake but to the wind. 
 
 She could not alter his well-settled thought ; 
 
 O miracle ! strife of wondrous kind ! 
 
 Where love and virtue such contention wrought ; 
 
 Where death the victor had for meed assign'd ; 
 
 Their own neglect, each other's safety sought ; 
 But thus the King was more provoked to ire. 
 Their strife for bellows served to anger's fire. 
 
 32. 
 He thinks (such thoughts self-guiltiness finds out) 
 They scorn'd his power, and therefore scorn'd the pain : 
 " Nay, nay," quoth he, " let be your strife and doubt. 
 You both shall win, and fit reward obtain." 
 With that the sergeants hent' the young man stout. 
 And bound him likewise in a worthless chain ; 
 
 Then back to back fast to a stake both ties, 
 
 Two harmless turtles dight for sacrifice. 
 
 33. 
 
 About the pile of faggots, sticks, and hay. 
 
 The bellows rais'd the newly kindled flame. 
 
 When thus Olindo, in a doleful lay. 
 
 Begun too late his bootless plaints to frame : 
 
 " Be these the bonds ? Is this the hoped for day. 
 
 Should join me to this long desired dame? 
 
 Is this the fire alike should burn our hearts ? 
 
 Ah hard reward for lovers' kind deserts ! 
 
 34 
 
 " Far other flames and bonds kind lovers prove. 
 But thus our fortune casts the hapless die ; 
 Death hath exchanged again his shafts with Love, 
 And Cupid thus lets borrow'd arrows fly. 
 1 Hent — seized.
 
 30 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 Hymen, say, what fury doth thee move 
 To lend thy lamps to light a tragedy ? 
 
 Yet this contents me that I die for thee ; 
 
 Thy flames, not mine, my death and torment be. 
 
 35. 
 
 " Yet happy were my death, mine ending blest. 
 My torments easy, full of sweet delight. 
 If this I could obtain, that breast to breast 
 Thy bosom might receive my yielded sprite ; 
 And thine with it in Heav'n's pure clothing drest. 
 Through clearest skies might take united flight." 
 Thus he complain'd, whom gently she reproved, 
 And sweetly spake him thus, that so her loved. 
 
 36. 
 
 " Far other plaints (dear friend) tears and laments 
 The time, the place, and our estates require ; 
 Think on thy sins, which man's old foe presents 
 Before that Judge that quits each soul his hire, 
 For His name suffer, for no pain torments 
 Him, whose just prayli's to His throne aspire : 
 Behold the Heav'ns, thither thine eye-sight bend, 
 Thy looks, sighs, tears for intercessors send." 
 
 37. 
 
 The Pagans loud cried out to God and man, 
 The Christians mourn'd in silent lamentation, 
 The tyrant's self (a thing unused) began 
 To feel his heart relent, with mere compassion, 
 But not disposed to ruth or mercy than, 
 He sped him thence home to his habitation : 
 Sophronia stood, not grieved, nor discontented. 
 By all that saw her (but herself) lamented. 
 
 38. 
 
 The lovers standing in this doleful wise, 
 A warrior bold unwares approached near, 
 In uncouth arms yclad and strange disguise, 
 From countries far but new arrived there, 
 A savage tigress on her helmet lies, 
 The famous badge Clorinda used to bear ; 
 That wonts in every warlike stowre to win, 
 B}- which bright sign well known was that fair inn.
 
 The lovers standing in this doleful wise, 
 A warrior bold unwaros approaclu'd near.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 31 
 
 39. 
 She scorn'd the arts these seely^ women use. 
 Another thought her nobler humour fed ; 
 Her lofty hand would of itself refuse 
 To touch the dainty needle, or nice thread ; 
 She hated chambers, closets, secret mewse,^ 
 And in broad fields preserved her maidenhead ; 
 
 Proud were her looks, yet sweet, though stern and stout; 
 
 Her dame, a dove, thus brought an eagle out. 
 
 40. 
 While she was young, she us'd with tender hand 
 The foaming steed with froary^ bit to steer, 
 To tilt and tourney, wrestle in the sand, 
 To leave with speed Atlanta swift arrear,** 
 Through forests wild and unfrequented land 
 To chase the lion, boar, or rugged bear ; 
 
 The satyrs rough, the fawns and fairies wild. 
 She chased oft, oft took, and oft beguil'd. 
 
 41. 
 This lusty lady came from Persia late. 
 She with the Christians had encountered eft, 
 And in their flesh had opened many a gate, 
 By which their faithful souls their. bodies left: 
 Her eye at first presented her the state 
 Of these poor souls, of hope and help bereft : 
 Greedy to know (as is the mind of man) 
 Their cause of deatli, swift to the fire she ran. 
 
 42. 
 
 The people made her room, and on them twain 
 Her piercing eyes their fiery weapons dart. 
 Silent she saw the one, the other plain,* 
 The weaker body lodged the nobler heart : 
 Yet him she saw lament, as if his pain 
 Were grief and sorrow for another's smart ; 
 And her keep silence so, as if her eyes, 
 Dumb orators, were to entreat the skies. 
 
 43. 
 
 Clorinda changed to ruth her warlike mood, 
 
 Pew silver drops her vermeil cheeks depaint ; 
 
 Her sorrow was for her that speechless stood, 
 
 Her silence more prevail'd than his complaint : 
 
 Seely — simple. * Mewse — ant/ close place. ^ 'PToa.ry—froathy. 
 
 * Arrear — behind. ' Plain — complain.
 
 32 GODFEEY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 She ask'd an aged man, seem'd grave and good, 
 
 " Come say me, sire," quoth she, " what hard constraint 
 
 Would murder here love's queen, and heaut\-'s king? 
 
 What fe,ult or ikte doth to this death them bring ?" 
 
 44. 
 
 Thus she inquired, and answer short he gave. 
 But such as all the chance at large disclosed : 
 She wonder'd at the case, the virgin brave, 
 That both were guiltless of the fault supposed, 
 Her noble thought cast how she might them save, 
 The means on suit or battle she reposed : 
 
 Quick to the fire she ran, and quench'd it out. 
 And thus bespake the sergeants and the rout. 
 
 45. 
 
 " Be there not one among you all that dare 
 In this j'our hateful office aught proceed, 
 Till I retm-n from court, nor take you care 
 To reap displeasure for not making speed :" 
 To do her will the men themselves prepare. 
 In their faint hearts her looks 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 pierst your ears ere now ; 
 I come to try my wonted power and might. 
 And will defend this laud, this town, and 3-ow :" 
 All hai-d assays esteem I eath^ and light ; 
 Great acts 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 — " VThai land so far remote 
 From Asia's coasts, or Phoebus' glist'ring raj-s, 
 
 glorious virgin, that recordeth not 
 
 Thy fame, thine honour, worth, renown, and praise ? 
 Since on my side I have thy succours got, 
 
 1 need not fear in these my aged days. 
 
 For in thine aid more hope, more trust I have. 
 Than in whole armies of these soldiers brave. 
 
 1 Hight — is called. ' Tow— yo«. ^ Eati — eaty.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 33 
 
 "Now Godfrey stays too long, he fears, I ween, 
 Thy courage great keeps all our foes in awe. 
 For thee all actions far unworthy been, 
 But such as greatest danger with them draw : 
 Be you commandress therefore, princess, queen 
 Of all our forces ; be thy word a law." 
 This said, the virgin 'gan her bever' vale. 
 And thank'd him first, and thus began her tale. 
 
 49. 
 " A thing unused, great monarch, may it seem 
 To ask reward for service j'et to come ; 
 But so your virtuous bounty I esteem. 
 That I presume for to entreat this grome^ 
 And silly maid from danger to redeem, 
 Condemn'd to burn by your unpartial dome : 
 I not excuse, but pity much their youth. 
 And come to you for mercy and for ruth. 
 
 50. 
 " Yet give me leave to tell your highness this, 
 You blame the Christians, them my thoughts acquite ; 
 Nor be displeased, I say you judge amiss. 
 At every shot look not to hit the white ; 
 All what th' enchanter did persuade you is 
 Against the lore of Macon's sacred rite ; 
 
 For us commandeth mighty Mahomet 
 
 No idols in his temple pure to set. 
 
 51. 
 
 " To him, therefore, this wonder done refar, 
 Give him the praise and honour of the thing; 
 Of us the gods benign so careful are 
 Lest customs strange into their Church we bring : 
 Let Ismen with his squares and trigons^ war, 
 His weapons be the staff, the glass, the ring; 
 But let us manage war with blows like knights. 
 Our praise in arms, our honour lies in fights." 
 
 52. 
 
 The virgin held her peace when this was said : 
 And though to pity never framed his thought, 
 Yet for the king admired the noble maid. 
 His purpose was not to deny her aught : 
 1 Bever — visor. ^ Grome — man, * Trigons — triangles. 
 
 D
 
 34 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE; OE, 
 
 " I gi-ant them life (quoth he), your promised aid 
 Against these Frenchmen hath their pardon bought : 
 
 Nov further seek what their offences be ; 
 
 Guiltless, I quite ; guilty, I set them free." 
 
 53. 
 
 Thus were they loos'd, happiest of human kind ; 
 Olindo, blessed be this act of thine. 
 True witness of thy great and heav'nly mind. 
 Where sun, moon, stars, of love, faith, virtue, shine. 
 So forth they went, and left pale death behind, 
 To joy the bliss of marriage rites divine; 
 
 With her he would have died, with him content 
 Was she to live, that would with her have brent.' 
 
 54. 
 
 The king (as wicked thoughts are most suspicious) 
 Supposed too fast this tree of virtue grew. 
 
 blessed Lord ! why should this Pharoe vicious, 
 Thus tyrannize upon thy Hebrews true ? 
 
 Who to perform his will, vile and malicious, 
 Exiled these, and all the faithful crew. 
 
 All that were strong of body, stout of mind; 
 
 But kept their wives and children pledge behind. 
 
 55. 
 
 A hard division, when the harmless sheep 
 Must leave their lambs to hungry wolves in charge ; 
 But labour's virtue's watching, ease her sleep, 
 Trouble best wind that drives salvation's barge. 
 The Christians fled, whither they took no keep.^ 
 Some strayed wild among the forests large ; 
 Some to Emmaus to the Christian host, 
 And conquer would again their houses lost. 
 
 56. 
 
 Emmaus is a city small, that lies 
 
 Erom Sion's walls distant a little way ; 
 
 A man, that early on the morn doth rise, 
 
 May thither walk ere the third hour of day. 
 
 Oh, when the Christian lords this town espies, 
 
 How merry were their hearts P How fresh ? How gay P 
 
 But for the sun inclined fast to west, 
 
 That night there would their chieftain take his rest. 
 
 1 Brent — burnt, * Keep — care.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED, 35 
 
 57. 
 Their canvas castles up they quickly rear, 
 And build a city in an houres space. 
 When lo (disguised in unusual gear) 
 Two barons bold approachen 'gan the place : 
 Their semblance' kind, and mild their gestures were, 
 Peace in their hands, and friendship in their face. 
 From Egypt's king ambassadors they come. 
 Them many a squire attends, and many a grome. 
 
 The first, Aletes, born in lowly shed. 
 Of parents base, a rose sprung from a brier. 
 That now his branches over Egy|)t spread, 
 No plant in Pharoe's garden prospered higher ; 
 With pleasing tales his lord's vain ears he fed, 
 A flatterer, a pick-thank," and a liar : 
 
 Curs'd be estate got with so many a crime ; 
 
 Yet this is oft the stair by which men climb. 
 
 59. 
 Argantes called is that other knight ; 
 A stranger came he late to Egypt land. 
 And thei-e advanced was to honour's height. 
 For he was stout of courage, strong of hand ; 
 Bold was his heart, and restless was his spright. 
 Fierce, stern, outrageous, keen as sharp'ned brand, 
 Scorner of God, scant to himself a friend, 
 And prick'd his reason on his weapon's end. 
 
 60. 
 
 These two entreatance made they might be heard. 
 Nor was their just petition long denied; 
 The gallants quickly made their court of guard. 
 And brought them in where sate their famous guide. 
 Whose kingly look his princely mind declared. 
 Where nobless, virtue, truth, and valour bide. 
 A slender court'sy made Argantes bold. 
 So as one prince salute another would. 
 
 61. 
 
 Aletes laid his right hand on his heart. 
 Bent down his head, and cast his eyes full low, 
 And rev'rence made with courtly grace and art. 
 For all that humble lore to him was know ; 
 ' Semblance — appearance, ^ Pick-thank — tale-bearer, 
 
 ■o 2
 
 36 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNEJ OR, 
 
 His sober lips then did he softly part, 
 Whence of pure rhetoric whole streams outflow ; 
 And thus he said, while on the Christian lords 
 Down fell the mildew of his sugar'd words : 
 
 62. 
 
 " 0, only worthy, whom the earth all fears, 
 High God delend thee with his heav'nly shield, 
 And humble so the hearts of all thy peers, 
 That their stiff necks to thy sweet yoke may yield : 
 These be the sheaves that honour's harvest bears, 
 The seed thy valiant acts, the world the field ; 
 Eg^•pt the headland is, where heaped lies 
 Thy fame, worth, justice, wisdom, victories. 
 
 63. 
 
 " These altogether doth our sovereign hide 
 
 In secret storehouse of his princely thought. 
 
 And prays he may in long accordance bide 
 
 With that great worthy, which such wonders wrought : 
 
 Nor that oppose against the coming tide 
 
 Of proSer'd love, for that he is not taught 
 
 Your Christian faith ; for though of divers kind. 
 The loving vine about her elm is twin'd. 
 
 64. 
 
 " Receive, therefore, in that unconquer'd band 
 The precious handle of this cup of love ; 
 If not religion, virtue be the band 
 'Twixt you to fasten friendship, not to move : 
 But for our mighty king doth understand, 
 You mean your power 'gainst Juda land to prove. 
 He would, before this threat'ned tempest fell, 
 I should his mind and princely will first tell. 
 
 65. 
 
 " His mind is this. He prays thee be contented 
 To 'joj' in peace the conquests thou hast got ; 
 Be not tliy death, or Sion's fall lamented. 
 Forbear this land, Judea trouble not ; 
 Things done in haste at leisure be repented: 
 Withdraw thine arms, trust not uncertain lot; 
 
 For oft we see what least we think betide; 
 
 He is thy fi-iend 'gainst all the world beside.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 37 
 
 66. 
 " True labour in the vineyard of thy Lord, 
 Ere prime' thou hast th' imposed day-work done ; 
 What armies conquer'd, perisht with thy sword? 
 What cities sackt ? what kingdoms hast thou won ? 
 All ears are 'mazed while tongues thine acts record, 
 Hands quake for fear, all feet for dread do run. 
 
 And though no realms you may to thraldom bring, 
 No higher can your praise, your glory spring. 
 
 67. 
 " Thy sun is in his Apogseon^ placed. 
 And when it moveth next, must needs descend. 
 Chance is uncertain, fortune double-faced, 
 Smiling at first, she frowneth in the end. 
 Beware thine honour be not then disgraced ; 
 Take heed thou mar not when thou think'st to mend ; 
 
 For this the folly is of fortune's play, 
 
 'Gainst doubtful, certain ; much, 'gainst small, to lay. 
 
 68. 
 " Yet still we sail while prosp'rous blows the wind, 
 Till on some secret rock unwares we light ; 
 The sea of glory hath no banks assign'd ; 
 They, who are wont to win in every fight. 
 Still feed the fire, that so inflames thy mind 
 To bring more nations subject to thy might; 
 
 This makes thee, blessed peace, so light to hold; 
 
 Like summer's flies that fear not winter's cold. 
 
 69. 
 
 " They bid thee follow on the path, now made 
 So plain and easy, enter Fortune's gate. 
 Nor in thy scabbard sheathe that famous blade, 
 Till settled be thy kingdom and estate, 
 Till Macon's sacred doctrine fall and fade, 
 Till woful Asia all lie desolate. 
 
 Sweet words, I grant, baits and allurements sweet. 
 But greatest hopes oft greatest crosses meet. 
 
 70. 
 " For, if thy courage do not blind thine eyes. 
 If clouds of fury hide not reason's beams. 
 Then mayst thou see this desp'rate enterprise, 
 The field of death, wat'red with danger's streams : 
 
 ' Prime — six o'clock in the morning. 
 * Apogaeon — apogee. 'Ihe apogee of the sun is that part of the earth's 
 orbit which is at the greatest distance from the sun.
 
 38 GODFREY OF BULLOIGN'E; OR, 
 
 High state the hed is where misforttme lies, 
 Mars most unfriendly, when most kind he seems ; 
 VTho climbeth high, on earth he hardest lights, 
 And lowest fiaUs attend the highest flights. 
 
 71. 
 " Tell me, if great in counsel, arms, and gold, 
 The prince of Egypt war 'gainst you prepare ? 
 What if the valiant Turks and Persians bold. 
 Unite their forces with Cassanoe's heir ? 
 O then, what marble pillar shall uphold 
 The falling trophies ot your conquest fair ? 
 
 Trust you the monarch of the Greekish land ? 
 
 That reed will break ; and breaking, wound your hand. 
 
 72. 
 " The Greekish faith is hke that half-cut tree. 
 By which men take wild elephants in Ind ; 
 A thousand times it hath beguiled thee, 
 As firm as waves in seas, or leaves in wind. 
 Will they, who erst denied you passage free- 
 Passage to all men free by use and kind — 
 
 Fight for your sake ? or on them do you trust 
 
 To spend their blood, that could scarce spare their dust. 
 
 73. 
 
 " But all your hope and trust perchance is laid 
 In these strong troops, which thee environ round ; 
 Yet foes unite are not so soon dismay'd. 
 As when their strength you erst divided found ; 
 Besides, each hour thy bands are weaker made 
 With hunger, slaughter, lodging on cold ground ; 
 
 Meanwhile the Turks seek succoui's from our king ; 
 
 Thus fade thy helps, and thus thy cumbers' spring. 
 
 74. 
 " Suppose no weapon can thy valour's pride 
 Subdue, that by no force thou may'st be won ; 
 Admit no steel can hurt or woimd thy side, 
 And be it Heav'n hath thee such favour done; 
 'Gainst famine yet what shield canst thou provide ? 
 What strength resist ? "WTiat sleight her wrath can shun? 
 
 Go, shake the spear, and draw thy flaming blade. 
 
 And try if hunger so be weaker made. 
 
 1 Cumbers — caret, or dangers.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 39 
 
 75. 
 " Th' inhabitants each pasture and each plain 
 Destroyed have, each field to waste is laid ; 
 In fenced towers bestowed is their grain, 
 Before thou cam'st this kingdom to invade ; 
 These horse and foot how canst thou then sustain ? 
 Whence comes thy store ? whence thy provision made ? 
 
 Thy ships to bring it are, perchance, assign'd ; 
 
 that you live so long, as please the wind ! 
 
 76. 
 " Perhaps thy fortune doth control the wind. 
 Doth loose or bind their blasts in secret cave ; 
 The sea, pardie, cruel and deaf by kind 
 Will hear thy call, and still her raging wave : 
 But if our armed galleys be assign'd 
 To aid those ships which Turks and Persians have. 
 
 Say then, what hope is left thy slender fleet ? 
 
 Dare flocks of crows a flight of eagles meet ? 
 
 77. 
 
 " My lord, a double conquest must you make, 
 
 If you achieve renown by this emprise : 
 
 For if our fleet your navy chase or take. 
 
 For want of victuals all your camp then dies ; 
 
 Or if by land the field you once forsake, 
 
 Then vain by sea were hope of victories. 
 
 Nor could your ships restore your lost estate : 
 For steed once stol'n, we shut the door too late. 
 
 78. 
 " In this estate, if thou esteemest light 
 The proffer'd kindness of th' Egyptian king, 
 Then give me leave to say, this oversight 
 Beseems thee not, in whom such virtues spring : 
 But Heav'ns vouchsafe to guide thy mind aright 
 To gentle thoughts, that peace and quiet bring, 
 So that poor Asia her complaints may cease. 
 And you enjoy youi* conquest got in peace. 
 
 79. 
 " Nor ye that part in these adventures have. 
 Part in his glory, partners in his harms, 
 Let not blind fortune so your minds deceive, 
 To stir him more to try these fierce alarms :
 
 40 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE; OR, 
 
 But like the sailor, 'scaped from the wave, 
 From further peril that iiis person harms 
 By staying safe at home, so stay you all, 
 Better sit still, men say, than rise to fall." 
 
 80. 
 This said Aletes : and a murmur rose 
 That show'd dislike among the Christian peers ; 
 Their angry gestures with mislike disclose 
 How much his speech ofi'ends their noble ears. 
 Lord Godfrey's eye three times environ' goes 
 To view what count'nance ev'ry warrior bears. 
 And lastly on the Egyptian baron stay'd. 
 To whom the Duke thus, for his answer said. 
 
 81. 
 " Ambassador, full both of threats and praise. 
 Thy doubtful message hast thou wisely told, 
 And if thy sov'reign love us, as he says. 
 Tell him he sows to reap an hundred fold : 
 But where thy talk the coming storm displays 
 Of threaten'd warfare from the Pagans bold. 
 To that I answer, as my custom is. 
 In plainest phrase, lest my intent thou miss. 
 
 82. 
 
 " Know that till now we suffer'd have much pain 
 By lands and seas, where storms and tempests fall, 
 To make the passage easy, safe, and plain, 
 That leads us to this venerable wall ; 
 That so we might reward from Heav'n obtain. 
 And free this town from being longer thrall ; 
 Nor is it grievous to so good an end 
 Our honours, kingdoms, lives and goods to spend. 
 
 83. 
 
 " Nor hope of praise, nor thirst of worldly good. 
 
 Enticed us to follow this emprise; 
 
 The Heav'nly Father keep his sacred brood 
 
 From foul infection of so great a vice : 
 
 But by our zeal aye be that plague withstood. 
 
 Let not those pleasures us to sin entice. 
 
 His grace, his mercy, and his powerful hand 
 Will keep us safe liom hurt by sea and land. 
 
 1 Environ — around.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVEREB. :41 
 
 *• This is the spur that makes our coursers run ; 
 This is our harbour, safe from danger's floods ? 
 This is our bield,' the blust'ring winds to shun : 
 This is our guide, through forests, deserts, woods : 
 This is our summer's shade, our winter's sun : 
 This is our wealth, our treasure, and our goods : 
 This is our engine, towers that overthrows. 
 Our spear that hurts, our sword that wounds our foes. 
 
 85. 
 " Our courage lience, our hope, our valour springs. 
 Nor from the trust we have in shield or spear, 
 Not from the succours France or Grecia brings ; 
 On such weak posts we list no buildings rear : 
 He can defend us from the power of kings, 
 From chance of war, that makes weak hearts to fear ; 
 He can these hungry troops with manna feed. 
 And make the seas, land, if we passage need. 
 
 86. 
 
 " But if our sins us of his help deprive. 
 
 Or his high justice let no mercy fall ; 
 
 Yet should our deaths us some contentment give, 
 
 To die where Christ received his burial ; 
 
 So might we die, not envying them that live ; 
 
 So would we die, not unrevenged all : 
 
 Nor Turks, nor Christians (if we perish such) 
 Have cause to joy, or to complain too much. 
 
 87. 
 " Think not that wars we love, and strife affect. 
 Or that we hate sweet peace, or rest denay. 
 Think not your sovereign's friendship we reject, 
 Because we list not in our conquests stay : 
 But for it seems he would the Jews protect, 
 Pray him from us that thought aside to lay. 
 
 Nor us forbid this town and realm to gain ; 
 
 And he in peace, rest, joy, long mote he reign." 
 
 88. 
 This answer given, Argantes wild drew nar,^ 
 Trembling for ire, and waxing pale for rage. 
 Nor could he hold, his wrath increased so far. 
 But thus (inflamed) bespake the captain sage : 
 * Bield— shelter, » Nar — near.
 
 42 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXEj OR 
 
 " Who scometh peace shall have his fill of war, 
 I thought thy wisdom should thy fury suage ; 
 But well you show what joy you take in fight. 
 Which makes you prize our love and friendship light.' 
 
 89. 
 This said, he took his mantle's foremost part, 
 And 'gan the same together fold and wrap ; 
 Then spake again with fell and spiteful heart, 
 (So lions roar enclosed in train or trap) : 
 " Thou proud despiser of inconstant Mart,* 
 I hring thee war and peace closed in this lap ; 
 
 Take quickly one, thou hast no time to muse ; 
 
 If peace, we rest ; we fight, if war thou choose." 
 
 90. 
 His semblande fierce and speeches proud provoke 
 The soldiers all — War, war, at once to cry. 
 Nor could they tarry till their chieftain spoke ; 
 But for the knight was more inflamed hereby. 
 His lap he open'd and spread forth his cloak : 
 " To mortal wars (he says) I you defy ;" 
 And this he uttered with fell rage and hate, 
 And seem'd of Janus Church t'undo the gate. 
 
 91. 
 
 It seemed fury, discord, madness fell 
 Flew from his lap, when he unfolds the same ; 
 His glaring ej-es with anger's venom swell. 
 And like the brand of foul Alecto flame ; 
 He look'd like huge Tiphoius loos'd from hell 
 Again to shake Heav'n's everlasting frame ; 
 Or him that built the tower on Shinaar, 
 Which thi-eat'neth battle 'gainst the morning-star. 
 
 92. 
 
 Godfredo then ; " Depart, and bid your king 
 Haste hitherward, or else within short while, 
 (For gladly we accept the war you bring) 
 Let him expect us on the banks of Nile." 
 He entertain'd them then with banqueting. 
 And gifts presented to those Pagans vile ; 
 Aletes had a helmet, rich and gay, 
 Late found at Nice, among the conquer'd prey ; 
 
 1 Mart — 2Iars.
 
 JEEUSALEM DELIVEKED. 43 
 
 93. 
 
 Argant a sword, whereof the web was steel. 
 Pommel, rich stone ; hilts gold ; approved by touch. 
 With rarest workmanship all forged weel ; 
 The curious art excell'd the substance much : 
 Thus fair, rich, sharp ; to see, to have, to feel. 
 Glad was the Paynim to enjoy it such. 
 
 And said, " How I this gift can use and wield, 
 Soon shall you see, when first we meet in field." 
 
 94. 
 
 Thus took they congee, and the angry knight 
 
 Thus to his fellow parled^ on the way : 
 
 " Go thou by day, but let me walk by night ; 
 
 Go thou to Egypt, I at Sion stay ; 
 
 The answer given thou canst unfold aright ; 
 
 No need of me, what I can do or say ; 
 
 Among these arms I will go wreak my spite ; 
 
 Let Paris court it. Hector lov'd to fight." 
 
 95. 
 
 Thus he, who late arrived a messenger. 
 Departs a foe, in act, in word, in thought ; 
 The law of nations, or the lore of war 
 If he transgress, or no, he recketh nought. 
 Thus parted they, and ere he wander'd far 
 The friendly star-light to the walls him brought : 
 Yet his fell heart thought long that little way. 
 Grieved with each stop, tormented with each stay, 
 
 96. 
 Now spread the night her spangled canopy, 
 And summon'd every restless eye to sleep : 
 On beds of tender grass the beasts down lie ; 
 The fishes slumber'd in the silent deep : 
 Unheard was serpent's hiss, and dragon's cry ; 
 Birds left to sing, and Philomene to weep : 
 Only that noise Heav'n's rolling circles kest,^ 
 Sung lullaby to bring the world to rest. 
 
 97. 
 Yet neither sleep, nor ease, nor shadows dark, 
 Could make the faithful camp or captain rest. 
 They longed to see the day, to hear the lark 
 Record her hymns, and chant her carols blest ; 
 
 1 'P&T\ed— talked. * Kest—cast.
 
 ii GODFKEY OF BULLOIGNE, 
 
 They earn'd to view the walls, the wished mark 
 
 To which their journey's long they had addrest; 
 
 Each heart attends, each longing e^'e beholds 
 
 What beam the eastern window first unfolds.
 
 GODFUEY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 §00ll t\it %\ixx^. 
 
 THE AEGUMENT. 
 
 JTie camp at great Jerusalem arrives : 
 Clorinda gives them battle; in the breast 
 Of fair Erminia Tancred's love revives ; 
 Se jousts with her unknown lohom he lov'd best; 
 Argant tli advent' rers of their guide deprives ; 
 With stately pomp they lay their lord in chest : 
 Godfrey commands to cut the forest down, 
 And make strong engines to assault the town. 
 
 1. 
 
 The purple morning left her crimson bed, 
 
 And donn'd her robes of pure vermilion hue. 
 
 Her amber locks she crown'd with roses red. 
 
 In Eden's flow'ry gardens gather'd new. 
 
 When through the camp a murmur shrill was spread, 
 
 " Arm, arm," they cried ; arm, arm, the trumpets blew ; 
 
 Their mei'ry noise prevents the joyful blast; 
 
 So hum small bees, before their swarms they cast. 
 
 2. 
 
 Their captain rules their courage, guides their heat. 
 
 Their forwardness he stay'd with gentle rein ; 
 
 And yet more easy (haply) were the feat 
 
 To stop the current near Charybdis main. 
 
 Or calm the blust'ring winds on mountains great, 
 
 Than fierce desires of warlike hearts restrain ; 
 
 He rules them yet, and ranks them in their haste. 
 For well he knows disorder'd speed makes waste.
 
 46 GODFEEY OF BULLOIGXE : OB, 
 
 3. 
 
 Featlier'd their thoughts, their feet in wings were dight ; 
 
 Swiftly they niarch'd, yet were not tir'd thereby, 
 
 For willing minds make heaviest burdens light. 
 
 But when the gliding sun was mounted hie, 
 
 Jerusalem (behold) appeared in sight ; 
 
 Jerusalem they view, they see, they spy, 
 Jerusalem with merry noise they greet, 
 With joyful shouts, and acclamations sweet. 
 
 4. 
 As when a troop of jolly sailors row 
 Some new-found land and country to descry. 
 Through dang'rous seas, and under stars unknow. 
 Thrall to the faithless waves, and trothless sky, 
 If once the wished shore begin to show. 
 They all salute it with a joyful cry ; 
 
 Ajid each to other show the land in haste, 
 Forgetting quite their pains and perils past. 
 
 5. 
 
 To that delight which their first sight did breed. 
 
 That pleased so the secret of their thought, 
 
 A deep repentance did forthwith succeed, 
 
 That rev'rend fear and trembling with it brought. 
 
 Scantly they durst their feeble eyes dispread 
 
 Upon that town where Christ was sold and bought ; 
 
 Where for our sins he faultless suffer'd pam ; 
 
 There where he died, and where he lived again. 
 
 6. 
 
 Soft words, low speech, deep sobs, sweet sighs, salt tears 
 Rose from their breasts, with joy and pleasure mixt ; 
 For thus fares he the Lord aright that fears, 
 Fear on devotion, joy on faith is fist : 
 Such noise their passions make, as when one hears 
 Hoarse sea waves roar the hollow rocks betwixt ; 
 Or as the wind in holts' and shady greaves,- 
 A murmur makes among the boughs and leaves. 
 
 7. 
 Their naked feet trod on the dusty way, 
 Following th' ensample of their zealous guide; 
 Their scarfs, their crests, their plumes and feathers gay 
 They quickly doff"d, and willing laid aside ; 
 ' Holts — tcoods groicing on hillt. * Greaves — groves.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 47 
 
 Their molten hearts their wonted pride allay : 
 Along their watry cheeks warm tears down slide : 
 And then such secret speech as this they used. 
 While to himself each one himself accused. 
 
 " riower of goodness, root of lasting hliss, 
 Thou well of life, whose streams were purplo blood 
 That flowed here, to cleanse the soul amiss 
 Of sinful man, behold this brinish flood. 
 That from my melting heart distilled is, 
 Keceive in gree^ these tears (0 Lord so good) 
 For never wretch with sin so over-gone. 
 Had fitter time, or greater cause to mone. 
 
 9. 
 This while the wary watchman looked over 
 (From tops of Sion's towers) the hills and dales, 
 And saw the dust the fields and pastures cover, 
 (As when thick mists arise from moory vales.) 
 At last the sun-bright shields he 'gan discover. 
 And glittering helms for violence none that fales ; 
 
 The metal shone like lightning bright in skies ; 
 
 And man and horse amid the dust descries. 
 
 10. 
 
 Then loud he cries, " what a dust arlseth ? 
 
 how it shines with shields and targets clear ? 
 Up, up, to arms, for valiant heart despiseth 
 The threaten'd storm of death, and danger near; 
 Behold your foes;" then further thus deviseth, 
 
 " Haste, haste, for vain delay increaseth fear : 
 These horrid clouds of dust that yonder fly, 
 Your coming foes doth hide, and hide the sky." 
 
 11. 
 
 The tender children, and the fathers old. 
 The aged matrons, and the virgin chaste, 
 That durst not shake the spear, nor target hold. 
 Themselves devoutly in their temples plast ; 
 The rest, of members strong and courage bold 
 On hardy breasts their harness donn'd in haste; 
 Some to the walls, some to the gates them dight -^ 
 Their king mean while directs them all aright. 
 
 1 Gn^— favour, * Dight — disposed themselves. 

 
 48 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXEj OB, 
 
 12. 
 
 All things well order'd, he withdrew with speed 
 
 Up to a turret high, two ports between, 
 
 That so he might be near at every need, 
 
 And over-look the lands and fuiTOws green : 
 
 Thither he did the sweet Erminia lead, 
 
 That in his court had entertained been, 
 
 Since Christians Antioch did to bondage bi-iug. 
 And slew her lather, who thereof wa^j king. 
 
 13. 
 
 Against their foes Clorinda sallied out, 
 And many a baron bold was by her side. 
 Within the postern stood Argantes stout 
 To rescue her, if ill mote her betide : 
 With speeches brave she cheer 'd her war-like rout. 
 And with bold words them heai-t'ned as they ride : 
 " Let us by some brave act (quoth she) this day 
 Of Asia's hopes the ground- work found aud lay." 
 
 14. 
 While to her folk thus spake the virgin brave. 
 Thereby behold forth past a Christian band 
 Towards the camp that herds of cattle drave. 
 For they that morn had forray'd all the land ; 
 The fierce virago would that booty save. 
 Whom their commander singled hand for hand, 
 A mighty man at arms, who Guardo liight. 
 But iar too weak to match with her in fight 
 
 15. 
 
 They met, and low in dust was Guardo laid, 
 Twixt either army, from his sell' down kest ; 
 The Pagans shout for joy, and hopeful said, 
 Those good beginnings would have endings blest : 
 Against the rest on went the noble maid, 
 She broke the helm, and pierced the armed breast; 
 Her men the paths rode through made by her sword. 
 They pass the stream where she had found the ford. 
 
 16. 
 
 Soon was the prey out of their hands recover'd. 
 By step and step the Frenchmen 'gan retire. 
 Till on a little hill at la^t they hover'd, 
 Whose strength preserved them from Clorinda's ire : 
 1 Seil— saddle.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 49 
 
 When, as a tempest, that hath long been cover'd 
 In wat'ry clouds, breaks out with sparkling fire, 
 
 With his strong squadron Lord Tancredie came ; 
 
 His heart with rage, his eyes with courage flame. 
 
 17. 
 
 Mast-great the spear was which the gallant bore 
 That in his warlike pride he made to shake, 
 As winds tall cedars toss on mountains hoar : 
 The King, that wonder 'd at his brav'ry, spake 
 To her, that near him seated was before. 
 Who felt her heart with love's hot lever quake : [knight, 
 " Well should'st thou know (quoth he) each Christian 
 By long acquaintance, though in armour dight. 
 
 18. 
 " Say who is he shows so great worthiness. 
 That rides so rank,' and bends his lance so fell ?" 
 To this the princess said nor moi'e nor less ; 
 Her heart with sighs, her eyes with tears did swell : 
 But sighs and tears she wisely could suppress, 
 Her love and passion she dissembled well. 
 And strove her love and hot desire to cover, 
 Till heart with sighs, and eyes with tears ran over. 
 
 19. 
 
 At last she spake, and with a crafty slight, 
 
 Her secret love disguised in clothes of hate ; 
 
 " Alas, too well," she says, " I know that knight, 
 
 I saw his force and courage proved late, 
 
 Too late I view'd him, when his power and might 
 
 Shook down the pillar of Cassanoe's state ; 
 
 Alas what wounds he gives ? how fierce, how fell ? 
 
 No physic helps them cure, nor magic's spell. 
 
 20. 
 " Tancred he liight ; Macon, would he were 
 My thrall, ere fates him of this life deprive. 
 For to his hateful head such spite I bear, 
 I would him reave his cruel heart on live. " 
 Thus said she, they that her complainings hear 
 In other sense her wishes credit give. 
 
 She sigh'd withall, they construed all amiss, 
 
 And thought she wish'd to kill, who long'd to kiss. 
 
 1 'B.a.vii.— furiously.
 
 50 GODFREY OF EULLOIGXE ; OK, 
 
 21. 
 
 This -svliile forth prick'd Clorinda from the throng. 
 And 'gainst Tancredie set her spear in rest, 
 Upon their helms they crack'd tlieir lances long. 
 And from her head her gilden casque he kest. 
 For every lace he broke and every thong, 
 And in the dust threw down her plumed crest ; 
 
 About her shoulder shone her golden locks, 
 
 Like suun}^ beams, on alabaster rocks. 
 
 22. 
 
 Her looks with fire, her eyes with lightning blaze, 
 
 Sweet was her wrath, what then would be her smile ? 
 
 Tancred, whereon thiuk"st thou ? what dost thou gaze ? 
 
 Hast thou forgot her in so short a while ? 
 
 The same is she, the shape of whose sweet face. 
 
 The god of love did in thy heart compile. 
 
 The same that left thee b^- the cooling sti-eam. 
 
 Safe from sun's heat, but scorch'd with beauty's beam. 
 
 23. 
 
 The prince well knew her, though her painted shield 
 And golden helm he had not mark'd before. 
 , She saved her head, and with her axe well stield^ 
 Assail'd the knight : but her the knight forebore; 
 'Gainst other foes he proved him through the field. 
 Yet she for that refrained ne'er the more, 
 
 But following, " Turn thee," cried in ireful wise ; 
 
 And so at once she threats to kill him twice. 
 
 24. 
 Not once the baron lift his armed hand 
 . To strike the maid, but gazing on her eyes, 
 Where lordly Cupid seem'd in arms to stand, 
 Xo way to ward or shun her blows he tries ; 
 But softly says, " No stroke of thy strong hand 
 Can vanquish Tancred, but thy conquest hes 
 In those fair eyes, which fierj' weapons dart. 
 That find no lighting place except this heart." 
 
 25. 
 
 At last resolved, although he hoped small grace, 
 Yet ere he died to tell how much he loved, 
 .For pleasing words in women's ears find place, 
 •"' And gentle heai'ts with humble suit are moved ; 
 • 1 Stield— steels.
 
 ^ 
 
 \ 
 
 I he I'lince well U,a-» lier, tlunigl. her iwiiifeil shiekl 
 And ■tiililen huhn he hail not mark .1 before.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 51 
 
 " thou," quoth he, " withhold thy wrath a space, 
 
 For if thou long to see my valour proved, 
 Were it not better from this warlike rout 
 Withdrawn, somewhere, alone to fight it out ? 
 
 26. 
 
 " So singled, may we both our courage try :" 
 Clorinda to that motion yielded glad, 
 ■And helmless to the forestward 'gan hie, 
 Whither the prince right pensive went and sad. 
 And there the virgin 'gan him soon def}', 
 One blow she strooken, and he warded had, 
 
 When he cried " Hold, and ere we prove our might, 
 First'hear thou some conditions of the fight." 
 
 27. 
 
 She stay'd, and desperate love had made him bold. 
 " Since from the fight thou wilt no respite give, 
 The cov'nants be (he said) that thou unfold 
 This wretched bosom, and my heart out rive, 
 Given thee long since, and if thou cruel would 
 I should be dead, let me no longer live, 
 
 But pierce this breast, that all the world may say. 
 The eagle made the tm-tle dove her prey. 
 
 28. 
 
 " Save with thy grace, or let thine anger kill. 
 Love hath disarm'd my life of all defence ; 
 An ensj labour harmless blood to spill; 
 Strike then, and punish where is none offence." 
 This said the prince, and more perchance had will 
 To have declared, to move her cruel sense. 
 But in ill time of Pagans thither came 
 . A troop, and Christians that puu-saed the same. 
 
 29. 
 
 The Pagans fled before their valiant foes. 
 For dread or craft, it skills not that we know, 
 A soldier wild, careless to win or lose. 
 Saw where her locks about the damsel flew. 
 And at her back he proff"reth (as he goes) 
 To strike where her he did disarmed view: 
 
 But Tancred cried, " Oh stay thy cursed hand," ' 
 And ibr to ward the blow lilt up his brand. 
 
 E 3
 
 52 GODFREY OF B^LLOIG^^: ; oe, 
 
 30. 
 But yet the cutting steel arrived there, 
 Where her fair neck adjoiu'd her noble head, 
 Light was the wound, but through her amber hair 
 The purple drops down railed' bloody red. 
 So rubies set in flaming gold appear. 
 But Lord Tancredie, pale with rage as lead, 
 
 Flew on the villain, who to flight him bound ; 
 
 The smart was his, though she received the wound. 
 
 31. 
 
 The villain flies ; he, full of rage and ire, 
 Pursues ; she stood, and wonder'd on them both. 
 But yet to follow them show'd no desire; 
 To stray so far she would perchance be loth, 
 But quickly turn'd her, fierce as flaming fire. 
 And on her foes wreaked her anger wroth : 
 On ever}' side she kills them down amain, 
 And now she flies, and now she turns again. 
 
 32. 
 As the swift Ure, by Volga's rolling flood, 
 Chased through the plains the mastiff curs to-fom,' 
 Flies to the succour of some neighbour wood. 
 And often turns again his dreadful honi 
 Against the dogs inibru'd in sweat and blood. 
 That bite not, till the beast to flight return ; 
 Or as the Moors at their strange tennis run 
 Defenst, the flying balls unhurt to shun : 
 
 33. 
 
 So ran Clorinda, so her foes pursu'd. 
 Until they both approach'd the city's wall, 
 "When lo the Pagans their fierce wrath renew'd, 
 Cast in a ring about they wheeled all. 
 And 'gainst the Christians' backs and sides they shew'd 
 Their courage fierce, and to new combat fall, 
 When down the hill Ai-gantes came to fight 
 Like angry Mars to aid the Trojan knight. 
 
 34. 
 
 Furious, tofore the foremost of his rank. 
 In sturdy steel forth stepp'd the warrior bold ; 
 The first he smote, down from his saddle sank. 
 The next under his steed lay on the mould, 
 
 1 Railed — rolled. s To-torn— bffort.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 53 
 
 Under the Sar'cen's spear the worthies shrank, 
 No breastplate could that cursed tree out-hold ; 
 When that was broke his precious sword he drew, 
 And whom he hit, he felled, hurt, or slew. 
 
 35. 
 
 Clorinda slew Ardelio, aged knight. 
 Whose graver years would for no labour yield ; 
 His age wan full of puissance and might ; 
 Two sons he had to guard his noble eild ;' 
 The first (far from his father's care and sight), 
 Call'd Alicandro, wounded lay in field. 
 And Poliphern the younger by his side, 
 Had he not nobly fought, had surely died. 
 
 36. 
 
 Tancred by this, that strove to overtake 
 The villain that had hurt his only dear, 
 From vain pursuit at last returned back, 
 And his brave troop discomfit saw well near ; 
 Thither he spurr'd, and 'gan huge slaughter make ; 
 His shock no steed, his blow no knight could bear; 
 
 For dead he strikes him whom he lights upon ; 
 
 So thunders break high trees on Lebanon. 
 
 37. 
 
 Dudon his squadron of advent'rers brings, 
 
 To aid the worthy and his tired crew. 
 
 Before the res'due young Rinaldo flings 
 
 As swift, as fiery lightning kindled new; 
 
 His argent eagle with her silver wings 
 
 In field of azure, fair Errainia knew ; 
 
 " See there, sir King," she says, " a knight as bolcl 
 And brave, as was the son of Peleus old. 
 
 38. 
 " He wins the prize in joust and tournament. 
 His acts are numberless, though few his years : 
 If Europe six like him to war had sent 
 Among these thousand strong of Christian peers, 
 Syria were lost, lost were the Orient, 
 And all the lands the southern ocean wears, 
 Conquer'd were all hot Afric's tawny kings. 
 And all that dwell by Nilus' unknown springs, 
 
 1 EM— old age.
 
 54 GODFREY OF BL'LLOIGNE ; OK, 
 
 39. 
 " Rinaldo is his name, his armed fist 
 Breaks down stone walls, when rams and engines fail ; 
 But turn your ej-es, because I would j-ou wist 
 What lord that is in green and golden mail; 
 Dudon he hight who guideth as him list 
 Th' advent'rer's troop, whose prowess seld^ doth fail ; 
 High birth, gi-ave years, and practice long in wai". 
 And fearless heai-t, make him renowned far. 
 
 40. 
 " See that big man, that all in brown is bound, 
 Geraando caU d, the king of Norway's son, 
 A prouder knight treads not on grass or ground. 
 His pride hath lost the praise his prowess won. 
 And that kind pair in white all armed round, 
 Is Edward and Gildippes, who begun 
 
 Through love the hazard of fierce war to prove ; 
 
 Famous for arms, but famous more for love." 
 
 41. 
 
 While thus they tell their foemen's worthiness, 
 The slaughter rageth in the plain at large ; 
 Tancred and young liinaldo break the press. 
 They bruise the helm, and pieiTe the sevenfold targe: 
 The troop by Dudon led.perform'd no less, 
 But in they come and give a furious charge : 
 Argantes self, fell'd at one single blow, 
 Inglorious, bleeding lay on earth full low : 
 
 42. 
 Nor had the boaster ever risen more, 
 But that Rinaldo's horse e'en then down fell. 
 And with the fall his leg oppress d so sore. 
 That fcr a space there must he algates- dwell : 
 Meanwhile the Pagan troops were nigh forlore, 
 Swiftly they fled, glad they escaped so well ; 
 Argantes, and with him Clorinda stout. 
 For bank and bulwai'k served to save the rout. 
 
 43. 
 
 These fled the last, and with their force sustain'd 
 The Christians' rage, that Ibllow'd them so near ; 
 Their scatter'd troops to safety well the}' train'd. 
 And while the res'due fled, the brunt these bear : 
 
 * Seld — leldom. * iAJgates— 6y all means.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 
 
 55 
 
 Dudon pursued tlie victory he gaiii'd, 
 And on Tigranes nobly broke his spear. 
 
 Then with his sword headless to ground him cast; 
 
 So gard'ners branches lop that spring too fast. 
 
 44. 
 
 Algazar's breastplate, of fine temper made, 
 NorCorban's helmet, forged by magic art, 
 Could save their owners, for Lord Dudon's blade 
 Cleft Corhan's head, and pierced Algazar's heart ; 
 And their proud souls down to th' infernal shade, 
 From Amurath and Mahomet depart : 
 
 Not strong Argantes thought his life was sure ; 
 
 He could not safely fly, nor fight secure. 
 
 45. 
 
 The angry Pagan bit his lips for teen,^ 
 He ran, he stay'd, he fled, he turn'd again. 
 Until at last unmark'd, unview'd, unseen, 
 (When Dudon had Almansor newly slain) 
 Within his side he sheathed his weapon keen : 
 Down fell the worthy on the dusty plain, 
 And lifted up his feeble eyes beneath, 
 Oppress'd with leaden sleep of iron death. 
 
 46. 
 Three times he strove to view Heav'n's golden ray. 
 And raised him on his feeble elbow thrice, 
 And thrice he tumbled on the lowly lay,- 
 And three times closed again his dying eyes. 
 He speaks no word, yet makes his signs to pray, 
 He sighs, he faints, he groans, and then he dies : 
 Argantes proud to spoil the corpse disdain'd, 
 But shook his sword with blood of Dudon stain'd, 
 
 47. 
 And turning to the Christian knights, he cried : — 
 " Lordlings, behold, this bloody reeking blade 
 Last night was given me by your noble guide; 
 Tell him what proof thereof this day is made. 
 Needs must this please him well that is betide,^ 
 That I so well can use this martial trade. 
 
 To whom so rare a gift he did present; 
 
 Tell him the workman fits the instrument. 
 
 * Teen — rage. 
 
 * Lay — ground. 
 
 3 Betide — happened.
 
 56 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 48. 
 " If further proof thereof he long to see. 
 Say it still thirsts, and would his heart-blood drink ; 
 And if he haste not to encounter me, 
 Sa\' I will find him when he least doth think." 
 The Christians at his words enraged be. 
 But he to shun their ire doth safely shrink 
 Under the shelter of the neighbour wall, 
 Well guarded with his troops and soldiers all. 
 
 49. 
 
 Like storms of hail the stones fell down from hie, 
 Cast from the bulwarks, flankers, ports, and towers, 
 The shafts and quarries from their engines fly, 
 As thick as falling drops in April showers : 
 The French withdrew, they list not press too nie ; 
 The Saracens escaped all the powers. 
 
 But now Rinaldo from the earth up lept, 
 Where by the leg his steed had long him kept. 
 
 50. 
 He came and breathed vengeance from his breast 
 'Gainst him that noble Dudon late had slain; 
 And being come thus spake he to the rest : 
 " Warriors, why stand you gazing here in vain ? 
 Pale death our valiant leader hath opprest. 
 Come wreak' his loss, whom bootless j'ou complain; 
 These walls are weak, they keep but cowards out. 
 No rampier- can withstand a courage stout. 
 
 51. 
 
 " Of double iron, brass or adamant. 
 Or if this wall were built of flaming fire, 
 Yet should the Pagan vile a fortress want 
 To shroud his coward head safe from mine ire ; 
 Come follow then, and bid base fear avant. 
 The harder work deserves the greater hire." 
 
 And with that word close to the walls he starts. 
 Nor fears he arrows, quarries, stones or darts. 
 
 52. 
 
 Above the waves as Neptune lift his eyes 
 
 To chide the winds, that Trojan ships opprest. 
 
 And with his count'nance calm'd seas, winds and skies; 
 
 So look'd Rinaldo, when he shook his crest 
 
 1 Wreak — revenge. * Eampier— rampire, rampart.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 57 
 
 Before those walls : each Pagan fears and flies 
 His dreadful sight, or trembling stay'd at least : 
 Such dread his awful visage on them cast. 
 So seem poor doves at goshawks' sight aghast. 
 
 53. 
 
 The herald Sigiere now from Godfrey came, 
 To will them stay and calm their courage hot ; 
 " Eetire," quoth he, " Godfrey commands the same. 
 To wreak your ire this season fitteth not :" 
 Though loth, Rinaldo stay'd, and stopp'd the flame 
 That boiled in his hardy stomach hot ; 
 
 His bridled fury grew thereby more fell ; 
 
 So rivers stopt, above theii' banks do swell. 
 
 54. 
 
 The bands retire, not danger'd by their foes 
 In their retreat, so wise were they and wary : 
 To murder'd Dudon each lamenting goes. 
 From wonted use of ruth they list not vary. 
 Upon their friendly arms they soft impose 
 The noble burden of his corpse to cary : 
 
 Meanwhile Godfredo, from a mountain great. 
 
 Beheld the sacred city and her seat. 
 
 55. 
 
 Jerusalem is seated on two hills 
 
 Of height unlike, and turned side to side. 
 
 The space between a gentle valley fills, 
 
 Prom mount to mount expansed fair and wide. 
 
 Three sides are sure embar'd with crags and hills. 
 
 The rest is easy, scant' to rise espied : 
 
 But mighty bulwarks fence that plainer part; 
 
 So art helps nature, nature strength'neth art. 
 
 56. 
 
 The town is stored of troughs and cisterns, made 
 To keep fresh water, but the country seems 
 Devoid of grass, unfit for ploughmen's trade, 
 Not fertile, moist with rivers, wells and streams, 
 There grow few trees, to make the summer's shade. 
 To shield the parched land from scorching beams, 
 Save th?t a wood stands six miles from the town. 
 With aged cedars dark, and shadows brown. 
 
 1 Scant — hardly.
 
 58 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 57. 
 
 By east, among the dusty valleys, glide 
 The silver streams of Jordan's crystal flood ; 
 By west, the midland sea, with hounders' tide 
 Of sandy shores, where Joppa whilome stood ; 
 By north, Samaria stands, and on that side 
 The golden calf was rear'd in Bethel wood ; 
 Bethlem b}' south, where Christ incarnate was, 
 A pearl in steel, a diamond set in brass, 
 
 58. 
 While thus the Duke on every side descried 
 The city's strength, the walls and gates about. 
 And saw where least the same was fortified. 
 Where weakest seem'd the walls to keep him out ; 
 Erminia, as he armed rode, him espied. 
 And thus bespake the heathen tyrant stout : 
 " See Godtrej' there, in purple clad and gold. 
 His stately port, and princely look behold. 
 
 59. 
 " Well seems he born to be with honour crown'd. 
 So well the lore he knows of regiment,- 
 Peerless in fight, in counsel grave and sound, 
 The double gift of glor}' excellent, 
 Among these armies is no warrior found 
 Graver in speech, bolder in tournament. 
 
 liaimond pardie in counsel match him might; 
 
 Tancred and young Kinaldo like in fight." 
 
 60. 
 To whom the king ; " He likes me well therefore, 
 I knew him whilome in the Court of France, 
 When I from Egypt went ambassador, 
 I saw him there break man}- a sturd}- lance, 
 And yet his chin no sign of manhood bore. 
 His youth was forward, but with gcvern;',nce. 
 His words, his actions, and his portauce^ brave, 
 Of future virtue, timely tokens gave. 
 
 61. 
 
 " Presages ah too true :" with that a space 
 
 He bii;h'd for grief, then said : " fain would I know 
 
 The man in red, with such a knightly grace, 
 
 A worthy lord he seemeth by his show, 
 
 1 Bounders — lotindaries. '^ Regiment — government. 
 
 * Portance — deportment.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 59 
 
 How like to Godfrey looks he in the face ? 
 
 How like in person ? but some-deal more low." 
 " Baldwin," quoth she, " that noble baron hight,' 
 By birth his brother, and his match in might." 
 
 62. 
 "Next look on him that seems for counsel fit, 
 Whose silver locks bewray his store of days, 
 Raimond he hight, a man of wondrous wit, 
 Of Tholouse Lord, his wisdom is his praise. 
 What he fore-thinks doth (as he looks for) hit. 
 His stratagems have good success always : 
 With gilden helm beyond hirn rides the mild 
 And good Prince William, England's king's dear child." 
 
 63. 
 
 " With him is Guelpho, as his noble mate. 
 
 In birth, in acts, in arms alike the rest, 
 
 I know him well, since I beheld him late. 
 
 By his broad shoulders and his squared breast : 
 
 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 ; meanwhile Godfredo Avent 
 Down to the troops, that in the valley stay'd. 
 And for in vain he thought the labour spent, 
 T' assail those parts that to the mountains laid. 
 Against the northern gate his force he bent, 
 'Gainst it he camp'd, 'gainst it his engines plaj-'d : 
 All felt the fury of his angry power, 
 That from those gates lies to the corner tower. 
 
 65. 
 The town's third part was this, or little less, 
 'Fore which the Duke his glorious ensigns spread. 
 For so great compass had that forteress, 
 That round it could not be environed 
 With narrow siege (nor Babel's king, I guess. 
 That whilome took it, such an army led) 
 
 But all the waj's he kept, by which his foe 
 
 Might to or from the city, come or go. 
 
 1 Hight— is called.
 
 60 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 66. 
 His care was next to cast the trenches deep, 
 So to preserve his resting camp by night, 
 Lest from the city (while his soldiers sleep) 
 Thej' might assail them with untimely fight. 
 This done, he went where lords and princes weep, 
 With dire complaints about the murder'd knight, 
 Where Dudon dead, lay slaughter'd on the ground, 
 And all the soldiers sat lamenting round. 
 
 67. 
 
 His wailing friends adorn'd the mournful bier 
 With woful pomp, whereon his corpse they laid, 
 And when they saw the Bulloigne prince draw near. 
 All felt new grief, and each new sorrow made ; 
 But he, withouten show or change of chear. 
 His springing tears within their fountains stay'd. 
 His rueful looks upon the corse he cast 
 Awhile, and thus bespake the same at last. 
 
 68. 
 " We need not mourn for thee, here laid to rest. 
 Earth is thy bed, and not the grave, the skies 
 Are for thy soul the cradle and the nest. 
 There live, for here thy glory never dies : 
 For like a Christian knight and champion blest 
 Thou didst both live and die ; now feed thine eyes 
 With thy Redeemer's sight, where crown'd with bliss 
 Thy faith, zeal, merit, well-deserving is. 
 
 69. 
 
 " Our loss, not thine, provokes these plaints and tears. 
 For when we lost thee, then our ship her mast, 
 Our chariot lost her wheels, their points our spears, 
 The bird of conquest her chief feather cast : 
 But though thy death, far from our army bears 
 Her chiefest earthly aid, in heaven yet plast 
 Thou wilt procure us help divine, so reaps 
 He, that sows godly sorrow, joy by heaps. 
 
 70. 
 " For if our God the Lord armipotent 
 Those armed angels in our aid down send, 
 That were at Dothan to his Prophet sent, 
 Thou wilt come down with them, and well defend
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVEKED. 61 
 
 Our host, and with thy sacred weapons bent 
 'Gainst Sion's fort, these gates and bulwarks rend. 
 That so thy hand may win this hold, and we 
 May iu these temples praise our Christ for thee." 
 
 71. 
 Thus he complain'd ; but now the sable shade, 
 Icleped night, had thick enveloped 
 The sun in veil of double darkness made. 
 Sleep eased care ; rest brought complaint to bed : 
 All night the war}' Duke devising laid 
 How that high wall should best be battered, 
 How his strong engines he might aptly frame. 
 And whence get timber, fit to build the same. 
 
 72. 
 
 Up with the lark the sorrowful Duke ai'ose, 
 
 A mourner chief at Dudon's burial : 
 
 Of cypress sad a pile his friends compose 
 
 Under a hill, o'ergrown with cedars tall. 
 
 Beside the hearse a fruitful palm tree grows, 
 
 (Ennobled since by this great funeral) 
 
 Where Dudon's corpse they softly laid in ground, 
 The priests sung hymns, the soldiers wept ai-ound. 
 
 73. 
 
 Among the boughs, they here and there bestow 
 Ensigns and arms, as witness of his praise. 
 Which he from Pagan lords, that did them owe,^ 
 Had won in prosperous fights, and happy frays : 
 His shield they fixed on the bole below. 
 And there this distich under-writ, which says : — 
 This pain with stretched arms doth over-spread 
 The champion Dudon's glorious carcase dead. 
 
 74. 
 
 This work performed with advisement^ good, 
 
 Godfrey his carpenters, and men of skill 
 
 In all the camp, sent to an aged wood, 
 
 (With convoy meet to guard them safe from ill) ; 
 
 Within a valley deep this forest stood, 
 
 To Christian e3'es unseen, unknown, until 
 A Syrian told the duke, who thither sent 
 Those chosen workmen, that for timber went. 
 
 * Owe— fo»ses3. * Advisement — consideration.
 
 62 GODFREY OF EULLOIGNE. 
 
 75. 
 And now the axe rag'd in the forest wild, 
 The echo sighed in the groves unseen, 
 The weeping nj-mplis fled from their bowers exiled ; 
 Down fell the shady tops of shaking treen,^ 
 Down came the sacred pahns, the ashes wild, 
 The funeral cypress, holly ever green. 
 
 The weeping fir, thick beech, and sailing pine, 
 The married elm fell with his fruitful vine. 
 
 76. 
 
 The shooter yew, the broad-leaved sycamore. 
 The barren platane, and the wall-nut sound, 
 The myrrh, that her foul sin doth still deplore, 
 The alder, owner of all wat'rish ground, 
 iSweet juniper, whose shadow hurteth sore, 
 Proud cedar, oak, the kirig of forests crown'd : 
 Thus fell the trees, with noise the deserts roar, 
 The beasts, their caves ; the birds, their nests forlore.' 
 
 1 Treen — tress, ^ For-lore — viferlg lost.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 S00I1 l\t |of«ttt 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 f)atan 7iis fiends and sprites assemhletli all. 
 And sends them forth to work the Christians woe. 
 False mdraort their aid from hell doth call, 
 And sends Arniida to entrap his foe : 
 She tells her birth, her fortune, and her fall. 
 Asks aid, allures, and toins the worthies so. 
 
 That they consent her enterprise to prove ; 
 
 She wins them with deceit, craft, beauty, love. 
 
 1. 
 
 While thus their work went on with lucky speed, 
 And reared rams their horned i'ronts advance, 
 The ancient foe to man and inortal seed, 
 His wannish' eyes upon them bent askance ; 
 And when he saw their labours well succeed. 
 He wept for rage, and threat'ned dire mischance. 
 
 He choked his curses, to himself he spake ; 
 
 Such noise wild bulls, that softly bellow, make. 
 
 2. 
 
 At last resolving in his damned thought. 
 To find some let* to stop their warlike feat. 
 He gave command his princes should be brought 
 Before the throne of his internal seat : 
 
 fool ! as if it were a thing of nought 
 God to resist, or change his pui-pose great, 
 
 Who on his foes doth thunder in his ire. 
 Whose arrows hailstones be, and coals of fire. 
 
 1 Wannish — wan, or heavy. * Let — hindrancef
 
 64 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 3. 
 
 The dreary trumpet blew a dreadful blast, 
 And rumbled through the lands and kingdoms under. 
 Through wasteness wide it roar'd, and hollows vast. 
 And fill'd the deep with horror, fear, and wonder : 
 Not half so dreadful noise the tempests cast, 
 That fall from skies, with storms of hail and thunder ; 
 Not half so loud the whistling winds do sing, 
 Broke from the earthen prisons of their king. 
 
 4. 
 
 The peers of Pluto's realm assembled been* 
 Amid the palace of their angry king, 
 In hideous forms and shapes, tofore""' unseen, 
 That fear, death, terror, and amazement bring : 
 With ugly paws some trample on the green, 
 Some gnaw the snakes that on their shoulders hing. 
 And some their forked tails stretch forth on hie. 
 And tear the twinkling stars from trembling sky. 
 
 5. 
 
 There were Cileno's foul and loathsome rout. 
 There Sphinges, Centaurs, there were Gorgons fell, 
 Thei'e howling Scillas, yawling^ round about. 
 There serpents hiss, there sev'n-mouth'd Hydras yell, 
 Chimera there spevvs fire and brimstone out, 
 And Polyphemus blind supporteMi hell : 
 
 Besides ten thousand monsters therein dwells 
 Mis-shapt, unlike themselves, and like nought eh. 
 
 6. 
 
 About their prince each took his wonted seat 
 On thrones red hot, ibuilt of burning brass, 
 Pluto in middest heav'n his trident great, 
 Of rusty iron huge that forged was ; 
 The rocks on which the salt sea billows beat. 
 And Atlas tops, the clouds in height that pass. 
 Compared to his huge person, mole-hills be : 
 So his rough front, his horns so lifted he. 
 
 7. 
 The tyrant proud frown'd from his lofty cell, 
 And with his looks made all his monsters tremble, 
 His eyes, that full of rage and venom swell. 
 Two beacons seem, that men to arms assemble : 
 
 1 Been— 4e. * Tofore—i p/bre. ' Yawling — howling.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 65 
 
 His feltred' locks, that on his bosom fell, 
 On rugged mountains briers and thorns resemble : 
 His yawning mouth that foamed clotted blood, 
 Gap'd like a whirlpool wide in Stygian flood. 
 
 And as Mount Etna vomits sulphur out. 
 With clifts of burning crags, and fire and smoke. 
 So from his mouth flew kindled coals about, 
 Hot sparks and smells, that man and beast would chok3 ; 
 The gnarring^ porter durst not whine for doubt. 
 Still were the Furies while their sov'reign spoke. 
 And swift Cocytus stay'd his murmur shrill. 
 While thus the murd'rer thunder'd out his will. 
 
 9. 
 
 " Ye Powers Infernal, worthier far to sit 
 About the sun, whence you your offspring take. 
 With me that whilome, through the welkin flit, 
 Down tumbled headlong to this empty lake. 
 Our former glory still remember it. 
 Our bold attempts and war we once did make 
 'Gainst him that rules above the starry sphere, 
 For which, like traitors, we lie damned here. 
 
 10. 
 
 " And now in stead of clear and gladsome sky. 
 Of Titan's brightness that so glorious is. 
 In this deep darkness lo we helpless lie. 
 Hopeless again to joy our former bliss. 
 And more — which makes my griefs to multiply- 
 That sinfvd creature man elected is. 
 
 And in our place, the heav'ns possess he must, 
 Yile man, begot of clay and born of dust. 
 
 11. 
 
 " Nor this sufEc'd, but that he also gave 
 His only Son, his darling to be slain. 
 To conquer so hell, death, sin, and the grave. 
 And man condemned to restore again : 
 He brake our prisons and would algates'"' save 
 The souls that here should dwell in woe and pain. 
 And now in Heav'n with him they live always 
 With endless glory crown'd, and lasting praise. 
 
 * Fei.trei-~tanffled. ^ Gnarring — snarling, ^ Algates — by all mean*
 
 66 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNEj OB, 
 
 12. 
 
 " But why recount I thus our passed harms ? 
 Remembrance fresh makes weaken'd sorrows strong; 
 Expulsed were we with injurious arms 
 From those due honours, us of right belong. 
 But let us leave to speak of these alarms, 
 And bend our forces 'gainst our present wrong : 
 Ah see you not, how he attempted hath 
 To bring all lands, all nations to his faith ? 
 
 13. 
 
 " Then, let us careless spend the day and night, 
 Without regard what haps, what comes or goes ; 
 Let Asia subject be to Christians' might, 
 A prey be Sion to her conquering foes. 
 Let her adore again her Christ aright. 
 Who her before all nations whilome chose, 
 In brazen tables be his lore iwrit. 
 And let all tongues and lands acknowledge it. 
 
 14 
 
 " So shall our sacred altars all be his. 
 Our holy idols tumbled in the mold, 
 To him the wretched man, that sinful is. 
 Shall pray, and offer incense, myrrh, and gold; 
 Our temples shall their costly deckings miss. 
 With naked walls and pillars freezing cold ; 
 Tribute of souls shall end, and our estate. 
 Or Pluto reign iu kingdoms desolate. 
 
 15. 
 
 " Oh, be not then the courage perisht clean, 
 
 That whilome dwelt within your haughty thought, 
 
 When, arm'd with shining fire and weapons keen. 
 
 Against the angels of proud Heav'n we fought ; 
 
 I grant we fell on the Phlegrean green. 
 
 Yet good our cause was, though our iortune nought. 
 
 For chance assisteth oft th' ignobler part ; 
 
 We lost the field, yet lost we not our heart. 
 
 16. 
 
 " Go then, my strength, my hope, my spirits, go, 
 These western rebels with your power withstand ; 
 Pluck up these weeds, before they overgrow 
 The gentle garden of the Hebrews' land.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 
 
 Quench out this spark, before it kindle so 
 That Asia burn, consumed with the brand : 
 
 Use open force, or secret guile unspied ; 
 
 For craft is virtue 'gainst a foe defied. 
 
 17. 
 
 " Among the knights and worthies of their train, 
 Let some, like outlaws, wander uncouth ways ; 
 Let some be slain in field ; let some again 
 Make oracles of women's yeas and nays. 
 And pine in foolish love; let some complain 
 On Godfrey's rule, and mut'nies 'gainst him raise ; 
 Turn each one's sword against his fellow's heart, 
 Thus kill them all, or spoil the greatest part." 
 
 18. 
 
 Before his words the tyrant ended had, 
 The lesser devils rose with ghastly roar 
 And thronged forth about the world to gad ; 
 Each land they filled, river, stream, and shore: 
 The goblins, fairies, fiends, and furies mad. 
 Ranged in fiow'ry dales, and mountains hoar. 
 And under every trembling leaf they sit. 
 Between the solid earth and welkin flit. 
 
 19. 
 
 About the world they spread forth fiir and wide. 
 Filling the thoughts of each ungodly heart 
 With secret mischief, anger, hate, and pride, 
 Wounding lost souls with sin's impoison'd dart. 
 But say (my Muse) recount whence first they tried 
 To hurt the Christian lords, and from what part : 
 Thou know'st, of things perform'd so long agone, 
 This latter age hears little truth or none. 
 
 67 
 
 20. 
 
 The town Damascus and the lands about 
 Ruled Hidraort, a wizard grave and sage. 
 Acquainted well with all the damned rout 
 Of Pluto's reign, ev'n from his tender age ; 
 Yet of this war he could not figure out 
 The wished ending, or success presage ; 
 For neither stars above, nor pow'rs of hell. 
 Nor skill, nor art, nor charm, nor devil could tell. 
 
 F 2
 
 68 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNEj OR, 
 
 21. 
 
 And yet he thought (0 vain conceit of man ! 
 Which, as thou wishest, judgest things to come) 
 That the French host to sure destruction ran, 
 Condemned quite hy Heav'n's eternal doom ; 
 He thinks no force withstand or vanquish can 
 Th' Egyptian strength, and therefore would that some, 
 Both of the prey and glory of the fight, 
 Upon his Syrian folk should haply light. 
 
 22. 
 But for he held the Frenchmen's worth in prize, 
 And fear'd the doubtful gain of bloody war. 
 He, that was closely false and slily wise, 
 Cast how he might annoy them most from far : 
 And as he 'gan upon this point devise, 
 (As counsellors in ill still nearest are) 
 At hand was Satan, ready e'er men need. 
 If once they think, to make them do the deed. 
 
 23. 
 
 He counsell'd him how best to hunt his game. 
 What dart to cast, what net, what toil to pitch; 
 A niece he had, a nice and tender dame. 
 Peerless in wit, in Nature's blessings rich. 
 To all deceit she could her beauty frame, 
 False, fair and young, a virgin and a witch; 
 To her he told the sum of this emprise. 
 And praised her thus, for she was fair and wise. 
 
 24. 
 
 " My dear, who underneath the.?e locks of gold. 
 And native brightness of thy lovely hue, 
 Hidest grave thoughts, ripe wit, and wisdom old. 
 More skill than I, in all mine arts untrue. 
 To thee my purpose great I must unfold, 
 This enterprise thy cunning must pursue ; 
 Weave thou to end this web which I begin, 
 1 will the distaff hold, come thou and spin. 
 
 25. 
 " Go to the Christians' host, and there assay 
 All subtle slights that women use in love, 
 Shed brinish tears, sob, sigh, entreat, and pray. 
 Wring thy fair hands, cast up thine eyes above,
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 69 
 
 (For mourning beauty hath much power, men say. 
 The stubborn hearts with pity frail to move) 
 
 Look pale for dread, and blush sometime for shame. 
 In seeming truth thy lies will soonest frame. 
 
 26. 
 " Take with the bait Lord Godfrey if thou may'st ; 
 Frame snares, of looks ; trains, of alluring speech ; 
 For if he love, the conquest then thou hast : 
 Thus purpos'd war thou may'st with ease impeach ; 
 Else lead the other lords to deserts waste, 
 And hold them slaves far from their leader's reach :" 
 Thus taught he her, and, for conclusion, saith, 
 " All things are lawful for our lands and faith." 
 
 27. 
 
 The sweet Armida took this charge on hand, 
 
 A tender piece, for beauty, sex, and age ; 
 
 The sun was sunken underneath the land. 
 
 When she began her wanton pilgrimage ; 
 
 In silken weeds she trusteth to withstand, 
 
 And conquer knights, in warlike equipage : 
 
 Of their night-ambling dame the Syrians prated, 
 Some good, some bad, as they her lov'd or hated. 
 
 28. 
 
 Within few days the nymph arrived there 
 
 Where puissant Godfrey had his tents ipiglit;^ 
 
 Upon her strange attire, and visage clear, 
 
 Gazed each soldier, gazed every knight : 
 
 As when a comet doth in skies appear. 
 
 The people stand amazed at the light. 
 
 So wonder'd they, and each at other sought, 
 What mister^ wight she was, and whence ibrought. 
 
 29. 
 
 Yet never eye, to Cupid's service vow'd. 
 Beheld a face of such a lovely pride ; 
 A tinsel veil her amber locks did shroud. 
 That strove to cover what it could not hide , 
 The golden sun behind a silver cloud 
 So stream eth out his beams, on every side ; 
 The marble goddess, set at Gnidos, naked, 
 She seem'd, were she uncloth'd, or that awaked. 
 
 ' Ipight— pitched. * Mister — sort of.
 
 70 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNEJ OB, 
 
 30. 
 
 The gamesome wind amon^ her tresses plays. 
 And curleth up those growing riches short ; 
 Her spareful eye to spread his beams denays, 
 But keeps his shot, where Cupid keeps his fort ; 
 The rose and hly on her cheek assays 
 To paint true fairness out, in hravest sort ; 
 
 Her lips, where blooms nought but the single rose, 
 Still blush, for still they kiss, while still they close. 
 
 31. 
 
 Her hreasts, two hills o'erspread with purest snow, 
 Sweet, smooth and supple, soft and gently swelling, 
 Between them lies a milken dale below, [dweUiug; 
 
 Where love, youth, gladness, whiteness make their 
 Her breasts half hid, and half were laid to show; 
 Her envious vesture greedy sight repelling : 
 So was the wanton clad, as if thus much 
 Should please the eye, the rest unseen, the touch. 
 
 32. 
 
 As when the sun-beams dive through Tagus' wave, 
 To spy the store-house of his sprintjfing gold. 
 Love-piercing thought so through her mantle drave. 
 And in her gentle bosom wander'd bold ; 
 It view'd the wondrous beauty virgins have, 
 And all to fond desire (with vantage) told: 
 Alas what hope is left, to quench his fire 
 That kindled is, by sight ; blown, by desire. 
 
 33. 
 
 Thus pass'd she, praised, wisht, and wonder'd at. 
 Among the troops, who there encamped lay ; 
 She smil'd for joy, but well dissembl'd that 
 Her greedy ej-e chose out her wished prey ; 
 On all her gestures seeming virtue sat ; 
 Towards th' imperial tent she ask'd the way : 
 With that she met a bold and lovesome knight. 
 Lord Godfi-ey's youngest brother, Eustace hight. 
 
 34. 
 
 This was the fowl that first fell in the snare; 
 He saw her fair, and hop'd to find her kind; 
 The throne of Cupid hath an easy stair. 
 His bark is fit to sail with ev'ry wind,
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 71 
 
 The bi'each he makes no wisdom can repair : 
 With rev'rence meet the Baron low inclin'd, 
 And thus his purpose to the virgin told, 
 For youth, use, nature, all had made him bold. 
 
 35. 
 
 " Lady, if thee beseem a style so low. 
 In whose sweet looks such sacred beauties shine, 
 (For never yet did Heav'n such grace bestow 
 On any daughter born of Adam's line) 
 Thy name let us (though far unworthy) know. 
 Unfold thy will, and whence thou art in fine. 
 Lest my audacious boldness learn, too late. 
 What honours due become thy high estate." 
 
 36. 
 
 " Sir knight," quoth she, " your praises reach too hie 
 
 Above her merit you commenden so ; 
 
 A hapless maid I am, both born to die. 
 
 And dead to joy, that live in care and woe ; 
 
 A virgin helpless, fugitive pardie. 
 
 My native soil and kingdom thus forego 
 
 To seek Duke Godfrey's aid ; such store men tell 
 Of virtuous ruth doth in his bosom dwell. 
 
 37. 
 
 " Conduct me, then, that mighty Duke before. 
 If you be courteous. Sir, as well you seem." 
 "Content," quoth he, " since of one womb ibore,' 
 We brothers are ; your fortune good esteem 
 T'encounter me whose word prevaileth more 
 In Godfrey's hearing, than you haply deem : 
 Mine aid I grant, and his I promise too. 
 All that his sceptre, or my sword, can do." 
 
 38. 
 
 He led her eas'ly forth when this was said, 
 Were Godfrey sat among his lords and peers : 
 She rev'rence did, then blush'd, as one dismay'd 
 To speak, for secret wants and inward fears ; 
 It seem'd a bashful shame her speeches stay'd ; 
 At last the courteous Duke her gently cheers ; 
 
 Silence was made, and she began her tale ; 
 
 They sit to hear ; thus sung this nightingale. 
 
 1 Ibore — born.
 
 72 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNEj OR, 
 
 39. 
 " Victorious Prince, whose honourable name 
 Is held so gi-eat among our Pagan kings, 
 That to those lands, thou dost by conquest tame. 
 That thou hast won them, some content it brings ; 
 Well known to all is thy immortal fame ; 
 The earth, thy worth ; thy foe, thy praises sings ; 
 And Paynims wronged come to seek thine aid. 
 So doth thy viiiue, so thy pow'r persuade. 
 
 40. 
 " And I though bred in Macon's heath'nish loi-e. 
 Which thou oppressest with thy puissant might. 
 Yet trust thou wilt an helpless maid restore, 
 And repossess her in her father's right : 
 Others in their distress do aid implore 
 Of kin and friends ; but I in this sad plight 
 
 Invoke thy help, my kingdom to invade ; 
 
 So doth thy vii'tue, so my need persuade. 
 
 41. 
 "In thee I hope, thy succours I invoke 
 To win the crown, whence I am dispossest ; 
 For like renown awaiteth on the stroke 
 To cast the haughty down, or raise th' opprest ; 
 Nor greater glory brings a sceptre broke, 
 Than doth deliv'rance of a maid distrest : 
 
 And since thou canst at will perform the thing. 
 More is thy praise to make, than kill a king. 
 
 42. 
 
 " But if thou would'st thy succours due excuse. 
 Because in Christ I have no hope nor trust. 
 Ah yet for virtue's sake, thy virtue use ! 
 Who scorneth gold because it lies in dust ? 
 Be witness Heav'n, if thou to grant refuse, 
 Thou dost forsake a maid in cause most just; 
 And, for thou shalt at large my fortunes know, 
 I will my wrongs, and their great treasons show. 
 
 43. 
 
 " Prince Arbilan, that reigned in his life 
 On fair Damascus, was my noble sire ; 
 Born of mean race he was, yet got to wife 
 The Queen Chariclia, such was the fire
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 73 
 
 Of her hot love, but soon the fatal knife 
 Had cut the thread that kept their joys entire ; 
 For so mishap her cruel lot had cast, 
 My birth, her death ; my first day was her last. 
 
 44. 
 " And ere five years were fully come and gone, 
 Since his dear spouse to hasty death did yield. 
 My father also died, consumed with mone,^ 
 And sought his love amid th' Elysian field : 
 His crown and me (poor orphan) left alone, 
 Mine uncle govern'd in my tender eild -^ 
 
 For well he thought, if mortal men have faith. 
 In brother's breast true love his mansion hath. 
 
 45. 
 " He took the charge of me, and of the crown. 
 And with kind shows of love so brought to pass. 
 That through Damascus great report was blown 
 How good, how just, how kind mine uncle was ; 
 Whether he kept his wicked hate unknown, 
 And hid the serpent in the flow'ring grass. 
 Or that true faith did in his bosom won,^ 
 Because he meant to match me with his son. 
 
 46. 
 " Which son, within short while, did undertake 
 Degree of knighthood, as beseem'd him well. 
 Yet never durst he for his lady's sake 
 Break sword or lance, advanst in lofty sell :^ 
 As fair he was, as Citherea's make, 
 As proud as he, that signoriseth* hell ; 
 
 In fashions wayward, and in love unkind ; 
 
 For Cupid deigns not wound a currish mind. 
 
 47. 
 " This paragon should Queen Armida wed, 
 A goodly swain to be a princess' phear,^ 
 A lovely partner of a lady's bed, 
 A noble head, a golden crown to wear : 
 His giosing sire his errand daily sed. 
 And sugar'd speeches whisper'd in mine ear, 
 
 To make me take this darling in mine arms ; 
 
 But still the adder stopp'd her ears from charms. 
 
 i "Wione—Iamentution. 2 Eild— a^e. 3 Vf on— abide. * Sell— sarfii'c. 
 5 Siguoriseth — bears rule in. ^ Pliear— for fere — companion.
 
 74 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE; OR, 
 
 " At last he left me with a tronhled grace, 
 Through which transparent was his inward spite; 
 Methought I read the story in his face 
 Of these mishaps, that on me since have light : 
 Since that foul spirits haunt my resting-place, 
 And ghastly visions break my sleep by night ; 
 Grief, horror, fear my fainting soul did kill, 
 For so my mind foreshow'd my coming ill. 
 
 49. 
 " Three times the shape of my dear mother came. 
 Pale, sad, dismay'd to warn me in my dream ; 
 Alas, how far transformed from the same, 
 Who^e e3'es shone erst, like Titan's glorious beam : 
 * Daughter,' she says, ' fly, fly, behold thy dame 
 Foreshows the treasons of thy wretched eame,^ 
 Who poison 'gainst thy harmless life provides :* 
 This said, to shapeless air unseen, she glides. 
 
 50. 
 
 " But what avail high walls or bulwarks strong, 
 
 Where fainting cowards have tlie peace to guard? 
 
 My sex too weak, mine age was all too young. 
 
 To undertake alone a work so hard ; 
 
 To wander wild, the desert woods among, 
 
 A banisht maid, of wonted ease debar'd. 
 
 So grievous seem'd, that leifer" were my death. 
 And there t' expire, where first I drew my breath. 
 
 51. 
 
 I fear'd deadly evil, if long T stay'd, 
 And yet to fly had neither will nor pow'r. 
 Nor durst my heart declare it wax'd afraid, 
 Lest so I hasten might my dying hour: 
 Thus restless waited I (unhappy maid) 
 What hand should first pluck up my springing flow'r; 
 Even as the wretch, condemn'd to lose his lii'e. 
 Awaits the ialling of the murd'ring knife. 
 
 52. 
 
 " In these extremes (for so my fortune would. 
 Perchance preserve me to my further ill) 
 One of my noble father's servants old. 
 That for his goodness bore his child good will, 
 1 Eame — uncle, ^ Leifer — rather.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 75 
 
 With stoi'e of tears this treason 'gan unfold. 
 And said ; my guardian would his pupil kill. 
 And that himself, if promise made be kept. 
 Should give me poison dire ere next I slept. 
 
 53. 
 
 " And further told me, if I wish'd to live, 
 I must convey myself by secret flight, 
 And ofFer'd then all succours he could give 
 To aid his mistress, banisht from her right : 
 His words of comfort fear to exile drive, 
 The dread of death made lesser dangers light : 
 So we concluded when the shadows dim 
 Obscur'd the earth, I should depart with him. 
 
 54. 
 
 " Of close escapes the aged patroness, 
 Blacker than erst, her sable mantle spread. 
 When with two trusty maids in great distress. 
 Both from mine uncle and my realm I fled; 
 Oft look'd I back, but hardly could suppress 
 Those streams of tears, mine eyes incessant shed ; 
 
 For when I looked on ray kingdom lost. 
 
 It was a grief, a death, an hell almost. 
 
 55. 
 
 " My steeds drew on the hurden of my lims,* 
 
 But still my looks, my thoughts, drew back as fast; 
 
 So fare the men, that from the heaven's brims. 
 
 Far out to sea by sudden storm are cast : 
 
 Swift o'er the grass the rolling chariot swims ; 
 
 Through ways unknown, all night, all day we haste : 
 
 At last (nigh tir'd) a castle strong we fand,^ 
 
 The utmost border of my native land. 
 
 56. 
 
 " The fort Arontes' was, for so the knight 
 Was call'd, that my deliv'rance thus had wrought. 
 But when the tyrant saw, hj mature flight 
 I had escap'd the treasons of his thought. 
 The rage increased in the cursed wight 
 'Gainst me, and him, that me to safety brought. 
 And us accused, we would have poisoned 
 Him, but descri'd, to save our lives we fled ; 
 
 1 liims— limbs. ^ Fund— found.
 
 76 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE; OB, 
 
 57. 
 
 " And that in lieu of his approved truth, 
 To poison him I hired had my guide, 
 That he dispatched, mine uuhridled youth 
 Might range at will, in no subjection tied. 
 And that each night I slept (0 foul untruth !— 
 Mine honour lost) by this Arontes' side : 
 
 But Heav'n I pray send down revenging fire, 
 When so base love shall change my chaste desire. 
 
 58. 
 " Xot that he sitteth on my regal throne, 
 Kor that he thirst to drink my lukewarm blood. 
 So grieveth me, as this despite alone. 
 That my renown, which ever blameless stood. 
 Hath lost the light wherewith it always shone : 
 With forged lies he makes his tale so good. 
 
 And holds my subjects' hearts in such suspense. 
 That none takes armoui' for their queen's defence. 
 
 59. 
 " And though he do my regal throne possess, 
 Clothed in purple, crown'd with burnisht gold ; 
 Yet is his hate, his rancour, ne'er the less. 
 Since nought assuageth malice when 'tis old : 
 He threats to burn Arontes' forteress, 
 And murder him unless he yield the hold. 
 
 And me and mine threats (not with war, but death) 
 Thus causeless hatred endless is uneath. 
 
 60. 
 " And so he trusts to wash away the stain, 
 ^And hide his shameful fact with mine offence. 
 And saith he will restore the throne again 
 To his late honour, and due excellence. 
 And therefore would I should be algates slain. 
 For while I live, his right is in suspense. 
 This is the cause my guiltless life is sought. 
 For on my ruin is his safety wrought. 
 
 61. 
 
 " And let the tyrant have his heart's desire. 
 Let him perform the cruelty he meant, 
 My guiltless blood must quench the ceaseless fire. 
 On which my endless tears were bootless spent.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 77 
 
 Unless thou help ; to thee, renowned Sire, 
 
 S fly, a virijin, orphan, innocent. 
 
 And let these tears, that on thy feet distil, 
 Eedeem the drops of blood, he thirsts to spill. 
 
 62. 
 
 " By these thy glorious feet, that tread secure 
 On necks of tyrants, by thy conquests brave, 
 By that right hand, and by those temples pure, 
 Thou eeek'st to free frona Macon's lore, I crave 
 Help for this sickness, none but thou canst cure : 
 My life and kingdom let thy mercy save 
 
 From death and ruin : but in vain I prove thee. 
 If right, if truth, if justice cannot move thee. 
 
 63. 
 " Thou who dost all thou wishest, at thy will, 
 And never wiliest aught, but what is right. 
 Preserve this guiltless blood they seek to spill. 
 Thine be my kingdom, save it with thy might : 
 Among these captains, lords, and knights of skill, 
 Appoint me ten, approved most in fight. 
 Who, with assistance of my friends and kin, 
 May serve nay kingdom lost again to win. 
 
 " For lo a knight, that had a gate to ward,' 
 (A man of chiefest trust about his king) 
 Hath promised so to beguile the guard, 
 That me and mine he undertakes to bring 
 Safe, where the tyrant haply sleepeth hard : 
 He counsell'd me to undertake this thing ; 
 Of thee some little succour to entreat. 
 Whose name alone accomplish can the feat." 
 
 65. 
 
 This said, his answer did the nymph attend, 
 Her looks, her sighs, her gestures all did pray him : 
 But Godfrey wisely did his grant suspend. 
 He doubts the worst, and that awhile did stay him ; 
 He knows, who fears no God, he loves no friend ; 
 He fears the heathen false would thus betray him : 
 But yet such ruth dwelt in his princely mind, 
 That 'gainst his wisdom, pity made him kind. 
 1 Ward— ^Mard.
 
 78 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNEj OR, 
 
 66. 
 Besides the kindness of his gentle thought, 
 Eeady to comlbvt each distressed wight, 
 The maiden's offer profit with it brought; 
 For if the Syrian kingdom were her right, 
 That won, the way were easy, which he sought 
 To bring all Asia subject to his might : 
 
 There might he raise munition, arms, and treasure, 
 To work th' Egyptian king and his displeasure. 
 
 67. 
 Thus was his noble heart long time betwixt 
 Fear and remorse, not granting, nor denying ; 
 Upon his eyes the dame her lookings fixt, 
 As if her life and death lay on his saying : 
 Some tears she shed, with sighs and sobbings mixt. 
 As if her hopes were dead through his delaying ; 
 At last her earnest suit the Duke denay'd, 
 But with sweet words thus would content the maid. 
 
 68. 
 " If not in service of our God we fought, 
 In meaner quarrel if this sword were shaken, 
 Well might thou gather in thy gentle thought. 
 So fair a princess should not be forsaken ; 
 But since these armies, from the world's end brought, 
 To free this sacred town have undertaken. 
 It were unfit we turn'd our strength away, 
 And victory, even in her coming, stay. 
 
 69. 
 " I promise thee, and on my princely word 
 The burden of thy wish and hope repose. 
 That when this chosen temple of the Lord, 
 Her holy doors shall to His saints unclose 
 In rest and peace, then this victorious sword 
 Shall execute due vengeance on thy foes : 
 But if for pity of a worldly dame 
 I left this work, such pity were my shame." 
 
 70. 
 
 At this the Princess bent her eyes to ground. 
 And stood unmov'd, though not Tinmarkt, a space. 
 The secret bleeding of her inward wound 
 Shed heav'nly dew upon her angel's face.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 79 
 
 " Poor wretch/'quotli she, " in tears and sorrows drown'd. 
 Death be thy peace, the grave thy resting-place. 
 Since such thy hap, that lest thou mercy find, 
 The gentlest heart on earth is prov'd unkind. 
 
 71. 
 
 " Where none attends, what boots it to complain ? 
 Men's froward hearts are mov'd with women's tears. 
 As marble stones are pierced with drops of rain ; 
 No plaints find passage through unwilling ears : 
 The tyrant (haply) would his wrath restrain 
 Heard he these prayers, that ruthless Godfrey hears ; 
 
 Yet not thy fault is this, my chance (I see) 
 
 Hath made even pity pitiless in thee. 
 
 72. 
 " So both thy goodness, and good hap, denaj^'d me. 
 Grief, sorrow, mischief, care, hath overthrown me, 
 The star that rul'd my birth-day hath betray 'd me, 
 My Genius sees his charge, but dares not own me. 
 Of queen-like state, my flight hath disarray'd me. 
 My father died, ere he five years had known me ; 
 My kingdom lost, and lastly resteth now, 
 Down with the tree, sith broke is ev'ry bow.* 
 
 73. 
 
 " And, for the modest lore of maidenhood 
 Bids me not sojourn with these armed men, 
 whither shall I fly ? what secret wood 
 Shall hide me from the tyrant ? or what den. 
 What rock, what vault, what cave can do me good ? 
 No, no, where death is sure, it resteth then 
 To scorn his power, and be it therefore seen, 
 Armida lived, and died, both like a queen." 
 
 74. 
 
 With that she look'd as if a proud disdain 
 
 Kindl'd displeasure in her noble mind ; 
 
 The way she came she turn'd her steps again, 
 
 With gesture sad, but in disdainful kind: 
 
 A tempest railed- down her cheeks amain. 
 
 With tears of woe, and sighs of anger's wind ; 
 
 The drops her footsteps wash, whereon she tread-s, 
 And seems to step on pearls, or crystal beads. 
 - Bcw — lough, 2 Railed — rolled.
 
 80 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE; un, 
 
 Her cheeks, on which this streaming nectar fell, 
 Still'd' through the limbeck of her diamond eyes. 
 The roses white and red resembl'd well, 
 Whereon the rory May-dew sprinkled lies, 
 When the fair morn first blusheth from her cell, 
 And hreatheth balm from open'd Paradise ; 
 
 Thus sigh'd, thus mouvn'd, thus wept this lovely queen, 
 And in each drop bathed a grace unseen. 
 
 76. 
 
 Thrice twenty Cupids nnperceived flew 
 To gather up this liquor, ere it fall. 
 And of each drop an arrow forged new, 
 Else, as it came, snatch'd up the crystall ball. 
 And at rebellious hearts for wild-fire threw : 
 wondrous love ! thou makest gain of all ; 
 For if she weeping sit, or smiling stand. 
 She bends thy bow, or kindleth else thy brand. 
 
 77. 
 This forged plaint drew forth unfeigned tears 
 From many eyes, and pierc'd each worthy's heart. 
 Each one condoleth with her that her hears. 
 And of her grief would help her bear the smart; 
 If Godfrey aid her not, not one but swears 
 Some tigress gave him suck, on roughest part 
 
 Midst the rude crags, on Alpine cliifs aloft ; 
 
 Hard is that heart which beauty makes not soft. 
 
 78. 
 But jolly Eustace, in whose breast the brand 
 Of love and pity kindled had the flame. 
 While others softly whisper'd under hand. 
 Before the Duke with comely boldness came : 
 " Brother and lord," quoth he, " too long yon stand 
 In your first purpose, yet vouchsafe to frame 
 
 Your thoughts to ours, and lend this vii'gin aid; 
 
 Thanks are half lost, when good turns are delay'd. 
 
 79. 
 
 " And think not that Eustace's talk assays 
 To turn these Ibrces from this present war, 
 Or that I wish you should your armies raise 
 From Sion's walls; — my speech tends not so far: 
 
 1 Siiil'd—dUtiUed,
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. §1 
 
 But we that venture all for fame and praise. 
 That to no charge nor service bounden are, 
 Forth of our troop ma}' ten well spared be 
 To succour her, which nought can weaken thee. 
 
