“Gothenortarry,eachaslikeshimbest,FreepowerIgrantyouonthisenterprise;
ButfirstinDudon’splace,nowlaidinchest,Chooseyousomeothercaptainstoutandwise;
Thentenappointamongtheworthiest,Butletnomoreattemptthishardemprise,InthismywillcontentyouthatIhave,Forpowerconstrainedisbutagloriousslave。“
VI
ThusGodfreysaid,andthushisbrotherspake,Andansweredforhimselfandallhispeers:
“Mylord,aswellitfitteththeetomakeThesewisedelaysandcastthesedoubtsandfears,So’tisourpartatfirsttoundertake;
Courageandhastebeseemsourmightandyears;
Andthisproceedingwithsograveadvice,Wisdom,inyou,inuswerecowardice。
VII
“Sincethenthefeatiseasy,dangernone,Allsetinbattleandinhardyfight,DothoupermitthechosententogoneAndaidthedamsel:“thusdevisedtheknight,TomakementhinkthesunofhonorshoneTherewherethelampofCupidgavethelight:
Therestperceivehisguile,anditapprove,Andcallthatknighthoodwhichwaschildishlove。
VIII
ButlovingEustace,thatwithjealouseyeBeheldtheworthofSophia’snoblechild,Andhisfairshapedidsecretlyenvy,Besidesthevirtuesinhisbreastcompiled,And,forinlovehewouldnocompany,Hestoredhismouthwithspeechessmoothlyfiled,Drawinghisrivaltoattendhisword;
Thuswithfairsleighthelaidtheknightabord:
IX
“OfgreatBertoldothoufargreaterheir,Thoustarofknighthood,flowerofchivalry,Tellme,whonowshallleadthissquadronfair,Sinceourlateguideinmarblecolddothlie?
I,thatwithfamousDudonmightcompareInall,butyears,hoarlocks,andgravity,TowhomshouldI,DukeGodfrey’sbrother,yield,Unlesstothee,theChristianarmy’sshield?
X
“TheewhomhighbirthmakesequalwiththebestThineactspreferbothmeandallbeforn;
Northatinfightthoubothsurpasstherest,AndGodfrey’sworthyself,Iholdinscorn;
TheetoobeythenamIonlypressed;
Beforetheseworthiesbethineeagleborne;
Thishonorhaplythouesteemestlight,Whosedayofgloryneveryetfoundnight。
XI
“YetmayestthoufurtherbythismeansdisplayThespreadingwingsofthyimmortalfame;
Iwillprocureit,ifthousayestnotnay,Andalltheirwillstothineelectionframe:
ButforIscantlyamresolvedwhichwayTobendmyforce,orwhereemploythesame,Leaveme,Ipray,atmydiscretionfreeTohelpArmida,orserveherewiththee。“
XII
Thislastrequest,forloveiseviltohide,Empurpledbothhischeekswithscarletred;
Rinaldosoonhispassionshaddescried,Andgentlysmilingturnedasidehishead,And,forweakCupidwastoofeebleeyedTostrikehimsure,thefireinhimwasdead;
Sothatofrivalswashenaughtafraid,Norcaredheforthejourneyorthemaid。
XIII
ButinhisnoblethoughtrevolvedheoftDudon’shighprowess,deathandburial,AndhowArgantesborehisplumesaloft,Praisinghisfortunesforthatworthy’sfall;
Besides,theknight’ssweetwordsandpraisessoftTohisduehonordidhimfitlycall,Andmadehisheartrejoice,forwellheknew,Thoughmuchhepraisedhim,allhiswordsweretrue。
XIV
“Degrees,“quothhe,“ofhonorshightohold,Iwouldthemfirstdeserve,andthedesire;
Andweremyvalorsuchasyouhavetold,WouldIforthattohigherplaceaspire:
Butiftohonorsdueraisemeyouwould,Iwillnotofmyworksrefusethehire;
Andmuchitgladsme,thatmypowerandmightYpraisedisbysuchavaliantknight。
XV
“Ineitherseekitnorrefusetheplace,WhichifIget,thepraiseandthanksbethine。“
Eustace,thisspoken,hiedthenceapaceToknowwhichwayhisfellows’heartsincline:
