The Poetical Works of Henry Brooke ... In Four Volumes Octavo. Revised and corrected by the Original Manuscript With a Portrait of the Author, and His Life By Miss Brooke. The Third Edition |
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| JERUSALEM DELIVERED;
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 | The Poetical Works of Henry Brooke |  |
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JERUSALEM DELIVERED;
AN EPIC POEM:
Translated from the ITALIAN OF TORQUATO TASSO.
135
BOOK I.
Of arms, devote to Heaven's Eternal King;
Of sainted hosts the sacred Chief I sing,
Who freed that tomb, to infidels a prey,
Where once the Lord for all the living lay:
Alike, his might and conduct claim applause;
And much he suffer'd in the glorious cause:
In vain infernal fury raised alarms,
And half the world opposed contending arms;
Sedition, ruled, beneath his sceptre lay,
Foes learn'd to fear, and rebels to obey:
So Heaven would crown its Hero with success,
And Virtue triumph'd in the power to bless.
Of sainted hosts the sacred Chief I sing,
Who freed that tomb, to infidels a prey,
Where once the Lord for all the living lay:
Alike, his might and conduct claim applause;
And much he suffer'd in the glorious cause:
In vain infernal fury raised alarms,
And half the world opposed contending arms;
Sedition, ruled, beneath his sceptre lay,
Foes learn'd to fear, and rebels to obey:
So Heaven would crown its Hero with success,
And Virtue triumph'd in the power to bless.
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O muse! whom mortal trophy would prophane,
And thy chaste brow with fading laurel stain;
While circling glories round thy temples play,
And circling Angels hymn the eternal lay,
O! breathe celestial ardours to my breast,
Inspire the song, to Albion's Prince addrest;
And pardon fiction mix'd with Truths Divine,
Or arts to please which, goddess, are not thine!
And thy chaste brow with fading laurel stain;
While circling glories round thy temples play,
And circling Angels hymn the eternal lay,
O! breathe celestial ardours to my breast,
Inspire the song, to Albion's Prince addrest;
And pardon fiction mix'd with Truths Divine,
Or arts to please which, goddess, are not thine!
Well dost thou know the purport of my song,
Tho' drest to charm, with secret virtue strong;
While veil'd, beneath the verse the moral lies,
And captivates the soul with kind disguise.
His bitter thus the friendly Leech conceals,
And with the fraud of latent medicine heals:
To the sick taste he promises delight,
And obvious sweets the infant lip invite;
Health, ambush'd, in the potion is imbibed,
For man must even to happiness be bribed.
Tho' drest to charm, with secret virtue strong;
While veil'd, beneath the verse the moral lies,
And captivates the soul with kind disguise.
His bitter thus the friendly Leech conceals,
And with the fraud of latent medicine heals:
To the sick taste he promises delight,
And obvious sweets the infant lip invite;
Health, ambush'd, in the potion is imbibed,
For man must even to happiness be bribed.
SIX suns had now their annual journey run,
And seen the war that with the first begun;
Still in his cause Messiah's hosts engage,
And eastward bid the kindling combat rage.
Antioch, and Nice, were now the victor's prize,
Or won by storm, or captive by surprise:
In vain all Asia rises to repel,
Beneath their force unnumber'd Persians fell;
And last Tortosa vanquish'd, they retire,
Till war shall with returning spring respire.
And seen the war that with the first begun;
Still in his cause Messiah's hosts engage,
And eastward bid the kindling combat rage.
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Or won by storm, or captive by surprise:
In vain all Asia rises to repel,
Beneath their force unnumber'd Persians fell;
And last Tortosa vanquish'd, they retire,
Till war shall with returning spring respire.
Scarce winter, warm'd before the golden ray,
Restored the battle with the lengthening day,
When GOD, self rais'd from his eternal throne,
Sublime o'er Heaven's high Empyrean shone.
Awed from his seat, tho' patent to his view,
The rolling universe holds distance due:
He looks; unnumber'd worlds before him lie,
And nature lives collected in his eye.
Restored the battle with the lengthening day,
When GOD, self rais'd from his eternal throne,
Sublime o'er Heaven's high Empyrean shone.
Awed from his seat, tho' patent to his view,
The rolling universe holds distance due:
He looks; unnumber'd worlds before him lie,
And nature lives collected in his eye.
To Syria, on the Christian peers intent,
All-piercing the Divine Perception bent;
Where Godfrey stood, conspicuous in his sight,
Above the princes eminently bright:
Nor wealth allures him, nor ambition charms,
But faith refines, and heavenly ardour arms;
While zeal alone his placid bosom fires,
And with the warrior all the saint conspires.
All-piercing the Divine Perception bent;
Where Godfrey stood, conspicuous in his sight,
Above the princes eminently bright:
Nor wealth allures him, nor ambition charms,
But faith refines, and heavenly ardour arms;
While zeal alone his placid bosom fires,
And with the warrior all the saint conspires.
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Not such the thoughts that Heaven in Baldwin spied,
From virtue alien, tho' by blood allied;
Ambitious phantasms haunt his idle brain,
And pride still prompts him to be greatly vain.
From virtue alien, tho' by blood allied;
Ambitious phantasms haunt his idle brain,
And pride still prompts him to be greatly vain.
With silent anguish Tancred stood opprest,
While love, fond passion, languish'd in his breast.
While love, fond passion, languish'd in his breast.
But Boemond's cares on Antioch's glory wait,
And model in his mind her new form'd state;
While the great Chief, late terrible in arms,
With arts of peace and social conduct charms,
At once of earth and heaven asserts the cause,
Instructs with piety, and forms with laws.
And model in his mind her new form'd state;
While the great Chief, late terrible in arms,
With arts of peace and social conduct charms,
At once of earth and heaven asserts the cause,
Instructs with piety, and forms with laws.
Rinaldo then, to war and nature new,
Gave all his brave, his open soul to view;
Untamed that restless bosom wish'd the fight,
And circling perils gave his eyes delight:
Wisdom and fame, but fame the most refined,
By turns prevail'd, and fired, or form'd his mind;
While he on Guelpho, sage instructor, hung,
And caught the maxims falling from his tongue.
Gave all his brave, his open soul to view;
Untamed that restless bosom wish'd the fight,
And circling perils gave his eyes delight:
Wisdom and fame, but fame the most refined,
By turns prevail'd, and fired, or form'd his mind;
While he on Guelpho, sage instructor, hung,
And caught the maxims falling from his tongue.
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This saw the Deity—through every breast,
Each latent inclination lay confest;
Then call'd, and from the bright angelic round,
Forth issued Gabriel to the sacred sound;
He, of the prime celestial splendors came,
Obsequious to the will of Heaven's Supreme:
Gracious to man the social spirit stands,
To saints the messenger of blest commands;
Thence, breathes the cordial incense to his King,
And wafts their vows on his returning wing.
Each latent inclination lay confest;
Then call'd, and from the bright angelic round,
Forth issued Gabriel to the sacred sound;
He, of the prime celestial splendors came,
Obsequious to the will of Heaven's Supreme:
Gracious to man the social spirit stands,
To saints the messenger of blest commands;
Thence, breathes the cordial incense to his King,
And wafts their vows on his returning wing.
(Expressive then the Inutterable Name)
“To Godfrey his Creator's Will proclaim—
“Ask, wherefore are my Sion's bonds untied?
“The hero's sword why dormant at his side?
“To council bid him cite each Christian peer,
“Reprove the tardy, and the valiant cheer:
“Him I elect, superior in his sway;
“And let his rivals, and the world obey.
“To Godfrey his Creator's Will proclaim—
“Ask, wherefore are my Sion's bonds untied?
“The hero's sword why dormant at his side?
“To council bid him cite each Christian peer,
“Reprove the tardy, and the valiant cheer:
“Him I elect, superior in his sway;
“And let his rivals, and the world obey.
Nor now Heaven's Flaming Minister delays;
He heard with transport, and with speed obeys:
Air organized his casual limbs composed,
Attempering radiance round his essence closed;
A human form the dazzling shape display'd,
But in the majesty of Heaven array'd;
While youth smiled o'er him with celestial grace,
And beamy ringlets wanton'd round his face.
He heard with transport, and with speed obeys:
Air organized his casual limbs composed,
Attempering radiance round his essence closed;
A human form the dazzling shape display'd,
But in the majesty of Heaven array'd;
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And beamy ringlets wanton'd round his face.
He spread for flight his many tinctured wings,
And light from Heaven's high firmament he springs:
All feather'd as the darting shaft he flies,
Cuts the bright steep, and cleaves the yielding skies,
Divides the sphere of many a shining star,
And sends the coming glory from afar;
Then stands on Lebanon reveal'd to view,
And shakes his plumes bedropp'd with morning dew.
And light from Heaven's high firmament he springs:
All feather'd as the darting shaft he flies,
Cuts the bright steep, and cleaves the yielding skies,
Divides the sphere of many a shining star,
And sends the coming glory from afar;
Then stands on Lebanon reveal'd to view,
And shakes his plumes bedropp'd with morning dew.
Now half appear'd the horizontal sun,
And west, and east, with equal glory shone;
There shed his evening, here his morning ray,
And gave to different worlds dividual day—
When wing'd from Lebanon's aspiring head,
The angelic message to Tortosa sped,
What time the Duke his orizons addrest
And breathed to Heaven the rapture of his breast:
In usher'd graceful with the morning beam,
A brighter morn the dazzling Angel came;
And placid, to the much admiring man,
The bright, the social Intellect began.
And west, and east, with equal glory shone;
There shed his evening, here his morning ray,
And gave to different worlds dividual day—
When wing'd from Lebanon's aspiring head,
The angelic message to Tortosa sped,
What time the Duke his orizons addrest
And breathed to Heaven the rapture of his breast:
In usher'd graceful with the morning beam,
A brighter morn the dazzling Angel came;
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The bright, the social Intellect began.
“Attend, thou favour'd of Supreme Decree!
“Thus sends the Deity, and sends to thee—
“In Bulloign's breast what kindling zeal should glow,
“What fires impel him forceful on the foe?
“When Sion calls, when listening Heaven commands,
“And consecrates her cause in Godfrey's hands,
“'Tis thine to vindicate her just complaints,
“To strike the shackles from her captive saints;
“'Tis thine to summon every Christian peer,
“Reprove the tardy, and the valiant cheer;
“Their general thou, superior in thy sway—
“GOD so appoints, and mortals must obey.
“Thus sends the Deity, and sends to thee—
“In Bulloign's breast what kindling zeal should glow,
“What fires impel him forceful on the foe?
“When Sion calls, when listening Heaven commands,
“And consecrates her cause in Godfrey's hands,
“'Tis thine to vindicate her just complaints,
“To strike the shackles from her captive saints;
“'Tis thine to summon every Christian peer,
“Reprove the tardy, and the valiant cheer;
“Their general thou, superior in thy sway—
“GOD so appoints, and mortals must obey.
He ceas'd; and lessening from the hero's view,
Back to his native Heaven the Brightness flew:
Nor Godfrey yet supports excess of light,
New to the shape, and dizzied at the sight;
Not the wide blaze his darkling eye sustains,
And chillness thrill'd unwonted through his veins.
Back to his native Heaven the Brightness flew:
Nor Godfrey yet supports excess of light,
New to the shape, and dizzied at the sight;
Not the wide blaze his darkling eye sustains,
And chillness thrill'd unwonted through his veins.
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But soon he calls the vision to his mind,
And ponders on the glorious charge assigned;
Fresh to his soul the high behest returns,
And with redoubled zeal his bosom burns:
Nor yet, that Heaven preferr'd its warrior saint,
Did pride dilate him, or ambition taint;
But through Almighty Will, his will aspires,
As the spark mounts amid the kindling fires.
And ponders on the glorious charge assigned;
Fresh to his soul the high behest returns,
And with redoubled zeal his bosom burns:
Nor yet, that Heaven preferr'd its warrior saint,
Did pride dilate him, or ambition taint;
But through Almighty Will, his will aspires,
As the spark mounts amid the kindling fires.
Strait where they lay, each chieftain he invites;
Now mild requires, and now by mandate cites:
Dispatch'd around his posting envoys fly,
And prayers are mix'd with counsels to comply.
Persuasive here, the gallant soul he charms;
But here provokes, and here impels to arms;
Here blows the slumbering virtue to a flame,
And breathes throughout the noble thirst of fame.
Now mild requires, and now by mandate cites:
Dispatch'd around his posting envoys fly,
And prayers are mix'd with counsels to comply.
Persuasive here, the gallant soul he charms;
But here provokes, and here impels to arms;
Here blows the slumbering virtue to a flame,
And breathes throughout the noble thirst of fame.
Such Godfrey's conduct, nor his conduct vain;
Each comes, attended by his warlike train:
Tortosa but a scant reception yields,
And tented armies throng the neighbouring fields.
All awful, to consult the peers repair;
Save Boemond, each, majestic, fills his chair;
When graceful, to the senate Godfrey rose,
And deep the stream of elocution flows.
Each comes, attended by his warlike train:
Tortosa but a scant reception yields,
And tented armies throng the neighbouring fields.
All awful, to consult the peers repair;
Save Boemond, each, majestic, fills his chair;
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And deep the stream of elocution flows.
“Ye warriors! Heaven-elected, to restore
“The Sacred Faith of Him those Heavens adore;
“Preserv'd for this through many a fearful day,
“The foreign climate, and the deadly fray,
“Well may ye rush, thus arm'd, upon the foe,
“And fight secure where Heaven averts the blow.
“Nor vain I deem the purchase of your toil,
“The vanquish'd province, and the glorious spoil;
“Since trophies through reforming nations rise,
“And bear Christ's name triumphant to the skies.
“The Sacred Faith of Him those Heavens adore;
“Preserv'd for this through many a fearful day,
“The foreign climate, and the deadly fray,
“Well may ye rush, thus arm'd, upon the foe,
“And fight secure where Heaven averts the blow.
“Nor vain I deem the purchase of your toil,
“The vanquish'd province, and the glorious spoil;
“Since trophies through reforming nations rise,
“And bear Christ's name triumphant to the skies.
“But not for this, we left our native place,
“The known endearment, and the chaste embrace;
“Each social sweet for distant battle chang'd,
“And wandering, through the faithless ocean rang'd:
“For this, an end unequal to your arms,
“Nor bleeds the combat, nor the conquest charms;
“Nor such the prize your matchless labours claim,
“Barbarian kingdoms, and ignoble fame.
“The known endearment, and the chaste embrace;
“Each social sweet for distant battle chang'd,
“And wandering, through the faithless ocean rang'd:
“For this, an end unequal to your arms,
“Nor bleeds the combat, nor the conquest charms;
“Nor such the prize your matchless labours claim,
“Barbarian kingdoms, and ignoble fame.
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“Was not the scope of our united powers
“To scale the steep of Sion's hallow'd towers?
“High o'er her walls to force resistless way?
“Deep on her dungeons pour the long lost day?
“To lift Oppression from her house of pain,
“Snap the vile yoke, and burst the pagan chain?
“Restore to Piety her sacred seat,
“And build for Virtue a secure retreat;
“Where each devoted pilgrim might repair,
“And Christ receive the tributary prayer?
“To scale the steep of Sion's hallow'd towers?
“High o'er her walls to force resistless way?
“Deep on her dungeons pour the long lost day?
“To lift Oppression from her house of pain,
“Snap the vile yoke, and burst the pagan chain?
“Restore to Piety her sacred seat,
“And build for Virtue a secure retreat;
“Where each devoted pilgrim might repair,
“And Christ receive the tributary prayer?
“Where Triumph stands, defeated of its aim,
“How vain the victory! how fruitless fame!
“While still the wish'd atchievement turns aside,
“And conquest flows, but with a different tide.
“For wherefore is the might of Europe arm'd,
“Asia invaded, and the world alarm'd,
“If ruin be alone the victor's praise,
“And states subverted, while we meant to raise?
“How vain the victory! how fruitless fame!
“While still the wish'd atchievement turns aside,
“And conquest flows, but with a different tide.
“For wherefore is the might of Europe arm'd,
“Asia invaded, and the world alarm'd,
“If ruin be alone the victor's praise,
“And states subverted, while we meant to raise?
“Frail is the strength of sublunary things,
“The pomp of titles, and the pride of kings;
“Nor such the hope a faithful few may boast,
“Hemm'd in by nations, and a barbarous coast;
“Our country distant, fickle Greece untried,
“Nor aught but Heaven to combat on our side.
“The pomp of titles, and the pride of kings;
“Nor such the hope a faithful few may boast,
“Hemm'd in by nations, and a barbarous coast;
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“Nor aught but Heaven to combat on our side.
“True, we have fought, nor have we fought in vain—
“Proud Antioch won, and hostile armies slain!
“But these atchieved by many a wondrous way,
“Shew GOD still guides the fortune of the day;
“Then if we seek or conquest, or applause,
“Through means averse to his victorious cause,
“The pride of triumph, and the thirst of fame,
“In death shall vanish, or be quench'd in shame.
“Proud Antioch won, and hostile armies slain!
“But these atchieved by many a wondrous way,
“Shew GOD still guides the fortune of the day;
“Then if we seek or conquest, or applause,
“Through means averse to his victorious cause,
“The pride of triumph, and the thirst of fame,
“In death shall vanish, or be quench'd in shame.
“Ah! never may our arms such issue find,
“Nor we rebel ingrate, while Heaven is kind;
“But still conform'd to the Divine Behest,
“Be the great period, as commencement, blest!
“Then, then, while time, while every pass is ours,
“And prompt occasion chides our lingering powers,
“Quick let us rise, toss high the spacious mound,
“And circling gird Jerusalem around.
“Nor we rebel ingrate, while Heaven is kind;
“But still conform'd to the Divine Behest,
“Be the great period, as commencement, blest!
“Then, then, while time, while every pass is ours,
“And prompt occasion chides our lingering powers,
“Quick let us rise, toss high the spacious mound,
“And circling gird Jerusalem around.
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“For me, ye princes! hear what I presage—
“Be witness Heaven! and every future age!
“Now is the conquering crisis mark'd by fate;
“Now, is the time, to give the world a date,
“The time to consecrate your deeds to fame,
“To bless your arms, or ever blast your name:
“But once elaps'd, though panting to regain,
“Vain are our hopes, our labours wake in vain;
“Each sun shall set, a witness to our woe,
“And Egypt succour the recruited foe.”
“Be witness Heaven! and every future age!
“Now is the conquering crisis mark'd by fate;
“Now, is the time, to give the world a date,
“The time to consecrate your deeds to fame,
“To bless your arms, or ever blast your name:
“But once elaps'd, though panting to regain,
“Vain are our hopes, our labours wake in vain;
“Each sun shall set, a witness to our woe,
“And Egypt succour the recruited foe.”
He ceas'd; a solemn whispering fill'd the pause,
And the whole senate murmur'd deep applause:
When Peter, sage and venerable man,
Slow-rising, to the circling chiefs began.
(Tho' distant from the war, and world retired,
Prime author, he the distant war inspired;
Which once in act, he issued from his cell,
And thus promotes what he commenced so well.)
And the whole senate murmur'd deep applause:
When Peter, sage and venerable man,
Slow-rising, to the circling chiefs began.
(Tho' distant from the war, and world retired,
Prime author, he the distant war inspired;
Which once in act, he issued from his cell,
And thus promotes what he commenced so well.)
“With transport I survey the Truth exprest
“Warm in each eye, and big in every breast;
“When Bulloign speaks it with prevailing charms,
“No task remains but to enforce with arms:
“Yet pardon one reflection still behind,
“A weight long since incumbent o'er my mind.
“Warm in each eye, and big in every breast;
“When Bulloign speaks it with prevailing charms,
“No task remains but to enforce with arms:
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“A weight long since incumbent o'er my mind.
“Where friendships are by light suspicions coold,
“And rulers are themselves by passions ruled,
“Incongruous orders issued by the great,
“Sedition pregnant in the lower state;
“Occasions opportune are ever lost,
“And every good and glorious end is crost:
“Ill does it seem, when discord thus attaints
“The cause of Christians, and a host of saints;
“A host, whom breach eternal must divide,
“While various minds in various powers preside.
“And rulers are themselves by passions ruled,
“Incongruous orders issued by the great,
“Sedition pregnant in the lower state;
“Occasions opportune are ever lost,
“And every good and glorious end is crost:
“Ill does it seem, when discord thus attaints
“The cause of Christians, and a host of saints;
“A host, whom breach eternal must divide,
“While various minds in various powers preside.
“The mutual weal divided power withstands,
“Nor justice holds her scale with various hands;
“Corruption every partial view attends,
“And the torn state each selfish member rends.
“Not so has nature, in the frame of man,
“Drawn the true scheme of each politic plan;
“Gave various parts to form one beauteous whole,
“And gave a Head in prudence to controul;
“Like ruler should ye chuse, could I advise,
“And form your own, as nature's conduct, wise.”
“Nor justice holds her scale with various hands;
“Corruption every partial view attends,
“And the torn state each selfish member rends.
“Not so has nature, in the frame of man,
“Drawn the true scheme of each politic plan;
“Gave various parts to form one beauteous whole,
“And gave a Head in prudence to controul;
“Like ruler should ye chuse, could I advise,
“And form your own, as nature's conduct, wise.”
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He said, when, mantling from each hero's breast,
Ambition mounts in every eye exprest:
But soon a beam, emissive from above,
Shed mental day, and touch'd the heart with love;
Gave jealous rage to know Divine Controul,
And ruled the tempest rising in the soul.
Calm reason the recoiling tumult sways;
The sage's speech attentive judgment weighs;
To merit every partial view expands,
And Godfrey! Godfrey! every voice demands.
Ambition mounts in every eye exprest:
But soon a beam, emissive from above,
Shed mental day, and touch'd the heart with love;
Gave jealous rage to know Divine Controul,
And ruled the tempest rising in the soul.
Calm reason the recoiling tumult sways;
The sage's speech attentive judgment weighs;
To merit every partial view expands,
And Godfrey! Godfrey! every voice demands.
His will, they vote, their future test of right,
His leading arm their ensign to the fight,
Their Atlas fit to bear the incumbent weight,
The trust of empire, and the task of state;
Submiss, to him they yield unrival'd sway,
And willing princes, late his peers, obey.
The consult ended, and the Royal Name
Was born wide wafted on the wings of fame;
The news a thousand busy tongues impart,
Chear every brow, and gladden every heart.
His leading arm their ensign to the fight,
Their Atlas fit to bear the incumbent weight,
The trust of empire, and the task of state;
Submiss, to him they yield unrival'd sway,
And willing princes, late his peers, obey.
The consult ended, and the Royal Name
Was born wide wafted on the wings of fame;
The news a thousand busy tongues impart,
Chear every brow, and gladden every heart.
For not unconscious was the warlike crowd,
Of worth to every vulgar eye avow'd;
Approving throngs their Godfrey's presence greet,
Charm'd to his sight, or prostrate at his feet,
Proclaim their monarch with united voice,
And loudly consecrate the publick choice.
He mild returns, while corresponding grace
Speaks from his mien, and answers in his face;
Then bids his host prepare their bright array,
And light with early arms the ensuing day.
Of worth to every vulgar eye avow'd;
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Charm'd to his sight, or prostrate at his feet,
Proclaim their monarch with united voice,
And loudly consecrate the publick choice.
He mild returns, while corresponding grace
Speaks from his mien, and answers in his face;
Then bids his host prepare their bright array,
And light with early arms the ensuing day.
The ruddy sun, now orient, chased the dawn,
Shot o'er the sea, and reach'd the dewy lawn;
Up with the morn arose the ready train,
Each seiz'd his arms, and issued on the plain.
