Laurel · Torquato Tasso · Jerusalem Delivered

Eighth Book

Torquato Tasso (1544–1595), translated by Edward Fairfax · 1600

iambic pentameter · ottava rima · 688 lines · from Jerusalem Delivered

A messenger to Godfrey sage doth tellThe Prince of Denmark’s valour, death and end:The Italians, trusting signs untrue too well,Think their Rinaldo slain: the wicked fiendBreeds fury in their breasts, their bosoms swellWith ire and hate, and war and strife forth send:They threaten Godfrey; he prays to the Lord,And calms their fury with his look and word.

Now were the skies of storms and tempests cleared,Lord Aeolus shut up his winds in hold,The silver-mantled morning fresh appeared,With roses crowned, and buskined high with gold;The spirits yet which had these tempests reared,Their malice would still more and more unfold;And one of them that Astragor was named,His speeches thus to foul Alecto framed.

“Alecto, see, we could not stop nor stayThe knight that to our foes new tidings brings,Who from the hands escaped, with life away,Of that great prince, chief of all Pagan kings:He comes, the fall of his slain lord to say,Of death and loss he tells, and such sad things,Great news he brings, and greatest dangers is,Bertoldo’s son shall be called home for this.

“Thou knowest what would befall, bestir thee than;Prevent with craft, what force could not withstand,Turn to their evil the speeches of the man,With his own weapon wound Godfredo’s hand;Kindle debate, infect with poison wanThe English, Switzer, and Italian band,Great tumult move, make brawls and quarrels rife,Set all the camp on uproar and at strife.

“This act beseems thee well, and of the deedMuch may’st thou boast before our lord and king.”Thus said the sprite. Persuasion small did need,The monster grants to undertake the thing.Meanwhile the knight, whose coming thus they dread,Before the camp his weary limbs doth bring,And well-nigh breathless, “Warriors bold,” he cried,“Who shall conduct me to your famous guide?”

An hundred strove the stranger’s guide to be,To hearken news the knights by heaps assemble,The man fell lowly down upon his knee,And kissed the hand that made proud Babel tremble;“Right puissant lord, whose valiant acts,” quoth he,“The sands and stars in number best resemble,Would God some gladder news I might unfold,”And there he paused, and sighed; then thus he told:

“Sweno, the King of Denmark’s only heir,The stay and staff of his declining eild,Longed to be among these squadrons fairWho for Christ’s faith here serve with spear and shield;No weariness, no storms of sea or air,No such contents as crowns and sceptres yield,No dear entreaties of so kind a sire,Could in his bosom quench that glorious fire.

“He thirsted sore to learn this warlike artOf thee, great lord and master of the same;And was ashamed in his noble heart,That never act he did deserved fame;Besides, the news and tidings from each partOf young Rinaldo’s worth and praises came:But that which most his courage stirred hath,Is zeal, religion, godliness, and faith.

“He hasted forward, then without delay,And with him took of knights a chosen band,Directly toward Thrace we took the way,To Byzance old, chief fortress of that land,There the Greek monarch gently prayed him stay,And there an herald sent from you we fand,How Antioch was won, who first declared,And how defended nobly afterward.

“Defended gainst Corbana, valiant knight,That all the Persian armies had to guide,And brought so many soldiers bold to fight,That void of men he left that kingdom wide;He told thine acts, thy wisdom and thy might,And told the deeds of many a lord beside,His speech at length to young Rinaldo passed,And told his great achievements, first and last:

“And how this noble camp of yours, of lateBesieged had this town, and in what sort,And how you prayed him to participateOf the last conquest of this noble fort.In hardy Sweno opened was the gateOf worthy anger by this brave report,So that each hour seemed five years long,Till he were fighting with these Pagans strong.

“And while the herald told your fights and frays,Himself of cowardice reproved he thought,And him to stay that counsels him, or prays,He hears not, or, else heard, regardeth naught,He fears no perils but whilst he delays,Lest this last work without his help be wrought:In this his doubt, in this his danger lies,No hazard else he fears, no peril spies.

“Thus hasting on, he hasted on his death,Death that to him and us was fatal guide.The rising morn appeared yet aneath,When he and we were armed, and fit to ride,The nearest way seemed best, o’er hold and heathWe went, through deserts waste, and forests wide,The streets and ways he openeth as he goes,And sets each land free from intruding foes.

“Now want of food, now dangerous ways we find,Now open war, now ambush closely laid;Yet passed we forth, all perils left behind,Our foes or dead or run away afraid,Of victory so happy blew the wind,That careless all the heedless to it made:Until one day his tents he happed to rear,To Palestine when we approached near.

“There did our scouts return and bring us news,That dreadful noise of horse and arms they hear,And that they deemed by sundry signs and showsThere was some mighty host of Pagans near.At these sad tidings many changed their hues,Some looked pale for dread, some shook for fear,Only our noble lord was altered naught,In look, in face, in gesture, or in thought.

“But said, ‘A crown prepare you to possessOf martyrdom, or happy victory;For this I hope, for that I wish no less,Of greater merit and of greater glory.Brethren, this camp will shortly be, I guess,A temple, sacred to our memory,To which the holy men of future age,To view our graves shall come in pilgrimage.’

“This said, he set the watch in order rightTo guard the camp, along the trenches deep,And as he armed was, so every knightHe willed on his back his arms to keep.Now had the stillness of the quiet nightDrowned all the world in silence and in sleep,When suddenly we heard a dreadful sound,Which deafed the earth, and tremble made the ground.

“‘Arm, arm,’ they cried; Prince Sweno at the same,Glistering in shining steel leaped foremost out,His visage shone, his noble looks did flame,With kindled brand of courage bold and stout,When lo, the Pagans to assault us came,And with huge numbers hemmed us round about,A forest thick of spears about us grew,And over us a cloud of arrows flew:

“Uneven the fight, unequal was the fray,Our enemies were twenty men to one,On every side the slain and wounded layUnseen, where naught but glistering weapons shone:The number of the dead could no man say,So was the place with darkness overgone,The night her mantle black upon its spreads,Hiding our losses and our valiant deeds.

“But hardy Sweno midst the other train,By his great acts was well descried I wot,No darkness could his valor’s daylight stain,Such wondrous blows on every side he smote;A stream of blood, a bank of bodies slain,About him made a bulwark, and a mote,And when soe’er he turned his fatal brand,Dread in his looks and death sate in his hand.

“Thus fought we till the morning bright appeared,And strewed roses on the azure sky,But when her lamp had night’s thick darkness cleared,Wherein the bodies dead did buried lie,Then our sad cries to heaven for grief we reared,Our loss apparent was, for we descryHow all our camp destroyed was almost,And all our people well-nigh slain and lost;

“Of thousands twain an hundred scant survived.When Sweno murdered saw each valiant knight,I know not if his heart in sunder rivedFor dear compassion of that woful sight;He showed no change, but said: ‘Since so deprivedWe are of all our friends by chance of fight,Come follow them, the path to heaven their bloodMarks out, now angels made, of martyrs good.’

“This said, and glad I think of death at hand,The signs of heavenly joy shone through his eyes,Of Saracens against a mighty band,With fearless heart and constant breast he flies;No steel could shield them from his cutting brandBut whom he hits without recure he dies,He never struck but felled or killed his foeAnd wounded was himself from top to toe.

“Not strength, but courage now, preserved on liveThis hardy champion, fortress of our faith,Strucken he strikes, still stronger more they strive,The more they hurt him, more he doth them scathe,When toward him a furious knight gan drive,Of members huge, fierce looks, and full of wrath,That with the aid of many a Pagan crew,After long fight, at last Prince Sweno slew.

“Ah, heavy chance! Down fell the valiant youth,Nor mongst us all did one so strong appearAs to revenge his death: that this is truth,By his dear blood and noble bones I swear,That of my life I had not care nor ruth,No wounds I shunned, no blows I would off bear,And had not Heaven my wished end denied,Even there I should, and willing should, have died.

“Alive I fell among my fellows slain,Yet wounded so that each one thought me dead,Nor what our foes did since can I explain,So sore amazed was my heart and head;But when I opened first mine eyes again,Night’s curtain black upon the earth was spread,And through the darkness to my feeble sight,Appeared the twinkling of a slender light.

“Not so much force or judgement in me liesAs to discern things seen and not mistake,I saw like them who ope and shut their eyesBy turns, now half asleep, now half awake;My body eke another torment tries,My wounds began to smart, my hurts to ache;For every sore each member pinched wasWith night’s sharp air, heaven’s frost and earth’s cold grass.

“But still the light approached near and near,And with the same a whispering murmur run,Till at my side arrived both they were,When I to spread my feeble eyes begun:Two men behold in vestures long appear,With each a lamp in hand, who said, ‘O sonIn that dear Lord who helps his servants, trust,Who ere they ask, grants all things to the just.’

“This said, each one his sacred blessings flingsUpon my corse, with broad our-stretched hand,And mumbled hymns and psalms and holy things,Which I could neither hear nor understand;‘Arise,’ quoth they, with that as I had wings,All whole and sound I leaped up from the land.Oh miracle, sweet, gentle, strange and true!My limbs new strength received, and vigor new.

“I gazed on them like one whose heart deniethTo think that done, he sees so strangely wrought;Till one said thus, ‘O thou of little faith,What doubts perplex thy unbelieving thought?Each one of us a living body hath,We are Christ’s chosen servants, fear us naught,Who to avoid the world’s allurements vain,In wilful penance, hermits poor remain.

“‘Us messengers to comfort thee electThat Lord hath sent that rules both heaven and hell;Who often doth his blessed will effect,By such weak means, as wonder is to tell;He will not that this body lie neglect,Wherein so noble soul did lately dwellTo which again when it uprisen isIt shall united be in lasting bliss.

“‘I say Lord Sweno’s corpse, for which preparedA tomb there is according to his worth,By which his honor shall be far declared,And his just praises spread from south to north:”But lift thine eyes up to the heavens ward,Mark yonder light that like the sun shines forthThat shall direct thee with those beams so clear,To find the body of thy master dear.’

