“Natureliftsupthyforeheadtotheskies,Andfillsthyheartwithhighandnoblethought,Thatthoutoheavenwardayeshouldstliftthineeyes,Andpurchasefamebydeedswelldoneandwrought;
Shegivestheeire,bywhichnotcouragefliesToconquests,notthroughbrawlsandbattlesfoughtForciviljars,northattherebyyoumightYourwickedmalicewreakandcursedspite。
LXIII
“Butthatyourstrengthspurredforthwithnoblewrath,WithgreaterfurymightChrist’sfoesassault,AndthatyourbridleshouldwithlesserscathEachsecretvice,andkilleachinwardfault;
ForsohisgodlyangerruledhathEachrighteousmanbeneathheaven’sstarryvault,Andathiswillmakesitnowhot,nowcold,Nowletsitrun,nowdothitfetteredhold。“
LXIV
Thusparleyedhe;Rinaldo,hushedandstill,Greatwisdomheardinthosefewwordscompiled,Hemarkedhisspeech,apurpleblushdidfillHisguiltychecks,downwenthiseyesightmild。
ThehermitbyhisbashfullookshiswillWellunderstood,andsaid,“Lookup,mychild,AndpaintedinthispreciousshieldbeholdThegloriousdeedsofthyforefathersold。
LXV
“Thineelders’gloryhereinseeandknow,Invirtue’spathhowtheytrodalltheirdays,Whomthouartfarbehind,arunnerslowInthistruecourseofhonor,fameandpraise:
Up,up,thyselfincitebythefairshowOfknightlyworthwhichthisbrightshieldbewrays,Thatbethyspurtopraise!“AtlasttheknightLookedup,andonthoseportraitsbenthissight。
LXVI
ThecunningworkmanhadinlittlespaceInfiniteshapesofmentherewellexpressed,FortheredescribedwastheworthyraceAndpedigreeofallofthehouseofEst:
ComefromaRomanspringo’eralltheplaceFlowedpurestreamsofcrystalseastandwest,Withlaurelcrownedstoodtheprincesold,Theirwarsthehermitandtheirbattlestold。
LXVII
HeshowedthemCaiusfirst,whenfirstinpreyTopeoplestrangethefallingempirewent,FirstPrinceofEst,thatdidthesceptreswayO’ersuchaschosehimlordbytreeconsent;
Hisweakerneighborstohisruleobey,Needmadethemstoop,constraintdothforcecontent;
After,whenLordHonoriuscalledthetrainOfsavageGothsintohislandagain,LXVIII
AndwhenallItalydidburnandflameWithbloodywar,bythisfiercepeoplemad,WhenRomeacaptiveandaslavebecame,Andtobequitedestroyedwasmostafraid,Aurelius,tohiseverlastingfame,Preservedinpeacethefolkthathimobeyed:
NextwhomwasForest,whotheragewithstoodOftheboldHuns,andoftheirtyrantproud。
LXIX
KnownbyhislookwasAttilathefell,Whosedragoneyesshonebrightwithanger’sspark,Worsefacedthanadog,whoviewedhimwellSupposedtheysawhimgrinandheardhimbark;
Butwheninsinglefighthelostthebell,Howthroughhistroopshefledtheremightyoumark,AndhowLordForestafterfortifiedAquilea’stown,andhowforithedied。
LXX
Fortherewaswroughtthefatalendandfine,Bothofhimselfandofthetownhekept:
ButhisgreatsonrenownedAcarine,Intohisfather’splaceandhonorstepped:
Tocruelfate,nottotheHuns,AltineGaveplace,andwhentimeservedagainforthleapt,AndinthevaleofPobuiltforhisseatOfmanyavillageasmallcitygreat;
LXXI
Againsttheswellingfloodhebankeditstrong,AndthenceuprosethefairandnobletownWheretheyofEstshouldbysuccessionlongCommand,andruleinblissandhighrenown:
GainstOdoacerthenhefought,butwrongOftspoilethright,fortunetreadscouragedown,Fortherehediedforhisdearcountry’ssake,Andofhisfather’spraisedidsopartake。
LXXII
WithhimdiedAlforisio,AzzowasWithhisdearbrotherintoexilesent,Buthomewardtheyinarmsagainrepass——
TheHerulekingoppressed——frombanishment。
Hisfrontthroughpiercedwithadart,alas,Nextthem,ofEsttheEpaminondaswent,Thatsmilingseemedtocrueldeathtoyield,WhenTotilawasfled,andsafehisshield。
LXXIII
OfBonifaceIspeak;Valerian,Hisson,inpraiseandpowersucceededhim,Whodurstsustain,inyearsthoughscantaman,OftheproudGothsanhundredsquadronstrim:
ThenhethatgainsttheSclavesmuchhonorwan,Ernesto,threateningstoodwithvisagegrim;
BeforehimAldoard,theLombardstoutWhofromMonselceboldlyerstshutout。
LXXIV
ThereHenrywasandBerengaretheboldThatservedgreatCharlesinhisconquesthigh,Whoineachbattlegivetheonsetwould,Ahardysoldierandacaptainsly;
After,PrinceLewisdidhewellupholdAgainsthisnephew,KingofItaly,Hewonthefieldandtookthatkingonlive:
NexthimstoodOthowithhischildrenfive。
LXXV
OfAlmerictheimagenexttheyview,LordMarquisofFerrarafirstcreate,Founderofmanychurches,thatupthrewHiseyes,likeonethatusedtocontemplate;
GainsthimthesecondAzzostoodinrew,WithBerengariusthatdidlongdebate,Tillafteroftenchangeoffortunestroke,Hewon,andonallItalylaidtheyoke。
LXXVI
AlberthissontheGermanswarredamong,Andtherehispraiseandfamewasspreadsowide,ThathavingfoiledtheDanesinbattlestrong,HisdaughteryoungbecamegreatOtho’sbride。
BehindhimHugostoodwithwarfarelong,ThatbrokethehornofalltheRomans’pride,WhoofallItalythemarquishight,AndTuscanwholepossessedashisright。
LXXVII
AfterTebaldo,puissantBonifaceAndBeatricehisdearpossessedthestage;
Norwasthereleftheirmaleofthatgreatrace,Toenjoythesceptre,stateandheritage;
ThePrincessMaudalonesuppliedtheplace,Suppliedthewantinnumber,sexandage;
Forfaraboveeachsceptre,throneandcrown,Thenobledameadvancedherveilandgown。
LXXVIII
Withmanlikevigorshonehernoblelook,Andmorethanmanlikewrathherfaceo’erspread,TherethefellNormans,GuichardthereforsookThefield,tillthenwhoneverfearednorfled;
HenrytheFourthshebeat,andfromhimtookHisstandard,andinChurchitoffered;
Whichdone,thePopebacktotheVaticanShebrought,andplacedinPeter’schairagain。
LXXIX
Ashethathonoredherandheldherdear,AzzotheFifthstoodbyherlovelyside;
ButthefourthAzzo’soffspringfarandnearSpreadforth,andthroughGermaniafructified;
SprungfromthebranchdidGuelphoboldappear,GuelphohissonbyCunigondhisbride,AndinBavaria’sfieldtransplantednewTheRomangraftflourished,increasedandgrew。
LXXX
AbranchofEstthereintheGuelfiantreeEngraftedwas,whichofitselfwasold,WhereonyoumighttheGuelfoesfairersee,Renewtheirsceptresandtheircrownsofgold,OfwhichHeaven’sgoodaspectssobendedbeThathighandbroaditspreadandflourishedbold,TillunderneathhisgloriousbrancheslaidHalfGermany,andallunderhisshade。
LXXXI
ThisregalplantfromhisItalianroutSprungupashigh,andblossomedfairabove,FornenstLordGuelpho,Bertoldissuedout,WiththesixthAzzowhomallvirtueslove;
Thiswasthepedigreeofworthiesstout,Whoseemedinthatbrightshieldtoliveandmove。
Rinaldowakedupandcheeredhisface,Toseetheseworthiesofhishouseandrace。
LXXXII
Todolikeactshiscouragewishedandsought,AndwiththatwishtransportedhimsofarThatallthosedeedswhichfilledayehisthought,Townswon,fortstaken,armieskilledinwar,Asiftheywerethingsdoneindeedandwrought,Beforehiseyeshethinkstheypresentare,Hehastilyarmshim,andwithhopeandhaste,Sureconquestmet,preventedandembraced。
LXXXIII
ButCharles,whohadtoldthedeathandfallOftheyoungprinceofDanes,hislatedearlord,Gavehimthefatalweapon,andwithal,“Youngknight,“quothhe,“takewithgoodluckthissword,Yourjust,strong,valianthandinbattleshallEmployitlong,forChrist’struefaithandword,Andofhisformerlordrevengethewrongs,Wholovedyouso,thatdeedtoyoubelongs。“
LXXXIV
Heanswered,“Godforhismercy’ssake,GrantthatthishandwhichholdsthisweapongoodForthydearmastermaysharpvengeancetake,MaycleavethePagan’sheart,andshedhisblood。“
TothisbutshortreplydidCharlesmake,Andthankedhimmuch,normoreontermstheystood:
Forlo,thewizardsagethatwastheirguideOntheirdarkjourneyhastesthemforthtoride。
LXXXV
“Hightimeitis,“quothhe,“foryoutowendWhereGodfreyyouawaits,andmanyaknight,Theremaywewellarriveerenightdothend,AndthroughthisdarknesscanIguideyouright。“
Thissaid,uptohiscoachtheyallascend,Onhisswiftwheelsforthrolledthechariotlight,Hegavehiscoursersfleettherodandrein,Andgallopedforthandeastwarddroveamain;
LXXXVI
Whilesilentsothroughnight’sdarkshadetheyfly,Thehermitthusbespaketheyoungmanstout:
“Ofthygreathouse,thyrace,thineoffspringhigh,Herehastthouseenthebranch,thebole,theroot,AndastheseworthiesborntochivalryAnddeedsofarmsithathtoforebroughtout,Soisit,soitshallbefertilestill,Nortimeshallend,noragethatseedshallkill。
LXXXVII
“WouldGod,asdrawnfromtheforgetfullapOfantiquetime,Ihavethineeldersshown;
ThatsoIcouldthecatalogueunwrapOfthygreatnephewsyetunborn,unknown,Thaterethislighttheyview,theirfateandhapImightforetell,andhowtheirchanceisthrown,ThatlikethineelderssothoumightstbeholdThychildren,many,famous,stoutandbold。
LXXXVIII
“Butnotbyartorskill,ofthingsfutureCantheplaintruthrevealedbeandtold,Althoughsomeknowledgedoubtful,dark,obscureWehaveofcominghapsincloudsuprolled;
NorallwhichinthiscauseIknowforsureDareIforetell:forofthatfatherold,ThehermitPeter,learnedImuch,andheWithoutenveilheaven’ssecretsgreatdothsee。