第1章

Thesacredarmies，andthegodlyknight，ThatthegreatsepulchreofChristdidfree，Ising；muchwroughthisvalorandforesight，Andinthatgloriouswarmuchsufferedhe；

Invain’gainsthimdidHellopposehermight，InvaintheTurksandMoriansarmedbe：

Hissoldierswild，tobrawlsandmutiniesprest，Reducedhetopeace，soHeavenhimblest。

II

OheavenlyMuse，thatnotwithfadingbaysDeckestthybrowbytheHeliconianspring，Butsittestcrownedwithstars’immortalraysInHeaven，wherelegionsofbrightangelssing；

Inspirelifeinmywit，mythoughtsupraise，Myverseennoble，andforgivethething，IffictionslightImixwithtruthdivine，Andfilltheselineswithotherpraisethanthine。

III

Thitherthouknow’sttheworldisbestinclinedWhereluringParnassmosthissweetimparts，AndtruthconveyedinverseofgentlekindToreadperhapswillmovethedullesthearts：

Sowe，ifchildrenyoungdiseasedwefind，Anointwithsweetsthevessel’sforemostpartsTomakethemtastethepotionssharpwegive；

Theydrinkdeceived，andsodeceived，theylive。

IV

YenoblePrinces，thatprotectandsaveThePilgrimMuses，andtheirshipdefendFromrockofIgnoranceandError’swave，Yourgraciouseyesuponthislaborbend：

ToyouthesetalesofloveandconquestbraveIdedicate，toyouthisworkIsend：

MyMusehereaftershallperhapsunfoldYourfights，yourbattles，andyourcombatsbold。

V

ForiftheChristianPrinceseverstriveTowinfairGreeceoutofthetyrants’hands，AndthoseusurpingIsmaelitesdepriveOfwofulThrace，whichnowcaptivedstands，YoumustfromrealmsandseastheTurksforthdrive，AsGodfreychasedthemfromJuda’slands，Andinthislegend，allthatgloriousdeed，Read，whilstyouarmyou；armyou，whilstyouread。

VI

SixyearswererunsincefirstinmartialguiseTheChristianLordswarraidtheeasternland；

Nicebyassault，andAntiochbysurprise，Bothfair，bothrich，bothwon，bothconqueredstand，Andthisdefendedtheyinnoblestwise’GainstPersianknightsandmanyavaliantband；

Tortosawon，lestwintermightthemshend，Theydrewtoholds，andcomingspringattend。

VII

Thesullenseasonnowwascomeandgone，Thatforcedthemlateceasefromtheirnoblewar，WhenGodAlmightyformhisloftythrone，SetinthosepartsofHeaventhatpurestare(Asfarabovetheclearstarseveryone，Asitishenceuptothehigheststar)，Lookeddown，andallatoncethisworldbeheld，Eachland，eachcity，country，townandfield。

VIII

Allthingsheviewed，atlastinSyriastayedUpontheChristianLordshisgraciouseye，ThatwondrouslookwherewithheoftsurveyedMen’ssecretthoughtsthatmostconcealedlieHecastonpuissantGodfrey，thatassayedTodrivetheTurksfromSion’sbulwarkshigh，And，fullofzealandfaith，esteemedlightAllworldlyhonor，empire，treasure，might：

IX

InBaldwinnexthespiedanotherthought，Whomspiritsproudtovainambitionmove：

Tancredhesawhislife’sjoysetatnaught，Sowoe-begonewashewithpainsoflove：

BoemondtheconqueredfolkofAntiochbrought，ThegentleyokeofChristianruletoprove：

Hetaughtthemlaws，statutesandcustomsnew，Arts，crafts，obedience，andreligiontrue；

X

Andwithsuchcarehisbusyworkheplied，Thattonaughtelsehisactingthoughtshebent：

InyoungRinaldofiercedesireshespied，Andnobleheartofrestimpatient；

TowealthorsovereignpowerhenaughtappliedHiswits，butalltovirtueexcellent；

Patternsandrulesofskill，andcouragebold，HetookfromGuelpho，andhisfathersold。

XI

ThuswhentheLorddiscoveredhad，andseenThehiddensecretsofeachworthy’sbreast，OutofthehierarchiesofangelssheenThegentleGabrielcalledhefromtherest，’TwixtGodandsoulsofmenthatrighteousbeenAmbassadorishe，foreverblest，ThejustcommandsofHeaven’sEternalKing，’Twixtskiesandearth，heupanddowndothbring。

