Jerusalem Delivered. Torquato Tasso

Rinaldo heard him as he stood beside,

       And as he could not bridle wrath and ire,

       "Thou liest," cried he loud, and with that word

       About his head he tossed his flaming sword.

      XXVII

       Thunder his voice, and lightning seemed his brand,

       So fell his look, and furious was his cheer,

       Gernando trembled, for he saw at hand

       Pale death, and neither help nor comfort near,

       Yet for the soldiers all to witness stand

       He made proud sign, as though he naught did fear,

       But bravely drew his little-helping blade,

       And valiant show of strong resistance made.

      XXVIII

       With that a thousand blades of burnished steel

       Glistered on heaps like flames of fire in sight,

       Hundreds, that knew not yet the quarrel weel,

       Ran thither, some to gaze and some to fight:

       The empty air a sound confused did feel

       Of murmurs low, and outcries loud on height,

       Like rolling waves and Boreas' angry blasts

       When roaring seas against the rocks he casts.

      XXIX

       But not for this the wronged warrior stayed

       His just displeasure and incensed ire,

       He cared not what the vulgar did or said,

       To vengeance did his courage fierce aspire:

       Among the thickest weapons way he made,

       His thundering sword made all on heaps retire,

       So that of near a thousand stayed not one,

       But Prince Gernando bore the brunt alone.

      XXX

       His hand, too quick to execute his wrath,

       Performed all, as pleased his eye and heart,

       At head and breast oft times he strucken hath,

       Now at the right, now at the other part:

       On every side thus did he harm and scath,

       And oft beguile his sight with nimble art,

       That no defence the prince of wounds acquits,

       Where least he thinks, or fears, there most he hits.

      XXXI

       Nor ceased be, till in Gernando's breast

       He sheathed once or twice his furious blade;

       Down fell the hapless prince with death oppressed,

       A double way to his weak soul was made;

       His bloody sword the victor wiped and dressed,

       Nor longer by the slaughtered body stayed,

       But sped him thence, and soon appeased hath

       His hate, his ire, his rancor and his wrath.

      XXXII

       Called by the tumult, Godfrey drew him near,

       And there beheld a sad and rueful sight,

       The signs of death upon his face appear,

       With dust and blood his locks were loathly dight,

       Sighs and complaints on each side might he hear,

       Made for the sudden death of that great knight:

       Amazed, he asked who durst and did so much;

       For yet he knew not whom the fault would touch.

      XXXIII

       Arnoldo, minion of the Prince thus slain,

       Augments the fault in telling it, and saith,

       This Prince murdered, for a quarrel vain,

       By young Rinaldo in his desperate wrath,

       And with that sword that should Christ's law maintain,

       One of Christ's champions bold he killed hath,

       And this he did in such a place and hour,

       As if he scorned your rule, despised your power.

      XXXIV

       And further adds, that he deserved death

       By law, and law should inviolate,

       That none offence could greater be uneath,

       And yet the place the fault did aggravate:

       If he escapes, that mischief would take breath,

       And flourish bold in spite of rule and state;

       And that Gernando's friends would venge the wrong,

       Although to justice that did first belong,

      XXXV

       And by that means, should discord, hate and strife

       Raise mutinies, and what therefore ensueth:

       Lastly he praised the dead, and still had rife

       All words he thought could vengeance move or rut

       Against him Tancred argued for life,

       With honest reasons to excuse the youth:

       The Duke heard all, but with such sober cheer,

       As banished hope, and still increased fear.

      XXXVI

       "Great Prince," quoth Tancred; "set before thine eyes

       Rinaldo's worth and courage what it is,

       How much our hope of conquest in him lies;

       Regard that princely house and race of his;

       He that correcteth every fault he spies,

       And judgeth all alike, doth all amiss;

       For faults, you know, are greater thought or less,

       As is the person's self that doth transgress."

      XXXVII

       Godfredo answered him; "If high and low

       Of sovereign power alike should feel the stroke,

       Then, Tancred, ill you counsel us, I trow;

       If lords should know no law, as erst you spoke,

       How vile and base our empire were you know,

       If none but slaves and peasants bear the yoke;

       Weak is the sceptre and the power is small

       That such provisos bring annexed withal.

      XXXVIII

       "But mine was freely given ere 'twas sought,

       Nor that it lessened be I now consent;

       Right well know I both when and where I ought

       To give condign reward and punishment,

       Since you are all in like subjection brought,

       Both high and low obey, and be content."

       This heard, Tancredi wisely stayed his words,

       Such weight the sayings have of kings and lords.

      XXXIX

       Old Raymond praised his speech, for old men think

       They ever wisest seem when most severe,

       "'Tis best," quoth he, "to make these great ones shrink,

       The people love him whom the nobles fear:

       There must the rule to all disorders sink,

       Where pardons more than punishments appear;