Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem Done into English Heroicall verse, by Edward Fairefax |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
The nineteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne.
|
| XX. |
 | Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem |  |
The nineteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne.
The argument.
Tancred in single combat killes his foeArgantes strong: the king and Soldan flie
To Dauids towre and saue their persons soe:
Erminia well instructs Vafrine the spie,
With him she rides way, and as they goe
Findes where her Lord for dead on earth doth lie;
First she laments, then cures him: Godfrey heares
Ormondoes treason and what marks he beares.
337
1
Now death, or feare, or care to saue their liues,From their forsaken walles the Pagans chace:
Yet neither force, nor feare, nor wisdome driues
The constant knight Argantes, from his place;
Alone, against ten thousand foes he striues,
Yet dreedlesse, doubtlesse, carelesse seem'd his face,
Not death, not danger, but disgrace he feares,
And still vnconquer'd (though oreset) appeares.
2
But mongst the rest vpon his helmet gayWith his broad sword Tancredie came and smote:
The Pagan knew the Prince by his array,
By his strong blowes, his armour and his cote;
For once they fought, and when night staid that fray,
New time they chose to end their combat hote,
But Tancred fail'd, wherefore the Pagan knight
Cride, (Tancred) com'st thou thus, thus late to fight?
3
Too late thou com'st and not alone to warre,But yet the fight I neither shun nor feare,
Although from knighthood true thou errest farre,
Since like an enginer thou dost appeare,
That towre, that troupe, thy shield and safetie arre,
Strange kinde of armes in single fight to beare;
Yet shalt thou not escape (O conqu'rer strong
Of Ladies faire) sharpe death, to venge that wrong.
4
Lord Tancred smiled, with disdaine and scorne,And answer'd thus, to end our strife (quoth hee)
Behold at last I come, and my retorne
(Though late) perchance will be too soone for thee;
For thou shalt wish (of hope and helpe forlorne)
Some sea or mountaine plast twixt thee and mee,
And well shalt know before we end this fray,
No feare or cowardise hath caus'd my stay.
5
But come aside thou, by whose prowesse diesThe monsters, knights and giants in all lands,
The killer of weake women thee defies.
This said, he turned to his fighting bands
And bids them all retire, forbeare he cries
To strike this knight, on him let none lay hands;
For mine he is (more than a common fo)
By challenge new and promise old also.
338
6
Descend (the fierce Circassian gan replie)Alone, or all this troupe for succour take
To desarts waste, or place frequented hie,
For vantage none I will the fight forsake:
Thus giuen 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 desireThat Tancred had the Pagans blood to spill,
Nor could that quench his wrath, or calme his ire,
If other hand his foe should foile or kill,
He sau'd him with his shield, and cride retire
To all he met, and doe this knight none ill:
And thus defending gainst his friends his foe,
Through thousand angrie weapons safe they goe.
8
They left the citie, and they left behindGodfredoes campe, and far beyond it past,
And came where into creekes and bosomes blinde
A winding hill his corners turn'd and cast,
A valley small and shadie dale they finde,
Amid the mountaines steepe so laid and plast,
As it some Theatre or closed place
Had beene, for men to fight, or beasts to chace,
9
There stai'd the champions both, with ruefull eiesArgantes gan the fortresse wonne to vew;
Tancred his foe withouten shield espies,
And farre away his target therefore threw,
And said, whereon doth thy sad hart deuies?
Thinkst thou this howre must end thy life vntrew?
If this thou feare, and dost foresee thy fate,
Thy feare is vaine, thy foresight comes too late.
10
I thinke (quoth he) on this distressed towne,The aged Queene of Iudaies ancient land,
Now lost, now sacked, spoil'd and troden downe,
Whose fall in vaine I striued to withstand,
A small reuenge for Sions fort orethrnowne
That head can be cut off by my strong hand;
This said, togither with great heed they flew,
For each his foe for bold and hardie knew:
339
11
Tancred of bodie actiue was and light,Quicke, nimble, ready both of hand and fout:
But higher by the head the Pagan knight,
Of limmes farre greater was, of hart as stout:
Tancred laid low and trauerst in his fight,
Now to his ward retired, now strucke out,
Oft with his sword his foes fierce blowes he broake,
And rather chose to warde, than beare his stroake.
12
But bould, and boult vpright Argantes fought,Vnlike in gesture, like in skill and art,
His sword out stretcht before him farre he brought;
Nor would his weapon touch, put pierce his hart,
To catch his point prince Tancred stroue and sought,
But at his breast or helmes vnclosed part.
He threatned death, and would with stretcht out brand
His entrance close, and fierce assaults withstand.
13
With a tall ship so doth a gallie fight,When the still windes stirre not th' vnstable maine,
Where this in nimblenesse, as that in might,
Excels; that stands, this goes and comes againe,
And shifts from prow to poope with turnings light;
Meanewhile the other doth vnmou'd remaine,
And on her nimble foe approcheth nie,
Her weightie engins tumbleth downe from hie:
14
The christian sought to enter on his foe,Voiding his point, which at his brest was bent;
Argantes at his face a thrust did throe,
Which while the prince awards, and doth preuent,
His ready hand the Pagan turned soe,
That all defence his quickenes farre orewent,
And pierst his side, which done he said and smilde,
The craftsman is in his owne craft beguilde:
15
Tancredie bit his lips for scorne and shame,Nor longer stood on points of fence and skill,
But to reuenge so fierce and fast he came,
As if his hand could not oretake his will,
And at his visour aiming iust, gan frame
To his proud boast an answere sharpe, but still
Argantes broake the thrust; and at halfe sword,
Swift, hardie, bould, in stept the christian lord.
