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。