SophiabyAdige’sflowerybankhimbore,Sophiathefair,spousetoBertoldogreat,Fitmotherforthatpearl,andbeforeThetenderimpwasweanedfromtheteat,ThePrincessMaudhimtook,inVirtue’sloreShebroughthimupfitforeachworthyfeat,Tillofthesewaresthegoldentrumphehears,Thatsoundethglory,fame,praiseinhisears。
LX
Andthen,thoughscantlythreetimesfiveyearsold,Hefledalone,bymanyanunknowncoast,O’erAegeanSeasbymanyaGreekishhold,TillhearrivedattheChristianhost;
Anobleflight,adventurous,brave,andbold,Whereonavaliantprincemightjustlyboast,Threeyearsheservedinfield,whenscantbeginFewgoldenhairstodeckhisivorychin。
LXI
Thehorsemenpast,theirvoid-leftstationsfillThebandsonfoot,andReymondthembeforn,OfTholouselord,fromlandsnearPiraeneHillByGaroundstreamsandsaltseabillowsworn,Fourthousandfoothebrought,wellarmed,andskillHadtheyallpainsandtravelstohaveborne,StoutmenofarmsandwiththeirguideofpowerLikeTroy’soldtowndefencedwithIlion’stower。
LXII
NextStephenofAmboisedidfivethousandlead,ThemenheprestfromToursandBloisbutlate,Tohardassaysunfit,unsureatneed,Yetarmedtopointinwell-attemptedplate,Thelanddidlikeitselfthepeoplebreed,Thesoilisgentle,smooth,soft,delicate;
Boldlytheycharge,butsoonretirefordoubt,Likefireofstraw,soonkindled,soonburntout。
LXIII
ThethirdAlcastomarched,andwithhimTheboasterbroughtsixthousandSwitzersbold,Audaciousweretheirlooks,theirfacesgrim,StrongcastlesontheAlpinecliftstheyhold,Theirsharesandcoultersbroke,toarmorstrimTheychangethatmetal,castinwarlikemould,Andwiththisbandlateherdsandflocksthatguide,Nowkingsandrealmshethreatenedanddefied。
LXIV
ThegloriousstandardlasttoHeaventheysprad,WithPeter’skeysennobledandhiscrown,WithitseventhousandstoutCamillohad,Embattailedinwallsofironbrown:
Inthisadventureandoccasion,gladSotorevivetheRomans’oldrenown,Orproveatleasttoallofwiserthought,Theirheartswerefertilelandalthoughunwrought。
LXV
Butnowwaspassedeveryregiment,Eachband,eachtroop,eachpersonworthregardWhenGodfreywithhislordstocounselwent,AndthustheDukehisprincelywilldeclared:
“Iwillwhendaynextclearsthefirmament,Ourreadyhostinhastebeallprepared,CloselytomarchtoSion’snoblewall,Unseen,unheard,orundescriedatall。
LXVI
“Prepareyouthenfortravelstrongandlight,Fiercetothecombat,gladtovictory。“
Andwiththatwordandwarningsoonwasdight,Eachsoldier,longingfornearcomingglory,Impatientbetheyofthemorningbright,Ofhonorsothemprickedthememory:
ButyettheirchieftainhadconceivedafearWithinhisheart,butkeptitsecretthere。
LXVII
Forhebyfaithfulspialwasassured,ThatEgypt’sKingwasforwardonhisway,AndtoarriveatGazaoldprocured,AfortthatontheSyrianfrontierslay,NorthinkshethatamantowarsinuredWillaughtforslow,orinhisjourneystay,Forwellheknewhimforadangerousfoe:
Anheraldcalledhethen,andspakehimso:
LXVIII
“Apinnacetaketheeswiftasshaftfrombow,Andspeedthee,Henry,totheGreekishmain,Thereshouldarrive,asIbylettersknowFromonethatneveraughtreportsinvain,Avaliantyouthinwhomallvirtuesflow,Tohelpusthisgreatconquesttoobtain,ThePrinceofDanesheis,andbringstowarAtroopwithhimfromundertheArcticstar。
