HesawnotwherethePaganstood，andstared，Asifwithlookshewouldhisfoemankill，Butfullofotherthoughtsheforwardfared，Andsenthislooksbeforehimupthehill，Hisgesturesuchhistroubledsouldeclared，Atlastasmarblerockhestandethstill，Stonecoldwithout；within，burntwithlove’sflame，Andquiteforgothimself，andwhyhecame。
XXVIII
Thechallenger，thatyetsawnoneappearThatmadeorsignorshowcametojust，“Howlong，“criedhe，“shallIattendyouhere？
Daresnonecomeforth？daresnonehisfortunetrust？“
Theotherstoodamazed，lovestoppedhisear，HethinksonCupid，thinkofMarswholust；
ButforthstertOthobold，andtookthefield，AgentleknightwhomGodfromdangershield。
XXIX
Thisyouthwasoneofthose，wholatedesiredWiththatvain-gloriousboastertohavefought，ButTancredchosen，heandallretired；
Nowwhenhisslacknessheawhileadmired，Andsawelsewhereemployedwashisthought，Northattojust，thoughchosen，onceheproffered，Heboldlytookthatfitoccasionoffered。
XXX
Notiger，panther，spottedleopard，Runshalfsoswift，theforestswildamong，Asthisyoungchampionhastedthitherward，WhereheattendingsawthePaganstrong：
Tancredistartedwiththenoiseheheard，Aswakedfromsleep，wherehehaddreamedlong，“Ohstay，“hecried，“tomebelongsthiswar！“
Butcriedtoolate，Othowasgonetoofar。
XXXI
Thenfulloffury，angeranddespite，Hestayedhishorse，andwaxedredforshame，Thefightwashis，butnowdisgracedquiteHimselfhethought，anotherplayedhisgame；
MeanwhiletheSaracendidhugelysmiteOnOtho’shelm，whotorequitethesame，Hisfoequitethroughhissevenfoldtargedidbear，Andinhisbreastplatestuckandbrokehisspear。
XXXII
Theencountersuch，uponthetendergrass，DownfromhissteedtheChristianbackwardfell；
Yethisproudfoesostrongandsturdywas，Thathenorshook，norstaggeredinhissell，Buttotheknightthatlayfulllow，alas，Inhighdisdainhiswillthusganhetell，“Yieldtheemyslave，andthisthinehonorbe，Thoumay’streportthouhastencounteredme。“
XXXIII
“Notso，“quothhe，“pardyit’snottheguiseOfChristianknights，thoughfall’n，sosoontoyield；
Icanmyfallexcuseinbetterwise，Andwillrevengethisshame，ordieinfield。“
ThegreatCircassianbenthisfrowningeyes，LikethatgrimvisageinMinerva’sshield，“Thenlearn，“quothhe，“whatforceArgantesusethAgainstthatfoolthatprofferedgracerefuseth。“
XXXIV
Withthathespurredhishorsewithspeedandhaste，Forgettingwhatgoodknightstovirtueowe，Othohisfuryshunned，and，ashepassed，Athisrightsidehereachedanobleblow，Widewasthewound，thebloodoutstreamedfast，Andfromhissidefelltohisstirruplow：
Butwhatavailstohurt，ifwoundsaugmentOurfoe’sfiercecourage，strengthandhardiment？
XXXV
Argantesnimblyturnedhisreadysteed，Anderehisfoewaswistorwellaware，Againsthissidehedrovehiscourser’shead，Whatforcecouldhegainstsogreatmightprepare？
Weakwerehisfeeblejoints，hiscouragedead，Hisheartamazed，hispalenessshowedhiscare，Histendersidegainstthehardearthhecast，Shamed，withthefirstfall；bruised，withthelast。
XXXVI
Thevictorspurredagainhislight-footsteed，AndmadehispassageoverOtho’sheart，Andcried，“ThesefoolsthusunderfootItread，Thisdarecontendwithmeinequalmart。“
Tancredforangershookhisnoblehead，Sowashegrievedwiththatunknightlypart；
Thefaultwashis，hewassoslowbefore，Withdoublevalorwouldhesalvethatsore。
XXXVII
Forwardhegallopedfast，andloudlycried：
“Villain，“quothhe，“thyconquestisthyshame，Whatpraise？whathonorshallthisfactbetide？
Whatgain？whatguerdonshallbefallthesame？
AmongtheArabianthievesthyfacegohide，Farfromresortofmenofworthandfame，Orelseinwoodsandmountainswild，bynight，Onsavagebeastsemploythysavagemight。“
XXXVIII
ThePaganpatienceneverknew，norused，Tremblingforire，hissandylockshetore，Ourfromhislipsflewsuchasoundconfused，Aslionsmakeindesertsthick，whichroar；
Oraswhencloudstogethercrushedandbruised，PourdownatempestbytheCaspianshore；
Sowashisspeechimperfect，stopped，andbroken，Heroaredandthunderedwhenheshouldhavespoken。
XXXIX
ButwhenwiththreatstheybothhadwhettedkeenTheireagerrage，theirfury，spiteandire，TheyturnedtheirsteedsandleftlargespacebetweenTomaketheirforcesgreater，’proachingnigher，Withtermsthatwarlikeandthatworthybeen：
OsacredMuse，myhaughtythoughtsinspire，AndmakeatrumpetofmyslenderquillTothunderoutthisfuriouscombatshrill。
XL
ThesesonsofMayorsbore，insteadofspears，Twoknottymasts，whichnonebuttheycouldlift，Eachfoamingsteedsofasthismasterbears，Thatneverbeast，bird，shaftflewhalfsoswift；
Suchwastheirfury，aswhenBoreastearsTheshatteredcragsfromTaurus’northernclift，Upontheirhelmstheirlanceslongtheybroke，Anduptoheavenflewsplinters，sparkandsmoke。
XLI
Theshockmadeallthetowersandturretsquake，Andwoodsandmountainsallnighhandresound；
YetcouldnotallthatforceandfuryshakeThevaliantchampions，northeirpersonswound；
Togetherhurtledboththeirsteeds，andbrakeEachother’sneck，theriderslayonground：
Butthey，greatmastersofwar’sdreadfulart，Pluckedforththeirswordsandsoonfromearthupstart。
XLII
Closeathissurestwardeachwarriorlieth，Hewiselyguideshishand，hisfoot，hiseye，Thisblowheproveth，thatdefencehetrieth，Hetraverseth，retireth，pressethnigh，Nowstrikesheout，andnowhefalsifieth，Thisblowhewardeth，thatheletsslipby，AndforadvantageoftheletssomepartDiscoveredseem；thusartdeludethart。
XLIII
ThePaganilldefencedwithswordortarge，Tancredi’sthigh，ashesupposed，espiedAndreachingforthgainstithisweaponlarge，Quitenakedtohisfoeleaveshisleft-side；
Tancredavoidethquickhisfuriouscharge，Andgavehimekeawounddeep，soreandwide；
Thatdone，himselfsafetohiswardretired，Hiscouragepraisedbyall，hisskilladmired。
XLIV
TheproudCircassiansawhisstreamingblood，Downfromhiswound，asfromafountain，running，Hesighedforrage，andtrembledashestood，Heblamedhisfortune，folly，wantofcunning；
Helifthisswordaloft，forirenighwood，Andforwardrushed：Tancredhisfuryshunning，WithasharpthrustoncemorethePaganhit，Tohisbroadshoulderwherehisarmisknit。
XLV
LikeasabearthroughpiercedwithadartWithinthesecretwoods，nofurtherflieth，Butbitesthesenselessweaponmadwithsmart，Seekingrevengetillunrevengedshedieth；
SomadArgantesfared，whenhisproudheartWounduponwound，andshameonshameespieth，Desireofvengeancesoo’ercamehissenses，Thatheforgotalldangers，alldefences。
XLVI
Unitingforceextreme，withendlesswrath，Supportingbothwithyouthandstrengthuntired，Histhunderingblowssofastabouthelayeth，Thatskiesandearththeflyingsparklesfired；
Hisfoetostrikeoneblownoleisurehath，Scantlyhebreathed，thoughheoftdesired，Hiswarlikeskillandcunningallwaswaste，SuchwasArgantes’force，andsuchhishaste。
XLVII
LongtimeTancredihadinvainattendedWhenthishugestormshouldoverblowandpass，Someblowshismightytargetwelldefended，Somefellbeside，andwoundeddeepthegrass；
Butwhenhesawthetempestneverended，NorthatthePaynim’sforceaughtweakerwas，Hehighadvancedhiscuttingswordatlength，Andragetorageopposed，andstrengthtostrength。
XLVIII
Wrathborethesway，bothartandreasonfail，Furynewforce，andcouragenewsupplies，Theirarmorsforgedwereofmetalfrail，Oneverysidethereof，hugecantelsflies，Thelandwasstrewedallwithplateandmail。
That，ontheearth；onthat，theirwarmbloodlies。
AndateachrushandeveryblowtheysmoteThunderthenoise，thesparks，seemedlightninghot。
XLIX
TheChristianpeopleandthePagansgazed，Onthisfiercecombatwishingofttheend，Twixthopeandfeartheystoodlongtimeamazed，Toseetheknightsassail，andekedefend，Yetneithersigntheymade，nornoisetheyraised，Butfortheissueofthefightattend，Andstoodasstill，aslifeandsensetheywanted，Savethattheirheartswithintheirbosomspanted。
L
Nowweretheytiredboth，andwell-nighspent，Theirblowsshowgreaterwillthanpowertowound；
ButNighthergentledaughterDarkness，sent，Withfriendlyshadetooverspreadtheground，Twoheraldstothefightingchampionswent，Topartthefray，aslawsofarmsthemboundAridensborninFrance，andwisePindore，Themanthatbroughtthechallengeproudbefore。
LI
Thesementheirsceptresinterpose，betweenThedoubtfulhazardsofuncertainfight；
Forsuchtheirprivilegehatheverbeen，Thelawofnationsdothdefendtheirright；
Pindorebegan，“Stay，stay，youwarriorskeen，Equalyourhonor，equalisyourmight；
Forbearthiscombat，sowedeemitbest，Givenightherdue，andgrantyourpersonsrest。
LII
“Mangoethforthtolaborwiththesun，Butwiththenight，allcreaturesdrawtosleep，NoryetofhiddenpraiseindarknesswonThevaliantheartofnobleknighttakeskeep：“
Argantesansweredhim，“ThefightbegunNowtoforbear，dothwoundmyheartrightdeep：
YetwillIstay，sothatthisChristianswear，Beforeyouboth，againtomeetmehere。“
LIII
“Iswear，“quothTancred，“butswearthoulikewiseTomakereturnthyprisonerekewiththee；
Elseforachievementofthisenterprise，Noneothertimebutthisexpectofme；“
Thussworetheyboth；theheraldsbothdevise，Whattimeforthisexploitshouldfittestbe：
Andfortheirwoundsofrestandcurehadneed，Tomeetagainthesixthdaywasdecreed。
LIV
ThisfightwasdeepimprintedintheirheartsThatsawthisbloodyfraytoendingbrought，Anhorrorgreatpossessedtheirweakerparts，Whichmadethemshrinkwhoontheircombatthought：
MuchspeechwasofthepraiseandhighdesartsOfthesebravechampionsthatsonoblyfought；
Butwhichforknightlyworthwasmostypraised，Ofthatwasdoubtanddisputationraised。
LV
Alllongtoseethemendthisdoubtfulfray，Andastheyfavor，sotheywishsuccess，Thesehopetruevirtueshallobtaintheday，Thosetrustonfury，strengthandhardiness；
ButonErminiamostthisburdenlay，Whoselookshertroubleandherfearexpress；
Foronthisdangerouscombat’sdoubtfulendHerjoy，hercomfort，hopeandlifedepend。