第2章

“WherediversLordsdividedempirehold，Wherecausesbebygifts，notjusticetried，Whereofficesbefalselyboughtandsold，Needsmustthelordshiptherefromvirtueslide。

Offriendlypartsonebodythenuphold，Createonehead，theresttoruleandguide：

Toonetheregalpowerandsceptregive，ThathenceforthmayyourKingandSovereignlive。“

XXXII

Andtherewithstayedhisspeech。OgraciousMuse，Whatkindlingmotionsintheirbreastsdofry？

Withgracedivinethehermit’stalkinfuse，Thatintheirheartshiswordsmayfructify；

Bythisavirtuousconcordtheydidchoose，Andallcontentionsthenbegantodie；

ThePrinceswiththemultitudeagree，ThatGodfreyrulerofthosewarsshouldbe。

XXXIII

Thispowertheygavehim，byhisprincelyright，Alltocommand，tojudgeall，goodandill，Lawstoimposetolandssubduedbymight，Tomakenwarbothwhenandwherehewill，Toholdinduesubjectioneverywight，Theirvalorstobeguidedbyhisskill；

Thisdone，Reportdisplayshertell-talewings，Andtoeachearthenewsandtidingsbrings。

XXXIV

Shetoldthesoldiers，whoallowedhimmeetAndwelldeservingofthatsovereignplace。

TheirfirstsalutesandacclamationssweetReceivedhe，withloveandgentlegrace；

AftertheirreverencedonewithkindregreetRequitedwas，withmildandcheerfulface，HebidshisarmiesshouldthefollowingdayOnthosefairplainstheirstandardsprouddisplay。

XXXV

Thegoldensunrosefromthesilverwave，Andwithhisbeamsenamelledeverygreen，Whenuparoseeachwarriorboldandbrave，Glisteringinfiledsteelandarmorsheen，Withjollyplumestheircrestsadornedtheyhave，Andalltoforetheirchieftainmusteredbeen：

HefromamountaincasthiscurioussightOneveryfootmanandoneveryknight。

XXXVI

Mymind，Time’senemy，Oblivion’sfoe，Disposertrueofeachnoteworthything，Oh，letthyvirtuousmightavailmeso，ThatIeachtroopandcaptaingreatmaysing，Thatinthisgloriouswardidfamousgrow，ForgottillnowbyTime’sevilhandling：

Thiswork，derivedfrommytreasuresdear，Letalltimeshearken，neverageoutwear。

XXXVII

TheFrenchcameforemostbattailousandbold，LateledbyHugo，brothertotheirKing，FromFrancetheislethatriversfourinfoldWithrollingstreamsdescendingfromtheirspring，ButHugodead，thelilyfairofgold，Theirwontedensigntheytoforethembring，UnderClothariusgreat，acaptaingood，Andhardyknightysprongofprinces’blood。

XXXVIII

Athousandweretheyinstrongarmorsclad，Nextwhomtheremarchedforthanotherband，Thatnumber，nature，andinstructionhad，Likethemtofightfarofforchargeathand，AllvaliantNormansbyLordRobertlad，ThenativeDukeofthatrenownedland，Twobishopsnexttheirstandardsproudupbare，CalledReverendWilliam，andGoodAdemare。

XXXIX

TheirjollynotestheychantedloudandclearOnmerrymorningsatthemassdivine，AndhorridhelmshighontheirheadstheybearWhentheirfiercecouragetheytowarincline：

ThefirstfourhundredhorsemengatherednearToOrangetown，andlandsthatitconfine：

ButAdemarethePoggianyouthbroughtout，Innumberlike，inhardassaysasstout。

XL

Baldwin，hisensignfair，didnextdispreadAmonghisBulloignersofnoblefame，Hisbrothergavehimallhistroopstolead，Whenhecommanderofthefieldbecame；

TheCountCarintodidhimstraightsucceed，Graveinadvice，wellskilledinMarshisgame，Fourhundredbroughthe，butsomanythriceLedBaldwin，cladingildenarmsofprice。

XLI

Guelphonextthemthelandandplacepossest，Whosefortunesgoodwithhisgreatactsagree，ByhisItaliansire，frothehouseofEst，Wellcouldhebringhisnoblepedigree，AGermanbornwithrichpossessionsblest，AworthybranchsprungfromtheGuelphiantree。

’TwixtRheneandDanubiethelandcontainedHeruled，whereSwavesandRhetianswhilomreigned。

XLII

Hismother’sheritagewasthisandright，Towhichheaddedmorebyconquestgot，FromthenceapprovedmenofpassingmightHebrought，thatdeathordangerfearednot：

Itwastheirwontinfeaststospendthenight，Andpasscolddaysinbathsandhouseshot。

Fivethousandlate，ofwhichnowscantlyareThethirdpartleft，suchisthechanceofwar。

XLIII

Thenationthenwithcrispedlocksandfair，ThatdwellbetweentheseasandArdenWood，WhereMoselstreamsandRhenethemeadowswear，Abattelsoilforgrain，forpasturegood，Theirislanderswiththem，whooftrepairTheirearthenbulwarks’gainsttheoceanflood，Theflood，elsewherethatshipsandbarksdevours，Buttheredrownscities，countries，townsandtowers；

XLIV

Bothinonetroop，andbutathousandall，UnderanotherRobertfiercetheyrun。

ThentheEnglishsquadron，soldiersstoutandtall，ByWilliamled，theirsovereign’syoungerson，Thesearchersbe，andwiththemcomewithal，ApeopleneartheNorthernPolethatwone，WhomIrelandsentfromloughsandforestshoar，DividedfarbyseafromEurope’sshore。

