Tochangehismodestthoughtthedameprocureth,Andprofferethheapsoflove’senticingtreasure:
ButasthefalconnewlygorgedendurethHerkeeperlureheroft,butcomesatleisure;
Sohe,whomfulnessofdelightassurethWhatlongrepentancecomesoflove’sshortpleasure,Hercrafts,herarts,herselfandalldespiseth,Sobaseaffectionsfall,whenvirtueriseth。
LXIII
AndnotonefoothissteadfastfootwasmovedOutofthatheavenlypath,whereinhepaced,Yetthousandwilesandthousandwayssheproved,Tohavethatcastlefairofgoodnessraised:
SheusedthoselooksandsmilesthatmostbehovedTomeltthefrostwhichhishardheartembraced,Andgainsthisbreastathousandshotsheventured,Yetwasthefortsostrongitwasnotentered。
LXIV
ThedamewhothoughtthatoneblinkofhereyeCouldmakethechastestheartfeellove’ssweetpain,Oh,howherprideabatedwashereby!
Whenallhersleightswerevoid,hercraftswerevain,Someotherwhereshewouldherforcestry,Whereatmoreeaseshemightmorevantagegain,Astiredsoldierswhomsomefortkeepsout,Thenceraisetheirsiege,andspoilthetownsabout。
LXV
ButyetallwaysthewilywitchcouldfindCouldnotTancredi’shearttolovewardmove,Hissailswerefilledwithanotherwind,Helistnoblastofnewaffectionprove;
For,asonepoisondothexcludebykindAnother’sforce,soloveexcludethlove:
ThesetwoalonenormorenorlessthedameCouldwin,therestallburntinhersweetflame。
LXVI
Theprincess,thoughherpurposewouldnotframe,Aslateshehoped,andasstillshewould,Yet,forthelordsandknightsofgreatestnameBecameherprey,aserstyouheardittold,Shethought,eretruth-revealingtimeorframeBewrayedheract,toleadthemtosomehold,Wherechainsandbandshemeanttomakethemprove,ComposedbyVulcannotbygentlelove。
LXVII
Thetimeprefixedatlengthwascomeandpast,WhichGodfreyhadsetdowntolendheraid,Whenathisfeetherselftoearthshecast,“Thehouriscome,myLord,“shehumblysaid,“Andifthetyranthaplyhearatlast,Hisbanishedniecehathyourassistanceprayed,Hewillinarmstosavehiskingdomrise,Soshallwehardermakethisenterprise。
LXVIII
“Beforereportcanbringthetyrantnews,Orhisespialscertifytheirking,Ohletthygoodnessthesefewchampionschoose,Thattoherkingdomshouldthyhandmaidbring;
Who,exceptHeaventoaidtherightrefuse,Recovershallhercrown,fromwhenceshallspringThyprofit;forbetidetheepeaceorwar,Thineallhercities,allhersubjectsare。“
LXIX
Thecaptainsagethedamselfairassured,Hiswordwaspassedandshouldnotberecanted,AndshewithsweetandhumblegraceenduredTolethimpointthoseten,whichlatehegranted:
Buttobeone,eachonefoughtandprocured,Nosuit,noentreaty,intercessionwanted;
Thereenvyeachatothers’loveexceeded,Andallimportunatemade,morethanneeded。
LXX
Shethatwellsawthesecretoftheirhearts,Andknewhowbesttowarmthemintheirblood,AgainstthemthrewthecursedpoisoneddartsOfjealousy,andgriefatothers’good,Forloveshewistwasweakwithoutthosearts,Andslow;forjealousyisCupid’sfood;
Fortheswiftsteedrunsnotsofastalone,Aswhensomestrain,somestrivehimtooutgone。
LXXI
Herwordsinsuchalluringsortsheframed,Herlooksenticing,andherwooingsmiles,Thateveryonehisfellows’favorsblamed,Thatoftheirmistresshereceivederewhiles:
Thisfoolishcrewofloversunashamed,Madwiththepoisonofhersecretwiles,Ranforwardstill,inthisdisorderedsort,NorcouldGodfredo’sbridlereinthemshort。
LXXII
Hethatwouldsatisfyeachgooddesire,Withoutenpartiallove,ofeveryknight,Althoughheswelledwithshame,withgriefandireToseethesefellowsandthesefashionslight;
Yetsincebynoadvicetheywouldretire,Anotherwayhesoughttosetthemright:
“Writeallyournames,“quothhe,“andseewhomchanceOflot,tothisexploitwillfirstadvance。“
LXXIII
Theirnameswerewrit,andinanhelmetshaken,Whileeachdidfortune’sgraceandaidimplore;
Atlasttheydrewthem,andtheforemosttakenTheEarlofPembrokewas,Artemidore,Doubtlessthecountythoughthisbreadwellbaken;
NextGerrardfollowed,thenwithtresseshoarOldWenceslaus,thatfeltCupid’srageNowinhisdoatingandhisdyingage。
LXXIV
Ohhowcontentmentintheirforeheadsshined!
Theirlookswithjoy;thoughtsswelledwithsecretpleasure,ThesethreeitseemedgoodsuccessdesignedTomakethelordsofloveandbeauty’streasure:
Theirdoubtfulfellowsattheirhaprepined,AndwithsmallpatiencewaitFortune’sleisure,Uponhislipsthatreadthescrollsattending,Asiftheirliveswereonhiswordsdepending。
LXXV
Guascothefourth,Ridolphohimsucceeds,ThenUlderickwhomlovelistsoadvance,LordWilliamofRonciglionnexthereads,ThenEberard,andHenryborninFrance,Rambaldolast,whomwickedlustsoleadsThatheforsookhisSaviourwithmischance;
Thiswretchthetenthwaswhowasthusdeluded,Theresttotheirhugegriefwereallexcluded。
LXXVI
O’ercomewithenvy,wrathandjealousy,TherestblindFortunecurse,andallherlaws,Andmadwithlove,yetoutonlovetheycry,Thatinhiskingdomletherjudgetheircause:
Andforman’smindissuch,thatoftwetryThingsmostforbidden,withoutstayorpause,InspiteoffortunepurposedmanyaknightTofollowfairArmidawhen’twasnight。
LXXVII
Tofollowher,bynightorelsebyday,Andinherquarrelventurelifeandlimb。
WithsighsandtearssheganthemsoftlyprayTokeepthatpromise,whentheskiesweredim,Tothisandthatknightdidsheplainandsay,Whatgriefshefelttopartwithoutenhim:
Meanwhilethetenhaddonnedtheirarmorbest,AndtakenleaveofGodfreyandtherest。
LXXVIII
Thedukeadvisedthemeveryoneapart,Howlight,howtrustlesswasthePagan’sfaith,Andtoldwhatpolicy,whatwit,whatart,Avoidsdeceit,whichheedlessmenbetray’th;
Hisspeechespiercetheirear,butnottheirheart,Lovecallsitfolly,whatsowisdomsaith:
Thuswarnedheleavesthemtotheirwantonguide,Whopartsthatnight;suchhastehadshetoride。
LXXIX
Theconqueressdeparts,andwithherledTheseprisoners,whomlovewouldcaptivekeep,Theheartsofthosesheleftbehindherbled,Withpointofsorrow’sarrowpierceddeep。
Butwhenthenightherdrowsymantlespread,Andfilledtheearthwithsilence,shadeandsleep,Insecretsorttheneachforsookhistent,AndasblindCupidledthemblindtheywent。
LXXX
Eustatiofirst,whoscantlycouldforbear,Tillfriendlynightmighthidehishasteandshame,Herodeinpost,andlethisbreasthimbearAshisblindfancywouldhisjourneyframe,Allnighthewanderedandhewistnotwhere;
Butwiththemorningheespiedthedame,ThatwithherguardupfromavillagerodeWheresheandtheythatnighthadmadeabode。
LXXXI
Thitherhegallopedfast,anddrawingnearRambaldoknewtheknight,andloudlycried,“WhencecomesyoungEustace,andwhatseekshehere?“
“Icome,“quothhe,“toservetheQueenArmide,Ifsheacceptme,wouldweallwerethereWheremygood-willandfaithmightbestbetried。“
“Who,“quoththeother,“choseththeetoproveThishighexploitofhers?“Heanswered,“Love。“
LXXXII
“LovehathEustatiochosen,Fortunethee,Inthyconceitwhichisthebestelection?“
“Nay,then,theseshiftsarevain,“repliedhe,“Thesetitlesfalseservetheefornoprotection,ThoucanstnothereforthisadmittedbeOurfellow-servant,inthissweetsubjection。“
“Andwho,“quothEustace,angry,“daresdenyMyfellowship?“Rambaldoanswered,“I。“
LXXXIII
Andwiththatwordhiscuttingswordhedrew,Thatglitteredbright,andsparkledflamingfire;
Uponhisfoetheotherchampionflew,Withequalcourage,andwithequalire。
Thegentleprincess,whothedangerknew,Betweenthemstepped,andprayedthembothretire。
“Rambald,“quothshe,“whyshouldyougrudgeorplain,IfIachampion,youanhelpergain?
LXXXIV
“Ifmeyoulove,whywishyoumedeprivedInsogreatneedofsuchapuissantknight?
ButwelcomeEustace,ingoodtimearrived,Defenderofmystate,mylife,myright。
Iwishmyhaplessselfnolongerlived,WhenIesteemsuchgoodassistancelight。“
Thustalkedtheyon,andtravelledontheirwayTheirfellowshipincreasingeveryday。
LXXXV
Fromeverysidetheycome,yetwisttherenoneOfotherscomingorofothers’mind,Shewelcomesall,andtelletheveryone,Whatjoyherthoughtsinhisarrivalfind。
ButwhenDukeGodfreywisthisknightsweregone,WithinhisbreasthiswisersouldivinedSomehardmishapuponhisfriendsshouldlight,Forwhichhesighedallday,andweptallnight。
LXXXVI
Amessenger,whilethushemused,drewnear,Allsoiledwithdustandsweat,quiteoutofbreath,Itseemedthemandidheavytidingsbear,Uponhislookssatenewsoflossanddeath:
“Mylord,“quothhe,“somanyshipsappearAtsea,thatNeptunebearstheloaduneath,FromEgyptcometheyall,thisletstheeweetWilliamLordAdmiraloftheGenoafleet,LXXXVII
“BesidesaconvoycomingfromtheshoreWithvictualforthisnoblecampofthineSurprisedwas,andlostisallthatstore,Mules,horses,camelsladen,cornandwine;
Thyservantsfoughttilltheycouldfightnomore,Forallwereslainorcaptivesmadeinfine:
TheArabianoutlawsthemassailedbynight,Whenleasttheyfeared,andleasttheylookedforfight。
LXXXVIII
“Theirfranticboldnessdothpresumesofar,ThatmanyChristianshavetheyfalselyslain,Andlikearagingfloodtheysparedare,Andoverfloweachcountry,fieldandplain;
Sendthereforesomestrongtroopsofmenofwar,Toforcethemhence,anddrivethemhomeagain,AndkeepthewaysbetweenthesetentsofthineAndthosebroadseas,theseasofPalestine。“
LXXXIX
FrommouthtomouththeheavyrumorspreadOfthesemisfortunes,whichdispersedwideAmongthesoldiers,greatamazementbred;
Faminetheydoubt,andnewcomefoesbeside:
Theduke,thatsawtheirwontedcouragefled,Andintheplacethereofweakfearespied,Withmerrylooksthesecheerfulwordshespake,Tomakethemheartagainandcouragetake。
XC
“Youchampionsbold,withmethat’scapedhaveSomanydangers,andsuchhardassays,WhomstillyourGoddidkeep,defendandsaveInallyourbattles,combats,fightsandfrays,YouthatsubduedtheTurksandPersiansbrave,Thatthirstandhungerheldinscornalways,Andvanquishedhills,andseas,withheatandcold,Shallvainreportsappalyourcouragebold?
XCI
“ThatLordwhohelpedyououtateveryneed,Whenaughtbefellthisgloriouscampamiss,Shallfortuneallyouractionswelltospeed,Onwhomhismercylargeextendedis;
Toforehistomb,whenconqueringhandsyouspreed,Withwhatdelightwillyourememberthis?
Bestrongtherefore,andkeepyourvalorshighTohonor,conquest,fameandvictory。“