Theirhopeshalfdeadandcouragewell-nighlost，Revivedwiththesebravespeechesoftheirguide；
Butinhisbreastathousandcareshetost，Althoughhissorrowshecouldwiselyhide；
Hestudiedhowtofeedthatmightyhost，Insogreatscarceness，andwhatforceprovideHeshouldagainsttheEgyptianwarriorssly，AndhowsubduethosethievesofAraby。
SIXTHBOOK
THEARGUMENT。
ArgantescallstheChristiansouttojust：
Othonotchosendothhisstrengthassay，Butfromhissaddletumblethinthedust，Andcaptivetothetownissentaway：
Tancredbeginsnewfight，andwhenbothtrustTowinthepraiseandpalm，nightendsthefray：
Erminiahopestocureherwoundedknight，Andfromthecityarmedridesbynight。
I
ButbetterhopeshadthemrecomfortedThatlaybesiegedinthesacredtown；
Withnewsupplylateweretheyvictualled，Whennightobscuredtheearthwithshadowsbrown；
Theirarmiesandenginesonthewallstheyspread，Theirslingstocast，andstonestotumbledown；
Andallthatsidewhichtothenorthwardlies，Highrampiersandstrongbulwarksfortifies。
II
Theirwarykingcommandsnowherenowthere，Tobuildthistower，tomakethatbulwarkstrong，Whetherthesun，themoon，orstarsappear，Togivethemtimetowork，notimecomeswrong：
Ineverystreetnewweaponsforgedwere，Bycunningsmiths，sweatingwithlaborlong；
Whilethusthecarefulprinceprovisionmade，TohimArgantescame，andboastingsaid：
III
“Howlongshallwe，likeprisonersinchains，Captivedlieinclosedwithinthiswall？
IseeyourworkmentakingendlesspainsTomakenewweaponsfornouseatall；
Meanwhiletheseeasternthievesdestroytheplains，Yourtownsareburnt，yourfortsandcastlesfall，Yetnoneofusdaresatthesegatesout-peep，Orsoundonetrumpetshrilltobreaktheirsleep。
IV
“Theirtimeinfeastingandgoodcheertheyspend，Nordareweoncetheirbanquetssweetmolest，Thedaysandnightlikewisetheybringtoend，Inpeace，assurance，quiet，easeandrest；
Butwemustyieldwhomhungersoonwillshend，Andmakeforpeace，tosaveourlives，request，Else，ifth’Egyptianarmystaytoolong，Likecowardsdiewithinthisfortressstrong。
V
“YetnevershallmycouragegreatconsentSovileadeathshouldendmynobledays，NoronminearmswithinthesewallsypentTo-morrow’ssunshallspreadhistimelyrays：
LetsacredHeavensdisposeastheyarebentOfthisfraillike，yetnotwithoutenpraiseOfvalor，prowess，might，ArgantesshallIngloriousdie，orunrevengedfall。
VI
“ButiftherootsofwontedchivalryBenotquitedeadyourprincelybreastwithin，Devisenothowwithframeandpraisetodie，Buthowtolive，toconquerandtowin；
Letustogetheratthesegatesoutfly，Andskirmishboldandbloodyfightbegin；
Forwhenlastneedtodesperationdriveth，Whodarethmosthewisestcounselgiveth。
VII
“ButifinfieldyourwisdomdarenotventureTohazardallyourtroopstodoubtfulfight，ThenbindyourselftoGodfreybyindenture，Toendyourquarrelsbyonesingleknight：
AndfortheChristianthisaccordshallenterWithbetterwill，saysuchyouknowyourrightThathetheweapons，placeandtimeshallchoose，Andlethimforhisbest，thatvantageuse。
VIII
“Forthoughyourfoehadhands，likeHectorstrong，Withheartunfeared，andcouragesternandstout，Yetnomisfortunecanyourjusticewrong，Andwhatthatwanteth，shallthisarmhelpout，Inspiteoffateshallthisrighthanderelong，Returnvictorious：ifhereofyoudoubt，Takeitforpledge，whereiniftrustyouhave，Itshallyourselfdefendandkingdomsave。“
IX
“Boldyouth，“thetyrantthusbegantospeak，“AlthoughIwitheredseemwithageandyears，Yetarenottheseoldarmssofaintandweak，NorthishoarheadsofullofdoubtsandfearsButwhenasdeaththisvitalthreadshallbreak，Heshallmycouragehear，mydeathwhohears：
AndAladinethatlivedakingandknight，Tohisfairmornwillhaveaneveningbright。
X
“ButthatwhichyetIwouldhavefurtherblazed，Totheeinsecretshallbetoldandspoken，GreatSolimanofNice，sofarypraised，Toberevengedforhissceptrebroken，ThemenofarmsofArabyhathraised，FromIndetoAfrick，and，whenwegivetoken，AttendsthefavorofthefriendlynightTovictualus，andwithourfoestofight。
XI
“NowthoughGodfredoholdbywarlikefeatSomecastlespoorandfortsinvileoppression，Carenotforthat；forstillourprincelyseat，Thisstatelytown，wekeepinourpossession，Butthouappeaseandcalmthatcouragegreat，Whichinthybosommakesohotimpression；
Andstayfittime，whichwillbetidearelong，Toincreasethyglory，andrevengeourwrong。“
XII
TheSaracenatthiswasinlyspited，WhoSoliman’sgreatworthhadlongenvied，Tohearhimpraisedthushenaughtdelighted，Northatthekinguponhisaidrelied：
“Withinyourpower，sirking，“hesays，“unitedArepeaceandwar，norshallthatbedenied；
ButfortheTurkandhisArabianband，Helosthisown，shallhedefendyourland？
