第12章

WiththatshelookedasifaprouddisdainKindleddispleasureinhernoblemind，Thewayshecamesheturnedherstepsagain，Withgesturesadbutindisdainfulkind，Atempestraileddownhercheeksamain，Withtearsofwoe，andsighsofanger’swind；

Thedropsherfootstepswash，whereonshetreads，Andseemstosteponpearls，orcrystalbeads。

LXXV

Hercheeksonwhichthisstreamingnectarfell，Stilledthroughthelimbeckofherdiamondeyes，Theroseswhiteandredresembledwell，WhereontheroryMay-dewsprinkledliesWhenthefairmornfirstblushethfromhercell，Andbreathethbalmfromopenedparadise；

Thussighed，thusmourned，thusweptthislovelyqueen，Andineachdropbathedagraceunseen。

LXXVI

ThricetwentyCupidsunperceivedflewTogatherupthisliquor，ereitfall，Andofeachdropanarrowforgednew，Else，asitcame，snatchedupthecrystalball，Andatrebelliousheartsforwildfirethrew。

Owondrouslove！thoumakestgainofall；

Forifsheweepingsit，orsmilingstand，Shebendsthybow，orkindlethelsethybrand。

LXXVII

ThisforgedplaintdrewforthunfeignedtearsFrommanyeyes，andpiercedeachworthy’sheart；

Eachonecondolethwithherthatherhears，Andofhergriefwouldhelpherbearthesmart：

IfGodfreyaidhernot，notonebutswearsSometigressgavehimsuckonroughestpartMidsttherudecrags，onAlpinecliffsaloft：

Hardisthatheartwhichbeautymakesnotsoft。

LXXVIII

ButjollyEustace，inwhosebreastthebrandOfloveandpitykindledhadtheflame，Whileotherssoftlywhisperedunderhand，Beforethedukewithcomelyboldnesscame：

“Brotherandlord，“quothhe，“toolongyoustandInyourfirstpurpose，yetvouchsafetoframeYourthoughtstoours，andlendthisvirginaid：

Thanksarehalflostwhengoodturnsaredelayed。

LXXIX

“AndthinknotthatEustace’stalkassaysToturntheseforcesfromthispresentwar，OrthatIwishyoushouldyourarmiesraiseFromSion’swalls，myspeechtendsnotsofar：

Butwethatventureallforfameandpraise，Thattonochargenorserviceboundenare，ForthofourtroopmaytenwellsparedbeTosuccorher，whichnaughtcanweakenthee。

LXXX

“Andknow，theyshallinGod’shighservicefight，Thatvirginsinnocentsaveanddefend：

DearwillthespoilsbeintheHeaven’ssight，Thatfromatyrant’shatefulheadwerend：

NorseemedIforwardinthislady’sright，Withhopeofgainorprofitintheend；

ButforIknowhearmsunworthybears，Tohelpamaiden’scausethatshunsorfears。

LXXXI

“Ah！beitnotpardiedeclaredinFrance，Orelsewheretoldwherecourtesyisinprize，Thatweforsooksofairachevisance，Fordoubtorfearthatmightfromfightarise；

Else，heresurrenderIbothswordandlance，Andswearnomoretousethismartialguise；

Forilldeserveshetobetermedaknight，Thatbearsabluntswordinalady’sright。“

LXXXII

Thusparleyedhe，andwithconfusedsound，Therestapprovedwhatthegallantsaid，Theirgeneraltheirknightsencompassedround，Withhumblegrace，andearnestsuittheyprayed：

“Iyield，“quothhe，“anditbehappyfound，WhatIhavegranted，letherhaveyouraid：

Yoursbethethanks，foryoursthedangeris，Ifaughtsucceed，asmuchIfear，amiss。

LXXXIII

“Butifwithyoumywordsmaycreditfind，Ohtemperthenthisheatmisguidesyouso！“

Thusmuchhesaid，buttheywithfancyblind，Accepthisgrant，andlethiscounselgo。

Whatworksnotbeauty，man’srelentingmindIseathtomovewithplaintsandshowsofwoe：

Herlipscastforthachainofsugaredwords，ThatcaptiveledmostoftheChristianlords。

LXXXIV

Eustacerecalledher，andbespakeherthus：

“Beauty’schiefdarling，letthosesorrowsbe，ForsuchassistanceshallyoufindinusAswithyourneed，orwill，maybestagree：“

Withthatshecheeredherforeheaddolorous，Andsmiledforjoy，thatPhoebusblushedtosee，Andhadshedeignedherveilfortoremove，TheGodhimselfoncemorehadfalleninlove。

LXXXV

Withthatshebrokethesilenceonceagain，Andgavetheknightgreatthanksinlittlespeech，Shesaidshewouldhishandmaidpoorremain，Sofarashonor’slawsreceivednobreach。

Herhumblegesturesmadetheresidueplain，Dumbeloquence，persuadingmorethanspeech：

Thuswomenknow，andthustheyusetheguise，Toenchantthevaliant，andbeguilethewise。

LXXXVI

AndwhenshesawherenterprisehadgotSomewishedmeanofquickandgoodproceeding，Shethoughttostriketheironthatwashot，Foreveryactionhathhishourofspeeding：

MedeaorfalseCircechangednotSofartheshapesofmen，ashereyesspreadingAlteredtheirhearts，andwithhersyren’ssoundInlust，theirminds，theirhearts，inloveshedrowned。

LXXXVII

Allwilysleightsthatsubtlewomenknow，Hourlysheused，tocatchsomelovernew。

Nonekennedthebentofherunsteadfastbow，Forwiththetimeherthoughtsherlooksrenew，Fromsomeshecasthermodesteyesbelow，Atsomehergazingglancesrovingflew，Andwhileshethuspursuedherwantonsport，Shespurredtheslow，andreinedtheforwardshort。

LXXXVIII

Ifsome，ashopelessthatshewouldbewon，Foreboretolove，becausetheydurstnotmoveher，Onthemhergentlelookstosmilebegun，AswhosaysheiskindifyoudareproveherOneveryheartthusshonethislustfulsun，Allstrovetoserve，toplease，towoo，toloveher，Andintheirheartsthatchasteandbashfulwere，Hereye’shotglancedissolvedthefrostoffear。

LXXXIX

OnthemwhodurstwithfingeringboldassayTotouchthesoftnessofhertenderskin，Shelookedascoy，asifshelistnotplay，Andmadeasthingsofworthwerehardtowin；

Yettemperedsoherdeignfullooksalway，Thatoutwardscornshowedstoreofgracewithin：

Thuswithfalsehopetheirlongingheartsshefired，Forhardestgottenthingsaremostdesired。

XC

Alonesometimesshewalkedinsecretwhere，Toruminateuponherdiscontent，Withinhereyelidssatetheswellingtear，Notpouredforth，thoughsprungfromsadlament，AndwiththiscraftathousandsoulswellnearInsnaresoffoolishruthandloveshehent，Andkeptasslaves，bywhichwefitlyproveThatwitlesspitybreedethfruitlesslove。

XCI

Sometimes，asifherhopeunloosedhadThechainsofgrief，whereinherthoughtslayfettered，Uponherminionslookedsheblitheandglad，Inthatdeceitfulloresowasshelettered；

NotgloriousTitan，inhisbrightnessclad，Thesunshineofherfaceinlustrebettered：

Forwhenshelisttocheerherbeautiesso，Shesmiledawaythecloudsofgriefandwoe。

XCII

Herdoublecharmofsmilesandsugaredwords，Lulledonsleepthevirtueoftheirsenses，Reasonshallaidgainstthoseassaultsaffords，Wisdomnowarrantfromthosesweetoffences；

Cupid’sdeeprivershavetheirshallowfords，Hisgriefs，bringjoys；hislosses，recompenses；

Hebreedsthesore，andcuresusofthepain：

Achilles’lancethatwoundsandhealsagain。

XCIII

Whilethusshethemtormentstwixtfrostandfire，Twixtjoyandgrief，twixthopeandrestlessfear，Theslyenchantressfelthergainthenigher，Thesewereherflocksthatgoldenfleecesbear：

Butifsomeonedurstutterhisdesire，Andbycomplainingmakehisgriefsappear，Helaboredhardrockswithplaintstomove，Shehadnotlearnedthegamutthenoflove。

XCIV

Fordownshebetherbashfuleyestoground，Anddonnedtheweedofwomen’smodestgrace，Downfromhereyeswelledthepearlsround，Uponthebrightenamelofherface；

SuchhoneydropsonspringingflowersarefoundWhenPhoebusholdsthecrimsonmorninchase；

Fullseemedherlooksofanger，andofshame；

Yetpityshonetransparentthroughthesame。

XCV

Ifsheperceivedbyhisoutwardcheer，Thatanywouldhislovebytalkbewray，Sometimessheheardhim，sometimesstoppedherear，Andplayedfastandloosethelivelongday：

Thusallherloverskinddeludedwere，Theirearnestsuitgotneitheryeanornay；

Butlikethesortofwearyhuntsmenfare，Thathuntallday，andloseatnightthehare。

XCVI

TheseweretheartsbywhichshecaptivedAthousandsoulsofyoungandlustyknights；

ThesewerethearmswherewithloveconqueredTheirfeebleheartssubduedinwantonfights：

WhatwonderifAchillesweremisled，OfgreatAlcidesattheirladies’sights，SincethesetruechampionsoftheLordaboveWerethrallstobeauty，yieldenslavestolore。

FIFTHBOOK

THEARGUMENT。

GernandoscornsRinaldoshouldaspireTorulethatchargeforwhichheseeksandstrives，Andslandershimsofar，thatinhisireThewrongedknighthisfoeoflifedeprives：

Farfromthecamptheslayerdothretire，Norletshimselfbeboundinchainsorgyves：

Armidedepartscontent，andfromtheseasGodfreyhearsnewswhichhimandhisdisplease。

I

WhilethusArmidafalsetheknightsmisledInwanderingerrorsofdeceitfullove，Andthought，besidesthechampionspromised，Theotherlordlingsinheraidtomove，InGodfrey’sthoughtastrongcontentionbredWhofittestwerethishazardgreattoprove；

Foralltheworthiesoftheadventures’bandWerelikeinbirth，inpower，instrengthofhand。

II

Butfirsttheprince，bygraveadvice，decreedTheyshouldsomeknightchooseattheirownelection，ThatinhischargeLordDudonmightsucceed，Andofthatglorioustroopshouldtakeprotection；

Sononeshouldgrieve，displeasedwiththedeed，Norblamethecauseroftheirnewsubjection：

Besides，Godfredoshowedbythisdevice，Howmuchheheldthatregimentinprice。

III

Hecalledtheworthiesthen，andspakethemso：

“Lordlings，youknowIyieldedtoyourwill，Andgaveyoulicensewiththisdametogo，Towinherkingdomandthattyrantkill：

ButnowagainIletyoufurtherknow，Infollowingheritmaybetideyonill；

Refraintherefore，andchangethisforwardthoughtFordeathunsentfor，dangercomesunsought。

IV

“Butiftoshuntheseperils，soughtsofar，Mayseemdisgracefultotheplaceyonhold；

IfgraveadviceandprudentcounselareEsteemeddetractorsfromyourcouragebold；

Thenknow，Inoneagainsthiswilldebar，NorwhatIgrantederstInowwithhold；

Buthemineempire，asitoughtofright，Sweet，easy，pleasant，gentle，meekandlight。

V

“Gothenortarry，eachaslikeshimbest，FreepowerIgrantyouonthisenterprise；

ButfirstinDudon’splace，nowlaidinchest，Chooseyousomeothercaptainstoutandwise；

Thentenappointamongtheworthiest，Butletnomoreattemptthishardemprise，InthismywillcontentyouthatIhave，Forpowerconstrainedisbutagloriousslave。“

VI

ThusGodfreysaid，andthushisbrotherspake，Andansweredforhimselfandallhispeers：

“Mylord，aswellitfitteththeetomakeThesewisedelaysandcastthesedoubtsandfears，So’tisourpartatfirsttoundertake；

Courageandhastebeseemsourmightandyears；

Andthisproceedingwithsograveadvice，Wisdom，inyou，inuswerecowardice。