第13章

“Sincethenthefeatiseasy，dangernone，Allsetinbattleandinhardyfight，DothoupermitthechosententogoneAndaidthedamsel：“thusdevisedtheknight，TomakementhinkthesunofhonorshoneTherewherethelampofCupidgavethelight：

Therestperceivehisguile，anditapprove，Andcallthatknighthoodwhichwaschildishlove。

VIII

ButlovingEustace，thatwithjealouseyeBeheldtheworthofSophia’snoblechild，Andhisfairshapedidsecretlyenvy，Besidesthevirtuesinhisbreastcompiled，And，forinlovehewouldnocompany，Hestoredhismouthwithspeechessmoothlyfiled，Drawinghisrivaltoattendhisword；

Thuswithfairsleighthelaidtheknightabord：

IX

“OfgreatBertoldothoufargreaterheir，Thoustarofknighthood，flowerofchivalry，Tellme，whonowshallleadthissquadronfair，Sinceourlateguideinmarblecolddothlie？

I，thatwithfamousDudonmightcompareInall，butyears，hoarlocks，andgravity，TowhomshouldI，DukeGodfrey’sbrother，yield，Unlesstothee，theChristianarmy’sshield？

X

“TheewhomhighbirthmakesequalwiththebestThineactspreferbothmeandallbeforn；

Northatinfightthoubothsurpasstherest，AndGodfrey’sworthyself，Iholdinscorn；

TheetoobeythenamIonlypressed；

Beforetheseworthiesbethineeagleborne；

Thishonorhaplythouesteemestlight，Whosedayofgloryneveryetfoundnight。

XI

“YetmayestthoufurtherbythismeansdisplayThespreadingwingsofthyimmortalfame；

Iwillprocureit，ifthousayestnotnay，Andalltheirwillstothineelectionframe：

ButforIscantlyamresolvedwhichwayTobendmyforce，orwhereemploythesame，Leaveme，Ipray，atmydiscretionfreeTohelpArmida，orserveherewiththee。“

XII

Thislastrequest，forloveiseviltohide，Empurpledbothhischeekswithscarletred；

Rinaldosoonhispassionshaddescried，Andgentlysmilingturnedasidehishead，And，forweakCupidwastoofeebleeyedTostrikehimsure，thefireinhimwasdead；

Sothatofrivalswashenaughtafraid，Norcaredheforthejourneyorthemaid。

XIII

ButinhisnoblethoughtrevolvedheoftDudon’shighprowess，deathandburial，AndhowArgantesborehisplumesaloft，Praisinghisfortunesforthatworthy’sfall；

Besides，theknight’ssweetwordsandpraisessoftTohisduehonordidhimfitlycall，Andmadehisheartrejoice，forwellheknew，Thoughmuchhepraisedhim，allhiswordsweretrue。

XIV

“Degrees，“quothhe，“ofhonorshightohold，Iwouldthemfirstdeserve，andthedesire；

Andweremyvalorsuchasyouhavetold，WouldIforthattohigherplaceaspire：

Butiftohonorsdueraisemeyouwould，Iwillnotofmyworksrefusethehire；

Andmuchitgladsme，thatmypowerandmightYpraisedisbysuchavaliantknight。

XV

“Ineitherseekitnorrefusetheplace，WhichifIget，thepraiseandthanksbethine。“

Eustace，thisspoken，hiedthenceapaceToknowwhichwayhisfellows’heartsincline：

ButPrinceGernandocovetedtheplace，WhomthoughArmidasoughttoundermine，Gainsthimyetvaindidallherenginesprove，Hispridewassuch，therewasnoplaceforlove。

XVI

GernandowastheKingofNorway’sson，Thatmanyarealmandregionhadtoguide，Andforhiselderslandsandcrownshadwon。

Hisheartwaspuffedupwithendlesspride：

TheotherboastsmorewhathimselfhaddoneThanallhisancestors’greatactsbeside；

YethisforefathersoldbeforehimwereFamousinwarandpeacefivehundredyears。

XVII

Thisbarbarousprince，whoonlyvainlythoughtThatblissinwealthandkinglypowerdothlie，AndinrespectesteemedallvirtuenaughtUnlessitwereadornedwithtitleshigh，Couldnotendure，thattotheplacehesoughtAsimpleknightshoulddaretopresssonigh；

Andinhisbreastsoboiledfelldespite，Thatireandwrathexiledreasonquite。

XVIII

Thehiddendevil，thatliesincloseawaitTowinthefortofunbelievingman，Foundentrythere，whereireundidthegate，Andinhisbosomunperceivedran；

Itfilledhisheartwithmalice，strifeandhate，Itmadehimrage，blaspheme，swear，curseandban，Invisibleitstillattendshimnear，Andthuseachminutewhisperethinhisear。

XIX

What，shallRinaldomatchthee？dareshetellThoseidlenamesofhisvainpedigree？

Thenlethimsay，iftheehewouldexcel，Whatlands，whatrealmshistributariesbe：

Ifhisforefathersinthegravesthatdwell，Werehonoredlikethinethatlive，letsee：

Ohhowdaresonesomeanaspiresohigh，BorninthatservilecountryItaly？

XX

Now，ifhewin，orifhelosetheday，Yetishispraiseandgloryhencederived，Forthattheworldwill，tohiscredit，say，Lo，thisishethatwithGernandostrived。

Thechargesomedealtheehaplyhonormay，ThatnobleDudonhadwhileherehelived；

Butlaidonhimhewouldtheofficeshame，Letitsuffice，hedurstdesirethesame。

XXI

Ifwhenthisbreathfromman’sfrailbodyfliesThesoultakekeep，orknowthethingsdonehere，Oh，howlooksDudonfromthegloriousskies？

Whatwrath，whatangerinhisfaceappear，Onthisproudyounglingwhilehebendshiseyes，Markinghowhighhedothhisfeathersrear？

Seeinghisrashattempt，howsoonhedare，Thoughbutaboy，withhisgreatworthcompare。

XXII

Hedaresnotonly，buthestrivesandproves，Wherechastisementwerefittherewinshepraise：

Onecounselshim，hisspeechhimforwardmoves；

Anotherfoolapprovethallhesays：

IfGodfreyfavorhimmorethanbehoves，Whythenhewrongeththeeanhundredways；

Norletthystatesofardisgracedbe，Nowwhatthouartandcanst，letGodfreysee。

XXIII

WithsuchfalsewordsthekindledfirebeganToeveryveinhispoisonedhearttoreach，Itswelledhisscornfulheart，andforthitranAthisproudlooks，andtooaudaciousspeech；

Allthathethoughtblameworthyintheman，Tohisdisgracethatwouldbeeachwherepreach；

Hetermedhimproudandvain，hisworthinfightHecalledfool-hardise，rashness，madnessright。

XXIV

Allthatinhimwasrareorexcellent，Allthatwasgood，allthatwasprincelyfound，Withsuchsharpwordsasmalicecouldinvent，Heblamed，suchpowerhaswickedtonguetowound。

Theyouth，foreverywherethoserumorswent，Ofthesereproachesheardsometimesthesound；

Nordidforthathistonguethefaultamend，Untilitbroughthimtohiswofulend。

XXV

Thecursedfiendthatsethistongueatlarge，Stillbredmorefanciesinhisidlebrain，Hisheartwithslandersnewdidovercharge，Andsoothedhimstillinhisangryvein；

Amidthecampaplacewasbroadandlarge，Whereonefairregimentmighteasilytrain；

AndthereintiltandharmlesstournamentTheirdaysofresttheyouthsandgallantsspent。

XXVI

There，ashisfortunewoulditshouldbetide，AmidthepressGernandoganretire，Tovomitouthisvenomunespied，Wherewithfoulenvydidhisheartinspire。

Rinaldoheardhimashestoodbeside，Andashecouldnotbridlewrathandire，“Thouliest，“criedheloud，andwiththatwordAbouthisheadhetossedhisflamingsword。

XXVII

Thunderhisvoice，andlightningseemedhisbrand，Sofellhislook，andfuriouswashischeer，Gernandotrembled，forhesawathandPaledeath，andneitherhelpnorcomfortnear，YetforthesoldiersalltowitnessstandHemadeproudsign，asthoughhenaughtdidfear，Butbravelydrewhislittle-helpingblade，Andvaliantshowofstrongresistancemade。

XXVIII

WiththatathousandbladesofburnishedsteelGlisteredonheapslikeflamesoffireinsight，Hundreds，thatknewnotyetthequarrelweel，Ranthither，sometogazeandsometofight：

TheemptyairasoundconfuseddidfeelOfmurmurslow，andoutcriesloudonheight，LikerollingwavesandBoreas’angryblastsWhenroaringseasagainsttherockshecasts。

XXIX

ButnotforthisthewrongedwarriorstayedHisjustdispleasureandincensedire，Hecarednotwhatthevulgardidorsaid，Tovengeancedidhiscouragefierceaspire：

Amongthethickestweaponswayhemade，Histhunderingswordmadeallonheapsretire，Sothatofnearathousandstayednotone，ButPrinceGernandoborethebruntalone。

XXX

Hishand，tooquicktoexecutehiswrath，Performedall，aspleasedhiseyeandheart，Atheadandbreastofttimeshestruckenhath，Nowattheright，nowattheotherpart：

Oneverysidethusdidheharmandscath，Andoftbeguilehissightwithnimbleart，Thatnodefencetheprinceofwoundsacquits，Whereleasthethinks，orfears，theremosthehits。

XXXI

Norceasedbe，tillinGernando’sbreastHesheathedonceortwicehisfuriousblade；

Downfellthehaplessprincewithdeathoppressed，Adoublewaytohisweaksoulwasmade；

Hisbloodyswordthevictorwipedanddressed，Norlongerbytheslaughteredbodystayed，Butspedhimthence，andsoonappeasedhathHishate，hisire，hisrancorandhiswrath。

XXXII

Calledbythetumult，Godfreydrewhimnear，Andtherebeheldasadandruefulsight，Thesignsofdeathuponhisfaceappear，Withdustandbloodhislockswereloathlydight，Sighsandcomplaintsoneachsidemighthehear，Madeforthesuddendeathofthatgreatknight：

Amazed，heaskedwhodurstanddidsomuch；

Foryetheknewnotwhomthefaultwouldtouch。

XXXIII

Arnoldo，minionofthePrincethusslain，Augmentsthefaultintellingit，andsaith，ThisPrincemurdered，foraquarrelvain，ByyoungRinaldoinhisdesperatewrath，AndwiththatswordthatshouldChrist’slawmaintain，OneofChrist’schampionsboldhekilledhath，Andthishedidinsuchaplaceandhour，Asifhescornedyourrule，despisedyourpower。

XXXIV

Andfurtheradds，thathedeserveddeathBylaw，andlawshouldinviolate，Thatnoneoffencecouldgreaterbeuneath，Andyettheplacethefaultdidaggravate：

Ifheescapes，thatmischiefwouldtakebreath，Andflourishboldinspiteofruleandstate；

AndthatGernando’sfriendswouldvengethewrong，Althoughtojusticethatdidfirstbelong，XXXV

Andbythatmeans，shoulddiscord，hateandstrifeRaisemutinies，andwhatthereforeensueth：

Lastlyhepraisedthedead，andstillhadrifeAllwordshethoughtcouldvengeancemoveorrutAgainsthimTancredarguedforlife，Withhonestreasonstoexcusetheyouth：

TheDukeheardall，butwithsuchsobercheer，Asbanishedhope，andstillincreasedfear。