Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem Done into English Heroicall verse, by Edward Fairefax |
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The seuenteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne.
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 | Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem |  |
The seuenteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne.
The argument.
Egypts great host in battaile ray forth brought,The Caliph sends with Godfreyes powre to fight;
Armida who Rinaldoes ruine sought,
To them adioynes her selfe and Sirias might,
To satisfie her cruell will and thought,
She giues her selfe to him that kils her knight:
He takes his fatall armes, and in his sheild
His ancestors and their great deedes beheild.
1
Gaza the citie on the frontire standsOf Iudaes realme, as men to Egypt ride,
Built neare the sea, beside it of drie sands
Huge wildernesses lie, and desarts wide,
Which the strong windes lift from the parched lands,
And tosse like roring waues in roughest tide,
That from those stormes poore passengers almost
No refuge finde, but there are down'd and lost.
296
2
Within this towne (wonne from the Turkes of yore)Strong garrison the king of Egypt plast,
And for it neerer was, and fitted more
That high emprise, to which his thoughts he cast,
He left great Memphis, and to Gaza bore
His regall throne, and there, from countries vast
Of his huge Empire, all the puissant hoast
Assembled he, and mustred on the coast.
3
Come say (my muse) what manner times these weare,And in those times how stood the state of things,
What powre this monarch had, what armes they beare,
What nations subiect and what friends he brings;
For from all landes the Southren Ocean neare,
Or morning starre, came Princes, Dukes and Kings,
And onely thou of halfe the world welnie
The armies, Lords, and Captaines, canst descrie.
4
When Egypt from the Greekish EmperourRebelled first, and Christes true faith denide,
Of Mahomets descent, a warriour
There set his throne, and rulde that kingdome wide,
Caliph he hight, and Caliphes since that houre
Are his successors named all beside:
So Nilus old his kings long time had seene
That Ptolemies and Pharoes call'd had beene.
5
Establisht was that kingdome in short while,And grew so great, that ouer Asias landes
And Libias Realmes, it stretched many a mile,
From Syrias coastes as far as Cirene sandes,
And Southward passed gainst the course of Nile,
Through the hot clime where burnt Siene standes,
Hence bounded in with sandie desartes wast,
And thence with Euphrates ritch flood embrast.
6
Maremma, Myrrhe and spices that doth bring,And all the ritch red sea it comprehends,
And to those landes, toward the morning spring
That lie beyond that gulph, it farte extends:
Great is that Empire, greater by the king
That rules it now, whose worth the land amends,
And makes more famous, Lord thereof by blood,
By wisedome, valour, and all vertues good.
297
7
With Turkes and Persians war he oft did wage,And oft he wonne, and sometime lost the feild,
Nor could his aduerse fortune ought asswage
His valours heat, or make his proud hart yeild,
But when he grew vnfit for war through age,
He sheath'd his sword, and laid aside his sheild:
But yet his warlike minde he laid not downe,
Nor his great thirst of rule, praise, and renowne,
8
But by his knights still cruell wars maintain'd.So wise his words, so quicke his wit appeares,
That of the kingdome large ore which he rain'd,
The charge seem'd not too weightie for his yeares;
His greatnes Africks lesser kings constrain'd
To tremble at his name, all Inde him feares,
And other realmes that would his friendship hold,
Some armed soldiers sent, some gifts, some gold.
9
This mightie Prince assembled had the flowreOf all his realmes, against the French men stout,
To breake their rising empire and their powre,
Nor of sure conquest had he feare or dout:
To him Armida came, eu'n at the howre
When in the plaines (old Gazaes walles without)
The Lords and leaders all their armies bring
In battaile ray, mustred before their king.
10
He on his throne was set, to which on hightWho clombe, an hundred iuorie staires first told,
Vnder a pentise wrought of siluer bright,
And troade on carpets made of silke and gold;
His robes were such as best beseemen might
A king, so great, so graue, so rich, so old,
And twin'd of sixtie elles of lawne and more,
A Turbant strange, adorn'd his tresses hore.
11
His right hand did his pretious scepter weild,His beard was gray, his lookes seuere and graue,
And from his eies (not yet made dim with eild)
Sparkled his former worth and vigor braue,
His gestures all the maiestie vpheild
And state, as his old age and empire craue,
So Phidias caru'd, Apelles so (pardie)
Earst painted Ioue, Ioue thundring downe from skie.
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12
On either side him stood a noble lord,Whereof the first held in his vpright hand,
Of seuere iustice the vnpartiall sword;
The other bore the seale and causes scand,
Keeping his folke in peace and good accord,
And termed was Lord Chancelour of the land;
But Marshall was the first, and vs'd to leed
His armies foorth to warre, oft with good speed.
13
Of bould Circassians with their halberds long,(About his throne) his guard stood in a ring,
All richly armd in guilden corslets strong,
And by their sides their crooked swords downe hing:
Thus set, thus seated, his graue lords among,
His hoasts and armies great beheld the king,
And euery band as by his throne it went,
Their ensignes low enclind, and armes downe bent:
14
Their squadrons first the men of Egypt show,In fowre troopes, and each his seu'rall guide,
Of the hie countrie two, two of the low,
Which Nile had wonne out of the salt sea side,
His fertill slime first stopt the waters flow,
Then hardned to firme land the plough to bide,
So Egypt still encreast, within farre plast
That part is now, where ships earst anchor cast.
15
The formost band the people were that dwell'dIn Alexandrias rich and fertile plaine,
Along the westren shore, whence Nile expell'd
The greedie billowes of the swelling maine;
Araspes was their guide, who more excell'd
In wit and craft, than strength or warlike paine,
To place an ambush close, or to deuise
A treason false, was none so slie, so wise.
16
The people next that gainst the morning raiesAlong the coasts of Asia haue their seat,
Arontes led them, whom no warlike praise
Ennobled, but high birth and titles great,
His helme nere made him sweat in toilsome fraies,
Nor was his sleepe ere broake with trumpets threat,
But from soft ease to trie the toile of fight,
His fond ambition brought this carpet knight.
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17
The third seem'd not a troupe or squadron small,But an huge hoast; nor seem'd it so much graine
In Egypt grew, as to sustaine them all;
Yet from one towne thereof came all that traine,
A towne in people to huge shires equall,
That did a thousand streetes and more containe,
Great Caire it hight, whose Commons from each side
Came swarming out to war, Campson their guide.
18
Next vnder Gazell martched they that plowThe fertill landes aboue that towne which lie,
Vp to the place where Nilus tumbling low,
Falles from his second Catarrackt from hie:
Th' Egyptians weap'ned were with sword and bow,
No weight of helme or hawberke list they trie,
And ritchly arm'd in their strong foes no dreed
Of death, but great desire of spoile, they breed.
19
The naked folke of Barca these succeed,Vnarmed halfe, Alarcon led that band,
That long in desarts liu'd (in extreme need)
On spoiles and praies, purchast by strength of hand,
To battell strong vnfit, their king did leed
His armie next brought from Zumara land;
Then he of Tripolie, for sudden fight
And skirmish short, both readie, bold and light.
20
Two Captaines next brought foorth their bandes to show,Whom stonie sent and happie Arabie,
Which neuer felt the cold of frost and snow,
Or force of burning heat, vnlesse fame lie,
Where incense pure and all sweete odours grow,
Where the sole Phœnix, doth reuiue, not die,
And midst the perfumes ritch and flowrets braue,
Both birth, and buriall, cradle hath, and graue.
21
Their cloathes not ritch, their garments were not gay,But weapons like th' Egyptian troupes they had;
Th' Arabians next that haue no certaine stay,
No house, no home, no mansion good or bad,
But euer (as the Scythian Hordas stray)
From place to place their wandring cities gad:
These haue both voice and stature feminine,
Haire, long and blacke; blacke face, and firie eine.
300
22
Long Indian Canes (with iron arm'd) they beare,And as vpon their nimble steedes they ride,
Like a swift storme their speedie troupes appeare,
If windes so fast bring stormes from heauens wide:
By Siphax led the first Arabians weare;
Aldine the second squadron had to guide,
And Abiazer proud, brought to the fight
The third, a theefe, a murdrer, not a knight.
23
The Islanders came than their Prince before,Whose landes Arabias gulph enclos'd about,
Wherein they fish and gather oisters store,
Whose shels great pearles ritch and round powre out;
The red sea sent with them from his left shore,
Of Negroes grim a blacke and ougly 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 Meroee,
Twixt Nile and Astrabore that far doth spreed,
Where two religions are, and kingdomes three,
These Assamiro and Canario leed,
Both kings, both Pagans, and both subiects bee
To the great Caliph, but the third king kept
Christes sacred faith, nor to these warres out stept.
25
After two kings (both subiect also) ride,And of two bandes of archers had the charge,
The first Soldan of Orms plast in the wide
Huge Persian bay, a towne ritch, faire and large:
The last of Boecan, which at euerie tide
The sea cuts off from Persias Southren marge,
And makes an isle; but when it ebs againe,
The passage there is sandie, drie and plaine.
26
Nor thee (great Altamore) in her chast bedThy louing Queene kept with her deare embrace,
Shee tore her lockes, she smote her breast, and shed
Salt teares to make thee stay in that sweet place,
Seeme the rough seas more calme, cruell, she sed,
Than the milde lookes of thy kind spouses face?
Or is thy shield, with blood and dust defilde,
A dearer armefull than thy tender childe?
301
27
This was the mightie king of Sarmachand,A captaine wise, well skill'd in feates of warre,
In courage fierce, matchlesse for strength of hand,
Great was his praise, his force was noised farre;
His worth rightwell the Frenchmen vnderstand,
By whom his vertues fear'd and loued arre:
His men were arm'd with helmes and hawberks strong,
And by their sides broad swords and mases hong.
28
Then from the mansions bright of fresh Aurore,Adrastus came, the glorious king of Inde,
A snakes greene skinne spotted with blacke he wore,
That was made ritch by art and hard by kinde,
An Elephant this furious Giant bore,
He fierce as fire, his mounture swift as winde:
Mutch people brought he from his kingdomes wide,
Twixt Indus, Ganges, and the salt sea side.
29
The kings owne troupe came next, a chosen crew,Of all the campe the strength, the crowne, the flowre,
Wherein each souldiours had with honours dew
Rewarded beene, for seruice, ere that howre,
Their armes were strong for need, and faire for shew,
Vpon fierce steeds well mounted roade this powre,
And heau'n it selfe with the cleare splendure shone
Of their bright armour, purple, gold and stone.
30
Mongst these Alarco fierce, and OdemareThe muster maister was, and Hidraort,
And Rimedon, whose rashnesse tooke no care
To shunne deathes bitter stroake, in field or fort,
Tigranes, Rapold sterne, the men that fare
By sea, that robbed in each creeke and port;
Ormond, and Marlabust th' Arabian nam'd,
Bicause that land rebellious he reclam'd.
31
There Pirga, Arimon, Orindo arre,Brimarte the scaler, and with him Swifant
The breaker of wilde horses brought from farre;
Then the great wrastler strong Aridamante,
And Tisipherne, the thunderbolt of warre,
Whom none surpast, whom none to match durst vante
At tilt, at turnay, or in combate braue,
With speare or lance, with sword, with mase or glaue.
302
32
A false Armenian did this squadron guide,That in his youth from Christes true faith and light,
To the blinde lore of Paganisme did slide,
That Clement late, now Emireno hight;
Yet to his king he faithfull was, and tride
True in all causes, his in wrong and right:
A cunning leader and a souldiour bold,
For strength and courage, yoong; for wisedome, old.
33
When all these regiments were past and gone,Appear'd Armide, and came her troupe to show,
Set in a chariot bright with pretious stone,
Her gowne tuckt vp, and in her hand a bow;
In her sweete face her new displeasures shone,
Mixt with the natiue beauties there which grow,
And quickned so her lookes, that in sharpe wise
It seemes she threats, and yet her threats entise.
34
Her chariot like Auroraes glorious waine,With Carbuncles and Iacinthes glistred round:
Her coachman guided with the golden raine
Foure Vnicornes, by couples yoakte and bound;
Of Squires and louely Ladies hundreths twaine,
(Whose ratling quiuers at their backes resound)
On milke white steedes, waite on the chariot bright,
Their steeds to menage, readie; swift, to flight:
35
Follow'd her troupe led foorth by Aradin,Which Hidraort from Syrias kingdome sent,
As when the new borne Phœnix doth begin
To flie to Ethiope ward, at the faire bent
Of her ritch wings strange plumes, and feathers thin,
Her crownes and chaines, with natiue gold besprent,
The world amazed stands; and with her flie
An hoste of wondring birdes, that sing and crie:
36
So past Armida, lookt on, gaz'd on, soe,A woondrous dame in habite, gesture, face;
There liu'd no wight to loue so great a foe,
But wisht and long'd those beauties to imbrace,
Scant seene, with anger sullen, sad for woe,
She conquer'd all the Lords and knights in place,
What would shee doe (her sorowes past) thinke you,
When her faire eies, her lookes and smiles shall wowe?
303
37
She past, the king commaunded EmirenOf his ritch throne to mount the loftie stage,
To whom his hoste, his armie and his men,
He would commit, now in his grauer age.
With stately grace the man approched then;
His lookes, his comming honour did presage:
The guard asunder cleft, and passage maide,
He to the throne vp went, and there he staide;
38
To earth he cast his eies and bent his knee:To whom the king thus gan his will explaine,
To thee this scepter (Emiren) to thee
These armies I commit, my place sustaine
Mongst them, goe set the king of Iuda free,
And let the Frenchmen feele my iust disdaine,
Goe, meete them, conquer them, leaue none on liue,
Or those that scape from battell, bring captiue.
39
Thus spake the tyrant, and the scepter laidWith all his soueraigne powre vpon the knight:
I take this scepter at your hand (he said)
And with your happie fortune goe to fight,
And trust (my Lord) in your great vertues aid,
To venge all Asias harmes, her wrongs to right,
Nor ere but victor will I see your face,
Our ouerthrow shall bring death, not disgrace:
40
Heau'ns grant if euill (yet no mishap I dread)Or harme, they threaten gainst this campe of thine,
That all that mischiefe fall vpon my head,
Theirs be the conquest, and the danger mine;
And let them safe, bring home their captaine dead,
Buried in pompe of triumphes glorious shine.
He ceas'd, and then a murmur lowd vp went,
With noise of ioy and sound of instrument;
41
Amid the noise and shout, vprose the king,Enuironed with many a noble peere,
That to his royall tent the monarch bring,
And there he feasted them and made them cheere,
To him and him he talkt, and caru'd each thing,
The greatest honour'd, meanest graced weere.
And while this mirth, this ioy and feast doth last,
Armida found fit time her nets to cast:
304
42
But when the feast was done, she (that espideAll eies on her faire visage fixt and bent,
And by true notes and certaine signes descride,
How loues impoisned fire, theri entrals brent)
Arose, and where the king sate in his pride,
With stately pace and humble gestures, went;
And as she could in lookes in voice she stroue
Fierce, sterne, bould, angrie, and seuere to proue.
43
Great Emperour, behold me heere (she said)For thee, my countrey, and my faith to fight,
A dame, a virgin, but a royall maid,
And worthie seemes this warre a princesse hight,
For by the sword, the scepter is vpstaid,
This hand can vse them both, with skill and might,
This hand of mine can strike, and at each blow
Thy foes and ours kill, wound, and ouerthrow.
44
Nor yet suppose this is the formost dayWherein to warre I bent my noble thought,
But for the suretie of thy realmes, and stay
Of our religion true, ere this I wrought:
Your selfe best know if this be true I say,
Or if my former deeds reiois'd you ought,
When Godfreyes hardie knights and princes strong
I captiue tooke, and held in bondage long:
45
I tooke them, bound them, and so sent them boundTo thee, a noble gift, with whom they had
Condemned low in dungeon vnder ground
For euer dwelt, in woe and torment sad:
So might thine hoast an easie way haue found
To end this doubtfull warre, with conquest glad,
Had not Rinaldo fierce my knights all slaine,
And set those lords his friends, at large againe.
46
Rinaldo is well knowne, (and there a longeAnd true rehearsall made she of his deeds)
This is the knight that since hath done me wrong,
Wrong yet vntold, that sharpe reuengement needs:
Displeasure therefore, mixt with reason strong,
This thirst of warre in me, this courage breedes;
Nor how hee iniur'd me time serues to tell,
Let this suffice, I seeke reuengement fell,
305
47
And will procure it, for all shaftes that flieLight not in vaine, some worke the shooters will,
And Ioues right hand with thunders cast from skie,
Takes open vengeance oft for secret ill:
But if some champion dare this knight defie
To mortall battaile, and by fight him kill,
And with his hatefull head will me present,
That gift my soule shall please, my hart content:
48
So please, that for reward enioy he shall,(The greatest gift, I can or may afford)
My selfe, my beautie, wealth and kingdomes all,
To marrie him, and take him for my lord,
This promise will I keepe what ere befall,
And thereto binde my selfe by oath and word:
Now he that deemes this purchase woorth his paine,
Let him step foorth and speake, I none disdaine.
49
While thus the Princesse said, his hungrie eineAdrastus fed on her sweete beauties light,
The gods forbid (quoth he) one shaft of thine
Should be dischargd gainst that discourteous knight,
His hart vnwoorthie is (shootresse diuine)
Of thine artillerie to feele the might;
To wreake thine ire behold me prest and fit,
I will his head cut off, and bring thee it:
50
I will his hart with this sharpe sword diuide,And to the vultures cast his carkasse out.
Thus threatned he, but Tisipherne enuide
To heare his glorious vaunt and boasting stout,
And said, but who art thou, that so great pride
Thou shew'st before the king, me, and this rout?
Pardie heere are some such, whose woorth exceeds
Thy vaunting much, yet boast not of their deeds.
51
The Indian fierce replide, I am the manWhose acts his words and boasts haue aie surpast;
But if elsewhere the words thou now began
Had vttred beene, that speech had beene thy last.
Thus quarrell'd they, they monarch staid them than,
And twixt the angrie knights his scepter cast;
Then to Armida said, faire Queene, I see
Thy hart is stout, thy thoughts couragious bee:
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52
Thou worthy art that their disdaine and ireAt thy commaunds these knights should both appease,
That gainst thy foe their courage hot as fire
Thou maist imploy, both when and where thou please,
There all their powre and force, and what desire
They haue to serue thee, may they shew at ease.
The monarch held his peace when this was said,
And they new proffer of their seruice maid:
53
Nor they alone, but all that famous weareIn feates of armes, boast that he shall be dead,
All offer her their aid, all say and sweare
To take reuenge, on his condemned head:
So many armes mou'd she against her deare,
And swore her darling vnder foote to tread.
But he, since first th' inchanted isle he left,
Safe in his barge the roaring waues still cleft.
54
By the same way return'd the well taught boteBy which it came, and made like haste, like speed;
The friendly winde (vpon her saile that smote)
So turn'd, as to returne her ship had need:
The youth sometime the pole or beare did note,
Or wandring starres, which cleerest nights forth spreed:
Sometimes the floods, the hils, or mountaines steepe,
Whose woodie frontes oreshade the silent deepe:
55
Now of the campe the man the state enquires;Now askes the customes strange of sundrie landes,
And sail'd, till clad in beames and bright attires
The fourth daies sunne on th' Eastren threshold standes:
But when the Westren seas had quencht those fires,
Their frigot stroake against the shore and sandes;
Then spoke their guide, the lande of Palestine
This is, here must your iourney end and mine;
56
The Knights she set vpon the shore all three,And vanisht thence in twinkling of an eie.
Vprose the night in whose deepe blacknes bee
All colours hid of things, in earth or skie,
Nor could they house, or hold, or harbour see,
Or in that desart signe of dwelling spie,
Nor trackt of man or horse, or ought that might
Enforme them of some path or passage right.
307
57
When they had mus'd what way they trauaile should,From the waste shore their steps at last they twinde,
And loe far off at last their eies behould
Something (they wist not what) that cleerely shinde,
With raies of siluer and with beames of gould,
Which the darke foulds of nights blacke mantle linde,
Forward they went and marched gainst the light,
To see and finde the thing, that shone so bright:
58
High on a tree they saw an armour new,That glistred bright gainst Cinthias siluer ray,
Therein (like stars in skies) the dimonds shew,
Fret in the gilden helme and hawberke gay,
The mightie shield all scored full they vew
Of pictures faire, ranged in meet array;
To keepe them sate an aged man beside,
Who to salute them rose, when them he spide.
59
The twaine, who first were sent in this pursute,Of their wise friend well knew the aged face:
But when the wisard sage their first salute
Receiu'd, and quited had, with kinde embrace,
To the yong Prince (that silent stood and mute)
He turn'd his speech: in this vnused place
For you alone I waite (my Lord) quoth he,
My chiefest care your state and welfare be;
60
For (though you wote it not) I am your frend,And for your profit worke, as these can tell,
I taught them how Armidaes charmes to end,
And bring you hither from loues hatefull cell,
Now to my words (though sharpe perchance) attend,
Nor be aggreeu'd although they seeme too fell,
But keepe them well in minde, till in the truth
A wise and holier man instruct thy yuth.
61
Not vnderneath sweete shades and fountaines shrill,Among the nymphes, the fairies, leaues and flours;
But on the steepe, the rough and craggie hill
Of vertue, standes this blis, this good of ours:
By toile and trauaile, not by sitting still
In pleasures lap, we come to honors bours;
Why will you thus in sloathes deepe valley lie?
The royall Eagles on high mountaines flie.
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62
Nature liftes vp thy forehead to the skies,And fils thy hart with high and noble thought,
That thou to heau'nward aie should'st lift thine eies,
And purchase fame by deedes well donne and wrought,
She giues thee ire, by which hot courage flies
To conquest, not through braules and battailes (fought
For ciuill iarres) nor that thereby you might
Your wicked malice wreake and cursed spight:
63
But that your strength spurr'd forth with noble wraith,With greater furie might Christes foes assault,
And that you bridle should with lesser scaith
Each secret vice, and kill each inward fault;
For so his godly anger ruled haith
Each righteous man, beneath heau'ns starrie vault,
And at his will makes it now hot, now cold,
Now lets it ronne, now doth it fettred hold.
64
Thus parled he; Rinaldo husht and stillGreat wisdome heard in those few words compilde,
He markt his speech, a purple blush did fill
His guiltie cheekes, downe went his eie-sight milde.
The hermit by his bashfull lookes his will
Well vnderstood, and said, looke vp my childe,
And painted in this pretious shield behold
The glorious deeds of thy forefathers old:
65
Thine elders glorie herein see and know,In vertues path how they troade all their daies,
Whom thou art farre behinde, a runner slow
In this true course of honour, fame and praies:
Vp, vp, thy selfe incite by the faire show
Of Knigtly worth, which this bright shield bewraies,
That be thy spurre, to praise: at last the knight
Lookt vp, and on those purtraites bent his sight.
66
The cunning workeman had in little spaceInfinite shapes of men there well exprest,
For there described was the worthie race,
And pedegree of all the house of Est:
Come from a Romaine spring ore all the place
Flowed pure streames of Christall East and West,
With Laurell crowned stood the Princes old,
Their warres the Hermit and their battailes told.
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67
He show'd him Caius first, when first in prayTo people strange the falling empire went,
First Prince of Est, that did the scepter sway
Ore such as chose him Lord by free consent,
His weaker neighbours to his rule obey,
Need made them stoupe, constraint doth force content;
After, (when Lord Honorius call'd the traine,
Of sauage Gothes into his land againe,)
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And when all Italie did burne and flameWith bloodie war, by this fierce people maid,
When Rome a captiue and a slaue became,
And to be quite destroi'd was most affraid,
Aurelius (to his euerlasting fame)
Preseru'd in peace the folke that him obai'd:
Next whom was Forrest, who the rage withstood
Of the bold Hunnes, and of their tyrant prood.
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Knowne by his looke was Attila the fell,Whose dragon eies shone bright with angers sparke,
Worse faced than a dog, who vew'd him well,
Suppos'd they saw him grin, and heard him barke;
But when in single fight he lost the bell,
How through his troupes he fled there might you marke,
And how Lord Forrest after fortified
Aquilias towne, and how for it he died;
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For there was wrought the fatall end and fine,Both of himselfe and of the towne he kept:
But his great sonne renowned Acarine,
Into his fathers place and honour stept,
To cruell fate, not to the Hunnes, Altine
Gaue place, and when time seru'd againe forth lept,
And in the vale of Poe built for his seat
Of many a village small, a citie great.
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Against the swelling flood he bankt it strong,And thence vprose the faire and noble towne,
Where they of Est should by succession long
Command, and rule in blisse and high renowne:
Gainst Odoacer then he fought, but wrong
Oft spoileth right, fortune treads courage downe,
For there he dide for his deere countries sake,
And of his fathers praise did so partake:
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With him dide Alphorisio, Azzo wasWith his deere brother into exile sent,
But homewards they in armes againe repas,
(The Herule king opprest) from banishment,
His front through pierced with a dart (alas:)
Next them of Est th' Epaminondas went,
That smiling seemd to cruell death to yeild,
When Totila was fled, and safe his sheild.
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Of Boniface I speake, ValerianHis sonne in praise and powre succeeded him,
Who durst sustaine (in yeeres though scant a man)
Of the proud Gothes an hundreth squadrons trim:
Then he that gainst the Sclaues much honour wan;
Ernesto threatning stood with visage grim,
Before him Aldoard, the Lombard stout
Who from Monscelces bouldly earst shut out.
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There Henrie was and Berengare the bould,That seru'd great Charles in his conquests hie,
Who in each battle giue the onset would,
A hardie souldiour and a captaine slie;
After, prince Lewes did he well vphould
Against his nephew, king of Italie,
He wonne the fielde and tooke that king on liue:
Next him stood Otho with his children fiue.
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Of Almerike the image next they vew,Lord Marques of Ferrara first create,
Founder of many churches, that vpthrew
His eies, like one that vs'd to contemplate.
Gainst him the second Azzo stood in rew,
With Berengarious that did long debate,
Till after often change of fortunes stroake,
He wonne, and on all Itaile laid the yoake.
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Albert his sonne the Germaines warde among,And there his praise and fame was spred so wide,
That hauing foil'd the Danes in battaile strong,
His daughter yoong became great Othoes bride.
Behinde him Hugo stood with warfare long,
That broake the horne of all the Romaines pride,
Who of all Italy the Marques hight,
And Tuscane whole, possessed as his right.
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After Tedaldo, puissant BonifaceAnd Beatrice his deere possest the stage;
Nor was there left heire male of that great race,
T'enioy the scepter, state and heritage;
The Princesse Maude alone supplide the place,
Supplide the want in number, sexe and age;
For far aboue each scepter, throne and crowne,
The noble Dame aduanst her vaile and gowne:
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With manlike vigor shone her noble looke,And more than manlike wrath her face orespred,
There the fell Normans, Guichard there forsooke
The field, till than who neuer fear'd nor fled;
Henrie the fourth she beat, and from him tooke
His standard, and in church it offered;
Which donne, the Pope backe to the Vaticane
She brought, and plast in Peters chaire againe.
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As he that honour'd her, and held her deareAzzo the fifth stood by her louely side;
But the fourth Azzos ofspring far and neare
Spred forth, and through Germania fructifide,
Sprong from that branch did Guelpho bold appeare,
Guelpho his sonne by Cunigond his bride,
And in Bauarias field transplanted new
This Romane grift florisht, encreast and grew.
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A branch of Est there in the Guelfian treeEngraffed was, which of it selfe was old,
Whereon you might the Guelfoes fairer see,
Renew their scepters and their crownes of gold,
On which heau'ns good aspectes so bended bee,
That high and broad it spred, and florisht bold,
Till vnderneath his glorious branches lade
Halfe Germanie, and all vnder his shade.
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This regall plant from his Italian routSprong vp as hie, and blossom'd faire aboue,
For nenst Lord Guelpho, Bertold issued out,
With the sixt Azzo whom all vertues loue;
This was the pedegree of worthies stout,
Who seem'd in that bright shield to liue and moue.
Rinaldo waked vp and chear'd his face,
To see these worthies of his house and race.
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To doe like actes his courage wisht and sought,And with that wish transported him so farre,
That all those deedes which filled aie his thought,
(Townes wonne, fortes taken, armies kild in warre)
As if they were things donne indeed and wrought,
Before his eies he thinks they present arre,
He hastly armes him, and with hope and hast,
Sure conquest met, preuented and imbrast.
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But Charles, who had told the death and fallOf the yong Prince of Danes his late deere Lord,
Gaue him the fatall weapon, and withall,
Yong knight (quoth he) take with good lucke this sword,
Your iust, strong, valiant hand in battaile shall
Employ it long, for Christes true faith and word,
And of his former Lord reuenge the wrongs,
Who lou'd you so, that deed to you belongs.
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He answered, God for his mercie sake,Grant that this hand which holds this weapon good,
For thy deere maister may sharpe veng'ance take,
May cleaue the Pagans hart, and shed his blood.
To this but short replie did Charles make,
And thankt him much, nor more on termes they stood:
For loe the wisard sage that was their guide
On their darke iourney hastes them forth to ride,
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High time it is (quoth he) for you to wendWhere Godfrey you awaits, and many a knight,
There may we well arriue ere night doth end,
And through this darknesse can I guide you right.
This said, vp to his coach they all ascend,
On his swift wheeles forth roll'd the chariot light,
He gaue his coursers flit the rod and raine,
And gallopt forth and eastward droue amaine;
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While silent so through nights darke shade they flie,The Hermit thus bespake the yong man stout,
Of thy great house, thy race, thine ofspring hie,
Here hast thou seene the branch, the bole, the rout,
And as these worthies borne to chiualrie,
And deedes of armes, it hath tofore brought out;
So is it, so it shall be fertile still,
Nor time shall end, nor age that seed shall kill.
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Would God, as drawne from the forgetfull lapOf antique time, I haue thine elders showne;
That so I could the Catalogue vnwrap
Of thy great nephewes yet vnborne, vnknowne,
That ere this light they vew, their fate and hap
I might foretell, and how their chance is throwne,
That like thine elders so thou mightst behold
Thy children many, famous, stout and bold.
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But not by art or skill, of things futureCan the plaine troath reuealed be and told,
Although some knowledge doubtfull, darke, obscure
We haue of comming haps in cloudes vprold;
Nor all which in this cause I know for sure
Dare I foretell: for of that father old
The hermit Peter, learn'd I much, and hee
Withouten vaile heau'ns secrets great doth see.
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But this (to him reueal'd by grace diuine)By him to me declar'd, to thee I say,
Was neuer race Greeke, Barb'rous, or Latine,
Great in times past, or famous at this day,
Richer in hardie knights than this of thine;
Such blessings heau'n shall on thy children lay,
That they in fame shall passe, in praise orecome
The worthies old of Sparta, Carthage, Rome.
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But mongst the rest I chose Alphonsus bould,In vertue first, second in place and name,
He shall be borne when this fraile world growes ould,
Corrupted, poore, and bare of men of fame,
Better than he none shall, none can, or could
The sword or scepter vse, or guide the same,
To rule in peace, or to command in fight,
Thine ofsprings glorie and thy houses light.
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His yonger age foretokens true shall yeildOf future valour, puissance, force and might,
From him no rocke the sauage beast shall sheild;
At tilt or turnay match him shall no knight:
After he conquer shall in pitched feild
Great armies, and win spoiles in single fight,
And on his locks (rewards for knightly praise)
Shall garlands weare of grasse, of oke, of baies.
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His grauer age, as well that eild it fits,Shall happie peace preserue, and quiet blest,
And from his neighbours strong mongst whom he sits,
Shall keepe his cities safe, in wealth and rest,
Shall nourish artes, and cherish pregnant wits,
Make triumphes great, and feast his subiects best,
Reward the good, the euill with paines torment,
Shall dangers all foresee; and seene, preuent.
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But if it hap against those wicked bandsThat sea and earth infest with blood and warre,
And in these wretched times to noble lands
Giue lawes of peace, false and vniust that arre,
That he be sent, to driue their guiltie hands
From Christes pure altars, and high temples farre,
O what reuenge? what veng'ance shall he bring
On that false sect, and their accursed king?
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Too late the Moores, too late the Turkish king,Gainst him should arme their troupes and legions bold;
For he beyond great Euphrates should bring,
Beyond the frosen tops of Taurus cold,
Beyond the land where is perpetuall spring,
The crosse, the Eagle white, the lillie of gold,
And by baptising of the Ethiops browne,
Of aged Nile reueale the springs vnknowne.
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Thus said the hermit, and his prophesieThe Prince accepted with content and pleasure,
The secret thought of his posteritie,
Of his concealed ioyes heapt vp the measure.
Meane-while the morning bright was mounted hie,
And chang'd heau'ns siluer wealth to golden treasure,
And high aboue the Christian tents they vew,
How the broad ensignes trembled, wau'd and blew;
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When thus againe their leader sage begonne,See how bright Phebus cleeres the darksome skies,
See how with gentle beames the friendly sonne
The tents, the townes, the hils and dales descries,
Through my well guiding is your voiage donne,
From danger safe, in trauaile oft which lies,
Hence without feare of harme or doubt of foe,
March to the campe, I may no neerer goe.
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Thus tooke he leaue, and made a quicke returne,And forward went the champions three on fout,
And marching right against the rising morne,
A readie passage to the campe found out,
Meane-while had speedie fame the tidings borne
That to the tents approacht these Barons stout,
And starting from his throne and kingly seat
To entertaine them, rose Godfredo great.
| Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem | |