Herthesoledaughterofthathaplessking,ThatofproudAntiochlateworethecrown,TheChristiansoldierstoTancredibring,Whentheyhadsackedandspoiledthatglorioustown;
Buthe,inwhomallgoodandvirtuespring,Thevirgin’shonorsaved,andherrenown;
Andwhenhercityandherstatewaslost,Thenwasherpersonlovedandhonoredmost。
LVII
Hehonoredher,servedher,andleavehergave,Andwilledhergowhitherandwhenshelist,Hergoldandjewelshadhecaretosave,Andthemrestoredall,shenothingmissed,She,thatbeheldthisyouthandpersonbrave,When,bythisdeed,hisnoblemindshewist,LaidopeherheartforCupid’sshafttohit,Whoneverknotsoflovemoresurerknit。
LVIII
Herbodyfree,captivatedwasherheart,Andlovethekeysdidofthatprisonbear,Preparedtogo,itwasadeathtopartFromthatkindLord,andfromthatprisondear,Butthou,Ohonor,whichesteemedartThechiefestvirtuenobleladieswear,Enforcestheragainstherwill,towendToAladine,hermother’sdearestfriend。
LIX
AtSionwasthisprincessentertained,Bythatoldtyrantandhermotherdear,Whoselosstoosoonthewofuldamselplained,Hergriefwassuch,shelivednothalftheyear,Yetbanishment,norlossoffriendsconstrainedThehaplessmaidherpassionstoforbear,Forthoughexceedingwereherwoeandgrief,Ofallhersorrowsyetherlovewaschief。
LX
Thesillymaidinsecretlongingpined,HerhopeamotedrawnupbyPhoebus’rays,Herloveamountainseemed,whereonbrightshinedFreshmemoryofTancred’sworthandpraise,Withinherclosetifherselfsheshrined,Ahotterfirehertenderheartassays:
Tancredatlast,toraiseherhopenighdead,Beforethosewallsdidhisbroadensignspread。
LXI
TheresttoviewtheChristianarmyfeared,Suchseemedtheirnumber,suchtheirpowerandmight,Butshealonehertroubledforeheadcleared,Andonthemspreadherbeautyshiningbright;
Ineverysquadronwhenitfirstappeared,Hercuriouseyesoughtoutherchosenknight;
Andeverygallantthattherestexcels,Thesameseemshim,soloveandfancytells。
LXII
Withinthekinglypalacebuildedhigh,Aturretstandethnearthecity’swall,FromwhichErminiamightateasedescryThewesternhost,theplainsandmountainsall,Andthereshestoodallthelongdaytospy,FromPhoebus’risingtohiseveningfall,Andwithherthoughtsdisputedofhispraise,Andeverythoughtascaldingsighdidraise。
LXIII
Fromhencethefuriouscombatshesurveyed,Andfeltherhearttremblewithfearandpain,Hersecretthoughtsthustoherfancysaid,Beholdthydearindangertobeslain;
Sowithsuspect,withfearandgriefdismayed,Attendedsheherdarling’slossorgain,AndeverwhenthePaganlifthisblade,Thestrokeawoundinherweakbosommade。
LXIV
Butwhenshesawtheend,andwistwithalTheirstrongcontentionshouldeftsoonsbegin,Amazementstrangehercouragedidappal,Hervitalbloodwasicycoldwithin;
Sometimesshesighed,sometimestearsletfall,Towitnesswhatdistressherheartwasin;
Hopeless,dismayed,pale,sad,astonished,Herlove,herfear;herfear,hertormentbred。
LXV
HeridlebrainuntohersoulpresentedDeathinanhundreduglyfashionspainted,Andifsheslept,thenwashergriefaugmented,Withsuchsadvisionswereherthoughtsacquainted;
Shesawherlordwithwoundsandhurtstormented,Howhecomplained,calledforherhelp,andfainted,Andfound,awakedfromthatunquietsleeping,Herheartwithpantingsore;eyes,redwithweeping。
LXVI
Yetthesepresagesofhiscomingill,Notgreatestcauseofherdiscomfortwere,Shesawhisbloodfromhisdeepwoundsdistil,Norwhathesufferedcouldshebideorbear:
Besides,reportherlongingeardidfill,Doublinghisdanger,doublingsoherfear,Thatsheconcludes,sowashercouragelost,Herwoundedlordwasweak,faint,deadalmost。
LXVII
AndforhermotherhadhertaughtbeforeThesecretvirtueofeachherbthatsprings,BesidesfitcharmsforeverywoundorsoreCorruptionbreedethormisfortunebrings,——
Anartesteemedinthosetimesofyore,Beseemingdaughtersofgreatlordsandkings——
Shewouldherselfbesurgeontoherknight,Andhealhimwithherskill,orwithhersight。
LXVIII
Thuswouldshecureherlove,andcureherfoeShemust,thathadherfriendsandkinsfolkslain:
Somecursedweedshercunninghanddidknow,Thatcouldaugmenthisharm,increasehispain;
Butsheabhorredtoberevengedso,Notreasonshouldherspotlesspersonstain,AndvirtuelessshewishedallherbsandcharmsWherewithfalsemenincreasetheirpatients’harms。
LXIX
NorfearedsheamongthebandstostrayOfarmedmen,foroftenhadsheseenThetragicendofmanyabloodyfray;
Herlifehadfullofhapsandhazardsbeen,Thismadeherboldineveryhardassay,Morethanherfeeblesexbecame,Iween;
Shefearednottheshakeofeveryreed,Socowardsarecourageousmadethroughneed。
LXX
Love,fearless,hardy,andaudaciouslove,Emboldenedhadthistenderdamselso,ThatwherewildbeastsandserpentsglideandmoveThroughAfric’sdesertsdurstsherideorgo,Savethatherhonor,sheesteemedaboveHerlifeandbody’ssafety,toldherno;
Forinthesecretofhertroubledthought,Adoubtfulcombat,loveandhonorfought。
LXXI
“Ospotlessvirgin,“Honorthusbegan,“Thatmytrueloreobservedfirmlyhast,Whenwiththyfoesthoudidstinbondagewon,RememberthenIkepttheepureandchaste,Atlibertynow,wherewouldestthourun,Tolaythatfieldofprincelyvirtuewaste,Orlostthatjewelladiesholdsodear?
Ismaidenhoodsogreataloadtobear?
LXXII
“Ordeem’stthouitapraiseoflittleprize,Theglorioustitleofavirgin’sname?
Thatthouwillgadbynightingiglotwise,Amidthinearmedfoes,toseekthyshame。
Ofool,awomanconquerswhensheflies,Refusalkindleth,proffersquenchtheflame。
Thylordwilljudgethousinnestbeyondmeasure,Ifvainlythusthouwastesorichatreasure。“
LXXIII
TheslydeceiverCupidthusbeguiledThesimpledamsel,withhisfiledtongue:
“Thouwertnotborn,“quothhe,“indesertwildThecruelbearsandsavagebeastsamong,ThatyoushouldestscornfairCitherea’schild,Orhatethosepleasuresthattoyouthbelong,Nordidthegodsthyheartofironframe;
Tobeinloveisneithersinnorshame。
LXXIV
“Gothen,go,whithersweetdesireinviteth,Howcanthygentleknightsocruelbe?
Loveinhisheartthygriefandsorrowswriteth,Forthylamentshowhecomplaineth,see。
Ohcruelwoman,whomnocareexcitethTosavehislife,thatsavedandhonoredthee!
Helanguished,onefootthouwiltnotmoveTosuccorhim,yetsay’stthouartinlove。
LXXV
“No,no,stayhereArgantes’woundstocure,Andmakehimstrongtoshedthydarling’sblood,Ofsuchrewardhemayhimselfassure,Thatdothathanklesswomansomuchgood:
Ah,mayitbethypatiencecanendureToseethestrengthofthisCircassianwood,Andnotwithhorrorandamazementshrink,Whenontheirfuturefightthouhap’sttothink?
LXXVI
“Besidesthethanksandpraisesforthedeed,Supposewhatjoy,whatcomfortshaltthouwin,Whenthysofthanddothwholesomeplaistersspeed,Uponthebreachesinhisivoryskin,Thencetothydearestlordmayhealthsucceed,Strengthtohislimbs,bloodtohischeekssothin,Andhisrarebeauties,nowhalfdeadandmore,Thoumay’sttohim,himtothyselfrestore。
LXXVII
“SoshallsomepartofhisadventuresboldAndvaliantactshenceforthbeheldasthine;
Hisdearembracementsshalltheestraightenfold,Togetherjoinedinmarriageritesdivine:
LastlyhighplaceofhonorshaltthouholdAmongthematronssageanddamesLatine,InItaly,aland,aseachonetells,Wherevalortrue,andtruereligiondwells。“
LXXVIII
Withsuchvainhopesthesillymaidabused,Promisedherselfmountainsandhillsofgold;
YetwereherthoughtswithdoubtsandfearsconfusedHowtoescapeunseenoutofthathold,BecausethewatchmaneveryminuteusedToguardthewallsagainsttheChristiansbold,Andinsuchfuryandsuchheatofwar,Thegatesorseldorneveropenedare。
LXXIX
WithstrongClorindawasErminiasweetInsurestlinksofdearestfriendshipbound,Withhersheusedtherisingsuntogreet,Andher,whenPhoebusglidedunderground,Shemadethelovelypartnerofhersheet;
Inboththeirheartsonewill,onethoughtwasfound;
Noraughtshehidfromthatviragobold,Exceptherlove,thattaletononeshetold。
LXXX
Thatkeptshesecret,ifClorindaheardHermakecomplaints,orsecretlylament,Toothercausehersorrowshereferred:
Matterenoughshehadofdiscontent,LikeasthebirdthathavingcloseimbarredHertenderyoungonesinthespringingbent,Todrawthesearcherfurtherfromhernest,Criesandcomplainsmostwheresheneedethleast。
LXXXI
Alone,withinherchamber’ssecretpart,Sittingonedayuponherheavythought,Devisingbywhatmeans,whatsleight,whatart,Herclosedepartureshouldbesafestwrought,AssembledinherunresolvedheartAnhundredpassionsstroveandceaselessfought;
AtlastshesawhighhangingonthewallClorinda’ssilverarms,andsighedwithal:
LXXXII
Andsighing,softlytoherselfshesaid,“Howblessedisthisvirgininhermight?
HowIenvythegloryofthemaid,Yetenvynothershape,orbeauty’slight;
Herstepsarenotwithtrailinggarmentsstayed,Norchambershidehervalorshiningbright;
Butarmedsherides,andbreakethswordandspear,Norisherstrengthrestrainedbyshameorfear。