Part 22 (1/2)
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 s.h.i.+eld, 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?