Jerusalem Delivered (Volume 3); An Epic Poem, in Twenty Cantos Tr. Into English Spenserian Verse from the Italian of Tasso Together with a Life of the Author, Interspersed with Translations of His Verses to the Princess Leonora of Este and a List of Engli (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1826. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... JERUSALEM DELIVERED. CANTO XX. I. The sun was risen, the dial's circling shade Had the tenth hour of mom already passed, When, as the Pagans on their tower surveyed The plains, a gloom the' horizon overcast, Dark as the cloud which at grey evening fast Involves the silent world; and now they knew It was indeed the' Egyptian camp at last Come to their aid, such clouds of dust upflew, And shut the heavens, and hills, and valleys from their view. II. Then from the citadel to heaven they raise A general shout, a hoarse discordant cry, Like that of cranes when now from wintry Thrace The mustering swarms their busy pinions ply, And through the clouds to a serener sky In clangour scud before the freezing gale; The long-wished succour lifts their ardour high, So that already from their marble pale Prompt is each hand to shoot, each glorying tongue to rail. III. The Franks, conjecturing whence this sudden glow Of joy and fury had its impulse, hied To a commanding station whence the foe In all his pomp of numbers was descried; A generous ardour fires their hearts, they chide The lingering hours, the war-cry they resound; Whilst the flushed youth below on every side With martial murmurs hem the Captain round, And " Bid, O bid," they cry, " the tuneful trumpet sound." IV. But till the morrow he denies their prayer, And wisely tempers their audacious heat; No flying skirmish will he wage, nor care For an engagement short of full defeat. " Anon, brave youths," he answered, " but 'tis meet That with one day of respite you requite Your recent labours; rest you, I entreat; Perhaps this truce may in your foes excite A rash contempt of us, presumptuous in their might." V. All stood prepared, and through the long long night Expectant pined for morn's returning ray; Ne'er did the bl...