Suchwastheirwrestling,suchtheirshocksandthrowsThatdownatoncetheytumbledbothtoground,Argantes,——wereithaporskill,whoknows,Hisbetterhandlooseandinfreedomfound;
  ButthegoodPrince,hishandmorefitforblows,WithhishugeweightthePaganunderbound;
  Buthe,hisdisadvantagegreatthatknew,Letgohishold,andonhisfeetupflew:
  XIX
  FarslowerrosetheunwieldySaracine,Andcaughtaraperehewasrearedupright。
  ButasagainsttheblusteringwindsapineNowbendshistop,nowliftshisheadonheight,Hiscourageso,whenit’ganmostdecline,Themanreinforced,andadvancedhismight,Andwithfiercechangeofblowsrenewedthefray,Whererageforskill,horrorforart,boresway。
  XX
  ThepurpledropsfromTancred’ssidesdownrailed,ButfromthePaganranwholestreamsofblood,Wherewithhisforcegrewweak,hiscouragequailedAsfiresdiewhichfuelwantorfood。
  TancredthatsawhisfeeblearmnowfailedTostrikehisblows,thatscanthestirredorstood,Assuagedhisanger,andhiswrathallayed,Andsteppingback,thusgentlyspokeandsaid:
  XXI
  “Yield,hardyknight,andchanceofwarormeConfesstohavesubduedtheeinthisfight,Iwillnotrophy,triumph,spoilofthee,Norglorywish,norseekavictor’srightMoreterriblethanerst;“herewithgrewheAndallawakedhisfury,rageandmight,Andsaid,“Dar’stthouofvantagespeakorthink,OrmoveArgantesoncetoyieldorshrink?
  XXII
  “Use,usethyvantage,theeandfortunebothIscorn,andpunishwillthyfoolishpride:“
  Asahotbrandflamesmostereitforthgo’th,Anddyingblazethbrightoneveryside;
  Sohe,whenbloodwaslost,withangerwroth,Revivedhiscouragewhenhispuissancedied,Andwouldhislatesthourwhichnowdrewnigh,Illustratewithhisend,andnoblydie。
  XXIII
  Hejoinedhislefthandtohersisterstrong,Andwiththembothletfallhisweightyblade。
  Tancredtowardhisblowhisswordupslung,Butthatitsmoteaside,northereitstayed,ButfromhisshouldertohissidealongItglanced,andmanywoundsatonceitmade:
  YetTancredfearednaught,forinhisheartFoundcowarddreadnoplace,fearhadnopart。
  XXIV
  Hisfearfulblowhedoubled,buthespentHisforceinwaste,andallhisstrengthinvain;
  ForTancredfromtheblowagainsthimbent,Leapedaside,thestrokefellontheplain。
  Withthineownweighto’erthrowntoearththouwent,Argantesstout,norcould’stthyselfsustain,Thyselfthouthrewestdown,Ohappyman,Uponwhosefallnoneboastortriumphcan!
  XXV
  Hisgapingwoundsthefallsetopenwide,Thestreamsofbloodabouthimmadealake,Helpedwithhislefthand,ononekneehetriedTorearhimself,andnewdefencetomake:
  Thecourteousprincesteppedback,and“Yieldthee!“cried,Nohurtheprofferedhim,noblowhestrake。
  MeanwhilebystealththePaganfalsehimgaveAsuddenwound,threateningwithspeechesbrave:
  XXVI
  HerewithTancredifuriousgrew,andsaid,“Villain,dostthoumymercysodespise?“
  Therewithhethrustandthrustagainhisblade,Andthroughhisventilpiercedhisdazzledeyes,Argantesdied,yetnocomplainthemade,Butashefuriouslivedhecarelessdies;
  Bold,proud,disdainful,fierceandvoidoffearHismotionslast,lastlooks,lastspeecheswere。
  XXVII
  Tancredputuphissword,andpraisesgladGavetohisGodthatsavedhiminthisfight;
  ButyetthisbloodyconquestfeebledhadSomuchtheconqueror’sforce,strengthandmight,ThatthroughthewayhefearedwhichhomewardledHehadnotstrengthenoughtowalkupright;
  Yetashecouldhisstepsfromthencehebent,Andfootbyfootaheavypaceforth-went;
  XXVIII
  Hislegscouldbearhimbutalittlestound,Andmorehehastes,moretired,lesswashisspeed,Onhisrighthand,atlast,laidonthegroundHeleaned,hishandweaklikeashakingreed,Dazzledhiseyes,theworldonwheelsranround,Daywrappedherbrightnessupinsableweed;
  Atlengthheswooned,andthevictorknightNaughtdifferedfromhisconqueredfoeinfight。
  XXIX
  Butwhiletheselordstheirprivatefightpursue,Madefierceandcruelthroughtheirsecrethate,Thevictor’siredestroyedthefaithlesscrewFromstreettostreet,andchasedfromgatetogate。
  ButofthesackedtowntheimagetrueWhocandescribe,orpaintthewofulstate,OrwithfitwordsthisspectacleexpressWhocan?ortellthecity’sgreatdistress?
  XXX
  Blood,murder,death,eachstreet,house,churchdefiled,Thereheapsofslainappear,theremountainshigh;
  Thereunderneaththeunburiedhillsup-piledOfbodiesdead,thelivingburiedlie;
  TherethesadmotherwithhertenderchildDothtearhertressesloose,complainandfly,AndtherethespoilerbyheramberhairDrawstohislustthevirginchasteandfair。
  XXXI
  Butthroughthewaythattothewest-hillyoodWhereontheoldandstatelytemplestands,AllsoiledwithgoreandwetwithlukewarmbloodRinaldoran,andchasedthePaganbands;
  Abovetheirheadsheheavedhiscurtlaxgood,Lifeinhisgrace,anddeathlayinhishands,Norhelmnortargetstronghisblowsoffbears,Bestarmedthereseemedhenoarmsthatwears;
  XXXII
  ForgainsthisarmedfoesheonlybendsHisforce,andscornsthenakedfolktowound;
  Themwhomnocouragearms,noarmsdefends,Hechasedwithhislooksanddreadfulsound:
  Oh,whocantellhowfarhisforceextends?
  Howthesehescorns,threatsthose,laysthemonground?
  Howwithunequalharm,withequalfearFledall,allthatwellarmedornakedwere:
  XXXIII
  Fastfledthepeopleweak,andwiththesameAsquadronstrongistothetemplegoneWhich,burnedandbuildedoft,stillkeepsthenameOfthefirstfounder,wiseKingSolomon;
  ThatprincethisstatelyhousedidwhilomframeOfcedartrees,ofgoldandmarblestone;
  Nownotsorich,yetstrongandsureitwas,Withturretshigh,thickwalls,anddoorsofbrass。
  XXXIV
  TheknightarrivedwhereinwarklikesortThementhatamplechurchhadfortified。
  Andclosedfoundeachwicket,gateandport,Andonthetopdefencesreadyspied,Helefthisfrowninglooks,andtwicethatfortFromhishightopdowntothegroundworkeyed,Andentrancesought,andtwicewithhisswiftfootThemightyplacehemeasuredabout。
  XXXV
  LikeasawolfabouttheclosedfoldRangethbynighthishopedpreytoget,EnragedwithhungerandwithmaliceoldWhichkind’twixthimandharmlesssheephathset:
  Sosearchedhehighandlowaboutthathold,Wherehemightenterwithoutstoporlet,Inthegreatcourthestayed,hisfoesaboveAttendtheassault,andwouldtheirfortuneprove。
  XXXVI
  Therelaybychanceapostedtreethereby,Keptforsomeneedfuluse,whate’eritwere,ThearmedgalleysnotsothicknorhighTheirtallandloftymastsatGenesuprear;
  ThisbeamtheknightagainstthegatesmadeflyFromhisstronghandsallweightswhichliftandbear,Likealightlancethattreeheshookandtossed,Andbruisedthegate,thethresholdandthepost。
  XXXVII
  Nomarblestone,nometalstrongoutboreThewondrousmightofthatredoubledblow,Thebrazenhingesfromthewallittore,Itbrokethelocks,andlaidthedoorsdownlow,Noironram,noenginecoulddomore,Norcannonsgreatthatthunderboltsforththrow,Hispeoplelikeaflowingstreaminthrong,Andafterthementeredthevictorstrong;
  XXXVIII
  ThewofulslaughterblackandloathsomemadeThathouse,sometimethesacredhouseofGod,Oheavenlyjustice,ifthoubedelayed,Onwretchedsinnerssharperfallsthyrod!
  InthemthisplaceprofanedwhichinvadeThoukindledire,andmercyallforbode,Untilwiththeirhearts’bloodthePagansvileThistemplewashedwhichtheydidlatedefile。
  XXXIX
  ButSolymanthiswhilehimselffastspedUptothefortwhichDavid’stowerisnamed,Andwithhimallthesoldiersleftheled,Andgainsteachentrancenewdefencesframed:
  ThetyrantAladineekethitherfled,TowhomtheSoldanthus,faroff,exclaimed,Thyself,withinthisfortresssafeuplock:
  XL
  “ForwellthisfortressshalltheeandthycrownDefend,awhileheremaywesaferemain。“
  “Alas!“quothhe,“alas,forthisfairtown,Whichcruelwarbeatsdownevenwiththeplain,Mylifeisdone,mineempiretroddendown,Ireigned,Ilived,butnownorlivenorreign;
  Fornow,alas!beholdthefatalhourThatendsourlife,andendsourkinglypower。“
  XLI
  “Whereisyourvirtue,whereyourwisdomgrave,Andcouragestout?“theangrySoldansaid,“Letchanceourkingdomstakewhicherstshegave,Yetinourheartsourkinglyworthislaid;
  Butcome,andinthisfortyourpersonsave,Refreshyourwearylimbsandstrengthdecayed:“
  Thuscounselledhe,anddidtosafetybringWithinthatforttheweakandagedking。
  XLII
  Hisironmaceinbothhishandshehent,Andonhisthighhistrustyswordhetied,Andtotheentrancefierceandfearlesswent,Andkeptthestrait,andalltheFrenchdefied:
  Theblowsweremortalwhichhegaveorlent,Forwhomhehitheslew,elsebyhissideLaidlowonearth,thatallfledfromtheplaceWheretheybeheldthatgreatanddreadfulmace。