第17章

“GreatPrince，“quothTancred；“setbeforethineeyesRinaldo’sworthandcouragewhatitis，Howmuchourhopeofconquestinhimlies；

Regardthatprincelyhouseandraceofhis；

Hethatcorrectetheveryfaulthespies，Andjudgethallalike，dothallamiss；

Forfaults，youknow，aregreaterthoughtorless，Asistheperson’sselfthatdothtransgress。“

XXXVII

Godfredoansweredhim；“IfhighandlowOfsovereignpoweralikeshouldfeelthestroke，Then，Tancred，illyoucounselus，Itrow；

Iflordsshouldknownolaw，aserstyouspoke，Howvileandbaseourempirewereyouknow，Ifnonebutslavesandpeasantsbeartheyoke；

WeakisthesceptreandthepowerissmallThatsuchprovisosbringannexedwithal。

XXXVIII

“Butminewasfreelygivenere’twassought，NorthatitlessenedbeInowconsent；

RightwellknowIbothwhenandwhereIoughtTogivecondignrewardandpunishment，Sinceyouareallinlikesubjectionbrought，Bothhighandlowobey，andbecontent。“

Thisheard，Tancrediwiselystayedhiswords，Suchweightthesayingshaveofkingsandlords。

XXXIX

OldRaymondpraisedhisspeech，foroldmenthinkTheyeverwisestseemwhenmostsevere，“’Tisbest，“quothhe，“tomakethesegreatonesshrink，Thepeoplelovehimwhomthenoblesfear：

Theremusttheruletoalldisorderssink，Wherepardonsmorethanpunishmentsappear；

Forfeebleiseachkingdom，frailandweak，UnlesshisbasisbethisfearIspeak。“

XL

ThesewordsTancrediheardandponderedwell，AndbythemwisthowGodfrey’sthoughtswerebent，Norlisthelongerwiththeseoldmendwell，ButturnedhishorseandtoRinaldowent，Who，whenhisnoblefoedeath-woundedfell，Withdrewhimsoftlytohisgorgeoustent；

ThereTancredfoundhim，andatlargedeclaredThewordsandspeechessharpwhichlateyouheard。

XLI

Andsaid，“AlthoughIwottheoutwardshowIsnottruewitnessofthesecretthought，Forthatsomemensosubtleare，Itrow，Thatwhattheypurposemostappearethnaught；

YetdareIsayGodfredomeans，Iknow，Suchknowledgehathhislooksandspeecheswrought，Youshallfirstprisonerbe，andthenbetriedAsheshalldeemitgoodandlawprovide。“

XLII

WiththatabittersmilewellmightyouseeRinaldocast，withscornandhighdisdain，“Lettheminfetterspleadtheircause，“quothhe，“Thatarebasepeasants，bornofservilestain，Iwasfreeborn，IliveandwilldiefreeBeforethesefeetbefetteredinachain：

Thesehandsweremadetoshakesharpspearsandswords，Nottobetiedingyvesandtwistedcords。

XLIII

“Ifmygoodservicereapthisrecompense，Tobeclaptupincloseandsecretmew，Andasathiefbeafterdraggedfromthence，Tosufferpunishmentaslawfindsdue；

LetGodfreycomeorsend，IwillnothenceUntilweknowwhoshallthisbargainrue，ThatofourtragedythelatedonefactMaybethefirst，andthisthesecond，act。

XLIV

“Givememinearms，“hecried；hissquirethembrings，Andcladhishead，anddressedinironstrong，Abouthisneckhissilvershieldheflings，Downbyhissideacuttingswordtherehung；

Amongthisearth’sbravelordsandmightykings，Wasnonesostout，sofierce，sofair，soyoung，GodMarsheseemeddescendingfromhissphere，OronewhoselookscouldmakegreatMarstofear。

XLV

TancredilaboredwithsomepleasingspeechHisspiritsfierceandcouragetoappease；

“YoungPrince，thyvalor，“thushegantopreach，“Canchastiseallthatdotheewrong，atease，Iknowyourvirtuecanyourenemiesteach，Thatyoucanvengeyouwhenandwhereyouplease：

ButGodforbidthisdayyouliftyourarmTodothiscampandusyourfriendssuchharm。

XLVI

“Tellmewhatwillyoudo？whywouldyoustainYournoblehandsinourunguiltyblood？

BywoundingChristians，willyouagainPierceChrist，whosepartstheyareandmembersgood？

Willyoudestroyusforyourgloryvain，Unstayedasrollingwavesinoceanflood？

Farbeitfromyousotoproveyourstrength，Andletyourzealappeaseyourrageatlength。

XLVII

“ForGod’slovestayyourheat，andjustdispleasure，Appeaseyourwrath，yourcouragefierceassuage，Patience，apraise；forbearance，isatreasure；

Suffrance，anangel’sis；amonster，rage；

Atleastyouactionsbyexamplemeasure，AndthinkhowIinmineunbridledageWaswronged，yetIwouldnotrevengementtakeOnallthiscamp，foroneoffender’ssake。

XLVIII

“CiliciaconqueredI，asallmenwot，AndtherethegloriouscrossonhighIreared，ButBaldwincame，andwhatInoblygotBereftmefalselywhenIleasthimfeared；

Heseemedmyfriend，andIdiscoverednotHissecretcovetisewhichsinceappeared；

YetstriveInottogetmineownbyfight，Orcivilwar，althoughperchanceImight。

XLIX

“Ifthenyouscorntobeinprisonpent，Ifbonds，ashighdisgrace，yourhandsrefuse；

OrifyourthoughtsstilltomaintainarebentYourliberty，asmenofhonoruse：

ToAntiochwhatifforthwithyouwent？

Andleavemehereyourabsencetoexcuse，TherewithPrinceBoemondliveineaseandpeace，UntilthisstormofGodfrey’sangercease。

L

“Forsoon，ifforcescomefromEgyptland，Orothernationsthatushereconfine，Godfreywillbeatenbewithhisownwand，Andfeelhewantsthatvalorgreatofthine，Ourcampmayseemanarmwithoutahand，Amidourtroopsunlessthyeagleshine：“

WiththatcameGuelphoandthosewordsapproved，Andprayedhimgo，ifhimhefearedorloved。

LI

Theirspeechessoftenmuchthewarrior’sheart，Andmakehiswilfulthoughtsatlastrelent，Sothatheyields，andsaithhewilldepart，AndleavetheChristiancampincontinent。

Hisfriends，whoselovedidnevershrinkorstart，Preferredtheiraid，whatwaysoe’erhewent：

Hethankedthemall，butleftthemall，besidesTwoboldandtrustysquires，andsoherides。

LII

Herides，revolvinginhisnoblesprightSuchhaughtythoughtsasfillthegloriousmind；

Onhardadventureswashiswholedelight，Andnowtowondrousactshiswillinclined；

AloneagainstthePaganswouldhefight，AndkilltheirkingsfromEgyptuntoInde，FromCynthia’shillsandNilus’unknownspringHewouldfetchpraiseandgloriousconquestbring。

LIII

ButGuelpho，whentheprincehisleavehadtakeAndnowhadspurredhiscourseronhisway，Nolongertarriancewiththerestwouldmake，ButtastestofindGodfredo，ifhemay：

Whoseeinghimapproaching，forthwithspake，“Guelpho，“quothhe，“fortheeIonlystay，FortheeIsentmyheraldsallabout，Ineverytenttoseekandfindtheeout。“

LIV

Thissaid，hesoftlydrewtheknightasideWherenonemighthear，andthenbespakehimthus：

“Howchancethitthynephew’srageandpride，Makeshimsofarforgethimselfandus？

HardlycouldIbelievewhatisbetide，Amurderdoneforcausesofrivolous，HowIhavelovedhim，thouandallcantell；

ButGodfreylovedhimbutwhilsthedidwell。

LV

“Imustprovidethateveryonehaveright，Thatallbeheard，eachcausebewelldiscussed，Asfarfrompartialloveasfreefromspite，Ihearcomplaints，yetnaughtbutprovesItrust：

NowifRinaldoweighourruletoolight，Andhavethesacredloreofwarsobrust，TakeyouthechargethathebeforeuscomeToclearhimselfandhearouruprightdome。

LVI

“Butlethimcomewithoutenbondorchain，Forstillmythoughtstodohimgraceareframed；

Butifourpowerhehaplyshalldisdain，AswellIknowhiscourageyetuntamed，Tobringhimbypersuasiontakesomepain：

Else，ifIprovesevere，bothyoubeblamed，ThatforcedmygentlenaturegainstmythoughtTorigor，lestourlawsreturntonaught。“

LVII

LordGuelphoansweredthus：“WhatheartcanbearSuchslandersfalse，devisedbyhateandspite？

Orwithstayedpatience，reproacheshear，Andnotrevengebybattleorbyfight？

TheNorwayPrincehathboughthisfollydear，Butwhowithwordscouldstaytheangryknight？

AfoolishethatcomestopreachorprateWhenmenwithswordstheirrightandwrongdebate。

LVIII

“AndwhereyouwishheshouldhimselfsubmitTohearthecensureofyouruprightlaws；

Alas，thatcannotbe，forheisflitOutifthiscamp，withoutenstayorpause，Theretakemygage，beholdIofferitTohimthatfirstaccusedhiminthiscause，Oranyelsethatdare，andwillmaintainThatforhispridetheprincewasjustlyslain。

LIX

“IsaywithreasonLordGernando’sprideHehathabated，ifhehaveoffendedGainstyourcommands，whoarehislordandguide，Ohpardonhim，thatfaultshallbeamended。“

“Ifhebegone，“quothGodfrey，“lethimrideAndbrawlelsewhere，hereletallstrifebeended：

Andyou，LordGuelpho，foryournephew’ssake，Breedusnonew，norquarrelsoldawake。“

LX

Thiswhile，thefairandfalseArmidastrivedTogetherpromisedaidinsurepossession，Thedaytoend，withendlessplaintshederived；

Wit，beauty，craftforhermadeintercession：

Butwhentheearthwasonceoflightdeprived，AndwesternseasfeltTitan’shotimpression，’Twixttwooldknights，andmatronstwainshewent，Wherepitchedwasherfairandcurioustent。

LXI

Butthisfalsequeenofcraftandslyinvention，——

Whoselooks，love’sarrowswere；whoseeyeshisquivers；

Whosebeautymatchless，freefromreprehension，AwonderleftbyHeaventoafter-livers，——

AmongtheChristianlordhadbredcontentionWhofirstshouldquenchhisflamesinCupid’srivers，Whileallherweaponsandherdartsrehearsed，HadnotGodfredo’sconstantbosompierced。