Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-08-09
rAsso,s "JxRusALEM..

than has been given to it in any other epic
poem, and has elevated woman to posi-
ton only conceded to her at that time by
Christian romaIceTs.
Il is in the character of Clorinda, the
woman warrior, that the great beauties of
this poem are displayed. She is the hero
inc of the Saracen army and beloved Of the
Great Tancred, with whom he knowingly
combatS.
During the encounter he strikes off her
helmet with bis spear and resists her no
longer, but declares his love while she
presses on him with her sword. Before
either is hurt they are separated by some
stragglers from the Saracen army.
Clorinda, disappointed that she has not
had an opportunity Of distinguishing herself
on the battlefield, resolves on g desperate
enterprise, from which Arsetes, her aged
attendant, endeayors to diSsuade her by re
vealing to her the secret of her birth, of
which she was before ignorant.
Her glittering arms Clorinda laid aside.
Her vest with silver wrought. her helmets pride;
sable suit prophetic OF her doom,
She took, UNDECIDED of ornament or plume;
For unperceiyed she trusted thus to go,
And cheat the observance of the watchful foe;
Twas then Arsetes Joined the warrior Fair,
Tie Eunuch old, whose unremitting care
His Mistress step mid tolls and dangers rude,
Surmounting ages weakness, Still pursued.
Her altered guise with wonder and with awe
He marked the impending danger well he saw;
And much he wept and by his silver hairs,
BY the past memory of his pious cares,
He urged her to deSst; but vain his tearH
His fond entreaties, and his streaming tears,
Then thus at length Is thy unbendinS VIII
Be fixed upon this fatal purpose STILL
Thought my prayers avail, my tears that flow.
My age, my fOndneSs. or my locks OF snow,
More will tell prepare thy birth to hear,
A tale ne'r yet unioldcd to thine ear:
This known, as wisest may appear to thee,
Ny wishes or thine own, thy guide shall be"
Arsetcs then tells her that she is the
daughter Of the Queen Of Ethiopia and that
she is under the protection Of Saint George,
who had often in his dreams to AESeteS as
well Us Clorinda urged her baptism. Beng
afraid her husband would destroy her in
FAINT, the Queen put her in the keeping Of
the faithful Arsetes TO convey to place OF
safety, and implores Divine protection tor
her babe:
a. length she raised her eyes to heaven and
cried,
" Oh thou, from W HON no human soul can hide
Its secret deeds, ifths pnre breast within
4 spotless heart be found unstained BY sin.
Not for myself ask thy aid divine
Innumbered errors and misdeeds are mine.
Unworthy in thy sight, and base am Il;
But save this babe, to whom the fates deny
10 suck its mothers bosom. or to prove
The endearlng f0nuIleSs OF pareIlJal lOFC
In sD0tlcSs honor may she rival me =.
But different different far her fortune be r
On his way to Egypt with her Arsetes
was visited in his dreams one night by
phantom warrior.
" Hear my command" the angry phantom cries:
81 Straight in the sacred wave the babe baptize,
As by her mother erst the charge was given;
The favored infant is the care OF heaven.
Her guardianship the powers above assign
To me TO shield her and preserve, is mine:
And woe to thee, ifheedless thou shalt prove -.
OF this thy dream, commissioned from aboVeF'
Arsetes then tells Clorinda that Saint
George had appeared again to him the night
before and warned him of her fate and
urges her to lay aside her arms, but the
maid resumed her tranquil looks and calmly
said
| e Tic Faith my conscience dictates to be true,
That Faith which from my infant days knew,
Sucked with my nurses milk, still VIII hold ;
In vain, my doubts to raise, thy tales are told.
Nor from my fixed design viii depart,
III would such change befit q valiant heart
Though deaths grim form, IL all those terrors
dreSt.
, II ;nur Treeze and paralyze the human breast.
before my startled eyes should now appear.
Nor TO repent were mine, nor mine TO tcar.
Needless of the remonstrances Of Arsetes,
and the warnings Of Saint George, she set
out at midnight with ArganteS to burn the
Christian tower. On being discovered by
the Christians she is pursued by Tancred.
So loud. 40 near
The clang Of aims alarmed her startled ear.
That falling sound, What wouldst thou hereT
she cried.
Battle and desthP' the Latin Prince replied;
" Battle and DEATH" the maid rejoined. " be
Thyse,fdemands, nor to refuse Is mine"
Then planting firm her foot she waits the fight,
Scornfug unequal terms. the Christian knight
Of de
The adverse champions wave their flashing
brands;
Each dares his foe, % valor wrath inspire,
Their mutual pride they rouse, and wake re-
spons!yc ire:
Not once drew back nor 5hrunk those generous
foes.
Nor strove to fence. nor ward their mutual blows.
Dexterity and skill are banished far;
No time is now to try the tricks OF war;
Pror1lscuous fury, and the gloom of night,
Render art useless, aud confound the fight,
At every stroke that falls with horTid Crash
Against the meeting steel their falchions clash
Where first their feet were planted, hrnl thcy
stand;
Unmoyed each foot. but restless is each hand
OFT in each others blood the steel they dye
Till faint at last and weary they retire,
And brcathlcas from the work OF death resplre-
His rivals blood the Christian knight surveyed
That down her drInor rolled its torrent red,
Himself meanwhile with less profusion blcd.
After a short respite the fight is renewed
with increased wrath and energy.
But 10 the fated moment now has come,
The moment CHARTERED with Cl0rinda's doom.
Great TanCrcd 5 sword her beauteouS bosom tore:
Deep lodged the greedy blade, and drank her
virgin gore;
Her robe of golden tissue that represt
TIL ambitious heavings of her snowy breast.
With the warm stream VISA filed. cold death as
said,
Her bloodlcss frame her languid footsteps failed
Tancred with threats the failing fair pursueS,
His conquest urges, and his blows reneWS.
She raises. as she falls, her voice OF woo,
And from her lips LIES latest accent iow,
Tn infusion of the Spirit from on high,
Spirit of Faith, of Hope, of Charity
New virtue 10y the Almighty Father given:
For in life she spurned the laws of heaven.
lie wiied ut least that in her dying hour,
Her cOntrite soul should own her SaVioIs power.
" Friend am conquered, thou hast pardon Free
And pardon demand in death from thee;
Not on this frame, which no base fear can know.
But on my parting spirit mercy show,
IT'S for my sinful soul bid thee pray;
Let rites baptisnal wash my guilt away"
From her pale lips these languid words TINT fell
Such sweetness breathed. divine. ineitable,
Asto the hero's heart resStleSs crept;
His ennity was husheSl, his anger slept.
And straight, compelled by some mysterious
force,
Irnbidden tears gush' d copious from their source
Emerging from the hilS s scanty brook.
Not far remote, its murIn' ring progress took.
Th;ther the soul struck warrior ran to fill
His hollow helmet at the limpid rill,
Then hastend TO perform the sad demand
Some conscious instinct shook his trembling
hand,
As from her face, till now unknown, he drew
The helm that oOverd IL he saw. he knew
All power of speech. of motion, then was gone
Nh cruel sight ah knowledge, best unknown
Nor yet ne died in that momentous hour,
Collecting all the remnant of his power.
Deep in his soul his sorrows he suppressed
And for the solemn Office arm'd his breast
That she, whom late his murd rous steel had
SLAIN
By waters saving power might live again.
AS from his tongue salvatore accents came.
New Joy transfOrTn'd the virgins dying frame
4 smile of gladness DER her features past,
And sweetly tranquil. as she breathed her last,
She seem'd 70 say Earth's vain delusions cease;
Heaven opens on my eyes; part in peace"
Der her fair face deaths livid hue arose;
So mix'd with violets, the lily shows
she fix d her eyes on heaven; the sun, the sky,