 80. 
 " And know, they shall in God's high service fight. 
 That virgins innocent save and defend : 
 Dear will the spoils be in the Heavens' sight, 
 That from a tyrant's hateful head we rend : 
 Nor seem'd I forward in this lady's right. 
 With hope of gain or profit in the end ; 
 But for I know, he arms unworthy bears, 
 To help a maiden's cause that shuns or fears. 
 
 81. 
 
 " Ah ! be it not pardie declar'd in France, 
 Or elsewhere told where courtsie is in prise,^ 
 That we forsook so fair a chevisance,^ 
 For doubt or fear that might from fight arise ; 
 Else, here surrender I both sword and lance, 
 And swear no more to use this martial guise; 
 For ill deserves he to be term'd a knight, 
 That bears a blunt sword in a lady's right." 
 
 82. 
 Thus parled^ he, and with confused sound 
 The rest approved what the gallant said. 
 Their general the knights encompass'd round. 
 With humble grace, and earnest suit they pray'd : 
 " I yield," quoth he, " and be it happy found. 
 What I have granted, let her have your aid : 
 Yours be the thanks, for yours the danger is 
 If aught succeed (as much I fear) amiss. 
 
 83. 
 " Bat if with you my words may credit find, 
 
 temper then tliis heat misguides you so ! " 
 Thus much he said, but they, with fancy blind, 
 Accept his grant, and let his counsel go. 
 What works not beauty ? man's relenting mind 
 Is eath* to move with plaints and shows of woe : 
 
 Her lips cast forth a chain of sugar'd words. 
 That captive led most of the Christian lords. 
 
 1 Prise — where courtesy m prized, * Chevisance — agreement, 
 ' Parled — argued, * Eath — easi/. 
 
 a
 
 82 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE j OR, 
 
 84. 
 Eustace recall'd her, and bespake her thus : 
 " Beauty's chief darling, let these sorrows be, 
 For such a-ssistance shall you find in us, 
 As with your need, or will, may best agree ;" 
 With that she cheer'd her forehead dolorous, 
 And smil'd for joy, that Phcebus blush'd to see ; 
 And had she deign'd her veil for to remove, 
 The god himself, once more, had fall'n in love. 
 
 85. 
 With that she broke the silence once again. 
 And gave the knight great thanks in little speech; 
 She said she would his handmaid poor remain. 
 So far as lioiiour's laws received no breach. 
 Her humble gestures made the res'due plain. 
 Dumb eloquence, persuading more than speech : 
 Thus women know, and thus they use the guise, 
 T' enchant the valiant, and beguile the wise. 
 
 86. 
 And when she saw her enterprise had got 
 Some wished mean, of quick and good proceeding. 
 She thought to strike the iron that was hot ; 
 For every action hath his hour of speeding : 
 Medea, or false Circe, changed not 
 So I'ar the shapes of men, as her eyes spreading 
 Alter 'd their hearts ; and with her Siren's sound 
 In lust, their minds, their hearts, in love she drown'd. 
 
 87. 
 All wily sleights, that subtle women know, 
 Hourl}' she used, to catch some lover new : 
 Kone kenn'd the bent of her unsteadfast bow ; 
 For with the time her thoughts her looks renew : 
 From some she cast her modest eyes below, 
 At some her gazing glances roving flew ; 
 
 And while she thus pursu'd her wanton sport. 
 She spurr'd the slow, and rein'd the forward short. 
 
 If some, as hopeless that she would be won. 
 Forbore to love, because they durst not move her, 
 On them her gentle looks to smile begun. 
 As who say, she is kind, if you dare prove her :
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 83 
 
 Oil ev'ry heart thus shone this lustful sun ; 
 
 All strove to serve, to please, to woo, to love her ; 
 And in their hearts, that chaste and bashful were. 
 Her eyes' hot glance dissolv'd the frost of fear. 
 
 89. 
 On them, who durst with fing'ring bold assay 
 To touch the soltness of her tender skin, 
 She look'd as coy, as if she list not play, 
 And made as things of worth were hard to win ; 
 Yet temper'd so her deignfuP looks alway. 
 That outward scorn show'd store of grace within : 
 Thus with false hope their longing hearts she fired. 
 For hardest gotten things are most desired. 
 
 90. 
 Alone sometimes she walk'd in secret, where 
 To ruminate upon her discontent, 
 Within her ej'elids sate the swelling tear. 
 Not poured forth, though sprung from sad lament ; 
 And with this craft a thousand souls well near. 
 In snares of foolish ruth and love she hent,^ 
 And kept as slaves ; by which we fitly prove, 
 That witless pity breedeth fruitless love. 
 
 91. 
 
 Sometimes, as if her hope unloosed had 
 The chains of grief, wherein her thoughts lay fettered. 
 Upon her minions look'd she blythe and glad, 
 In that deceitful lore so was she lettered ;^ 
 Not glorious Titan, in his brightness clad. 
 The sunshine of her face in lustre bettered: 
 For when she list to cheer her beauties so, 
 She smiled away the clouds of grief and woe. 
 
 92. 
 Her double charm of smiles and sugar'd words 
 Lulled on sleep the virtue of their senses ; 
 Reason small aid 'gainst those assaults affords, 
 Wisdom no warrant from those sweet offences : 
 Cupid's deep rivers have their shallow fords. 
 His griefs bring joys ; his losses recompences ; 
 He breeds tlie sore, and cures us of the pain : 
 Achilles' lance, that wounds, and heals again. 
 
 1 Deignful — disdainful. * Hent — seized. 
 
 * Lettered — instructed, or learned, 
 
 G 2
 
 84 GODFBEY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 93. 
 
 While thus she them torments 'twixt frost and fier, 
 'Twixt joy and grief, 'twixt hope and restless fear, 
 The sly Enchantress felt her gain the nier, 
 These were her flocks that golden fleeces bear : 
 But if some one durst utter his desire, 
 And by complaining make his griefs appear, 
 
 He laboured hard rocks with plaints to move ; 
 
 She had not learn' d the gamut then of love. 
 
 94. 
 For down she bent her bashful eyes to ground, 
 And donn'd the weed of women's modest grace, 
 Down from her eyes welled the pearles round. 
 Upon the bright enamel of her face : 
 Such honey di'ops on springing flow'rs are found, 
 When Phoebus holds the crimson morn in chace ; 
 
 Full seem'd her looks of anger, and of shame ; 
 
 Yet pity shone transparent through the same. 
 
 95. 
 
 If she perceived by his outward cheer. 
 That any would his love by talk bewray, 
 Sometimes she heard him, sometimes stopp'd her ear. 
 And played fast and loose the live-long day : 
 Thus all her lovers kind deluded were. 
 Their earnest suit got neither yea nor nay ; 
 But like the sort of weary huntsmen fare. 
 That hunt all day, and lose at night the hare. 
 
 96. 
 
 These were the arts by which she captived 
 A thousand souls of J'oung and lusty knights ; 
 These were the arms wherewith love conquered 
 Their feeble hearts, subdu'd in wantoa fights : 
 What wonder if Achilles were misled, 
 Or great Alcides at their ladies' sights, 
 
 Since these true champions of the Lord above 
 Were thralls to beauty, yielden slaves to love.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 |00}i t\t $xU\, 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Gernando scorns Rinaldo should aspire 
 To rule that charge, for which he seeks and strives, 
 And slanders him so far, that in his ire 
 The wronged knight his foe of life deprives : 
 Far from the camp the slayer doth retire, 
 Nor lets himself be bound in chains or gyves : 
 Armide departs content, and from the seas 
 Godfrey hears news tchich him and his displease. 
 
 1. 
 
 While thus Arraida false the Knights misled 
 In wand' ring errors of deceitful love. 
 And thought, besides the champions promised, 
 The other lordlings in her aid to move, 
 In Godfrey's thought a strong contention bred 
 Who fittest were this hazard great to prove ; 
 For all the worthies of th' advent'rer's band 
 Were like in bii'th, in pow'r, ia strength of hand. 
 
 2. 
 
 But first the Prince (by grave advice) decreed 
 They should some knight choose (at their own election) 
 That in his charge Lord Dudon might succeed. 
 And of that glorious troop should take protection ; 
 So none should grieve, displeased with the deed, 
 Nor blame the causer of their new subjection : 
 Besides, Godfredo show'd by this device. 
 How much he held that regiment in price.
 
 86 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OB, 
 
 3. 
 
 He call'd the worthies then, and spake them so : 
 " Lordlings, you know I yielded to your will. 
 And gave you licence with this dame to go, 
 To win her kingdom, and that tyrant kill : 
 But now again I let you further know, 
 In following her it may betide you ill ; 
 
 Eefrain therefore, and change this forward thought, 
 For death unsent for, danger comes unsought. 
 
 4. 
 
 " But if to shun these perils, sought so far, 
 May seem disgraceful to the place you hold ; 
 If grave advice and prudent counsel are 
 Esteem'd detractors from your courage bold ; 
 Then know, I none against his will debar, 
 Nor what I granted erst I now withhold ; 
 But be mine empire (as it ought of right) 
 Sweet, easy, pleasant, gentle, meek, and light. 
 
 5. 
 
 " Go then, or tarry, each as likes him best, 
 Free power I grant you on this enterprise ; 
 But first in Dudon's place (now laid in chest') 
 Choose you some other captain stout and wise : 
 Then ten appoint among the worthiest, 
 But let no moe attempt this hard emprise : 
 
 In this my will content you that I have ; 
 
 For power constraiu'd is but a glorious slave." 
 
 6. 
 
 Thus Godfrey said, and thus his brother spake, 
 And answer 'd for himself and all his peers ; 
 " My lord, as well it fitteth thee to make 
 These wise delaj's, and cast these doubts and fears : 
 So 'tis our part at first to undertake ; 
 Courage and haste beseem our might and years : 
 And this proceeding with so grave advice. 
 Wisdom, in you ; in us, were cowardice. 
 
 7. 
 " Since then the feat is easy, danger none. 
 All set in battle and in hardy fight. 
 Do thou permit the chosen ten to gone 
 And aid the damsel :" thus devised the knight, 
 
 1 Chest— co^n.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED, 87 
 
 To make men think the sun of honour shone, 
 There where the lamp of Cupid gave the light : 
 The rest perceive his guile, and it approve, 
 And call that knighthood, which was childish love. 
 
 But loving Eustace, that with jealous eye 
 Beheld the worth of Sophia's noble child. 
 And his fair shape did secretly envy, 
 Besides the virtues in his breast compil'd, 
 (And for in love he would no company) 
 He stor'd his mouth with speeches smoothly fil'd ; 
 Drawing his rival to attend his word. 
 Thus with fair sleight he laid the knight aboard. 
 
 9. 
 " Of great Bertoldo thou far greater heir. 
 Thou star of knighthood, flow'r of chivalry. 
 Tell me, who now shall lead this squadron fair, 
 Since our late guide in marble cold doth lie ? 
 I, that with famous Dudon might compare 
 In all, but years, hoar locks, and gravity. 
 
 To whom should I, Duke Godfrey's brother, yield, 
 Unless to thee, the Christian army's shield ? 
 
 10. 
 " Thee (whom high birth makes equal with the best) 
 Thine acts prefer both me and all beforn, 
 Nor that in fight thou both surpass the rest. 
 And Godfrey's worthy self, I hold in scorn : 
 Thee to obey then am I only prest ;* 
 Before these worthies be thine eagle borne : 
 This honour haply thou esteemest light. 
 Whose day of glory never yet found night. 
 
 11. 
 
 " Yet mayst thou further (by this means) display 
 The spreading wings of thy immortal fame, 
 I will procure it, if thou sayst not nay, 
 And all their wills to thine election frame : 
 But for I scantly am resolv'd which way 
 To bend my force, or where employ the same, 
 Leave me (I pray) at my discretion free 
 To help Armida, or serve here with thee." 
 
 ' Prest — ready.
 
 ^8 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 12. 
 
 This last reqiiest (for love is ill to hide) 
 Empurpl'd both his cheeks with scarlet red: 
 Kinaldo soon his passions had descried, 
 And gently smiling turn'd aside his head. 
 And, for weak Cupid was too feeble eyed 
 To strike him sure, the fire in him was dead ; 
 So that of rivals was he nought afraid, 
 Nor car'd he for the journey, or the maid. 
 
 13. 
 
 But in his noble thought revolv'd he oft 
 Dudon's high prowess, death and burial. 
 And how Argantes bore his plumes aloft, 
 Praising his fortune for that worthy's fall ; 
 Besides, the knight's sweet words and praises soft 
 To his due honour did him fitly call. 
 
 And made his heart rejoice, for well he knew 
 (Though much he prais'd him) all his words were true. 
 
 14. 
 
 " Degrees (quoth he) of honours high to hold, 
 I would them first deserve, and then desire ; 
 And were my valour such as you have told. 
 Would I for that to higher place aspire : 
 But if to honours due raise me you would, 
 I will not of my works refuse the hire ; 
 
 And much it glads me, that my power and might 
 
 Ipraised is by such a valiant knight. 
 
 15. 
 
 " I neither seek it, nor refuse the place, 
 Which if I get, the praise and thanks be thine." 
 Eustace (this spoken) hied theuce apace 
 To know which way his I'ellows' hearts incline : 
 But Prince Gernando coveted the place. 
 Whom though Armida sought to undermine, 
 'Gainst him yet vain did all her engines prove. 
 His pride was such, there was no place for love. 
 
 16. 
 
 Gernando was the King of Norway's son. 
 That many a realm and region had to guide, 
 And, for his elders lands and crowns had won, 
 His heart was puffed up with endless pride :
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 89 
 
 The other boasts more what himself had done 
 
 Than all his ancestors' great acts beside ; 
 Yet his forefathers old before him were 
 Famous in war and peace five hundred year. 
 
 17. 
 This barb'rous prince, who only vainly thought 
 That bliss in wealth and kingl}' power doth lie, 
 And in respect esteem'd all virtue nought, 
 Unless it were adorn'd with titles hie. 
 Could not endure, that to the place he sought 
 A simple knight should dare to press so nie : 
 
 And in his breast so boiled fell despite. 
 
 That ire and wrath exiled reason quite. 
 
 18. 
 The hidden devil, that lies in close awate* 
 To win the fort of unbelieving man. 
 Found entry there, where ire undid the gate, 
 And in his bosom unperceived ran ; 
 It fill'd his heart with malice, strife and hate. 
 It made him rage, blaspheme, swear, curse and ban ; 
 Invisible it still attends him near. 
 And thus each minute whisp'reth in his ear : 
 
 19. 
 " What, shall Rinaldo match thee ? dares he tell 
 Those idle names of his vain pedigree ? 
 Then let him say (if thee he would excel) 
 What lands, what realms his tributaries be : 
 If his forefathers in the graves that dwell. 
 Were honoured like thine that live, let see ; 
 
 O how dares one so mean aspire so hie. 
 
 Born in that servile country, Italy ? 
 
 20. 
 " Now, if he win, or if he lose the day. 
 Yet is his praise and glory hence derived. 
 For that the world will (to his credit) say, 
 Lo, this is he that with Gernando strived. 
 The charge some-deal thee haply honour may, 
 That noble Dudon had, while here he lived ; 
 
 But laid on him, he would the office shame. 
 
 Let it suffice, he durst desire the same. 
 
 ^ Awate — ambush.
 
 90 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE j OR, 
 
 21. 
 " If when this breath from man's frail body flies, 
 The soul take keep,' or know the things done here, 
 Oh ! how looks Dudon from the glorious skies ! 
 What wrath, what anger in his face appear ! 
 On this proud youngling while he bends his eyes, 
 Marking how high he doth his feathei"s rear ? 
 Seeing his rash attempt, how soon he dare 
 (Though but a boy) with his great worth compare. 
 
 22. 
 
 " He dares not only, but he strives, and proves ; 
 Where chastisement were fit, there wins he praise : 
 One counsels him, his speech him forward moves ; 
 Another fool approveth all he sa3's : 
 If Godfrey favour him more than behoves. 
 Why then he wrongeth thee an hundred ways : 
 Nor let th\' state so far disgraced be, 
 But what thou art, and canst, let Godfrey see." 
 
 23. 
 
 With such false words the kindled fire began 
 To ev'ry vein his poison'd heat to reach. 
 It swell'd his scornful heart, and forth it ran 
 At his proud looks, and too audacious speech ; 
 All that he thought blame-worthy in the man. 
 To his disgrace, that would he each-where preach ; 
 He term'd him proud, and vain ; his worth in fight 
 He called fool-hai-dice,' rashness, madness right. 
 
 24. 
 All that in him was rare or excellent. 
 All that was good, all that was princely found. 
 With such sharp words, as malice could invent, 
 He blam'd ; such pow'r has wicked tongue to wound : 
 The youth (for everywhere those rumours went) 
 Of these reproaches heard sometimes the sound ; 
 Nor did lor that his tongue the iault amend. 
 Until it brought him to his woful end. 
 
 25. 
 
 The cursed fiend, that set his tongue at large, 
 Still bred more fancies in his idle brain, 
 His heart with slanders new did overcharge, 
 And soothed him still in his angry vein ; 
 
 1 Take keep — heed. ' Hardice — hardiesse, boldnett.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 91 
 
 Amid the camp a place was broad and large, 
 "Where one fair regiment might eas'ly train ; 
 And there, in tilt and harmless tournament, 
 Their days of rest the youths and gallants spent. 
 
 26. 
 
 There (as his fortune would it should betide) 
 Amid the prease Gernando 'gan retire. 
 To vomit out his venom unespied, 
 'V\'Tierewith foul envy did his heart inspire ; 
 Einaldo heard him, as he stood beside. 
 And (as he could not bridle wrath and ire) 
 
 " Thou liest," cried he loud, and with that word 
 About his head he toss'd his flaming sword. 
 
 27. 
 
 Thunder his voice, and lightning seem'd his brand. 
 So fell his look, and furious was his chear, 
 Gernando trembled, for he saw at hand 
 Pale death, and neither help nor comfort near ; 
 Yet, for the soldiers all to witness stand. 
 He made proud sign, as though he nought did fear. 
 But bravely drew his little-helping blade. 
 And valiant show of strong resistance made. 
 
 28. 
 
 With that a thousand blades of burnisht steel 
 Glister'd on heaps, like flames of fire in sight ; 
 Hundreds, that knew not yet the quarrel weel, 
 Ran thither, some to gaze, and some to fight: 
 The empty air a sound confus'd did feel 
 Of murmurs low, and outcries loud on hight, 
 Like rolling waves, and Boreas' angry blasts, 
 When roaring seas against the rocks he casts. 
 
 29. 
 
 But not for this the wronged warrior stay'd 
 His just 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 made, 
 His thund'ring sword made all on heaps retire. 
 So that of near a thousand stay'd not one, 
 But Prince Gernando bore the brunt alone.
 
 92 GODFREY OP BULLOIGXE ; OK, 
 
 30. 
 His hand (too quick to execute his wrath) 
 Performed all, as pleas'd his eye and heart ; 
 At head and breast oft-times he strooken hath, 
 Now at the right, now at the other pai't : 
 On every side thus did he harm and scath,' 
 And oft beguil'd his sight with nimble art, 
 
 That no defence the prince of wounds acquits ; 
 
 Where least he thinks, or fears, there most he hits. 
 
 31. 
 
 Nor ceased he, till in Gernando's breast 
 He sheathed once or twice his furious blade; 
 Down fell the hapless prince with death opprest, 
 A double way to his weak soul was made : 
 His bloody sword the victor wip'd and drest : 
 Nor longer by the slaughter'd body stay'd, 
 But sped him thence, and soon appeased hath 
 His hate, his ii-e, his rancour and his wrath. 
 
 32. 
 
 Call'd by the tumult, Godfrey drew him near. 
 
 And there beheld a sad and rueful sight, 
 
 The signs of death upon his face appear. 
 
 With dust and blood his locks were loathly dight, 
 
 Sighs and complaints on each side might he hear. 
 
 Made for the sudden death of that great knight : 
 
 Amaz'd, he ask'd who durst and did so much ; 
 
 For yet he knew not whom the fault would touch. 
 
 33. 
 
 Arnoldo, minion of the prince thus slain, 
 Augments the fault in telling it, and saith, 
 " This prince is murder'd, for a quarrel vain, 
 By young Rinaldo in his desp'rate wrath. 
 And with that sword, that should Christ's law maintain. 
 One of Christ's champions bold he killed hath, 
 And this he did, in such a place and hour, 
 As if he scorn'd your rufe, despised your pow'r." 
 
 34. 
 
 And further adds, that he deserved death 
 By law, and law should be inviolate, 
 That none offence could greater be uneath. 
 And yet the place the fault did aggravate : 
 
 1 Scath — damage.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 93 
 
 If he escape, that mischief would take breath, 
 And flourish bold, in spite of rule and state ; 
 
 And thtit Gernando's friends would venge the wrong, 
 Although to justice that did first belong. 
 
 35. 
 
 And by that means, should discord, hate, and strife 
 
 Eaise mutinies, and what thereof ensu'th : 
 
 Lastly he praised the dead, and still had rife 
 
 All words he thought could veng'ance move, or ruth. 
 
 Against him Tancred argued for life, 
 
 With honest i-easons to excuse the youth : 
 
 The Duke heard all, but with such sober chear, 
 As banish'd hope, and still increased fear. 
 
 36. 
 
 " Grave Prince," quoth Tancred, " set before thine eyes 
 
 Rinaldo's 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 every fault he spies, 
 
 And judgeth all alike, doth all amiss; 
 
 For faults (you know) are greater thought or less. 
 As is the person's self, that doth transgress." 
 
 87. 
 Godfredo answered him : " If high and low 
 Of sovereign pow'r alike should feel the stroke. 
 Then, Tancred, ill you counsel us (I trow) 
 If lords should know no law, as erst you spoke : 
 How vile and base our empire were you know. 
 If none but slaves and peasants bear the yoke ; 
 Weak is the sceptre, and the pow'r is small. 
 That such provisoes brings annex'd withal. 
 
 38. 
 " But mine was freely given ere it was sought. 
 Nor that it les'ned^ be, I now consent ; 
 Eight well know I, both when and where I ought 
 To give condign reward, and punishment : 
 Since you are all in like subjection brought. 
 Both high and low, obey, and be content." 
 
 This heard, Tancredie wisely stay'd his words ; 
 
 Such weight the sayings have of kings and lords. 
 
 1 Lea'ned — lessened.
 
 94 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 39. 
 
 Old Eaymond prais'd his speech (for old men think 
 
 They ever wisest seem, when most severe) 
 
 " 'Tis best," quoth he, " to make these great ones shrink, 
 
 The people love him whom the nobles I'ear : 
 
 There must the rule to all disorders sink, 
 
 Where pardons more than punishments appear ; 
 
 For feeble is each kingdom, frail and weak. 
 
 Unless his basis be this fear I speak." 
 
 40. 
 These words Tancredie heard and ponder'd well, 
 And by tliem wist how Godfrey's 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 softl}' to his gorgeous tent ; 
 
 There Tancred found him, and at large declar'd 
 The words and speeches sharp, which late j'ou heard. 
 
 41. 
 
 And said : " Although I wot the outward show 
 Is not true witness of the secret thought, 
 For that some men so subtle are I trow. 
 That what they purpose most, appeareth nought ; 
 Yet dare I say Godlredo means 1 know, 
 (Such knowledge hath his looks and speeches wrought) 
 You shall first pris'ner be, and then be tried. 
 As he shall deem it good, and law provide." 
 
 42. 
 With that a bitter smile well might you see 
 Rinaldo cast, with scorn and high disdain : 
 " Let them in fetters plead their cause," quoth he, 
 " That are base peasants, born of servile strain ;' 
 I was free born, I live and will die free. 
 Before these feet be fetter'd in a chain : [swords. 
 
 These hands were made to shake sharp spears and 
 Not to be tied in gyves and twisted cords. 
 
 43. 
 
 " If my good service reap this recompense, 
 To be clapt up in close and secret mew,^ 
 And as a thief be after dragg'd from thence. 
 To suffer punishment, as law finds due ; 
 
 1 Strain — lineage, * ^ew— prison.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 95 
 
 Xet Godfrey come or send, I will not hence, 
 Until we know who shall this bargain rue j 
 That of our tragedy the late done fact, 
 May be the first, and this the second, act. 
 
 44. 
 " Give me mine arms," he cried ; his squire them brings. 
 And clad his head and breast in iron strong. 
 About his neck his silver shield he flings, 
 Down by his side a cutting sword there hung; 
 Among this earth's brave lords and mighty kings, 
 Was none so stout, so fierce, so fair, so yoiing : 
 God Mars he seem'd descending from his sphere. 
 Or one whose looks could make great Mars to fear. 
 
 45. 
 
 Tancredie labour'd with some pleasing speech, 
 His spirits fierce and courage to appease : 
 "Young prince, thy valour," thus he 'gan to preach, 
 " Can chastise all that do thee wrong, at ease : 
 I know your virtue can your en'mies teach. 
 That you can venge you, when and where you please : 
 But God forbid this day you lift your arm, 
 To do this camp, and us your friends, such harm. 
 
 46. 
 
 " Tell me what will you do ? why would you stain 
 
 Your noble hands in our unguilty blood ? 
 
 By wounding Christians, will you again 
 
 Pierce Christ, whose parts they are and members good ? 
 
 Will you destroy us for your glory vain, . 
 
 Unstay'd as rolling waves in ocean flood ? 
 
 Far be it from you so to prove your strength. 
 And let your zeal appease your rage at length. 
 
 47. 
 
 " For God's love stay your heat, and just displeasure. 
 
 Appease your wrath, your courage fierce assuage; 
 
 Patience, a praise ; Ibrbearance, is a treasure ; 
 
 SuSrance, an angel is ; a monster, rage : 
 
 At least your actions by example measure. 
 
 And think how I in mine unbridled age 
 
 Was wrong'd, yet I ne would' revengement take 
 On all this camp, for one oflender's sake. 
 
 I Ne would — would not.
 
 96 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 " Cilicia conquer'd I, as all men wot, 
 And there the glorious Cross on high I reared. 
 But Baldwin came, and what I nobly got 
 Bereft me falsely, when I least him feared; 
 He seem'd my friend, and I diseover'd not 
 His secret vjovetise which since appeared ; 
 Yet strive I not to get mine own by fight, 
 Or civil war, although perchance I might. 
 
 49. 
 " If then you scorn to be in prison pent. 
 If bonds, as high disgrace, your hands refuse ; 
 Or if your thoughts still to maintain are bent 
 Your liberty, as men of honour use : 
 To Antioch what if forthwith you went. 
 And leave me here your absence to excuse ? 
 
 There with Prince Boemond live in ease and peace. 
 Until this storm of Godfrey's auger cease. 
 
 50. 
 " For soon, if forces come from Egypt land. 
 Or other nations that us here confine, 
 Godfrey will beaten be with his own wand, 
 And feel he wants that valour great of thine : 
 Our camp may seem an arm without a hand. 
 Amid our troops unless thy eagle shine :" 
 
 With that came Guelpho, and those words approved. 
 And pray'd him go, if him he fear'd, or loved. 
 
 51. 
 
 Their speeches soften much the warrior's heart, 
 And make his wilful thoughts at last relent, 
 So that he yields, and saith he will depart. 
 And leave the Christian camp incontinent.' 
 His friends, whose love did never shrink or start, 
 Proffer'd their aid, what way so e'er he went : 
 He thank'd them all, but left th^m all, besides 
 Two bold and trusty squires, and so he rides. 
 
 52. 
 
 He rides, revolving in his noble spright « 
 
 Such haughty thoughts, as fill the glorious mind; 
 On hard adventures was his whole delight. 
 And now to wondrous acts his will inclin'd ; 
 
 1 Incontinent — immediately.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 97 
 
 Alone against the Pagans would lie fight, 
 And kill their kings from Eg}qit unto Inde ; 
 
 From Cynthia's hills, and Nilus' unknown spring. 
 He would fetch praise, and glorious conquest bring. 
 
 53. 
 
 But Guelpho (when the Prince his leave had take, 
 And now had spurr'd his courser on his way) 
 No longer tarriance with the rest would make, 
 But hastes to find Godfredo, if he may : 
 Who seeing him approaching forthwith spake ; 
 " Guelpho," quoth he, " for thee I only stay. 
 For thee I sent my heralds all about, 
 In every tent to seek and find thee out." 
 
 54. 
 This said, he softly drew the knight aside 
 Where none might hear, and then bespake him thus : 
 " How chanceth it thy nephew's rage and pride 
 Makes him so far forget himself and us ? 
 Hardly could I believe what is betide, 
 A murder done for cause so frivolous ; 
 
 How I have loved him, thou and aU can tell ; 
 
 But Godfrey lov'd him, but wliilst he did well. 
 
 55. 
 " I must provide that every one have right, 
 That all be heard, each cause be well discust, 
 As far from partial love, as free from spight, 
 I hear complaints, yet nought but proves I trust : 
 Now if Einaldo weigh om* rule so light. 
 And have the sacred lore of war so brust,' 
 Take you the charge that he before us come. 
 To clear himself, and hear our upright dome. 
 
 56. 
 
 " But let him come withouten bond or chain, 
 
 Por still my thoughts to do him grace are framed : 
 
 But if our power he haply shall disdain, 
 
 (As well I know his courage yet untamed) 
 
 To bring him by persuasion take some pain : 
 
 Else, if I prove severe, both you be blamed. 
 
 That forced my gentle nature ('gainst my thought) 
 To rigour, lest our laws return to nought." 
 
 1 Bruat — bv/rgt, 2 Dome — doom. 
 
 H
 
 98 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 57. 
 
 Lord Guelplio answer'd thus : " What heart can hear 
 Such slanders false, devis'd by hate and spight ? 
 Or, with stay'd patience, such reproaches hear, 
 And not revenge by battle, or by fight ? 
 The Norway prince hath bought his folly dear, 
 But who with words could stay the angry knight ? 
 A fool is he that comes to preach or prate. 
 When men with swords their right and wrong debate. 
 
 58. 
 
 "And where you wish he should himself submit, 
 To hear the censure of j^our upright laws ; 
 Alas ! that cannot be, for he is flit 
 Out of this camp, withouten stay or pause. 
 There, take my gage, behold I offer it 
 To him that first accused him in this cause, 
 Or any else that dare, and will maintain 
 That for his pride the Prince was justly slain. 
 
 59. 
 " I say with reason Lord Gernando's pride 
 He hath abated, if he have 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 brawl elsewhere, here let all strife be ended : 
 And you. Lord Guelpho, for your nephew's sake, 
 Breed us no new, nor quarrels old awake." 
 
 60. 
 
 This while, the fair and false Armida strived 
 To get her promis'd aid in sure possession. 
 The day to end, with endless plaint she drived; 
 Wit, beauty, craft for her made intercession : 
 But when the earth was once of light deprived. 
 And western seas felt Titan's hot impression, 
 
 'Twixt two old knights, and matrons twain she went, 
 Where pitched was her fair and curious tent. 
 
 61. 
 
 But this false queen of craft and sly invention 
 
 (Whose looks Love's arrows were, whose eyes his quivers; 
 Whose beauty matchless, free from reprehension, 
 A wonder left by heaven to after-livers)
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 99 
 
 Among the Christian lords had bred contention, 
 Who first should quench his flames in Cupid's rivers, 
 With all her weapons and her darts rehersed. 
 Had not Godfredo's constant bosom persed.' 
 
 62. 
 
 To change his modest thought the dame procureth, 
 
 And protf 'reth heaps of love's enticing treasure : 
 
 But as the falcon newly gorged endureth 
 
 Her keeper lure her oft, but comes at leisure ; 
 
 So he, whom fullness of delight assureth 
 
 What long repentance comes of love's short pleasure. 
 
 Her crafts, her arts, herself and all despiseth; 
 
 So base afl'ections fall, when virtue riseth. 
 
 63. 
 
 And not one foot his steadfast foot was moved 
 Out of that heav'nly path, wherein he paced. 
 Yet thousand wiles and thousand ways she proved. 
 To have that castle fair of goodness raced :^ 
 She used those looks and smiles, that most behoved 
 To melt the frost which his hard heart embraced ; 
 And 'gainst his breast a thousand shot she vent'red. 
 Yet was the fort so strong, it was not ent'red. 
 
 64. 
 The dame, who thought that one blink of her eye 
 Could make the chastest heart feel love's sweet pain, 
 Oh, how her pride abated was hereby! 
 When all her sleights were void, her crafts were vain, 
 Some other where she would her forces try. 
 Where at more ease she might more vantage gain ; 
 As tir'd soldiers, whom some fort keeps out. 
 Thence raise their siege, and spoil the towns about. 
 
 65. 
 
 But yet all ways the wily witch could find. 
 
 Could not Tancredie's heart to love-ward move, 
 
 His sails were filled with another wind, 
 
 He list no blast of new affection prove ; 
 
 For, as one poison doth exclude by kind 
 
 Another's force, so love excludeth love : 
 
 These two alone nor more, nor less the dame 
 Could win, the rest all burnt in her sweet flame. 
 
 1 Persed — pierced, * Raced — razed, 
 
 h2
 
 100 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 66. 
 
 The Princess (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 prey, as erst you heard it told ; 
 She thought, ere truth-revealing time, or fame 
 Bewray 'd her act, to lead them to some hold. 
 
 Where chains and bands she meant to make them prove, 
 Composed by Vulcan, not by gentle love. 
 
 67. 
 The time prefix'd at length was come and past. 
 Which Godfrey had set down to lend her aid. 
 When at his feet herself to earth she cast ; 
 "The hour is come, my lord," she humbly said; 
 " And if the tyrant haply hear at last, 
 His banish'd niece hath your assistance pray'd. 
 He will in arms (to save his kingdom) rise. 
 So shall we harder make this enterprise. 
 
 68. 
 " Before report can bring the tyrant news. 
 Or his espials^ certify their king, 
 let thy goodness these few champions choose. 
 That to her kingdom should thy handmaid bring ; 
 Who, except Heaven to aid the right refuse. 
 Recover shall her crown, from whence shall spring 
 Thy profit ; for betide thee peace or war, 
 Tliine all her cities, all her subjects are." 
 
 69. 
 The Captain sage the damsel fair 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, entreaty, intercession wanted ; 
 Their envy each at other's love exceeded. 
 And all importimate made, more than needed. 
 
 70. 
 She that well saw the secret of their hearts. 
 And knew how best to warm them in their blood. 
 Against them threw the cursed poison'd darts 
 Of jealousy, and grief at other's good ; 
 
 1 Espials— iipie*.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 101 
 
 For love she wist was weak without tliose arts, 
 
 And slow ; for jealousy is Cupid's food; 
 For the swift steed runs not so fast alone, 
 As when some strain, some strive him to outgone. 
 
 71. 
 
 Her words in such alluring sort she framed, 
 Her looks enticing, and her wooing smiles, 
 That every one his fellow's favours blamed. 
 That of their mistress he received erewhiles : 
 This foolish crew of lovers unashamed, 
 Mad with the poison of her secret wiles. 
 Ran forward still, in this disorder'd sort, 
 Nor could Godfredo's bridle rein them short. 
 
 He that would satisfy each good desire 
 
 (Withouten partial love) of every knight. 
 
 Although he swell'd with shame, with grief and ire, 
 
 To see these follies, and these fashions light, 
 
 Yet since by no advice they would retire. 
 
 Another way he sought to set them right ; [chance 
 
 " Write all your names," quoth he, " and see whom 
 
 Of lot to this exploit will first advance." 
 
 73. 
 
 Their names were writ, and in a helmet shaken. 
 While each did fortune's grace and aid implore ; 
 At last they drew them, and the foremost taken 
 The Earl of Pembrooke was, Artimidore, 
 Doubtless the Countie thought his bread well baken ; 
 Next Gerrard follow'd, then with tresses hoar 
 
 Old Wenceslaus, that felt Cupid's rage 
 
 Now in his doating, and his dying age. 
 
 74. 
 
 Oh how contentment in their foreheads shined ! 
 Their looks with joy; thoughts swell'd with secret pleasure; 
 These three it seemed good success designed 
 To make the lords of love and beauty's treasure : 
 Their doubtful fellows at their hap repined, 
 And with small patience wait fortune's leisure, 
 Upon his lips that read the scrolls attending, 
 As if their lives were on his words depending.
 
 102 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OK, 
 
 75. 
 
 Guascar the fourth, Ridolpho him succeeds, 
 Then Ulderick, whom love list so advance, 
 Lord William of Ronciglion next he reads, 
 Then Eberard, and Henry, born in France, 
 Rambaldo last, whom wicked lust so leads. 
 That he forsook his Saviour with mischance ; 
 
 This wretch the tenth was, who was thus deluded ; 
 
 The rest to their huge grief were all excluded. 
 
 76. 
 O'ercome with envy, wrath, and jealousy, 
 The rest blind fortune curse, and all her laws. 
 And mad with love, yet out on love they cry. 
 That in his kingdom let her judge their cause : 
 And for man's mind is such, that oft we try 
 Things most forbidden, without stay or pause 
 In spite of fortune, purpos'd many a knight. 
 To follow fair Armida, when 'twas night. 
 
 77. 
 To follow her, by night or else by day. 
 And in her quarrel venture life and limb : 
 With sighs and tears she 'gan them softly pray 
 To keep that promise, when the skies were dim, 
 To this and that knight did she 'plain, and say. 
 What grief she felt to part withouten him : 
 
 Meanwhile the ten had donn'd their armour best, 
 And taken leave of Godfrey and the rest. 
 
 78. 
 The Duke advis'd them every one apart, 
 How light, how trustless was the Pagan's faith, 
 And told what policy, what wit, what art. 
 Avoids deceit, which heedless men betray 'th ; 
 His speeches pierce their ear, but not their heart ; 
 Love calls it lolly, what so wisdom saith : 
 
 Thus warn'd he leaves them to their wanton guide. 
 Who parts that night ; such haste had she to ride. 
 
 79. 
 The Conqueress departs, and with her led 
 These prisoners, whom love would captive keep ; 
 The hearts of those she left behind her bled. 
 With point of sorrow's arrow pierced deep.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 103 
 
 But when the night her drowsy mantle spread, 
 And fill'd the earth with silence, shade, and sleep, 
 In secret sort then each forsook his tent, 
 And as blind Cupid led them, blind they went. 
 
 80. 
 
 Eustatio first, who scantly could forbear. 
 Till friendly night might hide his haste and shame. 
 He rode in post, and let his beast him bear. 
 As his blind fancy would his journey frame, 
 All night he wander'd and he wist not where; 
 But with the morning he espied the dame, 
 That with her guard up from a village rode. 
 Where she and they that night had made abode. 
 
 81. 
 
 Thither he gallop'd fast, and drawing near 
 Kambaldo knew the knight, and loudly cried, 
 " Whence comes young Eustace, and what seeks he here?" 
 " I come," quoth he, " to serve the Queen Armide, 
 If she accept me, would we all were there 
 Where my good-will and faith might best be tried." 
 " Who," quoth the other, " chooseth thee to prove 
 This high exploit of hers?" he answer'd, "Love." 
 
 82. 
 
 " Love hath Eustatio chosen, fortune thee; 
 In thy conceit which is the best election ? 
 Nay then these shifts are vain," replied he, 
 " These titles false serve thee for no protection, 
 Thou canst not here for this admitted be 
 Our fellow servant, in this sweet subjection :" 
 " And who," quoth Eustace, angry, " dares deny 
 My fellowship ?" Earabaldo answered, " I." 
 
 83. 
 
 And with that word his cutting sword he drew. 
 That glister'd bright, and sparkled flaming fire, 
 Upon his foe the other champion flew. 
 With equal courage, and with equal ire : 
 The gentle Princess (who the danger knew) 
 Between them stepp'd, and pray'd them both retire. 
 " Eambald," quoth she, " why should you grudge or 
 " If I a champion, you a helper gain ? [plain.
 
 104 GODFKEY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 84. 
 " If me you love, why wish you me deprived 
 (In so great need) of such a puissant knight ? 
 But welcome Eustace, in good time arrived, 
 Defender of my state, my life, my right, 
 I wish my hapless self no longer lived, 
 When I esteem such good assistance light :" 
 
 Thus talk'd they on, and travell'd on their way. 
 
 Then* fellowship increasing every day. 
 
 85. 
 From ev'ry side they come, yet wist there none 
 Of other's coming, or of other's mind ; 
 She welcomes all, and telleth every one. 
 What joy her thoughts in his arrival find : 
 But when Duke Godfrey wist his knights were gone, 
 Within his breast his wiser soul divin'd 
 
 Some hard mishap upon his friends should light. 
 For Avhich he sigh'd all day, and wept all night. 
 
 86. 
 A messenger (while thus he mused) drew near. 
 All soil'd with dust and sweat, quite out of breath, 
 It seem'd the man did heavy tidings bear, 
 Upon his looks sate news of loss and death : 
 " My lord," quoth he, " so many ships appear 
 At sea, that Neptune bears the load uneath ;^ 
 From Egj'pt come they all ; this lets thee weet^ 
 William Lord Adm'ral of the Genoa fleet. 
 
 87. 
 " Besides a convoy (coming from the shore 
 With vittaile''' for this noble camp of thine) 
 Sm'prised was, and lost is all tliat store. 
 Mules, horses, camels laden, corn and wine ; 
 Thy servants fought till they could fight no more ; 
 For all were slain, or captives made in fine : 
 Th' Arabian outlaws them assail'd by night. 
 When least they fear'd, and least they look'd for fight. 
 
 88. 
 " Their frantic boldness doth presume so far, 
 That many Christians have they falsely slain. 
 And like a raging flood they sparsed^ are. 
 And overflow each country, field and plain ; 
 
 1 Uneath — hardly. * Weet — know. 
 
 * Vittaile — victual). * Sparsed — scattered.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 105 
 
 Send therefore some strong troops of men of war 
 To force them hence, and drive them home again. 
 And keep the ways between these tents of thine, 
 And those broad seas, the seas of Palestine." 
 
 89. 
 From mouth to mouth the heavy rumour spread 
 Of these misfortunes, which, dispersed wide 
 Among the soldiers, great amazement bred ; 
 Famine they doubt, and new come foes beside : 
 The Duke (that saw their wonted courage fled. 
 And in the place thereof weak fear espide) 
 
 With merry looks these cheerful words he spake. 
 To make them heart again and courage take. 
 
 90. 
 " You champions bold, with me that 'scaped have 
 So many dangers, and such hard assays,' 
 Whom stUl your God did keep, defend, and save, 
 In all your battles, combats, fights, and frays, 
 You that subdu'd the Turks and Persians brave, 
 That thirst and hunger held in scorn always, 
 
 And vanquish'd hills, and seas, with heat and cold. 
 Shall vain reports appal your courage bold ? 
 
 91. 
 
 " That Lord, who help'd j'ou out at every need. 
 
 When aught befel this glorious camp amiss. 
 
 Shall fortune^ all your actions well to speed, 
 
 On whom his mercy large extended is ; 
 
 Tofore^ his tomb, when conqu'ring hands you spread. 
 
 With what delight will you remember this ? 
 
 Be strong, therefore, and keep your valours high 
 To honour, conquest, fame, and victory." 
 
 92. 
 
 Their hopes half dead, and courage well-nigh lost, 
 Eeviv'd with these brave speeches of their guide j 
 But in his breast a thousand cares he tost, 
 Althougli his sorrows he could wisely hide; 
 He studi'd how to feed that mighty host 
 In so great scarceness, and what force provide 
 He should against th' Egyptian warriors sly. 
 And how subdue those thieves of Araby. 
 
 1 Assays — trials. ^ Fortune — make fortunate, ^ Tofore — before.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 "gsali tilt 3hil 
 
 THE AEGXJMENT. 
 
 Argantes calls the Christians out to just ;^ 
 Oiho not chosen doth his strength assay. 
 But from his saddle tumhleth in the dust. 
 And captive to the town is sent away ; 
 Tancred begins new fight, and when both trust 
 To win the praise and palm, night ends the fray . 
 Erminia hopes to cure her wounded knight. 
 And from the city armed rides by night. 
 
 1* 
 
 But better hopes had them recomforted 
 That lay besieged in the sacred town ; 
 Witli new supply late were they vittailed, 
 When night obscured the earth with shadows brown, 
 Their arms and engines on the walls they spread, 
 Their slings to cast, and stones to tumble down ; 
 And all that side, which to tlie northward lies. 
 High rampiers and strong bulwarks fortifies. 
 
 Their wary king commands now here, now there. 
 To build this tower, to make that bulwark strong, 
 Whether the sun, the moon, or stars appear, 
 To give them light to work, uo time comes wrong : 
 In every street new weapons forged were. 
 By cunning smiths, sweating with labour long ; 
 While thus the careful Prince provision made, 
 To him Argantes came, and boasting said : 
 
 1 Just— ;/oa»<.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. lOi 
 
 3. 
 ' How long shall we (like prisoners in chains) 
 Captived lie enclos'd within this wall ? 
 I see your workmen taking endless pains 
 To make new weapons for no use at all ; 
 Meanwhile these eastern thieves destroy the plains. 
 Your towns are burnt, your forts and castles fall; 
 Yet none of us dares at these gates out-peep, 
 Or sound one trumpet shrill to break their sleep. 
 
 " Their time in feasting and good cheer they spend, 
 Nor dare we once their banquets sweet molest, 
 The days and nights likewise they bring to end, 
 In peace, assurance, quiet, ease, and rest : 
 But we must yield whom hunger soon will shend,^ 
 And make for peace (to save our lives) request ; 
 Else (if th' Egyptian army stay too long). 
 Like cowards die within this fortress strong. 
 
 5. 
 
 " Yet never shall my courage great consent 
 So vile a death should end my noble days. 
 Nor on mine arms, within these walls ipent, 
 To-moiTow's sun shall spread his timely rays : 
 Let saci'ed Heav'ns dispose (as they are bent) 
 Of this frail life, yet not withouten jiraise 
 
 Of valour, prowess, might, Argantes shall 
 
 Inglorious die, or unrevenged fali, 
 
 6. 
 " But if the roots of wonted chivalry 
 Be not quite dead your princely breast within. 
 Devise not how with fame and praise to die, 
 But how to live, to conquer and to win ; 
 Let us together at these gates out-fly, 
 And skirmish bold, and bloody fight begin ; 
 For when last need to desperation driveth. 
 Who dareth most, he wisest counsel giveth. 
 
 7. 
 " But if in field your wisdom dare not venter 
 To hazard all your troops to doubtful fight, 
 Then bind yourself to Godfrey by indenter^ 
 To end your quarrels by one single knight : 
 
 1 Shend — dentroy. 2 Indenter — bargain.
 
 108 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 And, for the Christian this accord' shall enter 
 With better will, say such you know your right, 
 That he the weapons, place, and time shall chuse, 
 And let him for his best that vantage use. 
 
 " For though your foe had hands, like Hector strong. 
 With heart unfear'd, and courage stern and stout. 
 Yet no misfortune can your justice wrong : 
 And what that wanteth, shall this arm help out: 
 In spite of fate shall this right hand ere long, 
 Return victorious : if hereof you doubt. 
 
 Take it for pledge ; wherein if trust you have, 
 It shall yourself defend and kingdom save." 
 
 9. 
 " Bold youth," the tyrant thus began to speak, 
 " Although I wither'd seem with age and years, 
 Yet are not these old arms so faint and weak. 
 Nor this hoar head so full of doubts and fears ; 
 But when-as^ death this vital thread shall break, 
 He shall my courage hear, my death who hears : 
 And Aladine, that liv'd a king and knight. 
 To his fair morn will have an evening bright. 
 
 10. 
 " But that (which yet T would have further blaised^) 
 To thee in secret shall be told and spoken, 
 Great Soliman of Nice (so far ipraised. 
 To be revenged for his sceptre broken) 
 The men of arms of Araby hath raised. 
 From Inde to Africk, and (when we give token) 
 Attends the favour of the friendly night 
 To vittaile us, and with oui* foes to fight. 
 
 11. 
 
 " Now, though Godfredo hold by warlike feat 
 Some castles poor, and forts in vile oppression, 
 Care not for that ; for still our princely seat. 
 This stately town, we keep in our possession : 
 But thou appease and calm that courage great, 
 Which in thy bosom makes so hot impression, 
 And stay fit time, which will betide ere long, 
 T' increase thy glory, and revenge our wrong." 
 
 Accord — agreement, ^ When-as — when, 3 Blaised — Mazed,
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 109 
 
 12. 
 
 The Saracen at this was inly spited, 
 Who Soliman's great worth had long envied, 
 To hear him praised thus he nought delighted. 
 Nor that the king upon his aid relied : 
 " Within your power, Sir King," he says, " united 
 Are peace and war, nor shall that be denied ; 
 But for the Turk and his Arabian band, 
 He lost his own, shall he defend your land ? 
 
 13. 
 
 " Perchance he comes some heav'nly messenger. 
 Sent down to set the Pagan people free, 
 Then let Argantes for himself take care, 
 This sword, I trust, shall well safe-conduct me : 
 But while you rest and all your forces spare. 
 That I go forth to war at least agree ; 
 
 Though not your champion, yet a private knight, 
 I will some Christian prove in single fight." 
 
 14. 
 
 The King replied : " Though thy force and might 
 Should be reserved to better time and use, 
 Yet that thou challenge some renowned knight 
 Among the Christians bold, I not refuse." 
 The warrior breathing out desire of fight, 
 An herald call'd, and said, " Go tell these news 
 To Godfrey's self, and to the western lords. 
 And in their hearings boldly say these words : 
 
 15. 
 
 " Say that a knight (who holds in great disdain 
 
 To be thus closed up in secret mew) 
 
 Will with his sword in open field maintain, 
 
 (If any dare deny his words for true) 
 
 That no devotion (as they falsely fain) 
 
 Hath mov'd the French these countries to subdue, 
 
 But vile ambition, and pride's hateful vice, 
 
 Desire of rule, and spoil, and covetice. 
 
 16. 
 " And that to fight I am not only prest 
 With one or two that dare defend the cause. 
 But come the fourth or fifth, come all the rest, 
 Come all that will, and all that weapon draws :
 
 110 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 Let him that yields obey the victor's hest,^ 
 As wills the lore of mighty Mars his laws." 
 
 This was the challenge that fierce Pagan sent ; 
 
 The herald donn'd his coat of arms, and went. 
 
 17. 
 And when the man before the presence came 
 Of princely Godfrey, and his captains bold ; 
 " My lord," quoth he, " may I withouten blame 
 Before your grace my message brave unfold.''" 
 " Thou may'st," he answer'd, " we approve the same ; 
 Withouten fear be thine ambassage told." 
 
 " Then," quoth the herald, " shall your Highness see. 
 If this ambassage sharp or pleasing be." 
 
 18. 
 The challenge 'gan he then at large expose. 
 With might}' threats, high terms, and glorious words ; 
 On everj' side an angry murmur rose. 
 To wrath so moved were the knights and lords: 
 Then Godfrey spake, and said : " The man hath chose 
 An hard exploit, but when he feels our swords, 
 I trust we shall so fair intreat the knight. 
 As to excuse the fourth or fifth of fight. 
 
 19. 
 
 " But let liim come and prove ; the field I grant ; 
 Nor wrong, nor treason let him doubt or fear. 
 Some here shall pay him for his glorious vant, 
 Without or guile, or vantage, that I swear." 
 The herald turn'd when he had ended scant, 
 And hasted back the way he came whileare, 
 
 Nor staved he ought, nor once foreslow'd^ his pace, 
 
 Till he bespake Argantes face to face. 
 
 20. 
 " Arm you, my lord," he said, " your bold defies 
 By your brave foes accepted boldly been. 
 This combat neither high nor low denies, 
 Ten thousand wish to meet you on the green ; 
 A thousand frown'd with angry flaming eyes. 
 And shaked for rage their swords and weapons keen ; 
 The field is safely granted by their guide :" 
 This said, the champion for his armour cried. 
 
 1 Heat — command. * Foreslow'd — delayed, or loitered.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. Ill 
 
 21. 
 
 While lie was arm'd, his heart for ire nigh brake, 
 So 3'earn'd his courage hot his foes to find : 
 The king to fair Clorinda present' spake ; 
 " If he go forth, remain not you behind, 
 But of our soldiers best a thousand take, 
 To guard his person and your own assign'd ; 
 Yet let him meet alone the Christian knight. 
 And stand yourself aloof, while they two fight." 
 
 22. 
 
 This spake the king ; and soon without abode^ 
 The troop went forth in shining armour clad : 
 Before the rest the Pagan champion rode. 
 His wonted arms and ensigns all he had : 
 A goodly plain, displayed wide and broad. 
 Between the city and the camp was sprad ; 
 
 A place like that, wherein proud Rome behield 
 Her forward young men menage spear and shield. 
 
 23. 
 
 There all alone Argantes took his stand. 
 
 Defying Christ and all his servants trew ; 
 
 In stature, stomach, and in strength of hand. 
 
 In pride, presumption, and in dreadful shew, 
 
 Encelade-like, on the Phlegrean strand. 
 
 Or that huge giant Ishaies'^ infant slew ; 
 But his tierce semblant they esteemed light. 
 For most not knew, or else not fear'd his might. 
 
 24. 
 
 As yet not one had Godfrey singled out 
 
 To undertake this hai'dy enterprise, 
 
 But on Prince Tancred saw he all the rout 
 
 Had fix'd their wishes, and had cast their eyes ; 
 
 On him he spy'd them gazing round about. 
 
 As though tlieir honour on his prowess lies ; 
 
 And now they whisper'd louder what they meant, 
 Which Godfrey heard and saw, and was content. 
 
 25. 
 
 The rest gave place ; for every one descried 
 To whom their Chieftain's will did most incline : 
 " Tancred," quoth he, " I pray thee calm the pride. 
 Abate the rage of yonder Saracine." 
 1 Present — immediate, * Abode — delay, 3 Jghaies — Je»»e'$.
 
 112 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 No longer would the chosen champion bide. 
 His face with joy, his eyes with gladnsss shine: 
 His helm he took, and ready steed bestrode, 
 And, guarded with his trusty friends, forth rode. 
 
 26. 
 But scantly had he spurr'd his courser swift 
 Near to the plain, where proud Argautes stay'd. 
 When unawai'es his eyes he chanced to lift, 
 And on the hill beheld the warlike maid : 
 As white as snow upon the Alpine clift 
 The virgin shone, in silver arms array 'd : 
 Her ventaH up so high, that he descride 
 Her goodly visage, and her beauty's pride. 
 
 27. 
 
 He saw not where the Pagan stood, and stared, 
 As if with looks he would his foeman kill. 
 But full of other thoughts he forward fared. 
 And sent his looks before him up the hill ; 
 His gesture such his troubled soul declared ; 
 At last as marble rock he standeth still. 
 
 Stone-cold without ; within, burnt with love's flame. 
 And quite forgot himself, and why he came. 
 
 28. 
 The challenger, that yet saw none appear 
 That made or sign or show he came to just, 
 " How long," cry'd he, " shall I attend you here ? 
 Dares none come forth ? dares none his fortune trust ?" 
 The other stood amaz'd, love stopp'd his ear, 
 He thinks on Cupid, think of Mars who lust ; 
 But forth start' Otho bold, and took the field, 
 A gentle knight, whom God from danger shield. 
 
 29. 
 This youth was one of those, who late desired 
 With that vain-glorious boaster to have fought ; 
 But, Tancred chosen, he and all retired : 
 Yet to the field the valiant prince they brought : 
 Now when his slackness he av.hile admired. 
 And saw elsewhere employed was his thought, 
 
 Nor that to just^ (though chosen) once he proffer'd, 
 He boldly took that fit occasion offer 'd. 
 
 1 Vental — a ventaile. The moveable front of tlie helmet, which covered 
 tUe face, and through which the wearer breathed the air. 
 ' Start — moved. ^ Just— <o tilt.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 113 
 
 30. 
 No tiger, panther, spotted leopard, 
 Kuns half so swift, the forests wild among. 
 As this young champion hasted thitherward, 
 Where he attending saw the Pagan strong : 
 Tancredie started with the noise he heard. 
 As wakt from sleep, where he had dreamed long ; 
 " Oh stay," he cried, " to me belongs this war," 
 But cried too late, Otho was gone too far. 
 
 31. 
 
 Then full of fury, anger and despite. 
 He stay'd his horse, and waxed red for shame, 
 The fight was his, but now disgraced quite 
 Himself he thought, another play'd his game ; 
 Meanwhile the Saracen did hugely smite 
 On Otho's helm, who to requite the same. 
 
 His foe quite through his sevenfold tai'ge did bear, 
 And in his breastplate stuck and broke his spear. 
 
 32. 
 
 Th' encounter such, upon the tender grass, 
 Down from his steed the Christian backward fell ; 
 Yet his proud foe so strong and sturdy was, 
 That he nor shook, nor stagg'red in his sell, 
 But to the knight that lay full low (alas) 
 In high disdain his will thus 'gan he tell, 
 
 " Yield thee my slave, and this thine honour be, 
 Thou may'st report thou hast encounter'd me." 
 
 33. 
 
 " Not so," quoth he, " pardie it's not the guise 
 
 Of Christian knights, though fiill'n, so soon to yield ; 
 
 I can my fall excuse in better wise, 
 
 And will revenge this shame, or die in field." 
 
 The great Circassian bent his frowning eyes, 
 
 Like that grim visage in Minerva's shield, 
 
 " Then learn," quoth he, " what force Argantes useli 
 Against that fool that proffer'd grace refuseth." 
 
 34. 
 
 With that he spurr'd his horse with speed and haste, 
 (Forgetting what good knights to virtue owe) 
 Otho his fury shurm'd, and (as he past) 
 At his right side he reach'd a noble blow : 
 
 I
 
 114 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 Wide was the wound, the blood outstreamed fast. 
 
 And from his side fell to his stirrup low : 
 
 But what avails to hui't, if wounds augment 
 Our foe's fierce coiu'age, strength and hardiment ? 
 
 35. 
 
 Argantes nimhly tum'd his ready steed. 
 And ere his foe was wist or well aware, 
 Against his side he drove his courser's head ; 
 "What force could he 'gainst so great might prepare ? 
 Weak were his feeble joints, his courage dead. 
 His heart amaz'd, his paleness show'd his care, 
 His tender side 'gainst the hard earth he cast, 
 Sham'd with the first fall ; bruised with the last. 
 
 36. 
 
 The victor spurr'd again his light-foot steed. 
 And made his passage over Otho's heart, 
 And cried, " These fools thus under foot I tread, 
 That dare contend with me in equal mart."' 
 Tancred for anger shook his noble head, 
 So was he griev'd with that unknightly part ; 
 The fault was his, he was so slow before, 
 With double valour would he salve that sore. 
 
 37. 
 
 Forward he gallop'd fast, and loudly cried : 
 " Villain !" quoth he, " thy conquest is thy shame; 
 What praise ? what honour shall this fact betide ? 
 What gain ? what guerdon shall befall the same ? 
 Among th' Arabian thieves thy face go hide, 
 Far from resort of men of worth, and fame, 
 
 Or else in wood:, and mountains wild, by night, 
 On savage beasts employ thy savage might." 
 
 38. 
 The Pagan patience never knew, nor used, 
 Trembling for ire, his sandy locks he tore ; 
 Out from his lips flew such a sound confused. 
 As lions make in deserts thick with roar ; 
 Or as when clouds, together crusht and bruised, 
 Pour down a tempest by the Caspian shore ; 
 So was his speech imperfect, stopt and broken, 
 He roard and thunder'd, when he should have spoken. 
 
 I Mart — icar.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 115 
 
 39. 
 But when with threats they both had whetted keen 
 Their eager rage, their fury, spite, and ire, 
 They turn'd their steeds, and left large space between 
 To make their forces greater, 'preaching nire,' 
 With terms that warlike and that worthy been: 
 (0 sacred Muse) my haughty thoughts inspire, 
 And make a trumpet of my slender quill 
 To thunder out th:$ furious combat shrill. 
 
 40. 
 
 These sons of Mavors bore (in stead of spears) 
 Two knotty masts, which none but they could lift, 
 Each foaming steed so fast his master bears. 
 That never beast, bird, shaft, flew half so swift; 
 Such was their fury, as when Boreas tears 
 The shatter'd crags from Taurus' northern clift; 
 Upon their helms their lances long they broke. 
 And up to heaven flew splinters, sparks, and smoke. 
 
 41. 
 The shock made all the tow'rs and turrets quake. 
 And woods and mountains all nigh-hand resound ; 
 Yet could not all that force and fury shake 
 The valiant champions, nor their persons wound ; 
 Together hurtled" both their steeds, and brake 
 Each other's neck ; the riders lay on ground : 
 But they (great masters of war's dreadful art) 
 Pluck'd forth theii' swords, and soon from earth upstar: 
 
 42. 
 Close at his surest ward each warrior lieth. 
 He wisely guides his hand, his foot, his eye. 
 This blow he proveth, that defence he trieth. 
 He traverseth, retireth, presseth nie ; 
 Now strikes he out, and now he falsifieth ; 
 This blow he wardeth, that he lets slip by ; 
 And for advantage oft he lets some part 
 Discover'd seem ; thus art deludeth art. 
 
 43. 
 
 The Pagan ill-defenst with sword or targe 
 Tancredie's thigh (as he suppos'd) espied, 
 • And reaching forth 'gainst it his weapon large. 
 Quite naked to his foe leaves his left side ; 
 
 * Nire — nigher. * Hurtled — dashed together. 
 
 1 2
 
 116 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 Tancred avoideth quick his furious charge, 
 And gave him eke a wound, deep, sore, and wide ; 
 That done, himself safe to his ward retired. 
 His courage prais'd by all, his skill admired. 
 
 44. 
 The proud Circassian saw his streaming blood, 
 Down from his wound (as from a fountain) running ; 
 He sigh'd for rage, and trembled as he stood, 
 He blam'd his fortune, folly, want of cunning; 
 He lift his sword aloft, for ire nigh wood,^ 
 And forward rush'd : Tancred hLs fury shunning, 
 With a sharp thrust once more the Pagan hit. 
 To his broad shoulder where his arm is knit. 
 
 45. 
 Like as a bear, through pierced with a dart 
 Within the secret woods, no fiirther flieth, 
 But bites the senseless weapon mad with smart. 
 Seeking revenge till unreveng'd she dieth ; 
 So mad Argantes far'd, when his proud heart 
 Wound upon wound, and shame on shame espieth, 
 Desire of vengeance so o'ercarae his senses, 
 That he forgot all dangers, all defences. 
 
 46. 
 Uniting force extreme with endless wrath. 
 Supporting both with youth and strength untu-ed, 
 His thundering blows so fast about he la'th, 
 That skies and earth the flying spai-kles fii-ed; 
 His foe to strike one blow no leisure hath, 
 Scantly he breathed, though he oft desired : 
 His warlike skill and cunning all was waste, 
 Such was Argantes' force, and such his haste. 
 
 47. 
 
 Long time Tancredie had in vain attended. 
 When this huge storm should overblow and pass, 
 Some blows his mighty target well defended. 
 Some fell beside, and wounded deep the grass ; 
 But when he saw the tempest never ended, 
 Kor that the Paynim's force aught weaker was, 
 He high advanc'd his cutting sword at length. 
 And rage to rage oppos'd, and strength to strength. 
 
 1 Wood — mad.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 117 
 
 48. 
 
 Wrath bore the swaj'-, both art and reason ftiil ; 
 
 Fury new force, and courage new supplies ; 
 
 Their armours forged were of metal frail ; 
 
 On every side thereof, huge cantels' flies ; 
 
 The land was strewed all with plate and mail ; 
 
 That, on the earth ; on that, their warm blood lies ; 
 And at each rush and every blow they smote, 
 Thunder the noise ; the sparks seem'd lightning hot?.' 
 
 49. 
 The Christian people and the Pagans gazed 
 On this fierce combat, wishing oft the end; 
 'Twixt hope and fear they stood long time amazed. 
 To see the knights assail, and eke defend : 
 Yet neither sign they made, nor noise they raised, 
 But for the issue of the fight attend, 
 
 And stood as still, as life and sense they wanted, 
 Save that their hearts within their bosoms panted. 
 
 50. 
 Now were they tired both, and well nigh spent. 
 Their blows show greater will than power to wound ; 
 But night her gentle daughter darkness sent. 
 With friendly shade to overspread the ground ; 
 Two heralds to the fighting champions went, 
 To part the fray, as laws of arms them bound ; 
 Aridens born in France, and wise Pindore, 
 The man that bi'ought the challenge proud before. 
 
 51. 
 
 These men their sceptres interpose, between 
 
 The doubtful hazards of uncertain fight ; 
 
 For such their privilege hath ever been, 
 
 The law of nations doth defend their right ; 
 
 Pindore began : " Stay, stay, you warriors keen, 
 
 Equal your honour, equal is your might : 
 Forbear this combat, so we deem it best. 
 Give night her due, and grant your persons rest. 
 
 52. 
 "Man goeth forth to labour with the sun. 
 But with the night all creatures draw to sleep, 
 Nor yet of hidden praise, in darkness won, 
 The valiant heart of noble knight takes keep ;" 
 1 Caatels— fragments. * Hole — hoi.
 
 118 GODFEEY OF bulloignt: ; OR, 
 
 Argantes answer'd him : " The fight begun, 
 Now to forbear doth wound my heart right deep : 
 Yet will I stay, so that this Christian sweai'e, 
 (Before you both) again to meet me heare." 
 
 53. 
 
 "I swear," quoth Tancred, "but swear thou likewise. 
 To make return thy pris'uer eke with thee ; 
 Else for atchievement of this enttrprise, 
 None other time but this expect of me ;" 
 Thus sware they both ; the heralds both devise, 
 "VSTiat time for this exploit should fittest be ; 
 
 And, for their wounds of rest and cure had need, 
 To meet again the sixth day was decreed. 
 
 54 
 
 This fight was deep imprinted in their hearts. 
 That saw this bloody fray to ending brought. 
 An horror great possest their weaker parts, 
 Which make them shrink who on their combat thought 
 Much speech was of the praise and high deserts 
 Of these brave champions, that so nobly fought ; 
 But which for knightly worth was most ipraised. 
 Of that was doubt and disputation raised. 
 
 55. 
 
 All long to see them end this doubtful fray. 
 And as they favour, so they wish success, 
 These hope true virtue shall obtain the day. 
 Those trust on fviry, strength, and hardiness ; 
 But on Erminia most this burden la\'. 
 Whose looks her trouble and her fear express ; 
 For on this dang'rous combat's doubtful end. 
 Her joy, her comfort, hope, and life depend. 
 
 56. 
 
 Her the sole daughter of that hapless king, 
 That of proud Antioch late wore the crown. 
 The Christian soldiers to Tancredie bring, 
 When they had sackt and spoil'd that glorious town ; 
 But he (in whom all good and virtue spring) 
 The virgin's honour sav'd, and her renown ; 
 And when her city and her state was lost, 
 Then was her person lov'd, and honour'd most.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 119 
 
 57. 
 He honour 'd her, serv'd her, and leave her gave, 
 And will'd her go whither and when she list. 
 Her gold and jewels had he care to save, 
 And them restored all, she nothing mist : 
 She (that beheld this youth and person brave) 
 When, by this deed, his noble mind she wist. 
 Laid ope her heart for Cupid's shaft to hit. 
 Who never knots of love more surer knit. 
 
 58. 
 Her body free, captived was her heart, 
 And love the keys did of that prison bear, 
 Prepar'd to go, it was a death to part 
 From that kind lord, and from that prison dear : 
 But thou, O honour, which esteemed art 
 The chiefest vesture noble ladies wear, 
 
 Enforcest her against her will, to wend 
 
 To Aladine, her mother's dearest friend. 
 
 59. 
 At Sion was this princess entertained 
 By that old tyrant and her mother dear. 
 Whose loss too soon the woful damsel plained ; 
 Her grief was such, she liv'd not half the year : 
 Yet banishment, nor loss of friends constrained 
 The hapless maid, her passion to forbear ; 
 
 For though exceeding were her woe and grief. 
 Of all her sorrows yet her love was chief. 
 
 60. 
 The seely^ maid in secret longing pined. 
 Her hope a mote drawn up by Phoebus' rays. 
 Her love a mountain seem'd, whereon bright shined 
 Fresh memory of Tancred's worth and praise ; 
 Within her closet if herself she shrined, 
 A hotter fire her tender heart assays : 
 
 Tancred at last, to raise her hope nigh dead. 
 Before those walls did his broad ensign spread. 
 
 61, 
 
 The rest to view the Christian army feared. 
 
 Such seem'd their number, such their power and migl. t, 
 
 But she alone her troubled forehead cleared. 
 
 And on them spread her beauty shining bright ; 
 
 1 Seely — simple.
 
 120 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 In every squadron when it first appeared, 
 Her curious eye sought out her chosen knight ; 
 And every gallant that the rest excels, 
 The same seems him, so love and fancy tells. 
 
 62. 
 Within the kingly palace builded hie, 
 A turret standeth near the citj^'s wall, 
 From which Erminia might at ease descrie 
 The western host, the plains and mountains all. 
 And there she stood all the long day to spie. 
 From Phcebus' rising to his evening fall, 
 
 And with her thoughts disputed of his praise. 
 And every thought a scalding sigh did raise. 
 
 63. 
 
 From hence the furious combat she survey'd, 
 And felt her heart tremble with fear and pain. 
 Her secret thoughts thus to her fancy said, 
 " Behold thy dear in danger to be slain ;" 
 So with suspect, with fear and grief dismay'd, 
 Attended she her darling's loss or gain. 
 And ever when the Pagan lilt his blade, 
 The stroke a woimd in her weak bosom made. 
 
 64. 
 
 But when she saw the end, and wist withal 
 Their strong contention should eftsoons' begin. 
 Amazement strange her courage did appal. 
 Her vital blood was icy cold within ; 
 Sometimes she sighed, sometimes tears let fall. 
 To witness what distress her heart was in ; 
 Hopeless, dismay'd, pale, sad, astonished. 
 Her love, her fear ; her fear, her torment bred. 
 
 65. 
 
 Her idle brain unto her soul presented 
 Death, in an hundred ugly fashions painted, 
 And if she slept, then was her grief augmented. 
 With such sad visions were her thoughts acquainted ; 
 She saw her lord with wounds and hurts tormented. 
 How he complain'd, call'd for her help, and fainted; 
 And found, awakt fi'om that unquiet sleeping, 
 Her heart with panting sore ; eyes, red with weeping. 
 
 * Eftsoona— immediately.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 121 
 
 66. 
 
 Yet these presages of his coming i]l, 
 Not greatest cause of her discomfort were, 
 She saw his blood from his deep wounds distil, 
 Nor what he suffer'd could she bide or bear : 
 Besides, report her longing ear did fill, 
 Doubling his danger, doubling so her fear. 
 That she concludes (so was her courage lost) 
 Her wou2ided lord was weak, faint, dead almost. 
 
 67. 
 And for her mother had her taught before 
 The secret virtue of each herb that springs, 
 Besides fit charms for every wound or sore 
 Corruption breedeth, or misfortune brings 
 (An art esteemed in those times of yore. 
 Beseeming daughters of great lords and kings), 
 She would herself be surgeon to her knight, 
 And heal him with her skill, or with her sight. 
 
 Thus would she cure her love, and cure her foe 
 She must, that had her friends and kinsfolk slain : 
 Some cursed weeds her cunning hand did know. 
 That could augment his harm, increase his pain ; 
 But she abhorr'd to be revenged so. 
 No treason should her spotless person stain. 
 And virtueless she wish'd all herbs and charms. 
 Wherewith false men increase their patients' harms. 
 
 69. 
 Nor feared she among the bands to stray 
 Of armed men, ior olten had she seen 
 The tragic end of many a bloody fray ; 
 Her life had full of haps and hazards been; 
 This made her bold in every hard assay, 
 Moi'e than her feeble sex became, I ween ; 
 
 She feared not the shake of every reed ; 
 
 So cowards are courageous made through need. 
 
 70. 
 Love, fearless, hardy, and audacious love 
 Embolden'd had this tender damsel so. 
 That where wild beasts and serpents glide and move. 
 Through Afric's deserts durst she ride or go,
 
 122 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OB, 
 
 Save that her honour (she esteem'd above 
 Her life and body's safety) told her no ; 
 For in the secret of her troubled thought, 
 A doubtful combat Love and Honour fought. 
 
 71. 
 
 " spotless virgin (Honour thus begun) 
 That my true lore observed firmly hast, 
 When with thy foes thou didst in bondage won,' 
 Eemember then I kept thee pure and chaste ; 
 At liberty, now whither wouldst thou run. 
 To lay that field of princely virtue waste? 
 
 Or lose that jewel ladies hold so dear? 
 
 Is maidenhood so great a load to bear ? 
 
 72. 
 
 " Or deem'st thou it a praise of little prise, 
 
 The glorious title of a virgin's name ? 
 
 Thai thou wilt gad bj' night in giglet-wise,' 
 
 Amid thine armed foes, to seek thy shame ? 
 
 O fool, a woman conquers when she Hies ; 
 
 Eefusal kindleth, proflers quench the flame. 
 
 Thy lord will judge thou sinnest beyond measure. 
 If vainly thus thou waste so rich a treasure." 
 
 73. 
 The sly deceiver Cupid thus beguil'd 
 The simple damsel, with his filed^ tongue; 
 " Thou wert not born (quoth he) in desert wild 
 The cruel bears and savage beasts among, 
 That thou shouldst scorn fair Citherea's child. 
 Or hate those pleasures that to youth belong, 
 
 Kor did the gods thy heart oi' iron frame ; 
 
 To be in love is neither sin nor shame. 
 
 74. 
 " Gro then, go, whither sweet desire inviteth, 
 How can thy gentle knight so cruel be ? 
 Love in his heait thy gnef and sorrows writeth. 
 For thy laments how he complaineth, see. 
 Oh cruel woman, whom no care exciteth 
 To save his life, that sav'd and honour'd thee ! 
 He languisheth, one foot thou wilt not move 
 To succour him, yet say'st thou art in love. 
 
 ' Won, wone — dKell. ' OigXet-wise— like a vanton. 
 
 ' Filed — ■poliihed.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 123 
 
 75. 
 
 " No, no, stay here Argantes' wounds to cure. 
 And make him strong to shed thy darling's blood. 
 Of such reward he may himself assure. 
 That doth a thankless woman so much good : 
 Ah may it be thy patience can endure 
 To see the strength of this Circassian wood, 
 And not with horror and amazement shrink, 
 When on their future fight thou hap'at to think ? 
 
 76. 
 " Besides the thanks and praises for the deed, 
 Suppose what joy, what comfort shalt thou win. 
 When thy soft hand doth wholesome plaisters spreed. 
 Upon the breaches in his ivory skin, 
 Thence to thy dearest lord may health succeed. 
 Strength to his limbs, blood to his cheeks so thin ; 
 And his rare beauties, now half dead and more. 
 Thou may'st to him, him to thyself restore. 
 
 77. 
 " So shall some part of his adventtn-es bold. 
 And valiant acts, henceforth be held as thine ; 
 His dear embracements shall thee strait enfold. 
 Together join'd in marriage rites divine : 
 Lastly high place of honour shalt thou hold 
 Among the matrons sage, and dames Latine, 
 In Italy, a land (as each one tells) 
 Where valour true, and true religion dwells." 
 
 78. 
 With such vain hopes the seely maid abused, 
 Promis'd hei'self mountains, and hills of gold ; 
 Yet were her thoughts with doubts and fears confused. 
 How to escape unseen out of that hold. 
 Because the watchmen everj' minute used 
 To guard the walls, against the Christians bold. 
 And in such fury and such heat of war, 
 The gates or seld,' or never, opened are. 
 
 79. 
 With strong Clorinda was Erminia sweet 
 In surest links of dearest friendship bound. 
 With her she us'd the rising sun to greet. 
 And her (when Phcebus glided under ground) 
 1 Seld — seldom.
 
 124 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 She made the lovely partner of her sheet ; 
 
 In both their hearts one will, one thought was found ; 
 Nor aught she hid from that virago bold, 
 Except her love — that tale to none she told. 
 
 80. 
 
 That kept she secret : if Clorinda heard 
 Her make complaints, or secretly lament. 
 To other cause her sorrow she referr'd ; 
 Matter enough she had of discontent : 
 Like as the bird, that having close embarr'd 
 Her tender young ones in the springing bent, 
 To draw the searcher further from her neast, 
 Cries and complains most, where she needeth least. 
 
 81. 
 
 Alone, within her chamber's secret part, 
 Sitrtng one day upon her heavy thought, 
 Devising b}' what means, what sleight, what art, 
 Her close depailure should be safest wrought. 
 Assembled in her unresolved heart, 
 An hundi-ed passions strove and ceaseless fought ; 
 At last she saw high hanging on the wall, 
 Clorinda's silver ai-ms, and sigh'd withall : 
 
 82. 
 
 And sighing, softly to herself she said, 
 
 " How blessed is this virgin in her might ? 
 
 How I envy the glory of the maid. 
 
 Yet envy not her shape, or beauty's light ; 
 
 Her steps are not with trailing garments staid. 
 
 Nor chambers hide her valour shining bright ; 
 
 But arm'd she i-ides, and breaketh sword and spear, 
 Nor is her strength restrain'd by shame or fear. 
 
 83. 
 
 " Alas, why did not Heav'n these members frail 
 With lively force and vigour strengthen so ? 
 That I this silken gown, and slender vail 
 Might for a breastplate, and an helm forego : 
 Then should not heat, nor cold, nor rain, nor hail. 
 Nor storms that fall, nor blast' ring winds that blow 
 Withhold me, but I would both day and night, 
 In pitched field, or private combat fight.
 
 ^ 
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 125 
 
 84. 
 " Nor haddest thou, Argantes, first begun 
 With my dear lord that fierco and cruel fight, 
 But I to that encounter would have run, 
 And haply ta'en him captive by my might ; 
 Yet should he find (our furious combat done) 
 His tliraldom easy, and his bondage light ; 
 
 For fetters, mine embracements should he prove ; 
 
 For diet, kisses sweet ; for keeper, love. 
 
 85. 
 " Or else my tender bosom opened wide. 
 And heart through pierced with his cruel blade, 
 The bloody weapon in my wounded side 
 Might cure the wound, which love before had made ; 
 Then should my soul in rest and quiet slide 
 Down to the valleys of th' Elysian shade. 
 
 And my mishap the Knight perchance wouldr move, 
 To shed some tears upon his murder'd love. 
 
 86. 
 
 " Alas ! impossible are all these things. 
 Such wishes vain afflict my woful sprite : 
 Why yield I thus to plaints and sorrowings, 
 As if all hope and help were perisht quite ? 
 My heart dares much, it soars with Cupid's wings ; 
 Why use I not for once these armours bright ? 
 I may sustain a while this shield aloft. 
 Though I be tender, feeble, weak and soft. 
 
 87. 
 
 " Love, strong, bold, mighty, never-tired love, 
 
 Supplieth force to all his servants true ; 
 
 The fearful stags he doth to battle move. 
 
 Till each his horns in others' blood imbrue; 
 
 Yet mean not I the haps of war to prove ; 
 
 A stratagem I have devised new ; 
 
 Clorinda-like, in this fair harness dight, 
 I will escape out of the town this night. 
 
 88. 
 " I know the men that have the gate to ward. 
 If she command, dare not her will deny ; 
 In what sort else could I beguile the guard ? 
 This way is only left, this will I try :
 
 126 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 gentle love, in this adventure hard 
 
 Thine handmaid guide, assist, and fortify ! 
 The time, the hour now fitteth best the thing. 
 While stout Clorinda talketh with the King." 
 
 89. 
 
 Resolved thus without delay she went, 
 
 (As her strong passion did her rashly guide) 
 
 And those bright arms, down from the rafter hent,' 
 
 Within her closet did she closely hide : 
 
 That might she do unseen ; for she had sent 
 
 The rest on sleeveless" errands from her side ; 
 And night her stealths brought to their wished end, 
 Night, patroness of thieves, and lovers' friend. 
 
 90. 
 
 Some sparkling fires on Heav'n's bright visage shone. 
 
 His azure robe the orient blueness lost, 
 
 When she (whose wit and reason both were gone) 
 
 Call'd for a squire she lov'd and trusted most, 
 
 To whom and to a maid (a faithful one) 
 
 Part of her will she told, how that in post 
 
 She would depart from Juda's King, and fain'd 
 That other cause her sudden flight constrain'd. 
 
 91. 
 
 The trusty squire provided needments meet, I 
 
 As for their journey fitting most should be ; 
 
 Meanwhile her vesture (pendant to her feet) 
 
 Erminia doS"d, as erst determin'd she : 
 
 Stript to her petticoat the virgin sweet 
 
 So slender was, that wonder was to see ; 
 Her handmaid ready at her mistress' will, 
 To arm her help'd, though simple were her skilL 
 
 92. 
 
 The rugged steel oppressed and offended 
 Her dainty neck, and locks of shining gold; 
 Her tender arm so feeble was, it bended 
 When that huge target it presum'd to hold : 
 The bumish'd steel-bright rays far off extended ; 
 She feigned courage, and appeared bold ; 
 
 Fast by her side unseen sniil'd Venus' son, 
 
 As erst he laughed when Alcides spun. 
 
 * Hent — took. ^ Sleeveless — uteles*.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 127 
 
 93, 
 
 Oh, with what labour did her shoulders bear 
 That heavy burthen, and how slow she went ! 
 Her maid (to see that all the coasts were clear) 
 Before her mistress through the streets was sent : 
 Love gave her courage, love exiled fear. 
 Love to her tired limbs new vigour lent. 
 
 Till she approached where the squire abode ; 
 
 There took they horse forthwith, and forward rode. 
 
 94 
 Disguis'd they went, and by unused ways, 
 And secret paths they strove unseen to gone. 
 Until the watch they meet, which sore affrays 
 These soldiers new, when swords and weapons shone ; 
 Yet none to stop their journey once assays. 
 But place and passage yielded every one ; 
 
 For that white armour, and that helmet bright, 
 Were known and feared, in the darkest night. 
 
 95. 
 
 Erminia (though some-deal she were dismay 'd) 
 Yet went she on, and goodly count'nance bore. 
 She doubted lest her purpose were bewray'd. 
 Her too much boldness she repented sore ; 
 But now the gate her fear and passage stay'd, 
 The heedless porter she beguil'd therefore, 
 " I am Clorinda, ope the gate," she cried, 
 " Whereas the King commands, thus late I ride " 
 
 96. 
 Her woman's voice and terms all framed been. 
 Most like the speeches of the princess stout, 
 Who would have thought on horseback to have seen 
 That feeble damsel armed round about ? 
 The porter her obey'd, and she (between 
 Her trusty squire and maiden) sallied out. 
 And through the secret dales they silent pass. 
 Where danger least, least fear, least peril was. 
 
 97. 
 But when these fair advent'rers enter'd were 
 Deep in a vale, Erminia stay'd her hast. 
 To be recall'd she had no cause to fear. 
 This foremost hazard had she trimly past ;
 
 128 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 But dangers new (tofore unseen) appear, 
 New perils she descri'd, new doubts she cast. 
 The way that her desire to quiet brought, 
 More difficult now seem'd, than erst she thought. 
 
 98. 
 
 Armed to ride among her angry foes, 
 
 She now perceiv'd it were great oversight, 
 
 Yet would she not (she thought) herself disclose, 
 
 Until she came before her chosen knight ; 
 
 To him she purpos'd to present the rose 
 
 Pure, spotless, clean, untoucht of mortal wight ; 
 
 She stay'd, therefore, and in her thoughts more wise, 
 She call'd her squire, whom thus she 'gau advise. 
 
 99. 
 
 " Thou must," quoth she, " be mine ambassador. 
 Be wise, be careful, true, and diligent. 
 Go to the camp, present thyself before 
 The Prince Tancredie, wounded in his tent ; 
 Tell him thy mistress comes to cure his sore. 
 If he to grant her peace and rest consent, 
 
 'Gainst whom fierce love such cruel war hath raised ; 
 
 So shall his wounds be cur'd, her torments eased. 
 
 100. 
 
 " And say, in him such hope and trust she hath. 
 That in his powers she fears no shame nor scorn. 
 Tell him thus much, and whatsoe'er he saith, 
 Unfold no more, but make a quick return ; 
 I (for this place is free from harm and scath) 
 Within this valley will meanwhile sojourn." 
 
 Thus spake the Princess ; and her servant trew 
 
 To execute the charge imposed flew ; 
 
 101. 
 
 And was receiv'd (he so discreetly wrought) 
 First of the watch, that guarded in their place. 
 Before the wounded prince then was he brought : 
 Who heard his message kind, with gentle grace. 
 Which told, he left him tossing in his thought 
 A thousand doubts, and turn'd his speedy pace 
 To bring his lady and his mistress word, 
 She might be welcome to that courteous lord.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 129 
 
 102. 
 
 But she, impatient, to whose desire 
 Grievous and harmful seem'd each little stay, 
 Recounts his steps, and thinks, now draws he nire, 
 Now enters in, now speaks, now comes his way ; 
 And that which griev'd her most, the careful squire 
 Less speedy seem'd, than ere before that day ; 
 Lastly she forward rode with love to guide. 
 Until the Christian tents at hand she spide. 
 
 103. 
 
 Invested in her staiTy veil, the night 
 In her kind arms embraced all this round ; 
 The silver moon, from sea uprising bright ; 
 Spread frosty pearl upon the canded ground : 
 And Cynthia-like for beauty's gloj'ious light. 
 The love-sick nymph threw glist'ring beams around. 
 And counsellors of her old love she made 
 Those valleys dumb, that silence, and that shade. 
 
 104. 
 
 Beholding then the camp, quoth she, " O fair 
 And castle-like pavilions, richly wrought ! 
 From yoLi how sweet me-thinketh blows the air, 
 How comforts it my heart, my soul, my thought ? 
 Through Heav'n's fair grace, from gulf of sad despair 
 My tossed bark to port well-nigh is brought : 
 
 In you I seek I'edress for all my harms. 
 
 Rest, midst your weapons ; peace, amongst your arms. 
 
 105. 
 " Receive me, then, and let me mercy find. 
 As gentle love assureth me I shall. 
 Among you had I entertainment kind. 
 When first I was the Prince Tancredie's thrall : 
 I covet not (led by ambition blind) 
 You should me in my father's throne enstall ; 
 Might I but serve in you my lord so dear. 
 That my content, my joy, my comfort were." 
 
 106. 
 Thus parled she, poor soul, and never feared 
 The sudden blow of fortune's cruel spight : 
 She stood, where Phojbe's splendent beam appeared 
 Upon her silver armour double bright 
 
 K
 
 130 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 The place about her round the shining cleared, 
 or that pure white wherein the nymph was dight: 
 The tigress great (that on her helmet laid) 
 Bore witness where she went, and where she stay'd. 
 
 107. 
 
 (So as her fortune would) a Christian band 
 Their secret ambusli there had closely framed. 
 Led by two brothers of Italia land. 
 Young Poliphern and Alicandro named, 
 These with their I'orces watched to withstand 
 Those that brought vittailes to their foes untamed. 
 And kept that passage; them Erminia spide. 
 And fled as fast as her swift steed could ride. 
 
 108. 
 
 But Poliphern (before whose wat'ry eyes. 
 His aged father strong Clorinda slew) 
 When that bright shield and silver helm he spies, 
 The championess he thought he saw and knew; 
 Upon his hidden mates for aid he cries, 
 'Gainst his supposed foe, and Ibrth he flew. 
 As he was rash, and heedless in his wrath. 
 Bending his lance, " Thou art but dead," he saith. 
 
 109. 
 
 As when a chased hind her course doth bend 
 To seek by soil to find some ease or good. 
 Whether I'rom craggy rock the spring descend, 
 Or softly glide within the shady wood ; 
 If there the dogs she meet, where late she wend 
 To comfort her weak limbs in cooling flood. 
 Again she flies, swift as slie fled at first. 
 Forgetting weakness, weariness, and thirst ; 
 
 110. 
 
 So she, that thought to rest her weary spright. 
 And quench the endless thirst of ardent love. 
 With dear embracements of her lord and knight. 
 But such as marriage rites should first approve, / 
 When she beheld her foe with weapon bright 
 Threat'ning her death, his trusty courser move, 
 Her love, her lord, herself abandoned. 
 She spurr'd her speedy steed, and swift she fled :
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 131 
 
 ill. 
 
 Erminia fled, scantly the tender grass 
 Her Pegasus with his light footsteps bent, 
 Her maiden's beast for speed did likewise pass ; 
 Yet divers ways (such was their fear) they went : 
 The squire, who all too late return'd, alas. 
 With tardy news from Prince Tancredie's tent. 
 
 Fled likewise, when he saw his mistress gone ; 
 
 It booted not to sojourn there alone. 
 
 112. 
 
 But Alicandro, wiser than the rest, 
 Who this suppos'd Clorinda saw likewise. 
 To follow her yet was he nothing prest. 
 But in his ambush still and close he lies : 
 A messenger to Godfrey he addrest. 
 That should him of this accident advise, 
 
 How that his brother chas'd, with naked blade, 
 
 Clorindu's self, or else Cloriuda's shade. 
 
 113. 
 
 Yet that it was, or that it could be she. 
 He had small cause or reason to suppose ; 
 Occasion great and weighty must it be. 
 Should make her ride by night among her foes : 
 What Godfrey willed, that observed he. 
 And with his soldiers lay in ambush close : 
 
 These news through all the Christian army went, 
 
 In ev'ry cabin talk'd, in ev'ry tent. 
 
 114 
 
 Tancred, whose thoughts the squire had fiU'd with doubt 
 By his sweet words, suppos'd now hearing this, 
 " Alas ! the virgin came to seek me out. 
 And for my sake her life in danger is ;" 
 Himself forthwith he singled from the rout. 
 And rode in haste, though half his arms he miss ; 
 Among those sandy fields and valleys green, 
 To seek his love, he gallop'd fast unseen. 
 
 K 2
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 100k i\t Bt)it\\\\, 
 
 THE AEGUMEXT. 
 
 A shepherd fail' Erminia entertains. 
 Whom whilst Tancredie seeks in vain to find, 
 Se is entrapped in Armida's trains: 
 Raimond with strong Argantes is assign'd 
 To fight, an angel to his aid he gains : 
 Satan, that sees the Pagan s fury blind. 
 
 And hasty ivrath turn to his loss and harm. 
 Doth raise new tempest, uproar, and alarm. 
 
 1. 
 
 Eemixia's steed (this while) his mistress bore 
 Through forests thick among the shady treeu, 
 Her feeble hand the bridle reins forlore/ 
 Half in a swoon she was, for fear I ween ; 
 But her fleet courser spared ne'er the more, 
 To bear her through the desert woods, unseen 
 
 Of her strong foes, that chas'd her through the plaui, 
 And still pui'su'd, but still pursu'd in vain. 
 
 2. 
 
 Like as the weary hounds at last retire, 
 Windless, displeased, from the fruitless chase, 
 When the sly beast, tapisht" in bush and brier, 
 No art nor pains can rouse out of his place : 
 The Christian knights so full of shame and ire 
 Eetumed back, with faint and weary pace : 
 Yet still the fearful dame fled swift as wind. 
 Nor ever stay'd, nor ever look'd behind. 
 
 1 Forlore — utterly lost, ^ Tapisht — hidden.
 
 Thither she went, an old man there she found, 
 ( \t whose right hand hia little flock did feed, p 
 Sat making basket.'?, his three wins among. 
 That Icarn'd their fathers an. and le.irn d hi>
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVEKED. 133 
 
 3. 
 
 Through thick and thin, all night, all day she drived, 
 
 Withouten comfort, company, or guide. 
 
 Her plaints and tears with ev'ry thought revived, 
 
 She heard and saw her griefs, but nought beside : 
 
 But when the sun his burning chariot dived 
 
 In Thetis' wave, and weary team untied. 
 
 On Jordan's sandy banks her course she stay'd 
 At last, there down she light, and down she laid. 
 
 4. 
 Her tears, her drink ; her food, her sorrowings ; 
 This was her diet that unhappy night : 
 But sleep, that sweet repose and quiet brings. 
 To ease the griefs of discontented wight. 
 Spread forth his tender, soft, and nimble wings. 
 In his dull arms folding the virgin bright ; 
 And Love, his Mother, and the Graces kept 
 Strong watch and ward, while this fair lady slept. 
 
 5. 
 
 The birds awak'd her with their morning song, 
 
 Their warbling music pierc'd her tender ear, 
 
 The murmuring brooks, and whistling winds among 
 
 The rattling boughs and leaves, their parts did bear ; 
 
 Her eyes unclos'd beheld the groves along. 
 
 Of swains and shepherd grooms that dwellings were ; 
 
 And that sweet noise, birds, winds, and waters sent, 
 
 Provok'd again the virgin to lament. 
 
 6. 
 
 Her plaints were interrupted with a sound. 
 That seem'd from thickest bushes to proceed, 
 Some jolly shepherd sung a lusty round. 
 And to his voice had tun'd his oaten reed ; 
 Thither she went, an old man there she found, 
 (At whose right hand his little flock did feed) 
 Set making baskets, his three sons among. 
 That learn'd their father's art, and learn'd his song, 
 
 7. 
 Beholding one in shining arms appear. 
 The seely man and his were sore dismay'd ; 
 But sweet Erminia comforted their fear, 
 Her vental up, her visage open laid :
 
 134 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 " You happy folic, of Heav'n beloved dear, 
 Work on," quoth she, " upon youi- harmless trade. 
 These dreadful arms, 1 bear, no warfare bring 
 To your sweet toil, nor those sweet tuues you sing. 
 
