第11章

“AndIthoughbredinMacon’sheathenishlore，Whichthouoppressestwiththypuissantmight，Yettrustthouwiltanhelplessmaidrestore，Andrepossessherinherfather’sright：

OthersintheirdistressdoaidimploreOfkinandfriends；butIinthissadplightInvokethyhelp，mykingdomtoinvade，Sodoththyvirtue，somyneedpersuade。

XLI

“IntheeIhope，thysuccorsIinvoke，TowinthecrownwhenceIamdispossest；

ForlikerenownawaitethonthestrokeTocastthehaughtydownorraisetheopprest；

Norgreaterglorybringsasceptrebroke，Thandothdeliveranceofamaiddistrest；

Andsincethoucanstatwillperformthething，Moreisthypraisetomake，thankillaking。

XLII

“Butifthouwould’stthysuccorsdueexcuse，BecauseinChristIhavenohopenortrust，Ahyetforvirtue’ssake，thyvirtueuse！

Whoscornethgoldbecauseitliesindust？

BewitnessHeaven，ifthoutograntrefuse，Thoudostforsakeamaidincausemostjust，Andforthoushaltatlargemyfortunesknow，Iwillmywrongsandtheirgreattreasonsshow。

XLIII

“PrinceArbilanthatreignedinhislifeOnfairDamascus，wasmynoblesire，Bornofmeanracehewas，yetgottowifeTheQueenChariclia，suchwasthefireOfherhotlove，butsoonthefatalknifeHadcutthethreadthatkepttheirjoysentire，Forsomishaphercruellothadcast，Mybirth，herdeath；myfirstday，washerlast。

XLIV

“AnderefiveyearswerefullycomeandgoneSincehisdearspousetohastydeathdidyield，Myfatheralsodied，consumedwithmoan，AndsoughthisloveamidtheElysianfields，Hiscrownandme，poororphan，leftalone，Mineunclegovernedinmytendereild；

Forwellhethought，ifmortalmenhavefaith，Inbrother’sbreasttruelovehismansionhath。

XLV

“Hetookthechargeofmeandofthecrown，AndwithkindshowsoflovesobroughttopassThatthroughDamascusgreatreportwasblownHowgood，howjust，howkindmineunclewas；

WhetherhekepthiswickedhateunknownAndhidtheserpentinthefloweringgrass，Onthattruefaithdidinhisbosomwon，Becausehemeanttomatchmewithhisson。

XLVI

“Whichson，withinshortwhile，didundertakeDegreeofknighthood，asbeseemedhimwell，Yetneverdurstheforhislady’ssakeBreakswordorlance，advanceinloftysell；

Asfairhewas，asCitherea’smake，Asproudashethatsignorisethhell，Infashionswayward，andinloveunkind，ForCupiddeignsnotwoundacurrishmind。

XLVII

“ThisparagonshouldQueenArmidawed，Agoodlyswaintobeaprincess’fere，Alovelypartnerofalady’sbed，Anobleheadagoldencrowntowear：

Hisglosingsirehiserranddailysaid，AndsugaredspeecheswhisperedinmineearTomakemetakethisdarlinginminearms，Butstilltheadderstoptherearsfromcharms。

XLVIII

“Atlastheleftmewithatroubledgrace，Throughwhichtransparentwashisinwardspite，MethoughtIreadthestoryinhisfaceOfthesemishapsthatonmesincehavelight，Sincethatfoulspiritshauntmyresting-place，Andghastlyvisionsbreakanysleepbynight，Grief，horror，fearmyfaintingsouldidkill，Forsomymindforeshowedmycomingill。

XLIX

“Threetimestheshapeofmydearmothercame，Pale，sad，dismayed，towarnmeinmydream，Alas，howfartransformedfromthesameWhoseeyesshoneerstlikeTitan’sgloriousbeam：

`Daughter，’shesays，`fly，fly，beholdthydameForeshowsthetreasonsofthywretchedeame，Whopoisongainstthyharmlesslifeprovides：’

Thissaid，toshapelessairunseensheglides。

L

“Butwhatavailhighwallsorbulwarksstrong，Wherefaintingcowardshavethepiecetoguard？

Mysextooweak，mineagewasalltoyoung，Toundertakealoneaworksohard，Towanderwildthedesertwoodsamong，Abanishedmaid，ofwontedeasedebarred，Sogrievousseemed，thatlieferweremydeath，AndtheretoexpirewherefirstIdrewmybreath。

LI

“IfeareddeadlyeviliflongIstayed，Andyettoflyhadneitherwillnorpower，Nordurstmyheartdeclareitwaxedafraid，LestsoIhastenmightmydyinghour：

