4642 
 
 
 
 Tasso 
 Jerusalem
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD 
 ENDOWMENT FUND
 
 THE 
 
 JERUSALEM 
 
 O F 
 
 TORQJJATO TASSO. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed by JAMES BETTENHAM : 
 
 And Sold by GEORGE HAWKINS, at Milton's 
 ) between the Temple Gates , Fleet-Street. 
 
 M.DCC.XXXVIII.
 
 The Argument. 
 
 Godfrey of Boulogne, in the Sixth Tear of the 
 Holy War, while the troops are yet in their 
 Winter- Quart ers^ receives a Command from 
 God^ by the Angel Gabriel, to ajjemble the 
 Chriftian Princes, and exhort them to purfue 
 their Enterprize. 'They eleffi him Commander 
 in Chief. He makes a Review of his Forces^ 
 and then marches ftrait towards Jerufalem. 
 His Approach terrifies the King of Judea.
 
 Book I. Taffos Jemfakm. "? 3 
 
 21 HM 
 
 
 
 THE 
 
 FIRST BOOK 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 JERUSALE M. ; 
 
 T 
 
 HE pious Armies, and the Chief I fing, 
 Who freed the Tomb of Heav'n's Anointed 
 
 Long labours for the glorious Prize he bore, 
 His Valour much performed, his Prudence more ; 
 In vain did Hell with wily Rage oppofe, 
 In vain to arms the Pow'rs of Afia rofe, 
 Afia with Lybia\ fwarthy Sons ally'd, 
 Alliance vain ! for God was on his Side, 
 Beneath Heav'n's Banner made his Peers unite, 
 And leave fell Difcord for the faithful Fight. 
 
 c? 
 
 O Heav'nly Mufe ! for not of Pindus Thou, 
 Nor deck'd with fading Bays thy hallow'd Brow, 
 
 A a Nor 
 
 882779
 
 4 Taffb s Jerufalem. Book L 
 
 Nor in Aonia*s Hill art wont to rove, 
 But fit'ft enthroned amid the Quires above, 
 Where round thy Head a circling Glory plays 
 Of Stars effulgent with immortal Rays, 
 Thou bid my Breaft coeleftial Warmth receive ! 
 Thou tune my Numbers ! and O thou forgive ! 
 To grace my Song if flow'ry Fiction join 
 Delights unknown to thee, with Truth divine. 
 Thou know' ft, the Many of our World below 
 Seek the fweet Streams that from Parnaffus flow, 
 That Truth, attempered to the pleafing Lay, 
 Has footh'd the moft reluctant to obey : 
 So fickly Children we contrive to cheat, 
 Round the Cup's Margin fpread the tempting Sweet, 
 When fraught with Health the bitter Juice we give; 
 They drink deceived, and thus deceived they live. 
 AND thou Alphonfo ! whofe aufpicious Hand 
 Steer'd my weak Veflel to the wifh'd-for Land, 
 When wandring wide, by furious Fortune toft 
 Midft Rocks and roaring Surges almoft loft, 
 This Verfe be thine, to thee this Verfe I bear, 
 A votive Gift that owns thy Guardian Care, 
 
 The
 
 Book L Taffos Jerufalem. 5 
 
 The Day may come the Bard ftiall tune thy Name 
 And write thee foremoft in the Roll of Fame. 
 For, fliould (our Wars composed) the Chriftians 
 
 join 
 
 (Urg'd by the Di&ates of the Voice divine) 
 The haughty Turk to chafe by Land and Sea, 
 And vindicate from Wrong the facred Prey, 
 Each Honour at thy Choice would juftly ftand, 
 To lead their Armies, or their Fleets command, 
 Rival of Godfrey Now, O hear th' Alarms 
 My Song refounds, and hearing, rife to Arms ! 
 
 ALREADY roll'd the fixth revolving Year 
 Since firft the Chriftians fought the Eaftern War ; 
 
 o * 
 
 Nice they poflefs'd, by Storm they forc'd the Town, 
 And potent Antioch by Surprize had won, 
 'Gam&PerJfas numerous Pow'rs their Conqueft held, 
 And with her (laughter 9 d Armies ftrow'd the Field j 
 Tortofa next fubdu'd, the Heroes bring 
 Their Troops to Quarters, and attend the Spring. 
 THE wintry Clouds had wafted all their Stores, 
 That fwell'd the Floods, and check'd the con- 
 qu'ring PowVs, 
 
 And
 
 6 TaJJos Jemfalem. Book I. 
 
 And now th 5 ETERNAL from his awful Throne, 
 (Seat of all Pow'r) fuperior and alone, 
 In pureft jSLther, o'er the Stars as high 
 As from the Center to the fpangled Sky, 
 Looks down below, and at a Glance furveys 
 All that contains the Space of Earth and Seas : 
 Then, where encampM the Chriftian Leaders lye, 
 In Syria^ fix'd his all-difcerning Eye, 
 And with that Look which views the Soul within, 
 The modeft Virtue, and the mental Sin, 
 Godfrey beheld, his Thoughts intent alone 
 To drive the Pagan from the facred Town, 
 
 o 7 
 
 All full of Faith, and Zeal, and pious Care ; 
 Fame, Wealth, and Empire feem'd but empty Air. 
 Not fo Baldwino^ He to thefe afpires, 
 For wild Ambition wings his vain Defires. 
 Carelefs of Life Tancredo lives, the Dart 
 Of hopelefs Love with Anguifti pierc'd his Heart : 
 While Eoemondo on the Syrian Plain, 
 Lays the Foundations of his new Domain, 
 Studious new Laws, new Cuftoms to injoin, 
 And the true God reftore to Rites divine ; 
 
 This
 
 Book L Taffos Jerufakm* 7 
 
 This in his Mind appeared the conftant Care, 
 Nor other Thought had Room to harbour there. 
 But in Rinaldoz youthful Bofom glows 
 A warlike Soul impatient of Repofe ; 
 Nor Pow'r, nor Wealth his gen'rous Mind in- 
 flame, 
 
 Smit with a Love inordinate of Fame 5 
 To Guelpho with Attention he applies^ 
 And learns from old Examples to be wife. 
 