XLV

Tancredinext，nor’mongstthemallwasone，Rinaldexcept，aprinceofgreatermight，Withmajestyhisnoblecountenanceshone，Highwerehisthoughts，hisheartwasboldinfight，Noshamefulvicehisworthhadovergone，Hisfaultwaslove，byunadvisedsight，Bredinthedangersofadventurousarms，Andnursedwithgriefs，withsorrows，woes，andharms。

XLVI

Fametells，thatonthatever-blessedday，WhenChristianswordswithPersianbloodweredyed，ThefuriousPrinceTancredifromthatfrayHiscowardfoeschasedthroughforestswide，Tilltiredwiththefight，theheat，theway，Hesoughtsomeplacetoresthisweariedside，AnddrewhimnearasilverstreamthatplayedAmongwildherbsunderthegreenwoodshade。

XLVII

APagandamselthereunwareshemet，Inshiningsteel，allsavehervisagefair，Herhairunboundshemadeawantonnet，Tocatchsweetbreathingfromthecoolingair。

Onheratgazehislonginglooksheset，Sight，wonder；wonder，love；lovebredhiscare；

Olove，owonder；lovenewborn，newbred，Nowgroan，nowarmed，thischampioncaptiveled。

XLVIII

Herhelmthevirgindonned，andbutsomewightShefearedmightcometoaidhimastheyfought，Hercourageearnedtohaveassailedtheknight；

Yetthenceshefled，uncompanied，unsought，Andleftherimageinhisheartypight；

Hersweetideawanderedthroughhisthought，Hershape，hergesture，andherplaceinmindHekept，andblewlove’sfirewiththatwind。

XLIX

Wellmightyoureadhissicknessinhiseyes，Theirbankswerefull，theirtidewasattheflow，Hishelpfaroff，hishurtwithinhimlies，Hishopesunstrung，hiscareswerefittomow；

Eighthundredhorse(fromChampaincame)heguies，Champainalandwherewealth，ease，pleasure，grow，RichNature’spompandpride，theTirrhenemainTherewoosthehills，hillswoothevalleysplain。

L

TwohundredGreekscamenext，infightwelltried，Notsurelyarmedinsteelorironstrong，Buteachaglaivehadpendantbyhisside，Theirbowsandquiversattheirshouldershung，Theirhorseswellinuredtochaseandride，Indietspare，untiredwithlaborlong；

Readytocharge，andtoretireatwill，Thoughbroken，scattered，fled，theyskirmishstill；

LI

Tatinetheirguide，andexceptTatine，noneOfalltheGreekswentwiththeChristianhost；

Osin，Oshame，OGreeceaccurstalone！

Didnotthisfatalwaraffrontthycoast？

Yetsafestthouanidlelooker-on，Andgladattendestwhichsidewonorlost：

Nowifthoubeabondslavevilebecome，Nowrongisthat，butGod’smostrighteousdoom。

LII

Inorderlast，butfirstinworthandfame，Unfearedinfight，untiredwithhurtorwound，Thenoblesquadronofadventurerscame，TerrorstoallthattreadonAsianground：

CeaseOrpheusofthyMinois，ArthurshameToboastofLancelot，orthytableround：

Forthesewhomantiquetimeswithlaureldrest，Thesefarexceedthem，thee，andalltherest。

LIII

DudonofConsawastheirguideandlord，Andforofworthandbirthaliketheybeen，Theychosehimcaptain，bytheirfreeaccord，Forhemostactshaddone，mostbattlesseen；

Gravewasthemaninyears，inlooks，inword，Hislocksweregray，yetwashiscouragegreen，Ofworthandmightthenoblebadgehebore，Oldscarsofgrievouswoundsreceivedofyore。

LIV

AftercameEustace，wellesteemedmanForGodfrey’ssakehisbrother，andhisown；

TheKingofNorway’sheirGernandothan，Proudofhisfather’stitle，sceptre，crown；

RogerofBalnavill，andEngerlan，Forhardyknightsapprovedwereandknown；

BesideswerenumberedinthatwarliketrainRambald，Gentonio，andtheGerrardstwain。

LV

Ubaldothen，andpuissantRosimond，OfLancastertheheir，inranksucceed；

LetnoneforgetObizoofTuscainland，Wellworthypraiseformanyaworthydeed；

Northosethreebrethren，Lombardsfierceandyond，Achilles，Sforza，andsternPalamede；

NorOtton’sshieldheconqueredinthosestowres，Inwhichasnakeanakedchilddevours。

LVI

GuascherandRaipheinvalorliketherewas。

TheoneandotherGuido，famousboth，GermerandEberardtooverpass，InfouloblivionwouldmyMusebeloth，WithhisGildippesdear，Edwardalas，Alovingpair，towaramongthemgo’thInbondofvirtuouslovetogethertied，Togetherservedthey，andtogetherdied。

LVII

Inschoolofloveareallthingstaughtwesee，Therelearnedthismaidofarmstheirefulguise，Stillbyhissideafaithfulguardwentshe，Onetrue-loveknottheirlivestogetherties，Nowouldtoonealonecoulddangerousbe，Buteachthesmartofother’sanguishtries，Ifonewerehurt，theotherfeltthesore，Shelostherblood，hespenthislifetherefore。

LVIII

Buttheseandall，Rinaldofarexceeds，Starofhissphere，thediamondofthisring，Thenestwherecouragewithsweetmercybreeds：

Acometworthyeacheye’swondering，Hisyearsarefewerthanhisnobledeeds，Hisfruitisripesoonashisblossomsspring，Armed，aMars，mightcoyestVenusmove，Andifdisarmed，thenGodhimselfofLove。