Part 18 (2/2)
Or else depart and travel forth, until To Euphrates we come, that sacred flood, Where dwells a people void of martial skill, Whose cities rich, whose land is fat and good, Where kingdoms great we may at ease provide, Far from these Frenchmen's malice, from their pride;
LXX ”Then let us go, and no revengement take For this brave knight, though it lie in our power: No, no, that courage rather newly wake, Which never sleeps in fear and dread one hour, And this pestiferous serpent, poisoned snake, Of all our knights that hath destroyed the flower, First let us slay, and his deserved end Example make to him that kills his friend.
LXXI ”I will, I will, if your courageous force, Dareth so much as it can well perform, Tear out his cursed heart without remorse, The nest of treason false and guile enorm.”
Thus spake the angry knight with headlong course; The rest him followed with a furious storm, ”Arm, arm.” they cried, to arms the soldiers ran.
And as they run, ”Arm, arm,” cried every man.
LXXII Mongst them Alecto strowed wasteful fire, Envenoming the hearts of most and least, Folly, disdain, madness, strife, rancor, ire, Thirst to shed blood, in every breast increased, This ill spread far, and till it set on fire With rage the Italian lodgings, never ceased, From thence unto the Switzers' camp it went, And last infected every English tent.
LXXIII Not public loss of their beloved knight, Alone stirred up their rage and wrath untamed, But fore-conceived griefs, and quarrels light, The ire still nourished, and still inflamed, Awaked was each former cause of spite, The Frenchmen cruel and unjust they named, And with bold threats they made their hatred known, Hate seld kept close, and oft unwisely shown:
LXXIV Like boiling liquor in a seething pot, That fumeth, swelleth high, and bubbleth fast, Till o'er the brims among the embers hot, Part of the broth and of the sc.u.m is cast, Their rage and wrath those few appeased not In whom of wisdom yet remained some taste, Camillo, William, Tancred were away, And all whose greatness might their madness stay.
LXXV Now headlong ran to harness in this heat These furious people, all on heaps confused, The roaring trumpets battle gan to threat, As it in time of mortal war is used, The messengers ran to G.o.dfredo great, And bade him arm, while on this noise he mused, And Baldwin first well clad in iron hard, Stepped to his side, a sure and faithful guard.
LXXVI Their murmurs heard, to heaven he lift his een, As was his wont, to G.o.d for aid he fled; ”O Lord, thou knowest this right hand of mine Abhorred ever civil blood to shed, Illumine their dark souls with light divine, Repress their rage, by h.e.l.lish fury bred, The innocency of my guiltless mind Thou knowest, and make these know, with fury blind.”
LXXVII Tis said he felt infused in each vein, A sacred heat from heaven above distilled, A heat in man that courage could constrain That his brave look with awful boldness filled.
Well guarded forth he went to meet the train Of those that would revenge Rinaldo killed; And though their threats he heard, and saw them bent To arms on every side, yet on he went.
LXXVIII Above his hauberk strong a coat he ware, Embroidered fair with pearl and richest stone, His hands were naked, and his face was bare, Wherein a lamp of majesty bright shone; He shook his golden mace, wherewith he dare Resist the force of his rebellious foe: Thus he appeared, and thus he gan them teach, In shape an angel, and a G.o.d in speech:
LXXIX ”What foolish words? what threats be these I hear?
What noise of arms? who dares these tumults move?
Am I so honored? stand you so in fear?
Where is your late obedience? where your love?
Of G.o.dfrey's falsehood who can witness bear?
Who dare or will these accusations prove?
Perchance you look I should entreaties bring, Sue for your favors, or excuse the thing.
Lx.x.x ”Ah, G.o.d forbid these lands should hear or see Him so disgraced at whose great name they quake; This sceptre and my n.o.ble acts for me A true defence before the world can make: Yet for sharp justice governed shall be With clemency, I will no vengeance take For this offence, but for Rinaldo's love, I pardon you, hereafter wiser prove.
Lx.x.xI ”But Argillano's guilty blood shall wash This stain away, who kindled this debate, And led by hasty rage and fury rash, To these disorders first undid the gate;”
While thus he spoke, the lightning beams did flash Out of his eyes of majesty and state, That Argillan,--who would have thought it?--shook For fear and terror, conquered with his look.
Lx.x.xII The rest with indiscreet and foolish wrath Who threatened late with words of shame and pride, Whose hands so ready were to harm and scath, And brandished bright swords on every side; Now hushed and still attend what G.o.dfrey saith, With shame and fear their bashful looks they hide, And Argillan they let in chains be bound, Although their weapons him environed round.
Lx.x.xIII So when a lion shakes his dreadful mane, And beats his tail with courage proud and wroth, If his commander come, who first took pain To tame his youth, his lofty crest down goeth, His threats he feareth, and obeys the rein Of thralldom base, and serviceage, though loth, Nor can his sharp teeth nor his armed paws, Force him rebel against his ruler's laws.
Lx.x.xIV Fame as a winged warrior they beheld, With semblant fierce and furious look that stood, And in his left hand had a splendent s.h.i.+eld Wherewith he covered safe their chieftain good, His other hand a naked sword did wield, From which distilling fell the lukewarm blood, The blood pardie of many a realm and town, Whereon the Lord his wrath had poured down.
Lx.x.xV Thus was the tumult, without bloodshed, ended.
Their arms laid down, strife into exile sent.
G.o.dfrey his thoughts to greater actions bended.
And homeward to his rich pavilion went, For to a.s.sault the fortress he intended Before the second or third day were spent; Meanwhile his timber wrought he oft surveyed Whereof his ram and engines great he made.
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