“Alas,whydidnotHeaventhesemembersfrailWithlivelyforceandvigorstrengthensoThatIthissilkengownandslenderveilMightforabreastplateandanhelmforego?
Thenshouldnotheat,norcold,norrain,norhail,Norstormsthatfall,norblusteringwindsthatblowWithholdme,butIwouldbothdayandnight,Inpitchedfield,orprivatecombatfight。
LXXXIV
“Norhaddestthou,Argantes,firstbegunWithmydearlordthatfierceandcruelfight,ButItothatencounterwouldhaverun,Andhaplyta’enhimcaptivebymymight;
Yetshouldhefind,ourfuriouscombatdone,Histhraldomeasy,andhisbondagelight;
Forfetters,mineembracementsshouldheprove;
Fordiet,kissessweet;forkeeper,love。
LXXXV
“Orelsemytenderbosomopenedwide,Andheartthoughpiercedwithhiscruelblade,ThebloodyweaponinmywoundedsideMightcurethewoundwhichlovebeforehadmade;
ThenshouldmysoulinrestandquietslideDowntothevalleysoftheElysianshade,Andmymishaptheknightperchancewouldmove,Toshedsometearsuponhismurderedlove。
LXXXVI
“Alas!impossibleareallthesethings,Suchwishesvainafflictmywofulsprite,WhyyieldIthustoplaintsandsorrowings,Asifallhopeandhelpwereperishedquite?
Myheartdaresmuch,itsoarswithCupid’swings,WhyuseInotforoncethesearmorsbright?
Imaysustainawhilethisshieldaloft,ThoughIbetender,feeble,weakandsoft。
LXXXVII
“Love,strong,bold,mightynever-tiredlove,Suppliethforcetoallhisservantstrue;
Thefearfulstagshedothtobattlemove,Tilleachhishornsinothers’bloodimbrue;
YetmeannotIthehapsofwartoprove,AstratagemIhavedevisednew,Clorinda-likeinthisfairharnessdight,Iwillescapeoutofthetownthisnight。
LXXXVIII
“Iknowthementhathavethegatetoward,Ifshecommandarenotherwilldeny,InwhatsortelsecouldIbeguiletheguard?
Thiswayisonlyleft,thiswillItry:
Ogentlelove,inthisadventurehardThinehandmaidguide,assistandfortify!
Thetime,thehournowfittethbestthething,WhilestoutClorindatalkethwiththeking。“
LXXXIX
Resolvedthus,withoutdelayshewent,Asherstrongpassiondidherrashlyguide,Andthosebrightarms,downfromtherafterhent,Withinherclosetdidshecloselyhide;
Thatmightshedounseen,forshehadsentTherest,onsleevelesserrandsfromherside,Andnightherstealthsbroughttotheirwishedend,Night,patronessofthieves,andlovers’friend。
XC
Somesparklingfiresonheaven’sbrightvisageshone;
Hisazurerobetheorientbluenesslost,Whenshe,whosewitandreasonbothweregone,Calledforasquireshelovedandtrustedmost,Towhomandtoamaid,afaithfulone,Partofherwillshetold,howthatinpostShewoulddepartfromJuda’sking,andfeignedThatothercausehersuddenflightconstrained。
XCI
Thetrustysquireprovidedneedmentsmeet,Asfortheirjourneyfittingmostshouldbe;
Meanwhilehervesture,pendanttoherfeet,Erminiadoft,aserstdeterminedshe,StrippedtoherpetticoatthevirginsweetSoslenderwas,thatwonderwastosee;
Herhandmaidreadyathermistress’will,Toarmherhelped,thoughsimplewereherskill。
XCII
TheruggedsteeloppressedandoffendedHerdaintyneck,andlocksofshininggold;
Hertenderarmsofeeblewas,itbendedWhenthathugetargetitpresumedtohold,Theburnishedsteelbrightraysfaroffextended,Shefeignedcourage,andappearedbold;
FastbyhersideunseensmiledVenus’son,AsersthelaughedwhenAlcidesspun。
XCIII
Oh,withwhatlabordidhershouldersbearThatheavyburthen,andhowslowshewent!
