Buttothebold，“Go，hardyknight，“hesays，“Hispreyoutofthislion’spawsgotear：“
　　Tosomebeforehisthoughtstheshapehelays，Andmakesthereintheimagetrueappear，Howhissadcountryhimentreatsandprays，Hishouse，hislovingwife，andchildrendear：
　　“Suppose，“quothhe，“thycountrydothbeseechAndpraytheethus，supposethisisherspeech。
　　XXVI
　　“Defendmylaws，upholdmytemplesbrave，Mybloodfromwashingofmystreetswithhold，Fromravishingmyvirginskeep，andsaveThineancestors’deadbonesandashescold！
　　TotheethyfathersdearandparentsgraveShowtheiruncoveredheads，white，hoary，old，Totheethywife——herbreastswithtearso’erspread——
　　Thysons，theircradles，shows，thymarriagebed。“
　　XXVII
　　Toalltherest，“Youforherhonor’ssakeWhomAsiamakesherchampions，byyourmightUponthesethieves，weak，feeble，few，musttakeAsharprevenge，yetjust，deservedandright。“
　　Thusmanywordsinseveraltongueshespake，AndallhissundrynationstosharpfightEncouraged，butnowthedukeshaddoneTheirspeechesall，thehoststogetherrun。
　　XXVIII
　　Itwasagreat，astrangeandwondroussight，Whenfronttofrontthosenoblearmiesmet，Howeverytroop，howineachtroopeachknightStoodpresttomove，tofight，andpraisetoget，Looseinthewindwavedtheirensignslight，Trembledtheplumesthatontheircrestswereset；
　　Theirarms，impresses，colors，goldandstone，Againstthesunbeamssmiled，flamed，sparkled，shone。
　　XXIX
　　Ofdrytoppedoakstheyseemedtwoforeststhick，Sodideachhostwithspearsandpikesabound，Bentweretheirbows，inreststheirlancesstick，Theirhandsshookswords，theirslingsheldcobblesround：
　　Eachsteedtorunwasready，prestandquick，Athiscommander’sspur，hishand，hissound，Hechafes，hestamps，careers，andturnsabout，Hefoams，snorts，neighs，andfireandsmokebreathesout。
　　XXX
　　Horroritselfinthatfairfightseemedfair，Andpleasureflewamidsaddreadandfear；
　　Thetrumpetsshrill，thatthunderedintheair，Weremusicmildandsweettoeveryear：
　　Thefaithfulcamp，thoughless，yetseemedmorerareInthatstrangenoise，morewarlike，shrillandclear，Innotesmoresweet，thePagantrumpetsjar，Thesesung，theirarmorsshined，theseglisteredfar。
　　XXXI
　　TheChristiantrumpetsgivethedeadlycall，ThePagansanswer，andthefightaccept；
　　ThegodlyFrenchmenontheirkneesdownfallTopray，andkissedtheearth，andthenupleaptTofight，thelandbetweenwasvanishedall，Incombatcloseeachhosttootherstepped；
　　Fornowthewingshadskirmishhotbegun，Andwiththeirbattlesforththefootmenrun。
　　XXXII
　　ButwhowasfirstofalltheChristiantrain，Thatgavetheonsetfirst，firstwonrenown？
　　Gildippesthouwertshe，forbytheeslainTheKingofOrms，Hircano，tumbleddown，Theman’sbreastbonethouclov’standrentintwain，SoHeavenwithhonorwouldtheeblessandcrown，Piercedthroughhefell，andfallinghardwithalHisfoepraisedforherstrengthandforhisfall。
　　XXXIII
　　Herlancethusbroke，thehardydameforthdrewWithherstronghandafineandtrenchantblade，AndgainstthePersiansfierceandboldsheflew，Andintheirtroopwidestreetsandlanesshemade，Eveninthegirdling-steaddividednewInpiecestwain，Zopireonearthshelaid；
　　AndthenAlarco’sheadshesweptoffclean，Whichlikeafootballtumbledonthegreen。
　　XXXIV
　　AblowfelledArtaxerxes，withathrustWasArgeusslain，thefirstlayinatrance，Ismael’slefthandcutofffellinthedust，Foronhiswristherswordfelldownbychance：
　　Thehandletgothebridlewhereitlust，Theblowuponthecourser’searsdidglance，Whofeltthereinsatlarge。andwiththestrokeHalfmad，theranksdisordered，troubled，broke。
　　XXXV
　　Allthese，andmanymo，bytimeforgot，Sheslewandwounded，whenagainsthercameTheangryPersiansall，castonaknot，Foronherpersonwouldtheypurchasefame：
　　ButherdearspouseandhusbandwantednotInsogreatneed，toaidthenobledame；
　　Thusjoined，thehapsofwarunhurttheyprove，Theirstrengthwasdouble，doublewastheirlove。
　　XXXVI
　　Thenobleloversusewellmightyousee，Awondrousguise，tillthenunseen，unheard，Tosavethemselvesforgotbothheandshe，Eachother’slifedidkeep，defend，andguard；
　　Thestrokesthatgainstherlorddischargedbe，Thedamehadcaretobear，tobreak，toward，Hisshieldkeptofftheblowsbentonhisdear，Which，ifneedbe，hisnakedheadshouldbear。
　　XXXVII
　　Soeachsavedother，eachforother’swrongWouldvengeancetake，butnotrevengetheirown：
　　ThevaliantSoldanArtabanostrongOfBoecanIsle，byherwasoverthrown，Andbyhishand，thebodiesdeadamong，Alvante，thatdursthismistresswound，felldown，AndshebetweentheeyeshitArimont，Whohurtherlord，andcleftintwainhisfront。
　　XXXVIII
　　ButAltamorewhohadthatwingtoleadFargreaterslaughterontheChristiansmade；
　　Forwhereheturnedhissword，ortwinedhissteed，Heslew，ormanandbeastonearthdownlaid，Happywashethatwasatfirststruckdead，Thatfellnotdownonlive，forwhomhisbladeHadspeared，thesamecastinthedustystreetHishorsetorewithhisteeth，bruisedwithhisfeet。
　　XXXIX
　　BythisbravePersian’svalor，killedandslainWerestrongBrunelloandArdoniagreat；
　　Thefirsthisheadandhelmhadcleftintwain，Thelastinstranger-wisehedidintreat，Forthroughhishearthepierced，andhisseat，Wherelaughterhathhisfountainandhisseat，Sothat，adreadfulthing，believeduneath，Helaughedforpain，andlaughedhimselftodeath。
　　XL
　　Northesealonewiththataccursedknife，Ofthissweetlightandbreathdeprivedlie；
　　ButwiththatcruelweaponlosttheirlifeGentonio，Guascar，Rosimond，andGuy；
　　WhoknowshowmanyinthatfatalstrifeHeslew？whatknightshiscourserfiercemadedie？
　　ThenamesandcountriesofthepeopleslainWhotells？theirwoundsanddeathswhocanexplain？
　　XLI
　　Withthisfiercekingencounterdurstnotone。
　　Notonedurstcombathiminequalfield，Gildippesundertookthattaskalone；
　　Nodoubtcouldmakehershrink，nodangeryield，ByThermodontwasneverAmazone，Whomanagedsteeledaxe，orcarriedshield，Thatseemedsoboldasshe，sostrong，solight，Whenforthsheruntomeetthatdreadfulknight。
　　XLII
　　Shehithim，wherewithgoldandrichanmail，Hisdiademdidonhishelmetflame，Shebrokeandcleftthecrown，andcausedhimveilHisproudandloftytop，hiscrestdowncame，Strongseemedherarmthatcouldsowellassail：
　　ThePaganshookforspiteandblushedforshame，Forwardherushed，andwouldatoncerequiteShamewithdisgrace，andwithrevengedespite。
　　XLIII
　　RightonthefronthegavethatladykindAblowsohuge，sostrong，sogreat，sosore，Thatoutofsenseandfeeling，downshetwined：
　　Butherdearknighthislovefromgroundupbore，Wereittheirfortune，orhisnoblemind，Hestayedhishandandstrookthedamenomore：
　　Alionsostalksby，andwithproudeyesBeholds，butscornstohurtamanthatlies。
　　XLIV
　　ThiswhileOrmondofalse，whosecruelhandWasarmedandpresttogivethetrait’rousblow，WithallhisfellowsmongstGodfredo’sbandEnteredunseen，disguisedthatfewthemknow：
　　Thethievishwolves，whennighto’ershadestheland，Thatseemlikefaithfuldogsinshapeandshow，Sototheclosedfoldsinsecretcreep，Andentranceseek；tokillsomeharmlesssheep。
　　XLV
　　Heproachednigh，andtoGodfredo’ssideThebloodyPagannowwasplacednear：
　　Butwhenhiscolorsgoldandwhitehespied，Andsawtheothersignsthatforgedwere，“See，see，thistraitorfalse！“thecaptaincried，“ThatlikeaFrenchmanwouldinshowappear，Beholdhownearhismatesandhearecrept！“
　　Thissaid，uponthevillainforthheleapt；
　　LXVI
　　Deadlyhewoundedhim，andthatfalseknightNorstrikesnorwardsnorstrivethtobegone；
　　But，asMedusa’sheadwereinhissight，Stoodlikeamannewturnedtomarblestone，Alllancesbroke，unsheathedallweaponsbright，Allquiversemptiedwereonthemalone，Inpartssomanywerethetraitorscleft，Thatthosedeadmenhadnodeadbodiesleft。
　　LXVII
　　WhenGodfreywaswithPaganbloodbespread，HeenteredthenthefightandthatwaspastWheretheboldPersianfoughtandcombated，Wherethecloseranksheopened，cleftandbrast；
　　Beforetheknightthetroopsandsquadronsfled，AsAfricdustbeforethesouthernblast；
　　TheDukerecalledthem，inarraythemplaced，Stayedthosethatfled，andhimassailedthatchased。
　　LXVIII
　　Thechampionsstrongtherefoughtabattlestout，TroyneversawthelikebyXanthusold：
　　AconflictsharptherewasmeanwhileonfootTwixtBaldwingoodandMuleassesbold：
　　Thehorsemenalsonearthemountainsrout，Andinbothwings，afuriousskirmishhold，Andwherethebarbarousdukeinpersonstood，TwixtTisiphernesandAdrastusproud；
　　XLIX
　　WithEmirenRoberttheNormanstrove，Longtimetheyfought，yetneitherlostnorwon；
　　TheotherRobert’shelmtheIndianclove，Andbrokehisarms，theirfightwouldsoonbedone：
　　FromplacetoplacedidTisiphernesrove，Andfoundnomatch，againsthimnonedustrun，ButwherethepresswasthickestthitherflewTheknight，andateachstrokefelled，hurt，orslew。
　　L
　　Thusfoughttheylong，yetneithershrinknoryield，Inequalbalancehungtheirhopeandfear：
　　Allfullofbrokenlanceslaythefield，Allfullofarmsthatclovenandshatteredwere；
　　Ofswords，sometothebodynailtheshield，Somecutmen’sthroats，andsometheirbelliestear；
　　Ofbodies，someupright，somegrovellinglay，Andforthemselveseatgravesoutoftheclay。