“Sincethenthefeatiseasy，dangernone，Allsetinbattleandinhardyfight，DothoupermitthechosententogoneAndaidthedamsel：“thusdevisedtheknight，TomakementhinkthesunofhonorshoneTherewherethelampofCupidgavethelight：
Therestperceivehisguile，anditapprove，Andcallthatknighthoodwhichwaschildishlove。
VIII
ButlovingEustace，thatwithjealouseyeBeheldtheworthofSophia’snoblechild，Andhisfairshapedidsecretlyenvy，Besidesthevirtuesinhisbreastcompiled，And，forinlovehewouldnocompany，Hestoredhismouthwithspeechessmoothlyfiled，Drawinghisrivaltoattendhisword；
Thuswithfairsleighthelaidtheknightabord：
IX
“OfgreatBertoldothoufargreaterheir，Thoustarofknighthood，flowerofchivalry，Tellme，whonowshallleadthissquadronfair，Sinceourlateguideinmarblecolddothlie？
I，thatwithfamousDudonmightcompareInall，butyears，hoarlocks，andgravity，TowhomshouldI，DukeGodfrey’sbrother，yield，Unlesstothee，theChristianarmy’sshield？
X
“TheewhomhighbirthmakesequalwiththebestThineactspreferbothmeandallbeforn；
Northatinfightthoubothsurpasstherest，AndGodfrey’sworthyself，Iholdinscorn；
TheetoobeythenamIonlypressed；
Beforetheseworthiesbethineeagleborne；
Thishonorhaplythouesteemestlight，Whosedayofgloryneveryetfoundnight。
XI
“YetmayestthoufurtherbythismeansdisplayThespreadingwingsofthyimmortalfame；
Iwillprocureit，ifthousayestnotnay，Andalltheirwillstothineelectionframe：
ButforIscantlyamresolvedwhichwayTobendmyforce，orwhereemploythesame，Leaveme，Ipray，atmydiscretionfreeTohelpArmida，orserveherewiththee。“
XII
Thislastrequest，forloveiseviltohide，Empurpledbothhischeekswithscarletred；
Rinaldosoonhispassionshaddescried，Andgentlysmilingturnedasidehishead，And，forweakCupidwastoofeebleeyedTostrikehimsure，thefireinhimwasdead；
Sothatofrivalswashenaughtafraid，Norcaredheforthejourneyorthemaid。
XIII
ButinhisnoblethoughtrevolvedheoftDudon’shighprowess，deathandburial，AndhowArgantesborehisplumesaloft，Praisinghisfortunesforthatworthy’sfall；
Besides，theknight’ssweetwordsandpraisessoftTohisduehonordidhimfitlycall，Andmadehisheartrejoice，forwellheknew，Thoughmuchhepraisedhim，allhiswordsweretrue。
XIV
“Degrees，“quothhe，“ofhonorshightohold，Iwouldthemfirstdeserve，andthedesire；
Andweremyvalorsuchasyouhavetold，WouldIforthattohigherplaceaspire：
Butiftohonorsdueraisemeyouwould，Iwillnotofmyworksrefusethehire；
Andmuchitgladsme，thatmypowerandmightYpraisedisbysuchavaliantknight。
XV
“Ineitherseekitnorrefusetheplace，WhichifIget，thepraiseandthanksbethine。“
Eustace，thisspoken，hiedthenceapaceToknowwhichwayhisfellows’heartsincline：
ButPrinceGernandocovetedtheplace，WhomthoughArmidasoughttoundermine，Gainsthimyetvaindidallherenginesprove，Hispridewassuch，therewasnoplaceforlove。
XVI
GernandowastheKingofNorway’sson，Thatmanyarealmandregionhadtoguide，Andforhiselderslandsandcrownshadwon。
Hisheartwaspuffedupwithendlesspride：
TheotherboastsmorewhathimselfhaddoneThanallhisancestors’greatactsbeside；
