第3章

SophiabyAdige’sflowerybankhimbore，Sophiathefair，spousetoBertoldogreat，Fitmotherforthatpearl，andbeforeThetenderimpwasweanedfromtheteat，ThePrincessMaudhimtook，inVirtue’sloreShebroughthimupfitforeachworthyfeat，Tillofthesewaresthegoldentrumphehears，Thatsoundethglory，fame，praiseinhisears。

LX

Andthen，thoughscantlythreetimesfiveyearsold，Hefledalone，bymanyanunknowncoast，O’erAegeanSeasbymanyaGreekishhold，TillhearrivedattheChristianhost；

Anobleflight，adventurous，brave，andbold，Whereonavaliantprincemightjustlyboast，Threeyearsheservedinfield，whenscantbeginFewgoldenhairstodeckhisivorychin。

LXI

Thehorsemenpast，theirvoid-leftstationsfillThebandsonfoot，andReymondthembeforn，OfTholouselord，fromlandsnearPiraeneHillByGaroundstreamsandsaltseabillowsworn，Fourthousandfoothebrought，wellarmed，andskillHadtheyallpainsandtravelstohaveborne，StoutmenofarmsandwiththeirguideofpowerLikeTroy’soldtowndefencedwithIlion’stower。

LXII

NextStephenofAmboisedidfivethousandlead，ThemenheprestfromToursandBloisbutlate，Tohardassaysunfit，unsureatneed，Yetarmedtopointinwell-attemptedplate，Thelanddidlikeitselfthepeoplebreed，Thesoilisgentle，smooth，soft，delicate；

Boldlytheycharge，butsoonretirefordoubt，Likefireofstraw，soonkindled，soonburntout。

LXIII

ThethirdAlcastomarched，andwithhimTheboasterbroughtsixthousandSwitzersbold，Audaciousweretheirlooks，theirfacesgrim，StrongcastlesontheAlpinecliftstheyhold，Theirsharesandcoultersbroke，toarmorstrimTheychangethatmetal，castinwarlikemould，Andwiththisbandlateherdsandflocksthatguide，Nowkingsandrealmshethreatenedanddefied。

LXIV

ThegloriousstandardlasttoHeaventheysprad，WithPeter’skeysennobledandhiscrown，WithitseventhousandstoutCamillohad，Embattailedinwallsofironbrown：

Inthisadventureandoccasion，gladSotorevivetheRomans’oldrenown，Orproveatleasttoallofwiserthought，Theirheartswerefertilelandalthoughunwrought。

LXV

Butnowwaspassedeveryregiment，Eachband，eachtroop，eachpersonworthregardWhenGodfreywithhislordstocounselwent，AndthustheDukehisprincelywilldeclared：

“Iwillwhendaynextclearsthefirmament，Ourreadyhostinhastebeallprepared，CloselytomarchtoSion’snoblewall，Unseen，unheard，orundescriedatall。

LXVI

“Prepareyouthenfortravelstrongandlight，Fiercetothecombat，gladtovictory。“

Andwiththatwordandwarningsoonwasdight，Eachsoldier，longingfornearcomingglory，Impatientbetheyofthemorningbright，Ofhonorsothemprickedthememory：

ButyettheirchieftainhadconceivedafearWithinhisheart，butkeptitsecretthere。

LXVII

Forhebyfaithfulspialwasassured，ThatEgypt’sKingwasforwardonhisway，AndtoarriveatGazaoldprocured，AfortthatontheSyrianfrontierslay，NorthinkshethatamantowarsinuredWillaughtforslow，orinhisjourneystay，Forwellheknewhimforadangerousfoe：

Anheraldcalledhethen，andspakehimso：

LXVIII

“Apinnacetaketheeswiftasshaftfrombow，Andspeedthee，Henry，totheGreekishmain，Thereshouldarrive，asIbylettersknowFromonethatneveraughtreportsinvain，Avaliantyouthinwhomallvirtuesflow，Tohelpusthisgreatconquesttoobtain，ThePrinceofDanesheis，andbringstowarAtroopwithhimfromundertheArcticstar。