XIII
“Perchancehecomessomeheavenlymessenger，SentdowntosetthePaganpeoplefree，ThenletArgantesforhimselftakecare，Thissword，Itrust，shallwellsafe-conductme：
Butwhileyourestandallyourforcesspare，ThatIgoforthtowaratleastagree；
Thoughnotyourchampion，yetaprivateknight，IwillsomeChristianproveinsinglefight。“
XIV
Thekingreplied，“ThoughthyforceandmightShouldbereservedtobettertimeanduse；
Yetthatthouchallengesomerenownedknight，AmongtheChristiansboldInotrefuse。“
Thewarriorbreathingoutdesireoffight，Anheraldcalled，andsaid，“GotellthosenewsToGodfrey’sself，andtothewesternlords，Andintheirhearingsboldlysaythesewords：
XV
“Saythataknight，whoholdsingreatdisdainTobethusclosedupinsecretnew，Willwithhisswordinopenfieldmaintain，Ifanydaredenyhiswordsfortrue，Thatnodevotion，astheyfalselyfeign，HathmovedtheFrenchthesecountriestosubdue；
Butvileambition，andpride’shatefulvice，Desireofrule，andspoil，andcovetice。
XVI
“AndthattofightIamnotonlyprestWithoneortwothatdaredefendthecause，Butcomethefourthorfifth，comealltherest，Comeallthatwill，andallthatweapondraws，Lethimthatyieldsobeythevictor’shest，AswillstheloreofmightyMarshislaws：“
ThiswasthechallengethatfiercePagansent，Theheralddonnedhiscoat-of-arms，andwent。
XVII
AndwhenthemanbeforethepresencecameOfprincelyGodfrey，andhiscaptainsbold：
“MyLord，“quothhe，“mayIwithoutenblameBeforeyourGrace，mymessagebraveunfold？“
“Thoumayest，“heanswered，“weapprovethesame；
Withoutenfear，bethineambassagetold。“
“Then，“quoththeherald，“shallyourhighnesssee，Ifthisambassagesharporpleasingbe。“
XVIII
Thechallengeganhethenatlargeexpose，Withmightythreats，hightermsandgloriouswords；
Oneverysideanangrymurmurrose，Towrathsomovedweretheknightsandlords。
ThenGodfreyspake，andsaid，“ThemanhathchoseAnhardexploit，butwhenhefeelsourswords，Itrustweshallsofarentreattheknight，Astoexcusethefourthorfifthoffight。
XIX
“Butlethimcomeandprove，thefieldIgrant，Norwrongnortreasonlethimdoubtorfear，Somehereshallpayhimforhisgloriousvaunt，Withoutorguile，orvantage，thatIswear。
Theheraldturnedwhenhehadendedscant，Andhastedbackthewayhecamewhileare，Norstayedheaught，noronceforslowedhispace，TillhebespakeArgantesfacetoface。
XX
“Armyou，mylord，“hesaid，“yourbolddefiesByyourbravefoesacceptedboldlybeen，Thiscombatneitherhighnorlowdenies，Tenthousandwishtomeetyouonthegreen；
Athousandfrownedwithangryflamingeyes，Andshakedforragetheirswordsandweaponskeen；
Thefieldissafelygrantedbytheirguide，“
Thissaid，thechampionforhisarmorcried。
XXI
Whilehewasarmed，hisheartforirenighbrake，Soyearnedhiscouragehothisfoestofind：
TheKingtofairClorindapresentspake；
“Ifhegoforth，remainnotyoubehind，Butofoursoldiersbestathousandtake，Toguardhispersonandyourownassigned；
YetlethimmeetalonetheChristianknight，Andstandyourselfaloof，whiletheytwofight。“
XXII
ThusspaketheKing，andsoonwithoutabodeThetroopwentforthinshiningarmorclad，BeforetherestthePaganchampionrode，Hiswontedarmsandensignsallhehad：
Agoodlyplandisplayedwideandbroad，Betweenthecityandthecampwasspread，AplacelikethatwhereinproudRomebeheldTheforwardyoungmenmanagespearandshield。
XXIII
ThereallaloneArgantestookhisstand，DefyingChristandallhisservantstrue，Instature，stomach，andinstrengthofhand，Inpride，presumption，andindreadfulshow，Enceladelike，onthePhlegreanstrand，OfthathugegiantJesse’sinfantslew；
Buthisfiercesemblanttheyesteemedlight，Formostnotknew，orelsenotfearedhismight。
XXIV
AsyetnotonehadGodfreysingledoutToundertakethishardyenterprise，ButonPrinceTancredsawhealltheroutHadfixedtheirwishes，andhadcasttheireyes，Onhimhespiedthemgazingroundabout，Asthoughtheirhonoronhisprowesslies，Andnowtheywhisperedlouderwhattheymeant，WhichGodfreyheardandsaw，andwascontent。
XXV
Therestgaveplace；foreveryonedescriedTowhomtheirchieftain’swilldidmostincline，“Tancred，“quothhe，“Ipraytheecalmthepride，AbatetherageofyonderSaracine：“
Nolongerwouldthechosenchampionbide，Hisfacewithjoy，hiseyeswithgladnessshine，Hishelmhetook，andreadysteedbestrode，Andguardedwithhistrustyfriendsforthrode。
XXVI
ButscantlyhadhespurredhiscourserswiftNeartotheplain，whereproudArgantesstayed，Whenunawareshiseyeshechancedtolift，Andonthehillbeheldthewarlikemaid，AswhiteassnowupontheAlpinecliftThevirginshoneinsilverarmsarrayed，Herventalupsohigh，thathedescriedHergoodlyvisage，andherbeauty’spride。