Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem Done into English Heroicall verse, by Edward Fairefax |
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The tenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne.
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 | Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem |  |
The tenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne.
The argument.
Ismen from sleepe awakes the Soldan great,And into Sion brings the Prince by night,
Where the sad king sits fearfull on his seat,
Whom he embold'neth and excites to fight:
Godfredo heares his Lords and knights repeat
How they escapt Armidaes wrath and spight:
Rinaldo knowne to liue, Peter foresaies
His ofsprings vertue good desarts and praies.
1
A Gallant stead (while thus the Soldan said)Came trotting by him, without Lord or guide,
Quickly his hand vpon the raines he laid,
And weake and wearie climbed vp to ride;
The snake (that on his crest hot fire out braid,
Was quite cut off, his helme had lost the pride,
His coate was rent, his harnesse hackt and cleft,
And of his kingly pompe no signe was left.
2
As when a sauage woolfe chas'd from the fold(To hide his head) runnes to some holt or wood,
Who though he filled haue while it might hold
His greedy panch, yet hungreth after food,
With sanguine toong forth of his lips out rold
About his iawes that lickes vp some and blood;
So from this bloodie fray the Soldan hied,
His rage vnquencht, his wrath vnsatisfied.
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3
And (as his fortune would) he scaped freeFrom thousand arrowes which about him flew,
From swords and lances, instruments that bee
Of certaine death, himselfe he safe withdrew,
Vnknowne, vnseene, disguised, trauail'd hee
By desart pathes, and waies but vs'd by few,
And rode reuoluing in his troubled thought
What course to take, and yet resolu'd on nought.
4
Thither at last he ment to take his way,Where Egypts king assembled all his host,
To ioine with him, and once againe assay
To winne by fight, by which so oft he lost:
Determin'd thus he made no longer stay,
But thither ward spurr'd forth his steed in post,
Nor need he guide, the way right well he could,
That leades to sandie plaines of Gaza ould.
5
Nor though his smarting wounds torment him oft,His body weake and wounded backe and side,
Yet rested he, nor once his armour doft,
But all day long ore hils and dales doth ride:
But when the night cast vp her shade aloft,
And all earthes colours strange in sables dide
He light, and as he could his wounds vpbound,
And shooke ripe dates downe from a palme he found.
6
On them he supped, and amid the feildTo rest his wearie lims a while he sought,
He made his pillow of his broken sheild,
To ease the griefes of his distempred thought,
But little ease could so hard lodging yeild,
His wounds so smarted that he slept right nought,
And (in his brest) his proud hart rent in twaine,
Two inward vultures, sorrow and disdaine.
7
At length when midnight with her silence deepeDid heau'n and earth husht, still and quiet make,
Sore watcht and wearie, he began to steepe
His cares and sorrowes in obliuions lake,
And in a little, short, vnquiet sleepe
Some small repose his fainting spirits take,
But (while he slept) a voice graue and seueare
At vnawares thus thundred in his eare:
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8
O Soliman! thou far renowmed kingTill better season serue, forbeare thy rest;
A stranger doth thy lands in thraldome bring,
Nice is a slaue, by Christian yoke opprest,
Sleepest thou here, forgetfull of this thing,
That here thy friends lie slaine, not laid in chest?
Whose bones beare witnes of thy shame and scorne,
And wilt thou idly here attend the morne?
9
The king awakt, and saw before his eiesA man whose presence seemed graue and old,
A writhen staffe his steps vnstable guies,
Which seru'd his feeble members to vphold,
And what art thou? (the Prince in scorne replies)
What sprite to vexe poore passengers so bold,
To breake their sleepe? or what to thee belongs
My shame, my losse, my veng'ance, or my wrongs?
10
I am the man; of thine intent (quoth hee)And purpose new, that sure coniecture hath,
And better than thou weenest know I thee,
I proffer thee my seruice and my faith,
My speeches therefore sharpe and biting bee,
Bicause quicke words the whetstones are of wrath,
Accept in gree (my Lord) the words I spoke,
As spurres thine ire and courage to prouoke.
11
But now to visit Egypts mighty king,Vnlesse my iudgement faile you are prepar'd,
I prophesie about a needlesse thing
You suffer shall a voiage long and hard:
For though you stay the monarch great will bring
His new assembled host to Iuda ward,
No place of seruice there, no cause of fight,
Nor gainst our foes to vse your force and might.
12
But if you follow me, within this wall(With Christian armes hemm'd in on euery side)
Withouten battaile, fight or stroke at all,
(Eu'n at noone day) I will you safely guide,
Where you delight, reioice and glorie shall
In perils great, to see your prowesse tride.
That noble towne you may preserue and shield,
Till Egypts host come to renue the field.
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13
While thus he parled of this aged guest,The Turke the words and lookes did both admire,
And from his hartie eies and furious brest
He laid apart his pride, his rage and ire,
And humbly said, I willing am and prest
To follow where thou leadest (reuerend sire)
And that aduise best fits my angrie vaine,
That tels of greatest perill, greatest paine.
14
The old man prais'd his words, and for the aireHis late receiued wounds to worse disposes,
A quintessence therein he powred faire,
That stops the bleeding, and incision closes:
Beholding than before Apolloes chaire
How fresh Aurora violets straw'd and roses,
Its time he saies to wend, for Titan bright
To wonted labour, sommons euery wight.
15
And to a chariot (that beside did stand)Ascended he, and with him Soliman,
He tooke the raines, and with a maistring hand
Ruled his steades and whipt them now and than,
The wheeles or horses feet vpon the land
Had left no signe nor token where they ran,
The coursers pant and smoke with lukewarme sweat,
And (foming creame) their iron mouthfuls eat.
16
The aire about them round (a wondrous thing)It selfe on heapes in solid thicknes drew,
The chariot hiding and enuironing
The subtile mist no mortall eie could vew,
And yet no stone from engin cast or sling
Could pearse the cloud, it was of proofe so trew;
Yet seene it was to them within which ride,
And heau'n and earth without, all cleere beside.
17
His beetle browes the Turke amazed bent,He wrinkled vp his front, and wildly stared
Vpon the cloud and chariot, as it went,
For speed to Cinthias carre right well compared:
The other seeing his astonishment
How he bewondred was, and how he fared,
All sodainly by name the Prince gan call,
By which awaked thus he spoke withall.
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18
Who ere thou art aboue all worldly witThat hast these high and wondrous maruailes wrought,
And know'st the deepe intents which hidden sit
In secret closet of mans priuate thought,
If in thy skilfull hart this lore be writ
To tell th' euent of things to end vnbrought;
Then say, what issue and what end the starres
Allot to Asias troubles, broiles and warres.
19
But tell me first thy name, and by what artThou dost these wonders strange, aboue our skill;
For full of maruaile is my troubled hart,
Tell then and leaue me not amazed still.
The wisard smil'd and answ'red, in some part
Easie it is to satisfie thy will,
Ismen I hight, call'd an enchanter great,
Such skill haue I in magikes secret feat.
20
But that I should the sure euents vnfoldOf things to come, or destinies foretell,
Too rash is your desire, your wish too bold,
To mortall hart such knowledge neuer fell;
Our wit and strength on vs bestow'd I hold,
To shunne th' euils and harmes, mongst which we dwell,
They make their fortune who are stout and wise,
Wit rules the heau'ns, discretion guides the skies.
21
That puissant arme of thine that well can rendFrom Godfreys brow the new vsurped crowne,
And not alone protect, saue and defend
From his fierce people, this besieged towne,
Gainst fire and sword with strength and courage bend,
Aduenture, suffer, trust, tread perils downe,
And to content and to encourage thee,
Know this, which I as in a cloud foresee.