 8. 
 
 " But, father, since this land, these towns and tow'rs, 
 
 Destroyed are with sword, with fire and spoil, 
 
 How may it be, unhurt tliat you and 3'-ours 
 
 In safety thus apply your harmless toil ?" 
 
 " My son," quoth he, " this poor estate of ours 
 
 Is ever safe irom storm of warlike broil ; 
 
 This wilderness doth us in safety keep; 
 
 No thund'ring drum, no trumpet breaks our sleep. 
 
 9. 
 
 " Haply just Heav'n's defence and shield of right 
 Doth love the innocence of simple swains; 
 The thunderbolts on highest mountains light. 
 And seld or never strike the lower plains ; 
 So kings have cause to fear Bellona's might, 
 Not they whose sweat and toil their dinner gains ; 
 
 Nor ever greedy soldier was enticed 
 
 By poverty, neglected and despised. 
 
 10. 
 
 " poverty, chief of the heav'nly brood, 
 Dearer to me than wealth or kingly crown! 
 No wish for honour, thirst of others' good, 
 Can move my heart, contented with mine own : 
 We quench our thirst with water of this flood. 
 Nor fear we poison should therein be thrown; 
 
 These little flocks of sheep and tender goats. 
 
 Give milk for lood, and wool to make us coats. 
 
 11. 
 
 " We little wish, we need but little wealth 
 From cold and hunger us to clothe and feed ; 
 These are my sons, their care preserves from stealth 
 Their father's flocks, nor servants moe I need : 
 Amid these groves I walk oft for my health. 
 And to the fishes, birds, and beasts give heed. 
 How they are fed, in forest, spring, and lake. 
 And their contentment for example take.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED 135 
 
 12. 
 "Time was (for each one hath his doting time) 
 (These silver locks were golden tresses than) 
 That country life I hatsd as a crime, 
 And from the forest's sweet contentment ran : 
 To Memphis' stately palace would I climb. 
 And there became the mighty Caliph's man ; 
 
 And though I but a simple gard'ner were, 
 
 Yet could I mark abuses, see, and hear. 
 
 13. 
 
 " Enticed on with hope of future gain, 
 
 I sufter'd long what did my soul displease; 
 
 But when my youth was spent, my hope was vam, 
 
 I felt my native strength at last decrease ; 
 
 I 'gan my loss of lusty years complain. 
 
 And wish'd I had enjoy 'd the country's peace; 
 
 I bade the Court i'arewell, and with content , 
 
 My latter age here have I quiet spent." 
 
 14. 
 
 While thus he spake, Erminia husht and still 
 His wise discourses heard, with great attention, 
 His speeches grave those idle fancies kill. 
 Which in her troubled soul bred such dissension ; 
 After much thought reformed was her will, 
 Within those woods to dwell was her intention. 
 
 Till fortune should occasion new afford 
 
 To turn her home to her desired lord. 
 
 15. 
 
 She said, therefore, " O Shepherd fortunate ! 
 
 That troubles some didst whilome feel and prove, 
 
 Yet livest now in this contented state, 
 
 Let my mishap thy thoughts to pity move, 
 
 To entertain me as a willing mate 
 
 In shepherd's life, which I admire and love; 
 
 Within these pleasant groves, perchance my heart 
 Of her discomforts may unload some part. 
 
 16. 
 " If gold or wealth, of most esteemed dear. 
 If jewels rich thou diddest hold in prise. 
 Such store thereof, such plenty have I here, 
 As to a greedy mmd might well suffice ;"
 
 136 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNT: j OR, 
 
 With that down trickl'd many a silver tear, 
 Two crystal streams fell from her wat'ry eyes ; 
 Part of her sad misfortunes then she told, 
 And wept, and with her wept that shepherd old. 
 
 17. 
 
 With speeches kind, he 'gan the virgin dear 
 Towards his cottage gently home to guide ; 
 His aged wife there made her homely cheer, 
 Yet welcom'd her, and plac'd her by her side. 
 The Princess donn'd a poor pastora's gear, 
 A kerchief coarse upon her head she tied ; 
 But yet her gestures and her looks (T guess) 
 Were such, as iU beseem'd a shepherdess. 
 
 18. 
 
 Not those rude garments could obscure and hide 
 The heav'nly beauty of her angel's face, 
 Nor was her princely offspring damnified. 
 Or aught disparag'd by those labours base ; 
 Her little flocks to pasture would she guide, 
 And milk her goats, and in their folds them place : 
 Both cheese and butter could she make, and frame 
 Herself to please the shepherd and his dame. 
 
 19. 
 
 But oft, when underneath the greenwood shade 
 Her flocks lay hid from Phoebus' scorching rays, 
 Unto her knight she songs and sonnets made. 
 And them engrav'd in bark of beech and bays ; 
 She told how Cupid did her first invade. 
 How conquer'd her ; and ends with Tancred's praise : 
 And when her passions writ she over read, 
 Again she mourn'd, again salt tears she shed. 
 
 20. 
 
 " You happy trees for ever keep," quoth she, 
 " This woful story in your tender rind. 
 Another day under your shade, maybe. 
 Will come to rest again some lover kind, 
 Who, if these trophies of m}- gi'iefs he see. 
 Shall feel dear pity pierce his gentle mind ;" 
 
 With that she sigh'd, and said, " Too late I prove 
 There is no troth in fortime, trust in love.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 137 
 
 21. 
 
 " Yet may it be (if gracious Heav'ns attend 
 The earnest suit of a distressed wight) 
 At my entreat they will vouchsafe to send 
 To these huge deserts that unthankful knight. 
 That when to earth the man his eyes shall bend. 
 And sees my grave, my tomb, and ashes light, 
 My woful death his stubborn heart may move, 
 With tears and sorrows to reward my love. 
 
 22. 
 
 " So, though my life hath most unhappy been. 
 
 At least yet shall my spirit dead be blest, 
 
 My ashes cold shall buried on this green 
 
 Enjoy that good this body ne'er possest." 
 
 Thus she complained to the senseless treen ; 
 
 Floods in her eyes, and fires were in her breast ; 
 But he, for whom these streams of tears she shed. 
 Wandered far off (alas !) as chance him led. 
 
 23. 
 
 He follow'd on the footsteps he had traced, 
 Till in high woods and forests old he came, 
 Where bushes, thorns and trees so thick were placed, 
 And so obscure the shadows of the same. 
 That soon he lost the tract wherein he paced ; 
 Yet went he on, which way he could not aim ;^ 
 But still attentive was his longing ear, 
 If noise of horse, or noise of arms he hear. 
 
 24. 
 If with the breathing of the gentle wind. 
 An aspen-leaf but shaked on the tree, 
 If bird or beast stirr'd in the bushes blind, 
 Thither he spurr'd, thither he rode to see ; 
 Out of the wood by Cynthia's favour kind. 
 At last (with travaile great and pains) got he, 
 And following on a little path, he heard 
 A rumbling sound, and hasted thitherward. 
 
 25. 
 
 It was a fountain from the living stone, 
 That poured down clear streams in noble store. 
 Whose conduit pipes (united all in one) 
 Throughout a rocky channel ghastly roar : 
 1 Aim — conjecture.
 
 138 GODFREY OF BULLOIG^E j OR, 
 
 Here Tancred stay'd, and call'd, yet answer 'd none, 
 Save babbling echo from the crooked shore; 
 And there the weary knight at last espies 
 The springing daylight red and white arise. 
 
 26. 
 He sighed sore, and guiltless Heav'n 'gan blame. 
 That wish'd success to his desires denied, 
 And sharp revenge protested for the same, 
 If aught but good his mistress fair betide ; 
 Then wish'd he to return the way he came, 
 Although he wist not by what path to ride. 
 And time drew near when he again must fight 
 With proud Argantes, that vain-glorious kuight. 
 
 27. 
 His stalworth' steed the champion stout bestrode, 
 And pricked fast to find the way he lost, 
 But through a vallej- as he musing rode, 
 He saw a man, that seem'd for hast« a post,^ 
 His horn was hung between his shoulders broad. 
 As is the guise with us : Tancredie crost 
 His way, and gently pray'd the man to say. 
 To Godfrey's camp how he should find the way. 
 
 28. 
 " Sir," in the Italian language answered he, 
 " I ride where noble Boeinond hath me sent :" 
 The Prince thought this his uncle's man should be, 
 And after him his course with speed he bent : 
 A fortress stately built at last they see, 
 'Bout which a muddy stinking lake there went : 
 There they arriv'd, when Titan went to rest 
 His weary limbs in night's untroubled nest. 
 
 29. 
 The currer' gave the fort a warning blast ; 
 The drawbridge was let down by them within : 
 " If thou a Christian be," quoth he, " thou may'st. 
 Till Pha?bus shine again here take thine inn; 
 The Countie of Cosenza (three days past) 
 This castle from the Turks did nobly win." 
 
 The Prince beheld tlie place, which site and art 
 Impregnable had made on everj- part. 
 
 1 Stalworth — ttrong and hrare. * Post— «pectaJ meuenger, 
 
 ^ Currer — courier.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 139 
 
 30. 
 
 He fear'd within a pile so fortified 
 
 Some secret treason, or enchantment lay, 
 
 But had he known even there he should have died. 
 
 Yet should his looks no sign of fear bevvra}^ ; 
 
 For wheresoever will or chance him guied,' 
 
 His strong victorious hand still made him way ; 
 
 Yet, for the combat he must shortly make, 
 
 No new adventures list he undertake. 
 
 31. 
 
 before the castle, in a meadow plain. 
 Beside the bridge's end, he stay'd and stood. 
 Nor was entreated by the speeches vain 
 Of his false guide, to pass beyond the flood : 
 Upon the bridge appear 'd a warlike swain, 
 From top to toe all clad in armour good. 
 
 Who brandishing a broad and cutting sword, 
 Thus threat'ned death with many an idle word. 
 
 32. 
 " thou, whom chance or will brings to the soil. 
 Where fair Armida doth the sceptre guide. 
 Thou canst not fly ; of arms thyself despoil, 
 And let thy hands with iron chains be tied; 
 Enter, and rest thee from thy wear}' toil. 
 Within this dungeon shalt thou safe abide : 
 And never hope again to see the day. 
 Or that thy hair for age shall turn to gray ; 
 
 33. 
 
 "Except thou swear her valiant knights to aid 
 Against those traitors of the Christian crew." 
 Tancred at this discourse a little stay'd. 
 His arms, his gesture, and his voice he knew : 
 It was Rambaldo, who for that false maid 
 Forsook his country, and religion trew. 
 And of that fort defender chief became. 
 And those vile customs stablisht in the same. 
 
 34. 
 The warrior answer'd (blushing red for shame), 
 " Cursed apostate, and ungracious wight, 
 I am that Tancred, who defend the name 
 Of Christ, and have been aye his faithful knight ; 
 ' Gmed— guided.
 
 140 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 His rebel foes can I subdue and tame, 
 
 As thou shalt find before we end this fight ; 
 
 And thy false heart, cleft with this vengeful sword, 
 Shall feel the ire of thy forsaken lord." 
 
 35. 
 
 When that great name Rambaldo's ears did fill. 
 He shook for fear, and looked pale for dread. 
 Yet proudly said ; " Tancred thy hap was ill 
 To wander hither, where thou art but dead. 
 Where nought can help thy courage, strength, and skill : 
 To Godfrey will I send thy cursed head. 
 That he may see, how for Armida's sake. 
 Of him and of his Christ a scorn I make." 
 
 36. 
 
 This said, the day to sable night was turned, 
 That scant one could another's arms descry. 
 But soon an hundred lamps and torches burned, 
 That cleared all the earth, and all the sky ; 
 The castle seem'd a stage with lights adorned, 
 On which men play some pompous tragedy ; 
 Within a tarras' sate on high the Queen, 
 And heard, and saw, and kept herself unseen. 
 
 37. 
 
 The noble baron whet his courage hot, 
 And buskt^ him boldly to the dreadful fight ; 
 Upon his horse long while he tarried not. 
 Because on foot he saw the Pagan knight, 
 Who underneath his trusty shield was got ; 
 His sword was drawn, clos'd was his helmet bright ; 
 'Gainst whom the prince march'd on a stately pace. 
 Wrath in his voice, rage in his eyes and face. 
 
 38. 
 
 His foe, his furious charge not well abiding, 
 Travers'd his ground, and started here and there. 
 But he (though faint and weary both with riding) 
 Yet followed fast, and still opprest him near. 
 And on what side he felt Rambaldo sliding. 
 On that his forces most employed were ; 
 
 Now at his helm, now at his hawberk' bright, 
 
 He thundered blows, now at his face and sight. 
 
 ' Tarras — terrace. ^ Buskt — prepared. ' Ilawberk — coat of mail.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 141 
 
 39. 
 
 Against those members batt'ry chief he maketh. 
 Wherein man's life keeps chiefest residence ; 
 At his proud threats the Gascoign warrior quaketh. 
 And uncouth fear appalled every sense : 
 To nimble shifts the knight himself betaketh. 
 And skippeth here and there for his defence : 
 Now with his targe, now with his trusty blade, 
 Against his blows he good resistance made. 
 
 40. 
 Yet no such quickness for defence he used. 
 As did the Prince to work him harm and scath ; 
 His shield was cleft in twain, his helmet bruised. 
 And in his blood his other arms did bathe ; 
 On him he heaped blows, with thrusts confused, 
 And more or less each stroke annoy'd him hath ; 
 He fear'd, and in his troubled bosom strove, 
 Kemorse of conscience, shame, disdain, and love. 
 
 41. 
 
 At last so careless foul despair him made. 
 He meant to prove his fortune ill or good ; 
 His shield cast down, he took his helpless blade 
 In both his hands, which yet had drawn no blood. 
 And with such force upon the prince he laid. 
 That neither plate nor mail the blow withstood ; 
 The wicked steel seiz'd deep in his right side. 
 And with his streaming blood his bases* dyed : 
 
 42. 
 Another stroke he lent him on the brow. 
 So great that loudly rung the sounding steel ; 
 Yet pierc'd he not the helmet with the blow. 
 Although the owner twice or thrice did reel : 
 The Prince (whose looks his 'sdainful anger show) 
 ' Now meant to use his puissance ev'ry deel -^ 
 
 He shak'd his head, and crash'd his teeth for ire. 
 His lips breath'd wrath, eyes sparkled shining fire. 
 
 43. 
 
 The Pagan wretch no longer could sustain 
 The dreadful terror of his fierce aspect ; 
 Against the threat'ned blow, he saw right plain. 
 No temper'd armour could his life protect : 
 
 1 Bases. A kind of embroidered mantle worn by knights on horseback ; 
 it hung down from the middle to the knees, or lower. 
 * Every deel — to the utmost.
 
 142 GODFREY OP BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 He leap'd aside, the stroke fell down in vain 
 
 Against a pillar near a bridge erect. 
 
 Thence flaming fire and thousand sparks out start, 
 And kill with lear the coward Pagan's heart. 
 
 44. 
 Toward the bridge the fearful Paynim fled, 
 And in swift flight his hope of life reposed; 
 Himself fast after Loid Tancredie sped, 
 And now in equal pace almost they closed, 
 When, all the burning lamps extinguished, 
 The shining fort his goodly splendour losed. 
 
 And all those stars, on Heav'n's blue face that shone, 
 With Cynthia's self dispeared were and gone. 
 
 45. 
 
 Amid those witchcrafts and that ugly shade. 
 No turther could the Prince pursue the chase ; 
 Nothing he saw, yet forward still he made, 
 With doubtful steps, and ill-assured pace ; 
 At last his foot upon a threshold trade, 
 And ere he wist, he enter'd had the place ; 
 
 With ghastly noise the door leaves shut behind. 
 And clos'd him fast in prison dark and blind. 
 
 46. 
 As in our seas in the Commachian Bay, 
 A seely fish (with streams enclosed) striveth. 
 To shun the fury and avoid the swaj"^ 
 Wherewith the current, in that whirlpool, driveth. 
 Yet seeketh all in vain, but finds no way 
 Out of that wat'ry prison, where she diveth : 
 
 For with such force there be the.tides in brought. 
 There ent'reth all that will, thence issueth nought: 
 
 47. 
 This prison so entrapt that valiant knight, 
 Of which the gate was framed by subtle train, 
 To close without the help of human wight. 
 So sure none could undo the leaves again ; 
 Against the doors he bended all his might. 
 But all his forces were employ 'd in vain : 
 At last a voice 'gan to him loudly call, 
 " Yield thee," quoth it, " thou art Ai'mida's thrall.' 
 
 1 Thrall — captive.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 143 
 
 " Within this dungeon buried shalt thou spend 
 The res'due of thy woful days and years." 
 The champion list not more with words contend, 
 But in his heart kept close his griefs and fears ; 
 He blamed love, chance 'gan he reprehend, 
 And 'gainst enchantment huge complaints he rears. 
 " It were small loss," softly he thus begun, 
 " To lose the brightness of the shining sun ; 
 
 49. 
 " But I, alas, the golden beam forego 
 Of my far brighter sun ; nor can I say 
 If these poor eyes shall ere be blessed so, 
 As once again to view that shining ray ;" 
 Then thought he on his proud Circassian foe, 
 And said, " Ah ! how shall I perform that fray ? 
 
 He (and the world with him) will Tancred blame ; 
 
 This is my grief, my fault, mine endless shame." 
 
 50. 
 
 While those high spirits of this champion good. 
 With love and honour's care are thus opprest. 
 While he torments himself, Argantes wood, 
 Wax'd weary of his bed and of his rest ; 
 Such hate of peace, and such desire of blood, 
 Such thirst of glory, boiled in his breast ; 
 
 That though he scant could stir, or stand upright. 
 Yet long'd he for th' appointed day to fight. 
 
 51. 
 
 The night, which that expected day fore-went, 
 Scantly the Pagan clos'd his eyes to sleep ; 
 He told how night her sliding howers spent. 
 And rose ere springing day began to peep ; 
 He call'd for armour, which incontinent 
 Was brought by him, that us'd the same to keep : 
 That harness rich, old Aladine him gave, 
 A worthy present for a champion brave. 
 
 52. 
 
 He donn'd them on, nor long their riches eyed. 
 Nor did he ought with so great weight incline : 
 His wonted sword upon his thigh he tied. 
 The blade was old and tough, of temper fine.
 
 144 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE j OB, 
 
 « 
 As when a comet, far and wide descried, 
 In scorn of Phcebus midst bright Heaven doth shine, 
 And tidings sad of death and mischief brings 
 To mighty lords, to monarchs, and to kings : 
 
 53. 
 
 So shone the Pagan in bright armour clad, 
 And roll'd his eyes, great swol'n with ire and blood; 
 His dreadful gestures threat'ned horror sad, 
 And ugly death upon his forehead stood ; 
 Kot one of all his squires the courage had 
 T' approach their master in his angry mood ; 
 Above his head he shook his naked blade, 
 And 'gainst the subtle air vain battle made. 
 
 54. 
 
 " That Christian thief (quoth he) that was so bold 
 To combat me in hard and single fight. 
 Shall wounded fall inglorious on the mold, 
 His locks with clods of blood and dust bedight, 
 And living sliall with wat'ry eyes behold 
 How from his back I tear his harness bright ; 
 Nor shall his dying words me so entreat. 
 But that I'll give his flesh to dogs for meat." 
 
 55. 
 
 Like as a bull, when prickt with jealousy- 
 He spies the rival of his hot desire. 
 Through all the fields doth bellow, roar and cry. 
 And with his thund'ring voice augments his ire. 
 And threat'ning battle to the empty sky. 
 Tears with his horn each tree, plant, bush, and brire, 
 And with his foot casts up the sand on height. 
 Defying his strong foe to deadly fight : 
 
 56. 
 
 Such was the Pagan's fury, such his cry, — 
 An herald call'd he then, and thus he spake : 
 " Go to the camp, and in my name defy 
 The man that combats for his Jesus' sake ;" 
 This said, upon his steed he mounted hie. 
 And with him did his noble pris'ner take : 
 The town he thus forsook, and on the green 
 He ran, as mad or frantic he had been.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVEEED. 145 
 
 « 
 
 57. 
 A bugle small he winded loud and slirill. 
 That made resound the fields and valleys near; 
 Louder than thunder from Olympus' hill 
 Seemed that dreadful blast to all that hear; 
 The Christian lords of prowess, strength and skill. 
 Within th' imperial tent assembled were ; 
 The herald there in boasting terms defide, 
 Tancredie fii'st, and all that durst beside. 
 
 58. 
 With sober cheer Godfredo look'd about, 
 And view'd at leisure every lord and knight ; 
 But yet for all his looks not one stepp'd out, 
 With courage bold, to undertake the fight : 
 Absent were all the Christian champions stout. 
 No news of Tancred since his secret flight ; 
 Boemond far off, and banisht from the crew 
 Was that strong Prince who proud Gernando slew : 
 
 59. 
 
 And eke those ten which chosen were by lot. 
 
 And all the worthies of the camp beside, 
 
 After Armida false were follow'd hot, 
 
 When night were come their secret flight to hide : 
 
 The rest, their hands and hearts that trusted not. 
 
 Blushed for shame, yet silent still abide; 
 
 For none there was that sought to purchase fame 
 
 In so great peril ; fear exiled shame. 
 
 60. 
 The angiy Duke their fear discover'd plain 
 By their pale looks and silence, from each part. 
 And as he moved was with just disdain, 
 These words he said, and from his seat upstart 
 "Unworthy life I judge that coward swain, 
 To hazard it e'en now that wants the heart. 
 When this vile Pagan with his glorious boast. 
 Dishonours and defies Christ's sacred host. 
 
 61. 
 " But let my camp sit still in peace and rest. 
 And my life's hazard at their ease behold : 
 Come, bring me here n)y fairest arms and best;" 
 And they were brought sooner than could be told ; 
 
 L
 
 146 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 * 
 
 But gentle Raimond, in his aged breast 
 Who had mature advice, and counsel old, 
 
 Than whom in all the camp were none or few 
 Of greater might, bel'ore Godfredo drew, 
 
 62. 
 
 And gravely said — " Ah, let it not betide, 
 On one man's hand to venture all this host ! 
 No private soldier thou, thou art our guide ; 
 If thou miscarry, all our hope were lost : 
 By thee must Babel fall, and all her pride ; 
 Of our true faith thou art the prop and post : 
 
 Rule with thy sceptre, conquer with thy word ; 
 
 Let other combats make with spear and sword. 
 
 63. 
 
 " Let me this Pagan's glorious pride assuage. 
 These aged arms can yet their weapons use, 
 Let other shun Bellona's dreadful rage, 
 These silver locks shall not Raimondo scuse •} 
 Oh that I were in prime of lusty age 
 Like you, that this adventure brave refuse. 
 And dare not once lift up your coward ej'es, 
 'Gainst him that you and Christ himself defies. 
 
 64 
 
 " Or as I was, when all tlie lords of fame 
 And German pi-inces great stood by to view. 
 In Conrad's court (the second of that name) 
 Wlien Leopold in single fight I slew ; 
 A greater praise I re aped by the same. 
 So strong a foe in combat to subdue. 
 
 Than he should do, who all alone should chase 
 Or kill a thousand of these Pagans base. 
 
 65. 
 
 " Within these arms had I that strength again. 
 This boasting Paynim had not liv'd till now; 
 Yet in this breast doth courage still remain ; 
 For age or years these members shall not bow ; 
 And if I be in this encounter slain, 
 Scot-free Argantes shall not 'scape, I vow ; 
 
 Give me mine arms, this battle shall with praise 
 Augment miue honour, got in younger days." 
 
 I Scuse — excuse.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 147 
 
 66. 
 
 The jolly baron old thus bravely spake ; 
 His words ai'e spurs to virtue ; ev'ry knight. 
 That seem'd before to tremble and to quake, 
 Now talked bold ; ensample hath such might ; 
 Each one the battle fierce would undertake, 
 Now strove they all who should begin the fight ; 
 Baldwin and Roger both would combat feign, 
 Stephen, Guelph, Gernier, and the Gerrards twain ; 
 
 67. 
 And Pyrrhus, who with help of Boemond's sword 
 Proud Antioch by cunning sleight opprest ; 
 The battle eke with many a lowly word, 
 Ralph, Rosimond, and Eberard request, 
 A Scotch, an Irish, and an English lord. 
 Whose lands the sea divides far from the rest : 
 
 And tor the fight did likewise humbly sue, 
 
 Edward and his Gildippes, lovers true. 
 
 68. 
 
 But Raimond more than all the rest doth sue, 
 Upon that Pagan fierce to wreak his ire ; 
 Now wants he nought of all his armours due 
 Except his helm, that shone like flaming fire : 
 To whom Godfredo thus ; " mirror true 
 Of antique worth ! thy courage doth inspire 
 
 New strength in us ; of Mars in thee doth shine 
 
 The art, the honour, and the discipline. 
 
 69. 
 " If ten like thee, of valour and of age, 
 Among these legions I could haply find, 
 I should the heat of Babel's pride assuage, 
 And spread our I'aith from Thule to furthest Ind ; 
 But now I pray thee calm thy valiant rage, 
 Reserve thyself till greater need us bind. 
 
 And let the rest each one write down his name, 
 And see whom fortune chooseth to this game : 
 
 70. 
 " Or rather see whom God's high judgment taketh, 
 To whom is chance, and fate, and fortune slave." 
 Raimond his earnest suit not yet forsaketh. 
 His name writ with the res'due would he have : 
 
 L 2
 
 148 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE j OR, 
 
 Godfrey himself in his bright helmet shaketh 
 The scrolls, with names of all the champions brave ; 
 They drew, and read the first whereon they hit, 
 Wherein was Eaimond Eai-1 of Tholouse writ. 
 
 71. 
 
 His name with joy and mighty shouts they blis ;' 
 The rest allow his choice, and fortune pi-aise. 
 New vigour blushed through those looks of his : 
 It seem'd he now resum'd his youthful days ; 
 Like to a snake whose slough new changed is. 
 That shines like gold against the sunny rays : 
 Eut Godfrey most approv'd his fortune hie. 
 And wish'd him honour, conquest, victory. 
 
 72. 
 Then from his side he took his noble brand. 
 And, giving it to Eaimond, tiius he spake; 
 "This is the sword wherewith, in Saxon land. 
 The great Rubello battle us'd to make. 
 From him 1 took it fighting hand to hand, 
 And took his life with it, and many a lake 
 
 Of blood with it I have shed since that day; 
 
 With thee God grant it prove as happy may." 
 
 73. 
 
 Of these delays meanwhile impatient, 
 Argantes threat'neth loud, and sternly cries, 
 " glorious people of the Occident ! 
 Behold him here that all your host defies : 
 "Wliy comes not Tancred, whose great hardiment 
 With you is pris'd so dear ? pardie he lies 
 Still on his pillow, and presumes the night 
 Again ma}' shield him from my power and might. 
 
 74 
 " Wliy then some other come ; by band and band. 
 Come all, come lorth on horseback, come on foot. 
 If not one man dares combat hand to hand. 
 In all the thousands of so great a rout : 
 See where the Tomb of Mary's son doth stand, 
 March thither, warriors bold; what makes you doubt P 
 Why run you not, there for your sins to weep. 
 Or to what greater need these forces keep ?" 
 
 1 Blia—bleti.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 149 
 
 75. 
 
 Thus scorned by that heathen Saracine 
 Were all the soldiers of Christ's sacred name : 
 Eaimond (while others at his words repine) 
 Burst forth in rage, he could not bear this shame : 
 For fire of courage brighter far doth shine, 
 If challenges and threats augment the same ; 
 So that upon his steed he mounted light. 
 Which Aquilino for his swiftness hight.^ 
 
 76. 
 This jennet was by Tagus bred ; for oft 
 The breeder of these beasts to war assign'd, 
 When first on trees burgeu^ the blossoms soft, 
 Prickt forward with the sting of fertile kind, 
 Against the air cast up her head aloft, 
 And gath'reth seed so from the fruitful wind ; 
 And thus conceiving of the gentle blast, 
 (A wonder strange and rare) she foals at last. 
 
 77. 
 And had you seen the beast, you would have said. 
 The light and subtle wind his father was ; 
 For if his course upon the sands he made. 
 No sign was left what way the beast did pass ; 
 Or if he menag'd were, or if he play'd, 
 He scantly bended down the tender grass : 
 Thus mounted rode the Earl, and as he went, 
 Thus prayed, to Heaven his zealous looks upbent. 
 
 78. 
 
 " O Lord, thou diddest save, keep, and defend 
 
 Thj' servant David from Goliah's rage. 
 
 And broughtest that huge giant to his end, 
 
 Slain by a faithful child of tender age ; 
 
 Like grace, Lord, like mercy now extend ; 
 
 Let me this vile blasphemous pride assuage. 
 That all the world may to thy glory know. 
 Old men and babes thy foes can overthrow." 
 
 79. 
 Thus pray'd the Countie,^ and his prayers dear, 
 Strength'ned with zeal, with godliness and faith. 
 Before the throne of that great Lord appear. 
 In whose sweet grace is life, death in his wrath : 
 
 Hight — teas named. ^ Burgen — bud. * Counlie — count, ornobleman.
 
 150 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 Among his armies bright and legions clear. 
 
 The Lord an angel good selected hath, 
 
 To whom the charge was given to guard the knigtt, 
 And keep him safe from that fierce Pagan's might. 
 
 80. 
 
 The angel good, appointed for the guard 
 Of noble Raimond, from his tender eild, 
 That kept him then, and kept him afterward. 
 When spear and sword he able was to wield, 
 Now when his great Creator's will he heard, 
 That in this fight he should him chiefly shield. 
 Up to a tower set on a rock did fly. 
 Where all the heav'nly arms and weapons lie : 
 
 81. 
 
 There stands the lance, wherewith great Michael slew 
 
 The aged Dragon in a bloody fight : 
 
 There are the dreadful thunders forged new, 
 
 With storms and plagues that on poor sinners light ; 
 
 The massy trident may'st thou pendant view. 
 
 There on a golden pin hung up on hight. 
 
 Wherewith sometimes he smites this solid land. 
 And throws down towns and tow'rs thereon which stand. 
 
 82. 
 
 Among the blessed weapons, there which stands 
 Upon a diamond shield his looks he bended. 
 So great that it might cover all the lands, 
 'Twixt Caucasus and Atlas' hills extended ; 
 With it the Lord's dear flocks and faithful bands. 
 The holy kings and cities are defended ; 
 The sacred angel took his target sheen. 
 And by the Christian champion stood unseen. 
 
 83. 
 
 But now the walls and turrets round about 
 Both young and old with many thousands fill ; 
 The King Clorinda sent and her brave rout 
 To keep the field ; she stay'd upon the hill : 
 Godfrey likewise some Christian bands sent out, 
 Which arm'd, and rankt in good array stood still. 
 And to their champions empty let remain, 
 'Twixt either troop, a large and spacious plain.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 151 
 
 84. 
 
 Argantes looked for Tancredie bold, 
 
 But saw an uncouth foe at last appear ; 
 
 Eaimond rode on, and what he ask'd him, told ; 
 
 " Better by chance, Tancred is now else-where, 
 
 Yet glory not of that, myself behold 
 
 Am come prepar'd, and bid thee battle here ; 
 And in his place, or for myself to fight, 
 Lo here I am, who scorn thy heath'nish might." 
 
 85. 
 The Pagan cast a scornful smile, and said, 
 " But where is Tancred, is he still in bed ? 
 His looks late seem'd to make high Heav'n afraid ; 
 But now for dread he is or dead, or fled : 
 But were earth's centre or the deep sea made 
 His lurking hole, it should not save his head." 
 " Thou liest," he says, " to say so brave a knight 
 Is fled from thee, who thee exceeds in might." 
 
 86. 
 The angry Pagan said, " I have not spilt 
 My labour then, if thou his place supplie ; 
 Go take the field, and let's see how thou wilt 
 Maintain thy foolish words, and that brave lie ;" 
 Thus parled they to meet in equal tilt, 
 Each took his aim at other's helm on hie ; 
 
 Ev'n in the sight his foe good Eaimond hit, 
 
 But shakt him not, he did so firmly sit, 
 
 87. 
 
 The fierce Circassian missed of his blow, 
 
 A thing which seld befel the man before. 
 
 The angel by unseen his force did know. 
 
 And far awry the poinant' weapon bore ; 
 
 He burst his lance against the sand below, 
 
 And bit his lips for rage, and curst and swore : 
 Against his foe return'd he swift as wind, 
 Half mad in arms a second match to find. 
 
 88. 
 Like to a ram that butts with horned head, 
 So spurr'd he forth his horse with desp'rate race : 
 Eaimond at his right hand let slide his steed. 
 And, as he pass'd, struck at the Pagan's face ; 
 
 1 Poinant— s^jar;).
 
 152 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OE, 
 
 He turn'd again, the brave Earl nothing dread, 
 Yet stept aside, and to his rage gave place, 
 
 And on his helm with all his strength 'gan smite, 
 Which was so hard his coui'tlax^ could not bite. 
 
 89. 
 The Saracine employ'd his art and force 
 
 To gripe his foe within his miglitj'^ arms, 
 But he avoided nimbly with his horse, 
 He was no 'prentice in those fierce alarms : 
 About him made he many a winding course. 
 No strength, nor sleight the subtle warrior harms ; 
 His nimble steed obey'd his ready hand. 
 And where he stept, no print left in the sand. 
 
 90. 
 As when a captain doth besiege some hold, 
 Set in a marish, or high on a hill. 
 And trieth ways and wiles a thousand fold. 
 To bring tlie piece- subjected to his will ; 
 So far'd the Countie with the Pagan bold; 
 And when he did liis head and breast none ill, 
 His weaker parts he wisely 'gan assail. 
 And entrance searched ott 'twixt mail and mail. 
 
 91. 
 
 At last he hit him on a place or twain, 
 And on his arms the red blood trickled down. 
 And yet liimself untouched did remain. 
 No nail was broke, no plume cut from his crown ; 
 Argantes raging spent his strength in vain, 
 Waste were his strokes, his thrusts were idle thrown, 
 Yet preas'd^ he on, and doubled still his blows, 
 And where he hits, he neither cares nor knows. 
 
 92. 
 
 Among a thousand blows the Saracine 
 At last struck one when Eainiond was so near. 
 That not the swiftness of his Aquiline 
 Could his dear lord from that huge danger bear : 
 But lo (at hand unseen was help divine. 
 Which saves, when worldly comforts none appear) 
 The angel on his targe receiv'd that stroke, 
 And on that shield Argantes' sword was broke. 
 
 1 Courtlai — short crooked sword. ^ Piece — inclosure. 
 
 ^ Preas'd — pressed.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 153 
 
 93. 
 The sword was broke ; therein no wonder lies. 
 If earthly temper 'd metal could not hold 
 Against that target, forg'd above the skies ; 
 Down fell the blade in pieces on the mold : 
 The proud Circassian scant believ'd his eyes, 
 Though nought were left him but the hilts of gold ; 
 And, full of thoughts, amaz'd awhile he stood, 
 Wond'ring the Christian's armour was so good. 
 
 94. 
 
 The brittle web of that rich sword, he thought. 
 Was broke through hardness of the Countie's shield ; 
 And so thought llaimond, who discover'd nought, 
 What succour Heav'n did for his safety yield : 
 But when he saw the man 'gainst whom he fought, 
 Unweaponed, still stood he in the field ; 
 His noble heart esteem'd the glory light. 
 At such advantage if he slew the knight. 
 
 95. 
 Go fetch, he would have said, another blade. 
 When in his heart a better thought arose. 
 How for Christ's glory he was champion made. 
 How Godfrey had him to this combat chose : 
 The army's honour on his shoulder lade, 
 To hazards new he list not that expose : 
 
 While thus his thoughts debated on the case. 
 
 The hilts Argantes hurled at his face, 
 
 96. 
 And forward spurr'd his mounture' fierce withal, 
 Within his arms longing his foe to sti'ain. 
 Upon whose helm the heavy blow did fall. 
 And bent well nigh the metal to his brain : 
 But he, whose courage was heroical. 
 Leapt by, and makes the Pagan's onset vain. 
 
 And wounds his hand, which he out-stretched saw. 
 
 Fiercer than eagle's talent, lion's paw. 
 
 97. 
 Now here, now there, on every side he rode. 
 With nimble speed, and spurr'd now out, now in, 
 And as he went and came still laid on lode 
 Where Lord Argantes' arms were weak and thin, 
 1 Mountvire — horse.
 
 154 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 All that huge force which in his arms abode, 
 His wrath, his ire, his o^reat desire to win. 
 Against his foe together all he bent, 
 And Heav'n and fortune further'd his intent. 
 
 98. 
 
 But he, whose courage for no peril fails. 
 Well arm'd, and better hearted, scorns his power; 
 Like a tall ship, when spent are all her sails. 
 Which still resists the rage of storm and shower. 
 Whose mighty ribs, fast bound with bands and nails. 
 Withstand fierce Neptune's wrath, for many an hour. 
 And yields not up her bruised keel to winds. 
 In whose stern blasts no ruth nor grace she finds. 
 
 99. 
 
 Argantes, such thy present danger was, 
 when Satan stirr'd to aid thee at thy need : 
 In human shape he forg'd an airy mass, 
 And made the shade a body seem indeed ; 
 Well might the spirit for Clorinda pass. 
 Like her it was, in armour, and in weed, 
 In stature, beauty, countenance, and fac«. 
 In looks, in speech, in gesture, and in pace. 
 
 100. 
 
 And, for the sprite should seem the same indeed. 
 From where she was whose show and shape it had. 
 Towards the wall it rode with feigned speed, 
 Where stood the people, all dismay 'd and sad. 
 To see their knight of help have so great need. 
 And yet the law of arms all help forbad : 
 There in a turret sat a soldier stout 
 To watch, and at a loop-hole peeped out ; 
 
 101. 
 
 The spirit spake to him call'd Oradine, 
 The noblest archer then that handled bow ; 
 " Oradine 1" quoth she, " who straight as line 
 Canst shoot, and hit each mark, set high or low, 
 If yonder knight, alas ! be slain in fine, 
 As likest is, great ruth it were you know ; 
 And greater shame, if his victorious foe 
 Should with his spoils triumphant homeward go.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 155 
 
 102. 
 " Now prove thy skill, thine arrow's sharp head dip 
 In yonder thievish Frenchman's guilty blood, 
 I promise thee, thy sovereign shall not slip, 
 To give thee large rewards for such a good." 
 Thus said the sprite ; the man did laugh and skip 
 For hope of future gain, nor longer stood, 
 
 But from his quiver huge a shaft he hent,^ 
 
 And set it in his mighty bow new bent. 
 
 103. 
 
 Twanged the string, out flew the quareP long. 
 And through the subtle air did singing pass ; 
 It hit the knight the buckles rich among, 
 Wherewith his precious girdle fast'ned was ; 
 It bruised them, and pierc'd his hawberk strong ; 
 Some little blood down trickled on the grass ; 
 Light was the wound ; the angel by unseen 
 The sharp head blunted of the weapon keen. 
 
 104. 
 Raimond drew forth the shaft (as much behoved) 
 And with the steel his blood out-streaming came. 
 With bitter words his foe he then reproved. 
 For breaking faith, to his eternal shame. 
 Godfrey, whose careful eyes from his beloved 
 Were never turned, saw and mark'd the same, 
 And when he view'd the wounded Countie bleed. 
 He sigh'd, and feared, more perchance than need ; 
 
 105. 
 
 And with his words, and with his threat'ning eyes. 
 He stirr'd his captains to revenge that wrong ; 
 Forthwith the spurred courser forward hies. 
 Within their rests put were their lances long ; 
 From either side a squadron brave out flies. 
 And boldly made a fierce encounter strong. 
 The raised dust to overspread begun 
 Their shining arms, and far more shining sun. 
 
 106. 
 Of breaking spears, of ringing helm and shield, 
 A dreadful rumour roar'd on every side ; 
 There lay an horse ; another through the field 
 Ran masterless, dismounted was his guide ; 
 
 1 Uent — took, 2 Quarel — arrow.
 
 156 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE j OB, 
 
 Here one lay dead, there did another yield ; 
 
 Some sigh'd, some sobb'd, some prayed, and some cried; 
 Fierce was the fight, and longer still it lasted, 
 Fiercer and fewer, stiU themselves they wasted. 
 
 107. 
 Argantes nimbly leapt amid the throng. 
 And from a soldier wrung an iron mace, 
 And breaking through the ranks and ranges long. 
 Therewith he passage made himself and place ; 
 Raimond he sought, the thickest press among, 
 To take revenge for late receiv'd disgrace : 
 A greedy wolf he seem'd, and would assuage 
 With Eaimoud's blood his hunger and his rage. 
 
 108. 
 The way he found not easy as he would. 
 But fierce encounters put him oft to pain ; 
 He met Ormanno and Rogero bold. 
 Of Balnavile, Guy, and the Gerrards twain ; 
 Yet nothing might his rage and haste withhold; 
 These worthies strove to stop him, but in vain : 
 With these strong lets^ increased still his ire. 
 Like rivers stopt, or closely smoulder'd fire. 
 
 109. 
 He slew Ormanno, wounded Guy, and laid 
 Rogero low, among the people slain ; 
 On every side new troops the man invade. 
 Yet all their blows were waste, their onsets vain : 
 But, while Argantes tlms his prises^ play'd, 
 And seem'd ahjne this skirmish to sustain. 
 
 The Duke his brother call'd, and thus he spake — 
 " Go with thy troop, fight for thy Saviour's sake ; 
 
 110. 
 There enter in, where hottest is the fight, 
 Thy force against the left wing strongly bend." 
 This said, so brave an onset gave the knight, 
 That many a Paynim bold there made his end : 
 The Turks too weak seem'd to sustain his might. 
 And could not from his power their lives defend : 
 Their ensigns rent, and broke was their aiTay, 
 And men and horse on heaps together lay. 
 
 1 Leis—hindrancet. * Fiises—empriset.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 157 
 
 111. 
 O'erthrown likewise away the right wing ran, 
 Nor was there one again that turn'd his face. 
 Save bold Argantes, else fled every man ; 
 Fear drove them thence on heaps, with headlong chase : 
 He stay'd alone, and battle new began ; 
 Five hundred men, weapon'd with sword and mace. 
 
 So great resistance never could have made. 
 
 As did Argantes with his single blade : 
 
 112. 
 
 The strokes of swords and thrusts of many a spear. 
 The shock of many a just he long sustained; 
 He seem'd of strength enough this charge to bear. 
 And time to strike, now here, now there, he gained: 
 His armours broke, his members bruised were. 
 He sweat and bled, yet courage still he feigned ; 
 But now his foes upon him press'd so fast. 
 That with their weight they bore him back at last. 
 
 113. 
 
 His back against this storm at length he turned, 
 Whose headlong fury bore him backward still. 
 Not like to one that fled, but one that mourned 
 Because he did his foes no greater ill : 
 His threat'ning eyes, like flaming torches burned, 
 His coxirage thirsted yet more blood to spill : 
 And ev'ry way and ev'ry moan he sought, 
 To stay his flying mates, but all for nought. 
 
 114. 
 
 This good he did, while thus he play'd his part. 
 
 His bands and troops at ease, and safe, retired ; 
 
 Yet coward dread lacks order, fear wants art, 
 
 Deaf to attend, commanded or desired. 
 
 But Godfrey, that perceiv'd in his wise heart. 
 
 How his bold knights to victory aspired ; 
 
 Fresh soldiers sent to make more quick pursuit. 
 And help to gather conquest's precious Iruit. 
 
 115. 
 
 But this, alas ! was not th' appointed day, 
 Set down by Heav'n to end this mortal war ; 
 The western lords this time had borne away 
 The prize, for which they travell'd had so far,
 
 158 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 Had not the devils (that saw the sure decay 
 Of their false kingdom by this bloody war) 
 
 At once made heaven and earth with darkness blind, 
 And stirr'd up tempests, storms, and blust'ring wind. 
 
 116. 
 
 Heav'n's glorious lamp, wrapt in an ugly vail 
 Of shadows dark, was hid from mortal eye, 
 And hell's grim blackness did bright skies assail ; . 
 On ev'ry side the fiery lightnings fly, 
 The thunders roar, the streaming rain and hail 
 Pour down, and make that sea which erst was dry ; 
 The tempests rend the oaks, and cedars brake, 
 And make not trees, but rocks and mountains shake. 
 
 117. 
 
 The rain, the lightning, and the raging wind 
 Beat in the Frenchmen's eyes with hideous force ; 
 The soldiers stay'd ; amaz'd in heart and mind ; 
 The terror such, it stopp'd both man and horse : 
 Surpris'd with this evil no way they find, 
 Whither for succour to direct their course ; 
 But wise Clorinda soon th' advantage spied. 
 And, spurring forth, thus to her soldiers cried : 
 
 118. 
 
 " You hardy men at arms, behold," quoth she, 
 "How Heav'n, how justice in our aid doth fight, 
 Our visages are from this tempest free, 
 Our hands at will may wield our weapons bright j 
 The fury of this friendly storm, you see, 
 Ujion the forelieads of our foes doth light. 
 
 And blinds their eyes ; — then let us take the tide, — 
 Come follow me ; good fortune be our guide." 
 
 119. 
 
 This said, against her foes on rode the dame. 
 And turn'd their backs against the wind and rain ; 
 Upon the French with furious rage she came. 
 And scorn'd those idle blows they struck in vain ; 
 Argantes at the instant did the same. 
 And them, who chased him, now chas'd again : 
 Nought but his fearful back each Christian shows 
 Against the tempest, and against their blows.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 159 
 
 120. 
 
 The cruel hail and deadly wounding blade 
 Upon their shoulders smote them, as they fled ; 
 The blood new spilt, while thus they slaughter made, 
 The water fall'n from skies had dyed red : 
 Among the murder'd bodies Pyrrhus laid, 
 And valiant Raiphe his heart blood there outbled ; 
 The first subdu'd by strong Argantes might, 
 The second conquer'd by that virgin knight. 
 
 121. 
 Thus fled the French, and them pursu'd in chase 
 The wicked sprites, and all the Syrian train : 
 But 'gainst their force, and 'gainst the fell menace 
 Of hail and wind, of tempest and of rain, 
 Godfrey alone turn'd his audacious face, 
 Blaming his barons for their fear so vain : 
 Himself the camp-gate boldly stood to keep, 
 And sav'd his men within his trenches deep. 
 
 122. 
 
 And twice upon Argantes proud he flew. 
 And beat him backward, maugre all his might, 
 And twice his thirsty sword he did imbrew 
 In Pagans' blood, where thickest was the fight; 
 At last himself with all his folk withdrew. 
 And that day's conquest gave the virgin bright ; 
 Which got, she home retir'd, and all her men, 
 And thus she chas'd this lion to his den. 
 
 123. 
 
 Yet ceased not the fury and the ire 
 
 Of these huge storms, of wind, of rain, and hail ; 
 
 Now was it dark, now shone the light'ning fire ; 
 
 The wind and water every place assail ; 
 
 No bank was safe, no rampire left entire ; 
 
 No tent could stand, when beam and cordage fail ; 
 Wind, thunder, rain, all gave a dreadful sound. 
 And with that music deaft' the trembling ground. 
 
 • Deaft — deafened.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 §00li ih i-igljtir. 
 
 THE ABGUMEXT. 
 
 A messenger to Godfrey sage doth tell 
 The Prince of Denmark's valour, death, and end : 
 Th' Italians, trusting signs untrue too well. 
 Think their Sinaldo slain : the wicked fiend 
 Breeds fury in their breasts, their bosoms swell 
 With ire, and hate, and war, and strife forth send ; 
 They threaten Godfrey ; he prays to the Lord, 
 And calms their fury with his look and word. 
 
 Now were the skies of storms and tempests cleared ; 
 Lord ^olus shut up his winds in hold : 
 The silver-mantled morning fresh appeared, 
 With roses crown'd, and buskin'd high with gold : 
 The spirits yet, vvhich had these tempests reai'ed. 
 Their malice would still more and more unfold ; 
 And one of them, that Astragor was named. 
 His speeches thus to foul Alecto framed ; 
 
 2. 
 
 " Alecto, see, we could not stop, nor stay 
 The knight, that to our foes new tidings brings. 
 Who from the hands escap'd (with life away) 
 Of that great prince, chief of all Pagan kings ; 
 He comes, the fall of his slain lord to say ; 
 Of death and loss he tells, and such sad things ; 
 Great news he brings, and greatest danger is, 
 Bertoldo's son shall be call'd home for this.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 161 
 
 3. 
 
 " Thou know'st what would befall, bestir thee, than ; 
 
 Prevent with craft, what force could not withstand ; 
 
 Turn to their ill the speeches of the man ; 
 
 With his own weapon wound Godfredo's hand j 
 
 Kindle debate, infect with poison wan 
 
 The English, Switzer, and Italian band; 
 
 Great tumults move, make brawls and quarrels rife. 
 Set all the camp on uproar, and at strife. 
 
 4. 
 
 " This act beseems thee well, and of the deed 
 Much may'st thou boast before our lord and king." 
 Thus said the Sprite ; persuasion small did need. 
 The monster grants to undertake the thing. 
 Meanwhile the knight, whose coming thus they dread. 
 Before the camp his weary limbs doth bring, 
 
 And well nigh breathless, " Warriors bold," he cried, 
 " Who shall conduct me to yoiu* famous guide ?" 
 
 5. 
 
 An hundred strove the stranger's guide to be. 
 To hearken news the knights by heaps assemble ; 
 The man fell lowly down upon his knee. 
 And kiss'd the hand that made proud Babel tremble ; 
 " Right puissant Lord, whose valiant acts," quoth he, 
 " The sands and stars in number best resemble, 
 Would God some gladder news I might unfold — " 
 And there he paused, and sigh'd ; then thus he told : 
 
 6. 
 " Sweno, the King of Denmark's only heir, 
 The stay and staff of his declining eild. 
 Longed to be among these squadrons fair, 
 Who for Christ's faith here serve with spear and shield : 
 No weariness, no storms of sea or air, 
 , No such contents as crowns and sceptres yield, 
 No dear entreaties of so kind a sire. 
 Could in his bosom quench that glorious fire. 
 
 7. 
 " He thirsted sore to learn this warlike art 
 Of thee, great lord and master of the same ; 
 And was ashamed in his noble heart. 
 That never act he did deserved fame ;
 
 162 GODFREY OF BUXLOIGNE ; OK, 
 
 Besides, the news and tidings from eacli part 
 Of young Einaldo's worth and praises came ; 
 But that which most his courage stirred hath 
 Is zeal, religion, godliness and faith. 
 
 " He hasted forward then without delay, 
 And with him took of knights a chosen band. 
 Directly toward Thrace we took the way, 
 To Bizance old, chief fortress of that land : 
 There the Greek monarch gently pray'd him stay, 
 And there an herald sent from you we fand. 
 How Antioch was won, who first declar'd, 
 And how defended nobly afterward ; 
 
 9. 
 
 '•■ Defended 'gainst Corbana, valiant knight, 
 That all the Pei-sian armies had to guide, 
 And brought so many soldiers bold to fight. 
 That void of men he left that kingdom wide : 
 He told thine acts, thy wisdom and thy might. 
 And told the deeds of many a lord beside ; 
 His speech at length to young Einaldo past. 
 And told his great achievements, first and last : 
 
 10. 
 
 " And how this noble camp of yours, of late. 
 Besieged had this town, and in what sort, 
 And how you pray'd him to participate 
 Of the last conquest of this noble fort : 
 In hardy Sweno opened was the gate 
 Of worthy anger by this brave report. 
 So that each hour seemed five years long. 
 Till he were fighting with these Pagans strong. 
 
 11. 
 
 " And while the herald told your fights and frays. 
 Himself of cowardice reprov'd he thought. 
 And him, to stay that counsels him, or prays, 
 He hears not, or (else heard) regardeth nought : 
 He fears no perils, but (whilst he delays) 
 Lest this last work without his help be wrought : 
 In this his doubt, in this his danger lies, 
 Ko hazard else he fears, no peril spies.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 163 
 
 12. 
 
 " Thns hasting on, he hasted on his death, 
 Death that to him and us was fatal guide : 
 The rising morn appeared yet uneath, 
 When he and we were arm'd, and fit to ride ; 
 The nearest way seem'd best, o'er holt' and heath 
 We went, through deserts waste, and forests wide : 
 The streetes- and waj's he openeth as he goes, 
 And sets each land free from intruding foes. 
 
 13. 
 
 " Now want of food, now dang'rous ways we find, 
 
 Now open war, now ambush closely laid ; 
 
 Yet pass'd we forth, all perils left behind, 
 
 Our foes or dead, or run away afraid : 
 
 Of victory so happy blew the wind. 
 
 That careless all, and heedless to it made: 
 
 Until one day his tents he hapt to rear. 
 
 To Palestine when we approached near. 
 
 14 
 
 " There did our scouts return, and bring us news, 
 That dreadful noise of horse and arms they hear. 
 And that they deem'd by sundry signs and shews. 
 There was some mighty host of Pagans near : 
 At these sad tidings many chang'd their hues ; 
 Some looked pale for dread, some shook for fear ; 
 
 Only our noble Lord was alt'red nought ; 
 
 In look, in face, in gesture, or in thought ; 
 
 15. 
 
 " But said, ' A crown prepare you to possess 
 
 Of martyi'dom, or happy victory ; 
 
 For this I hope, for that I wish no less. 
 
 Of greater merit, and of greater glory ; 
 
 Brethren, this camp will shortly be, I guess, 
 
 A temple, sacred to our memory ; 
 
 To which the holy men of futiu'e age. 
 
 To view our graves shall come in pilgrimage.' 
 
 IG. 
 
 " This said, he set the watch in order right 
 To guard the camp, along the trenches deep; 
 And as he armed was, so every knight 
 He willed on his back his arms to keep. 
 
 ' Holt — grove, * Streetes — roads, 
 
 M 2
 
 IG-i GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 Now had the stillness of the quiet night 
 Drown'd all the world in silence and in sleep. 
 When suddenly we heard a dreadful sound, 
 Which deaft the earth, and tremble made the ground. 
 
 17. 
 
 " ' Arm, arm,' " they cried ; Prince Sweno at the same,^ 
 
 Glist'ring in shining steel leapt foremost out ; 
 
 His visage shone, his noble looks did flame 
 
 With kindled brand of courage bold and stout ; 
 
 When lo, the Pagans to assault us came. 
 
 And with huge numbers hemm'd us round about : 
 
 A forest thick of sjjears about us grew, 
 
 And over us a cloud of arrows flew : 
 
 18. 
 
 " Uneven the fight, unequal was the fray ; 
 Our enemies were twenty men to one ; 
 On every side the slain and wounded lay 
 Unseen, where nought but glist'ring weapons shone : 
 The number of the dead could no man say. 
 So was the place with darkness overgone ; 
 The night her mantle black upon us spreeds. 
 Hiding our losses, and our valiant deeds. 
 
 19. 
 
 " But hardy Sweno, 'midst the other train. 
 By his great acts was well descry 'd I wote ; 
 No darkness could his valour's day-light stain, 
 Such wondrous blows on every side he smote;. 
 A stream of blood, a bank of bodies slain. 
 About him made a bulwark and a mote ; 
 And when so ere he turn'd his fatal brand. 
 Dread iu his looks, and death sate in his hand. 
 
 20. 
 
 " Thus fought we till the morning bright appeared. 
 
 And strowed roses on the azure skj- ; 
 
 But when her lamp had night's thick darkness cleared. 
 
 Wherein the bodies dead did buried lie, 
 
 Then our sad cries to Heav'n for grief we reared; 
 
 Our loss apparent was, for we descry 
 
 How all our camp destro^'ed was almost. 
 And all our people well nigh slain and lost.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 165 
 
 21. 
 
 " Of thousands twain an hundred scant survived ; 
 
 When Sweno murder'd saw each valiant knight, 
 
 I know not if his heart in sunder rived, 
 
 For dear compassion of that woful sight ; 
 
 He show'd no change, but said, ' Since so deprived 
 
 We are of all our friends by chance of fight. 
 
 Come, follow them, the path to Heav'n their blood 
 Marks out, now angels made of martyrs good.' 
 
 22. 
 
 " This said, and glad I think of death at hand, 
 The signs of heav'nly joy shone through his eyes ; 
 Of Saracines against a mighty band, 
 With fearless heart and constant breast he flies ; 
 No steel could shield them from his cutting brand, 
 But whom he hits, without recure' he dies ; 
 He never struck, but fell'd or kill'd his foe, 
 And wounded was himself from top to toe. 
 
 23. 
 
 " Not strength, but courage now preserv'd on live" 
 This hardy champion, fortress of our faith ; 
 Strocken he strikes, still stronger more they strive. 
 The more they hurt him, more he doth them scath, 
 When towards him a furious knight 'gan drive, 
 Of members huge, fierce looks, and full of wrath. 
 That with the aid of many a Pagan crew, 
 After long fight, at last Prince Sweno slew. 
 
 24. 
 
 " Ah heavy chance ! down fell the valiant youth. 
 Nor 'mongst us all did one so strong appear. 
 As to revenge his death : that this is truth. 
 By his dear blood and noble bones I swear. 
 That of my life I had not care nor ruth ; 
 No wounds I shunn'd, no blows I would off-bear. 
 And had no Heav'n my wished end denied, 
 Ev'n there I should, and willing should have died, 
 
 25. 
 
 " Alive I fell among my fellows slain. 
 
 Yet wounded so that each one thought me dead, 
 
 Nor what our foes did since can I explain. 
 
 So sore amazed was my heart and head ; 
 
 1 Recure — recovery. * On live — alive.
 
 IGG GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 But when I open'd first mine eyes again, 
 Night's curtain black upon the earth was spread, 
 And through the darkness, to my feeble sight, 
 Appear'd the twinkling of a slender light. 
 
 26. 
 
 " Not so much force or judgment in me lies, 
 As to discern things seen, and not mistake ; 
 I saw like them, who ope and shut their eyes 
 By turns, now half asleep, now half awake : 
 My body eke another torment tries. 
 My wounds began to smart, mj' hurts to ake ; 
 
 For every sore, each member pinched was, [grass. 
 
 With night's sharp air, Heav'n's frost, and earth's cold 
 
 27. 
 
 " But still the light approached near and near. 
 And with the same a whisp'ring murmur run, 
 Till at my side arrived both they were. 
 When I to spread my feeble eyes begun : 
 Two men behold in vestures long appear. 
 With each a lamp in hand, who said, ' son, 
 In that dear Lord who helps His servants, trust. 
 Who, ere they ask, grants all things to the just.' 
 
 28. 
 
 " This said, each one his sacred blessing flings 
 Upon my corse, with broad outstretched hand. 
 And mumbled* hymns and psalms and holy things, 
 Which I could neither hear, nor understand ; 
 ' Arise,' quoth they ; witli that, as I had wings. 
 All whole and sound I leapt up from the land : 
 miracle, sweet, gentle, strange and true I 
 My limbs new strength receiv'd, and vigour new. • 
 
 29. 
 
 " I gazed on them like one, Avhose heart denai'th 
 To think that done, he sees so strangely wrought; 
 Till one said thus, ' O thou of little faith. 
 What doubts perple.K thy unbelieving thought ? 
 Each one of us a living body hath. 
 We are Christ's chosen servants, fear us nought, 
 Who to avoid the world's allurements vain. 
 In wilful penance, hermits poor remain. 
 1 So "Mumble-Matins," a Popish priest.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 167 
 
 30. 
 
 " ' Us messengers, to comfort thee elect, 
 
 That Lord hath sent, that rules both Heav'n and Hell ; 
 
 Who often doth His blessed will effect 
 
 By such weak means, as wonder is to tell ; 
 
 He will not that this body lie neglect, 
 
 Wherein so noble soul did lately dwell, 
 
 To which again, when it uprisen is, 
 
 It shall united be in lasting bliss. 
 
 31. 
 
 " ' I say Lord Sweno's corpse, for which prepar'd 
 A tomb there is according to his worth. 
 By which his honour shall be far declar'd. 
 And his just praises spread from South to North : 
 But lift thine eyes up to the heavens ward, 
 Mark yonder light that like the sun shines forth ; 
 
 That shall direct thee with those beams so clear. 
 
 To find the body of thy master dear.' 
 
 32. 
 
 " With that I saw from Cynthia's silver face, 
 Like to a falling star, a beam downslide. 
 That bright, as golden line, mark'd out the place. 
 And light'ned with clear streams the forest wide ; 
 So Latmos shone when Phoebe left the chase. 
 And lay'd her down by her Endymion's side ; 
 Such was the light that well discern I could 
 His shape, his wounds, his face (though dead) yet bold. 
 
 33. 
 
 " He lay not grov'lling now, but as a knight 
 That ever had to heav'nly things desire ; 
 So towards Heav'n the Prince lay bolt upright. 
 Like him that upward still sought to aspire : 
 His right hand closed held his weapon bright. 
 Heady to strike and execute his ire. 
 
 His left upon his breast was humbly laid. 
 
 That men might know, that while he died, he praid. 
 
 34 
 
 " Whilst on his wounds Avith bootless tears I wept. 
 That neither helped him, nor eas'd my care. 
 One of those aged fathers to him stept, 
 And forced his hand that needless weapon spare ;
 
 1G8 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 ' This sword,' quoth he, ' hath yet good token kepi, 
 That of the Pagans' blood he drunk his share, 
 
 And blusheth still, he could not save his lord ; 
 
 Eich, strong and sharp, was never better sword. 
 
 35. 
 
 " ' Heav'n therefore will not, though the Prince be slain, 
 
 Who used erst to wield this precious brand. 
 
 That so brave blade unused should remain ; 
 
 But that it pass from strong, to stronger hand. 
 
 Who with like force can wield the same again, 
 
 And longer shall in grace of fortune stand. 
 
 And with the same shall bitter vengeance take. 
 On him that Sweno slew, for Sweno's sake. 
 
 36. 
 
 " ' Great Soljman kill'd Sweno, Solyman 
 For Sweno's sake upon this sword must die: 
 Here take the blade, and with it haste thee than 
 Thither, where Godfrey doth encamped lie, 
 And fear not thou that any shall or can 
 Or stop thy way, or lead thy steps awry ; 
 For He, that doth thee on this message send, 
 Thee with his hand shall guide, keep and defend. 
 
 37. 
 
 " * Arrived there, it is His blessed will 
 With true report that thou declare and tell 
 The zeal, the strength, the courage and the skill, 
 In thy beloved Lord that late did dwell : 
 How for Christ's sake he came his blood to spill. 
 And sample left to all of doing well ; 
 That future ages may admire his deed. 
 And coui-age take, when his brave end they read. 
 
 38. 
 
 " ' It resteth now, thou know that gentle knight. 
 That of this sword shall be thy master's heir ; 
 It is Rinaldo young, with whom in might 
 And martial skill no champion may compare; 
 Give it to him, and say, the Heavens bright 
 Of this revenge to him commit the care.' 
 
 While thus I list'ned what this old man said, 
 A wonder new from further ^speech us staid ;
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 169 
 
 39. 
 
 " For there, whereas the wounded body lay, 
 
 A stately tomb with curious work (behold) 
 
 And wondrous art, was built out of the clay. 
 
 Which rising round the carcass did enfold. 
 
 With words engraven in the marble gray. 
 
 The wan-ior's name, his worth and praise that told ; 
 
 On which I gazing stood, and often read 
 
 That epitaph of my dear master dead. 
 
 40. 
 " ' Among his soldiers,' quoth the hermit, * here 
 Must Sweno's corpse remain in marble chest, 
 While up to Heav'n are flown their spirits dear, 
 To live in endless joy for ever blest : 
 His funeral thou hast with many a tear 
 Accompanied, it's now high time to rest ; 
 Come, be my guest, until the morning ray 
 Shall light the world again, then take thy way.* 
 
 41. 
 
 " This said, he led me over holts and hags,' 
 Through thorns and bushes scant my legs I drew. 
 Till underneath a heap of stones and crags, 
 At last he brought me to a secret mew ■? 
 Among the bears, wild boars, the wolves and stags 
 There dwelt he safe with his disciple true, 
 
 And fear'd no treason, force, nor hurt at all ; 
 
 His guiltless conscience was his castle's wall. 
 
 42. 
 " My supper, roots ; my bed was moss and leaves ; 
 But weariness in little rest found ease : 
 But when the purple morning night bereaves 
 Of late usurped rule on lands and seas, 
 His loathed couch each wakeful hermit leaves : 
 To pray rose they, and I, for so they please, 
 I congee^ took, when ended was the same, 
 And hitherward, as they advis'd me, came." 
 
 43. 
 The Dane his woful tale had done, when thus. 
 The good Prince Godfrey answer'd him — " Sir Knight, 
 Thou bringest tidings sad and dolorous. 
 For which our heavy camp laments of right, 
 1 Hags — bramble). * Mew — den, ' Congee— leave.
 
 170 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 Since so brave troops, and so dear friends to us 
 One hour hath spent in one unlucky fight ; 
 And so appeared hath thj' master stout, 
 As lightning doth, now kindl'd, now quencht out. 
 
 44. 
 "But such a death and end exceedeth all 
 The conquests vain of realms, or spoils of gold ; 
 Nor aged Rome's proud stately capital 
 Did ever triumph yet like theirs behold: 
 They sit in Heav'n on thrones celestial, 
 CrowTied with glory, for their conquest bold ; 
 Where each his hurts, I think, to other shows. 
 And glory in those bloody wounds and blows. 
 
 45. 
 " But thou who hast part of thy race to run. 
 With haps and hazards of this world itost,' 
 Rejoice, for those high honours they have won, 
 Which cannot be by chance or fortune crost : 
 But for thou askest for Bertoldo's son. 
 Know, that he wand'reth, banisht from this host. 
 And till of him new tiding some man tell, 
 Within this camp I deem it best thou dwell." 
 
 46. 
 
 These words of theirs in many a soul renewed 
 The sweet remembrance of I'air Sophia's child ; 
 Some with salt tears for him their cheeks bedewed. 
 Lest ill betide him 'mongst the Pagans wild ; 
 And every one his valiant prowess shewed, 
 And of his battles stories long compil'd, 
 
 Telling the Dane his acts and conquests past, 
 Which made his ears amaz'd, his heart aghast. 
 
 47. 
 Now when remembrance of the youth had wrought 
 A tender pity in each soft'ned mind. 
 Behold returned home with all they caught 
 The bands, that were to forage late assign'd. 
 And with them in abundance great they brought 
 Both flocks and herds of every sort and kind. 
 And corn although not much, and hay to feed 
 Their noble steeds and coursers, when they need. 
 
 1 Itost— ^o»*.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 171 
 
 They also brought of misadventure sad 
 Tokens and signs, seem'd too apparent true; 
 Einaldo's armour frusht ' and hackt they had. 
 Oft pierced through, with blood besmeared new : 
 About the camp (for always rumours bad 
 Are farthest spread) these woful tidings flew ; 
 Thither assembled straight both high and low. 
 Longing to see what they were loth to know. 
 
 49. 
 His heavy hawberk was both seen and known, 
 And his broad shield, wherein displayed flies 
 The bird, that proves her chickens for her own 
 By looking 'gainst the sun with open eyes ; 
 That shield was to the Pagans often shown 
 In many a hard and hardy enterprize ; 
 
 But now with many a gash and many a stroke, 
 They see (and sigh to see it) frusht and broke. 
 
 50. 
 
 While all his soldiers whisp'red under hand, 
 And here and there the fault and cause do lay, 
 Godfrey before him called Aliprand, 
 Captain of those that brought of late this prey, 
 A man who did on points of virtue stand. 
 Blameless in words, and true what ere he say : 
 
 "Say," quoth the Duke, "where you this armour had; 
 
 Hide not the truth, but tell it, good or bad." 
 
 51. 
 He answer'd him : " As far from hence, think I, 
 As on two days a speedy post well rideth. 
 To Gaza- ward a little plain doth lie, 
 Itself among the steepy hills which hideth : 
 Through it, slow-falling from the mountains hie, 
 A rolling brook 'twixt bush and bramble glideth. 
 
 Clad with thick shade of boughs of broad-leav'd treen, 
 
 Fit place for men to lie in wait unseen. 
 
 52. 
 
 " Thither, to seek some flocks or herds we went, 
 Perchance close hid under the green-wood shaw,^ 
 And found the springing grass with blood besprent ; 
 A warrior tumbled in his blood we saw : 
 
 1 Erustit — bruised, 2 Shaw — thicket.
 
 172 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE j OR, 
 
 His arms, though dusty, bloody, haclct and rent, 
 
 Yet well we knew, when near the corse we draw ; 
 
 To which (to view his face) in vain I started. 
 
 For from his body his fiair head was parted ; 
 
 53. 
 
 " His right hand wanted eke ; with many a wound 
 The trunk through pierced was from back to brest : 
 A little by his empty helm we found. 
 The silver eagle shining on his crest : 
 To spy at whom to ask we gazed round, 
 A churle towards us his steps addrest ; 
 But when us armed by the corse he spied. 
 He ran away his fearful face to hide : 
 
 54. 
 " But we pursu'd him, took him, spake him fair, 
 Till comforted at last he answer made, 
 How that the day before he saw repair 
 A band of soldiers from that forest's shade. 
 Of whom one carried by the golden hair 
 A head, but late cut off with murd'ring blade ; 
 The face was fair and young, and on the chin 
 Ko sign of beard to bud did yet begin ; 
 
 55. 
 
 " And how in sindaP wrapt away he bore 
 That head with him hung at his saddle bow, 
 And how the murth'rers by the arras they wore. 
 For soldiers of our camp he well did know ; 
 The carcass I disarm'd, and weeping sore. 
 Because I guess'd who should that harness owe. 
 Away I brought it, but first order gave. 
 That noble body should be laid in grave. 
 
 56. 
 " But if it be his trunk whom I believe, 
 A nobler tomb his worth deserveth well." 
 This said, good Aliprando took his leave. 
 Of certain troth he had no more to tell. 
 Sore sigh'd the Duke, so did these news him grieve ; 
 Fears in his heart, doubts in his bosom dwell ; 
 He yeam'd to know, to find, and learn the truth. 
 And punish would them that had slain the youth. 
 
 1 Sini&l— silken »tvff.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 173 
 
 57. 
 
 But now the night dispread her lazy wings 
 O'er the hroad fields of Heav'n's bright wilderness ; 
 Sleep, the soul's rest, and ease of careful things. 
 Buried in happy peace both more and less : 
 Thou Argillan, alone whom sorrow stings, 
 Still wakest, musing on great deeds, I guess. 
 Nor suif'rest in thy watchful eyes to creep 
 The sweet repose of mild and gentle sleep, 
 
 58. 
 This man was strong of limbs, and all his says 
 Were bold, of ready tongue, and working sprlght. 
 Near Trento born, bred up in brawls and frays, 
 In jars, in quaiTcls, and in civil fight ; 
 For which exil'd, the hills and public ways 
 He fill'd with blood and robb'ries, day and night. 
 Until to Asia's wars at last he came. 
 And boldly there he serv'd, and purchas'd fame. 
 
 59. 
 He clos'd his eyes at last, when day drew near, 
 Yet slept he not, but senseless lay opprest 
 With strange amazedness and sudden fear. 
 Which false Alecto breathed in his breast ; 
 His working powers within deluded were : 
 Stone-still he quiet lay, yet took no rest, 
 
 Tor to his thought the fiend herself presented. 
 And with strange visions his weak brain tormented. 
 
 60. 
 A murder'd body huge beside him stood, 
 Of head and right hand both but lately spoiled ; 
 His left hand bore the head, whose visage good. 
 Both pale and wan, with dust and gore defoiled, 
 Yet spake, though dead ; with whose sad words the blood 
 Forth at his lips in huge abundance boiled — 
 " Fly, Argillan, from this false camp fly far. 
 Whose guide, a traitor ; captains, murd'rers are. 
 
 61. 
 " Godfrey hath murder'd me by treason vile ; 
 What favour then hope you, my trusty friends ? 
 His villain heart is full of fraud and guile. 
 To your destruction all his thoughts he bends ;
 
 174 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 Yet If thou thirst of praise for noble stile, 
 If in thy strenj^th thou trust, thy stren^jth that ends 
 All hard assays, flj' not ; first with his blood 
 Appease my ghost wand'ring by Lethe flood. 
 
 62. 
 
 " I will thy weapon whet, inflame thine ire. 
 Arm thy right hand, and strengthen every part." 
 This said ; even while she spake, she did inspire 
 With fury, rage, and wrath his troubl'd heart: 
 The man awak'd, and from his eyes, like fire, 
 The poison'd sparks of headstrong madness start ; 
 And, armed as he was, forth is he gone, 
 And gather'd all th' Italian bands in one. 
 
 63. 
 
 He gather'd them, where lay the arms that late 
 Were good Rinaldo's ; then, with semblance stout. 
 And furious words, his fore-conceived hate 
 In bitter speeches thus he vomits out; 
 " Is not this people barb'rous and ingrate, 
 In whom truth finds no place, faith takes no rout ? 
 Whose thirst unquenched is of blood and gold, 
 Whom no yoke boweth, bridle none can hold. 
 
 64. 
 
 " So much we suffer'd have these sev'n years long. 
 Under this servile and unworthy yoke. 
 That thorough Rome and Italy our wrong 
 A thousand years hereafter shall be spoke : 
 I count not, how Cilicia's kingdom strong 
 Subdued was b}' Prince Tancredie's stroke. 
 
 Nor how false Baldwin him that land bereaves 
 Of virtue's harvest, i'raud there reap'd the sheaves : 
 
 65. 
 
 " Nor speak I how each hour, at every need 
 Quick, ready, resolute at all assays. 
 With fire and sword we hasted forth with speed. 
 And bore the brunt of all their fights and frays ; 
 But when we had perform'd and done the deed. 
 At ease and leisure they divide the praies ; 
 
 We reaped nought but travail for our toil ; 
 
 Theirs was the praise, the realms, the gold, the spoil.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 175 
 
 66, 
 " Yet all this season were we willing blind, 
 Offended, unreveng'd, wrong'd, but unwroken :^ 
 Light griefs could not provoke our quiet mind ; 
 But now (alas) the mortal blow is stroken : 
 Rinaldo have they slain, and law of kind. 
 Of arms, of nations, and high Heav'n broken : 
 
 Why doth not Heav'n kill them with fire and thunder ? 
 
 To swallow them why cleaves not earth asunder ? 
 
 67. 
 "They have Rinaldo slain, the sword and shield 
 Of Christ's true faith, and unreveng'd he lies ; 
 Still unrevenged lieth in the field 
 His noble corpse to feed the crows and pies. 
 Who murder'd him ? who shall us certain yield ? 
 Who sees not that, although he wanted eyes ? 
 Who knows not, how th' Italian chivalry 
 Proud Godfrey, and false Baldwin both envy ? 
 
 68. 
 " What need we further proof? Heav'n, Heav'n, I swear. 
 Will not consent herein we be beguiled : 
 This night I saw his murder'd sprite appear, 
 Pale, sad, and wan, with wounds and blood defiled, 
 A spectacle full both of grief and fear; 
 Godfrey for murd'ring him the ghost reviled : 
 I saw it was no dream ; before mine eyes. 
 How ere I look, still, still methinks it fiies. 
 
 69. 
 " What shall we do ? shall we be govern'd still 
 By this false hand, contaminate with blood ? 
 Or else depart and travel forth, until 
 To Euphrates we come, that sacred flood ? 
 Where dwells a people, void of martial skill, 
 Whose cities rich, whose land is fat and good ; 
 Where kingdoms great we may at ease provide, 
 Far from these Frenchmen's malice, from their pride. 
 
 70. 
 " Then let us go, and no revengement take 
 For this brave knight, though it lie in our pow'r; 
 No, no, that courage rather newly wake. 
 Which never sleeps in fear and dread one hour ; 
 ^ Unwroken — unavenged.
 
 176 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 And this pestirrous serpent, pois'ned snake, 
 
 Of all our knights that hath destroy'd the flow'r, 
 First let us slay, and his deserved end 
 Ensample make to him, that kills his friend. 
 
 71. 
 " I will, I will, if your courageous force 
 Dareth so much, as it can well perform. 
 Tear out his cursed heart without remorse. 
 The nest of treason false, and guile enorm."^ 
 Thus spake the angry knight ; with headlong course 
 The rest him followed with a furious storm ; 
 
 " Arm, arm," they cried ; to arms the soldiers ran. 
 And as they run, " Arm, arm," cried every man. 
 
 72. 
 
 'Mougst them Alecto strowed wasteful fire. 
 Envenoming the hearts of most and least ; 
 Folly, disdain, madness, strife, rancour, ire, 
 Thirst to shed blood in every breast increast : 
 This ill spread far, and, till it set on fire 
 With rage th' Italian lodgings, never ceast; 
 
 From thence unto the Switzers' camp it went, 
 
 And last infected every English tent. 
 
 73. 
 
 Not public loss of their beloved knight 
 Alone stirr'd up their rage and wrath untamed. 
 But fore-conceived griefs and quarrels light 
 The ire still nourished, and still inflamed : 
 Awaked was each former cause of spight ; 
 The Frenchmen cruel and unjust they named ; 
 
 And with bold threats they made their hatred known. 
 Hate seld kept close, and oft unwisely shown : 
 
 74. 
 Like boiling liquor in a seething pot, 
 That fumeth, swelleth high, and bubbleth fast, 
 Till o'er the brims, among the embers hot, 
 Part of the broth and of the scum it cast : 
 Their rage and wrath those few appeased not. 
 In whom of wisdom yet remain'd some taste ; 
 Camillo, William, Tancred were away. 
 And all whose greatness might their madness stay. 
 
 i Enorm — enormout.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 177 
 
 75. 
 
 Now headlong ran to harness^ in this heat 
 These furious people, all on heaps confused ; 
 The roaring trumpets battle 'gan to threat, 
 As it in time of mortal war is used : 
 The messengers ran to Godfredo great, 
 And bad him arm, while on this noise he mused ; 
 And Baldwin first, well clad in iron hard, 
 Stept to his side, a sure and faithful guard. 
 
 76. 
 Their murmurs heard, to Heav'n he lift his eine,^ 
 As was his wont ; to God for aid he fled ; 
 " O Lord, thou knowest this right hand of mine 
 Abhorred ever civil blood to shed : 
 Illumine their dark souls with light divine. 
 Repress their rage by hellish fury bred ; 
 
 The innocency of my guiltless mind 
 
 Thou kuow'st, and make these know, with fury blind." 
 
 77. 
 'Tis said, he felt infused in each vein, 
 A sacred heat from Heav'n above distilled, 
 A heat, in man that courage could constrain. 
 That his grave look with awful boldness filled : 
 Well guarded forth he went to meet the train 
 Of those that would revenge Rinaldo killed ; 
 
 And though their threats he heard, and saw them bent 
 
 To arms on every side, yet on he went. 
 
 78. 
 Above his hawberk strong a coat he ware, 
 Embroidred fair with pearl e and rich stone ; 
 His hands were naked, and his face was bare, 
 Wherein a lamp of majesty bright shone : 
 He shook his golden mace, wherewith he dare 
 Resist the force of his rebellious fone :^ 
 
 Thus he appear 'd, and thus he 'gan them teach, 
 
 In shape an angel, and a god in speech : 
 
 79. 
 " What foolish words ? what threats be these I hear ? 
 What noise of arms ? who dares these tumults move ? 
 Am I so honour'd ? stand you so in fear ? 
 Where is your late obedience ? where your love ? 
 
 ' Harness — armour, * Eine — eye*. * Fone — foei.
 
 178 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNEj OR, 
 
 Of Godfrey's falsehood who can witness bear ? 
 
 Who dare or will these accusations prove ? 
 Perchance you look I should entreaties bring. 
 Sue for your favours, or excuse the thing. 
 
 80. 
 " Ah God forbid, these lands should hear or see 
 Him so disgrac'd, at whose great name they quake^ 
 This sceptre, and my noble acts, for me 
 A true defence before the world can make : 
 Yet, for sharp justice governed shall be 
 With clemency, I will no vengeance take 
 For this offence, but for Einaldo's love, 
 I pardon you ; hereafter wiser prove. 
 
 81. 
 " But Argillano's guilty blood shall wash 
 This stain away, who kindled this debate. 
 And led by hasty rage, and fury rash. 
 To these disorders first undid the gate ;" 
 While thus he spoke, the lightning beams did flash 
 Out of his eyes of majesty and state. 
 
 That Argillan (who would have thought it) shook 
 For fear and terror, conquer'd with his look. 
 
 82. 
 
 The rest with undiscreet and foolish wrath, 
 Who threat'ned late with words of shame and pride, 
 Whose hands so ready were to harm and scath, 
 And brandished bright swords on every side. 
 Now husht and still attend what Godfrey saith : 
 With shame and fear tlieir bashful looks they hide. 
 And Argillan they let in chains be bound, 
 Although their weapons him environ'd round. 
 
 83. 
 So when a lion shakes his dreadful main, 
 And beats his tail with courage proud and wroth. 
 If his commander come, who first took pain 
 To tame his youth, his loily crest down go'th. 
 His threats he feareth, and obej's the rain' 
 Of thraldom base, and serviceage, though loth ; 
 Nor can his sharp teeth, nor his armed paws 
 Force him rebel against his ruler's laws. 
 
 1 Bain — rein.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 179 
 
 84. 
 Fame as a winged warrior they betleld, 
 With semblant fierce, and furious look that stood. 
 And In his left hand had a splendant shield, 
 Wherewith he covered safe their chieftain good ; 
 His other hand a naked sword did wield, 
 From which distilling fell the lukewarm blood. 
 The blood, pardle, of many a realm and town. 
 Whereon the Lord his wrath had poured down. 
 
 85. 
 
 Thus was the tumult (without bloodshed) ended, 
 Their arms laid down, strife Into exile sent : 
 Godfrey his thoughts to greater actions bended, 
 And homeward to his rich pavilion went : 
 For to assault the fortress he intended. 
 Before the second or third day were spent ; 
 
 Meanwhile his timber wrought, he oft survey'd. 
 Whereof his rams and engines great he made. 
 
 n2
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 S0OI1 Ht iinti]. 
 
 THE AEGTJMENT. 
 
 Alecto false great Solyman doth move 
 By night the Christians in their tents to Icill : 
 But God, who their intents saw from above. 
 Sends Michael downe from his sacred hill : 
 The spirits foul to hell the angels drove ; 
 The knights delivered from the witch, at will 
 Destroy the Pagans, scatter all their host : 
 The Soldan flies when all his bands are lost. 
 
 The grisly child of Erebus the grim, 
 (Who saw these tumults done, and tempest spent, 
 'Gainst stream of grace who ever strove to swim. 
 And all her thoughts against Heav'n's wisdom bent) 
 Departed now ; bright Titan's beams were dim. 
 And fruitful lands wax'd barren as she went : 
 She sought the rest of her infernal crew, 
 New storms to raise, new broils, and tumults new. 
 
 2. 
 
 She (that well wist her sisters had entised. 
 By their false arts, far from the Christian host, 
 Tancred, Rinaldo, and the rest, best prized 
 For martial skill, for might esteemed most) 
 Said (of these discords and these strifes advised) 
 " Great Solyman, when day his light hath lost. 
 These Christians shall assail with sudden war, 
 And kill them all, while thus they strive and jar."
 
 JEKUSALEM DELIVERED. 181 
 
 3. 
 
 With that, where Solyman remain'd she flew, 
 And found liim out with his Arabian bands ; 
 Great Solyman, of all Christ's foes untrue. 
 Boldest of courage, mightiest of his hands : 
 Like him was none of all that earth-bred crew, 
 That heaped mountains on the iEmonian sands ; 
 Of Turks he sovereign was, and Nice his seat. 
 Where late he dwelt, and rul'd that kingdom great. 
 
 The lands forenenst^ the Greekish shore he held. 
 From Sangar's mouth to crookt Meander's fall, 
 Where they of Phrygia, Misia, Lydia dwel'd, 
 Bythinia's towns, and Pontus cities all : 
 But when the hearts of Christian princes swel'd. 
 And rose in arms to make proud Asia thrall. 
 
 Those lands were won, where he did sceptre wield, 
 And he twice beaten was in pitched field. 
 
 5. 
 
 When fortune oft he had in vain assay'd, 
 And spent his forces, which avail'd him nought. 
 To Egypt's king himself he close convey'd, 
 Who welcom'd him, as he could best have thought, 
 Glad in his heart, and inly well appaid,^ 
 That to his court so great a lord was brought : 
 For he decreed his armies huge to bring, 
 To succour Juda land, and Juda's king. 
 
 6. 
 
 But (ere he open war proclaim'd) he would 
 That Solyman should kindle first the fire. 
 And with huge sums of false enticing gold, 
 The Arabian thieves he sent him forth to hire. 
 While he the Asian lords and Morians bold 
 Unites ; the Soldan won to his desire 
 
 Those outlaws, ready aye for gold to fight : 
 The hope of gain hath such alluring might. 
 
 7. 
 Thus made their captain, to destroy and burn 
 In Juda land he entered is so far. 
 That all the ways whereby he should return. 
 By Godfrey's people kept and stopped are : 
 1 Forenenst — opposite to, towards. * Appaid— ^Zai.
 
 182 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE; OR, 
 
 And now he 'gan his former losses mourn. 
 This wound had hit him on an elder scar ; 
 On great adventures ran his hardy thought. 
 But not assur'd, he yet resolv'd on nought. 
 
 8. 
 To him Alecto came, and semblant' bore 
 Of one, whose age was great, whose looks were grave. 
 Whose cheeks were bloodless, and whose locks were hore, 
 Mustachios strouting- long, and chin close shave ; 
 A steepled turbant on her head she wore. 
 Her garment side,^ and by her side, her glave ;'' 
 Her gilden quiver at her shoulders hung, 
 And in her hand a bow was, stifl' and strong. 
 
 9. 
 
 " We have," quoth she, " through wildernesses gone. 
 Through sterile sands, strange paths, and u ucouth way. 
 Yet spoil or booty have we gotten none. 
 Nor victory, deserving fame or praise : 
 Godfrey meanwhile to ruin stick and stone 
 Ot this fair town, with batt'ry sore assays ; 
 And, if a while we rest, we shall behold 
 This glorious city smoking lie in mold. 
 
 10. 
 
 " Are sheep-cotes burnt, or preys of sheep or kine, 
 The cause why Solyman these bands did arm ? 
 Canst thou that kingdom lately lost of thine 
 Recover thus, or thus redress thy harm ? 
 No, no, when Heav'n's small candles next shall shine, 
 Within their tents give them a bold alarm ; 
 Believe Araspes old, whose grave advice 
 Thou hast in exile prov'd, and prov'd in Nice. 
 
 11. 
 
 " He feareth nought, he doubts no sudden broil. 
 From these ill armed, and worse hearted bands ; 
 He thinks this people, us'd to rob and spoil, 
 To such exploit dares not lift up their hands ; 
 Up, then, and with thy courage put to foil 
 This fearless camp, while thus secure it stands." 
 This said, her poison in his breast she hides. 
 And then to shapeless air unseen she glides. 
 
 1 Semblant — likenees. 2 Strouting— stt-eWin^ out. 
 
 * Bide— long. * Glare— sword.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 183 
 
 12. 
 Tlie Soldan cried : " thou, which in my thought 
 Increased hast my rage and fury so, 
 Nor seem'st a wight of mortal metal wrought, 
 I follow thee, whereso thee list to go : 
 Mountains of men by dint of sword down brought 
 Thou shalt behold, and seas of red blood flow 
 Where'er I go ; only be thou my guide, 
 When sable night the azure skies shall hide." 
 
 13. 
 When this was said, he muster'd all his crew, 
 Eeprov'd the cowards, and allow'd^ the bold : 
 His forward camp, inspir'd with courage new, 
 Was ready dight^ to follow, where he would : 
 Alecto's self the warning trumpet blew, 
 And to the wind his standard great unroll'd : 
 
 Thus on they marched, and thus on they went ; 
 
 Of their approach their speed the news prevent. 
 
 14. 
 
 Alecto left them, and her person dight 
 Like one, that came some tidings new to tell : 
 It was the time, when first the rising night 
 Her sparkling diamonds poureth forth to sell ; 
 When (into Sion come) she marched right 
 Where Juda's aged tyrant us'd to dwell ; 
 To whom of Solyman's designment bold, 
 The place, the manner, and the time she told. 
 
 15. 
 Their mantle dark the grisly shadows spread. 
 Stained with spots of deepest sanguine hue ; 
 Warm drops of blood, on earth's black visage shed. 
 Supplied the place of pure and precious dew : 
 The moon and stars for fear of sprites were fled ; 
 The shi'ieking goblins each-where howling flew ; 
 The furies roar, the ghosts and fairies yell. 
 The earth was fill'd with devils, and empty hell. 
 
 16. 
 The Soldan fierce (through all this horror) went 
 Toward the camp of his redoubted foes ; 
 The night was more than half consum'd and spent ; 
 Now headlong down the western hill she goes ; 
 
 1 Allow' d — approved, * Dight — armed.
 
 184 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE; OR, 
 
 Wten distant scant a mile from Godfrey's tent 
 
 He let his people there a while repose, 
 
 And vittail'd' them, and then he boldly spoke 
 
 These words, which rage and courage might provoke j 
 
 17. 
 " See there a camp, full stuft of spoils and preys. 
 Not half so strong, as false report recordeth ; 
 See there the store-house, where their captain lays 
 Our treasures stol'n, where Asia's wealth he hoardeth; 
 Now chance the ball unto our racket plays, 
 Take then the vantage which good luck affordeth ; 
 For all their arms, their horses, gold, and treasure 
 Are ours, ours without loss, harm, or displeasure. 
 
 18. 
 
 " Nor is this camp that great victorious host. 
 That slew the Persian lords, and Nice hath won ; 
 For those in this long war are spent and lost ; 
 These are the dregs, the wine is all outrun : 
 And these few left are drowu'd and dead almost 
 In heavy sleep ; the labour half is done 
 
 To send them headlong to Avemus deep ; 
 
 For little differs death and heavy sleep. 
 
 19. 
 
 " Come, come, this sword the passage open shall 
 Into their camp, and on their bodies slain 
 We will pass o'er their rampire and their wall ; 
 This blade, as scj-thes cut down the fields of grain, 
 Shall cut them so ; Christ's kingdom now shall fall ; 
 Asia her freedom, you shall praise obtain." 
 Thus he inflam'd his soldiers to the fight, 
 And led them on through silence of the uight. 
 
 20. 
 The sentinel by starlight (lo) descride 
 This mighty Soldan, and his host draw near. 
 Who found not, as he hop'd, the Christians' guide 
 Unware, ne yet unready was his gear : 
 The scout, when this huge army he espide, 
 Kan back, and 'gan with shouts the larum rear ; 
 The watch start up, and drew their weapons bright, 
 And buskt them bold to battle and to fight. 
 » Xiniul'i—nciuard.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 185 
 
 21. 
 
 Th' Arabians wist they could not come unseen, 
 And therefore loud their jarring trumpets sound : 
 Their yelling cries to Heav'n upheaved been ; 
 The horses thund'red on the solid ground ; 
 The mountains roared, and the valleys green ; 
 The echoes sighed from the caves around ; 
 Alecto with her brand (kindled in hell) 
 Tokened* to them, in David's tower that dwell. 
 
 Before the rest forth prick'd the Soldan fast, 
 
 Against the watch not yet in order just. 
 
 As swift as hideous Boreas' hasty blast, 
 
 From hollow rocks when first his storms out burst ; 
 
 The raging floods, that trees and rocks down cast. 
 
 Thunders, that towns and towers drive to dust. 
 
 Earthquakes, to tear the world in twain that threat, 
 Are nought, compared to his fury great. 
 
 23. 
 
 He struck no blow, but that his foe he hit ; 
 And never hit, but made a grievous wound : 
 And never wounded, but death followed it ; 
 And yet no peril, hurt or harm he found : 
 No weapon on his harden'd helmet bit, 
 No puissant stroke his senses once astound ; 
 Yet like a bell his tinkling helmet rung, 
 And thence flew flames of fire and spai'ks among. 
 
 24. 
 
 Himself well nigh had put the watch to flight, 
 A jolly troop of Frenchmen strong and stout. 
 When his Arabians came by heaps to sight. 
 Covering (like raging floods) the fields about : 
 The beaten Christians run away full light ; 
 The Pagans (mingled with the flying rout) 
 Enter 'd their camp, and filled (as they stood) 
 Then- tents with ruin, slaughter, death, and blood. 
 
 25. 
 
 High on the Soldan's helm enamel'd laid 
 An hideous dragon, arm'd with many a scale, 
 With iron paws, and leathern wings displaid, 
 Which twisted on a knot her forked tail : 
 
 1 Tokened — gave intelligence.
 
 186 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNEj OR, 
 
 With triple tongue it seem'd she hist and hraid ;' 
 About her jaws the froth and venom trail; 
 And as he stirr'd, and as his foes him hit, 
 So flames to cast, and fire she seem'd to spit. 
 
 26. 
 With this strange light the Soldan fierce appeared 
 Dreadful to those, that round about him been, 
 As to poor sailors (when huge storms are reared") 
 With lightning flash the raging seas are seen : 
 Some fled away, because his strength they feared ; 
 Some bolder 'gainst him bent their weapons keen ; 
 And froward night (in evils and mischiefs pleased) 
 Theu" dangers hid, and dangers still increased. 
 
