“Asithathever，“thustheDukebegun，“Thycounselshowsthywisdomandthylove，Andwhatyouleftindoubtshallthusbedone，Wewilltheirforceinpitchedbattleprove；
Closedinthiswallandtrench，thefighttoshun，Dothillthiscampbeseem，andworsebehove，Butwetheirstrengthandmanhoodwillassay，Andtry，inopenfieldandopenday。
CXXXI
“Thefameofourgreatconqueststosustain，Orbideourlooksandthreats，theyarenotable，AndwhenthisarmyissubduedandslainThenisourempiresettled，firmandstable，Thetowershallyield，orbutresistinvain，Forfearheranchoris，despairhercable。“
Thusheconcludes，androllingdownthewestFastsetthestars，andcalledthemalltorest。
TWENTIETHBOOK
THEARGUMENT。
ThePaganhostarrives，andcruelfightMakeswiththeChristiansandtheirfaithfulpower；
TheSoldanlongsinfieldtoprovehismight，Withtheoldkingquitsthebesiegedtower；
Yetbothareslain，andineternalnightAfamoushandgiveseachhisfatalhour；
RinaldappeasedArmida；firstthefieldTheChristianswin，thenpraisetoGodtheyyield。
I
Thesuncalleduptheworldfromidlesleep，AndofthedaytenhoursweregoneandpastWhentheboldtroopthathadthetowertokeepEspiedasuddenmist，thatovercastTheearthwithmirksomecloudsanddarknessdeep，AndsawitwastheEgyptiancampatlastWhichraisedthedust，forhillsandvalleysbroadThathostdidoverspreadandoverload。
II
TherewithamerryshoutandjoyfulcryThePagansrearedfromtheirbesiegedhold；
ThecranesfromThracewithsucharumorfly，HishoaryfrostandsnowwhenHyemsoldPoursdown，andfasttowarmerregionshie，Fromthesharpwinds，fiercestormsandtempestscold；
Andquick，andreadythisnewhopeandaid，Theirhandstoshoot，theirtonguestothreatenmade。
III
Fromwhencetheirire，theirwrathandhardythreatProceeds，theFrenchwellknew，andplainespied，ForfromthewallsandportsthearmygreatTheysaw；herstrength，hernumber，pomp，andpride，Swelledtheirbreastswithvalor’snobleheat；
Battleandfighttheywished，“Arm，arm！“theycried；
TheyouthtogivethesignoffightallprayedTheirDuke，andweredispleasedbecausedelayedIV
Tillmorningnext，forherefusedtofight；
Theirhasteandheathebridled，butnotbrake，NoryetwithsuddenfrayorskirmishlightOfthesenewfoeswouldhevaintrialmake。
“Aftersomanywars，“hesays，“goodrightItis，thatoneday’srestatleastyoutake，“
ForthusinhisvainfoeshecherishwouldThehopewhichintheirstrengththeyhaveandhold。
V
ToseeAurora’sgentlebeamappear，Thesoldiersarmed，prestandreadylay，TheskieswereneverhalfsofairandclearAsinthebreakingofthatblessedday，Themerrymorningsmiled，andseemedtowearUponhersilvercrownsun’sgoldenray，AndwithoutcloudheavenhisredoubledlightBentdowntoseethisfield，thisfray，thisfight。
VI
Whenfirsthesawthedaybreakshowandshine，Godfreyhishostingoodarraybroughtout，AndtobesiegethetyrantAladineRaymondheleft，andallthefaithfulroutThatfromthetownswascomeofPalestineToserveandsuccortheirdelivererstout，AndwiththemleftahardytroopbesideOfGascoignsstrong，inarmswellproved，ofttried。
VII
SuchwasGodfredo’scountenance，suchhischeer，Thatfromhiseyesureconquestflamesandstreams，Heaven’sgraciousfavorsinhislooksappear，Andgreatandgoodlymorethanerstheseems；
Hisfaceandforeheadfullofnoblessewere，Andonhischeeksmiledyouth’spurplebeams，Andinhisgait，hisgrace，hisacts，hiseyes，Somewhat，farmorethanmortal，livesandlies。
VIII
HehadnotmarchedfarereheespiedOfhisproudfoesthemightyhostdrawnigh；
AhillatfirsthetookandfortifiedAthislefthandwhichstoodhisarmyby，BroadinthefrontbehindmorestraituptiedHisarmyreadystoodthefighttotry，AndtothemiddlewardwellarmedhebringsHisfootmenstrong，hishorsemenservedforwings。
IX
Totheleftwing，spreadunderneaththebentOfthesteephillthatsavedtheirflankandside，TheRobertstwain，twoleadersgood，hesent；
Hisbrotherhadthemiddlewardtoguide；
TotherightwinghimselfinpersonwentDown，wheretheplainwasdangerous，broadandwide，AndwherehisfoeswiththeirgreatnumberswouldPerchanceenvironroundhissquadronsbold。
X
ThereallhisLorrainersandmenofmight，Allhisbestarmedheplaced，andchosenbands，Andwiththosehorsesomefootmenarmedlight，Thatarcherswere，usedtothatservice，stands；
Theadventurersthen，inbattleandinfightWelltried，asquadronfamousthroughalllands，Ontherighthandheset，somedealaside，Rinaldowastheirleader，lordandguide。
XI
TowhomtheDuke，“IntheeourhopeislaidOfvictory，thoumusttheconquestgain，Behindthismightywing，sofardisplayed，Thouwiththynoblesquadroncloseremain；
