Jerusalem Delivered (eBook)

FIFTH BOOK

THE ARGUMENT.

Gernando scorns Rinaldo should aspire

To rule that charge for which he seeks and strives,

And slanders him so far, that in his ire

The wronged knight his foe of life deprives:

Far from the camp the slayer doth retire,

Nor lets himself be bound in chains or gyves:

Armide departs content, and from the seas

Godfrey hears news which him and his displease.

I

While thus Armida false the knights misled

In wandering errors of deceitful love,

And thought, besides the champions promised,

The other lordlings in her aid to move,

In Godfrey's thought a strong contention bred

Who fittest were this hazard great to prove;

For all the worthies of the adventures' band

Were like in birth, in power, in strength of hand.

II

But first the prince, by grave advice, decreed

They should some knight choose at their own election,

That in his charge Lord Dudon might succeed,

And of that glorious troop should take protection;

So none should grieve, displeased with the deed,

Nor blame the causer of their new subjection:

Besides, Godfredo showed by this device,

How much he held that regiment in price.

III

He called the worthies then, and spake them so:

"Lordlings, you know I yielded to your will,

And gave you license with this dame to go,

To win her kingdom and that tyrant kill:

But now again I let you further know,

In following her it may betide yon ill;

Refrain therefore, and change this forward thought

For death unsent for, danger comes unsought.

IV

"But if to shun these perils, sought so far,

May seem disgraceful to the place yon hold;

If grave advice and prudent counsel are

Esteemed detractors from your courage bold;

Then know, I none against his will debar,

Nor what I granted erst I now withhold;

But he mine empire, as it ought of right,

Sweet, easy, pleasant, gentle, meek and light.

V

"Go then or tarry, each as likes him best,

Free power I grant you on this enterprise;

But first in Dudon's place, now laid in chest,

Choose you some other captain stout and wise;

Then ten appoint among the worthiest,

But let no more attempt this hard emprise,

In this my will content you that I have,

For power constrained is but a glorious slave."

VI

Thus Godfrey said, and thus his brother spake,

And answered for himself and all his peers:

"My lord, as well it fitteth thee to make

These wise delays and cast these doubts and fears,

So 'tis our part at first to undertake;

Courage and haste beseems our might and years;

And this proceeding with so grave advice,

Wisdom, in you, in us were cowardice.

VII

"Since then the feat is easy, danger none,

All set in battle and in hardy fight,

Do thou permit the chosen ten to gone

And aid the damsel:" thus devised the knight,

To make men think the sun of honor shone

There where the lamp of Cupid gave the light:

The rest perceive his guile, and it approve,

And call that knighthood which was childish love.

VIII

But loving Eustace, that with jealous eye

Beheld the worth of Sophia's noble child,

And his fair shape did secretly envy,

Besides the virtues in his breast compiled,

And, for in love he would no company,

He stored his mouth with speeches smoothly filed,

Drawing his rival to attend his word;

Thus with fair sleight he laid the knight abord:

IX

"Of great Bertoldo thou far greater heir,

Thou star of knighthood, flower of chivalry,

Tell me, who now shall lead this squadron fair,

Since our late guide in marble cold doth lie?

I, that with famous Dudon might compare

In all, but years, hoar locks, and gravity,

To whom should I, Duke Godfrey's brother, yield,

Unless to thee, the Christian army's shield?

X

"Thee whom high birth makes equal with the best

Thine acts prefer both me and all beforn;

Nor that in fight thou both surpass the rest,

And Godfrey's worthy self, I hold in scorn;

Thee to obey then am I only pressed;

Before these worthies be thine eagle borne;

This honor haply thou esteemest light,

Whose day of glory never yet found night.

XI

"Yet mayest thou further by this means display

The spreading wings of thy immortal fame;

I will procure it, if thou sayest not nay,

And all their wills to thine election frame:

But for I scantly am resolved which way

To bend my force, or where employ the same,

Leave me, I pray, at my discretion free

To help Armida, or serve here with thee."

XII

This last request, for love is evil to hide,

Empurpled both his cheeks with scarlet red;

Rinaldo soon his passions had descried,

And gently smiling turned aside his head,

And, for weak Cupid was too feeble eyed

To strike him sure, the fire in him was dead;

So that of rivals was he naught afraid,

Nor cared he for the journey or the maid.

XIII

But in his noble thought revolved he oft

Dudon's high prowess, death and burial,

And how Argantes bore his plumes aloft,

Praising his fortunes for that worthy's fall;

Besides, the knight's sweet words and praises soft

To his due honor did him fitly call,

And made his heart rejoice, for well he knew,

Though much he praised him, all his words were true.

XIV

"Degrees," quoth he, "of honors high to hold,

I would them first deserve, and the desire;

And were my valor such as you have told,

Would I for that to higher place aspire:

But if to honors due raise me you would,

I will not of my works refuse the hire;

And much it glads me, that my power and might

Ypraised is by such a valiant knight.

XV

"I neither seek it nor refuse the place,

Which if I get, the praise and thanks be thine."

Eustace, this spoken, hied thence apace

To know which way his fellows' hearts incline:

But Prince Gernando coveted the place,

Whom though Armida sought to undermine,

Gainst him yet vain did all her engines prove,

His pride was such, there was no place for love.

XVI

Gernando was the King of Norway's son,

That many a realm and region had to guide,

And for his elders lands and crowns had won.

His heart was puffed up with endless pride:

The other boasts more what himself had done

Than all his ancestors' great acts beside;

Yet his forefathers old before him were

Famous in war and peace five hundred years.

XVII

This barbarous prince, who only vainly thought

That bliss in wealth and kingly power doth lie,

And in respect esteemed all virtue naught

Unless it were adorned with titles high,

Could not endure, that to the place he sought

A simple knight should dare to press so nigh;

And in his breast so boiled fell despite,

That ire and wrath exiled reason quite.

XVIII

The hidden devil, that lies in close await

To win the fort of unbelieving man,

Found entry there, where ire undid the gate,

And in his bosom unperceived ran;

It filled his heart with malice, strife and hate,

It made him rage, blaspheme, swear, curse and ban,

Invisible it still attends him near,

And thus each minute whispereth in his ear.

XIX

What, shall Rinaldo match thee?  dares he tell

Those idle names of his vain pedigree?

Then let him say, if thee he would excel,

What lands, what realms his tributaries be:

If his forefathers in the graves that dwell,

Were honored like thine that live, let see:

Oh how dares one so mean aspire so high,

Born in that servile country Italy?

XX

Now, if he win, or if he lose the day,

Yet is his praise and glory hence derived,

For that the world will, to his credit, say,

Lo, this is he that with Gernando strived.

The charge some deal thee haply honor may,

That noble Dudon had while here he lived;

But laid on him he would the office shame,

Let it suffice, he durst desire the same.

XXI

If when this breath from man's frail body flies

The soul take keep, or know the things done here,

Oh, how looks Dudon from the glorious skies?

What wrath, what anger in his face appear,

On this proud youngling while he bends his eyes,

Marking how high he doth his feathers rear?

Seeing his rash attempt, how soon he dare,

Though but a boy, with his great worth compare.

XXII

He dares not only, but he strives and proves,

Where chastisement were fit there wins he praise:

One counsels him, his speech him forward moves;

Another fool approveth all he says:

If Godfrey favor him more than behoves,

Why then he wrongeth thee an hundred ways;

Nor let thy state so far disgraced be,

Now what thou art and canst, let Godfrey...