“Beforereportcanbringthetyrantnews,Orhisespialscertifytheirking,Ohletthygoodnessthesefewchampionschoose,Thattoherkingdomshouldthyhandmaidbring;
Who,exceptHeaventoaidtherightrefuse,Recovershallhercrown,fromwhenceshallspringThyprofit;forbetidetheepeaceorwar,Thineallhercities,allhersubjectsare。“
LXIX
Thecaptainsagethedamselfairassured,Hiswordwaspassedandshouldnotberecanted,AndshewithsweetandhumblegraceenduredTolethimpointthoseten,whichlatehegranted:
Buttobeone,eachonefoughtandprocured,Nosuit,noentreaty,intercessionwanted;
Thereenvyeachatothers’loveexceeded,Andallimportunatemade,morethanneeded。
LXX
Shethatwellsawthesecretoftheirhearts,Andknewhowbesttowarmthemintheirblood,AgainstthemthrewthecursedpoisoneddartsOfjealousy,andgriefatothers’good,Forloveshewistwasweakwithoutthosearts,Andslow;forjealousyisCupid’sfood;
Fortheswiftsteedrunsnotsofastalone,Aswhensomestrain,somestrivehimtooutgone。
LXXI
Herwordsinsuchalluringsortsheframed,Herlooksenticing,andherwooingsmiles,Thateveryonehisfellows’favorsblamed,Thatoftheirmistresshereceivederewhiles:
Thisfoolishcrewofloversunashamed,Madwiththepoisonofhersecretwiles,Ranforwardstill,inthisdisorderedsort,NorcouldGodfredo’sbridlereinthemshort。
LXXII
Hethatwouldsatisfyeachgooddesire,Withoutenpartiallove,ofeveryknight,Althoughheswelledwithshame,withgriefandireToseethesefellowsandthesefashionslight;
Yetsincebynoadvicetheywouldretire,Anotherwayhesoughttosetthemright:
“Writeallyournames,“quothhe,“andseewhomchanceOflot,tothisexploitwillfirstadvance。“
LXXIII
Theirnameswerewrit,andinanhelmetshaken,Whileeachdidfortune’sgraceandaidimplore;
Atlasttheydrewthem,andtheforemosttakenTheEarlofPembrokewas,Artemidore,Doubtlessthecountythoughthisbreadwellbaken;
NextGerrardfollowed,thenwithtresseshoarOldWenceslaus,thatfeltCupid’srageNowinhisdoatingandhisdyingage。
LXXIV
Ohhowcontentmentintheirforeheadsshined!
Theirlookswithjoy;thoughtsswelledwithsecretpleasure,ThesethreeitseemedgoodsuccessdesignedTomakethelordsofloveandbeauty’streasure:
Theirdoubtfulfellowsattheirhaprepined,AndwithsmallpatiencewaitFortune’sleisure,Uponhislipsthatreadthescrollsattending,Asiftheirliveswereonhiswordsdepending。
LXXV
Guascothefourth,Ridolphohimsucceeds,ThenUlderickwhomlovelistsoadvance,LordWilliamofRonciglionnexthereads,ThenEberard,andHenryborninFrance,Rambaldolast,whomwickedlustsoleadsThatheforsookhisSaviourwithmischance;
Thiswretchthetenthwaswhowasthusdeluded,Theresttotheirhugegriefwereallexcluded。
LXXVI
O’ercomewithenvy,wrathandjealousy,TherestblindFortunecurse,andallherlaws,Andmadwithlove,yetoutonlovetheycry,Thatinhiskingdomletherjudgetheircause:
Andforman’smindissuch,thatoftwetryThingsmostforbidden,withoutstayorpause,InspiteoffortunepurposedmanyaknightTofollowfairArmidawhen’twasnight。
LXXVII
Tofollowher,bynightorelsebyday,Andinherquarrelventurelifeandlimb。
WithsighsandtearssheganthemsoftlyprayTokeepthatpromise,whentheskiesweredim,Tothisandthatknightdidsheplainandsay,Whatgriefshefelttopartwithoutenhim:
Meanwhilethetenhaddonnedtheirarmorbest,AndtakenleaveofGodfreyandtherest。
LXXVIII