340
16
With his left foote fast forward gan he stride,And with his left the Pagans right arme hent,
With his right hand meanewhile the mans right side
He cut, he wounded, mangled, tore, and rent,
To his victorious teacher (Tancred cride)
His conquerd scholler hath this answer sent;
Argantes chafed, struggled, turnd and twind,
Yet could not so his captiue arme vnbind:
17
His sword at last he let hang by the chaine,And gripte his hardie foe in both his hands,
In his strong armes Tancred caught him againe,
And thus each other held and wrapt in bands.
With greater might Alcides did not straine,
The giant Antheus on the Libian sands,
On holdfast knots their brawnie armes they cast,
And whom he hateth most, each held embrast:
18
Such was their wrestling, such their shockes and throwes,That downe at once they tumbled both to ground,
Argantes (were it hap or skill who knowes)
His better hand loose and in freedome found;
But the good prince his hand more fit for blowes
With his huge weight the Pagan vnderbound;
But he, his disaduantage great that knew,
Let go his hold, and on his feete vpflew:
19
Farre slower rose th' vnweldie Saracine,And caught a rappe ere he was reard vpright.
But as against the blustring windes a pine
Now bends his toppe, now lifts his head on hight,
His courage so (when it gan most decline)
The man r'enforced, and aduanst his might,
And with fierce change of blowes renewd the fray,
Where rage, for skill: horrour, for art bore sway.
20
The purple drops from Tancreds sides downe railed,But from the Pagan ran whole streames of blood,
Wherewith his force grew weake, his courage quailed,
As fiers die which fuell want or food.
Tancred that saw his feeble arme now failed
To strike his blowes, that scant he stirr'd or stood,
Asswagd his anger and his wrath alaid,
And stepping backe, thus gently spoke and said.
341
21
Yeeld hardie knight, and chance of warre, or meeConfesse to haue subdew'd thee in this fight,
I will no trophee, triumph, spoile of thee,
Nor glorie wish, nor seeke a victors right:
More terrible than earst, herewith grew hee,
And all awakt, his furie, rage and might,
And said, dar'st thou of vantage speake or thinke?
Or moue Argantes once to yeeld or shrinke?
22
Vse, vse, thy vantage, thee and fortune bothI scorne, and punish will thy foolish pride:
As a hot brand flames most ere it forth go'th,
And dying blazeth bright on euery side;
So he (when blood was lost) with anger wroth,
Reuiu'd his courage, when his puissance dide,
And would his latest howre which now drew nie
Illustrate with his end, and nobly die;
23
He ioin'd his left hand to her sister strong,And with them both let fall his weightie blade.
Tancred to warde his blow his sword vp flong,
But that it smote aside, nor there it stade,
But from his shoulder to his side along
It glanst, and many wounds at once it made:
Yet Tancred feared nought, for in his hart,
Found coward dread no place, feare had no part.
24
His fearefull blow he doubled, but he spentHis force in wast, and all his strength in vaine:
For Tancred from the blow against him bent
Leaped aside, the stroke fell on the plaine,
With thine owne weight orethrowne to earth thou went
(Argantes stout) nor could'st thy selfe sustaine,
Thy selfe thou threwest downe, O happie man!
Vpon whose fall none boast, or triumph can:
25
His gaping wounds the fall set open wide,The streames of blood about him made a lake,
Helpt with his left hand on one knee he tride
To reare himselfe, and new defence to make:
The curteous Prince stept backe, and yeeld thee, cride,
No hurt he profred him, no blow he strake.
Meane-while by stealth the Pagan false him gaue
A sodaine wound, threat'ning with speeches braue:
342
26
Herewith Tancredie furious grew, and saide,Villaine, dost thou my mercie so despies?
Therewith he thrust and thrust againe his blade,
And through his ventall pierst his dazeled eies:
Argantes dide, yet no complaint he made,
But as he furious liu'd, he carelesse dies;
Bold, proud, disdainfull, fierce and voide of feare;
His motions last, last lookes, last speeches weare.
27
Tancred put vp his sword, and praises gladGaue to his God, that sau'd him in this fight;
But yet this bloodie conquest feebled had
So much the conquerours force, strength, and might,
That through the way he fear'd which homeward lad
He had not strength enough to walke vpright;
Yet as he could his steps from thence he bent,
And foote by foot a heauie pace foorth went;
28
His legges could beare him but a little stound,And more he hastes (more tirde) lesse was his speed,
On his right hand, at last, laid on the ground
He lean'd, his hand weake like a shaking reed,
Daz'led his eies, the world on wheeles ran round;
Day wrapt her brightnesse vp in sable weed;
At length he swouned, and the victor knight
Nought diffred from his conquer'd foe in sight.
29
But while these Lords their priuate fight pursue,Made fierce and cruell through their secret hate,
The victors ire destroi'd the faithlesse crue
From street to street, and chas'd from gate to gate.
But of the sacked towne the image true
Who can describe? or paint the woefull state?
Or with fit words this spectacle expresse
Who can? or tell the cities great distresse?
30
Blood, murder, death, each streete, house, church defilde,There heaps of slaine appeare, there mountaines hie;
There vnderneath th' vnburied hils vppilde
Of bodies dead, the liuing buried lie;
There the sad mother with her tender childe
Doth teare her tresses loose, complaine, and flie,
And there the spoiler (by her Amber haire)
Drawes to his lust the virgin chast and faire.
343
31
But through the way that to the West hill yood,Whereon the old and stately temple stands,
All soild with gore, and wet with lukewarme blood
Rinaldo ronne, and chas'd the Pagan bands,
Aboue their heads he heau'd his curtlax good,
Life in his grace, and death lay in his hands;
Nor helme nor target strong his blowes off beares,
Best armed there seem'd he, no armes that weares;
32
For gainst his armed foes he onely bendsHis force, and scornes the naked folke to wound;
Them whom no courage armes, no armes defends,
He chased with his lookes, and dreedfull sound:
Oh, who can tell how farre his force extends?
How these he scornes, threats those, laies them on ground?
How with vnequall harme, with equall feare
Fled all, all that well arm'd or naked weare,
33
Fast fled the people weake, and with the sameA squadron strong is to the temple gone,
Which burnt and builded oft, still keepes the name
Of the first founder, wise king Salomone,
That Prince this stately house did whilome frame
Of Cedar trees, of gold and marble stone;
Now not so ritch, yet strong and sure it was,
With turrets hie, thicke wals, and doores of bras.
34
The knight arriued where in warlike sortThe men that ample church had fortified,
And closed found each wicket, gate and port,
And on the top defences readie spied,
He lift his frowning lookes and twise that fort
From his high top downe to the groundworke eied,
And entrance sought, and twise with his swift fout
The mightie place he measured about.
35
Like as a Wolfe about the closed foldRangeth by night his hoped pray to get,
Enrag'd with hunger, and with malice old,
Which kinde twixt him and harmelesse sheepe hath set:
So searcht he high and low about that hold,
Where he might enter without stop or let,
In the great court he stai'd, his foes aboue
Attend th' assault, and would their fortune proue.
344
36
There lay by chance a posted tree therebie,Kept for some needfull vse, what ere it were,
The armed gallies not so thicke nor hie
Their tall and loftie masts at Genes vpreare;
This beame the knight against the gates made flie
From his strong hands, all weights which lift and beare,
Like a light lance the tree he shooke and tost,
And brus'd the gate, the threshold, and the post.
37
No marble stone, no mettall strong outboreThe wondrous might, of that redoubled blow,
The brasen henges from the walles it tore,
It breoke the lockes, and laid the dores downe low,
No iron ramme, no engin could do more,
Nor cannons great that thunderbolts forth throw,
His people like a flowing streame inthrong,
And after them entred the victor strong;
38
The wofull slaughter blacke and loathsome maidThat house, sometime the sacred house of God,
O heau'nly iustice! if thou be delaid
On wretched sinners sharper fals thy rod,
In them this place profaned which inuaid
Thou kindled ire, and mercy all forbod,
Vntill with their hart blouds the Pagans vile
This temple washt, which they did late defile.
39
But Soliman this while himselfe fast spedVp to the fort, which Dauids towre is named,
And with him all the souldiers left he led,
And gainst each entrance new defences framed:
The tyrant Aladine eeke thither fled,
To whom the Soldan thus (farre off) exclamed,
Come, come, renowned king, vp to this rocke,
Thy selfe, within this fortresse safe vplocke:
40
For well this fortresse shall thee and thy crowneDefend, awhile heere may we safe remaine.
Alas (quoth he) alas, for this faire towne,
Which cruell warre beates downe eeu'n with the plaine,
My life is done, mine empire troden downe,
I raind, I liu'd, but now nor liue nor raine;
For now (alas) behold the fatall howre,
That ends our liues, and ends our kingly powre.
345
41
Where is your vertue, where your wisedome graue,And courage stout? the angrie Soldan said,
Let chance our kingdomes take which earst she gaue;
Yet in our harts our kingly worth is laid;
But come and in this fort your person saue,
Refresh your wearie limmes and strength decaid:
Thus counseld he and did to saftie bring,
Within that fort the weake and aged king.
42
His iron mace in both his hands he hent,And on his thigh his trustie sword he tide,
And to the entrance fierce and fearlesse went,
And kept the strait, and all the French defide:
The blowes were mortall which he gaue 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 dreedfull mace.
43
But old Raimondo with his hardie crewBy chance came thither, to his great mishap,
To that defended path the old man flew,
And scorn'd his blowes and him that kept the gap,
He stroake his foe, his blow no blood foorth drew,
But on the front with that he caught a rap,
Which in a swoune, low in the dust him laid,
Wide open, trembling, with his armes displaid.
44
The Pagans gathred hart at last, though feareTheir courage weake had put to flight but late,
So that the conquerours repulsed weare,
And beaten backe, else slaine before the gate:
The Soldan (mongst the dead beside him neare
That saw Lord Raimond lie in such estate)
Cride to his men, within these barres (quoth he)
Come draw this knight, and let him captiue be.
45
Forward they rusht to execute his word,But hard and dang'rous that emprise they found,
For none of Raimonds men forsooke their Lord,
But to their guides defence they flocked round,
Thence furie fights, hence pitie drawes the sword,
Nor striue they for vile cause, or on light ground,
The life and freedome of that champion braue,
Those spoile, these would preserue, those kill, these saue.
346
46
But yet at last (if they had longer fought)The hardie Soldane would haue wonne the field;
For gainst his thundring mace auailed nought
Or helme of temper fine, or seu'nfold shield:
But from each side great succour now was brought
To his weake foes, now fit to faint and yield,
And both at once to aide and helpe the same
The soueraigne Duke and yoong Rinaldo came.
47
As when a shepherd, raging round aboutThat sees a storme with winde, haile, thunder, raine,
(When gloomy cloudes haue daies bright eie put out)
His tender flockes driues from the open plaine,
To some thicke groue or mountaines shadie fout,
Where heau'ns fierce wrath they may vnhurt sustaine,
And with his hooke, his whistle and his cries
Driues foorth his fleecie charge, and with them flies:
48
So fled the Soldan, when he gan descrieThis tempest come from angrie warre foorth cast,
The armours clashte and lightned gainst the skie,
And from each side swords, weapons, fire out brast:
He sent his folke vp to the fortresse hie,
To shunne the furious storme, himselfe staid last,
Yet to the danger he gaue place at length,
For wit, his courage; wisedome, rulde his strength.
49
But scant the knight was safe the gate within,Scant closed were the doores, when hauing broake
The barres, Rinaldo doth assault begin
Against the port, and on the wicket stroake
His matchlesse might, his great desire to win,
His oath and promise, doth his wrath prouoake,
For he had sworne (nor should his word be vaine)
To kill the man that had Prince Sweno slaine.