The driving squadrons fill the spacious coast;
Wide wave the banners of the various host,
Whose burnish'd mail, with flitting lustre gay,
Reflect thick lightnings, and return the day.
Shot o'er the sea, and reach'd the dewy lawn;
Up with the morn arose the ready train,
Each seiz'd his arms, and issued on the plain.
The driving squadrons fill the spacious coast;
Wide wave the banners of the various host,
Whose burnish'd mail, with flitting lustre gay,
Reflect thick lightnings, and return the day.
Superior the observant Godfrey stands,
Orders the field, and marshals all the bands;
Directs the moving legions from on high,
And rules a host with his experienced eye.
Orders the field, and marshals all the bands;
Directs the moving legions from on high,
And rules a host with his experienced eye.
Say thou, my soul, with gifts divinely blest,
And all thy treasures of a conscious breast!
What chiefs conspicuous then adorn'd the plain,
Their ancient glory, and attending train?
So may'st thou recollect the spoils of age,
And from oblivion snatch the future page:
To thee old Time shall every trophy yield,
And all the pristine honours of the field,
Transplanted fair on each immortal line,
And every ear, in every age, be thine.
And all thy treasures of a conscious breast!
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Their ancient glory, and attending train?
So may'st thou recollect the spoils of age,
And from oblivion snatch the future page:
To thee old Time shall every trophy yield,
And all the pristine honours of the field,
Transplanted fair on each immortal line,
And every ear, in every age, be thine.
First came the Gauls, Clothario at their head,
Whom Hugo late, unhappy warrior, led:
Where four fair streams an ample nation fold,
And Gallia's isle with soft embraces hold,
He in the front of levied numbers shone,
Prime of their host, and brother of the throne;
But early death supprest the vital flame,
Secure of Heaven, and still surviving fame.
Nor now the troops an equal leader scorn,
Great as the first, tho' not of princes born:
A thousand arm'd, sedate they move along,
In weighty mail indissolubly strong;
Attend their chief with boasted ensigns gay,
And the proud arms of ancient France display.
Whom Hugo late, unhappy warrior, led:
Where four fair streams an ample nation fold,
And Gallia's isle with soft embraces hold,
He in the front of levied numbers shone,
Prime of their host, and brother of the throne;
But early death supprest the vital flame,
Secure of Heaven, and still surviving fame.
Nor now the troops an equal leader scorn,
Great as the first, tho' not of princes born:
A thousand arm'd, sedate they move along,
In weighty mail indissolubly strong;
Attend their chief with boasted ensigns gay,
And the proud arms of ancient France display.
To these, each clasp'd within his steely case,
Alike in stature, and in martial grace,
From Celtic Gaul a kindred band succeeds,
A thousand warriors, on a thousand steeds;
Normania's Robert in the van presides,
And the closed files with native sceptre guides.
Alike in stature, and in martial grace,
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A thousand warriors, on a thousand steeds;
Normania's Robert in the van presides,
And the closed files with native sceptre guides.
Two Prelates next their dreaded arms unite,
Renown'd for piety, as famed in fight;
Great Ademare with standards richly spread,
And William reverend at his people's head:
Great William, chief amid four hundred known,
From Orange and the deep meander'd Rhone;
Like dangers Ademare from Poget sought,
And in the front of equal numbers fought.
Awful in arms, in ministry divine,
Revered alike, in lawn or mail they shine;
Their docile troops with bold example teach,
And fearless combat for the Faith they preach.
Renown'd for piety, as famed in fight;
Great Ademare with standards richly spread,
And William reverend at his people's head:
Great William, chief amid four hundred known,
From Orange and the deep meander'd Rhone;
Like dangers Ademare from Poget sought,
And in the front of equal numbers fought.
Awful in arms, in ministry divine,
Revered alike, in lawn or mail they shine;
Their docile troops with bold example teach,
And fearless combat for the Faith they preach.
Then Baldwin o'er his powers appeared supreme,
From Bouillon seated on the silver Seme,
Chief of the bands, whom late Duke Godfrey led,
Now Chief of chiefs, and of their host the head.
Carinto o'er four hundred next presides,
With valour fires them, and with wisdom guides;
But thrice that number mightier Baldwin leads,
And arm'd and haughty in the van precedes.
From Bouillon seated on the silver Seme,
Chief of the bands, whom late Duke Godfrey led,
Now Chief of chiefs, and of their host the head.
Carinto o'er four hundred next presides,
With valour fires them, and with wisdom guides;
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And arm'd and haughty in the van precedes.
To these ensue amid the beaten fields,
Whom Guelpho governs, and whom Suabia yields;
Guelpho, with merit, as with fortune crown'd,
And greatly even among the great renown'd:
The princely house of Est, and Roman sire,
Their offspring's emulating acts inspire;
But distant, he his native country sway'd,
And where the chief was born the soil obey'd.
Whom Guelpho governs, and whom Suabia yields;
Guelpho, with merit, as with fortune crown'd,
And greatly even among the great renown'd:
The princely house of Est, and Roman sire,
Their offspring's emulating acts inspire;
But distant, he his native country sway'd,
And where the chief was born the soil obey'd.
Two neighbouring floods his bounded realms contain,
The rising Danaw, and the circling Rhene,
Maternal heritage, with plenty blest,
By Rhetians erst, and northern Sweves possest!
With nations added by his conquering sword,
Carinthia too confest the Guelphian lord;
A race addicted much to free delights,
To social joys, and hospitable rites,
While o'er their huts the wintry tempests pass,
Warm'd by the genial fire and sparkling glass:
Five thousand hence the sage commander drew,
A chearful, faithful, and intrepid crew;
Sad chance of war, the greater number slain,
To mirth no longer wakeful, press the plain.
The rising Danaw, and the circling Rhene,
Maternal heritage, with plenty blest,
By Rhetians erst, and northern Sweves possest!
With nations added by his conquering sword,
Carinthia too confest the Guelphian lord;
A race addicted much to free delights,
To social joys, and hospitable rites,
While o'er their huts the wintry tempests pass,
Warm'd by the genial fire and sparkling glass:
Five thousand hence the sage commander drew,
A chearful, faithful, and intrepid crew;
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To mirth no longer wakeful, press the plain.
The Belgi next, in helms and polish'd mail
Their snowy limbs and flaxen ringlets veil;
Whose narrow realms unbounded wealth contain,
Hemm'd in by France, Almania, and the Main.
Where the Moselle and blended Rhine extend,
Wide o'er the banks their weighty harvests bend;
A people valiant, and inured to toil,
Domestic industry, and foreign spoil.
With these appear, disposed in armed files,
The subject powers of their associate isles;
Who with steep mounds repair those dangerous shores,
Where the breach threatens, and the tempest roars;
Where the proud flood disdains inferior prey,
And o'er a nation pours the headlong sea.
Their snowy limbs and flaxen ringlets veil;
Whose narrow realms unbounded wealth contain,
Hemm'd in by France, Almania, and the Main.
Where the Moselle and blended Rhine extend,
Wide o'er the banks their weighty harvests bend;
A people valiant, and inured to toil,
Domestic industry, and foreign spoil.
With these appear, disposed in armed files,
The subject powers of their associate isles;
Who with steep mounds repair those dangerous shores,
Where the breach threatens, and the tempest roars;
Where the proud flood disdains inferior prey,
And o'er a nation pours the headlong sea.
Beneath another Robert all unite,
A thousand arm'd, and eager for the fight,
They pass, and to the British squadrons yield
The next succession of the moving field.
But these, superior to the Belgi shone,
Array'd by William, Albion's younger son;
From their broad backs their graceful weapons flow,
The swift wing'd quiver, and the twanging bow:
With them, Hibernia sends her sons to war,
Hibernia, neighbour of the northern star,
Where her bleak hills and hoary woods aspire,
And less'ning from the distant world retire.
A thousand arm'd, and eager for the fight,
They pass, and to the British squadrons yield
The next succession of the moving field.
But these, superior to the Belgi shone,
Array'd by William, Albion's younger son;
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The swift wing'd quiver, and the twanging bow:
With them, Hibernia sends her sons to war,
Hibernia, neighbour of the northern star,
Where her bleak hills and hoary woods aspire,
And less'ning from the distant world retire.
Then Tancred caught the eye with heedless grace,
Strength in his arm, and beauty in his face:
Of all that valiant, that unnumber'd host,
Rinaldo might superior prowess boast;
Of worth untainted, fearless in the fight,
And else unmatch'd, in glory, as in might.
One sole default his nobler ardor chain'd,
While love amid his strength of virtues reign'd,
Caught from a glance of momentary charms,
And nurs'd with anguish in the din of arms.
Strength in his arm, and beauty in his face:
Of all that valiant, that unnumber'd host,
Rinaldo might superior prowess boast;
Of worth untainted, fearless in the fight,
And else unmatch'd, in glory, as in might.
One sole default his nobler ardor chain'd,
While love amid his strength of virtues reign'd,
Caught from a glance of momentary charms,
And nurs'd with anguish in the din of arms.
So fame relates, on that triumphant day,
When Persians fell an undistinguish'd prey,
Far from his host the slaughter Tancred led,
And singly follow'd where the foremost fled;
Till feverish, and fatigued, he sought repose,
And to his wish a rural arbour rose,
Where a cool stream, beneath the whispering shade,
With pendent flowers, and quivering willows play'd;
Thither he turn'd, but, with unwary thought,
Soon lost the sweets of that repose he sought.
When Persians fell an undistinguish'd prey,
Far from his host the slaughter Tancred led,
And singly follow'd where the foremost fled;
Till feverish, and fatigued, he sought repose,
And to his wish a rural arbour rose,
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With pendent flowers, and quivering willows play'd;
Thither he turn'd, but, with unwary thought,
Soon lost the sweets of that repose he sought.
By the clear stream unlook'd for perils lay,
In all the charms of virgin beauty gay;
Her body arm'd with Amazonian grace,
But obvious all the dangers of her face:
His captive step the warrior stopp'd amazed,
Sigh'd as he look'd, and trembled while he gazed;
His eyes ran o'er the maid, with hasty art
Thence drew her form, and fix'd it in his heart.
In all the charms of virgin beauty gay;
Her body arm'd with Amazonian grace,
But obvious all the dangers of her face:
His captive step the warrior stopp'd amazed,
Sigh'd as he look'd, and trembled while he gazed;
His eyes ran o'er the maid, with hasty art
Thence drew her form, and fix'd it in his heart.
But soon alarm'd the beauteous Pagan rose;
With lovely threats her kindling visage glows;
She braced her helm, and fierce the hero view'd,
In act to combat whom her charms subdued.
His troops approach'd; the virgin fled like wind,
But hoped in vain to leave the chief behind:
The place, the person, present to his view,
The nymph still flies, and still his thoughts pursue;
Within his eyes the loved ideas roll,
Heave in his heart, and sicken in his soul.
With lovely threats her kindling visage glows;
She braced her helm, and fierce the hero view'd,
In act to combat whom her charms subdued.
His troops approach'd; the virgin fled like wind,
But hoped in vain to leave the chief behind:
The place, the person, present to his view,
The nymph still flies, and still his thoughts pursue;
Within his eyes the loved ideas roll,
Heave in his heart, and sicken in his soul.
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Hence o'er his cheek distemper'd anguish spread,
Prey'd on his strength, and on his beauty fed;
Despair lay sad, but silent in his breast,
And sighs alone the lengthening woe exprest.
Proud to attend, Campania's valiant bands,
Eight hundred horse, await the chief's commands;
Campania, blest with all the bloom of health,
A seat of pleasures, and a fund of wealth,
Where the rich odours breathe along her vales,
And feed old ocean with the fragrant gales.
Prey'd on his strength, and on his beauty fed;
Despair lay sad, but silent in his breast,
And sighs alone the lengthening woe exprest.
Proud to attend, Campania's valiant bands,
Eight hundred horse, await the chief's commands;
Campania, blest with all the bloom of health,
A seat of pleasures, and a fund of wealth,
Where the rich odours breathe along her vales,
And feed old ocean with the fragrant gales.
Behind, two hundred hardy warriors came,
The only warriors of the Grecian name:
Light arm'd, and swift, they range the imbattel'd field,
Nor poise the lance, nor bear the ponderous shield;
But in close fight, or distant skirmish, know
The dextrous fauchion, and the bending bow.
Spare were their steeds, and slender their repast,
But blithe and agile as an eastern blast;
Untired, and practised to the nimble rein,
They stop, and turn, and dart along the plain:
Thus born, the riders confidently go,
Deface the battle, and fatigue the foe;
Expert to charge, to traverse, and to fly,
Pursued they combat, and the conquerors die.
The only warriors of the Grecian name:
Light arm'd, and swift, they range the imbattel'd field,
Nor poise the lance, nor bear the ponderous shield;
But in close fight, or distant skirmish, know
The dextrous fauchion, and the bending bow.
Spare were their steeds, and slender their repast,
But blithe and agile as an eastern blast;
Untired, and practised to the nimble rein,
They stop, and turn, and dart along the plain:
Thus born, the riders confidently go,
Deface the battle, and fatigue the foe;
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Pursued they combat, and the conquerors die.
Tatino points their progress o'er the fields,
He the sole chief the Grecian empire yields;
Inglorious Greece! in indolence profound
Reposed, while arm'd contention ranged around:
“But now the sad equivalent is paid;
“Left by the cause you once refused to aid,
“The haughty Pagan lords it o'er your plains,
“And wakes the shameful lethargy with chains.”
He the sole chief the Grecian empire yields;
Inglorious Greece! in indolence profound
Reposed, while arm'd contention ranged around:
“But now the sad equivalent is paid;
“Left by the cause you once refused to aid,
“The haughty Pagan lords it o'er your plains,
“And wakes the shameful lethargy with chains.”
To close the rear the bold Adventurers came,
The last in order, tho' the first in fame;
A troop of heroes, Europe's proudest boast,
And the dire terror of the Asian host!
Whate'er through times of high memorial rung,
By prose recorded, or by poets sung,
Atchievements valorous, and knights renown'd,
In chivalry, or antique fable found—
Transferr'd to These, may real credence find,
And sum the excellence of human kind.
The last in order, tho' the first in fame;
A troop of heroes, Europe's proudest boast,
And the dire terror of the Asian host!
Whate'er through times of high memorial rung,
By prose recorded, or by poets sung,
Atchievements valorous, and knights renown'd,
In chivalry, or antique fable found—
Transferr'd to These, may real credence find,
And sum the excellence of human kind.
Tho' each might claim, as of peculiar right,
To lead a host, and rule the ranks of fight,
Dudon that high pre-eminence demands,
By joint assent of the Adventurous bands.
Where Aufidus first rolls an infant wave,
This chief of chiefs Hesperian Conza gave:
Sage were his words, and hoary was his head,
To constant toil, and early battle bred;
Yet ever was his boiling courage young,
And his tried nerve to vivid action strung;
His bosom nobly trench'd with many a scar,
Old to the field, the father of the war.
To lead a host, and rule the ranks of fight,
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By joint assent of the Adventurous bands.
Where Aufidus first rolls an infant wave,
This chief of chiefs Hesperian Conza gave:
Sage were his words, and hoary was his head,
To constant toil, and early battle bred;
Yet ever was his boiling courage young,
And his tried nerve to vivid action strung;
His bosom nobly trench'd with many a scar,
Old to the field, the father of the war.
Amid the prime of those illustrious peers
Eustatio, Bulloign's youngest son appears;
Great was his challenge of peculiar fame,
But more thro' his imperial brother's name.
With him, Gernando, heir of Norway rides,
And in his pomp of vaunted title prides:
Nor less distinguish'd, in the peerless train,
Rode the famed Roger, and bold Engerlane;
Gentonio and Rambaldo, far renown'd;
And the Twin Gerrards with like honours crown'd.
Eustatio, Bulloign's youngest son appears;
Great was his challenge of peculiar fame,
But more thro' his imperial brother's name.
With him, Gernando, heir of Norway rides,
And in his pomp of vaunted title prides:
Nor less distinguish'd, in the peerless train,
Rode the famed Roger, and bold Engerlane;
Gentonio and Rambaldo, far renown'd;
And the Twin Gerrards with like honours crown'd.
Nor here Obizo, or Ubaldo there,
With Rosmond Lancaster's redoubted heir,
Consigned to latest annals shall accuse,
The mute neglect of our injurious muse;
Nor brave Achilles, Sforza, Palameed,
Well worthy praise for many a worthy deed;
From Lombardy the valiant brethren came,
To form the great triumvirate of fame.
With these rode Otton, who, in single fight,
Won the dire trophy of the Paynim knight,
High on whose helm a naked infant lay,
Curl'd by a snake voracious o'er the prey.
With Rosmond Lancaster's redoubted heir,
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The mute neglect of our injurious muse;
Nor brave Achilles, Sforza, Palameed,
Well worthy praise for many a worthy deed;
From Lombardy the valiant brethren came,
To form the great triumvirate of fame.
With these rode Otton, who, in single fight,
Won the dire trophy of the Paynim knight,
High on whose helm a naked infant lay,
Curl'd by a snake voracious o'er the prey.
The like memorial Guaschar, Raphe, demand,
Who boldly join the Voluntary Band;
To Eberard and Guernier too belong,
The force and fame of an immortal song;
And the two Guidos equal honours claim,
Alike in glory and alike in name.
Who boldly join the Voluntary Band;
To Eberard and Guernier too belong,
The force and fame of an immortal song;
And the two Guidos equal honours claim,
Alike in glory and alike in name.
But you, bright pair! shall ever foremost shine;
Shall still survive, to deck the mournful line—
Gildippe, in thy dearer Edward blest;
And Edward, only in thy cares distrest!
Too fond the knot which wedded faith supplies,
When mutual merit holds what beauty ties!
One life inspired them, nor could death divide;
They fought together, and together died.
Shall still survive, to deck the mournful line—
Gildippe, in thy dearer Edward blest;
And Edward, only in thy cares distrest!
Too fond the knot which wedded faith supplies,
When mutual merit holds what beauty ties!
One life inspired them, nor could death divide;
They fought together, and together died.
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Ah Love, all subtle tutor, thou can'st teach
What, uninstructive else, the world might preach;
Give the soft sex to loathe inglorious rest,
String the weak arm, and steel the snowy breast!
You braced the Fair one's helm, her corselet tied,
And gave the guardian to her Edward's side!
Thus, on they past, inseparably pair'd;
For him she battell'd, and for her he fear'd:
By each, for each alone, was life desired;
And, wounded in the other, each expired.
What, uninstructive else, the world might preach;
Give the soft sex to loathe inglorious rest,
String the weak arm, and steel the snowy breast!
You braced the Fair one's helm, her corselet tied,
And gave the guardian to her Edward's side!
Thus, on they past, inseparably pair'd;
For him she battell'd, and for her he fear'd:
By each, for each alone, was life desired;
And, wounded in the other, each expired.
Last in the rear of that imbattel'd train,
Shone the young comet of the glittering plain,
Rinaldo—in whose fair, majestic face,
Soft beauty sweeten'd every martial grace:
The youth impatient of his manly prime,
Fled from his years, and stripp'd the speed of Time;
Proud on his arm the force of battel lay,
And round his snowy limbs the Graces play.
Shone the young comet of the glittering plain,
Rinaldo—in whose fair, majestic face,
Soft beauty sweeten'd every martial grace:
The youth impatient of his manly prime,
Fled from his years, and stripp'd the speed of Time;
Proud on his arm the force of battel lay,
And round his snowy limbs the Graces play.
This chief, by Adige on the winding shore,
Sophia, spouse to great Bertoldo, bore:
But soon Matilda takes their infant heir,
Caresses fondly, and conducts with care;
To early honour fires his growing youth,
The thirst of glory, and the love of truth;
When to his ears the warlike tidings came,
And sent the stripling to the fields of fame.
Sophia, spouse to great Bertoldo, bore:
But soon Matilda takes their infant heir,
Caresses fondly, and conducts with care;
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The thirst of glory, and the love of truth;
When to his ears the warlike tidings came,
And sent the stripling to the fields of fame.
Five summers thrice had bloom'd around his head,
When to the wond'ring camp the warrior fled:
Alone he past, all eager on his way,
And reach'd the shore, and cross'd the Egean sea;
Then sped along by many an unknown coast,
And mix'd exulting with the Christian host.
And now three years were spent amid alarms,
Since first the princely fugitive took arms,
When manhood early dawning from within,
Shed the smooth down to deck his ivory chin.
When to the wond'ring camp the warrior fled:
Alone he past, all eager on his way,
And reach'd the shore, and cross'd the Egean sea;
Then sped along by many an unknown coast,
And mix'd exulting with the Christian host.
And now three years were spent amid alarms,
Since first the princely fugitive took arms,
When manhood early dawning from within,
Shed the smooth down to deck his ivory chin.
The horsemen past, the numerous foot succeed,
And trace the marches of the bounding steed;
But these, Tolosa's monarch, Raimond heads,
And in the front majestically treads:
From the proud cliffs of Pyrenêan hills,
From lucid Garonne, and the neighbouring rills,
Wide o'er a placid climate stretch'd his reign,
And eastward overlook'd the Midland-main.
Four thousand veterans hence the hero drew,
Who all the arts of various battle knew:
Composed they march, to every toil addrest;
But he, their bulwark, towers before the rest.
And trace the marches of the bounding steed;
But these, Tolosa's monarch, Raimond heads,
And in the front majestically treads:
From the proud cliffs of Pyrenêan hills,
From lucid Garonne, and the neighbouring rills,
Wide o'er a placid climate stretch'd his reign,
And eastward overlook'd the Midland-main.
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Who all the arts of various battle knew:
Composed they march, to every toil addrest;
But he, their bulwark, towers before the rest.
Five thousand Stephen from Ambasia brings,
And Tours, and shelving Blesæ, seat of kings,
Where Loire the too delicious region laves,
And cities float reflected o'er the waves;
Impatient, hence, of discipline, or toil,
They caught the native softness of the soil:
Yet the fair troops, in martial semblance arm'd,
With shew of lively preparation charm'd;
Their valour as the lightly flaming fire,
Furious they charge, and fainting soon retire.
And Tours, and shelving Blesæ, seat of kings,
Where Loire the too delicious region laves,
And cities float reflected o'er the waves;
Impatient, hence, of discipline, or toil,
They caught the native softness of the soil:
Yet the fair troops, in martial semblance arm'd,
With shew of lively preparation charm'd;
Their valour as the lightly flaming fire,
Furious they charge, and fainting soon retire.
Alcasto then stepp'd forth with haughty pace;
Fierce was his mien, and menacing his face:
Where o'er the clouds the steepy Alps extend,
Six thousand from Helvetia's towers attend;
In shining mail their temper'd plowshares glance,
Spread in the shield, and pointed in the lance;
While the right arm, that ruled the flocks so late,
Now threats the mighty, and insults the great.
Fierce was his mien, and menacing his face:
Where o'er the clouds the steepy Alps extend,
Six thousand from Helvetia's towers attend;
In shining mail their temper'd plowshares glance,
Spread in the shield, and pointed in the lance;
While the right arm, that ruled the flocks so late,
Now threats the mighty, and insults the great.
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Last, in the Papal Standard, they display
The Triple Crown, and Apostolic Key;
Seven thousand valiant Romans march behind,
And great Camillo had the charge assigned.
The moving cuishes, and their corselets bright,
Exchange quick lightnings, and fatigue the sight:
Elate in hope, and chear'd amid alarms,
They bless the cause that calls the world to arms;
So to revive, and vindicate the fame,
That once, unrival'd, mark'd the Roman name.
The Triple Crown, and Apostolic Key;
Seven thousand valiant Romans march behind,
And great Camillo had the charge assigned.
The moving cuishes, and their corselets bright,
Exchange quick lightnings, and fatigue the sight:
Elate in hope, and chear'd amid alarms,
They bless the cause that calls the world to arms;
So to revive, and vindicate the fame,
That once, unrival'd, mark'd the Roman name.
Now, summ'd to view, the invincible array
Stands on the plain, and brightens in the day:
The General calls—obsequious to the sound,
His peers approach, and range attentive round:
When Bulloign his imperial will exprest,
And thus reveal'd the counsels of his breast.
Stands on the plain, and brightens in the day:
The General calls—obsequious to the sound,
His peers approach, and range attentive round:
When Bulloign his imperial will exprest,
And thus reveal'd the counsels of his breast.
“Soon as the next succeeding morn shall rise,
“And dawning purple streak the eastern skies,
“Prepared, and arm'd with best appointed speed,
“Be every warrior, and be every steed;
“For then we mean to visit Salem's towers,
“By secret march, and swift invading powers:
“The mighty crisis to the combat calls,
“And the foe trembles in her sacred walls.
“And dawning purple streak the eastern skies,
“Prepared, and arm'd with best appointed speed,
“Be every warrior, and be every steed;
“For then we mean to visit Salem's towers,
“By secret march, and swift invading powers:
“The mighty crisis to the combat calls,
“And the foe trembles in her sacred walls.
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Bold was the hope his ardent words inspire;
As the plied fan provokes the slumbering fire,
Impatient they regret the lingering night,
Fierce for the day, and for the promis'd fight.
But other cares hold Godfrey from repose,
Nor tastes the Chief those transports he bestows:
Yet deep he held the secret of his breast,
From every ear and every eye supprest.
As the plied fan provokes the slumbering fire,
Impatient they regret the lingering night,
Fierce for the day, and for the promis'd fight.
But other cares hold Godfrey from repose,
Nor tastes the Chief those transports he bestows:
Yet deep he held the secret of his breast,
From every ear and every eye supprest.
Small cause of joy his late advices bring—
How Lybia, arm'd beneath the Memphian king,
From Damiata, eastward in the way
To Gaza, on the Syrian frontiers lay.
Innumerous there such warriors he unites,
As force made confident, or fame excites;
Nor Godfrey hopes advances can be slow,
From so inveterate, so renown'd a foe:
How best to frustrate, or oppose, he seeks;
And to his legate, trusty Henry, speaks.
How Lybia, arm'd beneath the Memphian king,
From Damiata, eastward in the way
To Gaza, on the Syrian frontiers lay.
Innumerous there such warriors he unites,
As force made confident, or fame excites;
Nor Godfrey hopes advances can be slow,
From so inveterate, so renown'd a foe:
How best to frustrate, or oppose, he seeks;
And to his legate, trusty Henry, speaks.
“Go, speed thee, Henry—spread the flying sail,
“Cut the green wave, and catch the favouring gale;
“Nor give indulgence to the labouring oar,
“Till the crook'd keel divides the Grecian shore.
“There, should arrive, as private seals impart,
“From one who knows not the deceiving art,
“The Royal Dane, for matchless force renown'd,
“As with the grace of every virtue crown'd;
“Zeal sends the Northern Youth its warmest ray,
“And glory wings him to the toilsome way,
“From the cold circle, and the polar star,
“The friend and brave companion of the war.
“Cut the green wave, and catch the favouring gale;
“Nor give indulgence to the labouring oar,
“Till the crook'd keel divides the Grecian shore.
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“From one who knows not the deceiving art,
“The Royal Dane, for matchless force renown'd,
“As with the grace of every virtue crown'd;
“Zeal sends the Northern Youth its warmest ray,
“And glory wings him to the toilsome way,
“From the cold circle, and the polar star,
“The friend and brave companion of the war.
“But, for I know the Greekish monarch's heart,
“Stored with old wiles, and well dissembled art,
“I fear lest he divert the princely youth,
“And wrest his purpose from the paths of Truth;
“Or other specious enterprize persuade,
“And rob our armies of the promis'd aid.
“But you, my messenger, and faithful friend,
“Dispose his journey to its destined end;
“Alike his honour, and our arms, shall need
“His utmost forces, and his swiftest speed.
“Stored with old wiles, and well dissembled art,
“I fear lest he divert the princely youth,
“And wrest his purpose from the paths of Truth;
“Or other specious enterprize persuade,
“And rob our armies of the promis'd aid.
“But you, my messenger, and faithful friend,
“Dispose his journey to its destined end;
“Alike his honour, and our arms, shall need
“His utmost forces, and his swiftest speed.
“Nor you return, but to the Grecian sue
“For aids, by previous obligation due,
“Such aids as with his kingly compact stands;
“And more than compact,—what the Cause demands.”
“For aids, by previous obligation due,
“Such aids as with his kingly compact stands;
“And more than compact,—what the Cause demands.”
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The guardian Chief thus wakeful shuns repose,
While in his care ten thousand eye-lids close:
The herald, speeding to the breezy shore,
The seals of trust and royal greeting bore;
And late, the Duke, from every task reclined,
Gave to his couch the labours of his mind.
While in his care ten thousand eye-lids close:
The herald, speeding to the breezy shore,
The seals of trust and royal greeting bore;
And late, the Duke, from every task reclined,
Gave to his couch the labours of his mind.
And now the night, imbalm'd in early dew,
Slow ebbing, from the paler dawn withdrew;
Aurora on the purpling ocean rose;
The reddening east with warmer lustre glows;
His previous beam the solar brightness shed,
And from the wave uprais'd his peerless head—
While thro' the camp loud echoing clarions ring;
Rous'd to the note, the sprightly soldiers spring;
Their ears delighted drink the warlike sounds,
And every heart with answering motion bounds.
So joys the peasant on the sultry plain,
When thunders roll, the messengers of rain.
Slow ebbing, from the paler dawn withdrew;
Aurora on the purpling ocean rose;
The reddening east with warmer lustre glows;
His previous beam the solar brightness shed,
And from the wave uprais'd his peerless head—
While thro' the camp loud echoing clarions ring;
Rous'd to the note, the sprightly soldiers spring;
Their ears delighted drink the warlike sounds,
And every heart with answering motion bounds.
So joys the peasant on the sultry plain,
When thunders roll, the messengers of rain.
With quick impatience every bosom glows;
Apt to their limbs, the wonted armours close:
Each conscious soldier on his chief attends,
And o'er the plain the ranging host extends:
The banners stream, redundant to the wind;
All move, as ruled by one informing mind;
While high towards heaven, the Cross, in triumph spread,
Waves from the van, and blazes at their head.
Apt to their limbs, the wonted armours close:
Each conscious soldier on his chief attends,
And o'er the plain the ranging host extends:
167
All move, as ruled by one informing mind;
While high towards heaven, the Cross, in triumph spread,
Waves from the van, and blazes at their head.
Now up the steep of heaven the cloudless sun,
Fresh in his pomp of rising splendor shone—
He strikes the squadrons with a trembling light;
The flash gleams restless, and rejects the sight:
All æther flames, and sparkles round the host,
And the wide glory fires the distant coast;
The coursers neigh, the clanging arms resound,
And deafening hills return the din around.
Fresh in his pomp of rising splendor shone—
He strikes the squadrons with a trembling light;
The flash gleams restless, and rejects the sight:
All æther flames, and sparkles round the host,
And the wide glory fires the distant coast;
The coursers neigh, the clanging arms resound,
And deafening hills return the din around.
Mean while the Chief, great guardian of his train,
Renders all slights of lurking ambush vain:
He sends the light arm'd horse detach'd before,
To scour the woodland and the winding shore;
The pioneers with previous labours go,
Pull down the lofty, and supply the low,
Unfold the strait, detect the covert way,
And give large travel to the wide array.
Renders all slights of lurking ambush vain:
He sends the light arm'd horse detach'd before,
To scour the woodland and the winding shore;
The pioneers with previous labours go,
Pull down the lofty, and supply the low,
Unfold the strait, detect the covert way,
And give large travel to the wide array.
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Not the rude onsets of encountering foes,
Soon scatter'd, could the impervious march oppose;
Not the proud rampart, and the steepy mound,
The guarded battlement, and trench profound—
In vain by thickets, rocks, and hills, withstood,
The rising forest, and the rushing flood!
So when the Po, imperial torrent, swells,
No power resists him, and no force repels:
Deep from the root the sylvan shade he heaves,
The ruin rolls ingulph'd within his waves;
He foams, he roars, he bounds along the plain,
And bears his prey triumphant to the Main.
Soon scatter'd, could the impervious march oppose;
Not the proud rampart, and the steepy mound,
The guarded battlement, and trench profound—
In vain by thickets, rocks, and hills, withstood,
The rising forest, and the rushing flood!
So when the Po, imperial torrent, swells,
No power resists him, and no force repels:
Deep from the root the sylvan shade he heaves,
The ruin rolls ingulph'd within his waves;
He foams, he roars, he bounds along the plain,
And bears his prey triumphant to the Main.
Mean time, the king of Tripoli, alarm'd,
Mann'd every hold, and every man he arm'd;
But still restrain'd his powers, his wealth supprest,
And ruled the wrath rebellious in his breast;
With specious gifts, and ill dissembled cheer,
Beneath feign'd friendship he disguised his fear;
Signed every term that Godfrey would impose,
And gave wide progress to his potent foes.
Mann'd every hold, and every man he arm'd;
But still restrain'd his powers, his wealth supprest,
And ruled the wrath rebellious in his breast;
With specious gifts, and ill dissembled cheer,
Beneath feign'd friendship he disguised his fear;
Signed every term that Godfrey would impose,
And gave wide progress to his potent foes.
Where, south from Salem, Seir's hills arise,
And eastward range, incumbent o'er the skies,
Promiscuous pours a numerous troop of friends,
And joyful, every sex and age descends:
Large gifts, the tribute of their love, they bring
To the great Chief, of Christian armies king;
They view the wondrous man with strange delight,
Press to his touch, and dwell upon his sight;
Thro' ways well known conduct his journey'd host,
And point his passage o'er the hostile coast.
And eastward range, incumbent o'er the skies,
169
And joyful, every sex and age descends:
Large gifts, the tribute of their love, they bring
To the great Chief, of Christian armies king;
They view the wondrous man with strange delight,
Press to his touch, and dwell upon his sight;
Thro' ways well known conduct his journey'd host,
And point his passage o'er the hostile coast.
Still toward the deep, the windings they explore,
On sea-beat shallows, and the sanded shore;
Off to the right the ships of burden ride,
And plow the surge that murmurs at their side.
Convenient here, the flying barge from far,
Imports the various implements of war;
Replete from Scios, and the Greekish isles,
All autumn in the copious navy smiles;
While luscious Crete her generous juice bestows,
And to the host the purple vintage flows.
On sea-beat shallows, and the sanded shore;
Off to the right the ships of burden ride,
And plow the surge that murmurs at their side.
Convenient here, the flying barge from far,
Imports the various implements of war;
Replete from Scios, and the Greekish isles,
All autumn in the copious navy smiles;
While luscious Crete her generous juice bestows,
And to the host the purple vintage flows.
From Britain, Belgia, and the Gallic bays,
From Venice, native of the circling seas;
The gulph of Genoa, and Tuscan shores,
And where Sicilia piles her naval stores;
Ships, barks, and gallies, cut the Midland-main,
And join in arms, a complicated train.
For here no Pagan to the driving gale,
With daring hand unfurls his timorous sail;
Unrival'd round, the huge Armada rides,
And with a forest veils the nether tides;
Beneath the load, indignant, Ocean swells,
The vessel labours, and the surge rebels.
From Venice, native of the circling seas;
170
And where Sicilia piles her naval stores;
Ships, barks, and gallies, cut the Midland-main,
And join in arms, a complicated train.
For here no Pagan to the driving gale,
With daring hand unfurls his timorous sail;
Unrival'd round, the huge Armada rides,
And with a forest veils the nether tides;
Beneath the load, indignant, Ocean swells,
The vessel labours, and the surge rebels.
Wing'd from the circling world the fleet unites;
One wish informs them, and one cause invites:
Their murmuring keels divide the side-long coast,
With large provision to the landed host;
Then launch'd, they shout, and scour the winding shore,
Hoist every sail, and ply with every oar;
All bound, where Christ the dear ablution shed,
And, for a sinful world, a sinless victim bled.
One wish informs them, and one cause invites:
Their murmuring keels divide the side-long coast,
With large provision to the landed host;
Then launch'd, they shout, and scour the winding shore,
Hoist every sail, and ply with every oar;
All bound, where Christ the dear ablution shed,
And, for a sinful world, a sinless victim bled.
Fame flies thro' Sion with preceding sound,
And hastes to spread the fearful news around;
The powers, the names, the numbers, all she sums—
“See, see,” she cries, “the dreaded victor comes!
“His steps a troop of matchless heroes wait,
“Known to the field, the delegates of fate:
“Fear ye, whose short enduring power detains
“The sacred city, and her saints in chains!
“He comes; and on his conquering weapon brings,
“Death to her foes, and terror to her kings!”
And hastes to spread the fearful news around;
The powers, the names, the numbers, all she sums—
“See, see,” she cries, “the dreaded victor comes!
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“Known to the field, the delegates of fate:
“Fear ye, whose short enduring power detains
“The sacred city, and her saints in chains!
“He comes; and on his conquering weapon brings,
“Death to her foes, and terror to her kings!”
Those ills, that present we might learn to bear,
In prospect spread, and magnify by fear;
The phantom realized in fancy's eye,
Is greater ill than all those ills we fly.
With busy face, and ever listening ear,
Restless they run to learn, but dread to hear;
Throughout the city, and adjacent plains,
Tumultuous haste, distrust, and rumour reigns;
While in her old malicious Tyrant's soul,
Black thoughts and hoary machinations roll.
In prospect spread, and magnify by fear;
The phantom realized in fancy's eye,
Is greater ill than all those ills we fly.
With busy face, and ever listening ear,
Restless they run to learn, but dread to hear;
Throughout the city, and adjacent plains,
Tumultuous haste, distrust, and rumour reigns;
While in her old malicious Tyrant's soul,
Black thoughts and hoary machinations roll.
For Aladine in Sion newly throned,
Beneath the proud usurper Judah groan'd:
Dire was the native purpose of his mind,
To every act of early ill inclined;
But as his years increase, his fires asswage,
Allay with time, and mitigate with age.
He learns the progress of the Christian powers,
That like a torrent comes to sap his towers;
And a new doubt his anxious bosom tears—
Treason within, and force without, he fears.
Beneath the proud usurper Judah groan'd:
Dire was the native purpose of his mind,
To every act of early ill inclined;
But as his years increase, his fires asswage,
Allay with time, and mitigate with age.
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That like a torrent comes to sap his towers;
And a new doubt his anxious bosom tears—
Treason within, and force without, he fears.
For Salem's sacred city, then inclosed,
Two different sects, of different faith, composed;
In Christ, divine instructor, those believ'd;
And these, in Macon, carnally deceiv'd:
In number, and in power, the last excel;
The former, only, in believing well.
But late, when he the imperial seat attain'd,
And scepter'd o'er the powers of Judah reign'd,
The Paynims lighten'd from the tax of state,
He whelms the Christians with the unequal weight.
Two different sects, of different faith, composed;
In Christ, divine instructor, those believ'd;
And these, in Macon, carnally deceiv'd:
In number, and in power, the last excel;
The former, only, in believing well.
But late, when he the imperial seat attain'd,
And scepter'd o'er the powers of Judah reign'd,
The Paynims lighten'd from the tax of state,
He whelms the Christians with the unequal weight.
Suspicious hence, he trembles in his turn,
Lest injury with due resentment burn.
Rous'd at the thought, his native wrath respires,
And wakes the fury of his slumbering fires;
The glut of future carnage feasts his soul,
And in his eye new scenes of slaughter roll.
Thus numb, and peaceful, lies some poisonous snake,
Chill'd in the dropping of a wintry brake;
Till, warm'd beneath the sun's returning ray,
He stirs, and curls, and kindles with the day;
Revived to ill, his burnish'd spires arise,
And venom lightens from his sanguine eyes.
Lest injury with due resentment burn.
Rous'd at the thought, his native wrath respires,
And wakes the fury of his slumbering fires;
The glut of future carnage feasts his soul,
And in his eye new scenes of slaughter roll.
Thus numb, and peaceful, lies some poisonous snake,
Chill'd in the dropping of a wintry brake;
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He stirs, and curls, and kindles with the day;
Revived to ill, his burnish'd spires arise,
And venom lightens from his sanguine eyes.
“Behold,” he said, “malicious in their joy,
“How the smile lurks, when Christians would destroy!
“In transport hush'd, they wait the coming foe,
“Their hearts exulting in the publick woe:
“Nor less such secret meditations mean,
“Than nightly treasons, and some murderous scene;
“Or thro' our gates yon hostile powers to guide,
“To us tho' hostile, yet to them allied.
“How the smile lurks, when Christians would destroy!
“In transport hush'd, they wait the coming foe,
“Their hearts exulting in the publick woe:
“Nor less such secret meditations mean,
“Than nightly treasons, and some murderous scene;
“Or thro' our gates yon hostile powers to guide,
“To us tho' hostile, yet to them allied.
“But prudence bids to disappoint the blow,
“And turn its force, retorted on the foe;
“The traitor's scheme shall on himself recoil,
“And take him, with his own invented toil.
“Stabb'd on the breast, let bleeding infants die;
“Each sex, and age, in mingling slaughter lie;
“While hoary on the shrine their priests expire,
“And every temple flames a funeral pyre!
“And turn its force, retorted on the foe;
“The traitor's scheme shall on himself recoil,
“And take him, with his own invented toil.
“Stabb'd on the breast, let bleeding infants die;
“Each sex, and age, in mingling slaughter lie;
174
“And every temple flames a funeral pyre!
So brew'd the murderous mischief in his mind,
Dubious to act, what deadly he designed;
The threatful storm, superior fears controul,
And do the work of mercy in his soul;
While the fell purpose thro' his bosom boils,
With rancour rises, and with dread recoils,
Lest to himself like fortune might betide,
Compell'd to crave that mercy he denied,
And all the war, with desperate vengeance sped,
Should pour its wrath on his devoted head.
Dubious to act, what deadly he designed;
The threatful storm, superior fears controul,
And do the work of mercy in his soul;
While the fell purpose thro' his bosom boils,
With rancour rises, and with dread recoils,
Lest to himself like fortune might betide,
Compell'd to crave that mercy he denied,
And all the war, with desperate vengeance sped,
Should pour its wrath on his devoted head.
The Tyrant hence, irresolute in rage,
Diverts the fury which he can't asswage;
Lays the wide suburbs level with the ground,
And further spreads consuming fires around;
Fell poison with the living fount he blends,
Where death amid the rolling streams descends;
Acts all a cruel prudence can suggest,
And feeds the fiend that ravens in his breast.
Diverts the fury which he can't asswage;
Lays the wide suburbs level with the ground,
And further spreads consuming fires around;
Fell poison with the living fount he blends,
Where death amid the rolling streams descends;
Acts all a cruel prudence can suggest,
And feeds the fiend that ravens in his breast.
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Defensive next, the city claims his cares;
The mound he deepens, and the breach repairs:
Three sides, impregnable, disdain'd the fray;
Sole, on the north, the doubt of battle lay:
But here, with utmost vigilance he plies;
The bars are doubled, and the ramparts rise;
And last, with native, and auxiliar powers,
He arms her wards, and fortifies her towers.
The mound he deepens, and the breach repairs:
Three sides, impregnable, disdain'd the fray;
Sole, on the north, the doubt of battle lay:
But here, with utmost vigilance he plies;
The bars are doubled, and the ramparts rise;
And last, with native, and auxiliar powers,
He arms her wards, and fortifies her towers.
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BOOK II.
The King, in each anticipating thought,
Thus foil'd his foes, and future combats fought;
When lo! Ismeno, horrid Seer, drew nigh,
A vicious counsellor, and dread ally;
Ismeno, deep in all the powers of hell,
The mystic philter, and infernal spell!—
The monumental corse Ismeno warm'd,
And the pale dead with mimic life inform'd;
Compell'd the fiends to issue to his aid,
And hell's dread king in his own realms obey'd.
A Christian once, he late transferr'd his vows,
And now to Macon, fitter master, bows;
Nor well the form of either system knew,
False to the first, nor to the latter true:
Still were the terms of sacred phrase retain'd,
Mix'd in his songs, and in his rites profaned;
With lore divine the abhorrent charm he yokes,
And Highest Heaven with deepest hell invokes.
Dire from his cave, where, impiously retired,
His arts he practised and his skill acquired,
He issued, grateful to a Tyrant's will;
And thus advised the minister of ill.
Thus foil'd his foes, and future combats fought;
When lo! Ismeno, horrid Seer, drew nigh,
A vicious counsellor, and dread ally;
Ismeno, deep in all the powers of hell,
The mystic philter, and infernal spell!—
The monumental corse Ismeno warm'd,
And the pale dead with mimic life inform'd;
Compell'd the fiends to issue to his aid,
And hell's dread king in his own realms obey'd.
A Christian once, he late transferr'd his vows,
And now to Macon, fitter master, bows;
Nor well the form of either system knew,
False to the first, nor to the latter true:
180
Mix'd in his songs, and in his rites profaned;
With lore divine the abhorrent charm he yokes,
And Highest Heaven with deepest hell invokes.
Dire from his cave, where, impiously retired,
His arts he practised and his skill acquired,
He issued, grateful to a Tyrant's will;
And thus advised the minister of ill.
“You see, O King, the fury of our foes,
“Flush'd with the past, for future conquest glows;
“But fury is by answering force controll'd,
“And heaven is prompt in favour to the bold.
“Thrice happy Judah, doubly arm'd in thee!
“Expert to act, as cautious to foresee,
“Who singly boast the twofold power to save,
“Mature for counsel, as for combat brave.
“Ah would your subjects catch the kindred fire,
“And bravely emulate as you inspire,
“Then Godfrey, soon entomb'd, might here obtain
“Unenvied tenure, and a still domain.
“For me, whate'er sage science may devise,
“Whate'er of trust in deepest magic lies,
“I bring, prepared, through each adventurous state,
“To ward your danger, or to share your fate;
“Bow'd to the lore of hecromantic laws,
“The host exiled from heaven shall aid your cause:
“Then list to what my first instructions move;
“And what I counsel, let my king approve.
“Flush'd with the past, for future conquest glows;
“But fury is by answering force controll'd,
“And heaven is prompt in favour to the bold.
“Thrice happy Judah, doubly arm'd in thee!
“Expert to act, as cautious to foresee,
“Who singly boast the twofold power to save,
“Mature for counsel, as for combat brave.
“Ah would your subjects catch the kindred fire,
“And bravely emulate as you inspire,
“Then Godfrey, soon entomb'd, might here obtain
“Unenvied tenure, and a still domain.
“For me, whate'er sage science may devise,
“Whate'er of trust in deepest magic lies,
“I bring, prepared, through each adventurous state,
“To ward your danger, or to share your fate;
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“The host exiled from heaven shall aid your cause:
“Then list to what my first instructions move;
“And what I counsel, let my king approve.
“Remote, and deep withdrawn from vulgar eyes,
“A shrine beneath the Christian temple lies,
“With shew of pompous consecration placed,
“And the bright Image of their Goddess graced:
“A mortal deity this Virgin bore,
“And her those sects idolatrous adore;
“His vows to her the travell'd pilgrim pays,
“The lights perpetual round her idol blaze;
“While veil'd, and passive, she attends the throng,
“Their various offering, and their saintly song.
“But thence, by your imperial hand convey'd,
“Transport the form of this Maternal Maid,
“And laid within our Prophet's sacred fane,
“Let ritual song and circling charms retain:
“For such the force of our mysterious art,
“And such the powers my wondrous spells impart,
“That while this new Palladium we possess,
“Your arms shall ever meet the wish'd success,
“These walls impregnable ensure your reign,
“And hostile fury storm around in vain.”
“A shrine beneath the Christian temple lies,
“With shew of pompous consecration placed,
“And the bright Image of their Goddess graced:
“A mortal deity this Virgin bore,
“And her those sects idolatrous adore;
“His vows to her the travell'd pilgrim pays,
“The lights perpetual round her idol blaze;
“While veil'd, and passive, she attends the throng,
“Their various offering, and their saintly song.
“But thence, by your imperial hand convey'd,
“Transport the form of this Maternal Maid,
“And laid within our Prophet's sacred fane,
“Let ritual song and circling charms retain:
“For such the force of our mysterious art,
“And such the powers my wondrous spells impart,
182
“Your arms shall ever meet the wish'd success,
“These walls impregnable ensure your reign,
“And hostile fury storm around in vain.”
He spoke; and prompt to ill the Tyrant rose:
Impatience through his kindling aspect glows;
Unhallow'd, to the latent shrine he flies,
And grasps, with arms impure, the Virgin Prize:
In vain the zealous ministry withstands,
Opprobrious, he insults their reverend bands;
Then bears his sacrilege to Macon's fane,
Where Heaven was ever deaf, and prayer prophane:
The Sorcerer with dread action stalks around,
And shocks with blasphemy the trembling ground.
Impatience through his kindling aspect glows;
Unhallow'd, to the latent shrine he flies,
And grasps, with arms impure, the Virgin Prize:
In vain the zealous ministry withstands,
Opprobrious, he insults their reverend bands;
Then bears his sacrilege to Macon's fane,
Where Heaven was ever deaf, and prayer prophane:
The Sorcerer with dread action stalks around,
And shocks with blasphemy the trembling ground.
And now succeeding morn, array'd in white,
Had silver'd Solyma with new-born light;
His charge in vain the anxious keeper sought,
As quickly vanish'd as prophanely brought:
All pale, the tidings to his prince he bears,
Who scarce the messenger in madness spares,
But o'er the Christians all his rage renews,
For malice ne'er wants colour to accuse.
Yet, whether mortal arm may boast the deed,
Or Heaven's high hand the captive Image freed,
Remote the Goddess from pollution bore,
And left the Tyrant blindly to explore—
The times declare not; but in silence chuse
To leave the deep decision to the muse,
Who would all praise in piety assign
As due to power superior and divine.
Had silver'd Solyma with new-born light;
His charge in vain the anxious keeper sought,
As quickly vanish'd as prophanely brought:
All pale, the tidings to his prince he bears,
Who scarce the messenger in madness spares,
But o'er the Christians all his rage renews,
For malice ne'er wants colour to accuse.
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Or Heaven's high hand the captive Image freed,
Remote the Goddess from pollution bore,
And left the Tyrant blindly to explore—
The times declare not; but in silence chuse
To leave the deep decision to the muse,
Who would all praise in piety assign
As due to power superior and divine.
Strict was the search the chasing monarch made,
And wide his ministers of wrath invade;
His threats, and vows, or menace, or invite,
Whom rack could terrify, or gold requite:
The wizard too his impious art applies,
And to his aid emerging demons rise:
Nor art, nor yet demoniac aid avails,
Nor deepest hell imparts what Heaven conceals.
But when, no more with baffled charms amused,
The King in wrath conceived his power abused,
His limbs all trembled, and his eyes shot flame,
And vengeful fury shook his labouring frame:
Rouz'd in the wrath of unforgiving age,
Against the faithful burn'd his endless rage;
“Perish!” he cried, “Destruction seize on all!
“So, with the race, the curs'd offender fall.
“Yes, e're the guilty 'scape the wrath decreed,
“Perish the just, and let the guiltless bleed!
“What said I, guiltless?—O ill-suited name!
“Alike all Christians all our vengeance claim;
“Foes to our Prophet, traitors to our state,
“They justly suffer by the laws they hate.
“Up, up, my subjects, with the sword and fire;
“Quick be their doom, and let their name expire!”
And wide his ministers of wrath invade;
His threats, and vows, or menace, or invite,
Whom rack could terrify, or gold requite:
The wizard too his impious art applies,
And to his aid emerging demons rise:
Nor art, nor yet demoniac aid avails,
Nor deepest hell imparts what Heaven conceals.
But when, no more with baffled charms amused,
The King in wrath conceived his power abused,
His limbs all trembled, and his eyes shot flame,
And vengeful fury shook his labouring frame:
Rouz'd in the wrath of unforgiving age,
Against the faithful burn'd his endless rage;
“Perish!” he cried, “Destruction seize on all!
“So, with the race, the curs'd offender fall.
184
“Perish the just, and let the guiltless bleed!
“What said I, guiltless?—O ill-suited name!
“Alike all Christians all our vengeance claim;
“Foes to our Prophet, traitors to our state,
“They justly suffer by the laws they hate.
“Up, up, my subjects, with the sword and fire;
“Quick be their doom, and let their name expire!”
So spoke the Tyrant; Fame received the sound,
And cloath'd in terror, pours the news around:
The blood from every Christian cheek she drains,
Strikes to their hearts, and shudders in their veins:
No force of prayer, no bold defence they try,
Fear froze their limbs, nor left the power to fly;
While o'er their souls impending horrors wait,
And half anticipate the stroke of fate:
But succour, least foreseen, deceived the grave;
For Heaven is prompt, as potent still to save.
And cloath'd in terror, pours the news around:
The blood from every Christian cheek she drains,
Strikes to their hearts, and shudders in their veins:
No force of prayer, no bold defence they try,
Fear froze their limbs, nor left the power to fly;
While o'er their souls impending horrors wait,
And half anticipate the stroke of fate:
But succour, least foreseen, deceived the grave;
For Heaven is prompt, as potent still to save.
Then dwelt in Solyma a blooming Maid,
With inward Truth, as outward charms array'd
Heroic sentiment her bosom warm'd,
And her bright limbs the Infant Graces form'd;
Yet with unconscious, or regardless eyes,
She saw no charm, or seen, refused to prize;
Within herself her treasured sweetness closed,
And private in domestic peace reposed.
But merit vainly from esteem retires;
The world pursues, discloses, and admires:
In vain from Love the bashful Charmer flies,
A bashful Youth perceives, pursues, and dies;
To him, intruding Love the maid reveal'd,
And kill'd with graces from herself conceal'd.
Love through the shade of deepest covert spies,
A blindfold Argus with a thousand eyes;
A various influence his powers impart,
And warm the chaste, and cool the wanton heart.
With inward Truth, as outward charms array'd
Heroic sentiment her bosom warm'd,
And her bright limbs the Infant Graces form'd;
185
She saw no charm, or seen, refused to prize;
Within herself her treasured sweetness closed,
And private in domestic peace reposed.
But merit vainly from esteem retires;
The world pursues, discloses, and admires:
In vain from Love the bashful Charmer flies,
A bashful Youth perceives, pursues, and dies;
To him, intruding Love the maid reveal'd,
And kill'd with graces from herself conceal'd.
Love through the shade of deepest covert spies,
A blindfold Argus with a thousand eyes;
A various influence his powers impart,
And warm the chaste, and cool the wanton heart.
Sophronia she, whose charms his love inspired;
Olindo he, whose love those charms admired;
In every grace, to every virtue train'd,
One faith instructed, and one town contain'd.
Yet he, nor hopes, nor ventures to complain,
Hush'd as the eternal calm beneath the main;
With awful glance at distance eyes the Fair,
Breathes but to sigh, and loves but to despair;
A prey to silent anguish, mourns alone,
Unseen, unmark'd, unpitied, and unknown.
Olindo he, whose love those charms admired;
In every grace, to every virtue train'd,
One faith instructed, and one town contain'd.
Yet he, nor hopes, nor ventures to complain,
Hush'd as the eternal calm beneath the main;
With awful glance at distance eyes the Fair,
Breathes but to sigh, and loves but to despair;
A prey to silent anguish, mourns alone,
Unseen, unmark'd, unpitied, and unknown.
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The dire decree arrests Sophronia's ear,
Nor taught the Christian for herself to fear;
To nobler views her ample soul makes room,
With her own death to ward the publick doom;
The generous Maid would greatly bleed for all,
And one a sacrifice for thousands fall.
Strong zeal inspired, and native courage taught,
But female decency reproves the thought;
Nor so prevail'd, for resolutely shamed,
The bolder blush through bashfulness enflamed.
On through the gazing croud she past alone,
And like a star new risen the Virgin shone;
A veil thrown o'er her charms with thin disguise,
But half eclips'd the danger of her eyes;
Adorn'd, with easy negligence she moves,
And every eye engages, and reproves;
For mildness brightening through majestic grace,
Spoke in her mein, and lighten'd in her face.
Nor taught the Christian for herself to fear;
To nobler views her ample soul makes room,
With her own death to ward the publick doom;
The generous Maid would greatly bleed for all,
And one a sacrifice for thousands fall.
Strong zeal inspired, and native courage taught,
But female decency reproves the thought;
Nor so prevail'd, for resolutely shamed,
The bolder blush through bashfulness enflamed.
On through the gazing croud she past alone,
And like a star new risen the Virgin shone;
A veil thrown o'er her charms with thin disguise,
But half eclips'd the danger of her eyes;
Adorn'd, with easy negligence she moves,
And every eye engages, and reproves;
For mildness brightening through majestic grace,
Spoke in her mein, and lighten'd in her face.
Thus gazed by all, on past the lovely dame,
And fearless to the royal presence came;
Dire was the form the Tyrant's visage wore,
Which she in innocence, regardless, bore.
“O turn,” she cried, “the terrors of thy ire,
“Nor thou, O King, against thyself conspire;
“Taint not the guardian glories of thy reign,
“With bleeding innocents, and subjects slain:
“'Tis mine to give the traitor to thy view,
“To point thy wrath, and point the vengeance due.”
And fearless to the royal presence came;
Dire was the form the Tyrant's visage wore,
Which she in innocence, regardless, bore.
“O turn,” she cried, “the terrors of thy ire,
“Nor thou, O King, against thyself conspire;
187
“With bleeding innocents, and subjects slain:
“'Tis mine to give the traitor to thy view,
“To point thy wrath, and point the vengeance due.”
That decent confidence, and awful grace,
Mix'd with the glories of that loveliest face,
Surprized the Monarch; half abash'd he stands,
And feels, that beauty, more than kings, commands:
Low sunk before the Fair all forms of pride,
And bend for mercy to the suppliant side,
For mutual grace unbind the sovereign brow,
Wishful to find, and willing to allow;
But the fond hope no answering smiles impart,
And wayward beauty damps the kindling heart.
Not love, but sullen pleasure seiz'd his sense,
A short amazement, and a still suspense:
“At your request,” the Monarch mild replies,
“Fate is no more, and scarce the guilty dies.”
Then she—“Behold the criminal attends!
“This hand perform'd, what still my heart commends;
“From strange pollution bore our Sacred Dame,
“And I alone your dreaded vengeance claim.”
Mix'd with the glories of that loveliest face,
Surprized the Monarch; half abash'd he stands,
And feels, that beauty, more than kings, commands:
Low sunk before the Fair all forms of pride,
And bend for mercy to the suppliant side,
For mutual grace unbind the sovereign brow,
Wishful to find, and willing to allow;
But the fond hope no answering smiles impart,
And wayward beauty damps the kindling heart.
Not love, but sullen pleasure seiz'd his sense,
A short amazement, and a still suspense:
“At your request,” the Monarch mild replies,
“Fate is no more, and scarce the guilty dies.”
Then she—“Behold the criminal attends!
“This hand perform'd, what still my heart commends;
“From strange pollution bore our Sacred Dame,
“And I alone your dreaded vengeance claim.”
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Thus, arm'd for pain, unterrified by death,
Thus the sweet Innocence resigns her breath;
Her life a ransom for her country yields,
And a whole state with wide protection shields.
Thus the sweet Innocence resigns her breath;
Her life a ransom for her country yields,
And a whole state with wide protection shields.
Surprized he paused, yet seeming to require
A form less fair, and apter to his ire:
“Say, who conspired, who prompted to the deed?
“Nor give a breast so soft as thine to bleed.”
“All rivals,” she return'd, “my works disclaim,
“Nor brook a partner in the deeds of fame:
“My courage prompted what my thoughts conspired;
“Alone I counsell'd, and alone acquired.”
“On thee alone,” the Tyrant then replied,
“Be the full weight of my resentment tried!”
“'Tis just, 'tis just,” she cried, “nor I repine;
“Mine be the penalty, the glory mine!”
A form less fair, and apter to his ire:
“Say, who conspired, who prompted to the deed?
“Nor give a breast so soft as thine to bleed.”
“All rivals,” she return'd, “my works disclaim,
“Nor brook a partner in the deeds of fame:
“My courage prompted what my thoughts conspired;
“Alone I counsell'd, and alone acquired.”
“On thee alone,” the Tyrant then replied,
“Be the full weight of my resentment tried!”
“'Tis just, 'tis just,” she cried, “nor I repine;
“Mine be the penalty, the glory mine!”
New choler now his gathering visage swells,
And all the tyrant in his heart rebels:
“How, where, hast thou presumed thy theft to hide?
“Say, quick, nor further urge thy fate!” he cried.
“Not rescued,” bold she said, “to be betray'd,
“Is the blest shape of that Celestial Maid.
“Vain you require what, now consumed with flame,
“Nor infidels can touch, nor kings reclaim.
“What would you more? your former captive freed,
“You hold the criminal who boasts the deed.
“But why the criminal to me transferr'd?
“Must subjects bleed, when kings alone have err'd?
“What you unjustly seiz'd, I justly gain'd;
“And guiltless, purified what you profaned.”
And all the tyrant in his heart rebels:
“How, where, hast thou presumed thy theft to hide?
“Say, quick, nor further urge thy fate!” he cried.
189
“Is the blest shape of that Celestial Maid.
“Vain you require what, now consumed with flame,
“Nor infidels can touch, nor kings reclaim.
“What would you more? your former captive freed,
“You hold the criminal who boasts the deed.
“But why the criminal to me transferr'd?
“Must subjects bleed, when kings alone have err'd?
“What you unjustly seiz'd, I justly gain'd;
“And guiltless, purified what you profaned.”
She spoke; and, from within, the labouring storm
Rose in his voice, and spread o'er all his form:
The dire distemper of the Tyrant's soul,
No mercy mitigates, no bounds controul;
In vain officious Love his Favourite arms,
And lends an unavailing shield of charms.
Rose in his voice, and spread o'er all his form:
The dire distemper of the Tyrant's soul,
No mercy mitigates, no bounds controul;
In vain officious Love his Favourite arms,
And lends an unavailing shield of charms.
By doom severe, he judg'd the fearless dame
With beauty's gifts to feed devouring flame:
Officious villains on his wrath attend;
Her veil and floating robe they rudely rend;
Strict round her arms the livid cordage wind,
And to the stake the lamb-like victim bind;
While meek, and silent, she attends her fate,
In pain unalter'd, and in death sedate,
Save that the rose its wonted mansion fled,
And like the lilly droop'd her beauteous head.
With beauty's gifts to feed devouring flame:
Officious villains on his wrath attend;
Her veil and floating robe they rudely rend;
190
And to the stake the lamb-like victim bind;
While meek, and silent, she attends her fate,
In pain unalter'd, and in death sedate,
Save that the rose its wonted mansion fled,
And like the lilly droop'd her beauteous head.
The busy rumour spread with murmuring sound;
The vulgar ran, and clustering pour'd around.
Olindo too in trembling haste drew near,
With love prophetic, and all pale with fear.
But when, by soul distracting woe opprest,
The dreaded truth his hapless eyes confest,
His love condemn'd, in cruel fetters bound,
And the dire ministers of death around;
The Youth all frantic through the tumult broke,
And thus the King in rage and haste bespoke:
“Not so, not so, my lord, this vaunting dame
“Shall arrogate, what only I can claim:
“She did not, would not, could not singly dare
“A work so weighty, and a deed so rare;
“The guard with unexperienc'd craft deceive,
“And from her seat the massy substance heave:
“This arm atchieved what she assumes in vain.”
(Ah thus he loved, though hopeless to obtain!)
He added,—“Favour'd by the friendly night,
“Where your proud fane admits the eastern light,
“I scaled the steep, and gain'd the dangerous pass,
“And through the postern bore the sacred mass:
“Nor shall she thus usurp a foreign spoil,
“With hazard enterprized, and earn'd with toil;
“Mine are these welcome tortures, chains, and flame,
“The trophied monument, and deathless name.”
The vulgar ran, and clustering pour'd around.
Olindo too in trembling haste drew near,
With love prophetic, and all pale with fear.
But when, by soul distracting woe opprest,
The dreaded truth his hapless eyes confest,
His love condemn'd, in cruel fetters bound,
And the dire ministers of death around;
The Youth all frantic through the tumult broke,
And thus the King in rage and haste bespoke:
“Not so, not so, my lord, this vaunting dame
“Shall arrogate, what only I can claim:
“She did not, would not, could not singly dare
“A work so weighty, and a deed so rare;
“The guard with unexperienc'd craft deceive,
“And from her seat the massy substance heave:
“This arm atchieved what she assumes in vain.”
(Ah thus he loved, though hopeless to obtain!)
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“Where your proud fane admits the eastern light,
“I scaled the steep, and gain'd the dangerous pass,
“And through the postern bore the sacred mass:
“Nor shall she thus usurp a foreign spoil,
“With hazard enterprized, and earn'd with toil;
“Mine are these welcome tortures, chains, and flame,
“The trophied monument, and deathless name.”
Her eyes from earth the grateful Charmer rais'd,
And gently chiding, on her Lover gazed:
“Say whence the frenzy that infects thy mind,
“And why, ah why, to me severely kind?
“Sufficient to my fate, howe'er I seem,
“Thy life would but more cruelly redeem:
“I want not such society in pain;
“Whate'er he dares inflict, I dare sustain.”
And gently chiding, on her Lover gazed:
“Say whence the frenzy that infects thy mind,
“And why, ah why, to me severely kind?
“Sufficient to my fate, howe'er I seem,
“Thy life would but more cruelly redeem:
“I want not such society in pain;
“Whate'er he dares inflict, I dare sustain.”
The Maid, in vain, the enamour'd Youth addrest,
Nor shook the steady purpose of his breast:
His fate, in vain, the stedfast Youth demands;
The Maid, as stedfast, and as kind, withstands.
O wondrous pair!—Unpleasing, pleasing sight!
Where love, and virtue, amicably fight;
Where death alone is to the victor dear,
And safety's all the vanquish'd wretch can fear.
Nor shook the steady purpose of his breast:
His fate, in vain, the stedfast Youth demands;
The Maid, as stedfast, and as kind, withstands.
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Where love, and virtue, amicably fight;
Where death alone is to the victor dear,
And safety's all the vanquish'd wretch can fear.
But now his wrath the King no longer rein'd,
Who vengeful judged his regal power disdain'd:
“Cease, cease!” with cruel irony he cries;
“You both have won, and shall obtain the prize.”
Quick, at his beck, the guards, who waited round,
With chains, the brave, the blooming stripling bound;
Then back to back the Lovely Pair they tied,
And whom they join in death, in death divide.
Who vengeful judged his regal power disdain'd:
“Cease, cease!” with cruel irony he cries;
“You both have won, and shall obtain the prize.”
Quick, at his beck, the guards, who waited round,
With chains, the brave, the blooming stripling bound;
Then back to back the Lovely Pair they tied,
And whom they join in death, in death divide.
And now, applied to the surrounding pyre,
Contagious breath provokes the lingering fire.
A mournful pause the plaintive lover broke,
And to his loved, his patient partner, spoke:
“Are then my vows, my tedious sufferings crown'd,
“With thee in such eternal spousals bound?
“Far other ties my flattering fancy framed,
“Far other fire my faithful breast inflamed!
“Nor these the ties that bind connubial hearts;
“Nor these the fires the bridal lamp imparts!
Contagious breath provokes the lingering fire.
A mournful pause the plaintive lover broke,
And to his loved, his patient partner, spoke:
“Are then my vows, my tedious sufferings crown'd,
“With thee in such eternal spousals bound?
“Far other ties my flattering fancy framed,
“Far other fire my faithful breast inflamed!
“Nor these the ties that bind connubial hearts;
“Nor these the fires the bridal lamp imparts!
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“Sad is the scene our nuptial pomp displays,
“And long I earn'd what fate severely pays,
“While life still sunder'd whom the grave unites,
“And death my fond unfailing faith requites.
“But yet, with thee, even agony finds ease;
“Death knows to charm, and pain can learn to please:
“Thy fate alone can teach me to repine,
“And all the pangs you feel are doubly mine.
“Ah! could I but obtain, that, breast to breast,
“Of thee in this my latest hour possest,
“I might but catch thee with my closing eye,
“And my last breath within thy bosom sigh—
“That were a bliss, beyond what life could give;
“It were indeed too much to feel, and live!”
“And long I earn'd what fate severely pays,
“While life still sunder'd whom the grave unites,
“And death my fond unfailing faith requites.
“But yet, with thee, even agony finds ease;
“Death knows to charm, and pain can learn to please:
“Thy fate alone can teach me to repine,
“And all the pangs you feel are doubly mine.
“Ah! could I but obtain, that, breast to breast,
“Of thee in this my latest hour possest,
“I might but catch thee with my closing eye,
“And my last breath within thy bosom sigh—
“That were a bliss, beyond what life could give;
“It were indeed too much to feel, and live!”
Thus he, with various agitation moved;
And thus the Maid with gentle speech reproved.
And thus the Maid with gentle speech reproved.
“Not these the griefs, the cares, you should attend;
“Far other griefs, far other cares, impend—
“The dreadful summons of offended Power,
“The doubtful sentence, and the mortal hour!
“The lapse of frailty, and the kindling flame,
“Alike thy penitence and transport claim;
“The martyr, with peculiar splendours bright,
“Selected sits above the sons of light!
“View yon fair azure with desiring eye,
“Nor fear to tread the glories of the sky:
“But O—beyond, beyond,—what scenes invite!
“O'er Heaven, another Heaven, still opening to our sight!”
“Far other griefs, far other cares, impend—
“The dreadful summons of offended Power,
“The doubtful sentence, and the mortal hour!
“The lapse of frailty, and the kindling flame,
“Alike thy penitence and transport claim;
194
“Selected sits above the sons of light!
“View yon fair azure with desiring eye,
“Nor fear to tread the glories of the sky:
“But O—beyond, beyond,—what scenes invite!
“O'er Heaven, another Heaven, still opening to our sight!”
Soft sorrows seiz'd the pale deploring crowd:
The Pagans wept their pitying griefs aloud;
But not the Christians the still tempest show,
They drink their tears, and choak the swelling woe.
The King, who felt unwonted pity rise,
Melt in his soul, and moisten in his eyes,
Retired, the soft emotion to controul,
And fix the flinty temper of his soul.
But you, bright Maid, transcendent greatness proved,
By weeping floods and circling flames unmoved;
Inspired an anguish you refused to own,
In grief superior, and in crowds alone!
The Pagans wept their pitying griefs aloud;
But not the Christians the still tempest show,
They drink their tears, and choak the swelling woe.
The King, who felt unwonted pity rise,
Melt in his soul, and moisten in his eyes,
Retired, the soft emotion to controul,
And fix the flinty temper of his soul.
But you, bright Maid, transcendent greatness proved,
By weeping floods and circling flames unmoved;
Inspired an anguish you refused to own,
In grief superior, and in crowds alone!
Thus hope was far from every weeping eye,
And death amid involving fires drew nigh;
When, mounted like some favourite son of fame,
A Stranger to the mourning concourse came:
In foreign semblance, and unwonted mode,
Proud thro' the parting throng the hero rode;
Clorinda's corselet graced the warrior's breast,
And the famed tygress raven'd on her crest;
The admiring crouds her awful signal own,
To routed hosts and trembling nations known.
And death amid involving fires drew nigh;
When, mounted like some favourite son of fame,
A Stranger to the mourning concourse came:
195
Proud thro' the parting throng the hero rode;
Clorinda's corselet graced the warrior's breast,
And the famed tygress raven'd on her crest;
The admiring crouds her awful signal own,
To routed hosts and trembling nations known.
With nobler gifts of native worth adorn'd,
The heroic Maid her sex's softness scorn'd;
Scorn'd each important toil of female hearts,
The tricking ornament, and needled arts,
The silken indolence, the soft fatigue,
The chamber'd spleen, and closeted intrigue:
Nor envious breath her virgin honour stain'd,
Through wander'd climes and foughten fields retain'd;
While o'er the beauties of her loveliest face,
Delight sat fierce, and smiled with dreaded grace.
The heroic Maid her sex's softness scorn'd;
Scorn'd each important toil of female hearts,
The tricking ornament, and needled arts,
The silken indolence, the soft fatigue,
The chamber'd spleen, and closeted intrigue:
Nor envious breath her virgin honour stain'd,
Through wander'd climes and foughten fields retain'd;
While o'er the beauties of her loveliest face,
Delight sat fierce, and smiled with dreaded grace.
With early thirst of each adventurous deed,
She steer'd the manage of the bounding steed;
With infant arm would launch the whistling spear,
Whirl the rough disk, and wield the sword in air;
And foil'd each rival with contending grace,
Strain'd in the grasp, or distanced in the race.
Now from the hills the shaggy spoils she tore,
The brinded lion, and the tusky boar;
And last whole hosts beneath her prowess yield,
She riots like a tygress o'er the field.
From Persia late the fair destroyer came,
And bore deep hatred to the Christian name;
Oft had she bathed the mountains with their blood,
And with their bodies choak'd the purpling flood:
At Salem just arrived, her wandering view,
Aspiring flames and murmuring tumults drew.
When curious to enquire she turn'd with speed,
And o'er the pavement urg'd her flying steed.
She steer'd the manage of the bounding steed;
With infant arm would launch the whistling spear,
Whirl the rough disk, and wield the sword in air;
And foil'd each rival with contending grace,
Strain'd in the grasp, or distanced in the race.
196
The brinded lion, and the tusky boar;
And last whole hosts beneath her prowess yield,
She riots like a tygress o'er the field.
From Persia late the fair destroyer came,
And bore deep hatred to the Christian name;
Oft had she bathed the mountains with their blood,
And with their bodies choak'd the purpling flood:
At Salem just arrived, her wandering view,
Aspiring flames and murmuring tumults drew.
When curious to enquire she turn'd with speed,
And o'er the pavement urg'd her flying steed.
The crowd gave way; the Amazonian Fair
With strict regard beheld the captive pair—
The Virgin silent, while the Youth repined;
The stronger plaintive, and the weak resigned;
But plaintive he, as in her sufferings pain'd,
No pangs but for the dearer Maid sustain'd;
She silent, as her speech were in her eyes,
To hold superior converse with the skies,
As though her soul had took a previous flight,
The mortal sufferings passed, and Heaven in sight.
With strict regard beheld the captive pair—
The Virgin silent, while the Youth repined;
The stronger plaintive, and the weak resigned;
But plaintive he, as in her sufferings pain'd,
No pangs but for the dearer Maid sustain'd;
She silent, as her speech were in her eyes,
To hold superior converse with the skies,
As though her soul had took a previous flight,
The mortal sufferings passed, and Heaven in sight.
Clorinda's breast divine compassion fill'd,
Her silver lids the pitying drops distill'd;
But chief she mourn'd, and chief admired the Maid,
Placid in pain, nor even in death dismay'd;
Then fervent thus a neighbouring Sage addrest:
“Ah! whence this lovely pair, and why distrest?
“Such death, where such apparent virtues shine,
“What crime can merit, or what heart design?”
Her silver lids the pitying drops distill'd;
197
Placid in pain, nor even in death dismay'd;
Then fervent thus a neighbouring Sage addrest:
“Ah! whence this lovely pair, and why distrest?
“Such death, where such apparent virtues shine,
“What crime can merit, or what heart design?”
She spoke; the man of courtesy explain'd
Whate'er of note the mournful tale contain'd:
Her soul, with kindred dignity inspired,
Their guilt acquitted, and their worth admired;
And soon her enterprising thoughts presume
By suit, or battle, to reverse their doom:
Quick from the stake the approaching sire she drew,
And thus spoke terror to the listening crew:
“Let none, with cruel or adventurous hand,
“Officious dare to act what I withstand,
“Till from the court returning orders bring
“Freedom, or fate, determin'd by your King:
“Nor fear in this to rouse the monarch's rage;
“My will's your warrant, and my word your gage.”
So saying, to their souls she look'd dismay,
As only born for others to obey;
Then swift to court the lovely suitor ran,
But obvious met the King, and brief began.
Whate'er of note the mournful tale contain'd:
Her soul, with kindred dignity inspired,
Their guilt acquitted, and their worth admired;
And soon her enterprising thoughts presume
By suit, or battle, to reverse their doom:
Quick from the stake the approaching sire she drew,
And thus spoke terror to the listening crew:
“Let none, with cruel or adventurous hand,
“Officious dare to act what I withstand,
“Till from the court returning orders bring
“Freedom, or fate, determin'd by your King:
“Nor fear in this to rouse the monarch's rage;
“My will's your warrant, and my word your gage.”
So saying, to their souls she look'd dismay,
As only born for others to obey;
198
But obvious met the King, and brief began.
“E're this, O King, Clorinda's distant fame
“Has haply taught your ear a stranger's name,
“Who comes, you'll say presumptuous, thus alone,
“To guard our faith, and vindicate your throne.
“Whate'er of war the various terms comprize,
“Within my sphere of copious battle lies;
“Nor aught above me, nor beneath I know,
“From the proud bulwark to repel the foe,
“To form the phalanx, or to lead the field,
“Or hand to hand the deadly weapon wield.”
“Has haply taught your ear a stranger's name,
“Who comes, you'll say presumptuous, thus alone,
“To guard our faith, and vindicate your throne.
“Whate'er of war the various terms comprize,
“Within my sphere of copious battle lies;
“Nor aught above me, nor beneath I know,
“From the proud bulwark to repel the foe,
“To form the phalanx, or to lead the field,
“Or hand to hand the deadly weapon wield.”
She ceas'd; and thus the King—“O glorious Maid!
“Arm of the host you condescend to aid,
“From pole to pole thy honour'd name is known,
“Thy fame unbounded by the distant Lone:
“Not all this warlike confidence of towers,
“The force of native and auxiliar powers,
“Such trust defensive of our throne provide,
“As that right hand, that weapon at thy side.
“Come Godfrey, come, with laurels on thy brow,
“Thy march too swift, so late, is tedious now;
“Nor less than his Clorinda's glories claim,
“Thy word as absolute, as great thy fame!
“Thine be the sphere of arbitrary sway,
“The secret council, and the bold array;
“Beneath thy scepter'd hand my powers I yield,
“First in the throne, as foremost in the field!
“Arm of the host you condescend to aid,
“From pole to pole thy honour'd name is known,
“Thy fame unbounded by the distant Lone:
“Not all this warlike confidence of towers,
“The force of native and auxiliar powers,
“Such trust defensive of our throne provide,
“As that right hand, that weapon at thy side.
“Come Godfrey, come, with laurels on thy brow,
“Thy march too swift, so late, is tedious now;
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“Thy word as absolute, as great thy fame!
“Thine be the sphere of arbitrary sway,
“The secret council, and the bold array;
“Beneath thy scepter'd hand my powers I yield,
“First in the throne, as foremost in the field!
He spoke; with easy grace the Virgin bow'd,
And suppliant thus her generous plea avow'd:
“Though Aladine may deem the matter new,
“Where gifts precede, and services ensue,
“So highly your munificencee I hold,
“Your bounty bids the diffident be bold.
“Then for the aid I bring, the life would spend,
“For all I shall perform, or may intend,
“To my request those wretched captives give,
“And grant the lovely criminals may live.
“Their sentence merely on suspicion built,
“Much might be urg'd abating of their guilt;
“But every plea of innocence I wave,
“And sole, in lieu of future service, crave.
“Yet, mighty King, permit me to disclaim
“The guilt imputed to the Christian name;
“Nor should I from receiv'd opinion lead,
“Were reason not resistless to persuade;
“For ill the wizard's pedant arts retain
“That sanctitude which Macon's laws ordain,
“Whose tenets, all replete with lore divine,
“Prohibit idols from his hallow'd shrine.
“To him miraculous ascribe the deed,
“His fane from guilt from profanation freed;
“Nor thou repine, when guardian powers reject
“What rites might innovate, or arts infect.
“Let Ismen exercise, remote from arms,
“His maze of tricks, and unavailing charms;
“But the keen use of more decisive powers,
“The magic of the circling blade be ours!”
And suppliant thus her generous plea avow'd:
“Though Aladine may deem the matter new,
“Where gifts precede, and services ensue,
“So highly your munificencee I hold,
“Your bounty bids the diffident be bold.
“Then for the aid I bring, the life would spend,
“For all I shall perform, or may intend,
“To my request those wretched captives give,
“And grant the lovely criminals may live.
“Their sentence merely on suspicion built,
“Much might be urg'd abating of their guilt;
“But every plea of innocence I wave,
“And sole, in lieu of future service, crave.
“Yet, mighty King, permit me to disclaim
“The guilt imputed to the Christian name;
“Nor should I from receiv'd opinion lead,
“Were reason not resistless to persuade;
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“That sanctitude which Macon's laws ordain,
“Whose tenets, all replete with lore divine,
“Prohibit idols from his hallow'd shrine.
“To him miraculous ascribe the deed,
“His fane from guilt from profanation freed;
“Nor thou repine, when guardian powers reject
“What rites might innovate, or arts infect.
“Let Ismen exercise, remote from arms,
“His maze of tricks, and unavailing charms;
“But the keen use of more decisive powers,
“The magic of the circling blade be ours!”
She said; and tho' the Monarch's stubborn breast
Was proof to aught soft pity could suggest,
Yet high observance of the gallant Maid,
Her honour'd presence, and her promised aid,
Prevail'd: “All pleading,” he return'd, “is vain;
“Clorinda ne'er can ask, but to obtain:
“Nor I their innocence or guilt debate;
“Be you alike sole mistress of their fate!”
Was proof to aught soft pity could suggest,
Yet high observance of the gallant Maid,
Her honour'd presence, and her promised aid,
Prevail'd: “All pleading,” he return'd, “is vain;
“Clorinda ne'er can ask, but to obtain:
“Nor I their innocence or guilt debate;
“Be you alike sole mistress of their fate!”
Thus were they freed. Olindo, happiest youth!
Great is the recompence that waits thy truth;
Pure was thy constant flame, severe the test,
And Heaven with equal retribution blest.
Now beyond hope exulting, from despair
He past associate with the yielding Fair:
To death he loved her; and the grateful Maid,
With a long life of mutual love repaid.
Great is the recompence that waits thy truth;
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And Heaven with equal retribution blest.
Now beyond hope exulting, from despair
He past associate with the yielding Fair:
To death he loved her; and the grateful Maid,
With a long life of mutual love repaid.
But, ever to a tyrant's soul ingrate,
He held such virtue dangerous in the state;
And distant far the bridal exiles sent,
Rich in their love, and each in each content.
With these he banishes the brave, and young,
And every Christian arm with vigour strung;
In hostage then the softer sex retains,
The tender infant binds in needless chains,
Whose helpless cries the wonted names require,
The endearing husband, and protecting sire.
He held such virtue dangerous in the state;
And distant far the bridal exiles sent,
Rich in their love, and each in each content.
With these he banishes the brave, and young,
And every Christian arm with vigour strung;
In hostage then the softer sex retains,
The tender infant binds in needless chains,
Whose helpless cries the wonted names require,
The endearing husband, and protecting sire.
Some through the devious wild, or mountain shade,
Where chance, or sadness tempted, pensive stray'd;
While some, with glory and resentment fired,
To heights of more determin'd worth aspired,
Bold to Emmaus bend their warlike course,
And with new arms augment the Christian force;
For to Emmaus now approach'd their powers,
Emmaus, west from Salem's regal towers.
Who treads the fresh of April's early dew,
(A thousand scenes of rural scope in view)
At leisure may the mediate space beguile,
By the third hour, the third of Hebrew style.
While distant yet, the town and neighbouring coast,
With the first ken, salute the Christian host,
“Emmaus!” loud, triumphing legions cry,
And catch the place with long desiring eye.
Where chance, or sadness tempted, pensive stray'd;
While some, with glory and resentment fired,
To heights of more determin'd worth aspired,
Bold to Emmaus bend their warlike course,
And with new arms augment the Christian force;
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Emmaus, west from Salem's regal towers.
Who treads the fresh of April's early dew,
(A thousand scenes of rural scope in view)
At leisure may the mediate space beguile,
By the third hour, the third of Hebrew style.
While distant yet, the town and neighbouring coast,
With the first ken, salute the Christian host,
“Emmaus!” loud, triumphing legions cry,
And catch the place with long desiring eye.
And now, down heaven, the swift careering sun
His evening course of steep direction run;
At Godfrey's word the travell'd armies stand,
And canvas cities rise to his command,
Whose tented canopy, and flaxen shed,
O'er many a field with ready structure spread.
His evening course of steep direction run;
At Godfrey's word the travell'd armies stand,
And canvas cities rise to his command,
Whose tented canopy, and flaxen shed,
O'er many a field with ready structure spread.
Nor yet heaven's lamp forsook the etherial plain,
But hover'd verging on the western main,
When lo! two peers, attractive of the eye,
In mode of foreign ornament drew nigh:
Peace in their hands and open brow they bear,
Complacence in their gentle mien and air;
While gorgeous equipage attendant wait
Their embassy from Egypt's scepter'd state.
But hover'd verging on the western main,
When lo! two peers, attractive of the eye,
In mode of foreign ornament drew nigh:
Peace in their hands and open brow they bear,
Complacence in their gentle mien and air;
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Their embassy from Egypt's scepter'd state.
The first Aletes, vers'd in every vice;
Base was his birth, conspicuous was his rise:
O'er Nile his proud vicegerence widely spread,
And stored with wiles was his sagacious head;
Soft on his lips persuasive fiction hung,
Guile fill'd his heart, and eloquence his tongue;
His manners easy, though his genius shrewd,
Fair to engage, and subtle to delude;
Smooth to persuade with false illusive phrase,
To vindicate with blame, or kill with praise.
Base was his birth, conspicuous was his rise:
O'er Nile his proud vicegerence widely spread,
And stored with wiles was his sagacious head;
Soft on his lips persuasive fiction hung,
Guile fill'd his heart, and eloquence his tongue;
His manners easy, though his genius shrewd,
Fair to engage, and subtle to delude;
Smooth to persuade with false illusive phrase,
To vindicate with blame, or kill with praise.
With him Argantes, huge Circassian, came,
A stranger late, but quickly known to fame;
Through Egypt, prime in arms, the warrior shone,
And now a Satrap graced the Memphian throne.
Furious the bent of his unconquer'd soul,
Nor knew his heart or pity or controul;
Slave to his will, his will by passion sway'd,
Proud, restless, fierce, untired, and undismay'd,
Nor earth he thought his match in arms could yield,
As yet unrival'd through the sanguine field!
His impious arm the only God adored,
His reason perch'd upon his conquering sword.
A stranger late, but quickly known to fame;
Through Egypt, prime in arms, the warrior shone,
And now a Satrap graced the Memphian throne.
Furious the bent of his unconquer'd soul,
Nor knew his heart or pity or controul;
Slave to his will, his will by passion sway'd,
Proud, restless, fierce, untired, and undismay'd,
Nor earth he thought his match in arms could yield,
As yet unrival'd through the sanguine field!
His impious arm the only God adored,
His reason perch'd upon his conquering sword.
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Admittance to the General's ear they sue,
And introduced the royal Godfrey view.
Low on a couch, in unaffected state,
Amid surrounding chiefs the Hero sate:
Plain was his vestment, negligence with grace,
And awe with meekness lived within his face;
As Godfrey only could his state adorn,
Too great to value, though too meek to scorn,
And introduced the royal Godfrey view.
Low on a couch, in unaffected state,
Amid surrounding chiefs the Hero sate:
Plain was his vestment, negligence with grace,
And awe with meekness lived within his face;
As Godfrey only could his state adorn,
Too great to value, though too meek to scorn,
Argantes entering, scarce his head inclin'd;
Haughty his mien, expressive of his mind:
As from due rite he purposely abstain'd,
For conscious merits in himself retain'd.
Haughty his mien, expressive of his mind:
As from due rite he purposely abstain'd,
For conscious merits in himself retain'd.
Not so Aletes; struck with decent awe,
Entering he seem'd half wishing to withdraw;
As one surprised, his forward step represt,
And bore his hand respectful to his breast;
Then easy, bow'd with deference profound,
And fix'd his eyes half closing on the ground.
Spontaneous through his lips, a wonted road,
The stream of voluntary diction flow'd,
Gentle as dews or summer's evening rain
To slake the fevers of the sultry plain;
While thus the Syriac melted from his tongue,
And listening princes on the cadence hung.
Entering he seem'd half wishing to withdraw;
As one surprised, his forward step represt,
And bore his hand respectful to his breast;
Then easy, bow'd with deference profound,
And fix'd his eyes half closing on the ground.
Spontaneous through his lips, a wonted road,
The stream of voluntary diction flow'd,
Gentle as dews or summer's evening rain
To slake the fevers of the sultry plain;
While thus the Syriac melted from his tongue,
And listening princes on the cadence hung.
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“O, mightiest thou! sole worthy of the sway,
“Where circling heroes, chiefs like these, obey,
“Who bear fresh wreaths on each victorious head,
“Fired by thy deeds, and by thy conduct led.
“Beyond the Herculean pillar flies thy fame,
“And Egypt even to Nubia tells thy name.
“But chief our monarch marks thy wondrous ways,
“Lists to thy name, and dwells upon thy praise:
“No envy his superior bosom fires,
“He hears with pleasure, with esteem admires;
“To worth like thine perceives his heart allied,
“And is by love, if not religion tied.
“Yet well apprized of what your arms intend,
“Opposed where he in honour must defend,
“From Us his amicable purpose know,
“A faithful friend, but a reluctant foe.
“Where circling heroes, chiefs like these, obey,
“Who bear fresh wreaths on each victorious head,
“Fired by thy deeds, and by thy conduct led.
“Beyond the Herculean pillar flies thy fame,
“And Egypt even to Nubia tells thy name.
“But chief our monarch marks thy wondrous ways,
“Lists to thy name, and dwells upon thy praise:
“No envy his superior bosom fires,
“He hears with pleasure, with esteem admires;
“To worth like thine perceives his heart allied,
“And is by love, if not religion tied.
“Yet well apprized of what your arms intend,
“Opposed where he in honour must defend,
“From Us his amicable purpose know,
“A faithful friend, but a reluctant foe.
“With thee in arms, in council, and in mind,
“In equal amity, and hate combin'd,
“He vows, whate'er encountering dangers wait,
“To fix the fortunes of thy wavering state;
“Be Sion only sacred to repose,
“He joins with Godfrey, should the world oppose.
“In equal amity, and hate combin'd,
“He vows, whate'er encountering dangers wait,
“To fix the fortunes of thy wavering state;
“Be Sion only sacred to repose,
“He joins with Godfrey, should the world oppose.
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“Transcendent Chief! whose memorable page,
“Shall send a tale to every future age,
“Short is the span that gives thy deeds a date,
“But long the time that wondring shall relate!
“Thy rapid progress knows nor rest, nor bound—
“What cities forced, or levell'd with the ground!
“What battles fought! what victories obtain'd!
“What provinces subdued! what empires gain'd!
“Amazement flies, or trembles, at thy name;
“Nor is there left a further work for fame:
“New added power can add no new applause;
“And glory, spread to either pole, must pause.
“Shall send a tale to every future age,
“Short is the span that gives thy deeds a date,
“But long the time that wondring shall relate!
“Thy rapid progress knows nor rest, nor bound—
“What cities forced, or levell'd with the ground!
“What battles fought! what victories obtain'd!
“What provinces subdued! what empires gain'd!
“Amazement flies, or trembles, at thy name;
“Nor is there left a further work for fame:
“New added power can add no new applause;
“And glory, spread to either pole, must pause.
“Soar'd to the zenith of a cloudless day,
“Thy fortune culminates her warmest ray;
“Her next advance the western steep invites,
“Prone she descends, and suddenly benights.
“Ah think, great Chief!—the dangerous venture shun,
“Where all thy deeds may be at once undone:
“Doubtful thy hope, and thy advantage small;
“But great the loss, and wondrous deep the fall.
“Thy fortune culminates her warmest ray;
“Her next advance the western steep invites,
“Prone she descends, and suddenly benights.
“Ah think, great Chief!—the dangerous venture shun,
“Where all thy deeds may be at once undone:
“Doubtful thy hope, and thy advantage small;
“But great the loss, and wondrous deep the fall.
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“Yet, Godfrey may reject our fond address;
“He views the future in the past success:
“His sword with blood of routed armies stain'd,
“Beneath his hand reluctant nations rein'd,
“With all the bold the boundless wish can crave,
“That bribes the fortunate, or fires the brave—
“These, these may win him to the waste of war,
“And passions prompt what reason would abhor.
“Delusive orators! they still persuade,
“Unsheath'd to brandish that redoubted blade;
“Still to pursue where fortune would betray,
“Where glory smooths the faithless arduous way,
“Till Macon be no more; and waste, forlorn,
“Sad Asia like some widow'd matron mourn:
“Fair hopes, high projects, and allurements sweet,
“But covert ruin, and assured deceit.
“He views the future in the past success:
“His sword with blood of routed armies stain'd,
“Beneath his hand reluctant nations rein'd,
“With all the bold the boundless wish can crave,
“That bribes the fortunate, or fires the brave—
“These, these may win him to the waste of war,
“And passions prompt what reason would abhor.
“Delusive orators! they still persuade,
“Unsheath'd to brandish that redoubted blade;
“Still to pursue where fortune would betray,
“Where glory smooths the faithless arduous way,
“Till Macon be no more; and waste, forlorn,
“Sad Asia like some widow'd matron mourn:
“Fair hopes, high projects, and allurements sweet,
“But covert ruin, and assured deceit.
“If zeal exhibits no intemperate dream,
“Nor clouds of wrath eclipse thy reasoning beam;
“How just, how different would the scene arise,
“Nor hope, but apprehension meet thine eyes!
“Will Fortune, false as the alternate sea,
“For thee perpetual flow, alone for thee?
“High the ascent her hourly favourites know,
“But steep the precipice that sinks below;
“One step alone 'twixt triumph and defeat,
“The gulphy ruin and the towery height.
“Say, Chief! should Nile with all his dread allies,
“Potent of wealth and arms, in vengeance rise;
“The Turk, the Persian, and Cassano's heir,
“Frown in the van, and deepen in the rear;
“What mortal power could such a storm asswage,
“Or check the thunder launch'd in all its rage?
“Nor clouds of wrath eclipse thy reasoning beam;
“How just, how different would the scene arise,
“Nor hope, but apprehension meet thine eyes!
“Will Fortune, false as the alternate sea,
“For thee perpetual flow, alone for thee?
“High the ascent her hourly favourites know,
“But steep the precipice that sinks below;
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“The gulphy ruin and the towery height.
“Say, Chief! should Nile with all his dread allies,
“Potent of wealth and arms, in vengeance rise;
“The Turk, the Persian, and Cassano's heir,
“Frown in the van, and deepen in the rear;
“What mortal power could such a storm asswage,
“Or check the thunder launch'd in all its rage?
“Perhaps, to western aid thy prospects bend;
“Aid from the Greek,—that tried, that trusty friend!
“Yes, yes, his faith attesting nations own;
“'Tis Punic all, and to a proverb known!
“His plighted powers we then may learn to fear,
“When you grow credulous, or he sincere;
“When those who late thy peaceful march withstood,
“To buy thy progress will expend their blood;
“Who late retail'd the venal air for hire,
“Fight in thy cause, and at thy side expire.
“Aid from the Greek,—that tried, that trusty friend!
“Yes, yes, his faith attesting nations own;
“'Tis Punic all, and to a proverb known!
“His plighted powers we then may learn to fear,
“When you grow credulous, or he sincere;
“When those who late thy peaceful march withstood,
“To buy thy progress will expend their blood;
“Who late retail'd the venal air for hire,
“Fight in thy cause, and at thy side expire.
“Shrunk to the limits of this warlike round,
“All hope is to thy proper squadrons bound;
“To these, who, distant from their native soil,
“By death diminish, and decline with toil:
“And is it hence, thy brave presumption grows,
“To foil the fury of united foes?
“Not slight the fray thy former conquests boast,
“When with full powers you quell'd each separate host;
“How then should such combining hosts dismay,
“When Egypt lengthens out their dread array?
“All hope is to thy proper squadrons bound;
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“By death diminish, and decline with toil:
“And is it hence, thy brave presumption grows,
“To foil the fury of united foes?
“Not slight the fray thy former conquests boast,
“When with full powers you quell'd each separate host;
“How then should such combining hosts dismay,
“When Egypt lengthens out their dread array?
“Yet, should I yield thee more than man for might,
“In terrors drest, invincible in fight,
“In heavenly panoply thy warriors cased,
“With heavenly ardour every sinew braced;
“Still Godfrey, still thy mightier Foe remains,
“More fierce than millions on encountering plains—
“Go, whirl thy sword, go, launch the impetuous spear,
“And let remorseless Famine learn to fear!
“Alas! too soon thy matchless force must feel,
“That hunger's sharper than the wounding steel.
“In terrors drest, invincible in fight,
“In heavenly panoply thy warriors cased,
“With heavenly ardour every sinew braced;
“Still Godfrey, still thy mightier Foe remains,
“More fierce than millions on encountering plains—
“Go, whirl thy sword, go, launch the impetuous spear,
“And let remorseless Famine learn to fear!
“Alas! too soon thy matchless force must feel,
“That hunger's sharper than the wounding steel.
“No harvests here wave hopeful to thy eye;
“Consumed around, the blasted pastures lie;
“The tiller has himself undone his toil,
“Nor left for him to reap, or thee to spoil;
“While wasting fires have robb'd thy fainting steed,
“And wide devour'd, lest fiercer foes should feed:
“Deep guarded battlements the grain immure,
“From force defend, and from access secure.
“But then your fleet shall waft the large supply,
“And seas shall yield, what hostile lands deny;
“Yes, you shall live as please the tide and wind,
“When gales are constant, and when storms are kind.
“Consumed around, the blasted pastures lie;
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“Nor left for him to reap, or thee to spoil;
“While wasting fires have robb'd thy fainting steed,
“And wide devour'd, lest fiercer foes should feed:
“Deep guarded battlements the grain immure,
“From force defend, and from access secure.
“But then your fleet shall waft the large supply,
“And seas shall yield, what hostile lands deny;
“Yes, you shall live as please the tide and wind,
“When gales are constant, and when storms are kind.
Yet could thy power the struggling tempest rein,
“Direct the blast, and rule the indignant main;
“How will thy feeble, thy unequal fleet,
“Such joint, such formidable forces meet,
“When launch'd around our naval powers unite,
“And from the boundless ocean snatch the sight?
“Direct the blast, and rule the indignant main;
“How will thy feeble, thy unequal fleet,
“Such joint, such formidable forces meet,
“When launch'd around our naval powers unite,
“And from the boundless ocean snatch the sight?
“Strange is the turn of thy capricious state,
“Where double conquest must prevent defeat;
“As strange our favouring fate, where one success
“Shall with a sure, a double conquest bless:
“If we, by land, or sea, thy powers sustain,
“Vain are thy powers, by land and ocean vain;
“And if by sea, or land, thy forces fail,
“By land and sea alike our arms prevail.
“In vain by land the fruitless field you boast,
“When Famine triumphs o'er thy conquering host;
“In vain thy fleet shall waft the plenty o'er,
“Thy conquering fleet, when armies are no more.
“Where double conquest must prevent defeat;
“As strange our favouring fate, where one success
“Shall with a sure, a double conquest bless:
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“Vain are thy powers, by land and ocean vain;
“And if by sea, or land, thy forces fail,
“By land and sea alike our arms prevail.
“In vain by land the fruitless field you boast,
“When Famine triumphs o'er thy conquering host;
“In vain thy fleet shall waft the plenty o'er,
“Thy conquering fleet, when armies are no more.
“If yet, nor love, nor interest can invite,
“And only wars remorseless wars delight,
“How has thy soul her former praise disclaim'd,
“Through every clime, for every virtue famed!
“But ah, if war thy milder thoughts deform,
“May Heaven with gentle hand appease the storm;
“Through Asia may the horrid conflicts cease,
“And Godfrey rule the conquer'd realms in peace!
“And only wars remorseless wars delight,
“How has thy soul her former praise disclaim'd,
“Through every clime, for every virtue famed!
“But ah, if war thy milder thoughts deform,
“May Heaven with gentle hand appease the storm;
“Through Asia may the horrid conflicts cease,
“And Godfrey rule the conquer'd realms in peace!
“And you! whose arms, in dubious battle tried,
“The virtues of your matchless Chief divide,
“Who share, alike, his council and his care,
“Who every toil and every peril share;
“Let Heavenly Peace the swelling passion sway,
“Nor smiling Fortune, faithless fair, betray.
“The mariner, though sails and cordage torn,
“Thro' sands, and rocks, and whirling eddies born,
“At length within the friendly haven cast,
“With transport sees that every danger's past:
“Escaped like him the trusty port retain,
“Nor tempt the future tempest on the main.”
“The virtues of your matchless Chief divide,
“Who share, alike, his council and his care,
“Who every toil and every peril share;
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“Nor smiling Fortune, faithless fair, betray.
“The mariner, though sails and cordage torn,
“Thro' sands, and rocks, and whirling eddies born,
“At length within the friendly haven cast,
“With transport sees that every danger's past:
“Escaped like him the trusty port retain,
“Nor tempt the future tempest on the main.”
He ended smooth; but, through the warlike round,
Of deep disgust the murmuring accents sound;
Impassion'd gestures all their soul avow,
And indignation bends in every brow.
Thrice and again, his quick discerning view
The Chief around his circling heroes threw;
And thus sedate the much experienced man,
With gentle but determined voice began.
Of deep disgust the murmuring accents sound;
Impassion'd gestures all their soul avow,
And indignation bends in every brow.
Thrice and again, his quick discerning view
The Chief around his circling heroes threw;
And thus sedate the much experienced man,
With gentle but determined voice began.
“Aletes! deep thy art, and smooth thy phrase;
“And well you mix the menace with the praise.
“If, in sincerity, as it should seem,
“Our acts are honour'd with your king's esteem,
“You may assure the monarch, on our part,
“Of all due deference, and a grateful heart.
“But where your words with threatening ardour warm,
“Collect all Asia in the coming storm,
“I answer in my plain accustom'd style,
“Not graced with eloquence, yet free from guile.
“And well you mix the menace with the praise.
“If, in sincerity, as it should seem,
“Our acts are honour'd with your king's esteem,
“You may assure the monarch, on our part,
“Of all due deference, and a grateful heart.
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“Collect all Asia in the coming storm,
“I answer in my plain accustom'd style,
“Not graced with eloquence, yet free from guile.
“Know then, that all our suffering powers sustain,
“Thro' hostile climes, and the tempestuous main,
“Sole centering to one glorious object tends,
“And only leads where all our labour ends—
“To free yon sacred, venerable wall!
“Let every threat, let every ruin fall,
“Nor death can terrify, nor toil distress,
“Since Heaven with future recompence will bless.
“Thro' hostile climes, and the tempestuous main,
“Sole centering to one glorious object tends,
“And only leads where all our labour ends—
“To free yon sacred, venerable wall!
“Let every threat, let every ruin fall,
“Nor death can terrify, nor toil distress,
“Since Heaven with future recompence will bless.
“'Tis not the transient gust of mortal joys,
“Gems, crowns, or pageant scepters, glittering toys!
“Not Fame in all her pomp of titles drest,
“Inspires the fervour of a Christian breast:
“Who to the spheres their constant course assign'd,
“Alone directs the movements of our mind;
“He is the Pole whose fix'd attraction charms,
“The Voice that dictates, and the Cause that arms.
“His Hand alone the whirling surge restrains,
“And o'er his tempest throws the lordly reins.
“Alike to us the wintery gusts arise,
“Or Syrius fires the equinoctial skies;
“Warm'd by his breath, or shaded by his wing,
“His Presence tempers our eternal spring.
“Smooth'd, where He leads, the strong ribb'd hills subside,
“The dangers vanish, and the floods divide;
“Low lie proud heads, and every hostile power,
“And from its basis smoaks the tumbling tower.
“Gems, crowns, or pageant scepters, glittering toys!
“Not Fame in all her pomp of titles drest,
“Inspires the fervour of a Christian breast:
“Who to the spheres their constant course assign'd,
“Alone directs the movements of our mind;
“He is the Pole whose fix'd attraction charms,
“The Voice that dictates, and the Cause that arms.
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“And o'er his tempest throws the lordly reins.
“Alike to us the wintery gusts arise,
“Or Syrius fires the equinoctial skies;
“Warm'd by his breath, or shaded by his wing,
“His Presence tempers our eternal spring.
“Smooth'd, where He leads, the strong ribb'd hills subside,
“The dangers vanish, and the floods divide;
“Low lie proud heads, and every hostile power,
“And from its basis smoaks the tumbling tower.
“Not from the cumbrous shield, or brittle spear,
“Or strength of mortal arm, we hope—or fear;
“Nor list, if Grecia, or the world be foes;
“We trust a Power, who can alone oppose;
“Nor shall the world against our host abide,
“Against one man, if Heaven be on his side.
“Or strength of mortal arm, we hope—or fear;
“Nor list, if Grecia, or the world be foes;
“We trust a Power, who can alone oppose;
“Nor shall the world against our host abide,
“Against one man, if Heaven be on his side.
“But if, before yon consecrated wall,
“His Will, inscrutable, ordains our fall,
“Our bones shall mingle with that hallow'd clay,
“Where once the Prince of Life, Messiah lay:
“So will we fall, triumphant, though o'erthrown;
“So will we die!—but, trust me, not alone—
“Sad Asia shall the mournful vigil keep,
“And (friendless) we will give the foe to weep.
“His Will, inscrutable, ordains our fall,
“Our bones shall mingle with that hallow'd clay,
“Where once the Prince of Life, Messiah lay:
“So will we fall, triumphant, though o'erthrown;
“So will we die!—but, trust me, not alone—
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“And (friendless) we will give the foe to weep.
“Yet think not we in savage wars delight,
“That terms of honourable peace we slight;
“Or vain of conquest, equally despise
“Such formidable foes, such strong allies.
“But why your monarch prop these distant walls,
“Where neither interest claims, nor justice calls?
“If east, or west, his conquering ensigns bend,
“Pleas'd with his power, we rise not to defend;
“Still with his glory may his sway increase,
“Still may he rule his native realms in peace,
“Nor toil to find unnecessary foes,
“But take and grant reciprocal repose!”
“That terms of honourable peace we slight;
“Or vain of conquest, equally despise
“Such formidable foes, such strong allies.
“But why your monarch prop these distant walls,
“Where neither interest claims, nor justice calls?
“If east, or west, his conquering ensigns bend,
“Pleas'd with his power, we rise not to defend;
“Still with his glory may his sway increase,
“Still may he rule his native realms in peace,
“Nor toil to find unnecessary foes,
“But take and grant reciprocal repose!”
He ceas'd; when, passion maddening in his eye,
Argantes in a storm of wrath drew nigh,
The impetuous gust disdaining to controul;
And thus loosed all the fury of his soul.
“Yes, Chief, henceforward let the sword decide;
“War is thy wish, nor be thy wish denied.
“Ill hast thou answer'd to our terms of peace;
“But cause of strife to mortals ne'er can cease.”
Argantes in a storm of wrath drew nigh,
The impetuous gust disdaining to controul;
And thus loosed all the fury of his soul.
“Yes, Chief, henceforward let the sword decide;
“War is thy wish, nor be thy wish denied.
“Ill hast thou answer'd to our terms of peace;
“But cause of strife to mortals ne'er can cease.”
216
So saying, quick his flowing garb be seiz'd,
And folding with terrific action rais'd:
“Here, thou contemner of events!” he cries,
“Here, peace and war within my vesture lies.
“If war be in thy bold election, say;
“Choose as you list, but choose without delay.”
And folding with terrific action rais'd:
“Here, thou contemner of events!” he cries,
“Here, peace and war within my vesture lies.
“If war be in thy bold election, say;
“Choose as you list, but choose without delay.”
Such uttering arrogance, and scornful air,
Not likely such a princely round should bear:
Incensed, no voice attends their Chief's reply;
“War, war!” at once, “War, war!” aloud they cry.
With rising wrath the fierce Circassian burn'd,
And “War, eternal, mortal war!” return'd.
Not likely such a princely round should bear:
Incensed, no voice attends their Chief's reply;
“War, war!” at once, “War, war!” aloud they cry.
With rising wrath the fierce Circassian burn'd,
And “War, eternal, mortal war!” return'd.
His robe with hasty furious hand exposed,
The gates of Janus seem at once disclosed:
Peace scared, on trembling pinions urged her flight;
And Hate, and Discord, issuing claim'd the light.
All dread, and terrible, Argantes stands:
Dire as Tiphoius with his hundred hands,
Or Babel, that in spite of Heaven arose;
So towers the chief, and menaces his foes.
With awful grace superior, Godfrey smiled,
And thus rejoin'd more menacingly mild.
The gates of Janus seem at once disclosed:
Peace scared, on trembling pinions urged her flight;
And Hate, and Discord, issuing claim'd the light.
All dread, and terrible, Argantes stands:
Dire as Tiphoius with his hundred hands,
Or Babel, that in spite of Heaven arose;
So towers the chief, and menaces his foes.
With awful grace superior, Godfrey smiled,
And thus rejoin'd more menacingly mild.
217
“Our answer let your Memphian monarch hear,
“Who better knows to threat, than we to fear—
“If here he means we should attend the sight,
“Swift be his march, and well assured his might:
“Or soon we'll wait him on Egyptian soil;
“For we are, haply, more inured to toil.
“Who better knows to threat, than we to fear—
“If here he means we should attend the sight,
“Swift be his march, and well assured his might:
“Or soon we'll wait him on Egyptian soil;
“For we are, haply, more inured to toil.
The Hero spoke, and gracefully humane
Dismiss'd the chiefs with their attending train:
Aletes had a helm of richest price,
With plumage proud, the beamy spoil of Nice:
But to Argantes' mightier hand he gave
A massy sword, fit present for the brave;
Though gold the hilt, and gem'd with costliest stone,
Superior to the mass the model shone;
Curious to view, but ponderous 'twas to feel,
And like a meteor gleam'd the lengthening steel.
The bounty, quick, the proud Circassian took,
Eyed with delight, and with dread action shook:
“Soon Bulloign! much too soon,” he cried, you'll find,
“Such trust was ne'er to better hands assigned.”
Dismiss'd the chiefs with their attending train:
Aletes had a helm of richest price,
With plumage proud, the beamy spoil of Nice:
But to Argantes' mightier hand he gave
A massy sword, fit present for the brave;
Though gold the hilt, and gem'd with costliest stone,
Superior to the mass the model shone;
Curious to view, but ponderous 'twas to feel,
And like a meteor gleam'd the lengthening steel.
The bounty, quick, the proud Circassian took,
Eyed with delight, and with dread action shook:
“Soon Bulloign! much too soon,” he cried, you'll find,
“Such trust was ne'er to better hands assigned.”
They parted thus; and to his peer addrest,
Argantes spoke the boldness of his breast:
“Go thou to Egypt with the morning light;
“I go to Sion, and I go this night.
“My pen or presence to no end conduce,
“Where deeds are dead, and only words of use:
“Talk is thy province, and may have its charms;
“Be mine the war, the nobler clash of arms!”
Argantes spoke the boldness of his breast:
218
“I go to Sion, and I go this night.
“My pen or presence to no end conduce,
“Where deeds are dead, and only words of use:
“Talk is thy province, and may have its charms;
“Be mine the war, the nobler clash of arms!”
Brief spoke the Pagan, nor reply attends,
But turn'd with haughty step to Salem bends;
The dictates of his swift impetuous soul
No rites of embassy, no laws controul:
Beneath the glimmering of the starry ray,
Impatient he directs his warlike way;
While warm in every act, and every thought,
Contention bled, and future combats fought.
But turn'd with haughty step to Salem bends;
The dictates of his swift impetuous soul
No rites of embassy, no laws controul:
Beneath the glimmering of the starry ray,
Impatient he directs his warlike way;
While warm in every act, and every thought,
Contention bled, and future combats fought.
And now still night, diffused to either pole,
From heaven her balmy visitation stole;
With soft constraint the drowsied sense opprest,
And weigh'd the weary bustling world to rest.
Through nature, peace and short oblivion reign:
The tempest slumbers on the silent main;
Hush'd through the sylvan shade, and dreary den,
Smooth lake, and peopled flood, and willow'd fen,
Each foot, and fin, and feather, finds repose;
With gentler pace each lazy current flows;
Exiled from every heart Oppression fled,
And Labour sunk upon the grateful bed.
From heaven her balmy visitation stole;
With soft constraint the drowsied sense opprest,
And weigh'd the weary bustling world to rest.
Through nature, peace and short oblivion reign:
The tempest slumbers on the silent main;
Hush'd through the sylvan shade, and dreary den,
Smooth lake, and peopled flood, and willow'd fen,
Each foot, and fin, and feather, finds repose;
With gentler pace each lazy current flows;
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And Labour sunk upon the grateful bed.
But not the shade with kindly opiate blest,
That lull'd the remnant of the world to rest,
Nor toil persuasive of profound repose,
Through Godfrey's camp could give an eye to close:
Impatience hangs upon the lingering night,
Counts the long hour, and claims the promised light;
Still through the gloom exploring looks essay
The dawning whiteness of the eastern ray,
That shall o'er long-sought Solyma arise,
And give her spires to their expecting eyes:
That lull'd the remnant of the world to rest,
Nor toil persuasive of profound repose,
Through Godfrey's camp could give an eye to close:
Impatience hangs upon the lingering night,
Counts the long hour, and claims the promised light;
Still through the gloom exploring looks essay
The dawning whiteness of the eastern ray,
That shall o'er long-sought Solyma arise,
And give her spires to their expecting eyes:
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BOOK III.
The eastern breeze, fresh harbinger of dawn,
Sprung from the surge, and whisper'd o'er the lawn:
Aurora waked, suffused with early dew,
And round her form the purpling vesture threw;
Her orient locks increasing glory shed,
And Eden's rose adorn'd her radiant head.
The soldiers arm; ten thousand shouts arise,
Ring through the camp, and burst upon the skies;
Triumphant clarions answer to the sound,
And boundless joy and clamour pours around.
Sprung from the surge, and whisper'd o'er the lawn:
Aurora waked, suffused with early dew,
And round her form the purpling vesture threw;
Her orient locks increasing glory shed,
And Eden's rose adorn'd her radiant head.
The soldiers arm; ten thousand shouts arise,
Ring through the camp, and burst upon the skies;
Triumphant clarions answer to the sound,
And boundless joy and clamour pours around.
Wild were the transports of the madding host,
Wild as the waves on the Trinacrian coast,
Or winds that o'er the ridgy mountain sweep,
That rend the clouds, and rush upon the deep:
Yet to their Chief the ranging troops conform,
He rules the rapture, and directs the storm;
In ordered file arrays the impetuous train;
Rapid they march, but rapid with the rein.
Wild as the waves on the Trinacrian coast,
Or winds that o'er the ridgy mountain sweep,
That rend the clouds, and rush upon the deep:
224
He rules the rapture, and directs the storm;
In ordered file arrays the impetuous train;
Rapid they march, but rapid with the rein.
Wing'd were their hearts, with previous transport fleet,
And wing'd, like feather'd Mercury, their feet;
Nor travel tires, nor obstacles impede,
So warm their ardour and so swift their speed.
But when careering up the etherial road,
The disk of heaven with rising fervour glow'd,
Jerusalem the ravish'd squadrons spy,
“Jerusalem!” triumphing thousands cry;
Jerusalem, their acclamations sweet,
Expanding arms, and reaching raptures, greet.
And wing'd, like feather'd Mercury, their feet;
Nor travel tires, nor obstacles impede,
So warm their ardour and so swift their speed.
But when careering up the etherial road,
The disk of heaven with rising fervour glow'd,
Jerusalem the ravish'd squadrons spy,
“Jerusalem!” triumphing thousands cry;
Jerusalem, their acclamations sweet,
Expanding arms, and reaching raptures, greet.
So when beneath the keen Septentrion pole,
Or where the tides of Austrial oceans roll,
Adventurous mariners, a desperate band,
Roam in the search of yet untrodden land,
Where skies unknown the dreary prospect bound,
With gulphs that gape, and storms that rage around;
If, haply, now some azure hill they spy,
How is the voice responsive to the eye!
Their cheeks with mutual gratulation glow,
And shouts in scorn dismiss all former woe.
Or where the tides of Austrial oceans roll,
Adventurous mariners, a desperate band,
Roam in the search of yet untrodden land,
Where skies unknown the dreary prospect bound,
With gulphs that gape, and storms that rage around;
If, haply, now some azure hill they spy,
How is the voice responsive to the eye!
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And shouts in scorn dismiss all former woe.
To the first hurry of that wild delight
When Salem rose transporting to their sight,
Contrition soon with reverent check succeeds;
With dulcet anguish every bosom bleeds:
Their humble eyes all trembling they with-hold
From walls too dear, too aweful to behold,
Where Christ his seat of mortal passion chose,
Expiring suffer'd, and renew'd arose:
Griefs, joys, unknown, their mingling soul possest,
And thrill'd the nerve in every martial breast.
Soft is their step along the sacred ground,
And hoarse and deep the murmuring accents sound—
Hoarse as the rustling of autumnal breeze;
Deep as the break of rough asswaging seas,
Where denser woods the shattering blast oppose,
Or craggy shores the surging spume enclose.
When Salem rose transporting to their sight,
Contrition soon with reverent check succeeds;
With dulcet anguish every bosom bleeds:
Their humble eyes all trembling they with-hold
From walls too dear, too aweful to behold,
Where Christ his seat of mortal passion chose,
Expiring suffer'd, and renew'd arose:
Griefs, joys, unknown, their mingling soul possest,
And thrill'd the nerve in every martial breast.
Soft is their step along the sacred ground,
And hoarse and deep the murmuring accents sound—
Hoarse as the rustling of autumnal breeze;
Deep as the break of rough asswaging seas,
Where denser woods the shattering blast oppose,
Or craggy shores the surging spume enclose.
The warriors, by their Chief's example led,
With naked feet the sultry causeway tread;
Of boastful trim their arms they all divest,
And all unplumed is every bending crest;
Timid their voice, and sweet their whispering woe,
Short breathe their sighs, and fast their eyes o'erflow,
While thus the penitent, the dear distress,
Low faultering tongues and speaking hearts express:
With naked feet the sultry causeway tread;
Of boastful trim their arms they all divest,
And all unplumed is every bending crest;
Timid their voice, and sweet their whispering woe,
Short breathe their sighs, and fast their eyes o'erflow,
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Low faultering tongues and speaking hearts express:
“O Lamb! who here for all the living died,
“Love's purple fountain issuing from thy side,
“Whose currents through the Maze of Mercy ran,
“To wash the ways, the sinful ways of man;
“Receive, receive the contrite tears we shed,
“Due tribute where our Suffering Saviour bled;
“Nor common tears should thy memorial keep,
“But pour'd to Thee our bleeding hearts should weep!”
“Love's purple fountain issuing from thy side,
“Whose currents through the Maze of Mercy ran,
“To wash the ways, the sinful ways of man;
“Receive, receive the contrite tears we shed,
“Due tribute where our Suffering Saviour bled;
“Nor common tears should thy memorial keep,
“But pour'd to Thee our bleeding hearts should weep!”
Mean-while, the watch, who, from his towery stand,
In spacious prospect held the neighbouring land,
To right, to left, slow gathering on the skies,
Perceived wide wreaths of curling dust arise.
In spacious prospect held the neighbouring land,
To right, to left, slow gathering on the skies,
Perceived wide wreaths of curling dust arise.
As fraught with coming storm when clouds ascend
And sable wing'd from north to east extend,
The nimble lightnings pour upon the sight,
And the dark vapour labours with the light;
So, thro' the eclipse, shields, helms, and corslets gleam,
Thick ported spears project a quivering beam,
With man and steed the wide-womb'd cloud is fill'd,
And glittering arms the sleinted region gild.
And sable wing'd from north to east extend,
The nimble lightnings pour upon the sight,
And the dark vapour labours with the light;
227
Thick ported spears project a quivering beam,
With man and steed the wide-womb'd cloud is fill'd,
And glittering arms the sleinted region gild.
The hasty sentinel the town alarms—
“To arms, ye citizens,” he cries, “to arms!
“Heavens! what a horrid cloud involves the sky!
“What ranks of steely war, what hosts I spy!
“Up, up, the foe's at hand; your walls ascend;
“Your law, your lives, your native rights defend!”
“To arms, ye citizens,” he cries, “to arms!
“Heavens! what a horrid cloud involves the sky!
“What ranks of steely war, what hosts I spy!
“Up, up, the foe's at hand; your walls ascend;
“Your law, your lives, your native rights defend!”
The female's feeble sex, and silver'd sage,
Too soft by nature, or unnerved by age,
With trembling infants to the mosques repair,
And tire their Prophet with a length of prayer.
But those of limb assured, and courage bold,
Seiz'd their keen weapons with a hasty hold:
Some run to line the portals, some the wall;
The King informs, directs, and governs all.
Then to a tower that brow'd the northern coast,
And front to front o'erlook'd the approaching host,
His city here, and here his foe in view,
The Monarch, to inspect the whole, withdrew.
Erminia, to his royal house allied,
Erminia, gentle charmer! graced his side,
Whom late (her kingdom seiz'd, and slain her sire)
The victor's chain permitted to retire.
Too soft by nature, or unnerved by age,
With trembling infants to the mosques repair,
And tire their Prophet with a length of prayer.
But those of limb assured, and courage bold,
Seiz'd their keen weapons with a hasty hold:
Some run to line the portals, some the wall;
The King informs, directs, and governs all.
Then to a tower that brow'd the northern coast,
And front to front o'erlook'd the approaching host,
His city here, and here his foe in view,
The Monarch, to inspect the whole, withdrew.
228
Erminia, gentle charmer! graced his side,
Whom late (her kingdom seiz'd, and slain her sire)
The victor's chain permitted to retire.
Mean-time Clorinda issuing at their head,
The force of many a gallant warrior led;
While, with his squadron couch'd, Argantes lay,
Prepared to sally, and sustain the day.
Clorinda's daring voice each ear inspired;
Each eye, her warlike presence fill'd, and fired:
“This day,” she cried, “let grateful Asia bless,
“That to our arms assigned the first success.”
She said—when strait appear'd a Christian band,
Whose search with early forage scour'd the land,
And now returning with the lowing prey,
To the main host they held their hasty way.
The Virgin, by intemperate valour push'd,
Full on the troop, but first on Guardo, rush'd,
Their mighty leader, famed for strength in fight,
But much too weak to match her matchless might:
Him from his seat, in either army's view,
O'erturn'd behind his steed Clorinda threw;
Glad omen hence the Pagan hosts portend,
And shouts, by shouts upborn, to heaven ascend:
But she, where join'd the thickest squadrons, prest,
Cleft the bright helm and tore the plaited breast;
Her men fast followed on the road she made,
And fought secure beneath her conquering shade.
The force of many a gallant warrior led;
While, with his squadron couch'd, Argantes lay,
Prepared to sally, and sustain the day.
Clorinda's daring voice each ear inspired;
Each eye, her warlike presence fill'd, and fired:
“This day,” she cried, “let grateful Asia bless,
“That to our arms assigned the first success.”
She said—when strait appear'd a Christian band,
Whose search with early forage scour'd the land,
And now returning with the lowing prey,
To the main host they held their hasty way.
The Virgin, by intemperate valour push'd,
Full on the troop, but first on Guardo, rush'd,
Their mighty leader, famed for strength in fight,
But much too weak to match her matchless might:
Him from his seat, in either army's view,
O'erturn'd behind his steed Clorinda threw;
Glad omen hence the Pagan hosts portend,
And shouts, by shouts upborn, to heaven ascend:
229
Cleft the bright helm and tore the plaited breast;
Her men fast followed on the road she made,
And fought secure beneath her conquering shade.
Repeal'd with speed, the Christians quit the spoil,
And step by step their shatter'd powers recoil;
Till the kind summit of a hill they gain'd,
And rallying thence the stronger foe sustain'd:
When lo! impetuous as loosed whirlwinds rise,
Or the red bolt that shoots athwart the skies,
His arms and eager eyes ejecting flame,
Far wing'd before his squadron Tancred came.
And step by step their shatter'd powers recoil;
Till the kind summit of a hill they gain'd,
And rallying thence the stronger foe sustain'd:
When lo! impetuous as loosed whirlwinds rise,
Or the red bolt that shoots athwart the skies,
His arms and eager eyes ejecting flame,
Far wing'd before his squadron Tancred came.
As in a tempest stands some stable mast,
Braced to the board yet labouring in the blast;
So great, so firm, the spear which Tancred takes,
Sits in his grasp, and in his anger shakes.
Braced to the board yet labouring in the blast;
So great, so firm, the spear which Tancred takes,
Sits in his grasp, and in his anger shakes.
The King beheld him dreadful in his charms,
Blooming in strength, and eminent in arms.
His presence fill'd the careful Monarch's breast,
Who thus Erminia, trembling maid, addrest:
“Well should thy eye, through long acquaintance, know
“The hated shape of each distinguish'd foe;
“Say then, what's he, whose hot and warlike form
“Before him sends the terror of a storm?”
Blooming in strength, and eminent in arms.
His presence fill'd the careful Monarch's breast,
Who thus Erminia, trembling maid, addrest:
230
“The hated shape of each distinguish'd foe;
“Say then, what's he, whose hot and warlike form
“Before him sends the terror of a storm?”
He said; nor answer save the sigh received,
That in the whiteness of her bosom heaved,
That half supprest in its sweet prison lay,
And through her lips half wing'd its odorous way;
While round her eyes the crimson circlets glow'd,
And bright, within, the liquid anguish flow'd.
That in the whiteness of her bosom heaved,
That half supprest in its sweet prison lay,
And through her lips half wing'd its odorous way;
While round her eyes the crimson circlets glow'd,
And bright, within, the liquid anguish flow'd.
At length o'er Love she threw Aversion's cloke,
And thus, with feign'd yet real passion, spoke:
“Ah me! too well, too well his form I know
“Whose steed so proudly bears my deadliest foe;
“Him from my eyes not mingling hosts can hide,
“Him from my thoughts nor time nor place divide.
“Great Prophet! in what heaps from Antioch's wall,
“Beneath that arm I saw my people fall!
“The wound he gives no mortal may endure,
“No armour ward, and ah!—no med'cine cure.
“Tancred his name,—O! cruel,—may he live,
“And 'scape the death he knows too well to give,
“Till captive once, and to my rage assigned,
“He feels how strait a woman's chains can bind:
“A thousand deaths my vengeful thoughts prepare,
“And one, which Heaven avert! would only spare.”
She said; involuntary sighs expire,
And just, though great, the Monarch deem'd her ire;
But ah! how sweet the vengeance she designed!
How soft the fetters! and the rage how kind!
And thus, with feign'd yet real passion, spoke:
“Ah me! too well, too well his form I know
“Whose steed so proudly bears my deadliest foe;
“Him from my eyes not mingling hosts can hide,
“Him from my thoughts nor time nor place divide.
“Great Prophet! in what heaps from Antioch's wall,
“Beneath that arm I saw my people fall!
“The wound he gives no mortal may endure,
“No armour ward, and ah!—no med'cine cure.
231
“And 'scape the death he knows too well to give,
“Till captive once, and to my rage assigned,
“He feels how strait a woman's chains can bind:
“A thousand deaths my vengeful thoughts prepare,
“And one, which Heaven avert! would only spare.”
She said; involuntary sighs expire,
And just, though great, the Monarch deem'd her ire;
But ah! how sweet the vengeance she designed!
How soft the fetters! and the rage how kind!
Mean time Clorinda eyed the warrior's speed,
And full to thwart the tempest urg'd her steed.
Couch'd at the head each aim'd a deadly stroke;
Her weapon, shiver'd to the gauntlet, broke:
But the rude welcome of the hero's spear,
Nor silken thongs nor golden buckles bear;
From her fair front the plumed helm he cast,
Her hair dishevelling revell'd in the blast;
Gem'd in the curling radiance shone her face,
The fiercest ardor and the sweetest grace.
And full to thwart the tempest urg'd her steed.
Couch'd at the head each aim'd a deadly stroke;
Her weapon, shiver'd to the gauntlet, broke:
But the rude welcome of the hero's spear,
Nor silken thongs nor golden buckles bear;
From her fair front the plumed helm he cast,
Her hair dishevelling revell'd in the blast;
Gem'd in the curling radiance shone her face,
The fiercest ardor and the sweetest grace.
Forth from her glance keen flash'd the living fire;
Ah! what her smiles—since lovely was her ire?
Why, Tancred! wherefore stops thy late career?
Here's but one foe, and can the mighty fear?
Or can a face like spelful magic charm,
Freeze the bold nerve, and chain the lifted arm?
Yes, Tancred's eye bears witness to his heart,
And owns a charm beyond the mystic art;
Still on that heart, indelibly imprest,
Still lived that form which now his eyes confest:
The shade, ill sheltering, to his soul returns,
And gazing now, as at the fount he burns.
Ah! what her smiles—since lovely was her ire?
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Here's but one foe, and can the mighty fear?
Or can a face like spelful magic charm,
Freeze the bold nerve, and chain the lifted arm?
Yes, Tancred's eye bears witness to his heart,
And owns a charm beyond the mystic art;
Still on that heart, indelibly imprest,
Still lived that form which now his eyes confest:
The shade, ill sheltering, to his soul returns,
And gazing now, as at the fount he burns.
Her shield she rais'd, and on the warrior flew;
Fierce she advanced, and gentle he withdrew:
On other foes he would his force have tried;
But “Here! turn here!” the threatful Virgin cried.
Ah, barbarous Maid! one death would not suffice;
Thy sword would trace the progress of thy eyes.
Fierce she advanced, and gentle he withdrew:
On other foes he would his force have tried;
But “Here! turn here!” the threatful Virgin cried.
Ah, barbarous Maid! one death would not suffice;
Thy sword would trace the progress of thy eyes.
Furious she strikes, while faintly he defends,
And only to her killing face attends.
“Ah,” thought the Chief, “sweet combatant forbear!
“'Tis not thy sword that Tancred knows to fear;
“Far deeper than the wounds thy arms impart,
“Thou'st found the way to reach thy soldier's heart.
“Strong though thy arm, the strongest arm may fail;
“But fate is in thy eyes, and must prevail.
And only to her killing face attends.
“Ah,” thought the Chief, “sweet combatant forbear!
“'Tis not thy sword that Tancred knows to fear;
“Far deeper than the wounds thy arms impart,
“Thou'st found the way to reach thy soldier's heart.
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“But fate is in thy eyes, and must prevail.
Yet, e're he died, determined yet to tell,
Why thus the unresisting victim fell;
Half timorous, half embolden'd by despair,
With troubled accent he addrest the Fair:
“If the steel'd ranks of this embattel'd field,
“No apter object of thy prowess yield;
“If me alone thy vengeance would pursue,
“Thy valour combat, and thy arms subdue;
“Hence from the mingling hosts with me retire,
“And prove whose arm can best express our ire.”
The Maid assented, though unhelm'd her head,
And rode intrepid where the challenge led.
And now she aim'd, and now discharg'd a stroke,
When, scarce preventing, thus the warrior spoke:
“Hold! lovely heroine, hold! and let thy rage
“First hear the terms that won me to engage.”
Why thus the unresisting victim fell;
Half timorous, half embolden'd by despair,
With troubled accent he addrest the Fair:
“If the steel'd ranks of this embattel'd field,
“No apter object of thy prowess yield;
“If me alone thy vengeance would pursue,
“Thy valour combat, and thy arms subdue;
“Hence from the mingling hosts with me retire,
“And prove whose arm can best express our ire.”
The Maid assented, though unhelm'd her head,
And rode intrepid where the challenge led.
And now she aim'd, and now discharg'd a stroke,
When, scarce preventing, thus the warrior spoke:
“Hold! lovely heroine, hold! and let thy rage
“First hear the terms that won me to engage.”
She staid; his faultering tongue despair made bold,
And gave the love long latent to unfold:
“Ah my fair foe,” the impassion'd Tancred cried,
“Since peace is in thy endless wrath denied.
“The terms of war to speedy conquest lead,
“Give you to strike and me alone to bleed;
“Too blest, if so I may thy rage appease,
“And learn, so hap'ly, learn in death to please.
“Long since, the joys of irksome life are fled,
“Nor mine the heart you pierce, or blood you shed:
“Mistaken Maid! in every part you reign,
“And pour the vital flood through every vein.
“Of me, more nearly than thyself, possest,
“Thine's all the interest in thy Tancred's breast!
“See to thy sword his bosom I impart;
“Too well thou know'st thy passage to the heart—
“Strike, strike! it leaps to bleed at thy command,
“And welcomes death endear'd beneath thy hand.”
And gave the love long latent to unfold:
“Ah my fair foe,” the impassion'd Tancred cried,
“Since peace is in thy endless wrath denied.
234
“Give you to strike and me alone to bleed;
“Too blest, if so I may thy rage appease,
“And learn, so hap'ly, learn in death to please.
“Long since, the joys of irksome life are fled,
“Nor mine the heart you pierce, or blood you shed:
“Mistaken Maid! in every part you reign,
“And pour the vital flood through every vein.
“Of me, more nearly than thyself, possest,
“Thine's all the interest in thy Tancred's breast!
“See to thy sword his bosom I impart;
“Too well thou know'st thy passage to the heart—
“Strike, strike! it leaps to bleed at thy command,
“And welcomes death endear'd beneath thy hand.”
Yet, Tancred! further had thy lips essay'd,
And haply touch'd the much admiring Maid;
But here, by luckless interruption, led,
Before their foes some routed Paynims fled.
A Gallic soldier, as he past the Fair,
Mark'd the bright flow of her redundant hair;
His coward hand the base advantage seiz'd,
And high in air the cruel steel he rais'd;
But Tancred on his weapon caught the stroke,
And the first force of its encounter broke;
Yet lightly edg'd the glancing sabre bit,
Where the fair head and pillar'd neck were knit.
And haply touch'd the much admiring Maid;
But here, by luckless interruption, led,
Before their foes some routed Paynims fled.
A Gallic soldier, as he past the Fair,
Mark'd the bright flow of her redundant hair;
His coward hand the base advantage seiz'd,
And high in air the cruel steel he rais'd;
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And the first force of its encounter broke;
Yet lightly edg'd the glancing sabre bit,
Where the fair head and pillar'd neck were knit.
As when, prepared some regal brow to grace,
Or raise the lustre of some fair one's face,
An artist bids the golden circlets shine,
And calls the ruby from the blushing mine;
So the bright drops of bleeding crimson shew'd,
And gem'd amid her mingling tresses glow'd.
Or raise the lustre of some fair one's face,
An artist bids the golden circlets shine,
And calls the ruby from the blushing mine;
So the bright drops of bleeding crimson shew'd,
And gem'd amid her mingling tresses glow'd.
Then, then, no limit Tancred's fury knew,
But launch'd in vengeance on the ruffian flew;
As swiftly loosed to flight he urg'd his steed,
For instant fear gave feathers to his speed.
Suspensed a-while, and much at both amazed,
On the strange chase the thoughtful Virgin gazed;
But turn'd, she saw her shatter'd squadrons yield,
And changed the fortune of the flying field:
With shame, grief, rage, all kindling at the sight,
She rush'd to turn her routed bands from flight;
Now, singly bold, against a host made head,
And now, o'erpower'd by pressing numbers, fled;
Yet mutual flight to her pursuers taught,
For still she flew, and as she fled she fought.
But launch'd in vengeance on the ruffian flew;
As swiftly loosed to flight he urg'd his steed,
For instant fear gave feathers to his speed.
Suspensed a-while, and much at both amazed,
On the strange chase the thoughtful Virgin gazed;
But turn'd, she saw her shatter'd squadrons yield,
And changed the fortune of the flying field:
With shame, grief, rage, all kindling at the sight,
She rush'd to turn her routed bands from flight;
Now, singly bold, against a host made head,
And now, o'erpower'd by pressing numbers, fled;
Yet mutual flight to her pursuers taught,
For still she flew, and as she fled she fought.
236
As on the wilds of Plessa's bordering wood,
Or where broad Volga rolls a deepening flood,
The savage Ure, by circling mastiffs prest,
Shakes the dread dewlap of his bellowing chest;
Outnumber'd, now prepares his flanks for flight,
Now wheeling lifts his horny front in fight;
Clorinda so, half chasing, and half chased,
Repelling, and repell'd, now fled, now faced;
When flying fear'd, and fatal tho' pursued,
She rather seem'd subduing than subdued.
Or where broad Volga rolls a deepening flood,
The savage Ure, by circling mastiffs prest,
Shakes the dread dewlap of his bellowing chest;
Outnumber'd, now prepares his flanks for flight,
Now wheeling lifts his horny front in fight;
Clorinda so, half chasing, and half chased,
Repelling, and repell'd, now fled, now faced;
When flying fear'd, and fatal tho' pursued,
She rather seem'd subduing than subdued.
The Pagans, push'd before the Christian powers,
Now reach'd the bases of their sheltering towers;
Whence rallied, for the field again they burn,
And with a shout upon their hunters turn.
Now reach'd the bases of their sheltering towers;
Whence rallied, for the field again they burn,
And with a shout upon their hunters turn.
Mean time Argantes with his troop impends,
And plumed in horror from the mount descends.
Well might the stoutest tremble at the sight,
For fearful rush'd the giant famed in fight:
Pierc'd by his sword, or by his lance o'erthrown,
The prostrate ranks beneath his fury groan;
Deform'd, the battle bleeds at every vein,
And man and steed lie tumbled on the plain.
With equal death Clorinda heap'd the field,
And made the pride of manly prowess yield.
Ardelio, whose brave spirit, warm though sage,
Felt a fresh spring in his autumnal age,
With rash essay adventuring to repel,
A victim to the fond presumption fell.
Two sons he had who felt their father's fire,
Two valiant sons to guard a valiant sire;
But wounded lay the brave Alcander's might,
And scarce was Poliphernes saved by flight.
And plumed in horror from the mount descends.
Well might the stoutest tremble at the sight,
For fearful rush'd the giant famed in fight:
Pierc'd by his sword, or by his lance o'erthrown,
The prostrate ranks beneath his fury groan;
Deform'd, the battle bleeds at every vein,
And man and steed lie tumbled on the plain.
With equal death Clorinda heap'd the field,
And made the pride of manly prowess yield.
237
Felt a fresh spring in his autumnal age,
With rash essay adventuring to repel,
A victim to the fond presumption fell.
Two sons he had who felt their father's fire,
Two valiant sons to guard a valiant sire;
But wounded lay the brave Alcander's might,
And scarce was Poliphernes saved by flight.
But Tancred, who untimely o'er the plain
Pursued the ruffian, but pursued in vain,
Now turning saw the unequal combat waged,
And his brave troop by circling hosts engaged:
With double grief his error pierc'd his sight,
But double valour would restore the fight;
He ran, he shot, confirm'd his fainting bands,
Recall'd their hearts, and fortified their hands.
Pursued the ruffian, but pursued in vain,
Now turning saw the unequal combat waged,
And his brave troop by circling hosts engaged:
With double grief his error pierc'd his sight,
But double valour would restore the fight;
He ran, he shot, confirm'd his fainting bands,
Recall'd their hearts, and fortified their hands.
Nor he alone; for now, by Dudon led,
The Adventurous Troop their dreaded ensigns spread.
Strength of their strength, and in himself a host,
Their flower, their nerve, their beauty, and their boast,
Whom by his mien and arms Erminia knew,
Before the foremost young Rinaldo flew.
“Behold,” she cried, “behold Rinaldo there,
“Than man more valiant, more than woman fair!
“Whose fame is full e're promise could presage,
“And shames in infancy the toils of age.
“His arm more forceful than an engine falls,
“And threats more ruin to these tottering walls.
“Had Europe sent six champions to the field,
“Six boys like this could ample Europe yield,
“The world were conquer'd to the southern pole;
“Beneath their yoke should India's Ganges roll,
“In chains all Niger's tawny kings should tread,
“And Nile in vain would hide his sacred head.
The Adventurous Troop their dreaded ensigns spread.
Strength of their strength, and in himself a host,
Their flower, their nerve, their beauty, and their boast,
Whom by his mien and arms Erminia knew,
Before the foremost young Rinaldo flew.
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“Than man more valiant, more than woman fair!
“Whose fame is full e're promise could presage,
“And shames in infancy the toils of age.
“His arm more forceful than an engine falls,
“And threats more ruin to these tottering walls.
“Had Europe sent six champions to the field,
“Six boys like this could ample Europe yield,
“The world were conquer'd to the southern pole;
“Beneath their yoke should India's Ganges roll,
“In chains all Niger's tawny kings should tread,
“And Nile in vain would hide his sacred head.
“But turn where Dudon thy attention claims,
“Who there in gold and mingling verdure flames!
“He rules yon band whose actions task belief,
“Where every soldier is himself a chief;
“Yet justly his experienced step precedes,
“And hundreds that were born to empire leads.
“Who there in gold and mingling verdure flames!
“He rules yon band whose actions task belief,
“Where every soldier is himself a chief;
“Yet justly his experienced step precedes,
“And hundreds that were born to empire leads.
“Lo there (unprais'd who in his prowess prides)
“The brother of imperial Norway rides,
“Gernando, whose huge stature loads the plain!
“What boots to say he's valiant, since he's vain?”
“The brother of imperial Norway rides,
“Gernando, whose huge stature loads the plain!
“What boots to say he's valiant, since he's vain?”
239
“But here, O king, in radiant silver drest,
“Fair as the faith that whitens in their breast,
“Behold, ah sweet associates! side by side,
“Two friends espoused, the lover and the bride;
“Gildippe, Edward, paradised in bliss,
“Her Edward that, and his Gildippe this!
“No force can foil them, and no fate can part,
“Famed in the fight, and wedded in the heart.”
“Fair as the faith that whitens in their breast,
“Behold, ah sweet associates! side by side,
“Two friends espoused, the lover and the bride;
“Gildippe, Edward, paradised in bliss,
“Her Edward that, and his Gildippe this!
“No force can foil them, and no fate can part,
“Famed in the fight, and wedded in the heart.”
While thus she gave due honour to the foe,
Wild was the riot in the vale below:
For now in Tancred and Rinaldo's ire,
The slaughter rages and the ranks expire;
Through the firm depth of hemming foes they broke,
And some arm'd Paynim died on every stroke;
Not even Argantes could the shock sustain,
But, fallen beneath Rinaldo, spread the plain.
And now, O mighty Chief, in arms surpast,
This thy first foil had haply proved thy last,
But chance deprived the victor of his prey,
Who prest beneath his prostrate courser lay.
Wild was the riot in the vale below:
For now in Tancred and Rinaldo's ire,
The slaughter rages and the ranks expire;
Through the firm depth of hemming foes they broke,
And some arm'd Paynim died on every stroke;
Not even Argantes could the shock sustain,
But, fallen beneath Rinaldo, spread the plain.
And now, O mighty Chief, in arms surpast,
This thy first foil had haply proved thy last,
But chance deprived the victor of his prey,
Who prest beneath his prostrate courser lay.
Mean-time pale fear deform'd the face of fight,
And, mingling, wing'd the Pagan feet for flight;
All, save Argantes and the martial Maid,
Who still to stem the conquering army staid;
The bank and bulwark of their host they rose,
And each stood equal to a thousand foes.
Nor so restrain'd, the impetuous Dudon flew,
Still urged the chace, and still the hindmost slew:
Swift, as the victor by Tigranes past,
Lopp'd from the trunk the headed helm he cast:
What, Corban, what, Algazar, could avail,
Your casque well temper'd, and your circling mail?
For his keen sword cleft Corban to the chest,
And through Algazar's back transfix'd the breast:
Beneath his steel Mahammed prest the plain,
Almanzer's bulk was number'd with the slain:
Before the Chief great Amurath expired,
And even Argantes slow, and stern, retired.
With bridled wrath the indignant warrior burn'd,
He labour'd, raged, withdrew, stopp'd, chafed and turn'd;
Till now the wish'd advantage he essay'd,
And in brave Dudon's bosom sheathed the blade;
Prone o'er the field his sullied armour rung,
And o'er his eyes the eternal slumber hung.
And, mingling, wing'd the Pagan feet for flight;
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Who still to stem the conquering army staid;
The bank and bulwark of their host they rose,
And each stood equal to a thousand foes.
Nor so restrain'd, the impetuous Dudon flew,
Still urged the chace, and still the hindmost slew:
Swift, as the victor by Tigranes past,
Lopp'd from the trunk the headed helm he cast:
What, Corban, what, Algazar, could avail,
Your casque well temper'd, and your circling mail?
For his keen sword cleft Corban to the chest,
And through Algazar's back transfix'd the breast:
Beneath his steel Mahammed prest the plain,
Almanzer's bulk was number'd with the slain:
Before the Chief great Amurath expired,
And even Argantes slow, and stern, retired.
With bridled wrath the indignant warrior burn'd,
He labour'd, raged, withdrew, stopp'd, chafed and turn'd;
Till now the wish'd advantage he essay'd,
And in brave Dudon's bosom sheathed the blade;
Prone o'er the field his sullied armour rung,
And o'er his eyes the eternal slumber hung.
Thrice, to the cheer of heaven's all-dulcet light,
He lift the pain'd and sickly lids of sight;
And thrice, vain toil, he struggled to arise,
And thrice he fell, and closed his umber'd eyes:
From the cold limbs the vital heat retired,
And in a parting sigh his soul expired.
He lift the pain'd and sickly lids of sight;
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And thrice he fell, and closed his umber'd eyes:
From the cold limbs the vital heat retired,
And in a parting sigh his soul expired.
Back stepp'd the stern Circassian from the dead,
And shook the reeking steel, and scornful said:
“Go, warriors, let the generous Godfrey know,
“What quick effusions from his bounty flow!
“When to our arm this weapon he assigned,
“Wise was the trust, as sure the gift was kind;
“Nor can he learn, without a secret pride,
“To what rare use his favours are applied:
“Freely he gave, nor I his bounty spare,
“Which here return'd his foremost champions share:
“Yet, tell him, yet I languish for that day,
“When hand to hand I shall in person pay.
And shook the reeking steel, and scornful said:
“Go, warriors, let the generous Godfrey know,
“What quick effusions from his bounty flow!
“When to our arm this weapon he assigned,
“Wise was the trust, as sure the gift was kind;
“Nor can he learn, without a secret pride,
“To what rare use his favours are applied:
“Freely he gave, nor I his bounty spare,
“Which here return'd his foremost champions share:
“Yet, tell him, yet I languish for that day,
“When hand to hand I shall in person pay.
He spoke, when hundreds on the boaster prest,
And launch'd a mingling tempest at his breast;
But prudence timely prompted to evade,
And the tall towers held forth their friendly shade.
And launch'd a mingling tempest at his breast;
But prudence timely prompted to evade,
And the tall towers held forth their friendly shade.
Now, shower'd tempestuous from the embattel'd wall,
Stones, darts, and flints, and engined quarries fall;
Wing'd from the nerve of many a bending bow,
Death points a cloud and rains the storm below;
The Christian powers receding seek the plain,
And their wide gates the cover'd Pagans gain.
When disencumber'd now Rinaldo rose,
To vengeance loosed he pour'd upon his foes;
For Dudon's fate had reach'd the warrior's ear,
And gave a fury which e'en friends might fear.
“On, on!” he cried, “why, wherefore stop? O shame!
“Your arms, revenge, revenge and Dudon claim.
“In vain their ramparts veil yon trembling rout,
“Walls rise in vain to keep the valiant out;
“Though fenced with adamant, or towers of steel,
“Argantes should my entering vengeance feel.”
He said, and forward on the ramparts sprung;
A storm of darts around his temples sung:
Yet he gave all his dauntless front to view;
Even danger awed before his eye withdrew;
The towers appear'd to totter at the sight,
And quailing thousands trembled from their height.
Stones, darts, and flints, and engined quarries fall;
242
Death points a cloud and rains the storm below;
The Christian powers receding seek the plain,
And their wide gates the cover'd Pagans gain.
When disencumber'd now Rinaldo rose,
To vengeance loosed he pour'd upon his foes;
For Dudon's fate had reach'd the warrior's ear,
And gave a fury which e'en friends might fear.
“On, on!” he cried, “why, wherefore stop? O shame!
“Your arms, revenge, revenge and Dudon claim.
“In vain their ramparts veil yon trembling rout,
“Walls rise in vain to keep the valiant out;
“Though fenced with adamant, or towers of steel,
“Argantes should my entering vengeance feel.”
He said, and forward on the ramparts sprung;
A storm of darts around his temples sung:
Yet he gave all his dauntless front to view;
Even danger awed before his eye withdrew;
The towers appear'd to totter at the sight,
And quailing thousands trembled from their height.
But Sigiere now by royal Godfrey sent,
(Sage herald) bade the rage of war relent:
“Retire, retire, nor vainly hope,” he cried,
“That one day's arm shall Salem's fate decide:
“Steep are her towers and boldly mann'd her walls;
“And dire must be the shock by which she falls.”
They staid reluctant—As the fiery steed
Rein'd in his pride and lorded in his speed,
So fared Rinaldo's fury, scarce represt;
And still the battle struggled in his breast.
(Sage herald) bade the rage of war relent:
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“That one day's arm shall Salem's fate decide:
“Steep are her towers and boldly mann'd her walls;
“And dire must be the shock by which she falls.”
They staid reluctant—As the fiery steed
Rein'd in his pride and lorded in his speed,
So fared Rinaldo's fury, scarce represt;
And still the battle struggled in his breast.
Mean-time, with dust deform'd and stain'd with gore,
Brave Dudon from the fated field they bore;
The soldiers press to touch his great remains,
And round his corse the copious sorrow rains.
But Bulloign, from a summit's neighbouring height,
Survey'd fair Solyma's imperial site;
Her powers, her force, and her defects he scann'd,
And the deep schemes of future conquest plann'd.
Brave Dudon from the fated field they bore;
The soldiers press to touch his great remains,
And round his corse the copious sorrow rains.
But Bulloign, from a summit's neighbouring height,
Survey'd fair Solyma's imperial site;
Her powers, her force, and her defects he scann'd,
And the deep schemes of future conquest plann'd.
High eminent amid the circling lands,
Fair Solyma in ancient glory stands:
Rear'd on two hills her regal spires arise;
Between, a vale in rich expansion lies:
From three proud sides she overlooks her foe,
And smiles, impervious, on the war below;
But, weak by nature on the northern part,
She stoops to arm her in the strength of art.
Fair Solyma in ancient glory stands:
Rear'd on two hills her regal spires arise;
Between, a vale in rich expansion lies:
244
And smiles, impervious, on the war below;
But, weak by nature on the northern part,
She stoops to arm her in the strength of art.
The frugal trough and cistern's vase retain
Her watery stores of heaven descending rain;
Around her walls no lively verdures grow;
Few founts to slake the sultry region flow;
No grove extends its hospitable shade
To the tired pilgrim or the feverish glade,
Save where, two leagues divided from the town,
A baleful forest rears its umbrage brown,
Whose silent shades in antique horrors rise,
Brood o'er the soil, and intercept the skies.
Her watery stores of heaven descending rain;
Around her walls no lively verdures grow;
Few founts to slake the sultry region flow;
No grove extends its hospitable shade
To the tired pilgrim or the feverish glade,
Save where, two leagues divided from the town,
A baleful forest rears its umbrage brown,
Whose silent shades in antique horrors rise,
Brood o'er the soil, and intercept the skies.
Clear to the dawning of the eastern beam,
The hallow'd Jordan pours a plenteous stream;
A sanded billow bounds the western side,
And rolls alternate on the midland tide;
Samaria stretch'd upon the north expands,
Where Bethel in opprobrious prospect stands;
But Bethlem, Israel's gem and Judah's boast,
Rears to the south, and consecrates the coast.
The hallow'd Jordan pours a plenteous stream;
A sanded billow bounds the western side,
And rolls alternate on the midland tide;
Samaria stretch'd upon the north expands,
Where Bethel in opprobrious prospect stands;
But Bethlem, Israel's gem and Judah's boast,
Rears to the south, and consecrates the coast.
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While Bulloign thus surveys the hostile ground,
And sends his eye in large experience round,
Metes the proud height of Sion's tower'd wall,
Marks her defects and meditates her fall;
Erminia intermitted silence breaks,
And thus observant of the Hero speaks.
And sends his eye in large experience round,
Metes the proud height of Sion's tower'd wall,
Marks her defects and meditates her fall;
Erminia intermitted silence breaks,
And thus observant of the Hero speaks.
“Behold, O King, in regal purple drest,
“Strength in his arm, and wisdom in his breast,
“Behold where Godfrey takes his aweful stand,
“All form'd for fame, to act as to command!
“In him the hero and the sage unite,
“The clue of conduct, and the force of fight:
“Raimond alone, of yon unnumber'd hosts,
“A rival in the nightly council boasts;
“Alike young Tancred's and Rinaldo's charms,
“Their flame of courage, and their force of arms!
“Strength in his arm, and wisdom in his breast,
“Behold where Godfrey takes his aweful stand,
“All form'd for fame, to act as to command!
“In him the hero and the sage unite,
“The clue of conduct, and the force of fight:
“Raimond alone, of yon unnumber'd hosts,
“A rival in the nightly council boasts;
“Alike young Tancred's and Rinaldo's charms,
“Their flame of courage, and their force of arms!
“I know,” the Monarch with a sigh replied,
“I know him well, and saw his prowess tried.
“When I the seals of Egypt's sultan bore,
“And trod a friend upon the Gallic shore,
“A stripling in the lists, he struck my eyes,
“And matchless bore from every arm the prize;
“Then, e're his spring of bearded down began,
“In every excellence a more than man:
“Too sure presages of impending woe
“To such, whom fate should mark for Bulloign's foe!
“I know him well, and saw his prowess tried.
“When I the seals of Egypt's sultan bore,
“And trod a friend upon the Gallic shore,
“A stripling in the lists, he struck my eyes,
“And matchless bore from every arm the prize;
246
“In every excellence a more than man:
“Too sure presages of impending woe
“To such, whom fate should mark for Bulloign's foe!
But say, what's he, whose scarf with Tyrian pride,
“Flows o'er his arms and glows at Godfrey's side?
“Though Godfrey treads superior to the sight,
“In mien and majesty they both unite.
“I see, 'tis Baldwin,” cried the princely Dame,
“His brother, less in features, than in fame.
“Flows o'er his arms and glows at Godfrey's side?
“Though Godfrey treads superior to the sight,
“In mien and majesty they both unite.
“I see, 'tis Baldwin,” cried the princely Dame,
“His brother, less in features, than in fame.
“But mark, intently turn'd how Godfrey hears,
“While Raimond speaks the judgment of his years,
“Whose hostile hairs bring terrors to my sight,
“Grown sage in war, and in experience white;
“Beyond ten thousand hands that head alarms,
“The ward and leading wisdom of their arms.
“While Raimond speaks the judgment of his years,
“Whose hostile hairs bring terrors to my sight,
“Grown sage in war, and in experience white;
“Beyond ten thousand hands that head alarms,
“The ward and leading wisdom of their arms.
“There William, England's younger hope, behold,
“His figured buckler, and his casque of gold!
“Guelfo the next, whose thirst of glory springs
“From a long race of heroes and of kings;
“I know him well, amid a host exprest,
“By his square shoulders and his ample chest.
“But ah! in vain I send my eyes about,
“To find my foe the cruel Boemond out;
“The dire usurper, whose relentless hand
“Slew my great sire, and seiz'd my native land!”
“His figured buckler, and his casque of gold!
247
“From a long race of heroes and of kings;
“I know him well, amid a host exprest,
“By his square shoulders and his ample chest.
“But ah! in vain I send my eyes about,
“To find my foe the cruel Boemond out;
“The dire usurper, whose relentless hand
“Slew my great sire, and seiz'd my native land!”
Thus while they spoke observant of the foe,
The Duke descends, and joins his host below:
For now resolv'd, and hopeless to prevail
Where Salem's eminence o'erlook'd the vale,
Incumbent on the opener north he lay,
Spread out his camp, and made his engines play,
Where every rampart shook beneath his power
From the far portal to the utmost tower—
In compass near a third; for such the space
That circles Sion in a wide embrace;
Not with thin ensigns lengthening tow'rd the mound,
Could Godfrey's army hem the wondrous round:
Yet every lane and every pass he barr'd,
And fix'd the frequent terrors of a guard;
Around his camp the spacious lines he drew,
And broad and deep his guardian trenches threw,
To shield his legions from untimely fight,
And every dark hostility of night.
The Duke descends, and joins his host below:
For now resolv'd, and hopeless to prevail
Where Salem's eminence o'erlook'd the vale,
Incumbent on the opener north he lay,
Spread out his camp, and made his engines play,
Where every rampart shook beneath his power
From the far portal to the utmost tower—
In compass near a third; for such the space
That circles Sion in a wide embrace;
Not with thin ensigns lengthening tow'rd the mound,
Could Godfrey's army hem the wondrous round:
Yet every lane and every pass he barr'd,
And fix'd the frequent terrors of a guard;
Around his camp the spacious lines he drew,
And broad and deep his guardian trenches threw,
248
And every dark hostility of night.
These orders given, the General held his way
Where Dudon, much lamented hero, lay:
High on a bier, with warlike honours graced,
In woful pomp the Great Remains were placed;
Snapp'd arms and sable ensigns spread the ground,
And mingling princes pour'd their griefs around.
Where Dudon, much lamented hero, lay:
High on a bier, with warlike honours graced,
In woful pomp the Great Remains were placed;
Snapp'd arms and sable ensigns spread the ground,
And mingling princes pour'd their griefs around.
At Bulloign's sight, the sadly silent croud,
Renew'd in rising sorrows, wept aloud;
But he, with majesty that bore the show
Of dirge in triumph, or of cheer in woe,
Approaching, touch'd the bier, represt his grief;
And thus pathetic spoke the mourning Chief.
Renew'd in rising sorrows, wept aloud;
But he, with majesty that bore the show
Of dirge in triumph, or of cheer in woe,
Approaching, touch'd the bier, represt his grief;
And thus pathetic spoke the mourning Chief.
“Hail Dudon! hail to thy eternal birth,
“Revived in Heaven from all thy toils on earth!
“Nor yet shall Heaven the total hero claim,
“Still found on earth, immortal in his fame!
“In life, my friend, in death thou didst excel;
“Valiant you fought, and valiantly you fell!
“Closed is thy warfare, finish'd is thy fight,
“And stars of living glory crown thy might!
“Not, not for thee, this sable cloud of woe;
“But for ourselves our juster sorrows flow:
“Our arm of war's unnerv'd upon thy bier,
“And broke with thine is every pointless spear;
“Despoil'd of thee, thou chiefest earthly aid,
“Our banners droop, and all our laurels fade!
“Yet the Great Cause that might inform the dead,
“The Cause survives, for which thy bosom bled;
“Survives to warm thee with its wonted charms,
“And wing thy soul assistant to our arms,
“When in the powers of heavenly mission bright,
“Once more thou shalt descend to rule the fight,
“In terrors wrap'd to thunder on the foe,
“To lay the pride of all oppressors low,
“To raze the height of yon embattel'd wall,
“And lift thy friends victorious from thy fall!”
He said—And now the slumberous dew of night
Mix'd with the shade, and sunk upon the sight;
O'er care-swoln lids effused the balm of sleep,
And closed those eyes that daily learn'd to weep.
But Bulloign on his pensive pillow lay,
Revolv'd through every labour of the day,
While forming in his wakeful round of thought
Machines arose, and novel combats fought.
“Revived in Heaven from all thy toils on earth!
“Nor yet shall Heaven the total hero claim,
“Still found on earth, immortal in his fame!
“In life, my friend, in death thou didst excel;
“Valiant you fought, and valiantly you fell!
“Closed is thy warfare, finish'd is thy fight,
“And stars of living glory crown thy might!
249
“But for ourselves our juster sorrows flow:
“Our arm of war's unnerv'd upon thy bier,
“And broke with thine is every pointless spear;
“Despoil'd of thee, thou chiefest earthly aid,
“Our banners droop, and all our laurels fade!
“Yet the Great Cause that might inform the dead,
“The Cause survives, for which thy bosom bled;
“Survives to warm thee with its wonted charms,
“And wing thy soul assistant to our arms,
“When in the powers of heavenly mission bright,
“Once more thou shalt descend to rule the fight,
“In terrors wrap'd to thunder on the foe,
“To lay the pride of all oppressors low,
“To raze the height of yon embattel'd wall,
“And lift thy friends victorious from thy fall!”
He said—And now the slumberous dew of night
Mix'd with the shade, and sunk upon the sight;
O'er care-swoln lids effused the balm of sleep,
And closed those eyes that daily learn'd to weep.
But Bulloign on his pensive pillow lay,
Revolv'd through every labour of the day,
While forming in his wakeful round of thought
Machines arose, and novel combats fought.
250
The bright-eyed morn from early vapour won,
Saw Godfrey arm'd, and orient with the sun;
At Dudon's herse, the friendly melting Chief
Pour'd the last tribute of attending grief.
Him a long train of funeral pomp convey'd,
And low in earth the warrior's corse they laid,
Where a tall palm its branching honours spread,
Wove in the wind, and worship'd o'er the dead;
His dust the priestly consecration blest,
And sung the great departed soul to rest.
Saw Godfrey arm'd, and orient with the sun;
At Dudon's herse, the friendly melting Chief
Pour'd the last tribute of attending grief.
Him a long train of funeral pomp convey'd,
And low in earth the warrior's corse they laid,
Where a tall palm its branching honours spread,
Wove in the wind, and worship'd o'er the dead;
His dust the priestly consecration blest,
And sung the great departed soul to rest.
High o'er his tomb, amid the branches strung,
Ensigns, and arms, and blazon'd trophies hung,
The pride and spoils of many a valiant knight,
Seiz'd by the Victor in his days of fight.
Full on the trunk his proper arms were placed,
His plumy helm the joining corslet graced;
And thus the marble bore his sacred name—
“Here Dudon lies—yet fills the world with fame.”
Ensigns, and arms, and blazon'd trophies hung,
The pride and spoils of many a valiant knight,
Seiz'd by the Victor in his days of fight.
Full on the trunk his proper arms were placed,
His plumy helm the joining corslet graced;
And thus the marble bore his sacred name—
“Here Dudon lies—yet fills the world with fame.”
The last sad rites of social woes exprest,
And Dudon left to his eternal rest,
The Chief of chiefs, on public cares intent,
A convoy to the secret forest sent,
Where silent grew its unfrequented shade,
Now by a Syrian to the Duke betray'd,
Who meditates from hence on Sion's fall,
And plans machines the rivals of her wall.
And Dudon left to his eternal rest,
The Chief of chiefs, on public cares intent,
A convoy to the secret forest sent,
Where silent grew its unfrequented shade,
Now by a Syrian to the Duke betray'd,
251
And plans machines the rivals of her wall.
The Woodmen now dispose their ranging bands,
The alternate axe high brandish'd in their hands;
Unwonted noise the affrighted forest fills,
And Echo sighs from all the circling hills.
Beneath their strokes the victor palms subside;
Down falls the pine from its aerial pride;
Still breathes the cedar o'er a length of ground;
The firs in weeping amber mourn around;
Fell'd with her elm the viney consort lies,
And faithful o'er the folded trunk she dies.
The alternate axe high brandish'd in their hands;
Unwonted noise the affrighted forest fills,
And Echo sighs from all the circling hills.
Beneath their strokes the victor palms subside;
Down falls the pine from its aerial pride;
Still breathes the cedar o'er a length of ground;
The firs in weeping amber mourn around;
Fell'd with her elm the viney consort lies,
And faithful o'er the folded trunk she dies.
The poplar, beech, and alder's watery shade,
Sink on the marsh, or wither o'er the glade:
Imperial oaks, that, through ten ages past,
Had braved heaven's bolt and rough encountering blast,
The period now of mortal glory feel,
And fall subdued beneath the conquering steel:
The exiled pard abjures his wonted den,
And every feather flies the voice of men:
Wide lie the realms of long usurping night,
And scenes unfold that never saw the light!
Sink on the marsh, or wither o'er the glade:
Imperial oaks, that, through ten ages past,
Had braved heaven's bolt and rough encountering blast,
The period now of mortal glory feel,
And fall subdued beneath the conquering steel:
The exiled pard abjures his wonted den,
And every feather flies the voice of men:
Wide lie the realms of long usurping night,
And scenes unfold that never saw the light!
| The Poetical Works of Henry Brooke | |