Part 13 (1/2)
Lx.x.x That kept she secret, if Clorinda heard Her make complaints, or secretly lament, To other cause her sorrow she referred: Matter enough she had of discontent, Like as the bird that having close imbarred Her tender young ones in the springing bent, To draw the searcher further from her nest, Cries and complains most where she needeth least.
Lx.x.xI Alone, within her chamber's secret part, Sitting one day upon her heavy thought, Devising by what means, what sleight, what art, Her close departure should be safest wrought, a.s.sembled in her unresolved heart An hundred pa.s.sions strove and ceaseless fought; At last she saw high hanging on the wall Clorinda's silver arms, and sighed withal:
Lx.x.xII And sighing, softly to herself she said, ”How blessed is this virgin in her might?
How I envy the glory of the maid, Yet envy not her shape, or beauty's light; Her steps are not with trailing garments stayed, Nor chambers hide her valor s.h.i.+ning bright; But armed she rides, and breaketh sword and spear, Nor is her strength restrained by shame or fear.
Lx.x.xIII ”Alas, why did not Heaven these members frail With lively force and vigor strengthen so That I this silken gown and slender veil Might for a breastplate and an helm forego?
Then should not heat, nor cold, nor rain, nor hail, Nor storms that fall, nor bl.u.s.tering winds that blow Withhold me, but I would both day and night, In pitched field, or private combat fight.
Lx.x.xIV ”Nor haddest thou, Argantes, first begun With my dear lord that fierce and cruel fight, But I to that encounter would have run, And haply ta'en him captive by my might; Yet should he find, our furious combat done, His thraldom easy, and his bondage light; For fetters, mine embracements should he prove; For diet, kisses sweet; for keeper, love.
Lx.x.xV ”Or else my tender bosom opened wide, And heart though pierced with his cruel blade, The b.l.o.o.d.y weapon in my wounded side Might cure the wound which love before had made; Then should my soul in rest and quiet slide Down to the valleys of the Elysian shade, And my mishap the knight perchance would move, To shed some tears upon his murdered love.
Lx.x.xVI ”Alas! impossible are all these things, Such wishes vain afflict my woful sprite, Why yield I thus to plaints and sorrowings, As if all hope and help were perished quite?
My heart dares much, it soars with Cupid's wings, Why use I not for once these armors bright?
I may sustain awhile this s.h.i.+eld aloft, Though I be tender, feeble, weak and soft.
Lx.x.xVII ”Love, strong, bold, mighty never-tired love, Supplieth force to all his servants true; The fearful stags he doth to battle move, Till each his horns in others' blood imbrue; Yet mean not I the haps of war to prove, A stratagem I have devised new, Clorinda-like in this fair harness dight, I will escape out of the town this night.
Lx.x.xVIII ”I know the men that have the gate to ward, If she command dare not her will deny, In what sort else could I beguile the guard?
This way is only left, this will I try: O gentle love, in this adventure hard Thine handmaid guide, a.s.sist and fortify!
The time, the hour now fitteth best the thing, While stout Clorinda talketh with the king.”
Lx.x.xIX Resolved thus, without delay she went, As her strong pa.s.sion did her rashly guide, And those bright arms, down from the rafter hent, Within her closet did she closely hide; That might she do unseen, for she had sent The rest, on sleeveless errands from her side, And night her stealths brought to their wished end, Night, patroness of thieves, and lovers' friend.
XC Some sparkling fires on heaven's bright visage shone; His azure robe the orient blueness lost, When she, whose wit and reason both were gone, Called for a squire she loved and trusted most, To whom and to a maid, a faithful one, Part of her will she told, how that in post She would depart from Juda's king, and feigned That other cause her sudden flight constrained.
XCI The trusty squire provided needments meet, As for their journey fitting most should be; Meanwhile her vesture, pendant to her feet, Erminia doft, as erst determined she, Stripped to her petticoat the virgin sweet So slender was, that wonder was to see; Her handmaid ready at her mistress' will, To arm her helped, though simple were her skill.
XCII The rugged steel oppressed and offended Her dainty neck, and locks of s.h.i.+ning gold; Her tender arm so feeble was, it bended When that huge target it presumed to hold, The burnished steel bright rays far off extended, She feigned courage, and appeared bold; Fast by her side unseen smiled Venus' son, As erst he laughed when Alcides spun.
XCIII Oh, with what labor did her shoulders bear That heavy burthen, and how slow she went!
Her maid, to see that all the coasts were clear, Before her mistress, through the streets was sent; Love gave her courage, love exiled fear, Love to her tired limbs new vigor lent, Till she approached where the squire abode, There took they horse forthwith and forward rode.
XCIV Disguised they went, and by unused ways, And secret paths they strove unseen to gone, Until the watch they meet, which sore affrays Their soldiers new, when swords and weapons shone Yet none to stop their journey once essays, But place and pa.s.sage yielded every one; For that bright armor, and that helmet bright, Were known and feared, in the darkest night.
XCV Erminia, though some deal she were dismayed, Yet went she on, and goodly countenance bore, She doubted lest her purpose were bewrayed, Her too much boldness she repented sore; But now the gate her fear and pa.s.sage stayed, The heedless porter she beguiled therefore, ”I am Clorinda, ope the gate,” she cried, ”Where as the king commands, this late I ride.”
XCVI Her woman's voice and terms all framed been, Most like the speeches of the princess stout, Who would have thought on horseback to have seen That feeble damsel armed round about?
The porter her obeyed, and she, between Her trusty squire and maiden, sallied out, And through the secret dales they silent pa.s.s, Where danger least, least fear, least peril was.
XCVII But when these fair adventurers entered were Deep in a vale, Erminia stayed her haste, To be recalled she had no cause to fear, This foremost hazard had she trimly past; But dangers new, tofore unseen, appear, New perils she descried, new doubts she cast.
The way that her desire to quiet brought, More difficult now seemed than erst she thought.
XCVIII Armed to ride among her angry foes, She now perceived it were great oversight, Yet would she not, she thought, herself disclose, Until she came before her chosen knight, To him she purposed to present the rose Pure, spotless, clean, untouched of mortal wight, She stayed therefore, and in her thoughts more wise, She called her squire, whom thus she gan advise.
XCIX ”Thou must,” quoth she, ”be mine amba.s.sador, Be wise, be careful, true, and diligent, Go to the camp, present thyself before The Prince Tancredi, wounded in his tent; Tell him thy mistress comes to cure his sore, If he to grant her peace and rest consent Gainst whom fierce love such cruel war hath raised, So shall his wounds be cured, her torments eased.