Buttothebold，“Go，hardyknight，“hesays，“Hispreyoutofthislion’spawsgotear：“
Tosomebeforehisthoughtstheshapehelays，Andmakesthereintheimagetrueappear，Howhissadcountryhimentreatsandprays，Hishouse，hislovingwife，andchildrendear：
“Suppose，“quothhe，“thycountrydothbeseechAndpraytheethus，supposethisisherspeech。
XXVI
“Defendmylaws，upholdmytemplesbrave，Mybloodfromwashingofmystreetswithhold，Fromravishingmyvirginskeep，andsaveThineancestors’deadbonesandashescold！
TotheethyfathersdearandparentsgraveShowtheiruncoveredheads，white，hoary，old，Totheethywife——herbreastswithtearso’erspread——
Thysons，theircradles，shows，thymarriagebed。“
XXVII
Toalltherest，“Youforherhonor’ssakeWhomAsiamakesherchampions，byyourmightUponthesethieves，weak，feeble，few，musttakeAsharprevenge，yetjust，deservedandright。“
Thusmanywordsinseveraltongueshespake，AndallhissundrynationstosharpfightEncouraged，butnowthedukeshaddoneTheirspeechesall，thehoststogetherrun。
XXVIII
Itwasagreat，astrangeandwondroussight，Whenfronttofrontthosenoblearmiesmet，Howeverytroop，howineachtroopeachknightStoodpresttomove，tofight，andpraisetoget，Looseinthewindwavedtheirensignslight，Trembledtheplumesthatontheircrestswereset；
Theirarms，impresses，colors，goldandstone，Againstthesunbeamssmiled，flamed，sparkled，shone。
XXIX
Ofdrytoppedoakstheyseemedtwoforeststhick，Sodideachhostwithspearsandpikesabound，Bentweretheirbows，inreststheirlancesstick，Theirhandsshookswords，theirslingsheldcobblesround：
Eachsteedtorunwasready，prestandquick，Athiscommander’sspur，hishand，hissound，Hechafes，hestamps，careers，andturnsabout，Hefoams，snorts，neighs，andfireandsmokebreathesout。
XXX
Horroritselfinthatfairfightseemedfair，Andpleasureflewamidsaddreadandfear；
Thetrumpetsshrill，thatthunderedintheair，Weremusicmildandsweettoeveryear：
Thefaithfulcamp，thoughless，yetseemedmorerareInthatstrangenoise，morewarlike，shrillandclear，Innotesmoresweet，thePagantrumpetsjar，Thesesung，theirarmorsshined，theseglisteredfar。
XXXI
TheChristiantrumpetsgivethedeadlycall，ThePagansanswer，andthefightaccept；
ThegodlyFrenchmenontheirkneesdownfallTopray，andkissedtheearth，andthenupleaptTofight，thelandbetweenwasvanishedall，Incombatcloseeachhosttootherstepped；
Fornowthewingshadskirmishhotbegun，Andwiththeirbattlesforththefootmenrun。
XXXII
ButwhowasfirstofalltheChristiantrain，Thatgavetheonsetfirst，firstwonrenown？
Gildippesthouwertshe，forbytheeslainTheKingofOrms，Hircano，tumbleddown，Theman’sbreastbonethouclov’standrentintwain，SoHeavenwithhonorwouldtheeblessandcrown，Piercedthroughhefell，andfallinghardwithalHisfoepraisedforherstrengthandforhisfall。
XXXIII
Herlancethusbroke，thehardydameforthdrewWithherstronghandafineandtrenchantblade，AndgainstthePersiansfierceandboldsheflew，Andintheirtroopwidestreetsandlanesshemade，Eveninthegirdling-steaddividednewInpiecestwain，Zopireonearthshelaid；
AndthenAlarco’sheadshesweptoffclean，Whichlikeafootballtumbledonthegreen。
XXXIV
AblowfelledArtaxerxes，withathrustWasArgeusslain，thefirstlayinatrance，Ismael’slefthandcutofffellinthedust，Foronhiswristherswordfelldownbychance：
Thehandletgothebridlewhereitlust，Theblowuponthecourser’searsdidglance，Whofeltthereinsatlarge。andwiththestrokeHalfmad，theranksdisordered，troubled，broke。
XXXV
Allthese，andmanymo，bytimeforgot，Sheslewandwounded，whenagainsthercameTheangryPersiansall，castonaknot，Foronherpersonwouldtheypurchasefame：
ButherdearspouseandhusbandwantednotInsogreatneed，toaidthenobledame；
Thusjoined，thehapsofwarunhurttheyprove，Theirstrengthwasdouble，doublewastheirlove。
XXXVI
Thenobleloversusewellmightyousee，Awondrousguise，tillthenunseen，unheard，Tosavethemselvesforgotbothheandshe，Eachother’slifedidkeep，defend，andguard；
Thestrokesthatgainstherlorddischargedbe，Thedamehadcaretobear，tobreak，toward，Hisshieldkeptofftheblowsbentonhisdear，Which，ifneedbe，hisnakedheadshouldbear。
XXXVII
Soeachsavedother，eachforother’swrongWouldvengeancetake，butnotrevengetheirown：
ThevaliantSoldanArtabanostrongOfBoecanIsle，byherwasoverthrown，Andbyhishand，thebodiesdeadamong，Alvante，thatdursthismistresswound，felldown，AndshebetweentheeyeshitArimont，Whohurtherlord，andcleftintwainhisfront。