22
I guesse (before the ouer-gliding sonneShall many yeeres meet out by weekes and daies)
A Prince that shall in fertill Egypt wonne
Shall fill all Asia with his prosp'rous fraies;
I speake not of his actes in quiet donne,
His policie, his rule, his wisdomes praise,
Let this suffice, by him these Christians shall
In fight subdued flie, and conquered fall.
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23
And their great empire and vsurped stateShall ouerthrowne in dust and ashes lie,
Their wofull remnant in an angle strate
Compast with sea themselues shall fortifie,
From thee shall spring this Lord of war and fate,
Whereto great Soliman gan thus replie;
O happie man to so great praise ibore,
Thus he reiois'd, but yet enuied more;
24
And said, let chance with good or bad aspectVpon me looke as sacred heau'ns decree,
This hart to her I neuer will subiect,
Nor euer conqu'red shall she looke on mee;
The moone her chariot shall awrie direct,
Ere from this course I will diuerted bee,
While thus he spake it seem'd he breathed fire,
So fierce his courage was, so hot his ire.
25
Thus talked they, till they arriued beeneNie to the place where Godfreys tents were reared,
There was a wofull spectacle iseene,
Death in a thousand ougly formes appeared,
The Soldan changed hew for greefe and teene,
On that sad booke his shame and losse he leared,
Ah with what griefe his men, his friends he found,
And standards proud, inglorious lie on ground!
26
And saw on visage of some well knowne frend(In foule despite) a rascall French man tread,
And there another ragged peasant rend
The armes and garments from some champion dead,
And there with stately pompe by heapes they wend,
And Christians slaine rolle vp in webs of lead;
Lastly the Turks and slaine Arabians (brought
On heapes) he saw them burne with fire to nought.
27
Deepely he sighed, and with naked swordOut of the coach he leaped in the mire,
But Ismen call'd againe the angrie Lord,
And with graue words appeas'd his foolish ire.
The Prince content remounted at his word,
Towards a hill on droue the aged sire,
And hasting forward vp the banke they passe,
Till far behinde the Christian leaguer was.
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28
There they alight and tooke their way on fout,The emptie chariot vanisht out of sight,
Yet still the cloud enuiron'd them about,
At their left hand downe went they from the hight
Of Sions hill, till they approcht the rout,
On that side where to west he looketh right,
There Ismen staied and his eie-sight bent
Vpon the bushie rocks, and thither went.
29
A hollow caue was in the craggie stone,Wrought out by hand a number yeeres tofore,
And for of long that way had walked none,
The vault was hid with plants and bushes hore,
The wisard stooping in thereat to gone,
The thornes aside and scratching brambles bore,
His right hand sought the passage through the cleft,
And for his guide he gaue the Prince his left.
30
What (quoth the Soldan) by what priuie mine?What hidden vault behooues it me to creepe?
This sword can finde a better way than thine,
Although our foes the passage garde and keepe.
Let not (quoth he) thy princely foote repine
To tread this seeret path, though darke and deepe,
For great king Herod vs'd to tread the same,
He that in armes had whilome so great fame.
31
This passage made he, when he would suppresseHis subiects pride, and them in bondage hold;
By this he could from that small forteresse
Antonia call'd, of Antonie the bold,
Conuay his folke vnseene of more and lesse
Eu'n to the middest of the temple old,
Thence, hither; where these priuie waies begin,
And bring vnseene whole armies out and in.
32
But now saue I in all this world liues noneThat knowes the secret of this darksome place,
Come then where Aladine sits on his throne,
With Lords and princes set about his grace,
He feareth more then fitteth such an one,
Such signes of doubt shew in his cheere and face;
Fitly you come, heare, see, and keepe you still,
Till time and season serue, then speake your fill.
