首页 >出版文学> Jerusalem Delivered>第8章
  Atlastshespoke,andwithacraftysleightHersecretlovedisguisedinclothesofhate:
  “Alas,toowell,“shesays,“Iknowthatknight,Isawhisforceandcourageprovedlate,ToolateIviewedhim,whenhispowerandmightShookdownthepillarofCassanoe’sstate;
  Alaswhatwoundshegives!howfierce,howfell!
  Nophysichelpsthemcure,normagic’sspell。
  XX
  “Tancredhehight,OMacon,wouldhewearMythrall,erefateshimofthislifedeprive,FortohishatefulheadsuchspiteIbear,Iwouldhimreavehiscruelheartonlive。“
  Thussaidshe,theythathercomplainingshearInothersenseherwishescreditgive。
  Shesighedwithal,theyconstruedallamiss,Andthoughtshewishedtokill,wholongedtokiss。
  XXI
  ThiswhileforthprickedClorindafromthethrongAnd’gainstTancredisetherspearinrest,Upontheirhelmstheycrackedtheirlanceslong,Andfromherheadhergildencasquehekest,Foreverylacehebrokeandeverythong,Andinthedustthrewdownherplumedcrest,Abouthershouldersshonehergoldenlocks,Likesunnybeams,onalabasterrocks。
  XXII
  Herlookswithfire,hereyeswithlightningblaze,Sweetwasherwrath,whatthenwouldbehersmile?
  Tancred,whereonthink’stthou?whatdostthougaze?
  Hastthouforgotherinsoshortawhile?
  Thesameisshe,theshapeofwhosesweetfaceTheGodofLovedidinthyheartcompile,Thesamethatlefttheebythecoolingstream,Safefromsun’sheat,butscorchedwithbeauty’sbeam。
  XXIII
  Theprincewellknewher,thoughherpaintedshieldAndgoldenhelmhehadnotmarkedbefore,Shesavedherhead,andwithheraxewellsteeledAssailedtheknight;buthertheknightforbore,’Gainstotherfoesheprovedhimthroughthefield,Yetsheforthatrefrainedne’erthemore,Butfollowing,“Turnthee,“cried,inirefulwise;
  Andsoatonceshethreatstokillhimtwice。
  XXIV
  NotoncethebaronliftshisarmedhandTostrikethemaid,butgazingonhereyes,WherelordlyCupidseemedinarmstostand,Nowaytowardorshunherblowshetries;
  Butsoftlysays,“NostrokeofthystronghandCanvanquishTancred,butthyconquestliesInthosefaireyes,whichfieryweaponsdart,Thatfindnolightingplaceexceptthisheart。“
  XXV
  Atlastresolved,althoughhehopedsmallgrace,Yeterehedidtotellhowmuchheloved,Forpleasingwordsinwomen’searsfindplace,Andgentleheartswithhumblesuitsaremoved:
  “Othou,“quothhe,“withholdthywrathaspace,Forifthoulongtoseemyvalorproved,WereitnotbetterfromthiswarlikeroutWithdrawn,somewhere,alonetofightitout?
  XXVI
  “Sosingled,maywebothourcouragetry:“
  Clorindatothatmotionyieldedglad,Andhelmlesstotheforestwardganhie,Whithertheprincerightpensivewendandsad,Andtherethevirginganhimsoondefy。
  Oneblowshestrucken,andhewardedhad,Whenhecried,“Hold,andereweproveourmight,Firsthearthousomeconditionsofthefight。“
  XXVII
  Shestayed,anddesperatelovehadmadehimbold;
  “Sincefromthefightthouwiltnorespitegive,Thecovenantsbe,“hesaid,“thatthouunfoldThiswretchedbosom,andmyheartoutrive,Giventheelongsince,andifthou,cruel,wouldIshouldbedead,letmenolongerlive,Butpiercethisbreast,thatalltheworldmaysay,Theeaglemadetheturtle-doveherprey。
  XXVIII
  “Savewiththygrace,orletthineangerkill,Lovehathdisarmedmylifeofalldefence;
  Aneasylaborharmlessbloodtospill,Strikethen,andpunishwhereisnoneoffence。“
  Thissaidtheprince,andmoreperchancehadwillTohavedeclared,tomovehercruelsense。
  ButinilltimeofPagansthithercameAtroop,andChristiansthatpursuedthesame。
  XXIX
  ThePagansfledbeforetheirvaliantfoes,Fordreadorcraft,itskillsnotthatweknow,Asoldierwild,carelesstowinorlose,Sawwhereherlocksaboutthedamselflew,AndatherbackheprofferethashegoesTostrikewhereherhediddisarmedview:
  ButTancredcried,“Ohstaythycursedhand,“
  Andfortowardtheblowliftuphisbrand。
  XXX
  Butyetthecuttingsteelarrivedthere,Whereherfairneckadjoinedhernoblehead,Lightwasthewound,butthroughheramberhairThepurpledropsdownrailedbloodyred,Sorubiessetinflaminggoldappear:
  ButLordTancredi,palewithrageaslead,Flewonthevillain,whotoflighthimbound;
  Thesmartwashis,thoughshereceivedthewound。
  XXXI
  Thevillainflies,he,fullofrageandire,Pursues,shestoodandwonderedonthemboth,Butyettofollowthemshowednodesire,Tostraysofarshewouldperchancebeloth,Butquicklyturnedher,fierceasflamingfire,Andonherfoeswreakedherangerwroth,Oneverysideshekillsthemdownamain,Andnowsheflies,andnowsheturnsagain。
  XXXII
  AstheswifturebyVolga’srollingfloodChasedthroughtheplainsthemastiffcurstoforn,Fliestothesuccorofsomeneighborwood,AndoftenturnsagainhisdreadfulhornAgainstthedogsimbruedinsweatandblood,Thatbitenot,tillthebeasttoflightreturn;
  OrastheMoorsattheirstrangetennicerun,Defenced,theflyingballsunhurttoshun:
  XXXIII
  SoranClorinda,soherfoespursued,Untiltheybothapproachedthecity’swall,Whenlo!thePaganstheirfiercewrathrenewed,Castinaringabouttheywheeledall,And’gainsttheChristians’backsandsidestheyshowedTheircouragefierce,andtonewcombatfall,WhendownthehillArgantescametofight,LikeangryMarstoaidtheTrojanknight。
  XXXIV
  Furious,toforetheforemostofhisrank,Insturdysteelforthsteptthewarriorbold,Thefirsthesmotedownfromhissaddlesank,Thenextunderhissteellayonthemould,UndertheSaracen’sspeartheworthiesshrank,Nobreastplatecouldthatcursedtreeouthold,Whenthatwasbrokehispreciousswordhedrew,Andwhomhehit,hefelled,hurt,orslew。
  XXXV
  ClorindaslewArdelio;agedknight,Whosegraveryearswouldfornolaboryield,HisagewasfullofpuissanceandmightTwosonshehadtoguardhisnobleeild,Thefirst,farfromhisfather’scareandsight,CalledAlicandrowoundedlayinfield,AndPolipherntheyounger,byhisside,Hadhenotnoblyfoughthadsurelydied。
  XXXVI
  Tancredbythis,thatstrovetoovertakeThevillainthathadhurthisonlydear,Fromvainpursuitatlastreturnedback,Andhisbravetroopdiscomfitsawwellnear,Thitherhespurred,andganhugeslaughtermake,Hisshocknosteed,hisblownoknightcouldbear,Fordeadhestrikeshimwhomhelightsupon,SothundersbreakhightreesonLebanon。
  XXXVII
  Dudonhissquadronofadventurersbrings,Toaidtheworthyandhistiredcrew,BeforetheresidueyoungRinaldoflingsAsswiftasfierylightningkindlednew,HisargenteaglewithhersilverwingsInfieldofazure,fairErminiaknew,“Seethere,sirKing,“shesays,“aknightasboldAndbrave,aswasthesonofPeleusold。
  XXXVIII
  “Hewinstheprizeinjoustandtournament,Hisactsarenumberless,thoughfewhisyears,IfEuropesixlikeshimtowarhadsentAmongthesethousandstrongofChristianpeers,Syriawerelost,lostweretheOrient,AndallthelandstheSouthernOceanwears,ConqueredwereallhotAfric’stawnykings,AndallthatdwellsbyNilus’unknownsprings。
  XXXIX
  “Rinaldoishisname,hisarmedfistBreaksdownstonewalls,whenramsandenginesfail,ButturnyoureyesbecauseIwouldyouwistWhatlordthatisingreenandgoldenmail,DudonhehightwhoguidethashimlistTheadventurers’troopwhoseprowessselddothfail,Highbirth,graveyears,andpractiselonginwar,Andfearlessheart,makehimrenownedfar。
  XL
  “Seethatbigmanthatallinbrownisbound,Gernandocalled,theKingofNorway’sson,Aprouderknighttreadsnotongrassorground,Hispridehathlostthepraisehisprowesswon;
  Andthatkindpairinwhiteallarmedround,IsEdwardandGildippes,whobegunThroughlovethehazardoffiercewartoprove,Famousforarms,butfamousmoreforlove。“
  XLI
  Whilethustheytelltheirfoemen’sworthiness,Theslaughterragethintheplainatlarge。
  TancredandyoungRinaldobreakthepress,Theybruisethehelm,andpressthesevenfoldtarge;
  ThetroopbyDudonledperformednoless,Butintheycomeandgiveafuriouscharge:
  Argantes’selffellatonesingleblow,Inglorious,bleedinglay,onearthfulllow:
  XLII
  Norhadtheboastereverrisenmore,ButthatRinaldo’shorsee’enthendownfell,Andwiththefallhislegopprestsosore,Thatforaspacetheremustbealgatesdwell。
  MeanwhilethePagantroopswerenighforlore,Swiftlytheyfled,gladtheyescapedsowell,ArgantesandwithhimClorindastout,Forbankandbulwarkservedtosavetherout。
  XLIII
  Thesefledthelast,andwiththeirforcesustainedTheChristians’rage,thatfollowedthemsonear;
  Theirscatteredtroopstosafetywelltheytrained,Andwhiletheresiduefled,thebruntthesebear;
  Dudonpursuedthevictoryhegained,AndonTigranesnoblybrokehisspear,Thenwithhisswordheadlesstogroundhimcast,Sogardenersbrancheslopthatspringtoofast。
  XLIV
  Algazar’sbreastplate,offinetempermade,NorCorban’shelmet,forgedbymagicart,Couldsavetheirowners,forLordDudon’sbladeCleftCorban’shead,andpiercedAlgazar’sheart,Andtheirproudsoulsdowntotheinfernalshade,FromAmurathandMahometdepart;
  NotstrongArgantesthoughthislifewassure,Hecouldnotsafelyfly,norfightsecure。
  XLV
  TheangryPaganbithislipsforteen,Heran,hestayed,hefled,heturnedagain,Untilatlastunmarked,unviewed,unseen,WhenDudonhadAlmansornewlyslain,Withinhissidehesheathedhisweaponkeen,Downfelltheworthyonthedustyplain,Andlifteduphisfeebleeyesuneath,Opprestwithleadensleep,ofirondeath。
  XLVI
  ThreetimeshestrovetoviewHeaven’sgoldenray,Andraisedhimonhisfeebleelbowthrice,Andthricehetumbledonthelowlylay,Andthreetimesclosedagainhisdyingeyes,Hespeaksnoword,yetmakeshissignstopray;
  Hesighs,hefaints,hegroans,andthenhedies;
  Argantesproudtospoilthecorpsedisdained,ButshookhisswordwithbloodofDudonstained。
  XLVII
  AndturningtotheChristianknights,hecried:
  “Lordlings,behold,thisbloodyreekingbladeLastnightwasgivenmebyyournobleguide,Tellhimwhatproofthereofthisdayismade,Needsmustthispleasehimwellthatisbetide,ThatIsowellcanusethismartialtrade,Towhomsorareagifthedidpresent,Tellhimtheworkmanfitstheinstrument。
  XLVIII
  “Iffurtherproofthereofhelongtosee,Sayitstillthirsts,andwouldhisheart-blooddrink;
  Andifhehastenottoencounterme,SayIwillfindhimwhenheleastdoththink。“
  TheChristiansathiswordsenragedbe,ButhetoshuntheiriredothsafelyshrinkUndertheshelteroftheneighborwall,Wellguardedwithhistroopsandsoldiersall。
  XLIX
  Likestormsofhailthestonesfelldownfromhigh,Castfromtheirbulwarks,flankers,portsandtowers,Theshaftsandquarriesfromtheirenginesfly,AsthickasfallingdropsinAprilshowers:
  TheFrenchwithdrew,theylistnotpresstoonigh,TheSaracensescapedallthepowers,ButnowRinaldofromtheearthupleapt,Wherebytheleghissteedhadlonghimkept;
  L
  Hecameandbreathedvengeancefromhisbreast’GainsthimthatnobleDudonlatehadslain;
  Andbeingcomethusspokehetotherest,“Warriors,whystandyougazinghereinvain?
  Paledeathourvaliantleaderhadopprest,Comewreakhisloss,whombootlessyoucomplain。
  Thosewallsareweak,theykeepbutcowardsoutNorampiercanwithstandacouragestout。
  LI
  “Ofdoubleiron,brassoradamant,Orifthiswallwerebuiltofflamingfire,YetshouldthePaganvileafortresswantToshroudhiscowardheadsafefrommineire;
  Comefollowthen,andbidbasefearavaunt,Theharderworkdeservesthegreaterhire;“
  Andwiththatwordclosetothewallshestarts,Norfearshearrows,quarries,stonesordarts。
  LII
  AbovethewavesasNeptunelifthiseyesTochidethewinds,thatTrojanshipsopprest,Andwithhiscountenancecalmedseas,windsandskies;
  SolookedRinaldo,whenheshookhiscrestBeforethosewalls,eachPaganfearsandfliesHisdreadfulsight,ortremblingstayedatleast:
  Suchdreadhisawfulvisageonthemcast。
  Soseempoordovesatgoshawks’sightaghast。