Thesacredarmies，andthegodlyknight，ThatthegreatsepulchreofChristdidfree，Ising；muchwroughthisvalorandforesight，Andinthatgloriouswarmuchsufferedhe；
Invain’gainsthimdidHellopposehermight，InvaintheTurksandMoriansarmedbe：
Hissoldierswild，tobrawlsandmutiniesprest，Reducedhetopeace，soHeavenhimblest。
II
OheavenlyMuse，thatnotwithfadingbaysDeckestthybrowbytheHeliconianspring，Butsittestcrownedwithstars’immortalraysInHeaven，wherelegionsofbrightangelssing；
Inspirelifeinmywit，mythoughtsupraise，Myverseennoble，andforgivethething，IffictionslightImixwithtruthdivine，Andfilltheselineswithotherpraisethanthine。
III
Thitherthouknow’sttheworldisbestinclinedWhereluringParnassmosthissweetimparts，AndtruthconveyedinverseofgentlekindToreadperhapswillmovethedullesthearts：
Sowe，ifchildrenyoungdiseasedwefind，Anointwithsweetsthevessel’sforemostpartsTomakethemtastethepotionssharpwegive；
Theydrinkdeceived，andsodeceived，theylive。
IV
YenoblePrinces，thatprotectandsaveThePilgrimMuses，andtheirshipdefendFromrockofIgnoranceandError’swave，Yourgraciouseyesuponthislaborbend：
ToyouthesetalesofloveandconquestbraveIdedicate，toyouthisworkIsend：
MyMusehereaftershallperhapsunfoldYourfights，yourbattles，andyourcombatsbold。
V
ForiftheChristianPrinceseverstriveTowinfairGreeceoutofthetyrants’hands，AndthoseusurpingIsmaelitesdepriveOfwofulThrace，whichnowcaptivedstands，YoumustfromrealmsandseastheTurksforthdrive，AsGodfreychasedthemfromJuda’slands，Andinthislegend，allthatgloriousdeed，Read，whilstyouarmyou；armyou，whilstyouread。
VI
SixyearswererunsincefirstinmartialguiseTheChristianLordswarraidtheeasternland；
Nicebyassault，andAntiochbysurprise，Bothfair，bothrich，bothwon，bothconqueredstand，Andthisdefendedtheyinnoblestwise’GainstPersianknightsandmanyavaliantband；
Tortosawon，lestwintermightthemshend，Theydrewtoholds，andcomingspringattend。
VII
Thesullenseasonnowwascomeandgone，Thatforcedthemlateceasefromtheirnoblewar，WhenGodAlmightyformhisloftythrone，SetinthosepartsofHeaventhatpurestareAsfarabovetheclearstarseveryone，Asitishenceuptothehigheststar，Lookeddown，andallatoncethisworldbeheld，Eachland，eachcity，country，townandfield。
VIII
Allthingsheviewed，atlastinSyriastayedUpontheChristianLordshisgraciouseye，ThatwondrouslookwherewithheoftsurveyedMen’ssecretthoughtsthatmostconcealedlieHecastonpuissantGodfrey，thatassayedTodrivetheTurksfromSion’sbulwarkshigh，And，fullofzealandfaith，esteemedlightAllworldlyhonor，empire，treasure，might：
IX
InBaldwinnexthespiedanotherthought，Whomspiritsproudtovainambitionmove：
Tancredhesawhislife’sjoysetatnaught，Sowoe-begonewashewithpainsoflove：
BoemondtheconqueredfolkofAntiochbrought，ThegentleyokeofChristianruletoprove：
Hetaughtthemlaws，statutesandcustomsnew，Arts，crafts，obedience，andreligiontrue；
X
Andwithsuchcarehisbusyworkheplied，Thattonaughtelsehisactingthoughtshebent：
InyoungRinaldofiercedesireshespied，Andnobleheartofrestimpatient；
TowealthorsovereignpowerhenaughtappliedHiswits，butalltovirtueexcellent；
Patternsandrulesofskill，andcouragebold，HetookfromGuelpho，andhisfathersold。
