Earth,likethepatientwas,whoselivelybloodHathovercomeatlastsomesicknessstrong,WhosefeeblelimbshadbeenthebaitandfoodWhereonthisstrangediseasedepasturedlong,Butnowrestored,inhealthandwelfarestood,Assoundaserst,asfresh,asfair,asyoung;
Sothatforgettingallhisgriefandpain,Hispleasantrobesandcrownshetakesagain。
LXXX
Ceasedtherain,thesunbegantoshine,Withfruitful,sweet,benign,andgentleray,Fullofstrongpowerandvigormasculine,AsbehisbeamsinAprilorinMay。
0happyzeal!whotrustsinhelpdivineTheworld’safflictionsthuscandriveaway,Canstormsappease,andtimesandseasonschange,Andconquerfortune,fate,anddestinystrange。
FOURTEENTHBOOK
THEARGUMENT。
TheLordtoGodfreyinadreamdothshowHiswill;Rinaldomustreturnatlast;
Theyhavetheiraskingwhoforpardonsue:
Twoknightstofindtheprincearesentinhaste,ButPeter,whobyvisionallforeknew,Sendeththesearcherstoawizard,placedDeepinavault,whofirstatlargedeclaresArmida’strains,thenhowtoshunthosesnares。
I
Nowfromthefresh,thesoftandtenderbedOfherstillmother,gentlenightoutflew,Thefleetingbalmonhillsanddalessheshed,Withhoneydropsofpureandpreciousdew,AndontheverdureofgreenforestsspreadThevirginprimroseandthevioletblue,Andsweet-breathedZephyronhisspreadingwings,Sleep,ease,repose,rest,peaceandquietbrings。
II
Thethoughtsandtroublesofbroad-wakingday,TheysoftlydippedinmildOblivion’slake;
ButhewhoseGodheadheavenandearthdothsway,Inhiseternallightdidwatchandwake,AndbentonGodfreydownthegraciousrayOfhisbrighteye,stillopeforGodfrey’ssake,TowhomasilentdreamtheLorddownsent。
Whichtoldhiswill,hispleasureandintent。
III
Farintheeast,thegoldengatebesideWhencePhoebuscomes,acrystalportthereis,AnderethesunhisbroaddoorsopenwideThebeamofspringingdayuncloseththis,Hencecomesthedreams,bywhichheaven’ssacredguideRevealstomanthosehighdegreesofhis,HencetowardGodfreyerehelefthisbedAvisionstrangehisgoldenplumesbespread。
IV
Suchsemblances,suchshapes,suchportraitsfair,Didneveryetindreamorsleepappear,Foralltheformsinsea,inearthorair,Thesignsinheaven,thestarsineverysphereAllthatwaswondrous,uncouth,strangeandrare,Allinthatvisionwellpresentedwere。
Hisdreamhadplacedhiminacrystalwide,Besetwithgoldenfires,top,bottom,side,V
Therewhilehewonderethonthecirclesvast,Thestars,theirmotions,courseandharmony,Aknight,withshiningraysandfireembraced,Presentshimselfunwaresbeforehiseye,WhowithavoicethatfarforsweetnesspassedAllhumanspeech,thussaid,approachingnigh:
“What,Godfrey,knowestthounotthyHugohere?
Comeandembracethyfriendandfellowdear!“
VI
Heansweredhim,“ThygloriousshininglightWhichinthineeyeshisglisteringbeamsdothplace,EstrangedhathfrommyforeknowledgequiteThycountenance,thyfavor,andthyface:“
Thissaid,threetimeshestretchedhishandsoutrightAndwouldinfriendlyarmstheknightembrace,Andthricethespiritfled,thatthricehetwinedNaughtinhisfoldedarmsbutairandwind。
VII
LordHugosmiled,“Notasyouthink,“quothhe,“Iclothedaminfleshandearthlymould,Myspiritpure,andnakedsoul,yousee,Acitizenofthiscelestialhold:
Thisplaceisheaven,andherearoomfortheePreparedisamongChrist’schampionsbold:“
“Ahwhen,“quothhe,“thesemortalbondsunknit,ShallIinpeace,ineaseandresttheresit?“
VIII
Hugoreplied,“Eremanyyearsshallrun,Amidthesaintsinblisshereshaltthoureign;
Butfirstgreatwarsmustbythyhandbedone,Muchbloodbeshed,andmanyPagansslain,Theholycitybyassaultbewon,Thelandsetfreefromservileyokeagain,WhereinthoushaltaChristianempireframe,AndaftertheeshallBaldwinrulethesame。
IX
“ButtoincreasethyloveandgreatdesireToheavenward,thisblessedplacebehold,Theseshininglamps,theseglobesoflivingfire,Howtheyareturned,guided,movedandrolled;
Theangels’singinghear,andalltheirchoir;
Thenbendthineeyesonyonderearthandmould,Allinthatmass,thatglobeandcompasssee,Land,sea,spring,fountain,man,beast,grassandtree。
X
“Howvile,howsmall,andofhowslenderprice,Istheirrewardofgoodness,virtue’sgain!
Anarrowroomourgloryvainupties,Alittlecircledothourpridecontain,Earthlikeanisleamidthewaterlies,Whichseasometimeiscalled,sometimethemain,Yetnaughtthereinrespondsanamesogreat,It’sbutalake,apond,amarishstrait。“
XI
Thussaidtheone,theotherbendeddownHislookstoground,andhalfinscornhesmiled,Hesawatonceearth,sea,flood,castle,town,Strangelydivided,strangelyallcompiled,Andwonderedfollymansofarshoulddrown,Tosethisheartonthingssobaseandvild,Thatservileempiresearchethanddumbfame,Andscornsheaven’sbliss,yetprofferethheaventhesame。
XII
Whereforeheanswered,“SincetheLordnotyetWillfreemyspiritfromthiscageofclay,Lestworldlyerrorvainmyvoyagelet,Teachmetoheaventhebestandsurestway:“
Hugoreplied,“ThyhappyfootissetInthetruepath,norfromthispassagestray,OnlyfromexileyoungRinaldocall,ThisgiveItheeincharge,elsenaughtatall。
XIII
“ForastheLordofhosts,theKingofbliss,Hathchosentheetorulethefaithfulband;
SohethystratagemsappointedisToexecute,sobothshallwinthisland:
Thefirstisthine,thesecondplaceishis,Thouartthisarmy’shead,andhethehand,Nootherchampioncanhisplacesupply,Andthatthoudoitdoththystatedeny。
XIV
“Theenchantedforest,andhercharmedtreen,Withcuttingsteelshallhetoearthdownhew,AndthyweakarmieswhichtoofeeblebeenToscaleagainthesewallsreinforcednew,Andfaintingliedispersedonthegreen,Shalltakenewstrengthnewcourageathisview,Thehigh-builttowers,theeasternsquadronsall,Shallconqueredbe,shallfly,shalldie,shallfall。“
XV
Heheldhispeace;andGodfreyansweredso:
“Oh,howhispresencewouldrecomfortme!
Youthatman’shiddenthoughtsperceiveandknow:
IfIsaytruth,orifIlovehim,see。
Butsay,whatmessengersshallforhimgo?
Whatshalltheirspeeches,whattheirerrandbe?
ShallIentreat,orelsecommandtheman?
WithcreditneitherwellperformIcan。“
XVI
“TheeternalLord,“theotherknightreplied,“Thatwithsomanygraceshaththeeblest,Will,thatamongthetroopsthouhasttoguide,Thouhonoredbeandfearedofmostandleast:
ThenspeaknotthoulestblemishsomebetideThysacredempireifthoumakerequest;
Butwhenbysuitthoumovedarttoruth,Thenyield,forgive,andhomerecalltheyouth。
XVII
“Guelphoshallpraythee,Godshallhiminspire,Topardonthisoffence,thisfaultcommitByhastywrath,byrashandheadstrongire,Tocalltheknightagain;yieldthoutoit:
Andthoughtheyouth,enwrappedinfonddesire,Farhenceinloveandloosenessidlesit,Yearfearitnot,heshallreturnwithspeed,Whenmostyouwishhimandwhenmostyouneed。
XVIII
“YourhermitPeter,towhosesapientheartHighHeavenhissecretsopens,tellsandshews,Yourmessengersdirectcantothatpart,Whereoftheprincetheyshallhearcertainnews,Andlearntheway,themanner,andtheartTobringhimbacktothesethywarlikecrews,Thatallthysoldiers,wanderedandmisgone,Heavenmayuniteagainandjoininone。
XIX
“Butthisconclusionshallmyspeechesend:
Knowthathisbloodshallmixedbewiththine,Whencebaronsboldandworthiesshalldescend,Thatmanygreatexploitsshallbringtofine。“
Thissaid,hevanishedfromhissleepingfriend,Likesmokeinwind,ormistinTitan’sshine;
Sleepfledlikewise,andinhistroubledthought,Withwonder,pleasure;joy,withmarvelfought。
XX
Thedukelookedup,andsawtheazureskyWithargentbeamsofsilvermorningspread,Andstartedup,forpraiseaxedvirtuelieIntoilandtravel,sinandshameinbed:
Hisarmshetook,hisswordgirttohisthigh,Tohispavilionallhislordsthemsped,Andthereincouncilgravetheprincessit,Forstrengthbywisdom,warisruledbywit。
XXI
LordGuelphothere,withinwhosegentlebreastHeavenhadinfusedthatnewandsuddenthought,Hispleasingwordsthustothedukeaddressed:
“Goodprince,mild,thoughunasked,kind,unbesought,Ohletthymercygrantmyjustrequest,Pardonthisfaultbyragenotmalicewrought;
Forgreatoffence,Igrant,solatecommit,Mysuittoohastyis,perchanceunfit。
XXII
ButsincetoGodfreymeekbenignandkind,ForPrinceRinaldobold,Ihumblysue,Andthatthesuitor’sselfisnotbehindThygreatestfriendsinstateorfriendshiptrue;
ItrustIshallthygraceandmercyfindAcceptabletomeandallthiscrew;
Ohcallhimhome,thistrespasstoamend,HeshallhisbloodinGodfrey’sservicespend。
XXIII
“Andifnothe,whoelsedaresundertakeOfthisenchantedwoodtocutonetree?
Gainstdeathanddangerwhodaresbattlemake,Withsoboldface,sofearlessheartashe?
Beatdownthesewalls,thesegatesinpiecesbreak,Leapo’ertheserampireshigh,thoushalthimsee,RestorethereforetothisdesirousbandTheirwish,theirhope,theirstrength,theirshield,theirhand;
XXIV
“Tomemynephew,tothyselfrestoreAtrustyhelp,whenstrengthofhandthouneeds,Inidlenesslethimconsumenomore,Recallhimtohisnobleactsanddeeds!
KnownbehisworthaswashisstrengthofyoreWher’erthystandardbroadhercrossoutspreads,Oh,lethisfameandpraisespreadfarandwide,Bethouhislord,histeacherandhisguidel“
XXV
Thusheentreated,andtherestapproveHiswords,withfriendlymurmurswhisperedlow。
GodfreyasthoughtheirsuithisminddidmoveTothatwhereonheneverthoughttellnow,“Howcanmyheart,“quothhe,“ifyouIlove,Toyourrequestandsuitbutbendandbow?
Letrigorgo,thatrightandjusticebeWhereinyouallconsentandallagree。
第43章