Jerusalem Delivered by Torquato Tasso (Delphi Classics)

By Torquato Tasso

Torquato Tasso’s masterpiece ‘Jerusalem Delivered’ is a heroic epic poem in ottava rima, composed while the poet was incarcerated in the asylum of Santa Anna. First published in 1581, it remains one of the greatest achievements of the Italian Renaissance. The Delphi Poets Series offers readers the works of literature's finest poets, with superior formatting. This volume presents Tasso’s complete epic poem, with multiple translations, the original Italian text, beautiful illustrations and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1)

* Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Tasso's life and ‘Jerusalem Delivered’
* Concise introduction to the epic poem
* 3 translations of ‘Jerusalem Delivered’ — including the first English translation by Carew, available in no other collection.
* Also features Fairfax’s seminal translation and the more recent John Kingston James translation, appearing here for the first time in digital print
* Images of how the epic was first printed, giving your eReader a taste of the original text
* Excellent formatting of the epic poem
* Easily locate the cantos you want to read
* Provides a special dual Italian and English text, allowing readers to compare the poem, stanza by stanza, between the original text and both Fairfax and James’ translation – ideal for students
* Features Leigh Hunt’s biography - discover Tasso's literary life
* Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres

Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to see our wide range of poet titles

CONTENTS:

The Epic Poem
JERUSALEM DELIVERED
SIR RICHARD CAREW 1595 TRANSLATION
EDWARD FAIRFAX 1600 TRANSLATION
JOHN KINGSTON JAMES 1865 TRANSLATION

The Italian Text
CONTENTS OF THE ITALIAN TEXT

The Dual Text
THE DUAL ITALIAN AND ENGLISH TEXTS

The Biography
TASSO’S LIFE AND GENIUS by Leigh Hunt

Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of poetry titles or buy the entire Delphi Poets Series as a Super Set

• Language: English
• Publisher: Delphi Classics
• Release date: Feb 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781786562005

Torquato Tasso

Ralph Nash obtained his Ph.D. from Harvard University. He has published numerous articles on Renaissance literature.

Book preview

Torquato Tasso

(1544-1595)

Contents

The Epic Poem

JERUSALEM DELIVERED

SIR RICHARD CAREW 1595 TRANSLATION

EDWARD FAIRFAX 1600 TRANSLATION

JOHN KINGSTON JAMES 1865 TRANSLATION

The Italian Text

CONTENTS OF THE ITALIAN TEXT

The Dual Text

THE DUAL ITALIAN AND ENGLISH TEXTS

The Biography

TASSO’S LIFE AND GENIUS by Leigh Hunt

The Delphi Classics Catalogue

© Delphi Classics 2016

Version 1

Torquato Tasso

By Delphi Classics, 2016

COPYRIGHT

Torquato Tasso - Delphi Poets Series

First published in the United Kingdom in 2016 by Delphi Classics.

© Delphi Classics, 2016.

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form other than that in which it is published.

Delphi Classics

is an imprint of

Delphi Publishing Ltd

Hastings, East Sussex

United Kingdom

Contact: [e-mail]

www.delphiclassics.com

NOTE

When reading poetry on an eReader, it is advisable to use a small font size and landscape mode, which will allow the lines of poetry to display correctly.

The Epic Poem

Sorrento, a town overlooking the Bay of Naples in Southern Italy — Tasso’s birthplace

The father of Torquato Tasso, Bernardo Tasso (1493-1569) was an Italian courtier and also a poet.

The Torquato Tasso monument in Sorrento

JERUSALEM DELIVERED

The epic poem La Gerusalemme liberata was first published in 1581 and concerns a largely mythical interpretation of the First Crusade in which Christian knights, led by Godfrey of Bouillon, battle Muslims in order to take Jerusalem. The poem is composed of eight line stanzas grouped into 20 cantos of varying length. It belongs to the Italian Renaissance tradition of the romantic epic poem, as Tasso frequently borrows plot elements and character types from Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, as well as elements inspired by the classical epics of Homer and Virgil. One of the most characteristic literary devices in Jerusalem Delivered is the emotional conundrum endured by characters torn between their heart and their duty. Another central theme is the depiction of love at odds with martial valour, as honour serves as a central source of lyrical passion in the poem.

Tasso began work on the epic in the mid-1560’s, when it had the working title Il Goffredo. Jerusalem Delivered was completed in April, 1575 and that summer Tasso read his poem to Duke Alfonso of Ferrara and Lucrezia, Duchess of Urbino. A pirate edition of fourteen cantos from the poem appeared in Venice in 1580. The first complete editions were published in Parma and Ferrara in 1581.

A largely fictional account of the Crusades, the epic tells of the initial disunity and setbacks of the Christians and their ultimate success in taking Jerusalem in 1099. Though the principal historical leaders of the First Crusade feature in the work, much of the poem is concerned with romantic sub-plots involving entirely fictional characters, except for Tancredi, who is identified with the historical Tancred, Prince of Galilee. The three main female characters are Muslims, until they have romantic entanglements with Christian knights and are subsequently converted to Christianity. The female characters are presented by the poet as women of action, as two of them fight in battles and the third is a skilled sorceress. There are many magical elements in the poem and the Saracen side often act as though they were classical pagans. The most famous episodes and those most often dramatised and painted by artists include the following:

Canto 2: Sophronia, a Christian maiden of Jerusalem, accuses herself of a crime in order to avert a general massacre of the Christians by the Muslim king. In an attempt to save her, her lover Olindo accuses himself in turn, and each lover pleads with the authorities in order to save the other. However, the arrival and intervention of the warrior-maiden Clorinda saves them.

Canto 5: The witch Armida (modelled on Circe in Homer and the witch Alcina in Ariosto) enters the Christian camp asking for their aid; her seductions divide the knights against each other and a group leaves with her, only to be transformed into animals by her magic.

Canto 12: Clorinda joins the Muslims, but the Christian knight Tancred falls in love with her. During a night battle in which she sets the Christian siege tower on fire, she is mistakenly killed by Tancred, but she converts to Christianity before dying.

Canto 13: To prevent the crusaders from cutting timber for siege engines, the Muslim sorcerer Ismen protects the forest with enchantments, which defeat the Christian knights, even Tancred.

Canto 20: When Crusaders arrive at Jerusalem, there is a great battle outside the walls, which the Christians win, completing their quest.

Jerusalem Delivered was incredibly successful throughout Europe and over the next two centuries various sections were frequently adapted as individual storylines for madrigals, operas, plays, ballets and masquerades. Certain critics of the period, however, were less enthusiastic and Tasso came under much criticism for the magical extravagance and narrative entanglements in the narrative. Before his death, he rewrote the poem with significant changes, under a new title Jerusalem Conquered. Yet, this revised version has found little favour with either audiences or critics.

The fame of Jerusalem Delivered quickly spread throughout the European continent. In England, Sidney, Daniel and Drayton admired the epic and, most importantly, Edmund Spenser described Tasso as an excellente poete. Spenser went on to employ key elements of Tasso’s epic in the extraordinarily influential English work The Faerie Queene. The description of Redcrosse’s vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem in the First Book of Spenser’s epic poem owes a great debt to Rinaldo’s morning vision in Canto 18 of Jerusalem Delivered.

The first attempt to translate Tasso’s epic into English was made by Richard Carew, who published his interpretation of the first five cantos as Godfrey of Bulloigne or the recoverie of Hierusalem in 1594. A much more significant translation, featuring the complete rendering of the Italian text by Edward Fairfax, appeared in 1600 and has been acclaimed as one of the finest English verse translations. Tasso’s poem remained popular among educated English readers and was, at least until the end of the nineteenth century, considered one of the supreme achievements of Western literature.

‘Tancred and Erminia’ by Nicolas Poussin, Hermitage Museum — Tancred (1075-1112) was a Norman leader of the First Crusade, who later became Prince of Galilee and regent of the Principality of Antioch.

The hero of the epic: Godfrey of Bouillon, from a fresco painted by Giacomo Jaquerio in Saluzzo, northern Italy, in c. 1420

The title page of Fairfax’s translation, the first full rendering in English

An eighteenth century edition of the original text

‘Clorinda Rescues Olindo and Sophronia’ by Eugène Delacroix

‘Clorinda attacks Tancredi’ by Paolo Domenico Finoglia

‘Erminia discovers the wounded Tancred’ by Guercino, 1619

‘Rinaldo and Armida in her Garden’ by François Boucher

‘Rinaldo and the Wizard of Ascalon’ by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

SIR RICHARD CAREW 1595 TRANSLATION

CONTENTS

TO THE READER

THE FIRST SONG

THE SECOND SONG

THE THIRD SONG

THE FOURTH SONG

THE FIFTH SONG

SCIPIO GENTILI TO THE DIVINE ELIZABETH, QUEEN OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND IRELAND, PIOUS, BLESSED, RENOWNED, EVER AUGUST

 If we believe that shepherds’ small gifts, golden berries and clusters of ivy please a heavenly queen as much as do myrrh, gold, and gifts perfumed with incenses of Sheba bestowed by the hands of Ethiopian kings, then the sweet sound of gods cheering in the welkin has smiled on this lad. You also, o greatest image on earth of our celestial King, sacred brilliance, amidst the choice gifts of your peers, and the music of this festal day, do not despise this song, decked out by me in Latin dress, a song which a prince of those bards who have ever sung though the cities of Italy with the help of their ancestral Muses, divine Tasso, has poured forth from his breast. This is a gift which has not been lacking in any time or prince, oh Elisa, unique splendor of pristine virtue, whether you, protected by your faith, oh virgin rival of Godfrey, should be commanding churches be purged of their profaned altars and Thames to ignore mad Tiber’s threats, or whether you are governing teeming peoples with the reins of justice and tranquil peace, and, grave of countenance, are presiding over great Parliament, seated on your mighty throne, or whether it should please you to visit the Muses’ Boeotian fountains and imbibe their sacred waters, or whether you should be Diana’s sole companion, and, a golden quiver hung on your shoulder, harry the greenwoods and your father’s realms at the hunt. Whither, whither are you carrying me, Muses. Hail, renowned offspring of kings, hail, great glory bestowed upon the earth, and may you read my paltry trifles with a happy face!

ON TASSO

 Hidden by silent, dark shadows, in which a blind man’s Lydian child and a goddess of Antium plunged him, Tasso nevertheless stirs the remote Britons and the Indies with his Jerusalemite Muses, and freely flies throughout the world, borne on the pinion of his golden glory. He has bested all the poets of Etruria, Rome, and Greece who have lived until now, and he bests the shadows themselves, and the gods.

SCIPIO GENTILI, AN ITALIAN, TO THE POETS OF ITALY

 I have introduced these cantos, just lately made known by the Muses of Tuscany, to a city of Roman citizens, although I am dwelling in a northern city as a guest from central Italy, far from your fields. Here, where under an azure sky the Thames produces snow-white swans, and feeds on the grassy beds of its banks, and with its ocean current laves a new Troy, flowing backward towards its source. And though my age of twenty quickly-passing years may daunt me, and although Caesar’s laws might divert my attention in another direction, nevertheless, having begun this task at my friends’ urgings and my fathers behest, I produce a thing that is indeed small, yet glories hatched in a few years of my life. But you, who breathe Italian air sacred to poets under a blessed sky, I pray you extol this bard throughout foreign climes, a bard to be spoken of to the hoary centuries whom Vergil, were he to arise from Elysium’s vale, would gladly bestow upon Latin ears.

TO THE READER

GENTLEMEN, let it be lawfull for me with your leaves to trouble you a little. It was my good hap of late to get into my hands an English translated copie of Seig. Tasso’s Hierusalem, done (as I was informed) by a gentleman of good sort and qualitie, and many waies commended unto me for a worke of singular worth, and excellencie: whereupon, by the advise, or rather at the instance of some of my best friends, I determined to send it to the presse. Wherin if my forwardnes have fore-ranne the gentlemans good liking, yet let mee winne you to make me happie with the sweete possession of your favours, for whose sakes I have done whatsoever herein is done. When first I sent it to the printer, I did not certainely know whose worke it was, and so rested deprived of al meanes to gaine his assent and good liking thereunto, and yet notwithstanding the perswasions of some that would faine have prevailed with me, I resolved (at the motion, no doubt, of some rare excellent spirit, that knew and foresaw this to be the readiest meanes to draw him to publishe some of his many most excellent labours) to goe on with what I had begunne, ever assuring my selfe, and never doubting, but that you would like of it your selves, and intertaine it with such deere affection as it doth worthily merit. Now if it shall not in each part lively resemble the absolute perfection of the doer thereof, yet is hee blamelesse, and the fault as it is mine, so I wil acknowledge it for mine. For by my haste it proves his untimely birth, and doubtlesse miserably wanteth of that glorious beautie wherewith it otherwise would, and hereafter happily may be richly honoured withal. Now whereas I thought you should have had all together, I must pray you to accept of the five first Songs. For it hath pleased the excellent doer of them (for certain causes to him selfe best knowne) to command a staie of the rest till the sommer. In that which is done, I have caused the Italian to be printed together with the English, for the delight and benefit of those gentlemen that love that most lively language. And thereby the learned reader shall see to how strict a course the translator hath tyed himselfe in the whole work, usurping as little liberty as any whatsoever that every wrote with any commendations. Thus (as in duetie I ought) I have presented unto your views the course of my whole proceedings herein, humbly praying you to censure of the work with such respectfull consideration as shalbe meete, and to amend with patience such faults as are unwillingly escaped in the printing. And so you shall doe what shall well beseeme you, and give him his right that will never wrong you.

 From Exceter the last of Februarie, 1594.

Yours,

C. H.

THE FIRST SONG

1. I sing the godly armes, and that chieftaine,

Who great sepulchre of our Lord did free,

Much with his hande, much wrought he with his braine,

Much in his glorious conquest suffred hee,

And hell in vaine hit selfe opposde, in vaine

The mixed troopes Asian and Libick flee

 To armes, for heaven him favour’d, and he drew

 To sacred ensignes his straid mates anew.

2. O Muse, thou that they head not compassest

With fading bayes, which Helicon doth beare,

But bove in skyes, amids the quyers blest,

Dost golden crowne of starres immortall weare,

Celestiall flames breath thou into my brest,

Enlighten thou my song, and pardon where

 I fainings weave with truth, and verse with art,

 Of pleasings deckt, wherin thou hast no part.

3. Thou knowst, where luring Parnase most poures out

His sweetnesse, all the world doth after runne,

And that truth season’d with smoth verse, from doubt

The waywardst (flocking) to beleeve hath wonne,

So cup, his brimmes earst liquoarisht about

With sweete, we give to our diseased sonne.

 Beguilde he drinkes some bitter juyce the while,

 And doth his life receive from such a guile.

4. Thou noble minded Alfonse, who doest save

From Fortunes furie, and to port dost steare

Me wandring pilgrime, midst of many a wave,

And many a rocke betost, and drencht welneare,

My verse with friendly grace t’ accept vouchsave,

Which as in vow, sacred to thee I beare.

 One day perhaps, my pen forhastening

 Will dare what now of thee tis purposing.

5. If ever Christians to agreement growe,

And with their navy and their force by land,

A pray so great and wrong from Turkish foe

Seeke to regaine, dew reason doth command

That of that soyle the scepter they bestowe,

Or of those seas, if so thy pleasure stand,

 On thee, thou Godfreys countermate, my rime

 Attend, and armes provide in this meane time.

6. Since Christian campe for high exploit to th’ East

Had past, the last of sixe yeares on now ranne,

And Nice by force, and Antioch not least

Of power, by warlike policie they wanne.

Wheregainst when Persians passing number preast,

In battaile bold they hit defended thanne.

 And Tortose gat, which done, to winters raigne

 They yeelde, and stay the comming yeere againe.

7. The season, by his kind enclinde to weat,

Which layes up armes, wearie his course now ends,

When Sire eternall from his loftie seat,

Which in the purest part of heaven extends,

And from the lowest hell, what space is great

To starres, so farre above the starres ascends,

 Lookes downe, and in one blinck, and in one vew,

 Comprizeth all what so the world can shew.

8. Ech thing he viewes, and then he sett his eye

On Syria, where Christian princes stay,

And with that sight, which percingly can spy

What closet up humaine affections lay,

He Godfrey sees, who Panims lewd to fly

From sacred citie would enforce away.

 And full of faith, and full of zeale in heart,

 All worldy wealthy, rule, glory, layes apart.

9. But he in Baldwyn sees a greedie vaine,

Which bent to humaine greatnesse high aspires,

He Tancred sees, his life hold in disdaine,

So much a fond love him afflicting fires,

And Boemund he sees, for his new raigne

Of Antioch foundations deep desires

 To ground, and lawes enacts, and orders layth

 And arts brings in, and plants the Christen faith.

10. And in this course he entred is so farre,

That ought but that hit seemes of nought he weyes,

He skryes Rinaldos mind, addict to warre,

And working spirits, much abhorring ease,

No lust of gold in him, no thoughts there are

Of rule, but great and much enflam’d of prayse,

 He skryes that at the mouth he hangs of Gwelfe,

 And old examples rare frames to himselfe.

11. When inmost sense of these and other sprights

The King of all the world had unfould,

He calles him to, of the angelicke lights

Him that mongst first the second ranck doth hold.

A faithfull truchman, Gabriell that hights,  (interpreter

A nuntio glad, twixt soules of better mould,

 And God to us downe heav’ns decreees who shoes,

 And up to heav’n who with mens prayers goes.

12. God to his nuntio said, "Seeke Godfrey out,

And tell him in my name, why stands he still?

The warres againe who goes he not about?

Hierusalem opprest to free from ill,

Captaines to counsell let him call, and rout

Of sluggards rayse, that he be chiefe I will.

There him chuse, and those below that are

Tofore his mates, shall be his men of warre."

13. So spake he, Gabriel himselfe addrest,

Swift to performe the things in charge he takes.

His shape unseene, with aire he doth invest,

And unto mortall sense his subject makes,

Mans lims, mans looke, t’ apparence he possest,

Which yet celestiall majestie pertakes:

 Twixt youth and childhood bounded seeme his dayes,

 His golden lockes he doth adorne with rayes.

14. He puts on silver wings, yfrendg’de with gold,  (fringed

Wearilesse nymble, of most plyant sway,

With these he partes the winds and clouds, and hold

Doth flight with these aloft the earth and sea.

Attyred thus, to worlds lower mould

This messenger of skyes directes his way;

 On Liban mountaine hov’ring first he stayd,

 And twixt his egall wings himselfe he wayd.

15. Therehence againe to pastures of Tortose,

Plump downe directly levels he his flight.

From easterne coast the new sunne then arose,

Part up, but of more part waves hid the sight,

And earely Godfrey that mornetide bestowes

In prayre to God, as aye his usage night.

 When like the sunne, but farre and far more cleare

 Th’ angell to him doth from th’ east appeare.

16. And thus bespake Godfrey: "Now season tides,

That best with warriours service doth agree.

Why thwart you lingring then, while fast it slides,

And not Hierusalem from thraldom free?

Do thou to counsaile call the peoples guides,

Do thou the slow their worke to finish see.

God for their chieftain thee hath deemed fit,

And glad at once they shall themselves submit.

17. "God me this message sent, and I reveale

To thee his mind in his owne name, how great

A hope of victorie to have? A zeale

How great, of host thy charge hooves thee to heat?"

He ceast, and vanisht flew to th’ upper deale,

And purest portion of the heavenly seat.

 Godfrey those words, and that his shining bright

 Daz’led in eyes, and did in heart affright.

18. But fright once gone, and having well bethought,

Who came, who sent, and what to him was said,

Of earst he wisht, he now a fire hath cought

To end the warre whose charge God on him laid.

Not for the heav’ ns him sole this honour brought,

Ambitious winde puffing his stomacke swaid,

 But all his will did more in will enflame

 Of his deare Lord, as sparke becomes a flame.

19. Then his heroicke mates disperst about,

But not farre off, t’ assemble he invites:

Letter to letter, message on message out

He sendes, advice with praier he unites

What so may flocke or pricke a courage stout,

What skill dull vertue to awake endites:

 Seemes all he findes, with efficacie such

 As he enforceth, yet contenteth much.

20. The leaders came, the rest ensew’d also.

Boemund alone doth from this meeting stay:

Part campt abroad, part them in circuit stowe,

Another part within Tortosa lay.

The nobles of the campe to counsell goe,

(A glorious senate) on a solemne day.

 Then godly Godfrey thus makes silence breach

 Goodly of countnance, and as shrill of speach.

21. "Champions of God chosen by king of sky,

Of this true faith the damage to restore,

Whom midst of armes, and midst of guiles, safely

He rul’de and guided both at sea and shore:

So as of rebell realmes many and many

In so few yeares through us him now adore.

 And mongst the nations vanquisht and subdew’d,

 His ensignes are advanst, his name renew’d.

22. "We have not left our pledges sweete, nor reast

Native to us (if I beleeve aright)

Nor sold our lives to trustlesse seas beheast,

And to the perill of farre distant sight,

To gaine of fames short blast the vulgar feast,

Or that barbarians land we claime our right.

 For our deseigns in straight bounds then were pent,

 Slender our hire gainst soules or bloud yspent.

23. "But utmost purpose which our thoughts did heare,

Was Sions noble wals by force to gaine:

And Christen brothers to enfranchize there,

From yoake unworthy of their thralled paine,

In Palestine a kingdome new to reare,

Where safely plast, might godlines sustaine.

 That holy pilgrms farre from dread of way,

 That great tombe might adore, and vowinge pay.

24. "Our deedes till this for perill haue been great,

For travell more then great, for honour small,

For our mayn purpose nought, if we as yeat

Make stop, or bent of armes elsewere doe call.

What bootes it out of Europe to have sett

Fewell of force, and Asia fire withall?

 When as at last of these huge sturres we wend,

 Nor kingdomes rays’d, but ruin’d are the end.

25. "He buildeth not, whoso his soveraigntie

On worldly ground plots up to raise hath care:

Where midst unnumbred troopes of paganie

Strangers in faith, few of his countrey are.

Where of the Greekes he hopes no loyaltie,

And westerne succours can arive so spare,

 But ruynes he procures, which which opprest,

 Sole for himselfe a sepulchre he drest.

26. "Turkes, Persians, Antioch, noble matters be,

In name magnificent, and in effect:

Yet workes not ours, but heavens largesse we

Them deeme: conquests of wonder unexpect.

Now if the giver them wrong turned see,

And misemployed from their course direct:

 Heare he’l reaue them quite, and honour past

 So great, will waxe the peoples scorne at last.

27. "Ah be there none (for love of God) that guifts

So pleasing to bad uses turne and spill,

To web of these so high attempting drifts

Let threed and end of worke be suited still:

Now that the season to our service shifts,

Now that ech passage we have free at will,

 Why to the citie runne we nott, thats set

 Our conquests bound: who ist that can us let?

28. "My lords I do protest, and that which I

Do thus protest, the present world shall heare,

And that to come shall heare, and Saints on hie

Do heare, the time long since did ripe appeare:

And yet sits our exploit, but lie you still,

And t’ will most doubtfull fall that now is cleare.

 I prophesie if our course be delayde,

 The Palestine from Egypt shall have ayde."

29. He spake, his speech a muttring short befell,

Next after solitarie Peter rose,

Though private, mongst the princes at counsell,

As he from whom that voyage chiefly groes,

"What Godfrey doth exhort, I say aswell,

No doubt here fals, the truth so certaine shoes,

 It skryes hit selfe, he plaine demonstrance gave,

 Th’ allowance longs to you, sole t’ adde I have.

30. "If I remember well the brawles and shame,

As t’ were of purpose by you made and borne,

Your froward counsels and proceedings lame,

Which midst of working made your works forlorne,

I gesse that from another head there came

The cause of all these stops, and concord torne,

 Namely th’ authoritie in many wits,

 And many men that equall peyzed sits.  (balanced

31. "Where onely one doth not command, from whom

Judgement of paines and prices may depend:

From whom may offices and charges come,

There still the rule to eyther side will bend:

Ah of these members friendly joyn’d, in some

One bodie make, and make a head to wend

 And guide the rest, let one the scepter beare,

 And let him rule as king and prince he weare."

32. The olde man silenst here. What thoughts? What breasts

Are shut from thee breath sacred! Heat divine!

Thou in the hermite dost enspire these heasts,

And in the knights harts though the same dost shrine,

Th’ ingraft, th’ inborne affections thou outwrests

Of rule, of libertie, of honours signe.

 So as both Gwelfe and Guillam chiefe in place,

 Did Godfrey first with name of chieftaine grace.

33. The rest allowance gave, henceforth must be

Their part t’ advise, the others to direct:

Conditions to the conquer’d grant shall hee,

Warre, peace, when, where he please elect,

The rest now brought to becke, earst equall free,

The charge of his commandments are t’ effect.

 This so agreed, the fame out flies, and wide

 Spreading it self through tongs of men doth glide.

34. To souldiers then he goes, him worthy they

Deeme of the high estate, that giv’n they have,

And greetings glad, and warlick showts they pay,

Which he receives with countnance mildly grave:

Thus when to showes of minds humbler t’ obay,

And deere in love, he sitting answere gaue:

He points in flied of scope muster to take,

To th’ ensewing day what force the camp can make.

35. The sunne from out the east return’d againe

So bright, and fairely lightsome, as but seeld:

When with the new daies beams came forth the traine,

And under ensignes splayd their weapons weeld,

At Bullions hands ech seeking praise to gaine

Beyond his mates, whilst ring they cast in feeld:

 Both horse and foote marshald in warlicke bands,

 Before him on do march, where firme he stands.

36. Thou minde, of yeeres and of oblivion foe,

Of what so is, guardaine and steward trew:

Afford thy reasons helpe that I may showe

This camps ech captaine, and ech band to view:

Let their old fame new sound, and ample growe,

On which late yeeres the vayle of silence drew:

Adorne my speech from out thy store to set,

What ev’ry age may heare, and none forget.

37. The Franckes did muster first, of whom tofore

Hugo had charge, a brother to their king.

From Ile of France issewd this warlicke store,

A soile faire, large, on foure streames bordering.

When Hue deceast, th’ ensigne that lilies bore

Of gold, Clotared still them conducting

They followed, who captaine great in fame,

That nought might want, possest a royall name.

38. Of complet armed they are hundreds ten,

So many more of horse next them advance,

So like the first, as twixt them none may ken,

In ordring, nature, armes, a variance:

Normands they be, and Robert leades the men,

Their native prince borne and bred up in France.

 Their squadrons next William and Ademere,

 Two pastors of the people mustred there.

39. The tone and th’ other of them who but late  (one

 An holy office in Gods service beare,

Now playted lockes pressing with cap of plate,

Have manly use of arms falne to their share.

Orenge citie and confines of that state,

Foure hundred warriours to the first do spare.

 The second those of Poggio doth guide,

 Equall in tale, nor less in value tride.

40. When Baldwyn makes his muster next in feeld,

With Bulleyners tofore his brothers band,

For his good brother them contents to yeeld,

Now he on captaines captain doth command:

Th’ ensewing roome th Earle of Carnute helde,

Mightie in counsell, valiant of hand.

 Foure hundred with him march, a treble force

 Under his cornet Baldwyn leades of horse.

41. Gwelfe occupies the bordring circuit, one

Whose merit his high fortune egalleth,

By Latine sire, of Estine graundsires gone,

A bedroll long and trew he reckoneth:  (pedigree

But he unto the great house of Gwelfon,

 Germanyn in name, and lordship succeedeth.

 Corinthia he rules, and Sweve and Rhetian realmes.

42. To this livelode that from his mother came,

Conquests he winned, glorious and great:

Thence brought he men, who made (he bidding) game

To march where death they were assur’d to geat:

They winters cold by stooves to temper frame,

And with invitings glad pertake their meat.

 Five thousand came from home but hardly tho

 He could the thirds (the Persians reliques) show.

43. White skins, and yealow locks next people have

Twixt Francks and Germains and the sea bestowde,

Where bancks oreflow doth Mose and Rhenish wave,

Land that of graine and beasts beares fruitful lode:

Eke iland men, whom oceans swellings brave,

Gainst which they force up rampires high and brode.

 Ocean that not on wares alone hath power

 And ships, but townes and kingdomes doth devour.

44. These that a thousand are and other are,

Under another Robert make one band,

A greater squadron is the British farre,

Committed by their king to Williams hand,

His yonger sonne. Their bowes these English bare,

And people bring the pole that neerer stand.

 Whom Ireland placed at the worlds end,

 Doth from his wildwoods with locks shaggy send.

45. Then Tancred comes, there’s non amongst the rout

(Regnald except) a braver warrier,

Nor of a stomacke noble more or stout,

Nor countenance and conditions more faire.

If cloud of blame wrapt his deserts about

Them dimme, loves folly sole the fault must beare,

 Above twixt battailes borne, bred of short sight,

 Fed with afflictions, still accreeuing might.  (accruing?

46. Fame tells what day the Francks with glory great

The Persian troopes discomfited in fight,

After that Tancred in victorious heat

Chasing those runawayes, was tir’de outright,

Some cooly easefull place he sought to geat

For his scorcht lips, and lims devoide of might,

 And drew whereas inviting him to shade,

 Closde with greene banks, a fresh spring issue made.

47. Unthought of there appeares to him a dame,

All save her face in complet armour dight.

Shee was a Painim, and she also came

Like rest to gaine in like betyred plight:

Her feature he beheld, he held the same

Most faire, he likes, his liking fire doth light

 Of love, o wonder! Love then scarcely bred

 Grew great, and flew and in armes triumphed.

48. On goes her helme, and fire th’ assaylers part

Had playd, save others there by chance arrive:

The haughtie dame doth from her thrall depart,

Who of some force becomes a fugitive:

But he her warlike image farre in hart

Preserved so as hit presents alive

 The chance, the place, how, whar she came in view,

 In restlesse thought still feeding flame anew.

49. His looke was looke that bid his folke to ware

In letters large, he burn’d of hope devoyd,

So full of sighes he went, and so he bare

His eye-lids vayled downe and sadly cloyd:

Th’ eight hundred hoste which under-went his care,

Campanias pleasant fields tofore enjoyd,

 Dame natures greatest pompe, and hils that lay

 Mellow, fertile woode by the Tirhene Sea.

50. Two hundred followed of the Greekish tong,

Who yron armour none in manner bring,

Their hooked swords upon the the tone side hong,  (one

Their bowes and quivers at their backes do ring,

Their light horse service doth to gallop long,

For travaile tough, spare in their dyeting,

 Readie t’ assayle and to retire at will,

 Disordred, scattred, fled, yet fight they still.

51. Latine that cornet led, and only he

Of Greece the Latine armes accompanide.

O shame! O foule misdeede! And had not ye,

O Grekes, these warres ev’n sticking in your side?

Yet (as at games) sluggards you sit to see

What issue will to these great actes betide:

 Now if a slave thou serve, this thy bondage

 (Doe not complaine) is justice, not outrage.

52. A squadron next there comes in order last,

But first for honour, valure and for art:

Invict heroic ventrers here are plaste,

Alias terrour, and Mars thunder dart:

Cease Argos, Arther cease, vaine shootes you waste,

Knights saylers, and knights errants acts t’ impart,

 For old exployts comparde with these are winde.

 Where shall we then for them fit cheaftaine finde?

53. Dudon of Consa is their head, because

Hard t’ was of bloud and vertue doome to geeve,

They all agree to undergo his lawes,

Who did of all know most, and most atcheeve,

And grave of manlines and ripe of lawes:

He showes in hoarie lockes of strength the preeve.  (proof

 He showes of wounds not foule the printed skarres,

 The worthy steps of honour wonne in wars.

54. Eustace is next amongst the chiefe, whose owne

Prayse makes him great, but brother Boglion more,

From stocke of Norway kings eke Gernand growne,

On scepters, titles, crownes, him proud he bore:

Roger of Balnauil mongst best is knowne:

Old fame, and Eugerlan do there him score.

 Eke with the bravest they solemnize doo

 One Genton, one Rambald, and Gerards too.

55. Ubald also, and Rosomond is praysd:

Of Dutchy great of Lancaster the heire,

Nor can Obire the Tuscane downe be peyzd (weighed, evaluated

 By him that memories away doth beare,

Nor Lombard brothers three will be disseyzd,  (deceived, cheated

Achilles, Sforza, Palamade, of their

 Clear fame, nor Otto strong that wonne the shield

 Where serpents mouth sends forth a naked child.

56. Nor Guasco, nor Rudolfo left behinde,

Nor th’ one nor th’ other Guido, famous both,

Nor Evrard, nor Gernier must slip my mind

To passe in gratelesse silence more then loth.

Whither do you lovers and your spouses kind?

Gildip and Edward hale him, now that grow’th

 Of numbring wearie. O consorts in warre!

 Though dead, disjoynd you never shalbe farre.

57. What can there not be learnd in schooles of love?

There was she taught to waxe a warrier bolde,

To his deere side still cleaves she, and above

One destiny, his and her life doth holde:

No blow that hurts but one, they ever proue

But eche wounds smart encreast is doublefold,

 And oft the one is hit the other playnes,

 Tone bleedes at soule, the tother at the vaynes.

58. But youth Rinaldo farre surpasseth these,

And passeth all that to the muster went,

Most sweetly fierce, up should you see him rayse

His royall looke and all lookes on it spent:

He hope oregoes, he overgrowes his dayes,

When bud was thought but bloome, out fruit he sent:

 To such as armes him thundering saw embrace,

 Mars did he seem, love, if he shew’d his face.

59. Him on the banck of Adige foorth brought

Sofia to Bertold, Sofia the faire,

To Bertold the puissant when newly rought

From mothers teat, and yet unwayn’d welneare,  (unweened

Maved would him have, and nurst, him, and him tought

In princely skils, and kept him still with her,

 Untill his youthly minde plight his beheast,

 T ‘ ensew the triump that sounded from the east.

60. Then he thrice five of yeares could scantly skore,

Yet fled alone and walkt through uncouth wayes,

He past th’ Egean Sea and Greekish shore,

And at the campe arrives, where far hit stayes,

Most noble flight, well worthy that once more

Some nephew chivalrous make like assayes:

 Three yeeres are spent, and he in wars when now

 His chyns soft downe could scarce a beard avow.

61. The horsemen past, the muster next doth grow

Of men on foot, and Reymond leades the way,

Tholouse he rulde, and brought his souldiers from

Mount Piren, Garon streame, and Ocean sea.

Of thousands foure, well arm’d, well trayn’d, a show

He makes, whom toyle or want could not affray:

 Tall were the men, and led they could not be

 By one more strong, or better skil’d then he.

62. But thousands five doth Stephen from Amboise

And Blois and Tours unto the service bring:

Though sorted bright in armes and weapons choice,

For strength or paine not worth the valewing:

The soyle is tender, light, shapte to rejoyce,

And like it selfe his dwellers fostering:

 In battaile first they give an onsett bold,

 But soone waxt faint, and in their courage cold.

63. Alcasto commeth third (as Thebes by

Was Capaneus once) of visage grim:

Sixe thousand Swizzards commons, fierce, hardy,

From Alpine castles levide come with him,

Who yron wont to plowes and clots t’ apply,

To new shapes now and worthier uses trim.

 And with the hand that kept the ragged heard,

 Seeme kingdomes to defie, are not afeard.

64. He after saw the loftie standard splayd

With Peters diademe and with his keyes,

These thousands sev’n doth good Camillus lead,

Footmen in armour bright, and huge of peyze,

He glad the heav’ns so great a charge obeyd,

There to renew his graundsires auncient prayse,

 Or shew at least that to valure Latine

 Or nothing lackes, or onely discipline.

65. But now the squadrons all in musters faire

Were marching on, and this of all the last,

When Godfrey calles the greatest captaines neare,

And by his words gave of his meaning taste:

"To morow when the dawning shall appeare,

I will that light and prest the hoast do haste,

 So as unto the sacred citie we

 May come unlookt, as much as much may be.

64. "Prepare you all both to the journey than,

And to the fight, and to the victorie."

This hardie speech of so discreet a man

Gave ech one care, and vaunt his courage hie,

All prest march on, when the first ray began

To sprout, loth them broad day should there deskry,

 But Bollion provident wants not his feare,

 Though close conceald it in his breast he beare.

65. For he by newes for certaine understood

Th’ Egyptian king was now upon his way

To Gaza ward, a fortresse strong and good,

Which frontier-wise to Sirian kingdoms lay,

Nor could he thinke a man of restlesse mood,

In high exploits, would trifle time away,

But him sharpe foe attends: and sayeth this

To Henryck a true messenger of his:

66. "Unto some frigate light get thee aboord,

And toward Grekish soyle no sayling slake,

There shall you meet (for have I written woord,

From one who newes of lyes will neuer make)

A royall youth, none braver guirt with sword,

That part with us in warre pretends to take:

 He is the prince of Danes, and leades a band

 From where the Pole is zenith to the land.

67. "But for the Greekish empe’rour fraught with guile,

With him perhaps wil use his wonted art

To turne him backe or bend his course the while

Farre off fron us unto some forraine part:

My messenger and counsler true as stile,  (steel? a vertical post?

Do thou in my behalfe dispose his hart,

 To our and his owne good, and bid him speed,

 For stay were now his most unseemely deed.

68. "Come not with him thy selfe, but tarry there

With Greekish king so to procure us ayde,

Which more then once he hath us promisde faire,

And by our league thus ought not be delayde."

So speakes he, so informes, and gives to beare

Letters, the which with greetings credence prayd.

 Henryck for speed a present congey takes,

 And with his thoughts a truce time Godfrey makes.

69. Th’ ensewing day when of the lightsome east

The gates are opned to the sunnes approch,

The drums and trumpets gave the care no rest,

Exhorting warriours on the way encroch.

Thunder in heat is no such welcome guest,

Which hope of ner showre to the world doth broch,

 As all the hardy souldiers pleasing sound

 Of warlicke instruments this shrilly sound.

70. Straightway ech one, pricked with great desire,

Clothed his lims with his oft worne spoyles,

Straightway ech one musters in complet tire,

Straightway ech one to his cheftaine recoyles,

And the well-marshald army joyned nyre

His ensignes all displayes to Eols broyles  (Aeolus’

 And the emperiall standard stately large

 A crosse triumphant over all doth charge.

71. This while the sunne, which in the heav’nly ground

Still vauntage winnes, and up ascendeth hie,

On th’ armour beates and flashes make rebound,

And quaking lightnings cleere, which bleare the eye:

The aire with sparckles seemes enflamed round,

And shines like burning fire that up doth flie:

 And with the neighings fierce accordes the noyse

 Of clashing armour and the fields accloyes.

72. The generall, who from the en’mies snares

Desires his troups in safetie may remaine,

Store of light horse from the maine armie pares,

And round to scoure the coast employes their paine,

And pioners to send before he cares,

So for his campe an easie march to gaine,

 The pits to fil, the cragges away to take,

 And passages forclosde wide ope to make.

73. There are no Painim forces laevide yet,

No walls environed with trenches steepe,

No river broad, no combrous hill to get,

No forrest thicke their voyage backe to keepe,

Ev’n so the king of streames on priding set,

When as he growes past measure high and deepe,

 Beyond his banckes abroad all wrackfull goes,

 And nought is found that dare it selfe oppose.

74. Onely the king of Trypoli, who kept

Within well guarded walles coyne, men, and armes,

Athwart the Frankish army might have stept,

Yet durst he not by warre to stirre up harmes:

But he by presents to their favour crept,

And by his fires at home them gladly warmes.

 And such conditions of a peace doth take

 As vertuous Godfrey likes with him to make.

75. There from Mount Seyr which uplifted hie,

Neere to the citie stands on easterne side

Of true beleeving wights a companie,

Mingled in age and sexe downe flocking hide,

And Christens presents brought for victorie,

And glad them view, and with them talking bide,

 Admiring uncouth armes, and to Godfrey

 They prov’d true faithfull guides to shew the way.

76. He ever butting on the salt-sea wave,

By wayes directest doth conduct his hoast,

Well weeting that th’ associat shipping have

Resolv’d to sayle still hard aboord the coast,

Which course unto his armie plenty gave

Of vittaile, and what else was needful most:

 For him ech ile of Greece their harvest rept,

 And Creete and rocky Scio vintage kept.

77. The bordering sea under the waight did grone

Of the tall ships, and of the lightest pines,

So as safe passage there was open none

In midland sea to any Saracines.

For mand out not from Marck and George alone

In the Venetian and the Gene confines  (Aegaean

 Came fleetes, but England, France, and Holland some

 Do send, and some from fruitfull Sicil come.

78. And these which now together are combinde

With soundest know of love in one consent,

At divers shores had loden in ech kind

What by the campe should needfully be spent.

So when the frontire coast they freed finde

From en’mies shipping, which are close up pent,

 With canvas spred at full they thither goes

 Where Christ for mortall men bare mortall woe.

79. But fame foreran, the ready carrier

Of true reports, and rumours fraught with lyes,

That safe is joyn’d the army conquerer,

And now sets forth and all delaying flyes,

She of ech band makes a perticular,

She showes their names whose prayse doth highest rise,

 She showes their vaunts, and terrible of face

 Sions usurpers ceasles doth menace.

80. And ill lookt for perhaps brings greater ill,

Then selfe ill doth, when it is present, beare,

On ech uncertaine breath of rumour still

Doubtfull hangs ev’ry mind, and ev’ry eare,

Muttring confusde within, without doth fill

The fields, and doleful citie all with feare.

 But th’ aged king neere perill of such losse

 Counsels savage in doubtfull hart doth tosse.

81. Aladine is his name, who of that realme

Newe soveraigne ruled in continuall thought:

A man earst cruell, but that mood extreame

His riper age part had to mildnesse wrought:

He that conceav’d wherat the Latines ayme,

Who of his towne the walles to batter sought.

 To auncient feare adjoyneth new suspectes,

 And dreads his foes, and dreadeth his subjectes.

82. For in one citie mingled dwellings fall

Of people contrarie in faith, the lesse

And weaker part on Christ their saviour call,

The great and stronger Mahomet professe.

But when the king first conquer’d Sion wall,

And there his seat to stablish did addresse,

 From common taskes the Painims he set free,

 And double lodes the Christians miserie.

83. The thought of this his native savage mood,

Which couched lay, and languisht cold with yeares,

Angring eneigres and it makes new wood,  (irritates

That thirst of bloud now more than aye appeares,

So gentle seemd a while the snakish brood,

That to his fiercenesse turnes as sommer neares.

 And so the tamed lion takes againe

 His native fury, if he wrong sustaine.

84. I see, says he, "of new conceived joy

Undoubted signes in this unfaithfull race:

What their sole good that proves our chiefe annoy,

Sole they do laugh in this our common case

Of woe, and now perhaps their wits employ

To guile and treason, and discourse apace,

 How me to slay, or to consorted mates,

 Mine enemies, how they may ope the the gates.

85. "But soft not so, I will prevent (I trow)

Their wicked purposes, I’le glut my will,

I’l hew them downe, I’l sharpe examples show,

I’l sucklings in their mothers bosoms kill,

I’l fire in ech their house and temples throw,

Such funerals shall their death rights fulfill:

 Ile offer on that sepulchre of theirs

 Their priests for sacrifice amid their preyrs."

86. So did this tyrant reason in his mind,

But thought so ill conceiv’d tooke no successe:

Yet if these innocents a pardon finde,

Base heart, not pittie doth him thereto presse.

For if one feare to crueltie him tinde,  (inflame

Another greater doubt bridles no lesse.

 He dreads all wayes of concord to debarre,

 And armes of conqu’ring foes t’ incense too farre.

87. This fellon then his mad rage tempereth,

Or rather seekes elsewhere the same to wrake,

The countrey houses downe he ruyneth,

And places well manur’d a pray doth make

To flames: nought leaves he whole or sound unneath,

Where any Franck may food or lodging take:

 The springs and brooks he soyles, and waters sound

 With deadly poysons he doth all confound.

88. He spitefull warie is, ne ought foreslackes

Hierusalem with new force to supply,

On three sides strong before no helpe it lackes,

Onely the north part least assur’d doth lye,

But from his first suspect the same he backes,

On that weaker flancke with rampires hye,

 And numbers great of souldiers cul’d in haste,

 Hirelings and subjects by him there are plaste.

THE SECOND SONG

1. While thus the tyrant doth provide to arme

Ismen one day comes to him all alone,

Ismen that from the tombes can draw, and warme

Life, breath, and sence give corps whence they were gone:

Ismen that by the sound of mumbled charme

Can Pluto in his court cast feare upon:

 And all his divels employ in charges bad,

 And bind, and looze, as if them slaves he had.

2. Mahound he serves, that once did Christ professe,

Yet former rites wholy can not forgo,

But oft to use of foulest wickednesse

Confounds both lawes, though wel he neither know:

And now from caves where farre off common presse,

He wonts in hidden arts his time bestow:

 He comes, in publicke peril of his Lord,

 To wicked king a counsler more abhord.

3. "My liege (he sayes), the campe doth hither speede

His march, that conquering hath so dismayd:

But let us do what us to do may steede,  ( (stand in good stead

The skyes, the world, will give the hardy ayd.

Tis well that kings and captaines store at neede

You have, and for all wants foreorder layd.

 If that all other ply their charges so,

 This land for sepulchre shall serve your foe.

4. "As for my selfe I come my helpe t’ impart,

Compagnion both of perill, and of paine,

What counsell best lyes stor’d in aged hart,

What magicke skill I promise ev’ry graine:

I will constrain to beare of toyle their part,

Th’ angels earst banisht from the heav’nly raine.

 But how I meane these my enchantments frame,

 And by what meanes, now will I shew the same.

5. "An altar hid in Christian temple lyes,

Lowe under ground and her carv’d picture there,

On whom as goddesse vulgar sort relyes,

And mother that their bury’d god did beare,

Wrapt in a vayle it is, nor ever dyes

The lamp that shines before the image cleare.

 Along in rankes their hang hit round about,

 The offred vowes of credulous devout.

6. "This image now from them bereft away,

I will that you transport with your owne hand,

And in your great Meschita safe uplay,

Then I by charme will shape so sure a band,

That whiles it there doth dewly guarded stay,

By it ech gate shall fatall fenced stand,

 Your empire so twixt walles impregnable

 This rare new secret shall make durable."

7. He sayd, and swayd: then with impatience

The king unto the house of God him hyes,

And forst the priests, and voyde of reverence

On that chast picture sey’zd in rav’ning wise,

And bare hit to that church, whereof offence

Of fond and wicked rites provokes the skyes:

 On sacred image in that place profane

 Th’ enchaunter whispered his blasphemous bane.

8. But when new dawning peered in the sky,

The sexten who this temple (most uncleene)

Receiv’d in guard, the image cannot spy,

Nor where he sought, nor where it plast had beene:

Straight he enformes the king, whom egerly

This so unwelcome newes incenst with teene:  (vexation

 And tooke conceipt t’ was stolne by some of those

 Who Christ posest, and now conceale it close.

9. Were it the deede of some beleeving wight,

Or wear’ t the heav’n that here his power displayd:

And for his queene and goddesse tooke despight

In so vile place to see her image layd:

(For fame as yet uncertaine doth endight

Where this, or mans, or Gods worke may be sayd)

 Godly it is that zeale and godlinesse

 Of man give place, and hit heav’ns deede confesse.

10.The king doth cause with search importunest

Each house, ech church, view’d and review’d to bee,

And him that hides, or maketh manifest

The theefe, or theft, proffers great paine, and fee:

Th’ enchaunter gives to all his arts no rest

To hunt the truth, but all in vaine hunts hee,

 From where from heav’n or earth the practise came,

 Heav’n close it kept, to this enchaunters shame.

11. But when the cruell king saw unespyde

That which he deem’d the faithfuls only feat,

Gainst them a fellon hate he tooke, and fryde

In wrath, and rage immoderate and great,

Respect he quite forgets, what so betyde,

Vengeance he’l take, and quench his furies heat:

 "Th’ unknowen theefe (sayth he) shall yet be slaine

 In common wracke, nor my wrath tane in vaine.

12. "So that the guiltie be not sav’d, let die

The just and innocent, but which is just?

Ech blame deserves, nor mongst them all see I

So much as one, whom we as friend may trust:

If some with this new fault have non ally,

It serves old faults abuy new penance must.  (suffer

 Up up my loyals, up in hand goe take

 Both fire and sword, burne, and huge slaughter make."

13. So he his folke bespake, when forth ech where,

Straightwayes this fame amongst the faithfull flyes,

Who grew astonisht, so doth them the feare

Of death in eye now present quite surpryze,

Nor is there one that dew excuse, or preyre,

Or just defence, or flight, once dares or tryes.

 But these so faint, and unresolv’d of mind,

 Where least they hoped, did their safetie find.

14. Amongst them was a mayd of maidenhed

To ripenesse growne, of high and noble thought:

Of bewtie rare, but bewtie valewed,

Or nought or sole, for it to vertue brought

Accompt, most priz’d because straight cabyned,

Twixt wals her prices great to hide she sought.

 And of her wooers unbepranct and sole,  (unadorned

 Both from the laud, and from the lookes she stole.

15. But guard is none that wholy can conceale

Bewtie of worth likt and admirde to be,

Nor love consent will give, but it reveale

Unto a young mans hote desires doth hee,

Love that now blinde, now Argos, now with vaile

Dost blind thine eyes, now open wide dost see,

 Thou through a thousand watchers into chast

 Maides lodgings others sight conveyed hast.

16. Sofronia shee, Olindo he hath name,

One citie both, and one faith both they have,

For modest he, for faire she carries fame,

Desire much, little hope, nought he doth crave.

Nor can it show, or dares not do the same,

And she or scornes, or seeth not, or gave

 No semblance, so til then par thrall he peakt,  (he slunk about as her slave

 Or not not seene, or ill knowne, or smally reakt.  (held in esteem

17. This while runnes out the bruit, how there is prest

A wretched slaughter of this seely flocke,  (holy

Shee that is equall noble and honest,

Bethinkes what way to shield them from the shocke,

Valiance her grat minde moves, shame it arrest,

And maidens modestie doth thwart a blocke.

 Valiance oercomes, rather accordes, whiles she

 Shamefast her selfe, shame valiant makes to be.

18. This maide alone through preace of vulgar went,  (press, throng

Bewty she covers not, nor sets to sight,

Shadow’d her eyes, in vayle her bodie pent,

With manner coy, yet coy in noble plight,

I note where car’de, or carelesse ornament,

Where chance, or art her fairest countnance dight.

 Friended by heav’ns, by nature, and by love,

 Her meere neglects most artifiall prove.

19. Lookt on by ech the stately ladie goes,

But lookes on none, and to the king she came,

Not for he angry seemes, one steppe she flowes,

But his grim sight fearlesse endures the dame.

I come my Lord, sayth she, "(your wrath forclose

The while I pray, and your people reclaime)

 I come to show, and to you bound to gieve

 The wight you seeke, and did you so aggrieve."

20. At t’ honest boldnesse, at the unforethought

Glympes of her bewtie, stately, and divine,

As if confusde, as conquer’d he were cought,

He bridles rage, and sterne looke doth incline,

Had he a mind, or she a countnance brought

Ought lesse severe, love had him snar’d in line.

 But wayward bewtie, wayward hart to move

 Serves farr unfit, kindnes is bait of love.

21. T’ was stonishment, t’ was rarenesse, t’ was delite,

If t’ were not love that stir’d his villaine hart:

"Declare (sayes he) the whole, no farder smite

Shall any sword to Christen peoples smart."

Then shee, "Here standes the guiltie of thy spite,

This hand (o king) did play this theevish part,

 Th’ image I tooke away, and I am she

 That so thou seekst, and punisht ought to be."

22. Thus to the publicke fate her hautie hed

She offered, and sole on her it tooke,

Most noble lye, when so embellished,

As thee t’ exceede, can truth selfe ever looke:

Suspenst a while and not so sodaine led

To wrath, this tyrant fierce patience forsooke,

 Then he rejoyns thereto, "I will thou show

 Who did advise, and who did helpe bestow."

23. "Of this my glorie I would not pertake

One onely myte to any else (she sayd).

My selfe I sole did hereto privie make,

My selfe sole counsaile gave, sole gave I ayde."

"Then on thee sole (he out replying brake)

Shall all the wrath of my revenge be layde."

 "Tis just (quoth she), to me it so pertaines,

 At honour sole, sole will I be in paynes."

24. Fresh rage in tyrant then beginnes accrew,

And asketh her where is the image hid?

"Not hid (quoth she) but I in fire it threw,

To fire the same most praysefull deeme I did:

For so at least, that myscreants hands anew

Might worke it farder wrong, all feare I rid.

 Seeke you the theefe, or seeke you (sir) the theft,

 Her here you see, that I from sight is reft.

25." Albe nor mine is theft, nor theefe am I.

Tis just regayn’d, that wrongfully was got."

The hearing this doth force the tyrant cry

With threatfull sound, and raynes to wrath allot,

Noble visage, hart shamefast, stomach hye,

Now out may hope of finding pardon blot:  (ought

 And love in vaine against so cruell wrake

 Of deintie bewtie seekes a shield to make.

26. Arrested, and condemned is that faire

Dame, by that fellon king, in flames to die,

And now her vayle and mantle chaste they teare

Away, and with hard wythes armes tender tye.

She silent stands, and still stout hart doth beare,

No whit dismayd, though somewhat mov’d thereby,

 And her faire face is taynted with a hew

 That doth not palenesse, but a whitenesse shew.

27. Now this great case is knowne, and thither packt

Huge