XII

TowhomtheLordthusspake：“Godfredofind，Andinmynameaskhim，whydothherest？

Whybehisarmstoeaseandpeaceresigned？

WhyfreeshenotJerusalemdistrest？

Hispeerstocounselcall，eachbasermindLethimstirup；for，chieftainoftherestIchoosehimhere，theearthshallhimallow，Hisfellowslateshallbehissubjectsnow。“

XIII

Thissaid，theangelswifthimselfpreparedToexecutethechargeimposedaright，Informofairymembersfairimbared，Hisspiritspureweresubjecttooursight，Liketoamaninshowandshapehefared，Butfullofheavenlymajestyandmight，Astriplingseemedhethrivefivewintersold，Andradiantbeamsadornedhislocksofgold。

XIV

Ofsilverwingshetookashiningpair，Fringedwithgold，unwearied，nimble，swift；

Withthesehepartsthewinds，theclouds，theair，Andoverseasandearthhimselfdothlift，Thuscladhecutthespheresandcirclesfair，Andthepureskieswithsacredfeathersclift；

OnLibanonatfirsthisfootheset，AndshookhiswingswithroryMaydewswet。

XV

ThentoTortosa’sconfinesswiftlyspedThesacredmessenger，withheadlongflight；

AbovetheeasternwaveappearedredTherisingsun，yetscantlyhalfinsight；

Godfreye’enthenhismorn-devotionssaid，Aswashiscustom，whenwithTitanbrightAppearedtheangelinhisshapedivine，WhosegloryfarobscuredPhoebus’shine。

XVI

“Godfrey，“quothhe，“beholdtheseasonfitTowar，forwhichthouwaitedhastsolong，Nowservesthetime，ifthouo’erslipnotit，TofreeJerusalemfromthrallandwrong：

ThouwiththyLordsincouncilquicklysit；

Comfortthefeeble，andconfirmthestrong，TheLordofHoststheirgeneraldothmakethee，Andfortheirchieftaintheyshallgladlytakethee。

XVII

“I，messengerfromeverlastingJove，Inhisgreatnamethushisbehestsdotell；

Oh，whatsurehopeofconquestoughttheemove，Whatzeal，whatloveshouldinthybosomdwell！“

Thissaid，hevanishedtothoseseatsabove，Inheightandclearnesswhichtherestexcel，DownfelltheDuke，hisjointsdissolvedasunder，Blindwiththelight，andstruckendeadwithwonder。

XVIII

Butwhenrecovered，heconsideredmore，Theman，hismanner，andhismessagesaid；

Ifersthewished，nowhelongedsoreToendthatwar，whereofheLordwasmade；

Norswelledhisbreastwithuncouthpridetherefore，ThatHeavenonhimabovethischargehadlaid，But，forhisgreatCreatorwouldthesame，Hiswillincreased：sofireaugmentethflame。

XIX

Thecaptainscalledforthwithfromeverytent，Untotherendezvoushetheminvites；

Letteronletter，postonposthesent，Entreatancefairwithcounselheunites，All，whatanoblecouragecouldaugment，Thesleepingsparkofvalorwhatincites，Heused，thatalltheirthoughtstohonorraised，Somepraised，somepaid，somecounselled，allpleased。

XX

Thecaptains，soldiers，all，saveBoemond，came，Andpitchedtheirtents，someinthefieldswithout，Someofgreenboughstheirslendercabinsframe，SomelodgedwereTortosa’sstreetsabout，OfallthehostthechiefofworthandnameAssembledbeen，asenategraveandstout；