“With that I saw from Cynthia’s silver face,Like to a falling star a beam down slide,That bright as golden line marked out the place,And lightened with clear streams the forest wide;So Latmos shone when Phoebe left the chase,And laid her down by her Endymion’s side,Such was the light that well discern I could,His shape, his wounds, his face, though dead, yet bold.

“He lay not grovelling now, but as a knightThat ever had to heavenly things desire,So toward heaven the prince lay bolt upright,Like him that upward still sought to aspire,His right hand closed held his weapon bright,Ready to strike and execute his ire,His left upon his breast was humbly laid,That men might know, that while he died he prayed.

“Whilst on his wounds with bootless tears I wept,That neither helped him, nor eased my care,One of those aged fathers to him stepped,And forced his hand that needless weapon spare:‘This sword,’ quoth he, ‘hath yet good token kept,That of the Pagans’ blood he drunk his share,And blusheth still he could not save his lord,Rich, strong and sharp, was never better sword.

“‘Heaven, therefore, will not, though the prince be slain,Who used erst to wield this precious brandThat so brave blade unused should remain;But that it pass from strong to stronger hand,Who with like force can wield the same again,And longer shall in grace of fortune stand,And with the same shall bitter vengeance takeOn him that Sweno slew, for Sweno’s sake.

“‘Great Solyman killed Sweno, SolymanFor Sweno’s sake, upon this sword must die.Here, take the blade, and with it haste thee thanThither where Godfrey doth encamped lie,And fear not thou that any shall or canOr stop thy way, or lead thy steps awry;For He that doth thee on this message send,Thee with His hand shall guide, keep and defend.

“‘Arrived there it is His blessed will,With true report that thou declare and tellThe zeal, the strength, the courage and the skillIn thy beloved lord that late did dwell,How for Christ’s sake he came his blood to spill,And sample left to all of doing well,That future ages may admire his deed,And courage take when his brave end they read.

“‘It resteth now, thou know that gentle knightThat of this sword shall be thy master’s heir,It is Rinaldo young, with whom in mightAnd martial skill no champion may compare,Give it to him and say, “The Heavens brightOf this revenge to him commit the care.”While thus I listened what this old man said,A wonder new from further speech us stayed;

“For there whereas the wounded body lay,A stately tomb with curious work, behold,And wondrous art was built out of the clay,Which, rising round, the carcass did enfold;With words engraven in the marble gray,The warrior’s name, his worth and praise that told,On which I gazing stood, and often readThat epitaph of my dear master dead.

“‘Among his soldiers,’ quoth the hermit, ‘hereMust Sweno’s corpse remain in marble chest,While up to heaven are flown their spirits dear,To live in endless joy forever blest,His funeral thou hast with many a tearAccompanied, it’s now high time to rest,Come be my guest, until the morning rayShall light the world again, then take thy way.’

“This said, he led me over holts and hags,Through thorns and bushes scant my legs I drewTill underneath a heap of stones and cragsAt last he brought me to a secret mew;Among the bears, wild boars, the wolves and stags,There dwelt he safe with his disciple true,And feared no treason, force, nor hurt at all,His guiltless conscience was his castle’s wall.

“My supper roots; my bed was moss and leaves;But weariness in little rest found ease:But when the purple morning night bereavesOf late usurped rule on lands and seas,His loathed couch each wakeful hermit leaves,To pray rose they, and I, for so they please,I congee took when ended was the same,And hitherward, as they advised me, came.”

The Dane his woful tale had done, when thusThe good Prince Godfrey answered him, “Sir knight,Thou bringest tidings sad and dolorous,For which our heavy camp laments of right,Since so brave troops and so dear friends to us,One hour hath spent, in one unlucky fight;And so appeared hath thy master stout,As lightning doth, now kindled, now quenched out.

“But such a death and end exceedeth allThe conquests vain of realms, or spoils of gold,Nor aged Rome’s proud stately capital,Did ever triumph yet like theirs behold;They sit in heaven on thrones celestial,Crowned with glory, for their conquest bold,Where each his hurts I think to other shows,And glories in those bloody wounds and blows.

“But thou who hast part of thy race to run,With haps and hazards of this world ytost,rejoice, for those high honors they have won,Which cannot be by chance or fortune crossed:But for thou askest for Bertoldo’s son,Know, that he wandereth, banished from this host,And till of him new tidings some man tell,Within this camp I deem it best thou dwell.”

These words of theirs in many a soul renewedThe sweet remembrance of fair Sophia’s child,Some with salt tears for him their cheeks bedewed,Lest evil betide him mongst the Pagans wild,And every one his valiant prowess showed,And of his battles stories long compiled,Telling the Dane his acts and conquests past,Which made his ears amazed, his heart aghast.

Now when remembrance of the youth had wroughtA tender pity in each softened mind,Behold returned home with all they caughtThe bands that were to forage late assigned,And with them in abundance great they broughtBoth flocks and herds of every sort and kind.And corn, although not much, and hay to feedTheir noble steeds and coursers when they need.

They also brought of misadventure sadTokens and signs, seemed too apparent true,Rinaldo’s armor, frushed and hacked they had,Oft pierced through, with blood besmeared new;About the camp, for always rumors badAre farthest spread, these woful tidings flew.Thither assembled straight both high and low,Longing to see what they were loth to know.

His heavy hauberk was both seen and known,And his brand shield, wherein displayed fliesThe bird that proves her chickens for her ownBy looking gainst the sun with open eyes;That shield was to the Pagans often shown,In many a hard and hardy enterprise,But now with many a gash and many a strokeThey see, and sigh to see it, frushed and broke.

While all his soldiers whispered under hand,And here and there the fault and cause do lay,Godfrey before him called AliprandCaptain of those that brought of late this prey,A man who did on points of virtue stand,Blameless in words, and true whate’er he say,“Say,” quoth the duke, “where you this armor had,Hide not the truth, but tell it good or bad.”

He answered him, “As far from hence think IAs on two days a speedy post well rideth,To Gaza-ward a little plain doth lie,Itself among the steepy hills which hideth,Through it slow falling from the mountains high,A rolling brook twixt bush and bramble glideth,Clad with thick shade of boughs of broad-leaved treen,Fit place for men to lie in wait unseen.

“Thither, to seek some flocks or herds, we wentPerchance close hid under the green-wood shaw,And found the springing grass with blood besprent,A warrior tumbled in his blood we saw,His arms though dusty, bloody, hacked and rent,Yet well we knew, when near the corse we draw;To which, to view his face, in vain I started,For from his body his fair head was parted;

“His right hand wanted eke, with many a woundThe trunk through pierced was from back to breast,A little by, his empty helm we foundThe silver eagle shining on his crest;To spy at whom to ask we gazed round,A churl then toward us his steps addressed,But when us armed by the corse he spied,He ran away his fearful face to hide:

“But we pursued him, took him, spake him fair,Till comforted at last he answer made,How that, the day before, he saw repairA band of soldiers from that forest shade,Of whom one carried by the golden hairA head but late cut off with murdering blade,The face was fair and young, and on the chinNo sign of heard to bud did yet begin.

“And how in sindal wrapt away he boreThat head with him hung at his saddle-bow.And how the murtherers by the arms they wore,For soldiers of our camp he well did know;The carcass I disarmed and weeping sore,Because I guessed who should that harness owe,Away I brought it, but first order gave,That noble body should be laid in grave.

“But if it be his trunk whom I believe,A nobler tomb his worth deserveth well.”This said, good Aliprando took his leave,Of certain troth he had no more to tell,Sore sighed the duke, so did these news him grieve,Fears in his heart, doubts in his bosom dwell,He yearned to know, to find and learn the truth,And punish would them that had slain the youth.

But now the night dispread her lazy wingsO’er the broad fields of heaven’s bright wilderness,Sleep, the soul’s rest, and ease of careful things,Buried in happy peace both more and less,Thou Argillan alone, whom sorrow stings,Still wakest, musing on great deeds I guess,Nor sufferest in thy watchful eyes to creepThe sweet repose of mild and gentle sleep.

This man was strong of limb, and all his ‘saysWere bold, of ready tongue, and working sprite,Near Trento born, bred up in brawls and frays,In jars, in quarrels, and in civil fight,For which exiled, the hills and public waysHe filled with blood, and robberies day and nightUntil to Asia’s wars at last he came,And boldly there he served, and purchased fame.

He closed his eyes at last when day drew near.Yet slept he not, but senseless lay opprestWith strange amazedness and sudden fearWhich false Alecto breathed in his breast,His working powers within deluded were,Stone still he quiet lay, yet took no rest,For to his thought the fiend herself presented,And with strange visions his weak brain tormented.

A murdered body huge beside him stood,Of head and right hand both but lately spoiled,His left hand bore the head, whose visage good,Both pale and wan, with dust and gore defoiled,Yet spake, though dead, with whose sad words the bloodForth at his lips in huge abundance boiled,“Fly, Argillan, from this false camp fly far,Whose guide, a traitor; captains, murderers are.

“Godfrey hath murdered me by treason vile,What favor then hope you my trusty friends?His villain heart is full of fraud and guile,To your destruction all his thoughts he bends,Yet if thou thirst of praise for noble stile,If in thy strength thou trust, thy strength that endsAll hard assays, fly not, first with his bloodAppease my ghost wandering by Lethe flood;

“I will thy weapon whet, inflame thine ire,Arm thy right hand, and strengthen every part.”This said; even while she spake she did inspireWith fury, rage, and wrath his troubled heart:The man awaked, and from his eyes like fireThe poisoned sparks of headstrong madness start,And armed as he was, forth is he gone,And gathered all the Italian bands in one.

He gathered them where lay the arms that lateWere good Rinaldo’s; then with semblance stoutAnd furious words his fore-conceived hateIn bitter speeches thus he vomits out;“Is not this people barbarous and ingrate,In whom truth finds no place, faith takes no rout?Whose thirst unquenched is of blood and gold,Whom no yoke boweth, bridle none can hold.

“So much we suffered have these seven years long,Under this servile and unworthy yoke,That thorough Rome and Italy our wrongA thousand years hereafter shall be spoke:I count not how Cilicia’s kingdom strong,Subdued was by Prince Tancredi’s stroke,Nor how false Baldwin him that land bereavesOf virtue’s harvest, fraud there reaped the sheaves:

“Nor speak I how each hour, at every need,Quick, ready, resolute at all assays,With fire and sword we hasted forth with speed,And bore the brunt of all their fights and frays;But when we had performed and done the deed,At ease and leisure they divide the preys,We reaped naught but travel for our toil,Theirs was the praise, the realms, the gold, the spoil.

“Yet all this season were we willing blind,Offended unrevenged, wronged but unwroken,Light griefs could not provoke our quiet mind,But now, alas! the mortal blow is stroken,Rinaldo have they slain, and law of kind,Of arms, of nations, and of high heaven broken,Why doth not heaven kill them with fire and thunder?To swallow them why cleaves not earth asunder?

“They have Rinaldo slain, the sword and shieldOf Christ’s true faith, and unrevenged he lies;Still unrevenged lieth in the fieldHis noble corpse to feed the crows and pies:Who murdered him? who shall us certain yield?Who sees not that, although he wanted eyes?Who knows not how the Italian chivalryProud Godfrey and false Baldwin both envy

“What need we further proof? Heaven, heaven, I swear,Will not consent herein we be beguiled,This night I saw his murdered sprite appear,Pale, sad and wan, with wounds and blood defiled,A spectacle full both of grief and fear;Godfrey, for murdering him, the ghost reviled.I saw it was no dream, before mine eyes,Howe’er I look, still, still methinks it flies.

“What shall we do? shall we be governed stillBy this false hand, contaminate with blood?Or else depart and travel forth, untilTo Euphrates we come, that sacred flood,Where dwells a people void of martial skill,Whose cities rich, whose land is fat and good,Where kingdoms great we may at ease provide,Far from these Frenchmen’s malice, from their pride;

“Then let us go, and no revengement takeFor this brave knight, though it lie in our power:No, no, that courage rather newly wake,Which never sleeps in fear and dread one hour,And this pestiferous serpent, poisoned snake,Of all our knights that hath destroyed the flower,First let us slay, and his deserved endExample make to him that kills his friend.

“I will, I will, if your courageous force,Dareth so much as it can well perform,Tear out his cursed heart without remorse,The nest of treason false and guile enorm.”Thus spake the angry knight with headlong course;The rest him followed with a furious storm,“Arm, arm.” they cried, to arms the soldiers ran.And as they run, “Arm, arm,” cried every man.

Mongst them Alecto strowed wasteful fire,Envenoming the hearts of most and least,Folly, disdain, madness, strife, rancor, ire,Thirst to shed blood, in every breast increased,This ill spread far, and till it set on fireWith rage the Italian lodgings, never ceased,From thence unto the Switzers’ camp it went,And last infected every English tent.

Not public loss of their beloved knight,Alone stirred up their rage and wrath untamed,But fore-conceived griefs, and quarrels light,The ire still nourished, and still inflamed,Awaked was each former cause of spite,The Frenchmen cruel and unjust they named,And with bold threats they made their hatred known,Hate seld kept close, and oft unwisely shown:

Like boiling liquor in a seething pot,That fumeth, swelleth high, and bubbleth fast,Till o’er the brims among the embers hot,Part of the broth and of the scum is cast,Their rage and wrath those few appeased notIn whom of wisdom yet remained some taste,Camillo, William, Tancred were away,And all whose greatness might their madness stay.

Now headlong ran to harness in this heatThese furious people, all on heaps confused,The roaring trumpets battle gan to threat,As it in time of mortal war is used,The messengers ran to Godfredo great,And bade him arm, while on this noise he mused,And Baldwin first well clad in iron hard,Stepped to his side, a sure and faithful guard.

Their murmurs heard, to heaven he lift his een,As was his wont, to God for aid he fled;“O Lord, thou knowest this right hand of mineAbhorred ever civil blood to shed,Illumine their dark souls with light divine,Repress their rage, by hellish fury bred,The innocency of my guiltless mindThou knowest, and make these know, with fury blind.”

Tis said he felt infused in each vein,A sacred heat from heaven above distilled,A heat in man that courage could constrainThat his brave look with awful boldness filled.Well guarded forth he went to meet the trainOf those that would revenge Rinaldo killed;And though their threats he heard, and saw them bentTo arms on every side, yet on he went.

Above his hauberk strong a coat he ware,Embroidered fair with pearl and richest stone,His hands were naked, and his face was bare,Wherein a lamp of majesty bright shone;He shook his golden mace, wherewith he dareResist the force of his rebellious foe:Thus he appeared, and thus he gan them teach,In shape an angel, and a God in speech:

“What foolish words? what threats be these I hear?What noise of arms? who dares these tumults move?Am I so honored? stand you so in fear?Where is your late obedience? where your love?Of Godfrey’s falsehood who can witness bear?Who dare or will these accusations prove?Perchance you look I should entreaties bring,Sue for your favors, or excuse the thing.

“Ah, God forbid these lands should hear or seeHim so disgraced at whose great name they quake;This sceptre and my noble acts for meA true defence before the world can make:Yet for sharp justice governed shall beWith clemency, I will no vengeance takeFor this offence, but for Rinaldo’s love,I pardon you, hereafter wiser prove.

“But Argillano’s guilty blood shall washThis stain away, who kindled this debate,And led by hasty rage and fury rash,To these disorders first undid the gate;”While thus he spoke, the lightning beams did flashOut of his eyes of majesty and state,That Argillan,—who would have thought it?—shookFor fear and terror, conquered with his look.

The rest with indiscreet and foolish wrathWho threatened late with words of shame and pride,Whose hands so ready were to harm and scath,And brandished bright swords on every side;Now hushed and still attend what Godfrey saith,With shame and fear their bashful looks they hide,And Argillan they let in chains be bound,Although their weapons him environed round.

So when a lion shakes his dreadful mane,And beats his tail with courage proud and wroth,If his commander come, who first took painTo tame his youth, his lofty crest down goeth,His threats he feareth, and obeys the reinOf thralldom base, and serviceage, though loth,Nor can his sharp teeth nor his armed paws,Force him rebel against his ruler’s laws.

Fame as a winged warrior they beheld,With semblant fierce and furious look that stood,And in his left hand had a splendent shieldWherewith he covered safe their chieftain good,His other hand a naked sword did wield,From which distilling fell the lukewarm blood,The blood pardie of many a realm and town,Whereon the Lord his wrath had poured down.

Thus was the tumult, without bloodshed, ended.Their arms laid down, strife into exile sent.Godfrey his thoughts to greater actions bended.And homeward to his rich pavilion went,For to assault the fortress he intendedBefore the second or third day were spent;Meanwhile his timber wrought he oft surveyedWhereof his ram and engines great he made.

Words in this poem 128

strife n.: The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
buskined a.: Wearing buskins.
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
bestir v. t.: To put into brisk or vigorous action; to move with life and vigor; -- usually with the reciprocal pronoun.
craft n.: Strength; might; secret power. [AS. cr strength, skill, art, cunning; akin to OS., G., Sw., & Dan. kraft strength, D. kracht, Icel. kraptr; perh. originally, a drawing together, stretching, fr]
switzer n.: A native or inhabitant of Switzerland; a Swiss. [Cf. G. schweizer. Cf. Swiss.]
rife a.: Prevailing; prevalent; abounding. [AS. rif abundant, or Icel. rifr munificent; akin to OD. riff, rijve, abundant.]
sprite n.: A spirit; a soul; a shade; also, an apparition. See Spright. [OE. sprit, F. esprit, fr. L. spiritus. See Spirit, and cf. Sprightly.]
meanwhile n.: The intervening time; as, in the meantime (or mean time).
breathless a.: Spent with labor or violent action; out of breath.
babel n.: The city and tower in the land of Shinar, where the confusion of languages took place. [Heb. Babel, the name of the capital of Babylonia; in Genesis associated with the idea of "confusion"]
puissant a.: Powerful; strong; mighty; forcible; as, a puissant prince or empire. [F., originally, a p. pr. formed fr. L. posse to be able: cf. L. potens powerful. See Potent.]
valiant a.: Vigorous in body; strong; powerful; as, a valiant fencer. [OE. valiant, F. vaillant, OF. vaillant, valant, originally p. pr. of OF. & F. valoir to be worth, L. valere to be strong. See Wield, and cf. Avail, Convalesce, ]
quoth v. t.: Said; spoke; uttered; -- used only in the first and third persons in the past tenses, and always followed by its nominative, the word or words said being the object; as, quoth I. quoth he. [AS.cweedhan, imp cwæedh, pl. cwædon; akin to OS. queedhan, OHG. quethan, quedan, Icel. kveedha, Goth. qiþan. sq. root22. Cf. Bequeath.]
gladder n.: One who makes glad.
sire n.: A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
glorious a.: Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
godliness n.: Careful observance of, or conformity to, the laws of God; the state or quality of being godly; piety. [From Godly.]
nobly adv.: Of noble extraction; as, nobly born or descended.
morn n.: The first part of the day; the morning; -- used chiefly in poetry. [OE. morwen, morgen, AS. morgen; akin to D. morgen, OS. morgan, G. morgen, Icel. morginn, morgunn, Sw. morgon, Dan. morgen, Goth. maúrgins. Cf. Morrow, Morning.]
went n.: Course; way; path; journey; direction.
happed p. a.: Wrapped; covered; cloaked. [From 1st Hap.]
dreadful a.: Full of dread or terror; fearful.
sundry a.: Several; divers; more than one or two; various. [OE. sundry, sondry, AS. syndrig, fr. sundor asunder. See Sunder, v. t.]
shook v. t.: To pack, as staves, in a shook.
martyrdom n.: The condition of a martyr; the death of a martyr; the suffering of death on account of adherence to the Christian faith, or to any cause. [Martyr + -dom.]
shortly adv.: In a short or brief time or manner; soon; quickly. [AS. sceortlice.]
pilgrimage n.: The journey of a pilgrim; a long journey; especially, a journey to a shrine or other sacred place. Fig., the journey of human life. [OE. pilgrimage, pelgrinage; cf. F. pèlerinage.]
stillness n.: The quality or state of being still; quietness; silence; calmness; inactivity.
visage n.: The face, countenance, or look of a person or an animal; -- chiefly applied to the human face. [F. visage, from L. visus a seeing, a look, fr. videre, visum, to see. See Vision.]
unseen a.: Not seen or discovered.
daylight n.: The light of day as opposed to the darkness of night; the light of the sun, as opposed to that of the moon or to artificial light.
wondrous adv.: In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. [OE. wonders, adv. (later also adj.). See Wonder, n., and cf. -wards.]
bulwark n.: A rampart; a fortification; a bastion or outwork. [Akin to D. bolwerk, G. bollwerk, Sw. bolwerk, Dan. bolvärk, bulvärk, rampart; akin to G. bohle plank, and werk work, defense. See Bole stem, and Work, n., and c]
mote n.: A meeting of persons for discussion; as, a wardmote in the city of London. [See Moot, a meeting.]
sate v. t.: To satisfy the desire or appetite of; to satiate; to glut; to surfeit. [Probably shortened fr. satiate: cf. L. satus full. See Satiate.]
descry: , Discovery or view, as of an army seen at a distance.
twain a.: Two;- nearly obsolete in common discourse, but used in poetry and burlesque. [OE. twein, tweien, tweyne, AS. twegen, masc. See Two.]
woful a.: Full of woe; sorrowful; distressed with grief or calamity; afflicted; wretched; unhappy; sad.
recure v. t.: To arrive at; to reach; to attain. Lydgate. [Cf. Recover.]
scathe v. t.: To do harm to; to injure; to damage; to waste; to destroy. [Icel. skatha; akin to AS. sceathan, sceth\'eban, Dan. skade, Sw. skada, D. & G. schaden, OHG. scadon, Goth. skaÞjan.]
ruth n.: Sorrow for the misery of another; pity; tenderness. [From Rue, v.: cf. Icel. hryggedh, hrygedh.]
twinkling n.: The act of one who, or of that which, twinkles; a quick movement of the eye; a wink; a twinkle. Holland.
ache n.: A name given to several species of plants; as, smallage, wild celery, parsley. Holland. [F. ache, L. apium parsley.]
corse n.: A living body or its bulk. [OF. cors, F. corps. See Corpse.]
strangely adv.: As something foreign, or not one's own; in a manner adapted to something foreign and strange.
unbelieving a.: Not believing; incredulous; doubting; distrusting; skeptical.
avoid v. t.: To empty. Wyclif. [OF. esvuidier, es (L. ex) + vuidier, voidier, to empty. See Void, a.]
dwell v. i.: To delay; to linger. [OE. dwellen, dwelien, to err, linger, AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder, delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel. dvelja to delay, tarry, Sw. dväljas to dwell, Dan. dv]
corpse n.: A human body in general, whether living or dead; -- sometimes contemptuosly. [OF. cors (sometimes written corps), F. corps, L. corpus; akin to AS. hrif womb. See Midriff, and cf. Corse, Corselet, Corps, Cuerpo.]
yonder adv.: At a distance, but within view. [OE. yonder, ýonder; cf. OD. ginder, Goth. jaindr there. Yond, adv.]
phoebe n.: The pewee, or pewit.
aspire v. t.: To aspire to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to.
humbly adv.: With humility; lowly.
bootless a.: Unavailing; unprofitable; useless; without advantage or success. [From Boot profit.]
needless a.: Having no need.
wield v. t.: To govern; to rule; to keep, or have in charge; also, to possess. [OE. welden to govern, to have power over, to possess, AS. geweldan, gewyldan, from wealdan; akin to OS. waldan, OFries. walda, G. walten, OHG. waltan, Icel. val]
spill n.: A bit of wood split off; a splinter. [sq. root170. Cf. Spell a splinter.]
admire v. t.: To regard with wonder or astonishment; to view with surprise; to marvel at. [F. admirer, fr. L. admirari; ad + mirari to wonder, for smirari, akin to Gr. smi, and E. smile.]
stayed a.: Staid; fixed; settled; sober; -- now written staid. See Staid.
whereas adv.: At which place; where.
curious a.: Difficult to please or satisfy; solicitous to be correct; careful; scrupulous; nice; exact. [OF. curios, curius, F. curieux, L. curiosus careful, inquisitive, fr. cura care. See Cure.]
carcass n.: A dead body, whether of man or beast; a corpse; now commonly the dead body of a beast. [F. carcasse, fr. It. carcassa, fr. L. caro flesh + capsa chest, box, case. Cf. Carnal, Case a sheath.]
enfold v. t.: To infold. See Infold.
flown a.: Flushed, inflated.
hast: , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
guiltless a.: Free from guilt; innocent.
conscience n.: Knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness. [F. conscience, fr. L. conscientia, fr. consciens, p.pr. of conscire to know, to be conscious; con- + scire to know. See Science.]
wakeful a.: Not sleeping; indisposed to sleep; watchful; vigilant.
congee n.: [Tamil kashi boilings.]
hitherward adv.: Toward this place; hither. [AS. hiderweard.]
dane n.: A native, or a naturalized inhabitant, of Denmark. Great Dane. [LL. Dani: cf. AS. Dene.]
dolorous a.: Full of grief; sad; sorrowful; doleful; dismal; as, a dolorous object; dolorous discourses. [L. dolorosus, from dolor: cf. F. douloureux. See Dolor.]
deem v. t.: To decide; to judge; to sentence; to condemn. [OE. demen to judge, condemn, AS. d, fr. d doom; akin to OFries. d, OS. ad, D. doemen, OHG. tuommen, Icel. dæma, Sw. dömma, Dan. dömme, Goth. d. See Doom, n., an]
betide v. t.: To happen to; to befall; to come to ; as, woe betide the wanderer. [OE. bitiden; pref. bi-, be- + tiden, fr. AS. tidan, to happen, fr. tid time. See Tide.]
prowess n.: Distinguished bravery; valor; especially, military bravery and skill; gallantry; intrepidity; fearlessness. Chaucer. Sir P. Sidney. [OF. proece, proesce, F. prouesse. See Prow, a.]
broke v. i.: To transact business for another. Brome. [See Broker, and cf. Brook.]
duke n.: A leader; a chief; a prince. [F. duc, fr. L. dux, ducis, leader, commander, fr. ducere to lead; akin to AS. teón to draw; cf. AS. heretoga (here army) an army leader, general, G. herzog duke]
steepy a.: Steep; precipitous.
bramble n.: Any plant of the genus Rubus, including the raspberry and blackberry. Hence: Any rough, prickly shrub. [OE. brembil, AS.brbramal), fr. the same root as E. broom, As. br. See Broom.]
clad v.: To clothe. Holland.
treen a.: Made of wood; wooden. [AS. treówen.]
shaw n.: A thicket; a small wood or grove. [Obs. or Prov.Eng. & Scot.] [OE. schawe, scha, thicket, grove, AS. scaga; akin to Dan. skov, Sw. skog, Icel. sk.]
besprent p. p.: Sprinkled over; strewed. [OE. bespreynt, p. p. of besprengen, bisprengen, to besprinkle, AS. besprengan, akin to D. & G. besprengen; pref. be- + sprengan to sprinkle. See Sprinkle.]
disarmed a.: Deprived of arms.
troth n.: Belief; faith; fidelity. [A variant of truth. See Truth.]
dispread v. t.: To spread abroad, or different ways; to spread apart; to open; as, the sun dispreads his beams. [Pref. dis- + spread.]
boldly adv.: In a bold manner. [AS. bealdlice.]
amazedness n.: The state of being amazed, or confounded with fear, surprise, or wonder. Bp. Hall.
stile n.: A pin set on the face of a dial, to cast a shadow; a style. See Style. Moxon. [See Style.]
ghost n.: The spirit; the soul of man. [OE. gast, gost, soul, spirit, AS. gast breath, spirit, soul; akin to OS. g spirit, soul, D. geest, G. geist, and prob. to E. gaze, ghastly.]
lethe n.: A river of Hades whose waters when drunk caused forgetfulness of the past.
whet v. t.: To rub or on with some substance, as a piece of stone, for the purpose of sharpening; to sharpen by attrition; as, to whet a knife. [AS. hwettan; akin to D. wetten, G. wetzen, OHG. wezzen, Icel. hvetja, Sw. vättja, and AS. hwæt vigorous, brave, OS. hwat, OHG. waz, was, sharp, Icel. hvatr, bol]
ingrate n.: An ungrateful person.
hereafter adv.: In time to come; in some future time or state. [AS. hræfter.]
spoke n.: The radius or ray of a wheel; one of the small bars which are inserted in the hub, or nave, and which serve to support the rim or felly. [OE. spoke, spake, AS, spaca; akin to D. speek, LG. speke, OHG. speihha, G. speiche. sq. root170. Cf. Spike a nail.]
baldwin n.: A kind of reddish, moderately acid, winter apple. [U.S.]
brunt n.: The heat, or utmost violence, of an onset; the strength or greatest fury of any contention; as, the brunt of a battle. [OE. brunt, bront, fr. Icel. bruna to rush; cf. Icel. brenna to burn. Cf. Burn, v. t.]
unwroken a.: Not revenged; unavenged. Surrey. [See Un- not, and Wreak.]
methinks v.: It seems to me; I think. See Me. [AS. þyncan to seem, me þynceedh, me þuhte, OE. me thinketh, me thoughte; akin to G. dünken to seem, denken to think, and E. think. See Me, and Think.]
depart v. i.: To part; to divide; to separate. [OE. departen to divide, part, depart, F. départir to divide, distribute, se départir to separate one's self, depart; pref. dé- (L. de) + partir to part, depart,]
pestiferous a.: Pest-bearing; pestilential; noxious to health; malignant; infectious; contagious; as, pestiferous bodies. [L. pestiferus, pestifer; pestis pest + ferre to bear: cf. F. pestifère.]
cursed a.: Deserving a curse; execrable; hateful; detestable; abominable.
angry a.: Troublesome; vexatious; rigorous. [See Anger.]
rancor n.: The deepest malignity or spite; deep-seated enmity or malice; inveterate hatred. [OE. rancour, OF. rancor, rancur, F. rancune, fr. L. rancor rancidity, rankness; tropically, an old grudge, rancor, fr. rancere to be rank or rancid.]
seld a.: Rare; uncommon; unusual. Chaucer. [See Seldom.]
unwisely adv.: In an unwise manner; foolishly. [AS. unwislice.]
trumpets n.: A plant (Sarracenia flava) with long, hollow leaves.
bade: A form of the pat tense of Bid.
wherewith adv.: With which; -- used relatively.
rebellious a.: Engaged in rebellion; disposed to rebel of the nature of rebels or of rebellion; resisting government or lawful authority by force.
sceptre n.: A staff or baton borne by a sovereign, as a ceremonial badge or emblem of authority; a royal mace. [F. sceptre, L. sceptrum, from Gr. shaft. See Shaft, and cf. Scape a stem, shaft.]
defence n.: The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger. [F. défense, OF. defense, fem., defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. Fence.]
offence n.: The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin, an affront or an injury. [F., fr. L. offensa. See Offend.]
scath n.: Harm; damage; injury; hurt; waste; misfortune. [Icel. skathi; akin to Dan. skade, Sw. skada, AS. sceatha, scatha, foe, injurer, OS. skatho, D. schade, schaden; cf. Gr. Scathe, v.]
saith: 3d pers. sing. pres. of Say.
bashful a.: Abashed; daunted; dismayed. [See Bash.]
wroth a.: Full of wrath; angry; incensed; much exasperated; wrathful. [OE. wroth, wrap, AS. wraedh wroth, crooked, bad; akin to wriedhan to writhe, and to OS. wreedhangry, D. wreed cruel, OHG. reid twisted, Icel. reiedhr angry, Dan]
serviceage n.: Servitude. Fairfax.
rebel a.: Pertaining to rebels or rebellion; acting in revolt; rebellious; as, rebel troops. [F. rebelle, fr. L. rebellis. See Rebel, v. t.]
semblant a.: Like; resembling. Prior. [F. semblant, p. pr.]
splendent a.: Shining; glossy; beaming with light; lustrous; as, splendent planets; splendent metals. See the Note under 3d Luster, 4. [L. splendens, -entis, p. pr. of splendere to shine.]
lukewarm a.: Moderately warm; neither cold nor hot; tepid; not ardent; not zealous; cool; indifferent. [See Luke.]
pardie adv.: Certainly; surely; truly; verily; -- originally an oath. [F. pardi, for par Dieu by God.]
whereon adv.: On which; -- used relatively; as, the earth whereon we live.
homeward a.: Being in the direction of home; as, the homeward way.
pavilion n.: A temporary movable habitation; a large tent; a marquee; esp., a tent raised on posts. [F. pavillon, fr. L. pavilio a butterfly, also, a tent, because spread out like a butterfly's wings.]
whereof adv.: Of which; of whom; formerly, also, with which; -- used relatively.

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

Eighth Book is in the public domain. This text is taken from Jerusalem Delivered, Project Gutenberg ebook #392, the Edward Fairfax translation; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Torquato Tasso, Eighth Book, in Jerusalem Delivered (1600), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #392, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/jerusalem-delivered/eighth-book.html, id L14354.

Form and metre

Eighth Book is 688 lines in 86 stanzas of 8 lines each. Every stanza rhymes ABABABCC, the Ottava rima. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 90%). 96% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 10.1 syllables. 39 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 18% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end. Rhymes that have moved apart since the poem was written: alas / was, hold / would, alone / one, aid / said, lords / words and 7 more.

See other poems in ottava rima, other poems in iambic pentameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 ABABABCC tell^A · end^B · well^A · fiend^B · swell^A · send^B · lord^C · word^C
2 ABABABCC cleared^A · hold^B · appeared^A · gold^B · reared^A · unfold^B · named^C · framed^C
3 ABABABCC stay^A · brings^B · away^A · kings^B · say^A · things^B · is^C · this^C
4 ABABABCC than^A · withstand^B · man^A · hand^B · wan^A · band^B · rife^C · strife^C
5 ABABABCC deed^A · king^B · need^A · thing^B · dread^A · bring^B · cried^C · guide^C
6 ABABABCC be^A · assemble^B · knee^A · tremble^B · he^A · resemble^B · unfold^C · told^C
7 ABABABCC heir^A · eild^B · fair^A · shield^B · air^A · yield^B · sire^C · fire^C
8 ABABABCC art^A · same^B · heart^A · fame^B · part^A · came^B · hath^C · faith^C
9 ABABABCC delay^A · band^B · way^A · land^B · stay^A · fand^B · declared^C · afterward^C
10 ABABABCC knight^A · guide^B · fight^A · wide^B · might^A · beside^B · passed^C · last^C
11 ABABABCC late^A · sort^B · participate^A · fort^B · gate^A · report^B · long^C · strong^C
12 ABABABCC frays^A · thought^B · prays^A · naught^B · delays^A · wrought^B · lies^C · spies^C
13 ABABABCC death^A · guide^B · aneath^A · ride^B · heath^A · wide^B · goes^C · foes^C
14 ABABABCC find^A · laid^B · behind^A · afraid^B · wind^A · made^B · rear^C · near^C
15 ABABABCC news^A · hear^B · shows^A · near^B · hues^A · fear^B · naught^C · thought^C
16 ABABABCC possess^A · victory^B · less^A · glory^B · guess^A · memory^B · age^C · pilgrimage^C
17 ABABABCC right^A · deep^B · knight^A · keep^B · night^A · sleep^B · sound^C · ground^C
18 ABABABCC same^A · out^B · flame^A · stout^B · came^A · about^B · grew^C · flew^C
19 ABABABCC fray^A · one^B · lay^A · shone^B · say^A · overgone^B · spreads^C · deeds^C
20 ABABABCC train^A · wot^B · stain^A · smote^B · slain^A · mote^B · brand^C · hand^C
21 ABABABCC appeared^A · sky^B · cleared^A · lie^B · reared^A · descry^B · almost^C · lost^C
22 ABABABCC survived^A · knight^B · rived^A · sight^B · deprived^A · fight^B · blood^C · good^C
23 ABABABCC hand^A · eyes^B · band^A · flies^B · brand^A · dies^B · foe^C · toe^C
24 ABABABCC live^A · faith^B · strive^A · scathe^B · drive^A · wrath^B · crew^C · slew^C
25 ABABABCC youth^A · appear^B · truth^A · swear^B · ruth^A · bear^B · denied^C · died^C
26 ABABABCC slain^A · dead^B · explain^A · head^B · again^A · spread^B · sight^C · light^C
27 ABABABCC lies^A · mistake^B · eyes^A · awake^B · tries^A · ache^B · was^C · grass^C
28 ABABABCC near^A · run^B · were^A · begun^B · appear^A · son^B · trust^C · just^C
29 ABABABCC flings^A · hand^B · things^A · understand^B · wings^A · land^B · true^C · new^C
30 ABABABCC denieth^A · wrought^B · faith^A · thought^B · hath^A · naught^B · vain^C · remain^C
31 ABABABCC elect^A · hell^B · effect^A · tell^B · neglect^A · dwell^B · is^C · bliss^C
32 ABABABCC prepared^A · worth^B · declared^A · north^B · ward^A · forth^B · clear^C · dear^C
33 ABABABCC face^A · slide^B · place^A · wide^B · chase^A · side^B · could^C · bold^C
34 ABABABCC knight^A · desire^B · upright^A · aspire^B · bright^A · ire^B · laid^C · prayed^C
35 ABABABCC wept^A · care^B · stepped^A · spare^B · kept^A · share^B · lord^C · sword^C
36 ABABABCC slain^A · brand^B · remain^A · hand^B · again^A · stand^B · take^C · sake^C
37 ABABABCC solyman^A · die^B · than^A · lie^B · can^A · awry^B · send^C · defend^C
38 ABABABCC will^A · tell^B · skill^A · dwell^B · spill^A · well^B · deed^C · read^C
39 ABABABCC knight^A · heir^B · might^A · compare^B · bright^A · care^B · said^C · stayed^C
40 ABABABCC lay^A · behold^B · clay^A · enfold^B · gray^A · told^B · read^C · dead^C
41 ABABABCC here^A · chest^B · dear^A · blest^B · tear^A · rest^B · ray^C · way^C
42 ABABABCC hags^A · drew^B · crags^A · mew^B · stags^A · true^B · all^C · wall^C
43 ABABABCC leaves^A · ease^B · bereaves^A · seas^B · leaves^A · please^B · same^C · came^C
44 ABABABCC thus^A · knight^B · dolorous^A · right^B · us^A · fight^B · stout^C · out^C
45 ABABABCC all^A · gold^B · capital^A · behold^B · celestial^A · bold^B · shows^C · blows^C
46 ABABABCC run^A · ytost^B · won^A · crossed^B · son^A · host^B · tell^C · dwell^C
47 ABABABCC renewed^A · child^B · bedewed^A · wild^B · showed^A · compiled^B · past^C · aghast^C
48 ABABABCC wrought^A · mind^B · caught^A · assigned^B · brought^A · kind^B · feed^C · need^C
49 ABABABCC sad^A · true^B · had^A · new^B · bad^A · flew^B · low^C · know^C
50 ABABABCC known^A · flies^B · own^A · eyes^B · shown^A · enterprise^B · stroke^C · broke^C
51 ABABABCC hand^A · lay^B · aliprand^A · prey^B · stand^A · say^B · had^C · bad^C
52 ABABABCC i^A · rideth^B · lie^A · hideth^B · high^A · glideth^B · treen^C · unseen^C
53 ABABABCC went^A · shaw^B · besprent^A · saw^B · rent^A · draw^B · started^C · parted^C
54 ABABABCC wound^A · breast^B · found^A · crest^B · round^A · addressed^B · spied^C · hide^C
55 ABABABCC fair^A · made^B · repair^A · shade^B · hair^A · blade^B · chin^C · begin^C
56 ABABABCC bore^A · bow^B · wore^A · know^B · sore^A · owe^B · gave^C · grave^C
57 ABABABCC believe^A · well^B · leave^A · tell^B · grieve^A · dwell^B · truth^C · youth^C
58 ABABABCC wings^A · wilderness^B · things^A · less^B · stings^A · guess^B · creep^C · sleep^C
59 ABABABCC says^A · sprite^B · frays^A · fight^B · ways^A · night^B · came^C · fame^C
60 ABABABCC near^A · opprest^B · fear^A · breast^B · were^A · rest^B · presented^C · tormented^C
61 ABABABCC stood^A · spoiled^B · good^A · defoiled^B · blood^A · boiled^B · far^C · are^C
62 ABABABCC vile^A · friends^B · guile^A · bends^B · stile^A · ends^B · blood^C · flood^C
63 ABABABCC ire^A · part^B · inspire^A · heart^B · fire^A · start^B · gone^C · one^C
64 ABABABCC late^A · stout^B · hate^A · out^B · ingrate^A · rout^B · gold^C · hold^C
65 ABABABCC long^A · yoke^B · wrong^A · spoke^B · strong^A · stroke^B · bereaves^C · sheaves^C
66 ABABABCC need^A · assays^B · speed^A · frays^B · deed^A · preys^B · toil^C · spoil^C
67 ABABABCC blind^A · unwroken^B · mind^A · stroken^B · kind^A · broken^B · thunder^C · asunder^C
68 ABABABCC shield^A · lies^B · field^A · pies^B · yield^A · eyes^B · chivalry^C · envy^C
69 ABABABCC swear^A · beguiled^B · appear^A · defiled^B · fear^A · reviled^B · eyes^C · flies^C
70 ABABABCC still^A · blood^B · until^A · flood^B · skill^A · good^B · provide^C · pride^C
71 ABABABCC take^A · power^B · wake^A · hour^B · snake^A · flower^B · end^C · friend^C
72 ABABABCC force^A · perform^B · remorse^A · enorm^B · course^A · storm^B · ran^C · man^C
73 ABABABCC fire^A · least^B · ire^A · increased^B · fire^A · ceased^B · went^C · tent^C
74 ABABABCC knight^A · untamed^B · light^A · inflamed^B · spite^A · named^B · known^C · shown^C
75 ABABABCC pot^A · fast^B · hot^A · cast^B · not^A · taste^B · away^C · stay^C
76 ABABABCC heat^A · confused^B · threat^A · used^B · great^A · mused^B · hard^C · guard^C
77 ABABABCC een^A · fled^B · mine^A · shed^B · divine^A · bred^B · mind^C · blind^C
78 ABABABCC vein^A · distilled^B · constrain^A · filled^B · train^A · killed^B · bent^C · went^C
79 ABABABCC ware^A · stone^B · bare^A · shone^B · dare^A · foe^B · teach^C · speech^C
80 ABABABCC hear^A · move^B · fear^A · love^B · bear^A · prove^B · bring^C · thing^C
81 ABABABCC see^A · quake^B · me^A · make^B · be^A · take^B · love^C · prove^C
82 ABABABCC wash^A · debate^B · rash^A · gate^B · flash^A · state^B · shook^C · look^C
83 ABABABCC wrath^A · pride^B · scath^A · side^B · saith^A · hide^B · bound^C · round^C
84 ABABABCC mane^A · wroth^B · pain^A · goeth^B · rein^A · loth^B · paws^C · laws^C
85 ABABABCC beheld^A · stood^B · shield^A · good^B · wield^A · blood^B · town^C · down^C
86 ABABABCC ended^A · sent^B · bended^A · went^B · intended^A · spent^B · surveyed^C · made^C

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
A messenger to Godfrey sage doth tell	10	·/˘˘·/˘···
The Prince of Denmark’s valour, death and end:	10	···/·/˘···
The Italians, trusting signs untrue too well,	11	·˘/˘/˘·˘/··
Think their Rinaldo slain: the wicked fiend	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Breeds fury in their breasts, their bosoms swell	10	·/˘····/˘·
With ire and hate, and war and strife forth send:	10	··········
They threaten Godfrey; he prays to the Lord,	10	·/˘/˘·····
And calms their fury with his look and word.	10	···/˘·····
Now were the skies of storms and tempests cleared,	10	·······/˘·
Lord Aeolus shut up his winds in hold,	9	·········
The silver-mantled morning fresh appeared,	10	·/˘/˘/˘·˘/
With roses crowned, and buskined high with gold;	10	·/˘··/˘···
The spirits yet which had these tempests reared,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Their malice would still more and more unfold;	10	·/˘·····˘/
And one of them that Astragor was named,	10	··········
His speeches thus to foul Alecto framed.	10	·/˘·······
“Alecto, see, we could not stop nor stay	10	··········
The knight that to our foes new tidings brings,	10	····/··/˘·
Who from the hands escaped, with life away,	10	····˘/··˘/
Of that great prince, chief of all Pagan kings:	10	·······/˘·
He comes, the fall of his slain lord to say,	10	··········
Of death and loss he tells, and such sad things,	10	··········
Great news he brings, and greatest dangers is,	10	·····/˘/˘·
Bertoldo’s son shall be called home for this.	10	··········
“Thou knowest what would befall, bestir thee than;	11	·/˘··˘/˘/··
Prevent with craft, what force could not withstand,	10	˘/······˘/
Turn to their evil the speeches of the man,	10	···/·/˘···
With his own weapon wound Godfredo’s hand;	10	···/˘·····
Kindle debate, infect with poison wan	10	/˘˘/˘/·/˘·
The English, Switzer, and Italian band,	10	·/˘/˘·˘/˘·
Great tumult move, make brawls and quarrels rife,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Set all the camp on uproar and at strife.	10	·····/····
“This act beseems thee well, and of the deed	10	··········
Much may’st thou boast before our lord and king.”	10	······/···
Thus said the sprite. Persuasion small did need,	10	····˘/˘···
The monster grants to undertake the thing.	10	·/˘··/˘···
Meanwhile the knight, whose coming thus they dread,	10	/····/˘···
Before the camp his weary limbs doth bring,	10	·····/˘···
And well-nigh breathless, “Warriors bold,” he cried,	10	···/˘/˘···
“Who shall conduct me to your famous guide?”	10	··˘/···/˘·
An hundred strove the stranger’s guide to be,	10	·/˘··/˘···
To hearken news the knights by heaps assemble,	11	·/˘·····˘/˘
The man fell lowly down upon his knee,	10	···/˘·····
And kissed the hand that made proud Babel tremble;	11	·······/˘/˘
“Right puissant lord, whose valiant acts,” quoth he,	11	·/˘˘··/˘···
“The sands and stars in number best resemble,	11	·····/˘·˘/˘
Would God some gladder news I might unfold,”	10	···/˘···˘/
And there he paused, and sighed; then thus he told:	10	··········
“Sweno, the King of Denmark’s only heir,	10	·····/·/˘·
The stay and staff of his declining eild,	10	······˘/˘·
Longed to be among these squadrons fair	10	·˘·····/˘·
Who for Christ’s faith here serve with spear and shield;	10	··········
No weariness, no storms of sea or air,	10	·/˘˘······
No such contents as crowns and sceptres yield,	10	··˘/···/˘·
No dear entreaties of so kind a sire,	11	··˘/˘····/˘
Could in his bosom quench that glorious fire.	11	···/˘··/˘/˘
“He thirsted sore to learn this warlike art	10	·/˘····/··
Of thee, great lord and master of the same;	10	·····/˘···
And was ashamed in his noble heart,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
That never act he did deserved fame;	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
Besides, the news and tidings from each part	10	˘/···/˘···
Of young Rinaldo’s worth and praises came:	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
But that which most his courage stirred hath,	10	·····/˘·˘·
Is zeal, religion, godliness, and faith.	10	··˘/˘/˘˘··
“He hasted forward, then without delay,	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
And with him took of knights a chosen band,	10	·······/˘·
Directly toward Thrace we took the way,	10	˘/˘·······
To Byzance old, chief fortress of that land,	10	·····/˘···
There the Greek monarch gently prayed him stay,	10	···/·/˘···
And there an herald sent from you we fand,	10	···/˘·····
How Antioch was won, who first declared,	10	·/˘·····˘/
And how defended nobly afterward.	10	··˘/˘/˘/˘˘
“Defended gainst Corbana, valiant knight,	10	˘/˘····/˘·
That all the Persian armies had to guide,	10	···/˘/˘···
And brought so many soldiers bold to fight,	10	···/˘/˘···
That void of men he left that kingdom wide;	10	·······/˘·
He told thine acts, thy wisdom and thy might,	10	·····/˘···
And told the deeds of many a lord beside,	10	·····/··˘/
His speech at length to young Rinaldo passed,	10	······˘/˘·
And told his great achievements, first and last:	10	····˘/˘···
“And how this noble camp of yours, of late	10	···/˘·····
Besieged had this town, and in what sort,	10	˘/˘·······
And how you prayed him to participate	10	······˘/˘·
Of the last conquest of this noble fort.	10	···/˘··/˘·
In hardy Sweno opened was the gate	10	·/˘··/˘···
Of worthy anger by this brave report,	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
So that each hour seemed five years long,	10	···/˘·˘···
Till he were fighting with these Pagans strong.	10	···/˘··/˘·
“And while the herald told your fights and frays,	10	···/˘·····
Himself of cowardice reproved he thought,	10	˘/·/˘˘····
And him to stay that counsels him, or prays,	10	·····/˘···
He hears not, or, else heard, regardeth naught,	10	······˘/˘·
He fears no perils but whilst he delays,	10	···/˘···˘/
Lest this last work without his help be wrought:	10	··········
In this his doubt, in this his danger lies,	10	·······/˘·
No hazard else he fears, no peril spies.	10	·/˘····/˘·
“Thus hasting on, he hasted on his death,	10	·/˘··/˘···
Death that to him and us was fatal guide.	10	·······/˘·
The rising morn appeared yet aneath,	10	·/˘·˘/˘·˘/
When he and we were armed, and fit to ride,	10	··········
The nearest way seemed best, o’er hold and heath	10	·/˘·······
We went, through deserts waste, and forests wide,	10	···/˘··/˘·
The streets and ways he openeth as he goes,	10	·····/˘···
And sets each land free from intruding foes.	10	······˘/˘·
“Now want of food, now dangerous ways we find,	10	·····/˘···
Now open war, now ambush closely laid;	10	·/˘··/·/˘·
Yet passed we forth, all perils left behind,	10	·····/˘···
Our foes or dead or run away afraid,	10	/·····˘/˘/
Of victory so happy blew the wind,	10	·/˘˘·/˘···
That careless all the heedless to it made:	10	·/˘··/˘···
Until one day his tents he happed to rear,	10	··········
To Palestine when we approached near.	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
“There did our scouts return and bring us news,	10	··/·˘/····
That dreadful noise of horse and arms they hear,	10	·/˘·······
And that they deemed by sundry signs and shows	10	·····/˘···
There was some mighty host of Pagans near.	10	···/˘··/˘·
At these sad tidings many changed their hues,	10	···/˘/˘···
Some looked pale for dread, some shook for fear,	10	··˘·······
Only our noble lord was altered naught,	10	/˘//˘··/˘·
In look, in face, in gesture, or in thought.	10	·····/˘···
“But said, ‘A crown prepare you to possess	10	····˘/··˘/
Of martyrdom, or happy victory;	10	·/˘˘·/˘/˘˘
For this I hope, for that I wish no less,	10	··········
Of greater merit and of greater glory.	11	·/˘/˘··/˘/˘
Brethren, this camp will shortly be, I guess,	10	/˘···/˘···
A temple, sacred to our memory,	11	·/˘/˘·/˘/˘˘
To which the holy men of future age,	10	···/˘··/˘·
To view our graves shall come in pilgrimage.’	11	··/˘····/˘˘
“This said, he set the watch in order right	10	·······/˘·
To guard the camp, along the trenches deep,	10	····˘/·/˘·
And as he armed was, so every knight	10	······/˘˘·
He willed on his back his arms to keep.	10	··˘·······
Now had the stillness of the quiet night	10	···/˘··/˘·
Drowned all the world in silence and in sleep,	10	·····/˘···
When suddenly we heard a dreadful sound,	10	·/˘˘···/˘·
Which deafed the earth, and tremble made the ground.	10	·····/˘···
“‘Arm, arm,’ they cried; Prince Sweno at the same,	10	··········
Glistering in shining steel leaped foremost out,	11	····/˘··/··
His visage shone, his noble looks did flame,	10	·/˘··/˘···
With kindled brand of courage bold and stout,	10	·/˘··/˘···
When lo, the Pagans to assault us came,	10	···/˘·˘/··
And with huge numbers hemmed us round about,	10	···/˘·····
A forest thick of spears about us grew,	10	·/˘·······
And over us a cloud of arrows flew:	10	·······/˘·
“Uneven the fight, unequal was the fray,	11	˘/˘··˘/˘···
Our enemies were twenty men to one,	10	//˘˘·/˘···
On every side the slain and wounded lay	10	·/˘····/˘·
Unseen, where naught but glistering weapons shone:	11	˘/······/˘·
The number of the dead could no man say,	10	·/˘·······
So was the place with darkness overgone,	10	·····/˘···
The night her mantle black upon its spreads,	10	···/˘·····
Hiding our losses and our valiant deeds.	10	/˘//˘·//˘·
“But hardy Sweno midst the other train,	10	·/˘····/˘·
By his great acts was well descried I wot,	10	··········
No darkness could his valor’s daylight stain,	10	·/˘··/˘/··
Such wondrous blows on every side he smote;	10	·/˘··/˘···
A stream of blood, a bank of bodies slain,	10	·······/˘·
About him made a bulwark, and a mote,	10	·····/˘···
And when soe’er he turned his fatal brand,	10	·······/˘·
Dread in his looks and death sate in his hand.	10	··········
“Thus fought we till the morning bright appeared,	10	·····/˘·˘/
And strewed roses on the azure sky,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
But when her lamp had night’s thick darkness cleared,	10	·······/˘·
Wherein the bodies dead did buried lie,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Then our sad cries to heaven for grief we reared,	10	·/···/····
Our loss apparent was, for we descry	10	/·˘/˘···˘/
How all our camp destroyed was almost,	10	··/˘·˘/·/·
And all our people well-nigh slain and lost;	10	··//˘·····
“Of thousands twain an hundred scant survived.	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
When Sweno murdered saw each valiant knight,	10	···/˘··/˘·
I know not if his heart in sunder rived	10	·······/˘·
For dear compassion of that woful sight;	10	··˘/˘·····
He showed no change, but said: ‘Since so deprived	10	········˘/
We are of all our friends by chance of fight,	10	····/·····
Come follow them, the path to heaven their blood	10	·/˘····/··
Marks out, now angels made, of martyrs good.’	10	···/˘··/˘·
“This said, and glad I think of death at hand,	10	··········
The signs of heavenly joy shone through his eyes,	10	···/˘·····
Of Saracens against a mighty band,	10	·/˘˘···/˘·
With fearless heart and constant breast he flies;	10	·/˘··/˘···
No steel could shield them from his cutting brand	10	·······/˘·
But whom he hits without recure he dies,	10	······˘/··
He never struck but felled or killed his foe	10	·/˘·······
And wounded was himself from top to toe.	10	·/˘·˘/····
“Not strength, but courage now, preserved on live	10	···/˘·˘/··
This hardy champion, fortress of our faith,	10	·/˘/˘/˘·/·
Strucken he strikes, still stronger more they strive,	10	/˘···/˘···
The more they hurt him, more he doth them scathe,	10	··········
When toward him a furious knight gan drive,	10	·····/˘···
Of members huge, fierce looks, and full of wrath,	10	·/˘·······
That with the aid of many a Pagan crew,	10	·····/·/˘·
After long fight, at last Prince Sweno slew.	10	··········
“Ah, heavy chance! Down fell the valiant youth,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Nor mongst us all did one so strong appear	10	········˘/
As to revenge his death: that this is truth,	10	··˘/······
By his dear blood and noble bones I swear,	10	·····/˘···
That of my life I had not care nor ruth,	10	··········
No wounds I shunned, no blows I would off bear,	10	··········
And had not Heaven my wished end denied,	10	···/˘···˘/
Even there I should, and willing should, have died.	10	/····/˘···
“Alive I fell among my fellows slain,	10	˘/·····/˘·
Yet wounded so that each one thought me dead,	10	·/˘·······
Nor what our foes did since can I explain,	10	··/·····˘/
So sore amazed was my heart and head;	10	··˘/˘·····
But when I opened first mine eyes again,	10	···/˘···˘/
Night’s curtain black upon the earth was spread,	10	·/˘·······
And through the darkness to my feeble sight,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Appeared the twinkling of a slender light.	10	˘/·/˘··/˘·
“Not so much force or judgement in me lies	10	·····/˘···
As to discern things seen and not mistake,	10	··˘/····˘/
I saw like them who ope and shut their eyes	10	··········
By turns, now half asleep, now half awake;	10	····˘/··˘/
My body eke another torment tries,	10	·/˘·˘/˘/··
My wounds began to smart, my hurts to ache;	10	··˘/······
For every sore each member pinched was	10	·/˘˘··/˘··
With night’s sharp air, heaven’s frost and earth’s cold grass.	11	····/˘·····
“But still the light approached near and near,	10	····˘/˘···
And with the same a whispering murmur run,	10	·····/˘/˘·
Till at my side arrived both they were,	10	····˘/˘···
When I to spread my feeble eyes begun:	10	·····/˘·˘/
Two men behold in vestures long appear,	10	··˘/····˘/
With each a lamp in hand, who said, ‘O son	10	··········
In that dear Lord who helps his servants, trust,	10	·······/˘·
Who ere they ask, grants all things to the just.’	10	··········
“This said, each one his sacred blessings flings	10	·····/˘/˘·
Upon my corse, with broad our-stretched hand,	10	······/˘··
And mumbled hymns and psalms and holy things,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Which I could neither hear nor understand;	10	···/˘···˘/
‘Arise,’ quoth they, with that as I had wings,	10	˘/········
All whole and sound I leaped up from the land.	10	··········
Oh miracle, sweet, gentle, strange and true!	10	·/˘˘·/˘···
My limbs new strength received, and vigor new.	10	····˘/·/˘·
“I gazed on them like one whose heart denieth	10	··········
To think that done, he sees so strangely wrought;	10	·······/˘·
Till one said thus, ‘O thou of little faith,	10	·······/˘·
What doubts perplex thy unbelieving thought?	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
Each one of us a living body hath,	10	·····/˘/˘·
We are Christ’s chosen servants, fear us naught,	10	···/˘/˘···
Who to avoid the world’s allurements vain,	11	··˘/·······
In wilful penance, hermits poor remain.	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
“‘Us messengers to comfort thee elect	10	·/˘˘·/˘·˘/
That Lord hath sent that rules both heaven and hell;	10	·······/··
Who often doth his blessed will effect,	10	·/˘···˘·˘/
By such weak means, as wonder is to tell;	10	·····/˘···
He will not that this body lie neglect,	10	·····/˘·˘/
Wherein so noble soul did lately dwell	10	···/˘··/˘·
To which again when it uprisen is	10	··˘/······
It shall united be in lasting bliss.	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
“‘I say Lord Sweno’s corpse, for which prepared	10	········˘/
A tomb there is according to his worth,	10	····˘/˘···
By which his honor shall be far declared,	10	···/˘···˘/
And his just praises spread from south to north:”	10	···/˘·····
But lift thine eyes up to the heavens ward,	10	·······/˘·
Mark yonder light that like the sun shines forth	10	·/˘·······
That shall direct thee with those beams so clear,	10	··˘/······
To find the body of thy master dear.’	10	···/˘··/˘·
“With that I saw from Cynthia’s silver face,	10	·····/˘/˘·
Like to a falling star a beam down slide,	10	···/˘·····
That bright as golden line marked out the place,	10	···/˘·····
And lightened with clear streams the forest wide;	10	·/˘····/˘·
So Latmos shone when Phoebe left the chase,	10	·····/˘···
And laid her down by her Endymion’s side,	10	··········
Such was the light that well discern I could,	10	······˘/··
His shape, his wounds, his face, though dead, yet bold.	10	··········
“He lay not grovelling now, but as a knight	10	···/˘·····
That ever had to heavenly things desire,	11	·/··/˘˘·˘/˘
So toward heaven the prince lay bolt upright,	10	···/····˘/
Like him that upward still sought to aspire,	10	···/˘···˘/
His right hand closed held his weapon bright,	10	····˘··/˘·
Ready to strike and execute his ire,	10	/˘···/˘···
His left upon his breast was humbly laid,	10	·······/˘·
That men might know, that while he died he prayed.	10	··········
“Whilst on his wounds with bootless tears I wept,	10	·····/˘···
That neither helped him, nor eased my care,	10	·/˘·˘·····
One of those aged fathers to him stepped,	10	····/˘···˘
And forced his hand that needless weapon spare:	10	·····/˘/˘·
‘This sword,’ quoth he, ‘hath yet good token kept,	10	·······/˘·
That of the Pagans’ blood he drunk his share,	10	··········
And blusheth still he could not save his lord,	10	·/˘·······
Rich, strong and sharp, was never better sword.	10	·····/˘/˘·
“‘Heaven, therefore, will not, though the prince be slain,	10	/·········
Who used erst to wield this precious brand	9	······/˘·
That so brave blade unused should remain;	10	····˘/˘·˘/
But that it pass from strong to stronger hand,	10	·······/˘·
Who with like force can wield the same again,	10	········˘/
And longer shall in grace of fortune stand,	10	·/˘····/˘·
And with the same shall bitter vengeance take	10	·····/˘/˘·
On him that Sweno slew, for Sweno’s sake.	10	··········
“‘Great Solyman killed Sweno, Solyman	10	··········
For Sweno’s sake, upon this sword must die.	10	··········
Here, take the blade, and with it haste thee than	10	··········
Thither where Godfrey doth encamped lie,	10	/˘·/˘·˘/˘·
And fear not thou that any shall or can	10	·····/˘···
Or stop thy way, or lead thy steps awry;	10	········˘/
For He that doth thee on this message send,	10	·······/˘·
Thee with His hand shall guide, keep and defend.	10	········˘/
“‘Arrived there it is His blessed will,	10	˘/˘·····˘·
With true report that thou declare and tell	10	··˘/··˘/··
The zeal, the strength, the courage and the skill	10	·····/˘···
In thy beloved lord that late did dwell,	10	··˘/˘·····
How for Christ’s sake he came his blood to spill,	10	··········
And sample left to all of doing well,	10	·/˘····/˘·
That future ages may admire his deed,	10	·/˘/˘·˘/··
And courage take when his brave end they read.	10	·/˘·······
“‘It resteth now, thou know that gentle knight	10	·/˘····/˘·
That of this sword shall be thy master’s heir,	10	·······/˘·
It is Rinaldo young, with whom in might	10	··˘/˘·····
And martial skill no champion may compare,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
Give it to him and say, “The Heavens bright	10	·······/˘·
Of this revenge to him commit the care.”	10	··˘/··˘/··
While thus I listened what this old man said,	10	···/˘·····
A wonder new from further speech us stayed;	10	·/˘··/˘···
“For there whereas the wounded body lay,	10	··˘/·/˘/˘·
A stately tomb with curious work, behold,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
And wondrous art was built out of the clay,	10	·/˘·······
Which, rising round, the carcass did enfold;	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
With words engraven in the marble gray,	10	·······/˘·
The warrior’s name, his worth and praise that told,	10	·/˘·······
On which I gazing stood, and often read	10	···/˘··/˘·
That epitaph of my dear master dead.	10	·/˘····/˘·
“‘Among his soldiers,’ quoth the hermit, ‘here	10	···/˘··/˘·
Must Sweno’s corpse remain in marble chest,	10	····˘/·/˘·
While up to heaven are flown their spirits dear,	10	···/···/˘·
To live in endless joy forever blest,	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
His funeral thou hast with many a tear	10	·/˘˘···/··
Accompanied, it’s now high time to rest,	10	˘/˘˘······
Come be my guest, until the morning ray	10	·······/˘·
Shall light the world again, then take thy way.’	10	····˘/····
“This said, he led me over holts and hags,	10	··········
Through thorns and bushes scant my legs I drew	10	···/˘·····
Till underneath a heap of stones and crags	10	··˘/······
At last he brought me to a secret mew;	10	·······/˘·
Among the bears, wild boars, the wolves and stags,	10	··········
There dwelt he safe with his disciple true,	10	······˘/˘·
And feared no treason, force, nor hurt at all,	10	···/˘·····
His guiltless conscience was his castle’s wall.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
“My supper roots; my bed was moss and leaves;	10	·/˘·······
But weariness in little rest found ease:	10	·/˘˘·/˘···
But when the purple morning night bereaves	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
Of late usurped rule on lands and seas,	10	···/˘·····
His loathed couch each wakeful hermit leaves,	10	··˘··/˘/˘·
To pray rose they, and I, for so they please,	10	··········
I congee took when ended was the same,	10	·/˘··/˘···
And hitherward, as they advised me, came.”	10	·/˘˘··˘/··
The Dane his woful tale had done, when thus	10	··········
The good Prince Godfrey answered him, “Sir knight,	10	···/˘/˘···
Thou bringest tidings sad and dolorous,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘˘
For which our heavy camp laments of right,	10	··//˘·˘/··
Since so brave troops and so dear friends to us,	10	··········
One hour hath spent, in one unlucky fight;	10	·/····˘/˘·
And so appeared hath thy master stout,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
As lightning doth, now kindled, now quenched out.	10	·/˘··/˘···
“But such a death and end exceedeth all	10	······˘/˘·
The conquests vain of realms, or spoils of gold,	10	·/········
Nor aged Rome’s proud stately capital,	9	····/˘/˘˘
Did ever triumph yet like theirs behold;	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
They sit in heaven on thrones celestial,	10	···/˘··˘/˘
Crowned with glory, for their conquest bold,	10	·˘·/˘··/˘·
Where each his hurts I think to other shows,	10	·······/˘·
And glories in those bloody wounds and blows.	10	·/˘··/˘···
“But thou who hast part of thy race to run,	10	··········
With haps and hazards of this world ytost,	10	···/˘·····
rejoice, for those high honors they have won,	10	˘/···/˘···
Which cannot be by chance or fortune crossed:	10	·/˘····/˘·
But for thou askest for Bertoldo’s son,	10	··········
Know, that he wandereth, banished from this host,	10	···/˘/˘···
And till of him new tidings some man tell,	10	·····/˘···
Within this camp I deem it best thou dwell.”	10	··········
These words of theirs in many a soul renewed	10	·····/··˘/
The sweet remembrance of fair Sophia’s child,	11	··˘/˘··˘/˘·
Some with salt tears for him their cheeks bedewed,	10	··········
Lest evil betide him mongst the Pagans wild,	10	·/˘/···/˘·
And every one his valiant prowess showed,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
And of his battles stories long compiled,	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
Telling the Dane his acts and conquests past,	10	/˘·····/··
Which made his ears amazed, his heart aghast.	10	····˘/··˘/
Now when remembrance of the youth had wrought	10	··˘/˘·····
A tender pity in each softened mind,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Behold returned home with all they caught	10	˘/˘/˘·····
The bands that were to forage late assigned,	10	·····/˘·˘/
And with them in abundance great they brought	10	····˘/˘···
Both flocks and herds of every sort and kind.	10	·····/˘···
And corn, although not much, and hay to feed	10	··········
Their noble steeds and coursers when they need.	10	·/˘··/˘···
They also brought of misadventure sad	10	·/˘··˘˘/˘·
Tokens and signs, seemed too apparent true,	10	/˘····˘/˘·
Rinaldo’s armor, frushed and hacked they had,	10	˘/˘/˘·····
Oft pierced through, with blood besmeared new;	10	··˘·····˘·
About the camp, for always rumors bad	10	·····/·/˘·
Are farthest spread, these woful tidings flew.	10	·/˘····/˘·
Thither assembled straight both high and low,	10	/˘˘/˘·····
Longing to see what they were loth to know.	10	/˘········
His heavy hauberk was both seen and known,	10	·/˘/˘·····
And his brand shield, wherein displayed flies	10	······˘/˘·
The bird that proves her chickens for her own	10	·····/˘···
By looking gainst the sun with open eyes;	10	·/˘····/˘·
That shield was to the Pagans often shown,	10	·····/˘/˘·
In many a hard and hardy enterprise,	10	·/···/˘/˘·
But now with many a gash and many a stroke	10	···/···/··
They see, and sigh to see it, frushed and broke.	10	··········

The first 400 of 688 lines; the reader marks them all.

The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.

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