ButPrinceGernandocovetedtheplace,WhomthoughArmidasoughttoundermine,Gainsthimyetvaindidallherenginesprove,Hispridewassuch,therewasnoplaceforlove。
XVI
GernandowastheKingofNorway’sson,Thatmanyarealmandregionhadtoguide,Andforhiselderslandsandcrownshadwon。
Hisheartwaspuffedupwithendlesspride:
TheotherboastsmorewhathimselfhaddoneThanallhisancestors’greatactsbeside;
YethisforefathersoldbeforehimwereFamousinwarandpeacefivehundredyears。
XVII
Thisbarbarousprince,whoonlyvainlythoughtThatblissinwealthandkinglypowerdothlie,AndinrespectesteemedallvirtuenaughtUnlessitwereadornedwithtitleshigh,Couldnotendure,thattotheplacehesoughtAsimpleknightshoulddaretopresssonigh;
Andinhisbreastsoboiledfelldespite,Thatireandwrathexiledreasonquite。
XVIII
Thehiddendevil,thatliesincloseawaitTowinthefortofunbelievingman,Foundentrythere,whereireundidthegate,Andinhisbosomunperceivedran;
Itfilledhisheartwithmalice,strifeandhate,Itmadehimrage,blaspheme,swear,curseandban,Invisibleitstillattendshimnear,Andthuseachminutewhisperethinhisear。
XIX
What,shallRinaldomatchthee?dareshetellThoseidlenamesofhisvainpedigree?
Thenlethimsay,iftheehewouldexcel,Whatlands,whatrealmshistributariesbe:
Ifhisforefathersinthegravesthatdwell,Werehonoredlikethinethatlive,letsee:
Ohhowdaresonesomeanaspiresohigh,BorninthatservilecountryItaly?
XX
Now,ifhewin,orifhelosetheday,Yetishispraiseandgloryhencederived,Forthattheworldwill,tohiscredit,say,Lo,thisishethatwithGernandostrived。
Thechargesomedealtheehaplyhonormay,ThatnobleDudonhadwhileherehelived;
Butlaidonhimhewouldtheofficeshame,Letitsuffice,hedurstdesirethesame。
XXI
Ifwhenthisbreathfromman’sfrailbodyfliesThesoultakekeep,orknowthethingsdonehere,Oh,howlooksDudonfromthegloriousskies?
Whatwrath,whatangerinhisfaceappear,Onthisproudyounglingwhilehebendshiseyes,Markinghowhighhedothhisfeathersrear?
Seeinghisrashattempt,howsoonhedare,Thoughbutaboy,withhisgreatworthcompare。
XXII
Hedaresnotonly,buthestrivesandproves,Wherechastisementwerefittherewinshepraise:
Onecounselshim,hisspeechhimforwardmoves;
Anotherfoolapprovethallhesays:
IfGodfreyfavorhimmorethanbehoves,Whythenhewrongeththeeanhundredways;
Norletthystatesofardisgracedbe,Nowwhatthouartandcanst,letGodfreysee。
XXIII
WithsuchfalsewordsthekindledfirebeganToeveryveinhispoisonedhearttoreach,Itswelledhisscornfulheart,andforthitranAthisproudlooks,andtooaudaciousspeech;
Allthathethoughtblameworthyintheman,Tohisdisgracethatwouldbeeachwherepreach;
Hetermedhimproudandvain,hisworthinfightHecalledfool-hardise,rashness,madnessright。
XXIV
Allthatinhimwasrareorexcellent,Allthatwasgood,allthatwasprincelyfound,Withsuchsharpwordsasmalicecouldinvent,Heblamed,suchpowerhaswickedtonguetowound。
Theyouth,foreverywherethoserumorswent,Ofthesereproachesheardsometimesthesound;
Nordidforthathistonguethefaultamend,Untilitbroughthimtohiswofulend。
XXV
Thecursedfiendthatsethistongueatlarge,Stillbredmorefanciesinhisidlebrain,Hisheartwithslandersnewdidovercharge,Andsoothedhimstillinhisangryvein;
Amidthecampaplacewasbroadandlarge,Whereonefairregimentmighteasilytrain;