YethisforefathersoldbeforehimwereFamousinwarandpeacefivehundredyears。
XVII
Thisbarbarousprince，whoonlyvainlythoughtThatblissinwealthandkinglypowerdothlie，AndinrespectesteemedallvirtuenaughtUnlessitwereadornedwithtitleshigh，Couldnotendure，thattotheplacehesoughtAsimpleknightshoulddaretopresssonigh；
Andinhisbreastsoboiledfelldespite，Thatireandwrathexiledreasonquite。
XVIII
Thehiddendevil，thatliesincloseawaitTowinthefortofunbelievingman，Foundentrythere，whereireundidthegate，Andinhisbosomunperceivedran；
Itfilledhisheartwithmalice，strifeandhate，Itmadehimrage，blaspheme，swear，curseandban，Invisibleitstillattendshimnear，Andthuseachminutewhisperethinhisear。
XIX
What，shallRinaldomatchthee？dareshetellThoseidlenamesofhisvainpedigree？
Thenlethimsay，iftheehewouldexcel，Whatlands，whatrealmshistributariesbe：
Ifhisforefathersinthegravesthatdwell，Werehonoredlikethinethatlive，letsee：
Ohhowdaresonesomeanaspiresohigh，BorninthatservilecountryItaly？
XX
Now，ifhewin，orifhelosetheday，Yetishispraiseandgloryhencederived，Forthattheworldwill，tohiscredit，say，Lo，thisishethatwithGernandostrived。
Thechargesomedealtheehaplyhonormay，ThatnobleDudonhadwhileherehelived；
Butlaidonhimhewouldtheofficeshame，Letitsuffice，hedurstdesirethesame。
XXI
Ifwhenthisbreathfromman’sfrailbodyfliesThesoultakekeep，orknowthethingsdonehere，Oh，howlooksDudonfromthegloriousskies？
Whatwrath，whatangerinhisfaceappear，Onthisproudyounglingwhilehebendshiseyes，Markinghowhighhedothhisfeathersrear？
Seeinghisrashattempt，howsoonhedare，Thoughbutaboy，withhisgreatworthcompare。
XXII
Hedaresnotonly，buthestrivesandproves，Wherechastisementwerefittherewinshepraise：
Onecounselshim，hisspeechhimforwardmoves；
Anotherfoolapprovethallhesays：
IfGodfreyfavorhimmorethanbehoves，Whythenhewrongeththeeanhundredways；
Norletthystatesofardisgracedbe，Nowwhatthouartandcanst，letGodfreysee。
XXIII
WithsuchfalsewordsthekindledfirebeganToeveryveinhispoisonedhearttoreach，Itswelledhisscornfulheart，andforthitranAthisproudlooks，andtooaudaciousspeech；
Allthathethoughtblameworthyintheman，Tohisdisgracethatwouldbeeachwherepreach；
Hetermedhimproudandvain，hisworthinfightHecalledfool-hardise，rashness，madnessright。
XXIV
Allthatinhimwasrareorexcellent，Allthatwasgood，allthatwasprincelyfound，Withsuchsharpwordsasmalicecouldinvent，Heblamed，suchpowerhaswickedtonguetowound。
Theyouth，foreverywherethoserumorswent，Ofthesereproachesheardsometimesthesound；
Nordidforthathistonguethefaultamend，Untilitbroughthimtohiswofulend。
XXV
Thecursedfiendthatsethistongueatlarge，Stillbredmorefanciesinhisidlebrain，Hisheartwithslandersnewdidovercharge，Andsoothedhimstillinhisangryvein；
Amidthecampaplacewasbroadandlarge，Whereonefairregimentmighteasilytrain；
AndthereintiltandharmlesstournamentTheirdaysofresttheyouthsandgallantsspent。
XXVI
There，ashisfortunewoulditshouldbetide，AmidthepressGernandoganretire，Tovomitouthisvenomunespied，Wherewithfoulenvydidhisheartinspire。
Rinaldoheardhimashestoodbeside，Andashecouldnotbridlewrathandire，“Thouliest，“criedheloud，andwiththatwordAbouthisheadhetossedhisflamingsword。
XXVII
Thunderhisvoice，andlightningseemedhisbrand，Sofellhislook，andfuriouswashischeer，Gernandotrembled，forhesawathandPaledeath，andneitherhelpnorcomfortnear，YetforthesoldiersalltowitnessstandHemadeproudsign，asthoughhenaughtdidfear，Butbravelydrewhislittle-helpingblade，Andvaliantshowofstrongresistancemade。
XXVIII
WiththatathousandbladesofburnishedsteelGlisteredonheapslikeflamesoffireinsight，Hundreds，thatknewnotyetthequarrelweel，Ranthither，sometogazeandsometofight：
TheemptyairasoundconfuseddidfeelOfmurmurslow，andoutcriesloudonheight，LikerollingwavesandBoreas’angryblastsWhenroaringseasagainsttherockshecasts。
XXIX
ButnotforthisthewrongedwarriorstayedHisjustdispleasureandincensedire，Hecarednotwhatthevulgardidorsaid，Tovengeancedidhiscouragefierceaspire：
Amongthethickestweaponswayhemade，Histhunderingswordmadeallonheapsretire，Sothatofnearathousandstayednotone，ButPrinceGernandoborethebruntalone。
XXX
Hishand，tooquicktoexecutehiswrath，Performedall，aspleasedhiseyeandheart，Atheadandbreastofttimeshestruckenhath，Nowattheright，nowattheotherpart：
Oneverysidethusdidheharmandscath，Andoftbeguilehissightwithnimbleart，Thatnodefencetheprinceofwoundsacquits，Whereleasthethinks，orfears，theremosthehits。
XXXI
Norceasedbe，tillinGernando’sbreastHesheathedonceortwicehisfuriousblade；
Downfellthehaplessprincewithdeathoppressed，Adoublewaytohisweaksoulwasmade；
Hisbloodyswordthevictorwipedanddressed，Norlongerbytheslaughteredbodystayed，Butspedhimthence，andsoonappeasedhathHishate，hisire，hisrancorandhiswrath。
XXXII
Calledbythetumult，Godfreydrewhimnear，Andtherebeheldasadandruefulsight，Thesignsofdeathuponhisfaceappear，Withdustandbloodhislockswereloathlydight，Sighsandcomplaintsoneachsidemighthehear，Madeforthesuddendeathofthatgreatknight：
Amazed，heaskedwhodurstanddidsomuch；
Foryetheknewnotwhomthefaultwouldtouch。
XXXIII
Arnoldo，minionofthePrincethusslain，Augmentsthefaultintellingit，andsaith，ThisPrincemurdered，foraquarrelvain，ByyoungRinaldoinhisdesperatewrath，AndwiththatswordthatshouldChrist’slawmaintain，OneofChrist’schampionsboldhekilledhath，Andthishedidinsuchaplaceandhour，Asifhescornedyourrule，despisedyourpower。
XXXIV
Andfurtheradds，thathedeserveddeathBylaw，andlawshouldinviolate，Thatnoneoffencecouldgreaterbeuneath，Andyettheplacethefaultdidaggravate：
Ifheescapes，thatmischiefwouldtakebreath，Andflourishboldinspiteofruleandstate；
AndthatGernando’sfriendswouldvengethewrong，Althoughtojusticethatdidfirstbelong，XXXV
Andbythatmeans，shoulddiscord，hateandstrifeRaisemutinies，andwhatthereforeensueth：
Lastlyhepraisedthedead，andstillhadrifeAllwordshethoughtcouldvengeancemoveorrutAgainsthimTancredarguedforlife，Withhonestreasonstoexcusetheyouth：
TheDukeheardall，butwithsuchsobercheer，Asbanishedhope，andstillincreasedfear。