第19章

Theirhopeshalfdeadandcouragewell-nighlost，Revivedwiththesebravespeechesoftheirguide；

Butinhisbreastathousandcareshetost，Althoughhissorrowshecouldwiselyhide；

Hestudiedhowtofeedthatmightyhost，Insogreatscarceness，andwhatforceprovideHeshouldagainsttheEgyptianwarriorssly，AndhowsubduethosethievesofAraby。

SIXTHBOOK

THEARGUMENT。

ArgantescallstheChristiansouttojust：

Othonotchosendothhisstrengthassay，Butfromhissaddletumblethinthedust，Andcaptivetothetownissentaway：

Tancredbeginsnewfight，andwhenbothtrustTowinthepraiseandpalm，nightendsthefray：

Erminiahopestocureherwoundedknight，Andfromthecityarmedridesbynight。

I

ButbetterhopeshadthemrecomfortedThatlaybesiegedinthesacredtown；

Withnewsupplylateweretheyvictualled，Whennightobscuredtheearthwithshadowsbrown；

Theirarmiesandenginesonthewallstheyspread，Theirslingstocast，andstonestotumbledown；

Andallthatsidewhichtothenorthwardlies，Highrampiersandstrongbulwarksfortifies。

II

Theirwarykingcommandsnowherenowthere，Tobuildthistower，tomakethatbulwarkstrong，Whetherthesun，themoon，orstarsappear，Togivethemtimetowork，notimecomeswrong：

Ineverystreetnewweaponsforgedwere，Bycunningsmiths，sweatingwithlaborlong；

Whilethusthecarefulprinceprovisionmade，TohimArgantescame，andboastingsaid：

III

“Howlongshallwe，likeprisonersinchains，Captivedlieinclosedwithinthiswall？

IseeyourworkmentakingendlesspainsTomakenewweaponsfornouseatall；

Meanwhiletheseeasternthievesdestroytheplains，Yourtownsareburnt，yourfortsandcastlesfall，Yetnoneofusdaresatthesegatesout-peep，Orsoundonetrumpetshrilltobreaktheirsleep。

IV

“Theirtimeinfeastingandgoodcheertheyspend，Nordareweoncetheirbanquetssweetmolest，Thedaysandnightlikewisetheybringtoend，Inpeace，assurance，quiet，easeandrest；

Butwemustyieldwhomhungersoonwillshend，Andmakeforpeace，tosaveourlives，request，Else，ifth’Egyptianarmystaytoolong，Likecowardsdiewithinthisfortressstrong。

V

“YetnevershallmycouragegreatconsentSovileadeathshouldendmynobledays，NoronminearmswithinthesewallsypentTo-morrow’ssunshallspreadhistimelyrays：

LetsacredHeavensdisposeastheyarebentOfthisfraillike，yetnotwithoutenpraiseOfvalor，prowess，might，ArgantesshallIngloriousdie，orunrevengedfall。

VI

“ButiftherootsofwontedchivalryBenotquitedeadyourprincelybreastwithin，Devisenothowwithframeandpraisetodie，Buthowtolive，toconquerandtowin；

Letustogetheratthesegatesoutfly，Andskirmishboldandbloodyfightbegin；

Forwhenlastneedtodesperationdriveth，Whodarethmosthewisestcounselgiveth。

VII

“ButifinfieldyourwisdomdarenotventureTohazardallyourtroopstodoubtfulfight，ThenbindyourselftoGodfreybyindenture，Toendyourquarrelsbyonesingleknight：

AndfortheChristianthisaccordshallenterWithbetterwill，saysuchyouknowyourrightThathetheweapons，placeandtimeshallchoose，Andlethimforhisbest，thatvantageuse。

VIII

“Forthoughyourfoehadhands，likeHectorstrong，Withheartunfeared，andcouragesternandstout，Yetnomisfortunecanyourjusticewrong，Andwhatthatwanteth，shallthisarmhelpout，Inspiteoffateshallthisrighthanderelong，Returnvictorious：ifhereofyoudoubt，Takeitforpledge，whereiniftrustyouhave，Itshallyourselfdefendandkingdomsave。“

IX

“Boldyouth，“thetyrantthusbegantospeak，“AlthoughIwitheredseemwithageandyears，Yetarenottheseoldarmssofaintandweak，NorthishoarheadsofullofdoubtsandfearsButwhenasdeaththisvitalthreadshallbreak，Heshallmycouragehear，mydeathwhohears：

AndAladinethatlivedakingandknight，Tohisfairmornwillhaveaneveningbright。

X

“ButthatwhichyetIwouldhavefurtherblazed，Totheeinsecretshallbetoldandspoken，GreatSolimanofNice，sofarypraised，Toberevengedforhissceptrebroken，ThemenofarmsofArabyhathraised，FromIndetoAfrick，and，whenwegivetoken，AttendsthefavorofthefriendlynightTovictualus，andwithourfoestofight。

XI

“NowthoughGodfredoholdbywarlikefeatSomecastlespoorandfortsinvileoppression，Carenotforthat；forstillourprincelyseat，Thisstatelytown，wekeepinourpossession，Butthouappeaseandcalmthatcouragegreat，Whichinthybosommakesohotimpression；

Andstayfittime，whichwillbetidearelong，Toincreasethyglory，andrevengeourwrong。“

XII

TheSaracenatthiswasinlyspited，WhoSoliman’sgreatworthhadlongenvied，Tohearhimpraisedthushenaughtdelighted，Northatthekinguponhisaidrelied：

