Jerusalem Delivered. Torquato Tasso

they come and give a furious charge:

       Argantes' self fell at one single blow,

       Inglorious, bleeding lay, on earth full low:

      XLII

       Nor had the boaster ever risen more,

       But that Rinaldo's horse e'en then down fell,

       And with the fall his leg opprest so sore,

       That for a space there must be algates dwell.

       Meanwhile the Pagan troops were nigh forlore,

       Swiftly they fled, glad they escaped so well,

       Argantes and with him Clorinda stout,

       For bank and bulwark served to save the rout.

      XLIII

       These fled the last, and with their force sustained

       The Christians' rage, that followed them so near;

       Their scattered troops to safety well they trained,

       And while the residue fled, the brunt these bear;

       Dudon pursued the victory he gained,

       And on Tigranes nobly broke his spear,

       Then with his sword headless to ground him cast,

       So gardeners branches lop that spring too fast.

      XLIV

       Algazar's breastplate, of fine temper made,

       Nor Corban's helmet, forged by magic art,

       Could save their owners, for Lord Dudon's blade

       Cleft Corban's head, and pierced Algazar's heart,

       And their proud souls down to the infernal shade,

       From Amurath and Mahomet depart;

       Not strong Argantes thought his life was sure,

       He could not safely fly, nor fight secure.

      XLV

       The angry Pagan bit his lips for teen,

       He ran, he stayed, he fled, he turned again,

       Until at last unmarked, unviewed, unseen,

       When Dudon had Almansor newly slain,

       Within his side he sheathed his weapon keen,

       Down fell the worthy on the dusty plain,

       And lifted up his feeble eyes uneath,

       Opprest with leaden sleep, of iron death.

      XLVI

       Three times he strove to view Heaven's golden ray,

       And raised him on his feeble elbow thrice,

       And thrice he tumbled on the lowly lay,

       And three times closed again his dying eyes,

       He speaks no word, yet makes his signs to pray;

       He sighs, he faints, he groans, and then he dies;

       Argantes proud to spoil the corpse disdained,

       But shook his sword with blood of Dudon stained.

      XLVII

       And turning to the Christian knights, he cried:

       "Lordlings, behold, this bloody reeking blade

       Last night was given me by your noble guide,

       Tell him what proof thereof this day is made,

       Needs must this please him well that is betide,

       That I so well can use this martial trade,

       To whom so rare a gift he did present,

       Tell him the workman fits the instrument.

      XLVIII

       "If further proof thereof he long to see,

       Say it still thirsts, and would his heart-blood drink;

       And if he haste not to encounter me,

       Say I will find him when he least doth think."

       The Christians at his words enraged be,

       But he to shun their ire doth safely shrink

       Under the shelter of the neighbor wall,

       Well guarded with his troops and soldiers all.

      XLIX

       Like storms of hail the stones fell down from high,

       Cast from their bulwarks, flankers, ports and towers,

       The shafts and quarries from their engines fly,

       As thick as falling drops in April showers:

       The French withdrew, they list not press too nigh,

       The Saracens escaped all the powers,

       But now Rinaldo from the earth upleapt,

       Where by the leg his steed had long him kept;

       L

       He came and breathed vengeance from his breast

       'Gainst him that noble Dudon late had slain;

       And being come thus spoke he to the rest,

       "Warriors, why stand you gazing here in vain?

       Pale death our valiant leader had opprest,

       Come wreak his loss, whom bootless you complain.

       Those walls are weak, they keep but cowards out

       No rampier can withstand a courage stout.

      LI

       "Of double iron, brass or adamant,

       Or if this wall were built of flaming fire,

       Yet should the Pagan vile a fortress want

       To shroud his coward head safe from mine ire;

       Come follow then, and bid base fear avaunt,

       The harder work deserves the greater hire;"

       And with that word close to the walls he starts,

       Nor fears he arrows, quarries, stones or darts.

      LII

       Above the waves as Neptune lift his eyes

       To chide the winds, that Trojan ships opprest,

       And with his countenance calmed seas, winds and skies;

       So looked Rinaldo, when he shook his crest

       Before those walls, each Pagan fears and flies

       His dreadful sight, or trembling stayed at least:

       Such dread his awful visage on them cast.

       So seem poor doves at goshawks' sight aghast.

      LIII

       The herald Ligiere now from Godfrey came,

       To will them stay and calm their courage hot;

       "Retire," quoth he, "Godfrey commands the same;

       To wreak your ire this season fitteth not;"

       Though loth, Rinaldo stayed, and stopped the flame,

       That boiled in his hardy stomach hot;

       His bridled fury grew thereby more fell,

       So rivers, stopped, above their banks do swell.

      LIV

       The hands retire, not dangered by their foes

       In their retreat, so wise were they and wary,

       To murdered Dudon each lamenting goes,

       From wonted use of ruth they list not vary.

       Upon their friendly arms they soft impose

       The noble burden of his corpse to carry:

       Meanwhile Godfredo from a mountain great

       Beheld the sacred city