 WHEN thus the Monarch, who the World 
 
 controuls, 
 
 Of all the Chiefs had fearch'd the various Souls, 
 Gabriel r he call'd, from mid th' Archangels bright, 
 Gabriel, the fecond of the Sons of Light, 
 Glad Meflenger ! to whom the Lot is giv'n 
 To bear to pureft Souls the Word of Heav'n, 
 And waft their Incenfe to the bleft Abode, 
 Faithful Interpreter 'twixt Man and God. 
 To him th' ETERNAL : Hence, Goffredo find, 
 Afk why he lingers thus, to Reft refign'd ? 
 Nor leads his Squadrons to th ? embattel'd Plain, 
 To refcue Sion from the fervile Chain ? 
 
 4 Bid
 
 8 TaJJb s Jerufakm. Book L 
 
 Bid him arife, the Chiefs to Council call, 
 Quicken the flow, and be the Lord of all : 
 To rule his Peers to him my Choice has giv'n, 
 And they'll obey the Prae-ele&of Heav'n, 
 Freely to him the fov'reign Pow'r confign, 
 And unconftrain'd their Will accomplifh mine. 
 HE fpoke. The Hierarch without Delay 
 Prepares the facred Orders to obey : 
 O'er his pure Form a Veil of Air he threw, 
 Condens'd and vifible to mortal View ; 
 With human Afpet, human Members, join 
 Coeleftial Grace, and Majefty divine ; 
 A Child juft blooming into Youth he feem'd, 
 His flaxen Curls with radiant Glory beam'd : 
 His Shoulders fledg'd, two fhining Wings unfold, 
 White as the Snow, their Borders ting'd with 
 
 Gold : 
 Thefe high thro 5 Winds and Clouds his Courfe 
 
 (uftain, 
 
 O'er the wide Earth, and o'er the boundlefs Main, 
 Unwearied, fwift : thus from th' ^therial Height 
 He plung'd precipitate, but check'd his Flight 
 
 Where
 
 Book L Taffos Jerufakm. ' 9 
 
 Where Lebanon's high Tops are feen to rife, 
 And balanced on his Wings, fails equal thro' the 
 
 Skies : 
 
 Then down with ftiffen'd Pennon prone he bends$ 
 And rapid to Tortofas Plain defcends. 
 The rifing Sun a crimfon Luftre gave, 
 Scarce half his Beams above the Eaftern wave, 
 Goffredo watchful at his wonted Hour 
 With pious Pray'r invoked the Heav'nly Pow'r, 
 When with the Morning Ray, but far more bright, 
 The flaming Seraph flood before his Sight. 
 
 WHO thus. O Godfrey^ lo! the new-born 
 
 Year 
 
 Calls forth to arms, and doft thou linger here ? 
 Nor lead thy Squadrons to th 5 embatterd Plain, 
 To refcue Sion from the fervile Chain ? 
 Warrior arife, the Chiefs to Council call, 
 Quicken the flow, and be the Lord of all j 
 Lord of thy Peers thee God has choie, and they 
 Will freely chufe thee, and in War obey. 
 I Meflenger of God, by him aflign'd, 
 Reveal the Dictates of th' Almighty Mind. 
 
 B What
 
 io Tajj$s Jerufalem. Book L 
 
 What Hopes of Conqueft in thy Breaft fhould roll! 
 For fuch an Hoft what Zeal infpire thy Soul ! 
 Thus having faid, he vanifh'd from his Eye, 
 And fwift remounted to th' empyreal Sky. 
 Silent the Warrior ftood in deep Amaze, 
 Struck with the Words, and dazzled with the Blaze. 
 At length composed, revolving in his Mind, 
 The Sent, the Sender and the Charge injoin'd, 
 If he before to end the War defir'd, 
 With burning Zeal now all the Heroe's fir'd : 
 Nor yet vain Glory touched his humble Breaft 
 To find that Heav'n prefer'd him to the reft, 
 His Will grew ardent in the Will fiipreme, 
 As the faint Spark glows fiercer in the Flame. 
 
 HE fends around his Couriers with Commands 
 T' invite the Leaders of the Chriftian Bands, 
 (Not fcatter'd far they lay) to meet in arms , 
 And thefe intreats, and thofe by Counfel warms : 
 All that allures the Soul of gen'rous Kind, 
 Or wakes the fleeping Virtue of the Mind, 
 The Chief employs j his Words, with artful Eafe, 
 Force ev'ry Breaft, and while they force theypleafe. 
 
 Now
 
 Book I. Taffos Jerufalem. n 
 
 Now came the Princes at their People's Head 
 (Sole of the Number Eoemondo ftay'd) 
 The Hofts divide ; Tortofa Part contains, 
 Part pitch their Tents around the circling Plains : 
 Upon a folemn Day, in awful State, 
 The Chiefs conven'd, a glorious Synod, fate 9 
 Godfrey majeftick riling o'er the reft 
 With Voice fonorous thus the Peers addreft : 
 
 WARRIORS of God ! to whom his Choice has 
 
 giv'n **- 
 
 T' aflert the violated Rights of Heav'n, 
 Safe in his Aid thro' many a deathful Day, 
 Safe thro' the Dangers of the watry Way 
 You ftill have paft ; and, when the rolling Sun 
 Has fcarce five times his annual Circle run, 
 Thro' various Nations led your focial Pow'rs, 
 And humbled to the Lord their hoftile Tow'rs, 
 High mid the Realms his conqu'ring Banners 
 
 rear'd, 
 
 And taught his hallow'd Name to be rever'd. 
 We left not, as I judge, our natal Plain, 
 Our Wives, our Children, all the tender Train, 
 
 B z Nor
 
 jferufakm. Book L 
 
 Nor thro 5 rough SeavS unnumber'd Perils bore, 
 Nor dar'd fierce Battel on a foreign Shore, 
 
 o ' 
 
 To win of empty Fame a vulgar Sound, 
 
 Or take Pofleffion of a barb'rous Ground ; 
 
 Mean were that Prize, our Labours worfe than vain 
 
 Our Blood to lavifh, and our Souls to ftain. 
 
 Ne'er to defift was once the Voice of all, 
 
 'Till we furmounted Sion*s facred Wall, 
 
 Freed from unworthy Bonds the Chriftian Throng, 
 
 Who groan beneath unfufferable Wrong, 
 
 And^ rais'd in Pale/line a new Domain, 
 
 Where Piety fincere in Peace may reign, 
 
 Where the faint Pilgrim may devoutly bow 
 
 O'er the Great Tomb, and pay the holy Vow. 
 
 Slight is the Praife our former Deeds may boaft, 
 
 Tho' hard the Labours, yet thofe Labours loft, 
 
 If now in Sloth we fpend th' una&ive Hours, 
 
 Or from our firft Deftgn divert our Pow'rs. 
 
 In vain we {hook proud Afia with Alarms, 
 
 AflernbPd Europe ', fet a World in arms, 
 
 If dire Deftru&ion be the Fruit alone, 
 
 Not Empires rais'd, but Empires overthrown. 
 
 Unhappy
 
 Book I. Taffos Jerufakm. ' 
 
 Unhappy He ! whom fond Ambition fways, 
 A feeble State on human Props to raife, 
 His Friends but few, upon a foreign Ground, 
 Unnumbered Unbelievers fwarming round, 
 Where he no Truft in faithlefs Greece can reft, 
 And diftant fees the Succours of the Weft ; 
 Soon will his Labours in the Duft be fpread, 
 And the vaft Ruin crufh the Builder's Head. 
 Turks^ Per/tans vanquifti'd ! Antiochia won I 
 Heroick A&s and worthy of Renown ! 
 Not ours indeed 'twas Heav'n the Pow'r beftow'd, 
 Thofe wondrous Conquefts were the Ats of God : 
 Should we Heav'n 's Gifts, thro' mad Ambition blind, 
 Employ to other Ends than Heav'n defign'd, 
 I fear, O much I fear, in fiich a Wrong 
 Th' Eternal Vengeance would not (lumber long ; 
 Of God unfriended all our Glories grow 
 The Scorn and Fable of the Pagan Foe. 
 By Heav'n's immortal Pow'r, let none profane 
 His Grace divine, nor make his Bounties vain ; 
 Let all our Deeds in one great Tenour run, 
 And end with Glory as they firft begun. 
 
 While
 
 14 tfajffis Jerufakm. Book L 
 
 While now the Seafon calls us forth to arms. 
 While ev'ry Road is fafe from hoftile Harms, 
 Why hafte we not, when fair Occafion fmiles, 
 To Sion^ glorious Term of all our Toils ? 
 Chiefs, I pronounce, and to my Words give ear, 
 Thou prefent, and ye future Ages, hear ! 
 Hear all ye bleft Inhabitants of Heav'n ! 
 *Tbe 'Time to free Great Solima is givn : 
 Rife then, ye Peers, fecure of Conqueft, rile, 
 If we delay, uncertain is the Prize \ 
 My Soul prefages, if our Arms are flow, 
 ^Egyptian Aid will reinforce the Foe. 
 
 HE faid. A fhort-liv'd Murmur ftraitwas heard : 
 Sage Peter then his rev'rend Figure rear'd, 
 (Firft Author of the War) and thus began 
 With Accent mild the folitary Man. 
 
 WHAT Godfrey moves, O Peers, I too advife, 
 For Truth refiftlels fpeaks his Counfel wife, 
 Do you approve with well-confenting Mind, 
 And let me add what yet remains behind. 
 
 If I mif-iudp-e not, the commutual Hate. 
 j> fj j ' 
 
 The fierce Contention and the vain Debate, 
 
 a The
 
 Book L Taffos Jerufalem^ 15 
 
 The ftubborn Will, relu&ant to obey, 
 The Conqueft broken in the middle Way, 
 Are Ills which to one common Spring you ow'd, 
 (Spring of all Motion 'gainft the publick Good) 
 That balanc'd Pow'r to various Men affign'd 
 Of different Counfel and unequal Mind. 
 Where One is not, from whofe fuperior Will 
 Derives the legal Pow'r to punifh ///, 
 Good to reward, and with impartial Hand 
 Point each his Toil or Station of Command, 
 There muft Confulion ever vex the State, 
 Be wife then Warriors and one Head create, 
 To him let all the friendly Members join, 
 His Pleafure guide 'em and his Will confine, 
 On One the Scepter and the PowY beftow, 
 A King in Empire, as a King in Show. 
 
 HE ceas'd. What Ear, O Voice divine ! can be, 
 O holy Fire ! what Bofom, barr'd to thee ? 
 By thee infpir'd each Word, a Flame-like Dart, 
 Found eafy Paflage to the Hearer's Heart, 
 Inborn Ambition, ev'ry Swell of Pride, 
 At thy Rebuke, in ev'ry Breaft fubfide j
 
 1 6 Ta/fis Jertifakm. Book L 
 
 oj Guelpho^ moft refpe&ed Pair, 
 Loud name Goffredo Leader of the War. 
 The reft aflent ; To him the Pow'r they yield 
 To call the Council, to dire& the Field, 
 Laws to impofe on Realms fubdu'd by Arms, 
 And guide the Progrefs of the War's Alarms ; 
 His Peers obedient to his fov'reign Sway 
 Confent to follow where he points the Way. 
 
 FAME (bars aloft and on her bufy Wings 
 The Tydings inftant to the Nations brings. 
 Forth comes the Chief, th' admiring Hofts approve, 
 Loud Acclamations ihake the Realms above j 
 He with Benevolence and Look ferene 
 Receives th' Applaufes of his fhouting Train, 
 To each fond Shew of duteous Zeal replies, 
 Then bade, when Morn fhould purple o'er the Skies, 
 In fep'rate Bodies to divide the Band, 
 And ev'ry Chief his fev'ral Pow'r command. 
 
 Now rofe the Sun, and with unuiual Ray 
 Bright and ferene o'er Heav'n diffused the Day. 
 Forth iflues from the Camp the martial Train 
 Beneath their Enfigns to th* appointed Plain, 
 
 a Rang'd
 
 \ 
 
 Book L Taffb s Jerufakm. 17 
 
 Rang'd in fair Order the Battalions fhine 
 In polifh'd Arms, a long-extended Line : 
 The Gen'ral plac'd, the marftial'd Hofts beheld, 
 Move on in Rank, and ftretch around the Field. 
 OH Memory ! Time's and blanc Oblivion's Foe, 
 Who treafur'ftFa&s and giv'ft the World to know, 
 Open thy Stores, that I may thence proclaim 
 What Hofts, what Chiefs to refcue Sion came, 
 Refound and brighten all their antient Praife, 
 Now mute and foil'd by a long Trat of Days j 
 And let my Verfe exalt each mighty Name 
 To ftiine eternal on the Sphere of Fame. 
 
 The LIST of the FORCES. 
 
 THEIR Colours firft the gallant French unbind, 
 And ftretch the golden Lily to the Wind. 
 From that fair IJle whofe rich and ample Ground 
 Four Rivers with circumfluent Streams (urround, 
 Late their King's Brother, led the chofen Pow'r, 
 Now wrapt in Death he heard of Wars no more ; 
 
 C His
 
 1 8 Faffos Jerufakm. Book L 
 
 His Troops their Standard under Clotaire bring, 
 Clotaire in all things, but the Name, a King : 
 All clad in pond'rous Arms, a valiant Band, 
 A thoufand Spears obey the Chief's Command. 
 Equal in Force to thefe the Normans came, 
 In Looks, in Genius, Arms and Skill the fame ; 
 To Roberfs Conduct truft the martial Train, 
 Who o'er their Country ftretch'd his native Reign. 
 
 Two Paftors of the People next appear, 
 Blamelefs Gulielmo^ and good Ademar y 
 Whofe pious Hands before the facred Shrine 
 Had pra&is'd long the Miniftry divine j 
 Now to fierce War the zealous Priefts repair, 
 The pondrous Helmets prefs their Length of Hair: 
 Thefe head the Troops, Orangia\ City yields, 
 And thofe who plough the beauteous Pavian Fields j 
 Four Hundred Horfemen own each Leader's Care^ 
 Dextrous alike in ev'ry Turn of War. 
 
 THEN Baldwin the bold Boulogniam led, 
 His own, and thofe his Brother us'd to head, 
 Since He, now Chief of Chiefs, unrival'd ftands, 
 And all obfequious wait his high Commands. 
 
 Garnutfs
 
 Book I. Taffos Jemfakm. . 19 
 
 CarnutPs Standard next was feen to rife, 
 A Man in Action bold, in Council wife j 
 Four hundred Warriors to the Plain he guides, 
 But o'er twelve hundred Baldwin prefides. 
 
 Now to the Field his Banner Guelpho bore, 
 For Honours much renown 'd, for Virtue more. 
 He by his Latin Sire from Efte fprung, 
 Boafts a lure Line of Anceftors and long ; 
 But German in Dominion and in Name, 
 The mighty Chief the Guelphian Records claim. 
 He ruPd Carinthia and the Lands that join 
 Faft on the Banks of Ifler and of Rhine, 
 Where dwelt the antient Swave and Rhetian 
 Line. 
 
 j 
 
 The Mother's Dow'r devolving to the Son, 
 The Son augmented by vaft Conquefts won 5 
 Thence brought a Race, who prodigal of Breath 
 Undaunted dare the grizly Front of Death j 
 In warm Retreats they fhun the wintry Blaft, 
 And grace with joyous Song the genial Feaft : . 
 Five thoufand once, now fcarce a third they tell, 
 The reft, by Perfian Swords, in Battle fell. 
 
 C z A
 
 20 TaJJos Jemfakm. Book I 
 
 
 A Nation next their Standard raised in Air, 
 White was their Skin, and fla^n was their Hair, 
 Whom France, Germania, and the Sea furround, 1 
 Where the J/0///<? ?L\\& Rhine overflow theGround ! 
 With foodful Grain and plenteous Paftures 
 
 crown'd : 
 
 j 
 
 With thefe their Iflanders in Order rode, 
 Who check with lofty Mounds the Ocean Flood, 
 The Ocean there that with impetuous Wave 
 Whelms Towns and Countries in one common 
 
 Grave : 
 
 Both Troops in all a thoufand jointly came 
 Beneath one Chief, and Robert was his Name. 
 
 NEXT, and (uperior but by few in Force, 
 Britannia's generous Warriors take their Courfej 
 Thefe, fkill'd to gall the Battle of the Foe, 
 Wing the barb'd Arrow from th' enormous Bow : 
 'Twas William led the dauntlefs Squadron on, 
 William the brave, their Monarch's youngeft 
 
 Son. 
 
 Him, as their Chief, obey the fhaggy Train, 
 Who dwell yet nearer to the Northern Wain, 
 
 4 Hibernia
 
 Book I. Taffos Jerufakm. 21 
 
 i 
 
 Hibernia thefe in gloomy Woods confined, 
 Remoteft Ifle from all the World disjoined. 
 
 THEN jT^rm/came j of all the martial Throng 
 None, but Rinaldo^ boafts an Arm more ftrong, 
 Or with fuperior Grace of Feature fhin'd, 
 Or bore a manlier Mien or braver Mind : 
 
 ' 8 
 
 If any Fault obfcur'd his bright Renown, 
 Love, gentle Folly ! was that Fault alone, 
 Love (udden born amid the Rage of War, 
 Nurfs'd by Affliction, and confirm 9 d by Care. 
 On that great fignal Day, fuch Fame's Record, 
 When Perfia fled before the Chriftian Sword, 
 Tancredo^ Vitor in the bloody Fray, 
 O'erfpent with the vaft Labours of the Day, 
 Ceas'd from the long Purfuit of flying Foes, 
 T ? appeafe his Third and give his Limbs repofe j 
 A Spring he fought, a living Spring he found 
 Whofe verdant Banks umbrageous Honours bound. 
 
 HERE, fatal Chance ! a Maid divinely fair 
 He fpy'd in Arms, her Head alone was bare j 
 Pagan fhe was, and (he too hither came, 
 The fame her Purpofe, and the Caufe the fame. 
 
 The
 
 Taffos Jerufakm. Book L 
 
 The Hero paus'd, his wondring Eyes he turns 
 O'er all the graceful Form, he loves, he burns ; 
 
 Strange ! Love fcarce born, full Growth imme- 
 
 o ' 
 
 diate gains, 
 
 Mounts on the Wing, and arm'd, triumphant 
 reigns. 
 
 She brac'd her Helm, and eager to invade 
 
 The mufmg Chief, half drew the glitt'ring Blade, 
 
 When, cafting round a cafual Glance, fhe fpy'd 
 
 New Foes thick gath'ring on the Hero's Side j 
 
 By fole Neceffity compelled to fly, 
 
 Inftant fhe vanifh'd from her Captive's Eye, 
 
 His Eye fhe fled, but flying left behind 
 
 Her living Image printed in his Mind j 
 
 In Fancy ftill the fatal Spring is feen, 
 
 The beauteous Vifage and the warlike Mien, 
 
 The dear Remembrance fans his fond Defire, 
 
 And adds inceflant Fuel to the Fire. 
 
 Well might you fee in his deje&ed Air, 
 
 Love's keeneft Anguifh mixt with deep Defpair, 
 
 His mournful Breaft heav'd with a lab'ring Sigh, 
 
 And on the Ground was bent his penfive Eye, 
 
 A
 
 Book I. Taffos Jerusalem* 23 
 
 A Son of Woe ! Beneath this Hero's Care 
 Eight hundred Horfemen fought the Eaftern War, 
 Who in Campania's Plains, delicious Earth ! 
 The Pomp of Nature ! boaft their happy Birth, 
 And in thofe Hills whofe ever-fmiling Sides 
 Tyrrhenus laves with foft embracing Tides. 
 
 Two hundred Grecians on the Field appear. 
 Nor moony Shields, nor heavy Mail they wear, 
 But at their Sides a bending Glaive is bound, 
 Behind, their Bows, and rattling Shafts refound. 
 Fleet were their Steeds, by Labour unfubdu'd, 
 And fmall the Portion they required of Food ; 
 Quick to aflail their Courfe the Warriors bear 
 O'er Fields of Death, and thunder thro' the War, 
 Or active in Retreat with Ranks disjoin'd 
 They fight, or wing the feather'd Fates behind. 
 
 THESE Tatin guides ; of all the Grecian Name 
 Tatin alone to join the Chriftians came j 
 O Crime ! O Shame, in ev'ry future Age ! 
 Heard'ftthounot,Grm^,theneighb'ringBattle rage ? 
 And could'ft thou fit, as at a Show, content 
 To view great Actions and to wait th' Event ? 
 
 Go
 
 24 fa/Jo s jferufakm. Book L 
 
 Go then, bafe Slave, nor of thy Lot complain, 
 Juftice, not Wrong, affign'd the fervile Chain. 
 
 LAST the bold Squadron of Advent'rers came, 
 The laft in Order, but the firft in Fame j 
 Unconquer'd ftill in fighting Fields they dare, 
 The Dread of Afia, Thunder-bolts of War. 
 Let Argo boaft no more her Chiefs of old, 
 
 O ' 
 
 Who fought thro' Seas unknown the Fleece of Gold, 
 Nor Britijh Arthur vaunt his Hero's Worth, 
 So long refounded thro 9 the fpacious Earth, 
 Silenc'd be ev'ry Name of antient Days, 
 Thefe Glories darken their diminifli'd Praife. 
 O fay, what Chieftain worthy thefe to head ? 
 Dudon of Conti 5 He the Squadron led. 
 Since here each Soldier had an equal Claim 
 To martial Valour and a noble Name, 
 They chofe united Dudon to obey, 
 Eldeft in Arms and grown in Combat grey, 
 For long Experience o'er the reft renown'd, 
 Tho' full of Days with youthful Vigour crown 'd j 
 From many a Fight, full many a Scar he bore, 
 All honourable Wounds, and all before. 
 
 IN
 
 Book I. Taffos Jemfalem. 25 
 
 IN the firft Rank the great Euftatius came, 
 Who bore a Title to no vulgar Fame, 
 But in his Brother's Glories brighter (hone. 
 Near him Gernando rode (great Norway $* Son) 
 High on his Steed he glows with haughty Fire, 
 Vain of his boafted Realm and fcepter'd Sire. 
 Great Earnavilla next in Rank fucceeds, 
 With Engerlan renown 'd for martial Deeds : 
 Gentonio then, and in the noble Throng 
 Rambaldo and two Gerards march'd along : 
 Nor was the bold Ubaldo wanting there, 
 Nor thou brave Rofimond^ Lancaftria's Heir. 
 
 WHO ihall Obizo in Oblivion drown, 
 A Tufcan. Name, inlatiate of Renown ? 
 t)r of their Fame the Lombard Brothers wrong 
 Achilles , Sforza, Palamed the ftrong ? 
 Or Offo, He whofe nervous Arm upheld 
 The broad CircumPrence of the conquered Shield, 
 Where roll'd a mimick Snake its Length along, 
 From whofe black Jaws a naked Infant hung ? 
 Nor Guafco^ nor Ridolpho leave behind, 
 Nor each bold Guido^ Men of mighty Mind j 
 
 D Nor
 
 z6 Taffos Jemfakm. Book L 
 
 Nor fink ungrateful in th ? oblivious Wave 
 Guernier the bold, and Eberard the brave. 
 
 ME tir'dwith numb Ving, whither matchlefs Pair, 
 Gildippe, Edward, whither do ye bear ? 
 O married Lovers ! join'd in Hands and Heart, 
 You fought united, nor in Death fhall part. 
 Taught in Love's School, this Fair in Steel Attire 
 Prefs'd her foft Limbs, (what cannot Love infpire!) 
 Her Hufband's Labours ftudious to divide, 
 Still at his Heart, and ever at his Side j 
 Two Bodies with one Soul ; does this complain ? 
 That mourning bears a fympathetick Pain : 
 Both feel the Wound, if either bleeding lies, 
 And if This die, That fickens, faints and dies. 
 
 RINALDO now, majeftically tall, 
 Tow'rs o'er the Armies, and out-fhines them ally 
 Himfelf an Hoft ! mature beyond his Years, 
 The Bud fcarce op'ning when the Fruit appears : 
 Sweetly tremendous ! when the Battle join'd, 
 He feem'd Mars rufhing to confound Mankind^ 
 But from his Brow the horrid Helm remove, 
 Coeleftial Features fpeak him God of Love. 
 
 Him
 
 Book I. Taffb s Jerufalem. 27 
 
 Him on Adigia\ Banks Sophia bare 
 To great Eartald^ Sophia heav'nly Fair. 
 Matilda^ fecond to a Mother's Cares, 
 The Infant took, and nurs'd his tender Years j 
 Still at her Side he liv'd, a darling Joy, 
 And fhe to royal Virtues form'd the Boy : 
 'Till the loud Trumpet founding from the Eaft, 
 With love of Glory warm'd his youthful Bread, 
 Not fifteen Years had circled o'er his Head, 
 When fole thro' many an unknown Land he fled, 
 Travers'd th 9 j&g<eaff) paft the Grecian Coaft, 
 And join'd in Realms remote the Chriftian Hoft. 
 O noble Flight ! O worthy endlefs Praife ! 
 Example to thy Sons in future Days! 
 Three Years tho' heavy Arms his Limbs had preft, 
 Scarce did the Down his rofy Cheeks inveft. 
 
 THE Horfemen paft} aCloudofFootfucceeds, 
 The firft Battalion great Raimondo leads, 
 Lord of Touloufe ; he brought the Men who till 
 The fpacious Foot of high Pirene*s HilL 
 Here round the Realm her Stream Garonna pours, 
 There Ocean beats the hoarfe-refounding Shores } 
 
 D a Four
 
 28 TaJJos Jerufakm. Book L 
 
 Four thoufandwere hisHoft,well arm'd,well (kilFd, 
 And worn to Labours of the dufty Field : 
 Bold were the Troops, nor cpuld a Chief be found 
 For martial Art or Valour more renown 9 d. 
 
 FROM Tours and Blois five thoufand Warriors 
 
 came, 
 
 Stephen of Amboife was their Leader's Name. 
 Weak were the Men, tho' all in Armour bright, 
 Nor could fiipport the long-contefted Fight. 
 Soft, laughing, pleafant, like their natal Earth, 
 The fpruce Inhabitants came gayly forth, 
 The firft the adverfe Battle to engage, 
 But foon, their Nerves relax'd, defert their Rage. 
 
 ALCASTO then his threat'ning Forehead rear'd, 
 (So before Thebes ftern Capaneus appeared) 
 Six thoufand Switzers wait his dread Command,. 
 Born in the Alps^ a grim, terrifick Band : 
 The Steel, once us'd to turn the fallow Soil, 
 They form and temper to a nobler Toil, 
 And with thofe Hands that wont the Herds to 
 
 guide, 
 
 Proud Empires threatened, and their Hofts defyM 
 a LAST
 
 2 9 
 
 T3f 
 
 LAST high in Air the holy Banner fhone, 
 Adorn'd with Peter's Keys and Tripple Crown j 
 Sev'n thoufand clad in heavy Arms appear, 
 Led by Camillas to the Field of War : 
 Joy fwells his Soul to fee high Heav'n infpire 
 A Tafk refponfive to his brave Defire, 
 A Tafk to emulate the mighty Name 
 Of his great Sires, and equal all their Fame j 
 At leaft in Arms fhow Rome fuperior ftill, 
 
 Or if flie fail'd, fhe only fail'd in Skill & -?, 
 
 f 
 
 THUS by their Leader's Care each martial Band 
 Paft in due Order, Godfrey gave Command 
 To call the Gen'rals ; ftrait the Circle crown 'd, 
 The Chief befpoke the lift'ning Peers around. 
 
 SOON as the Morn the purple Orient warms, 
 Let each draw forth his Squadrons (heath'd in arms, 
 With fwifteft Speed to Sion ihall they bend, 
 And her high Walls with quick Surprize afcend. 
 Hafte then, ye Peers, prepare to march your Pow'rSj 
 Prepare to fight, for Victory is ours. 
 Fir'd with the Sage's Words the Heroes burn, 
 And all impatient wait the coming Morn. 
 
 BUT
 
 Taffos Jerufalem. Book I. 
 
 BUT not devoid of Fear was Godfrey's Breaft, 
 (The prudent Warrior yet that Fear fuppreft) 
 Late had he heard, for fuch the Voice of Fame, 
 That Egypt's King with Speed to Gaza came ; 
 How numerous Squadrons on his Courfe attend, 
 Deftin'd the Bounds of Syria to defend. 
 Nor could he think a Prince, who joy 'd to dare 
 In ev'ry defp'rate Enterprize of War, 
 Would peaceful long the Scene of Arms foregoe, 
 An haughty Monarch and a dang'rous Foe. 
 To wait the Hero's Will Henrico ftands, 
 A trufty Legate, whom he thus commands : 
 
 HASTE, launch a fwift-wing'd Veflel to the Seas, 
 And ftretch inceflant to the Shores of Greece : 
 Soon will arrive, I hear, a royal Youth, 
 (So one reports, who ftill reports the Truth) 
 Prince of the Danes, who comes to claim a Share 
 In all our Toils, a Brother of the War : 
 A numerous Band obey the Chief's Controul 
 Born in the Realms that freeze beneath the Pole : 
 But left the Grecian King with wonted Art, 
 Perfidious pra&ife on the Hero's Heart, 
 
 Perfuade
 
 Book L Taffos Jemfakm. 
 
 Perfiiade him backward to return, or far 
 
 To diftant Regions hence transfer the War, 
 
 ^j * 
 
 Go thou, my Envoy, ever juft and true, 
 Urge the bold Youth his Purpofe to purfue ; 
 Declare, his Int'reft is with ours the fame, 
 And now to linger darkens all his Fame : 
 Return not thou, the Grecian Court attend, 
 And move the King his promised Aid to fend, 
 Long promis'd -- tell him, all the facred Laws 
 Of Treaties bind him to affift our Caufe. 
 
 HE {poke, and to the Legate's Hand convey 'd 
 The feal'd Credentials j He, Obeifance pay'd, 
 Haftes to the Shore with full Inftrution fraught : 
 Then made theChief aTruce withanxiousThought. 
 
 THE Sun arifing in th' aethereal Way, 
 Thro'Hea v'n's bright Portals pour 'd the beamy Day, 
 Hoarfe Drums and Trumpets give the loud Alarms, 
 Each Bofom boils, each Warrior ftarts to Arms : 
 With ftern Delight they hear the martial Sound ; 
 So Thunder rumbling o'er the vaft Profound, 
 Exalts the Lab'rers Soul with Hopes of Rain, 
 When fultry Sun-beams fcorch the bearded Grain. 
 a Inftant f
 
 TaJJos Jerufakm. Book L 
 
 Inftant, in Arms array'd, each fev'ral Band 
 Moves into Rank, beneath their Chief's Command : 
 Then all in Order the Battalions join'd, 
 The wide fpread Banners float upon the Wind ; 
 High in the midft th' Imperial Standard rofe, 
 On whofe broad Flag the Crofs triumphant glows. 
 MEAN while the Sun his fervid Orb had driv'n, 
 Still mounting on, above the Vault of Heav'n j 
 Their Arms refulgent, as his Glories play, 
 Emit around intolerable Day, 
 The ftreamy Sparkles flafhing thick arife j 
 Shoot the quick Flames and kindle all the Skies : 
 Loud neigh their Courfers, ring their Arms around, 
 And o'er the Region runs a deaPning Sound. 
 The careful Chief the dubious Coaft to know, 
 Cautious of Ambufti from th' infidious Foe, 
 Difpatch'd of light-arm'd Horfe a numerous Band, 
 And Pillagers to plunder round the Land, 
 To fill each Fofle, to fmooth each rugged Space, 
 And open ev'ry clofe impervious Pals. 
 
 AND
 
 33 
 
 AND now unchecked they pierce th' intangled 
 
 Woods, 
 Climb the fteep Cliffs, and ftem the roaring 
 
 Floods } 
 
 No hoftile Forces and no Walls too ftrong, 
 They urge thro' all, and drive the Field along. 
 As when the King of Rivers, boiftrous Po, 
 Lifts his huge Urn, and bids a Deluge flow, 
 
 The Torrent thunders o'er the crumbling; Bounds, 
 
 ^j * 
 
 Impetuous fpreads, and whelms the wafted Grounds, 
 Nor Man, nor Nature can his Rage withftand j 
 So pour'd the Hoft refiftlefs o'er the Land. 
 
 THE King of ^Tripoli, whofe well-fenc'd Tow'rs 
 Were ftor'd with Treafures, Arms and num'rous 
 
 Pow'rs, 
 Perhaps had ftay'd their Courfe j but, feiz'd with 
 
 Fear, 
 
 He ikulk'd behind his Walls, nor dar'd the War j 
 Thence fent Ambafladors a Peace to gain 
 
 o 
 
 With Pray'rs and coftly Gifts, nor fent in vain : 
 WhatTerms,G0^ra/0 grants, fuch back they bring, 
 And fuch with Joy receiv'd the fuppliant King. 
 
 E Here
 
 34 Taffos Jerufalem. Book L 
 
 Here lofty Seir views the facred Town, 
 The Side that's brightened by the rifing Sun : 
 Thence came the faithful Flock, a countlefc 
 
 Throng, 
 
 Youth and white Age tumultuous pour along, 
 With Gifts to greet the Chriftian Chief they ran, 
 Exulting to behold the mighty Man ; 
 They urge, they prefs to hear his Words, and 
 
 gaze 
 O'er all the Pilgrim Hoft with glad Amaze. 
 
 A Guide thefe furnilh'd : Strait the Warriors 
 
 keep 
 Their Courfe, ftill bearing tow'rd the neighboring 
 
 Deep, 
 
 By Paths dire&, well-knowing there to meet 
 The due Afliftance of the friendly Fleet, 
 Whofe Veflels, as they fail'd along the Coaft, 
 With Arms abundant might fupply the Hoft j 
 Reap all the Ifles of Greece ', and bring the Store 
 Of Wines from Crete ^ and Scions rocky Shore. 
 
 A Fleet enormous fwept the liquid Road, 
 (The bending Ocean groan'd beneath the Load) 
 
 Which
 
 Book L Taffo s Jerufakm. 55 
 
 Which left no Paflage to the Pagans free 
 To fleer their Voyage thro' the mid-land Sea. 
 Marcus and George the gathered Sail attend, 
 That pleafing Venice and Liguria fend ; 
 To thefe the Ships of viny France fucceed, 
 Britannia famous for her fleecy Breed, 
 Low Eelgia beaten by the rolling Main, 
 And fair Sicilia far renown'd for Grain. 
 
 DIVERS their Chiefs, but all united came 
 With focial Souls, and Sentiments the fame j 
 And all, auxiliar to the Camp, were fraught 
 With gather'd Stores, from various Countries 
 brought. 
 
 AND now around the trembling Pagans fly, 
 And open wide th' abandoned Frontiers lye : 
 Swift march the Chriftians tow'rd the hallow'd 
 
 Ground 
 Where CHRIST fubmitted to the mortal Wound. 
 
 BUT Fame before on hafty Pinions flies,- 
 Fame, bufy Meflenger of Truth and Lies ! 
 She founds aloud the Chriftian Armies join'd, 
 How they roll on, impetuous, unconfin'd, 
 
 E a The
 
 TaJJb s Jerufakm. Book I. 
 
 The Climes, the Numbers of th 5 aflembled Hoft, 
 What Chiefs command, and what Renown they 
 
 boaft 5 
 
 Thundering thro' Sion dire Difmay (he fpreads, 
 And threatens Vengeance on th 9 Ufurpers Heads. 
 The fecret Dread of 111 impending near, 
 Is oft a Curfe beyond the 111 we fear. 
 Now each uncertain Breath that Rumour fends 
 Draws ev'ry Ear, and ev'ry Mind fufpends j 
 A mingled Murmur univerfal reigns 
 Thro' the fad City, and furrounding Plains : 
 The King alone, (with coming Dangers preft) 
 Revolv'd fierce Counfels in his anxious Breaft. 
 
 THEN Aladine pofleft the Throne, and there 
 But newly feated, liv'd in endleis Care, 
 Cruel by Nature, but the Hand of Age 
 Had cooPd his Paffions, and becalm'd his Rage. 
 Soon as the Chriftians near Approach was known y 
 And all the Storm impending o'er the Town, 
 New Fears to join his old Sulpicions grew ? 
 And now his Foes he dreads and Subjeb too. 
 
 FOR
 
 Book L Taffos Jerufakm. 37 
 
 FOR in the Circuit of one Wall reiide 
 Two differing Tribes, whom various Faiths divide; 
 The Many and the Strong to Macon fue, 
 In Chrift believe the Feeble and the Few. 
 But when this Monarch made the Realm obey, 
 He, to cement the Props of fbv'reign Sway,, 
 From publick Impofts fet the former free, 
 And whelm'd on thefe the doubled Mifery. 
 Mindful of this, the Tyrant feels again 
 His native Rage, by Years becalm'd in vain : 
 In his blackThoughts new Scenes of Slaughter roll, 
 And Third of Blood burns fiercer in his Soul. 
 So in the Spring the turgid Serpent glows, 
 That feem'd but fmall, benumb'd amid the Snows. 
 So the tam'd Lion, if offended, burns, 
 And all the Fury on his Soul returns. 
 
 WELL I perceive (in fecret thus he cries) 
 In this falfe Race new fpringing Joys arife 5 
 The common Lofs has Charms for them alone,. 
 They with a Smile enjoy the gen'ral Groan : 
 Who knows but now the wretched Caitives lay 
 Some hidden Scheme, to take our Life away? 
 
 Or
 
 38 Taffos Jerufakm. Book I. 
 
 Or from our aged Brow to tear the Crown, 
 
 c? * 
 
 And friendly to the Foe betray the Town ? 
 
 I truft they fhall not Vengeance (hall deftroy 
 
 Thofe impious Schemes, and for their Guilt they 
 
 die : 
 
 Not one (hall Mercy fpare j nor Sex nor Age 
 Shall fave a Chriftian from our boundlefs Rage ; 
 Their Babes, their Infants at the Breaft ftiall fall, 
 And one prodigious Ruin bury all : 
 Their Houfes,Temples,fhall with Flames befpread, 
 Thefe be the Pyres, due Honours, for the Dead ; 
 Their Priefts, while o'er yon Tomb they breathe 
 
 their Sighs, 
 Shall bleed, and be themfelves the Sacrifice. 
 
 THUS thought theTyrant in his murderous Mind, 
 Yet left undone the cruel Deed defign'd : 
 N<* that Compaffion mov'd ; no tender Senfe 
 Preferv'd unharmed the Head of Innocence, 
 But Fear alone j ftrong Fear at firft impelled 
 His Arm to Blood, a ftronger now with-held, 
 Foreboding ftiould he make thefe Chriftians bleed, 
 The conquering Armies might avenge the Deed. 
 
 THUS
 
 Book L Taffos Jerufakm. 39 
 
 THUS pond'ring much, he moderates his Ire, 
 And bends to other Thoughts his fierce Defire. 
 The rural Structures low in Afhes lie, 
 The fruitful Cultures vanifti from the Eye ; 
 O'er all the Fields wide Defblation reigns, 
 Nor Food, nor Harbour for the Foe remains ; 
 
 He choaks the Fountains, and difturbs the Rills, 
 
 *. 
 
 And the pure Streams with deadly Poiibn fills, 
 Cruelly cautious ! and preventing all, 
 He ftrengthens Sion, and fecures her Wall. 
 Strong on three Sides the City flood, the fourth, 
 Which pointed to the Regions of the North, 
 Was weak alone ; but inftant this he bound 
 With many a Tow'r, and many a rifing Mound ; 
 Then linM his Battlements with native Bands, 
 And mercenary Troops from foreign Lands. 
 
 END of the FIRST BOOK. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 24. line 9. read Heroes. 
 
 P. 28. /, 12, r. Butfoon their Nerves relax'd defert their Rage,

 
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