Abuglesmallhewindedloudandshrill,Thatmaderesoundthefieldsandvalleysnear,LouderthanthunderfromOlympushillSeemedthatdreadfulblasttoallthathear;
  TheChristianlordsofprowess,strengthandskill,Withintheimperialtentassembledwere,TheheraldthereinboastingtermsdefiedTancredifirst,andallthatdurstbeside。
  LVIII
  Withsoberthosetenwhichchosenwerebylot,Andviewedatleisureeverylordandknight;
  Butyetforallhislooksnotonesteppedout,Withcouragebold,toundertakethefight:
  AbsentwerealltheChristianchampionsstout,NonewsofTancredsincehissecretflight;
  Boemondfaroff,andbanishedfromthecrewWasthatstrongprincewhoproudGernandoslew:
  LIX
  Andekethosetenwhichchosenwerebylot,Andalltheworthiesofthecampbeside,AfterArmidafalsewerefollowedhot,Whennightwerecometheirfighttohide;
  Theresttheirhandsandheartsthattrustednot,Blushedforshame,yetsilentstillabide;
  FornonetherewasthatsoughttopurchasefameInsogreatperil,fearexiledshame。
  LX
  Theangryduketheirfeardiscoveredplain,Bytheirpalelooksandsilencefromeachpart,Andashemovedwaswithjustdisdain,Thesewordshesaid,andfromhisseatupstart:
  “UnworthylifeIjudgethatcowardswainTohazarditevennowthatwantstheheart,WhenthisvilePaganwithhisgloriousboastDishonorsanddefiesChrist’ssacredhost。
  LXI
  “Butletmycampsitstillinpeaceandrest,Andmylife’shazardattheireasebehold。
  Comebringmeheremyfairestarmsandbest;“
  Andtheywerebroughtsoonerthancouldbetold。
  ButgentleRaymondinhisagedbreast,Whohadmatureadvice,andcounselold,ThanwhominallthecampwerenoneorfewOfgreatermight,beforeGodfredodrew,LXII
  Andgravelysaid,“Ah,letitnotbetide,Ononeman’shandtoventureallhishost!
  Noprivatesoldierthou,thouareourguide,Ifthoumiscarry,allourhopewerelost,BytheemustBabelfell,andallherpride;
  Ofourtruefaiththouartthepropandpost,Rulewiththysceptre,conquerwiththyword,Letotherscombatmakewithspearandsword。
  LXIII
  “LetmethisPagan’sgloriousprideassuage,Theseagedarmscanyettheirweaponsuse,LetothersshunBellona’sdreadfulrage,ThesesilverlocksshallnotRaymondoscuse:
  OhthatIwereinprimeoflustyage,Likeyouthatthisadventurebraverefuse,Anddarenotonceliftupyourcowardeyes,GainsthimthatyouandChristhimselfdefies!
  LXIV
  “OrasIwaswhenallthelordsoffameAndGermainprincesgreatstoodbytoview,InConrad’scourt,thesecondofthatname,WhenLeopoldinsinglefightIslew;
  AgreaterpraiseIreapedbythesame,Sostrongafoeincombattosubdue,ThanheshoulddowhoallaloneshouldchaseOrkillathousandofthesePagansbase。
  LXV
  “Withinthesearms,badIthatstrengthagain,ThisboastingPaynimhadnotlivednow,Yetinthisbreastdothcouragestillremain;
  Forageoryearsthesemembersshallnotbow;
  AndifIbeinthisencounterslain,ScotfreeArgantesshallnotscape,Ivow;
  Givememinearms,thisbattleshallwithpraiseAugmentminehonor,gotinyoungerdays。“
  LXVI
  Thejollybaronoldthusbravelyspake,Hiswordsarespurstovirtue;everyknightThatseemedbeforetotrembleandtoquake,Nowtalkedbold,examplehathsuchmight;
  Eachonethebattlefiercewouldundertake,Nowstrovetheyallwhoshouldbeginthefight;
  BaldwinandRogerboth,wouldcombatfain,Stephen,Guelpho,GernierandtheGerrardstwain;
  LXVII
  AndPyrrhus,whowithhelpofBoemond’sswordProudAntiochbycunningsleightopprest;
  Thebattleekewithmanyalowlyword,Ralph,Rosimond,andEberardrequest,AScottish,anIrish,andanEnglishlord,Whoselandstheseasdividefarfromtherest,Andforthefightdidlikewisehumblysue,EdwardandhisGildippes,loverstrue。
  LXVIII
  ButRaymondmorethanalltherestdothsueUponthatPaganfiercetowreakhisire,NowwantshenaughtofallhisarmorsdueExcepthishelmthatshonelikeflamingfire。
  TowhomGodfredothus;“OmirrortrueOfantiqueworth!thycouragedothinspireNewstrengthinus,ofMarsintheedothshineTheart,thehonorandthediscipline。
  LXIX
  “Iftenliketheeofvalorandofage,AmongtheselegionsIcouldhaplyfind,IshouldthebestofBabel’sprideassuage,AndspreadourfaithfromThuletofurthestInde;
  ButnowIpraytheecalmthyvaliantrage,Reservethyselftillgreaterneedusbind,Andlettheresteachonewritedownhisname,AndseewhomFortunechoosethtothisgame,——
  LXX
  “OrratherseewhomGod’shighjudgementtaketh,Towhomischance,andfate,andfortuneslave。“
  Raymondhisearnestsuitnotyetforsaketh,Hisnamewritwiththeresiduewouldhehave,GodfreyhimselfinhisbrighthelmetshakethThescrolls,withnamesofallthechampionsbrave:
  Theydrew,andreadthefirstwhereontheyhit,Whereinwas“Raymond,EarlofTholouse,“writ。
  LXXI
  Hisnamewithjoyandmightyshoutstheybless;
  Therestallowhischoice,andfortunepraise,Newvigorblushedthroughthoselooksofhis;
  Itseemedhenowresumedhisyouthfuldays,Liketoasnakewhosesloughnewchangedis,Thatshineslikegoldagainstthesunnyrays:
  ButGodfreymostapprovedhisfortunehigh,Andwishedhimhonor,conquest,victory。
  LXXII
  Thenfromhissidehetookhisnoblebrand,AndgivingittoRaymond,thushespake:
  “ThisistheswordwherewithinSaxonland,ThegreatRubellobattleusedtomake,FromhimItookit,fightinghandtohand,Andtookhislifewithit,andmanyalakeOfbloodwithitIhaveshedsincethatday,WiththeeGodgrantitprovesashappymay。“
  LXXIII
  Ofthesedelaysmeanwhileimpatient,Argantesthreatenethloudandsternlycries,“OgloriouspeopleoftheOccident!