50
And now his armed hand that castle greatWould haue assaulted, and had shortly wonne,
Nor safe pardie the Soldan there a seat
Had found his fatall foes sharpe wrath to shonne,
Had not Godfredo sounded the retreat;
For now darke shades to shrowd the earth begonne,
Within the towne the Duke would lodge that night
And with the morne renew th' assault and fight.
347
51
With cheerefull looke thus to his folke he said,High God hath holpen well his children deare,
This worke is donne, the rest this night delai'd
Doth little labour bring, lesse doubt, no feare,
This towre (our foes weake hope and latest aid)
We conquer will, when sunne shall next appeare:
Meane-while with loue and tender ruth goe see
And comfort those which hurt and wounded bee;
52
Goe cure their wounds which boldly venturedTheir liues, and spilt their bloods to get this hold,
That fitteth more this host for Christ forth led,
Then thirst of veng'ance, or desire of gold;
Too much (ah) too much blood this day is shed!
In some we too much haste to spoile behold,
But I command no more you spoile and kill,
And let a trumpet publish forth my will;
53
This said, he went where Raimond panting lay,Wakt from the swoune wherein he late had beene.
Nor Soliman with countenance lesse gay
Bespake his troupes, and kept his griefe vnseene;
My friends, you are vnconquered this day,
In spite of fortune, still our hope is greene,
For vnderneath great showes of harme and feare,
Our dangers small, our losses little weare:
54
Burnt are your houses, and your people slaine,Yet safe your towne is, though your walles be gone,
For in your selues and in your soueraigne
Consists your citie, not in lime and stone;
Your king is safe, and safe is all his traine,
In this strong fort defended from their fone,
And on this emptie conquest let them bost,
Till with this towne againe, their liues be lost;
55
And on their heads the losse at last will light,For with good fortune proud and insolent,
In spoile and murder spend they day and night,
In riot, drinking, lust and rauishment,
And may amid their prayes with little fight
At ease be ouerthrowne, kild, slaine and spent,
If in this carelesnesse th' Egyptian hoast
Vpon them fall, which now drawes neere this coast.
348
56
Meane-while the highest buildings of this towneWe may shake downe with stones, about their eares,
And with our dartes and speares from engins throwne,
Commaund that hill Christs sepulchre that beares:
Thus comforts he their hopes and harts cast downe,
Awakes their valours, and exiles their feares.
But while these things hapt thus, Vafrino goes
Vnknowne, amid ten thousand armed foes.
57
The sunne nie set had brought to ende the day,When Vafrine went the Pagan hoste to spie,
He past vnknowne a close and secret way;
A traueller, false, cunning, craftie, slie,
Past Ascalon he saw the morning gray
Step ore the threshold of the Estren skie,
And ere bright Titan, halfe his course had runne,
That campe, that mightie hoste to show begunne.
58
Tents infinite and standards broad he spies,This red, that white, that blew, this purple was,
And heares strange toongs, and stranger harmornies
Of trumpets, clarions, and well sounding bras:
The Elephant there braies, the Camell cries;
The horses neigh as to and fro they pas:
Which seene and heard, he said within his thought,
Hither all Asia is, all Affricke, brought.
59
He view'd the campe awhile, her scite and seat,What ditch, what trench it had, what rampire strong,
Nor close, nor secret waies to worke his feat
He longer sought, nor hid him from the throng;
But entred through the gates, broad, roiall, great,
And oft he askt, and answer'd oft among,
In questions wise, in answeres short and slie;
Bold was his looke, eies quicke, front lifted hie:
60
On euerie side he pried here and theare,And markt each way, each passage and each tent:
The knights he notes, their steads, and armes they beare;
Their names, their armours and their gouerment,
And greater secrets hopes to learne, and heare
Their hidden purpose, and their close entent:
So long he walkt and wandred, till he spide
The way t'approch the great Pauilions side;
349
61
There as he lookte, he saw the canuasse rent,Through which the voice found eath and open way,
From the close lodgings of the regall tent,
And inmost closet, where the captaine lay;
So that if Emireno spake, forth went
They sound to them that listen what they say,
There Vafrine watcht, and those that saw him thought
To mend the breach, that there he stood and wrought.
62
The captaine great within bare headed stood,His bodie arm'd and clad in purple weed;
Two Pages bore his shield and helmet good,
He leaning on a bending launce, gaue heed
To a bigge man, whose lookes were fierce and prood,
With whom he parled of some haughtie deed,
Godfredoes name as Vafrine watcht he hard,
Which made him giue more heed, take more regard:
63
Thus spake the Chieftaine to that surly sire,Art thou so sure that Godfrey shall be slaine?
I am (quoth he) and sweare nere to retire
(Except he first be kill'd) to court againe,
I will preuent those that with me conspire:
Nor other guerdon aske I for my paine,
But that I may hang vp his harnesse braue
At Caire, and vnder them these words engraue,
64
These armes Ormondo tooke in noble fightFrom Godfrey proud, that spoil'd all Asias lands,
And with them tooke his life, and here on hight
(In memorie thereof) this trophie stands.
The Duke replide, nere shall that deed (bold knight)
Passe vnrewarded at our sou'raignes hands,
What thou demaundest shall he gladly grant,
Nor gold nor guerdon shalt thou wish, or want.
65
Those counterfeited armours than prepare,Bicause the day of fight approacheth fast,
They readie are (quoth he:) then both forbare
From further talke, these speeches were the last.
Vafrine (these great things heard) with griefe and care
Remain'd astound, and in his thoughts oft cast
What treason false this was, how feigned weare
Those armes, but yet that doubt he could not cleare.