ThenGodfrey，aftersilencekeptaspace，Liftuphisvoice，andspakewithprincelygrace：

XXI

“Warriors，whomGodhimselfelectedhathHisworshiptrueinSiontorestore，Andstillpreservedfromdanger，harmandscath，Bymanyaseaandmanyanunknownshore，YouhavesubjectedlatelytohisfaithSomeprovincesrebelliouslongbefore：

Andafterconquestsgreat，haveinthesameErectedtrophiestohiscrossandname。

XXII

“Butnotforthisourhomeswefirstforsook，Andfromournativesoilhavemarchedsofar：

Norustodangerousseashavewebetook，Exposedtohazardofsofarsoughtwar，Ofgloryvaintogainanidlesmook，Andlandspossessthatwildandbarbarousare：

Thatforourconquestsweretoomeanaprey，Toshedourbloods，toworkoursouls’decay。

XXIII

“Butthisthescopewasofourformerthought，——

OfSion’sforttoscalethenoblewall，TheChristianfolkfrombondagetohavebrought，Wherein，alas，theylonghavelivedthrall，InPalestineanempiretohavewrought，Wheregodlinessmightreignperpetual，Andnonebeleft，thatpilgrimsmightdenayToseeChrist’stomb，andpromisedvowstopay。

XXIV

“WhattothishoursuccessivelyisdoneWasfullofperil，toourhonorsmall，Naughttoourfirstdesignment，ifweshunThepurposedend，orhereliefixedall。

Whatbootsitustherewarestohavebegun，OrEuroperaisedtomakeproudAsiathrall，Ifourbeginningshavethisendingknown，Notkingdomsraised，butarmiesoverthrown？

XXV

“NotaswelisterectweempiresnewOnfrailfoundationslaidinearthlymould，WhereofourfaithandcountrybebutfewAmongthethousandsstoutofPagansbold，WherenaughtbehovesustrusttoGreeceuntrue，AndWesternaidwefarremovedbehold：

Whobuildeththus，methinks，sobuildethhe，Asifhisworkshouldhissepulchrebe。

XXVI

“Turks，Persiansconquered，Antiochiawon，Begloriousacts，andfullofgloriouspraise，ByHeaven’smeregrace，notbyourprowessdone：

Thoseconquestswereachievedbywondrousways，IfnowfromthatdirectedcoursewerunTheGodofBattlesthusbeforeuslays，Hislovingkindnessshallwelose，Idoubt，Andbeabywordtothelandsabout。

XXVII

“LetnottheseblessingsthensentfromaboveAbusedbe，orsplitinprofanewise，ButlettheissuecorrespondentproveTogoodbeginningsofeachenterprise；

Thegentleseasonmightourcouragemove，Noweverypassageplainandopenlies：

WhatletsusthenthegreatJerusalemWithvaliantsquadronsroundabouttohem？

XXVIII

“Lords，Iprotest，andhearkenalltoit，Yetimesandages，future，present，past，Hearallyeblessedintheheavensthatsit，Thetimeforthisachievementhastenethfast：

Thelongerrestworsewilltheseasonfit，Oursuretiesshallwithdoubtbeovercast。

IfweforslowthesiegeIwellforeseeFromEgyptwillthePaganssuccoredbe。“

XXIX

Thissaid，thehermitPeterroseandspake，WhosateincounselthosegreatLordsamong：

“Atmyrequestthiswarwasundertake，Inprivatecell，whoerstlivedclosedlong，WhatGodfreywills，ofthatnoquestionmake，Therecastnodoubtswheretruthisplainandstrong，Youracts，Itrust，willcorrespondhisspeech，YetonethingmoreIwouldyougladlyteach。

XXX

“Thesestrifes，unlessIfarmistakethething，Anddiscordsraisedoftindisorderedsort，YourdisobedienceandillmanagingOfactionslost，forwantofduesupport，ReferIjustlytoafurtherspring，Springofsedition，strife，oppression，tort，Imeancommandingpowertosundrygiven，Inthought，opinion，worth，estate，uneven。