ThusrestlesswaitedI，unhappymaid，Whathandshouldfirstpluckupmyspringingflower，EvenasthewretchcondemnedtolosehislifeAwaitsthefallingofthemurderingknife。

LII

“Intheseextremes，forsomyfortunewouldPerchancepreservemetomyfurtherill，Oneofmynoblefather’sservantsold，Thatforhisgoodnessborehischildgoodwill，Withstoreoftearsthistreasonganunfold，Andsaid；myguardianwouldhispupilkill，Andthathimself，ifpromisemadebekept，ShouldgivemepoisondireerenextIslept。

LIII

“Andfurthertoldme，ifIwishedtolive，Imustconveymyselfbysecretflight，AndofferedthenallsuccourshecouldgiveToaidhismistress，banishedfromherright。

Hiswordsofcomfort，feartoexiledrive，Thedreadofdeath，madelesserdangerslight：

Soweconcluded，whentheshadowsdimObscuredtheearthIshoulddepartwithhim。

LIV

“Ofcloseescapestheagedpatroness，Blackerthanerst，hersablemantlespread，Whenwithtwotrustymaids，ingreatdistress，BothfrommineuncleandmyrealmIfled；

OftlookedIback，buthardlycouldsuppressThosestreamsoftears，mineeyesuncessantshed，ForwhenIlookedonmykingdomlost，Itwasagrief，adeath，anhellalmost。

LV

“Mysteedsdrewontheburdenofmylimbs，Butstillmylocks，mythoughts，drewbackasfast，Sofarethemen，thatfromtheheaven’sbrims，Farouttosea，bysuddenstormarecast；

Swifto’erthegrasstherollingchariotswims，Throughwaysunknown，allnight，alldaywehaste，Atlast，nightired，acastlestrongwefand，Theutmostborderofmynativeland。

LVI

“ThefortAronteswas，forsotheknightWascalled，thatmydeliverancethushadwrought，Butwhenthetyrantsaw，bymatureflightIhadescapedthetreasonsofhisthought，TherageincreasedinthecursedwightGainstme，andhim，thatmetosafetybrought，Andusaccused，wewouldhavepoisonedHim，butdescried，tosaveourliveswefled。

LVII

“Andthatinlieuofhisapprovedtruth，TopoisonhimIhiredhadmyguide，Thathedespatched，mineunbridledyouthMightrageatwill，innosubjectiontied，AndthateachnightIslept——Ofouluntruth！——

Minehonorlost，bythisArontes’side：

ButHeavenIpraysenddownrevengingfire，Whensobaseloveshallchangemychastedesire。

LVIII

“Notthathesittethonmyregalthrone，Northathethirsttodrinkmylukewarmblood，Sogrievethme，asthisdespitealone，Thatmyrenown，whicheverblamelessstood，Hathlostthelightwherewithitalwaysshone：

Withforgedlieshemakeshistalesogood，Andholdsmysubjects’heartsinsuchsuspense，Thatnonetakearmorfortheirqueen’sdefence。

LIX

“Andthoughhedomyregalthronepossess，Clothedinpurple，crownedwithburnishedgold；

Yetishishate，hisrancor，ne’ertheless，Sincenaughtassuagethmalicewhen’tisold：

HethreatstoburnArontes’forteress，Andmurderhimunlessheyieldthehold，Andmeandminethreatsnotwithwar，butdeath，Thuscauselesshatred，endlessisuneath。

LX

“Andsohetruststowashawaythestain，Andhidehisshamefulfactwithmineoffence，AndsaithhewillrestorethethroneagainTohislatehonoranddueexcellence，AndthereforewouldIshouldbealgatesslain，ForwhileIlive，hisrightisinsuspense，Thisisthecausemyguiltlesslifeissought，Foronmyruinishissafetywrought。

LXI

“Andletthetyranthavehisheart’sdesire，Lethimperformthecrueltyhemeant，MyguiltlessbloodmustquenchtheceaselessfireOnwhichmyendlesstearswerebootlessspent，Unlessthouhelp；tothee，renownedSire，Ifly，avirgin，orphan，innocent，Andletthesetearsthatonthyfeetdistil，Redeemthedropsofblood，hethirststospill。

LXII

“Bythesethygloriousfeet，thattreadsecureOnnecksoftyrants，bythyconquestsbrave，Bythatrighthand，andbythosetemplespureThouseek’sttofreefromMacon’slore，IcraveHelpforthissicknessnonebutthoucanstcure，MylifeandkingdomletthymercysaveFromdeathandruin：butinvainIprovethee，Ifright，iftruth，ifjusticecannotmovethee。