 27. 
 Among the rest (that strove to merit praise) 
 Was old Latinus, born by Tyber's bank. 
 To whose stout heart (in fights and bloody frays) 
 For all his eild,^ base fear yet never sank ; 
 Five sons he had, the comforts of his days. 
 That from his side in no adventure shrank ; 
 But long before their time, in iron strong 
 They clad their members, tender, soft, and young. 
 
 28. 
 The bold ensample of their father's might 
 Their weapons whetted, and their wrath increast ; 
 " Come, let us go," quoth he, " where yonder knight 
 Upon our soldiers makes his bloody feast : 
 Let not their slaughter once j'our hearts aS'right ; 
 Where danger most appears, there fear it least ; 
 For honour dwells in hard attempts, my sons, 
 And gi-eatest praise in greatest peril wens.* 
 
 29. 
 
 Her tender brood the forest's savage queen 
 (Ere on their crests their rugged manes appear, 
 Betore their mouths by nature armed been. 
 Or paws have strength a seely lamb to tear) 
 So leadeth forth to prey, and makes them keen. 
 And learn by her ensample nought to fear 
 The hunter, in those desert woods that takes 
 The lesser beasts, whereon his feast he makes. 
 
 1 Braid — brandithed, ^ Reared — raited. 
 
 ^ iiild — old age. ♦ Woua — dwelU.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. ISt 
 
 30. 
 
 The noble father and his hardy crew- 
 Fierce Solyman on every side invade, 
 At once all six upon the Soldan flew 
 With lances sharp, and strong encounters made ; 
 His broken spear the eldest boy down threw, 
 And boldly (over boldly) drew his blade, 
 
 Wherewith he strove (but strove therewith in vain) 
 The Pagan's steed (unmai'ked) to have slain. 
 
 31. 
 
 But as a mountain, or a cape of land, 
 
 Assail'd -with storms and seas on every side. 
 
 Doth unremoved, stedfast, still withstand 
 
 Storm, thunder, lightning, tempest, wind, and tide ; 
 
 The Soldan so withstood Latinus' band. 
 
 And imremov'd did all their justs abide ; 
 
 And of that hapless youth (who hurt his steed) 
 Down to the chin he cleft in twain the head. 
 
 32. 
 
 Kind Aramante (who saw his brother slain) 
 
 To hold him up stretch'd forth his friendly arm ; 
 
 O foolish kindness, and O pity vain. 
 
 To add our proper loss to other's harm ! 
 
 The Prince let fall his sword, and cut in twain 
 
 (About his brother twin'd) the child's weak arm ; 
 
 Down fi'om their saddles both together slide ; 
 
 Together mourn'd they, and together dide. 
 
 33. 
 That done, Sabino's lance with nimble force 
 He cut in twain, and 'gainst the stripling bold 
 He spurr'd his steed, that underneath his horse 
 The hardy infant tumbled on the mold. 
 Whose soul (out-squeezed from his bruised corse) 
 With ugly painfulness forsook her hold. 
 
 And deeply mourn'd, that of so sweet a cage 
 She left the bliss, and joys of youthful age. 
 
 34. 
 But Pious yet and Laurence were on live. 
 Whom at one birth their mother fair brought out; 
 A pair whose likeness made the parents strive 
 Oft which was which, and joyed in their doubt :
 
 188 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE; OE, 
 
 But what their birth did tindistinguish'd give. 
 The Soldan's rage made known, for Picus stout 
 Headless at one huge blow he lay'd in dust, 
 And through the breast his gentle brother thrust. 
 
 35. 
 
 Their father (but no father now alas ! 
 ^Vhen all his noble sons at once were slain) 
 In their five deaths so often murd'red was, 
 I know not how his life could him sustain. 
 Except his heart were forg'd of steel or brass ; 
 Yet still he liv'd ; pardie, he saw not plain 
 
 Their dying looks, although their deaths he knows ; 
 
 It is some ease not to behold our woes. 
 
 36. 
 
 He wept not, for the night her curtain spread 
 Between his cause of weeping and his eyes, 
 But still he mourn'd, and on sharp vengeance fed. 
 And thinks he conquers, if reveng'd he dies ; 
 He thirsts the Soldan's heath'nish blood to shed, 
 And yet his own at less than nought doth prize ; 
 Nor can he tell whether he leifer would 
 Or die himself, or kill the Pagan bould. 
 
 37. 
 
 At last, — "Is this right hand," quoth he, "so weak. 
 That thou disdain'st 'gainst me to use thy might ? 
 Can it nought do ? Can this tongue nothing speak 
 That may provoke thine ire, thy wrath and spight ?" 
 With that he stroke (his anger great to wreak) 
 A blow that pierced the mail and metal bright, 
 And in his flank set ope a flood-gate wide. 
 Whereat the blood out streamed from his side. 
 
 38. 
 
 Provoked with his cry, and with that blow. 
 The Turk upon him 'gan his blade discharge, 
 He cleft his breast-plate, having first pierc'd throw, 
 (Lined with sev'n bulls' hides) his mighty targe. 
 And sheath'd his weapon in his guts below; 
 Wretched Latinus at that issue large. 
 
 And at his mouth, pour'd out his vital blood, 
 And sprinkled with the same his murder'd brood.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 189 
 
 39. 
 
 On Appenine, like as a sturdy tree, 
 Against the winds that makes resistance stout, 
 If with a storm it over-turned be, 
 Falls down, and breaks the trees and plants about ; 
 So Latine fell, and with him felled he 
 And slew the nearest of the Pagan's rout ; 
 A worthy end, fit for a man of fame. 
 That dying, slew, and conquer'd, overcame. 
 
 40. 
 Meanwhile the Soldan strove his rage interne' 
 To satisfy with blood of Christians spill'd ; 
 Th' Arabians heart'ned^ by their captain stern, 
 With murder every tent and cabin tiU'd ; 
 Henry the English knight, and Olipherne, 
 fierce Draguto, by thy hands were kill'd ! 
 Gilbert and Philip were by Ariadene 
 Both slain, both born upon the banks of Ehene. 
 
 41. 
 Albazar with his mace Ernesto slew ; 
 Under Algazel Engerlan down fell ; 
 But the huge murder of the meaner crew. 
 Or manner of their deaths, wliat tongue can tell ? 
 Godfrey, when first the heathen trumpets blew, 
 Awak'd ; which heard, no fear could make him dwell. 
 But he and his were up and arm'd ere long. 
 And marched forward with a squadron strong. 
 
 42. 
 He, that well heard the rumour and the cry, 
 And mark'd the tumult still grow more and more, 
 Th' Arabian thieves he judged by and by 
 Against his soldiers made this battle sore ; 
 For that they forraid' all the countries nigh. 
 And spoU'd the fields, the Duke knew well before. 
 
 Yet thought he not they had the hardiment 
 
 So to assail him in his armed tent. 
 
 43. 
 
 All suddenly he heard (while on he went) 
 How to the cityward, "Arm, arm," they cride; 
 The noise, upreared to the firmament. 
 With dreadful howling fill'd the valleys wide : 
 Interne— inwari. * Heart'ned — encouraged, ^ Forraid — laidr^atie.
 
 190 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNEj OR, 
 
 This was Clorinda, whom the King forth sent 
 
 To battle, and Argantes by her side. 
 
 The Duke (this heard) to Guelpho turn'd and pray'd 
 H'T" his lieutenant be, and to him said : — 
 
 44. 
 
 " You hear this new alarm from yonder part. 
 That from the town breaks out with so much rage, 
 Us needeth much your valour and your art 
 To calm their fury, and their heat to swage ; 
 Go thither, then, and with you take some part 
 Of these brave soldiers of mine equipage, 
 
 While with the res'due of my champions bold 
 I drive these wolves again out of our fold." 
 
 45. 
 
 They parted (this agreed on them between) 
 By divers paths ; Lord Guelpho to the hill ; 
 And Godfrey hasted where th' Arabians keen 
 His men like seely sheep destroy and kill ; 
 But, as he went, his troops increased been; 
 From every part the people flocked still ; 
 That now grown strong enough, he 'proached nie 
 Where the fierce Turk caus'd many a Christian die. 
 
 46. 
 
 So from the top of Vesulus the cold, 
 Down to the sandy valleys tumbleth Po, 
 Whose streams the further from their fountain roll'd 
 Still stronger wax, and with more puissance go ; 
 And, horned like a bull, his forehead bold 
 He lifts, and o'er his broken banks doth flow. 
 And with his horns to pierce the sea assays. 
 To which he proff'reth war, not tribute pays. 
 
 47. 
 
 The Duke his men fast flying did espy, 
 And thither ran, and thus (displeased) spake : 
 " What fear is this ? whither do you fly? 
 See who they be, that this pursuit do make ; 
 A heartless band, that dare no battle try, 
 Who wounds before dare neither give nor take : 
 
 Against them turn your stem eyes' threat 'ning sight. 
 An angry look will put them all to flight."
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 191 
 
 48. 
 This said, he spurred forth where Solyman 
 Destroy'd Christ's vineyard, lilve a savage bore ; 
 Through streams of blood, through dust and dirt he ran, 
 O'er heaps of bodies wallowing in their gore ; 
 The squadrons close his sword to ope began ; 
 He brake their ranks, behind, beside, before ; 
 And (where he goes) under his feet he treads 
 The armed Saracines, and barbed steeds. 
 
 49. 
 
 This slaughter-house of angry Mars he past. 
 Where thousands dead, half dead, and dying were; 
 The hardy Soldan saw him come in hast, 
 Yet neither stept aside, nor shrunk for fear. 
 But buskt him bold to fight ; aloft he cast 
 His blade, prepar'd to strike, and stepped near ; 
 These noble princes twain (so Fortune wrought) 
 From the world's end here met, and here they fought • 
 
 50. 
 
 With virtue, fury ; strength with courage strove. 
 
 For Asia's mighty empire ; who can tell 
 
 With how strange force their cruel blows they drove ? 
 
 How sore their combat was ? how fierce, how fell ? 
 
 Great deeds they wrought, each other's harness clove ; 
 
 Yet stUl in darkness (more the ruth) they dwell : 
 The night their acts her black veil covered under. 
 Their acts, whereat the sun, the world might wonder 
 
 51. 
 
 The Christians (by their guide's ensample) hearted, 
 Of their best armed made a squadron strong, 
 And to defend their chieftain forth they started ; 
 The Pagans also sav'd their knight from wrong : 
 Fortune her favours 'twixt them ev'nly parted ; 
 Fierce was th' encounter, blood}', doubtful, long ; 
 
 These won, those lost ; these lost, those won again ; 
 
 The loss was equal, ev'n the numbers slain. 
 
 52. 
 
 With equal rage, as when the southern wind 
 
 Meeteth in battle strong the northern blast, 
 
 The sea and air to neither is resign'd. 
 
 But cloud 'gainst cloud, and wave 'gainst wave they cast
 
 192 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 So from this skirmish neither part declin'd, 
 But fought it out, and kept their footings fast ; 
 
 And oft with furious shock together rush, [crush 
 
 And shield 'gainst shield, and helm 'gainst helm they 
 
 53. 
 
 The hattle eke to Sion-ward grew hot ; 
 The soldiers slain, the hardy knights were kill'd ; 
 Legions of sprites, from Limbo's prisons got, 
 The empty air, the hills and valleys fiU'd, 
 Hearting the Pagans that they shrinked not. 
 Till, where they stood, their dearest blood they spill'd ; 
 And with new rage Argantes they inspire, 
 Whose heat no flames, whose burning need no fire. 
 
 54. 
 
 "WTiere he came in he put to shameful flight 
 The fearful watch, and o'er the trenches leapt ; 
 Ev'n with the ground he made the rampire's hight. 
 And murd'red bodies in the ditch upheapt ; 
 So that his greedy mates with labour light 
 Amid the tents, a bloody harvest reapt : 
 
 Clorinda went the proud Circassian by ; 
 
 So from a piece two chained bullets fly. 
 
 55. 
 Now fled the Frenchmen, when in lucky hour 
 Arrived Guelpho, and his helping band ; 
 He made them turn against this stormy show'r, 
 And with bold face their wicked foes withstand ; 
 Sternly they fought, that from their wounds down pour 
 The streams of blood, and run on either hand : 
 The Lord of Heav'n meanwhile upon this fight, 
 From His high throne bent down His gracious sight. 
 
 56. 
 
 From whence with grace and goodness compast round, 
 He ruleth, blesseth, keepeth all He wrought, 
 Above the air, the fire, the sea and ground. 
 Our sense, our wit, our reason and our thought; 
 Where Persons Three (with power and glory crown'd) 
 Are all one God, who made all things of nought ; 
 Under whos6 feet (subjected to His grace) 
 Sit nature, fortune, motion, time and place.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 193 
 
 57. 
 This is the place, from whence, like smoke and dust. 
 Of this frail world the wealth, the pomp and power, 
 He tosseth, tumbleth, turneth as he lust,^ 
 And guides our life, our death, our end and hour : 
 No eye (however virtuous, pure and just) 
 Can view the brightness of that glorious bower ; 
 On every side the blessed spirits be, 
 Equal in joys, though diff'ring in degree. 
 
 58. 
 With harmony of their celestial song 
 The palace echoed from the chambers pure ; 
 At last He Michael call'd (in harness strong 
 Of never yielding diamonds armed sure) 
 " Behold," quoth he, " to do despite and wrong 
 To that dear flock my mercy hath in cure, 
 
 How Satan from hell's loathsome prison sends 
 His ghosts, his sprites, his furies and his fiends. 
 
 59. 
 
 " Go, bid them all depart, and leave the care 
 Of war to soldiers, as doth best pertain : 
 Bid them forbear t' infect the earth and air ; 
 To darken Heav'n's fair light, bid them refrain ; 
 Bid them to Acheron's black flood repair, 
 Pit house for them, the house of grief and pain : 
 
 There let their king himself and them torment ; 
 
 So I command, go tell them mine intent." 
 
 60. 
 This said, the winged warrior low inclin'd 
 At his Creator's feet with rev'rence due ; 
 Then spread his golden feathers to the wind, 
 And, swift as thought, away the angel flew : 
 He pass'd the light and shining fire, assign'd 
 The glorious seat of his selected crew, 
 The mover first and circle crystalline. 
 The firmament, where fixed stars all shine. 
 
 61. 
 
 Unlike in working then, in shape and show. 
 
 At his left hand Saturn he left, and Jove, 
 
 And those untruly errant" call'd, I trow. 
 
 Since He errs not, who them doth guide and move : 
 
 1 Lust — as he pleases. ' Errant — wandering. 
 
 O
 
 19-1- GODFREY OF BULLOIGKE ; OB, 
 
 The fields he passed then, whence hail and snow. 
 Thunder and ram fall down from clouds above. 
 Where heat and cold, dryness and moisture strive. 
 Whose wars all creatures kill, and slain revive. 
 
 62. 
 
 The horrid darkness, and the shadows dun 
 Dispersed he with his eternal wings ; 
 The flames (which from his heav'nly eyes out-run) 
 Beguil'd the earth, and all her sable things; 
 After a storm so spreadeth forth the sun 
 His rays, and binds the clouds in golden strings; 
 Or in the stillness of a moonshine even, 
 A falling star so glideth down Hom heaven. 
 
 63. 
 
 But when th' infernal troop he 'proached near, 
 That still the Pagan's ire and rage provoke. 
 The angel on his wings himself did bear, 
 And shook his lance, and thus at last he spoke : 
 " Have you not learned j-et to know and fear 
 The Lord's just wrath, and thunder's dreadful stroke? 
 Or in tlie torments of your endless ill. 
 Are you still fierce, still proud, rebellious still? 
 
 64. 
 
 " The Lord hath sworn to break the iron bands. 
 The brazen gates of Sion's fort which close ; 
 Who is it that His sacred will withstands ? 
 Against His wrath who dares himself oppose ? 
 Go hence, you curst, to your appointed lands, 
 The realms of death, of torments, and of woes, 
 And in the deeps of that infernal lake 
 Your battles fight, and there youi- triumphs make : 
 
 65. 
 
 " There tyrannize upon the souls you find 
 Condemn'd to woe, and double still their pains, 
 Where some complain, where some their teeth do grind. 
 Some howl and weep, some clink their iron chains ;" 
 This said, they fled; and those that stay'd behind 
 With his sharp lance he driveth and constrains ; 
 They sighing left the lands, his silver sheep 
 Where Hesperus doth lead, doth feed, doth keep;
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 195 
 
 66. 
 And towards hell their lazy wings display, 
 To wreak their malice on the damned ghosts ; 
 The birds, that follow Titan's hottest ray, 
 Pass not by so great flocks to warmer coasts, 
 Nor leaves by so great numbers fall away. 
 When winter nips them with his new-come frosts : 
 The earth (deliver'd from so foul annoy) 
 Eecall'd her beauty, and resum'd her joy. 
 
 67. 
 But not for this (in fierce Argantes' breast) 
 Lessen'd the rancour, or decay'd the ire. 
 Although Alecto left him to infest 
 With the hot brands of her infernal five ; 
 His armed head with his sharp blade he blest,' 
 And those thick ranks which seemed most entire 
 
 He broke ; the strong, the weak, the high, the low 
 
 Wex-e equalized by his murd'ring blow : 
 
 68. 
 Not far from him, amid the blood and dust, 
 Heads, arms, and legs Clorinda strowed wide : 
 Her sword through Berengario's breast she thrust. 
 Quite through his heart, where life doth chiefly bide. 
 And that fell blow she struck so sure and just. 
 That at his back his blood and life forth glide; 
 Even in the mouth she smote Albinus than, 
 And cut in twain the visage of the man ; 
 
 69. 
 
 Gemier's right hand she from his arm divided. 
 Whereof but late she had receiv'd a wound. 
 The hand his sword still held, although not guided; 
 The fingers (half on live) stirr'd on the ground : 
 So from a serpent slain the tail divided 
 Moves in the grass, rolleth and tumbleth round ; 
 The championess so wounded left the knight. 
 And 'gainst Achilles turn'd her weapon bright s 
 
 70. 
 Upon his neck light^ that unhappy blow, 
 And cut the sinews and the throat in twain ; 
 The head fell down upon the earth below, 
 And soil'd with dust the visage on the plain ; 
 1 Blest — waved his sword. * Light — alighted, 
 
 o 2
 
 196 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE; OR, 
 
 The headless trunk (a wofal thing to know) 
 
 Still in the saddle seated did remain, 
 
 Until his steed (that felt the reins at large) 
 With leaps and flings that burden did discharge. 
 
 71. 
 
 While thus this fair and fierce Bellona slew 
 The western lords, and put their troops to flight, 
 Gildippes raged 'mongst the Pagan crew. 
 And low in dust laid many a worthy knight : 
 Like was their sex, their beauty, and their hue. 
 Like was then- j'outh, their courage aud their might; 
 Yet fortune would they should the battle trj- 
 Of mightitr foes, for both were fram'd to die. 
 
 72. 
 Yet wish'd they oft, and strove in vain to meet. 
 So great betwixt them was the prease' and throng : 
 But hardy Guelpho 'gainst Clorinda sweet, 
 Vent'red his sword, to work her harm and wrong, 
 And with a cutting blow so did her greet. 
 That from her side the blood stream'd down along; 
 But with a thrust an answer shai'p she made. 
 And 'twixt his ribs colour'd some deal her blade. 
 
 73. 
 
 Lord Guelpho stroke again, but hit her not, 
 For strong Osmida haply passed by. 
 And, not meant him, another's wound he got. 
 That cleft his front in twain above his eye: 
 Near Guelpho now the battle waxed hot. 
 For all the troops he led 'gan thither hie ; 
 
 And thither drew eke many a Paynim knight. 
 That fierce, stem, bloody, deadly waxt the fight. 
 
 74. 
 Meanwhile the purple morning peeped o'er 
 The eastern threshold, to our half of land. 
 And Argillano in this great uproar 
 From prison loosed was, and what he fand. 
 Those arms he bent, and to the field them bore, 
 Resolv'd to take his chance what came to hand, 
 And with great acts, amid the Pagan host, 
 Would win again his reputation lost. 
 ^ Prease — press.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED, 197 
 
 75. 
 
 As a fierce steed, 'scapt from his stall at large, 
 Where he had long been kept for warlike need, 
 Runs through the fields unto the flow'ry marge 
 Of some green forest, where he us'd to feed ; 
 His curled mane his shoulders broad doth charge. 
 And from his lofty crest doth sprhig and spreed; 
 Thunder his feet, his nostrils fire breathe out, 
 And with his neigh the world resounds about ; 
 
 76. 
 So Argillan rush'd forth ; sparkled his eyes, 
 His front high lifted was, no fear therein. 
 Lightly he leaps and skips, it seems he flies, 
 He left no sign in dust imprinted thin. 
 And coming near his foes, he sternly cries 
 (As one that forst^ not all their strength a pin), 
 " You outcasts of the world, you men of nought, 
 What hath in you this boldness newly wrought ? 
 
 77. 
 " Too weak are you to bear an helm or shield. 
 Unfit to arm your breast in iron bright, 
 You run half-naked trembling through the field. 
 Your blows are feeble, and j-^our hope in flight ; 
 Your facts, and all the actions that you wield. 
 The darkness hides ; j'our bulwark is the night ; 
 
 Now she is gone, how will j'our fights succeed ? 
 
 Now better arms and better hearts you need." 
 
 78. 
 While thus he spoke, he gave a cruel stroke 
 Against Algazel's throat with might and main ; 
 And, as he would have answer'd him and spoke, 
 He stopp'd his words, and cut his jaws in twain ; 
 Upon his eyes death spread his misty cloke, 
 A chilling frost congealed every vein ; 
 
 He fell, and with his teeth the earth he tore, 
 Eaging in death, and full of rage before. 
 
 79. 
 Then by his puissance mighty Saladine, 
 Proud Agricalt and Muleasses dide ; 
 And at one wondrous blow his weapon fine 
 Did Adiazel in two parts divide ; 
 
 ' Forst — regarded.
 
 198 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 Then through the breast he wounded Ariadine, 
 Whom dying with sharp taunts he 'gan deride; 
 He lifting up uneath his feeble e\-es, 
 To his proud scorns thus answ'reth, ere he dies : 
 
 80. 
 " Not thou (who e'er thou art) shall glory long 
 Thy happy conquest in my death, I trow, 
 Like chance awaits thee from a hand more strong, 
 Which by my side will shortly lay thee low :" 
 He smil'd, and said, " Of mine hour, short or long. 
 Let Heav'n take care ; but here meanwhile die thou. 
 Pasture for wolves and crows." On him his tout' 
 He set, and drew his sword and life both out. 
 
 81. 
 Among this squadron rode a gentle page. 
 The Soldan's minion, darling and delight. 
 On whose fair chin the spring-time of his age 
 Yet blossom'd out her flowers, small or light ; 
 The sweat (spread on his cheeks with heat and rage) 
 Seem'd pearls, or morning dews, on lilies white ; 
 
 The dust therein up-roll'd adorn'd his hair ; 
 
 His face seem'd fierce and sweet, wrathful and fair. 
 
 82. 
 
 His steed was white, and white as purest snow 
 
 That lalls on tops of aged Appenine ; 
 
 Lightning and storm are not so swift, I trow. 
 
 As he to run, to stop, to turn and twine; 
 
 A dart his right-hand shaked, prest* to throw ; 
 
 His curtlax by his thigh, short, hooked, fine; 
 And braving^ in his Turkish pomp, he shone 
 In purple-robe, o'erfret with gold and stone. 
 
 83. 
 
 The hardy boy (while thirst of warlike praise 
 Bewitched so his unadvised thought) 
 'Gainst every band his childish strength assays, 
 And little danger found, though much he sought, 
 Till Argillan (that watcht fit time always 
 Li his swift turns to strike him as he fought) 
 Did unawares his snow-white courser slay, 
 And under him his master tumbling lay : 
 1 Font— foot, - Prest — ready. ' Braving — looking fine.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 199 
 
 And 'gainst his face (where love and pity stand 
 To pray him that rich throne of beauty spare) 
 The cruel man stretcht forth his murd'ring hand 
 To spoil those gifts, whereof he had no share : 
 It seem'd remorse, and sense was in his brand, 
 Which lighting flat to hurt the lad forbare ; 
 
 But all for nought, 'gainst him the point he bent, 
 That (what the edge had spared) pierc'd and rent. 
 
 85. 
 
 Fierce Solyman, that with Godfredo strived 
 Who first should enter conquest's glorious gate. 
 Left off the fray, and thither headlong drived. 
 When first he saw the lad in such estate ; 
 He brake the press, and soon enough arrived 
 To take revenge, but to his aid too late. 
 Because he saw his Lesbine slain and lost, 
 Like a sweet flower nipt with untimely frost. 
 
 86. 
 He saw wax dim the starlight of his eyes ; 
 His ivory neck upon his shoulders fell ; 
 In his pale looks kind pity's image lies. 
 That death ev'n mourn'd, to hear his passing-bell : 
 His marble heart such soft impression tries, 
 That midst his wrath, his manly tears outwell; 
 " Thou weepest (Solyman) thou that behield 
 Thy kingdoms lost, and not one tear couldst yield. 
 
 87. 
 But when the murd'rer's sword he happ'd to view 
 Dropping with blood of his Lesbino dead, 
 His pity vanish'd ; ire and rage renew ; 
 He had no leisure bootless tears to shed ; 
 But with his blade on Argillano flew. 
 And cleft his shield, his helmet, and his head, 
 Down to his throat ; and worthy was that blow 
 Of Solyman, his strength and wrath to show : 
 
 And not content with this, down from his horse 
 He light, and that dead carcase rent and tore ; 
 Like a fierce dog, that takes his angry course 
 To bite the stone which had him hit before.
 
 200 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j Olt, 
 
 O comfort vain for fjrief of so great force, 
 To wound the senseless earth that feels no sore. 
 But mighty Godfrey 'gainst the Soldan's train 
 Spent not (this while) his force and blows in vain. 
 
 89. 
 
 A thousand hardy Turks afront he had 
 
 In sturdy iron arm'd from head to fout, 
 
 Resolv'd in all adventures good or bad, 
 
 In actions wise, in execution stout, 
 
 Whom Solyman into Arabia lad. 
 
 When from his kingdom he was first cast out, 
 Where living wild with their exiled guide. 
 To him in all extremes they faithful bide ; 
 
 90. 
 
 All these in thickest order sure unite, 
 For Godfrey's valour small or nothing shrank; 
 Corcutes first he on the face did smite. 
 Then wounded strong Rosteno in the flank ; 
 At one blow Selim's head he stroke off" quite, 
 Then both Rossano's arms; in every rank 
 The boldest knights (of all that chosen crew) 
 He felled, maimed, wounded, hurt and slew. 
 
 91. 
 
 While thus he killed many a Saracine, 
 
 And all their fierce assaults unhurt sustained ; 
 
 Ere fortune wholly from the Turks decline, 
 
 While still they hoped much, though small they gained. 
 
 Behold a cloud of dust, wherein doth shine 
 
 Lightning of war in midst thereof contained. 
 
 Whence unawares burst forth a storm of swords, 
 Which tremble made the Pagan knights and lords. 
 
 92. 
 
 These fifty champions were, 'mongst whom there stands 
 
 (In silver field) the ensign of Christ's death : 
 
 If I had mouths and tongues, as Briareus' hands. 
 
 If voice as iron tough, if iron breath, 
 
 What harm this troop wrought to the heathen bands, 
 
 What knights they slew, I could recount uneath: 
 
 In vain the Turks resist, th' Arabians fly ; 
 
 For if they fly, th' are slain : if fight, they die.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 201 
 
 93. 
 
 Fear, cruelty, grief, horror, sorrow, pain, 
 Eun through tlie field, disguis'd in divers shapes ; 
 Death might you see triumphant on the plain, 
 Drowning in blood him that from blows escapes : 
 The King meanwhile with parcel of his train 
 Comes hast'ly out, and for sure conquest gapes, 
 And from a bank whereon he stood, behield 
 The doubtful hazard of that bloody field. 
 
 94. 
 
 But when he saw the Pagans shrink away, 
 
 He sounded the retreat, and 'gan desire 
 
 His messengers in his behalf to pray 
 
 Argantes and Clorinda to retire ; 
 
 The furious couple both at once said nay, 
 
 Ev'n drunk with shedding blood, and mad with ire : 
 At last they went ; and to recomfort' thought. 
 And stay their troops from flight, but all for nought. 
 
 95. 
 
 For who can govern cowardice or fear p 
 Their host already was begun to fly : 
 They cast their shields and cutting swords arrear," 
 As not defended, but made slow therebj': 
 A hollow dale, the citj^'s bulwarks near, 
 From west to south outstretched long doth lie ; 
 Thither they fled, and in a mist of dust 
 Towards the walls they run, they throng, they thrust. 
 
 96. 
 While down the bank disorder'd thus they ran, 
 The Christian knights huge slaughter on them made ; 
 But when to climb the other hill they 'gan, 
 Old Aladine came fiercely to their aid : 
 On that steep bray^ Lord Guelpho would not than 
 Hazard his folk, but there his soldiers stay'd ; 
 And safe within the city's walls the King 
 The relics small of that sharp fight did bring. 
 
 97. 
 Meanwhile the Soldan in this latest charge 
 Had done as much as human force was able ; 
 All sweat and blood appear 'd his members large. 
 His breath was short, his courage wax'd unstable : 
 
 1 Eecomfort — encourage. ^ Arrear — behind. 
 
 ' Bray — hill. " Probably from the French CQmponndfausse-braye, which 
 means a counter breast-work, covering the losse of a fortified place."
 
 202 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 His arm grew weak to bear his mighty targe ; 
 
 His hand to rule his heavy sword unable ; 
 
 'Which bruis'd, not cut, so blunted was the blade, 
 It lost the use for which a sword was made. 
 
 98. 
 
 Feeling his weakness, he 'gan musing stand. 
 And in his troubled thought this question tost. 
 If he himself should murder with his hand, 
 (Because none else should of his conquest boast) 
 Or he should save his life, when on the land 
 Lay slain the pride of his subdued host : 
 
 " At last, to fortune's power," quoth he, " I yield. 
 And on my flight let her her trophies bield.* 
 
 99. 
 " Let Godfrey view my flight, and smile to see 
 This mine imworthy second banishment ; 
 For arm'd again soon shall he hear of me, 
 From his proud head th' unsettled crown to rent : 
 For (as my wrongs) my wrath etern shall be, 
 And every hour (the bow of war new bent) 
 
 I will arise again, a foe, fierce, bold. 
 
 Though dead, though slain, though burnt to ashes cold.' 
 
 1 Bield— iuiW.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 §00li t\t Wtni^. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Ismen from sleep aioaJces the Soldan great, 
 And into Sion brings the Prince by night, 
 Where the sad King sits fearful on his seat. 
 Whom he emboUVneth, and excites to fight : 
 Godfredo hears his lords and knights repeat 
 Sow they escaped Armidas wrath and spite : 
 Rinaldo known to live, Peter foresaies^ 
 Sis offspring's virtue, good deserts and praise. 
 
 1. 
 
 A GALLANT steed (while thus the Soldan said) 
 Came trotting by him, without lord or guide; 
 Quickly his hand upon the reins he laid, 
 And weak and weary climbed up to ride ; 
 The snake (that on his crest hot fire out-braid) 
 Was quite cut off, his helm had lost the pride ; 
 His coat was rent, his harness hackt and cleft, 
 And of his kingly pomp no sign was left. 
 
 2. 
 
 As when a savage wolf, chas'd from the fold, 
 (To hide his head) runs to some holt or wood, 
 Who, though he filled have, while it might hold, 
 His greedy paunch, yet hung'reth after food. 
 With sanguine tongue forth of his lips out-rold 
 About his jaws that licks up foam and blood; 
 So from this bloody fray the Soldan hied, 
 His rage unquench'd, his wrath unsatisfied. 
 
 * Foresaies— /ore<eW«.
 
 204 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 3. 
 
 And (as his fortune would) he 'scaped free 
 From thousand arrows, which about him flew ; 
 From swords and lances, instruments that be 
 Of certain death, himself he safe withdrew ; 
 Unknown, unseen, disguised travell'd he 
 By desert paths, and ways but us'd by few ; 
 And rode, revolving in his troubled thought 
 What course to take, and yet resolved on nought. 
 
 4. 
 Thither at last he meant to take his way, 
 Where Egypt's king assembled all his host. 
 To join with him, and once again assay 
 To win by fight, by which so oft he lost ; 
 Determin'd thus, he made no longer stay, 
 But thitherward spurr'd forth his steed in post ;' 
 Nor need he guide ; the way right well he could,^ 
 That leads to sandy plains of Gaza old. 
 
 5, 
 
 Nor, though his smarting wounds torment him oft. 
 His body weak, and wounded back and side, 
 Yet rested he, nor once his armour doft, 
 But all day long o'er hills and dales doth ride : 
 But when the night cast up her shade aloft. 
 And all earth's colours strange in sables dy'd, 
 He light, and, as he could, his wounds up-bound. 
 And shook ripe dates down from a palm he found. 
 
 6. 
 
 On them he supped, and amid the field 
 To rest his weary limbs awhile he sought ; 
 He made his pillow of his broken shield, 
 To ease the griefs of his distemper'd thought : 
 But little ease could so hard lodging yield ; 
 His wounds so smarted, that he slept right nought ; 
 And (in his breast) his proud heart rent in twain 
 Two inward vultures, sorrow and disdain. 
 
 7. 
 At length, when midnight with her silence deep 
 Did heav'n and earth husht, still and quiet make, 
 Sore watcht and weary, he began to steep 
 His cares and sorrows in oblivion's lake, 
 
 * In post — like a courier. 
 * Conld — the old preterite of can or con, to Jcnom,
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 205 
 
 And in a little, short, unquiet sleep 
 
 Some small repose his fainting spirits take ; 
 
 But (while he slept) a voice grave and severe, 
 
 At unawares, thus thunder'd in his ear : 
 
 *' Solyman ! thou far-renowned king, 
 Till better season serve, forbear thy rest ; 
 A stranger doth thy lands in thraldom bring ; 
 Nice is a slave, by Christian yoke opprest : 
 Sleepest thou here, forgetful of this thing. 
 That here thy friends lie slain, not laid in chest ?^ 
 Whose bones bear witness of thy shame and scorn, 
 And wilt thou idly here attend the morn ?" 
 
 9. 
 The King awak'd, and saw before his eyes 
 A man, whose presence seemed grave and old ; 
 A writhen^ staff his steps unstable guies,* 
 Which serv'd his feeble members to uphold : 
 " And what art thou ?" the Prince in scorn replies, 
 " What sprite to vex poor passengers, so bold 
 To break their sleep ? or what to thee belongs 
 My shame, my loss, my vengeance, or my wrongs?' 
 
 10. 
 " I am the man, of thine intent," quoth he, 
 " And purpose new that sure conjecture hath, 
 And better, than thou weenest, know I thee ; 
 I proffer thee my service and my faith ; 
 My speeches therefore sharp and biting be. 
 Because quick words the whetstones are of wrath ; 
 Accept in gree,^ my lord, the words I spoke. 
 As spurs thine ire and courage to provoke. 
 
 11. 
 
 " But now to visit Egypt's mighty king. 
 Unless my judgment lail, you are prepar'd ; 
 I prophesy, about a needless thing, 
 You suffer shall a voyage long and hard : 
 For though you stay, the monarch great will bring 
 His new assembled host to Juda-ward ; 
 No place of service there, no cause of fight. 
 Nor 'gainst our foes to use your force and might. 
 
 1 Chest — coffin. 2 VJ^nihen— twisted. 
 
 3 Guies— jiiii^es. * Accept in gree — take kindly.
 
 206 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 12. 
 
 " But if you follow me, within this wall 
 (With Christian arms hemm'd in on every side) 
 Withouten battle, fight, or stroke at all, 
 (Even at noon-day) I will j-ou safely guide, 
 Where you delight, rejoice, and glory shall 
 In perils great, to see your prowess tried : 
 
 That noble town you may preserve and shield, 
 Till Egypt's host come to renew the field." 
 
 13. 
 
 ^^liile thus he parled of this aged guest. 
 The Tm-k the words and looks did both admire. 
 And from his haughty eyes and furious breast 
 He laid apart his pride, his rage, and ire. 
 And humbly said, " I willing am and prest 
 To follow where thou leadest, reverend sire ; 
 And that advice best fits ray angry vein. 
 That tells of greatest peril, greatest pain." 
 
 14. 
 
 The old man prais'd his words, and for the air 
 His late-received wounds to worse disposes, 
 A quintessence therein he poured fair, 
 That stops the bleeding, and incision closes : 
 Beholding than, before Apollo's chair 
 How fresh Aurora violets strew'd and roses, 
 
 " It's time," he says, " to wend,' for Titan bright 
 To wonted labour summons every wight." 
 
 15. 
 
 And to a chariot (that beside did stand) 
 Ascended he, and with him Solyman ; 
 He took the reins, and with a mast'ring hand 
 Euled his steeds, and whipt thein now and than : 
 The wheels or horses' feet upon the land 
 Had left no sign nor token where they ran ; 
 
 The coursers pant, and smoke with lukewarm sweat. 
 And (foaming cream) their iron mouthluls eat. 
 
 16. 
 Tq3 air about them round (a wond'rous thing) 
 Itself on heaps in solid thickness drew. 
 The chariot hiding and environing ; 
 The subtle mist no mortal eye could view, 
 
 1 Wend — go.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 207 
 
 And yet no stone from engine cast, or sling, 
 Could pierce the cloud, it was of proof so true ; 
 Yet seen it was to tliem within which ride, 
 And heav'n and earth without all clear beside. 
 
 17. 
 
 His beetle' brows the Turk amazed bent. 
 
 He wrinkled up his front, and wildly stared 
 
 Upon the cloud and chariot, as it went. 
 
 For speed to Cynthia's car right-well compared : 
 
 The other seeing his astonishment. 
 
 How be bewondred^ was, and how he fared,^ 
 
 All suddenly by name the Prince 'gan call ; 
 
 By which awaked, thus he spoke withall ; 
 
 18. 
 " Whoe'er thou art, above all worldly wit. 
 That hast these high and wond'rous marvels wrought. 
 And know'st the deep intents, which hidden sit 
 In secret closet of man's private thought, 
 If in thy skilful heart this lore be writ. 
 To tell th' event of things to end unbrought ; 
 Then say, what issue and what end the stars 
 Allot to Asia's troubles, broils, and wars. 
 
 19. 
 
 " But tell me first thy name, and by what art 
 Thou dost these wonders strange, above our skill ; 
 For full of marvel is my troubled heart ; 
 Tell, then, and leave me not amazed still." 
 The Wizard smil'd and answ'red : " in some part 
 Easy it is to satisfy thy will ; 
 
 Ismen I bight,'' call'd an enchanter great, 
 
 Such skill have I in magic's secret feat. 
 
 20. 
 " But that I should the sure events unfold 
 Of things to come, or destinies foretell. 
 Too rash is your desire, your wish too bold ; 
 To mortal heart such knowledge never fell ; 
 Our wit and strength on us bestow'd I hold. 
 To shun th' evils and harms, amongst which we dwell ; 
 
 They make their fortune who are stout and wise ; 
 
 Wit rules the he&v'ns, discretion guides the skies. 
 
 1 Beetle — hanqing over. ^ Bewondred — embarrassed. 
 
 s Fared — behaved. * Hight — am named.
 
 208 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 21. 
 " That puissant arm of thine, that well can rend 
 From Godfrey's brow the new usurped crown, 
 And not alone protect, save and defend 
 From his fiei'ce people, this besieged town, 
 'Gainst fire and sword with strength and courage bend , 
 Adventure, sutler, tnist, tread perils down ; 
 And to content, and to encourage thee, 
 Know this, which I, as in a cloud, foresee. 
 
 " T guess (before the over-gliding sun 
 
 Shall manv years mete' out by weeks and days) 
 
 A pi'ince, that shall in fertile Egypt won,- 
 
 Shall fill all Asia with his prosp'rous frays : 
 
 I speak not of his acts in quiet done, 
 
 His policy, his rule, his wisdom's praise ; 
 
 Let this suffice ; by him these Christians shall 
 In fight subdued fly, and couquer'd fall; 
 
 23. 
 
 " And their great empii-e and usurped state 
 Shall overthrown in dust and ashes lie ; 
 Their woful remnant in an angle strait, 
 Compast with sea, themselves shall fortify: 
 From thee shall spring this lord of war and fate ;" 
 "Whereto great Solyman 'gan thus reply : 
 " happy man, to so great praise ibore I^" 
 Thus he rejoic'd, but yet envied more ; 
 
 24. 
 
 And said, " Let chance with good or bad aspect 
 Upon me look, as sacred Heav'ns decree ; 
 This heart to her I never will subject, 
 Kor ever conquer'd shall she look on me ; 
 The moon her chariot shall awry direct, 
 Ere from this course I will diverted be." 
 
 "While thus he spake, it seem'd he breathed fire. 
 So fierce his courage was, so hot his ii-e. 
 
 25. 
 Thus talked they, till the}' arrived been 
 Nigh to the place, where Godfre^-'s tents were reared: 
 There was a woful spectacle iseen ; 
 Death in a thousand ugly forms appeared : 
 ilete — meature. * Won — dicell. ' Ibore — lorn.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 209 
 
 The Soldan changed hue for grief and teen ;^ 
 On that sad hook his shame and loss he leared ; 
 
 Ah with what grief his men, his friends he found ; 
 
 And standards proud, inglorious lie on ground ! 
 
 26. 
 
 And saw one visage of some well-known friend 
 (In foul despite) a rascal Frenchman tread, 
 And there another ragged peasant rend 
 The arms and garments from some champion dead : 
 And there with stately pomp by heaps they wend. 
 And Christians slain roll up in webs- of lead ; 
 Lastly the Turks and slain Arabians (brought 
 On heaps) he saw them burn with fire to nought. 
 
 27. 
 
 Deeply he sighed, and with naked sword 
 Out of the coach he leaped in the mire ; 
 But Ismen call'd again the angry lord, 
 And with grave words appeas'd his foolish ire : 
 The Prince content remounted at his word ; 
 Towards a hill on drove the aged sire ; 
 
 And hasting forward up the bank they pass, 
 Till far behind the Christian leaguer* was. 
 
 28. 
 There they alight, and took their way on fout ; 
 The empty chariot vanish'd out of sight ; 
 Yet still the cloud environ'd them about : 
 At their left-hand down went they from the hight 
 Of Sion's hill, till they approach'd the rout,* 
 On that side where to west he looketh right ; 
 There Ismen stayed, and his eye-sight bent 
 Upon the bushy rocks, and thither went. 
 
 29. 
 A hollow cave was in the craggy stone. 
 Wrought out by hand a number years tofore ; 
 And, for of long that way had walked none. 
 The vault was hid with plants and bushes hore : 
 The wizard, stooping in thereat to gone. 
 The thorns aside and scratching brambles bore ; 
 
 His right-hand sought the passage through the cleft, 
 And, for his guide, he gave the Prince his left : 
 
 1 Teen — gorrow, 2 Webs — sheets. 
 
 ' Leaguer — camv. * Bout — root. 
 
 P
 
 : 1 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 30. 
 " What," quotli the Soldan, " by what privy mine. 
 What hidden vault behoves it me to creep ? 
 This sword can find a better way than thine, 
 Although our Ibes the passage guard and keep." 
 " Let not," quoth he, " th}' princely foot repine 
 To tread this secret path, though dark and deep ; 
 
 For great King Herod used to tread the same; 
 
 He that in arms had whilome so great fame. 
 
 31. 
 
 " This passage made he, when he would suppress 
 His subjects' pride, and them in bondage hold; 
 By this he could from that small forteress 
 Antonia call'd, of Antony the bold. 
 Convey his folk unseen of more and less, 
 Ev'n to the middest of the temple old, 
 
 Thence, hither, where these privy ways begin, 
 And bring unseen whole armies out and in. 
 
 32. 
 
 " But now, save I, in all this world lives none 
 That knows 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 than fitteth such an one, 
 Such signs of doubt show in his cheer and face ; 
 Fitly you come ; hear, see, and keep you still. 
 Till time and season serve, then speak your fill." 
 
 33. 
 
 This said, that narrovv- entrance pass'd the knight, 
 (So creeps a camel through a needle's eye) 
 And through the ways, as black as darkest night 
 He foUow'd him, that did him rule and guie ; 
 Straight was the way at first, withouten light, 
 But further in did further amplify ; 
 
 So that upright walked at ease the men. 
 Ere they had passed half that secret den. 
 
 34. 
 
 A privy door Ismen unlock'd at last, 
 And up the}' clomb a little used stair ; 
 Thereat the day a feeble beam in cast : 
 Dim was the light, and nothing clear the air ;
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 211 
 
 Out of the hollow cave at length they past 
 
 Into a goodly hall, high, broad, and i'air, 
 
 Where, crown'd with gold, and all in purple clad, 
 Sate the sad king, among his nobles sad. 
 
 35. 
 The Turk (close in his hollow cloud imhar'd) 
 Unseen, at will did all the prease' behold ; 
 These heavy speeches of the King he heard, 
 Who thus from lofty siege^ his pleasure told : 
 " My lords, last day our state was much empar'd ;^ 
 Our friends were slain, kill'd were our soldiers bold ; 
 Great helps and greater hopes are us bereft. 
 Nor aught but aid from Egypt land is left : 
 
 36. 
 
 " And well you see far distant is that aid ; 
 
 Upon our heels our danger treadeth still : 
 
 Tor your advice was this assembly made ; 
 
 Each what he thinketh speak, and what he will." 
 
 A whisper soit arose when this was said, 
 
 As gentle winds the groves with murmur fill ; 
 But with bold face, high looks and merry chear 
 Argantes rose ; the rest their talk forbear. 
 
 37. 
 
 " worthy Sov'reign," thus began to say 
 
 The hard}' young man to the tyrant wise, 
 
 " What words be these ? what fears do you dismay ? 
 
 Who knows not this, you need not our advice ? 
 
 But on our hand your hope of conquest lay. 
 
 And, for no loss true virtue damnifies. 
 
 Make her our shield, pray her us succours give. 
 And without her let us not wish to live. 
 
 38, 
 
 "Nor say I this, for that I aught misdeem 
 That Egypt's promis'd succours fail us might ; 
 Doubtful of my great master's words to seem 
 To me were neither lawful, just, nor right; 
 I speak these words, for spurs I therr esteem 
 To waken up each dull and fearful spright. 
 And make our hearts resolv'd to all assays, 
 To win with honour, or to die with praise." 
 
 1 Prease — croicd, * Siege — seat, ^ Empard — impaired. 
 
 p3
 
 212 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNEj OR, 
 
 39. 
 
 Thus much Argantes said, and said no more, 
 
 (As if the case were clear of which he spoke.) 
 
 Orcano rose, of princely stem ibore, 
 
 Whose presence 'mongst them bore a mighty stroke : 
 
 A man esteemed rvell in arms of yore ; 
 
 But now was coupled new in marriage yoke ; 
 
 Young babes he had, to light which made him loth ; 
 
 He was a husband and a lather both. 
 
 40. 
 
 " My lord," quoth he, " I will not reprehend 
 
 The earnest zeal of this audacious speech, 
 From courage sprung, which seld is close ipend 
 In swelling stomach without violent breach ; 
 And though to you our good Circassian friend, 
 In terms too bold and fervent oft doth preach. 
 Yet hold I that for good ; in warlike feat 
 For his great deeds respond his speeches great. 
 
 41. 
 " But if it you beseem (whom graver age 
 And long experience hath made wise and sly) 
 To rule the heat of youth and hardy rage. 
 Which somewhat have misled this knight awry. 
 In equal balance ponder then, and gage^ 
 Your hopes far distant with your perils nie ; 
 
 This town's old walls and rampires new compare, 
 With Godfrey's forces and his engines rare. 
 
 42. 
 
 " But (if I may say what I think unblamed) 
 This town is strong by nature, site, and art; 
 But engines hug? and instruments are framed 
 'Gainst these defences by our adverse part : 
 Who thinks him most secure is eathest^ shamed ; 
 I hope the best, yet fear inconstant Mart f 
 And, with this siege if we be long up-pent. 
 Famine, I doubt ; our store will all be spent. 
 
 43. 
 
 " For all that store of cattle and of grain, 
 Which yesterdaj' within these walls you brought. 
 While your proud foes, triumphant through the plain, 
 On nought but shedding blood, and conquest thought, 
 
 1 Gage — measure. ^ Eathcst — moal easily. ^ Mart — war.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 213 
 
 Too little is this city to sustain, 
 
 To raise the siege, unless some means be sought ; 
 And it must last, till the prefixed^ hour. 
 That it be rais'd by Egypt's aid and pow'r. 
 
 " But what if that appointed day they miss ? 
 
 Or else (ere we expect) what if they came ? 
 
 The victory yet is not ours for this ; 
 
 Oh ! save this town from ruin, us from shame ! 
 
 With that same Godfrey still our warfare is, 
 
 These armies, soldiers, captains are the same, 
 Who have so oft, amid the dusty plain, 
 Turks, Persians, Syrians, and Arabians slain. 
 
 45. 
 
 " And thou, Argantes, wotest^ what they be ; 
 Oft hast thou fled from that victorious host ; 
 Thy shoulders often hast thou let them see, 
 And in thy feet hath been thy safeguard most : 
 Clorinda bright and I fled eke' with thee ; 
 None than his fellows had more cause to boast. 
 Nor blame I any ; for in ev'ry tight 
 We showed courage, valour, strength and might. 
 
 46. 
 " And though this hardy knight the certain threat 
 Of near approaching death to hear disdain, 
 Yet to this State of loss and danger great. 
 From this strong foe I see the tokens plain : 
 No fort, how strong soe'er by art or seat, 
 Can hinder Godfrey why he should not reign : 
 This makes me say (to witness Heav'n I bring) 
 Zeal, to this state, love, to my Lord and King. 
 
 47. 
 " The King of Tripoli was well advised 
 To purchase peace, and so preserve his crown : 
 But Solyman (who Godfrey's love despised) 
 Is either dead, or deep in prison thrown ; 
 Else fearful is he run away disguised. 
 And scant his life is left him for his own ; 
 
 And yet with gifts, with tribute, and with gold. 
 He might in peace his empire still have hold." 
 
 ' Prefixed — appointed. ^ Wotest— tMowes/. ^ 'Eke—aho.
 
 214 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE; OR, 
 
 48. 
 Thus spake Orcano, and some inkling gsve 
 In doubtful words of that he would have said ; 
 To sue for peace, or yield himself a slave, 
 He durst not openly his King persuade : 
 But at those words the Soldan 'gan to rave. 
 And 'gainst his will wrapt in the cloud he stay'd. 
 Whom Ismen thus bespake : " How can you bear 
 These words, my lord ? or these reproaches hear ?" 
 
 49. 
 
 •' Oh let me speak," quoth he, "with ire and scorn 
 I bum, and 'gainst my will thus hid I stay !" 
 This said, the smoky cloud was cleft and torn, 
 Which like a veil upon them stretched lay, 
 And up to open Heav'n forthwith was borne, 
 And left the Prince in view of lightsome day : 
 With princely look amid the prease he shin'd, 
 And on a sudden thus declar'd his mind. 
 
 50. 
 " Of whom you speak, behold the Soldan here, 
 Neither afraid, nor run away for dread ; 
 And that these slanders, lies and fables were, 
 This hand shall prove upon that coward's head : 
 I, who have shed a sea of blood well-nere. 
 And heapt up mountains high of Christians dead, 
 I, in their camp who still maintain'd the fray, 
 (My men all murder'd) I that run away. 
 
 51. 
 
 "If this, or any coward vile beside, 
 False to his faith and country, dares reply, 
 And speak of concord with yond men of pride, 
 By your good leave (Sir King) here shall he die : 
 The lambs and wolves shall in one fold abide, 
 The d )ves and serpents in one nest shall lie. 
 Before one town us and these Christians shall 
 In peace and love unite within one wall." 
 
 52. 
 
 While thus he spoke, his broad and trenchant swori. 
 His hand held high aloft in threat 'ning guise ; 
 Dumb stood the knights, so dreadful was hb word ; 
 A storm was in his front, fire in his eyes ;
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 215 
 
 He turn'd at last to Sion's aged lord, 
 
 And calm'd his visage stern in h umbler wise : 
 
 " Behold," quoth he, " good Prince, what aid I bring, 
 Since Solymau is join'd with Juda's king." 
 
 53. 
 
 King Aladine from his rich throne upstart, 
 And said, " Oh how I joy thy face to view, 
 (My noble friend !) it less'neth in some part 
 My grief, for slaughter of my subjects true : 
 My weak estate to 'stablish come thou art. 
 And may'st thine own again in time renew, 
 
 If Heav'ns consent :" with that the Soldan bold 
 In dear embracements did he long enfold. 
 
 54 
 Their greetings done, the King resign'd his throne 
 To Solyman, and sat himself beside, 
 In a rich seat adorn'd with gold and stone. 
 And Ismen sage did at his elbow bide, 
 Of whom he ask'd what way they two had gone, 
 And he declar'd all what had them betide :^ 
 
 Clorinda bright to Solyman addrest 
 
 Her salutations iii-st, then all the rest, 
 
 55. 
 
 Among them rose Ormusses, valiant knight. 
 Whom late the Soldan with a convoy sent ; 
 And, when most hot and bloody was the fight, 
 By secret paths and blind bye-ways he went, 
 Till, aided by the silence and the night. 
 Safe in the city's walls himself he pent. 
 
 And there refresh'd with corn and cattle si ore 
 
 The pined soldiers, famisht nigh before. 
 
 56. 
 
 With surly count'nance and disdainful grace, 
 
 Sullen and sad, sate the Circassian stout. 
 
 Like a fierce lion, grumbling in his place. 
 
 His fiery eyes that turns and rolls about ; 
 
 Nor durst Orcano view the Soldan's face. 
 
 But still upon the floor did pore and tout : 
 Thus with his lords and peers in coimselling, 
 The Turkish monarch sate with J uda's king. 
 * Betide — happened to them.
 
 216 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE; OR, 
 
 57. 
 
 Godfrey this while gave victory the rein, 
 And, following her, the straits he opened all; 
 Then, for his soldiers and his captains slain, 
 He celehrates a stately funeral, 
 And told his camp, within a day or twain 
 He would assault the city's mighty 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 known, 
 In the last fight which brought him so great aid, 
 To be the lords and princes of his own. 
 Who followed late the sly enticing maid. 
 And with them Tancred (who had late been thrown 
 In prison deep, by that false witch betray'd) 
 Before the hermit and some private friends, 
 For all those worthies, lords and knights, he sends ; 
 
 59. 
 And thus he said, " Some one of j'ou declare 
 Your fortunes, whether good or to be blamed. 
 And to assist us with j-our valours rare, 
 (In so great need) how was your coming framed." 
 They blush, and on the ground amazed stare, 
 (For virtue 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 exi^loit by lot) 
 With secret flight from hence ourselves withdrew. 
 Following false Cupid, I deny it not. 
 Enticed forth by love, and beauty's hue : 
 A jealous fire burnt in our stomachs hot. 
 And by close ways we passed least in view ; 
 Her words, her looks (alas I know too late) 
 Nursed our love, our jealousy, our hate. 
 
 61. 
 
 " At last we 'gan approach that woful clime. 
 Where fire and brimstone down from Heav'n was sent, 
 To take revenge for sin and shameful crime 
 Gainst kind' commit, by those who nould^ repent ; 
 ^ £ind — nature. * Xould — would not.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 217 
 
 A loathsome lake of brimstone, pitch and lime, 
 O'ergoes that land, erst sweet and redolent ; 
 
 And when it moves, thence stench and smoke up-flies 
 Which dim the welkin, and infect the skies. 
 
 62. 
 " This is the lake, in which yet never might 
 Aught that hath weight sink to the bottom down. 
 But like to cork, to leaves, or feathers light. 
 Stones, iron, men there fleet,' and never drown : 
 Therein a castle stands, to which by sight. 
 But o'er a narrow bridge, no way is known : 
 
 Hither us brought, here welcom'd us the witch ; 
 
 The house within was stately, pleasant, rich. 
 
 63. 
 
 " The heav'ns were clear, and wholesome was the air. 
 High trees, sweet meadows, waters pure and good ; 
 For there, in thickest shade of myrtles fair, 
 A crystal spring pour'd out a silver flood ; 
 Amid the herbs, the grass, and flowers rare, 
 The falling leaves down patter'd from the wood ; 
 The birds sung hymns of love ; yet speak I nought 
 Of gold and marble rich, and richly wrought. 
 
 64. 
 " Under the curtain of the greenwood shade, 
 Beside the brook, upon the velvet grass, 
 In massy vessels of pure silver made, 
 A banquet rich and costly furnish'd was : 
 All beasts, all birds beguil'd by fowler's trade. 
 All fish were there, in floods or seas that pass, 
 All dainties made by art ; and at the table 
 An hundred vii'gins serv'd, for husbands able. 
 
 65. 
 
 " She, with sweet words and false enticing smiles, 
 Infused love among the dainties set, 
 And with empois'ned cups our souls beguiles. 
 And made each knight himself and God forget : 
 She rose, and turn'd again within short whiles. 
 With changed looks where wrath and anger met ; 
 A charming rod, a book with her she brings. 
 On which she mumbled strange and secret things. 
 
 1 Fleet— /oa<.
 
 218 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE; OR, 
 
 66. 
 " She read, and change I felt my will and thought ; 
 I long'd to change my life, and place of biding. 
 That virtue strange in me no pleasure wrought ; 
 I leapt into the flood, myself there hiding : 
 ]My legs and feet both into one were brought, 
 Mine arms and hands into my shoulders sliding ; 
 My skin was full of scales, like shields of brass, 
 Now made a fish, where late a knight I was. 
 
 67. 
 "The rest with me like shape, like garments wore. 
 And div'd with me in that quick-silver stream ; 
 Such mind (to my remembrance) then I bore. 
 As when on vain and foolish things men di-eam ; 
 At last our shape it pleas'd her to restore. 
 Then full of wonder and of fear we seem ; 
 And with an ireful look the angry maid 
 Thus thi'eat'ned us, and made us thus afraid. 
 
 68. 
 " ' You see,' quoth she, ' my sacred might and skill. 
 How you are subject to my rule and power; 
 In endless thraldom damned, if I will, 
 I can torment and keep you in this tower ; 
 Or make you birds, or trees on craggy hill. 
 To bide the bitter blasts of storm and shower ; 
 Or harden you to rocks on mountains old. 
 Or melt your flesh and bones to rivers cold : 
 
 69. 
 
 " ' Yet may you well avoid mine ire and wrath, 
 If to my will your yielding hearts you bend ; 
 You must forsake your Christendom and faith, 
 And 'gainst Godfredo false my crown defend.' 
 We all refus'd, for speedy death each pray'th, 
 Save false Rambaldo ; he became her friend ; 
 
 We in a dungeon deep were helpless cast. 
 
 In misery and iron chained fast. 
 
 70. 
 " Then (for alone they say falls no mishap) 
 Within short while Prince Tancred thither came. 
 And was un wares surprized in the trap : 
 But there short whilo we stay'd ; the wily dame
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 219 
 
 In other folds our mischiefs would upwrap ; 
 
 rrom Hidraort an hundred horsemen came, 
 Whose guide, a baron bold, to Egypt's king 
 Should us disarm'd and bound in fetters bring. 
 
 71. 
 
 " Now on our way, the waj' to death, we ride. 
 But Providence divine thus for us wrought ; 
 Rinaldo (whose high virtue is his guide 
 To great exploits, exceeding human thought) 
 Met us, and all at once our guard defied, 
 And ere he left the fight to earth them brought, 
 And in their harness arm'd us in the place, 
 Which late were ours, before our late disgrace. 
 
 72. 
 " I and all these the hardy champion hnew ; 
 We saw his valour, and his voice we heard : 
 Then is the rumour of his death untrue. 
 His life is safe, good fortune long it guard ! 
 Three times the golden sun hath risen new. 
 Since us he left, and rode to Antioch-ward; 
 But first his armour broken, hackt, and cleft, 
 Unfit for service, there be dolt and lelt." 
 
 73. 
 
 Thus spake the Briton Prince : with humble cheer 
 The hermit sage to Heav'n cast up his eine ; 
 His colour and his count'nance changed were ; 
 With heavenly grace his looks and visage shine : 
 Ravisht with zeal his soul approached near 
 The seat of angels pure, and saints divine ; 
 
 And there he learn'd of things and baps' to come 
 To give foreknowledge true, and certain dome. 
 
 74. 
 At last he spoke (in more than human sound) 
 And told what things his wisdom great foresaw ; 
 And at his thund'ring voice the folk around 
 Attentive stood, with trembling and with awe : 
 " Rinaldo lives," he said ; " the tokens found 
 From women's craft their false beginnings draw : 
 
 He lives, and Heav'n will long preserve his days 
 
 To greater glory, and to greater praise. 
 
 1 Haps— ^/brfiiHcs.
 
 220 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 75. 
 " These are but trifles yet, though Asia's kings 
 Shrink at his name, and tremble at his view, 
 I well foresee he shall do greater things, 
 And wicked emp'rors conquer and subdue : 
 Under the shadow of his eagle's wings 
 Shall holy Church preserve her sacred crew ; 
 From Caesar's bird he shall the sable train 
 Pluck oflT, and break her talons sharp in twain ; 
 
 76. 
 
 " His children's children, at his hardiness 
 And great attempts shall take ensample fair ; 
 From emperors unjust, in all distress 
 They shall defend the state of Peter's chair ; 
 To raise the humble up, pride to suppress. 
 To help the innocents shall be their care ; 
 
 This bird of East shall fly with conquest great. 
 As far as moon gives light, or sun gives heat ; 
 
 77. 
 " Her eyes behold the truth, and purest light, 
 And thunders down in Peter's aid she brings ; 
 And where for Christ and Christian taith men fight, 
 There forth she spreadeth her victorious wings : 
 This virtue Nature gives her, and this might ; 
 Then lure her home, for on her presence hings* 
 
 The happy end of this great enterprise ; 
 
 So Heav'n decrees, and so command the skies." 
 
 78. 
 These words of his of Prince Pinaldo's death 
 Out of their troubled hearts, the fear had raced ;- 
 In all this joy yet Godfrey smil'd uneath. 
 In his wise thought such care and heed was placed : 
 But now from deeps of regions underneath 
 Night's veil arose, and sun's bright lustre chased ; 
 When all full sweetly in their cabins slept. 
 Save lie whose thoughts his eyes still open kept. 
 
 maga— hangs. * Raced— eru«ed.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 '§M tire (ItltljentJ:. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 With grave procession, songs and psalms devout 
 JTeav'n's sacred aid the Christian lords invoke ; 
 That done, they scale the wall which kept them out: 
 The fort is almost won, the gates nigh broke : 
 Godfrey is wounded by Clorinda stout. 
 And lost is that days conquest by the stroke ; 
 The angel cures him, he returns to fight. 
 But lost his labour, for day lost his light. 
 
 The Christian army's great and puissant guide 
 T' assault the town that all his thoughts had bent, 
 Did ladders, rams, and engines huge provide. 
 When reverend Peter to him gravely went, 
 And, drawing him with sober grace aside, 
 With words severe thus told his high intent ;— 
 
 " Right well, my lord, these earthly strengths you move. 
 But let us first begin from Heav'n above : 
 
 " With public prayer, zeal, and faith devout. 
 
 The aid, assistance, and the help obtain. 
 
 Of all the blessed of the heav'nly rout. 
 
 With whose support you conquest sure may gain ; 
 
 First let the priests before thine armies stout, 
 
 With sacred hymns their holy voices strain : 
 
 And thou, and all thy lords and peers with thee. 
 Of godliness and faith ensamples be."
 
 222 GODFREY OP bulloigne; or, 
 
 3. 
 
 Thus spake the Hermit grave in words severe : 
 Godfrey allow'd his counsel, sage and wise ; 
 "Of Christ the Lord," quoth he, " thou servant deere, 
 I yield to follow thy divine advice ; 
 And while the princes I assemble here, 
 The great procession, songs, and sacrifice. 
 With Bishop William, thou and Ademare 
 With sacred, and with solemn pomp prepare. 
 
 4. 
 Next morn the bishops twain, the Heremite, 
 And all the clerks and priests of less estate, 
 Did in the middest of the camp unite 
 Within a place for prayer consecrate : 
 Each priest adorn'd was in a surplice white, 
 The bishops donn'd their albes and copes of state, 
 Above their rochets button'd iair before. 
 And mitres on their heads, like crowns they wore. 
 
 5. 
 
 Peter alone (before) spi-ead to the wind 
 The glorious sign of our salvation great ; 
 With easy pace the quire come all behind. 
 And hymns and psalms in order true repeat ; 
 With sweet respondence in harmonious kind. 
 Their humble song the yielding air doth beat ; 
 Lastly, together went the reverend pair 
 Of prelates sage, William and Ademare. 
 
 6. 
 The mighty Duke came next, as princes do, 
 Without companion, marching all alone; 
 The lords and captains came by two and two ; 
 The soldiers for their guard were arm'd each one ; 
 With easy pace thus order'd, passing through 
 The trench and rampire, to the fields they gone : 
 No thund'ring drum, no trumpet shrill they hear. 
 Their godly music psalms and prayers were. 
 
 7. 
 To Thee, Father, Son, and Sacred Spright, 
 One True, Eternal, Everlasting King, 
 To Christ's dear Mother Mary, Virgin bright, 
 Psalms of thanksgiving and of praise they sing ;
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 223 
 
 To them that angels down from Heav'n, to fight 
 'Gainst the blasphemous beast and dragon, bring ; 
 To him also that of our Saviour good 
 Washed the sacred front in Jordan's flood. 
 
 Him likewise they invoke, called the rock 
 Whereon the Lord (they say) his church did rear. 
 Whose true successors close or else unlock 
 The blessed gates of grace and mercy dear ; 
 And all th' elected twelve, the chosen flock, 
 Of his triumphant death who witness bear ; 
 
 And then by torment, slaughter, fire, and sword 
 Who martyrs died to confirm his word ; 
 
 9. 
 And them also whose books and writings tell 
 What certain path to heav'nly bliss us leads ; 
 And hermits good, and ancresses' that dwell 
 Mew'd up in walls, and mumble on their beads ; 
 And virgin nuns in close and private cell, 
 Where (but shrift fathers-) never mankind treads : 
 On these they called, and on all the rout 
 Of angels, martyrs, and of saints devout. 
 
 10. 
 
 Singing and saying thus, the camp devout 
 Spread forth her zealous squadrons broad and wide ; 
 Towards Mount Olivet went all this rout, 
 So call'd of olive trees the hills which hide; 
 A mountain known by fame the world throughout. 
 Which riseth on the city's eastern side. 
 From it divided by the valley green 
 Of Josaphat, that fills the space between. 
 
 11. 
 
 Hither the armies went, and chanted shrill, 
 That all the deep and hollow dales resound ; 
 From hollow mounts and caves in every hill 
 A thousand echoes also sung around : 
 It seem'd some quire (that sung with art and skill) 
 Dwelt in those savage dens and shady ground. 
 For oft resounded from the banks they hear. 
 The name of Christ, and of his Mother dear. 
 1 A.ncresses— female anchorets. * Shrift fathers — confessors.
 
 224: GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 12. 
 
 Upon the walls the Pagans old and yonng 
 Stood husht and still, amated^ and amazed 
 At their grave order and their humble song, 
 At their strange pomp and customs new they gazed ; 
 But when the show they had beholden long. 
 An hideous yell the wicked miscreants raised, 
 That with vile blasphemies the moimtains hoar, 
 The woods, the watei-s, and the valleys roar. 
 
 13. 
 But yet with sacred notes the hosts proceed. 
 Though blasphemies they hear and cursed things ; 
 So with Apollo's harp Pan tunes his reed. 
 So adders hiss, where Philomela sings ; 
 Nor flying darts, nor stones the Christians dreed, 
 Nor arrows shot, nor quarries cast from slings ; 
 But with assured faith, as dreading nought. 
 The holy work begun to end they brought. 
 
 14. 
 
 A table set they on the mountain's hight. 
 To minister thereon the Sacrament ; 
 In golden candlesticks a hallow'd light 
 At either end of virgin wax there brent : 
 In costly vestments sacred William dight. 
 With fear and trembling to the altar went. 
 And prayer there and service loud begins. 
 Both for his own and all the armies sins. 
 
 15. 
 
 Humbly they heard his words that stood him nie. 
 
 The rest far oS" upon him bent their eyes ; 
 
 But when he ended had the service hie, 
 
 " You servants of the Lord depart," he cries : 
 
 His hands he lifted then up to the sky. 
 
 And blessed all those warlike companies ; 
 
 And they dismist retum'd the way they came. 
 Their order as before, their pomp the same. 
 
 16. 
 
 Within their camp arriv'd, this voyage ended. 
 Towards his tent the Duke himself withdrew. 
 Upon their guide by heaps the bands attended. 
 Till his pavilion's stately door they view ; 
 
 1 Amated — daunted, or dUmayed,
 
 His hands he lifted then up to the sky, 
 And blessed all those warlike companleg.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 225 
 
 There to the Lord his welfare they commended, 
 And with him left the worthies of the crew. 
 Whom at a costly and rich feast he placed, 
 And with the highest room old Eaimond graced. 
 
 17. 
 Now when the tiungry knights sufficed are 
 With meat, with drink, with spices of the best. 
 Quoth he, " When next you see the morning star, 
 T' assault the town be ready all and prest : 
 To-morrow is a day of pains and war. 
 This of repose, of quiet, peace, and rest ; 
 
 Go, take your ease this evening, and this night, 
 And make you strong against to-morrow's fight." 
 
 18. 
 
 They took their leave, and Godfrey's heralds road^ 
 To intimate his will on every side, 
 And publish'd it through all the lodgings broad. 
 That 'gainst the morn each should himself provide. 
 Meanwhile they might their hearts of cares unload. 
 And rest their tired limbs that evening tide ; 
 Thus fared they till night their eyes did close. 
 Night friend to gentle rest and sweet repose. 
 
 19. 
 
 With little sign as yet of springing day 
 Out peep'd, not well appear'd the rising morn. 
 The plough yet tore not up the fertile lay, ^ 
 Nor to their feed the sheep from folds return ; 
 The birds sate silent on the green wood spray. 
 Amid the groves, unheard was hound and horn : 
 When trumpets shrill, true signs of hardy fights, 
 Call'd up to arms the soldiers, call'd the knights : 
 
 20. 
 " Arm, arm at once," an hundred squadi'ons cried, 
 And with their cry to arm them all begin ; 
 Godfrey arose, that day he laid aside 
 His hawberk strong he wonts'' to combat in. 
 And donn'd a breast-plate fair, of proof untried, 
 Such one as footmen use, light, easy, thin. 
 
 Scantly their lord thus clothed had his gromes,^ 
 When aged Raimond to his presence comes. 
 
 ' Road — rode. 2 jj^y — meadow. 
 
 * Wonts— is accustomed. * Gromea — attendantt.
 
 226 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXEj OR, 
 
 21. 
 And furiiisht thus when he the man behield, 
 By his attire his secret thought he gest ;^ 
 " Where is," quoth he, "your sure and trusty shield^ 
 Your helm, your hawberk strong ? where all the rest ? 
 Why be you half disarmed ? why to the field 
 Approach you in these weak defences di-est ? 
 I see this day 3'ou mean a course to nin, 
 Wherein may peril much, small praise be won. 
 
 " Alas, do you that idle praise expect, 
 To set first foot this conquered wall aboye ? 
 Of less account some knight thereto object, 
 Whose loss so great and harmful cannot proye ; 
 My lord, your life with greater care protect. 
 And loye yourself, because all us you love ; 
 YoMT happy life is spirit, soul, and breath 
 Of all this camp ; preserye it then from death." 
 
 23. 
 
 To this he answered thus, " You know," he said, 
 " In Clarimont, by mighty Urban's hand 
 When I was girded with this noble blade, 
 For Christ's true faith to fight in every land. 
 To God ey'n then a secret yow I made, 
 Not as a captain here this day to stand 
 
 And give dii'ections, but with shield and sword 
 To fight, to win, or die for Christ my Lord. 
 
 24. 
 " \Mien all this camp in battle strong shall be 
 Ordain'd and order'd, well disposed all. 
 And all things done which to the high degree 
 And sacred place I hold, belongen shall ; 
 Then reason is it, nor dissuade thou me. 
 That I likewise assault this sacred wall, 
 
 Lest from my yow to God late made I swerye ; 
 
 He shall this life defend, keep, and preserve." 
 
 25. 
 
 Thus he concludes, and every hardy knight 
 His sample followed, and his brethren twain, 
 The other princes put on harness light. 
 As footmen use : but all the Pagan train 
 
 ' Gest — jetted.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 227 
 
 Towards that side bent their defensive might, 
 That lies expos'd to view of Charles's Wain, 
 And Zephyrus' sweet blasts ; for on that part 
 The town was weakest, both by site and art. 
 
 26. 
 
 On all parts else the fort was strong by site, 
 With mighty hills defenc'd from foreign rage. 
 And to this part the tyrant 'gan unite 
 His subjects born, and bands that serve for wage ; 
 From this exploit he spar'd nor great nor lite ;^ 
 The aged men, and boys of tender age. 
 
 To fire of angry war still brought new fuel, 
 Stones, darts, lime, brimstone, and bitumen cruel. 
 
 27. 
 All full of arms and weapons was the wall. 
 Under whose basis that fair plain doth run ; 
 There stood the Soldan like a giant tall, 
 (So stood at Rhodes the coloss of the sun) 
 Waist high Argautes show'd himself witlial. 
 At whose stern looks the French to quake begun ; 
 Clorinda on the corner tower alone. 
 In silver arms, like rising Cynthia shone. 
 
 28. 
 
 Her rattling quiver at her shoulders hong, 
 
 Therein a flash of arrows feathered weel. 
 
 In her left hand her bow was bended strong. 
 
 Therein a shaft headed with mortal steel ; 
 
 So fit to shoot she singled forth among 
 
 Her foes, who first her quarries'^ strength should feel ; 
 So fit to shoot Latona's daughter stood. 
 When Niobe she killed, and all her brood. 
 
 29. 
 The aged tyrant trotted on his feet 
 From gate to gate, from wall to wall he flew. 
 He comforts all his bands with speeches sweet, 
 And every fort and bastion doth review ; 
 For every need prepar'd in every street 
 New regiments he placed, and weapons new. 
 
 The matrons grave within their temples hie. 
 
 To idols false for succours call and crie; 
 1 Lite' — little. * Quarries — arrows. 
 
 Q 2
 
 228 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE; OR, 
 
 30. 
 " Macon, break in twain the steeled lance 
 Of wicked Godfrey with thy righteous hands ; 
 Against thy name he doth his arm advance ; 
 His rebel blood pour out upon these sands." 
 These cries within his ears no enterance 
 Could find, for nought he hears, nought understands. 
 While thus the town for her defence ordains, 
 His armies Godfrey ord'reth on the plains. 
 
 31. 
 His forces first on foot he forward brought 
 With goodly order, providence and art, 
 And 'gainst these towers which t'assail he thought. 
 In battles twain his strength he doth depart ;^ 
 Between them cross-bows stood, and engines wrought 
 To cast a stone, a quarrie, or a dart. 
 
 From whence, like thunder's dint,"- or lightnings new. 
 Against the bulwark stones and lances flew. 
 
 32. 
 
 His men-at-arms did back his bands on fout, 
 The light-horse ride far off and serve for wings ; 
 He gave the sign, so mighty was the rout 
 Of those that shot with bows, and cast with slings. 
 Such storms of shafts and stones flew all about. 
 That many a Pagan proud to death it brings ; 
 
 Some died, some at the loops durst scant out peep. 
 Some fled, and left the place they took to keep. 
 
 33. 
 The hardy Frenchmen (full of heat and haste) 
 Ean boldly forward to the ditches large, 
 And o'er their heads an iron pentice^vast 
 They built, by joining many a shield and targe ; 
 Some with their engines ceaseless shot and cast. 
 And volleys huge of arrows sharp discharge : 
 Upon the ditches some employed their pain. 
 To fill the moat, and ev'n it with the plain. 
 
 34. 
 
 With slime or mud the ditches were not soft, 
 But dry and sandy, void of waters clear. 
 Though large and deep the Christians fill them oft, 
 With rubbish, faggots, stones, and trees they bear : 
 1 Depart — divide. ' Dint — liroke. ' Fentice — roof.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 229 
 
 Adrastus first advanc'd his crest aloft, 
 
 And boldly 'gan a strong scalado' rear. 
 
 And through the falling storm did upward climb 
 Of stones, darts, arrows, fire, pitch, and lime : 
 
 35. 
 
 The hardy Switzer now so far was gone. 
 That half way up with mickle" pain he got, 
 A thousand weapons he sustain'd alone. 
 And his audacious climbing ceased not ; 
 At last upon him fell a mighty stone. 
 As from some engine great it had been shot ; 
 
 It broke his helm, he tumbled from the height; 
 
 The strong Circassian cast that wondrous weight ; 
 
 36. 
 Not mortal was the blow, yet with the fall 
 On earth sore bruis'd, the man lay in a swoon. 
 Argantes 'gan with boasting words to call, 
 " Who Cometh next ? this first is tumbled down ; 
 Come hardy soldiers, come assault this wall, 
 I will not shrink, nor fly, nor hide my crown : 
 If in your trench yourselves for dread you hold, 
 There shall you die like sheep kill'd in their fold." 
 
 37. 
 Thus boasted he ; but in their trenches deep 
 The hidden squadrons kept themselves from scatli ; 
 The curtain made of shields did well off keep 
 Both darts and shot, and scorned all their wrath : 
 But now the ram^ upon the rampiers steep, 
 On mighty beams his head advanced hath. 
 
 With dreadful horns of iron tought* tree — great; 
 
 The walls and bulwarks trembled at his threat. 
 
 38. 
 An hundred able men meanwhile let fall 
 The weights behind ; the engine tumbled down, 
 And battered flat the battlements and wall : 
 (So fell Taigetiis' hill on Sparta town) 
 It crush'd the steeled shield in pieces small. 
 And beat the helmet to the wearer's crown. 
 And on the ruins of the walls and stones. 
 Dispersed left their blood, their brains, and bones. 
 
 ' Scalado — scaling ladder, ^ Mickle — mnoh. 
 
 3 Ham — battering ram, ♦ Tought — tightened.
 
 230 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 39. 
 The fierce assailants kept no longer dose 
 Under the shelter of their target fine,' 
 But their bold fronts to chance of war expose, 
 And 'gainst those towers let their virtue shine ; 
 The scaling ladders up to skies arose, 
 The ground-works deep some closely undei-mine; 
 The walls before the Frenchmen shrink and shake, 
 And gaping sign of headlong falling make : 
 
 40. 
 And fall'n they had (so far the strength extends 
 Of that fierce ram and his redoubted stroke). 
 But that the Pagans' care tlie place defends, 
 And sav'd by warlike skill the wall nigh broke : 
 For to what part soe'er the engine bends. 
 There sacks of wool they place the blow to choke, 
 
 Whose yielding breaks the strokes thereon which light; 
 
 So weakness oft subdues the greatest might. 
 
 41. 
 
 While thus the worthies of the Western crew 
 Maintain'd their brave assault and skirmish hot, 
 Her mighty bow Clorinda often drew. 
 And manj' a sharp and deadly arrow shot, 
 And from her bow no steeled shaft there flew. 
 But that some blood the cursed engine got ; 
 ]ilood of some valiant knight, or man of fame, 
 For that proud shootress scorned weaker game. 
 
 42. 
 The first she hit among the Christian peers, 
 Was the bold son of England's noble King; 
 Above the trench himself lie scantly rears. 
 But she an arrow loosed from the string ; 
 The wicked steel his gauntlet breaks and teai-s. 
 And through his right hand thrust the piercing sting ; 
 Disabled thus from fight, he 'gan retire, 
 Groaning for pain, but fretting more for ire. 
 
 43. 
 
 Lord Stephen of Amboise on the ditches brim. 
 And on a ladder high, Clothari\is died; 
 From back to breast an arrow pierced him. 
 The other was shot through from side to side : 
 
 1 Fine — perfect.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 231 
 
 Then, as he manag'd brave his courser trim, 
 On his left arm he hit the Flemmings' guide ; 
 
 He stopt, and from the wound the reed out-twin'd, 
 
 But left the iron in his flesh behind. 
 
 As Ademare stood to behold the fight 
 High on a bank, withdrawn to breathe a space, 
 A fatal shaft upon his forehead light ; 
 His hand he lifted up to feel the place. 
 Whereon a second arrow chanced right, 
 And nail'd his hand unto his wounded face ; 
 He fell, and with his blood distain'd the land. 
 His holy blood shed by a virgin's hand. 
 
 45. 
 
 While Palamede stood near the battlement. 
 Despising perils all, and all mishap. 
 And upwards still his hardy footings bent. 
 On his right eye he caught a deadly clap ;' 
 Through his right eye Clorinda's sev'nth shaft went. 
 And in his neck broke forth a bloody gap ; 
 He underneath that bulwark dying I'ell, 
 Which late to scale and win he trusted well. 
 
 46. 
 
 Thus shot the maid : the Duke, with hard assay 
 And sharp assault, meanwhile the town opprest ; 
 Against that part which to his campward lay, 
 An engine huge and wondrous he addrost; 
 A tower of wood built for the town's decay, 
 As high as were the walls and bulwarks best, 
 A turret full of men and weapons pent. 
 And yet on wheels it rolled, mov'd, and went. 
 
 47. 
 This rolling fort his nigh approaches made, 
 And darts and arrows spit against his foes ; 
 As ships are wont in fight, so it assay'd 
 With the strong wall to grapple and to close ; 
 The Pagans on each side the piece invade. 
 And all their force against this mass oppose : 
 
 Sometimes the wheels, sometimes the battlement 
 With timber, logs and stones, they broke and rent. 
 
 1 Clap— blow.
 
 232 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 48. 
 So thick flew stones and darts, that no man sees 
 The azure Heav'ns, the sun his brightness lost, 
 The clouds of weapons, like to swarms of bees. 
 Met in the air, and there each other crost : 
 And look how falling leaves drop down from trees, 
 When the moist sap is nipt with timely frost. 
 
 Or apples in strong winds from branches fall ; 
 
 The Saracines so tumbled from the wall. 
 
 49. 
 For on their part the greatest slaughter light ; 
 They had no shelter 'gainst so sharp a shower ; 
 Some left on live betook themselves to flight. 
 So feared they this deadly thund'i'ing tower : 
 But Soliman stay'd like a valiant knight. 
 And some with him, that trusted in his power ; 
 Argantes, with a long beech tree in hand. 
 Ran thither, this huge engine to withstand : 
 
 50. 
 With this he push'd the tower, and back it drives 
 The length of all his tree, a wondrous way ; 
 The hardy virgin b}"^ his side arrives. 
 To help Argantes in this hard assay : 
 The band that us'd the ram, this season strives 
 To cut the cords, wherein the woolpacks lay ; 
 
 Which done, the sacks down in the trenches fall. 
 And to the battery naked left the wall. 
 
 51. 
 
 The tower above, the ram beneath doth thunder, 
 What lime and stone such puissance could abide ? 
 The wall began (now bruis'd and crusht asunder) 
 Her woimded lap to open broad and wide : 
 Godfrey himself and his brought safely under 
 The shatter'd wall, where greatest breach he spide ; 
 Himself he saves behind his mighty targe, 
 A shield not us'd but in some desp'rate charge. 
 
 52. 
 
 From hence he sees where Soliman descends 
 Down to the threshold of the gaping breach. 
 And there it seems the mighty prince intends 
 Godfredo's hoped entrance to impeach :^ 
 1 Impeach — stop, or hinder.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 233 
 
 Argantes (and with him the maid) defends 
 The walls above, to which the tower doth reach : 
 His noble heart, when Godfrey this beheld, 
 With courage new, with wrath and valour swell'd. 
 
 53. 
 
 He turn'd about, and to good Sigiere spake, 
 
 Who bare his greatest shield and mighty bow ; 
 
 " That sure and trusty target let me take, 
 
 Impenetrable is that shield, I know : 
 
 Over these ruins will I passage make. 
 
 And enter first, the way is eath' and low. 
 And time requires, that by some noble feat 
 I should make known my strength, and puissance great." 
 
 54 
 
 He scant had spoken, scant receiv'd the targe. 
 When on his leg a sudden shaft him hit. 
 And through that part a hole made wide and large. 
 Where his strong sinews fasten'd were, and knit. 
 Clorinda, thou this arrow didst discharge. 
 And let the Pagans bless thy hand for it ; 
 For by that shot thou savedst them that day 
 From bondage vile, from death and sure decay. 
 
 55. 
 
 The wounded Duke, as though he felt no pain. 
 Still forward went, and mounted up the breach. 
 His high attempt at first he nould^ refrain, 
 And after call'd his lords with cheerful speach ; 
 But when his leg could not his weight sustain. 
 He saw his will did far his power outreach. 
 
 And more he strove, his grief increas'd the more ; 
 
 The bold assault he left at length therefore : 
 
 56. 
 
 And with his hand he beckon'd Guelpho near, 
 
 And said, " I must withdraw me to my tent ; 
 
 My place and person in mine absence bear. 
 
 Supply my want ; let not the fight relent : 
 
 I go, and will ere long again be here ; 
 
 I go, and straight return." This said, he went ; 
 On a light steed he leapt, and o'er the green 
 He rode, but rode not (as he thought) unseen. 
 
 1 Eath— eos^r. 2 Nonid— would not.
 
 234 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 57. 
 When Godfrey parted, parted eke the heart, 
 The strength and fortune of tlie Christian bands : 
 Courage increased in their adverse part, 
 Wrath in their hearts, and vigour in their hands : 
 Valour, success, strength, hardiness and art 
 Fail'd in the princes of the Western lands ; 
 
 Their swords were blunt, faint was their trumpet's blast. 
 Their sun was set, or else with clouds o'ercast. 
 
 58. 
 
 Upon the bulwarks now appeared bold 
 
 That fearful band, that late for dread was fled ; 
 
 The women, that Clorinda's strength behold, 
 
 Their country's love to war encouraged ; 
 
 They weapons got, and fight like men they would ; 
 
 Their gowns tuckt up, their locks were loose and spred ; 
 Sharp darts the}' cast, and without dread or fear 
 Expos'd their breasts to save their fortress dear. 
 
 59. 
 But that which most dismay'd the Christian knights. 
 And added courage to the Pagans most. 
 Was Guelpho's sudden fall in all men's sights. 
 Who tumbled headlong down, his footing lost : 
 A mighty stone upon the worthy lights. 
 But whence it came none wist, nor from what coast ; 
 And with like blow, which more their hearts dismay'd. 
 Beside him low in dust old Ilaimond laid : 
 
 60. 
 And Eustace eke, within the ditches large. 
 To narrow shifts and last extremes they drive ; 
 Upon their foes so fierce the Pagans charge. 
 And with good fortune so their blows they give, 
 That whom they hit, in spite of helm or targe. 
 They deeply wound, or else of life deprive. 
 At this their good success Argantes proud. 
 Waxing more fell,' thus roar'd and cried aloud : 
 
 61. 
 
 " This is not Antioch, nor the evening dark 
 Can help your privy sleights with frieudl}' shade; 
 The sun yet shines ; your falsehood can we mark ; 
 In otherwise this bold assault is made ; 
 1 Fell— fierce.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 235 
 
 Of praise and glory quenched is the spark 
 That made you first these eastern lands invade ; 
 
 Why cease you now ? why take you not this fort ? 
 
 What are you weary for a charge so short ?" 
 
 62. 
 Thus raged he, and in such hellish sort 
 Increas'd the fury in the brain-sick knight, 
 That he esteem'd that large and ample fort 
 Too strait a field, wherein to prove his might : 
 There, where the breach had fram'd a new-made port, 
 Himself he plac'd, with nimble skips and light 
 He clear'd the passage out, and thus he cride 
 To Soliman, that fought close by his side : 
 
 63. 
 " Come, Soliman, the time and place behold. 
 That of our valours well may judge the doubt; 
 What stayest thou ? amongst these Christians bold, 
 First leap he forth that holds himself most stout." 
 While thus his will the mighty champion told. 
 Both Soliman and he at once leapt out ; 
 Fury the first provok'd, disdain the last. 
 Who scorn'd the challenge ere his lips it past. 
 
 64. 
 
 Upon their foes unlocked for they flew. 
 Each spited other for his virtue's sake : 
 So many soldiers this fierce couple slew, 
 So many shields they cleft, and helms they brake, 
 So many ladders to the earth they threw. 
 That well they seem'd a mount thereof to make. 
 Or else some vamure,' fit to save the town, 
 Instead of that the Christians late beat down. 
 
 65. 
 The folk, that strove with rage and haste before. 
 Who first the wall and rampire should ascend. 
 Retire, and for that honour strive no more ; 
 Scantly they could their limbs and lives deft<id. 
 They fled, their engines lost the Pagans tore 
 In pieces small ; their rams to nought they rend. 
 
 And all unfit for further service make, 
 
 With so great force and rage their beams they brake. 
 ' Vamure — tkefore-wall of a town.
 
 236 GODFREY OF BULLOIG^^: ; OR, 
 
 66. 
 
 The Pagans ran transported with their ire, 
 
 Now here, now there, and woful slaughters wrought ; 
 
 At last they called for devouring fire ; 
 
 Two burning pines against the tower they brought : 
 
 So from the palace of their hellish sire, 
 
 (When all this world they would consume to nought) 
 The Fury sisters come \vith fire in hands. 
 Shaking their snaky locks, and sparkling brands. 
 
 67. 
 But noble Tancred, who this while applied 
 Grave exhortations to his bold Latines, 
 When of these knights the wondrous acts he spied, 
 And saw the champions with their burning pines. 
 He left his talk, and thither forthwith hied. 
 To stop the rage of those fell Saracines ; 
 And with such force the fight he there renewed, 
 That now they fled and lost, who late pursued. 
 
 68. 
 Thus chang'd the state and fortune of the fray ; 
 Meanwhile the wounded Duke in grief and teen. 
 Within bis great pavilion rich and gay. 
 Good Sigiere and Baldwin stood between ; 
 His other friends whom his mishap dismay, 
 With gi'ief and tears about assembled been : 
 He strove in haste the weapon out to wind. 
 And broke the reed, but left the head behind. 
 
 69. 
 He bade them take the speediest way they might. 
 Of tliat unlucky hurt to make him sound : 
 And to lay ope the depth thereof to sight. 
 He will'd them open, search, and lance the wound ; 
 " Send me again," quoth he, " to end this fight. 
 Before the sun be sunken under ground." 
 And leaning on a broken spear, he thrust 
 His leg straighi out, to him that cure it must. 
 
 70. 
 Erotimus, born on the banks of Po 
 Was he that undertook to cure the knight ; 
 All what green herbs or waters pure could do. 
 He knew their power, their virtue, and their might :
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 237 
 
 A noble poet was the man also, 
 
 But in this science had a more delight : 
 
 He could restore to health death-wounded men, 
 And make their names immortal with his pen. 
 
 71. 
 The mighty Duke yet never changed chear. 
 But griev'd to see his friends lamenting stand ; 
 The leach prepar'd his clothes and cleansing gear, 
 And with a belt his gown about him band. 
 Now with his herbs the steely head to tear 
 Out of the flesh he prov'd, now with his hand ; 
 Now with his hand, now with his instrument 
 He shak'd and pluck'd it, yet not forth it went. 
 
 72. 
 
 His labour vain, his art prevailed nought ; 
 His luck was ill, although his skill were good ; 
 To such extremes the wounded Prince he brought, 
 That with fell pain he swouned as he stood : 
 But th' angel pure (that kept him) went and sought 
 Divine Dictamnum,' out of Ida wood ; 
 
 This herb is rough, and bears a purple flower. 
 And in his budding leaves lies all his power. 
 
 73. 
 Kind nature first upon the craggy clift 
 Bewray'd this herb unto the mountain goat. 
 That when her sides a cruel shaft hath rift. 
 With it she shakes the reed out of her coat : 
 This in a moment fetcht the angel swift. 
 And brought from Ida-hill, though far remote ; 
 
 The juice whereof in a prepared bath 
 
 Unseen the blessed Spirit poured hath : 
 
 74. 
 
 Pure nectar from that spring of Lidia than, 
 
 And panaces^ divine therein he thi'ew ; 
 
 The cunning leach to bathe the wound began. 
 
 And of itself the steely head outflow ; 
 
 The bleeding stanch'd, no vermile^ drop out-ran. 
 
 The leg again wax'd strong with vigour new : 
 Erotimus cried out, " this hurt and wound 
 No human art, or hand so soon makes sound : 
 
 ^ DictamniiTn — dittany, * Panacea — remedies. ^ Vermile — red.
 
 238 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; GR^ 
 
 " Some angel good, I think, come dovni from skies. 
 Thy surgeon is, for here plain tokens ai'e 
 Of grace divine, which to thy help applies ; 
 Thy weapon take, and haste again to war ;" 
 In precious clothes his leg the chieflain ties ; 
 Nought could the man from blood and fight debar : 
 A sturdy lance in his right hand he braced, 
 His shield he took, and on his helmet laced : 
 
 76. 
 And with a thousand knights and barons bold. 
 Towards the town he hasted from his camp : 
 In clouds of dust was Titan's face enroU'd ; 
 Ti'embled the earth whereon the worthies stamp : 
 His foes far off his dreadful looks behold, 
 Which in their hearts of courage quencht the lamp ; 
 
 A chilling fear ran cold through e\'ery vein ; 
 
 Lord Godfi-ey shouted thrice, and all his train : 
 
 77. 
 Their sovereign's voice his hardy people knew, 
 And his loud cries, that cheer'd each fearful heart ; 
 Thereat new strength they took and courage new, 
 And to the fierce assault again they start. 
 The Pagans twain this while themselves withdrew 
 "Within the breach (to save that batter'd part) : 
 And with gi'eat loss a skirmish hot the}' hold. 
 Against Tancredie and his squadron bold. 
 
 78. 
 
 Thither came Godfrey, armed round about 
 In trusty plate, with fierce and dreadful look ; 
 At first approach against Argantes stout. 
 Headed with poinant steel, a lance he shook : 
 No casting engine with such force throws out 
 A knotty spear, and as the way it took. 
 It whistled in the air ; the fearless knight 
 Oppos'd his shield against that weapon's might. 
 
 • 79. 
 
 The dreadful blow quite through his target drove, 
 And bored through his breastplate strong and thick. 
 The tender skin it in his bosom rove,^ 
 The pui-ple-blood out-streamed from the quick : 
 ' Rove — cleaved.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 239 
 
 To wrest it out the wounded Pagan strove, 
 
 And little leisure gave it there to stick : 
 At Godfrey's head the lance again he cast, 
 And said, " Lo there again thy dart thou hast :" 
 
 80. 
 The spear flew back the way it lately came, 
 And would revenge the harm itself had done. 
 But miss'd the mark whereat the man did aim ; 
 He stept aside the furious blow to shun : 
 But Sigiere in his throat receiv'd the same ; 
 The murdering weapon at his neck out-run ; 
 Nor ought it griev'd the man to lose his breath, 
 Since in his prince's stead he suff'red death. 
 
 81. 
 Ev'n then the Soldan struck with monstrous main 
 The noble leader of the Norman band ; 
 He reel'd awhile and stagger 'd with the pain. 
 And wheeling round fell grov'lling on the sand : 
 Godfrey no longer could the grief sustain 
 Of these displeasures, but with flaming brand 
 Up to the breach in heat and haste he goes. 
 And hand to hand there combats with his foes; 
 
 82. 
 And there great wonders surely wrought he had. 
 Mortal the fight, and fierce had been the fray. 
 But that dark night, from her pavilion sad. 
 Her cloudy wings did on the earth display; 
 Her quiet shades she interposed, glad 
 To cause the knights their arms aside to lay; 
 Godfrey withdrew, and to their tents they wend. 
 And thus this bloody day was brought to end. 
 
 83. 
 
 The weak and wounded, ere he left the field. 
 The godly Duke to safety thence convai'd, 
 Nor to his Ibes his engines would'he yield ; 
 In them his hope to win the fortress laid : 
 Then to the tower he went, and it behield. 
 The tower that late the Pagan lords dismai'd. 
 
 But now stood bruised, broken, crackt and shivered, 
 From some sharp storm as it were late delivered.
 
 240 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE. 
 
 84. 
 
 From dangers great escapt but late it was. 
 And now to safety brought well-nigh it seems, 
 But as a ship, that under sail doth pass 
 The roaring billows and the raging streams, 
 And drawing nigh the wished port (alas) 
 Breaks on some hidden rock her ribs and beams ; 
 Or as a steed, rough ways that well hath past. 
 Before his inn stumbleth, and falls at last : 
 
 85. 
 
 Such hap befel that tower, for on that side 
 'Gainst which the Pagans' force and batt'iy bend, 
 Two wheels were broke whereon the piece should ride; 
 The maimed engine could no further wend ; 
 The troop that guarded it that part provide 
 To under-prop with posts, and it defend, 
 Till carpenters and cunning workmen came, 
 Whose skill should help and rear again the same. 
 
 86. 
 
 Thus Godfrey bids, and that ere springing day. 
 The cracks and bruises all amend they should; 
 Each open passage, and each privy way 
 About the piece, he kept with soldiers bold : 
 But the loud rumour, both of that they say. 
 And that they do, is heard within the hold ; 
 A thousand lights about the tower they view. 
 And what they wrought all night both saw and knew.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 §00li tilt %MU\i, 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 Clorinda hears her eunuch old report 
 Ser hirth, her offspring, and her native land ; 
 Disguised shefireth Godfrey s rolling fort. 
 The burned piece falls smoking on the sand: 
 With Tancred long unknown in desp'rate sort 
 She fights, and falls through pierced tuith his brand: 
 
 Christ' ned she dies; with sighs, with plaints and 
 tears 
 
 Se wails her death; Argant revengement swears. 
 
 1. 
 
 Now in dark night was all the world imbar'd. 
 
 But yet the tired armies took no rest ; 
 
 The careful French kept heedful watch and ward, 
 
 While their high tower the workmen newly drest : 
 
 The Pagan crew to reinforce prepar'd 
 
 The weak'ned bulwarks, late to earth down kest ; 
 
 Their rarapiers broke and bruised walls to mend ; 
 
 Lastly their hurts the wounded knights attend. 
 
 2. 
 
 Their wounds were drest ; part of the work was brought 
 To wished end, part left to other days ; 
 A dull desire to rest deep midnight wrought ; 
 His heavy rod sleep on their eyelids lays : 
 Yet rested not Clorinda's working thought, 
 Which thirsteth still for fame and warlike praise; 
 Argantes eke accompanied the maid. 
 From place to place, which to herself thus said : 
 
 B
 
 242 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 3. 
 
 " This day Argantes strong and Soliman 
 Strange things have done, and purchas'd great renown ; 
 Among our Toes out of the walls they ran, 
 Their rams they broke, and rent their engines down ; 
 I us'd my bow, of nought else boast I can, 
 Myself stood safe meanwhile within this town : 
 And happy was my shot, and prosp'rous too. 
 But that was all a woman's hand could do. 
 
 4. 
 
 " On birds and beasts in forests wild that feed. 
 It were more fit mine arrows to bestow, 
 Than for a feeble maid in warlike deed. 
 With strong and hardy knights herself to show : 
 Why take 1 not again my virgin's weed ? 
 And spend my days in secret cell unknow ?" 
 
 Thus thought, thus mused, thus devis'd the maid, 
 And, turning to the knight, at last thus said : 
 
 5. 
 
 " My thoughts are full (my lord) of strange desire 
 Some high attempt of war to undertake ; 
 Whether high God my mind therewith inspire. 
 Or of his will his God mankind doth make : 
 Among our foes behold the light and fire ; 
 I will among them wend, and burn, or brake 
 The tower; God grant therein I have my will, 
 And that perform'd, betide me good or ill. 
 
 6. 
 
 " But if it fortune such my chance should be, 
 That to this town 1 never turn again. 
 Mine eunuch (whom I dearly love) with thee 
 I leave, my faithful maids, and all my train : 
 To Egypt then conducted salely see 
 Those woful damsels, and that aged swain ; 
 
 Help them (my lord) in that distressed case; 
 
 Theii" feeble sex, his age deserveth grace." 
 
 7. 
 Argantes wond'ring stood, and felt th* effect 
 Of true renown pierce through his glorious mind ; 
 " And wilt thou go," quoth he, " and me neglect, 
 Disgrao'd, despis'd, leave in this fort behind ?
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 243 
 
 Shall I, while these strong walls my life protect, 
 Behold thy flames and fires tost in the wind ? 
 No, no, thy fellow have I been in arms, 
 And will be still, in praise, in death, in harms ; 
 
 " This heart of mine death's bitter stroke despiseth ; 
 
 For praise this life, for glory take this breath." 
 
 " My soul the more," quoth she, " thy friendship priseth. 
 
 For this thy proffer'd aid requir'd uneath ; 
 
 I but a woman am, no loss ariseth 
 
 To this besieged city by my death ; 
 
 But if (as God forbid) this night thou fall, 
 
 Ah ! who shall then, who can defend this wall ?" 
 
 9. 
 " Too late these 'senses vain," the knight replide, 
 " You bring ; my will is firm, my mind is set ; 
 I follow you whereso you list me guide. 
 Or go before if you my purpose let.'" 
 This said, they hasted to the palace wide. 
 About their Prince where all his lords were met ; 
 Clorinda spoke for both, and said, " Sir King, 
 Attend my words, hear, and allow the thing : 
 
 10. 
 
 " Argantes here, this bold and hardy knight. 
 Will undertake to burn the wond'rous tower. 
 And I with him ; only we stay till night 
 Bury in sleep our foes at deadest hower." 
 The King with that cast up his hands on hight. 
 The tears for joy upon his cheeks down power. 
 
 " Praised," quoth he, " be Macon, whom we serve ; 
 
 This laud I see he keeps and will preserve : 
 
 11. 
 
 " Nor shall so soon this shaken kingdom fiill. 
 While such unconquer'd hearts my state defend : 
 But for this act what praise or guerdon shall 
 I give your virtues, which so far extend P 
 Let Fame your praises sound through nations all, 
 And fill the world therewith to either end : 
 
 Take half my wealth and kingdom for your meed ; 
 
 You are rewarded half ev'ii with the deed." 
 
 • Let — hinder, 
 
 b2
 
 244 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 12. 
 
 Thus spake the Prince, and gently 'gan distrain 
 
 Now him, now her, between his friendly arms : 
 
 The Soldan by no longer could retrain 
 
 That noble envy which his bosom warms : 
 
 " Nor I," quoth he, " bear this broad sword in vain, 
 
 Nor yet unexpert am in night alarms ; 
 
 Take me with you." "Ah," quoth Clorinda, "no; 
 
 Whom leave we here of prowess, if you go?" 
 
 13. 
 
 This spoken, ready with a proud refuse 
 Argantes was his proffer'd aid to scorne, 
 whom Alladine prevents, and with excuse 
 To Soliman thus 'gan his speeches torne :' 
 " Right noble Prince, as aye hath been j-our use, 
 Yourself so still you bear, and long have borne ; 
 Bold in all acts, no danger can aflright 
 Your heart, nor tired is your strength with fight. 
 
 14. 
 
 " If you went forth, great things perform you would; 
 In my conceit yet far unfit it seems, 
 That you (who most excel in courage hold) 
 At once should leave this town in these extremes : 
 Nor would I that these twain should leave this hold. 
 My heart their noble lives far worthier deems. 
 If this attempt of less importance were. 
 Or weaker posts so great a weight could bear. 
 
 15. 
 
 " But for well-guarded is the mighty tower. 
 With hardy troops and squadions round about. 
 And cannot harmed be with liltle power. 
 Nor tit the time to send whole armies out, 
 This pair who past have many a dreadful stower,- 
 And proffer now to prove this venture stout. 
 
 Alone to this attempt let them go forth ; 
 
 Alone than thousands of more price and worth. 
 
 16. 
 
 " Thou (as it best beseems a mighty king) 
 With read}- bands besides the gate attend. 
 That when this couple have perform'd the thing, 
 And shall again their footsteps homeward bend, 
 
 1 Tome — turn. * Slower — hatlle, or assault.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 245 
 
 From their strong foes upon them following, 
 Thou may'st them keep, preserve, save and defend :" 
 Thus said the King, the Soldan must consent j 
 Silent remained the Turk, and discontent. 
 
 17. 
 
 Then Tsmen said, " You twain that undertake 
 This hard attempt, a while I pray you stay, 
 Till I a wild-fire of fine temper make, 
 That this great engine burn to ashes may ; 
 Haply the guard, that now doth watch and wake, 
 Will then lie tumbled sleeping on the lay ;" 
 
 Thus they conclude, and in their chambers sit 
 
 To wait the time for this adventure fit. 
 
 IS. 
 
 Clorinda there her silver arms off rent. 
 Her helm, her shield, her hawberk shining bright ; 
 An armour black as jet or coal she hent. 
 Wherein withouten plume herself she dight ; 
 For thus disguis'd amid her foes she ment 
 To pass unseen, by help of friendly night ; 
 To whom her eunuch, old Arsetes, came, 
 That from her cradle nurst and kept the dame. 
 
 19. 
 
 This aged sire had foUow'd far and near, 
 (Through lands and seas) the strong and hardy maid ; 
 He saw her leave her arms and wonted gear. 
 Her danger nigh that sudden change foresaid : 
 By his white locks from black that changed were 
 In following her, the woful man her praid, 
 By all his service and his taken pain 
 To leave that fond attempt, but praid in vain. 
 
 20. 
 
 " At last," quoth he, " since hard'ned to thine ill. 
 Thy cruel heart is to thy loss prepar'd, 
 That my weak age, nor tears that down distil, 
 Nor humble suit, nor plaint, thou list regard ; 
 Attend a while, strange things unfold I will. 
 Hear both thy birth and high estate declar'd ; 
 Follow my counsel, or thy will." That done, 
 She fit to hear, the eunuch thus begun : —
 
 24:6 GODFBEY OF BULLOIGNE j OB, 
 
 21. 
 *' Senapns ml'd, and yet perchance doth rain 
 In mighty Elhiope, and her deserts waste, 
 The lore of Christ both he, and all his train 
 Of people black, hath kept and long imbraste ; 
 To him, a Pagan, was I sold for gain. 
 And with his queen (as her chief eunuch) plaste; 
 
 Black was this queen as jet, yet on her eyes 
 
 Sweet loveliness (in black attired) lies. 
 
 22. 
 
 " The fire of love and frost of jealousie 
 Her husband's troubled soul alike torment. 
 The tide of fond suspicion flowed hie, 
 The foe to love and plague to sweet content : 
 He mew'd her up from sight of mortal eye, 
 Nor day he would his beams on her had bent : 
 She (wise and lowly) by her husband's pleasure 
 Her joy, her peace, her will, her wish did measure. 
 
 23. 
 
 " Her prison was a chamber, painted round 
 
 With goodly portraits and with stories old ; 
 
 As white as snow there stood a virgin bound. 
 
 Besides a dragon fierce ; a champion bold 
 
 The monster did with poinant spear through wound; 
 
 The gored beast lay dead upon the mold ; 
 
 The gentle Queen before this image laid, [praid. 
 
 She plain'd, she Eourn'd, she wept, she sigh'd, she 
 
 24. 
 " At last with child she prov'd, and forth she brought 
 (And thou art she) a daughter fair and bright. 
 In her thy colour white new terror wrought. 
 She wonder'd on thy face with strange affright : 
 But yet she purpos'd in her fearful thought 
 To hide thee from the King thy father's sight. 
 
 Lest thy bright hue should his suspect approve ; 
 
 For seld a crow begets a silver dove j 
 
 25. 
 
 " And to her spouse to show she was dispos'd 
 A Negro babe, late bom, in room of thee ; 
 And for the tower, wherein she lay enclos'd. 
 Was with her damsels only wond' and mee, 
 
 J Wond — occupied.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 247 
 
 To me, on whose true faith she most repos'd, 
 She gave thee, ere thou couldest christ'ned be ; 
 Nor could I since find means thee to baptize, 
 In Pagan lands thou know'st it's not the guise. 
 
 26. 
 " To me she gave thee, and she wept withall, 
 To foster thee in some far distant place : 
 Who can her griefs and plaints to reck'ning call, 
 How oft she swooned at the last embrace ? 
 Her streaming tears amid her kisses fall, 
 Her sighs, her dire complaints did enterlace ; 
 And looking up at last, ' God,' quoth she, 
 ' Who do'st my heart and inward mourning see ; 
 
 27. 
 " * If mind and body spotless to this day, 
 If I have kept my bed still undefilde, 
 (Not for myself a sinful wretch I pray, 
 That in thy presence am an abject vilde)^ 
 Preserve this babe, whose mother must denay 
 To nourish it, preserve this harmless child : 
 
 Oh let it live, and chaste like me it make ; 
 
 But for good fortune elsewhere sample take. 
 
 28. 
 " ' Thou heav'nly soldier, which delivered hast 
 That sacred virgin from the serpent old. 
 If on thine altars I have offerings plast, 
 And sacrific'd myrrh, frankincense and gold, 
 On this poor child thy heav'nly looks down cast, 
 With gracious eye this seely babe behold :' 
 
 This said, her strength and living sprite was fled, 
 She sigh'd, she groan'd, she swooned in her bed. 
 
 29. 
 " Weeping I took thee ; in a little chest, 
 Cover'd with herbs and leaves, I brought thee out 
 So secretly, that none of all the rest 
 Of such an act suspicion had or doubt : 
 To wilderness my steps I first addrest. 
 Where horrid shades enclos'd me round about ; 
 A tigress there I met, in whose fierce eyes 
 Fury and wrath, rage, death and terror lies : 
 
 1 Vilde — vile.
 
 248 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 30. 
 " Up to a tree I leapt, and on the grass 
 (Such was my sudden fear) I left thee lying; 
 To thee the beast with furious course did pass. 
 With curious looks upon thy visage prying: 
 All suddenly both meek and mild she was, 
 With friendly cheer thy tender body eyeing : 
 At last she lick'd thee, and with gesture milde 
 About thee play'd, and thou \ipon her smilde. 
 
 31. 
 
 " Her fearful muzzle, full of dreadful threat, 
 In thy weak hand thou took'st withouten dreed ; 
 The gentle beast with milk out-stretched teat 
 (As nurse's custom) profl'er'd thee to feed : 
 As one that wond'reth on some marvel great, 
 I stood this while amazed at the deed ; 
 
 When thee she saw well fill'd and satisfied, 
 Unto the woods again the tigress hied. 
 
 32. 
 
 " She gone, down from the tree I came in haste, 
 And took thee up, and on my journey wend, 
 Within a little thorp^ I stay'd at last, 
 A^id to a nurse the charge of thee commend ; 
 And sporting with thee there long time I past, 
 Till term of sixteen months were brought to end, 
 And thou begun (as little children do) 
 With half dipt words to prattle, and to go. 
 
 33. 
 
 " But having past the August of mine age. 
 When more than half my tap of lii'e was run, 
 Rich by rewards given by j-our mother sage 
 For merits past, and service yet undone, 
 I long'd to leave this wand'ring pilgrimage, 
 And in my native soil again to won -.^ 
 To get some seely^ home I had desire, 
 Loth still to warm me at another's fire. 
 
 34. 
 
 " To Egypt-ward (where I was born) I went, 
 And bore thee with me, by a rolling flood 
 Till I with savage thieves well nigh was hent;* 
 Before, the brook, the thieves behind me stood : 
 
 ' Thorp — village. ^ Won— dteell, 
 
 * Seely — simple, * Heat — seized.
 
 JERUSALEM BELIVERED. 249 
 
 Thee to forsake I never could consent, 
 
 And gladly would I 'scape those outlaws wood,* 
 
 Into the flood I leapt tar from the brim ; 
 
 My left hand bore thee, with the right I swim. 
 
 35. 
 
 " Swift was the current ; in the middle stream 
 A whirlpool gaped with devouring jaws ; 
 The gulph (on such mishap ere I could di-eam) 
 Into his deep abyss my carcass draws : 
 There I forsook thee ; the wild waters seem 
 To pity thee ; a gentle wind there blows. 
 
 Whose friendly puffs safe to the shore thee drive, 
 
 Where wet and weary I at last arrive : 
 
 36. 
 " I took thee up, and in my dream that night, 
 (When buried was the world in sleep and shade) 
 I saw a champion clad in armour bright. 
 That o'er my head shaked a flaming blade : 
 He said, ' I chai'ge thee execute aright, 
 That charge this infant's mother on thee laid ; 
 
 Baptize the child: high Heav'u esteems her dear, 
 
 And I her keeper will attend her near : 
 
 37. 
 " ' I will her keep, defend, save and protect ; 
 I made the waters mild, the tigress tame ; 
 
 wretch, that heav'nly warnings dost reject !' 
 The warrior vanish'd having said the same. 
 
 1 rose and journey'd on my way direct. 
 
 When blushing morn from Tithon's bed forth came ; 
 But for my faith is true and sure I ween, 
 And dreams are false, you still unchristened been. 
 
 38. 
 
 " A Pagan therefore thee I foster 'd have, 
 
 Nor of thy birth the truth did ever tell ; 
 
 Since you increased are in courage brave, 
 
 Your sex and nature's-self you both excel ; 
 
 Full many a realm have you made bond and slave, 
 
 Your foi'tunes last yourself remember well. 
 And how in peace and war, in joy and teen," 
 I have your servant and your tutor been. 
 
 1 Wood— fierce, ^ Teen — sorrow.
 
 250 GODrREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 39. 
 " Last mom, from skies ere stars exiled were, 
 In deep and deathlike sleep my senses drown'd, 
 The self-same vision did again appear 
 With stormy wrathful looks, and thund'ring sound, 
 * Villain,' quoth he, ' within short while thy dear 
 Must change her life, and leave this sinful ground ; 
 
 Thine be the loss, the torment, and the care,' [air. 
 
 This said, he fled through skies, through clouds and 
 
 40. 
 
 " Hear then my joy, my hope, my darling, hear ; 
 
 High Heav'n some dire mistbrtune threat'ned hath, 
 
 Displeased, pardie, because I did thee lear^ 
 
 A lore, repugnant to thy parent's faith ; 
 
 Ah, for my sake, this bold attempt forbear ; 
 
 Put off these sable arms, appease thy wrath." 
 This said, he wept ; she pensive stood and sad. 
 Because like dream herself but lately had. 
 
 41. 
 
 With cheerful smile she answered him at last ; 
 
 " I will this faith observe, it seems me true. 
 
 Which from my cradle-age thou taught me hast ; 
 
 I will not change it for religion new ; 
 
 Nor, with vain shows of fear and dread aghast. 
 
 This enterprize forbear I to pursue. 
 
 No, not if death in his most dreadful face. 
 Wherewith he scareth mankind, kept the place." 
 
 42. 
 Approachen 'gan the time (while thus she spake) 
 Wherein they ought that dreadful hazard try. 
 She to Argantes went, who should partake 
 Of her renown and praise, or with her die; 
 Ismen with words more hasty still did make 
 Their virtue great, which by itself did fly : 
 
 Two balls he gave them made of hollow brass. 
 Wherein enclos'd fire, pitch, and brimstone was. 
 
 43. 
 And forth they went, and over dale and hill 
 They hasted forward with a speedy pace. 
 Unseen, unmarked, undescri'd, until 
 Beside the engine close themselves they place ; 
 
 * Lear — learn.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 251 
 
 New courage there their swelling hearts did fill, 
 Eage in their breasts, fury shone in their face ; 
 They earn'd' to blow the fire and draw the sword, 
 The watch descri'd theni both, and gave the word. 
 
 Silent they passed on, the watch begun 
 
 To rear a huge alarm with hideous cries ; 
 
 Therewith the hardy couple forward run 
 
 To execute their valiant enterpries : 
 
 So from a cannon, or a roaring gun. 
 
 At once the noise, the flame, and bullet flies ; 
 They run, they give the charge, begin the fray. 
 And all at once their foes break, spoil and slay. 
 
 45. 
 
 They passed first through thousand thousand blows, 
 
 And then performed their designment bold ; 
 
 A fiery ball each on the engine throws ; 
 
 The stufi" was dry, the fire took quickly hold. 
 
 Furious upon the timber-work it grows ; 
 
 How it increased cannot well be told, 
 
 How it crept up the piece, and how to skies 
 The burning sparks, and tow'ring smoke upflies. 
 
 46. 
 A mass of solid fier burning bright, 
 EoU'd up in smould'ring fumes, there bursteth out ; 
 And there the blust'nng winds add strength and might. 
 And gather close the sparsed- flames about : 
 The Frenchmen trembled at the dreadful light; 
 To arms in haste and fear ran all the rout ; 
 
 Down fell the piece dreaded so much in war ; 
 
 Thus, what long days do make, one hour doth mar. 
 
 47. 
 Two Christian bands this while came to the place 
 With speedy haste, where they beheld the fire ; 
 Argantes to them cried, with scornful grace, [ire :" 
 
 " Your blood shall quench these flames, and quench mine 
 This said, the maid and he with sober pace 
 Drew back, and to the banks themselves retire ; 
 Faster than brooks which falling showers increase, 
 Their foes augment, and faster on them prease.^ 
 ' Earn'd — yearned, * Sparsed — scattered. * Prease — prest.
 
 252 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 48. 
 The gilden poii:^ was open'd, and forth stept, 
 With all his soldiers bold, the Turkish King ; 
 Eeady to aid them too his force he kept, 
 "When fortune should them home with conquest bring ; 
 Over the bars the hardy couple lept, 
 And after them a band of Christians fling, 
 
 Whom Soliman drove back with courage stout, 
 And shut the gate, but shut Clorinda out. 
 
 49. 
 Alone was she shut forth, for in that hour 
 Wherein they clos'd the port, the Virgin went, 
 And full of heat and wrath, her strength and pow'r 
 'Gainst Arimon (that struck her erst) she bent; 
 She slew the knight, nor Argant in that stow'r 
 Wist of her parting, or her fierce intent ; 
 
 The fight, the prease, the night, and darksome skies, 
 Care from his heart had ta'en, sight from his eyes. 
 
 50. 
 
 But when appeased was her angry mood. 
 
 Her fury calm'd, and settl'd was her head, 
 
 She saw the gates were shut, and how she stood 
 
 Amid her foes, she held herself for dead ; 
 
 "WTiile none her niark'd, at last she thought it good 
 
 To save her life, some other path to tread ; 
 
 She feign'd her one of them, and close her drew 
 Amid the prease that none her saw or knew : 
 
 51. 
 Then as a wolf, guilty of some misdeed, 
 Flies to some grove to hide himself from view, 
 So favour'd with the night, with secret speed, 
 Dissev'red from the prease, the damsel flew : 
 Tancred alone of her escape took heed ; 
 He on that quarter was arrived new ; 
 
 When Arimon she kill'd, he thither came ; 
 
 He saw it, mark'd it, and pursu'd the dame. 
 
 52. 
 
 He deem'd she was some man of mickle might, 
 And on her person would he worship win ; 
 Over the hills the nymph her journey dight 
 Towards another port, there to get in ; 
 
 1 Port — ^ate.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 253 
 
 With hideous noise fast after spurr'd the knight ; 
 She heard and stay'd, and thus her words begin : 
 
 "What haste hast thou? ride softly, take thy breath; 
 
 What bringest thou ?" He answer'd, " War and death." 
 
 53. 
 
 " And war and death," quoth she, " here may'st thou get. 
 If thou for battle come ;" with that she staid : 
 Tancred to ground his foot in haste down set. 
 And left his steed; on foot he saw the maid; 
 Their courage hot, their ire and wrath they whet. 
 And either champion di'ew a trenchant blade ; 
 Together ran they, and together stroke, 
 Like two fierce bulls, whom rage and love provoke. 
 
 54. 
 Worthy of royal lists and brightest day, 
 Worthy a golden trump and laurel crown. 
 The actions were and wonders of that fray. 
 Which sable night did in dark bosom drown : 
 Yet, night, consent that I their acts display. 
 And make their deeds to future ages known, 
 And in records of long-enduring story. 
 Enrol their praise, their fame, their worth and glory. 
 
 55. 
 
 They neither shrunk, nor vantage sought of ground ; 
 
 They travers'd not, nor skipp'd from part to part ; 
 
 Their blows were neither false nor feigned found ; 
 
 The night, their rage, would let them use no art : 
 
 Their swords together clash with dreadful sound; 
 
 Their feet stand last, and neither stir nor start ; 
 They move their hands, stedi'ast their feet remain. 
 Nor blow nor foin' they struck, or thrust in vain. 
 
 56. 
 Shame bred desire a sharp revenge to take, 
 And veng'ance taken gave new cause of shame : 
 So that with haste and little heed they strake ; 
 Puel enough they had to feed the flame : 
 At last so close their battle fierce they make, 
 They could not wield their swords : so nigh they came. 
 They us'd the hilts, and each on other rush'd, 
 Aud helm to helm, and shield to shield they crush'd. 
 1 Foin — push of the stvord, or spear.
 
 254 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 57. 
 
 Thrice his strong arms he folds about her waste, 
 And thrice was forced to let the virgin go. 
 For she disdained to be so embraste, 
 No lover would have strain'd his mistress so: 
 They took their swords again, and each enchaste 
 Deep wounds in the soft Hesh of his strong foe. 
 Till weak and weary, faint, alive uneath. 
 They both retir'd at once, at once took breath. 
 
 58. 
 Each other long beheld, and leaning stood 
 Upon their swords, whose points in earth were pight :* 
 When daybreak rising from the eastern flood 
 Put forth the thousand eyes of blindfold night, 
 Tancred beheld his foe's out-streaming blood, 
 And gaping wounds, and wax'd proud with the sight ; 
 O vanity of man's unstable mind, 
 Puft up \vith every blast of friendly wind ! 
 
 59: 
 Why joy'st thou, wretch ? O what shall be thy gain ? 
 
 What trophy for this conquest is't, thou rears ? 
 
 Thine eyes shall shed (in case thou be not slain) 
 
 For every drop of blood a sea of tears : 
 
 The bleeding warriors leaning thus remain ; 
 
 Each one to speak one word long time forbears : 
 Tancred the silence broke at last, and said 
 (For he would know with whom this fight he made) : 
 
 60. 
 " Evil is our chance, and hard our fortune is, 
 Who here in silence, and in shade debate. 
 Where light of sun and witness all we miss. 
 That should our prowess and our praise dilate : 
 If words in arms find place, yet grant me this, — 
 Tell me thy name, thy country, and estate. 
 
 That I may know (this dangerous combat done) 
 Whom I have conquer'd, or who hath me won." 
 
 61. 
 " What I nill* tell, you ask," quoth she, " in vain, 
 Nor mov'd by prayer, nor constrain'd by power. 
 But thus much know, I am one of those twain 
 Which late with kindled fire destroy 'd the tower ! " 
 
 > Vightr—Jixed. ' Kill— ttAa< / Kill not.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVEKED. 255 
 
 Tancred at her proud words swell'd with disdain ; 
 
 " That hast thou said," quoth he, " in evil hour ; 
 Thy vaunting speeches, and thy silence both 
 (Uncivil wretch), hath made my heart more wroth." 
 
 62. 
 Ire In their chafed breasts renew'd the fray ; 
 Fierce was the fight, though feeble were their might ; 
 Their strength was gone, their cunning was away, 
 And fury in their stead maintain'd the fight : 
 Their swords both points and edges sharp embay* 
 In purple blood, where so they hit or light ; 
 And if weak life yet in their bosoms lie. 
 They liv'd, because they both disdain'd to die. 
 
 63. 
 
 As Egean seas, when storms be calm'd again. 
 
 That roU'd their tumbling waves with troublous blasts. 
 
 Do yet of tempests past some shows retain. 
 
 And here and there their swelling billows casts ; 
 
 So, though their strength were gone, and might were vain, 
 
 Of their first fierceness still the fury lasts, 
 
 Wherewith sustain'd, they to their tackling stood. 
 And heaped wound ou wound, and blood ou blood. 
 
 64 
 But now, alas, the fatal hour arrives 
 That her sweet life must leave that tender hold ; 
 His sword into her bosom deep he drives. 
 And bathed in lukewarm blood his iron cold : 
 Between her breasts the cruel weapon rives 
 Her curious square,^ em host with swelling gold: 
 Her knees grow weak, the pains of death she feels. 
 And, like a falling cedar, bends and reels. 
 
 65. 
 The Prince his hand upon her shield doth stretch. 
 And low on earth the wounded damsel laitli ;^ 
 And while she fell, with weak and woful speech. 
 Her prayers last, and last complaints she saith ; 
 A spirit new did her those prayers teach, 
 Spirit of hope, of charity, and faith ; 
 
 And, though her life to Christ rebellious were. 
 Yet died she his child, and handmaid dear. 
 
 Embay — bathe. * Squaxe— the front of the female dresa, near the bosom, 
 ' Laith — layeth.
 
 256 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 66. 
 " Friend, thou hast won ; I pardon thee ; nor save 
 This body, that all torments can endure, 
 But save my soul ; baptism I dying crave ; 
 Come wash away my sins with waters pure." 
 His heart relenting nigh in sunder rave, 
 With woful speech of that sweet creature. 
 So that his rage, his wrath, and anger dide. 
 And on his cheeks salt tears for ruth down slide. 
 
 67. 
 With murmur loud, down from the mountain's side, 
 A little runnel^ tumbled near the place ; 
 Thither he ran, and fill'd his helmet wide, 
 And quick return'd to do that work of grace, 
 With trembling hands her beaver he untide. 
 Which done he saw, and seeing, knew her face, 
 
 And lost therewith his speech and moving quight ; 
 
 woful knowledge ! ah, unhappy sight ! 
 
 68. 
 He died not, but all his strength unites, 
 And to his virtues gave his heart in guard, 
 Bridling his grief with water he requites 
 The life, that he bereft with iron hard. 
 And while the sacred words the knight recites, 
 The nymph to heav'n with joy herself prepar'd; 
 And as her life decays, her joj's increase. 
 She smil'd and said, " Farewell, I die in peace." 
 
 69. 
 As violets blue 'mongst lilies pure men throw. 
 So paleness 'midst her native white begmi ; 
 Her looks to heav'n she cast ; their eyes, I trow. 
 Downward for pity bent both heav'n and sun : 
 Her naked hand she gave the knight, in show 
 Of love and peace; her speech (alas) was done: 
 
 And thus the virgin fell on endless sleep; 
 
 Love, beauty, virtue, ibr your darling weep. 
 
 70. 
 But when he saw her gentle soul was went," 
 His manly courage to relent began ; 
 Grief, sorrow, anguish, sadness, discontent 
 Free empire got, and lordship on the man ; 
 
 1 Runnel — small stream, or hroolc. * Went — gone.
 
 And a-s her life decays her joys nicrea.se, 
 
 Slie sniild. and said, " Farewell, I die in peaoe.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 257 
 
 His life within his heart they close up pent, 
 Death through his senses and his visage ran : 
 Like his dead lady, dead seem'd Tancred good. 
 In paleness, stillness, wounds, and streams ot blood. 
 
 71. 
 And his weak sprite (to be unbodied 
 From fleshly prison free that ceaseless stx'ived) 
 Had foUow'd her fair soul but lately fled. 
 Had not a Christian squadron there arrived. 
 To seek fresh water thither haply led. 
 And found the Pi'incess dead, and him deprived 
 Of signs of life; yet did the knight remain 
 On live, nigh dead, for her himself had slain. 
 
 72. 
 Their guide far off the Prince knew by his shield. 
 And thither hasted full of grief and fear ; 
 Her dead, him seeming so, he there behield. 
 And for that strange mishap shed many a tear; 
 He would not leave the corses fair in field 
 For food to wolves, though she a Pagan were, 
 But in their arms the soldiers both uphent,^ 
 And both, lamenting, brought to Tancred's tent. 
 
 73. 
 
 With those dear burthens to their camp they pass, 
 Yet would not that dead seeming knight awake ; 
 At last he deeply groan'd, which token was 
 His feeble soul had not her flight yet take : 
 The other lay a stUl and heavy mass. 
 Her spu'it had that earthen cage forsake : 
 
 Thus were they brought, and thus they placed were 
 In sundry rooms, yet both adjoining near. 
 
 74. 
 All skill and art his careful servants used 
 To life again their dying lord to bring ; 
 At last his eyes unclos'd, with tears suff'used. 
 He felt their hands, and heard their whispering : 
 But how he thither came long time he mused ; 
 His mind astonisht was with everything ; 
 He gaz'd about, his squires in fine he knew, 
 Then, weak and woful, thus his plaints out threw : 
 
 1 Uphent — uplifted.
 
 258 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 " What, live I vet ? and do I breathe and see 
 
 Of this accursed day the hateful light ? 
 
 This spiteful ray, which still upbraideth me 
 
 "With that accursed deed, I did this night ? 
 
 Ah, coward hand ! afraid why should'st thou be ? 
 
 (Thou instrument of death, shame, and despite) 
 
 Why should'st thou fear, with sharp and trenchant knife 
 To cut the thread of this blood-guilty life ? 
 
 76. 
 " Pierce through this bosom, and my cruel heart 
 In pieces cleave ; break every string and vein ; 
 But thou, to slaughters vile which used art, 
 Th'nk'st it were pity so to ease my pain : 
 Of luckless love therefore in torments smart, 
 A sad example must I still remain ; 
 
 A woful monster of unhappy love, 
 
 Who still must live, lest death his comfort prove : 
 
 77. 
 " Still must I live in anguish, grief, and care, 
 Furies my guiltj* conscience that torment ; 
 The ugly shades, dark night, and troubled air 
 In grisly forms her slaughter stUi^present^: — ^_^^ 
 !^Iadnes6 and death about my )xd repair. 
 Hell gapeth wide to swallow ^p this 'tent; 
 
 Swilt from myself I run, iiyself I fear, 
 
 Yet still my hell within myself I bear. 
 
 78. 
 " But where (alas) where be those relics sweet. 
 Wherein dwelt late all love, all joy, all good ? 
 My fury left them cast in open street. 
 Some beast hath torn her flesh, and lickt her blood: 
 Ah noble prey ! for savage beast unmeet ! 
 Ah sweet ! too sweet, and far too precious food ! 
 Ah seely nymph ! whom night and darksome shade 
 To beasts, and me (far worse than beasts) betray'd. 
 
 79. 
 " But where you be, if still you be, I wend 
 To gather up those reliques dear at least ; 
 But if some beast hath Irom the hills descend. 
 And on her tender bowels made his feast.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 259 
 
 Let that fell monster me in pieces rend, 
 
 And deep entomb me in his hollow chest : 
 For where she buried is, there shall I have 
 A stately tomb, a rich and costly grave." 
 
 80. 
 Thus mourn'd the knight ; his squires him told at last, 
 They had her there for whom those tears he shed ; 
 A beam of comfort his dim eyes out-cast, 
 Like lightning through thick clouds of darkness spred : 
 The heavy burden of his limbs in hast. 
 With mickle pain, he drew forth of his bed. 
 
 And scant of strength to stand, to move, or go, 
 Thither he stagg'red, reeling to and fro. 
 
 81. 
 
 When he came there, and in her breast espide 
 (His handiwork) that deep and cruel wound. 
 And her sweet face with leaden paleness dyde, 
 Where beauty late spread forth her beams around, 
 He trembled so, that n'ere' his squires beside 
 To hold him up, he had sunk down to ground, 
 
 And said, " O face, in death still sweet and fair ! 
 
 Thou canst not sweeten yet my grief and care : 
 
 82. 
 " fair right hand, the pledge of faith and love ! 
 Given me but late, too late, in sign of peace. 
 How haps it now thou canst not stir nor move ? 
 And you dear limbs, now laid in rest and ease, 
 Through which my cruel blade this flood-gate rove. 
 Your pains have end, my torments never cease : 
 
 hands ! cruel eyes accurst alike ! 
 
 You gave the wound, you gave them light to strike. 
 
 83. 
 " But thither now run forth my guilty blood, 
 Whither my plaints, my sorrows cannot wend." 
 He said no more, but, as his passion wood^ 
 Inforced him, he 'gan to tear and rend 
 His hair, his face, his wounds ; a purple flood 
 Did from each side in rolling streams descend ; 
 
 He had been slain, but that his pain and woe 
 
 Bereft his senses, and preserv'd him so. 
 I N'ere — were not, or had not been. * Vfood— frantic, 
 
 s 2
 
 260 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 84. 
 Cast on liis bed, his squires recall'd his spright. 
 To execute again her hateful charge ; 
 But tattling tame the sorrows of the knight, 
 And hard mischance had told this while at large : 
 Godfrey, and all his lords of worth and might, 
 Ean thither, and the duty would discharge 
 
 Of friendship true, and with sweet words the rage 
 Of bitter grief and woe they would assuage. 
 
 85. 
 But as a mortal wound the more doth smart 
 The more it searched is, handled or sought ; 
 So their sweet words to his afflicted heart 
 More grief, more anguish, pain and torment brought : 
 But reverend Peter, that n'ould set apart 
 Care of his sheep, as a good shepherd ought. 
 His vanity with grave advice reproved, 
 And told what mourning Christian knights behoved : 
 
 86. 
 " Tancred, Tancred, how far different 
 From thy beginnings good these follies be ! 
 What makes thee deaf? what hath thy eyesight blent ?' 
 "WTiat mist, what cloud thus ovei-shadeth thee ? 
 This is a warning good from Heav'n down sent 
 (Yet His advice thou canst not hear nor see) 
 Who calleth and conducts thee to the way, 
 From which thou willing dost and witting stray: 
 
 87. 
 " To worthy actions and achievements fit 
 For Christian knights. He would thee home recal ; 
 But thou hast left that course and changed it. 
 To make thyself a heathen damsel's thrall ; 
 But see, thy grief and sorrow's painful fit 
 Is made the rod to scourge thy sins withal ; 
 
 Of thine own good thyself the means He makes, 
 But thou His mere}-, goodness, gi-ace forsakes. 
 
 " Thou dost refuse of Heav'n the proffer'd grace. 
 And 'gainst it still rebel with sinful ire ; 
 wretch ! whither doth thy rage thee chase.'' 
 Eefrain thy grief, bridle thy fond desire : 
 ' Blent— iZiJuied.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 261 
 
 At hell's wide gate vain sorrow doth thee place, 
 Sorrow, misfortune's son, despair's foul sire : 
 see thine evil, thy plaint and woe refrain, 
 The guides to death, to hell, and endless pain." 
 
 89. 
 
 This said, his will to die the patient 
 Abandoned, that second death he feared ; 
 These words of comfort to his heart down went, 
 And that dark night of sorrow somewhat cleared ; 
 Yet now and then his grief deep sighs forth sent, 
 His voice shrill plaints and sad laments oft reai'ed : 
 Now to himself, now to his murd'red love. 
 He spoke, who heard perchance from Heav'n above. 
 
 90. 
 
 Till Phoebus' rising from his evening fall. 
 To her, for her, he mourns, he calls, he cries; 
 The nightingale so, when her children small 
 Some churle takes before their parents' eyes, 
 Alone, dismay' d, quite bare of comforts all, 
 Tires with complaints the seas, the shores, the skies, 
 Till in sweet sleep against the morning bright 
 She fall at last ; so mourn'd, so slept the knight. 
 
 91. 
 
 And clad in starry vale, amid his dream 
 
 (For whose sweet sake he mourn'd) appear'd the maid, 
 
 Fairer than erst, yet with that heav'nly beam, 
 
 Not out of knowledge was her lovely shade : 
 
 With looks of ruth, her eyes celestial seem 
 
 To pity his sad plight, and thus she said : 
 
 " Behold how fair, how glad thy love appears, 
 And for my sake (my dear) forbear these tears. 
 
 92. 
 
 " Thine be the thanks, my soul thou madest flit 
 
 At unawares out of her earthly nest; 
 
 Thine be the thanks, thou hast advanced it 
 
 In Abraham's dear bosom long to rest : 
 
 There still I love thee ; there for Tancred fit 
 
 A seat prepared is among the blest ; 
 There in eternal joy, eternal light. 
 Thou shalt thy love enjoy, and she her knight;
 
 ]G2 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 93. 
 
 "Unless thyself, thyself Heav'n's joys envy. 
 And thy vain sorrow thee of bliss deprive. 
 Live ; know I love thee, that I nill deny, 
 As angels, men : as saints may wights' on live :" 
 This said, of zeal and love forth of her eye 
 An hundred glorious beams bright shining drive, 
 Amid which raj-s herself she clos'd from sight, 
 And with new joy, new comfort left her knight. 
 
 94. 
 Thus comforted he wak'd ; and men discreet 
 In surgery to cure his wounds were sought : 
 Meanwhile of his dear love tlie reliques sweet 
 (As best he could) to grave with pomp he brought : 
 Her tomb was not of virid- Spartan greet, 
 Nor j-et by cunning hand of Scopas wrought, 
 But built of polisht stone, and thei-eon laid 
 The lively shape and portrait of the maid. 
 
 95. 
 
 With sacred burning lamps, in oi'der long, 
 And moui'nful pomp, the corpse was brought to ground 
 Her arms upon a leatless pine were hung ; 
 The hearse, with cypress ; arms, with laurel crown'd : 
 Next day the Prince (whose love and courage strong 
 Drew forth his limbs, weak, feeble, and unsound) 
 To visit went, with care and rev'rence meet. 
 The buried ashes of his mistresse sweet : 
 
 96. 
 Before her new-made tomb at last arrived. 
 The wolul prison of his living spright. 
 Pale, cold, sad, comfortless, of sense deprived, 
 Upon the marble gray he fix'd his sight : 
 Two streams of tears were from his eyes derived : 
 Thus with a sad alas ! began the knight, 
 
 " Oh marble dear on my dear mistresse plast ! 
 
 My flames within, without my tears thou hast. 
 
 97. 
 " Not of dead hones art thou the moui-nful grave, 
 But of quick love the fortress and the hold ; 
 Still in my heart thj' wonted brands I have 
 More bitter, far alas ! but not more cold : 
 
 ' Wights — creaturet. * Xirid— green.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 263 
 
 Receive these sighs, these kisses sweet recave,' 
 
 In liquid drops of melting tears enrold, 
 
 And give them to that body pure and chast, 
 Which in thy bosom cold entomb'd thou hast. 
 
 98. 
 
 " For, if her happy soul her eye doth bend 
 
 On that sweet body, which it lately drest. 
 
 My love, thy pity, cannot her offend ; 
 
 Anger and wrath is not in angels blest ; 
 
 She pardon will the trespass of her friend ; 
 
 That hope relieves me with these griefs opprest : 
 This hand she knows hath only sinn'd, not T, 
 Who living lov'd her, and for love now die : 
 
 99. 
 " And loving will I die ; O happy day 
 Whene'er it chanceth ! but 0, far more blest, 
 If, as about thy polisht sides I stray. 
 My bones within thy hollow grave might rest ; 
 Together should in Heav'n our spirits stay, 
 Together should our bodies lie in chest ; 
 
 So happy death should join, what life doth sever ; 
 
 O death, life ! sweet both, both blessed ever." 
 
 100. 
 Meanwhile the news in that besieged tov/n 
 Of this mishap was whisper'd here and there : 
 Forthwith it spread, and for too true was known ; 
 Her woful loss was talked everywhere, 
 Mingled with cries and plaints to Heav'n up thrown, 
 As if the city's self new taken were 
 
 With conqu'ring foes, or as if flame and fire, 
 Nor house, nor church, nor street had left entire. 
 
 101. 
 But all men's eyes were on Arseten bent : 
 His sighs were deep, his looks full of despair ; 
 Out of his woful eyes no tear there went ; 
 His heart was harden'd with his too much care : 
 His silver locks with dust he foul besprent ; 
 He knock'd his breast, his face he rent and tare ; 
 And while the prease flock'd to the eunuch old, 
 Thus to the people spake Argantes bold : 
 1 Kecave — receive.
 
 264: GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE. 
 
 102. 
 " I would, when first I knew the hardy maid 
 Excluded was among her Christian foes, 
 Have follow'd her to give her timely aid, 
 Or h}- her side this breath and life to lose : 
 What did I not, or what left I unsaid 
 To make the king the gates again imclose ? 
 But he deny'd ; his power did aye restrain 
 ily will ; my suit was waste, my speech was vain : 
 
 103. 
 
 "Ah, had I gone, I would from danger free 
 Have brought to Sion that sweet nymph again. 
 Or in the bloody fight, where kill'd was she, 
 In her defence there nobly have been slain : 
 But what could I do more ? the counsels be 
 Of God and man 'gainst my designments plain : 
 
 Dead is Clorinda fair, laid in cold grave ; 
 
 Let me revenge her whom I could not save. 
 
 104. 
 
 " Jerusalem, hear what Argantes saith ; 
 
 Hear Heav'n (and if he break his oath and word, 
 
 Upon this head cast thunder in thy wrath) 
 
 I will destroy and kill that Christian lord, 
 
 Who this fair dame by night thus murd'red hath ; 
 
 Nor from my side I will ungird this sword. 
 
 Till Tancred's heart it cleave, and shed his blood, 
 And leave his corse to wolves and crows for food." 
 
 105. 
 This said, the people with a joyful shout 
 Applaud his speeches and his words approve, 
 And calm'd their grief in hope the boast<jr stout 
 Would kill the Prince, who late had slain his love. 
 promise vain ! it otherwise fell out : 
 Men purpose, but high Gods dispose above ; 
 For underneath his sword this boaster dide, 
 Whom thus he scom'd, and threat'ned in his pride
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 §00lt tilt %\ixtm\i^. 
 
 THE AEGUMENT. 
 
 Ismeno sets to guard the forest old 
 The wicked sprites, whose ugly shapes affray 
 And put tofiight the men, whose labour wold^ 
 To their dark shades let in Seavn's golden ray: 
 Thither goes Tancred, hardy, faithful, bold, 
 Hut foolish pity lets him not assay 
 
 His strength and courage : heat the Christian power 
 Annoys, whom to refresh God sends a shower. 
 
 1. 
 
 But scant, dissolved into ashes cold. 
 The smoking tow'r fell on the scorched grass, 
 When new device found out th' enchanter old, 
 By which the town besieg'd secured was : 
 Of timber fit his foes deprive he wold, 
 Such terror bred that late consumed mass ; 
 So that the strength of Sion's walls to shake. 
 They should no turrets, rams, nor engines make. 
 
 2. 
 
 From Godfrey's camp a grove a little way 
 Amid the vallej's deep grows out of sight. 
 Thick with old trees, whose horrid arms display 
 An ugly shade, like everlasting night ; 
 There, when the sun spreads forth his clearest ray. 
 Dim, thick, uncertain, gloomy seems the light ; 
 As when in ev'ning day and darkness strive, 
 Which should his foe from our horizon drive. 
 1 Wold — would.
 
 266 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 3. 
 
 But when the sun his chair in seas doth steep, 
 Night, horror, darkness thick the place invade. 
 Which veil the mortal eyes with blindness deep. 
 And with sad terror make weak hearts afraid ; 
 Thither no groom drives forth his tender sheep 
 To browse, or ease their faint in cooling shade ; 
 Nor traveller, nor pilgrim there to enter 
 (So awful seems that forest old) dare venter.^ 
 
 4. 
 United there the ghosts and goblins meet 
 To frolic with their mates in silent night : 
 With dragons' wings some cleave the welkin fleet; 
 Some nimbly run o'er hills and vallej's light ; 
 A wicked troop, that with allurement sweet 
 Draws sinful man from that is good and right ; 
 
 And there with hellish pomp their banquets brought 
 They solemnize ; thus the vain Pagans thought. 
 
 5. 
 
 No twist, no twig, no bough nor branch therefore, 
 The Saracines cut from that sacred spring ; 
 But yet the Christians spared ne'er tlie more 
 The trees to earth with cutting steel to bring : 
 Thither went Ismen old with tresses bore. 
 When night on all this earth spread forth her wing, 
 And there in silence deaf, and mirksome- shade, 
 His characters and circles vain he made. 
 
 6. 
 He in the circle set one foot unshod. 
 And whisper'd dreadful charms in ghastly wise ; 
 Three times (for witchcraft loveth numbers odd) 
 Toward the East he gaped, Westward thrise : 
 He stroke the earth thrise^ with his charmed rod, 
 Wherewith dead bones he makes from grave to rise ; 
 And thrise the ground with naked foot he smote. 
 And thus he cried loud, with thund'ring note. 
 
 7. 
 " Hear, hear, you spirits all that whilome fell. 
 Cast down from Heav'n with dint of roaring thunder ; 
 Hear, you amid the empty air that dwell, 
 And storms and showers pour on these kingdoms under ; 
 » Venter— pen^Mre. 2 Mirksome— rfai"*. ^ Thrise— <Ar(ce.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 267 
 
 Hear, all you devils that lie m deepest hell, 
 And rend with torments damned ghosts asunder; 
 And of those lands of death, of pain, and fear. 
 Thou monarch great, great Dis, great Pluto hear. 
 
 " Keep you this forest well, keep every tree ; 
 Number 'd I give you them and truly told : 
 As souls of men in bodies clothed he. 
 So ev'ry plant a sprite shall hide and hold ; 
 With trembling fear make all the Christians flee, 
 When they presume to cut these cedars old :" 
 This said, his charms he 'gan again repeat. 
 Which none can say hut they that use like feat. 
 
 9. 
 
 At those strange speeches, till night's 'splendent fires 
 Quenched their lights, and shrunk away for doubt ; 
 The feeble moon her silver beams retires, 
 And wrapt her horns with folding clouds about : 
 Ismen his sprites to come with speed requires ; 
 •' Why come you not, you ever damned rout ? 
 Why tarry you so long ? pardie, you stay 
 Till stronger charms and greater words I say. 
 
 10. 
 
 " I have not yet forgot for want of use. 
 What dreadful terms belong this sacred feat ; 
 My tongue (if still your stubborn hearts refuse) 
 That so much dreaded name can well repeat. 
 Which heard, great Dis cannot himself excuse, 
 But hither run from his eternal seat ;" 
 
 great and fearful ! more be would have said. 
 But that he saw the sturdy sprites obaid. 
 
 11. 
 
 Legions of devils by thousands thither come, 
 Such as in sparsed air their biding make ; 
 And thousands also which, by Heav'nly doom. 
 Condemned lie in deep Avernus' lake ; 
 But slow they came, displeased all and some. 
 Because those woods they should in keeping take ; 
 Yet they obey'd, and took the chai'ge in hand. 
 And under ev'ry branch and leaf they stand.
 
 268 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 12. 
 
 When thus his cursed work performed was. 
 The wizard to his King declar'd the feat ; 
 " Mj' lord, let fear, let doubt, and sorrow pass ; 
 Henceforth in safety stands your regal seat : 
 Your foe (as he suppos'd) no mean now has 
 To build again his rams, and engines great :" 
 And then he told at large, from part to part, 
 All what he late perform'd by wondrous art, 
 
 13. 
 
 " Besides this help, another hap," quoth he, 
 " Will shortly chance that brings not profit small j 
 "VVithin few days Mars and the Sun I see 
 Their fiery beams unite in Leo shall ; 
 And then extreme the scorching heat will be. 
 Which neither rain can quench, nor dews that fall; 
 So placed are the planets high and low, 
 That heat, fire, burning, all the Heav'ns foreshow : 
 
 14. 
 
 " So great with us will be the warmth therefore. 
 
 As with the Garamants, or those of Ind ; 
 
 Yet nill it' grieve us in this town so sore ; 
 
 We have sweet shade, and waters cold by kind ; 
 
 Our foes abroad will be tormented moi'e ; 
 
 What shield can they, or what refreshing find? 
 
 Heav'n will them vanquish first, then Egypt's crew 
 Destroy them quite, weak, weary, faint and few ; 
 
 15. 
 
 " Thou shalt sit still and conquer ; prove no more 
 The doubtful hazard of uncertain fight : 
 But if Argantes bold (that hates so sore 
 All cause of quiet peace, though just and right) 
 Provoke thee forth to battle (as before) 
 Find means to calm the rage of that fierce knight ; 
 For shortly Heav'n will send thee ease and peace, 
 And war and trouble 'mongst thy ibes increase. 
 
 16. 
 
 The King, assured by these speeches fair, 
 Held Godfrey's power, his might and strength in scorn ; 
 And now the walls he 'gan in part repair. 
 Which late the ram had bruis'd with iron horn : 
 1 Nill it— it Kill not.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 269 
 
 With wise foresight, and well advised care. 
 He fortified each breach and bulwark torn ; 
 And all his folk, men, women, children small, 
 With endless toil again repair'd the wall. 
 
 17. 
 But Godfrey nould' this while bring forth his power 
 To give assault against that fort in vain. 
 Till he had builded new his dreadful tower, 
 And reared high his down-fain rams again : 
 His workmen therefore he despatch'd that hour. 
 To hew the trees out of the forest m.ain ; 
 
 They went, and scant the wood appear'd in sight, 
 When wonders new their fearful hearts affright. 
 
 18. 
 As seely children dare not bend their eye 
 Where they are told strange bugbears haunt the place, 
 Or as new monsters, while in bed they lie. 
 Their fearful thoughts present before their face ; 
 So feared they, and fled, yet wist not why. 
 Nor what pursu'd them in that fearful chase, 
 Except their fear perchance while thus they fled. 
 New chimeres,- sphinges, or like monsters bred ; 
 
 19. 
 
 Swift to the camp they turned back dismald. 
 With words confus'd uncertain tales they told, 
 That all which heard them scorned what they said, 
 And those reports for lies and fables hold. 
 A chosen crew, in shining arms arraid, 
 Duke Godfrey thither sent of soldiers bold. 
 
 To guard the men, and their faint arms provoke 
 To cut the dreadful trees with hardj stroke : 
 
 20. 
 
 These drawing near the wood, where close ipent 
 
 The wicked sprites in sylvan pinfolds'* were, 
 
 Their eyes upon those shades no sooner bent. 
 
 But frozen dread pierced through their entrails dear ; 
 
 Yet on they stalked still, and on they went, 
 
 Under bold semblance hiding coward fear, 
 
 And so far wand'red forth with trembling pace, 
 
 Till they approach'd nigh that enchanted place : 
 
 * Nould — would not. 2 Chimeres — chimeras and iphiiueet, 
 
 3 A. pinfold is a pound for cattle.
 
 270 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE 3 t>«, 
 
 21. 
 When from the grove a fearful sound outbreaks. 
 As if some earthquake hill and mountain tore, 
 TVlierein the southern wind a rumbling makes ; 
 Or like sea-waves against the craggy shore : 
 There lions grumble, there hiss scaly snakes, 
 There howl the wolves, the rugged bears there rore ; 
 There trumpets shrill are heard and thunders fell. 
 And all these sounds one sound expressed well. 
 
 22. 
 
 Upon their faces pale well might you note 
 A thousand signs of heart-amating^ fear ; 
 Their reason gone, by no device they wote" 
 How to press nigh, or stay still where they were ; 
 Against that sudden di-ead, their breasts which smote, 
 Their courage weak no shield of proof could bear : 
 At last the}- fled, and one, than all more bold, 
 Excus'd their flight, and thus the wonders told : 
 
 23. 
 
 " My lord, not one of us there is, I grant, 
 That dares cut down one branch in yonder spring ; 
 I think there dwells a spright in every plant ; 
 There keeps his court great Dis, infern^ king ; 
 He hath a heart of hard'ned adamant. 
 That without trembling dares attempt the thing; 
 And sense he wanteth, who so hardy is, 
 To hear the forest thunder, roar, and hiss. 
 
 24. 
 This said, Alcasto to his words gave heed, 
 Alcasto leader of the Switzers grim, 
 A man both void of wit and void of dreed, 
 Who fear'd not loss of life, nor loss of limb. 
 No savage beasts in deserts wild that feed, 
 Nor ugly monstei' could dishearten him ; 
 
 Nor whirlwind, thunder, earthquake, storm, or ought- 
 That in this world is strange or fearful thought : 
 
 He shook his head, and smiling thus *gan say ; 
 " The hardiness have I that wood to fell. 
 And those proud trees low in the dust to lay. 
 Wherein such grisly fiends and monsters dwell ; 
 1 Amating — dUmai/ing. * TTote — Tcnotc,
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 271 
 
 No roaring ghost my courage can dismay, 
 No shriek of birds, beasts' roar, or dragon's yell; 
 But through and through that forest will I wend. 
 Although to deepest hell the paths descend." 
 
 26. 
 
 Thus boasted he, and leave to go desired, 
 
 And forward went with joyful cheer and will ; 
 
 He view'd the wood, and those thick shades admired ; 
 
 He heard the wond'rous noise and rumbling shrill ; 
 
 Yet not one foot th' audacious man retired ; 
 
 He scorn'd the peril, pressing forward still, 
 Till on the forest's outmost marge he stept, 
 A flaming fire from entrance there him kept. 
 
 27. 
 The fire increas'd, and built a stately wall 
 Of burning coals, quick sparks, and embers hot. 
 And with bright flames the wood environ'd all. 
 That there no ti'ee nor twist^ Alcasto got : 
 The higher stretched flames seem'd bulwarks tall. 
 Castles and turrets full of fierj'- shot. 
 
 With slings and engines strong of every sort ; 
 
 What mortal wight durst scale so strange a fort ? 
 
 28. 
 O what strange monsters on the battlement 
 In loathsome forms stood to defend the place ? 
 Their frowning looks upon the knight they bent. 
 And threat'ned death with shot, with sword and mace: 
 At last he fled, and though but slow he went. 
 As lions do whom jolly hunters chase ; 
 
 Yet fled the man, and with sad fear withdrew. 
 Though fear till then he never felt, nor knew. 
 
 29. 
 
 That he had fled long time he never wist. 
 But when far run he had discover'd it, 
 Himself for wonder with his hand he blist ; 
 A bitter sorrow by the heart him bit, 
 Amaz'd, ashamed, disgrac'd, sad, silent, trist,^ 
 Alone he would all day in darkness sit ; 
 
 Nor durst he look on man of worth or fame ; 
 
 His pride late great, now greater made his shame. 
 
 1 Twist — twig. * 'iristt—sorrowfyl.
 
 272 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 30. 
 
 Godfredo call'd him, but he found delays 
 And causes why he should his cabin keep ; 
 At length perforce he comes, but nought he says. 
 Or talks like those that babble in their sleep. 
 His shamefac'dness to Godfrey plain bewrays 
 His flight ; so do his sighs and sadness deep : 
 
 Whereat amazed," What chance is this ?" quoth he, 
 " These witchcrafts strange, or Nature's wonders be ; 
 
 31. 
 
 " But if his courage any champion move 
 To try the hazard of this dreadful spring, 
 I give him leave th' adventure great to prove ; 
 Some news he may report us of the thing." 
 This said, his loi'ds attempt the charmed grove, 
 Yet nothing back but fear and flight they bring ; 
 For them enforc'd with trembling to retire 
 The sight, the sound, the monsters and the fire. 
 
 32. 
 This hapt when woful Tancred left his bed, 
 To lay in marble cold his mistresse dear ; 
 The lively colour from his cheek was fled ; 
 His limbs were weak, his helm or targe to bear; 
 Nathless when need to high attempts him led. 
 No labour would he shun, no danger fear; 
 His valour, boldness, heart and courage brave 
 To his faint body strength and vigour gave. 
 
 33. 
 To this exploit forth went the vent'rous knight. 
 Fearless, yet heedful ; silent, well advLsed ; 
 The terrors of that forest's dreadful sight. 
 Storms, earthquakes, thunders, cries, he all despised ; 
 He feared nothing, yet a motion light, _ 
 (That quickly vanish'd) in his heart arised, 
 
 When lo, between him and the charmed wood, 
 
 A fiery city, high as heav'n, upstood. 
 
 34. 
 
 The knight stept back, and took a sudden pause. 
 And to himself, " What help these arms P" quoth he ; 
 " If in this fire, or monster's gaping jaws 
 I headlong cast myself, what boots it me ?
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 273 
 
 For common profit, or my country's cause, 
 
 To hazard life before me none should be : 
 But this exploit of no such weight I hold, 
 Tor it to lose a prince, or champion bold. 
 
 35. 
 
 " But if I fly, what will the Pagans say ? 
 
 If I retire, who shall cut down this spring P 
 
 Godfredo will attempt it every day ; 
 
 What if some other knight perform the thing ? 
 
 These flames, uprisen to forestall my way, 
 
 Perchance more terror far than danger bring : 
 But hap what shall ;" this said, he forward stept. 
 And through the fire (O wond'rous boldness !) lept. 
 
 36. 
 
 He bolted through, but neither warmth nor heat 
 
 He felt, nor sign of fire or scorching flame ; 
 
 Yet wist he not in his dismay'd conceit. 
 
 If that were fire or no through which he came; 
 
 For at first touch vanish' d those monsters great, 
 
 And in their stead the clouds black night did frame. 
 
 And hideous storms and shovv'rs of hail and rain ; 
 
 Yet storms and tempests vanish'd straight again. 
 
 37. 
 
 Amaz'd, but not afraid, the champion good 
 Stood still, but when the tempest past he spied, 
 He enter'd boldly that forbidden wood. 
 And of the forest all the secrets eyed : 
 In all his walk no sprite or phantasm stood, 
 That stopp'd his way, or passage free denied. 
 Save that the growing trees so thick were set. 
 That oft his sight, and passage oft they let. 
 
 38. 
 
 At length a fair and spacious green he spide, 
 Like calmest waters, plain, like velvet, soft. 
 Wherein a cypress, clad in summer's pride, 
 Pyramid-wise, lift up his tops aloit; 
 In whose smooth bark, upon the evenest side, 
 Strange characters he found, and view'd them oft. 
 Like those which priests of Egypt erst instead 
 Of letters us'd, which none but they could read. 
 
 T
 
 274 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 39. 
 
 'Mongst them he picked out these words at last, 
 (Writ in the S^-riac tongue, which well he could) 
 " hardy knight, who through these woods hast past, 
 Where Death liis palace and his court doth hold! 
 trouble not these souls in quiet plast ; 
 
 be not cruel, as thy heart is bold ; 
 
 Pardon these ghosts depriv'd of heav'nly light ; 
 With spirits dead why should men living tight ?" 
 
 40. 
 
 This found he graven in the tender rind ; 
 And while he mused on this uncouth writ, 
 Him thought he heard the softly whistling wind. 
 His blasts amid the leaves and branches knit. 
 And frame a sound like speech of human kind; 
 Uut full of sorrow, grief and woe was it. 
 Whereby his gentle thoughts all filled were 
 With pit}', sadness, grief, compassion, fear. 
 
 41. 
 He drew his sword at last, and gave the tree 
 A mighty blow that made a gaping wound; 
 ( )ut of the rift red streams he trickling see, 
 That all be-bled' the verdant plain around : 
 His hair start up, yet once again stroke he; 
 He nould- give over till the end he found 
 
 Of this adventure, when with plaint and moan, 
 (As from some hollow grave) he heard one groan. 
 
 42. 
 " Enough, enough," the voice lamenting said, 
 " Tancred thou hast me hurt, thou didst me drive 
 Out of the body of a noble maid. 
 Who with me liv'd, whom late 1 kept on live ; 
 And now within this wol'ul cypress laid, 
 jMy tender rind thy weapon sharp doth rive : 
 Cruel, is't not enough thy ibes to kill, 
 But in their graves wilt thou torment them still? 
 
 43. 
 
 " I was Clorinda, now imprison'd here, 
 (Yet not alone) within this plant I dwell, 
 For every Pagan lord, and Christian peer, 
 Uefore the city's walls last day that fell, 
 
 1 Be-bled — covered uiih blood. * Nould — would not.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 275 
 
 (In bodies new or graves, I wot not cleer^) 
 But here they are confin'd by magic's spell, 
 
 So that each tree hath life, and sense each bough, 
 A murderer, if thou cut one twist, art thou." 
 
 44. 
 
 As the sick man that in his sleep doth see 
 
 Some ugly dragon, or some chimere new. 
 
 Though he suspect, or half persuaded be, 
 
 It is an idle dream, no monster true, 
 
 Yet still he fears, he quakes, and strives to flee, 
 
 So fearful is that wondrous form to view ; 
 
 So fear'd the knight, yet he both knew and thought 
 All were illusions false by witchcraft wrought : 
 
 45. 
 
 But cold and trembling wax'd his frozen heart ; 
 Such strange effects, such passions it torment. 
 Out of his feeble hand his weapon start ; 
 Himself out of his wits nigh after went : 
 Wounded he saw (he thought) for pain and smart 
 His lady weep, complain, mourn, and lament; 
 Nor could he suffer her dear blood to see. 
 Or hear her sighs that deep far-fetched be. 
 
 46. 
 
 Thus his fierce heart, which death had scorned oft. 
 Whom no strange shape, or monster could dismay, 
 With feigned shows of tender love made soft, 
 A spirit false did with vain plaints betray : 
 A whirling wind his sword heav'd up aloft. 
 And through the forest bare it quite away ; 
 O'ercome, retired the Prince ; and as he came 
 His sword he found, and repossess'd the same. 
 
 47. 
 Yet nould return, he had no mind to try 
 His courage i'urther in those forests green ; 
 But when to Godfrey's tent he 'proached nigh. 
 His spirits wakt, his thouglits composed been : 
 " My lord," quoth he, " a witness true am I 
 Of wonders strange, believed scant" though seen ; 
 What of the fire, the shades, the dreadful sound 
 You heard, all true by proof myself have found : 
 I I wot not, &c. — I do Tcnoto certainly. * S.'aiit — hardly, 
 
 t2
 
 276 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 48. 
 " A burning fire, (so are those deserts charmed) 
 Built like a battled wall to Heav'n was reared, 
 Whereon, with darts and dreadful weapons armed, 
 Of monsters foul mis-shap'd whole bands appeared ; 
 But through them all I pass'd, unhurt, unhanued, 
 No flame or threaten'd blow I felt or feared : 
 Then rain and night I found ; but strait again 
 To day, the night ; to sunshine, turn'd the rain. 
 
 49. 
 " Wliat would you more ? each tree through all that wood 
 Hath sense, hath life, hath speech, like human kindj 
 I heard their words, as in that grove I stood. 
 That mournful voice still, still I bear in mind : 
 And (as the}' were of flesh) the purple blood 
 At every blow streams from the wounded rind ; 
 
 No, no, not I, nor any else (I trow) 
 
 Hath power to cut one leaf, one branch, one brow." 
 
 50. 
 While thus he said, the Christian's noble guide 
 Felt uncouth strife in his contentious thought ; 
 He thought, what if himself in person tride [nought. 
 Those witchcrafts strange, and bring those charms to 
 For such he deem'd them, or elsewhere provide 
 For timber easier got, though further sought : 
 But from his study he at last abraid,' 
 Call'd by the Hermit old that to him said ; 
 
 51. 
 " Leave off thy hardy thought, another's hands 
 Of these her plants the wood despoilen shall ; 
 Now, now the fatal ship of conquest lands. 
 Her sails are struck, her silver anchors fall ; 
 Our champion broken hath his worthless bands, 
 And looseth from the soil which held him thrall : 
 The time draws nigh when our proud foes in field 
 Shall slaughter'd lie, and Sion's ibrt shall yield." 
 
 52. 
 
 This said, his visage shone with beams divine. 
 And more than mortal was his voice's sound : 
 Godfredo's thought to other acts incline ; 
 His working bruin was never idle found. 
 1 Abraid — Harted up.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 277 
 
 But in the Crab uow did bright Titan shine, 
 And scorch'd with scalding beams the parched ground, 
 And made unfit for toil, or warlike feat. 
 His soldiers, weak with labour, faint with sweat : 
 
 53. 
 
 The planets mild, their lamps benign quench'd out. 
 And cruel stars in Heav'n did signories,' 
 Whose influence cast fiery flames about. 
 And hot impressions through the earth and skies : 
 The growing heat still gather'd deeper rout ; 
 The noisome warmth through lands and kingdoms flies ; 
 A harmful night, a hurtful day succeeds. 
 And worse than both next morn her light outspreads. 
 
 54 
 
 When Phoebus rose he left his golden weed. 
 And donn'd a gite^ in deepest purple dyde ; 
 His sanguine beams ahont his forehead spreed, 
 A sad presage of ill that should betide : 
 With vermeil drops at ev'n his tresses bleed, 
 Foreshows of future heat from th' ocean wide. 
 When next he rose, and thus increased still 
 Their present harms with dread of future ill. 
 
 55. 
 
 While thus he bent 'gainst earth his scorching rays. 
 He burnt the flowrets, burnt his Clitie dear ; 
 The leaves grew wan upon the withered sprays ; 
 The grass and growing herbs all parched were : 
 Earth cleft in rifts, in floods the stream decays. 
 The barren clouds with lightning bright appear ; 
 And mankind fear'd lest Climene's child again 
 Had driven awry his sire's ill-guided wain. 
 
 56. 
 
 As from a furnace flew the smoke to skies, 
 
 Such smoke as that when damned Sodom brent. 
 
 Within his caves sweet zephyr silent lies ; 
 
 Still was the air ; the rack-* nor came nor went : 
 
 But o'er the lands with lukewarm breathing flies 
 
 The southern wind, from sun-burnt Afric sent, 
 
 Which, thick and warm, his interrupted blasts 
 
 Upon their bosoms, throats, and faces casts. 
 
 ' Signories— signorize — hear rule. * Gite — gown, 
 
 * Rack — light thin clouds.
 
 GODFREY OF EULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 57. 
 Nor yet more comfort brought the gloomy night ; 
 In her thick shades was burning heat uprold ; 
 Her sable mantle was erabroider'd bright 
 With blazing stars, and gliding fires ibr gold : 
 Kor to refresh (sad earth) thy thirsty spright, 
 The niggard moon let fall her May-dews cold ; 
 And chied up the vital moisture was 
 In trees, in plants, in herbs, in flowers, in giass. 
 
 58. 
 Sleep to his quiet dales exiled fled 
 From these unquiet nights, and oft in vain 
 The soldiers restless sought the god in bed : 
 But most for thirst they niouni'd, and most complain; 
 For Juda's tyrant had strong poison shed, 
 (Poison that breeds more woe and deadly pain 
 Than Acheron, or Stygian wate r.- bring) 
 In every fountain, cistern, well a nd spring : 
 
 59. 
 
 And little Siloe, that his store bestows 
 Of purest crystal on the Christian bands, 
 The pebbles naked in his channel shows, 
 And scantly glides above the scorched sands : 
 Nor Poe, in May, when o'er his banks he flows. 
 Nor Ganges, wat'rer of the Indian lands, 
 
 Nor sev'u-mouth'd Nile that yields all Egypt drink, 
 To quench their thirst the men sufficient think. 
 
 60. 
 
 He that the gliding rivers erst had seen, 
 Adown their verdant channels gently rold. 
 Or falling streams which to the valleys green, 
 Distill'd from tops of Alpine mountains cold, 
 Those he desir'd in vain, new torments been, 
 Aucjmented thus, with wish of comforts old, 
 Those waters cool he drank in vain conceit. 
 Which more increas'd his thirst, increas'd his heat. 
 
 61. 
 
 The sturdy bodies of the warriors strong. 
 Whom neither marching far, nor tedious way, 
 Nor weighty arms which on their shoulders hung. 
 Could weary make, nor death itself dismay ;
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 279 
 
 Now weak and feeble cast their limbs along, 
 
 Unwieldy burdens, on the burned clay; 
 
 And in each vein a smould'ring fire there dwelt, 
 Which dry'd their flesh, and solid bones did melt. 
 
 62. 
 Languish'd the steed late fierce, and proffer'd grass. 
 His fodder erst, despis'd, and from him kest;^ 
 Each step he stumbled, and, which lofty was 
 And high advanc'd before, now fell his crest ; 
 His conquests gotten all forgotten pass, 
 Nor with desire of glory swell'd his breast ; 
 Tlie spoils won from his foe, his late rewards, 
 He now neglects, despiseth, nought regards. 
 
 63. 
 Languish'd the faithful dog, and wonted care 
 Of his dear lord and cabin both forgot ; 
 Panting he laid, and gather'd fresher air 
 To cool the burning in his entrails hot : 
 But breathing (which wise Nature did prepare 
 To swage the stomach's heat) now booted- not ; 
 For little ease (alas !) small help they win, 
 That breathe forth air, and scalding fire suck in. 
 
 64. 
 Thus languished the earth ; in this estate 
 Lay woful thousands of the Christians stout ; 
 The faithful people grew nigh desperate 
 Of hoped conquest ; shameful death they doubt ; 
 Of their distress they talk and oft debate ; 
 These sad complaints were heard the camp throughout ; 
 
 " What hope hath Godfrey ? Shall we still here lie. 
 
 Till all his soldiers, all our armies die ? 
 
 65. 
 
 " Alas, with what device, what strength, thinks he 
 To scale these walls, or this strong fort to get ? 
 Whence hath he engines new ? Doth he not see, 
 How wrathful Heav'n 'gainst us his sword doth whet ? 
 These tokens shown true signs and witness be, 
 Our angry God our proud attempts doth let ; 
 And scorching sun so hot his beams outspreeds, 
 That not more cooling Lide, nor iEthiop needs. 
 1 Kest— ca«<. * Booted— helped.
 
 280 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 66. 
 " Or thinks he it an eath or little thing, 
 That us despis'd, neglected, and disdaiu'd, 
 Like abjects vile to death he thus should bring? 
 That so his empire may be still maintain'd ? 
 Is it so great a bliss to be a king. 
 When he that w ears the crown with blood is stain'd, 
 
 And buys his sceptre with his people's lives ? 
 
 See whither glory vain fond mankind drives. 
 
 67. 
 " See, see the man, call'd holy, just and good, 
 That courteous, meek, and humble would be thought. 
 Yet never car'd in what distress we stood. 
 If his vain honour were diminish'd nought ; 
 When dried up from us his spring and flood. 
 His water must from Jordan streams be brought ; 
 And how he sits at feasts and banquets sweet. 
 And mingleth waters fresh, with wines of Greet." 
 
 68. 
 The French thus murmur'd ; but the Greekish knight, 
 Tatine, that of this war was weary grown, 
 " Why die we here," quoth he, " slain without fight ; 
 Kill'd, not subdu'd ? murder'd, not overthrown ? 
 Upon the Frenchmen let the penance light 
 Of Godfrey's folly, let me save mine own :" 
 And, as he said, without farewell, the knight 
 And all his cornet stole away by night. 
 
 69. 
 His bad example many a troop prepares 
 To imitate, when his escape they know; 
 Clotharius his band, and Ademare's, 
 And all, whose guides in dust were buried low, 
 Discharg'd of duty's chains and bondage-snares. 
 Free from their oath, to none they service owe. 
 But now concluded all on secret flight. 
 And shrunk away by thousands every 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 renew 
 The stedfast hills and seas dry up to nought, 
 
 1 Jlought — might.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 281 
 
 He pray'd the Lord upon his flock to raw, 
 
 To ope the springs of grace, and ease this drought : 
 
 Out of his looks shone zeal, devotion, faith; 
 
 His hands and eyes to heav'u he heaves, and saith, 
 
 71. 
 
 " Father and Lord, if in the deserts wast 
 Thou hadst compassion on thy children dear, 
 The craggy rock when Moses cleft and brast, 
 And drew forth flowing streams of waters clear. 
 Like mercy. Lord, like grace on us down cast; 
 And though our merits less than theirs appear, 
 Thy grace supply that want ; for though they be 
 Thy first-born sous, thy children yet are we." 
 
 72. 
 
 These prayers, just from humble heart forth sent, 
 Were nothing slow to climb the starry sky, 
 But swift as winged bird themselves present 
 Before the Father of the Heavens hie : 
 The Lord accepted them, and gently bent 
 Upon the faithful host His gracious eye ; 
 And in what pain and wliat distress it laid, 
 He saw, and griev'd to see, and thus he said: 
 
 73. 
 
 " Mine armies dear till now have suffer 'd woe, 
 
 Distress and danger, hell's infernal power 
 
 Their enemy hath been, the world their foe ; 
 
 But happy be their actions from this hour : 
 
 What they begin to blessed end shall go ; 
 
 I will refresh them with a gentle shower ; 
 Rinaldo shall return ; th' Egyptian crew 
 They shall encounter, conquer, and subdue." 
 
 74 
 
 At these high words great Heav'n began to sliake ; 
 The fixed stars, the planets wand'ring still ; 
 Trembled the air; the earth and ocean quake, 
 Spring, fountain, river, forest, dale, and hill : 
 From North to East a lightning flash outbrake. 
 And coming drops presag'd with thunders shrill : 
 
 With joyful shouts the soldiers on the plain, 
 
 These tokens bless of long-desired rain.
 
 282 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 75. 
 A sudden cloud, as when Elias pray'd 
 (Not from dry earth exhal'd by Plicebus' beams). 
 Arose ; moist Heav'n his windows open laid, 
 Whence clouds by heaps outrush, and wat'ry streams, 
 The world o'erspread was with a gloomy shade, 
 That like a dark and mirksome ev'n it seems ; 
 The dashing rain from molten skies down fell. 
 And o'er their banks the brooks and fountains swell. 
 
 76. 
 In summer season, when the cloudy sky 
 Upon the parched ground doth rain down send. 
 As duck and mallard, in the furrows dry, 
 With merry noise the promis'd showers attend. 
 And spreading broad their wings displaj'ed lie 
 To keep the drops that on their plumes descend, 
 And where the streams swell to a gather'd lake. 
 Therein they dive, and sweet refreshing take : 
 
 77. 
 So they the streaming show'rs with shouts and cries 
 Salute, which Heaven shed on the thirsty lands ; 
 The falling liquor from the dropping skies 
 He catcheth in his lap, he bare-head stands, 
 And his bright helm to drink therein unties. 
 In the fresh streams he dives his sweaty hands : 
 Their faces some, and some their temples wet. 
 And some to keep the drops large vessels set. 
 
 78. 
 Nor man alone to ease his burning sore, 
 Herein doth dive and wash, and hereof drinks. 
 But earth itself weak, feeble, faint before. 
 Whose solid limbs were cleft with rifts and chinks, 
 Receiv'd the falling show'rs, and gathered store 
 Of liquor sweet, that through her veins down sinks ; 
 And moisture new infused largely was 
 In trees, in plants, in herbs, in ilowers, in grass. 
 
 79. 
 Earth like the patient was, whose lively blood 
 Hath overcome at last some sickness strong. 
 Whose feeble limbs had been the bait and food. 
 Whereon his strange disease depastred^ long, 
 1 Depastred— ;/<;(/.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 283 
 
 But now restor'd, in health and welfare stood. 
 As sound as erst, as fresh, as fair, as young ; 
 So that forgetting all his grief and pain. 
 His pleasant robes, and crowns he takes again. 
 
 80. 
 
 Ceased the rain : the sun began to shine 
 With fruitful, sweet, benign, and gentle ray, 
 TuU of strong power and vigour masculine, 
 As be his beams in April, or in May : 
 happy zeal, who trusts in help divine. 
 The world's afflictions thus can drive away ; 
 
 Can storms appease, and times and seasons change. 
 And conquer fortune, fate, and dest'ny strange.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 §0oli tlj,e gmttnntl). 
 
 THE AEGXJMENT. 
 
 77/ e Lord to Godfrey in a dream doth shew 
 His will ; Rinaldo must return at last ; 
 They have their asking tvho for pardon sew : 
 Two knights to find the Prince are sent in hast ; 
 But Peter, ivho by vision all foreknew, 
 Sendeth the searchers to a wizard, plast 
 
 Deep in a vault, who first at large declares 
 Armida's trains, then hotv to shun those snares. 
 
 1. 
 
 Now from the fresh, the soft and tender bed 
 
 Of her still mother, gentle night outflew ; 
 
 The fleeting balm on hills and dales she shed, 
 
 With honey drops of pure and pi-ecious dew ; 
 
 And on the verdure of green forests spred 
 
 The virgin primrose, and the violet blue; 
 
 And sweet-breath'd Zephyr on his spreading wings 
 Sleep, ease, repose, rest, peace and quiet brings. 
 
 The thoughts and troubles of broad-waking day. 
 They softly dipt in mild oblivion's lake ; 
 But he, whose Godhead Heav'n and earth doth sway. 
 In His eternal light did watch and wake, 
 And bent on Godfrey down the gracious ray 
 Of His bright eye, still, ope for Godfrey's sake : 
 To whom a silent dream the Lord down sent. 
 Which told His will, His pleasure and intent.
 
 A knight (with r^hiuiiig ray»* and ftn* eiiOtrast i 
 l*ro(«ont8 himik^lt' unwaro** l>elbro his eye-
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 285 
 
 3. 
 
 Far in the east (the golden gate beside 
 Whence Phoebus conies) a crystal port there is. 
 And ere the sun his broad doors open wide, 
 The beam of springing-day uucloseth this ; 
 Hence come the dreams, by which Heav'n's sacred guide 
 Reveals to man those high decrees of His ; 
 Hence towards Godfrey, ere he left his bed, 
 A vision strange his golden plumes bespred. 
 
 4. 
 Such semblances, such shapes, such portraits fair. 
 Did never yet in dream or sleep appear, 
 For all the foims in sea, in earth, or air, 
 The signs in heaven, the stars in every sphere, 
 All what was wondrous, uncouth, strange and rare. 
 All in that vision well presented were : 
 
 His dream had plac'd him in a crystal wide. 
 Beset with golden fires, top, bottom, side. 
 
 5. 
 
 There while he wond'reth on the circles vast. 
 The stars, their motions, course and harmony, 
 A knight (with shining rays and fire embrast)' 
 Presents himself unwares before his eye ; 
 Who with a voice, that far for sweetness past 
 All human speech, thus said, approaching nie ; 
 
 " What, Godfrey, know'st thou not thy Hugo here? 
 
 Come and embrace thy friend and fellow dear :" 
 
 6. 
 He answer'd him, " That glorious shining light, 
 Which in thine eyes his glist'ring beams doth place, 
 Estrauged hath from my foreknowledge quight^ 
 Thy countenance, thy favour, and thy face :" 
 This said, three times he stretch'd his hands out-right, 
 And would in friendly arms the knight embrace : 
 And thrice the spirit fled, that thrice he twin'd 
 Nought in his folded arms, but air and wind. 
 
 7. 
 Lord Hugo smil'd, " Not as you think," quoth he, 
 " I clothed am in flesh and earthly mold ; 
 My spirit pure, and naked soul you see, 
 A citizen of this celestial hold : 
 
 1 Embrast — embraced, * Quight — quite.
 
 286 GODITIET OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 This place is heaven, and here a room for thee 
 Prepared is, among ChrLst's champions bold :" 
 
 " Ah when," quoth he, " these mortal bonds unknit, 
 Shall I in peace, in ease, and rest there sit ?" 
 
 Hugo repli'd, "Ere many years shall run. 
 Amid the saints in bliss here shalt thou reign; 
 But first great wars must by thy hand be done, 
 iluch blood be shed, and manj- Pagans slain, 
 The holy city by assault be won. 
 The land set free from servile yoke again ; 
 
 Wherein thou shalt a Christian empire frame. 
 And after thee shall Baldwin rule the same. 
 
 9. 
 " But to increase thy love and great desire 
 To heaven-ward, this blessed place behold. 
 These shining lamps, these globes of living fire. 
 How they are turned, guided, mov'd and rold ; 
 The angels singing hear, and all their quire : 
 Then bend thine eyes on yonder earth and mold. 
 All in that mass, that globe and compass see. 
 Land, sea, spring, Ibuntain, man, beast, grass and tree. 
 
 10. 
 " How vile, how small, and of how slender price. 
 Is their reward of goodness, virtue's gain ! 
 A narrow room our glory vain up-ties ; 
 A little circle doth our pride contain : 
 Earth, like an isle, amid the water lies, 
 "Which sea sometime is call'd, sometime the main ; 
 Yet nought therein responds' a name so great. 
 It's but a lake, a pond, a marislr streat ;" 
 
 11. 
 
 Thus said the one ; the other bended down 
 His looks to ground, and half in sconi he smilde; 
 He saw at once earth, sea. Hood, castle, town, 
 Strangely divided, strangely all compilde ; 
 And wond'red folly man so far should drown, 
 To set his heart on things so base and vilde,^ 
 
 That servile empire searcheth, and dumb fame, [same. 
 
 And scorns Heaven's bliss, yet proff'reth Heav'n the 
 
 ^ Responds — anttcert to. * ^larish, &c. — narrotc marth. 
 
 * VDde— ci7e.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 287 
 
 12. 
 
 Wherefore he answer'd, " Since the Lord not yet 
 Will free my spirit from this cage of clay, 
 Lest worldly error vain my voyage let, 
 Teach me to Heav'n the best and surest way:" 
 Hugo replied, " Thy happy foot is set 
 In the true path, nor from this passage stray; 
 
 Only from exile young Rinaldo call ; 
 
 This give I thee in charge, else nought at all. 
 
 13. 
 
 " For as the Lord of Hosts, the King of Bliss, 
 Hath chosen thee to rule the faithful band j 
 So He thy stratagems appointed is 
 To execute ; so both shall win this land : 
 The first is thine, the seccmd place is his, 
 Thou art this army's head, and he the hand : 
 No other champion can his place supply, 
 And, that thou do it, doth thy state deny. 
 
 14. 
 
 " Th' enchanted forest, and her charmed treen 
 With cutting steel shall he to earth down hew, 
 And thy weak armies, which too feeble been 
 To scale again these walls r'inforced new, 
 And fainting lie dispersed on the green. 
 Shall take new strength, new courage at his view ; 
 The high-built tow'rs, the eastern squadrons all 
 Shall conquer 'd be, shall fly, shall die, shall fall." 
 
 15. 
 
 He held his peace : and Godfrey answer'd so : 
 
 " O how his presence would recomfbrt me ! 
 
 You that man's hidden thoughts perceive and know, 
 
 (If I say truth, or if I love him) see. 
 
 But say, what messengers shall for him go ? 
 
 What shall their speeches, what their errand be ? 
 
 Shall I entreat, or else command the man ? 
 
 With credit neither well perform I can." 
 
 16. 
 
 " Th' eternal Lord," the other knight replide, 
 " That with so many graces hath thee blest. 
 Will, that among the troops thou hast to guide, 
 Thou honour'd be, and fear'd of most and least :
 
 2SS GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 Then speak not thou, lest blemish some betide 
 Thy sacred empire, if thou make request ; 
 But when by suit thou moved art to ruth, 
 Then yield, forgive, and home recal the youth. 
 
 17. 
 " Guelpho shall pray thee (God shall him inspii-e) 
 To pardon this offence, this fault commit 
 By hasty wrath, by rash and headstrong ire, 
 To call the knight again, yield thou to it : 
 And though the youth (enwrapt in fond desire) 
 Far hence in love and looseness idle sit, 
 Yet fear it not, he shall return with speed, 
 When most you wish him, and when most you need. 
 
 18. 
 " Your hermit Peter, to whose sapient heart 
 High Heav'n his secrets opens, tells, and shews, 
 Your messengers direct can to that part, 
 WTiere of the Prince they shall hear certain news. 
 And learn the way, the manner, and the art 
 To bring him back to these thy warlike crews, 
 That all thy soldiers, wander'd and misgone, 
 Heav'n may unite again, and join 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 vanish'd from his sleeping friend. 
 Like smoke in wind, or mist in Titan's shine ; 
 Sleep fled likewise, and in his troubled thought. 
 With wonder, pleasure ; joy, ^vith marvel fought. 
 
 20. 
 The Duke look'd up, and saw the azure sky 
 With argent beams of silver morning spred. 
 And started up, for praise and virtue lie 
 In toil and travel, sin and shame in bed : 
 His arms he took, his sword girt to his thigh, 
 To his pavilion all his lords then sped, 
 
 And there in council grave the princes sit ; 
 
 For strength by wisdom, war is rul'd by wit. 
 I Fine — end.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 289 
 
 21. 
 
 Lord Guelpho there (within whose gentle breast 
 Heav'n had infus'd that new and sudden thought) 
 His pleasing words thus to the Duke addrest : 
 " Good Prince, mild, though unaskt, kind, mibesought, 
 
 let thy mercy grant my just request, 
 Pardon this fault by rage, not malice, wrought ; 
 
 For great offence, I grant, so late commit, 
 My suit too hasty is, perchance unfit. 
 
 22. 
 
 " But since to Godfrey meek, benign, and kind, 
 
 For Prince Rinaldo bold I humbly sue, 
 
 And that the suitor's self is not behind 
 
 Thy greatest friends, in state, or friendship true, 
 
 1 trust I shall thy grace and mercy find, 
 Acceptable to me and all this crew ; 
 
 call him home ; this trespass to amend, 
 He shall his blood in Godfrey's service spend : 
 
 23. 
 
 " And if not he, who else dares undertake 
 
 Of this enchanted wood to cut one tree ? 
 
 'Gainst death and danger, who dares battle make, 
 
 With so bold face, so fearless heart as he ? 
 
 Beat down these walls, these gates in pieces break, 
 
 Leap o'er these rampiers high, thou shalt hira see ; 
 
 llestore therefore to this desirous band [their hand; 
 
 Their wish, their hope, their strength, their shield, 
 
 24. 
 
 " To me my nephew, to thyself I'estore 
 A trusty help, when strength of hand thou needs ; 
 In idleness let him consume no more ; 
 Recall him to his noble acts and deeds ; 
 Known be his worth, as was his strength of yore. 
 Where'er thy standard broad her cross out spreeds ; 
 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 approve 
 His words, with friendly murmurs whisper'd low : 
 Godfrey, as though their suit his mind did move 
 To that, whereon he never thought till now.
 
 290 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OK, 
 
 " How can my heart," qnoth he, " if j^ou I love, 
 To your request and suit but bend and bow ? 
 Let rigour go; that right and justice be, 
 Wherein you all consent, and all agree. 
 
 26. 
 
 " Rinaldo shall return ; let him restrain 
 Henceforth his headstrong wrath and hasty ire, 
 And with his hardj' deeds let him take pain 
 To correspond your hope and my desii'e ; 
 Guelpho, thou must call home the knight again ; 
 See that with speed he to these tents retire ; 
 The messengers appoint as likes thy mind. 
 And teach them where they should the young man find. 
 
 27. 
 
 Upstart the Dane that bare Prince Sweno's brand : 
 "1 will," quoth he, "that message undertake, 
 I will refuse no pains by sea or land. 
 To give the knight this sword, kept for his sake." 
 This man was bold of courage, strong of hand; 
 Guelpho was glad he did the profl'er make : 
 
 " Thou shalt," quoth he, " Ubaldo shalt thou have 
 To go with thee, a knight, stout, wise, and grave." 
 
 28. 
 
 Ubaldo in his youth had known and seen 
 The fashions strange of many an uncouth land. 
 And travell'd over all the realms between 
 The arctic circle and hot IVIeroe's strand ; 
 And as a man whose wit his guide had been. 
 Their customs use he could, tongues understand ; 
 For this, when spent his youthful seasons were. 
 Lord Guelpho entertaiu'd and held him dear. 
 
 29. 
 
 To these committed was the charge and care 
 To find, and bring again the champion hold; 
 Gueljjho commands them to the fort repair. 
 Where Uannond dothhis seat and scepter hold; 
 For public lame said that Bertoldo's heir 
 There liv'd, there dwelt, there staid; the Hermit old 
 (That knew they were misled by false report) 
 Among them came, and parled in this sort :
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 291 
 
 30. 
 
 " Sir knights," quoth he, " if you intend to ride, 
 And follow each report fond people say. 
 You follow but a rash and truthless guide, 
 That leads vain men amiss, and makes them straj^ : 
 Near Ascalon go to the salt sea side. 
 Where a swift brook falls in with hideous sway ; 
 An aged sire, our friend, there shall you find. 
 All what he saith, that do, that keep iu mind. 
 
 31. 
 
 " Of this great voyage which you undertake, 
 Much by his skill, and much by mine advise 
 Hath he foreknown ; and welcome for my sake 
 You both shall be; the man is kind and wise." 
 Instructed thus no further question make 
 The twain elected for this enterprise, 
 
 But humbly yielded to obey his word ; 
 
 For what the Hermit said, that said the Lord. 
 
 32. 
 
 They took their leave, and on their journey went ; 
 Their will could brook no stay, their zeal, no let ; 
 To Ascalon their voyage straight they bent. 
 Whose broken shores with brackish waves are wet ; 
 And there they heard how 'gainst the cliffs (besprent 
 With bitter foam) the roaring surges bet;^ 
 
 A tumbling brook their passage stopt and stay'd. 
 Which late fall'u rain had proud and puissant made, 
 
 33. 
 
 So proud, that over all his banks he grew. 
 And through the fields ran swift, as shaft from bow : 
 While here they stopt and stood, before them drew 
 An aged sire, grave and benign in show, 
 Crown'd with a beechen garland gather'd new, 
 Clad in a linen robe that rauglit" down low; 
 In his right hand a rod, and on the flood 
 Against the stream he march'd, and dryshod yood. 
 
 34. 
 
 As on the Rhene (when winter's freezing cold 
 Congeals the streams to thick and harden'd glass) 
 The beavies fair of shepherds' daughters bold 
 With wanton windlays* run, turn, play, and pass ; 
 * Bet — heat. 2 Raught — reached, * Windlays — windiiirjs. 
 
 u 2
 
 202 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; Oil, 
 
 So on this river pass'd the wizard old, 
 Although unfrozen, soft, and swift it was: 
 And thither stalked where the warriors staid, 
 To whom (theii- greetings done) he spoke and said ; 
 
 35. 
 
 " Great pains, great travel (lords) you have begun. 
 And of a cunning guide great need j^ou stand : 
 Far otF, alas ! is great Bertoldo's son, 
 Imprison'd in a waste and desert land : 
 What soil remains by which you must not run ? 
 "What promontory, rock, sea, shore, or sand ? 
 
 Your search must stretch, before the prince be found, 
 Beyond our world, beyond om* half of ground. 
 
 36. 
 
 " But yet vouchsafe to see my cell I pray, 
 In hidden caves and vaults though builded low ; 
 Great wonders there, strange things I will bewray, 
 Things good for you to hear, and fit to know :" 
 This said, he bids the river make them way; 
 The flood retir'd, and backward 'gan to flow. 
 
 And here and there two crystal mountains rise; 
 
 So fled the Ked Sea once, and Jordan thrise." 
 
 37. 
 
 He took their hands and led them headlong down 
 Under the flood, through vast and hollow deeps ; 
 Such light they had, as v.hen through shadows brown 
 Of thickest deserts feeble Cynthia peeps : 
 Their spacious caves they saw all overflown ; 
 There all his waters pure great Xeptune keeps, 
 And thence to moisten all the earth he brings 
 Seas, rivers, floods, lakes, fountains, wells, and springs: 
 
 38. 
 
 Whence Ganges, Indus, Volga, Ister, Po, 
 Whence Euphrates, whence Tygress spring they view. 
 Whence Tanais, whence Nilus comes also, 
 (Although his head till then no creature knew) 
 But under these a wealthy stream doth go. 
 That sulphur j-ields and ore, ricli, quick, and new, 
 Which the sunbeams doth polish, purge, and fine. 
 And makes it silver pure, and gold divine.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 293 
 
 39. 
 
 And all his banks the rich and wealthy stream 
 Hath fair beset, with pearl and precious stone, 
 Like stars in sky, or lamps on stage that seem; 
 The darkness there was day, the night was gone, 
 There sparkled (clothed in his azure beam) 
 The heav'nly zaphire, there the iacinth shone ; 
 The carbuncle there tlam'd, the diamond sheen 
 There gUster'd bright, there smil'd the emrauld green. 
 
 40. 
 
 Amaz'd the knights amid these wonders past. 
 And fix'd so deep the marvels in their thought. 
 That not one word they uttered, till at last 
 Ubaldo spake, and thus his guide besought: 
 " O father, tell me, by what skill thou hast 
 These wonders done ? and to what place us brought ? 
 For well I know not if I wake or sleep, 
 My heart is drown'd in such amazement deep." 
 
 41. 
 
 " You are within the hollow womb," quoth he, 
 " Of fertile earth, the nurse of all things made ; 
 And but you brought and guided are by me, 
 Her sacred entrails could no wight invade ; 
 My palace shortly shall you splendent see 
 With glorious light, though built in night and shade ; 
 A Pagan was I born, but yet the Lord 
 To grace (by baptism) hath my soul restor'd. 
 
 42. 
 " Nor yet by help of devil, or aid from hell, 
 T do this uncouth work and wondrous feat ; 
 The Lord forbid, I use or charm, or spell 
 To raise foul Dis from his infernal seat : 
 But of all herbs, of every spring and well, 
 The hidden power I know, and virtue great, 
 And all that kind' hath hid from mortal sight. 
 And all the stars, their motions, and their might. 
 
 43. 
 
 " For in these caves I dwell not buried still 
 From sight of Heav'n, but often I resort 
 To tops of Libanon, or Carmel Hill, 
 And there in liquid air myself disport ; 
 
 1 Kind — nature.
 
 294 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 There Mars and Yeniis I behold at will, 
 As bare, as erst when Vulcan took them short ; 
 And how the rest roll, glide and move, I see. 
 How their aspects benign or I'roward be. 
 
 44. 
 
 " And underneath my feet the clouds I view, 
 Kow thick, now thin, now bright with Iris bow ; 
 The frost and snow, the rain, the hail, the dew, [blow : 
 The winds from whence they come, and whence they 
 How Jove his thunder makes, and lightning new ; 
 How with the bolt he strikes the eai-th below ; 
 How comate, crinate, caudate stars are fram'd 
 I knew ; my skill with pride my heart inflam'd. 
 
 45. 
 
 " So learned, cunning, wise, myself I thought. 
 That I suppos'd my wit so high might climb 
 To know all things that God had fram'd or wrought. 
 Fire, air, sea, earth, man, beast, sprite, place and time : 
 But when your Hermit me to baptism brought, 
 And Irom my soul had wash'd the sin and crime, 
 
 Then I perceiv'd my sight was blindness still. 
 
 My wit was folly, ignorance my skill. 
 
 46, 
 
 " Then saw I, that like owls in shining sun, 
 So 'gainst the beams of truth our souls are blind. 
 And at myself to smile I then begun. 
 And at my heart, puft up with folly's wind; 
 Yet still these arts, as I before had done, 
 I practised, such was the Hermit's mind : [will. 
 
 Thus hath he chang'd my thoughts, my heart, my 
 And rules mine art, my knowledge, and my skill. 
 
 47. 
 
 " In him I rest, on him my thoughts depend; 
 3Iy lord, my teacher, and my guide is he : 
 This noble work he strives to bring to end ; 
 He is the Architect, the workmen we : 
 The hardy youth home to this camp to send 
 From prison strong, my care, my charge shall be ; 
 So he commands, and me ere this foretold 
 Your coming oft, to seek the champion bold."
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 295 
 
 Wliile this he said, he brought the champions twain 
 Down to a vavilt, wherein he dwells and lies ; 
 It was a cave, high, wide, large, ample, plain. 
 With goodly rooms, halls, chambers, galleries : 
 All what is bred in rich and precious vein 
 Of wealthy earth, and hid from mortal eyes, 
 There shines ; and fair adorn'd was every part, 
 With riches grown by kind, not fram'd by art : 
 
 49. 
 An hundred grooms, quick, diligent and neat. 
 Attendance gave about these strangers bold ; 
 Against the wall there stood a cupboard great 
 Of massy plate, of silver, crystal, gold : 
 But when with precious wines and costly meat 
 They filled were, thus spake the wizard old : 
 
 " Now fits the time (Sir knights) I tell and show 
 What you desire to hear, and long to know. 
 
 50. 
 " Armida's craft, her sleight, and hidden guile 
 You partly wote ; her acts and arts untrue ; 
 How to your camp 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 up in secret mew ; 
 Lastly, to Gaza-ward in bonds them sent. 
 Whom young Einaldo rescu'd as they went. 
 
 51. 
 
 "What chanced since I will at large declare, 
 (To you unknown) a story strange and true ; 
 When first her prey (got with such pain and care) 
 Escap'd and gone, the witch perceiv'd and knew, 
 Her hands she wrung for grief, her clothes she tare, 
 And full of woe these heavy words out-threw : 
 ' Alas, my knights are slain, my pris'ners free. 
 Yet of that conquest never boast shall he. 
 
 52. 
 
 " ' He in their place shall serve me, and sustain 
 Their plagues, their torments suffer, sorrows bear ; 
 And they his absence shall lament in vain. 
 And wail his loss and theirs, with many a tear ;'
 
 296 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 Thus talking to herself she did ordain 
 A false and wicked tjuile, as you shall hear : 
 Thither she hasted, where the valiant knight 
 Had overcome and slain her men in fight. 
 
 53. 
 
 " Rinaldo there had doft and left his own, 
 A.nd on his back a Pagan's harness tide ; 
 Perchance he deemed so to pass unknown. 
 And in those arms less noted safe to ride : 
 A headless corse in fight late overthrown, 
 The witch in his forsaken arms did hide. 
 And by a brook expos'd it on the sand, 
 Whither she wish'd would come a Christian band : 
 
 54. 
 
 " Their coming might the dame foreknow right well, 
 For secret spies she sent I'orth thousand ways. 
 Which every daj- news from the camp miglit tell. 
 Who parted thence, booties to search, or preys : 
 Beside, the sprites conjured by sacred spell, 
 AH what she asks or doubts, reveals and says ; 
 Tlie body therefore plac'd she in that part. 
 That further'd best her sleight, her cralt, and art ; 
 
 55. 
 " And near the corse a varlet false and sly 
 She left, attir'd in shepherd's homely weed, 
 And taught him how to counterfeit, and lie 
 As time requir'd; and he perform'd the deed: 
 With him j-our soldiers spoke ; of jealousy 
 And false suspect' 'mongst them he strow'd the seed, 
 That since brought forth the fruit of strife and jar. 
 Of civil brawls, contention, discord, war. 
 
 56. 
 
 " And as she wished, so the soldiers thought, 
 By Godfrey's practice that the Prince was slain; 
 Yet vanish'd that suspicion false to nought. 
 When truth spread forth her silver wings again : 
 Her false devices thus Armida wrought ; 
 This was her first deceit, her foremost train ; 
 ^^'^lat next she practis'd, shall you hear me tell. 
 Against our knight, and what thereof befel. 
 1 Suspect — tufpicion.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 297 
 
 57. 
 
 " Armida hunted liim through wood and plain, 
 
 Till on Orontes' flovveiy banks he stay'd; 
 
 There, where the stream did part and meet again. 
 
 And in the midst a gentle island made, 
 
 A pillar fair was pight' beside the main. 
 
 Near which a little frigate floating laid; 
 The marble white the Prince did long behold. 
 And this inscription read, there writ in gold : 
 
 58. 
 " Who so thou art, whom will or chance doth bring 
 With happy steps to flood Orontes' sides. 
 Know that the world hath not so strange a thing, 
 ('Twixt East and West) as this small island hides ; 
 Then pass and see, without more tarrying. 
 The hasty youth to pass the stream provides. 
 And for the cogg was narrow, small and strait, 
 Alone he row'd, and bad his squires there wait; 
 
 59. 
 
 " Landed he stalks about, yet nought he sees 
 But verdant groves, sweet shades, and mossy rochs. 
 With caves and fountains, flowers, herbs, and trees. 
 So that the words he read he takes for mocks : 
 But that green isle was sweet at all degrees. 
 Wherewith entic'd down sits he, and unlocks 
 His closed helm, and bares his visage fail", 
 To take sweet breath from cool and gentle air. 
 
 60. 
 
 " A rumbling sound amid the waters deep 
 Meanwhile he heard, and thither turn'd his sight, 
 And tumbling in the troubled stream took keep,^ 
 How the strong waves together rush and fight. 
 Whence first he saw with golden tresses peep 
 The rising visage of a virgin bright. 
 
 And then her neck, her breasts, and all, as low 
 As he for shame could see, or she could show. 
 
 61. 
 
 " So in the twilight doth sometimes appear 
 
 A nymph, a goddess, or a fairy queen ; 
 
 And though no Syren, but a sprite this were, 
 
 Yet by her beauty seem'd it she had been 
 
 1 Fight— JiJi-ed. * Took keep— oSseruei,
 
 298 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OK, 
 
 One of those sisters false, which haunted near 
 The Tyrrhene shores, and kept those waters sheene ; 
 Like theirs her face, her voice was and her sound, 
 And thus she sung, and pleas'd both skies and ground. 
 
 62. 
 
 " ' Ye happy youths, whom April fresh and May 
 
 Attire in flow'ring green of lusty age, 
 
 For glor}' vain, or virtue's idle ray. 
 
 Do not your tender limbs to toil engage ; 
 
 In calm streams, fishes ; birds, in sunshine play ; 
 
 Who foUoweth pleasure he is only sage : 
 So nature saith, yet 'gainst her sacred will 
 Why still rebel you, and why strive you still ? 
 
 63. 
 
 " ' fools, who youth possess, yet scorn the same, 
 
 A precious, but a short abiding treasure ; 
 
 Virtue itself is but an idle name, 
 
 Priz'd by the world 'hove reason all and measure ; 
 
 And honour, glory, praise, renown and fame, 
 
 That men's proud hearts bewitch with tickling pleasure. 
 An echo is, a shade, a dream, a flower. 
 With each wind blasted, spoilt with ev'ry shower. 
 
 64. 
 " ' But let your happy souls in joy possess 
 The ivory castles of your bodies fair ; 
 Your passed harms salve with foi'getfulness ; 
 Haste not your coming ills with thought and care ; 
 Regard no blazing star with burning tress. 
 Nor storm, nor threat'ning sky, nor thund'ring air; 
 
 This wisdom is, good life, and worldly bliss ; 
 
 Kind teacheth us, nature commands us this.' 
 
 65. 
 " Tims sung the spirit false, and stealing sleep 
 (To which her tunes entic'd his heavy eyes) 
 By step and step did on his senses creep ; 
 Still every limb therein unmoved lies; 
 Not thunders loud could from this slumber deep 
 (Of quiet death true image) make him rise : 
 Then from her ambush forth Armida start. 
 Swearing revenge, and threat'ning torments smart.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 299 
 
 66. _ 
 " But when she looked on his face awhile, 
 And saw how sweet he breath'd, how still he lay, 
 How his fair eyes though closed seem to smile, 
 At first she stay'd, astound with great dismay, 
 Then sate her down, so love can art beguile. 
 And as she sate and look'd, fled fast away 
 
 Her wrath, that on his forehead gaz'd the maid, 
 As in his spring Narcissus tooting^ laid ; 
 
 67. 
 " And with a veil she wiped now and than 
 From his fair cheek the globes of silver sweat, 
 And cool air gathered with a trembling fan, 
 To mitigate the rage of melting heat : 
 Thus (who would think it) his hot eye-glance can 
 Of that cold frost dissolve the hardness great, 
 
 Which late congeal'd the heart of that fair dame, 
 
 Who late a foe, a lover now became. 
 
 68. 
 
 " Of woodbines, lilies, and of roses sweet, 
 Which proudly flow'red through that wanton plain. 
 All platted fast, well knit, and joined meet. 
 She fram'd a soft, but surely-holding chain. 
 Wherewith she bound his neck, his hands and feet ; 
 Thus bound, thus taken did the Prince remain ; 
 And in a coach, which two old dragons drew. 
 She laid the sleeping knight, and thence she flew : 
 
 69. 
 " Nor turn'd she to Damascus' kingdoms large, 
 Nor to the fort built in Asphaltes' lake, 
 But jealous of her dear and precious charge. 
 And of her love asham'd, the way did take 
 To the wide ocean, whither skifl'or barge 
 From us doth seld or never voyage make. 
 And there to frolic with her love a while, 
 She chose a waste, a sole and desert isle. 
 
 70. 
 " An isle that with her fellows bears the name 
 Of Fortunate, for temperate air and mold ; 
 There in a mountain high alight the dame, 
 A hill obscur'd with shades of forests old ; 
 
 1 Tooting — -peeping.
 
 300 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 Upon whose sides the witch by art did frame 
 Continual snow, sharp frost, and winter cold ; 
 But on the top, fresh, pleasant, sweet and green, 
 Beside a lake a palace built this queen. 
 
 71. 
 
 " There in perpetual, sweet, and flow'ring spring 
 She lives at ease, and joys her lord at will. 
 The hardy j-outh irom this strange prison bring 
 Your valom-s must, directed by my skill, 
 And overcome each monster and each thing, 
 That guards the palace, or that keeps the hill ; 
 Nor shall you want a guide, or engines fit 
 To bring you to the mount, or conquer it. 
 
 " Beside the stream, I parted, shall you find 
 A dame, in visage young, but old in years. 
 Her curled locks about her front are twin'd, 
 A parti-colour'd robe of silk she wears : 
 This shall conduct you swift as air or \vind. 
 Or that flit bird that Jove's hot weapon bears ; 
 
 A faithful pilot, cunning, trusty, sure. 
 
 As Tiphis was, or skilful Palinure. 
 
 73. 
 
 '•' At the hill's foot, whereon the witch doth dwell. 
 The serpents hiss, and cast their poison vilde. 
 The ugly boars do rear their bristles fell, 
 There gape the bears, and roar the lions wild; 
 But yet a rod I have can eas'ly quell 
 Their rage and wrath, and m^e them meek and mild ; 
 Yet, on the top and height of all the hill. 
 The greatest danger lies, and greatest ill : 
 
 74. 
 
 " There welleth out a fair, clear bubbling spring. 
 Whose waters pure the thirsty guests entise ; 
 But in those liquors cold the secret sting 
 Of strange and deadly poison closed lies ; 
 One sup thereof the drinker's heart doth bring 
 To sudden joy, whence laughter vain doth rise ; 
 Xor that strange merriment once stops or stays, 
 Till, with his laughter's end, he ends his days :
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 801 
 
 75. 
 " Then from those deadly, wicked streams refrain 
 Your thirsty lips ; despise the dainty cheer 
 You find expos'd upon the grassy plain, 
 Nor those false damsels once vouchsafe to hear, 
 That in melodious tunes their voices strain, 
 Whose faces lovely, smiling, sweet, appear ; 
 
 But you their looks, their voice, their songs despise, 
 
 And enter fair Armida's paradise. 
 
 76. 
 " The house is builded like a maze within, 
 With turning stairs, false doors and winding waj's. 
 The shape whereof plotted in velam' thin 
 i will you give, that all those sleights bewrays : 
 In midst a garden lies, where many a gin 
 And net to catch frail hearts, fiilse Cupid lays ; 
 There, in the verdure of the arbours green. 
 With your brave champion lies the wanton queen. 
 
 77. 
 " But when she haply riseth from the knight, 
 And hath withdrawn her presence from the place, 
 Then take a shield I have of diamonds bright. 
 And hold the same before the young man's face, 
 That he may glass therein his garments light. 
 And wanton soft attire, and view his case. 
 
 That, with the sight shame and disdain may move 
 His heart to leave that base and servile love. 
 
 78. 
 " Now resteth nought that needful is to tell, 
 But that you go secure, safe, sure and bold ; 
 Unseen the palace may you enter well, 
 And pass the dangers all I have foretold ; 
 For neither art, nor charm, nor magic spell 
 Can stop your passage, or your steps withhold ; 
 Nor shall Armida (so you guarded be) 
 Your coming aught foreknow, or once foresee : 
 
 79. 
 " And eke^ as safe from that enchanted fort 
 You shall return, and 'scape unhurt away ; 
 Bat now the time doth us to rest exhort. 
 And you must rise by peep of springing daj-." 
 1 Velam — vellum. ^ Eke — also.
 
 302 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 This said, he led them through a narrow port. 
 
 Into a lodging fair, wherein they lay ; 
 
 There glad and full of tlioughts he left his guests. 
 And in his wouted bed the old man rests.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 jjunli tilt ^itiuwtli 
 
 THE AEGUMENT. 
 
 The well-instructed knights forsalce their host, 
 A.nd come where their strange bark in harbour lay. 
 And setting sail, behold on Egypt's coast 
 The IMonarclis ships and armies in array : 
 Their wind and pilot good, the seas in post^ 
 They pass, and of long journeys make short way : 
 The far sought isle they find ; Armidas charms 
 They scorn,they shun her sleights, despise her arms. 
 
 1. 
 
 The rosy-finger'd morn with gladsome ray 
 Eose to her task from old Tithonus' lap, 
 When their grave host came where the warriors lay, 
 And with him brought the shield, the rod, the map ; 
 " Arise," quoth he, " ere lately broken day, 
 In his bright arms the round world fold or wrap ; 
 All what I promis'd here, I have them brought, 
 Enough to bring Armida's charms to nought." 
 
 They started up, and every tender limb 
 In sturdy steel and stubborn plate they dight ; 
 Before the old man stalk'd, they follow'd him 
 Through gloomy shades of sad and sable night, 
 Through vaults obscure again and entries dim. 
 The way they came their steps remeasured right ; 
 
 But at the flood arriv'd, " Farewell," quoth he ; 
 
 " Good luck your aid, your guide good fortune be." 
 
 1 In post — swiftly. Pf
 
 504 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 3. 
 
 The flood receiv'd them in his bottom low. 
 And lift them up above his billows thin ; 
 The waters so cast up a branch or bow, 
 Bv violence first plung'd, and div'd therein : 
 But when upon the shore the waves them throw. 
 The knights for their fail- guide to look be.:,'in, 
 And gazing round a little bark they spide, 
 Wherein a damsel sat the stern to cruide. 
 
 Upon her front her locks were curled new, 
 Her eyes were courteous, full of peace and love ; 
 In look a saint, an angel bright in shew. 
 So in her visage gi'ace and virtue strove; 
 Her i-obe seem'd sometimes red, and sometimes blue, 
 And changed still, as she did stir or move ; 
 That look how oft man's eye beheld the same, 
 So oft the colours changed, went and came. 
 
 5. 
 
 The feathers so (that tender, soft, and plain. 
 About the dove's smooth neck close couched' been) 
 Do in one colour never long remain. 
 But change their hue, 'gainst glimpse of Phoebus' sheen; 
 And now of rubies bright a vermeil chain, 
 Kow make a carknet- rich of emraulds green. 
 Now mingle both, now alter, turn and change 
 To thousand colours, rich, pure, fair, and strange. 
 
 6. 
 "Enter this boat, you happy men," she says, 
 " Wherein through raging waves secure I ride, 
 To which all tempest, storm, and wind obeys. 
 All burdens light, benign is stream and tide : 
 My lord (that rules your journeys and your ways) 
 Hath sent me here, your servant and your guide." 
 
 This said, her shallop drove she 'gainst the sand, 
 
 And anchor cast amid the stedfast land. 
 
 7. 
 They ent'red in, her anchors she upwound, 
 And launched forth to sea her pinness^ flit, 
 Spread to the wind her sails she broad unbound. 
 And at the helm sat down to govern it : 
 
 1 Coached— placed. - C&Tinet— necklace. 
 
 ' Pinness — pinnace.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 305 
 
 Swelled the flood that all his banks he drown'd, 
 
 To bear the gi-eatest ship of burthen fit ; 
 Yet was her frigate little, swift and light, 
 That at his lowest ebb bear it he might. 
 
 Swifter than thought the friendly wind forth bore 
 The sliding boat, upon the rolling wave. 
 With crudded' foam and froth the billows hore. 
 About the cable murmur, roar and rave ; 
 At last they came where all his wat'ry store 
 The flood in one deep channel did engrave,^ 
 And forth to greedy seas his streams he sent, 
 And so his waves, his name, himself he spent. 
 
 9. 
 The wond'rous boat scant touch'd the troubled main. 
 But all the sea still, husht, and quiet was, 
 Vanish'd the clouds, ceased the wind and rain. 
 The tempests threat'ned overblow and pass : 
 A gentle breathing air made ev'n and plain 
 The azui'e face of Heav'n's smooth looking-glass. 
 And Heav'n itself smil'd from the skies above, 
 (With a calm clearness) on the earth his love. 
 
 10. 
 
 By Ascalon they sailed, and forth drived. 
 Towards the west their speedy course they frame, 
 In sight of Gaza till the bark arrived, 
 A little port when first it took that name ; 
 But since by others' loss so well it thrived, 
 A city great and rich that it became ; 
 
 And there the shores and borders of the land 
 They found as full of armed men, as sand. 
 
 11. 
 
 The passengers to landward turn'd their sight, 
 And there saw pitched many a stately tent. 
 Soldier and footman, captain, lord and knight, 
 Between the shore and city, came and went : 
 Huge elephants, strong camels, coursers light. 
 With horned hoofs the sandy ways outrent ; 
 And in the haven many a ship and boat, 
 (With mighty anchors fast'ned) swim and float ; 
 
 1 Crudded — curdled. ' Engrare — bury. 
 
 X
 
 306 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 12. 
 
 Some spread their sails, some with strong oars sweep 
 The waters smooth, and brush the buxom wave ; 
 Their breasts in sunder cleave the yielding deep ; 
 The broken seas for anger foam and rave ; 
 When thus their guide began : " Sir Knights take keep 
 How all these shores are spread with squadrons brave, 
 And troops of hardy knights, yet on these sands 
 The monarch scant hath gather'd half his bands. 
 
 13. 
 
 " Of Egypt only these the forces are, 
 And aid from other lands they here attend. 
 For 'twixt the noonday sun and morning star, 
 All realms at his command do bow and bend ; 
 So that I trust we shall return from far. 
 And bring our journey long to wished end. 
 Before this king (or his lieutenant) shall 
 These ai-mies bring to Sion's conquer'd wall." 
 
 14. 
 
 While thus she said, as soaring eagles fly 
 'Mongst other birds, securely through the air. 
 And mounting up behold with wakeful eye. 
 The radiant beams of old Hyperion's hair, 
 Her gondelay so passed swiftly by 
 'Twixt ship and ship, withouten fear, or care 
 Who should her follow, trouble, stop, or stay. 
 And forth to sea made lucky speed and way. 
 
 15. 
 
 Themselves forenenst' old Eaphia's town they fand, 
 
 A town that first to sailors doth appear, 
 
 As they from Syria pass to Egypt land ; 
 
 The sterile coasts of barren Einocere 
 
 They pass'd, and seas where Cassius' hill doth stand. 
 
 That with his trees o'erspreads the waters near. 
 Against whose roots breaketh the brackish wave, 
 Where Jove his temple, Pompey hath his grave. 
 
 16. 
 Then Damiata next, whei-e they behold 
 How to the sea his tribute Xilus 2)a\-s, 
 By his sev'n mouths renown 'd in stories old, 
 AJad by an huudi-ed more ignoble ways : 
 1 Forenenst — oppotite.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 307 
 
 They pass the town built by the Grecian bold, 
 
 Of him call'd Alexandria till our days, 
 
 And Pharos tower and isle, remov'd of yore 
 Far from the land, now joined to the shore : 
 
 17. 
 
 Both Crete and Rhodes they left by North unseen, 
 And sail'd along the coasts of Atric lands, 
 Whose sea towns fair, but realms more inward been 
 All full of monsters and of desert sands : 
 With her five cities then they left Cirene, 
 Where that old temple of false Hammon stands : 
 Next Ptolemais, and that sacred wood 
 Whence spring the silent streams of Lethe flood. 
 
 18. 
 
 The greater Sirtes (that sailors often cast 
 In peril great of death and loss extream) 
 They compass'd round about, and safely past. 
 The cape Judeca, and flood Magras stream ; 
 Then Tripolie, 'gainst which is Malta plast. 
 That low and hid, to lurk in seas doth seem : 
 The little Sirtes then, and Alzerbe's isle. 
 Where dwelt the folk that lotos eat erewhile. 
 
 19. 
 
 Nest Tunis on the crooked shore they spide. 
 
 Whose bay a rock on either side defends ; 
 
 Tunis all towns in beauty, wealth, and pride, 
 
 Above, as far as Libya's bounds extends ; 
 
 'Gainst which (from fair Sicilia's fertile side) 
 
 His rugged front great Lilebenni bends ; 
 
 The dame there pointed out where sometimes stood 
 (Rome's stately rival whilome) Carthage proud ; 
 
 20. 
 
 Great Carthage low in ashes cold doth lie ; 
 Her ruins poor the herbs in height scant pass ; 
 So cities fall, so perish kingdoms hie ; 
 Their pride and pomp lies hid in sand and grass : 
 Then why should mortal man repine to die, 
 Whose life, is air ; breath, wind ; and body, glass ? 
 From thence the seas next Bisert's walls they cleft. 
 And far Sardmia on their right hand left. 
 
 x2
 
 308 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OB, 
 
 21. 
 
 Kumidia's mighty plains they coasted then, 
 
 Where wand'ring shepherds us'd their flocks to feed; 
 
 Then Bugia, and Argiere, th' infamous den 
 
 Of pirates false, Oran they left with speed : 
 
 All Tingitan they swiftly over-ren, 
 
 Where elephants and angry lions breed, 
 
 Where now the realms of Fess and Marock be, 
 'Gainst which Granada's shores and coasts they see. 
 
 22. 
 
 Now are they there, where first the sea brake in 
 By great Alcides' help (as stories fain^) ; 
 True may it be that where those floods begin 
 It whilome was a firm and solid main. 
 Before the sea there through did pa;?sage win, 
 And parted Afric from the land of Spain ; 
 
 Abila hence, thence Calpe great upsprings ; 
 
 Such power hath time to change the face of things. 
 
 23. 
 
 Four times the sun had spread his morning ray. 
 Since first the dame launch'd forth her wondrous barge. 
 And never yet took port in creek or bay. 
 But fairly forward bore the knights her charge, 
 Kow through the strait her jolly ship made way, 
 And boldly sail'd upon the ocean large ; 
 But if the sea in midst of earth was great, 
 what was this, wherein earth hath her seat ? 
 
 24. 
 Now deep engulfed in the mighty flood 
 They saw not Gades, nor the mountains near ; 
 Fled was the land, and towns on land that stood ; 
 Heav'n cov'red sea, sea seem'd the Heav'ns to beai" : 
 " At last, fair lady," quoth Ubaldo good, 
 " That in this endless main dost guide us here. 
 If ever man before here sailed, tell. 
 Or other lands here be wherein men dwell." 
 
 25. 
 " Great Uercules," quoth she, " when he had quail'd 
 The monsters fierce in Afric and in 5>pain, 
 And all along your coasts and countries sail'd. 
 Yet durst he not assay the ocean main ; 
 
 1 "Still— feign.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 309 
 
 Within his pillars would he have impaU'd 
 The over-daring wit of mankind vain, 
 
 Till Lord Ulysses did those bounders' pass ; 
 
 To see and know he so desirous was. 
 
 26. 
 " He pass'd those pillars, and in open wave 
 Of the broad sea first his bold sails untwin'd ; 
 But yet the greedy ocean was his grave, 
 Nought helped him his skill 'gainst tide and wind, 
 With him all witness of his voyage brave 
 Lies buried there ; no truth thereof we find, 
 
 And they whom storm hath forced that way since, 
 Are drowned all, or unreturn'd i'rom thence : 
 
 27. 
 " So that this mighty sea is yet unsought. 
 Where thousand isles and kingdoms lie unknown, 
 Not void of men, as some have vainly thought. 
 But peopled well, and wonned^ like your own ; 
 The land is fertile ground, but scant well wrought. 
 Air wholesome, temp'rate sun, grass proudly grown." 
 " But," quoth Ubuldo, " dame, I pray thee teach 
 Of that hid world, what be the laws and speech." 
 
 28. 
 " As divers be their nations," answer'd she, 
 " Their tongues, their rites, their laws so difF'rent arc ; 
 Some pray to beasts, some to a stone or tree. 
 Some to the earth, the sun, or morning star ; 
 Their meats unwholesome, vile, and hateful be; 
 Some eat man's flesh, and captives tane^ in war ; 
 And all from Calpe's mountain west that dwell, 
 In faith profane, in life are rude and fell." 
 
 29. 
 
 " But will our gracious God," the knight replide, 
 (" That with His blood all sinful men hath bought,) 
 His Truth for ever and His Gospel hide 
 From all those lands, as yet unknown, unsought?" 
 " no," quoth she, " His name both far and wide 
 Shall there be known, all learning thither brought ; 
 Nor shall these long and tedious ways for ever 
 Your world and theirs, their lands, your kingdoms sever. 
 1 Bounders — toundariea. * Wonned — inhabited. * Tane — taken.
 
 310 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE ; OE, 
 
 30. 
 " The time shall come that sailors shall disdain 
 To talk or argue of Alcides' streat ; 
 And lands and seas, that nameless yet remain. 
 Shall well be known, their bounders, site and seat : 
 The ships encompass shall the solid main, 
 As far as seas outstretch their waters great. 
 And measure all the world, and with the sun 
 About this earth, this globe, this compass run. 
 
 31. 
 
 " A knight of Genes shall have the hardiment 
 
 Upon this wondrous voyage first to wend; 
 
 Nor winds nor waves, tJiat ships in sunder rent ; 
 
 Nor seas unus'd, strange clime or pool unken'd ; 
 
 Nor other peril, nor astonishment 
 
 That makes frail hearts of men to bow and bend. 
 
 Within Abila's strait shall keep and hold 
 
 The noble spu'it of this sailor bold : 
 
 32. 
 
 " Thj' ship (Columbus) shall her canvas wing 
 Spread o'er that world, that yet concealed lies, 
 That scant swift fiime her looks shall after bring, 
 Thougli thousand plumes she have, and thousand eyes ; 
 Let her of Bacchus and Alcides sing. 
 Of thee to future age let this suffice, 
 
 Tliat of thine acts she some forewarning give. 
 Which shall in verse and noble story live." 
 
 33. 
 
 Thus talking, swift 'twixt South and West they run, 
 And sliced out 'twist froth and foam their way ; 
 At once they saw before, the setting sun. 
 Behind, the rising beam of springing day; 
 And when the morn her drops and dews begun 
 To scatter broad upon the flow'ring lay. 
 
 Far off a hill and mountain high they spide. 
 Whose top the clouds environ, clothe, and hide ; 
 
 34 
 And drawing near, the hill at ease they view, 
 When all the clouds were molten, fall'n, and fled, 
 Whose top pyramid-wise did pointed shew. 
 High, naiTow, sharp, the sides yet more outspread ;
 
 JERUSALEM DEHVEBED. 311 
 
 Thence now and then fire, flame, and smoke outflew, 
 
 As from that hill, where under lies in bed 
 Euceladus, whence with imperious sway 
 Bright fii-e breaks out by night, black smoke by day 
 
 35. 
 
 About the hill lay other islands small, 
 
 Where other rocks, crags, clifts, and mountains stood; 
 
 Th' Isles Fortunate these elder time did call. 
 
 To which high Heav'n they feign'd so kind and good. 
 
 And of his blessings rich so liberal. 
 
 That without tillage earth gives corn for food ; 
 
 And grapes, that swell with sweet and precious wine, 
 There, without pruning, yields the fertile vine. 
 
 36. 
 
 The olive fat there ever buds and flowres, 
 The honey-drops from hollow oaks distil, 
 The falling brook her silver streams down powres, 
 With gentle murmur from their native hill : 
 The western blast temp'reth with dews and showres 
 The sunny rays, lest heat the blossoms kill ; 
 The fields Elysian (as fond heath(!n sain) 
 Were there, where souls of men in bliss remain. 
 
 37. 
 
 To these their pilot steer'd, " and now," quotli she, 
 " Your voyage long to end is brought well-near, 
 The happy Isles of Fortune now you see. 
 Of which great fame, and little truth you hear : 
 Sweet, wholesome, pleasant, fertile, fat they be. 
 Yet not so rich as fame reports they were." 
 This said, towards an island fresh she bore. 
 The first of ten, that lies next Afric's shore. 
 
 38. 
 
 When Charles thus, " If, worthy governess. 
 To our good speed such tarriance be no let. 
 Upon this isle that Heav'n so fair doth bless, 
 (To view the place) on land a while us set, 
 To know the folk, and what God they confess, 
 And all whereby man's heart may knowledge get, 
 That I may tell the wonders therein seen 
 Another day, and say, there have I been."
 
 312 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 39. 
 
 She answer'i him, "Well fits this high desire 
 Thy noble neart, yet cannot I consent, 
 For Heav'n's decree, firm, stable, and entire. 
 Thy wish repngns,^ and 'gainst thy will is bent ; 
 Nor yet the time hath Titan's gliding fire 
 Met- i'ovth, prefixt for this discoverment ; 
 Nor is it lawful of the ocean main 
 That you the secrets know, or known explain. 
 
 40. 
 " To you withouten needle, map, or card 
 It's given to pass these seas, and there amve 
 AVheie in strong prison lies your knight imbar'd. 
 And of her prey you must the witch deprive : 
 If further to aspire you be prepai-'d. 
 In vain 'gainst fate and Heav'n's decree you strive." 
 "While thus she said, the first seen isle gave place. 
 And high and rough the second show'd his face. 
 
 41. 
 They saw how eastward stretch'd in order long. 
 The happy islands sweetly flow'ring lay. 
 And how the seas betwixt those isles inthrong, 
 And how the)' shoulder'd land from land away : 
 In seven of them the people rude, among 
 The shady trees, their sheds had built of clay ; 
 The rest laj' waste, unless wild beasts unseen. 
 Or wanton nymphs, roam'd on the mountains green. 
 
 42. 
 A secret place they found in one of those. 
 Where the cleft shore sea in his bosom takes, 
 And 'twixt his stretched ai-ms doth fold and close 
 An ample bay ; a rock the haven makes, 
 Which to the main doth his broad back oppose. 
 Whereon the roaring billow cleaves and breakes ; 
 And here and there two crags, like turrets hie, 
 Point forth a port to all that sail thereby : 
 
 43. 
 
 The quiet seas below lie safe and still ; 
 
 The green wood like a garland grows aloft : 
 
 Sweet caves within, cool shades and waters shrill. 
 
 Where lie the nymphs on moss and ivy soft ; 
 
 •• Ecpugns — resUis. * Met — meatured.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 3] 3 
 
 No anchor there needs hold her frigate still, 
 Nor cable twisted sure, though breaking oft: 
 Into this desert, silent, quiet, glade, 
 Enter 'd the dame, and there her haven made. 
 
 44. 
 "The palace proudly built," quoth she "behold, 
 That sits on top of yonder mountain's bight, 
 Of Christ's true faith there lies the champion bold 
 In idleness, love, fancy, folly light ; 
 When Phoebus shall his rising beams unfold. 
 Prepare you 'gainst the hill to mount upright, 
 Nor let this stay in your bold liearts breed care. 
 For, save that one, all hours unlucky are ; 
 
 45. 
 
 " But yet this evening (if you make good speed) 
 To that hill's foot with daylight might you pass." 
 Thus said the dame their guide ; and they agreed. 
 And took their leave, and leapt forth on the grass : 
 They found the way that to the hill doth lead. 
 And softly went, that neither tired was ; 
 
 But at the mountain's foot they both arrived. 
 Before the sua his team in waters dived. 
 
 46. 
 They saw how from the crags and clifts below 
 His proud and stately pleasant top grew out. 
 And how his sides were clad with frost and snow, 
 The height was green with herbs and flow'rets sout ;' 
 Like hairy locks the trees about him grow ; 
 The rocks of ice keep watch and ward about 
 
 The tender roses and the lilies new ; 
 
 Thus art can nature change, and kind subdue. 
 
 47. 
 Within a thick, a dark, and shady plot. 
 At the hill's foot that night the warriors dwell ; 
 But when the sun his rays bright shining, hot, 
 Dispred, of golden light th' eternal well, 
 " Up, up," they cried, and fiercely up they got. 
 And climbed boldly 'gainst the mountain fell ; 
 But forth there crept (from whence I cannot say) 
 An ugly serpent, which forestall'd their way. 
 
 1 Sout — sote—su-eet.
 
 314 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OE, 
 
 48. 
 Armed with golden scales his head and crest 
 He lifted high, his neck swell'd great with ire. 
 Flamed his ej'es, and hiding with his breast 
 All the broad path, he poison breath'd and fire; 
 Now reach'd he forth in folds and forward prest. 
 Now would he back in rolls and heaps retire : 
 Thus he presents himself to guard the place, 
 The knights preas'd' forward with assm-ed pace : 
 
 49. 
 Charles drew forth his brand to strike the snake ; 
 Ubaldo cried, " Stay, my companion dear, 
 Will you with sword or weapon battle make 
 Against this monster that affronts us here ?" 
 This said, he 'gan his charmed rod to shake, 
 So that the serpent durst not hiss for fear, 
 
 But fled, and dead for dread fell on the grass ; 
 
 And so the passage plain, eath,- open was. 
 
 50. 
 A little higher on the way they met 
 A lion fierce, that hugely roar'd and cride. 
 His crest he reared high, and open set 
 Of his broad gaping jaws the furnace wide; 
 His stem his back ott smote his rage to whet ; 
 But when the sacred staff" he once espide, 
 
 A trembling fear through his bold heart was spied. 
 His native wrath was gone, and swift he fled. 
 
 51. 
 
 The hardy couple on their way forth wend. 
 And met an host that on them roar and gape. 
 Of savage beasts, tofore unseen, unkend,^ 
 Dirt" ring in voice, in semblance and in shape ; 
 All monsters which hot Afric doth forth send, 
 'Twixt Nilus, Atlas, and the Southern cape. 
 Were all there met ; and all wild beasts besides, 
 Hii-cania breeds, or Hircane forest hides. 
 
 52. 
 
 But yet that fierce, that strange and savage host 
 Could not in presence of those worthies stand, 
 But fled away, their heart and courage lost. 
 When Lord Ubaldo shook his charming wand : 
 1 Preas'd — -pretied. * Eath — eati/, ' Unkend — uninotrn.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 315 
 
 No other let their passage stopt or crost, 
 
 Till on the mountain's top themselves they fand, j I 
 
 Save that the ice, the frost, and drifted snow, i[! | 
 
 Oft made them feeble, weary, faint, and slow. 
 
 53. 
 
 But having passed all that frozen gi-ound. 
 
 And overgone that winter sharp and keen, 
 
 A warm, mild, pleasant, gentle sky they found, 
 
 That overspred a large and ample green ; 
 
 The winds breath'd spikenard, myrrh, and babn around : 
 
 The blasts there firm, unchanged, stable been, ■*< . 
 
 Nor, as elsewhere, the winds now rise now fall, 
 
 And Phoebus there aye shines, sets not at all. 
 
 54. 
 
 Not as elsewhere, now sunshine bright, now showers. 
 Now heat, now cold, there interchanged were, 
 But everlasting spring mild Heav'n down powers, 
 In which nor rain, nor storm, nor clouds appear ; 
 Nursing to fields, their grass ; to grass, his flowers ; 
 To flowers, their smell ; to trees, the leaves they bear ; 
 
 There by a lake a stately palace stands. 
 
 That overlooks all mountains, seas, and lands : 
 
 55. 
 
 The passage hard against the mountain steep 
 
 These travellers had faint and wearj' made. 
 
 That through those grassy plains they scantly creep, 
 
 They walk'd, they rested oft, they went, they staid ; 
 
 When fi-om the rocks that seem'd for joy to weep, 
 
 Before their feet a dropping crystal play'd, 
 Enti(;ing them to drink, and on the flow'rs 
 The plenteous spring a thousand streams down pours. 
 
 56. 
 
 All which united, in the springing grass 
 
 Eat forth a channel through the tender green. 
 
 And imderneath eternal shade did pass. 
 
 With murmur shrill, cold, pure, and scantly seen ; 
 
 Yet so transparent, that perceived was 
 
 The bottom rich, and sands that golden been ; 
 
 And on the brims the silken grass aloft 
 
 ProflTer'd them seats, sweet, easy, fresh and soft.
 
 316 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 57. 
 " See here the stream of laiijjhter, see the spring," 
 Quoth they, " of danger and of deadly pain ; 
 Here fond desire must by fair governing 
 Be rul'd, our lust bridled with wisdom's rain,^ 
 Our ears be stopped while these Sirens sing 
 Their notes, enticing man to pleasure vain." 
 
 Thus pass'd they forward where the stream did make 
 An ample pond, a large and spacious lake. 
 
 58. 
 There on a table was all dainty food 
 That sea, that earth, or liquid air could give ; 
 And in the crystal of the laughing flood 
 They saw two naked virgins bathe and dive, 
 That sometimes toying, sometimes wrestling stood. 
 Sometimes for speed and skill in swimming strive ; 
 Now underneath they div'd, now rose above, 
 And 'ticing baits laid forth of lust and love. 
 
 59. 
 These naked wantons, tender, fair and white, 
 Moved so far the warriors' stubborn hearts, 
 That on their shapes they gazed with delite ; 
 The nymphs applied their sweet alluring arts. 
 And one of them above the waters quite 
 Lift up her head, her breasts and higher parts. 
 
 And all that might weak eyes subdue and take ; 
 
 Her lower beauties veii'd the gentle lake. 
 
 60. 
 As when the morning star, escapt and fled, 
 From greedy waves with dewy beams up-flies. 
 Or as the queen of love, new born and bred 
 Of th' ocean's fruitful froth, did first arise : 
 So vented she, her golden locks forth shed 
 Kound pearls and crystal moist therein which lies : 
 But when her eyes upon the knights she cast. 
 She start, and feign'd her of their sight aghast ; 
 
 61. 
 
 And her fair locks, that on a knot were tide 
 High on her crown, she 'gan at large unfold; 
 which falling long and thick, and spreading wide, 
 The ivory soft and white mantled in gold : 
 
 ' Rain— rein. * Delite— delight.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 317 
 
 Thus her fair skin the dame would clothe and hide, 
 And that which hid it no less fair was hold ;^ 
 Thus clad in waves and locks, her eyes divine 
 From them ashamed did she turn and twine. 
 
 62. 
 
 Withal she smiled, and she blush'd withal ; 
 Her blush her smilinj^, smiles her blushing graced ; 
 Over her face her amber tresses fall, 
 Whereunder love himself in ambush placed : 
 At last she warbled forth a treble small. 
 And with sweet looks her sweet songs interlaced ; 
 " happy men ! that have the grace," quoth she, 
 " This bliss, this Heav'n, this paradise to see. 
 
 63. 
 
 " This is the place wherein you may assuage 
 Your sorrows past ; here is that joy and bliss 
 That flourish'd in the antick golden age ; 
 Here needs no law, here none doth aught amiss : 
 Put off those arms, and fear not Mars his rage. 
 Your sword, your shield, your helmet needless is : 
 
 Then consecrate them here to endless rest ; 
 
 You shall love's champions be, and soldiers blest. 
 
 64. 
 
 " The fields for combat here are beds of down, 
 Or heaped lilies under shady brakes : 
 But come and see our queen with golden crown. 
 That all her servants blest and happy makes ; 
 She will admit you gently for her own, 
 Number'd with those that of her joy partakes : 
 But first within this lake your dust and sweat 
 Wash off, and at that table sit and eat." 
 
 65. 
 
 While thus she sung, her sister lur'd them nie 
 With many a gesture kind, and loving show. 
 To music's sound, as dames in court apply 
 Their cunning feet, and dance now swift, now slow ; 
 But still the knights unmoved passed by ; 
 These vain delights for wicked charms they know : 
 Nor could their heav'nly voice, or angel's look. 
 Surprise their hearts, if eye or ear they took. 
 » B.o\i— held.
 
 318 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 66. 
 
 For if that sweetness once but toucli'd their hearts, 
 And proffer'd there to kindle Cupid's fire. 
 Straight armed reason to his charge up starts, 
 And quenclietli lust, and killeth fond desire ; 
 Thus scorned were the dames, their wiles and arts : 
 And to the palace gates the knights retire; 
 Wliile in their streams the damsels dived sad, 
 Asham'd, disgrac'd, for that repulse they had.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 §00li tilt ^hUnili 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 The searchers pass through all the palace bright, 
 Where in sweet prison lies Rinaldo pent. 
 And do so much, tJiat full of rage and spight. 
 With them he goes sad, shamed, discontent : 
 With plaints and prayers to retain her Tcnight 
 A.rmida strives; he hears, but thence he went; 
 And she forlorn, her 2'>alace great and fair 
 Destroys for grief , andjiies thence through the air. 
 
 The palace great is builded rich and round, 
 And in the centre of the inmost hold 
 There lies a garden sweet, on fertile ground, 
 Pairer than that where grew the trees of gold : 
 The cunning sprites had buildings rear'd around. 
 With doors and entries false a thousand fold ; 
 A labyrinth they made that fortress brave, 
 Like Dedal's prison, or Porsenna's grave. 
 
 The knights pass'd through the castle's largest gate, 
 (Though round about an hundred ports there shine) 
 The door-leaves, fram'd of carved silver-plate. 
 Upon their golden hinges turn and twine ; 
 They stay'd to view this work of wit and state ; 
 The workmanship excell'd the substance fine ; 
 For all the shapes in that rich metal wrought, 
 Save speech, of living bodies wanted nought.
 
 320 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 3. 
 
 Alcldes there sat telling tales, and spun 
 Among the feeble troops of damsels mild ; 
 He that the fieiy gates of hell had won, 
 And Heav'n upheld ; false love stood by and smil'd : 
 Arm'd with his club fair lolee forth run, 
 His club with blood of monsters foul defil'd, 
 And on her back his lion's skin had she, 
 Too rough a bark for such a tender tree. 
 
 4. 
 
 Beyond was made a sea, whose azure flood 
 The hoary I'roth crusht from the surges blew, 
 Wherein two navies great well ranged stood 
 Of warlike ships ; fire from their arras out-flew ; 
 The waters burnt about their vessels good, 
 Such flames the gold therein enchased threw ; 
 Caesar his Komans hence, the Asian kings 
 Thence Antouie, and Indian princes, brings. 
 
 5. 
 
 The Cyclades seem'd to swim amid the main, 
 And hill 'gainst hill, and mount 'gainst mountain smote. 
 With such great fury met those armies twain, 
 Here burnt a ship, there sunk a bark or boat. 
 Here darts and wild-fire flew, there drown'd or slaiu 
 Of princes dead the bodies fleet and float ; 
 Here Ca?sar wins, and yonder conquer'd been 
 The eastern ships ; there fled th' Egyptian Queen : 
 
 6. 
 Antonius eke himself to flight betook. 
 The empire lost to which he would aspire. 
 Yet fled not he, nor fight for fear forsook. 
 But foUow'd her, drawn on by fond desire : 
 Well might you see, within his troubled look. 
 Strive and contend love, counige, shame, and ire ; 
 Oft look'd he back, oft gaz'd he on the fight, 
 But ofteuer on his mistress and her flight. 
 
 7. 
 Then in the secret creeks of fruitful Nile, 
 Cast in her lap he would sad death awate. 
 And in the pleasure of her lovely smile. 
 Sweeten the bitter stroke of cursed fate :
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. $21 
 
 All this did art with curious hand compile 
 
 In the rich metal of that princely gate. 
 
 The knights these stories viewed first and last, 
 Which seen, they forward press'd, and in they past. 
 
 8. 
 
 As through his channel crook'd Meander glides 
 With turns and twines, and rolls now to, now fro, 
 Whose streams run forth there to the salt sea sides. 
 Here back return, and to their spiingward go : 
 Such crooked paths, such ways this palace hides ; 
 Yet all the maze their map described so. 
 
 That through the labyrinth they got in fine, 
 
 As Theseus did by Aiiadne's line. 
 
 When they had passed all those troubled ways, 
 The garden sweet spread forth her green to show ; 
 The moving crystal from the fountains plays ; 
 Fair trees, high plants, strange herbs, and flowrets new, 
 Sunshiny hills, dales hid from Phoebus' rays. 
 Groves, arbours, mossy caves at once they view ; 
 And that which beauty most, most wonder brought. 
 Nowhere appear 'd the art which all this wrought. 
 
 10. 
 
 So with the rude the polisht mingled was. 
 
 That natural seem'd all, and every part ; 
 
 Nature would craft in counterfeiting pass. 
 
 And imitate her imitator Ai-t : 
 
 Mild was the air, the skies were clear as glass. 
 
 The trees no whirlwind felt, nor tempest's smart. 
 But ere the fruit drop off, the blossom comes : 
 This springs, that falls, that ripeneth, and this blooms. 
 
 11. 
 
 The leaves upon the self-same bough did hide, 
 Beside the young, the old and ripened fig : 
 Her fi'uit was green, there ripe with vermeil side ; 
 The apples new and old grew on one twig : 
 The fruitful vine her arms spred high and wide. 
 That bended underneath their clusters big ; 
 
 The grapes were tender here, hard, young, and sour. 
 There piu-ple ripe, and nectar sweet fourth pour. 
 
 Y
 
 322 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 12. 
 
 The joyous birds, hid under green-wood shade. 
 Sung merry notes on every branch and bow ;^ 
 The wind, that in the leaves and waters play'd 
 With murmur sweet, now sung, and whistled now : 
 Ceased the birds, the wind loud answer made, 
 And while they sung, it rumbled soft and low ; 
 Thus, were it hap or cunning, chance or art. 
 The wind in this strange music bore his part. 
 
 13. 
 
 With party-coloured plumes, and purple bill, 
 A wondrous bird among the rest there flew, 
 That in plain speech sung love-lays loud and shrill ; 
 Her leden" was like human language true ; 
 So much she talk'd, and with such wit and skill, 
 That strange it seemed how much good she knew ; 
 Her feather'd fellows all stood hush to hear : 
 Dumb was the wind, the waters silent were. 
 
 14. 
 
 " The gently budding rose," quoth she, " behold, 
 That first scant peeping forth with virgin beams, 
 Half ope, half shut, her beauties doth upfold 
 In their dear leaves, and less seen, fairer seems. 
 And after spreads them forth more broad and bold, 
 Then languisheth, and dies in last extreams ; 
 Nor seems the same, that decked bed and bow'r 
 Of many a lady late, and paramour : 
 
 15. 
 
 " So, in the passing of a day, doth pass 
 The bud and blossom of the life of man. 
 Nor ere doth flourish more, but like the grass 
 Cut down, becometh wither'd, pale, and wan : 
 O gather then the rose while time thou has ; 
 Short is the day, done when it scant began ; 
 Gather the rose of love, while yet thou mayst 
 Loving, be lov'd ; embracing, be embrast." 
 
 16. 
 
 He ceas'd, and as approving all he spoke, 
 The quire of birds their heav'nly tunes renew ; 
 The turtles sigh'd, and sighs with kisses broke ; 
 The fowls to shades unseen, by pairs, withdrew ; 
 ' Bow — hough, * Leden — speech, or language.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 323 
 
 It seem'd the laurel chaste, and stubborn oak, 
 And all the gentle trees on earth that grew, 
 It seem'd the land, the sea, and Heav'n above. 
 All breath'd out fancy sweet, and sigh'd out love. 
 
 17. 
 
 Through all this music rare, and strong consent 
 Of strange allurements, sweet 'bove mean and measure, 
 Severe, firm, constant, still the knights forth went, 
 Hard'ning their hearts 'gainst false enticing pleasure : 
 'Twixt leaf and leaf, their sight before they sent. 
 And after crept themselves at ease and leisure, 
 Till they beheld the Queen, set with their knight 
 Besides the lake, shaded with boughs from sight : 
 
 18. 
 
 Her breasts Avere naked, for the day was hot, 
 Her locks unbound waved in the wanton wind ; 
 Some deal she sweat (tir'd with the game you wot) 
 Her sweat-drops bright, white, round, like pearls of Ind ; 
 Her humid eyes a fiery smile forth shot. 
 That like sun-beams in silver fountains shin'd ; 
 O'er him her looks she hung, and her soft breast 
 The pillow was, where he and love took rest. 
 
 19. 
 
 His hungry eyes upon her face he fed, 
 And feeding them so pin'd himself away ; 
 And she, declining often down her head. 
 His lips, his cheeks, his eyes kiss'd, as he lay. 
 Wherewith he sigh'd, as if his soul had fled 
 From his frail breast to hers, and there would stay 
 With her beloved sprite. The armed pair 
 These follies all beheld, and this hot fare. 
 
 20. 
 
 Down by the lovers' side there pendent was 
 A crystal mirror, bright, pure, smooth, and neat ; 
 He rose, and to his mistress held the glass, 
 (A noble page, grac'd with that service great) 
 She, with glad looks, he with inflam'd, (alas) 
 Beauty and love beheld, both in one seat ; 
 
 Yet them in sundry objects each espies; 
 
 She, in the glass ; he, saw them in her eyes : 
 
 t2
 
 324. GODFKEY OF BULLOIGKE ; OR, 
 
 21. 
 
 Her, to command, to serve, it pleas'd the knight ; 
 He proud of bondage, of her empire, she ; 
 " My dear," he said, " that blessest with thy sight 
 Even blessed angels, turn thine eyes to me, 
 For painted in my heart and portray 'd right 
 Thy worth, thy beauties, and perfections be, 
 Of which the form, the shape, and fashion best, 
 Not in this gla^s is seen, but in my breast. 
 
 22. 
 
 " And if thou me disdain, yet be content 
 
 At least so to behold thy lovely hew, 
 
 That while thereon thy looks are fixt and bent. 
 
 Thy happy eyes themselves may see and view; 
 
 So rare a shape no crystal can present, 
 
 Ko glass contain that heav'n of beauties true ; 
 
 let the skies thy worthy mirror be ! 
 
 And in clear stars thy shape and image see." 
 
 23. 
 
 And with that word she smil'd, and ne'ertheless 
 Her love-toys still she us'd, and pleasures bold; 
 Her hair, that done, she twisted up in tress, 
 And looser locks in silken laces roll'd ; 
 Her curies gai'landwise she did up-dress, 
 "Wherein (like rich enamel laid on gold) 
 
 The twisted flowers smil'd, and her white breast 
 The lilies (there that spring) with roses drest. 
 
 24. 
 
 The jolly peacock spreads not half so fair. 
 
 The eyed leathers of his pompous train. 
 
 Nor golden Iris so bends in the air 
 
 Her twenty-colour'd bow, through clouds of rain; 
 
 Yet all her ornaments, strange, rich and rare. 
 
 Her girdle did in price and beauty stain; 
 
 Nor that (with scorn) which Tuscan Guilla lost. 
 Not Venus' Ceston, could match this for cost. 
 
 25, 
 
 Of mild denays, offender scorns, of sweet 
 Repulses, war, peace, hope, despair, joy, fear, 
 Of smiles, jests, mirth, woe, grief, and sad regreet; 
 Sighs, sorrows, tears, embracements, kisses dear.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 325 
 
 That mixed first by weight and measure meet, 
 Then at an easy fire attemp'red were ; 
 
 This wondrous girdle did Armida frame, 
 
 And (when she would be loved) wore the same, 
 
 26. I 
 
 But when her wooing-fit was brought to end, 
 She congee took, kiss'd him, and went her way ; 
 For once she used every day to wend 
 'Bout her affairs, her spells and charms to say : 
 The youth remain'd, yet had no power to bend 
 One step from thence, but used there to stray 
 
 'Mongst the sweet birds, through every walk and grove, 
 
 Alone, save for a hermit false, call'd Love. 
 
 27. 
 
 And when the silence deep and friendly shade 
 
 Eecall'd the lovers to their wonted sport. 
 
 In a fair room for pleasure built they laid. 
 
 And longest nights with joys made sweet and short. 
 
 Now while the Queen her household things survaid. 
 
 And left her lord, her garden and disport. 
 
 The twain, that hidden in the bushes were. 
 
 Before the Prince in glist'ring arms appear : 
 
 28. 
 
 As the fierce steed for age withdrawn from war, 
 Wherein the glorious beast had always wone, 
 That in vile rest, from fight sequest'red far. 
 Feeds with the mares at large, his service done, 
 If arms he see, or hear the trumpet's jar, 
 He neigheth loud, and thither fast doth run, 
 
 And wisheth on his back the armed knight, 
 
 Longing for jousts, for tournament, and fight : 
 
 29. 
 
 So far'd Einaldo, when the glorious light 
 Of their bright harness glist'red in his eyes ; 
 His noble sprite awaked at that sight. 
 His blood began to warm, his heart to rise, 
 Though drunk with ease, devoid of wonted might, 
 On sleep till then his weak'ned virtue lies : 
 
 Ubaldo forward stept, and to him hield 
 
 Of diamonds clear that pure and precious shield.
 
 326 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 30. 
 Upon the t&rge his looks amaz'd he bent, 
 And therein all his wanton habit spide ; 
 His civet, balm, and perfumes redolent, 
 How from his locks they smok'd, and mantle wide : 
 His sword, that many a Pagan stout had sheut,' 
 laewrapt with flowers, hung idlely by his side, 
 So nicely decked, that it seem'd the knight 
 Wore it for fashion-sake, but not for fight. 
 
 31. 
 As when from sleep and idle dreams abraid,^ 
 A man awakt calls home his wits again ; 
 So in beholding his attire he plaid. 
 But j'et to view himself could not sustain : 
 His looks he downward cast, and nought he said, 
 Griev'd, shamed, sad, he would have died fain; 
 And oft he wisht the earth or ocean wide 
 Would swallow him, and so his errors hide. 
 
 32. 
 
 Ubaldo took the time, and thus begun : 
 
 " All Europe now and Asia be in war. 
 
 And all that Christ adore, and fame have won 
 
 In battle strong, in Syria fighting are ; 
 
 But thee alone (Bertoldo's noble son) 
 
 This little corner keeps, exiled far. 
 
 From all the world, buried in sloth and shame, 
 A carpet champion for a wanton dame. 
 
 33. 
 
 " What letharge hath in drowsiness up-penn'd 
 
 Thy courage thus? what sloth doth thee infect? 
 
 Up, up, our camp and Godfrey for thee send ; 
 
 Thee fortune, praise, and victory expect ; 
 
 Come, fatal champion, bring to happy end 
 
 This enterprize begun, and all that sect 
 
 (Which oft thou shaken hast) to earth full low, 
 With thy sharp brand strike down, kill, overthrow. 
 
 34 
 
 This said, the noble infant stood a space 
 Confused, speechless, senseless, ill, ashamed; 
 But when that shame to just disdain gave place, 
 To fierce disdain, from courage sprung untamed, 
 * Shent — slain. * Ahrsiid— roused.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED, 327 
 
 Another redness blushed through his face. 
 Whence worthy anger shone, displeasure flamed ; 
 His nice attire in scorn he rent and tore, 
 For of his bondage vile that witness bore ; 
 
 35. 
 
 That done, he hasted from the charmed fort. 
 And through the maze pass'd with his searchers twain. 
 Armida of her mount and chiefest port 
 Wonder'd to find the furious keeper slain ; 
 Awhile she feared, but she knew in short 
 That her dear lord was fled ; then saw she plain 
 (Ah, woful sight!) how from her gates the man 
 In haste, in fear, in wrath, and anger ran. 
 
 36. 
 
 Whither, cruel ! leav'st thou me alone ? 
 She would have cried ; her grief her speeches staid, 
 So that her woeful words are backward gone. 
 And in her heart a bitter echo made ; 
 Poor soul, of greater skill than she was one 
 Whose knowledge from her thus her joy convaid; 
 This wist she well, }^et had desire to prove 
 If ai't could keep, if charms recal her love. 
 
 37. 
 
 All what the witches of Thessalia land. 
 With lips unpure, yet ever said or spake. 
 Words that could make Heav'n's rolling circles stand. 
 And draw the damned ghosts from Limbo lake. 
 All well she knew, but yet no time she ftmd 
 To use her knowledge, or her charms to make. 
 But left her arts, and forth she ran to prove, 
 If single beauty were best charm for love : 
 
 38. 
 She ran, nor of her honour took regard ; 
 Oh, where be all her vants' and triumphs now ? 
 Love's empire great of late she made or mar'd ; 
 To her his subjects humbly bend and bow : 
 And with her pride mix'd was a scorn so hard. 
 That to be lov'd, she lov'd ; yet whilst they woo 
 Her lovers all she hates ; that pleas'd her will. 
 To conquer men, and conquer'd so to kill. 
 1 Vants — vaunts.
 
 328 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 39. 
 
 But now herself disdain'd, abandoned, 
 Ean aftei' liim, that from her fled in scorn, 
 And her despised beauty laboured 
 With humble plaints and prayers to adorn; 
 She ran, and hasted after him that fled. 
 Through frost and snow, through brier, bush, and thorn ; 
 And sent her cries on message her before, 
 That reach'd not him, till he had reach'd the shore. 
 
 40. 
 "0 thou that leav'st but half behind," quoth she, 
 " Of my poor heart, and lialf with thee dost carxy, 
 
 take this part, or render that to me. 
 Else kill them both at once, ah tarry, tarry : 
 Hear my last words, no parting kiss of thee 
 
 1 crave, for some more fit with thee to marry 
 
 Keep them, unkind ; what fear'st thou if thou stay ? 
 Thou may'st deny, as well as run away." 
 
 41. 
 
 At this Rinaldo stopp'd, stood still, and stay'd; 
 
 She came, sad, breathless, wearj^, laint, and weak ; 
 
 So woe-begone was never nymph or maid ; 
 
 And yet her beauty's pride grief could not break : 
 
 On him she look'd, she gaz'd, but nought she said; 
 
 She would not, could not, or she durst not speak. 
 At her he look'd not, glanc'd not ; if he did. 
 Those glances shamefac'd were, close, secret, hid. 
 
 42. 
 
 As cunning singers, ere they strain on hie. 
 In loud melodious tunes, their gentle voice, 
 Prepare the hearers' ears to harmony 
 With feignings sweet, low notes, and warbles choice : 
 So she, not having yet forgot, pardie. 
 Her wonted shifts and sleights in Cupid's toys, 
 A sequence first of sighs and sobs forth cast. 
 To breed compjission dear, then spake at last : 
 
 43. 
 
 " Suppose not, cruel, that I come to woo, 
 Or pray, as ladies do their loves and lords ; 
 Such were we late, if thou disdain it now. 
 Or scorn to grant such grace as love afibrds.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 3S 
 
 At least yet as an en'my listen thou : 
 Sworn foes sometime will talk, and chaffer' words ; 
 For, what I ask thee, may'st thou grant rifi^ht 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 nie still ; 
 It's like for like ; I bore great hate and spight 
 'Gainst Christians all, chiefly I wish'd thee ill : 
 I was a Pagan horn, and all my might 
 Against Godfredo bent, mine art and skill ; 
 I follow'd thee, took thee, and bore thee far 
 To this strange isle, and kept thee safe from war : 
 
 45. 
 
 " And more, which more thy hate may justly move. 
 
 More to th}' loss, more to thy shame and grief, 
 
 I thee enchanted, and allur'd to love ; 
 
 Wicked deceit, craft worthy sharp reprief ;^ 
 
 Mine honour gave I thee all gifts above ; 
 
 And of my beauties made thee lord and chief; 
 And to my suitors old what I denaid, 
 That gave I thee (my lover new) unpraid. 
 
 46. 
 " But reckon that among my faults, and let 
 Those many wrongs provoke thee so to wrath, 
 That hence thou run, and that at nought thou set 
 This pleasant house, so many joys which hath ; 
 Go, travel, pass the seas, fight, conquest get, 
 Destroy our faith ; what shall I say, our faith ? 
 Ah, no ! no longer ours ; before thy shrine 
 Alone I pray, thou cruel saint of mine ; 
 
 47. 
 " All only let me go with thee (unkind) 
 A small request, although I were thy foe : 
 The spoiler seldom leaves the prey behind ; 
 Who triumphs lets his captives with him go : 
 Among thy pris'ners poor Armida bind. 
 And let the camp increase thy praises so. 
 That thy beguiler so thou couldst beguile, 
 And point at me, thy thrall and bondslave vile. 
 1 Cha.Sex— exchange. « Eeprief— re/iroo/".
 
 330 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OK, 
 
 48. 
 " Despised bondslave since my lord doth hate 
 These locks, why keep I them or hold them dear ? 
 Come cut them off, that to my servUe state 
 My habit answer may, and all my gear : 
 I follow thee in spite of death and fate, 
 Through battles fierce where dangers most appear ; 
 Courage I have, and strength enough (perchance) 
 To lead thy courser spare, and bear thy lance : 
 
 49. 
 " I will or bear, or be myself, thy shield, 
 And to defend thy life, will lose mine own : 
 This breast, this bosom soft shall be thy bield' 
 'Gainst storms of arrows, darts and weapons thrown ; 
 Thy foes, pardie, encount'ring thee in field, 
 Will spare to strike thee (mine affection known) 
 Lest me they wound, nor will sharp veng'ance take 
 On thee, for this despised beauty's sake. 
 
 50. 
 " wretch ! dare I still vaunt, or help invoke 
 From this poor beauty, scorned and disdained ? " 
 She said no more, her tears her speeches broke, [rained : 
 Which from her eyes, like streams from springs, dowa 
 She would have caught him by the hand or cloke, 
 But he stept backward, and himself restrained ; 
 
 Conquer'd his will, his heart ruth soft'ned not; 
 
 There plaints no issue, love no entrance got. 
 
 51. 
 
 Love ent'red not to kindle in his breast 
 (Which reason late had quencht) his wonted flame ; 
 Yet ent'red pity in the place at least, 
 Love's sister, but a chaste and sober dame. 
 And stirr'd him so, that hardly he supprest 
 The springing tears that to his eyes up-came; 
 But yet even there his plaints repressed were, 
 And (as he could) he look'd and feigned cheer. 
 
 52. 
 " Madam," quoth he, " for your distress I grieve. 
 And would amend it, if I might or could; 
 From your wise heart that fond affection drive : 
 I cannot hate nor scorn 3-0 u, though I would; 
 1 Bield— »Ae;<er.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 331 
 
 I seek no veng'ance, wrongs I all forgive, 
 Nor you my servant, nor my foe I hold : 
 
 Truth is, you err'd, and your estate forgot ; 
 
 Too great your hate was, and your love too hot. 
 
 53. 
 
 " But those are common faults, and faults of kind, 
 Excus'd by Nature, by your sex and years ; 
 T erred likewise ; if I pardon find. 
 None can condemn you, that our trespass hears : 
 Your dear remembrance will I keep in mind. 
 In joys, in woes, in comforts, hopes, and fears ; 
 Call me your soldier and your knight, as far 
 As Christian faith permits, and Asia's war. 
 
 54. 
 
 " Ah, let our faults and follies here take end. 
 
 And let our errors past you satisfie, 
 
 And in this angle of the world ipend. 
 
 Let both the fame and shame thereof now die : 
 
 From all the earth where I am known and kend, 
 
 I wish this fact should still concealed lie : 
 
 Nor yet in following me, poor knight, disgrace 
 Your worth, your beauty, and your princely race. 
 
 55. 
 
 " Stay here in peace ; I go, nor wend you may 
 With me ; my guide your fellowship denies ; 
 Stay here, or hence depart some better way. 
 And calm your thoughts ; you are both sage and wise." 
 While thus he spoke, her passions found no stay. 
 But here and there she turn'd and roU'd her eyes. 
 And staring on his face a while, at last 
 Thus in foul terms her bitter wrath forth brast. 
 
 56. 
 
 " Of Sophia fair thou never wert the child, 
 Nor of the Azzaine race isprung thou art ; 
 The mad sea-waves thee bare, some tigress wild. 
 On Caucasus' cold crags, nurs'd thee apart ; 
 Ah cruel man ! in whom no token mild 
 Appears of pity, ruth, or tender heart ; 
 
 Could not my griefs, my woes, my plaints, and all 
 One sigh strain from thy breast, one tear make fall P
 
 332 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 67. 
 
 " What shall I say, or how renew my speech ? 
 He scorns me, leaves me, bids me call him mine : 
 The victor hath his foe, within his reach ; 
 Yet pardons her that merits death and pine ;' 
 Hear how he counsels me ; how he can preach 
 (Like chaste Xenocrates) 'gainst love divine ; 
 
 heavens, gods ! wliy do these men of shame, 
 Thus spoil your temples, and blaspheme your name ? 
 
 58. 
 " Go cruel, go ; go with such peace, such rest, 
 Such joy, such comfort, as thou leav'st me here : 
 My angry soul, discharg'd from this weak breast. 
 Shall haunt thee ever, and attend thee near. 
 And fury-like, in snakes and fire-brands drest. 
 Shall aye torment thee, whom it late held dear : 
 And if thou 'scape the seas, the rocks, and sands 
 And come to fight amid the Pagan bands, 
 
 59. 
 " There lying wounded, 'mongst the hurt and slain, 
 Of these my wrongs thou shalt the vengeance bear, 
 And oft Armida shalt thou call in vain. 
 At thy last gasp ; this hope I soon to hear :" 
 Here fainted she, with sorrow, grief and pain ; 
 Her latest words scant well expressed were, 
 
 But in a swoon on earth out-stretcht she lies ; 
 
 Stiff were her fi'ozen limbs, clos'd were her eyes. 
 
 60. 
 
 Thou clos'd thine eyes (Armida) Heav'n envide 
 
 Ease to thy grief, or comfort to thy woe ; 
 Ah, open them again, see tears down slide 
 From his kind eyes, whom thou esteem'st thy foe : 
 If thou hadst heiird, his sighs had mollifide 
 Thine anger hard, he sigh'd and mourned so ; 
 And, as he could, with sad and rueful look 
 His leave of thee, and last farewell he took, 
 
 61. 
 
 What should he do ? leave on the naked sand 
 This woful lady half alive, half dead ? 
 Kindness forbade, pitj' did that withstand ; 
 But hard constraint (alas) did thence him lead ; 
 
 1 Pine — grief.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 333 
 
 Away he went ; the west- wind blew from land 
 'Mongst the rich tresses of their pilot's head, 
 
 And with that golden sail the waves she cleft ; 
 
 To land he look'd, till land unseen he left. 
 
 62. 
 
 Wakt from her trance, forsaken, speechless, sad, 
 Armida wildly star'd and gaz'd about ; 
 " And is he gone," quoth she, " nor pity had 
 To leave me thus 'twixt life and death in doubt ? 
 Could he not stay ? could not the traitor-lad 
 Trom this last trance help or recal me out ? 
 And do I love him still, and on this sand 
 Still unreveng'd, still mourn, still weeping stand P 
 
 63. 
 
 " Fie ! no, complaints farewell ; with arms and art 
 I will pursue to death this spiteful knight ; 
 Not earth's low centre, nor sea's deepest part. 
 Nor Heaven, nor hell, can shield him from my might ; 
 I will o'ertake him, take him, cleave his heart; 
 Such veng'ance fits a wronged lover's spight : 
 In cruelty that cruel knight surpass 
 I will ; but what avail vain words, alas ! 
 
 64. 
 
 " O fool ! thou shouldest have been cruel than, 
 (For then this cruel well deserv'd thine ire) 
 When thou in prison hadst entrapt the man ; 
 Now, dead with cold, too late thou askest fire ; 
 But though my wit, my cunning nothing can. 
 Some other means shall work my heart's desire; 
 
 To thee (my beauty) thine be all these wrongs ; 
 
 Veng'ance to thee, to thee revenge belongs. 
 
 * 65. 
 
 " Thou shalt be his reward, with murd'ring brand 
 That dare this traitor of his head deprive : 
 you my lovers, on this rock doth stand 
 The castle of her love, for whom you strive, 
 I, the sole heir of all Damascus' land. 
 For this revenge myself and kingdom give ; 
 If by this price my will I cannot gain. 
 Nature, gives beauty ; fortune, wealth in vain.
 
 334 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 66. 
 " But thee vain gift (vain beauty) thee I scorn, 
 I hate the kingdom which I have to give, 
 I hate myself, and rue that I was born ; 
 Only in hope of sweet revenge I live." 
 Thus raging with fell ire she 'gan return 
 From that bare shore in haste, and homeward di'ive ; 
 And as true witness of her frantic ire, 
 Her locks wav'd loose, face shone, eyes sparkled fire. 
 
 67. 
 When she came home, she call'd with outcries shrill 
 A thousand devils in Limbo deep that won ;^ 
 Black clouds the skies with horrid darkness fill. 
 And pale for dread became th' eclipsed sun ; 
 The whirlwind bluster'd big on every hill, 
 And hell to roar under her feet begun ; 
 
 You might have heard, how through the palace wide 
 Somespirits howrd,somebark'd,somehiss'd,some cride. 
 
 68. 
 A shadow, blacker than the mirkest night, 
 Environ'd all the place with darkness sad, 
 Wherein a fire-brand gave a dreadful light, 
 Kindled in hell by Tisiphone the mad ; 
 Vanish'd the shade ; the sun appear'd in sight ; 
 Pale were his beams; the air was nothing glad; 
 And all the palace vaiiisht was and gone, 
 Nor of so great a work was left one stoue, 
 
 69. 
 As oft the clouds frame shapes of castles great 
 Amid the air, that little time do last. 
 But are dissolv'd b}' wind, or Titan's heat, 
 Or like vain dreams, soon made, and sooner past: 
 The palace vanish'd so, nor in his seat 
 Left auglit but rocks and crags, by kind there plast ;^ 
 She in her coach, which two old serpents drew. 
 Sate down, and, as she us'd, away she flew. 
 
 70. 
 She broke tlie clouds, and cleft the yielding sky, 
 And 'bout her gather'd tempest, storm, and wind; 
 The lands that view the south pole flew she by. 
 And lelt those unknown countries far behind : 
 * Won — dwell. » By kind there plast — placed there hy nature.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 33fl> 
 
 The Straits of Hercules she past, which lie 
 'Twixt Spain and Afric, nor her flight inclin'd 
 To north or south, but still did forward ride 
 O'er seas and streams, till Syria's coasts she spide. 
 
 71. 
 
 Nor went she forward to Damascus fair. 
 But of her country dear she fled the sight. 
 And guided to Asphaltes' Lake her chair. 
 Where stood her castle ; there she ends her flight : 
 And from her damsels fair, she made repair 
 To a deep vault far from resort and light. 
 
 Where in sad thoughts a thousand doubts she cast. 
 Till grief and shame to wrath gave place at last. 
 
 72. 
 
 " I will not hence," quoth she, " till Egypt's lord, 
 In aid of Sion's King his host shall move ; 
 Then will I use all helps that charms aSbrd, 
 And change my shape, or sex, if so behove : 
 Well can I handle bow, or lance, or sword ; 
 The worthies all will aid me, for my love : 
 I seek revenge, and to obtain the same, 
 Farewell regard of honour, farewell shame. 
 
 73. 
 
 " Nor let mine uncle and protector me 
 Reprove for this, he most deserves the blame ; 
 My heart and sex (that weak and tender be) 
 He bent to deeds that maidens ill became ; 
 His niece a wand'ring damsel first made he ; 
 He spurr'd my youth, and I cast ofi" my shame : 
 His be the fault, if aught 'gainst mine estate 
 I did for love, or shall commit for hate." 
 
 74. 
 
 This said, her knights, her ladies, pages, squires. 
 She all assembleth, and for journey fit. 
 In such fair arms and vestures them attires, 
 As show'd her wealth, and well declar'd her wit ; 
 And forward marched full of strange desires ; 
 Nor rested she by day or night one whit. 
 
 Till she came there where all the eastern bands, 
 Theu" kings, and princes, lay on Gaza's sands.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. ' 
 
 THE ABGUMENT. 
 Egypt' s great host, in battle- ray forth hrougJd, 
 The Caliph sends with Godfrey' s povi' r to fight ; 
 Armida, who Rinaldo's ruin sought, 
 To them adjoins her self and Syria's might ; 
 To satisfy her cruel will and thought. 
 She gives herself to him that kills her Tcnight : 
 Me takes his fatal arins, and in his shield 
 His ancestors and their great deeds hehield. 
 
 1. 
 
 Gaza, the city on the frontier stands 
 Of Juda's realm, as men to Ej^ypt ride, 
 Built near the sea ; beside it of dry sands 
 Huc^h wildernesses lie, and deserts wide. 
 Which the strong winds lift from the parched lands. 
 And toss like roaring waves in roughest tide, 
 That from those storms poor passengers almost 
 No refuge find, but there are di-own'd and lost. 
 
 Within this town (won from the Turks of yore) 
 Strong garrison the King of Egypt plast. 
 And for it nearer was, and fitted more 
 That high emprise to which his thoughts he cast, 
 He left great Memphis, and to Gaza bore 
 His regal throne ; and there, from countries vast 
 Of his huge empire all the puissant host 
 Assembled he, and muster'd on the coast.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 337 
 
 3. 
 
 Come say (my Muse) what manner times these were, 
 And in those times how stood the state of things ; 
 What povv'r this monarch had, what arms they bear. 
 What nations subject, and what friends he brings ; 
 For from all lands the Southern Ocean near. 
 Or morning star, came prmces, dukes, and kings; 
 And only thou, of half the world well nie 
 The armies, lords, and captains canst descry. 
 
 4. 
 
 When Egypt from the Greekish emperour 
 
 Eebelled first, and Christ's true faith denide, 
 
 Of Mahomet's descent, a warriour 
 
 There set his throne, and rul'd that kingdom wide j 
 
 Caliph he hight,' and Caliphs since that hour 
 
 Are his successors named all beside : 
 
 So Nilus old his kings long time had seen. 
 That Ptolemies and Pharaohs call'd had been, 
 
 5. 
 
 Establisht was that kingdom in short while. 
 And grew so great, that over Asia's lands 
 And Libya's realms it stretched many a mile. 
 From Syria's coasts as far as Cirene sands. 
 And southward passed 'gainst the course of Nile, 
 Through the hot clime, where burnt Ciene stands ; 
 Hence bounded in with sandy deserts waste, 
 And thence with Euphrates' rich flood embraste. 
 
 6. 
 Maremma, myrrh and spices that doth bring, 
 And all the rich Red Sea it comprehends. 
 And to those lands, toward the morning spring. 
 That lie beyond that gulph, it far extends ; 
 Great is that empire, greater by the king 
 That rules it now, whose worth the land amends 
 And makes more famous ; lord thereof by blood. 
 By wisdom, valour, and all virtues good. 
 
 7. 
 With Turks and Persians war he oft did wage, 
 And oft he won, and sometimes lost the field ; 
 Nor could his adverse fortune aught asswage 
 His valour's heat, or make his proud heart yield ; 
 
 1 Hight — iroj called.
 
 338 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 But when he grew unfit for war through age, 
 He sheath'd his sword, and laid aside his shield : 
 But yet his warlike mind he laid not down, 
 Kor his great thirst of rule, praise, and renown, 
 
 8. 
 But by his knights still cruel wars maintain'd: 
 So wise his words, so quick his wit appears, 
 That of the kingdom large o'er which he rain'd,' 
 The charge seem'd not too weighty for his years : 
 His greatness Afric's lesser kings consti-ain'd 
 To tremble at his name ; all Inde he fears ; 
 
 And other realms, that would his friendship hold. 
 Some armed soldiers sent, some gifts, some gold. 
 
 9. 
 This mighty Prince assembled had the flower 
 Of all his realms, against the Frenchmen stout. 
 To break their rising empire and their power. 
 Nor of sure conquest had he fear or doubt : 
 To him Armida came, ev'n at the hour 
 When in the plains (old Gaza's walls without) 
 The lords and leaders all their armies bring 
 In battle-raj-, muster 'd before their King. 
 
 10. 
 He on his throne was set, to which on hight 
 Who clomb an hundred ivoiy stairs first told, 
 Under a pentise- wrought of silver bright, 
 And trod on carpets made of silk and gold ; 
 His robes were such as best beseemen^ might 
 A king so great, so grave, so rich, so old: 
 And twin'd of sixty ells of lawn and more, 
 A turban strange adorn'd his tresses hore. 
 
 11. 
 His right hand did his precious sceptre weild. 
 His beard was gray, his looks severe and grave ; 
 And from his eyes (not yet made dim with eild'') 
 Sparkled his former worth and vigour brave ; 
 His gestures all the majesty upheild 
 And state, as his old age and empire crave : 
 So Phidias carv'd, Apelles so (pardie) 
 Erst painted Jove, Jove thund'ring down from sky. 
 
 1 Rain'd — reigned. * Pentise — awning. 
 
 s Bese«men— ieconi«: * Eild — age.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 339 
 
 12. 
 
 On either side him stood a noble lord, 
 Whereof the first held in his upright hand 
 Of severe justice the unpartial sword; 
 The other bare the seal, and causes scan'd, 
 Keeping his folk in peace and good accord. 
 And termed was Loi-d Chancelour of the land ; 
 But Marshal was the first, and us'd to lead 
 His armies forth to war, olt with good speed. 
 
 13. 
 
 Of bold Circassians with their halberds long 
 (About his throne) his guard stood in a ring, 
 AH richly arm'd in gilden corslets strong, 
 And by their sides their crooked swords down hing : 
 Thus set, thus seated, his grave lords among. 
 His hosts and armies great beheld the king; 
 And every band, as by his throne it went, 
 Their ensigns low inclin'd, and arms down bent : 
 
 14. 
 
 Their squadrons first the men of Egypt show 
 In four troops, and each his several guide ; 
 Of the high country two, two of the low. 
 Which Nile had won out of the salt sea-side : 
 His fertile slime first stopp'd the waters' flow, 
 Then hard'ned to firm land the plough to bide ; 
 So Egypt still increas'd, within far plast 
 That part is now, where ships erst anchor cast. 
 
 15. 
 
 The foremost band the people were that dwel'd 
 In Alexandria's rich and fertile plain, 
 Along the western shore, whence Nile expel'd 
 The greedy billows of the swelling main ; 
 Araspes was their guide, who more excel'd 
 In wit and craft, than strength or warlike pain ; 
 To place an ambush close, or to devise 
 A ti'eason false, was none so sly, so wise. 
 
 16. 
 The people next, that 'gainst the morning rays 
 Along the coasts of Asia have their seat ; 
 Arontes led them, whom no warlike praise 
 Eunobl'd, but high birth and titles great ; 
 
 z 2
 
 340 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 His helm ne'er made him sweat in toilsome frays, 
 Nor wiis his sleep e'er broke with trumpet's threat; 
 But from soft ease, to try the toil of fight, 
 His fond ambition brought this carpet knight. 
 
 17. 
 
 The third seem'd not a troop or squadron small. 
 But a huge host ; nor seem'd it so much grain 
 In Egypt grew, as to sustain them all ; 
 Yet from one town thereof came all that train, 
 A town in people to huge shires equal). 
 That did a thousand streets and more contain. 
 
 Great Caire it hight, whose Commons from each side 
 Came swarming out to war, Campson their guide. 
 
 18. 
 
 Next under Gazel marched they that plow 
 The fertile lands above that town which lie. 
 Up to the place where Nilus, tumbling low, 
 Falls from his second cataract from hie : 
 Th' Egj'ptians weap'ned were with sword and bow ; 
 No weight of helm or hawberk list they trie ; 
 And, richly arm'd, in their strong foes no dreed 
 Of death, but great desire of spoil they breed. 
 
 19. 
 
 The naked folk of Barca these succeed. 
 Unarmed halt'; Alarcon led that band. 
 That long in deserts liv'd (in extreme need) 
 On spoils and preys, purchast by strength of hand: 
 To battle strong unfit, their king did lead 
 His army next brought from Zumara land; 
 Then he of Tripolie, for sudden fight 
 And skirmish short, both ready, bold, and light. 
 
 20. 
 
 Two captains next brought forth their bands to show, 
 Whom stony sent, and happy Arable, 
 Which never felt the cold of frost and snow, 
 Or force of burning heat, unless fame lie ; 
 Where incense pure and all sweet odours grow. 
 Where the sole Phoenix doth revive, not die, 
 
 And 'midst the perfumes rich, and flow'rets brave. 
 Both birth and burial, cradle hath, and grave.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 341 
 
 21. 
 Their clothes not rich, their garments were not gay, 
 But weapons like th' Egyptian troops they had ; 
 Th' Arabians next, that have no certain stay, 
 No house, no home, no mansion good or bad ; 
 But ever (as the Scythian hoi'das' stray) 
 From place to place their wand'ring cities gad: 
 These have both voice and stature feminine, 
 Hair long and black, black face, and fiery eine. 
 
 22. 
 
 Long Indian canes (with iron arin'd) they bear. 
 And, as upon their nimble steeds they ride, 
 Like a swift storm their speedy troops appear, 
 If winds so fast bring storms from heavens wide : 
 By Siphax led the first Arabians were ; 
 Aldine the second squadron had to guide ; 
 And Abiazer proud brought to the fight 
 The third, a thief, a murd'rer, not a knight, 
 
 23. 
 
 The islanders came then their prince before. 
 Whose lands Arabia's gulph enclos'd about, 
 Wherein they fish and gather oysters store, 
 Whose shells great pearles rich and round pour out ; 
 The Red Sea sent with them from his left shore 
 Of negroes grim a black and ugly rout : 
 These Agricalt, and those Osmida brought, 
 A man that set law, faith, and truth at nought. 
 
 24. 
 The Ethiops next, which Meroe doth breed. 
 That sweet and gentle isle of Meroe, 
 'Twixt Nile and Astrabore that far doth spreed, 
 Where two religions are, and kingdoms three : 
 These Assamiro and Canario leed. 
 Both kings, both Pagans, and both subjects be 
 To the great Caliph ; but the third king kept 
 Christ's sacred faith, nor to these wars out stept, 
 
 25. 
 
 After two kings (both subjects also) ride, 
 And of two bands of archers had the charge ; 
 The first Soldan of Orms, plac'd in the wide 
 Huge Persian bay, a town rich, fair, and large ! 
 I Kordas—hordee.
 
 542 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 The last of Bcecan, wliich at every tide 
 The sea cuts off from Persia's southern marge, 
 And malces an isle ; but when it ebbs again, 
 The passage there is sandy, dry, and plain. 
 
 26. 
 
 Nor thee (great Altamore) in her chaste bed 
 Thy loving Queen kept with her dear embrace ; 
 She tore her locks, she smote her breast, and shed 
 Salt tears, to make thee stay in that sweet place : 
 " Seem the rough seas more calm, cruel," she sed, 
 "Than the mild looks of thy kind spouse's face? 
 Or is thy shield with blood and dust defil'd, 
 A dearer armful than thy tender child?" 
 
 27. 
 
 This was the mighty King of Sarmachand, 
 
 A captain wise, well skill'd in feats of war, 
 
 In cdurage fierce, matchless for strength of hand ; 
 
 Great was his praise, his force was noised far; 
 
 His worth right well the Frenchmen understand, 
 
 I3y whom his virtues fear'd and loved are : 
 
 His men were arm'd with helms andhawberks strong. 
 And by their sides broadswords and maces hong. 
 
 2S. 
 Then from the mansions bright of fresh Aui'ore 
 Adrastus came, the glorious King of Inde ; 
 A snake's green skin, spotted with black, he wore, 
 That was made rich by art, and hard by kind : 
 An elephant this furious giant bore, 
 He tierce as fii'e, his mounture' swift as wind : 
 Much people brought he from his kingdoms wide, 
 'Twixt Indus, Ganges, and the salt sea side. 
 
 29. 
 The King's own troop came next, a chosen crew, 
 Of all the camp the strength, the crown, the flower, 
 Wherein each soldier had with honours due 
 Rewarded been, for service ere that hour: 
 Their arms were strong for need, and fair for shew : 
 Upon fierce steeds well mounted rode this power ; 
 And Heav'n itself with the clear splendour shone 
 Of their bright armour, purple, gold, and stone. 
 ' Mounture — properly a riding horse.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 343 
 
 30. 
 'Mongst these Alarco fierce, and Odemare 
 The muster-master was, and Hidraort, 
 And Rhnedon, whose rashness took no care 
 To shun death's bitter stroke, in field or fort : 
 Tigranes, Rapold stern, the men that fare 
 By sea, that robbed in each creek and port ; 
 Ormond, and Marlabust, th' Arabian nara'd, 
 Because that land rebellious he reclaim'd. 
 