350
66
From thence he parted, and broad waking layAll that long night, nor slumbred once nor slept:
But when the campe by peepe of springing day
Their banners spred, and knights on horsebacke lept,
With them he marched foorth in meete array,
And where they pitched, lodg'd, and with them kept,
And then from tent to tent he stalkt about,
To heare and see, and learne this secret out;
67
Searching about on a ritch throne he fandArmida set, with dames and knights around,
Sullen she sate, and sigh'd, it seemd she scand
Some weightie matters in her thoughts profound,
Her rosie cheeke leand on her lillie hand,
Her eies (loues twinckling stars) she bent to ground,
Weepe she, or no, he knowes not, yet appeares
Her humid eies eu'n great with childe with teares.
68
He sawe before her set Adrastus grim,That seemed scant to liue, mooue, or respire,
So was he fixed on his mistres trim,
So gazed he, and fed his fond desire;
But Tisiperne beheld now her, now him,
And quakte, sometime for loue, sometime for ire,
And in his cheekes the colour went and came,
For their wrathes fire now burnt, now shone loues flame.
69
Then from the garland faire of virgins bright,(Mongst whom he lay enclosd) rose Altamore,
His hot desire he hid and kept from sight,
His lookes were ruld by Cupids craftie lore,
His left eie viewd her hand, her face; his right
Both watcht her beauties hid, and secret store,
And entrance found where her thin vaile bewraid
The milken way betweene her breasts that laid.
70
Her eies Armida lift from earth at last,And cleard againe her front and visage sad,
Midst clouds of woe her lookes which ouercast
She lightned foorth a smile, sweete, pleasant, glad;
My Lord (quoth she) your oath and promise past,
Hath freed my hart of all the griefes it had,
That now in hope of sweete reuenge it liues,
Such ioy, such ease, desired vengeance giues.
351
71
Cheare vp thy lookes (answer'd the Indian king)And for sweete beauties sake, appease thy woe,
Cast at your feete ere you expect the thing,
I will present the head of thy strong foe;
Else shall this hand his person captiue bring
And cast in prison deepe, he boasted soe.
His riuall heard him well, yet answerd nought,
But bit his lips, and grieu'd in secret thought.
72
To Tisiphern the damsell turning right,And what say you, my noble lord? (quoth she)
He taunting said, I, that am slow to sight
Will follow farre behinde, the worth to see
Of this your terrible and puissant knight,
In scornefull words this bitter scoffe gaue hee.
Good reason (quoth the king) thou come behinde,
Nor ere compare thee with the prince of Inde.
73
Lord Tisiphernes shooke his head, and said,Oh had my powre free like my courage beene,
Or had I libertie to vse this blade,
Who slow, who weakest is, soone should be seene,
Nor thou, nor thy great vants make me affraid,
But cruell loue I feare, and this faire queene.
This said, to chalenge him the king foorth lept,
But vp their mistresse start and twixt them stept:
74
Will you thus robbe me of that gift (quoth shee)Which each hath vowd to giue by word and oth?
You are my champions, let that title bee
The bond of loue and peace, betweene you both;
He that displeasd is, is displeasd with mee,
For which of you is grieud, and I not wroth?
Thus warnd she them, their harts (for ire nie broake)
In forced peace and rest, thus bore loues yoake.
75
All this heard Vafrine as he stood beside,And hauing learn'd the troth, he left the tent,
That treason was against the christians guide
Contriud, he wist, yet wist not how it went,
By words, and questions farre off, he tride
To finde the truth, more difficult, more bent
Was he to know it, and resolud to die,
Or of that secret close th' entent to spie.
352
76
Of slie intelligence he prou'd all waies,All crafts, all wiles, that in his thoughts abid,
Yet all in vaine the man by wit assaies,
To know that false compact and practise hid:
But chance (what wisdome could not tell) bewraies,
Fortune of all his doubt the knots vndid,
So that prepard for Godfreies last mishappe
(At ease) he found the net, and spide the trappe.
77
Thither he turnd againe, where seated wasThe angrie louer, twixt her friends and lords,
For in that troupe much talke he thought would pas,
Each great assemblie store of newes affords,
He sided there a lustie louely las,
And with some courtly tearmes the wench he bords,
He faines acquaintance, and as bold appeares
As he had knowne that virgin twentie yeares:
78
He said, would some sweete ladie grace me soe,To chuse me for her champion, friend, and knight,
Proud Godfreies or Rinaldoes head (I troe)
Should feele the sharpnes of my curtlax bright;
Aske me the head (faire mistresse) of some foe,
For to your beautie vowed is my might,
So he began, and ment in speeches wise
Further to wade, but thus he brake the ise:
79
Therewith he smild, and smiling gan to frameHis lookes, so to their ould and natiue grace,
That towards him another virgin came,
Heard him, beheld him, and with bashfull face
Said, for thy mistresse chuse no other dame
But me, on me thy loue and seruice place,
I take thee for my champion, and apart
Would reason with thee, if my knight thou art.
80
Withdrawne, she thus began, Vafrine (pardie)I know thee well, and me thou knowst of old,
To his last trumpe this droue the subtile spie,
But smiling towards her he turnd him bold,
Nere that I wote I saw thee earst with eie,
Yet for thy worth all eies should thee behold,
Thus much I know right well, for from the same
Which earst you gaue me diffrent is my name.
353
81
My mother bore me neere Bisertas 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 thy selfe at all,
If I bewraie thee let me die therefore,
I am Erminia, daughter to a prince,
But Tancreds slaue, thy fellow seruant since;
82
Two happie months within that prison kind,Vnder thy guard, reioiced I to dwell,
And thee a keeper meeke and good did find,
The same, the same I am; behould me well.
The squire her louely beautie call'd to mind,
And markt her visage faire: from thee expell
All feare (she saies) for me liue safe and sure,
I will thy safetie, not thy harme procure.
