WithTurksandPersianswarheoftdidwage,Andofthewon,andsometimeslostthefield,NorcouldhisadversefortuneaughtassuageHisvalor’sheatormakehisproudheartyield,Butwhenhegrewunfitforwarthroughage,Hesheathedhisswordandlaidasidehisshield:
  Butyethiswarlikemindhelaidnotdown,Norhisgreatthirstofrule,praiseandrenown,VIII
  Butbyhisknightsstillcruelwarsmaintained。
  Sowisehiswords,soquickhiswitappears,Thatofthekingdomlargeo’erwhichhereigned,Thechargeseemednottooweightyforhisyears;
  HisgreatnessAfric’slesserkingsconstrainedTotrembleathisname,allIndhimfears,Andotherrealmsthatwouldhisfriendshiphold;
  Somearmedsoldierssent,somegifts,somegold。
  IX
  ThismightyprinceassembledhadtheflowerOfallhisrealms,againsttheFrenchmenstout,Tobreaktheirrisingempireandtheirpower,Norofsureconquesthadhefearordoubt:
  TohimArmidacame,evenatthehourWhenintheplains,oldGaza’swallswithout,ThelordsandleadersalltheirarmiesbringInbattle-ray,musteredbeforetheirking。
  X
  Heonhisthronewasset,towhichonheightWhoclombanhundredivorystairsfirsttold,Underapentisewroughtofsilverbright,Andtrodoncarpetsmadeofsilkandgold;
  HisrobesweresuchasbestbeseemenmightAking,sogreat,sograve,sorich,soold,AndtwinedofsixtyellsoflawnandmoreAturbanstrangeadornedhistresseshoar。
  XI
  Hisrighthanddidhisprecioussceptrewield,Hisbeardwasgray,hislookssevereandgrave,Andfromhiseyes,notyetmadedimwitheild,Sparkledhisformerworthandvigorbrave,HisgesturesallthemajestyupheildAndstate,ashisoldageandempirecrave,SoPhidiascarved,Apellesso,pardie,ErstpaintedJove,Jovethunderingdownfromsky。
  XII
  Oneithersidehimstoodanoblelord,WhereofthefirstheldinhisuprighthandOfseverejusticetheunpartialsword;
  Theotherbaretheseal,andcausesscanned,Keepinghisfolkinpeaceandgoodaccord,Andtermedwaslordchancelloroftheland;
  Butmarshalwasthefirst,andusedtoleadHisarmiesforthtowar,oftwithgoodspeed。
  XIII
  OfboldCircassianswiththeirhalbertslong,Abouthisthronehisguardsstoodinaring,Allrichlyarmedingildencorsletsstrong,Andbytheirsidestheircrookedswordsdownhing:
  Thusset,thusseated,hisgravelordsamong,Hishostsandarmiesgreatbeheldtheking,Andeverybandasbyhisthroneitwent,Theirensignslowinclined,andarmsdownbent:
  XIV
  TheirsquadronsfirstthemenofEgyptshow,Infourtroops,andeachhisseveralguide,Ofthehighcountrytwo,twoofthelowWhichNilehadwonoutofthesaltseaside,Hisfertileslimefirststoppedthewaters’flow,Thenhardenedtofirmlandtheploughtobide,SoEgyptstillincreased,withinfarplacedThatpartisnowwhereshipserstanchorcast。
  XV
  TheforemostbandthepeoplewerethatdwelledInAlexandria’srichandfertileplain,Alongthewesternshore,whenceNileexpelledThegreedybillowsoftheswellingmain;
  Araspeswastheirguide,whomoreexcelledInwitandcraftthanstrengthorwarlikepain,Toplaceanambushclose,ortodeviseAtreasonfalse,wasnonesosly,sowise。
  XVI
  ThepeoplenextthatgainstthemorningraysAlongthecoastsofAsiahavetheirseat,Arontesledthem,whomnowarlikepraiseEnnobled,buthighbirthandtitlesgreat,Hishelmne’ermadehimsweatintoilsomefrays,Norwashissleepe’erbrokewithtrumpet’sthreat,ButfromsofteasetotrythetoiloffightHisfondambitionbroughtthiscarpetknight。
  XVII
  Thethirdseemednotatrooporsquadronsmall,Butanhugehost;norseemeditsomuchgrainInEgyptgrewastosustainthemall;
  Yetfromonetownthereofcameallthattrain,Atowninpeopletohugeshiresequal,Thatdidathousandstreetsandmorecontain,GreatCaireithight,whosecommonsfromeachsideCameswarmingouttowar,Campsontheirguide。
  XVIII
  NextunderGazelmarchedtheythatploughThefertilelandsabovethattownwhichlieUptotheplacewhereNilustumblinglowFallsfromhissecondcataractfromhigh;
  TheEgyptiansweaponedwerewithswordandbow,Noweightofhelmorhauberklisttheytry,Andrichlyarmed,intheirstrongfoesnodreedOfdeathbutgreatdesireofspoiltheybreed。
  XIX
  ThenakedfolkofBarcathesesucceed,Unarmedhalf,Alarconledthatband,Thatlongindesertslived,inextremeneed,Onspoilsandpreyspurchasedbystrengthofhand。
  Tobattlestrongunfit,theirkingdidleadHisarmynextbroughtfromZumaraland。
  ThenheofTripoli,forsuddenfightAndskirmishshort,bothready,bold,andlight。
  XX
  TwocaptainsnextbroughtforththeirbandstoshowWhomStonysentandHappyAraby,Whichneverfeltthecoldoffrostandsnow,Orforceofburningheat,unlessfamelie,Whereincensepureandallsweetodorsgrow,Wherethesolephoenixdothrevive,notdie,AndmidsttheperfumesrichandfloweretsbraveBothbirthandburial,cradlehathandgrave。
  XXI
  Theirclothesnotrich,theirgarmentswerenotgay,ButweaponsliketheEgyptiantroopstheyhad,TheArabiansnextthathavenocertainstay,Nohouse,nohome,nomansiongoodorbad,Butever,astheScythianhordesstray,Fromplacetoplacetheirwanderingcitiesgad:
  Thesehavebothvoiceandstaturefeminine,Hairlongandblack,blackface,andfieryeyne。
  XXII
  LongIndiancanes,withironarmed,theybear,Andasupontheirnimblesteedstheyride,Likeaswiftstormtheirspeedytroopsappear,Ifwindssofastbringstormsfromheavenswide:
  BySyphaxledthefirstArabianswere;
  Aldinethesecondsquadronhadnoguide,AndAbiazarproud,broughttothefightThethird,athief,amurderer,notaknight。
  XXIII
  TheislanderscamethentheirprincebeforeWhoselandsArabia’sgulfenclosedabout,Whereintheyfishandgatheroystersstore,Whoseshellsgreatpearlsrichandroundpourout;
  TheRedSeasentwiththemfromhisleftshore,Ofnegroesgrimablackanduglyrout;
  TheseAgricaltandthoseOsmidabrought,Amanthatsetlaw,faithandtruthatnaught。
  XXIV
  TheEthiopsnextwhichMeroedothbreed,ThatsweetandgentleisleofMeroe,TwixtNileandAstraborethatfardothspread,Wheretworeligionsare,andkingdomsthree,TheseAssimiroandCanarioled,Bothkings,bothPagans,andbothsubjectsbeTothegreatCaliph,butthethirdkingkeptChrist’ssacredfaith,nortothesewarsoutstepped。
  XXV
  Aftertwokings,bothsubjectsalso,ride,Andoftwobandsofarchershadthecharge,ThefirstSoldanofOrmusplacedinthewideHugePersianBay,atownrich,fair,andlarge:
  ThelastofBoecan,whichateverytideTheseacutsofffromPersia’ssouthernmarge,Andmakesanisle;butwhenitebbsagain,Thepassagethereissandy,dryandplain。
  XXVI
  Northee,greatAltamore,inherchastebedThylovingqueenkeptwithherdearembrace,Shetoreherlocks,shesmoteherbreast,andshedSalttearstomaketheestayinthatsweetplace,“Seemtheroughseasmorecalm,cruel,“shesaid,“Thanthemildlooksofthykindspouse’sface?
  Oristhyshield,withbloodanddustdefiled,Adearerarmfulthanthytenderchild?“
  XXVII
  ThiswasthemightykingofSamarcand,Acaptainwise,wellskilledinfeatsofwar,Incouragefierce,matchlessforstrengthofhand,Greatwashispraise,hisforcewasnoisedfar;
  HisworthrightwelltheFrenchmenunderstand,Bywhomhisvirtuesfearedandlovedare:
  Hismenwerearmedwithhelmsandhauberksstrong,Andbytheirsidesbroadswordsandmaceshong。
  XXVIII
  ThenfromthemansionsbrightoffreshAuroreAdrastuscame,thegloriouskingofInd,Asnake’sgreenskinspottedwithblackhewore,Thatwasmaderichbyartandhardbykind,Anelephantthisfuriousgiantbore,Hefierceasfire,hismountureswiftaswind;
  Muchpeoplebroughthefromhiskingdomswide,TwixtIndus,Ganges,andthesaltseaside。
  XXIX
  Theking’sowntroopcomenext,achosencrew,Ofallthecampthestrength,thecrown,theflower,WhereineachsoldierhadwithhonorsdueRewardedbeen,forserviceerethathour;
  Theirarmswerestrongforneed,andfairforshow,Uponfiercesteedswellmountedrodethispower,AndheavenitselfwiththeclearsplendorshoneOftheirbrightarmor,purple,goldandstone。
  XXX
  MongsttheseAlarcofierce,andOdemareThemustermasterwas,andHidraort,AndRimedon,whoserashnesstooknocareToshundeath’sbitterstroke,infieldorfort,Tigranes,Rapoldstem,thementhatfareBysea,thatrobbedineachcreekandport,Ormond,andMarlabusttheArabiannamed,Becausethatlandrebellioushereclaimed。
  XXXI
  TherePirga,Arimon,Orindoare,Brimartethescaler,andwithhimSuifantThebreakerofwildhorsesbroughtfromfar;
  ThenthegreatwrestelerstrongAridamant,AndTisapherne,thethunderboltofwar,Whomnonesurpassed,whomnonetomatchdurstvauntAttilt,attourney,orincombatbrave,Withspearorlance,withsword,withmaceorglaive。
  XXXII
  AfalseArmeniandidthissquadronguide,ThatinhisyouthfromChrist’struefaithandlightTotheblindloreofPaganismdidslide,ThatClementlate,nowEmireno,hight;
  Yettohiskinghefaithfulwas,andtriedTrueinallcauses,hisinwrongandright:
  Acunningleaderandasoldierbold,Forstrengthandcourage,young;forwisdom,old。
  XXXIII
  Whenalltheseregimentswerepassedandgone,AppearedArmide,andcamehertrooptoshow;
  Setinachariotbrightwithpreciousstone,Hergowntuckedup,andinherhandabow;
  Inhersweetfacehernewdispleasuresshone,Mixedwiththenativebeautiestherewhichgrow,AndquickenedsoherlooksthatinsharpwiseItseemsshethreatsandyetherthreatsentice。
  XXXIV
  HerchariotlikeAurora’sgloriouswain,Withcarbunclesandjacinthsglisteredround:
  HercoachmanguidedwiththegoldenreinFourunicorns,bycouplesyokedandbound;
  Ofsquiresandlovelyladieshundredstwain,Whoserattlingquiversattheirbacksresound,Onmilk-whitesteeds,waitonthechariotbright,Theirsteedstomanage,ready;swift,toflight。
  XXXV
  FollowedhertroopledforthbyAradin,WhichHidraortfromSyria’skingdomsent,Aswhenthenew-bornphoenixdothbeginToflytoEthiop-ward,atthefairbentOfherrichwingsstrangeplumesandfeathersthinHercrownsandchainswithnativegoldbesprent,Theworldamazedstands;andwithherflyAnhostofwonderingbirds,thatsingandcry: