“WherediversLordsdividedempirehold,Wherecausesbebygifts,notjusticetried,Whereofficesbefalselyboughtandsold,Needsmustthelordshiptherefromvirtueslide。
Offriendlypartsonebodythenuphold,Createonehead,theresttoruleandguide:
Toonetheregalpowerandsceptregive,ThathenceforthmayyourKingandSovereignlive。“
XXXII
Andtherewithstayedhisspeech。OgraciousMuse,Whatkindlingmotionsintheirbreastsdofry?
Withgracedivinethehermit’stalkinfuse,Thatintheirheartshiswordsmayfructify;
Bythisavirtuousconcordtheydidchoose,Andallcontentionsthenbegantodie;
ThePrinceswiththemultitudeagree,ThatGodfreyrulerofthosewarsshouldbe。
XXXIII
Thispowertheygavehim,byhisprincelyright,Alltocommand,tojudgeall,goodandill,Lawstoimposetolandssubduedbymight,Tomakenwarbothwhenandwherehewill,Toholdinduesubjectioneverywight,Theirvalorstobeguidedbyhisskill;
Thisdone,Reportdisplayshertell-talewings,Andtoeachearthenewsandtidingsbrings。
XXXIV
Shetoldthesoldiers,whoallowedhimmeetAndwelldeservingofthatsovereignplace。
TheirfirstsalutesandacclamationssweetReceivedhe,withloveandgentlegrace;
AftertheirreverencedonewithkindregreetRequitedwas,withmildandcheerfulface,HebidshisarmiesshouldthefollowingdayOnthosefairplainstheirstandardsprouddisplay。
XXXV
Thegoldensunrosefromthesilverwave,Andwithhisbeamsenamelledeverygreen,Whenuparoseeachwarriorboldandbrave,Glisteringinfiledsteelandarmorsheen,Withjollyplumestheircrestsadornedtheyhave,Andalltoforetheirchieftainmusteredbeen:
HefromamountaincasthiscurioussightOneveryfootmanandoneveryknight。
XXXVI
Mymind,Time’senemy,Oblivion’sfoe,Disposertrueofeachnoteworthything,Oh,letthyvirtuousmightavailmeso,ThatIeachtroopandcaptaingreatmaysing,Thatinthisgloriouswardidfamousgrow,ForgottillnowbyTime’sevilhandling:
Thiswork,derivedfrommytreasuresdear,Letalltimeshearken,neverageoutwear。
XXXVII
TheFrenchcameforemostbattailousandbold,LateledbyHugo,brothertotheirKing,FromFrancetheislethatriversfourinfoldWithrollingstreamsdescendingfromtheirspring,ButHugodead,thelilyfairofgold,Theirwontedensigntheytoforethembring,UnderClothariusgreat,acaptaingood,Andhardyknightysprongofprinces’blood。
XXXVIII
Athousandweretheyinstrongarmorsclad,Nextwhomtheremarchedforthanotherband,Thatnumber,nature,andinstructionhad,Likethemtofightfarofforchargeathand,AllvaliantNormansbyLordRobertlad,ThenativeDukeofthatrenownedland,Twobishopsnexttheirstandardsproudupbare,CalledReverendWilliam,andGoodAdemare。
XXXIX
TheirjollynotestheychantedloudandclearOnmerrymorningsatthemassdivine,AndhorridhelmshighontheirheadstheybearWhentheirfiercecouragetheytowarincline:
ThefirstfourhundredhorsemengatherednearToOrangetown,andlandsthatitconfine:
ButAdemarethePoggianyouthbroughtout,Innumberlike,inhardassaysasstout。
XL
Baldwin,hisensignfair,didnextdispreadAmonghisBulloignersofnoblefame,Hisbrothergavehimallhistroopstolead,Whenhecommanderofthefieldbecame;
TheCountCarintodidhimstraightsucceed,Graveinadvice,wellskilledinMarshisgame,Fourhundredbroughthe,butsomanythriceLedBaldwin,cladingildenarmsofprice。
XLI
Guelphonextthemthelandandplacepossest,Whosefortunesgoodwithhisgreatactsagree,ByhisItaliansire,frothehouseofEst,Wellcouldhebringhisnoblepedigree,AGermanbornwithrichpossessionsblest,AworthybranchsprungfromtheGuelphiantree。
’TwixtRheneandDanubiethelandcontainedHeruled,whereSwavesandRhetianswhilomreigned。
XLII
Hismother’sheritagewasthisandright,Towhichheaddedmorebyconquestgot,FromthenceapprovedmenofpassingmightHebrought,thatdeathordangerfearednot:
Itwastheirwontinfeaststospendthenight,Andpasscolddaysinbathsandhouseshot。
Fivethousandlate,ofwhichnowscantlyareThethirdpartleft,suchisthechanceofwar。
XLIII
Thenationthenwithcrispedlocksandfair,ThatdwellbetweentheseasandArdenWood,WhereMoselstreamsandRhenethemeadowswear,Abattelsoilforgrain,forpasturegood,Theirislanderswiththem,whooftrepairTheirearthenbulwarks’gainsttheoceanflood,Theflood,elsewherethatshipsandbarksdevours,Buttheredrownscities,countries,townsandtowers;
XLIV
Bothinonetroop,andbutathousandall,UnderanotherRobertfiercetheyrun。
ThentheEnglishsquadron,soldiersstoutandtall,ByWilliamled,theirsovereign’syoungerson,Thesearchersbe,andwiththemcomewithal,ApeopleneartheNorthernPolethatwone,WhomIrelandsentfromloughsandforestshoar,DividedfarbyseafromEurope’sshore。
XLV
Tancredinext,nor’mongstthemallwasone,Rinaldexcept,aprinceofgreatermight,Withmajestyhisnoblecountenanceshone,Highwerehisthoughts,hisheartwasboldinfight,Noshamefulvicehisworthhadovergone,Hisfaultwaslove,byunadvisedsight,Bredinthedangersofadventurousarms,Andnursedwithgriefs,withsorrows,woes,andharms。
XLVI
Fametells,thatonthatever-blessedday,WhenChristianswordswithPersianbloodweredyed,ThefuriousPrinceTancredifromthatfrayHiscowardfoeschasedthroughforestswide,Tilltiredwiththefight,theheat,theway,Hesoughtsomeplacetoresthisweariedside,AnddrewhimnearasilverstreamthatplayedAmongwildherbsunderthegreenwoodshade。
XLVII
APagandamselthereunwareshemet,Inshiningsteel,allsavehervisagefair,Herhairunboundshemadeawantonnet,Tocatchsweetbreathingfromthecoolingair。
Onheratgazehislonginglooksheset,Sight,wonder;wonder,love;lovebredhiscare;
Olove,owonder;lovenewborn,newbred,Nowgroan,nowarmed,thischampioncaptiveled。
XLVIII
Herhelmthevirgindonned,andbutsomewightShefearedmightcometoaidhimastheyfought,Hercourageearnedtohaveassailedtheknight;
Yetthenceshefled,uncompanied,unsought,Andleftherimageinhisheartypight;
Hersweetideawanderedthroughhisthought,Hershape,hergesture,andherplaceinmindHekept,andblewlove’sfirewiththatwind。
XLIX
Wellmightyoureadhissicknessinhiseyes,Theirbankswerefull,theirtidewasattheflow,Hishelpfaroff,hishurtwithinhimlies,Hishopesunstrung,hiscareswerefittomow;
EighthundredhorsefromChampaincameheguies,Champainalandwherewealth,ease,pleasure,grow,RichNature’spompandpride,theTirrhenemainTherewoosthehills,hillswoothevalleysplain。
L
TwohundredGreekscamenext,infightwelltried,Notsurelyarmedinsteelorironstrong,Buteachaglaivehadpendantbyhisside,Theirbowsandquiversattheirshouldershung,Theirhorseswellinuredtochaseandride,Indietspare,untiredwithlaborlong;
Readytocharge,andtoretireatwill,Thoughbroken,scattered,fled,theyskirmishstill;
LI
Tatinetheirguide,andexceptTatine,noneOfalltheGreekswentwiththeChristianhost;
Osin,Oshame,OGreeceaccurstalone!
Didnotthisfatalwaraffrontthycoast?
Yetsafestthouanidlelooker-on,Andgladattendestwhichsidewonorlost:
Nowifthoubeabondslavevilebecome,Nowrongisthat,butGod’smostrighteousdoom。
LII
Inorderlast,butfirstinworthandfame,Unfearedinfight,untiredwithhurtorwound,Thenoblesquadronofadventurerscame,TerrorstoallthattreadonAsianground:
CeaseOrpheusofthyMinois,ArthurshameToboastofLancelot,orthytableround:
Forthesewhomantiquetimeswithlaureldrest,Thesefarexceedthem,thee,andalltherest。
LIII
DudonofConsawastheirguideandlord,Andforofworthandbirthaliketheybeen,Theychosehimcaptain,bytheirfreeaccord,Forhemostactshaddone,mostbattlesseen;
Gravewasthemaninyears,inlooks,inword,Hislocksweregray,yetwashiscouragegreen,Ofworthandmightthenoblebadgehebore,Oldscarsofgrievouswoundsreceivedofyore。
LIV
AftercameEustace,wellesteemedmanForGodfrey’ssakehisbrother,andhisown;
TheKingofNorway’sheirGernandothan,Proudofhisfather’stitle,sceptre,crown;
RogerofBalnavill,andEngerlan,Forhardyknightsapprovedwereandknown;
BesideswerenumberedinthatwarliketrainRambald,Gentonio,andtheGerrardstwain。
LV
Ubaldothen,andpuissantRosimond,OfLancastertheheir,inranksucceed;
LetnoneforgetObizoofTuscainland,Wellworthypraiseformanyaworthydeed;
Northosethreebrethren,Lombardsfierceandyond,Achilles,Sforza,andsternPalamede;
NorOtton’sshieldheconqueredinthosestowres,Inwhichasnakeanakedchilddevours。
LVI
GuascherandRaipheinvalorliketherewas。
TheoneandotherGuido,famousboth,GermerandEberardtooverpass,InfouloblivionwouldmyMusebeloth,WithhisGildippesdear,Edwardalas,Alovingpair,towaramongthemgo’thInbondofvirtuouslovetogethertied,Togetherservedthey,andtogetherdied。
LVII
Inschoolofloveareallthingstaughtwesee,Therelearnedthismaidofarmstheirefulguise,Stillbyhissideafaithfulguardwentshe,Onetrue-loveknottheirlivestogetherties,Nowouldtoonealonecoulddangerousbe,Buteachthesmartofother’sanguishtries,Ifonewerehurt,theotherfeltthesore,Shelostherblood,hespenthislifetherefore。
LVIII
Buttheseandall,Rinaldofarexceeds,Starofhissphere,thediamondofthisring,Thenestwherecouragewithsweetmercybreeds:
Acometworthyeacheye’swondering,Hisyearsarefewerthanhisnobledeeds,Hisfruitisripesoonashisblossomsspring,Armed,aMars,mightcoyestVenusmove,Andifdisarmed,thenGodhimselfofLove。