首页 >出版文学> Jerusalem Delivered>第16章
  “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。