第18章

Tochangehismodestthoughtthedameprocureth，Andprofferethheapsoflove’senticingtreasure：

ButasthefalconnewlygorgedendurethHerkeeperlureheroft，butcomesatleisure；

Sohe，whomfulnessofdelightassurethWhatlongrepentancecomesoflove’sshortpleasure，Hercrafts，herarts，herselfandalldespiseth，Sobaseaffectionsfall，whenvirtueriseth。

LXIII

AndnotonefoothissteadfastfootwasmovedOutofthatheavenlypath，whereinhepaced，Yetthousandwilesandthousandwayssheproved，Tohavethatcastlefairofgoodnessraised：

SheusedthoselooksandsmilesthatmostbehovedTomeltthefrostwhichhishardheartembraced，Andgainsthisbreastathousandshotsheventured，Yetwasthefortsostrongitwasnotentered。

LXIV

ThedamewhothoughtthatoneblinkofhereyeCouldmakethechastestheartfeellove’ssweetpain，Oh，howherprideabatedwashereby！

Whenallhersleightswerevoid，hercraftswerevain，Someotherwhereshewouldherforcestry，Whereatmoreeaseshemightmorevantagegain，Astiredsoldierswhomsomefortkeepsout，Thenceraisetheirsiege，andspoilthetownsabout。

LXV

ButyetallwaysthewilywitchcouldfindCouldnotTancredi’shearttolovewardmove，Hissailswerefilledwithanotherwind，Helistnoblastofnewaffectionprove；

For，asonepoisondothexcludebykindAnother’sforce，soloveexcludethlove：

ThesetwoalonenormorenorlessthedameCouldwin，therestallburntinhersweetflame。

LXVI

Theprincess，thoughherpurposewouldnotframe，Aslateshehoped，andasstillshewould，Yet，forthelordsandknightsofgreatestnameBecameherprey，aserstyouheardittold，Shethought，eretruth-revealingtimeorframeBewrayedheract，toleadthemtosomehold，Wherechainsandbandshemeanttomakethemprove，ComposedbyVulcannotbygentlelove。

LXVII

Thetimeprefixedatlengthwascomeandpast，WhichGodfreyhadsetdowntolendheraid，Whenathisfeetherselftoearthshecast，“Thehouriscome，myLord，“shehumblysaid，“Andifthetyranthaplyhearatlast，Hisbanishedniecehathyourassistanceprayed，Hewillinarmstosavehiskingdomrise，Soshallwehardermakethisenterprise。

LXVIII

“Beforereportcanbringthetyrantnews，Orhisespialscertifytheirking，Ohletthygoodnessthesefewchampionschoose，Thattoherkingdomshouldthyhandmaidbring；

Who，exceptHeaventoaidtherightrefuse，Recovershallhercrown，fromwhenceshallspringThyprofit；forbetidetheepeaceorwar，Thineallhercities，allhersubjectsare。“

LXIX

Thecaptainsagethedamselfairassured，Hiswordwaspassedandshouldnotberecanted，AndshewithsweetandhumblegraceenduredTolethimpointthoseten，whichlatehegranted：

Buttobeone，eachonefoughtandprocured，Nosuit，noentreaty，intercessionwanted；

Thereenvyeachatothers’loveexceeded，Andallimportunatemade，morethanneeded。

LXX

Shethatwellsawthesecretoftheirhearts，Andknewhowbesttowarmthemintheirblood，AgainstthemthrewthecursedpoisoneddartsOfjealousy，andgriefatothers’good，Forloveshewistwasweakwithoutthosearts，Andslow；forjealousyisCupid’sfood；

Fortheswiftsteedrunsnotsofastalone，Aswhensomestrain，somestrivehimtooutgone。

LXXI

Herwordsinsuchalluringsortsheframed，Herlooksenticing，andherwooingsmiles，Thateveryonehisfellows’favorsblamed，Thatoftheirmistresshereceivederewhiles：

Thisfoolishcrewofloversunashamed，Madwiththepoisonofhersecretwiles，Ranforwardstill，inthisdisorderedsort，NorcouldGodfredo’sbridlereinthemshort。

LXXII

Hethatwouldsatisfyeachgooddesire，Withoutenpartiallove，ofeveryknight，Althoughheswelledwithshame，withgriefandireToseethesefellowsandthesefashionslight；

Yetsincebynoadvicetheywouldretire，Anotherwayhesoughttosetthemright：

“Writeallyournames，“quothhe，“andseewhomchanceOflot，tothisexploitwillfirstadvance。“

LXXIII

Theirnameswerewrit，andinanhelmetshaken，Whileeachdidfortune’sgraceandaidimplore；

Atlasttheydrewthem，andtheforemosttakenTheEarlofPembrokewas，Artemidore，Doubtlessthecountythoughthisbreadwellbaken；

NextGerrardfollowed，thenwithtresseshoarOldWenceslaus，thatfeltCupid’srageNowinhisdoatingandhisdyingage。

LXXIV

Ohhowcontentmentintheirforeheadsshined！

Theirlookswithjoy；thoughtsswelledwithsecretpleasure，ThesethreeitseemedgoodsuccessdesignedTomakethelordsofloveandbeauty’streasure：

Theirdoubtfulfellowsattheirhaprepined，AndwithsmallpatiencewaitFortune’sleisure，Uponhislipsthatreadthescrollsattending，Asiftheirliveswereonhiswordsdepending。

LXXV

Guascothefourth，Ridolphohimsucceeds，ThenUlderickwhomlovelistsoadvance，LordWilliamofRonciglionnexthereads，ThenEberard，andHenryborninFrance，Rambaldolast，whomwickedlustsoleadsThatheforsookhisSaviourwithmischance；

Thiswretchthetenthwaswhowasthusdeluded，Theresttotheirhugegriefwereallexcluded。

LXXVI

O’ercomewithenvy，wrathandjealousy，TherestblindFortunecurse，andallherlaws，Andmadwithlove，yetoutonlovetheycry，Thatinhiskingdomletherjudgetheircause：

Andforman’smindissuch，thatoftwetryThingsmostforbidden，withoutstayorpause，InspiteoffortunepurposedmanyaknightTofollowfairArmidawhen’twasnight。

LXXVII

Tofollowher，bynightorelsebyday，Andinherquarrelventurelifeandlimb。

WithsighsandtearssheganthemsoftlyprayTokeepthatpromise，whentheskiesweredim，Tothisandthatknightdidsheplainandsay，Whatgriefshefelttopartwithoutenhim：

Meanwhilethetenhaddonnedtheirarmorbest，AndtakenleaveofGodfreyandtherest。

LXXVIII

Thedukeadvisedthemeveryoneapart，Howlight，howtrustlesswasthePagan’sfaith，Andtoldwhatpolicy，whatwit，whatart，Avoidsdeceit，whichheedlessmenbetray’th；

Hisspeechespiercetheirear，butnottheirheart，Lovecallsitfolly，whatsowisdomsaith：

Thuswarnedheleavesthemtotheirwantonguide，Whopartsthatnight；suchhastehadshetoride。

LXXIX

Theconqueressdeparts，andwithherledTheseprisoners，whomlovewouldcaptivekeep，Theheartsofthosesheleftbehindherbled，Withpointofsorrow’sarrowpierceddeep。

Butwhenthenightherdrowsymantlespread，Andfilledtheearthwithsilence，shadeandsleep，Insecretsorttheneachforsookhistent，AndasblindCupidledthemblindtheywent。

LXXX

Eustatiofirst，whoscantlycouldforbear，Tillfriendlynightmighthidehishasteandshame，Herodeinpost，andlethisbreasthimbearAshisblindfancywouldhisjourneyframe，Allnighthewanderedandhewistnotwhere；

Butwiththemorningheespiedthedame，ThatwithherguardupfromavillagerodeWheresheandtheythatnighthadmadeabode。

LXXXI

Thitherhegallopedfast，anddrawingnearRambaldoknewtheknight，andloudlycried，“WhencecomesyoungEustace，andwhatseekshehere？“

“Icome，“quothhe，“toservetheQueenArmide，Ifsheacceptme，wouldweallwerethereWheremygood-willandfaithmightbestbetried。“

“Who，“quoththeother，“choseththeetoproveThishighexploitofhers？“Heanswered，“Love。“

LXXXII

“LovehathEustatiochosen，Fortunethee，Inthyconceitwhichisthebestelection？“

“Nay，then，theseshiftsarevain，“repliedhe，“Thesetitlesfalseservetheefornoprotection，ThoucanstnothereforthisadmittedbeOurfellow-servant，inthissweetsubjection。“

“Andwho，“quothEustace，angry，“daresdenyMyfellowship？“Rambaldoanswered，“I。“

LXXXIII

Andwiththatwordhiscuttingswordhedrew，Thatglitteredbright，andsparkledflamingfire；

Uponhisfoetheotherchampionflew，Withequalcourage，andwithequalire。

Thegentleprincess，whothedangerknew，Betweenthemstepped，andprayedthembothretire。

“Rambald，“quothshe，“whyshouldyougrudgeorplain，IfIachampion，youanhelpergain？

LXXXIV

“Ifmeyoulove，whywishyoumedeprivedInsogreatneedofsuchapuissantknight？

ButwelcomeEustace，ingoodtimearrived，Defenderofmystate，mylife，myright。

Iwishmyhaplessselfnolongerlived，WhenIesteemsuchgoodassistancelight。“

Thustalkedtheyon，andtravelledontheirwayTheirfellowshipincreasingeveryday。

LXXXV

Fromeverysidetheycome，yetwisttherenoneOfotherscomingorofothers’mind，Shewelcomesall，andtelletheveryone，Whatjoyherthoughtsinhisarrivalfind。

ButwhenDukeGodfreywisthisknightsweregone，WithinhisbreasthiswisersouldivinedSomehardmishapuponhisfriendsshouldlight，Forwhichhesighedallday，andweptallnight。

LXXXVI

Amessenger，whilethushemused，drewnear，Allsoiledwithdustandsweat，quiteoutofbreath，Itseemedthemandidheavytidingsbear，Uponhislookssatenewsoflossanddeath：

“Mylord，“quothhe，“somanyshipsappearAtsea，thatNeptunebearstheloaduneath，FromEgyptcometheyall，thisletstheeweetWilliamLordAdmiraloftheGenoafleet，LXXXVII

“BesidesaconvoycomingfromtheshoreWithvictualforthisnoblecampofthineSurprisedwas，andlostisallthatstore，Mules，horses，camelsladen，cornandwine；

Thyservantsfoughttilltheycouldfightnomore，Forallwereslainorcaptivesmadeinfine：

TheArabianoutlawsthemassailedbynight，Whenleasttheyfeared，andleasttheylookedforfight。

LXXXVIII

“Theirfranticboldnessdothpresumesofar，ThatmanyChristianshavetheyfalselyslain，Andlikearagingfloodtheysparedare，Andoverfloweachcountry，fieldandplain；

Sendthereforesomestrongtroopsofmenofwar，Toforcethemhence，anddrivethemhomeagain，AndkeepthewaysbetweenthesetentsofthineAndthosebroadseas，theseasofPalestine。“

LXXXIX

FrommouthtomouththeheavyrumorspreadOfthesemisfortunes，whichdispersedwideAmongthesoldiers，greatamazementbred；

Faminetheydoubt，andnewcomefoesbeside：

Theduke，thatsawtheirwontedcouragefled，Andintheplacethereofweakfearespied，Withmerrylooksthesecheerfulwordshespake，Tomakethemheartagainandcouragetake。

XC

“Youchampionsbold，withmethat’scapedhaveSomanydangers，andsuchhardassays，WhomstillyourGoddidkeep，defendandsaveInallyourbattles，combats，fightsandfrays，YouthatsubduedtheTurksandPersiansbrave，Thatthirstandhungerheldinscornalways，Andvanquishedhills，andseas，withheatandcold，Shallvainreportsappalyourcouragebold？

XCI

“ThatLordwhohelpedyououtateveryneed，Whenaughtbefellthisgloriouscampamiss，Shallfortuneallyouractionswelltospeed，Onwhomhismercylargeextendedis；

Toforehistomb，whenconqueringhandsyouspreed，Withwhatdelightwillyourememberthis？

Bestrongtherefore，andkeepyourvalorshighTohonor，conquest，fameandvictory。“