“Cheerupthylooks,“answeredtheIndianking,“Andforsweetbeauty’ssake,appeasethywoe,Castatyourfeetereyouexpectthething,Iwillpresenttheheadofthystrongfoe;
ElseshallthishandhispersoncaptivebringAndcastinprisondeep;“heboastedso。
Hisrivalheardhimwell,yetanswerednaught,Butbithislips,andgrievedinsecretthought。
LXXII
ToTisiphernethedamselturningright,“Andwhatsayyou,mynoblelord?“quothshe。
Hetauntingsaid,“IthatamslowtofightWillfollowfarbehind,theworthtoseeOfthisyourterribleandpuissantknight,“
Inscornfulwordsthisbitterscoffgavehe。
“Goodreason,“quoththeking,“thoucomebehind,Nore’ercomparetheewiththePrinceofInd。“
LXXIII
LordTisiphernesshookhishead,andsaid,“Oh,hadmypowerfreelikemycouragebeen,OrhadIlibertytousethisblade,Whoslow,whoweakestis,soonshouldbeseen,Northou,northygreatvauntsmakemeafraid,ButcruelloveIfear,andthisfairqueen。“
Thissaid,tochallengehimthekingforthleapt,Butuptheirmistressstart,andtwixtthemstepped:
LXXIV
“Willyouthusrobmeofthatgift,“quothshe,“Whicheachhathvowedtogivebywordandoath?
Youaremychampions,letthattitlebeThebondofloveandpeacebetweenyouboth;
Hethatdispleasedis,isdispleasedwithme,Forwhichofyouisgrieved,andInotwroth?“
Thuswarnedshethem,theirhearts,forirenighbroke,Inforcedpeaceandrestthusborelove’syoke。“
LXXV
AllthisheardVafrineashestoodbeside,Andhavinglearnedthetruth,heleftthetent,ThattreasonwasagainsttheChristian’sguideContrived,hewist,yetwistnothowitwent,Bywordsandquestionsfaroff,hetriedTofindthetruth;moredifficult,morebentWashetoknowit,andresolvedtodie,Orofthatsecretclosetheintenttospy。
LXXVI
Ofslyintelligenceheprovedallways,Allcrafts,allwiles,thatinhisthoughtsabide,Yetallinvainthemanbywitassays,Toknowthatfalsecompactandpracticehid:
Butchance,whatwisdomcouldnottell,bewrays,Fortuneofallhisdoubttheknotsundid,SothatpreparedforGodfrey’slastmishapAteasehefoundthenet,andspiedthetrap。
LXXVII
Thitherheturnedagainwhereseatedwas,Theangrylover,’twixtherfriendsandlords,Forinthattroopmuchtalkhethoughtwouldpass,Eachgreatassemblystoreofnewsaffords,Hesidedtherealustylovelylass,Andwithsomecourtlytermsthewenchheboards,Hefeignsacquaintance,andasboldappearsAshehadknownthatvirgintwentyyears。
LXXVIII
Hesaid,“Wouldsomesweetladygracemeso,Tochosemeforherchampion,friendandknight,ProudGodfrey’sorRinaldo’shead,Itrow,Shouldfeelthesharpnessofmycurtlaxbright;
Askmethehead,fairmistress,ofsomefoe,Fortoyourbeautywooedismymight;“
Sohebegan,andmeantinspeecheswiseFurthertowade,butthushebroketheice。
LXXIX
Therewithhesmiled,andsmilinggantoframeHislookssototheiroldandnativegrace,Thattowardshimanothervirgincame,Heardhim,beheldhim,andwithbashfulfaceSaid,“ForthymistresschoosenootherdameButme,onmethyloveandserviceplace,Itaketheeformychampion,andapartWouldreasonwiththee,ifmyknightthouart。“
LXXX
Withdrawn,shethusbegan,“Vafrine,pardie,Iknowtheewell,andmethouknowestofold,“
Tohislasttrumpthisdrovethesubtlespy,Butsmilingtowardsherheturnedhimbold,“Ne’erthatIwotIsawtheeerstwitheye,Yetforthyworthalleyesshouldtheebehold,ThusmuchIknowrightwell,forfromthesameWhicherstyougavemedifferentismyname。
LXXXI
“MymotherboremenearBisertuswall,HernamewasLesbine,mineisAlmansore!“