  Beholdhimherethatallyourhostdefies:
  WhycomesnotTancred,whosegreathardiment,Withyouisprizedsodear?PardieheliesStillonhispillow,andpresumesthenightAgainmayshieldhimfrommypowerandmight。
  LXXIV
  “Whythensomeothercome,byhandandhand,Comeall,comeforthonhorseback,comeonfoot,Ifnotonemandarescombathandtohand,Inallthethousandsofsogreatarout:
  SeewherethetombofMary’sSondothstand,Marchthither,warriorshold,whatmakesyoudoubt?
  Whyrunyounot,thereforyoursinstoweepOrtowhatgreaterneedtheseforceskeep?“
  LXXV
  ThusscornedbythatheathenSaracineWereallthesoldiersofChrist’ssacredname:
  Raymond,whileothersathiswordsrepine,Burstforthinrage,hecouldnotbearthisshame:
  ForfireofcouragebrighterfardothshineIfchallengesandthreatsaugmentthesame;
  Sothat,uponhissteedhemountedlight,WhichAquilinoforhisswiftnesshight。
  LXXVI
  ThisjennetwasbyTagusbred;foroftThebreederofthesebeaststowarassigned,WhenfirstontreesburgeontheblossomssoftPrickedforwardwiththestingoffertilekind,AgainsttheaircastsupherheadaloftAndgatherethseedsofromthefruitfulwindAndthusconceivingofthegentleblast,Awonderstrangeandrare,shefoalsatlast。
  LXXVII
  Andhadyouseenthebeast,youwouldhavesaidThelightandsubtilewindhisfatherwas;
  ForifhiscourseuponthesandshemadeNosignwasleftwhatwaythebeastdidpass;
  Orifhemenagedwere,orifheplayed,Hescantlybendeddownthetendergrass:
  ThusmountedrodetheEarl,andashewent,Thusprayed,toHeavenhiszealouslooksupbent。
  LXXVIII
  “OLord,thatdiddestsave,keepanddefendThyservantDavidfromGoliath’srage,Andbroughtestthathugegianttohisend,Slainbyafaithfulchildoftenderage;
  Likegrace,OLord,likemercynowextend!
  Letmethisvileblasphemousprideassuage,Thatalltheworldmaytothygloryknow,Oldmenandbabesthyfoescanoverthrow!“
  LXXIX
  ThusprayedtheCounty,andhisprayersdearStrengthenedwithzeal,withgodlinessandfaith,BeforethethroneofthatgreatLordappear,Inwhosesweetgraceislife,deathinhiswrath,Amonghisarmiesbrightandlegionsclear,TheLordanangelgoodselectedhath,Towhomthechargewasgiventoguardtheknight,AndkeephimsafefromthatfiercePagan’smight。
  LXXX
  Theangelgood,appointedfortheguardOfnobleRaymondfromhistendereild,Thatkepthimthen,andkepthimafterward,Whenspearandswordheablewastowield,NowwhenhisgreatCreator’swillheheard,Thatinthisfightheshouldhimchieflyshield,Uptoatowersetonarockheflies,Wherealltheheavenlyarmsandweaponslies:
  LXXXI
  TherestandsthelancewherewithgreatMichaelslewTheageddragoninabloodyfight,Therearethedreadfulthundersforgednew,Withstormsandplaguesthatonpoorsinnerslight;
  ThemassytridentmayestthoupendantviewThereonagoldenpinhunguponheight,Wherewithsometimeshesmitesthissolidland,Andthrowsdowntownsandtowersthereonwhichstand。
  LXXXII
  AmongtheblessedweaponstherewhichstandsUponadiamondshieldhislookshebended,Sogreatthatitmightcoverallthelands,TwixtCaucasusandAtlashillsextended;
  Withitthelord’sdearflocksandfaithfulbands,Theholykingsandcitiesaredefended,Thesacredangeltookhistargetsheen,AndbytheChristianchampionstoodunseen。