XXXVIII
ButAltamorewhohadthatwingtoleadFargreaterslaughterontheChristiansmade；
Forwhereheturnedhissword，ortwinedhissteed，Heslew，ormanandbeastonearthdownlaid，Happywashethatwasatfirststruckdead，Thatfellnotdownonlive，forwhomhisbladeHadspeared，thesamecastinthedustystreetHishorsetorewithhisteeth，bruisedwithhisfeet。
XXXIX
BythisbravePersian’svalor，killedandslainWerestrongBrunelloandArdoniagreat；
Thefirsthisheadandhelmhadcleftintwain，Thelastinstranger-wisehedidintreat，Forthroughhishearthepierced，andhisseat，Wherelaughterhathhisfountainandhisseat，Sothat，adreadfulthing，believeduneath，Helaughedforpain，andlaughedhimselftodeath。
XL
Northesealonewiththataccursedknife，Ofthissweetlightandbreathdeprivedlie；
ButwiththatcruelweaponlosttheirlifeGentonio，Guascar，Rosimond，andGuy；
WhoknowshowmanyinthatfatalstrifeHeslew？whatknightshiscourserfiercemadedie？
ThenamesandcountriesofthepeopleslainWhotells？theirwoundsanddeathswhocanexplain？
XLI
Withthisfiercekingencounterdurstnotone。
Notonedurstcombathiminequalfield，Gildippesundertookthattaskalone；
Nodoubtcouldmakehershrink，nodangeryield，ByThermodontwasneverAmazone，Whomanagedsteeledaxe，orcarriedshield，Thatseemedsoboldasshe，sostrong，solight，Whenforthsheruntomeetthatdreadfulknight。
XLII
Shehithim，wherewithgoldandrichanmail，Hisdiademdidonhishelmetflame，Shebrokeandcleftthecrown，andcausedhimveilHisproudandloftytop，hiscrestdowncame，Strongseemedherarmthatcouldsowellassail：
ThePaganshookforspiteandblushedforshame，Forwardherushed，andwouldatoncerequiteShamewithdisgrace，andwithrevengedespite。
XLIII
RightonthefronthegavethatladykindAblowsohuge，sostrong，sogreat，sosore，Thatoutofsenseandfeeling，downshetwined：
Butherdearknighthislovefromgroundupbore，Wereittheirfortune，orhisnoblemind，Hestayedhishandandstrookthedamenomore：
Alionsostalksby，andwithproudeyesBeholds，butscornstohurtamanthatlies。
XLIV
ThiswhileOrmondofalse，whosecruelhandWasarmedandpresttogivethetrait’rousblow，WithallhisfellowsmongstGodfredo’sbandEnteredunseen，disguisedthatfewthemknow：
Thethievishwolves，whennighto’ershadestheland，Thatseemlikefaithfuldogsinshapeandshow，Sototheclosedfoldsinsecretcreep，Andentranceseek；tokillsomeharmlesssheep。
XLV
Heproachednigh，andtoGodfredo’ssideThebloodyPagannowwasplacednear：
Butwhenhiscolorsgoldandwhitehespied，Andsawtheothersignsthatforgedwere，“See，see，thistraitorfalse！“thecaptaincried，“ThatlikeaFrenchmanwouldinshowappear，Beholdhownearhismatesandhearecrept！“
Thissaid，uponthevillainforthheleapt；
LXVI
Deadlyhewoundedhim，andthatfalseknightNorstrikesnorwardsnorstrivethtobegone；
But，asMedusa’sheadwereinhissight，Stoodlikeamannewturnedtomarblestone，Alllancesbroke，unsheathedallweaponsbright，Allquiversemptiedwereonthemalone，Inpartssomanywerethetraitorscleft，Thatthosedeadmenhadnodeadbodiesleft。
LXVII
WhenGodfreywaswithPaganbloodbespread，HeenteredthenthefightandthatwaspastWheretheboldPersianfoughtandcombated，Wherethecloseranksheopened，cleftandbrast；
Beforetheknightthetroopsandsquadronsfled，AsAfricdustbeforethesouthernblast；
TheDukerecalledthem，inarraythemplaced，Stayedthosethatfled，andhimassailedthatchased。
LXVIII
Thechampionsstrongtherefoughtabattlestout，TroyneversawthelikebyXanthusold：
AconflictsharptherewasmeanwhileonfootTwixtBaldwingoodandMuleassesbold：
Thehorsemenalsonearthemountainsrout，Andinbothwings，afuriousskirmishhold，Andwherethebarbarousdukeinpersonstood，TwixtTisiphernesandAdrastusproud；
XLIX
WithEmirenRoberttheNormanstrove，Longtimetheyfought，yetneitherlostnorwon；
TheotherRobert’shelmtheIndianclove，Andbrokehisarms，theirfightwouldsoonbedone：
FromplacetoplacedidTisiphernesrove，Andfoundnomatch，againsthimnonedustrun，ButwherethepresswasthickestthitherflewTheknight，andateachstrokefelled，hurt，orslew。
L
Thusfoughttheylong，yetneithershrinknoryield，Inequalbalancehungtheirhopeandfear：
Allfullofbrokenlanceslaythefield，Allfullofarmsthatclovenandshatteredwere；
Ofswords，sometothebodynailtheshield，Somecutmen’sthroats，andsometheirbelliestear；
Ofbodies，someupright，somegrovellinglay，Andforthemselveseatgravesoutoftheclay。