LXIX
“AndforIdoubttheGreekishmonarchslyWillusewithhimsomeofhiswontedcraft,Tostayhispassage,ordivertawryElsewherehisforces,hisfirstjourneylaft,Myheraldgoodandmessengerwelltry,Seethatthesesuccorsbenotusberaft,ButsendhimthencewithsuchconvenientspeedAswithhishonorstandsandwithourneed。
LXX
“Returnnotthou,butLegierstaybehind,AndmovetheGreekishPrincetosendusaid,TellhimhiskinglypromisedothhimbindTogiveussuccors,byhiscovenantmade。“
Thissaid,andthusinstruct,hisletterssignedThetrustyheraldtook,norlongerstayed,ButspedhimthencetodonehisLord’sbehest,AndthustheDukereducedhisthoughtstorest。
LXXI
Aurorabrighthercrystalgatesunbarred,Andbridegroom-likeforthstepttheglorioussun,Whentrumpetsloudandclarionsshrillwereheard,Andeveryonetorousehimfiercebegun,Sweetmusictoeachheartforwarprepared,Thesoldiersgladbyheapstoharnessrun;
Soifwithdroughtendangeredbetheirgrain,Poorploughmenjoywhenthunderspromiserain。
LXXII
Someshirtsofmail,somecoatsofplateputon,Somedonnedacuirass,someacorsletbright,Andhalbertsome,andsomeahabergeon,Soeveryoneinarmswasquicklydight,Hiswontedguideeachsoldiertendsupon,Looseinthewindwavedtheirbannerslight,TheirstandardroyaltowardHeaventheyspread,ThecrosstriumphantonthePagansdead。
LXXIII
MeanwhilethecarthatbearsthelightningbrandUpontheeasternhillwasmountedhigh,Andsmotetheglisteringarmiesastheystand,Withquiveringbeamswhichdazedthewonderingeye,ThatPhaeton-likeitfiredseaandland,Thesparklesseemeduptotheskiestofly,Thehorses’neighandclatteringarmors’soundPursuetheechooverdaleanddown。
LXXIV
TheirgeneraldidwithduecareprovideTosavehismenfromambushandfromtrain,SometroopsofhorsethatlightlyarmedrideHesenttoscourthewoodsandforestsmain,HispioneerstheirbusyworkappliedToeventhepathsandmakethehighwaysplain,Theyfilledthepits,andsmoothedtherougherground,Andopenedeverystraittheyclosedfound。
LXXV
Theymeetnoforcesgatheredbytheirfoe,Notowersdefencedwithrampire,moat,orwall,Nostream,nowood,nomountaincouldforslowTheirhastypace,orstoptheirmarchatall;
Sowhenhisbankstheprinceofrivers,Po,Dothoverswell,hebreakswithhideousfallThemossyrocksandtreeso’ergrownwithage,Noraughtwithstandshisfuryandhisrage。
LXXVI
TheKingofTripoliineveryholdShutuphismen,munitionandhistreasure,Thestragglingtroopssometimesassailhewould,Savethathedurstnotmovethemtodispleasure;
Hestayedtheirragewithpresents,giftsandgold,Andledthemthroughhislandateaseandleisure,Tokeephisrealminpeaceandresthechose,WithwhatconditionsGodfreylistimpose。
LXXVII
ThoseofMountSeir,thatneighborethbyeastTheHolyCity,faithfulfolkeachone,Downfromthehilldescendedmostandleast,AndtotheChristianDukebyheapstheygone,Andwelcomehimandhiswithjoyandfeast;
Onhimtheysmile,onhimtheygazealone,Andwerehisguides,asfaithfulfromthatdayAsHesperus,thatleadsthesunhisway。
LXXVIII
