[节选]Jerusalem Delivered

XXXIV

She told the soldiers, who allowed him meet

And well deserving of that sovereign place.

Their first salutes and acclamations sweet

Received he, with love and gentle grace;

After their reverence done with kind regreet

Requited was, with mild and cheerful face,

He bids his armies should the following day

On those fair plains their standards proud display.



XXXV

The golden sun rose from the silver wave,

And with his beams enamelled every green,

When  up arose each warrior bold and brave,

Glistering in filed steel and armor sheen,

With jolly plumes their crests adorned they have,

And all tofore their chieftain mustered been:

He from a mountain cast his curious sight

On every footman and on every knight.



XXXVI

My mind, Time's enemy, Oblivion's foe,

Disposer true of each noteworthy thing,

Oh, let thy virtuous might avail me so,

That I each troop and captain great may sing,

That in this glorious war did famous grow,

Forgot till now by Time's evil handling:

This work, derived from my treasures dear,

Let all times hearken, never age outwear.

XXXVII

The French came foremost battailous and bold,

Late led by Hugo, brother to their King,

From France the isle that rivers four infold

With rolling streams descending from their spring,

But Hugo dead, the lily fair of gold,

Their wonted ensign they tofore them bring,

Under Clotharius great, a captain good,

And hardy knight ysprong of princes' blood.



XXXVIII

A thousand were they in strong armors clad,

Next whom there marched forth another band,

That number, nature, and instruction had,

Like them to fight far off or charge at hand,

All valiant Normans by Lord Robert lad,

The native Duke of that renowned land,

Two bishops next their standards proud upbare,

Called Reverend William, and Good Ademare.



XXXIX

Their jolly notes they chanted loud and clear

On merry mornings at the mass divine,

And horrid helms high on their heads they bear

When their fierce courage they to war incline:

The first four hundred horsemen gathered near

To Orange town, and lands that it confine:

But Ademare the Poggian youth brought out,

In number like, in hard assays as stout.



XL

Baldwin, his ensign fair, did next dispread

Among his Bulloigners of noble fame,

His brother gave him all his troops to lead,

When he commander of the field became;

The Count Carinto did him straight succeed,

Grave in advice, well skilled in Mars his game,

Four hundred brought he, but so many thrice

Led Baldwin, clad in gilden arms of price.



XLI

Guelpho next them the land and place possest,

Whose fortunes good with his great acts agree,

By his Italian sire, fro the house of Est,

Well could he bring his noble pedigree,

A German born with rich possessions blest,

A worthy branch sprung from the Guelphian tree.

'Twixt Rhene and Danubie the land contained

He ruled, where Swaves and Rhetians whilom reigned.



XLII

His mother's heritage was this and right,

To which he added more by conquest got,

From thence approved men of passing might

He brought, that death or danger feared not:

It was their wont in feasts to spend the night,

And pass cold days in baths and houses hot.

Five thousand late, of which now scantly are

The third part left, such is the chance of war.



XLIII

The nation then with crisped locks and fair,

That dwell between the seas and Arden Wood,

Where Mosel streams and Rhene the meadows wear,

A battel soil for grain, for pasture good,

Their islanders with them, who oft repair

Their earthen bulwarks 'gainst the ocean flood,

The flood, elsewhere that ships and barks devours,

But there drowns cities, countries, towns and towers;



XLIV

Both in one troop, and but a thousand all,

Under another Robert fierce they run.

Then the English squadron, soldiers stout and tall,

By William led, their sovereign's younger son,

These archers be, and with them come withal,

A people near the Northern Pole that wone,

Whom Ireland sent from loughs and forests hoar,

Divided far by sea from Europe's shore.



XLV

Tancredi next, nor 'mongst them all was one,

Rinald except, a prince of greater might,

With majesty his noble countenance shone,

High were his thoughts, his heart was bold in fight,

No shameful vice his worth had overgone,

His fault was love, by unadvised sight,

Bred in the dangers of adventurous arms,

And nursed with griefs, with sorrows, woes, and harms.



XLVI

Fame tells, that on that ever-blessed day,

When Christian swords with Persian blood were dyed,

The furious Prince Tancredi from that fray

His coward foes chased through forests wide,

Till tired with the fight, the heat, the way,

He sought some place to rest his wearied side,

And drew him near a silver stream that played

Among wild herbs under the greenwood shade.