Suchwastheirwrestling,suchtheirshocksandthrowsThatdownatoncetheytumbledbothtoground,Argantes,——wereithaporskill,whoknows,Hisbetterhandlooseandinfreedomfound;
ButthegoodPrince,hishandmorefitforblows,WithhishugeweightthePaganunderbound;
Buthe,hisdisadvantagegreatthatknew,Letgohishold,andonhisfeetupflew:
XIX
FarslowerrosetheunwieldySaracine,Andcaughtaraperehewasrearedupright。
ButasagainsttheblusteringwindsapineNowbendshistop,nowliftshisheadonheight,Hiscourageso,whenit’ganmostdecline,Themanreinforced,andadvancedhismight,Andwithfiercechangeofblowsrenewedthefray,Whererageforskill,horrorforart,boresway。
XX
ThepurpledropsfromTancred’ssidesdownrailed,ButfromthePaganranwholestreamsofblood,Wherewithhisforcegrewweak,hiscouragequailedAsfiresdiewhichfuelwantorfood。
TancredthatsawhisfeeblearmnowfailedTostrikehisblows,thatscanthestirredorstood,Assuagedhisanger,andhiswrathallayed,Andsteppingback,thusgentlyspokeandsaid:
XXI
“Yield,hardyknight,andchanceofwarormeConfesstohavesubduedtheeinthisfight,Iwillnotrophy,triumph,spoilofthee,Norglorywish,norseekavictor’srightMoreterriblethanerst;“herewithgrewheAndallawakedhisfury,rageandmight,Andsaid,“Dar’stthouofvantagespeakorthink,OrmoveArgantesoncetoyieldorshrink?
XXII
“Use,usethyvantage,theeandfortunebothIscorn,andpunishwillthyfoolishpride:“
Asahotbrandflamesmostereitforthgo’th,Anddyingblazethbrightoneveryside;
Sohe,whenbloodwaslost,withangerwroth,Revivedhiscouragewhenhispuissancedied,Andwouldhislatesthourwhichnowdrewnigh,Illustratewithhisend,andnoblydie。
XXIII
Hejoinedhislefthandtohersisterstrong,Andwiththembothletfallhisweightyblade。
Tancredtowardhisblowhisswordupslung,Butthatitsmoteaside,northereitstayed,ButfromhisshouldertohissidealongItglanced,andmanywoundsatonceitmade:
YetTancredfearednaught,forinhisheartFoundcowarddreadnoplace,fearhadnopart。
XXIV
Hisfearfulblowhedoubled,buthespentHisforceinwaste,andallhisstrengthinvain;
ForTancredfromtheblowagainsthimbent,Leapedaside,thestrokefellontheplain。
Withthineownweighto’erthrowntoearththouwent,Argantesstout,norcould’stthyselfsustain,Thyselfthouthrewestdown,Ohappyman,Uponwhosefallnoneboastortriumphcan!
XXV
Hisgapingwoundsthefallsetopenwide,Thestreamsofbloodabouthimmadealake,Helpedwithhislefthand,ononekneehetriedTorearhimself,andnewdefencetomake:
Thecourteousprincesteppedback,and“Yieldthee!“cried,Nohurtheprofferedhim,noblowhestrake。
MeanwhilebystealththePaganfalsehimgaveAsuddenwound,threateningwithspeechesbrave:
XXVI
HerewithTancredifuriousgrew,andsaid,“Villain,dostthoumymercysodespise?“
Therewithhethrustandthrustagainhisblade,Andthroughhisventilpiercedhisdazzledeyes,Argantesdied,yetnocomplainthemade,Butashefuriouslivedhecarelessdies;
Bold,proud,disdainful,fierceandvoidoffearHismotionslast,lastlooks,lastspeecheswere。
XXVII
Tancredputuphissword,andpraisesgladGavetohisGodthatsavedhiminthisfight;
ButyetthisbloodyconquestfeebledhadSomuchtheconqueror’sforce,strengthandmight,ThatthroughthewayhefearedwhichhomewardledHehadnotstrengthenoughtowalkupright;
Yetashecouldhisstepsfromthencehebent,Andfootbyfootaheavypaceforth-went;
XXVIII
Hislegscouldbearhimbutalittlestound,Andmorehehastes,moretired,lesswashisspeed,Onhisrighthand,atlast,laidonthegroundHeleaned,hishandweaklikeashakingreed,Dazzledhiseyes,theworldonwheelsranround,Daywrappedherbrightnessupinsableweed;
Atlengthheswooned,andthevictorknightNaughtdifferedfromhisconqueredfoeinfight。
XXIX
Butwhiletheselordstheirprivatefightpursue,Madefierceandcruelthroughtheirsecrethate,Thevictor’siredestroyedthefaithlesscrewFromstreettostreet,andchasedfromgatetogate。
ButofthesackedtowntheimagetrueWhocandescribe,orpaintthewofulstate,OrwithfitwordsthisspectacleexpressWhocan?ortellthecity’sgreatdistress?
XXX
Blood,murder,death,eachstreet,house,churchdefiled,Thereheapsofslainappear,theremountainshigh;
Thereunderneaththeunburiedhillsup-piledOfbodiesdead,thelivingburiedlie;
TherethesadmotherwithhertenderchildDothtearhertressesloose,complainandfly,AndtherethespoilerbyheramberhairDrawstohislustthevirginchasteandfair。
XXXI
Butthroughthewaythattothewest-hillyoodWhereontheoldandstatelytemplestands,AllsoiledwithgoreandwetwithlukewarmbloodRinaldoran,andchasedthePaganbands;
Abovetheirheadsheheavedhiscurtlaxgood,Lifeinhisgrace,anddeathlayinhishands,Norhelmnortargetstronghisblowsoffbears,Bestarmedthereseemedhenoarmsthatwears;
XXXII
ForgainsthisarmedfoesheonlybendsHisforce,andscornsthenakedfolktowound;
Themwhomnocouragearms,noarmsdefends,Hechasedwithhislooksanddreadfulsound:
Oh,whocantellhowfarhisforceextends?
Howthesehescorns,threatsthose,laysthemonground?
Howwithunequalharm,withequalfearFledall,allthatwellarmedornakedwere:
XXXIII
Fastfledthepeopleweak,andwiththesameAsquadronstrongistothetemplegoneWhich,burnedandbuildedoft,stillkeepsthenameOfthefirstfounder,wiseKingSolomon;
ThatprincethisstatelyhousedidwhilomframeOfcedartrees,ofgoldandmarblestone;
Nownotsorich,yetstrongandsureitwas,Withturretshigh,thickwalls,anddoorsofbrass。
XXXIV
TheknightarrivedwhereinwarklikesortThementhatamplechurchhadfortified。
Andclosedfoundeachwicket,gateandport,Andonthetopdefencesreadyspied,Helefthisfrowninglooks,andtwicethatfortFromhishightopdowntothegroundworkeyed,Andentrancesought,andtwicewithhisswiftfootThemightyplacehemeasuredabout。
XXXV
LikeasawolfabouttheclosedfoldRangethbynighthishopedpreytoget,EnragedwithhungerandwithmaliceoldWhichkind’twixthimandharmlesssheephathset:
Sosearchedhehighandlowaboutthathold,Wherehemightenterwithoutstoporlet,Inthegreatcourthestayed,hisfoesaboveAttendtheassault,andwouldtheirfortuneprove。
XXXVI
Therelaybychanceapostedtreethereby,Keptforsomeneedfuluse,whate’eritwere,ThearmedgalleysnotsothicknorhighTheirtallandloftymastsatGenesuprear;
ThisbeamtheknightagainstthegatesmadeflyFromhisstronghandsallweightswhichliftandbear,Likealightlancethattreeheshookandtossed,Andbruisedthegate,thethresholdandthepost。
XXXVII
Nomarblestone,nometalstrongoutboreThewondrousmightofthatredoubledblow,Thebrazenhingesfromthewallittore,Itbrokethelocks,andlaidthedoorsdownlow,Noironram,noenginecoulddomore,Norcannonsgreatthatthunderboltsforththrow,Hispeoplelikeaflowingstreaminthrong,Andafterthementeredthevictorstrong;
XXXVIII
ThewofulslaughterblackandloathsomemadeThathouse,sometimethesacredhouseofGod,Oheavenlyjustice,ifthoubedelayed,Onwretchedsinnerssharperfallsthyrod!
InthemthisplaceprofanedwhichinvadeThoukindledire,andmercyallforbode,Untilwiththeirhearts’bloodthePagansvileThistemplewashedwhichtheydidlatedefile。
XXXIX
ButSolymanthiswhilehimselffastspedUptothefortwhichDavid’stowerisnamed,Andwithhimallthesoldiersleftheled,Andgainsteachentrancenewdefencesframed:
ThetyrantAladineekethitherfled,TowhomtheSoldanthus,faroff,exclaimed,Thyself,withinthisfortresssafeuplock:
XL
“ForwellthisfortressshalltheeandthycrownDefend,awhileheremaywesaferemain。“
“Alas!“quothhe,“alas,forthisfairtown,Whichcruelwarbeatsdownevenwiththeplain,Mylifeisdone,mineempiretroddendown,Ireigned,Ilived,butnownorlivenorreign;
Fornow,alas!beholdthefatalhourThatendsourlife,andendsourkinglypower。“
XLI
“Whereisyourvirtue,whereyourwisdomgrave,Andcouragestout?“theangrySoldansaid,“Letchanceourkingdomstakewhicherstshegave,Yetinourheartsourkinglyworthislaid;
Butcome,andinthisfortyourpersonsave,Refreshyourwearylimbsandstrengthdecayed:“
Thuscounselledhe,anddidtosafetybringWithinthatforttheweakandagedking。
XLII
Hisironmaceinbothhishandshehent,Andonhisthighhistrustyswordhetied,Andtotheentrancefierceandfearlesswent,Andkeptthestrait,andalltheFrenchdefied:
Theblowsweremortalwhichhegaveorlent,Forwhomhehitheslew,elsebyhissideLaidlowonearth,thatallfledfromtheplaceWheretheybeheldthatgreatanddreadfulmace。