83
But yet I praie thee (when thou dost retorne)To my deare prison lead me home againe;
For in this hatefull freedome eau'n and morne
I sigh for sorrow, mourne and weepe for paine:
But if to spie perchance thou here soiorne,
Great hap thou hast, to know their secrets plaine,
For I their treasons false, false traines, can say,
Which fewe beside can tell, none will bewray.
84
On her he gazd, and silent stood this while,Armidas sleights he knew, and traines vniust,
Women haue toongs of craft, and harts of guile,
They will, they will not, fooles that on them trust,
For in their speech, is death; hell, in their smile;
At last he said, if hence depart you lust,
I will you guide, on this conclude we heare,
And further speech, till fitter time, forbeare.
85
Forthwith (ere thence the campe remooue) to rideThey were resolu'd, their flight that season fits,
Vafrine departs, she to the dames beside
Returnes, and there on thornes awhile she sits,
Of her new knight she talkes, till time and tide
To scape vnmarkt she finde, then forth she gits,
Thither where Vafrine her vnseene abode,
There tooke shee horse, and from the campe they rode.
354
86
And now in desarts waste and wilde arriued,Farre from the campe, farre from resort and sight,
Vafrine began, gainst Godfreies life contriued
The false compacts and traines vnfould aright:
Then she those treasons (from their spring deriued)
Repeats, and brings their hid deceits to light,
Eight knights she saies, (all courtiers braue) there arre,
(But Ormond strong, the rest surpasseth farre)
87
These (whether hate or hope of gaine them moue)Conspired haue, and fram'd their treason soe,
That day when Emiren by fight shall proue
To winne lost Asia from his christian foe,
These, with the crosse scor'd on their armes aboue,
And armd like Frenchmen, will disguised goe,
Like Godfreies guard that gould and white do weare,
Such shall their habite be, and such their geare:
88
Yet each will beare a token in his crest,That so their friends for Pagans may them know:
But in close fight when all the souldiours best
Shall mingled be, to giue the fatall blow,
They will creepe neere, and pierce Godfredoes brest,
While of his faithfull guard they beare false show,
And all their swords are dipt in poison strong,
Bicause each wound shall bring sad death ere long.
89
And for their chiefetaine wist I knew your guize,What garments, ensignes, and what armes you carrie,
Those feigned armes he forst me to deuize,
So that from yours but small or nought they varrie:
But these vniust commands my thoughts despize,
Within their campe therefore I list not tarrie,
My hart abhorres 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 maine
Cast downe her eies, these last words scant outgone,
She would haue stopt, nor durst pronounce them plaine.
The squire, what she conceald, would know, as one
That from her breast her secret thoughts could straine,
Of little faith (quoth he) why wouldst thou hide
Those causes true, from me thy squire and guide?
355
91
With that she fecht a sigh, sad, sore, and deepe,And from her lips her words slow, trembling came,
Fruitlesse (she said) vntimely, hard to keepe,
Vaine modestie farewell, and farewell shame,
Why hope you restlesse loue to bring on sleepe?
Why striue your fires to quench sweete Cupids flame?
No, no, such cares, and such respects beseeme
Great Ladies, wandring maides them nought esteeme.
92
That night, fatall to me and Antioch towne,Then made a praie to her commaunding foe,
My losse was greater than was seene or knowne,
There ended not, but thence began my woe:
Light was the losse of friends, of Realme or crowne;
But with my state, I lost my selfe alsoe,
Nere to be found againe, for then I lost
My wit, my sense, my hart, my soule almost.
93
Through fire and sword, through blood and death (Vafrine)(Which all my friends did burne, did kill, did chace)
Thou know'st I ronne to thy deere Lord and mine,
When first he entred had my fathers place,
And kneeling with salt teares in my swolne eine;
Great Prince (quoth I) grant mercie, pitie, grace,
Saue not my kingdome, not my life I saide,
But saue mine honour, let me die a maide.
94
He lift me by the trembling hand from ground,Nor staide he till my humble speech was donne;
But said, a friend and keeper hast thou found
(Faire virgin) nor to me in vaine you ronne:
A sweetnesse strange from that sweet voices sound
Pierced my hart, my brests weake fortresse wonne,
Which creeping through my bosome soft, became
A wound, a sickenes, and a quenchlesse flame.
95
He visits me, with speeches kinde and graueHe sought to ease my griefes, and sorrowes smart:
He said, I giue thee libertie, recaue
All that is thine, and at thy will depart:
Alas, he robb'd me when he thought he gaue,
Free was Erminia: but captiu'd her hart,
Mine was the bodie, his the soule and minde,
He gaue the cage, but kept the birde behinde.
356
96
But who can hide desire, or loue suppresse?Oft of his worth with thee in talke I stroue,
Thou (by my trembling fit that well couldst guesse
What feauer held me) saidst, thou art in loue;
But I denaid, for what can maids doe lesse?
And yet my sighes thy sayings true did proue,
In stead of speech, my lookes, my teares, mine eies,
Told in what flame, what fire, thy mistresse fries.
97
Vnhappie silence, well I might haue toldMy woes, and for my harmes haue sought reliefe,
Since now my paines and plaints I vtter bold,
Where none that heares can helpe or ease my griefe:
From him I parted, and did close vpfold
My wounds within my bosome, death was chiefe
Of all my hopes and helpes, till loues sweet flame
Pluckt off the bridle of respect and shame,
98
And caus'd me ride to seeke my Lord and knight,For he that made me sicke could make me sound:
But on an ambush I mischanst to light
Of cruell men, in armour clothed round,
Hardly I scapt their hands by mature flight,
And fled to wildernesse and desart ground,
And there I liu'd in groues and forrests wilde,
With gentle groomes and shepheards daughters milde.
99
But when hot loue, which feare had late supprest,Reuiu'd againe, there nould I longer sit,
But rode the way I came, nor ere tooke rest,
Till on like danger, like mishap I hit,
A troupe to forrage and to spoile addrest,
Encountred me, nor could I flie from it:
Thus was I tane, and those that had me cought
Egyptians were, and me to Gaza brought,
100
And for a present to their captaine gaue,Whom I entreated and besought so well,
That he mine honour had great care to saue,
And since with faire Armida let me dwell.
Thus taken oft, escaped oft I haue,
Ah, see what haps I past, what dangers fell,
So often captiue, free so oft againe,
Still my first bandes I keepe, still my first chaine.
357
101
And he that did this chaine so surely bindeAbout my hart, which none can loose but hee,
Let him not say, goe (wandring damsell) finde
Some other home, thou shalt not bide with mee,
But let him welcome me with speeches kinde,
And in my wonted prison set me free:
Thus spake the Princesse, thus she and her guide
Talkt day and night, and on their iourney ride,
102
Through the high waies Vafrino would not pas,A path more secret, safe and short, he knew,
And now close by the cities wall he was,
When sunne was set, night in the East vpflew,
With drops of blood besmeerd he found the gras,
And saw where lay a warriour murdred new,
That all bebled the ground, his face to skies
He turnes, and seemes to threat, though dead he lies:
103
His harnesse and his habit both bewraidHe was a Pagan, forward went the squire,
And saw whereas another champion laid
Dead on the land, all soild with blood and mire,
This was some Christian knight Vafrino said;
And marking well his armes and ritch attire,
He loos'd his helme, and saw his visage plaine,
And cride, alas, here lies Tancredie slaine!
104
The woefull virgin tarried, and gaue heedTo the fierce lookes of that proud Saracine,
Till that high crie (full of sad feare and dreed)
Pierst through her hart with sorrow, griefe and pine,
At Tancreds name thither she ranne with speed,
Like one halfe mad, or drunke with too much wine,
And when she sawe his face, pale, bloodlesse, dead,
She lighted, nay, she tumbled from her stead:
105
Her springs of teares she looseth foorth, and criesHither why bringst thou me, ah fortune blinde?
Where dead (for whom I liu'd) my comfort lies,
Where warre, for peace; trauell for rest I finde;
Tancred, I haue thee, see thee, yet thine eies
Lookte not vpon thy loue and handmaide kinde,
Vndoe their doores, their lids fast closed seuer,
Alas, I finde thee for to lose thee euer.
358
106
I neuer thought that to mine eies (my deare)Thou could'st haue greeuous or vnpleasant beene;
But now would blinde or rather dead I weare,
That thy sad plight might be vnknowne, vnseene,
Alas, where is thy mirth and smiling cheare?
Where are thine eies cleere beames and sparkles sheene?
Of thy faire cheeke where is the purple read,
And foreheads whitnes? are all gone, all dead?
107
Though gone, though dead, I loue thee still behold;Death wounds, but kils not loue; yet if thou liue
Sweete soule, still in his brest, my follies bold
Ah, pardon, loues, desires and stealthes forgiue;
Grant me from his pale mouth some kisses cold,
Since death doth loue of iust reward depriue;
And of thy spoiles sad death affoord me this,
Let me his mouth pale, cold and bloodlesse kis;
108
O gentle mouth! with speeches kinde and sweete,Thou didst relieue my griefe, my woe and paine,
Ere my weake soule from this fraile bodie fleete,
Ah, comfort me with one deare kisse or twaine,
Perchance if we aliue had hapt to meete,
They had beene giu'n which now are stolne, O vaine,
O feeble life, betwixt his lips out flie,
O let me kisse thee first, then let me die!
109
Receiue my yeilded spirit, and with thineGuide it to heau'n, where all true loue hath place:
This saide, she sigh'd, and tore her tresses fine,
And from her eies two streames powrde on his face,
The man reuiued with those showres diuine,
Awakt, and opened his lips a space:
His lips were open; but fast shut his eies,
And with her sighes, one sigh from him vpflies.
110
The dame perceiu'd that Tancred breath'd and sight,Which calm'd her grieues somedeale and eas'd her feares:
Vnclose thine eies (she saies) my Lord and knight,
See my last seruices, my plaints and teares,
See her that dies to see thy woefull plight,
That of thy paine her part and portion beares,
Once looke on me, small is the gift I craue,
The last which thou canst giue, or I can haue.
359
111
Tancred lookt vp, and clos'd his eies againe,Heauie and dim, and she renew'd her woe:
Quoth Vafrine, cure him first, and then complaine,
Med'cine is lifes chiefe friend; plaint her most foe,
They pluckt his armour off, and she each vaine,
Each ioint, and sinew felt, and handled soe,
And searcht so well, each thrust, each cut and wound,
That hope of life her loue and skill soone found.
112
From wearinesse and losse of blood she spideHis greatest paines and anguish most proceede,
Nought but her vaile amid those desarts wide
She had to binde his wounds, in so great neede,
But loue could other bands (though strange) prouide,
And pitie wept for ioy to see that deede,
For with her amber lockes cut off each wound
She tide: O happie man, so cur'd, so bound!
113
For why her vaile was short and thin, those deepeAnd cruell hurtes to fasten, rowle, and binde,
Nor salue, nor simple had she, yet to keepe
Her knight on liue, strong charmes of wondrous kinde
She said, and from him droue that deadly sleepe,
That now his eies he lifted, turn'd and twinde,
And saw his squire, and saw that curteous dame
In habit strange, and wondred whence she came.
114
He said, O Vafrine, tell me, whence com'st thow?And who this gentle surgeon is, disclose;
She smil'd, she sigh'd, she lookt she wist not how,
She wept, reioist, she blusht as red as rose,
You shall know all (she saies) your surgeon now
Commands you silence, rest, and soft repose,
You shall be sound, prepare my guerdon meete,
His head then laid she in her bosome sweete.
