首页 >出版文学> Jerusalem Delivered>第38章
  AmassofsolidfireburningbrightRolledupinsmoulderingfumes,thereburstethout,AndtheretheblusteringwindsaddstrengthandmightAndgatherclosethesparsedflamesabout:
  TheFrenchmentrembledatthedreadfullight,Toarmsinhasteandfearranalltherout,Downfellthepiecedreadedsomuchinwar,Thuswhatlongdaysdomakeonehourdothmar。
  XLVII
  TwoChristianbandsthiswhilecametotheplaceWithspeedyhaste,wheretheybeheldthefire,Argantestothemcriedwithscornfulgrace,“Yourbloodshallquenchtheseflames,andquenchmineire:“
  Thissaid,themaidandhewithsoberpaceDrewback,andtothebanksthemselvesretire,FasterthanbrookswhichfallingshowersincreaseTheirfoesaugment,andfasteronthempress。
  XLVIII
  Thegildenportwasopened,andforthsteppedWithallhissoldiersbold,theTurkishking,Readytoaidthetwohisforcehekept,Whenfortuneshouldthemhomewithconquestbring,OverthebarsthehardycoupleleaptAndafterthemabandofChristiansfling,WhomSolymandrovebackwithcouragestout,Andshutthegate,butshutClorindaout。
  XLIX
  Alonewassheshutforth,forinthathourWhereintheyclosedtheport,thevirginwent,Andfullofheatandwrath,herstrengthandpowerGainstArimon,thatstruckhererst,shebent,Sheslewtheknight,norArgantinthatstowreWistofherparting,orherfierceintent,Thefight,thepress,thenight,anddarksomeskiesCarefromhishearthadta’en,sightfromhiseyes。
  L
  Butwhenappeasedwasherangrymood,Herfurycalmed,andsettledwasherhead,Shesawthegateswereshut,andhowshestoodAmidherfoes,sheheldherselffordead;
  Whilenonehermarkedatlastshethoughtitgood,Tosaveherlife,someotherpathtotread,Shefeignedheroneofthem,andcloseherdrewAmidthepressthatnonehersaworknew:
  LI
  ThenasawolfguiltyofsomemisdeedFliestosomegrovetohidehimselffromview,Sofavoredwiththenight,withsecretspeedDisseveredfromthepressthedamselflew:
  Tancredaloneofherescapetookheed,Heonthatquarterwasarrivednew,WhenArimonshekilledhethithercame,Hesawit,markedit,andpursuedthedame。
  LII
  Hedeemedshewassomemanofmicklemight,Andonherpersonwouldheworshipwin,OverthehillsthenymphherjourneydightTowardanotherport,theretogetin:
  Withhideousnoisefastafterspurredtheknight,Sheheardandstayed,andthusherwordsbegin,“Whathastehastthou?ridesoftly,takethybreath,Whatbringestthou?“Heanswered,“Waranddeath。“
  LIII
  “Andwaranddeath,“quothshe,“heremayestthougetIfthouforbattlecome,“withthatshestayed:
  Tancredtogroundhisfootinhastedownset,Andlefthissteed,onfoothesawthemaid,Theircouragehot,theirireandwraththeywhet,Andeitherchampiondrewatrenchantblade,Togetherranthey,andtogetherstroke,Liketwofiercebullswhomrageandloveprovoke。
  LIV
  Worthyofroyallistsandbrightestday,Worthyagoldentrumpandlaurelcrown,TheactionswereandwondersofthatfrayWhichsableknightdidindarkbosomdrown:
  Yetnight,consentthatItheiractsdisplayAndmaketheirdeedstofutureagesknown,AndinrecordsoflongenduringstoryEnroltheirpraise,theirfame,theirworthandglory。
  LV
