VIII But loving Eustace, that with jealous eye Beheld the worth of Sophia"s n.o.ble 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, h.o.a.r locks, and gravity, To whom should I, Duke G.o.dfrey"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 surpa.s.s the rest, And G.o.dfrey"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 pa.s.sions 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 n.o.ble 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 t.i.tles 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 n.o.ble 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 chastis.e.m.e.nt were fit there wins he praise: One counsels him, his speech him forward moves; Another fool approveth all he says: If G.o.dfrey 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 G.o.dfrey see.
XXIII With such false words the kindled fire began To every vein his poisoned heart to reach, It swelled his scornful heart, and forth it ran At his proud looks, and too audacious speech; All that he thought blameworthy in the man, To his disgrace that would be each where preach; He termed him proud and vain, his worth in fight He called fool-hardise, rashness, madness right.
XXIV All that in him was rare or excellent, All that was good, all that was princely found, With such sharp words as malice could invent, He blamed, such power has wicked tongue to wound.
The youth, for everywhere those rumors went, Of these reproaches heard sometimes the sound; Nor did for that his tongue the fault amend, Until it brought him to his woful end.
XXV The cursed fiend that set his tongue at large, Still bred more fancies in his idle brain, His heart with slanders new did overcharge, And soothed him still in his angry vein; Amid the camp a place was broad and large, Where one fair regiment might easily train; And there in tilt and harmless tournament Their days of rest the youths and gallants spent.
XXVI There, as his fortune would it should betide, Amid the press Gernando gan retire, To vomit out his venom unespied, Wherewith foul envy did his heart inspire.
Rinaldo heard him as he stood beside, And as he could not bridle wrath and ire, "Thou liest," cried he loud, and with that word About his head he tossed his flaming sword.
XXVII Thunder his voice, and lightning seemed his brand, So fell his look, and furious was his cheer, Gernando trembled, for he saw at hand Pale death, and neither help nor comfort near, Yet for the soldiers all to witness stand He made proud sign, as though he naught did fear, But bravely drew his little-helping blade, And valiant show of strong resistance made.
XXVIII With that a thousand blades of burnished steel Glistered on heaps like flames of fire in sight, Hundreds, that knew not yet the quarrel weel, Ran thither, some to gaze and some to fight: The empty air a sound confused did feel Of murmurs low, and outcries loud on height, Like rolling waves and Boreas" angry blasts When roaring seas against the rocks he casts.
XXIX But not for this the wronged warrior stayed His just displeasure and incensed ire, He cared not what the vulgar did or said, To vengeance did his courage fierce aspire: Among the thickest weapons way he made, His thundering sword made all on heaps retire, So that of near a thousand stayed not one, But Prince Gernando bore the brunt alone.
x.x.x His hand, too quick to execute his wrath, Performed all, as pleased his eye and heart, At head and breast oft times he strucken hath, Now at the right, now at the other part: On every side thus did he harm and scath, And oft beguile his sight with nimble art, That no defence the prince of wounds acquits, Where least he thinks, or fears, there most he hits.
x.x.xI Nor ceased be, till in Gernando"s breast He sheathed once or twice his furious blade; Down fell the hapless prince with death oppressed, A double way to his weak soul was made; His b.l.o.o.d.y sword the victor wiped and dressed, Nor longer by the slaughtered body stayed, But sped him thence, and soon appeased hath His hate, his ire, his rancor and his wrath.
x.x.xII Called by the tumult, G.o.dfrey drew him near, And there beheld a sad and rueful sight, The signs of death upon his face appear, With dust and blood his locks were loathly dight, Sighs and complaints on each side might he hear, Made for the sudden death of that great knight: Amazed, he asked who durst and did so much; For yet he knew not whom the fault would touch.
x.x.xIII Arnoldo, minion of the Prince thus slain, Augments the fault in telling it, and saith, This Prince murdered, for a quarrel vain, By young Rinaldo in his desperate wrath, And with that sword that should Christ"s law maintain, One of Christ"s champions bold he killed hath, And this he did in such a place and hour, As if he scorned your rule, despised your power.
x.x.xIV And further adds, that he deserved death By law, and law should inviolate, That none offence could greater be uneath, And yet the place the fault did aggravate: If he escapes, that mischief would take breath, And flourish bold in spite of rule and state; And that Gernando"s friends would venge the wrong, Although to justice that did first belong,
x.x.xV And by that means, should discord, hate and strife Raise mutinies, and what therefore ensueth: Lastly he praised the dead, and still had rife All words he thought could vengeance move or rut Against him Tancred argued for life, With honest reasons to excuse the youth: The Duke heard all, but with such sober cheer, As banished hope, and still increased fear.
x.x.xVI "Great Prince," quoth Tancred; "set before thine eyes Rinaldo"s worth and courage what it is, How much our hope of conquest in him lies; Regard that princely house and race of his; He that correcteth every fault he spies, And judgeth all alike, doth all amiss; For faults, you know, are greater thought or less, As is the person"s self that doth transgress."
x.x.xVII G.o.dfredo answered him; "If high and low Of sovereign power alike should feel the stroke, Then, Tancred, ill you counsel us, I trow; If lords should know no law, as erst you spoke, How vile and base our empire were you know, If none but slaves and peasants bear the yoke; Weak is the sceptre and the power is small That such provisos bring annexed withal.
x.x.xVIII "But mine was freely given ere "twas sought, Nor that it lessened be I now consent; Right well know I both when and where I ought To give condign reward and punishment, Since you are all in like subjection brought, Both high and low obey, and be content."
This heard, Tancredi wisely stayed his words, Such weight the sayings have of kings and lords.
x.x.xIX Old Raymond praised his speech, for old men think They ever wisest seem when most severe, ""Tis best," quoth he, "to make these great ones shrink, The people love him whom the n.o.bles fear: There must the rule to all disorders sink, Where pardons more than punishments appear; For feeble is each kingdom, frail and weak, Unless his basis be this fear I speak."
XL These words Tancredi heard and pondered well, And by them wist how G.o.dfrey"s thoughts were bent, Nor list he longer with these old men dwell, But turned his horse and to Rinaldo went, Who, when his n.o.ble foe death-wounded fell, Withdrew him softly to his gorgeous tent; There Tancred found him, and at large declared The words and speeches sharp which late you heard.
XLI And said, "Although I wot the outward show Is not true witness of the secret thought, For that some men so subtle are, I trow, That what they purpose most appeareth naught; Yet dare I say G.o.dfredo means, I know, Such knowledge hath his looks and speeches wrought, You shall first prisoner be, and then be tried As he shall deem it good and law provide."
XLII With that a bitter smile well might you see Rinaldo cast, with scorn and high disdain, "Let them in fetters plead their cause," quoth he, "That are base peasants, born of servile stain, I was free born, I live and will die free Before these feet be fettered in a chain: These hands were made to shake sharp spears and swords, Not to be tied in gyves and twisted cords.
XLIII "If my good service reap this recompense, To be clapt up in close and secret mew, And as a thief be after dragged from thence, To suffer punishment as law finds due; Let G.o.dfrey come or send, I will not hence Until we know who shall this bargain rue, That of our tragedy the late done fact May be the first, and this the second, act.
XLIV "Give me mine arms," he cried; his squire them brings, And clad his head, and dressed in iron strong, About his neck his silver shield he flings, Down by his side a cutting sword there hung; Among this earth"s brave lords and mighty kings, Was none so stout, so fierce, so fair, so young, G.o.d Mars he seemed descending from his sphere, Or one whose looks could make great Mars to fear.
XLV Tancredi labored with some pleasing speech His spirits fierce and courage to appease; "Young Prince, thy valor," thus he gan to preach, "Can chastise all that do thee wrong, at ease, I know your virtue can your enemies teach, That you can venge you when and where you please: But G.o.d forbid this day you lift your arm To do this camp and us your friends such harm.
XLVI "Tell me what will you do? why would you stain Your n.o.ble hands in our unguilty blood?
By wounding Christians, will you again Pierce Christ, whose parts they are and members good?
Will you destroy us for your glory vain, Unstayed as rolling waves in ocean flood?
Far be it from you so to prove your strength, And let your zeal appease your rage at length.
XLVII "For G.o.d"s love stay your heat, and just displeasure, Appease your wrath, your courage fierce a.s.suage, Patience, a praise; forbearance, is a treasure; Suffrance, an angel"s is; a monster, rage; At least you actions by example measure, And think how I in mine unbridled age Was wronged, yet I would not revengement take On all this camp, for one offender"s sake.
XLVIII "Cilicia conquered I, as all men wot, And there the glorious cross on high I reared, But Baldwin came, and what I n.o.bly got Bereft me falsely when I least him feared; He seemed my friend, and I discovered not His secret covetise which since appeared; Yet strive I not to get mine own by fight, Or civil war, although perchance I might.
XLIX "If then you scorn to be in prison pent, If bonds, as high disgrace, your hands refuse; Or if your thoughts still to maintain are bent Your liberty, as men of honor use: To Antioch what if forthwith you went?
And leave me here your absence to excuse, There with Prince Boemond live in ease and peace, Until this storm of G.o.dfrey"s anger cease.
L "For soon, if forces come from Egypt land, Or other nations that us here confine, G.o.dfrey will beaten be with his own wand, And feel he wants that valor great of thine, Our camp may seem an arm without a hand, Amid our troops unless thy eagle shine:"
With that came Guelpho and those words approved, And prayed him go, if him he feared or loved.