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33
This said, that narrow entrance past the knight,(So creepes a camell through a needles eie)
And through the waies as black as darkest night
He followed him, that did him rule and guie;
Strait was the way at first, withouten light,
But further in did further amplifie;
So that vpright walked at ease the men
Ere they had passed halfe that secret den,
34
A priuie doore Ismen vnlockt at last,And vp they clombe a little vsed staire,
Thereat the day a feeble beame in cast,
Dimme was the light, and nothing cleere the aire;
Out of the hollow caue at length they past,
Into a goodly hall, high, broad and faire,
Where crown'd with gold and all in purple clad
Sate the sad king, among his nobles sad.
35
The Turke (close in his hollow cloud imbard)Vnseene, at will did all the prease behold,
These heauie speeches of the king he hard,
Who thus from loftie siege his pleasure told;
My Lords, last day our state was much empard,
Our friends were slaine, kild were our soldiers bold,
Great helpes and greater hopes are vs bereft,
Nor ought but aide from Egypt land is left:
36
And well you see far distant is that aid,Vpon our heeles our danger treadeth still,
For your aduise was this assemblie maid,
Each what he thinketh speake, and what he will.
A whisper soft arose when this was said,
As gentle winds the groues with murmur fill,
But with bold face, high lookes and merrie cheare
Argantes rose, the rest their talke forbeare.
37
O worthie soueraigne (thus began to sayThe hardie yong man to the tyrant wise)
What words be these? what feares doe you dismay?
Who knowes not this, you need not our aduise?
But on our hands your hope of conquest lay,
And, for no losse true vertue damnifies,
Make her our shield, pray her vs succours giue,
And without her let vs not wish to liue.
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38
Nor say I this for that I ought misdeemeThat Egypts promis'd succours faile vs might,
Doubtfull of my great maisters words to seeme,
To me were neither lawfull, iust, nor right:
I speake these words, for spurres I them esteeme
To waken vp each dull and fearfull spright,
And make our harts resolu'd to all assaies,
To winne with honour or to die with praise.
39
Thus much Argantes said, and said no more,(As if the case were cleere of which he spoke.)
Orcano rose, of princely stem bore,
Whose presence mongst them bore a mightie stroke,
A man esteemed well in armes of yore;
But now was coupled new in marriage yoke,
Yong babes he had, to fight which made him loth,
He was a husband and a father both.
40
My Lord (quoth he) I will not reprehendThe earnest zeale of this audacious speach,
From courage sprong, which seld is close ipend
In swelling stomacke without violent breach;
And though to you our good Circassian frend,
In termes too bold and feruent oft doth preach,
Yet hold I that for good, in warlike feat
For his great deedes respond his speeches great.
41
But if it you beseeme (whom grauer ageAnd long experience hath made wise and slie)
To rule the heat of youth and hardie rage,
Which somewhat haue misled this knight awrie,
In equall ballance ponder than and gage
Your hopes far distant, with your perils nie;
This townes old walles and rampires new compare,
With Godfreys forces, and his engins rare.
42
But (if I may say what I thinke vnblamed)This towne is strong, by nature, scite and art,
But engins huge and instruments are framed
Gainst these defences by our aduerse part,
Who thinkes him most secure is eathest shamed;
I hope the best, yet feare vnconstant Mart,
And with this siege if we be long vp pent,
Famine I doubt, our store will all be spent.
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43
For all that store of cattell and of graineWhich yesterday within these walles you brought,
While your proud foes triumphant through the plaine
On nought but shedding blood, and conquest thought,
Too little is this citie to sustaine,
To raise the siege, vnlesse some meanes be sought;
And it must last, till the prefixed howre,
That it be rais'd by Egypts aide and powre.
44
But what if that appointed day they mis?Or else (ere we expect) what if they came?
The victorie yet is not ours for this,
Oh saue this towne, from ruine, vs from shame!
With that same Godfrey still our warfare is,
These armies, soldiers, captaines are the same,
Who haue so oft amid the dustie plaine,
Turks, Persians, Syrians and Arabians slaine:
45
And thou Argantes wottest what they bee,Oft hast thou fled from that victorious host,
Thy shoulders often hast thou let them see,
And in thy feet hath beene thy sauegard most,
Clorinda bright and I fled eeke with thee,
None than his fellowes had more cause to bost,
Nor blame I any; for in euery fight
We shewed courage, valour, strength and might:
46
And though this hardie knight the certaine threatOf neare approching death to heare disdaine;
Yet to this state of losse and danger great,
From this strong foe I see the tokens plaine;
No fort how strong so ere by art or seat,
Can hinder Godfrey why he should not raine:
This makes me say (to witnes heau'n I bring)
Zeale, to this state; loue, to my Lord and king.
47
The king of Tripolie was well aduisedTo purchase peace and so preserue his crowne:
But Soliman (who Godfreys loue despised)
Is either dead or deepe in prison throwne;
Else fearefull is he run away disguised,
And scant his life is left him for his owne,
And yet with gifts, with tribute and with gold,
He might in peace his empire still haue hold.
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48
Thus spake Orcanes, and some inkling gaueIn doubtfull words of that he would haue said,
To sue for peace or yeeld himselfe a slaue,
He durst not openly his king perswade:
But at those words the Soldan gan to raue,
And gainst his will wrapt in the cloud he staid,
Whom Ismen thus bespake, how can you beare
These words, my Lord? or these reproches heare?
49
Oh let me speake (quoth he) with ire and scorneI burne, and gainst my will thus hid I stay!
This said, the smokie cloud was cleft and torne,
Which like a vaile vpon them stretched lay,
And vp to open heau'n forthwith was borne,
And left the Prince in vew of lightsome day,
With princely looke amid the prease he shin'de,
And on a sodaine, thus declar'd his minde.
50
Of whom you speake behold the Soldan here,Neither affraid nor ron away for dread,
And that these slanders, lies and fables were,
This hand shall proue vpon that cowards head,
I, who haue shed a sea of blood well nere,
And heapt vp mountaines high of Christians dead,
I in their campe who still maintain'd the fray,
(My men all murdred) I that ron away.
51
If this, or any coward vile beside,False to his faith and countrie, dares replie;
And speake of concord with yond men of pride,
By your good leaue (sir king) here shall he die,
The lambes and wolues shall in one fold abide,
The doues and serpents in one nest shall lie,
Before one towne vs and these Christians shall
In peace and loue, vnite within one wall.
52
While thus he spoke, his broad and trenchant swordHis hand held high aloft, in threatning guise;
Dombe stood the knights, so dreadfull was his word;
A storme was in his front, fire in his eies,
He turn'd at last to Sions aged Lord,
And calm'd his visage sterne in humbler wise:
Behold (quoth he) good Prince, what aide I bring,
Since Soliman is ioyn'd with Iudaes king.
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53
King Aladine from his rich throne vpstart,And said, oh how I ioy thy face to vew,
My noble friend! it less'neth in some part
My greefe, for slaughter of my subiects trew,
My weake estate to stablish come thou art,
And maist thine owne againe in time renew,
If heau'ns consent: with that the Soldan bold
In deere embracements did he long enfold.
54
Their greetings done, the king resinde his throneTo Soliman, and set himselfe beside,
In a rich seat adorn'd with gold and stone,
And Ismen sage did at his elbow bide,
Of whom he askt what way they two had gone,
And he declar'd all what had them betide:
Clorinda bright to Soliman addrest
Her salutations first, then all the rest.
55
Among them rose Ormusses valiant knight,Whom late the Soldan with a conuoy sent,
And when most hot and bloodie was the fight,
By secret pathes and blinde by-waies he went,
Till aided by the silence and the night
Safe in the cities walles himselfe he pent,
And there refresht with corne and cattell store
The pined soldiers, famisht nie before.
56
With surly count'nance and disdainfull graceSullen and sad, sate the Circassian stout,
Like a fierce lion grombling in his place,
His firie eies that turnes and rolles about;
Nor durst Orcanes vew the Soldans face,
But still vpon the floore did pore and tout:
Thus with his Lords and peeres in counselling,
The Turkish monarch sate with Iudaes king.
57
Godfrey this while gaue victorie the raine,And following her the streits he opened all;
Then for his soldiers and his captaines slaine,
He celebrates a stately funerall,
And told his campe within a day or twaine
He would assault the cities mightie wall,
And all the heathen there enclos'd doth threat,
With fire and sword, with death and danger great.
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58
And for he had that noble squadron knowne,In the last fight which brought him so great aid,
To be the Lords and Princes of his owne,
Who followed late the slie entising maid,
And with them Tancred (who had late beene throwne
In prison deepe, by that false witch betrai'd)
Before the hermit and some priuate frends,
For all those worthies, Lords and knights, he sends;
59
And thus he said, some one of you declareYour fortunes, whether good or to be blamed,
And to assist vs with your valours rare,
(In so great need) how was your comming framed?
They blush and on the ground amazed stare,
(For vertue is of little guilt ashamed)
At last the English Prince with count'nance bold,
The silence broke, and thus their errors told:
60
We (not elect to that exploit by lot)With secret flight from hence our selues withdrew,
Following false Cupid, I denie it not,
Entised forth by loue, and beauties hew,
A iealous fire burnt in our stomackes hot,
And by close waies we passed least in vew,
Her words, her lookes (alas I know too late)
Nursed our loue, our iealousie, our hate.
61
At last we gan approach that wofull clime,Where fire and brimstone downe from heau'n was sent,
To take reuenge for sinne and shamefull crime
Gainst kinde commit, by those who nould repent;
A lothsome lake of brimstone, pitch and lime,
Oregoes thar land, earst sweet and redolent,
And when it moues, thence stinch and smoke vp flies,
Which dim the welkin, and infect the skies.
62
This is the lake in which yet neuer mightOught that hath weight sinke to the bottome downe,
But like to corke, to leaues or feathers light,
Stones, iron, men there fleet, and neuer drowne,
Therein a castle stands, to which by sight
But ore a narrow bridge no way is knowne,
Hither vs brought, here welcomd vs the witch,
The house within was stately, pleasant, ritch.
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63
The heau'ns were cleere, and wholsome was the aire,High trees, sweet medowes, waters pure and good;
For there in thickest shade of Mirtles faire
A christall spring powr'd out a siluer flood;
Amid the herbes, the grasse and flowres rare,
The falling leaues downe pattred from the wood;
The birds sung hymnes of loue, yet speake I nought
Of gold and marble rich, and richly wrought.
64
Vnder the curtaine of the greene-wood shade,Beside the brooke, vpon the veluet grasse,
In massie vessell of pure siluer made,
A banket rich and costly furnisht was,
All beastes, all birds beguil'd by fowlers trade,
All fish were there in floods or seas that passe,
All dainties made by art, and at the table
An hundreth virgins seru'd, for husbands able.
65
She with sweet words and false entising smiles,Infused loue among the dainties set,
And with empoys'ned cups our soules beguiles,
And made each knight himselfe, and God forget:
She rose, and turn'd againe within short whiles,
With changed lookes where wrath and anger met,
A charming rod, a booke with her she brings,
On which she mumbled strange and secret things.
66
She red, and change I felt my will and thought,I long'd to change my life, and place of biding,
That vertue strange in me no pleasure wrought,
I leapt into the flood my selfe there hiding,
My legs and feet both into one were brought,
Mine armes and hands into my shoulders sliding,
My skin was full of scales, like shields of bras,
Now made a fish, where late a knight I was.
67
The rest with me like shape, like garments wore,And diu'de with me in that quicksiluer streame,
Such minde (to my remembrance) then I bore,
As when on vaine and foolish things men dreame;
At last our shape it pleas'd her to restore,
Then full of wonder and of feare we seame,
And with an irefull looke the angrie maid
Thus threat'ned vs, and made vs thus affraid.