“Withinyourpower，sirking，“hesays，“unitedArepeaceandwar，norshallthatbedenied；

ButfortheTurkandhisArabianband，Helosthisown，shallhedefendyourland？

XIII

“Perchancehecomessomeheavenlymessenger，SentdowntosetthePaganpeoplefree，ThenletArgantesforhimselftakecare，Thissword，Itrust，shallwellsafe-conductme：

Butwhileyourestandallyourforcesspare，ThatIgoforthtowaratleastagree；

Thoughnotyourchampion，yetaprivateknight，IwillsomeChristianproveinsinglefight。“

XIV

Thekingreplied，“ThoughthyforceandmightShouldbereservedtobettertimeanduse；

Yetthatthouchallengesomerenownedknight，AmongtheChristiansboldInotrefuse。“

Thewarriorbreathingoutdesireoffight，Anheraldcalled，andsaid，“GotellthosenewsToGodfrey’sself，andtothewesternlords，Andintheirhearingsboldlysaythesewords：

XV

“Saythataknight，whoholdsingreatdisdainTobethusclosedupinsecretnew，Willwithhisswordinopenfieldmaintain，Ifanydaredenyhiswordsfortrue，Thatnodevotion，astheyfalselyfeign，HathmovedtheFrenchthesecountriestosubdue；

Butvileambition，andpride’shatefulvice，Desireofrule，andspoil，andcovetice。

XVI

“AndthattofightIamnotonlyprestWithoneortwothatdaredefendthecause，Butcomethefourthorfifth，comealltherest，Comeallthatwill，andallthatweapondraws，Lethimthatyieldsobeythevictor’shest，AswillstheloreofmightyMarshislaws：“

ThiswasthechallengethatfiercePagansent，Theheralddonnedhiscoat-of-arms，andwent。

XVII

AndwhenthemanbeforethepresencecameOfprincelyGodfrey，andhiscaptainsbold：

“MyLord，“quothhe，“mayIwithoutenblameBeforeyourGrace，mymessagebraveunfold？“

“Thoumayest，“heanswered，“weapprovethesame；

Withoutenfear，bethineambassagetold。“

“Then，“quoththeherald，“shallyourhighnesssee，Ifthisambassagesharporpleasingbe。“

XVIII

Thechallengeganhethenatlargeexpose，Withmightythreats，hightermsandgloriouswords；

Oneverysideanangrymurmurrose，Towrathsomovedweretheknightsandlords。

ThenGodfreyspake，andsaid，“ThemanhathchoseAnhardexploit，butwhenhefeelsourswords，Itrustweshallsofarentreattheknight，Astoexcusethefourthorfifthoffight。

XIX

“Butlethimcomeandprove，thefieldIgrant，Norwrongnortreasonlethimdoubtorfear，Somehereshallpayhimforhisgloriousvaunt，Withoutorguile，orvantage，thatIswear。

Theheraldturnedwhenhehadendedscant，Andhastedbackthewayhecamewhileare，Norstayedheaught，noronceforslowedhispace，TillhebespakeArgantesfacetoface。

XX

“Armyou，mylord，“hesaid，“yourbolddefiesByyourbravefoesacceptedboldlybeen，Thiscombatneitherhighnorlowdenies，Tenthousandwishtomeetyouonthegreen；

Athousandfrownedwithangryflamingeyes，Andshakedforragetheirswordsandweaponskeen；

Thefieldissafelygrantedbytheirguide，“

Thissaid，thechampionforhisarmorcried。

XXI

Whilehewasarmed，hisheartforirenighbrake，Soyearnedhiscouragehothisfoestofind：

TheKingtofairClorindapresentspake；

“Ifhegoforth，remainnotyoubehind，Butofoursoldiersbestathousandtake，Toguardhispersonandyourownassigned；

YetlethimmeetalonetheChristianknight，Andstandyourselfaloof，whiletheytwofight。“

XXII

ThusspaketheKing，andsoonwithoutabodeThetroopwentforthinshiningarmorclad，BeforetherestthePaganchampionrode，Hiswontedarmsandensignsallhehad：

Agoodlyplandisplayedwideandbroad，Betweenthecityandthecampwasspread，AplacelikethatwhereinproudRomebeheldTheforwardyoungmenmanagespearandshield。

XXIII

ThereallaloneArgantestookhisstand，DefyingChristandallhisservantstrue，Instature，stomach，andinstrengthofhand，Inpride，presumption，andindreadfulshow，Enceladelike，onthePhlegreanstrand，OfthathugegiantJesse’sinfantslew；

Buthisfiercesemblanttheyesteemedlight，Formostnotknew，orelsenotfearedhismight。

XXIV

AsyetnotonehadGodfreysingledoutToundertakethishardyenterprise，ButonPrinceTancredsawhealltheroutHadfixedtheirwishes，andhadcasttheireyes，Onhimhespiedthemgazingroundabout，Asthoughtheirhonoronhisprowesslies，Andnowtheywhisperedlouderwhattheymeant，WhichGodfreyheardandsaw，andwascontent。

XXV

Therestgaveplace；foreveryonedescriedTowhomtheirchieftain’swilldidmostincline，“Tancred，“quothhe，“Ipraytheecalmthepride，AbatetherageofyonderSaracine：“

Nolongerwouldthechosenchampionbide，Hisfacewithjoy，hiseyeswithgladnessshine，Hishelmhetook，andreadysteedbestrode，Andguardedwithhistrustyfriendsforthrode。

XXVI

ButscantlyhadhespurredhiscourserswiftNeartotheplain，whereproudArgantesstayed，Whenunawareshiseyeshechancedtolift，Andonthehillbeheldthewarlikemaid，AswhiteassnowupontheAlpinecliftThevirginshoneinsilverarmsarrayed，Herventalupsohigh，thathedescriedHergoodlyvisage，andherbeauty’spride。