Thedukeadvisedthemeveryoneapart,Howlight,howtrustlesswasthePagan’sfaith,Andtoldwhatpolicy,whatwit,whatart,Avoidsdeceit,whichheedlessmenbetray’th;
Hisspeechespiercetheirear,butnottheirheart,Lovecallsitfolly,whatsowisdomsaith:
Thuswarnedheleavesthemtotheirwantonguide,Whopartsthatnight;suchhastehadshetoride。
LXXIX
Theconqueressdeparts,andwithherledTheseprisoners,whomlovewouldcaptivekeep,Theheartsofthosesheleftbehindherbled,Withpointofsorrow’sarrowpierceddeep。
Butwhenthenightherdrowsymantlespread,Andfilledtheearthwithsilence,shadeandsleep,Insecretsorttheneachforsookhistent,AndasblindCupidledthemblindtheywent。
LXXX
Eustatiofirst,whoscantlycouldforbear,Tillfriendlynightmighthidehishasteandshame,Herodeinpost,andlethisbreasthimbearAshisblindfancywouldhisjourneyframe,Allnighthewanderedandhewistnotwhere;
Butwiththemorningheespiedthedame,ThatwithherguardupfromavillagerodeWheresheandtheythatnighthadmadeabode。
LXXXI
Thitherhegallopedfast,anddrawingnearRambaldoknewtheknight,andloudlycried,“WhencecomesyoungEustace,andwhatseekshehere?“
“Icome,“quothhe,“toservetheQueenArmide,Ifsheacceptme,wouldweallwerethereWheremygood-willandfaithmightbestbetried。“
“Who,“quoththeother,“choseththeetoproveThishighexploitofhers?“Heanswered,“Love。“
LXXXII
“LovehathEustatiochosen,Fortunethee,Inthyconceitwhichisthebestelection?“
“Nay,then,theseshiftsarevain,“repliedhe,“Thesetitlesfalseservetheefornoprotection,ThoucanstnothereforthisadmittedbeOurfellow-servant,inthissweetsubjection。“
“Andwho,“quothEustace,angry,“daresdenyMyfellowship?“Rambaldoanswered,“I。“
LXXXIII
Andwiththatwordhiscuttingswordhedrew,Thatglitteredbright,andsparkledflamingfire;
Uponhisfoetheotherchampionflew,Withequalcourage,andwithequalire。
Thegentleprincess,whothedangerknew,Betweenthemstepped,andprayedthembothretire。
“Rambald,“quothshe,“whyshouldyougrudgeorplain,IfIachampion,youanhelpergain?
LXXXIV
“Ifmeyoulove,whywishyoumedeprivedInsogreatneedofsuchapuissantknight?
ButwelcomeEustace,ingoodtimearrived,Defenderofmystate,mylife,myright。
Iwishmyhaplessselfnolongerlived,WhenIesteemsuchgoodassistancelight。“
Thustalkedtheyon,andtravelledontheirwayTheirfellowshipincreasingeveryday。
LXXXV
Fromeverysidetheycome,yetwisttherenoneOfotherscomingorofothers’mind,Shewelcomesall,andtelletheveryone,Whatjoyherthoughtsinhisarrivalfind。
ButwhenDukeGodfreywisthisknightsweregone,WithinhisbreasthiswisersouldivinedSomehardmishapuponhisfriendsshouldlight,Forwhichhesighedallday,andweptallnight。
LXXXVI
Amessenger,whilethushemused,drewnear,Allsoiledwithdustandsweat,quiteoutofbreath,Itseemedthemandidheavytidingsbear,Uponhislookssatenewsoflossanddeath:
“Mylord,“quothhe,“somanyshipsappearAtsea,thatNeptunebearstheloaduneath,FromEgyptcometheyall,thisletstheeweetWilliamLordAdmiraloftheGenoafleet,LXXXVII
“BesidesaconvoycomingfromtheshoreWithvictualforthisnoblecampofthineSurprisedwas,andlostisallthatstore,Mules,horses,camelsladen,cornandwine;
Thyservantsfoughttilltheycouldfightnomore,Forallwereslainorcaptivesmadeinfine:
TheArabianoutlawsthemassailedbynight,Whenleasttheyfeared,andleasttheylookedforfight。
LXXXVIII
“Theirfranticboldnessdothpresumesofar,ThatmanyChristianshavetheyfalselyslain,Andlikearagingfloodtheysparedare,Andoverfloweachcountry,fieldandplain;
Sendthereforesomestrongtroopsofmenofwar,Toforcethemhence,anddrivethemhomeagain,AndkeepthewaysbetweenthesetentsofthineAndthosebroadseas,theseasofPalestine。“
LXXXIX
FrommouthtomouththeheavyrumorspreadOfthesemisfortunes,whichdispersedwideAmongthesoldiers,greatamazementbred;
Faminetheydoubt,andnewcomefoesbeside:
Theduke,thatsawtheirwontedcouragefled,Andintheplacethereofweakfearespied,Withmerrylooksthesecheerfulwordshespake,Tomakethemheartagainandcouragetake。
XC
“Youchampionsbold,withmethat’scapedhaveSomanydangers,andsuchhardassays,WhomstillyourGoddidkeep,defendandsaveInallyourbattles,combats,fightsandfrays,YouthatsubduedtheTurksandPersiansbrave,Thatthirstandhungerheldinscornalways,Andvanquishedhills,andseas,withheatandcold,Shallvainreportsappalyourcouragebold?
XCI
“ThatLordwhohelpedyououtateveryneed,Whenaughtbefellthisgloriouscampamiss,Shallfortuneallyouractionswelltospeed,Onwhomhismercylargeextendedis;
Toforehistomb,whenconqueringhandsyouspreed,Withwhatdelightwillyourememberthis?
Bestrongtherefore,andkeepyourvalorshighTohonor,conquest,fameandvictory。“
XCII
Theirhopeshalfdeadandcouragewell-nighlost,Revivedwiththesebravespeechesoftheirguide;
Butinhisbreastathousandcareshetost,Althoughhissorrowshecouldwiselyhide;
Hestudiedhowtofeedthatmightyhost,Insogreatscarceness,andwhatforceprovideHeshouldagainsttheEgyptianwarriorssly,AndhowsubduethosethievesofAraby。
FIFTHBOOK
THEARGUMENT。
GernandoscornsRinaldoshouldaspireTorulethatchargeforwhichheseeksandstrives,Andslandershimsofar,thatinhisireThewrongedknighthisfoeoflifedeprives:
Farfromthecamptheslayerdothretire,Norletshimselfbeboundinchainsorgyves:
Armidedepartscontent,andfromtheseasGodfreyhearsnewswhichhimandhisdisplease。
I
WhilethusArmidafalsetheknightsmisledInwanderingerrorsofdeceitfullove,Andthought,besidesthechampionspromised,Theotherlordlingsinheraidtomove,InGodfrey’sthoughtastrongcontentionbredWhofittestwerethishazardgreattoprove;
Foralltheworthiesoftheadventures’bandWerelikeinbirth,inpower,instrengthofhand。
II
Butfirsttheprince,bygraveadvice,decreedTheyshouldsomeknightchooseattheirownelection,ThatinhischargeLordDudonmightsucceed,Andofthatglorioustroopshouldtakeprotection;
Sononeshouldgrieve,displeasedwiththedeed,Norblamethecauseroftheirnewsubjection:
Besides,Godfredoshowedbythisdevice,Howmuchheheldthatregimentinprice。
III
Hecalledtheworthiesthen,andspakethemso:
“Lordlings,youknowIyieldedtoyourwill,Andgaveyoulicensewiththisdametogo,Towinherkingdomandthattyrantkill:
ButnowagainIletyoufurtherknow,Infollowingheritmaybetideyonill;
Refraintherefore,andchangethisforwardthoughtFordeathunsentfor,dangercomesunsought。
IV
“Butiftoshuntheseperils,soughtsofar,Mayseemdisgracefultotheplaceyonhold;
IfgraveadviceandprudentcounselareEsteemeddetractorsfromyourcouragebold;
Thenknow,Inoneagainsthiswilldebar,NorwhatIgrantederstInowwithhold;
Buthemineempire,asitoughtofright,Sweet,easy,pleasant,gentle,meekandlight。
第15章