LXIII

“Thouwhodostallthouwishest，atthywill，Andneverwillestaughtbutwhatisright，Preservethisguiltlessbloodtheyseektospill；

Thinebemykingdom，saveitwiththymight：

Amongthesecaptains，lords，andknightsofskill，Appointmeten，approvedmostinfight，Whowithassistanceofmyfriendsandkin，Mayservemykingdomlostagaintowin。

LXIV

“Forloaknight，thathadagatetoward，Amanofchiefesttrustabouthisking，HathpromisedsotobeguiletheguardThatmeandmineheundertakestobringSafe，wherethetyranthaplysleepethhardHecounselledmetoundertakethisthing，Ofthesesomelittlesuccortointreat，Whosenamealoneaccomplishcanthefeat。“

LXV

Thissaid，hisanswerdidthenymphattend，Herlooks，hersighs，hergesturesalldidprayhim：

ButGodfreywiselydidhisgrantsuspend，Hedoubtstheworst，andthatawhiledidstayhim，Heknows，whofearsnoGod，helovesnofriend，Hefearstheheathenfalsewouldthusbetrayhim：

Butyetsuchruthdweltinhisprincelymind，Thatgainsthiswisdom，pitymadehimkind。

LXVI

Besidesthekindnessofhisgentlethought，Readytocomforteachdistressedwight，Themaiden’sofferprofitwithitbrought；

ForiftheSyriankingdomwereherright，Thatwon，thewaywereeasy，whichhesought，TobringallAsiasubjecttohismight：

Theremightheraisemunition，armsandtreasureToworktheEgyptiankingandhisdispleasure。

LXVII

ThuswashisnobleheartlongtimebetwixtFearandremorse，notgrantingnordenying，Uponhiseyesthedameherlookingsfixed，Asifherlifeanddeathlayonhissaying，Sometearssheshed，withsighsandsobbingsmixed，Asifherhopesweredeadthroughhisdelaying；

Atlastherearnestsuitthedukedenayed，Butwithsweetwordsthuswouldcontentthemaid：

LXVIII

“IfnotinserviceofourGodwefought，Inmeanerquarrelifthisswordwereshaken，Wellmightthougatherinthygentlethought，Sofairaprincessshouldnotbeforsaken；

Butsincethesearmies，fromtheworld’sendbrought，Tofreethissacredtownhaveundertaken，Itwereunfitweturnedourstrengthaway，Andvictory，eveninhercoming，stay。

LXIX

“Ipromisethee，andonmyprincelywordTheburdenofthywishandhoperepose，ThatwhenthischosentempleoftheLord，HerholydoorsshalltohissaintsuncloseInrestandpeace；thenthisvictoriousswordShallexecuteduevengeanceonthyfoes；

ButifforpityofaworldlydameIleftthiswork，suchpityweremyshame。“

LXX

Atthistheprincessbenthereyestoground，Andstoodunmoved，thoughnotunmarked，aspace，ThesecretbleedingofherinwardwoundShedheavenlydewuponherangel’sface，“Poorwretch，“quothshe，“intearsandsorrowsdrowned，Deathbethypeace，thegravethyresting-place，Sincesuchthyhap，thatlestthoumercyfindThegentlestheartonearthisprovedunkind。

LXXI

“Wherenoneattends，whatbootsittocomplain？

Men’sfrowardheartsaremovedwithwomen’stearsAsmarblestonesarepiercedwithdropsofrain，Noplaintsfindpassagethroughunwillingears：

Thetyrant，haply，wouldhiswraithrestrainHeardhetheseprayersruthlessGodfreyhears，Yetnotthyfaultisthis，mychance，Isee，Hathmadeevenpity，pitilessinthee。

LXXII

“Soboththygoodness，andgoodhap，denayedme，Grief，sorrow，mischief，care，hathoverthrownme，Thestarthatruledmybirthdayhathbetrayedme，Mygeniusseeshischarge，butdaresnotownme，Ofqueen-likestate，myflighthathdisarrayedme，Myfatherdied，erehefiveyearshadknownme，Mykingdomlost，andlastlyrestethnow，Downwiththetreesithbrokeiseverybough。

LXXIII

“Andforthemodestloreofmaidenhood，Bidsmenotsojournwiththesearmedmen，OwhithershallIfly，whatsecretwoodShallhidemefromthetyrant？orwhatden，Whatrock，whatvault，whatcavecandomegood？

No，no，wheredeathissure，itresteththenToscornhispowerandbeitthereforeseen，Armidalived，anddied，bothlikeaqueen。“