[ Translation ] From Tasso [ Gerusalemme Liberata ] Canto 14 , Stanza 32-9 Preser commiato , e si'l desire gli sprona , &c : Dismissed at length , they break through all delay To tempt the dangers of the doubtful way ; And first to Ascalon their steps they bend , Whose walls along the neighbouring sea extend . Nor yet in prospect rose the distant shore , Scarce the hoarse waves from far were heard to roar , When thwart the road a river rolled its flood Tempestuous , and all further course withstood : The torrent-stream his ancient bounds disdains , Swoll'n with new force and late-descending rains . Irresolute they stand , when lo ! appears The wondrous sage : vigorous he seemed in years , Awful his mien ; low as his feet there flows A vestment unadorned , though white as new-fall'n snows ; Against the stream the waves secure he trod , His head a chaplet bore , his hand a rod . As on the Rhine when Boreas' fury reigns And winter binds the floods in icy chains , Swift shoots the village-maid in rustic play , Smooth , without step , adown the shining way , Fearless in long excursion loves to glide , And sports and wantons o'er the frozen tide ; So moved the seer , but on no hardened plain : The river boiled beneath and rushed towards the main . Where fixed in wonder stood the warlike pair His course he turned and thus relieved their care : ' Vast , O my friends , and difficult the toil To seek your hero in a distant soil ! No common helps , no common guide , ye need , Art it requires and more than winged speed . What length of sea remains , what various lands , Oceans unknown , inhospitable sands ! For adverse fate the captive chief has hurled Beyond the confines of our narrow world . Great things and full of wonder in your ears I shall unfold ; but first dismiss your fears , Nor doubt with me to tread the downward road That to the grotto leads , my dark abode . ' Scarce had he said , before the warriors' eyes When mountain-high the waves disparted rise : The flood on either hand its billows rears , And in the midst a spacious arch appears . Their hands he seized and down the steep he led , Beneath the obedient river's inmost bed . The watery glimmerings of a fainter day Discovered half , and half concealed , their way , As when athwart the dusky woods by night The uncertain crescent gleams a sickly light . Through subterraneous passages they went , Earth's inmost cells and caves of deep descent . Of many a flood they viewed the secret source , The birth of rivers , rising to their course ; Whate'er with copious train its channel fills , Floats into lakes or bubbles into rills . The Po was there to see , Danubius' bed , Euphrates' fount and Nile's mysterious head . Further they pass , where ripening minerals flow , And embryon metals undigested glow ; Sulphureous veins and living silver shine , Which soon the parent sun's warm powers refine , In one rich mass unite the precious store , The parts combine and harden into ore . Here gems break through the night with glittering beam , And paint the margin of the costly stream . All stones of lustre shoot their vivid ray , And mix attempered in a various day . Here the soft emerald smiles , of verdant hue , And rubies flame , with sapphires heavenly blue ; The diamond there attracts the wondering sight , Proud of its thousand dyes and luxury of light .