LXIX

“AndforIdoubttheGreekishmonarchslyWillusewithhimsomeofhiswontedcraft，Tostayhispassage，ordivertawryElsewherehisforces，hisfirstjourneylaft，Myheraldgoodandmessengerwelltry，Seethatthesesuccorsbenotusberaft，ButsendhimthencewithsuchconvenientspeedAswithhishonorstandsandwithourneed。

LXX

“Returnnotthou，butLegierstaybehind，AndmovetheGreekishPrincetosendusaid，TellhimhiskinglypromisedothhimbindTogiveussuccors，byhiscovenantmade。“

Thissaid，andthusinstruct，hisletterssignedThetrustyheraldtook，norlongerstayed，ButspedhimthencetodonehisLord’sbehest，AndthustheDukereducedhisthoughtstorest。

LXXI

Aurorabrighthercrystalgatesunbarred，Andbridegroom-likeforthstepttheglorioussun，Whentrumpetsloudandclarionsshrillwereheard，Andeveryonetorousehimfiercebegun，Sweetmusictoeachheartforwarprepared，Thesoldiersgladbyheapstoharnessrun；

Soifwithdroughtendangeredbetheirgrain，Poorploughmenjoywhenthunderspromiserain。

LXXII

Someshirtsofmail，somecoatsofplateputon，Somedonnedacuirass，someacorsletbright，Andhalbertsome，andsomeahabergeon，Soeveryoneinarmswasquicklydight，Hiswontedguideeachsoldiertendsupon，Looseinthewindwavedtheirbannerslight，TheirstandardroyaltowardHeaventheyspread，ThecrosstriumphantonthePagansdead。

LXXIII

MeanwhilethecarthatbearsthelightningbrandUpontheeasternhillwasmountedhigh，Andsmotetheglisteringarmiesastheystand，Withquiveringbeamswhichdazedthewonderingeye，ThatPhaeton-likeitfiredseaandland，Thesparklesseemeduptotheskiestofly，Thehorses’neighandclatteringarmors’soundPursuetheechooverdaleanddown。

LXXIV

TheirgeneraldidwithduecareprovideTosavehismenfromambushandfromtrain，SometroopsofhorsethatlightlyarmedrideHesenttoscourthewoodsandforestsmain，HispioneerstheirbusyworkappliedToeventhepathsandmakethehighwaysplain，Theyfilledthepits，andsmoothedtherougherground，Andopenedeverystraittheyclosedfound。

LXXV

Theymeetnoforcesgatheredbytheirfoe，Notowersdefencedwithrampire，moat，orwall，Nostream，nowood，nomountaincouldforslowTheirhastypace，orstoptheirmarchatall；

Sowhenhisbankstheprinceofrivers，Po，Dothoverswell，hebreakswithhideousfallThemossyrocksandtreeso’ergrownwithage，Noraughtwithstandshisfuryandhisrage。

LXXVI

TheKingofTripoliineveryholdShutuphismen，munitionandhistreasure，Thestragglingtroopssometimesassailhewould，Savethathedurstnotmovethemtodispleasure；

Hestayedtheirragewithpresents，giftsandgold，Andledthemthroughhislandateaseandleisure，Tokeephisrealminpeaceandresthechose，WithwhatconditionsGodfreylistimpose。

LXXVII

ThoseofMountSeir，thatneighborethbyeastTheHolyCity，faithfulfolkeachone，Downfromthehilldescendedmostandleast，AndtotheChristianDukebyheapstheygone，Andwelcomehimandhiswithjoyandfeast；

Onhimtheysmile，onhimtheygazealone，Andwerehisguides，asfaithfulfromthatdayAsHesperus，thatleadsthesunhisway。