AndthereintiltandharmlesstournamentTheirdaysofresttheyouthsandgallantsspent。
XXVI
There,ashisfortunewoulditshouldbetide,AmidthepressGernandoganretire,Tovomitouthisvenomunespied,Wherewithfoulenvydidhisheartinspire。
Rinaldoheardhimashestoodbeside,Andashecouldnotbridlewrathandire,“Thouliest,“criedheloud,andwiththatwordAbouthisheadhetossedhisflamingsword。
XXVII
Thunderhisvoice,andlightningseemedhisbrand,Sofellhislook,andfuriouswashischeer,Gernandotrembled,forhesawathandPaledeath,andneitherhelpnorcomfortnear,YetforthesoldiersalltowitnessstandHemadeproudsign,asthoughhenaughtdidfear,Butbravelydrewhislittle-helpingblade,Andvaliantshowofstrongresistancemade。
XXVIII
WiththatathousandbladesofburnishedsteelGlisteredonheapslikeflamesoffireinsight,Hundreds,thatknewnotyetthequarrelweel,Ranthither,sometogazeandsometofight:
TheemptyairasoundconfuseddidfeelOfmurmurslow,andoutcriesloudonheight,LikerollingwavesandBoreas’angryblastsWhenroaringseasagainsttherockshecasts。
XXIX
ButnotforthisthewrongedwarriorstayedHisjustdispleasureandincensedire,Hecarednotwhatthevulgardidorsaid,Tovengeancedidhiscouragefierceaspire:
Amongthethickestweaponswayhemade,Histhunderingswordmadeallonheapsretire,Sothatofnearathousandstayednotone,ButPrinceGernandoborethebruntalone。
XXX
Hishand,tooquicktoexecutehiswrath,Performedall,aspleasedhiseyeandheart,Atheadandbreastofttimeshestruckenhath,Nowattheright,nowattheotherpart:
Oneverysidethusdidheharmandscath,Andoftbeguilehissightwithnimbleart,Thatnodefencetheprinceofwoundsacquits,Whereleasthethinks,orfears,theremosthehits。
XXXI
Norceasedbe,tillinGernando’sbreastHesheathedonceortwicehisfuriousblade;
Downfellthehaplessprincewithdeathoppressed,Adoublewaytohisweaksoulwasmade;
Hisbloodyswordthevictorwipedanddressed,Norlongerbytheslaughteredbodystayed,Butspedhimthence,andsoonappeasedhathHishate,hisire,hisrancorandhiswrath。
XXXII
Calledbythetumult,Godfreydrewhimnear,Andtherebeheldasadandruefulsight,Thesignsofdeathuponhisfaceappear,Withdustandbloodhislockswereloathlydight,Sighsandcomplaintsoneachsidemighthehear,Madeforthesuddendeathofthatgreatknight:
Amazed,heaskedwhodurstanddidsomuch;
Foryetheknewnotwhomthefaultwouldtouch。
XXXIII
Arnoldo,minionofthePrincethusslain,Augmentsthefaultintellingit,andsaith,ThisPrincemurdered,foraquarrelvain,ByyoungRinaldoinhisdesperatewrath,AndwiththatswordthatshouldChrist’slawmaintain,OneofChrist’schampionsboldhekilledhath,Andthishedidinsuchaplaceandhour,Asifhescornedyourrule,despisedyourpower。
XXXIV
Andfurtheradds,thathedeserveddeathBylaw,andlawshouldinviolate,Thatnoneoffencecouldgreaterbeuneath,Andyettheplacethefaultdidaggravate:
Ifheescapes,thatmischiefwouldtakebreath,Andflourishboldinspiteofruleandstate;
AndthatGernando’sfriendswouldvengethewrong,Althoughtojusticethatdidfirstbelong,XXXV
Andbythatmeans,shoulddiscord,hateandstrifeRaisemutinies,andwhatthereforeensueth:
Lastlyhepraisedthedead,andstillhadrifeAllwordshethoughtcouldvengeancemoveorrutAgainsthimTancredarguedforlife,Withhonestreasonstoexcusetheyouth:
TheDukeheardall,butwithsuchsobercheer,Asbanishedhope,andstillincreasedfear。
第16章