AndwhenthePaganswouldourbacksinvade，Assailthemthen，andmaketheironsetvain；
ForifIguessaright，theyhaveinmindTocompassus，andchargeourtroopsbehind。“
XII
Thenthroughhishost，thattooksolargeascope，Herode，andviewedthemall，bothhorseandfoot；
Hisfacewasbare，hishelmunclosedandope，Lightenedhiseyes，hislooksbrightfireshotout；
Hecheersthefearful，comfortsthemthathope，Andtotheboldrecountshisboastingstout，Andtothevalianthisadventureshard，Thesebidshelookforpraise，thoseforreward。
XIII
AtlasthestayedwhereofhissquadronsboldAndnoblesttroopsassembledwasbestpart；
Therefromarisingbankhiswillhetold，Andallthatheardhisspeechthereattookheart：
AndasthemountainsnowfrommountainscoldRunsdowninstreamswitheloquenceandart，Sofromhislipshiswordsandspeechesfell，Shrill，speedy，pleasant，sweet，andplacedwell。
XIV
“Myhardyhost，youconquerorsoftheEast，YouscourgewherewithChristwhipshisheathenfone，Ofvictorybeholdthelatestfeast，Seethelastdayforwhichyouwishedalone；
NotwithoutcausetheSaracensmostandleastOurgraciousLordhathgatheredhereinone，Forallyourfoesandhisassembledare，Thatoneday’sfightmayendsevenyearsofwar。
XV
“Thisfightshallbringusmanyvictories，Thedangernone，thelaborwillbesmall，LetnotthenumberofyourenemiesDismayyourhearts，grantfearnoplaceatall；
Forstrifeanddiscordthroughtheirarmyflies，Theirbandsillrankedthemselvesentangleshall，Andfewofthemtostrikeorfightshallcome，Forsomewantstrength，someheart，someelbow-room。
XVI
“Thishost，withwhomyoumustencounternow，Aremenhalfnaked，withoutstrengthorskill，Fromidleness，orfollowingtheplough，Latepressedforthtowaragainsttheirwill，Theirswordsareblunt，shieldsthin，soonpiercedthrough，Theirbannersshake，theirbearersshrink，forillTheirleadersheard，obeyed，orfollowedbe，Theirloss，theirflight，theirdeathIwillforesee。
XVII
“Theircaptaincladinpurple，armedingold，Thatseemssofierce，sohardy，stoutandstrong，TheMoorsorweakArabiansvanquishcould，Yetcanhenotresistyourvalorslong。
Whatcanhedo，thoughwise，thoughsage，thoughbold，Inthatconfusion，trouble，thrustandthrong？
Illknownheis，andworseheknowshishost，Strangelordsillfearedare，illobeyedofmost。
XVIII
“ButIamcaptainofthischosencrew，WithwhomIofthaveconquered，triumphedoft，YourlandsandlineageslongsinceIknew，Eachknightobeysmyrule，mild，easy，soft，Iknoweachsword，eachdart，eachshaftIview，Althoughthequarrelflyinskiesaloft，WhetherthesameofIrelandbe，orFrance，Andfromwhatbowitcomes，whathandperchance。
XIX
“Iaskaneasyandausualthing，Asyouhaveoft，thisday，sowinthefield，Letzealandhonorbeyourvirtue’ssting，Yourlives，myfame，Christ’sfaithdefendandshield，ToearththesePagansslainandwoundedbring，Treadontheirnecks，makethemalldieoryield，——
WhatneedImoreexhortyou？fromyoureyesIseehowvictory，howconquestflies。“
XX
Uponthecaptain，whenhisspeechwasdone，Itseemedalampandgoldenlightdowncame，Asfromnight’sazuremantleoftdothrunOrfall，aslidingstar，orshiningflame；
ButfromthebosomoftheburningsunProceededthis，andgarland-wisethesameGodfredo’snobleheadencompassedround，And，assomethought，foreshowedheshouldbecrowned。
XXI
Perchance，ifman’sproudthoughtorsaucytongueHaveleavetojudgeorguessatheavenlythings，Thiswastheangelwhichhadkepthimlong，Thatnowcamedown，andhidhimwithhiswings。
WhilethustheDukebespeakshisarmiesstrong，Andeverytroopandbandinorderbrings。
LordEmirenhishostdisposedwell，Andwithboldwordswhetontheircouragefell；
XXII
Themanbroughtforthhisarmygreatwithspeed，Inordergood，hisfoesathandhespied，Likethenewmoonhishosttwohornsdidspreed，Inmidstthefoot，thehorsewereoneachside，Therightwingkeptheforhimselftolead，GreatAltamorereceivedthelefttoguide，ThemiddlewardledMuleassesproud，AndinthatbattlefairArmidastood。
XXIII
OntherightquarterstoodtheIndiangrim，WithTisipherneandalltheking’sownband；
ButwhentheleftwingspreadhersquadronstrimO’erthelargeplain，didAltamorostand，WithAfricanandPersiankingswithhim，AndtwothatcamefromMeroe’shotsand，Andallhiscrossbowsandhisslingsheplaced，Whereroombestservedtoshoot，tothrow，tocast。
XXIV
ThusEmirenhishostputinarray，Androdefrombandtoband，fromranktorank，Histruchmennow，andnowhimself，dothsay，Whatspoilhisfolkshallgain，whatpraise，whatthank。
Tohimthatfeared，“Lookup，oursistheday，“
Hesays，“Vilefeartoboldheartsneversank，Howdarethoneagainstanhundredfight？
Ourcry，ourshade，willputthemalltoflight。“