AlongthesandshisarmiessafetheyguideBywayssecure,tothemwellknownbefore,UponthetumblingbillowsfraughtedrideThearmedships,coastingalongtheshore,WhichforthecampmighteverydayprovideTobringmunitiongoodandvictualsstore:
TheislesofGreecesentinprovisionmeet,AndstoreofwinefromScioscameandCrete。
LXXIX
GreatNeptunegrievedunderneaththeloadOfships,hulks,galleys,barksandbrigantines,Inallthemid-earthseaswasleftnoroadWhereinthePaganhisboldsailsuntwines,SpreadwasthehugeArmado,wideandbroad,FromVenice,Genes,andtownswhichthemconfines,FromHolland,England,FranceandSicilsent,AndallforJudareadyboundandbent。
LXXX
Allthesetogetherwerecombined,andknitWithsurestbondsofloveandfriendshipstrong,TogethersailedtheyfraughtwithallthingsfitToservicedonebylandthatmightbelong,Andwhenoccasionserveddisbarkedit,ThensailedtheAsiancoastsandislesalong;
Thitherwithspeedtheirhastycoursetheyplied,WhereChristtheLordforouroffencesdied。
LXXXI
Thebrazentrumpofiron-wingedfame,Thatminglethfaithfultrothwithforgedlies,ForetoldtheheathenhowtheChristianscame,Howthitherwardtheconqueringarmyhies,Ofeveryknightitsoundstheworthandname,Eachtroop,eachband,eachsquadronitdescries,Andthreat’nethdeathtothose,fire,swordandslaughter,WhoheldcaptivedIsrael’sfairestdaughter。
LXXXII
Thefearofillexceedstheevilwefear,Forsoourpresentharmsstillmostannoyus,EachmindisprestandopeneveryearTohearnewtidingsthoughtheynowayjoyus,ThissecretrumorwhisperedeverywhereAboutthetown,theseChristianswilldestroyus,Theagedkinghiscomingevilthatknew,Didcursedthoughtsinhisfalseheartrenew。
LXXXIII
ThisagedprinceyclepedAladine,Ruledincare,newsovereignofthisstate,Atyranterst,butnowhisfellengineHisgraveraredidsomewhatmitigate,HeheardthewesternlordswouldundermineHiscity’swall,andlayhistowersprostrate,Toformerfearheaddsanew-comedoubt,Treasonhefearswithin,andforcewithout。
LXXXIV
FornationstwaininhabitthereanddwellOfsundryfaithtogetherinthattown,ThelesserpartonChristbelievedwell,OnTermagentthemoreandonMahown,Butwhenthiskinghadmadethisconquestfell,Andbroughtthatregionsubjecttohiscrown,OfburdensallhesetthePaynimslarge,AndonpoorChristianslaidthedoublecharge。
LXXXV
Hisnativewrathrevivedwiththisnewthought,Withageandyearsthatweakenedwasofyore,Suchmadnessinhiscruelbosomwrought,Thatnowthaneverbloodhethirstethmore?
Sostingsasnakethattothefireisbrought,Whichharmlesslaybenumbedwithcoldbefore,Alionsohisragerenewedhath,Thoughfamebefore,ifhebemovedtowrath。
LXXXVI
“Isee,“quothhe,“someexpectationvain,InthesefalseChristians,andsomenewcontent,Ourcommonlosstheytrustwillbetheirgain,Theylaugh,weweep;theyjoywhilewelament;
Andmore,perchance,bytreasonorbytrain,Tomurderustheysecretlyconsent,Orotherwisetoworkusharmandwoe,Toopethegates,andsoletinourfoe。
LXXXVII
“Butlesttheyshouldeffecttheircursedwill,Letusdestroythisserpentonhisnest;
Bothyoungandold,letusthispeoplekill,Thetenderinfantsattheirmothers’breast,Theirhousesburn,theirholytemplesfillWithbodiesslainofthosethatlovedthembest,Andonthattombtheyholdsomuchinprice,Let’sofferuptheirpriestsinsacrifice。“