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68
You see (quoth she) my sacred might and skill,How you are subiect to my rule and powre,
In endlesse thraldome damned if I will,
I can torment and keepe you in this towre,
Or make you birdes, or trees on craggie hill,
To bide the bitter blastes of storme and showre;
Or harden you to rocks on mountaines old,
Or melt your flesh and bones to riuers cold:
69
Yet may you well auoid mine ire and wraith,If to my will your yeelding harts you bend,
You must forsake your Christendome and faith,
And gainst Godfredo false my crowne defend.
We all refus'd, for speedie death each prai'th,
Saue false Rambaldo, he became her frend,
We in a dungeon deepe were helplesse cast,
In miserie and iron chained fast.
70
Then (for alone they say falles no mishap)Within short while Prince Tancred thither came,
And was vnwares, surprised in the trap:
But there short while we staid, the wilie dame
In other foldes our mischiefes would vpwrap.
From Hidraort an hundreth horsemen came,
Whose guide a Baron bold to Egypts king
Should vs disarm'd, and bound in fetters, bring:
71
Now on our way the way to death we ride,But prouidence diuine thus for vs wrought,
Rinaldo (whose high vertue is his guide
To great exploits, exceeding humane thought)
Met vs, and all at once our garde defide,
And ere he left the fight to earth them brought,
And in their harnesse arm'd vs in the place,
Which late were ours, before our late disgrace.
72
I, and all these, the hardie champion knew,We saw his valour, and his voice we hard;
Then is the rumor of his death vntrew,
His life is safe, good fortune long it gard,
Three times the golden sunne hath risen new,
Since vs he left and rode to Antioch ward;
But first his armours broken, hackt and cleft,
Vnfit for seruice there he doft and left.
194
73
Thus spake the Briton prince, with humble cheareThe Hermit sage to heau'n cast vp his eine,
His colour and his count'nance changed weare,
With heauenly grace his lookes and visage shine,
Rauisht with zeale his soule approched neare
The seat of angels pure, and saints diuine,
And there he learnd of things and haps to come
To giue foreknowledge true, and certaine dome;
74
At last he spoke (in more then humane sound)And told what things his wisedome great foresaw,
And at his thundring voice the folke around
Attentiue stood, with trembling and with awe:
Rinaldo liues, he said, the tokens found
From womens craft their false beginnings draw,
He liues and heau'n will long preserue his daies,
To greater glorie, and to greater praise.
75
These are but trifles yet, though Asias kingsShrinke at his name and tremble at his vew,
I well foresee he shall do greater things,
And wicked emprours conquer and subdew;
Vnder the shadow of his eagles wings,
Shall holie church preserue hir sacred crew,
From Cæsars bird he shall the sable traine
Plucke off, and breake her talons sharpe in twaine.
76
His childrens children at his hardinesse,And great attempts shall take ensample faire,
From emperours vniust in all distresse
They shall defend the state of Peters chaire,
To raise the humble vp, pride to suppresse,
To helpe the innocents shall be their caire.
This bird of East, shall flie with conquest great,
As farre as moone giues light, or sunne giues heat;
77
Her eies behold the truth and purest light,And thunders downe in Peters aide shee brings,
And where for Christ and christian faith men fight,
There foorth shee spreadeth hir victorious wings,
This vertue Nature giues hir and this might,
Then lure her home, for on her presence hings
The happie end of this great enterpries,
So heau'n decrees, and so command the skies.
195
78
These words of his, of Prince Rinaldoes deathOut of their troubled harts, the feare had raced;
In all this ioy yet Godfrey smil'd vneath,
In his wise thought such care and heed was placed.
But now from deepes of regions vnderneath
Nights vaile arose, and sunnes bright luster chaced,
When all full sweetly in their cabbins slept,
Saue he, whose thoughts his eies still open kept.
| Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem | |