Part 7 (1/2)
Use open force, or secret guile unspied; For craft is virtue gainst a foe defied.
XVII ”Among the knights and worthies of their train, Let some like outlaws wander uncouth ways, Let some be slain in field, let some again Make oracles of women's yeas and nays, And pine in foolish love, let some complain On G.o.dfrey's rule, and mutinies gainst him raise, Turn each one's sword against his fellow's heart, Thus kill them all or spoil the greatest part.”
XVIII Before his words the tyrant ended had, The lesser devils arose with ghastly roar, And thronged forth about the world to gad, Each land they filled, river, stream and sh.o.r.e, The goblins, fairies, fiends and furies mad, Ranged in flowery dales, and mountains h.o.a.r, And under every trembling leaf they sit, Between the solid earth and welkin flit.
XIX About the world they spread forth far and wide, Filling the thoughts of each unG.o.dly heart With secret mischief, anger, hate and pride, Wounding lost souls with sin's empoisoned dart.
But say, my Muse, recount whence first they tried To hurt the Christian lords, and from what part, Thou knowest of things performed so long agone, This latter age hears little truth or none.
XX The town Damascus and the lands about Ruled Hidraort, a wizard grave and sage, Acquainted well with all the d.a.m.ned rout Of Pluto's reign, even from his tender age; Yet of this war he could not figure out The wished ending, or success presage, For neither stars above, nor powers of h.e.l.l, Nor skill, nor art, nor charm, nor devil could tell.
XXI And yet he thought,--Oh, vain conceit of man, Which as thou wishest judgest things to come!-- That the French host to sure destruction ran, Condemned quite by Heaven's eternal doom: He thinks no force withstand or vanquish can The Egyptian strength, and therefore would that some Both of the prey and glory of the fight Upon this Syrian folk would haply light.
XXII But for he held the Frenchmen's worth in prize, And feared the doubtful gain of b.l.o.o.d.y war, He, that was closely false and slyly war, Cast how he might annoy them most from far: And as he gan upon this point devise,-- As counsellors in ill still nearest are,-- At hand was Satan, ready ere men need, If once they think, to make them do, the deed.
XXIII He counselled him how best to hunt his game, What dart to cast, what net, what toil to pitch, A niece he had, a nice and tender dame, Peerless in wit, in nature's blessings rich, To all deceit she could her beauty frame, False, fair and young, a virgin and a witch; To her he told the sum of this emprise, And praised her thus, for she was fair and wise:
XXIV ”My dear, who underneath these locks of gold, And native brightness of thy lovely hue, Hidest grave thoughts, ripe wit, and wisdom old, More skill than I, in all mine arts untrue, To thee my purpose great I must unfold, This enterprise thy cunning must pursue, Weave thou to end this web which I begin, I will the distaff hold, come thou and spin.
XXV ”Go to the Christians' host, and there a.s.say All subtle sleights that women use in love, Shed brinish tears, sob, sigh, entreat and pray, Wring thy fair hands, cast up thine eyes above, For mourning beauty hath much power, men say, The stubborn hearts with pity frail to move; Look pale for dread, and blush sometime for shame, In seeming truth thy lies will soonest frame.
XXVI ”Take with the bait Lord G.o.dfrey, if thou may'st; Frame snares of look, strains of alluring speech; For if he love, the conquest then thou hast, Thus purposed war thou may'st with ease impeach, Else lead the other Lords to deserts waste, And hold them slaves far from their leader's reach:”
Thus taught he her, and for conclusion, saith, ”All things are lawful for our lands and faith.”
XXVII The sweet Armida took this charge on hand, A tender piece, for beauty, s.e.x and age, The sun was sunken underneath the land, When she began her wanton pilgrimage, In silken weeds she trusteth to withstand, And conquer knights in warlike equipage, Of their night ambling dame the Syrians prated, Some good, some bad, as they her loved or hated.
XXVIII Within few days the nymph arrived there Where puissant G.o.dfrey had his tents ypight; Upon her strange attire, and visage clear, Gazed each soldier, gazed every knight: As when a comet doth in skies appear, The people stand amazed at the light; So wondered they and each at other sought, What mister wight she was, and whence ybrought.
XXIX Yet never eye to Cupid's service vowed Beheld a face of such a lovely pride; A tinsel veil her amber locks did shroud, That strove to cover what it could not hide, The golden sun behind a silver cloud, So streameth out his beams on every side, The marble G.o.ddess, set at Cnidos, naked She seemed, were she unclothed, or that awaked.
x.x.x The gamesome wind among her tresses plays, And curleth up those growing riches short; Her spareful eye to spread his beams denays, But keeps his shot where Cupid keeps his fort; The rose and lily on her cheek a.s.says To paint true fairness out in bravest sort, Her lips, where blooms naught but the single rose, Still blush, for still they kiss while still they close.
x.x.xI Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, two hills o'erspread with purest snow, Sweet, smooth and supple, soft and gently swelling, Between them lies a milken dale below, Where love, youth, gladness, whiteness make their dwelling, Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s half hid, and half were laid to show, So was the wanton clad, as if this much Should please the eye, the rest unseen, the touch.
x.x.xII As when the sunbeams dive through Tagus' wave, To spy the store-house of his springtime gold, Love-piercing thought so through her mantle drave, And in her gentle bosom wandered bold; It viewed the wondrous beauty virgins have, And all to fond desire with vantage told, Alas! what hope is left, to quench his fire That kindled is by sight, blown by desire.
x.x.xIII Thus pa.s.sed she, praised, wished, and wondered at, Among the troops who there encamped lay, She smiled for joy, but well dissembled that, Her greedy eye chose out her wished prey; On all her gestures seeming virtue sat, Toward the imperial tent she asked the way: With that she met a bold and lovesome knight, Lord G.o.dfrey's youngest brother, Eustace hight.
x.x.xIV This was the fowl that first fell in the snare, He saw her fair, and hoped to find her kind; The throne of Cupid had an easy stair, His bark is fit to sail with every wind, The breach he makes no wisdom can repair: With reverence meet the baron low inclined, And thus his purpose to the virgin told, For youth, use, nature, all had made him bold.
x.x.xV ”Lady, if thee beseem a stile so low, In whose sweet looks such sacred beauty s.h.i.+ne,-- For never yet did Heaven such grace bestow On any daughter born of Adam's line-- Thy name let us, though far unworthy, know, Unfold thy will, and whence thou art in fine, Lest my audacious boldness learn too late What honors due become thy high estate.”
x.x.xVI ”Sir Knight,” quoth she, ”your praises reach too high Above her merit you commenden so, A hapless maid I am, both born to die And dead to joy, that live in care and woe, A virgin helpless, fugitive pardie, My native soil and kingdom thus forego To seek Duke G.o.dfrey's aid, such store men tell Of virtuous ruth doth in his bosom dwell.
x.x.xVII ”Conduct me then that mighty duke before, If you be courteous, sir, as well you seem.”
”Content,” quoth he, ”since of one womb ybore, We brothers are, your fortune good esteem To encounter me whose word prevaileth more In G.o.dfrey's hearing than you haply deem: Mine aid I grant, and his I promise too, All that his sceptre, or my sword, can do.”
x.x.xVIII He led her easily forth when this was said, Where G.o.dfrey sat among his lords and peers, She reverence did, then blushed, as one dismayed To speak, for secret wants and inward fears, It seemed a bashful shame her speeches stayed, At last the courteous duke her gently cheers; Silence was made, and she began her tale, They sit to hear, thus sung this nightingale:
x.x.xIX ”Victorious prince, whose honorable name Is held so great among our Pagan kings, That to those lands thou dost by conquest tame That thou hast won them some content it brings; Well known to all is thy immortal fame, The earth, thy worth, thy foe, thy praises sings, And Paynims wronged come to seek thine aid, So doth thy virtue, so thy power persuade.
XL ”And I though bred in Macon's heathenish lore, Which thou oppressest with thy puissant might, Yet trust thou wilt an helpless maid restore, And repossess her in her father's right: Others in their distress do aid implore Of kin and friends; but I in this sad plight Invoke thy help, my kingdom to invade, So doth thy virtue, so my need persuade.