Jerusalem Delivered: An English Prose Version

Canto Eleven

C A N T O E L E V E N i But the Captain of the Christian army,having turned his every thought to the assault, was going about making ready his instruments of war when the solitary Peter came to him; and when he had drawn him aside, he spoke to him, venerable and severe, in language such asthis: "You move, O Captain , your terrestrial arms; but you do not begin where it isfitting. 2 "From Heaven be our beginning; first invoke in sincere and publicprayers the militia of the angels and the saints, that it (which isable) may obtain for us the victory: let the clergy in holy vestments go before and sing in pious harmony their suppliant notes; and from you, their great and glorious leaders, let the common crowd learn piety and go with you." 3 So speaks the rigorous hermit and the good Godfrey approveshis sage advice . "Servant (he answers),to Jesus well-pleasing, it gives me pleasure to follow your counsel. Now while I invitethe leaders to come with me, do you seek out the shepherds of the people, William and Adhemar, and yours be the care of the holy and reverent procession." 4 On the following morning the old man gathers, along with the two great priests, others and lesser where they were wont to celebrate the divine rites amid the sacred precincts within the stockade. There the others donned white raiment, the two shepherds donned the gilded mantle that in two halves above their white linens is buckled to the breast; and they set their crowns on their hair. 234 Jerusalem Delivered 5 Peter goes in front alone, and spreads to the wind the symbol revered in Paradise; and the choir follows, with solemn step and slow, divided into two long columns. Alternately they made adouble harmony, with suppliant singing and with humble countenance; and closing up their ranks went side by side the princes William and Adhemar. 6 Then came Bouillon, also (asisthe custom for acaptain) with no companion at his side: the leaders followed bytwos, and (not disordered) the host followed them under armsfor their defense. Thus the assembledpeopleissued inprocession out ofthe enclosure ofthe trenches. Nor werediere trumpets heard, or odier warlikesounds, but only tones ofpiety and humility. 7 Thee Father, Thee Son equal to die Fadier, andThee, that hath Thy being from both united in loving, and Thee O Virgin Modier ofMan and God, diey invoke to be propitious to their desires; O Captains, andyou that move in triple ranks the shining hosts of Heaven; O Divine, and you that washed in the fountain the unspotted humanity of the divine brow, 8 you they invoke; and you that are rock and foundation firm and strong of die house of God, where now your worthy latest successor isopening die gates of grace and pardon;1 and the odier evangelists of the Heavenly Kingdom , who spread the news of die victorious death; and diey that followed to confirm the truth, the witnesses through blood and martyrdom: 9 those too whose pen or speech has taught the wayto Heaven when itwas lost; and die beloved and faithful handmaiden of Christ who chose the good of die nobler way of life;2 and die virgins cloistered in chaste cell whom God with exalted nuptials espouses to Himself; and those odiers, magnanimous amid their tortures, despisers of kings and nations. 1 The "latest successor" to the Seeof Peter is Gregory XIII, who proclaimed a Year of Jubilee in 1575. In Tasso's century everytwenty-fifth year was a Year of Jubilee. ' The contemplative, as opposed to the active way of life. SeeLuke 10:38-42, and 8.45n. C A N T O E L E V E N 235 IO Singing thus, the devout populace dispreads itself and extends in widening circles and steers toward Olivet its slow progress, the mountain that takes its name from its olive trees; a mountain known to the world through holy fame, that on the east rises opposite the walls, from which it isonlykept separate and apart by deep Jehosaphat that lies between. n Thither proceeds the chanting army, and the deep and low-lyingvales resound and the lofty hills and their caves, and from a thousand places Echo makes her answer; and almost it seems that awoodland choir is hidden amid those cavesand in that foliage, so clearly was heard repeated now the...