首页 >出版文学> Jerusalem Delivered>第22章
  “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。