Hermaid,toseethatallthecoastswereclear,Beforehermistress,throughthestreetswassent;
Lovegavehercourage,loveexiledfear,Lovetohertiredlimbsnewvigorlent,Tillsheapproachedwherethesquireabode,Theretooktheyhorseforthwithandforwardrode。
XCIV
Disguisedtheywent,andbyunusedways,Andsecretpathstheystroveunseentogone,Untilthewatchtheymeet,whichsoreaffraysTheirsoldiersnew,whenswordsandweaponsshoneYetnonetostoptheirjourneyonceessays,Butplaceandpassageyieldedeveryone;
Forthatwhilearmor,andthathelmetbright,Wereknownandfeared,inthedarkestnight。
XCV
Erminia,thoughsomedealsheweredismayed,Yetwentsheon,andgoodlycountenancebore,Shedoubtedlestherpurposewerebewrayed,Hertoomuchboldnesssherepentedsore;
Butnowthegateherfearandpassagestayed,Theheedlessportershebeguiledtherefore,“IamClorinda,opethegate,“shecried,“Whereasthekingcommands,thislateIride。“
XCVI
Herwoman’svoiceandtermsallframedbeen,Mostlikethespeechesoftheprincessstout,WhowouldhavethoughtonhorsebacktohaveseenThatfeebledamselarmedroundabout?
Theporterherobeyed,andshe,betweenHertrustysquireandmaiden,salliedout,Andthroughthesecretdalestheysilentpass,Wheredangerleast,leastfear,leastperilwas。
XCVII
ButwhenthesefairadventurersenteredwereDeepinavale,Erminiastayedherhaste,Toberecalledshehadnocausetofear,Thisforemosthazardhadshetrimlypast;
Butdangersnew,toforeunseen,appear,Newperilsshedescried,newdoubtsshecast。
Thewaythatherdesiretoquietbrought,Moredifficultnowseemedthanerstshethought。
XCVIII
Armedtorideamongherangryfoes,Shenowperceiveditweregreatoversight,Yetwouldshenot,shethought,herselfdisclose,Untilshecamebeforeherchosenknight,TohimshepurposedtopresenttherosePure,spotless,clean,untouchedofmortalwight,Shestayedtherefore,andinherthoughtsmorewise,Shecalledhersquire,whomthussheganadvise。
XCIX
“Thoumust,“quothshe,“bemineambassador,Bewise,becareful,true,anddiligent,Gotothecamp,presentthyselfbeforeThePrinceTancredi,woundedinhistent;
Tellhimthymistresscomestocarehissore,IfhetograntherpeaceandrestconsentGainstwhomfiercelovesuchcruelwarhathraised,Soshallhiswoundsbecured,hertormentseased。
C
“Andsay,inhimsuchhopeandtrustshehath,Thatinhispowersshefearsnoshamenorscorn,Tellhimthusmuch,andwhatso’erhesaith,Unfoldnomore,butmakeaquickreturn,I,forthisplaceisfreefromharmandscath,Withinthisvalleywillmeanwhilesojourn。“
Thusspaketheprincess:andherservanttrueToexecutethechargeimposed,flew;
CI
Andwasreceived,hesodiscreetlywrought,Firstofthewatchthatguardedintheirplace,Beforethewoundedprincethenwashebrought,Whoheardhismessagekind,withgentlegrace,Whichtold,helefthimtossinginhisthoughtAthousanddoubts,andturnedhisspeedypaceTobringhisladyandhismistressword,Shemightbewelcometothatcourteouslord。
CII
Butshe,impatient,towhosedesireGrievousandharmfulseemedeachlittlestay,Recountshissteps,andthinks,nowdrawshenigher,Nowentersin,nowspeaks,nowcomeshisway;
Andthatwhichgrievedhermost,thecarefulsquireLessspeedyseemedthane’erbeforethatday;
Lastlysheforwardrodewithlovetoguide,UntiltheChristiantentsathandshespied。
CIII
Investedinherstarryveil,thenightInherkindarmsembracedallthisround,ThesilvermoonformseauprisingbrightSpreadfrostypearluponthecandidground:
AndCynthia-likeforbeauty’sgloriouslightThelove-sicknymphthrewglitteringbeamsaround,AndcounsellorsofheroldloveshemadeThosevalleysdumb,thatsilence,andthatshade。
CIV
Beholdingthenthecamp,quothshe,“OfairAndcastle-likepavilions,richlywrought!
Fromyouhowsweetmethinkethblowstheair,Howcomfortsitmyheart,mysoul,mythought?
Throughheaven’sfairfacefromgulfofsaddespairMytossedbarktoportwell-nighisbrought:
InyouIseekredressforallmyharms,Rest,midstyourweapons;peace,amongstyourarms。
CV
“Receiveme,then,andletmemercyfind,AsgentleloveassurethmeIshall,AmongyouhadIentertainmentkindWhenfirstIwasthePrinceTancredi’sthrall:
Icovetnot,ledbyambitionblindYoushouldmeinmyfather’sthroneinstall,MightIbutserveinyoumylordsodear,Thatmycontent,myjoy,mycomfortwere。“
CVI
Thusparleyedshe,poorsoul,andneverfearedThesuddenblowofFortune’scruelspite,ShestoodwherePhoebe’ssplendentbeamappearedUponhersilverarmordoublebright,TheplaceaboutherroundsheshiningclearedWiththatpurewhitewhereinthenymphwasdight:
Thetigressgreat,thatonherhelmetlaid,Borewitnesswhereshewent,andwhereshestayed。
CVII
Soasherfortunewould,aChristianbandTheirsecretambushtherehadcloselyframed,LedbytwobrothersofItalialand,YoungPoliphernandAlicandronamed,ThesewiththeirforceswatchedtowithstandThosethatbroughtvictualstotheirfoesuntamed,Andkeptthatpassage;themErminiaspied,Andfledasfastasherswiftsteedcouldride。
CVIII
ButPoliphern,beforewhosewateryeyes,HisagedfatherstrongClorindaslew,Whenthatbrightshieldandsilverhelmhespies,Thechampionesshethoughthesawandknew;
UponhishiddenmatesforaidhecriesGainsthissupposedfoe,andforthheflew,Ashewasrash,andheedlessinhiswrath,Bendinghislance,“Thouartbutdead,“hesaith。
CIX
AswhenachasedhindhercoursedothbendToseekbysoiltofindsomeeaseorgoad;
Whetherfromcraggyrockthespringdescend,Orsoftlyglidewithintheshadywood;
Iftherethedogsshemeet,wherelateshewendTocomfortherweaklimbsincoolingflood,Againshefliesswiftasshefledatfirst,Forgettingweakness,wearinessandthirst。
CX
Soshe,thatthoughttorestherwearysprite,AndquenchtheendlessthirstofardentloveWithdearembracementsofherlordandknight,Butsuchasmarriageritesshouldfirstapprove,Whenshebeheldherfoe,withweaponbrightThreateningherdeath,histrustycoursermove,Herlove,herlord,herselfabandoned,Shespurredherspeedysteed,andswiftshefled。
CXI
Erminiafled,scantlythetendergrassHerPegasuswithhislightfootstepsbent,Hermaiden’sbeastforspeeddidlikewisepass;
Yetdiversways,suchwastheirfear,theywent:
Thesquirewhoalltoolatereturned,alas。
WithtardynewsfromPrinceTancredi’stent,Fledlikewise,whenhesawhismistressgone,Itbootednottosojourntherealone。
CXII
ButAlicandrowiserthantherest,WhothissupposedClorindasawlikewise,Tofollowheryetwashenothingpressed,Butinhisambushstillandclosehelies,AmessengertoGodfreyheaddressed,Thatshouldhimofthisaccidentadvise,HowthathisbrotherchasedwithnakedbladeClorinda’sself,orelseClorinda’sshade。
第22章