115
Vafrine deuis'd this while how he might beareHis maister home, ere night obscur'd the land,
When loe a troupe of soldiers did appeare,
Whom he descride to be Tancredies band,
With him when he and Argant met they weare;
But when they went to combat hand for hand,
He bod them stay behinde, and they obaid,
But came to seeke him now, so long he staid.
360
116
Besides them, many follow'd that enquest,But these alone found out the rightest way,
Vpon their friendly armes the men addrest
A seat, whereon he sate, he lean'd, he lay:
(Quoth Tancred) shall the strong Circassian rest
In this broad field, for wolues and crowes a pray?
Ah no, defraud not you that champion braue
Of his iust praise, of his due tombe and graue,
117
With his dead bones no longer warre haue I,Boldly he dide, and noblie was he slaine,
Then let vs not that honour him denie,
Which after death alonely doth remaine:
The Pagan dead they lifted vp on hie,
And after Tancred bore him through the plaine.
Close by the virgin chast did Vafrine ride,
As he that was her squire, her guard, her guide.
118
Not home (quoth Tancred) to my wonted tent,But beare me to this roiall towne, I pray,
That if cut short by humaine accident
I die, there I may see my latest day,
The place where Christ vpon his crosse was rent,
To heau'n perchance may easier make the way,
And ere I yeeld to deathes and fortunes rage,
Perform'd shall be my vow and pilgrimage,
119
Thus to the cittie was Tancredie borne,And fell on sleepe, laid on a bed of downe.
Vafrino where the damsell might soiorne,
A chamber got, close, secret, neere his owne:
That done he came the mightie Duke beforne,
And entrance found, for till his newes were knowne
Nought was concluded mongst those knights & Lords,
Their counsell hung on his report and words.
120
Where weake and wearie wounded Raimond laid,Godfrey was set vpon his couches side,
And round about the man a ring was maid
Of lords and knights, that fild the chamber wide;
There while the squire his late discou'rie said,
To breake his talke none answerd, none replide,
My lord (he said) at your command I went
And vew'd their campe, each cabbin, booth and tent;
361
121
But of that mightie hoast the number trewExpect not that I can, or should descrie,
All couerd with their armies might you vew
The fieldes, the plaines, the dales and mountaines hie,
I saw what way so ere they went and drew,
They spoild the land, drunke flouds and fountaines drie,
For not whole Iordan could haue giu'n them drinke,
Nor all the graine in Syria, bread, I thinke.
122
But yet amongst them many bands are foundBoth horse and foote, of little force and might,
That keep no order, know no trumpets sound,
That draw no sword, but farre off shoot and fight,
But yet the Persian army doth abound
With many a footeman strong, and hardie knight,
So doth the kings owne troupe which all is framed
Of souldiours old, th' immortall squadron named.
123
Immortall called is that band of right,For of that number neuer wanteth one,
But in his emptie place some other knight
Steps in, when any man is dead or gone:
This armies leader Emireno hight,
Like whom in wit and strength are fewe or none,
Who hath in charge in plaine and pitched feild,
To fight with you, to make you flie or yeild.
124
And well I know their armie and their host,Within a day or two, will here arriue:
But thee, Rinaldo, it behooueth most
To keepe thy noble head, for which they striue,
For all the chiefe in armes or courage, bost
They will the same to queene Armida giue,
And for the same she giues her selfe in price,
Such hire will many hands to worke entice.
125
The chiefe of these (that haue thy murder sworne)Is Altamore, the king of Sarmachand;
Adrastus then, whose realme lies neere the morne,
A hardie giant, bould, and strong of hand,
This king vpon an elephant is borne,
For vnder him no horse can stirre or stand;
The third is Tisipherne, as braue a lord
As euer put on helme, or guirt on sword.
362
126
This said, from yong Rinaldoes angrie eiesFlew sparks of wrath, flames in his visage shinde,
He long'd to be amid those enimies,
Nor rest nor reason in his hart could finde.
But to the Duke Vafrine his talke applies,
The greatest newes (my Lord) are yet behinde,
For all their thoughts, their crafts and counsels tend
By treason false to bring thy life to end:
127
Then all from point to point he gan exposeThe false compact, how it was made and wrought,
The armes and ensignes fained, poison close,
Ormondos vant, what praise, what thanke he sought,
And what reward, and satisfide all those
That would demaund, enquire, or aske of ought,
Silence was made a while, when Godfrey thus,
Raimondo say, what counsell giu'st thou vs?
128
Not as we purpos'd late, next morne (quoth hee)Let vs not scale, but round besiege this towre,
That those within may haue no issue free
To sallie out, and hurt vs with their powre,
Our campe well rested and refreshed see,
Prouided well gainst this last storme and showre,
And then in pitched field, fight, if you will;
If not, delay, and keepe this fortresse still:
129
But least you be endangred, hurt or slaine,Of all your cares take care your selfe to saue,
By you this campe doth liue, doth winne, doth raine,
Who else can rule or guide these squadrons braue?
And for the traitors shall be noted plaine,
Command your garde to change the armes they haue,
So shall their guile be knowne, in their owne net
So shall they fall, caught in the snare they set.
130
As it hath euer (thus the Duke begonne)Thy counsell shewes thy wisdome and thy loue,
And what you left in doubt, shall thus be donne,
We will their force in pitched battell proue;
Clos'd in this wall and trench, the fight to shonne,
Doth ill this campe beseeme, and worse behoue,
But we their strength and manhood will assay,
And trie, in open field and open day.
363
131
The fame of our great conquests to sustaine,Or bide our lookes and threates, they are not able,
And when this armie is subdu'd and slaine,
Then is our empire setled, firme and stable,
The towre shall yeeld, or but resist in vaine,
For feare her anchor is, despaire her cable,
Thus he concludes, and rowling downe the west
Fast set the starres, and call'd them all to rest.
| Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem | |