XXVI And saw one visage of some well-known friend.
In foul despite, a rascal Frenchman tread, And there another ragged peasant rend The arms and garments from some champion dead, And there with stately pomp by heaps they wend, And Christians slain roll up in webs of lead; Lastly the Turks and slain Arabians, brought On heaps, he saw them burn with fire to naught.
XXVII Deeply he sighed, and with naked sword Out of the coach he leaped in the mire, But Ismen called again the angry lord, And with grave words appeased his foolish ire.
The prince content remounted at his sword, Toward a hill on drove the aged sire, And hasting forward up the bank they pa.s.s, Till far behind the Christian leaguer was.
XXVIII There they alight and took their way on foot, The empty chariot vanished out of sight, Yet still the cloud environed them about.
At their left hand down went they from the height Of Sion"s Hill, till they approached the route On that side where to west he looketh right, There Ismen stayed, and his eyesight bent Upon the bushy rocks, and thither went.
XXIX A hollow cave was in the craggy stone, Wrought out by hand a number years tofore, And for of long that way had walked none, The vault was hid with plants and bushes h.o.a.r, The wizard stooping in thereat to gone, The thorns aside and scratching brambles bore, His right hand sought the pa.s.sage through the cleft, And for his guide he gave the prince his left:
x.x.x "What," quoth the Soldan, "by what privy mine, What hidden vault behoves it me to creep?
This sword can find a better way than thine, Although our foes the pa.s.sage guard and keep."
"Let not," quoth he, "thy princely foot repine To tread this secret path, though dark and deep; For great King Herod used to tread the same, He that in arms had whilom so great fame.
x.x.xI "This pa.s.sage made he, when he would suppress His subjects" pride, and them in bondage hold; By this he could from that small forteress Antonia called, of Antony the bold, Convey his folk unseen of more and less Even to the middest of the temple old, Thence, hither; where these privy ways begin, And bring unseen whole armies out and in.
x.x.xII "But now saye I in all this world lives none That knows the secret of this darksome place, Come then where Aladine sits on his throne, With lords and princes set about his grace; He feareth more than fitteth such an one, Such signs of doubt show in his cheer and face; Fitly you come, hear, see, and keep you still, Till time and season serve, then speak your fill."
x.x.xIII This said, that narrow entrance pa.s.sed the knight, So creeps a camel through a needle"s eye, And through the ways as black as darkest night He followed him that did him rule and guie; Strait was the way at first, withouten light, But further in, did further amplify; So that upright walked at ease the men Ere they had pa.s.sed half that secret den,
x.x.xIV A privy door Ismen unlocked at last, And up they clomb a little-used stair, Thereat the day a feeble beam in cast, Dim was the light, and nothing clear the air; Out of the hollow cave at length they pa.s.sed Into a goodly hall, high, broad and fair, Where crowned with gold, and all in purple clad Sate the sad king, among his n.o.bles sad.
x.x.xV The Turk, close in his hollow cloud imbarred, Unseen, at will did all the prease behold, These heavy speeches of the king he heard, Who thus from lofty siege his pleasure told; "My lords, last day our state was much impaired, Our friends were slain, killed were our soldiers bold, Great helps and greater hopes are us bereft, Nor aught but aid from Egypt land is left:
x.x.xVI "And well you see far distant is that aid, Upon our heels our danger treadeth still, For your advice was this a.s.sembly made, Each what he thinketh speak, and what he will."
A whisper soft arose when this was said, As gentle winds the groves with murmur fill, But with bold face, high looks and merry cheer, Argantes rose, the rest their talk forbear.
x.x.xVII "O worthy sovereign," thus began to say The hardy young man to the tyrant wise, "What words be these? what fears do you dismay?
Who knows not this, you need not our advice!
But on your hand your hope of conquest lay, And, for no loss true virtue d.a.m.nifies, Make her our shield, pray her us succors give, And without her let us not wish to live.
x.x.xVIII "Nor say I this for that I aught misdeem That Egypt"s promised succors fail us might, Doubtful of my great master"s words to seem To me were neither lawful, just, nor right!
I speak these words, for spurs I them esteem To waken up each dull and fearful sprite, And make our hearts resolved to all a.s.says, To win with honor, or to die with praise."
x.x.xIX Thus much Argantes said, and said no more, As if the case were clear of which he spoke.
Orcano rose, of princely stem ybore, Whose presence "mongst them bore a mighty stroke, A man esteemed well in arms of yore, But now was coupled new in marriage yoke; Young babes he had, to fight which made him loth, He was a husband and a father both.
XL "My lord," quoth he, "I will not reprehend The earnest zeal of this audacious speech, From courage sprung, which seld is close ypend In swelling stomach without violent breach: And though to you our good Circa.s.sian friend In terms too bold and fervent oft doth preach, Yet hold I that for good, in warlike feat For his great deeds respond his speeches great.
XLI "But if it you beseem, whom graver age And long experience hath made wise and sly, To rule the heat of youth and hardy rage, Which somewhat have misled this knight awry, In equal balance ponder then and gauge Your hopes far distant, with your perils nigh; This town"s old walls and rampires new compare With G.o.dfrey"s forces and his engines rare.
XLII "But, if I may say what I think unblamed, This town is strong, by nature, site and art, But engines huge and instruments are framed Gainst these defences by our adverse part, Who thinks him most secure is eathest shamed; I hope the best, yet fear unconstant mart, And with this siege if we be long up pent, Famine I doubt, our store will all be spent.
XLIII "For all that store of cattle and of grain Which yesterday within these walls you brought, While your proud foes triumphant through the plain On naught but shedding blood, and conquest thought, Too little is this city to sustain, To raise the siege unless some means be sought; And it must last till the prefixed hour That it be raised by Egypt"s aid and power.
XLIV "But what if that appointed day they miss?
Or else, ere we expect, what if they came?
The victory yet is not ours for this, Oh save this town from ruin, us from shame!
With that same G.o.dfrey still our warfare is, These armies, soldiers, captains are the same Who have so oft amid the dusty plain Turks, Persians, Syrians and Arabians slain.
XLV "And thou Argantes wotest what they be; Oft hast thou fled from that victorious host, Thy shoulders often hast thou let them see, And in thy feet hath been thy safeguard most; Clorinda bright and I fled eke with thee, None than his fellows had more cause to boast, Nor blame I any; for in every fight We showed courage, valor, strength and might.
XLVI "And though this hardy knight the certain threat Of near-approaching death to hear disdain; Yet to this state of loss and danger great, From this strong foe I see the tokens plain; No fort how strong soe"er by art or seat, Can hinder G.o.dfrey why he should not reign: This makes me say,--to witness heaven I bring, Zeal to this state, love to my lord and king--
XLVII "The king of Tripoli was well advised To purchase peace, and so preserve his crown: But Solyman, who G.o.dfrey"s love despised, Is either dead or deep in prison thrown; Else fearful is he run away disguised, And scant his life is left him for his own, And yet with gifts, with tribute, and with gold, He might in peace his empire still have hold."
XLVIII Thus spake Orcanes, and some inkling gave In doubtful words of that he would have said; To sue for peace or yield himself a slave He durst not openly his king persuade: But at those words the Soldan gan to rave, And gainst his will wrapt in the cloud he stayed, Whom Ismen thus bespake, "How can you bear These words, my lord? or these reproaches hear?"
XLIX "Oh, let me speak," quoth he, "with ire and scorn I burn, and gains, my will thus hid I stay!"
This said, the smoky cloud was cleft and torn, Which like a veil upon them stretched lay, And up to open heaven forthwith was borne, And left the prince in view of lightsome day, With princely look amid the press he shined, And on a sudden, thus declared his mind.
L "Of whom you speak behold the Soldan here, Neither afraid nor run away for dread, And that these slanders, lies and fables were, This hand shall prove upon that coward"s head, I, who have shed a sea of blood well near, And heaped up mountains high of Christians dead, I in their camp who still maintained the fray, My men all murdered, I that run away.
LI "If this, or any coward vile beside, False to his faith and country, dares reply; And speak of concord with yon men of pride, By your good leave, Sir King, here shall he die, The lambs and wolves shall in one fold abide, The doves and serpents in one nest shall lie, Before one town us and these Christians shall In peace and love unite within one wall."
LII While thus he spoke, his broad and trenchant sword His hand held high aloft in threatening guise; Dumb stood the knights, so dreadful was his word; A storm was in his front, fire in his eyes, He turned at last to Sion"s aged lord, And calmed his visage stern in humbler wise: "Behold," quoth he, "good prince, what aid I bring, Since Solyman is joined with Juda"s king."
LIII King Aladine from his rich throne upstart And said, "Oh how I joy thy face to view, My n.o.ble friend! it lesseneth in some part My grief, for slaughter of my subjects true; My weak estate to stablish come thou art, And mayest thine own again in time renew, If Heavens consent:" with that the Soldan bold In dear embracements did he long enfold.
LIV Their greetings done, the king resigned his throne To Solyman, and set himself beside, In a rich seat adorned with gold and stone, And Ismen sage did at his elbow bide, Of whom he asked what way they two had gone, And he declared all what had them betide: Clorinda bright to Solyman addressed Her salutations first, then all the rest.
LV Among them rose Ormusses" valiant knight, Whom late the Soldan with a convoy sent, And when most hot and b.l.o.o.d.y was the fight, By secret paths and blind byways he went, Till aided by the silence and the night Safe in the city"s walls himself he pent, And there refreshed with corn and cattle store The pined soldiers famished nigh before.
LVI With surly countenance and disdainful grace, Sullen and sad, sat the Circa.s.sian stout, Like a fierce lion grumbling in his place, His fiery eyes that turns and rolls about; Nor durst Orcanes view the Soldan"s face, But still upon the floor did pore and tout: Thus with his lords and peers in counselling, The Turkish monarch sat with Juda"s king.
LVII G.o.dfrey this while gave victory the rein, And following her the straits he opened all; Then for his soldiers and his captains slain, He celebrates a stately funeral, And told his camp within a day or twain He would a.s.sault the city"s mighty wall, And all the heathen there enclosed doth threat, With fire and sword, with death and danger great.
LVIII And for he had that n.o.ble squadron known, In the last fight which brought him so great aid, To be the lords and princes of his own Who followed late the sly enticing maid, And with them Tancred, who had late been thrown In prison deep, by that false witch betrayed, Before the hermit and some private friends, For all those worthies, lords and knights, he sends;
LIX And thus he said, "Some one of you declare Your fortunes, whether good or to be blamed, And to a.s.sist us with your valors rare In so great need, how was your coming framed?"
They blush, and on the ground amazed stare, For virtue is of little guilt ashamed, At last the English prince with countenance bold, The silence broke, and thus their errors told:
LX "We, not elect to that exploit by lot, With secret flight from hence ourselves withdrew, Following false Cupid, I deny it not, Enticed forth by love and beauty"s hue; A jealous fire burnt in our stomachs hot, And by close ways we pa.s.sed least in view, Her words, her looks, alas I know too late, Nursed our love, our jealousy, our hate.
LXI "At last we gan approach that woful clime, Where fire and brimstone down from Heaven was sent To take revenge for sin and shameful crime Gainst kind commit, by those who nould repent; A loathsome lake of brimstone, pitch and lime, O"ergoes that land, erst sweet and redolent, And when it moves, thence stench and smoke up flies Which dim the welkin and infect the skies.
LXII "This is the lake in which yet never might Aught that hath weight sink to the bottom down, But like to cork or leaves or feathers light, Stones, iron, men, there fleet and never drown; Therein a castle stands, to which by sight But o"er a narrow bridge no way is known, Hither us brought, here welcomed us the witch, The house within was stately, pleasant, rich.
LXIII "The heavens were clear, and wholsome was the air, High trees, sweet meadows, waters pure and good; For there in thickest shade of myrtles fair A crystal spring poured out a silver flood; Amid the herbs, the gra.s.s and flowers rare, The falling leaves down pattered from the wood, The birds sung hymns of love; yet speak I naught Of gold and marble rich, and richly wrought.
LXIV "Under the curtain of the greenwood shade, Beside the brook upon the velvet gra.s.s, In ma.s.sy vessel of pure silver made, A banquet rich and costly furnished was, All beasts, all birds beguiled by fowler"s trade, All fish were there in floods or seas that pa.s.s, All dainties made by art, and at the table An hundred virgins served, for husbands able.
LXV "She with sweet words and false enticing smiles, Infused love among the dainties set, And with empoisoned cups our souls beguiles, And made each knight himself and G.o.d forget: She rose and turned again within short whiles, With changed looks where wrath and anger met, A charming rod, a book with her she brings, On which she mumbled strange and secret things.
LXVI "She read, and change I felt my will and thought, I longed to change my life, and place of biding, That virtue strange in me no pleasure wrought, I leapt into the flood myself there hiding, My legs and feet both into one were brought, Mine arms and hands into my shoulders sliding, My skin was full of scales, like shields of bra.s.s, Now made a fish, where late a knight I was.
LXVII "The rest with me like shape, like garments wore, And dived with me in that quicksilver stream, Such mind, to my remembrance, then I bore, As when on vain and foolish things men dream; At last our shade it pleased her to restore, Then full of wonder and of fear we seem, And with an ireful look the angry maid Thus threatened us, and made us thus afraid.
LXVIII ""You see," quoth she, "my sacred might and skill, How you are subject to my rule and power, In endless thraldom d.a.m.ned if I will I can torment and keep you in this tower, Or make you birds, or trees on craggy hill, To bide the bitter blasts of storm and shower; Or harden you to rocks on mountains old, Or melt your flesh and bones to rivers cold: