a line beautifully characteristic, is altogether neglected; but, to counterbalance these inaccuracies, Fairefax has inserted a line of his own, of singular deliciousness "The rose within herself her sweetnes clos'd;" there is, however, nothing of the kind in the original. We shall draw another parallel, in which we think Carew will not be deemed inferior to his successor. It is the description of Night, at the end of the second book-a description evidently taken by Tasso from Virgil. Fairefax. "Now spread the Night her spangled canopie, Carew. And sommon'd every restlesse eie to sleepe: Now was it night, when in deepe rest enrol'd, Are waves and winds, and mute the world doth show, Of billow'd sea, and of moyst streames that flow, Under their secret horrours silenced, Stilled their cares, and their harts suppelled." The following is the description, given by our translators, of the youthful Tancred preparing for the fight. Fairefax. "Mast-great the speare was which the gallant bore, To her that neere him seated was before, Who felt her hart with love's hot fever quake, * As a proof of the very unwarrantable alterations in the edition of Fairefax, published in 1749, we may observe that this line is given thus: "Sooth'd mortal cares, and lull'd the world to rest." Say who is he showes so great worthinesse, That rides so ranke, and bends his lance so fell? Her hart with sighes, her eies with teares did swell; "Till hart with sighs, and eyes with teares ron over. Book III. Carew. So strong great launce he beares, and in such guyse Him deemes amongst the best a chosen knight, And now her heart feels in a panting plight, On lips a sigh, and in her eyes a teare; But breath and weeping backe she doth reclame, For her swolne eyes, a purple circle faire, Tainted, and hoarse halfe sigh brake forth to aire." We may again remark the interpolation of a simile in the first book of these stanzas from Fairefax. "As windes tall cedars tosse on mountaines hore." Carew's translation of the combat between Clorinda and Tancred is very spirited, though quaint. "Tancred's assault this while Clorinda plyes, Her eyes do flash, her lookes do lighten bright, They hold? Tancred, whereon think'st thou? thy sight Flames burn'st, thy hart (her picture's shrine) the case He that of painted shield, and of her crest grow She may, and him assayles, he gets her fro, Yet at her hand peace cannot purchase so; From whence his bow Love uneschewed bends; Falles vaine, but in my heart findes lighting place." The description of Armida in the following stanza, though fantastic, is exceedingly beautiful-the four last lines are quite singular for the minute accuracy, yet happy elegance, of the translation. Had it been possible that the whole Poem could have been so perfectly transmuted into English, we might, indeed, believe that we were reading Tasso.-The copy is absolutely verbatim. "The winde new crisples makes in her loose haire, Her sparing lookes a coy regard doth beare, With yvorie is spirst and mingelled, But in her mouth whence breath of love outgoes, The four last lines in Tasso run thus: "Dolce color di rosse in quel bel volto Concealed. A wimple is a covering for the neck. Ma nella bocca, ond' esce aura amorosa, Sola rosseggia, e semplice la rosa." How very different is Fairefax's translation-it is beautiful, but it is not the beauty of Tasso. "The rose, the lily on her cheeke, assaies To paint true fairenesse out in bravest sort; Her lips, where blooms nought but the single rose, The turn, or rather the conceit, in the last line, is entirely Fairefax's own property. The following is the description of Armida when she had concluded her appeal. "There silenc'd she, and seemed a disdaine, If so a dewy cloud do water them, When to calme breath their closed lap they spred, The conquering beauty and guile of Armida is finely told, and the version of it is by no means bad. "But whiles she sweetly speakes, and laughes sweetly, And with this two-fold sweetnes luls the sense, Well neere she makes the soule from bodie fly, As 'gainst so rare delites voyde of defence. Ah, cruel love! that slay'th us equally Where wormewood thou or hony do dispence, And equal deadly at all seasons bee Mischiefes and medicines, which proceede of thee." Fairefax, according to his custom, has forced two similies into this stanza; we have 'Cupid's deepe rivers have their shallow fordes." And again: "Achilles' lance, that woundes and heales againe." There is much spirit in the following version.-Rinaldo is indignant at his threatened punishment. "Rinaldo somewhat smilde, and with a face, In which, 'twixt laughter, flashed a disdaine, Will die, 'ere base cord, hand or foot astraine : But if for my deserts such recompense Godfrey will yeeld, and me in prison cast, Then let him come or send, I will not hence: Present for pastime to our forraine foe. This said, he cals for armes, and head and brest (As lightning wonts) he in his armour shines: Tancred this while his fierce sprites doth procure, I know, ech hard and tough attempt will plie: Midst armes and terrour stands your vertue hie: Tell me what meane you do? will you go staine And with Christen's vnworthy wounds, againe |