Jerusalem Delivered | Page 5

make,?There cast no doubts where truth is plain and strong,?Your acts, I trust, will correspond his speech,?Yet one thing more I would you gladly teach.
XXX?"These strifes, unless I far mistake the thing,?And discords raised oft in disordered sort,?Your disobedience and ill managing?Of actions lost, for want of due support,?Refer I justly to a further spring,?Spring of sedition, strife, oppression, tort,?I mean commanding power to sundry given,?In thought, opinion, worth, estate, uneven.
XXXI?"Where divers Lords divided empire hold,?Where causes be by gifts, not justice tried,?Where offices be falsely bought and sold,?Needs must the lordship there from virtue slide.?Of friendly parts one body then uphold,?Create one head, the rest to rule and guide:?To one the regal power and sceptre give,?That henceforth may your King and Sovereign live."
XXXII?And therewith stayed his speech. O gracious Muse,?What kindling motions in their breasts do fry??With grace divine the hermit's talk infuse,?That in their hearts his words may fructify;?By this a virtuous concord they did choose,?And all contentions then began to die;?The Princes with the multitude agree,?That Godfrey ruler of those wars should be.
XXXIII?This power they gave him, by his princely right,?All to command, to judge all, good and ill,?Laws to impose to lands subdued by might,?To maken war both when and where he will,?To hold in due subjection every wight,?Their valors to be guided by his skill;?This done, Report displays her tell-tale wings,?And to each ear the news and tidings brings.
XXXIV?She told the soldiers, who allowed him meet?And well deserving of that sovereign place.?Their first salutes and acclamations sweet?Received he, with love and gentle grace;?After their reverence done with kind regreet?Requited was, with mild and cheerful face,?He bids his armies should the following day?On those fair plains their standards proud display.
XXXV?The golden sun rose from the silver wave,?And with his beams enamelled every green,?When up arose each warrior bold and brave,?Glistering in filed steel and armor sheen,?With jolly plumes their crests adorned they have,?And all tofore their chieftain mustered been:?He from a mountain cast his curious sight?On every footman and on every knight.
XXXVI?My mind, Time's enemy, Oblivion's foe,?Disposer true of each noteworthy thing,?Oh, let thy virtuous might avail me so,?That I each troop and captain great may sing,?That in this glorious war did famous grow,?Forgot till now by Time's evil handling:?This work, derived from my treasures dear,?Let all times hearken, never age outwear.?XXXVII?The French came foremost battailous and bold,?Late led by Hugo, brother to their King,?From France the isle that rivers four infold?With rolling streams descending from their spring,?But Hugo dead, the lily fair of gold,?Their wonted ensign they tofore them bring,?Under Clotharius great, a captain good,?And hardy knight ysprong of princes' blood.
XXXVIII?A thousand were they in strong armors clad,?Next whom there marched forth another band,?That number, nature, and instruction had,?Like them to fight far off or charge at hand,?All valiant Normans by Lord Robert lad,?The native Duke of that renowned land,?Two bishops next their standards proud upbare,?Called Reverend William, and Good Ademare.
XXXIX?Their jolly notes they chanted loud and clear?On merry mornings at the mass divine,?And horrid helms high on their heads they bear?When their fierce courage they to war incline:?The first four hundred horsemen gathered near?To Orange town, and lands that it confine:?But Ademare the Poggian youth brought out,?In number like, in hard assays as stout.
XL?Baldwin, his ensign fair, did next dispread?Among his Bulloigners of noble fame,?His brother gave him all his troops to lead,?When he commander of the field became;?The Count Carinto did him straight succeed,?Grave in advice, well skilled in Mars his game,?Four hundred brought he, but so many thrice?Led Baldwin, clad in gilden arms of price.
XLI?Guelpho next them the land and place possest,?Whose fortunes good with his great acts agree,?By his Italian sire, fro the house of Est,?Well could he bring his noble pedigree,?A German born with rich possessions blest,?A worthy branch sprung from the Guelphian tree.?'Twixt Rhene and Danubie the land contained?He ruled, where Swaves and Rhetians whilom reigned.
XLII?His mother's heritage was this and right,?To which he added more by conquest got,?From thence approved men of passing might?He brought, that death or danger feared not:?It was their wont in feasts to spend the night,?And pass cold days in baths and houses hot.?Five thousand late, of which now scantly are?The third part left, such is the chance of war.
XLIII?The nation then with crisped locks and fair,?That dwell between the seas and Arden Wood,?Where Mosel streams and Rhene the meadows wear,?A battel soil for grain, for pasture good,?Their islanders with them, who oft repair?Their earthen bulwarks 'gainst the ocean flood,?The flood, elsewhere that ships and barks devours,?But there drowns cities, countries, towns and towers;
XLIV?Both in one troop, and but a thousand all,?Under another Robert fierce they run.?Then the English squadron, soldiers stout and tall,?By William led, their sovereign's younger son,?These archers be, and with them come withal,?A people near the Northern Pole that wone,?Whom