XI
ThuswhentheLorddiscoveredhad，andseenThehiddensecretsofeachworthy’sbreast，OutofthehierarchiesofangelssheenThegentleGabrielcalledhefromtherest，’TwixtGodandsoulsofmenthatrighteousbeenAmbassadorishe，foreverblest，ThejustcommandsofHeaven’sEternalKing，’Twixtskiesandearth，heupanddowndothbring。
XII
TowhomtheLordthusspake：“Godfredofind，Andinmynameaskhim，whydothherest？
Whybehisarmstoeaseandpeaceresigned？
WhyfreeshenotJerusalemdistrest？
Hispeerstocounselcall，eachbasermindLethimstirup；for，chieftainoftherestIchoosehimhere，theearthshallhimallow，Hisfellowslateshallbehissubjectsnow。“
XIII
Thissaid，theangelswifthimselfpreparedToexecutethechargeimposedaright，Informofairymembersfairimbared，Hisspiritspureweresubjecttooursight，Liketoamaninshowandshapehefared，Butfullofheavenlymajestyandmight，Astriplingseemedhethrivefivewintersold，Andradiantbeamsadornedhislocksofgold。
XIV
Ofsilverwingshetookashiningpair，Fringedwithgold，unwearied，nimble，swift；
Withthesehepartsthewinds，theclouds，theair，Andoverseasandearthhimselfdothlift，Thuscladhecutthespheresandcirclesfair，Andthepureskieswithsacredfeathersclift；
OnLibanonatfirsthisfootheset，AndshookhiswingswithroryMaydewswet。
XV
ThentoTortosa’sconfinesswiftlyspedThesacredmessenger，withheadlongflight；
AbovetheeasternwaveappearedredTherisingsun，yetscantlyhalfinsight；
Godfreye’enthenhismorn-devotionssaid，Aswashiscustom，whenwithTitanbrightAppearedtheangelinhisshapedivine，WhosegloryfarobscuredPhoebus’shine。
XVI
“Godfrey，“quothhe，“beholdtheseasonfitTowar，forwhichthouwaitedhastsolong，Nowservesthetime，ifthouo’erslipnotit，TofreeJerusalemfromthrallandwrong：
ThouwiththyLordsincouncilquicklysit；
Comfortthefeeble，andconfirmthestrong，TheLordofHoststheirgeneraldothmakethee，Andfortheirchieftaintheyshallgladlytakethee。
XVII
“I，messengerfromeverlastingJove，Inhisgreatnamethushisbehestsdotell；
Oh，whatsurehopeofconquestoughttheemove，Whatzeal，whatloveshouldinthybosomdwell！“
Thissaid，hevanishedtothoseseatsabove，Inheightandclearnesswhichtherestexcel，DownfelltheDuke，hisjointsdissolvedasunder，Blindwiththelight，andstruckendeadwithwonder。
XVIII
Butwhenrecovered，heconsideredmore，Theman，hismanner，andhismessagesaid；
Ifersthewished，nowhelongedsoreToendthatwar，whereofheLordwasmade；
Norswelledhisbreastwithuncouthpridetherefore，ThatHeavenonhimabovethischargehadlaid，But，forhisgreatCreatorwouldthesame，Hiswillincreased：sofireaugmentethflame。
XIX
Thecaptainscalledforthwithfromeverytent，Untotherendezvoushetheminvites；
Letteronletter，postonposthesent，Entreatancefairwithcounselheunites，All，whatanoblecouragecouldaugment，Thesleepingsparkofvalorwhatincites，Heused，thatalltheirthoughtstohonorraised，Somepraised，somepaid，somecounselled，allpleased。
XX
Thecaptains，soldiers，all，saveBoemond，came，Andpitchedtheirtents，someinthefieldswithout，Someofgreenboughstheirslendercabinsframe，SomelodgedwereTortosa’sstreetsabout，OfallthehostthechiefofworthandnameAssembledbeen，asenategraveandstout；
ThenGodfrey，aftersilencekeptaspace，Liftuphisvoice，andspakewithprincelygrace：
XXI
“Warriors，whomGodhimselfelectedhathHisworshiptrueinSiontorestore，Andstillpreservedfromdanger，harmandscath，Bymanyaseaandmanyanunknownshore，YouhavesubjectedlatelytohisfaithSomeprovincesrebelliouslongbefore：
Andafterconquestsgreat，haveinthesameErectedtrophiestohiscrossandname。
XXII
“Butnotforthisourhomeswefirstforsook，Andfromournativesoilhavemarchedsofar：
Norustodangerousseashavewebetook，Exposedtohazardofsofarsoughtwar，Ofgloryvaintogainanidlesmook，Andlandspossessthatwildandbarbarousare：
Thatforourconquestsweretoomeanaprey，Toshedourbloods，toworkoursouls’decay。
XXIII
“Butthisthescopewasofourformerthought，——
OfSion’sforttoscalethenoblewall，TheChristianfolkfrombondagetohavebrought，Wherein，alas，theylonghavelivedthrall，InPalestineanempiretohavewrought，Wheregodlinessmightreignperpetual，Andnonebeleft，thatpilgrimsmightdenayToseeChrist’stomb，andpromisedvowstopay。
XXIV
“WhattothishoursuccessivelyisdoneWasfullofperil，toourhonorsmall，Naughttoourfirstdesignment，ifweshunThepurposedend，orhereliefixedall。
Whatbootsitustherewarestohavebegun，OrEuroperaisedtomakeproudAsiathrall，Ifourbeginningshavethisendingknown，Notkingdomsraised，butarmiesoverthrown？
XXV
“NotaswelisterectweempiresnewOnfrailfoundationslaidinearthlymould，WhereofourfaithandcountrybebutfewAmongthethousandsstoutofPagansbold，WherenaughtbehovesustrusttoGreeceuntrue，AndWesternaidwefarremovedbehold：
Whobuildeththus，methinks，sobuildethhe，Asifhisworkshouldhissepulchrebe。
XXVI
“Turks，Persiansconquered，Antiochiawon，Begloriousacts，andfullofgloriouspraise，ByHeaven’smeregrace，notbyourprowessdone：
Thoseconquestswereachievedbywondrousways，IfnowfromthatdirectedcoursewerunTheGodofBattlesthusbeforeuslays，Hislovingkindnessshallwelose，Idoubt，Andbeabywordtothelandsabout。
XXVII
“LetnottheseblessingsthensentfromaboveAbusedbe，orsplitinprofanewise，ButlettheissuecorrespondentproveTogoodbeginningsofeachenterprise；
Thegentleseasonmightourcouragemove，Noweverypassageplainandopenlies：
WhatletsusthenthegreatJerusalemWithvaliantsquadronsroundabouttohem？
XXVIII
“Lords，Iprotest，andhearkenalltoit，Yetimesandages，future，present，past，Hearallyeblessedintheheavensthatsit，Thetimeforthisachievementhastenethfast：
Thelongerrestworsewilltheseasonfit，Oursuretiesshallwithdoubtbeovercast。
IfweforslowthesiegeIwellforeseeFromEgyptwillthePaganssuccoredbe。“
XXIX
Thissaid，thehermitPeterroseandspake，WhosateincounselthosegreatLordsamong：
“Atmyrequestthiswarwasundertake，Inprivatecell，whoerstlivedclosedlong，WhatGodfreywills，ofthatnoquestionmake，Therecastnodoubtswheretruthisplainandstrong，Youracts，Itrust，willcorrespondhisspeech，YetonethingmoreIwouldyougladlyteach。
XXX
“Thesestrifes，unlessIfarmistakethething，Anddiscordsraisedoftindisorderedsort，YourdisobedienceandillmanagingOfactionslost，forwantofduesupport，ReferIjustlytoafurtherspring，Springofsedition，strife，oppression，tort，Imeancommandingpowertosundrygiven，Inthought，opinion，worth，estate，uneven。