“Iknewlongsince,“quothshe,“whatmentheecall,Andthineestate,dissembleitnomore,Frommethyfriendhidenotthyselfatall,IfIbetraytheeletmedietherefore,IamErminia,daughtertoaprince,ButTancred’sslave,thyfellow-servantsince;
LXXXII
“Twohappymonthswithinthatprisonkind,UnderthyguardrejoicedItodwell,Andtheeakeepermeekandgooddidfind,Thesame,thesameIam;beholdmewell。“
Thesquireherlovelybeautycalledtomind,Andmarkedhervisagefair:“FromtheeexpelAllfear,“shesays,“formelivesafeandsure,Iwillthysafety,notthyharmprocure。
LXXXIII
“ButyetIpraythee,whenthoudostreturn,Tomydearprisonleadmehomeagain;
ForinthishatefulfreedomevenandmornIsighforsorrow,mournandweepforpain:
Butiftospyperchancethouheresojourn,Greathapthouhasttoknowthesesecretsplain,ForItheirtreasonsfalse,falsetrainscansay,Whichfewbesidecantell,nonewillbetray。“
LXXXIV
Onherhegazed,andsilentstoodthiswhile,Armida’ssleightsheknew,andtrainsunjust,Womenhavetonguesofcraft,andheartsofguile,Theywill,theywillnot,foolsthatonthemtrust,Forintheirspeechisdeath,hellintheirsmile;
Atlasthesaid,“Ifhencedepartyoulust,Iwillyouguide;onthisconcludewehere,Andfurtherspeechtillfittertimeforbear。“
LXXXV
Forthwith,erethencethecampremove,torideTheywereresolved,theirflightthatseasonfits,Vafrinedeparts,shetothedamesbesideReturns,andthereonthornsawhileshesits,Ofhernewknightshetalks,tilltimeandtideToscapeunmarkedshefind,thenforthshegets,ThitherwhereVafrineherunseenabode,Theretookshehorse,andfromthecamptheyrode。
LXXXVI
Andnowindesertswasteandwildarrived,Farfromthecamp,farfromresortandsight,Vafrinebegan,“GainstGodfrey’slifecontrivedThefalsecompactsandtrainsunfoldaright:“
Thenshethosetreasons,fromtheirspringderived,Repeats,andbringstheirhiddeceitstolight,“Eightknights,“shesays,“allcourtiersbrave,thereare,ButOrmondstrongtherestsurpassethfar:
LXXXVII
“These,whetherhateorhopeofgainthemmove,Conspiredhave,andframedtheirtreasonso,ThatdaywhenEmirenbyfightshallproveTowinlostAsiafromhisChristianfoe,These,withthecrossscoredontheirarmsabove,AndarmedlikeFrenchmenwilldisguisedgo,LikeGodfrey’sguardthatgoldandwhitedowear,Suchshalltheirhabitbe,andsuchtheirgear:
LXXXVIII
“Yeteachwillbearatokeninhiscrest,ThatsotheirfriendsforPagansmaythemknow:
ButinclosefightwhenallthesoldiersbestShallmingledbe,togivethefatalblowTheywillkeepnear,andpierceGodfredo’sbreast,Whileofhisfaithfulguardtheybearfalseshow,Andalltheirswordsaredippedinpoisonstrong,Becauseeachwoundshallbringsaddeatherelong。
LXXXIX
“AndfortheirchieftainwistIknewyourguise,Whatgarments,ensigns,andwhatarmsyoucarry,Thosefeignedarmsheforcedmetodevise,Sothatfromyoursbutsmallornaughttheyvary;
Buttheseunjustcommandsmythoughtsdespise,WithintheircampthereforeIlistnottarry,MyheartabhorsIshouldthishanddefileWithspotoftreason,orwithactofguile。
XC
“Thisisthecause,butnotthecausealone:“
Andtheresheceased,andblushed,andonthemainCastdownhereyes,theselastwordsscantoutgone,Shewouldhavestopped,nordurstpronouncethemplain。
Thesquirewhatsheconcealedwouldknow,asoneThatfromherbreasthersecretthoughtscouldstrain,“Oflittlefaith,“quothhe,“whywould’stthouhideThosecausestrue,frommethysquireandguide?“
XCI
Withthatshefetchedasigh,sad,soreanddeep,Andfromherlipsherwordsslowtremblingcame,“Fruitless,“shesaid,“untimely,hardtokeep,Vainmodestyfarewell,andfarewellshame,Whyhopeyourestlesslovetobringonsleep?
Whystriveyoufirestoquench,sweetCupid’sflame?
No,no,suchcares,andsuchrespectsbeseemGreatladies,wanderingmaidsthemnaughtesteem。
XCII
“ThatnightfataltomeandAntiochtown,Thenmadeapreytohercommandingfoe,Mylosswasgreaterthanwasseenorknown,Thereendednot,butthencebeganmywoe:
Lightwasthelossoffriends,ofrealmorcrown;
ButwithmystateIlostmyselfalso,Ne’ertobefoundagain,forthenIlostMywit,mysense,myheart,mysoulalmost。
XCIII
“Throughfireandsword,throughbloodanddeath,Vafrine,Whichallmyfriendsdidburn,didkill,didchase,Thouknow’stIrantothydearlordandmine,Whenfirstheenteredhadmyfather’splace,Andkneelingwithsaltearsinmyswolleneyne;
`Greatprince,’quothI,`grantmercy,pity,grace,Savenotmykingdom,notmylifeIsaid,Butsaveminehonor,letmedieamaid。’
XCIV
“Heliftmebythetremblinghandfromground,Norstayedhetillmyhumblespeechwasdone;
Butsaid,`Afriendandkeeperhastthoufound,Fairvirgin,nortomeinvainyourun:’
Asweetnessstrangefromthatsweetvoice’ssoundPiercedmyheart,mybreast’sweakfortresswon,WhichcreepingthroughmybosomsoftbecameAwound,asickness,andaquenchlessflame。
XCV
“Hevisitsme,withspeecheskindandgraveHesoughttoeasemygrief,andsorrows’smart。
Hesaid,`Igivetheeliberty,receiveAllthatisthine,andatthywilldepart:’
Alas,herobbedmewhenhethoughthegave,FreewasErminia,butcaptivedherheart,Minewasthebody,histhesoulandmind,Hegavethecagebutkeptthebirdbehind。
XCVI
“Butwhocanhidedesire,orlovesuppress?
OftofhisworthwiththeeintalkIstrove,Thou,bymytremblingfitthatwellcould’stguessWhatfeverheldme,saidst,`Thouartinlove;’
ButIdenied,forwhatcanmaidsdoless?
Andyetmysighsthysayingstruedidprove,Insteadofspeech,mylooks,mytears,mineeyes,Toldinwhatflame,whatfirethymistressfries。
XCVII
“Unhappysilence,wellImighthavetoldMywoes,andformyharmshavesoughtrelief,SincenowmypainsandplaintsIutterbold,Wherenonethathearscanhelporeasemygrief。
FromhimIparted,anddidcloseupfoldMywoundswithinmybosom,deathwaschiefOfallmyhopesandhelps,tilllove’ssweetflamePluckedoffthebridleofrespectandshame,XCVIII
“Andcausedmeridetoseekmylordandknight,Forhethatmademesickcouldmakemesound:
ButonanambushImischancedtolightOfcruelmen,inarmourclothedround,HardlyIscapedtheirhandbymatureflight。
Andfledtowildernessanddesertground,AndthereIlivedingrovesandforestswild,Withgentlegroomsandshepherds’daughtersmild。
XCIX
“Butwhenhotlovewhichfearhadlatesuppressed,Revivedagain,therenouldIlongersit,ButrodethewayIcame,nore’ertookrest,Tillonlikedanger,likemishapIhit,Atrooptoforageandtospoiladdressed,Encounteredme,norcouldIflyfromit:
ThuswasIta’en,andthosethathadmecaught,Egyptianswere,andmetoGazabrought,C
“Andforapresenttotheircaptaingave,WhomIentreatedandbesoughtsowell,Thatheminehonorhadgreatcaretosave,AndsincewithfairArmidaletmedwell。
Thustakenoft,escapedoftIhave,Ah,seewhathapsIpassed,whatdangersfell,Sooftencaptive,freesooftagain,StillmyfirstbandsIkeep,stillmyfirstchain。
CI
“AndhethatdidthischainsosurelybindAboutmyheart,whichnonecanloosebuthe,Lethimnotsay,`Go,wanderingdamsel,findSomeotherhome,thoushaltnotbidewithme,’
Butlethimwelcomemewithspeecheskind,Andinmywontedprisonsetmefree:“
Thusspaketheprincess,thussheandherguideTalkeddayandnight,andontheirjourneyride。