LXXVIII

AlongthesandshisarmiessafetheyguideBywayssecure，tothemwellknownbefore，UponthetumblingbillowsfraughtedrideThearmedships，coastingalongtheshore，WhichforthecampmighteverydayprovideTobringmunitiongoodandvictualsstore：

TheislesofGreecesentinprovisionmeet，AndstoreofwinefromScioscameandCrete。

LXXIX

GreatNeptunegrievedunderneaththeloadOfships，hulks，galleys，barksandbrigantines，Inallthemid-earthseaswasleftnoroadWhereinthePaganhisboldsailsuntwines，SpreadwasthehugeArmado，wideandbroad，FromVenice，Genes，andtownswhichthemconfines，FromHolland，England，FranceandSicilsent，AndallforJudareadyboundandbent。

LXXX

Allthesetogetherwerecombined，andknitWithsurestbondsofloveandfriendshipstrong，TogethersailedtheyfraughtwithallthingsfitToservicedonebylandthatmightbelong，Andwhenoccasionserveddisbarkedit，ThensailedtheAsiancoastsandislesalong；

Thitherwithspeedtheirhastycoursetheyplied，WhereChristtheLordforouroffencesdied。

LXXXI

Thebrazentrumpofiron-wingedfame，Thatminglethfaithfultrothwithforgedlies，ForetoldtheheathenhowtheChristianscame，Howthitherwardtheconqueringarmyhies，Ofeveryknightitsoundstheworthandname，Eachtroop，eachband，eachsquadronitdescries，Andthreat’nethdeathtothose，fire，swordandslaughter，WhoheldcaptivedIsrael’sfairestdaughter。

LXXXII

Thefearofillexceedstheevilwefear，Forsoourpresentharmsstillmostannoyus，EachmindisprestandopeneveryearTohearnewtidingsthoughtheynowayjoyus，ThissecretrumorwhisperedeverywhereAboutthetown，theseChristianswilldestroyus，Theagedkinghiscomingevilthatknew，Didcursedthoughtsinhisfalseheartrenew。

LXXXIII

ThisagedprinceyclepedAladine，Ruledincare，newsovereignofthisstate，Atyranterst，butnowhisfellengineHisgraveraredidsomewhatmitigate，HeheardthewesternlordswouldundermineHiscity’swall，andlayhistowersprostrate，Toformerfearheaddsanew-comedoubt，Treasonhefearswithin，andforcewithout。

LXXXIV

FornationstwaininhabitthereanddwellOfsundryfaithtogetherinthattown，ThelesserpartonChristbelievedwell，OnTermagentthemoreandonMahown，Butwhenthiskinghadmadethisconquestfell，Andbroughtthatregionsubjecttohiscrown，OfburdensallhesetthePaynimslarge，AndonpoorChristianslaidthedoublecharge。

LXXXV

Hisnativewrathrevivedwiththisnewthought，Withageandyearsthatweakenedwasofyore，Suchmadnessinhiscruelbosomwrought，Thatnowthaneverbloodhethirstethmore？

Sostingsasnakethattothefireisbrought，Whichharmlesslaybenumbedwithcoldbefore，Alionsohisragerenewedhath，Thoughfamebefore，ifhebemovedtowrath。

LXXXVI

“Isee，“quothhe，“someexpectationvain，InthesefalseChristians，andsomenewcontent，Ourcommonlosstheytrustwillbetheirgain，Theylaugh，weweep；theyjoywhilewelament；

Andmore，perchance，bytreasonorbytrain，Tomurderustheysecretlyconsent，Orotherwisetoworkusharmandwoe，Toopethegates，andsoletinourfoe。

LXXXVII

“Butlesttheyshouldeffecttheircursedwill，Letusdestroythisserpentonhisnest；

Bothyoungandold，letusthispeoplekill，Thetenderinfantsattheirmothers’breast，Theirhousesburn，theirholytemplesfillWithbodiesslainofthosethatlovedthembest，Andonthattombtheyholdsomuchinprice，Let’sofferuptheirpriestsinsacrifice。“