 31. 
 
 There Pirga, Arimon, Orindo are, 
 
 Brimarte the scaler, and with him Swifant, 
 
 The breaker of wild horses, brought from far ; 
 
 Then the great wrestler, strong Aridamant, 
 
 And Tisipherne, the thunderbolt of war. 
 
 Whom none surpast, whom none to match durst vant ; 
 
 At tilt, at turnay, or in combat brave. 
 
 With spear, or lance, with sword, with mace, or glave.' 
 
 32. 
 A false Armenian did this squadron guide, 
 That in his youth from Christ's true faith and light 
 To the blind lore of Paganism did slide, 
 That Clement late, now Emireno, hight; 
 Yet to his king he faithful was, and tride, 
 True in all causes, his in wrong and right : 
 
 A cunning leader, and a soldier bold ; 
 
 For strength and courage, young ; for wisdom, old. 
 
 33. 
 
 When all these regiments were past and gone, 
 Appear'd Armide, and came her troop to show. 
 Set in a chariot bright with precious stone, 
 Her gown tuckt up, and in her hand a bow ; 
 In her sweet face her new displeasures shone, 
 Mixt with the native beauties there which grow. 
 And quicken'd so her looks, that in sharp wise 
 It seems she threats, and yet her threats entise. 
 
 34. 
 
 Her chariot, like Aurora's glorious wain, 
 With carbuncles and jacinths glister'd round : 
 Her coachman guided with the golden rain 
 Four unicorns, by couples yok'd and bound ; 
 
 ' Glave — broadsword.
 
 344 GOBFREY OP BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 Of squires and lovely ladies hundreds twain 
 (Whose rattling quivers at their backs resound) 
 On milk-white steeds, wait on the chariot bright, 
 Their steeds to menage, ready ; swift to flight; 
 
 35. 
 
 Follow'd her troop, led forth by Aradin, 
 Which Hidraort from Syria's kingdom sent; 
 As when the new-born Phoenix doth begin 
 To fly to Ethiope-ward, at the fair bent 
 Of her rich wings, strange plumes, and feathers thin, 
 Her crowns and chains, with native gold besprent. 
 The world amazed stands ; and with her fly 
 An host of wond'ring birds, that sing and cry : 
 
 36. 
 
 So past Armida, lookt on, gaz'd on so, 
 A wondrous dame in habit, gesture, lace ; 
 There liv'd no wight, to love so great a foe. 
 But wish'd and long'd those beauties to embrace: 
 Scant seen, with anger sullen, sad for woe. 
 She conquer'd all the lords and knights in place, 
 What would she do (her sorrows past) think you. 
 When her fair eyes, her looks, and smiles shall woo P 
 
 37. 
 She past ; the King commanded Emiren 
 Of his rich throne to mount the lofty stage, 
 To whom his host, his army, and his men, 
 He would commit, now in his graver age : 
 With stately grace the man approached then ; 
 His looks his coming honour did presage : 
 
 The guard asunder cleft, and passage made ; 
 
 He to the throne up went, and there he stay'd. 
 
 38. 
 
 To earth he cast his eyes, and bent his knee : 
 To whom the King thus 'gan his will explain : 
 " To thee this sceptre (Emiren) to thee 
 These armies I commit ; my place sustain 
 'Mongst them ; go set the King of Judah free, 
 And let the Frenchmen feel my just disdain : 
 Go meet them, conquer them, leave none alive. 
 Or those that 'scape from battle bring captive."
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 345 
 
 39. 
 
 Thus spake the tyrant, and the sceptre laid 
 With all his sovereign power upon the knight : 
 " I take this sceptre at your hand," he said, 
 " And with your happy fortune go to fight, 
 And trust (my lord) in your great virtue's aid. 
 To venge all Asia's harms, her wrongs to right ; 
 
 Nor e'er but victor will I see your face ; 
 
 Our overthrow shall bring death, not disgrace. 
 
 40. 
 " Heav'ns grant, if ill (yet no mishap I dread) 
 Or harm they threaten 'gainst this camp of thine. 
 That all that mischief fall upon my head ; 
 Theirs be the conquest, and the danger mine ; 
 And let them safe bring home their captain dead, 
 Buried in pomp of triumph's glorious shine." 
 He ceas'd, and then a murmur loud up went, 
 With noise of joy, and sound of instrument. 
 
 41. 
 Amid the noise and shout uprose the King, 
 Environed with many a noble peer. 
 That to his royal tent the monarch bring. 
 And there he feasted them, and made them cheer : 
 To him and him' he talk'd, and carv'd each thing ; 
 The greatest honour'd, meanest graced were ; 
 
 And while this mirth, this joy, and feast doth last, 
 
 Armida found fit time her nets to cast : 
 
 42. 
 
 But when the feast was done, she (that espide 
 All eyes on her fair visage fixt and bent. 
 And by true notes and certain signs descride, 
 How love's impoysoned fire their entrails brent") 
 Arose, and where the King sate in his pride. 
 With stately pace and humble gestures went ; 
 And, as she could, in looks, in voice she strove 
 Fierce, stern, bold, angry, and severe to prove. 
 
 43. 
 
 " Great Emperor, behold me here," she said, 
 " For thee, my country, and my faith to fight, 
 A dame, a virgin, but a royal maid, 
 And worthy seems this war a princess hight ; 
 ' To him and him — to evert/ one in turn, * Brent — burnt.
 
 34:6 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 For by the sword the sceptre is upstaid, 
 This hand can use them both with skill and might; 
 This hand of mine can strike, and at each blow 
 Thy foes and ours kill, woimd, and overthrow. 
 
 44. 
 
 " Xor yet suppose this is the formost' day 
 Wherein to war I bent my noble thought, 
 But for the surety of thy realms, and stay 
 Of our religion true, ere this I wrought : 
 Your self best know if this be true 1 sa^-. 
 Or if my former deeds rejoic'd you aught, 
 
 When Godfrey's hardy knights, and princes strong 
 I captive took, and held in bondage long. 
 
 45. 
 " I took them, bound them, and so sent them bound 
 To thee, a noble gift, with whom they had 
 Condemned low in dungeon under ground 
 For ever dwelt, in woe and torment sad : 
 So might thine host an easy way have found 
 To eud this doubtful war with conquest glad. 
 Had not Einaldo fierce my knights all slain. 
 And set those lords, his friends, at large again. 
 
 4G. 
 " Einaldo is well known" (and there a long 
 And true rehearsal made she of his deeds). 
 " This is the knight that since hath done me wrong. 
 Wrong yet untold, that shai-p revengement needs : 
 Dis])leasure, therefore, mix'd with reason strong. 
 This thirst of war in me, this courage breeds ; 
 
 Xor how he injur 'd me time serves to tell; 
 
 Let this suffice, I seek revengement fell, 
 
 4". 
 " And will procure it ; for all shafts that fly 
 Light not in vain ; some work the shooter's will ; 
 And Jove's right hand, with thunders cast from sky. 
 Takes open vengeance oft for secret ill : 
 But if some champion dare this knight defy 
 To mortal battle, and by fight him kill, 
 And with his hateful head will me present, 
 That gift my soul shall please, vay heart content : 
 ' Fonnost — earlieit.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 347 
 
 " So please, that for reward enjoy he shall 
 (The greatest gift I can or may aft'ord) 
 Myself, my beauty, wealth, and kingdoms all ; 
 To marry him, and take him for my lord, 
 This promise will I keep whate'er befall. 
 And thereto bind myself by oath and word : 
 
 Now he that deems this purchase worth his pain, 
 Let him step forth and speak ; I none disdain." 
 
 49. 
 While thus the Princess Siiid, his hungry eine 
 Adrastus fed on her sweet beauty's light ; 
 " The gods forbid," quoth he, " one shaft of thine 
 Should be discharg'd 'gainst that discourteous knight, 
 His heart unworthy is (shootress divine) 
 Of thine artillery to feel the might ; 
 
 To wreak thine ire behold me prest^ and fit ; 
 
 I will his head cut off, and bring thee it : 
 
 50. 
 " I will his heart with this sharp sword divide. 
 And to the vultures cast his carcass out." 
 Thus threat'ned he, but Tisipherne envide 
 To hear his glorious vaunt, and boasting stout. 
 And said : " But who art thou, that so great pride 
 Thou show'st before the king, me, and this rout ? 
 Pardie, here are some such, whose worth exceeds 
 Thy vaunting much, yet boast not of their deeds." 
 
 51. 
 The Indian fierce reply 'd, " I am the man 
 Whose acts his words and boasts have aye surpast; 
 But if elsewhere the words, thou now began 
 Had utt'red been, that speech had been thy last." 
 Thus quarrell'd they, the monarch stay'd them than, 
 And 'twixt the angry knights his scepti'e cast; 
 Then to Armida said : " Fair Queen, I see 
 Thy heart is stout, thy thoughts courageous be : 
 
 52. 
 
 " Thou worthy art, that their disdain and ire 
 
 At thy commands these knights should both appease, 
 
 That 'gainst thy foe their courage hot as fire 
 
 Thou may'st employ, both when and where thou please ; 
 
 1 Prest — ready.
 
 348 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 There all their power and force, and what desire 
 They have to serve thee, may they show at ease." 
 The monarch held his peace, when this was said, 
 And they new proffer of their service made. 
 
 53. 
 
 Nor they alone, but all, that famous were 
 In feats of arms, boast that he shall be dead ; 
 All offer her their aid, all say and swear 
 To take revenge on his condemned head : 
 So many arms mov'd she against her dear, 
 And swore her darling under foot to tread. 
 But he, since first th' enchanted isle he left. 
 Safe in his barge the roaring waves still clefl. 
 
 54. 
 
 By the same way return'd the well-taught boat 
 By which it came, and made like haste, like speed ; 
 The friendly wind (upon her sail that smote) 
 So turn'd, as to return her ship had need : 
 The youth sometime the Pole or Bear did note. 
 Or wand'ring stars, which clearest nights forthspreed: 
 Sometimes the floods, the hills, or mountains steep. 
 Whose woody fronts o'ershade the silent deep. 
 
 55. 
 
 Now of the camp the man the state enquires, 
 Now asks the customs strange of sundry lands, 
 And sail'd, till clad in beams and bright attires 
 The fourth day's sun on th' eastern threshold stands : 
 But when the western seas had quencht those fires. 
 Their frigate stroke against the shore and sands ; 
 Then spoke their guide, " The land of Palestine 
 This is ; here must your journey end, and mine." 
 
 56. 
 
 The knights she set upon the shore all three. 
 And vanish'd thence in twinkling of an eye. 
 Up rose the night, in whose deep blackness be 
 All colours hid of things, in earth or sky; 
 Nor could they house, or hold, or harbour see, 
 Or in that desert sign of dwelling spy. 
 
 Nor track of man or horse, or aught that might 
 Inform them of some path, or passage right.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 349 
 
 57. 
 When they had mus'd what way they travel should, 
 From the waste shore their steps at last they twin'd, 
 And lo, far off at last their eyes behold 
 Something (they wist not what) that clearly shin'd. 
 With rays of silver, and with beams of gold. 
 Which the dark folds of night's black mantle lin'd ; 
 Forward they went, and marched 'gainst the light, 
 To see and find the thing that shone so bright. 
 
 58. 
 High on a tree they saw an armour new, 
 That glist'red bright 'gainst C3'rithia's silver ray, 
 Therein (like stars in skies) the diamonds shew, 
 Fret' in the gilden helm, and hawberk gay ; 
 The mighty shield all scored full they view 
 Of pictures fair, ranged iiumeet array; 
 To keep them sate an aged man beside. 
 Who to salute them rose, when them he spide. 
 
 59. 
 The twain, who first were sent in this pursuit. 
 Of their wise friend well knew the aged face : 
 But when the wizard sage their first sa' 'te 
 Eeceiv'd, and quitted had with kind embrace. 
 To the young Prince (that silent stood and mute) 
 He turn'd his speech : " In this unused place 
 For you alone I wait, my lord," quoth he, 
 " My chiefest care your state and welfare be ; 
 
 60. 
 " For (though you wot it not) I am your friend. 
 And for your profit work, as these can tell ; 
 I taught them how Armida's charms to end. 
 And bring you hither from love's hateful cell : 
 Now to my words (though sharp perchance) attend, 
 Nor be aggriev'd, although they seem too fell ; 
 But keep them well in mind, till in the truth 
 A wise and holier man instruct thy youth. 
 
 61. 
 
 " Not underneath sweet shades and fountains shrill. 
 Among the nymphs, the fairies, leaves, and flow'rs; 
 But on the steep, the rough, and craggy hill 
 Of virtue stands this bliss, this good of ours : 
 ', Fret — adorn.
 
 350 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OB, 
 
 By toil and travel, not by sitting still 
 
 In pleasure's lap, we come to honour's bow'rs ; 
 
 Why will you thus in sloth's deep valley lie ? 
 
 The royal eagles on high mountains flie. 
 
 62. 
 " Nature lifts up tliy forehead to the skies, 
 And fills thy heart with high and noble thought, 
 That thou to heaven-ward aye should'st lift thine eyes, 
 And purchase fame by deeds well done and wrought ; 
 She gives thee ire, by which hot courage flies 
 To conquest, not through brawls and battles (fought 
 For civil jars) nor that thereby you might 
 Your wicked malice wreak, and cursed spight ; 
 
 63. 
 
 " But that your strength,-spurr'd forth with noble wrath, 
 With greater fury might Christ's foes assault, 
 And that you bridle should with lesser scath^ 
 Each secret vice, and kill each inward fault ; 
 For so his godly anger ruled hath 
 Each righteous man, beneath heav'n's starry vault, 
 And at his will makes it now hot, now cold, 
 Now lets it run, now doth it fett'red hold." 
 
 64. 
 Thus parled he ; Rinaldo, husht and still. 
 Great wisdom heard in those few words compild ; 
 He mark'd his speech ; a purple blush did fill 
 His guilty cheeks, down went his eye-sight mild. 
 The Hermit by his bashful looks his will 
 Well understood, and said, " Look up my child. 
 And painted in this precious shield behold 
 The glorious deeds of thy forefathers old. 
 
 65. 
 " Thine elders' glory herein see and know, 
 In virtue's path how they trod all their days. 
 Whom thou art far behind, a runner slow 
 In this true course of honour, fame, and praise : 
 Up, up, thyself incite by the fair show 
 Of knightly worth, which this bright shield bewrays; 
 That be thy spur to praise." At last the knight 
 Look'd up, and on those portraits bent his sight. 
 y Scath — harm.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 351 
 
 66. 
 The cutining workman had in little space 
 Infinite shapes of men there well exprest; 
 For there described was the worthy race, 
 And pedigree of all the house of Est : 
 Come from a Roman spring, o'er all the place 
 Flowed pure streams of crystal east and west : 
 With laurel crowned stood the princes old, 
 Their wars the Hermit and their battles told : 
 
 G7. 
 He show'd him Cains first, when first in prey 
 To people strange the falling empire went. 
 First Prince of Est, that did the sceptre sway 
 O'er such as chose him lord by free consent ; 
 His weaker neighbours to his rule ohsj ; 
 Need made them stoop, constraint doth force content ; 
 
 After, (when Lord llonorius call'd the train 
 
 Of savage Goths into his land again,) 
 
 68. 
 And when all Italy did burn and flame 
 With bloodj' M'ar, by this fierce people made, 
 When Rome a captive and a slave became. 
 And to be quite destroy'd was most afraid, 
 Aurelius, (to his everlasting fame) 
 Preserv'd in peace the folk that him obaid: 
 
 Next whom was Forrest, who the rage withstood 
 Of the bold Huns, and of their tyrant prood ;^ 
 
 69. 
 Known by his look was Attila the fell. 
 Whose dragon eyes shone bright with anger's spark, 
 Worse faced than a dog ; who view'd him well 
 Suppos'd they saw him grin, and heard him bark ; 
 But when in single fight he lost the bell,^ 
 How through his troops he fled, there might you mark. 
 
 And how Lord Forrest after fortified 
 
 Aquilia's town, and how for it he died ; 
 
 70. 
 For there was wrought the fatal end and fine 
 Both of himself, and of the town he kept : 
 But his great son, renowned Acarine, 
 Into his lather's place and honour slept : 
 1 Prood— ^roui. * Lost the bell — was worsted.
 
 352 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE J OB, 
 
 To ci'uel fate, not to the Huns, Altlne 
 Gave place, and when time serv'd again, forth lept. 
 And in the vale of Po built for his seat. 
 Of many a village small, a city great ; 
 
 71. 
 Against the swelling flood he bank'd it strong. 
 And thence uprose the fair and noble town, 
 Where they of Est should by succession long 
 Command, and rule in bliss and high renown : 
 'Gainst Odoacer then he fought ; but wrong 
 Oft spoileth right, fortune treads courage down ; 
 For there he died for his dear country's sake. 
 And of his father's praise did so partake. 
 
 72. 
 
 With him died Alphorisio ; Azzo was 
 With his dear brother into exile sent ; 
 But homewards they in arms again repass, 
 (The Herule King opprest) from banishment. 
 His front through pierced with a dart, alas : 
 Next them of Est th' Epaminondas went. 
 That smiling seem'd to cruel death to yield. 
 When Totila was fled, and safe his shield. 
 
 73. 
 
 Of Boniface, I speak ; Valerian, 
 His son, in praise and pow'r succeeded him. 
 Who durst sustain (in years though scant a man) 
 Of the proud Goths an hundred squadrons trim : 
 Then he that 'gainst the Sclaves much honour wan, 
 Ernesto, threat'ning stood with visage grim ; 
 Belbre him Aldoard, the Lombard stout. 
 Who from Monscelces boldly erst shut out. 
 
 74. 
 
 There Henry was, and Berengare the bold, 
 That serv'd great Charles in his conquests hie. 
 Who in each battle give the onset would, 
 A hardy soldier, and a captain slie ; 
 After, Prince Lewis did he well uphold 
 Against his nephew. King of Italy ; 
 
 He won the field, and took that King on live: 
 Next him stood Otho with his children five.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 353 
 
 75. 
 
 Of Almerike the image next they view. 
 Lord Marquis of Ferrara first create, 
 Founder of many churches, that upthrew 
 His eyes like one that us'd to contemplate : 
 'Gainst him the second Azzo stood in rew,' 
 With Berengarius that did long debate, 
 Till after often change of fortune's stroke. 
 He won, and on all Itiale lay'd the yoke : 
 
 76. 
 Albert his son the Germans warr'd among. 
 And there his praise and fame was spread so wide. 
 That having foil'd the Danes in battle strong, 
 His daughter young became great Otho's bride : 
 Behind him Hugo stood, with warfare long, 
 That broke the horn of all the Romans' pride ; 
 Who of all Italy the Marquis hight,^ 
 And Tuscane whole, possessed as his right. 
 
 77. 
 
 After Todaldo, puissant Boniface 
 
 And Beatrice his dear possess'd the stage ; 
 
 Nor was there left heir-male of that great race 
 
 T' enjoy the sceptre, state, and heritage; 
 
 The Princess Maude alone supply 'd the place, 
 
 Supply'd the want in number, sex, and age ; 
 For far above each sceptre, throne, and crown, 
 The noble dame advanc'd her veil and gown. 
 
 78. 
 With manlike vigour shone her noble look. 
 And more than manlike wrath her face o'erspred j 
 There the fell Normans, Guichard there forsook 
 The field, till then who never fear'd, nor fled ; 
 Henry the Fourth she beat, and from him took 
 His standard, and in church it offered ; 
 
 Which done, the Pope back to the Vaticane 
 She brought, and plac'd in Peter's chau* againe. 
 
 79. 
 As he that honour'd her, and held her dear, 
 Azzo the Fifth stood by her lovely side ; 
 But the fourth Azzo's offspring far and near 
 Spread forth, and through Germania fructifide : 
 
 ^ Eew — row. » Hight— .ica» called, 
 
 A A
 
 3-54 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 Sprung from the branch did Guelpho hold appear, 
 
 Guelpho his son by Cunigond his bride ; 
 And in Bavaria's field transplanted new, 
 This Eoman graft tlourish'd, increas'd, and grew. 
 
 80. 
 A branch of Est there in the Guelfian tree 
 Engratfed was, which of itself was old, 
 Whereon you might the Guelfos fairer see 
 Eenew their sceptres, and their crowns of gold ; 
 On which Heav'n's good aspects so bended be, 
 That high and broad it spread, and flourish'd bold, 
 Till underneath his glorious branches lade 
 Half Germany, and all under his shade. 
 
 81. 
 This regal plant from his Italian rout' 
 Sprung up as high, and blossom'd fair above, 
 Forenenst Lord Guelpho, Bertold issued out. 
 With the sixth Azzo wliom all virtues love ; 
 This was the pedigree of worthies stout, 
 Who seem'd in that bright shield to Kve and move. 
 Einaldo waked up and cheer'd his face, 
 To see these worthies of his house and race. 
 
 82. 
 To do like acts his courage wish'd and sought. 
 And with that wish transported him so far. 
 That all ^hose deeds, which filled aye his thought, 
 (Towns won, forts taken, armies kill'd in war) 
 A-s if they wei'e things done indeed and wrought. 
 Before his eyes he thinks they present are : 
 He hastly arms him, and with hope and hast. 
 Sure conquest met, prevented,- and embrast. 
 
 83. 
 But Charles, who had told the death and fall 
 Of the young Prince of Danes, his late dear loi'd. 
 Gave him the fatal weapon, and withal, [sword, 
 
 " Young knight," quoth he, " take with good luck this 
 Your just, strong, valiant hand in battle shall 
 Employ it long, for Christ's true faith and word. 
 And of his tbrmer lord revenge the wrongs. 
 Who lov'd you so, that deed to you belongs." 
 
 1 Eont — root. * Prevented— a»<i<r»|)(rfei.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 355 
 
 84. 
 He answered, " God for his mercy sake 
 Grant that this hand, which holds this weapon good, 
 For thy dear master may sharp veng'ance take, 
 May cleave the Pagan's heart, and shed his blood." 
 To this but short reply did Charles make. 
 And thank'd him much, nor more on terms they stood : 
 For lo, the wizard sage, that was their guide. 
 On their dark journey hasts them forth to ride. 
 
 85. 
 " High time it is," quoth he, " for you to wend 
 Where Godfrey you awaits, and many a knight ; 
 There may we well arrive ere night doth end, 
 And through this darkness can I guide you right." 
 This said, up to his coach they all ascend. 
 On liis swift wheels forth roU'd the chariot light; 
 He gave his coursers flit' the rod and rain, 
 And gallop'd forth, and eastward drove amain ; 
 
 86. 
 While silent so through night's dark shade they flie. 
 The hermit thus bespake the young man stout : 
 " Of thy great house, thy race, thine offspring hie, 
 Here hast thou seen the branch, the bole,"' the rout; 
 And as these worthies born to cljivalrie 
 And deeds of arms, it hath tofore brought out, 
 
 So is it, so it shall be fertile still. 
 
 Nor time shall end, nor age that seed shall kill. 
 
 87. 
 " Would God, as drawn fi-om the forgetful lap 
 Of antique time I have thine elders shown. 
 That so I could the catalogue unwrap 
 Of thy great nephews yet unborn, unknown. 
 That ere this light they view, their fate and hap 
 I might foretell, and how their chance is thrown ; 
 That, like thine elders, so thou might'st behold 
 Thy children, many, famous, stout, and bold. 
 
 " But not by art or skill of things future 
 
 Can the plain truth revealed be and told, 
 
 Although some knowledge doubtful, dark, obscure, 
 
 We have of coming haps in clouds uprold ; 
 
 > Flit— fleet — swift. Bole — trunk. 
 
 aa2
 
 356 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 Nor all which in this cause I know for sure 
 
 Dare I foretell : for of that father old, 
 The hermit Peter, learn'd I much, and he 
 Withouten veil Heav'n's secrets great doth see. 
 
 89. 
 
 " But this (to him reveal'd by Grace divine) 
 By him to me dehxr'd, to thee I say, 
 Was never race Greek, barb'rous, or Latine, 
 Great in times past, or famous at this day, 
 Richer in hardy knights than this of thine ; 
 Such blessings Heav'n shall on thy childi'en lay. 
 That they in fame shall pass, in praise o'ercome 
 The worthies old of Spai'ta, Carthage, Rome : 
 
 90. 
 
 " But 'mongst the rest I chose Alphonsus bold. 
 In virtue first, second in phice and name; 
 He shall be born when this frail world grows old. 
 Corrupted, poor, and bare of men of fame : 
 Better than he none shall, none can, or could 
 The sword or sceptre use, or guide the same. 
 To rule in peace, or to command in fight, 
 Thine oifspriug's glory, and thy house's light. 
 
 91. 
 
 " His younger age foretokens true shall yield 
 Of future valour, puissance, force, and might; 
 From him no rock the savage beast shall shield; 
 At tilt or tourney match him shall no knight : 
 After he conquer shall in pitched field 
 Great armies, and win spoils in single fight. 
 And on his locks (rewards for knightly praise) 
 Shall garlands wear of grass, of oak, of bays. 
 
 92. 
 
 " His graver ag-e, as well that eild it fits. 
 Shall happy peace preserve, and quiet blest. 
 And from his neighbours strong, 'mongst whom he sits. 
 Shall keep his cities safe, in wealth and rest, 
 Shall nourish arts, and cherish pregnant wits, 
 Make triumphs great, and feast his subjects best ; 
 Reward the good, the ill with pains torment. 
 Shall dangers all foresee, and seen, prevent.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 357 
 
 93. 
 
 " But if it hap, against those wicked bands 
 That sea and earth infest with blood and war. 
 And in these wretched times to noble lands 
 Give laws of peace, false and unjust that are. 
 That he be sent, to drive their guilty hands 
 From Christ's pure altars, and high temples far ; 
 what revenge, what veng'ance shall he bring 
 On that false sect, and their accui'sed king ? 
 
 94 
 " Too late the Moors, too late the Turkish King, 
 'Gainst him should arm their troops and legions bold ; 
 For he beyond great Euphrates should bring. 
 Beyond the frozen tops of Taurus cold. 
 Beyond the land where is perpetual spring. 
 The Cross, the eagle white, the lily of gold ; 
 And by baptizing of the Ethiops brown, 
 Of aged Nile reveal the springs unknown." 
 
 95. 
 Thus said the hermit, and his prophecy 
 The Prince accepted with content and pleasure, 
 The secret thought of his posterity, 
 Of his concealed joys heap'd up the measure. 
 Meanwhile the morning bright was mounted hie. 
 And chang'd Heav'n's silver wealth to golden treasure. 
 And high above the Christian tents they view, 
 How the broad ensigns trembled, wav'd, and blew. 
 
 96. 
 When thus again their leader sage begun : 
 " See how bright Phoebus clears the darksome skies. 
 See how with gentle beams the friendly sun 
 The tents, the towns, the hills and dales descries : 
 Through my well-guiding is your voyage done. 
 From danger safe, in travel oft which lies ; 
 Hence, without fear of harm, or doubt of foe, 
 March to the camp ; I may no nearer go." 
 
 97. 
 
 Thus took he leave, and made a quick retume ; 
 And forward went the champions three on fout,* 
 And marching right against the rising morue, 
 A ready passage to the camp found out : 
 
 » Tout— foot.
 
 358 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE. 
 
 Jleanwhile had speedy fame the tidings borne 
 That to the tents approach'd these barons stout ; 
 And, starting from his throne and kingly seat, 
 To entertain them, rose Godfredo great.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 §00li i\}t €i^\im\i\i 
 
 THE AEGUMENT. 
 
 The cJiarms and spirits false therein xohich lie 
 Rinaldo chaseth from the forest old ; 
 The host of Ecji/pt comes ; Vafrin the spie 
 Enfreth their camp, stout, crafty, wise, and hold ; 
 Sharp is thefffht about the hulioarks hie 
 And ports of Zion, to assault the hold: 
 
 Godfrey hath aid from Heavn; hy force the town 
 Is won, the Pagans slain, tvalls beaten down. 
 
 1. 
 
 Aeeiv'd where Godfrey to embrace him stood, 
 " My sovereign lord," Rinaldo meekly said, 
 " To venge my wrongs against Gernando proud. 
 My honour's care provok'd my wrath unstaid ; 
 But that I you displeas'd, my chieftain good. 
 My thoughts j'et grieve, my heart is still disraaid ; 
 And here I come, prest all exploits to trie. 
 To make me gracious in your gracious eye." 
 
 To him that kneel'd (folding his friendly arms 
 About his neck) the Duke this answer gave : 
 " Let pass such speeches sad of passed harms ; 
 Remembrance is the life of grief; his grave, 
 Forgetfulness ; and for amends, in arms 
 Your wonted valour use, and courage brave ; 
 For you alone to happy end must bring, 
 The strong enchantments of the charmed spring.
 
 S60 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OB, 
 
 3. 
 
 " That aged wood, whence heretofore we got 
 (To build our scaling engines) timber fit, 
 Is now the fearful seat (but how none wot) 
 Where ugly fiends and damned spirits sit ; 
 To cut one twist' thereof advent'reth not 
 The boldest knight we have, nor without it 
 This wall can batt'red be ; where others doubt, 
 There venture thou, and show thy courage stout." 
 
 4. 
 Thus said he, and the knight in speeches few 
 Proif'red his service to attempt the thing ; 
 To hard assayes his courage willing flew ; 
 To him praise was no spur, words were no sting : 
 Of his dear friends then he embrac'd the crew, 
 To welcome him which came ; for in a ring 
 About him Guelfo, Tancred, and the rest 
 Stood, of the camp the greatest, chief, and best. 
 
 5. 
 
 When with the Prince these lords bad iterate' 
 Their welcomes oft, and oft their dear embrace, 
 Towards the rest of lesser worth and state 
 He turn'd, and them receiv'd with gentle grace ; 
 The merry soldiers 'bout him shout and prate, 
 With cries as joyful and as cheerful face. 
 As if in triumph's chariot, bright as sun. 
 He had return'd, Afric or Asia won. 
 
 6. 
 Thus marched to his tent the champion good, 
 And there sat down with all his friends around; 
 Now of the war he ask'd, now of the wood, 
 And answer'd each demand they list^ propound. 
 But when they left him to his ease, up stood 
 The hermit, and fit time to speak once found : 
 " My lord," he said, " your travels wond'rous are, 
 Far have you strayed, erred, wand'red far. 
 
 7. 
 " Much are you bound to God above, who brought 
 You safe from false Armida's charmed hold ; 
 And thee a straying sheep, whom once he bought. 
 Hath now again reduced'* to his fold, 
 
 1 Twist — tictg. * Iterate — repeated. 
 
 * List— c/foo»e, ♦ Reduced — led back.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 361 
 
 And 'gainst his heathen foes, these men of nought. 
 Hath chosen thee in place next Godfrey bold ; 
 
 Yet may'st thou not, polluted thus with sin, 
 
 In his high service war or fight begin. 
 
 " The world, the flesh with their infection vile 
 Pollute thy thoughts impure, thy spirit stain ; 
 Not Poe, not Ganges, not sev'n-mouthed Nile, 
 Not the wide seas can wash thee clean again ; 
 Only to purge all faults, which thee defile, 
 His blood hath power, who for thy sins was slain : 
 His help therefore invoke, to him bewray 
 Thy secret faults, mourn, weep, complain, and pray." 
 
 9. 
 
 This said, the knight first with the witch unchast, 
 His idle loves and follies vain lamented ; 
 Then, kneeling low, with heavy looks down cast. 
 His other sins confess'd, and all repented, 
 And meekly pardon crav'd for first and last : 
 The hermit with his zeal was well contented. 
 And said, " On yonder hill next morn go pray, 
 That turns his forehead 'gainst the morning ray ; 
 
 10. 
 
 " That done, march to the wood, whence each one brings 
 Such news of furies, gobblings, fiends, and sprites ; 
 The giants, monstei's, and aU dreadful things 
 Thou shalt subdue, which that dark grove unites : 
 Let no strange voice that mourns, or sweetly sings, 
 Nor beauty, whose glad smile frail hearts delights. 
 Within thy breast make ruth or pity rise, 
 But their false looks, and prayers false despise." 
 
 11. 
 
 Thus he advis'd him, and the hardy knight 
 Prepar'd him gladly to this enterprise ; 
 Thoughtful he pass'd the day, and sad the night ; 
 And ere the silver morn began to rise, 
 His arms he took, and in a coat him dight 
 Of colour strange, cut in the warlike guise ; 
 And on his way sole, silent, forth he went 
 Alone, and left his friends, and left his tent.
 
 562 GODFREY OF BULLOIUNE j OR, 
 
 12. 
 
 It was the time, when 'gainst the breaking day 
 Eebellious night yet strove, and still repined ; 
 For in the east appeared the morning gray, 
 And yet some lamps in Jove's high palace shined. 
 When to Mount Olivet he took his way. 
 And saw, as romid about his eyes he twined, 
 
 Night's shadows hence, fromthence the morning's shine 
 This bright, that dark ; that earthly, this divine. 
 
 13. 
 
 Thus to himself he thought ; how many bright 
 And splendant lamps shine in Heaven's temple hie ; 
 Daj' hath his golden sun, her moon the night, 
 Her fix'd and wand'ring stars the azure skj* ; 
 So framed all by their Creator's might. 
 That still they live and shine, and ne'er shall die, 
 Till (in a moment) with the last day's brand 
 They burn, and with them burns sea, air, and land, 
 
 14. 
 Thus as he mused, to the top he went. 
 And there kneel'd down with reverence and fear ; 
 His ej'es upon Heav'n's eastern face he bent ; 
 His thoughts above all Heav'ns up-lifted were : — 
 " The sins and errors (which I now repent) 
 Of mine unbridled youth, Father dear, 
 Remember not, but let thy mercy fall, 
 And purge my faults, and mine offences all." 
 
 15. 
 
 Thus prayed he : with purple wings up-flew, 
 In golden weed, the morning's lusty queen, 
 Begilding (with the radiant beams she threw) 
 His helm, his harness, and the mountain green: 
 Upon his breast and forehead gently blew 
 The air, that Balm and Nardus breath'd unseen ; 
 And o'er his head, let down from clearest skies, 
 A cloud of pure and precious dew there flies. 
 
 16. 
 The heav'nly dew was on his garments spred, 
 To which compar'd, his clothes pale ashes seem, 
 And spinkled so, that all that paleness fled. 
 And thence, of purest white, bright rays out-stream :
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 363 
 
 So cheered are the flowers, late withered. 
 With the sweet comfort of the morning- beam ; 
 
 And so, return'd to youth, a serpent old 
 
 Adorns herself in new and native gold. 
 
 17. 
 
 The lovely whiteness of his changed weed 
 The Prince perceived well, and long admired ; 
 Toward the forest march'd he on with speed, 
 Eesolv'd, as such adventures great required : 
 Thither he came, whence, shrinking hack for dread 
 Of that strange desert's sight, the first retired, 
 But not to him fearful or loathsome made 
 That forest was, but sweet with pleasant shade : 
 
 18. 
 
 Forward he pass'd, and in the grove before 
 He heard a sound that strange, sweet, pleasing was ; 
 There roU'd a crystal brook with gentle rore, 
 There sigh'd the winds, as through the leaves they pass. 
 There did the nightingale her wrongs deplore, 
 There sung the swan, and singing di'd, alas ! 
 There lute, harp, cittern, human voice he heard, 
 And all these sounds one sound right well declar'd. 
 
 19. 
 
 A dreadful thunder-clap at last he heard, 
 The aged trees and plants well nigh that rent ; 
 Yet heard the nymphs and syrens afterward, 
 Birds, winds, and waters sing with sweet consent ; 
 Whereat amaz'd he stay'd, and well prepar'd 
 For his defence, heedful and slow forth went : 
 
 Nor in his way his passage aught withstood, 
 
 Except a quiet, still, transparent flood, 
 
 20. 
 
 On the green banks, which that fair stream inbound, 
 Flowers and odours sweetly smil'd and smell'd. 
 Which, reaching out his stretched arms around, 
 All the large desert in his bosom held. 
 And through the gi-ove one channel passage found ; 
 That in the wood ; in that, the forest dwell'd : [made, 
 Trees clad the streams ; streams, green those trees aye 
 And so exchang'd their moisture and their shade.
 
 364 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 21. 
 
 The Knight some way sought out the flood to pass, 
 And, as he sought, a wondrous bridge appear'd, 
 A bridge of gold, a huge and weighty mass, 
 On arches great of that rich metal rear'd ; 
 When through that golden way he enter'd was, 
 Down fell the bridge, swelled the stream, and wear'd* 
 
 The work away, nor sign left where it stood. 
 
 And of a river calm became a flood. 
 
 22. 
 
 He tum'd, amaz'd to see it troubled so, 
 Like sudden brooks increast with molten snow. 
 The billows fierce, that tossed to and fro. 
 The whirlpools suckt down to their bosoms low ; 
 But on he went to search for wonders mo. 
 Through the thick trees, there high and broad which grow: 
 And in that forest huge and desert wide. 
 The more he sought, more wonders still he spide. 
 
 23. 
 
 Where so he stept, it seem'd the joyful ground 
 Renew'd the verdure of her flow'ry weed ; 
 A fountain here, a well-spring there he found; 
 Here bud the roses, there the lilies spreed ; 
 The aged wood o'er and about him round 
 Flourish'd with blossoms new, new leaves, new seed; 
 And on the boughs and branches of those treen 
 The bark was soiVned, and renew'd the green : 
 
 24. 
 
 The manna on each leaf did pearled lie, 
 The honey stilled^ from the tender rind ; 
 Again he heard that wondrous harmony 
 Oi songs, and sweet complaints of lovers kind : 
 The human voices sung a triple"^ hie, 
 To which respond the birds, the streams, the wind ; 
 But yet unseen those nymphs, those singers were, 
 Unseen the lutes, harps, viols, which they bear. 
 
 25. 
 
 He look'd, he listen'd, yet his thoughts denide. 
 To think that true which he both heard and see : 
 A myrtle in an ample plain he spide. 
 And thither by a beaten path went he : 
 1 Weat'd—wathed, ' Stilled— iro/)^e<i. * Triple — treble t
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 365 
 
 The myrtle spread her mighty branches wide, 
 Higher than pine, or palm, or cypress tree : 
 And far above all other plants was seen. 
 That forest's lady, and that desert's qneen. 
 
 26. 
 
 Upon the tree his eyes Rinaldo bent, 
 And there a marvel great and strange began ; 
 An aged oak beside him cleft and rent, 
 And from his fertile hollow womb forth ran 
 (Clad in rare weeds and strange habiliment) 
 A nymph, for age able to go to man ; 
 
 An hundred plants beside (even in his sight) 
 Childed^ an hundred nymphs, so great, so dight. 
 
 27. 
 Such as on stages play, such as we see 
 The Dryads painted, whom wild Satyrs love. 
 Whose arms half naked, locks untrussed be. 
 With buskins laced on their legs above. 
 And silken robes tuckt short above their knee ; 
 Such seem'd the Sylvan daughters of this grove. 
 
 Save that, instead of shafts and boughs of tree. 
 
 She bore a lute, a harp, or cittern she. 
 
 28. 
 And wantonly they cast them in a ring, 
 And sung and danc'd to move his weaker sense, 
 Rinaldo round about environing. 
 As centres are with their circumference ; 
 That tree they compass'd eke, and 'gan to sing, 
 That woods and streams admir'd their excellence ; 
 " Welcome, dear lord, welcome to this sweet grove. 
 Welcome, our lady's hope, welcome her love. 
 
 29. 
 " Thou com'st to cure our princess, faint and sick 
 For love, for love of thee, faint, sick, distressed; 
 Late black, late dreadiul was this foi'est thick. 
 Fit dwelling for sad folk with grief oppressed ; 
 See, with thy coming how the branches quick 
 Revived are, and in new blossoms dressed :" 
 This was their song, and after, from it went 
 First a sweet sound, and then the myrtle rent. 
 1 Childed — mere delivered of.
 
 366 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 30. 
 
 If antique times admir'd Silenus old, 
 That oft appear'd set on his lazy ass. 
 How would they wonder if thej' had behold 
 Such sights, as from the mjTtle high did pass ? 
 Thence came a lady fair with locks of gold. 
 That like in shape, in face, and beauty was 
 To sweet Armida ; Einald thinks he spies 
 Her gestures, smiles, and glances of her eyes. 
 
 31. 
 
 On him a sad and smiling look she cast, 
 Which twenty paesions strange at once bewrays ; 
 " And ait thou come," quoth she, " return'd at last 
 To her, from whom but late thou ranst thy ways ? 
 Com'st thou to comfort me for sorrows past ? 
 To ease my widow nights, and careful days ? 
 
 Or comest thou to work me grief and harm ? 
 
 "Why nilt^ thou speak ? why not thy face disarm ? 
 
 32. 
 
 " Com'st thou a friend or foe ? I did not frame 
 That golden bridge to entertain my foe, 
 Nor op'ned flowers and fountains as you came, 
 To welcome him with joy, that brings me woe : 
 Put off thy helm, r-ejoice me with the flame 
 Of thy bright eyes, whence first my fires did grow 
 Kiss me, embrace me ; if you further venter, 
 Love keeps the gate, the fort is eath to enter." 
 
 33. 
 Thus as she woos, she rolls her rueful eyes 
 With piteous look, and changeth ofl her chear ; 
 An hundred sighs from her ialse heart up flies ; 
 She sobs, she mourns, it is great ruth to hear : 
 The hardest breast sweet pity mollifies ; 
 What stony heart resists a woman's tear ? 
 But yet the knight, wise, wary, not unkind, 
 Drew forth his sword, and from her careless twind. 
 
 34. 
 
 Towards the tree he march'd, she thither start, 
 Before him stepp'd, embrast the plant, and cride, 
 " Ah, never do me such a spiteful part. 
 To cut my tree, this forest's joy and pride : 
 > Nat— Kilt not.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 367 
 
 Put up thy sword, else pierce therewith the heart 
 Of thy forsaken and despis'd Armide ; 
 
 For through this breast, and tliroughthis heart,unkind! 
 
 To this fair tree thy sword shall passage find." 
 
 35. 
 
 He lift his brand, nor car'd, though oft she pray'd ; 
 And she her form to other shape did change ; 
 Such monsters huge, when men in dreams are laid, 
 Oft in their idle fancies roam and range : 
 Her body swell'd, her face obscure was made, 
 Vanish'd her garments rich, and vestui'es strange ; 
 A giantess before him high she stands. 
 Like Briareus arm'd with an hundi-ed hands. 
 
 36. 
 
 With fifty swords, and fifty targets bright. 
 She threat'ned death, she roared, cried, and fought; 
 Ea^h other nymph, in armour likewise dight, 
 A Cyclops great became : he fear'd them nought. 
 But on the myrtle smote with all his might. 
 That groan'd, like living souls to death nigh brought ; 
 The sky seem'd Pluto's court, the air seem'd hell. 
 Therein such monsters roar, such spirits yell. 
 
 37. 
 
 Lightned the heavens above, the eai'th below 
 Roared aloud : that thunder'd, and this shook ; 
 Blaster'd the tempests strong ; the whirlwinds blow ; 
 The bitter storm drove hail-stones in his look ; 
 But yet his ann grew neither weak nor slow, 
 Nor of that fury heed or care he took, 
 
 Till low to earth the wounded tree down bended ; 
 
 Then fled the spirits all, the charms all ended. 
 
 38. 
 
 The heav'ns grew clear, the air wax'd calm and still, 
 
 The wood returned to his wonted state. 
 
 Of witchcrafts free, quite void of spirits ill, 
 
 Of horror full, but horror there innate ; 
 
 He further prov'd if aught withstood his will 
 
 To cut those trees, as did the charms of late ; 
 
 And finding nought to stop him, smil'd, and said, 
 " shadows vain ! fools of shades afraid !"
 
 368 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 39. 
 From thence home to the campward tnm'd the knight j 
 The hermit cried up-starting from his seat, 
 " Now of the wood the charms have lost their might. 
 The sprites are conquer'd, ended is the feat ; 
 See where he comes ! in glist'ring white all dight 
 Appear'd the man, bold, stately, high, and great ; 
 His eagle's silver wings to shine begun, 
 With wondrous splendour 'gainst the golden sun. 
 
 40. 
 The camp receiv'd him with a joyful cry, 
 A cry the dales and hills about that fil'd; 
 Then Godfrey welcora'd him with honours hie; 
 His glory squeuch'd all spite, all envy kil'd : 
 " To yonder dreadful grove," quoth he, " went I, 
 And from the fearful wood (as me you wil'd) 
 Have driven the sprites away ; thither let be 
 Your people sent, the way is safe and free." 
 
 41. 
 Sent were the workmen thither, thence they brought 
 Timber enough, by good advice select, 
 And though, by skilless builders fram'd and wrought. 
 Their engines rude and rams were late erect, 
 Yet now the forts and tow'rs (from whence they fought) 
 Were framed by a cunning architect, 
 
 William, of all the Genoas lord and guide, 
 Which late rul'd all the seas from side to side ; 
 
 42. 
 But, forced to retire, from him at last 
 The Pagan fleet the sea's moist empire won; 
 His men, with all their stuff and store, in hast 
 Home to the camp with their commander run : 
 In skill, in wit, in cunning him surpast 
 Yet never engineer beneath the sun ; 
 
 Of cai-penters an hundred large he brought, 
 That what their lord devised, made and wrought. 
 
 43. 
 This man begun with wondrous art to make. 
 Not rams, not mighty brakes, not slings alone. 
 Wherewith the firm and solid walls to shake. 
 To cast a dai-t, or throw a shaft, or stone ;
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 369 
 
 But fram'd of pines and firs, did undertake 
 To build a fortress huge, to which was none 
 Yet ever like, whereof he cloth'd the sides, 
 Against the balls of fii'e, with raw bulls' hides. 
 
 44 
 In mortasses' and sockets framed just. 
 The beams, the studs, and punchions- join'd he fast ; 
 To beat the city's wall, beneath forth brust^ 
 A ram with horned front ; about her wast* 
 A bridge the engine from her side out thrust, 
 Which on the wall, when need requir'd, she cast ; 
 And from her top a turret small up-stood. 
 Strong, surely ai-m'd, and builded of like wood. 
 
 45. 
 Set on an hundred wheels the rolling mass 
 On the smooth lands went nimbly up and down ; 
 Though full of arms and armed men it was. 
 Yet with small pains it ran, as it had flown : , 
 
 Wond'red the camp so quick to see it pass ; 
 They prais'd the workmen, and their skill unknown ; 
 And on that day two tow'rs they builded more, 
 Like that which sweet Clorinda burnt before. 
 
 46. 
 Yet wholly were not from the Saracines 
 Their works concealed, and their labours hid 
 Upon that wall, which next the camp confines, 
 They placed spies who marked all they did : 
 They saw the ashes wild and squared pines, 
 How to the tents (trail'd from the grove) they slid 
 And engines huge they saw, yet could not tell 
 How they were built ; their forms they saw not well. 
 
 47. 
 Their engines eke they rear'd, and with great art 
 Eepair'd each bulwark, turret, port, and towre, 
 And fortified the plain and easy part, 
 To bide the storm of every warlike stowre,^ 
 Till as they thought no slight, or force of mart. 
 To undermine or scale the same had powre : 
 And false Ismeno 'gan new balls prepare 
 Of wicked fire, wild, wondrous, strange, and rare. 
 
 ' Mortasses — mortises. ' Studs and punchions are upright timbers. 
 
 * Brust — burst, * wast — waist, j * Stowre — assault. 
 
 B B
 
 370 GODFBEY OP BULLOIGNE j OK, 
 
 48. 
 He mingled brimstone with bitnmen fell, 
 Feteht from that lake, where Sodom erst did sink ; 
 And from that flood, which nine times compass'd hell, 
 Some of the liquor hot he broujjht, I think. 
 Wherewith the quenchless fire he temp'red well. 
 To make it smoke, and flame, and deadly stink; 
 And for his wood cut down, the aged sire 
 Would thus revengemeut take with flame and fire. 
 
 49. 
 While thus the camp, and thus the town were bent, 
 These to assault, these to defend the wall, 
 A speedy dove through the clear welkin' went. 
 Straight o'er the tents, seen by the soldiers all ; 
 With nimble fans the yielding air she rent, 
 Nor seem'd it that she would alight or fall. 
 Till she ai-riv'd near that besieged town, 
 Then fi-om the clouds at last she stooped down : 
 
 50. 
 Bat lo (from whence I nolt) a falcon came, 
 Armed with crooked bill and talons long. 
 And 'twixt the camp and city crost her game, 
 That durst not bide her foe's encounter strong ; 
 But right upon the royal tent down came. 
 And there, the lords and princes great among. 
 
 When the shai-p hawk nigh toucht her tender head. 
 In Godfrey's lap she fell, with fear half dead : 
 
 51. 
 The Duke receiv'd her, saved her, and spide. 
 As he beheld the bird, a wondrous thing ; 
 About her neck a letter close was tide 
 By a small thread, and thrust under her wing, 
 He loosed forth the writ,- and spread it wide. 
 And read th' intent thereof: " To Juda's King, 
 (Thus said the schedule) honours high increase 
 Th' Egj-ptian chieftain wisheth, health and peace : 
 
 52. 
 
 " Fear not (renowned Prince), resist, endure 
 Till the third day, or till the fourth at most ; 
 I come, and your deliverance will procure, 
 And kill your coward foes, and all their host." 
 
 * Welkin — »ty. » Writ — tcriting.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 371 
 
 This secret in that bi-ief was clos'd up sure, 
 Writ in strange language, to the winged post 
 Giv'n to transport ; for in their warlike need 
 The East such message us'd, oft with good speed. 
 
 53. 
 
 The Duke let go the captive dove at large. 
 And she, that had his counsel close bewray 'd. 
 Traitress to her great lord, toucht not the marge 
 Of Salem's town, but fled far thence afraid. 
 The Duke, before all those, which had or charge, 
 Or office high, the letter read, and said; 
 
 " See how the goodness of the Lord foreshows 
 
 The secret purpose of our crafty foes. 
 
 54. 
 
 " No longer then let us protract the time, 
 But scale the bulwark of this fortress hie ; 
 Through sweat and labour 'gainst those rocks sublime 
 Let us ascend, which to the southward lie : 
 Hard will it be that way in arras to clime,^ 
 But yet the place and passage both know I ; 
 And that high wall, by site strong on that part, 
 Is least defenc'd by arms, by work and art. 
 
 55. 
 " Thou, Raimond, on this side with all thy might 
 Assault the wall, and by those crags asce'.id; 
 My squadrons with mine engines huge shall fight. 
 And 'gainst the northern-gate my puissance bend ; 
 That so our foes, beguiled with the sight. 
 Our greatest force and power shall there attend, 
 
 While my great tower from thence shall nimbly slide: 
 And batter down some worse defended side ; 
 
 56. 
 " Camillo, thou not far from me shalt rear 
 Another tower, close to the walls ibrought." 
 This spoken, Raimond old that sate him near, 
 (And while he talkt, great things tost in his thought) 
 Said, " To Godtredo's counsel, given us here, 
 Nought can be added, from it taken nought : 
 Yet this I further wish, that some were sent 
 To spy their camp, their secret, and intent; 
 
 1 Clime — climb. 
 
 B B 2
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIOT: j OR, 
 
 57. 
 " That may their number and their squadrons brave 
 Describe, and through their teuts disguised mask :" 
 Quoth Tancred, " Lo, a subtle squire I have, 
 A person fit to undertake this task ; 
 A man, quick, ready, bold, sly to deceive. 
 To answer, wise, and well advis'd to ask ; 
 
 Well lauguaged, and that with time and place 
 Can change his look, his voice, his gait, his grace." 
 
 58. 
 Sent for he came, and when his lord him told 
 What Godlrey's pleasure was, and what his own ; 
 He smil'd, and said, forthwith he gladly would ; 
 " I go," quoth he, " careless what chance be thrown, 
 And, where encamped be these Pagans bold. 
 Will walk in every tent a spy unknown ; 
 Their camp even at noon-day I enter shall, 
 And number all their horse, and footmen all ; 
 
 59. 
 " How great, how sti-ong, how arm'd this army is. 
 And what their guide intends, I will declare; 
 To me the secrets of that heai-t of his. 
 And hidden thoughts, shall open lie and bare." 
 Thus Yafrine spoke, nor longer staid on this. 
 But for a mantle chang'd the coat he ware ; 
 
 Nakte^ was his neck, and 'bout his forehead bold 
 Of linen white full twenty yards he roll'd. 
 
 60. 
 His weapons were a Syi-ian bow and quiver, 
 His gestures bai-b'rous, like the Turkish train; 
 Wond'red all they that heard his tongue deUver 
 Of everj- land the language, true and plain. 
 In Tyre, a bom Phenician, by the river 
 Of Xile, a knight bred in th' Egyptian main, 
 
 Both people would have thought him ; forth he rides 
 On a swift steed ore hills and dales that gUdes. 
 
 61. 
 
 But ere the third day came, the French forth sent 
 Their pioneers to ev'n the rougher ways, 
 And ready made each warlike instrument ; 
 Nor aught their labour inteiTupts or stays : 
 
 ^ Nakte — naked.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 373 
 
 The nights in busy toil they likewise spent, 
 And with long evenings length'ned forth short days; 
 Till nought was left the hosts that hinder might 
 To use their utmost power and strength in fight. 
 
 62. 
 
 That day, which of th' assault the day fore-run, 
 The godly Duke in prayer spent well nie, 
 And all the rest, because they had misdone. 
 The sacrament receive, and mercy cry ; 
 Then oft the Duke his engines great begun 
 To show, where least he would their strength apply ; 
 His foes rejoic'd, deluded in that sort. 
 To see them bent against their surest port : 
 
 63. 
 
 But after, aided by the friendly night. 
 His greatest engine to that side he brought. 
 Where plainest seem'd the wall, where with their might 
 The flankers least could hurt them, as they fought : 
 And to the southern mountain's greatest height 
 To raise his turret old Raimondo sought ; 
 And thou, Camillo, on that part hadst thine, 
 Where from the north the walls did westward twine. 
 
 64 
 
 But when amid the eastern heav'n appear'd 
 The rising morning, bright as shining glass. 
 The troubled Pagans saw, and seeing fear'd, 
 How the great tow'r stood not where late it was; 
 And here and there, tofore unseen, was rear'd, 
 Of timber strong, a huge and fearful mass ; 
 
 And numberless with beams, with ropes, and strings, 
 They view the iron rams, the brakes, and slings. 
 
 65. 
 
 The Syrian people now were no whit slow 
 Their best defences to that side to bear. 
 Where Godfrey did his greatest engine show, 
 From thence where late in vain tliey placed were : 
 But he, who at his back right well did know 
 The host of Egypt to be 'preaching near, 
 To him call'd Guelfo, and the lloberts twain, 
 And said : " On horseback look you still remain,
 
 374 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 66. 
 " And have regard, while all our people strive 
 To scale this wall, where weak it seems and thin, 
 Lest unawares some sudden host amve, 
 And at our backs unlook'd lor war begin." 
 This said, three fierce assaults at once they give ; 
 The hardy soldiers all would die or win, 
 
 And on three parts resistance makes the King, [bring ; 
 
 And rage 'gainst strength, despair 'gainst hope doth 
 
 67. 
 Himself upon his limbs, with feeble eild 
 That shook (unwieldy with their proper weight) 
 His ai'mour laid and long unused shield. 
 And march'd 'gainst Eaimond to the mountain's height ; 
 Great Soliman 'gainst Godfrey took the field, 
 Forenenst Camillo stood Argantes streight, 
 
 Where Tancred strong he found ; so fortune will 
 That this good prince his wonted foe shall kill. 
 
 68. 
 The archers shot their arrows sharp and keen. 
 Dipt in the bitter juice of poison strong; 
 The shady face of Heav'n was scantly seen, 
 Hid with the clouds of shalts and quarries' long; 
 Yet weapons shai^p with greater fury been 
 Cast from the towers, the Pagan troops among. 
 For thence flew stones and clifts of marble rocks, 
 Trees shod with iron, timber, logs, and blocks. 
 
 69. 
 A thunder-bolt seem'd every stone, it brake 
 His limbs and armours so on whom it light, 
 That life and soul it did not only take. 
 But all his shape and face disfigur'd quight ; 
 The lances stay'd not in the wounds they make. 
 But through the gored body took their flight. 
 
 From side to side, through flesh, through skin and rind 
 They flew, and flying, lelt sad death behind. 
 
 70. 
 But yet not all this force and fury drove 
 The Pagan people to forsake the wall. 
 But to revenge these deadly blows they strove. 
 With darts that fly, with stones and trees that fall ; 
 
 ' Quarries — arroici.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 375 
 
 For need so cowards oft courageous prove ; 
 For liberty they fight, for life and all. 
 
 And oft with arrows, shafts, and stones that fly, 
 
 Give bitter answer to a sharp reply. 
 
 71. 
 
 This while the fierce assailants never cease, 
 But sternly still maintain a threefold charge, 
 And 'gainst the clouds of shafts draw nigh at ease. 
 Under a pentise made of many a targe :^ 
 The armed tow'rs close to the bulwarks prease. 
 And strive to grapple with the battled marge. 
 And laneh their bridges out ; meanwhile below 
 With iron fronts the rams the walls down throw. 
 
 72. 
 Yet still Einaldo unresolved went. 
 And far unworthy him this service thought, 
 If 'mongst the common sort his pains he spent ; 
 Eenown so got the Prince esteemed nought : 
 His angry looks on every side he bent. 
 And where most harm, most danger was, he sought ; 
 And where the wall high, strong and surest was, 
 That part would he assault, and that way pass. 
 
 73. 
 
 And turning to the worthies him behind. 
 
 All hardy knights, whom Dudon late did guide, 
 
 " shame," quoth he, " this wall no war doth find, 
 
 When batt'red is elsewhere each part, each side ; 
 
 All pain is safety to a valiant mind ; 
 
 Each way is eath to him that dares abide : 
 
 Come, let us scale this wall, though strong and hie, 
 And with your shields keep oS' the darts that flie." 
 
 74. 
 With him united all while thus he spake, 
 Their targets hard above their heads they threw. 
 Which join'd in one an iron pentise make. 
 That from the dreadful storm preserv'd the crew : 
 Defended thus, their speedy course they take, 
 And to the wall without resistance drew ; 
 For that strong penticle- protected well 
 The knights from all that flew, and all that fell. 
 ^ A covering made of shields. ^ Penticle — covering, .
 
 376 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 75. 
 Against the fort RinalJo 'gan up-rear 
 A ladder huge, an hundred steps of hight, 
 And iu his arm the same did eas'ly bear, 
 And move as winds do reeds, or rushes light : 
 Sometime a tree, a rock, a dart, or spear, 
 Fell from above, yet forward clomb the knight. 
 And upward fearless preased, careless still 
 Though mount Olympus fell, or Ossa hill : 
 
 76. 
 A mount of ruins, and of shafts a wood 
 Upon his shoulders and his shield he bore ; 
 One hand the ladder held whereon he stood, 
 The other bare his targe his face before ; 
 His hardy troop, by his ensample good 
 Provok'd, with him the place assaulted sore, 
 And ladders long against the wall they clap, 
 Unlike in courage yet, imlike in hap : 
 
 77. 
 One di'd, another fell, he forward went, 
 And these he comforts, and he threat'neth those, 
 Now with his hand outstretcht the battlement 
 Well-nigh he reach'd, when all his armed foes 
 Ran thither, and their force and fury bent 
 To throw him headlong down, yet up he goes; 
 
 A wondrous thing, one knight whole armed bands, 
 Alone, and hanging in the air, withstands : 
 
 78. 
 Withstands, and forceth his great strength so far. 
 That like a palm, whereon huge weight doth rest. 
 His forces so resisted stronger are. 
 His virtues higher rise, the more opprest, 
 Till all that would his entrance bold debar, 
 He backward drove, up leaped, and possest 
 The wall, and safe and easy with his blade. 
 To all that after came, the passage made. 
 
 79. 
 There killing such as durst and did withstand, 
 To noble Eustace, that was like to fall. 
 He reached forth his friendl}' conqu'ring hand. 
 And next himself helpt him to mount the wall.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 377 
 
 This -while Godfredo and his people fand 
 
 Their lives to greater harms and dangers thrall ; 
 
 For there not man with man, nor knight with knight 
 Contend, but engines there with engines fight ; 
 
 80. 
 For in that place the Paynims rear'd a post, 
 Which late had serv'd some gallant ship for mast. 
 And over it another beam they crost. 
 Pointed with iron sharp, to it made fast 
 "With ropes, which, as men would, the dormant^ tost 
 Now out, DOW in, now back, now forward cast; 
 In his sAvift puUies oft the men withdrew 
 The tree, and oft the riding-balk'^ forth threw : 
 
 81. 
 The mighty beam redoubled oft his blows. 
 And with such force the engine smote and hit, 
 That her broad side the tow'r wide open throws ; 
 Her joints were broke, her rafters cleft and split ; 
 But yet 'gainst every hap whence mischief grows 
 Prepar'd, the piece ('gainst such extremes made fit) 
 Lanch forth two scythes, sharp, cutting, long, and 
 And cut the ropes whereon the engine rode. [broad 
 
 82. 
 
 As an old rock, which age or stormy wind 
 Tears from some craggy hill, or mountain steep. 
 Doth break, doth bruise, and into dust doth grind 
 Woods, houses, hamlets, herds, and folds of sheep : 
 So fell the beam, and down with it all kind 
 Of arms, of weapons, and of men did sweep. 
 
 Wherewith the towers once or twice did shake ; 
 
 Trembled the walls, the hills and mountains quake. 
 
 83. 
 Victorious Godfrey boldly forwai'd came. 
 And had great hope even then the place to win ; 
 But lo, a fire, with stench, with smoke, and flame, 
 Withstood his passage, stopt his entrance in : 
 Such burning Etna yet could never frame. 
 When from her entrails hot her fires begin ; 
 Nor yet in summer, on the Indian plain, 
 Such vapours warm from scorching air down rain. 
 1 Dormant — cross beam, ' Balk — beam.
 
 378 GODFBEY OF BULLOIGNEj OB, 
 
 84. 
 
 There balls of wildfire, there fly burning spears ; 
 
 This flame was black, that blue, this red as blood ; 
 
 Stench well-nigh choked them, noise deafs their ears ; 
 
 Smoke blinds their eyes, fii-e kindleth on the wood ; 
 
 Nor those raw hides, which for defence it wears, 
 
 Could save the tow'r, in such distress it stood ; 
 For now they wrinkle, now it sweats and fries, 
 Now burns, unless some help come down from skies. 
 
 85. 
 The hardy Duke before his folk abides, 
 Kor chang'd he colour, countenance, or place. 
 But comforts those, that from the soaldred hides 
 With water strove th' approaching flames to chase : 
 In these extremes the Prince, and those he guides, 
 Half roasted stood before fierce Vulcan's face ; 
 When lo, a sudden and unlookt for blast 
 The flames against the kindlers backward cast : 
 
 86. 
 The winds drove back the fire, where heaped lie 
 The Pagans' weapons, where their engines were, 
 "VNIiich kindling quickly in that substance dry. 
 Burnt all their store, and all their warlike gear : 
 O glorious captain ! whom the Lord from hie 
 Defends, whom God preseiTes, and holds so dear ; 
 For thee Heav'n fights, to thee the winds (from far, 
 Call'd ^\•ith thy trumpet's blast) obedient are. 
 
 87. 
 But wicked Ismen, to his harm that saw 
 How the fierce blast drove back the fire and flame, 
 By ai't would nature change, and thence withdraw 
 Those noisome winds, else calm and still the same j 
 'TwLxt two false wizards, without fear or awe. 
 Upon the walls in open sight he came. 
 
 Black, grisly, loathsome, grim, and ugly faced. 
 Like Pluto old betwixt two furies placed : 
 
 88. 
 And now the wretch those dreadful words begun. 
 Which tremble make deep hell and all her flock j 
 Now troubled is the air, the golden sun 
 His fearful beams in clouds did close and lock.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 379 
 
 When from the tower (which Ismen could not shun) 
 
 Out fled a mighty stone, late half a rock, 
 Which light so just upon the wizards three. 
 That driv'n to dust their bones and bodies be : 
 
 89. 
 
 To less than nought their members old were torne, 
 And shiver'd were their heads to pieces small, 
 As small, as are the bruised grains of corne, 
 When from the mill dissolv'd to meal they fall : 
 Their damned souls to deepest hell down-borne 
 (Far from the joy and light celestiall) 
 The furies plunged in th' infernal lake : 
 mankind ! at their ends ensample take. 
 
 90. 
 
 This while the engine, which the tempest cold 
 ■ Had sav'd from burning with his friendly blast. 
 Approached had so near the batt'red hold, 
 That on the walls her bridge at ease she cast : 
 But Soliman ran thither fierce and bold. 
 To cut the plank whereon the Christians past. 
 And had perform'd his will, save that uprear'd 
 High in the skies a turret new appear 'd ; 
 
 91. 
 
 Far in the air up clomb the fortress tall. 
 Higher than house, than steeple, church, or tower ; 
 The Pagans trembled to behold the wall 
 And city subject to her shot and power ; 
 Yet kept the Turk his stand, though on him fall 
 Of stones and darts a sharp and deadly shower ; 
 And still to cut the bridge, he hopes and strives, 
 And those that fear, with cheerful speech revives. 
 
 92. 
 
 The angel Michael, to all the rest 
 Unseen, appear'd before Godfredo's eyes. 
 In pure and heav'nly armour richly drest, 
 Brighter than Titan's rays in clearest skies ; 
 " Godfrey," quoth he, " this is the moment blest 
 To free this town that long in bondage lies ; 
 See, see what legions in thine aid t bring. 
 For Heav'n assists thee, and Heav'n's glorious King :
 
 380 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE; OR, 
 
 93. 
 
 " Lift up thine ej'es, and in the air behold 
 The sacred armies, how they mustred be ; 
 That cloud of flesh, in which from times of old 
 All mankind wrapped is, I take from thee, 
 And from thy senses their thick mist unfold. 
 That face to face thou may'st these spirits see, 
 And for a little space, right well sustain 
 Their glorious light, and view those angels plain, 
 
 94. 
 " Behold the souls of every lord and knight 
 That late bore arms, and di'd for Christ's dear sake, 
 How on thy side against this town they fight, 
 And of thy joy and conquest will partake : 
 There where the dust and smoke blind all men's sight, 
 WTiere stones and ruins such an heap do make. 
 There Hugo fights, in thickest cloud imbard,^ 
 And undermines that bulwark's groundwork hard. 
 
 95. 
 *' See Dudon yonder, who with sword and fire 
 Assails and helps to scale the northern port, 
 That with bold courage doth th}' folk inspire, 
 And rears their ladders 'gainst the assaulted fort : 
 He that high on the mount in grave attire 
 Is clad, and crowned stands in kingly sort. 
 
 Is Bishop Ademare, a blessed spirit, 
 
 Blest for his faith, crown'd for his death and merit ; 
 
 96. 
 " But higher lift thy happy eyes, and view 
 Where all the sacred hosts of Heav'n appear ;" 
 He look'd, and saw where winged armies flew. 
 Innumerable, pure, divine, and clear ; 
 A battle round of squadrons three they shew. 
 And all by threes those squadrons ranged were. 
 
 Which, spreading wide in rings, still wider go ; 
 
 Mov'd with a stone, calm water circleth so. 
 
 97. 
 With that he wink'd, and vanisht was and gone 
 That wondrous vision ; when he look'd again 
 His worthies fighting view'd he one by one, 
 And on each side saw signs of conquest plain ; 
 
 1 Imbard — shut up.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 381 
 
 For with Rinaldo 'gainst his yielding fone^ 
 His knights were ent'red, and the Pagans slain ; 
 This seen, the Duke no longer stay could brook. 
 But from the bearer bold his ensign took : 
 
 98. 
 And on the bridge he stept, but there was staid 
 By Soliman, who entrance all denide ; 
 That naiTow tree to virtue great was made 
 The field, as in few blows right soon was tride : 
 " Here will I give my life for Sion's aid, 
 Here will I end my days," the Soldan cride, 
 " Behind me cut, or break this bridge, that I 
 May kill a thousand Christians first, then die." 
 
 99. 
 But thither fierce Rinaldo threat'ning went, 
 And at his sight fled all the Soldan's train ; 
 *' What shall I do ? if here my life be spent, 
 I spend and spill," quoth he, " my blood in vain :" 
 With that his steps from Godfrey back he bent, 
 And to him let the passage free remain. 
 
 Who threat'ning follow'd, as the Soldan fled, 
 And on the walls the purple Cross dispred : 
 
 100. 
 About his head he toss'd, he tum'd, he cast 
 That glorious Ensign, with a thousand twines ; 
 Thereon the wind breathes with his sweetest blast. 
 Thereon with golden rays glad Phcebus shines : 
 Earth laughs tor joy, the streams forbear their hast. 
 Floods clap their hands, on mountains dance the pines, 
 And Sion's towers and sacred temples smile. 
 For their deliv'rance from that bondage vile. 
 
 101. 
 And now the armies rear'd the happy crie 
 Of victory, glad, joyful, loud, and shrill ; 
 The hills resound, the echo showeth hie ; 
 And Tancred bold, that fights and combats still 
 With proud Argantes, brought his towers so nie, 
 That on the wall, against the boaster's will. 
 In his despight, his bridge he also laid. 
 And won the place, and there the Cross displaid. 
 1 'Eone—foes.
 
 58f GODFKEY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 •102. 
 But on tlie southern hill (where Eaimond fought, 
 Against the townsmen and their aged king) 
 His hardy Gascoigns gained small or nought ; 
 Their engine to the walls they could not bring ; 
 For thither all his strength the Prince had brought. 
 For life and safety stei-uly combating ; 
 
 And, for the wall was feeblest on that coast,^ 
 There were his soldiers best, and engines most. 
 
 103. 
 Besides, the tower upon that quarter found 
 Unsure, uneasy, and unev'n the way, 
 Kor art could help, but that the rougher ground 
 The rolling mass did often stop and stay ; 
 But now of victory the joyiul sound 
 The King and Eaimond heard amid their fray ; 
 And by the shout they and their soldiers know. 
 The town was enter'd on the plain below. 
 
 104. 
 "WTiich heard, Eaimondo thus bespake his crew : 
 " The town is won, my friends, and doth it yet 
 Eesist ? are we kept out still by these few ? 
 Shall we no share in this high conquest get ?" 
 But from that part the King at last withdrew ; 
 He strove in vain their entrance there to let ; 
 And to a stronger place his folk he brought, 
 Where to sustain th' assault a while he thought. 
 
 105. 
 The conquerors at once now enter' d all ; 
 The walls were won, the gates were open'd wide : 
 !Now bruised, broken down, destroyed fall 
 The ports and towers, that batt'ry durst abide ; 
 Eageth the sword; death murd'reth great and small, 
 And proud 'twixt woe and horror sad doth ride ; 
 
 Here runs the blood, in ponds there stands the gore. 
 And di-owns the knights in whom it liv'd before. 
 
 ^ Coast — approach.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 'ml i\^ 'Bmimxili 
 
 THE AEGTJMENT. 
 
 Tanerecl in single comhat hills Ms foe, 
 Argantes strong : the King and Soldanfly 
 To David's Toiver, and save their persons so : 
 ^rminia well instructs Vafrine the spy ; 
 With him she rides away, and as they go 
 Finds xohere her lord for dead on earth doth lie; 
 First she laments, then cures him : Godfrey hears 
 Ormondo's treason, and what marks he hears. 
 
 Now death, or fear, or care to save their lives, 
 From their forsaken walls the Pagans chase : 
 Yet neither force, nor fear, nor wisdom di'ives 
 The constant knight Argantes from his place ; 
 Alone against ten thousand foes he strives. 
 Yet dreadless, doubtless, careless seem'd his face : 
 Nor death, nor danger, but disgrace he fears, 
 And still unconquer'd (though o'er-set) appears. 
 
 But 'mongst the rest upon his helmet gay 
 With his broadsword Tancredie came and smote : 
 The Pagan knew the Prince by his array, 
 By his strong blows, his armour, and his coat : 
 For once they fought, and when night stay'd that fray, 
 New time they chose to end their combat hot, 
 But Tancred fail'd, wherefore the Pagan knight 
 Cry'd " Tancred, com'st thou thus, thus late t» fight ?
 
 381 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 " Too late thou com'st, and not alone to war, 
 But yet the fight I neither shun nor fear, 
 Although from knighthood true thou errest far, 
 Since like an engineer thou dost appear ; 
 That tower, that troop, thy shield and safety are ; 
 Strange kind of arms in single fight to bear : 
 Yet shalt thou not escape (0 conqu'ror strong 
 Of ladies fair) sharp death to 'venge that wrong." 
 
 4. 
 
 Lord Tancred smiled with disdain and scorn, 
 And answer'd thus : " To end our strife," quoth he, 
 " Behold at last I come, and my return 
 (Though late) perchance ^vill be too soon for thee; 
 For thou shalt wish (of hope and help forlorn) 
 Some sea or mountain plac'd 'twixt thee and me, 
 And well shalt know before we end this fray, 
 No fear of cowardice hath caus'd my stay. 
 
 5. 
 
 " But come aside thou by whose prowess dies 
 The monsters, knights, and giants in all lands ; 
 The killer of weak women thee defies," 
 This said, he turned to his fighting bands, 
 And bids them all retire. " Forbear," he cries, 
 " To strike this knight, on him let none lay hands ; 
 For mine he is (more than a common foe) 
 By challenge new, and promise old alsoe." 
 
 6. 
 
 " Descend," the fierce Circassian 'gan replie, 
 " Alone, or all this troop for succour take 
 To deserts waste, or place frequented hie, 
 For vantage none I will the fight forsake :" 
 Thus given and taken was the bold defie, 
 And through the prease' (agreed so) they brake ; 
 Their hatred made them one, and as they wend, 
 Each knight his foe did for despite defend 
 
 7. 
 
 Great was his thirst of praise, great the desire 
 That Tancred had the Pagan's blood to spill, 
 Nor could that quench his wrath, or calm his ire, 
 If other hand his foe should foil or kill j 
 
 1 Preaae — croicd.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 385 
 
 He sav'd him with his shield, and cry'd, " retire," 
 To all he met, " and do this knight none ill :" 
 And thus defending 'gainst his friends his foe, 
 Through thousand angry weapons safe they go. 
 
 8. 
 
 They left the city, and they left behind 
 Godfredo's camp, and far beyond it past, 
 And came, where into creeks and bosoms blind 
 A winding hill his comers turn'd and cast ; 
 A valley small and shady dale they find 
 Amid the mountains steep, so laid and plast 
 As it some theatre, or closed place 
 Had been for men to fight, or beasts to chase. 
 
 9. 
 
 There stay'd the champions both : with rueful eyes 
 
 Argantes 'gan the fortress won to view ; 
 
 Tancred his foe withouten shield espies. 
 
 And far away his target therefore threw. 
 
 And said, " Whereon doth thy sad heart devise ? 
 
 Thinkst thou this hour must end thy life untrue ? 
 If this thou fear, and dost foresee thy fate. 
 Thy fear is vain, thy foresight comes too late." 
 
 10. 
 
 " I think," quoth he, " on this distressed town, 
 The aged Queen of Juda's ancient land. 
 Now lost, now sacked, spoil'd, and trodden down, 
 Whose fall in vain I strived to withstand : 
 A small revenge for Sion's fort o'erthrown. 
 That head can be cut off" by my strong hand ;" 
 This said, together with great heed they flew, 
 For each his foe for bold and hardy knew : 
 
 11. 
 Tancred of body active was and light. 
 Quick, nimble, ready both of hand and foot i 
 But higher by the head, the Pagan knight 
 Of limbs far greater was, of heart as stout : 
 Tancred laid low and travers'd in his fight. 
 Now to his ward retir'd, now struck out; 
 
 Oft with his sword his foe's fierce blows he broke, 
 And rather chose to ward, than bear his stroke. 
 
 C c
 
 386 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 12. 
 
 But bold and bolt upright Argantes fought, 
 Unlike in gesture, like in skill and art ; 
 His sword outstretcht before him far he brought, 
 Nor would his weapon touch, but pierce his heart : 
 To catch his point Prince Tancred strove and sought, 
 But at his breast or helm's unclosed part 
 
 He threat'ned death, and would with stretcht-out brand 
 His entrance close, and fierce assaults withstand. 
 
 13. 
 
 "With a tall ship so doth a galley fight. 
 When the still winds stir not th' unstable main ; 
 Where this in nimbleness, as that in might 
 Excels ; that stands, this goes and comes again. 
 And shifts from prow to poop with turnings light ; 
 Meanwhile the other doth unmov'd remain. 
 And on her nimble foe approacheth nigh, 
 Her weighty engines tumbleth down from high. 
 
 14. 
 
 The Christian sought to enter on his foe. 
 
 Voiding his point, which at his breast was bent ; 
 
 Argantes at his face a thrust did throe. 
 
 Which while the Prince awards,^ and doth prevent, 
 
 His ready hand the Pagan turned soe. 
 
 That all defence his quickness far o'erwent. 
 
 And pierc'd his side, which done, he said and smiled, 
 *' The craftsman is in his own craft beguiled." 
 
 15. 
 
 Tancredie bit his lip for scorn and shame, 
 Nor longer stood on points of fence and skill. 
 But to revenge so fierce and fast he came, 
 As if his hand could not o'ei'take his will ; 
 And at his vizor aiming just, 'gan frame 
 To his proud boast an answer sharp, but still 
 Argantes broke the thrust ; and at half-sword. 
 Swift, hardy, bold, in stept the Christian lord ; 
 
 16. 
 With his left foot fast forward 'gan he stride. 
 And with his left the Pagan's right arm hent,^ 
 With his right hand meanwhile the man's right side 
 He cut, he wounded, mangled, tore, and rent : 
 1 Awards — wards off. 2 Hent — teized.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 387 
 
 " To his victorious teacher," Tancred cride, „, ., 
 
 " His conquer 'd scholar hath this answer sent;" i| 
 
 Argantes chafed, struggled, turn'd, and twin'd, I'lf 
 
 Yet could not so his captive arm unbind : 
 
 17. 
 His sword at last he let hang by the chain, 
 , And grip'd his hardy foe in both his hands ; 
 In his strong arms Tancred caught him again, 
 And thus each other held, and wrapt in bands. 
 With greater might Alcides did not strain 
 The giant Anteus on the Lybian sands : 
 
 On holdfast knots their brawny arms they cast 
 And whom he hateth most, each held embrast : 
 
 18. 
 Such were their wrestlings, such their shocks and throws, 
 That down at once they tumbled both to ground ; 
 Argantes (were it hap or skill, who knows ?) 
 His better hand loose and in freedom found ; 
 But the good Prince his hand, more fit for blows, 
 With his huge weight the Pagan under bovind ; 
 
 But he, his disadvantage great that knew, 
 
 Let go his hold, and on his feet up-flew : 
 
 19. 
 
 Far slower rose th' unwieldy Saracine, 
 And caught a rap ere he was rear'd upright ; 
 But as against the blust'ring winds a pine 
 Now bends his top, now lifts his head on hight. 
 His courage so (when it 'gan most decline) 
 The man r'inforced, and advanc'd his might, 
 
 And with fierce change of blows renew'd the fray, 
 Where rage for skill, horror for art bore sway. 
 
 20. 
 The purple drops from Tancred's sides down railed,' 
 But from the Pagan ran whole streams of blood. 
 Wherewith his force grew weak, his courage quailed. 
 As tiers die, which fuel want or food. 
 Tancred, that saw his feeble arm now failed 
 To strike his blows, that scant he stirr'd or stood, 
 Assuag'd his anger, and his wrath alaid. 
 And stepping back, thus gently spoke and said : 
 ' Bailed — rolled, 
 
 C c2 
 

 
 388 GODFREY OF bulloignt:; or, 
 
 21. 
 " Yield, hardy knight, and chance of war, or me. 
 Confess to have subdu'd thee in this fight, 
 I will no trophy, triumph, spoil of thee, 
 Kor glory wish, nor seek a victor's right :" 
 More terrible than erst, herewith grew he. 
 And all awak'd his fury, rage, and might. 
 
 And said, " Dar'st thou of vantage speak or think. 
 Or move Argantes once to yield or shrink ? 
 
 22. 
 
 " Use, use thy vantage ; thee and fortune both 
 I scorn, and punish will thy foolish pride :" 
 As a hot brand flames most ere it forth goth. 
 And dying, blazeth bright on every side ; 
 So he (when blood was lost) with anger wroth, 
 Eeviv'd his courage, when his puissance dide. 
 And would his latest hour, which now drew nie. 
 Illustrate with Ids end, and nobly die : 
 
 23. 
 
 He join'd his left hand to her sister strong, 
 And with them both let fall his weighty blade. 
 Tancred to ward his blow his sword up flong. 
 But that it smote aside, nor there it stay'd. 
 But from his shoulder to his side along 
 It glanc'd, and many wounds at once it made : 
 Yet Tancred feared nought, for in his heart 
 Found coward dread no place, fear had no part. 
 
 24. 
 His fearful blow he doubled, but he spent 
 His force in waste, and all his strength in vain: 
 For Tancred from the blow against him bent, 
 Leaped aside ; the stroke fell ou the plain : 
 With thine own weight o'erthrown to earth thou went, 
 Argantes stout, nor could'st thyself sustain ; 
 
 Thyself thou threwest down, O happy man ! 
 
 Upon whose fall none boast, or triumph cjm : 
 
 25. 
 
 His gaping wounds the fall set open wide, 
 The streams of blood about him made a lake; 
 Helpt with his left hand on one knee he tride 
 To rear himself, and new defence to make :
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 389 
 
 The courteous Prince stepp'd back,and " Yield thee," cride,. 
 No hurt he profFer'd him, no blow he strake. 
 Meanwhile by stealth the Pagan false him gave 
 A sudden wound, threat'ning with speeches brave : 
 
 26. 
 
 Herewith Tancredie furious grew, and said, 
 " Villain, dost thou my mercy so despise ?" 
 Therewith he thrust, and thrust again his blade. 
 And through his vental pierc'd his dazzled eyes : 
 Argantes died, yet no complaint he made, 
 But as he furious liv'd, he careless dies ; 
 
 Bold, proud, disdainful, fierce, and void of fear 
 His motions last, last looks, last sjieeches were. 
 
 27. 
 Tancred put up his sword, and praises glad 
 Gave to his God, that sav'd him in this iight ; 
 But yet this bloody conquest feebled had 
 So much the conqueror's force, strength, and might. 
 That through the way he fear'd, which homeward lad. 
 He had not strength enough to walk upright ; 
 Yet, as he could, his steps from thence he bent. 
 And foot by foot a heavy pace forthwent ; 
 
 28. 
 His legs could bear him but a little stound,' 
 And more he hastes (more tir'd) less was his speed ; 
 On his right hand, at last, laid on the ground 
 He lean'd, his hand weak like a shaking reed : 
 Daz'led his eyes, the world on wheels ran round ; 
 Day wrapt her brightness up in sable weed ; 
 At length he swooned, and the victor knight 
 Nought differ 'd from his conqu'red foe in sight. 
 
 29. 
 But while these lords their private fight pursue. 
 Made fierce and cruel through their secret hate. 
 The victor's ire destroy'd the faithless crew 
 From street to street, and chas'd from gate to gate. 
 But of the sacked town the image true 
 Who can describe ? or paint the woful state ? 
 Or with fit words this spectacle express 
 Who can ? or tell the city's great distress ? 
 
 ' Stound — short time.
 
 390 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE; OR, 
 
 30. 
 Blood, murder, death, each street, house, church defilde, 
 There heaps of slain appear, there mountains hie ; 
 There underneath th' unhuried hills up-pilde 
 Of bodies dead, the living buried lie ; 
 There the sad mother with her tender childe 
 Doth tear her tresses loose, complain, and flie; 
 And there the spoiler (by her amber hair) 
 Draws to his lust the virgin chaste and fair. 
 
 31. 
 
 But through the way that to the west-hill yood,' 
 Whereon the old and stately Temple stands. 
 All soil'd with gore, and wet with lukewarm blood 
 Rinaldo ran, and chas'd the Pagan bands : 
 Above their heads he heav'd his curtlax"^ good ; 
 Life in his grace, and death lay in his hands : 
 
 Nor helm, nor target strong, his blows off bears ; 
 
 Best armed there seem'd he, no arms that wears ; 
 
 32. 
 
 For 'gainst his armed foes he only bends 
 His force, and scoi-ns the naked folk to wound ; 
 Them whom no courage harms, no arms defends. 
 He chased with his looks, and dreadful sound : 
 Oh, who can tell how far his force extends ? 
 How these he scorns, threats those, lays them on ground ? 
 How with unequal harm, with equal fear 
 Fled all, all that well arm'd or naked were ! 
 
 33. 
 
 Fast fled the people weak, and with the same 
 A squadron strong is to the Temple gone. 
 Which, burnt and builded oft, still keeps the name 
 Of the first founder, wise King Solomon ; 
 That Prince this stately house did whilome frame 
 Of cedar-trees, of gold, and marble stone; 
 Now not so rich, yet strong and sure it was, 
 With turrets high, thick walls, and doors of brass. 
 
 34. 
 The knight arrived where in warlike sort 
 The men that ample church had fortified. 
 And closed found each wicket, gate, and port, 
 And on the top defences ready spied : 
 
 ' Yood— went. a C\irtla.x—cuflag».
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 391 
 
 He lift his frowning looks, and twice that fort 
 From his high top down to the groundwork e3'ed, 
 
 And entrance sought, and twice with his swift foot 
 
 The mighty place he measured about, 
 
 35. 
 
 Like as a wolf about the closed fold 
 Rangeth by night his hoped prey to get, 
 Enrag'd with hunger, and with malice old, 
 Which kind* 'twixt him and harmless sheep hath set : 
 So search'd he high and low about that hold, 
 Where he might enter without stop or let ; 
 In the great court he staid ; his foes above 
 Attend the assault, and would their fortune prove. 
 
 36. 
 There lay by chance a posted tree thereby, 
 Kept for some needful use, what ere it were ; 
 The armed gallies not so thiclc nor hie 
 Their tall and lofty masts at Genes uprear ; 
 This beam the knight against the gates made fly 
 From his strong hands, all weights which lift and bear ; 
 Like a light lance the tree he shook and tost. 
 And bruis'd the gate, the threshold, and the post. 
 
 37. 
 No marble stone, no metal strong outbore 
 The wond'rous might of that redoubled blow, 
 The brazen hinges from the walls it tore. 
 It broke the locks, and laid the doors down low : 
 No iron ram, no engine could do more. 
 Nor cannons great tliat thunder-bolts forth throw ; 
 His people, like a flowing stream, inthrong, 
 And after them enter'd the victor strong. 
 
 38. 
 The woful slaughter black and loathsome made 
 That house, sometime the sacred House of God ; 
 O heav'nly justice ! if thou be delaid. 
 On wretched sinners sharper falls thy rod ! 
 In them, this place profaned which invaid, 
 Thou kindled ire, and mercy all forbod. 
 
 Until with their heart-bloods the Pagans vile 
 This Temple wash'd, which they did late defile. 
 1 Kind — nature.
 
 392 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNEj OR, 
 
 39. 
 But Soliman this while himself fast sped 
 Up to the fort, which David's tower is named. 
 And with him all the soldiers left he led, 
 And 'gainst each entrance new defences framed: 
 The tyrant Aladine eke thither fled, 
 To whom the Soldan thus (far off) exclaimed, 
 " Cone, come, renowned King, up to this rock, 
 Thyself within this fortress safe up-lock : 
 
 40. 
 " For well this fortress shall thee and thy crown 
 Defend ; awhile here may we safe remain." 
 " Alas," quoth he, " alas ! for this fair town. 
 Which cruel war beats down ev'n with the plain ; 
 My life is done, mine empire trodden down ; 
 I reign'd, I liv'd, but now nor live nor reign ; 
 For now, alas ! behold the fatal hour. 
 That ends our lives, and ends our kingly pow'r." 
 
 41. 
 
 " Where is your virtue, where your wisdom grave, 
 And courage stout?" the angry Soldan said; 
 " Let chance our kingdoms take, which erst she gave 
 Yet in our hearts our kingly worth is laid; 
 But come, and in this fort your person save, 
 Kefresh your weary limbs and strength decaid:" 
 Thus counsel'd he, and did to safety bring 
 Within that fort the weak and aged King, 
 
 42. 
 His iron mace in both his hands he hent, 
 And on his thigh his trusty sword he tide, 
 And to the entrance fierce and fearless went, 
 And kept the strait, and all the French defide : 
 The blows were mortal which he gave or lent ; 
 For whom he hit he slew, else by his side 
 
 Laid low on earth, that all fled from the place 
 Where they beheld that great and dreadful mace. 
 
 43. 
 But old B/aimondo with his hardy crew 
 By chance came thither, to his great mishap ; 
 To that defended path the old man flew. 
 And scorn'd his blows, and him that kept the gap ;
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 393 
 
 He stroke his foe, his blow no blood forth drew. 
 But on the front with that he caught a rap, 
 Which in a swoon low in the dust him laid, 
 Wide open, trembling, with his arms displaid. 
 
 The Pagans gathered heart at last, though fear 
 Their courage weak had put to flight but late. 
 So that the conquerors repulsed were, 
 And beaten back, else slain before the gate : 
 The Soldan ('mongst the dead beside him near 
 That saw Lord Raimond lie in such estate) 
 
 Cry'd to his men, " Within these bars," quoth he, 
 " Come, draw this knight, and let him captive be." 
 
 45. 
 
 Forward they rush'd to execute his word, 
 But hard and dang'rous that emprise they found. 
 For none of Raimond's men forsook their lord. 
 But to their guide's defence they flocked round : 
 Thence fury fights, hence pity draws the sword ; 
 Nor strive they for vile cause, or on light ground ; 
 
 The life and freedom of that champion brave, [save. 
 
 Those spoil, these would preserve; those kill, these 
 
 46. 
 
 But yet at last (if they had longer fought) 
 The hardy Soldan would have won the field ; 
 For 'gainst his thund'ring mace availed nought 
 Or helm of temper fine, or sev'nfold shield : 
 But from each side great succour now was brought 
 To his weak foes, now fit to faint and yield. 
 And both at once to aid and help the same, 
 The sovereign Duke and young Rinaldo came. 
 
 47. 
 
 As when a shepherd, raging round about 
 That sees a storm with wind, hail, thunder, rain 
 (When gloomy clouds have day's bright eye put out), 
 His tender flocks drives from the open plain. 
 To some thick grove, or mountain's shady foot, 
 Where Heav'n's fierce wrath they may unhurt sustain. 
 And with his hook, his whistle, and his cries 
 Drives forth his fleecy charge, and with them flies :
 
 394: GODFREY OF BULLOIGNEJ OR, 
 
 48. 
 So fled the Soldan, when he 'gan descrie 
 This tempest come, from ancjry war forth cast ; 
 The armour clash'd and liijht'ned 'gainst the skie, 
 And from each side swords, weapons, fire, out-brast :* 
 He sent his folk up to the fortress hie, 
 To shun the furious storm ; himself stay'd last; 
 Yet to the danger he gave place at length, 
 For wit, his courage, wisdom rul'd his strength. 
 
 49. 
 But scant the knight was safe the gate within, 
 Scant closed were the doors, when having broke 
 The bars, Rinaldo doth assault begin 
 Against the port, and on the wicket stroke 
 His matchless might ; his great desire to win, 
 His oath and promise, doth his wrath provoke, 
 For he had sworn (nor should his word be vain) 
 To kill the man that had Prince Sweno slain. 
 
 50. 
 
 And now his armed hand that castle great 
 Would have assaulted, and had shortly won, 
 Nor safe pardie the Soldan there a seat 
 Had found, his fatal foe's sharp wrath to shun, 
 Had not Godfredo sounded the retreat. 
 For now dark shades to shroud the earth begun ; 
 Within the town the Duke would lodge that night. 
 And with the morn renew th' assault and fight. 
 
 51. 
 With cheerful look thus to his folk he said, 
 " High God hath holpen well his children dear; 
 This work is done ; the rest this night delaid 
 Doth little labour bring, less doubt, no fear ; 
 This tower (our foe's weak hope and latest aid) 
 We conquer will, when sun shall next appear: 
 jMeanwhile with love and tender ruth go see 
 And comfort those, which hurt and wounded be ; 
 
 52. 
 
 " Go cure their wounds, which boldly ventured 
 Their lives, and spilt their bloods to get this hold ; 
 That fitteth more this host for Christ forth led, 
 Than thirst of veng'ance, or desire of gold ; 
 1 Out-brast — out-bunt.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 395 
 
 Too much, ah, too much blood this day is shed ; 
 
 In some we too much haste to spoil behold ; 
 But I command no more you spoil and kill, 
 And let a trumpet publish forth my will." 
 
 53. 
 
 This said, he went where Eaimond panting lay, 
 Wakt from the swoon wherein he late had been. 
 Nor Soliman with countenance less gay 
 Bespake his troops, and kept his grief unseen : 
 " My friends, you are unconquered this day. 
 In spite of fortune, still our hope is green, 
 
 For underneath great shows of harm and fear, 
 Our dangers small, our losses little were : 
 
 54. 
 
 " Burnt are your houses, and your people slain, 
 Yet safe your town is, though your walls be gone. 
 For in yourselves, and in your soveraign 
 Consists your city, not in lime and stone ; 
 Your king is safe, and safe is all his train. 
 In this strong fort defended from their fone,^ 
 And on this empty conquest let them boast, 
 Till with this town again, their lives be lost ; 
 
 55. 
 
 " And on their heads the loss at last will light, 
 For with good fortune proud and insolent. 
 In spoil and murder spend they day and night, 
 In riot, drinking, lust, and ravishment. 
 And may amid their preys, with little fight. 
 At ease be overthrown, kill'd, slain, and spent, 
 If in this carelessness th' Egyptian hoast 
 Upon them fall, which now draws near this coast. 
 
 56. 
 " Meanwhile, the highest buildings of this town 
 We may shake down with stones, about their ears. 
 And with our darts and spears from engines thrown, 
 Command that hill Christ's sepulchre that bears :" 
 Thus comforts he their hopes and hearts cast down, 
 Awakes their valours, and exiles their fears. 
 But while the things hapt thus, Vafrino goes 
 Unknown, amid ten thousand armed foes. 
 
 1 'Fone—J'oea,
 
 396 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNEj OR, 
 
 57. 
 
 The sun nigh set had brought to end the day, 
 "When Vafriiie went the Pagan host to spie ; 
 He pass'd unknown a close and secret way, 
 A traveller, false, cunning, crafty, slie : 
 Past Ascalon he saw the morning gray 
 Step o'er the threshold of the eastern skie ; 
 And ere bright Titan half his course had run. 
 That camp, that mighty host, to show begun. 
 
 58. 
 
 Tents infinite, and standards broad he spies ; 
 This red, that white, that blue, this purple was; 
 And hears strange tongues, and stranger harmonies 
 Of trumpets, clarions, and well-sounding brass : 
 The elephant there brays, the camel cries ; 
 The horses neigh, as to and fro they pass : 
 
 Which seen and heard, he said within his thought. 
 Hither all Asia is, all Afric, brought : 
 
 59. 
 
 He view'd the camp awhile, her site and seat, 
 
 What ditch, what trench it had, what rampire strong; 
 
 Nor close, nor secret ways to work his feat 
 
 He longer sought, nor hid him from the throng. 
 
 But enter'd through the gates, broad, royal, great, 
 
 Aid oft he ask'd, and answer'd oft among, 
 
 Jn questions wise, in answers short and slie; 
 
 Bold was his look, eyes quick, front lifted hie : 
 
 60. 
 
 On every side he pried here and there. 
 And mark'd each way, each passage, and each tent : 
 The knights he notes, their steeds, and arms they bear; 
 Their names, their armour, and their government ; 
 And greater secrets hopes to learn, and hear 
 Their hidden purpose, and their close intent : 
 So long he walk'd and wander'd, till he spide 
 The way t'approach the great pavilion's side : 
 
 61. 
 
 There, as he look'd, he saw the canvas rent, 
 Through which the voice found eath and open way 
 Prom the close lodgings of the regal tent. 
 And inmost closet, where the Captain lay •
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 397 
 
 So that if Emireno spake, forth went 
 
 The sound to them that listen what they say ; 
 
 There Vafrine watch'd, and those, that saw hira,thought 
 To mend the breach, that there he stood and wrought. 
 
 62. 
 The Captain great within bare-headed stood. 
 His body arm'd, and clad in purple weed ; 
 Two pages bore his shield and helmet good ; 
 He, leaning on a bending lance, gave heed 
 To a big man whose looks were fierce and proud. 
 With whom he parled of some haughty deed ; 
 Godfredo's name, as Vafrine watch'd, he heard, 
 Which made him give more heed, take more regard. 
 
 63. 
 Thus spake the chieftain to that surly sire : 
 "Art thou so sure that Godfrey shall be slain ?" 
 "I am," quoth he, "and swear nere to retire 
 (Except he first be kill'd) to Court again ; 
 I will prevent those that with me conspire : 
 Nor other guerdon ask I for my pain. 
 
 But that I may hang up his harness brave 
 
 At Caire, and under them these words engrave : 
 
 64. 
 
 " These arms Ormondo took in noble fight 
 From Godfrey proud, that spoil'd all Asia's lands. 
 And with them took his life, and here on bight 
 (In memory thereof) this trophy stands." 
 The Duke reply 'd, " Nere shall that deed (bold knight) 
 Pass unrewarded at our sov'reign's hands ; 
 What thou deraandest shall he gladly grant, 
 Nor gold, nor guerdon shalt thou wish, or want. 
 
 65. 
 " Those counterfeited armours then prepare, 
 Because the day of fight approacheth fast." 
 " They ready are," quoth he. Then both forbear 
 From further talk ; these speeches were the last. 
 Vafrine (these great things heard) with grief and care 
 Eemain'd astound,' and in his thoughts olt cast 
 What treason false this was, how feigned were 
 Those arms ; but yet that doubt he could not clear. 
 
 * Astound — astonished.
 
 398 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNEj OK, 
 
 66. 
 
 From thence he parted, and broad waking lay 
 All that long night, nor slumber'd once nor slept : 
 But when the camp by peep of springing day 
 Their banner spread, and knights on horseback lept. 
 With them he marched forth in meet array. 
 And where they pitched, lodg'd, and with them kept ; 
 And then from tent to tent he stalkt about. 
 To hear and see, and learn this secret out ; 
 
 67. 
 
 Searching about, on a rich throne he fand 
 Armida set with dames and knights around ; 
 Sullen she sat, and sigh'd ; it seem'd she scand 
 Some weighty matters in her thoughts profound : 
 Her rosy cheek lean'd on her lily hand, 
 Her eyes (love's twinkling stars) she bent to ground ; 
 Weep she, or no, he knows not ; yet appears 
 Her humid eye ev'n great with child with tears. 
 
 68. 
 
 fle saw before her set Adrastus grim. 
 That seemed scant to live, move, or respire. 
 So was he Used on his mistress trim, 
 So gazed he, and fed his fond desire ; 
 But Tisiphern beheld now her, now him, 
 And quak'd sometime for love, sometime for ire ; 
 And in his cheeks the colour went and came. 
 For their wrath's fire now burnt, now shone love's flame. 
 
 69. 
 
 Then from the garland fair of virgins bright, 
 ('Mongst whom he lay enolos'd) rose Altamore ; 
 His hot desire he hid and kept from sight ; 
 His looks were rul'd by Cupid's crafty lore : 
 His left eye view'd her hand, her face, his right 
 Both watch'd her beauties hid, and secret store. 
 And entrance found where her thin veil bewraid 
 The milkeii-way between her breasts that laid. 
 
 70. 
 
 Her eyes Armida lift from earth at last, 
 And clear'd again her front and visage sad ; 
 'Midst clouds of woe, her looks which overcast, 
 She light'ned forth a smile, sweet, pleasant, glad;
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 399 
 
 " My lord," quoth she, " your oath and promise past 
 Hath freed my heart of all the griefs it had, 
 
 That now in hope of sweet revenge it lives ; 
 
 Such joy, such ease, desired vengeance gives." 
 
 71. 
 
 " Cheer up thy looks" (answer'd the Indian King) 
 
 " And for sweet beauty's sake, appease thy woe, 
 
 Cast at your feet ere j'ou expect the thing, 
 
 I will present the head of thy strong foe; 
 
 Else shall this hand his person captive bring 
 
 And cast in prison deep." He boasted so. 
 
 His rival heard him well, yet answer'd nought, 
 But bit his lips, and griev'd in secret thought. 
 
 72. 
 
 To Tisipherne the damsel turning right, 
 
 " And what say you, my noble lord ?" quoth she ; 
 
 He taunting said, " I that am slow to fight 
 
 Will follow far behind, the worth to see 
 
 Of this your terrible and puissant knight." 
 
 In scornful words this bitter scoff gave he. 
 
 " Good reason," quoth the King, " thou come behind. 
 Nor ere compare thee with the Prince of lud." 
 
 73. 
 
 Lord Tisiphernes shook his head, and said, 
 " Oh had my power free like my courage been. 
 Or had I liberty to use this blade. 
 Who slow, who weakest is, soon should be seen ; 
 Nor thou, nor thy great vaunts make me afraid. 
 But cruel love I fear, and this fair queen." 
 
 This said, to challenge him the King forth lept. 
 But up their mistress start, and 'twixt them stept : 
 
 74. 
 " Will you thus rob me of that gift," quoth she, 
 " Which each hath vow'd to give by word and oath ? 
 You are my champions, let that title be 
 The bond of love and peace between you both ; 
 He that displeas'd is, is displeas'd with me, 
 For which of you is griev'd, and I not wroth P" 
 
 Thus warn'd she them; their hearts (for ire nigh broke) 
 In forced peace and rest thus bore love's yoke.
 
 400 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXEj OR, 
 
 75. 
 All this heard Vafrine, as he stood beside. 
 And having learn'd the truth, he left the tent ; 
 That treason was against the Christians' guide 
 Contriv'd, he wist, yet wist not how it went ; 
 By words and questions far off he tride 
 To find the truth ; more difficult, more bent 
 Was he to know it, and resolv'd to die. 
 Or of that secret close th' intent to spie. 
 
 76. 
 
 Of sly intelligence he prov'd all ways, 
 All crafts, all wiles, that in his thoughts abid. 
 Yet all in vain the man by wit essays, 
 To know that false compact and practice hid : 
 But chance (what wisdom could not tell) bewrays; 
 Fortune of all his doubt the knots \indid ; 
 So that, prepar'd for Godfrey's last mishap 
 (At ease) he found the net, and spy'd the trap. 
 
 77. 
 Thither he tum'd again, where seated was 
 The angry lover, 'twixt her friends and lords, 
 For in that troop much talk he thought would pass ; 
 Each great assembly store of news affords ; 
 He sided there a lusty, lovely lass. 
 And with some courtly terms the wench he boards 
 He feigns acquaintance, and as bold appears 
 As he had known that virgin twenty years. 
 
 He said, " Would some sweet lady grace me so, 
 To choose me for her champion, friend, and knight. 
 Proud Godfrey's or Rinaldo's head (I troe) 
 Should feel the, sharpness of my curtlax bright; 
 Ask me the head (lair mistress) of some foe, 
 For to your beauty vowed is my might ;" 
 So he began, and meant in speeches wise 
 Further to wade, but thus he broke the ice : 
 
 79. 
 Therewith he smil'd, and smiling 'gan to frame 
 His looks so to their old and native grace, 
 That towards him another virgin came. 
 Heard him, beheld him, and with bashful face 
 
 1 Boards — addreuet.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 401 
 
 Said, " For thy mistress choose no other dame 
 
 But me, on me thy love and service place; 
 I take thee for my champion, and apart 
 Would reason with thee, if my knight thou art." 
 
 80. 
 
 Withdrawn, she thus began : " Vafrine (pardie) 
 I know thee well, and me thou know'st of old." 
 To his last trump this drovp the subtle spy. 
 But smiling towards her he turn'd him bold ; 
 " Ne'er, that I wote, I saw thee erst with eye, 
 Yet for thy worth all eyes should thee behold, 
 Thus much I know right well, for from the same, 
 Which erst you gave me, different is my name. 
 
 81. 
 
 " My mother bore me near Bisertus' wall, 
 Her name was Lesbine, mine is Almansore :" 
 " I knew long since," quoth she, " what men thee call. 
 And thine estate ; dissemble it no more : 
 From me thy friend hide not thyself at all, 
 If I bewray thee, let me die therefore ; 
 I am Erminia, daughter to a prince, 
 But Tancred's slave, thy fellow -servant since ; 
 
 82. 
 
 " Two happy months within that prison kind, 
 Under thy guard rejoiced I to dwell. 
 And thee a keeper meek and good did find ; 
 The same, the same I am ; behold me well." 
 The squire her lovely beauty call'd to mind. 
 And mark'd her visage fair : " From thee expel 
 All fear," she says ; " for me live safe and sure, 
 I will thy safety, not thy harm procure. 
 
 83. 
 
 *' But yet I pray thee (when thou dost return) 
 To my dear prison lead me home again ; 
 For in this hateful f)-eedom ev'n and morn 
 I sigh for sorrow, mourn and weep for pain : 
 But if to spy perchance thou here sojourn. 
 Great hap thou hast to know these secrets plain, 
 For I their treasons false, false trains can say, 
 Which few beside can tell, none will bewray." 
 
 DD 
 
 i
 
 402 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE; OR, 
 
 84. 
 
 On her he gaz'd, and silent stood this while, 
 Armida's sleights he knew, and trains unjust. 
 Women have tongues of craft, and hearts of guile. 
 They will, they will not ; fools that on them trust, 
 For in their speech is death, hell in their smile ; 
 At last he said, " If hence depart j'ou lust,' 
 I will you guide, on this conclude we here, 
 And further speech till fitter time forbear." 
 
 85. 
 
 Forthwith (ere thence the camp remove) to ride 
 They were resolv'd ; their flight that season fits : 
 Vafrine departs ; she to the dames beside 
 Returns, and there on thorns awhile she sits : 
 Of her new knight she talks, till time and tide 
 To scape uiimark'd she find, then forth she gets 
 Thither where Vafrine her unseen abode ;^ 
 There took she horse, and from the camp they rode. 
 
 86, 
 And now in deserts waste and wild arrived, 
 Far from the camp, far from resort and sight, 
 Vafrine began, " 'Gainst Godfrey's life contrived, 
 The false compacts and trains unfold aright :" 
 Then she those treasons (from their spring derived) 
 Eepeats, and brings their hid deceits to light ; [are, 
 
 " Eight knights," she saj-s, " (all courtiers brave) there 
 (But Ormond strong the rest surpasseth far) 
 
 87. 
 " These (whether hate, or hope of gain them move) 
 Conspired have, and i'ram'd their treason so. 
 That day when Emiren by fight shall prove 
 To win lost Asia from his Christian foe, 
 These, with the Cross scor'd on their arms above. 
 And arm'd like Frenchmen, will disguised go, 
 
 Like Godfrey's guard that gold and white do wear; 
 
 Such shall their habit be, and such their gear : 
 
 " Yet each will bear a token in his crest, 
 That so their friends for Pagans may them know : 
 But in close fight when all the soldiers best 
 Shall mingled be, to give the fatal blow 
 
 ' Lust — wish. " Abode — avoaited.
 
 JERUSALEM BELIVERED. 403 
 
 They will creep near, and pierce Godfredo's breast, 
 While of his faithful guard they bear false show. 
 And all their swords are dipt in poison strong, 
 Because each wound shall bring sad death ere long, 
 
 89. 
 
 "And for their chieftain wist I knew your guise. 
 What garments, ensigns, and what arms you carry. 
 Those feigned arms he forc'd me to devise. 
 So that from yours but small or nought they vary : 
 But these unjust commands my thoughts despise. 
 Within their camp therefore I list not tarry ; 
 My heart abhors I should this hand defile 
 With spot of treason, or with act of guile. 
 
 90. 
 
 " This is the cause, but not the cause alone :" 
 And there she ceast, and blusht, and on the main 
 Cast down her eyes ; these last words scant outgone, 
 She would have stopt, nor durst pronounce them plain ; 
 The squire what she conceal'd would know, as one 
 That from her breast her secret thoughts could strain. 
 " Of little faith," quoth he, " why would'st thou hide 
 Those causes true, from me thy squii-e and guide ?" 
 
 91. 
 
 With that she fetch'd a sigh, sad, sore, and deep, 
 And from her lips her words slow trembling came, 
 " Fruitless," she said, " untimely, hard to keep, 
 Vain modesty, fai'ewell ; and farewell, shame ; 
 Why hope you, restless love, to bring on sleep ? 
 Why strive you fires to quench sweet Cupid's flame ? 
 No, no, such cares, and such respects beseem 
 Great ladies ; wand'ring maids them nought esteem. 
 
 92. 
 
 " That night fatal to me and Antioch town, 
 Then made a prey to her commanding foe, 
 My loss was greater than was seen or known ; 
 There ended not, but thence began my woe : 
 Light was the loss of friends, of realm, or crown ; 
 But with my state I lost myself also. 
 Ne'er to be found again, for then I lost 
 My wit, my sense, my heart, my soul almost : 
 
 D D 2
 
 404 GODFREY OF bulloigne; or, 
 
 93. 
 " Through fire and sword, through bloodanddeatli,Vafrine, 
 (Which all my friends did burn, did kill, did chace), 
 Thou know'st I ran to thy dear lord and mine. 
 When first he ent'red had my father's place. 
 And kneeling with salt tears in my swoU'n eyne, 
 ' Great Prince,' quoth I, ' grant mercy, pity, grace ; 
 Save not my kingdom, not my life,' I said, 
 * But save mine honour, let me die a maid.' 
 
 94. 
 
 " He lift me by the trembling hand from ground, 
 Nor stay'd he till my humble speech was done ; 
 But said, ' A friend and keeper hast thou found, 
 (Fair virgin) nor to me in vain you run :' 
 A sweetness strange from that sweet voice's sound 
 Pierced my heart, my breast's weak fortress won, 
 Which, creeping through my bosom soft, became 
 A wound, a sickness, and a quenchless flame. 
 
 95. 
 
 " He visits me, with speeches kind and grave 
 He sought to ease my grief, and sorrow's smart : 
 He said, ' I give thee liberty, recave 
 All that is thine, and at thy will depart :' 
 Alas, he robb'd me, when he thought he gave; 
 Free was Erminia, but captiv'd her heart; 
 
 Mine was the body, his the soul and mind ; 
 
 He gave the cage, but kept the bird behind. 
 
 96. 
 
 " But who can hide desire, or love suppress ? 
 Oft of his worth with thee in talk I strove; 
 Thou (by my trembling fit thnt well could'st guess 
 What fever held me) saidst, ' Thou art in love ;' 
 But I denay'd ; for what can maids do less ? 
 And yet my sighs thy sayings true did prove : 
 Instead of speech, my looks, my tears, mine eyes, 
 Told in what flame, what lore thy mistress fries. 
 
 97. 
 " Unhappy silence ! well I might have told 
 My woes, and for my harms have sought relief. 
 Since now mj- pains and plaints I utter bold. 
 Where none, that hears, can help or ease my grief.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 405 
 
 From him I parted, and did close upfold 
 My wounds within my bosom ; death was chief 
 Of all my hopes and helps, till love's sweet flame 
 Pluckt off the bridle of respect and shame. 
 
 " And caus'd me ride to seek my lord and knight, 
 For he that made me sick could make me sound : 
 But on an ambush I mischanc'd to light 
 Of cruel men, in armour clothed round : 
 Hardly I 'scap'd their hands by mature flight. 
 And fled to wilderness and desert ground, 
 And there I liv'd in groves and forests wild, 
 With gentle grooms, and shepherds' daughters mild. 
 
 99. 
 
 " But when hot love, which fear had late supprest, 
 
 Eeviv'd again, there nould' I longer sit. 
 
 But rode the way I came, nor e'er took rest 
 
 Till on like danger, like mishap I hit ; 
 
 A troop, to forage and to spoil addrest, 
 
 Encount'red me, nor could I fly from it : 
 
 Thus was I ta'en, and those, that had me caught 
 Egyptians were, and me to Gaza brought, 
 
 100. 
 
 " And for a present to their captain gave. 
 
 Whom I intreated and besought so well. 
 
 That he mine honour had great care to save, 
 
 And since with fair Armida let me dwell. 
 
 Thus taken oft, escaped oft I have ; 
 
 Ah, see what haps 1 past, what dangers fell ; 
 So often captive, free so oft again. 
 Still my first bands I keep, still my first chain. 
 
 101. 
 " And he, that did this chain so surely bind 
 About my heart, which none can loose but he. 
 Let him not say, ' Go, wand'ring damsel, find 
 Some other home, thou shalt not bide with me,' 
 But let him welcome me with speeches kind, 
 And in my wonted prison set me free :" 
 
 Thus spake the Princess, thus she and her guide 
 Talkt day and night, and on their journey ride. 
 ' Nould — tcould not.
 
 406 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXEj OR, 
 
 102. 
 Through the high ways Vafrino would not pass, 
 A path more secret, safe, and short, he knew, 
 And now close by the city's wall he was. 
 When sun was set, night in the east up-flew ; 
 With drops of blood besmear'd he found the grass, 
 And saw where lay a warrior murd'red new, 
 That all bebled' the ground ; his face to skies 
 He turns, and seems to threat, though dead he lies : 
 
 103. 
 
 His harness and his habit both bewraid 
 He was a Pagan ; forward went the squire. 
 And saw whereas another champion laid 
 Dead on the land, all soil'd with blood and mire ; 
 " This was some Christian knight," Vafrino said, 
 And, marking well his arms and rich attire, 
 He loos'd his helm, and saw his visage plain, 
 And cry'd, " Alas, here lies Tancredie slain !" 
 
 104. 
 
 The woful virgin tarried, and gave heed 
 To the fierce looks of that proud Saracine, 
 Till that high cr}' (full of sad fear and dreed) 
 Pierc'd through her heart with sorrow, grief, and pine ; 
 At Tancred's name thither she ran with speed. 
 Like one half mad, or drunk with too much wine ; 
 And when she saw his face, pale, bloodless, dead. 
 She lighted, nay, she stumbled from her steed : 
 
 105. 
 Her springs of tears she looseth forth, and cries, 
 " Hither why bring'st thou me, ah Fortune blind ? 
 Where dead (for whom I liv'd) my comfort lies. 
 Where war for peace, travail for rest I find ; 
 Tancred, I have thee, see thee, yet thine eyes 
 Look not upon thy love and handmaid kind; 
 
 Undo their doors, their lids fast closed sever; 
 
 Alas, I find thee, for to lose thee ever. 
 
 106. 
 " I never thought that to mine eyes (my dear) 
 Thou could'st have grievous or unpleasant been ; 
 But now would blind or rather dead I were. 
 That thy sad plight might be unknown, unseen; 
 1 Bebled — covered teith blood.
 
 Taiii-ivil. I have tliep. sw tlioi', yet tliiiic cie^ 
 L.iuk'il iHit upon tl.y love ami liaiHliimid Uinil,
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 407 
 
 Alas, where Is thy mirth and smiling cheer ? 
 
 Where are thine eyes' clear beams and sparkles sheen ? 
 Of thy fair cheek where is the purple red, 
 And forehead's whiteness ? are all gone, all dead ? 
 
 107. 
 
 "Though gone, though dead, I love thee still ; behold 
 Death wounds, but kills not love ; yet if thou live. 
 Sweet soul, still in his breast, my follies bold 
 Ah, pardon, love's desires and stealths forgive ; 
 Grant me from his pale mouth some kisses cold, 
 Since death doth love of just reward deprive; 
 And of thy spoils sad death afford me this, 
 Let me his mouth pale, cold, and bloodless kiss ; 
 
 108. 
 
 " gentle mouth ! with speeches kind and sweet 
 
 Thou didst relieve my grief, my woe, and pain ; 
 
 Ere my weak soul from this frail body fleet, 
 
 Ah, comfort me with one dear kiss or twain ! 
 
 Perchance, if we alive had hapt to meet. 
 
 They had been giv'n which now are stol'n ! vain, 
 
 O feeble life, betwixt his lips out-flie ; 
 
 let me kiss thee first, then let me die ! 
 
 109. 
 
 " Receive my yielding spirit, and with thine 
 Guide it to Heav'n, where all true love hath place :" 
 This said, she sigh'd, and tore her tresses fine, 
 And from her eyes two streams pour'd on his face : 
 The man, revived with those showers divine, 
 Awakt, and opened his lips a space : 
 
 His lips were open ; but fast shut his eyes, 
 And with her sighs, one sigh from him up-flies. 
 
 110. 
 
 The dame perceiv'd that Tancred breath'd and sigh'd. 
 Which calm'd her grief some deal and eas'd her fears : 
 " Unclose thine eyes," she says, " my lord and knight. 
 See my last services, my plaints, and tears ; 
 See her that dies to see thy woful plight, 
 That of thy pain her part and portion bears : 
 Once look on me, small is the gift I crave. 
 The last which thou canst give, or I can have."
 
 408 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE; OK, 
 
 111. 
 
 Tancred look'd up, and clos'd his eyes again, 
 Heavy and dim, and she renew'd her woe : 
 Quoth Vairine, " Cure him first, and then comphnn ; 
 Med'cine is Hfe's cliief friend ; plaint her worst foe :" 
 Thej' pluok'd his armour otf, and she each vei 
 Each joint, and sinew felt, and handled so. 
 
 And search'd so well, each thrust, each cut and wound, 
 That hope of life her love and skill soon found. 
 
 112. 
 From weariness and loss of blood she spide 
 His greatest pains and anguish most proceed, 
 Nought but her veil amid those deserts wide 
 She had to bind his wounds, in so great need, 
 But love could other bands (though strange) provide, 
 And pity wept for joy to see that deed ; 
 
 For with her amber locks cut off, each wound 
 She tied : happy man, so cur'd, so bound ! 
 
 113. 
 
 For why ? her veil was short and thin, those deep 
 And cruel hurts to fasten, roll, and bind ; 
 Nor salve, nor simple had she, j-et to keep 
 Her knight on live, strong charms of wondrous kind 
 She said, and from him drove that deadly sleep, 
 That now his eyes he lifted, turn'd, and twin'd. 
 And saw his squire, and saw that courteous dame 
 In habit strange, and wond'red whence she came. 
 
 114 
 He said, "0 Vafrine, tell me, whence com'st thou? 
 And who this gentle surgeon is, disclose;" 
 She smil'd, she sigh'd, she look'd, she wist not how. 
 She wept, rejoic'd, she blush'd as red as rose : 
 " You shall know all," she says, " your surgeon now 
 Commands you silence, rest, and soft repose ; 
 You shall be sound ; prepare my guerdon meet." 
 His head then laid she in her bosom sweet. 
 
 115. 
 
 Vafrine devis'd this while how he might bear 
 His master home, ere night obscur'd the land, 
 When, lo, a troop of soldiers did appear, 
 Whom he descri'd to be Tancredie's band ;
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 409 
 
 With him, when he and Argant met, they were, 
 But when they went to combat hand for hand. 
 He bade them stay behind, and they obaid. 
 But came to seek him now, so long he staid. 
 
 116. 
 
 Besides them, many follow'd that enquest,' 
 But these alone found out the rightest way ; 
 Upon their I'riendly arms the men addrest'' 
 A seat whereon he sate, he lean'd, he lay : 
 Quoth Tancred, " Shall tlie strong Circassian rest 
 In this broad field, for wolves and crows a prey ? 
 Ah no, defraud not you that champion brave 
 Of his just praise, of his due tomb and grave : 
 
 117. 
 " With his dead bones no longer war have I, 
 Boldly he died, and nobly was he slain ; 
 Then let us not that honour him denie. 
 Which after death alonely^ doth remain :" 
 The Pagan dead they lifted up on hie. 
 And after Tancred bore him through the plain. 
 Close by the virgin chaste did Vafrine ride, 
 As he that was her squire, her guard, her guide. 
 
 118. 
 
 " Not home," quoth Tancred, " to my wonted tent. 
 
 But bear me to this royal town, I pray. 
 
 That if cut short by human accident 
 
 I die, there I may see my latest day ; 
 
 The place, where Christ upon his Cross was rent, 
 
 To Heav'n perchance may easier make the way. 
 And ere I yield to death's and fortune's rage, 
 Pertorm'd shall be my vow and pilgrimage." 
 
 119. 
 Thus to the city was Tancredie borne, 
 And fell on sleep, laid on a bed of down. 
 Vafrino, where the damsel might sojourne, 
 A chamber got, close, secret, near his own : 
 That done, he came the mighty Duke beforne. 
 And entrance found ; for, till his news were known. 
 
 Nought was concluded 'mongst those knights and lords ; 
 
 Their counsel hung on his report and words. 
 1 Enqnest — inquiry. * Addrest — prepared, ' Alonely — only.
 
 410 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNEj OR, 
 
 120. 
 Where, weak and weary, wounded Eaimond laid, 
 Godfrey was set upon his couch's side. 
 And round about the man a ring was made 
 Of lords and knights, that fiU'd the chamber wide; 
 There, while the squire his late discov'ry said, 
 To break his talk, none answer 'd, none replide: 
 " My lord," he said, " at 5'our command 1 went 
 And view'd their camp, each cabin, booth, and tent ; 
 
 121. 
 
 " But of that mighty host the number true 
 Expect not that I can, or should descrie; 
 All cover'd with their armies might you view 
 The fields, the plains, the dales, and mountains hie : 
 I saw what way so e'er they went and drew, 
 They spoil'd the land, drunk floods and fountains drie ; 
 For not whole Jordan could have given them drink. 
 Nor all the grain iu Syria, bread, I think. 
 
 122. 
 
 " But yet amongst them many bands are found, 
 Both horse and foot, of little force and might, 
 That keep no order, know no trumpet's sound, 
 That draw no sword, but far off shoot and fight ; 
 But yet the Persian army doth abound 
 With many a footman strong, and hardy knight ; 
 So dotli the king's own troop, which all is framed 
 Of soldiers old, th' Immortal Squadi-on named. 
 
 123. 
 " Immortal called is that band of right, 
 For of that number never wanteth one, 
 But in his empty place some other knight 
 Steps in, when any man is dead or gone : 
 This army's leader Eraireno hight, 
 Like whom in wit and strength are few or none ; 
 Who hath in charge in plain and pitched field. 
 To fight with you, to make you fly or yield. 
 
 124. 
 " And well I know their army and their host, 
 Within a day or two will here arrive : 
 But thee, Rinaldo, it behoveth most 
 To keep thy noble head, for which they strive ;
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 411 
 
 For all the chief in arms, or courage, boast 
 They will the same to Queen Armida give. 
 
 Aid for the same she gives herself in price ; 
 
 Such hire will many hands to work entice. 
 
 125. 
 
 " The chief of these, that have thy murder swome, 
 Is Altamore, the King of Sarmachand : 
 Adrastus then, whose realm lies near the morne, 
 A hardy giant, bold, and strong of hand ; 
 This king upon an elephant is borne. 
 For under him no horse can stir or stand ; 
 
 The third is Tisipherne, as brave a lord 
 
 As ever put on helm, or girt on sword." 
 
 126. 
 
 This said, from young Einaldo's angry eyes 
 Flew sparks of wrath, flames in his visage shin'd ; 
 He long'd to be amid those enemies. 
 Nor rest nor reason in his heart could find : 
 But to the Duke Vafrine his talk applies ; 
 " The greatest news," my lord, " are yet behind, 
 For all their thoughts, their crafts, and counsels tend 
 By treason false to bring thy life to end." 
 
 127. 
 
 Then all from point to point he 'gan expose 
 The false compact, how it was made and wrought ; 
 The arms and ensigns feigned, poison close, 
 Ormonde's vaunt, what praise, what thank he sought. 
 And what reward ; and satisfied all those 
 That would demand, inquire, or ask of aught. 
 Silence was made awhile, when Godfrey thus : 
 " Raimondo, say, what counsel giv'st thou us P" 
 
 128. 
 
 " Not as we purpos'd late, next morn," quoth he, 
 " Let us not scale, but round besiege this tower, 
 That those within may have no issue free 
 To sally out, and hurt us with their power : 
 Our camp well rested and refreshed see. 
 Provided well 'gainst this last storm and shower, 
 
 And then in pitched field fight, if you will ; 
 
 If not, delay, and keep this fortress still.
 
 412 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE. 
 
 129. 
 
 " But lest you he endaiig'red, hurt, or slain, 
 Of all your cares take care yourself to save ; 
 By you this camp doth liv^e, doth win, doth raigne ; 
 \Vho else can rule or guide these squadrons brave ? 
 And for the traitors shall be noted plain. 
 Command your guard to change the arms they have ; 
 So shall their guile be known, in their own net 
 So shall they fall, caught in the snare they set." 
 
 130. 
 
 " As it hath ever," thus the Duke begun, 
 " Thy counsel shows thy wisdom and thy love, 
 And what j'ou left in doubt shall thus be done ; 
 We will their force in pitched battle prove ; 
 Clos'd in this wall and trench, the fight to shun. 
 Doth ill this camp beseem, and worse behove; 
 
 But we their strength and manhood will assay 
 
 And try, in open field and open day, 
 
 131. 
 
 " The fame of our great conquests to sustain, 
 Or bide our looks and threats they are not able ; 
 And when this army is subdu'd and slain, 
 Then is our empire settled, firm, and stable ; 
 The tower shall yield, or but resist in vain. 
 For fear her anchor is, despair her cable." 
 Thus he concludes, and rolling down the west 
 Fast set the stars, and call'd them all to rest.
 
 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE 
 
 §00lt i\t ntntui^. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Pagan host arrives, and cruel fight 
 Makes with the Christians, and their faithful power ; 
 The Soldan longs infield to prove his might; 
 With the old King quits the besieged tovjer ; 
 Yet both are slain, and in eternal night 
 A famous hand gives each his fatal hour ; 
 Rinald appeas'd Armida. First the field 
 The Christians win, then praise to God they yield. 
 
 The sun call'd up the world from idle sleep, 
 And of the day ten hours were gone and past, 
 When the bold troop, that had the tower to keep, 
 Espy'd a sudden mist, that overcast 
 The earth with mirksome clouds and darkness deep. 
 And saw it was th' Egyptian camp at last 
 
 Which rais'd the dust, for hills and valleys broad 
 That host did overspread, and overload. 
 
 Therewith a merry shout and joyful cry 
 The Pagans rear'd from their besieged hold ; 
 The cranes from Thrace with such a rumour fly, 
 His hoary frost and snow when Hyems old 
 Pours down, and fast to warmer regions hie. 
 From the sharp winds, fierce storms, and tempests cold : 
 And quick and ready this new hope and aid 
 Their hands to shoot, their tongues to threaten made.
 
 414 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 3. 
 
 From whence their ire, their wrath, and hardy threat 
 Proceeds, the French well knew and plain espide ; 
 For from the walls and ports the army great 
 They saw, her strength, her number, pomp, and pride ; 
 Swelled their breasts with valour's noble heat. 
 Battle and fight they wish'd, " Arm, arm !" they cride. 
 The youth to give the sign of fight all praid 
 Their Duke, and were displeas'd because delaid 
 
 4. 
 
 Tin morning next, for he refus'd to fight ; 
 Their haste and heat he bridled, but not brake ; 
 Kor yet with sudden fray, or skirmish light, 
 Of these new foes would he vain trial make ; 
 " After so many wars," he says, " good right 
 It is, that one day's rest at least you take :" 
 For thus in his vain foes he cherish would 
 The hope, which in their strength they have and hold. 
 
 To see Aurora's gentle beam appear, 
 
 The soldiers armed, prest, and ready lay. 
 
 The skies were never half so fair and clear. 
 
 As in the breaking of that blessed day ; 
 
 The merry morning smil'd, and seem'd to wear, 
 
 U])on her silver crown, sun's golden ray. 
 
 And without cloud, Heav'n his redoubled light 
 Bent down to see this field, this fray, this fight. 
 
 6. 
 When first he saw the daybreak show and shine, 
 Godfrey his host in good array brought out. 
 And to besiege the tyrant Aladine, 
 Eaimond he left, and all the faithful rout, 
 That from the towns was come of Palestine, 
 To serve and succour their deliverer stout ; 
 And with them left a hardy troop beside 
 Of Gascoigns strong ; in arms well prov'd, oft tride. 
 
 7. 
 Such was Godfredo's count'nance, such his chear, 
 That from his eye sure conquest flames and streams, 
 Heav'n's gracious favours in his looks appear. 
 And great and goodly more than erst he seems ; 
 
 i
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 415 
 
 His face and forehead full of nobless were, 
 And on his cheek smiled youthes purple beams, 
 And in his gait, his grace, his acts, his eyes, 
 Somewhat (tar more than mortal) lives and lies. 
 
 He had not marched far, ere he espied 
 
 Of his proud foes the mighty host draw nie ; 
 
 A hill at first he took, and fortified 
 
 At his left-hand which stood his army by : 
 
 Broad in the front, behind more strait up-tied, 
 
 His army ready stood the fight to try, 
 
 And to the middle ward well arm'd he brings 
 
 His footmen strong ; his horsemen serv'd for wings. 
 
 9. 
 
 To the left wing, spread underneath the bent 
 
 Of the steep hill, that sav'd their flank and side, jj i 
 
 The Roberts twain, two leaders good, he sent ; fl 
 
 His brother had the middle ward to guide ; 
 
 To the right wing himself in person went 
 
 Down, where the plain was dang'rous, broad, and wide, 
 
 And where his foes with their great numbers would 
 
 Perchance environ round his squadions bold. 
 
 10. 
 
 There all his Lorrainers and men of might, 
 All his best arm'd he plac'd, and chosen bands. 
 And with those horse some footmen armed light. 
 That archers were, (us'd to that service) stands ; 
 Th' Advent'rers then, in battle and in fight 
 Well try'd, a squadron famous through all lands, 
 
 On the right-hand he set, some deal aside ; 
 
 Rinaldo was their leader, lord, and guide. 
 
 11. 
 
 To whom the Duke, " In thee our hope is laid 
 Of victory, thou must the conquest gain ; 
 Behind this mighty wing, so far displaid, 
 Thou with thy noble squadron close remain. 
 And when the Pagans would our backs invade. 
 Assail them then, and make their onset vain ; 
 
 For, if I guess aright, they have in mind 
 
 To compass us, and charge our troops behind."
 
 416 GODFREY OF BULLOIGKE ; OB, 
 
 12. 
 Then through his host, that took so large a scope. 
 He rode, and view'd them all, both horse and foot; 
 His face was bare, his helm unclos'd and ope ; 
 Light'ned his eye;', his looks bright fire shot out : 
 He cheers the fearful, comforts them that hope, 
 And to the bold recounts his boasting stout. 
 
 And to the valiant his adventures hard ; 
 
 These bids he look for praise, those for reward. 
 
 13. 
 
 At last he stay'd, where of his squadrons bold 
 And noblest troops assembled was best part; 
 There from a rising bank his will he told. 
 And all that heard his speech thereat took heart : 
 And as the molten snow from mountains cold 
 Runs down in streams, with eloquence and art 
 So from his lips his words and speeches fell, 
 Shrill, speedy, pleasant, sweet, and placed well : 
 
 14 
 
 " My hardy host, you conqu'rors of the East, 
 You scourge, wherewith Christ whips his heathen fone. 
 Of victory behold the latest feast. 
 See the last day, for which you wish'd alone; 
 Kot without cause the Sar'cens, most and least. 
 Our gracious Lord hath gather'd here in one, 
 For all your foes and His a.ssembled are. 
 That one day's fight may end seven years of war. 
 
 15. 
 
 " This fight shall bring us many victories ; 
 
 The danger none, the labour will be small ; 
 
 Let not the number of your enemies 
 
 Dismay your hearts, grant fear no place at all; 
 
 For strll'e and discord through their armj' flies ; 
 
 Their bands ill rank'd themselves entangle shall. 
 And few of them to strike or fight shall come. 
 For some want strength, some heart, some elbow-room. 
 
 16. 
 " This host, with whom you must encounter now. 
 Are men half-naked, without strength, or skill ; 
 From idleness, or following the plow, 
 Late pressed forth to war, against their will;
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 417 
 
 Their swords are blunt, shields thin, soon pierced throw,^ 
 Their banners shake, their bearers shrink ; for ill 
 
 Their leaders heard, obey'd, or foUow'd be ; 
 
 Their loss, their flight, their death I well foresee. 
 
 17. 
 
 " Their captain clad in purple, arm'd in gold, 
 
 That seems so fierce, so hardy, stout, and strong, 
 
 The Moors, or weak Arabians, vanquish could, 
 
 Yet can he not resist your valours long. 
 
 What can he do (though wise, tho' sage, though bold) 
 
 In that confusion, trouble, thrust, and throng ? 
 
 Ill known he is, and worse he knows his host ; 
 
 Strange lords ill fear'd are, ill obey'd of most. 
 
 18. 
 " But I am Captain of this chosen crew. 
 With whom I oft have conquer'd, triumph'd oft ; 
 Your lands and linages long since I knew ; 
 Each knight obeys my rule, mild, easy, soft : 
 I know each sword, each dart, each shaft I view, 
 Although the quarry fly in skies aloft ; 
 
 Whether the same of Ireland be, or France, 
 
 And irom what bow it comes, what hand perchance : 
 
 19. 
 
 " I ask an easy, and an usual thing ; 
 
 As you have oft, this day so win the field ; 
 
 Let zeal and honour be your virtue's sting ; 
 
 Your lives, my fame, Christ's faith, defend and shield : 
 
 To earth these Pagans slain and wounded bring ; 
 
 Tread on their necks, make them all die or yield : 
 
 What need I more exhort you ? From your eyes 
 
 I see how victory, how conquest flies." 
 
 20. 
 Upon the Captain (when his speech was done) 
 It seem'd a lamp and golden light down came. 
 As from night's azure mantle oft doth run. 
 Or fall, a sliding star, or shining flame ; 
 But from the bosom of the burning sun 
 Proceeded this, and garland-wise the same 
 Godfredo's noble head encompast round, 
 And (as some thought) foreshew'd he should be crownd 
 
 ^ Throw — through.
 
 418 GODFREY OF BULLOIGIfE; OR, 
 
 21. 
 
 Perchance (If man's proud thought, or saucy tongue, 
 Have leave to judge or guess at heav'nly things) 
 This was the angel, which had kept him long, 
 That now came down, and hid him with his \vings. 
 While thus the Duke bespeaks his armies strong, 
 And every troop and band in order brings. 
 Lord Emiren his host disposed well, 
 And with bold words whet on their courage fell. 
 
 22. 
 
 The man brought forth his army gi-eat with speed, 
 In order good his foes at hand he spide : 
 Like the new moon, his host two horns did spreed; 
 In midst the foot, the horse were on each side ; 
 The right wing kept he for himself to lead. 
 Great Altamore receiv'd the left to guide ; 
 
 The middle ward led Muleasses proud. 
 
 And in that battle fair Armida stood. 
 
 23. 
 
 On the right quarter stood the Indian grim. 
 With Tisipherne, and all the king's own band ; 
 But where the left-wing spread her squadi-ons trim 
 O'er the large plain, did Altamoro stand, 
 With African and Persian kings with him. 
 And two that came from Meroe's hot sand ; 
 And all his cross-bows and his slings he plast. 
 Where room best serv'd to shoot, to throw, to cast. 
 
 24. 
 
 Thus Emiren his host put in array. 
 
 And rode from band to band, from rank to rank ; 
 
 His truchmen' now, and now himself doth say, 
 
 "SMiat spoil his folk shall gain, what praise, what thank ; 
 
 To him that fear'd, " Look up, ours is the day," 
 
 He saj's, " Vile fear to bold hearts never sank ; 
 
 How dareth one against an hundred fight ? 
 
 Our cry, our shade will put them aU to flight." 
 
 25. 
 
 But to the bold, " Go, hardy knight," he says, 
 " His prey out of this lion's paw go tear :" 
 To some, before his thoughts the shape he lays, 
 And makes therein the image true appeal*, 
 1 Truchmen — interpreteri.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 419 
 
 How his sad country him intreats and pi'ays, 
 His house, his loving wife, and children dear ; 
 " Suppose," quoth he, " thy country doth beseech 
 And pray thee thus, suppose this is her speech : 
 
 26. 
 
 " Defend my law?5, uphold my temples brave, 
 My blood, from washing of my streets, withhold. 
 From ravishing my virgins keep, and save 
 Thine ancestors' dead bones and ashes cold : 
 To thee thy fathers dear and parents grave 
 Show their uncover 'd heads, white, hoary, old ; 
 
 To thee thy wife, her breasts with tears o'erspread, 
 Thy sons, their cradles, shows, thy marriage-bed. 
 
 27. 
 
 " To all the rest, you for her honour's sake, 
 Whom Asia makes her champions, by your might 
 Upon these thieves, weak, feeble, few, must take 
 A sharp revenge, yet just, deserv'd, and right." 
 Thus many words in sev'ral tongues he spake. 
 And all his sundry nations to sharp fight 
 Encouraged. But now the Dukes had done 
 Their speeches all, the hosts together run. 
 
 28. 
 It was a great, a strange, and wondrous sight, 
 When front to front those noble armies met. 
 How every troop, how in each troop each knight 
 Stood prest to move, to fight, and praise to get : 
 Loose in the wind waved their ensigns light ; 
 Trembled the plumes that on their crests were set ; 
 Their arms, impresses,' colours, gold and stone, 
 'Gainst the sunbeams smil'd, flamed, sparkled, shone : 
 
 29. 
 
 Of dry-topt oaks they seem'd two forests thick, 
 So did each host with spears and pikes abound ; 
 Bent were their bows, in rests their lances sticlv ; 
 Their hands shook swords, their slings held cobles" round ; 
 Each steed to run was ready, prest, and quick 
 At his commander's spur, his hand, his sound ; 
 
 He chafes, he stamps, careers, and turns about, [out. 
 
 He foams, snoi'ts, neighs, and fii-e and smoke breathes 
 
 • Impresses — devices. * Cobles — round stones, 
 
 £ £ 2
 
 420 GODFREY OF BULLOIGKE j OR, 
 
 30. 
 Horror itself in that fair sight seem'd fair, 
 And pleasure flew amid sad dread and fear : 
 The trumpets shrill, that thundered in the air. 
 Were music mild and sweet to every ear : 
 The faithful camp (though less) yet seem'd more rare 
 In that strange noise, more warlike, shrill, and clear. 
 
 In notes more sweet ; the Pagan trumpets jar ; 
 
 These sung, their armours sliin'd, those glist'red far. 
 
 31. 
 
 The Christian trumpets give the deadly call. 
 The Pagans answer, and the fight accept ; 
 The godly Frenchmen on their knees down fall 
 To pray, and kiss'd the earth, and then up-lept 
 To fight ; the land between was vanisht all ; 
 In combat close, each host to other stept ; 
 For now the wings had skirmish hot begun. 
 And with their battles forth the footmen run. 
 
 32. 
 
 But who was first of all the Christian train. 
 That gave the onset first, first won renown ? 
 Gildippes, thou wert she, for (by thee slain) 
 The King of Orms, Hircano, tumbled down : 
 The man's breast-bone thou clov'st and rent in twain, 
 So Heav'n with honour would thee bless and crown: 
 Pierst through he fell, and falling hard withall 
 His foe prais'd for her strength, and for his fall. 
 
 33. 
 
 Her lance thus broke, the hardy dame forth drew 
 (With her strong hand) a fine and trenchant blade. 
 And 'gainst the Persians fierce and bold she flew. 
 And in their troop wide streets and lanes she made ; 
 Even in the girdling stead divided new 
 In pieces twain, Zopire on earth she lade ; 
 And then Alarco's head she swept ofl' cleen, 
 Which, like a foot-ball, tumbled on the green. 
 
 34. 
 
 A blow fell'd Artaxerxes, with a thrust 
 Was Argeus slain ; the first lay in a trance. 
 Ismael's left hand cut ofl'lell in the dust; 
 For on his wrist her sword fell down by chance :
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 421 
 
 The hand let go the bridle where it lust ; 
 
 The blow upon the courser's ears did glance, 
 Who felt the reins at large, and with the stroke 
 Half mad, the ranks disord'red, troubled, broke. 
 
 35. 
 
 All these, and many moe, by time forgot, 
 
 She slew and wounded, when against her came 
 
 The angry Persians all, cast on a knot. 
 
 For on her person would they purchase fame : 
 
 But her dear spouse and husband wanted not 
 
 (In so great need) to aid the noble dame ; 
 
 Thus join'd, the haps of war unhurt they prove. 
 Their strength was double, double was their love : 
 
 36. 
 
 The noble lovers use well might you see, 
 A wondrous guise, till then unseen, unheard ; 
 To save themselves forgot both he and she, 
 Each other's life did keep, defend, and guard ; 
 The strokes, that 'gainst her lord discharged be, 
 The dame had care to bear, to break, to ward ; 
 His shield kept off the blows bent on his dear. 
 Which (if need be) his naked head should bear. 
 
 37. 
 
 So each sav'd other, each for other's wrong 
 Would veng'ance talce, but not revenge their own : 
 The valiant Soldan, Artabano strong, 
 Of Boecan Isle, by her was overthrown, 
 And by his hand (the bodies dead among) 
 Alvante (that durst his mistress wound) fell down. 
 And she between the eyes hit Arimont, 
 (Who hurt her lord) and cleft in twain his front. 
 
 38. 
 
 But Altaraore, who had that wing to lead. 
 Far greater slaughter on the Christians made ; 
 For where he turn'd his sword, or twin'd his steed, 
 He slew, or man and beast on earth down laid : 
 Happy was he that was at first struck dead, 
 That fell not down on live ; for whom his blade 
 Had spar'd, the same cast in the dusty street 
 His horse tore with his teeth, bruis'd with his feet.
 
 422 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR 
 
 39. 
 
 By this brave Persian's valour kill'd and slain 
 Were strong Brunello, and Ardonio great ; 
 The first his head and helm had cleft in twain; 
 The last in stranger-wise he did intreat, 
 For through his heart he pierc'd, and through the vein 
 Where laughter hath his fountain and his seat ; 
 So that (a dreadful thing, believ'd uneath) 
 He laught for pain, and laught himself to death. 
 
 40. 
 Nor these alone with that accursed knife, 
 Of this sweet light and breath deprived lie ; 
 But with that cruel weapon lost their life, 
 Gentonio, Guascar, Rosimond, and Guy ; 
 Who knows how many in that fatal strife 
 He slew P what knights his courser fierce made die ? 
 The names and countries of the people slain 
 Who tells ? their wounds and deaths who can explain ? 
 
 41. 
 With this fierce King incounter durst not one, 
 Not one durst combat him in equal field ; 
 Gildippes undertook that task alone. 
 No doubt could make her shrink, no danger yield ; 
 By Thermodont was never Amazone, 
 (That menag'd steeled ax, or carried shield) 
 That seem'd so bold as she, so strong, so light, 
 When forth she run to meet that dreadful knight. 
 
 42. 
 She hit him, where with gold and rich anmail 
 His diadem did on his helmet flame ; 
 She broke and cleft the crown, and caus'd him vail 
 His proud and loity top ; his crest down came ; 
 Strong seem'd her arm, that could so well assail : 
 The Pagan shook for spite, and bluslit for shame; 
 Forward he rusht, and would at once requite 
 Shame with disgrace ; and with revenge, despite. 
 
 43. 
 
 Eight on the front he gave that lady kind 
 A blow so huge, so strong, so great, so sore, 
 That out of sense and feeling dowTi she twind : 
 But her dear knight his love from ground up-bore :
 
 JERUSALEM: DELIVERED. 423 
 
 Were it tlieir fortune, or his noble mind, 
 He staid his hand, and strook the dame no more : 
 A lion so stalks by, and with proud eyes 
 Beholds, but scorns to hurt, a man that lies. 
 
 44. 
 
 This while Ormondo false, whose cruel hand 
 Was arm'd and prest to give the traitrous blow, 
 With all his fellows 'mongst Godfredo's band 
 Enter'd unseen, disguis'd that few them know : 
 The thievish wolves (when night o'ershades the land) 
 That seem like faithful dogs in shape and show. 
 So to the closed folds in secret creep, 
 And entrance seek to kill some harmless sheep. 
 
 45. 
 
 He 'proached nigh, and to Godfredo's side 
 The bloody Pagan now was placed nere ; 
 But when his colours gold and white he spide. 
 And saw the other signs that forged were, 
 " See, see, this traitor false," the captain cride, 
 " That like a Frenchman would in show appear, 
 Behold how near his mates and he are crept." 
 This said, upon the villain forth he lept ; 
 
 46, 
 
 Deadly he wounded him, and that false knight 
 Nor strikes, nor wards, nor striveth to be gone ; 
 But (as Medusa's head were in his sight) 
 Stood like a man new turn'd to marble stone : 
 All lances broke, unsheath'd all weapons bright. 
 All quivers emptied were on them alone; 
 In parts so many were the traitors cleft, 
 That those dead men had no dead bodies left. 
 
 47. 
 When Godfrey was with Pagan blood bespred, 
 He ent'red then the fight, and that was past 
 Where the bold Persian fought and combated. 
 Where the close ranks he op'ned, cleft, and brast ; 
 Before the knight the troops and squadrons fled, 
 As Afric dust before the southern blast ; 
 
 The Duke recall'd them, in array them placed, 
 Stay'd those that fled, and him assail'd that chased.
 
 424 GODFREY OF bulloiot: ; OK, 
 
 48. 
 
 The champions strong there fought a battle stout; 
 Troy never saw the like by Xanthus old : 
 A conflict sharp there was meanwhile on fout, 
 'Twixt Baldwin good and Muleasses bold : 
 The horsemen also (near the mountain's rout, 
 And in both wings) a furious skirmish hold. 
 And where the barb'rous Duke in person stood, 
 'Twixt Tioiphemes and Adi'astus proud ; 
 
 49. 
 With Emiren Eobert the Xorman strove ; 
 Long time they fought, yet neither lost nor won ; 
 The other Robert's helm the Indian clove. 
 And broke his arms ; their fight would soon be done : 
 From place to place did Tisiphemes rove. 
 And found no match ; against him none durst run ; 
 But where the prease was thickest, thither flew 
 The knight, and at each stroke fell'd, hurt, or slew, 
 
 50. 
 Thus fought they long, yet neither shrink nor yield ; 
 In equal balance hung their hope and fear : 
 All full of broken lances lay the field, 
 All full of arms, that clov'n and shatter'd were ; 
 Of swords, some to the body nail the shield, 
 Some cut men's throats, and some their bellies tear ; 
 Of bodies, some upright, some grovelling lay. 
 And for themselves eat graves out of the clay. 
 
 51. 
 
 Beside his lord slain lay the noble steed ; 
 There friend with friend lay kill'd, like lovers true ; 
 There foe with foe; the live under the dead. 
 The victor under him whom late he slew : 
 A hoarse unperfect sound did each where spread, 
 "Whence neither silence, nor plain outcries flew : 
 There fury roars, ire threats, and woe complains, 
 One weeps, another cries, he sighs for pains. 
 
 52. 
 
 The arms, that late so fair and glorious seem, 
 Now soil'd and slubber'd,' sad and sullen grow: 
 The steel his brightness lost, the gold his beam ; 
 The colours had no pride, nor beauties show ; 
 
 1 SluhbeT'd— smeared.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 425 
 
 The plumes and feathers, on their crests that stream. 
 
 Are strowed wide upon the earth below : 
 
 The hosts both clad in blood, in dust, and mire, 
 Had chang'd their chear, their pride, their rich attire. 
 
 53. 
 
 But now the Moors, Arabians, Ethiops black, 
 (Of the left wing that held the utmost marge) 
 Spread forth their troops, and purpos'd at the back 
 And side their heedless foes t' assail and charge : 
 Slingers and archers were not slow nor slack 
 To shoot and cast ; when with his battle large 
 Rinaldo came, whose fury, haste, and ire 
 Seem'd earthquake, thunder, tempest, storm, and fire. 
 
 54 
 
 The first he met was Asimire, his throne 
 That set in Meroe's hot sun-burnt land ; 
 He cut his neck in twain, flesh, skin, and bone; 
 The sable head down tumbled on the sand : 
 But when by death of this black prince alone 
 The taste of blood and conquest once he fand, [brought ; 
 Whole squadrons then, whole troops to earth he 
 Things wondrous, strange, incredible, he wrought. 
 
 55. 
 
 He gave more deaths than strokes, and yet his blows 
 Upon his feeble foes fell oft and thick ; 
 To move three tongues as a fierce serpent shows. 
 Which rolls the one she hath swift, speedy, quick, 
 So thinks each Pagan, each Arabian trows. 
 He wields three swords, all in one hilt that stick : 
 His readiness their eyes so blinded hath. 
 Their dread that wonder bred, fear gave it faitli : 
 
 56. 
 
 The Afric tyrants and the Negro kings 
 Fell down on heaps, drown'd each in other's blood ; 
 Upon their people ran the knights he brings, 
 Prickt forward by their guide's ensample good ; 
 Kill'd were the Pagans, broke their bows and slings ; 
 Some di'd, some fell, some yielded, none withstood : 
 A massacre was this, no fight ; these put 
 Their foes to death ; those hold their throats to cut.
 
 426 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXEj OK, 
 
 57. 
 Small while they stood, with heart and hardy face. 
 On their bold breasts deep wounds and hurts to bear. 
 But fled away, and, troubled in the chace; 
 Their ranks disord'red be with too much fear : 
 Einaldo follow'd them from place to place, 
 Till quite discomfit and disperst they were : 
 
 That done, he stays, and all his knights recalls, 
 And scorns to strike his foe, that flies, or tails. 
 
 58. 
 Like as the wind, stopt by some wood or hUl, 
 Grows strong and fierce, tears boughs and trees in twain. 
 But with mild blasts, more temp'rate, gentle, still. 
 Blows through the ample field, or spacious plain ; 
 Against the rocks as sea-waves murmur shrill. 
 But silent pass amid the open main : 
 
 Einaldo so, when none his force withstood, 
 Assuag'd his fury, calm'd his angry mood ; 
 
 59. 
 
 He scom'd upon their fearful backs that fled 
 To \\Teak his u"e, and spend his force in vain. 
 But 'gainst the footmen strong his troops he led, 
 "Whose side the floors had open left and plain : 
 The Africans, that should have succoured 
 That battle, all were run away or slain ; 
 
 Upon their flank with force and courage stout. 
 His men at arms assail'd the bands on font : 
 
 60. 
 He brake their pikes, and brake their close array, 
 
 Enter'd their battle, fell'd them down around ; 
 So wind, or tempest, with impetuous sway 
 The ears of ripen'd corn strikes flat to ground : 
 With blood, arms, bodies dead, the hard'ned clay 
 Plaster 'd the earth ; no grass nor green was found ; 
 
 The horsemen, running through and through their 
 bands. 
 
 Kill, murder, slay ; few 'scape, not one withstands. 
 
 61. 
 Einaldo came, where his forlorn Armide 
 Sate on her golden cbariot mounted hie, 
 A noble guard she had on every side 
 Of lords, of lovers, and much chivalrie :
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 427 
 
 She knew the man, wlien first his arms she spide ; 
 Love, hate, wrath, sweet desh-e, strove in her eye ; 
 
 He chang'd some deal his look and count'nance bold ; 
 
 She chang'd from frost to fire, from heat to cold. 
 
 62. 
 The Prince past by the chariot of his dear. 
 Like one that did his thoughts elsewhere bestow. 
 Yet sufFer'd not her knights and lovers near 
 Their rival so to scape withouten blow ; 
 One drew his sword, another coucht his spear ; 
 Herself an arrow sharp set in her bow ; 
 
 Disdain her ire new sharp'd and kindl'd hath. 
 But love appeas'd her, love assuag'd her wrath. 
 
 63. 
 Love bridled fury, and reviv'd of new 
 His fire, not dead, though buried in displeasure ; 
 Three times her angry hand the bow up drew. 
 And thrice again let slack the string at leisure ; 
 But wrath prevail'd at last, the reed outflew ; 
 For love finds mean, but hatred knows no measure ; 
 Outflew the shaft, but with the shaft this charm. 
 This wish she sent ; Heav'ns grant it do no harm. 
 
 64. 
 
 She bids the reed return the way it went, 
 And pierce her heart which so unkind could prove; 
 Such force had love, though lost and vainly spent ; 
 What strength hath happy, kind, and mutual love ? 
 But she that gentle thought did straight repent ; 
 Wrath, fury, kindness, in her bosom strove ; 
 
 She would, she would not, that it miss'd or hit ; 
 
 Her eyes, her heart, her wishes followed it. 
 
 65. 
 But yet in vain the quarrel' lighted not. 
 For on his hawberk hard the knight it hit. 
 Too hard for woman's shatt, or woman's shot ; 
 Instead of piercing, there it broke and split ; 
 He turn'd away, she burnt with fury hot. 
 And thought he scorn'd her power, and in that fit 
 Shot oft and oft ; her shafts no entrance ibund, 
 And while she shot, love gave her wound on wound. 
 1 Quarrel — arrow.
 
 428 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OE, 
 
 66. 
 " And is he then unpierceable ?" quoth she, 
 " That neither force nor foe he needs regard ? 
 His limbs (percliance) arm'd with that hardness be, 
 Which makes his heart so cruel and so hard : 
 No shot, that flies from eje or hand, I see, 
 Hurts him, such rigour doth his person guard ; 
 Arm'd or disarm'd ; his foe or mistress kind, 
 Despis'd alike, like hate, like scorn I find. 
 
 67. 
 " But what new form is left, device, or art. 
 By which, to which exchang'd, I might find grace ? 
 For in my knights, and all that take my pai't, 
 I see no help, no hope, no trust I place : 
 To his great prowess, might, and valiant heart, 
 All strength is weak, all courage vile and base." 
 This said she, for she saw how through the field. 
 Her champions fly, faint, tremble, fall, and yield. 
 
 68. 
 Nor left alone can she her person save, 
 But to be slain or taken stands in fear. 
 Though with her bow a javelin long she have, 
 Yet weak was Phoebe's bow, blunt Pallas' spear. 
 But as the swan, that sees the eagle brave 
 Threat'ning her flesh and silver plumes to tear. 
 
 Falls down to hide her 'mongst the shady brooks ; 
 
 Such were her fearful motions, such her looks. 
 
 69. 
 But Altamore, this while that strove and sought 
 From shameful flight his Persian host to stay, 
 That was discomfit and destroy'd to nought. 
 Whilst he alone maintain'd the fight and fray, 
 Seeing distrest the goddess of his thought. 
 To aid her ran, nay flew, and laid away 
 
 All care both of his honour and his host; 
 
 If she were safe, let all the world be lost. 
 
 70. 
 To the ill-guarded chariot swift he flew. 
 His weapon made him way with bloody war : 
 IVIeanwliile Lord Godl'rey and Kinaldo slew 
 His ieeblc bands ; his people murd'red are ;
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 429 
 
 He saw their loss, but aided not his crew, 
 
 A better lover than a leader far ; 
 
 He set Armida safe, then turn'd again 
 With tardy succour, for his folk were slain. 
 
 71. 
 
 And on that side the woful Prince beheld 
 The battle lost, no help nor hope remain'd ; 
 But on the other wing the Christians yield, 
 And fly, such vantage there th' Egyptians gain'd ; 
 One of the Roberts was nigh slain in field ; 
 The other by the Indian strong constrain'd 
 
 To yield himself his captive and his slave ; 
 
 Thus equal loss, and equal foil they have. 
 
 72. 
 
 Godfredo took the time and season fit 
 To bring again his squadrons in array, 
 And either camp well ord'red, rang'd, and knit, 
 Renew'd the furious battle, fight, and fray : 
 New streams of blood were shed, new swords them hit ; 
 New combats fought, new spoils were borne away ; 
 And unresolv'd and doubtful (on each side) 
 Did praise and conquest, Mars and fortune ride. 
 
 73. 
 
 Between the armies twain while thus the fight 
 Waxt sharp, hot, cruel, though renew'd but late. 
 The Soldan clomb up to the tower's hight. 
 And saw far off their strife and fell debate ; 
 As from some stage, or theatre, the knight 
 Saw play'd the tragedy of human state. 
 
 Saw death, blood, murder, woe, and horror strange. 
 And the great acts of fortune, chance and change. 
 
 74. 
 
 At first astonisht and amaz'd he stood. 
 
 Then burnt with wrath, and self-consuming ire 
 
 Swelled his bosom like a raging flood, 
 
 To be amid that battle ; such desire. 
 
 Such haste he had ; he donn'd his helmet good ; 
 
 His other arms he had before entire : 
 
 " Up, up," he cried, " no more, no more within 
 This fortress stay; come follow, die, or win."
 
 430 GODFEET OF BDLLOIGNE j OB, 
 
 75. 
 
 Whether the same were Provideuce diHne 
 That made him leave the fortress he possest. 
 For that the emph-e proud of Palestine 
 This day should fall, to rise again more blest ; 
 Or that he breaking felt the fatal line 
 Of life, and would meet death with constant breast, 
 Furious and fierce he did the gates unbar, 
 And sudden rage brought forth, and sudden war ; 
 
 76. 
 Nor staid he till the folk on whom he cride 
 Assemble might, but out alone he flies, 
 A thousand foes the man alone defide. 
 And ran among a thousand enemies ; 
 But with his fury call'd from ev'ry side, 
 The rest ran out, and Aladine forth hies : 
 
 The cowards had no fear, the wise no care ; 
 
 This was not hope, nor courage, but despair. 
 
 77. 
 The dreadful Turk with sudden blows down cast 
 The first he met, nor gave them time to 'plain,^ 
 Or pray ; in raurd'ring them he made such hast. 
 That dead they fell, ere one could see them slain ; 
 From mouth to mouth, from eye to eye forth past 
 The fear and terror, that the faithful train 
 Of Sj'rian folk, not us'd to dang'rous fight. 
 Were broken, scatter'd, and nigh put to flight. 
 
 78. 
 But with less terror, and disorder less, 
 The Gascoigns kept array, and kept their ground. 
 Though most the loss and peril them oppress, 
 Unwares assail'd they were, unready found : 
 Ko rav'ning tooth, or talon hard, I guess, 
 Of beast, or eager hawk, doth slay and wound 
 So many sheep, or fowls, weak, feeble, small. 
 As his sharp sword kill'd knights and soldiers tall ; 
 
 79. 
 It seem'd his thirst and hunger suage he would 
 With their slain bodies, and their blood pour'd out. 
 With him his troops and Aladino old 
 Slew their besiegers, kill'd the Gascoign rout : 
 
 1 'Flaia— complain.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 431 
 
 But Raimond ran to meet the Soldan bold, 
 
 Nor to encounter him had fear or doubt, 
 
 Though his right hand by proof too well he know. 
 Which laid him late for dead, at one huge blow : 
 
 80. 
 They met, and Eaimond fell amid the field ; 
 This blow again upon his forehead light ; 
 It was the fault and weakness of his eild ; 
 Age is not fit to bear strokes of such might : 
 Each one lift up his sword, advanc'd his shield : 
 Those would destroy, and these defend the knight ; 
 On went the Soldan, for the man he thought 
 Was slain, or eas'ly might be captive brought. 
 
 81. 
 Among the rest he ran, he rag'd, he smote. 
 And in small space, small time, great wonders wrought ; 
 And as his rage him led, and fury hot, 
 To kill and murder, matter new he sought : 
 As from his supper poor, with hungry throat, 
 A peasant hastes to a rich feast ibrought, 
 So from this skirmish to the battle great 
 He ran, and quench'd with blood his fury's heat. 
 
 82. 
 Where batter'd was the wall, he sallied out. 
 And to the field in haste and heat he goes. 
 With him went rage and fury, fear and doubt 
 Eemain'd behind among his scatter'd foes : 
 To win the conquest strove his squadron stout. 
 Which he unperfect left ; yet loth to lose 
 
 The day, the Christians fight, resist, and die, 
 And ready were to yield, retire, and flie. 
 
 83. 
 
 The Gascoign bands retir'd, but kept array ; 
 The Syrian people ran away outright ; 
 The fight was near the place where Tancred lay. 
 His house was full of noise, and great affright ; 
 He rose, and looked forth to see the fray, 
 Though ev'ry limb were weak, faint, void of might j 
 He saw the County^ lie, his men o'erthrown. 
 Some beaten back, some kill'd, some felled down. 
 
 1 County — Count,
 
 432 GODFREY OF BULLOIGKE ; OR, 
 
 84. 
 Courage, in noble hearts that ne'er is spent, 
 Yet fainted not, though faint were every limb, 
 But re-inforc'd each member cleft and rent. 
 And want of blood and strength supplj'd in him: 
 In his left hand his heavy shield he hent. 
 Nor seem'd the weight too great ; his curtlax trim 
 His right hand drew, nor for more arms he stood. 
 Or staid : he needs no more, whose heart is good : 
 
 85. 
 But coming forth, cry'd, " Whither will you run, 
 And leave your leader to his foes in prey ? 
 What ? shall these heathen of his armour won, 
 (In their vile temples) hang up trophies gay ? 
 Go home to Gascoign then, and tell his son, 
 That where his father died, you ran away :" 
 This said, against a thousand armed foes 
 He did his breast weak, naked, sick, oppose. 
 
 86. 
 And with his heavy, strong, and mighty targe, 
 (That with sev'n hard bulls'-hides was surely lin'd) 
 And strengthen'd with a cover thick and large 
 Of stitF and well attemper'd steel behind. 
 He shielded Eaimond from the furious charge. 
 From swords, from dai'ts, from weapons of each kind. 
 And all his foes drove back with his sharp blade. 
 That sure and safe he lay, as in a shade. 
 
 87. 
 Thus sav'd, thus shielded, Raimond 'gan respire; 
 He rose and rear'd himself in little space, 
 And in his bosom burnt the double fire 
 Of vengeance ; wrath his heart, shame fill'd his face : 
 He look'd around to spy (such was his ire) 
 The man whose stroke had laid him in that place. 
 Whom when he sees not, for disdain he quakes. 
 And on his people sharp revengement takes. 
 
 The Gascoigns turn again, their Lord in hast 
 To venge their loss his band reorder'd brings ; 
 The troop, that durst so much, now stood aghast, 
 For where sad tear grew late, now boldness springs :
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 43J 
 
 Now follow'd they that fled ; fled, they that chast ; 
 
 So in one hour alt'reth tlie state of things : 
 
 Kaimond requites his loss, shame, hurt, and all, 
 And with an hundred deaths reveng'd one fall. 
 
 89. 
 Whilst Raimond wreaked thus his just disdain 
 On the proud heads of captains, lords, and peers, 
 He spies great Sion's King amid the train, 
 And to him leaps, and high his sword he rears. 
 And on his forehead strikes, and strikes again, 
 Till helm and head he breaks, lie cleaves, he tears ; 
 Down fell the King, the guiltless land he bit, 
 That now keeps him, because he kept not it. 
 
 90. 
 Their guides, oue miird'red thus, the other gone, 
 The troops divided were in divers thought, 
 Despair made some run lieadlong 'gainst their fone. 
 To seek sharp death that comes uncall'd, unsought; 
 And some (that laid their hope on flight alone) 
 Fled to their Ibrt again ; yet chance so wrought, 
 That (with the flyers) in the victors pass. 
 And so the fortress won, and conquer'd was. 
 
 91. 
 
 The hold was won, slain were the men that fled, 
 In courts, halls, chambers high, above, below ; 
 Old Raimond fast up to the leads him sped, 
 And there (of victory true sign and show) 
 His glorious standard to the wind he spred, 
 That so both armies his success might know; 
 But Soliman saw not the town was lost. 
 For far from thence he was, and near the host ; 
 
 92. 
 
 Into the field he came : the lukewarm blood 
 Did smoke and flow through all the purple field ; 
 There of sad death the court and palace stood. 
 There did he triumphs lead, and trophies build ; 
 An armed steed fast by the Soldan yood,' 
 That had no guide, nor lord the reins to wield; 
 The tyrant took the bridle, and bestrode 
 The courser's empty back, and forth he rode. 
 * Yooi— went. 
 
 F F
 
 431 GODFREY OF BULLOICyE ; OR, 
 
 93. 
 
 Great, yet but short and sudden was the aid, 
 That to the Pagans faint and weak he brought ; 
 A thunderbolt he was, you would have said, 
 Great, yet that comes and goes as swift as thought. 
 And of his coming swift, and flight imstaid, 
 Eternal signs in hardest rocks hath wrought ; 
 For by his hand an hundred knights were slain, 
 But time forgot hath all their names, but twain ; 
 
 94. 
 Gildippes fair, and Edward thy dear lord. 
 Your noble death, sad end, and woful fate, 
 (If so much power our vulgar tongue afford) 
 To all strange wits, strange ears let me dilate, 
 Q'hat ages ail your love and sweet accoi'd, 
 Yoiu- virtue, prowess, worth may imitate; 
 
 And some kind servant of true love (that hears) 
 !May grace your death, my verses, with some tears 
 
 95. 
 The noble lady thither boldly flew, 
 Whei'e the first Soldan fought, and him defide. 
 Two mighty blows she gave the Turk untrue. 
 One clelt his shield, the other pierc'd his side ; 
 The Prince the damsel by her habit knew : 
 " See, see this mankind strumpet, see," (he cride) 
 " This shameless wliore, ibr thee fit weapons were 
 Thy neeld' and spindle, not a sword and spear." 
 
 96. 
 This said, full of disdain, rage, and despite, 
 A strong, a fierce, a deadly stroke he gave. 
 And pierc'd her armour, pierc'd her bosom white. 
 Worthy no blows, but blows of love to have : 
 Her dying hand let go the bridle quite. 
 She faints, she falls, 'twixt live and death she stravc ; 
 Her lord to help her came, but came too late. 
 Yet was not that his fault, it was his fate. 
 
 97. 
 What should he do ? to divers parts hira call 
 Just ire and pity kind ; one bids hira go 
 And succour his dear lady, like to fall ; 
 The other calls for vengeance on his foe;
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED, 435 
 
 Love biddeth both, love says he must do all, 
 And with his ire, joins grief; >vith pity woe. 
 
 What did he then ? with his leit hand the knight 
 Would hold her up, revenge her with his right. 
 
 But to resist against a knight so bold. 
 Too weak his will and pow'r divided were ; 
 So that he coiild not his fair love uphold, 
 Nor kill the cruel man that slew his dear : 
 His arm, that did his mistress kind enfold. 
 The Turk cut off. Pale grew his looks and chear ; 
 He let her fall, himself fell by her side, 
 And, for he could not save her, with her dide. 
 
 99. 
 
 As the high elm (whom his dear vine hath twin'd 
 Fast in her hundred arms, and holds erabrast) 
 Bears down to earth his spouse and darling kind. 
 If storm, or cruel steel, the tree down cast. 
 And her full grapes to nought doth bruise and grind, 
 Spoils his own leaves, I'aints, withers, dies at last, 
 And seems to mourn and die, not for his own. 
 But for her death, with him that lies o'erthrown : 
 
 100. 
 
 So fell he mourning, mourning for the dame, 
 
 Whom life and death had made for ever ids ; 
 
 They would have spoke, but not one word could frame, 
 
 Deep sobs their speech, sweet sighs their languige is ; 
 
 Each gaz'd on other's eyes, and, while the same 
 
 Is lawful, join their hands, embrace, and kiss : 
 
 And thus sharp death their knot of life untied, 
 
 Together lain ted they, together died. 
 
 101. 
 
 But now swift tame her nimble wings dispred. 
 And told each where their chance, their fate, their fall ; 
 Rinaldo heard the case by one that fled 
 From the fierce Turk, and brought him news of all ; 
 Disdain, good will, woe, wrath the champion led 
 To take revenge : shame, grief, for vengeance call. 
 But, as he went, Adrastus with his blade 
 Forestall'd the way, and show of combat made. 
 
 Ff2
 
 436 GODFREY OP BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 102. 
 The giant cry'd, " By sundry signs I note, 
 That whoni. I wish, I search, thou, tliou art he; 
 I niarkt each worthy's sliield, liis helm, his coat, 
 And all this day have call'd and cry'd for thee ; 
 To my sweet saint I have thj' head devote, 
 Thou must my sacrifice, my oft"ring be; 
 
 Come, let us here our strength and courage try ; 
 
 Thou art Armida's I'oe, her champion I." 
 
 103. 
 Thus he defy'd him : on his front before, 
 And on his throat he struck him, yet the blow 
 His helmet neither bruised, clelt, nor tore, 
 But in his saddle made him bend and bow ; 
 Rinaldo hit him on the Hank so sore. 
 That neither art nor herb could help him now ; 
 Down fell the gi;uit strong ; one blow such power. 
 Such puissance had ; so i'alls a thund'red tower. 
 
 101. 
 With horror, fear, amazedness, and dread. 
 Cold were the hearts of all that saw the fray, 
 And Soliman (that view'd that noble deed) 
 Trembled, his paleness did his fear bewray j 
 For in that stroke he did his end areed ;' 
 He wist not what to think, to do, to say, 
 
 A thing in him unused, rare, and strange; 
 
 But so doth Heav'n meu's hearts turn, alter, change. 
 
 105. 
 As when the sick or frantic men oft dream 
 In their miquiet sleep and slumber short. 
 And think they run some speed}' course, and seem 
 To move their legs and feet in hasty sort ; 
 Yet feel their limbs far slower than the stream 
 Of their vain thoughts, that bears them in this sport. 
 And olt would speak, would cr^', would call, or shout. 
 Yet neither sound, nor voice, nor word send out : 
 
 106. 
 So run to fight the angry Soldan would, 
 And did enforce his strength, his might, his ire, 
 Yet felt not in himself his courage old, 
 His wonted force, his rage and hot desire: 
 - Ares'!— tnierpret.
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 437 
 
 His eyes (tliat sparkled wrath and fm-y bold) 
 Grew dim and feeble, I'ear had quencht that fire; 
 And in his heart an hundred passions fought, 
 Yet not on fear, or base retire he thought. 
 
 107. 
 
 While unresolv'd he stood, the victor knight 
 Arriv'd, and seeni'd in quickness, haste, and speed, 
 In boldness, greatness, goodliness, and might, 
 Above all princes born of human seed : 
 The Turk small while resists; not death, nor fight 
 Made him forget his state, or race, through dreed; 
 
 He fled no strokes, he fetcht no groan nor sigh ; 
 
 Bold were his motions last, proud, stately, high. 
 
 108. 
 
 Now when the Soldan (in these battles past 
 That Aiitheus like oft fell, oft rose again. 
 Ever more fierce, more fell) i'ell down at last 
 To lie for ever, when this Prince was slain, 
 Fortune) that seld is stable, firm, or fast. 
 No longer durst resist the Christian train, 
 
 But rang'cl herself in row with Godfrey's knights, 
 With them she serves, she runs, she rides, she fights. 
 
 109. 
 
 The Pagan troops, the king's own squadron fled. 
 Of all the East the strength, the pride, the flower, 
 Late call'd Immortal, now discomfited. 
 It lost that title proud, and lost all power : 
 To him that with the royal standard fled, 
 Thus Einireno said, with speeches sower : ' 
 " Art not thou he to whom to bear I gave 
 My king's great banner, and his standard brave ? 
 
 110. 
 
 " This ensign (Rimedon) I gave not thee 
 
 To be the witness of thy i'ear and flight ; 
 
 Coward, dost thou thy lord and captain see 
 
 In battle strong, and runn'st thyself from fight ? 
 
 What seek'st thou ? Safety ? Come, return with me; 
 
 The way to death is path to virtue right : 
 
 Here* let him fight that would escape, for this 
 
 The way to honour, way to safety is." 
 
 * Sower — sour.
 
 433 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE J OR, 
 
 111. 
 
 The man retiim'd, and swell'd -vrith scorn and shame; 
 The Duke, with speeches grave, exhorts the rest ; 
 He threats, he strikes sometime, till hack they came. 
 And rage 'gainst force, despair 'gainst death addi'est. 
 Thus of his broken armies 'gan he frame 
 A battle new ; some hope dwelt in his brest ; 
 But Tisiphemes bold reviv'd him most, 
 Who fought, aud seem'd to win, when all was lost ; 
 
 112. 
 Wonders that day wrought noble Tisiphenie ; 
 The hardy XoiTnans all l;e orerthrew ; 
 The Flemings fled before the champion stem ; 
 Gernier, Eogero, Gerard bold he slew : 
 His glorious deeds to praise and fame etem 
 His life's short date prolong'd, enlarg'd, and drew; 
 And then (as he that set sweet life at nought) 
 The greatest peril, danger most he sought. 
 
 113. 
 He spy'd Einaldo, and although his field 
 Of azure purple now and sanguine shows. 
 And though the silver bird amid his shield 
 Were armed gules, yet he the champion knows. 
 And says, " Here greatest peril is, Heav'ns yield 
 Strength to my courage, fortune to my blows. 
 
 That fair Armida her revenge may see ! 
 
 Help Macon, lor his arms I vow to thee I" 
 
 114. 
 Thus prayed he, but all his vows were vain, 
 Mahound was deaf, or slept in heav'ns above: 
 A:id as a lion strikes him with his train. 
 His native wrath to quicken and to move. 
 So he awak'd his fury and disdain. 
 And sharpt his courage on the whetstone love ; 
 Himself he sav'd behind his mighty targe, 
 And forward spuiT'd his steed, and gave the charge. 
 
 115. 
 The Christian saw the hard}' warrior come. 
 And leaped forth to undertake the fight, 
 The people round about gave place and room, 
 Aud wond'red on that fierce aud cruel sight j
 
 JERUSALE3I DELIVERED. 439 
 
 Some prais'd their strength, their skill and courage 
 Such and so desp'i-ate blows struck either knight, [some ; 
 That all, that saw, forgot both ire and strife, 
 Their wounds, their hurts ; forgot both death and life : 
 
 116. 
 
 One struck, the other did both strike and wound ; 
 His arms were surer, and his strength was more ; 
 From Tisipherne the blood stream'd down around, 
 His shield was cleft, his helm was rent and tore : 
 The dame (that saw his blood besmear the ground. 
 His armour broke, limbs weak, wounds deep and sore, 
 And all her guard dead, fled, and overthrown) 
 Thought now her field lay waste, her hedge lay down : 
 
 117. 
 
 Environ'd with so brave a troop but late, 
 Now stood she in her chariot all alone. 
 She feared bondage, and her life did hate, 
 All hope of conquest and revenge was gone : 
 Half mad, and half amaz'd, from where she sate, 
 She leaped down, and fled from friends and fone ; 
 On a swift horse she mounts, and forth she rides 
 Alone, save for disdain and love, her guides. 
 
 118. 
 
 In daj's of old. Queen Cleopatra so 
 
 Alone fled from the fight and cruel fray. 
 
 Against Augustus great his happy ibe, 
 
 Leaving her lord to loss, and sure decay. 
 
 And as that lord for love let honour go, 
 
 FoUow'd her flying sails, and lost the day : 
 So Tisipherne the fair and fearful dame 
 Would follow, but his foe forbids the same. 
 
 119. 
 
 But when the Pagan's joy and comfort fled, 
 It seem'd the sun was set, the day was night ; 
 'Gainst the brave prince, with whom he combated. 
 He turn'd, and on the forehead struck the knight : 
 When thunders forg'd are in Tiphoius' bed, 
 Not Bronte's, hammer falls so swift, so right ; 
 The furious stroke fell on Rinaldo's crest. 
 And made hiui bend his head down to his brest.
 
 440 GODFREY OF BULLOIGXE ; OR, 
 
 120. 
 The champion in his stirrups high up-start, 
 And cleft his hawberk hard, and tender side, 
 And sheath'd his weapon in the Pagan's heart. 
 The castle where man's life and soul do bide ; 
 The cruel sword his breast and hinder part 
 With double wound unclos'd, and op'ned wide ; 
 And two large doors made for his life and breath, 
 Which past, and cur'd hot love with frozen death. 
 
 121. 
 
 This done, Einaldo stay'd, and look'd around. 
 Where he should harm his foes, or help his friends ; 
 Nor of the Pagans saw he squadron sound : 
 Each standard falls, ensign to earth descends ; 
 His fury quiet then and calm he found ; 
 There all his wrath, his rage, and rancour ends. 
 
 He call'd to mind, how (far from help or aid) 
 
 Armida fled, alone, amaz'd, afraid : 
 
 122. 
 
 Well saw he when she fled, and with that sight 
 
 The prince had pity, courtesy, and care; 
 
 He promis'd her to be her friend and knight. 
 
 When erst he lefl her in the island bare : 
 
 The waj- she fled he ran and rode aright. 
 
 Her pah'rey's feet signs in the grass out-ware: 
 But she this while found out an ugly shade. 
 Fit place for death, where nought could life persuade. 
 
 123. 
 
 Well-pleased was she with those shadows brown, 
 And yet displeas'd with luck, with life, with love; 
 There from her steed she lighted, there lay'd down 
 Her bow and shafts, her arms that helpless prove ; 
 " There lie with shame," she says, " disgrac'd, o'erthrowii, 
 Blunt are the weapons, blunt the arms I move, 
 
 Weak to revenge my harms, or harm ni}- foe; 
 
 My shafts are blunt ; ah, love, would thine were so ! 
 
 124. 
 " Alas ! among so many, could not one. 
 Not one draw blood, one wound or rend his skin ? 
 All other breasts to you are marble stone. 
 Dare you then pierce a woman's bosom thin ?
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 441 
 
 See, see, my naked heart, on this alone 
 Employ your force, this I'ort is eatli to win, 
 
 And love will shoot you from his mij^lity bow; 
 
 Weak is the shot that dripile lalls iu snow. 
 
 125. 
 
 " I pardon will your fear and weakness past ; 
 
 Be strong, mine arrows, cruel, sharp '<jainst me; 
 
 Ah wretch, how is thy chance and fortune cast, 
 
 If plac'd in these thy good and comfort be ? 
 
 But since all hope is vain, all help is waste. 
 
 Since hurts ease hurts, wounds must cure wounds in thee ; 
 
 Then with thine arrow's stroke cure strokes of love ; 
 
 Death for thy heart must salve, and smgeon prove ; 
 
 126. 
 
 " And happy me, if being dead and slain 
 I bear not with me this strange plague to hell ! 
 Love, stay behind ; come thou with me, disdain, 
 And with my wronged soul for ever dwell; 
 Or else with it turn to the world again, 
 And vex that knight with dreams and visions fell, 
 And tell him (when 'twixt life and death I strove) 
 My last wish was revenge ; last word was love." 
 
 127. 
 
 And with that word half mad, half dead, she seems, 
 An arrow, poignant, strong, and sharp she took : 
 When her dear knight found her in these extremes. 
 Now fit to die, and pass the Stygian brook. 
 Now prest to quench her own and beauty's beams. 
 Now death sate on her eyes, death in her look ; 
 When to her back he stept, and stay'd her arm 
 Stretcht forth to do that service last, last harm. 
 
 128. 
 
 She turns, and (ere she knows) her lord she spies, 
 Whose coming was unwisht, unthought, unknown. 
 She shrieks, and twines away her 'sdainful eyes 
 From his sweet face ; she falls dead in a swoon, 
 Falls as a flower half-cut, that bending lies ; 
 He held her up, and, lest she tumble down. 
 Under her tender side his arm he plac'd. 
 His hand her girdle loos'd, her gown unlac'd;
 
 442 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE ; OR, 
 
 129. 
 And her fair face, fair bosom he bedews, 
 With tears, tears of remorse, of ruth, of sorrow : 
 As the pale rose her colour lost renews 
 With the fresh drops fall'n from the silver morrow, 
 So she revives, and cheeks impurpled shews. 
 Moist with their own tears, and with tears they borrow 
 
 Thrice look'd she up, her ej'cs thrice closed she ; 
 
 As who say, let me die, ere look on thee. 
 
 130. 
 And his strong arm, with weak and feeble hand 
 She would have thrust awaj^ loos'd, and untwined : 
 Oft strove she (but in vain) to break that band, 
 For he the hold he got not yet resigned : 
 Her self fast bound in those dear knots she fand. 
 Dear, though she feigned scorn, strove, and repined ; 
 
 At last she speaks, she weeps, complains, and cryes; 
 
 Yet durst not, did not, would not see his eyes : 
 
 131. 
 " Cruel at thy departure, at return 
 As cruel, say, what chance thee hither guideth ; 
 Wouldst thou prevent her death, whose heart forlorn 
 For thee, for thee Death's strokes each hour divideth ? 
 Com'st thou to save m}' life ? alas, what scorn. 
 What torment for Armida poor abideth ? 
 
 No, no, thy crafts and sleights I well desciy, 
 
 But she can little do, that cannot die. 
 
 132. 
 
 " Thy triumph is not great, nor well arraid, 
 Unless in chains thou lead a captive dame ; 
 A dame now tane by force, before betraid. 
 This is thy greatest glor^', greatest fame : 
 Time was that thee of love and life I praid, 
 Let death now end my love, my life, my shame ; 
 Yet let not thy false hand bereave this breath. 
 For if it were thy gift, hateful were death. 
 
 133. 
 
 " Cruel, myself an hundred ways can find 
 To rid me from thy malice, from thy hate ; 
 If weapons sharp, if poisons of all kind, 
 If hre, ii strangling iail in tliat estate,
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 443 
 
 Yet ways enough I know to stop this wind : 
 A thousand entries hath the house of Fate. 
 
 Ah, leave these flatt'ries, leave weak hope to move; 
 
 Cease, cease, my hope is dead, dead is my love." 
 
 134. 
 
 Thus mourned she, and from her wat'ry eyes 
 
 Disdain and love dropt down, roll'd up in tears; 
 
 From. his pure fountains ran two streams likewise. 
 
 Wherein chaste pity and mild ruth appears : 
 
 Thus with sweet words the queen he pacifies — 
 
 " Madam, appease your grief, your wrath, your fears. 
 
 For to be crown'd, not scorn'd, j'our life I save ; 
 
 Your foe, nay but your friend, your knight, your slave. 
 
 135. 
 
 " But if you trust no speech, no oath, no word ; 
 Yet in mine eyes, my zeal, my truth behold : 
 For to that throne (whereof thy sire was lord) 
 I will restore thee, crown thee with that gold ; 
 And if hit^h Heav'n would so much grace afi'ord, 
 As from thy heart this cloud, this veil unfold 
 Of Paganisme, in all the East no dame 
 Should equalize thy fortune, state, and fame." 
 
 136. 
 
 Thus plaineth he, thus prays, and his desire 
 Endears with sighs that fl}', and tears that fall ; 
 That, as against the warmth of Titan's fire 
 Snowdrifts consume on tops of mountains tall : 
 So melts her wrath, hut love remains entire : 
 " Behold," she says, " your handmaid and your thrall : 
 My lil'e, mj' ci'own, my wealth use at your pleasure ;" 
 Thus death her life became, loss prov'd her treasure. 
 
 137. 
 This while the captain of th' Egyptian host. 
 That saw his royal standard lay'd on ground, 
 Saw Rimedon, that ensign's prop and post, 
 By Godfrey's noble hand, kill'd with one wound, 
 And all his folk discomfit, slain, and lost, 
 No coward was in this last battle found. 
 
 But rode about and sought (nor sought in vain) 
 Some famous hand of which he miglit be slain :
 
 444 GODFREY OF BULLOIGNE j OR, 
 
 138. 
 
 Against Lord Godfrey boldly out he flew, 
 For nobler foe he wisht not, could not spie ; 
 Of desp'rate courage show'd he tokens true. 
 Where'er he join'd, or stay'd, or passed by. 
 And cried to the Duke as near he drew, 
 " Behold, of thy strong hand I come to die. 
 
 Yet trust to overthrow thee with my fall ; 
 
 My castle's ruins shall break down thy wall." 
 
 139. 
 This said, forth spurr'd they both, both high advance 
 Their swords alolt, both struck at once, both hit ; 
 His left arm wounded had the Knight of France, 
 His shield was pierc'd, liis vantbrace cleft and split ; 
 The Pagan backward fell, half in a trance, 
 On his left ear his foe so hugely sniit; 
 
 And as he sought to rise, GodiVedo's sword 
 Pierced him through, so died that army's lord. 
 
 140. 
 Of his great host, when Emiren was dead, 
 Fled the small remnant that alive remained; 
 Godfrey espied, as he turn'd his steed, 
 Great Altamore on loot, with blood all stained, 
 With half a sword, half helm upon his head, 
 'Gainst whom an hundred fought, j'et not one gained ; 
 " Cease, cease this strife," he cried : " and thou brave 
 Yield ; I am Godlrey, yield thee to my might." [knight, 
 
 141. 
 
 He, that till then his proud and haughty heart 
 To act of humbleness did never bend. 
 When that great name he heard, from the north part 
 Of our wide world renown'd to iEthiops end, 
 Answer'd " I yield to thee, thou worth}' art, 
 I am thy prisoner, fortune is thy friend : 
 On Altamoro great thy conquest bold 
 Of glory shall be rich, and rich of gold : 
 
 142. 
 " My loving queen, my wife and lady kind 
 Shall ransom me with jewels, gold, and treasure." 
 " God shield," quoth Godfrey, " that my noble mind 
 Should praise and virtue so by profit measure,
 
 JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 445 
 
 All that thou hast from Persia and from Ind 
 Enjoy it still, therein 1 take no pleasure; 
 
 I set no rent on life, no price on blood ; 
 
 I fight, and sell not war lor gold or good." 
 
 143. 
 
 This said, he gave him to his knights to keep. 
 And after those that tied his course he bent ; 
 They to their rampiers tied and trenches deep, 
 Yet could not so death's cruel stroke prevent : 
 The camp was won, and all in blood doth steep: 
 The blood in rivers stream'd from tent to tent ; 
 
 It soil'd, defil'd, defaced all the prey. 
 
 Shields, helmets, armours, plumes, and feathers gay. 
 
 144. 
 
 Thus conquer'd Godfrey ; and as yet the sun 
 
 Div'd not in silver waves his golden wain, 
 
 But daylight serv'd him to the fortress won 
 
 With his victorious host to turn again : 
 
 His bloody coat he put not off, but run 
 
 To the high temple with his noble train, 
 
 And there hung up his arms, and there he bows 
 
 His knees, there pray'd, and there perform'd his vov^s. 
 
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