  Theyneithershrunk,norvantagesoughtofground,Theytraversenot,norskippedfromparttopart,Theirblowswereneitherfalsenorfeignedfound,Thenight,theirragewouldletthemusenoart,Theirswordstogetherclashwithdreadfulsound,Theirfeetstandfast,andneitherstirnorstart,Theymovetheirhands,steadfasttheirfeetremain,Norblownorlointheystruck,orthrustinvain。
  LVI
  Shamebreddesireasharprevengetotake,Andvengeancetakengavenewcauseofshame:
  Sothatwithhasteandlittleheedtheystrake,Fuelenoughtheyhadtofeedtheflame;
  Atlastsoclosetheirbattlefiercetheymake,Theycouldnotwieldtheirswords,sonightheycame,Theyusedthehilts,andeachonotherrushed,Andhelmtohelm,andshieldtoshieldtheycrushed。
  LVII
  Thricehisstrongarmshefoldsaboutherwaist,Andthricewasforcedtoletthevirgingo,Forshedisdainedtobesoembraced,。
  Noloverwouldhavestrainedhismistressso:
  Theytooktheirswordsagain,andeachenchasedDeepwoundsinthesoftfleshofhisstrongfoe,Tillweakandweary,faint,aliveuneath,Theybothretiredatonce,atoncetookbreath。
  LVIII
  Eachotherlongbeheld,andleaningstoodUpontheirswords,whosepointsinearthwerepight,Whenday-break,risingfromtheeasternflood,Putforththethousandeyesofblindfoldnight;
  Tancredbeheldhisfoe’sout-streamingblood,Andgapingwounds,andwaxedproudwiththesight,Ohvanityofman’sunstablemind,Puffedupwitheveryblastoffriendlywind!
  LIX
  Whyjoy’stthou,wretch?Oh,whatshallbethygain?
  Whattrophyforthisconquestis’tthourears?
  Thineeyesshallshed,incasethoubenotslain,Foreverydropofbloodaseaoftears:
  Thebleedingwarriorsleaningthusremain,Eachonetospeakonewordlongtimeforbears,Tancredthesilencebrokeatlast,andsaid,Forhewouldknowwithwhomthisfighthemade:
  LX
  “EvilisourchanceandhardourfortuneisWhohereinsilence,andinshadedebate,WherelightofsunandwitnessallwemissThatshouldourprowessandourpraisedilate:
  Ifwordsinarmsfindplace,yetgrantmethis,Tellmethyname,thycountry,andestate;
  ThatImayknow,thisdangerouscombatdone,WhomIhaveconquered,orwhohathmewon。“
  LXI
  “WhatInilltell,youask,“quothshe,“invain,Normovedbyprayer,norconstrainedbypower,Butthusmuchknow,IamoneofthosetwainWhichlatewithkindledfiredestroyedthetower。“
  Tancredatherproudwordsswelledwithdisdain,“Thathastthousaid,“quothhe,“inevilhour;
  Thyvauntingspeeches,andthysilenceboth,Uncivilwretch,hathmademyheartmorewroth。“
  LXII
  Ireintheirchafedbreastsrenewedthefray,Fiercewasthefight,thoughfeebleweretheirmight,Theirstrengthwasgone,theircunningwasaway,Andfuryintheirsteadmaintainedthefight,TheirswordsbothpointsandedgessharpembayInpurpleblood,wheresotheyhitorlight,Andifweaklifeyetintheirbosomslie,Theylivedbecausetheybothdisdainedtodie。
  LXIII
  AsAegeanseaswhenstormsbecalmedagainThatrolledtheirtumblingwaveswithtroublousblasts,Doyetoftempestspastsomeshowsretain,Andhereandtheretheirswellingbillowscasts;
  So,thoughtheirstrengthweregoneandmightwerevain,Oftheirfirstfiercenessstillthefurylasts,Wherewithsustained,theytotheirtacklingstood,Andheapedwoundonwound,andbloodonblood。
  LXIV
  Butnow,alas,thefatalhourarrivesThathersweetlifemustleavethattenderhold,Hisswordintoherbosomdeephedrives,Andbathedinlukewarmbloodhisironcold,BetweenherbreaststhecruelweaponrivesHercurioussquare,embossedwithswellinggold,Herkneesgrowweak,thepainsofdeathshefeels,Andlikeafallingcedarbendsandreels。
  LXV
  Theprincehishanduponhershielddothstretch,Andlowonearththewoundeddamsellayeth,Andwhileshefell,withweakandwofulspeech,Herprayerslastandlastcomplaintsshesayeth,Aspiritnewdidherthoseprayersteach,Spiritofhope,ofcharity,andfaith;
  AndthoughherlifetoChristrebelliouswere,YetdiedsheHischildandhandmaiddear。
  LXVI
  “Friend,thouhastwon,Ipardonthee,norsaveThisbody,thatalltormentscanendure,Butsavemysoul,baptismIdyingcrave,Comewashawaymysinswithwaterspure:“
  Hisheartrelentingnighinsunderrave,Withwofulspeechofthatsweetcreature,Sothathisrage,hiswrath,andangerdied,Andonhischeekssalttearsforruthdownslide。
  LXVII
  Withmurmurlouddownfromthemountain’ssideAlittlerunneltumbledneartheplace,Thitherheranandfilledhishelmetwide,Andquickreturnedtodothatworkofgrace,Withtremblinghandsherbeaverheuntied,Whichdonehesaw,andseeing,knewherface,Andlosttherewithhisspeechandmovingquite,Ohwofulknowledge,ahunhappysight!
  LXVIII
  Hediednot,butallhisstrengthunites,Andtohisvirtuesgavehisheartinguard,Bridlinghisgrief,withwaterherequitesThelifethathebereftwithironhard,Andwhilethesacredwordstheknightrecites,Thenymphtoheavenwithjoyherselfprepared;
  Andasherlifedecaysherjoysincrease,Shesmiledandsaid,“Farewell,Idieinpeace。“
  LXIX
  Asvioletsbluemongstliliespurementhrow,Sopalenessmidsthernativewhitebegun;
  Herlookstoheavenshecast,theireyesItrowDownwardforpitybentbothheavenandsun,Hernakedhandshegavetheknight,inshowOfloveandpeace,herspeech,alas,wasdone,Andthusthevirginfellonendlesssleep,——
  Love,Beauty,Virtue,foryourdarlingweep!
  LXX
  Butwhenhesawhergentlesoulwaswent,Hismanlycouragetorelentbegan,Grief,sorrow,anguish。sadness,discontent,Freeempiregotandlordshipontheman,Hislifewithinhishearttheycloseuppent,Deaththroughhissensesandhisvisageran:
  Likehisdeadlady,deadseemedTancredgood,Inpaleness,stillness,woundsandstreamsofblood。
  LXXI
  Andhisweaksprite,tobeunbodiedFromfleshlyprisonfreethatceaselessstrived,HadfollowedherfairsoulbutlatelyfledHadnotaChristiansquadrontherearrived,Toseekfreshwaterthitherhaplyled,Andfoundtheprincessdead,andhimdeprivedOfsignsoflife;yetdidtheknightremainOnlive,nighdead,forherhimselfhadslain。
  LXXII
  Theirguidefarofftheprinceknewbyhisshield,Andthitherhastedfullofgriefandfear,Herdead,himseemingso,hetherebeheld,Andforthatstrangemishapshedmanyatear;
  HewouldnotleavethecorpsesfairinfieldForfoodtowolves,thoughsheaPaganwere,Butintheirarmsthesoldiersbothuphent,AndbothlamentingbroughttoTancred’stent。
  LXXIII
  Withthosedearburdenstotheircamptheypass,Yetwouldnotthatdeadseemingknightawake,Atlasthedeeplygroaned,whichtokenwasHisfeeblesoulhadnotherflightyettake:
  Theotherlayastillandheavymass,Herspirithadthatearthencageforsake;
  Thusweretheybrought,andthustheyplacedwereInsundryrooms,yetbothadjoiningnear。