第20章

HesawnotwherethePaganstood，andstared，Asifwithlookshewouldhisfoemankill，Butfullofotherthoughtsheforwardfared，Andsenthislooksbeforehimupthehill，Hisgesturesuchhistroubledsouldeclared，Atlastasmarblerockhestandethstill，Stonecoldwithout；within，burntwithlove’sflame，Andquiteforgothimself，andwhyhecame。

XXVIII

Thechallenger，thatyetsawnoneappearThatmadeorsignorshowcametojust，“Howlong，“criedhe，“shallIattendyouhere？

Daresnonecomeforth？daresnonehisfortunetrust？“

Theotherstoodamazed，lovestoppedhisear，HethinksonCupid，thinkofMarswholust；

ButforthstertOthobold，andtookthefield，AgentleknightwhomGodfromdangershield。

XXIX

Thisyouthwasoneofthose，wholatedesiredWiththatvain-gloriousboastertohavefought，ButTancredchosen，heandallretired；

Nowwhenhisslacknessheawhileadmired，Andsawelsewhereemployedwashisthought，Northattojust，thoughchosen，onceheproffered，Heboldlytookthatfitoccasionoffered。

XXX

Notiger，panther，spottedleopard，Runshalfsoswift，theforestswildamong，Asthisyoungchampionhastedthitherward，WhereheattendingsawthePaganstrong：

Tancredistartedwiththenoiseheheard，Aswakedfromsleep，wherehehaddreamedlong，“Ohstay，“hecried，“tomebelongsthiswar！“

Butcriedtoolate，Othowasgonetoofar。

XXXI

Thenfulloffury，angeranddespite，Hestayedhishorse，andwaxedredforshame，Thefightwashis，butnowdisgracedquiteHimselfhethought，anotherplayedhisgame；

MeanwhiletheSaracendidhugelysmiteOnOtho’shelm，whotorequitethesame，Hisfoequitethroughhissevenfoldtargedidbear，Andinhisbreastplatestuckandbrokehisspear。

XXXII

Theencountersuch，uponthetendergrass，DownfromhissteedtheChristianbackwardfell；

Yethisproudfoesostrongandsturdywas，Thathenorshook，norstaggeredinhissell，Buttotheknightthatlayfulllow，alas，Inhighdisdainhiswillthusganhetell，“Yieldtheemyslave，andthisthinehonorbe，Thoumay’streportthouhastencounteredme。“

XXXIII

“Notso，“quothhe，“pardyit’snottheguiseOfChristianknights，thoughfall’n，sosoontoyield；

Icanmyfallexcuseinbetterwise，Andwillrevengethisshame，ordieinfield。“

ThegreatCircassianbenthisfrowningeyes，LikethatgrimvisageinMinerva’sshield，“Thenlearn，“quothhe，“whatforceArgantesusethAgainstthatfoolthatprofferedgracerefuseth。“

XXXIV

Withthathespurredhishorsewithspeedandhaste，Forgettingwhatgoodknightstovirtueowe，Othohisfuryshunned，and，ashepassed，Athisrightsidehereachedanobleblow，Widewasthewound，thebloodoutstreamedfast，Andfromhissidefelltohisstirruplow：

Butwhatavailstohurt，ifwoundsaugmentOurfoe’sfiercecourage，strengthandhardiment？

XXXV

Argantesnimblyturnedhisreadysteed，Anderehisfoewaswistorwellaware，Againsthissidehedrovehiscourser’shead，Whatforcecouldhegainstsogreatmightprepare？

Weakwerehisfeeblejoints，hiscouragedead，Hisheartamazed，hispalenessshowedhiscare，Histendersidegainstthehardearthhecast，Shamed，withthefirstfall；bruised，withthelast。

XXXVI

Thevictorspurredagainhislight-footsteed，AndmadehispassageoverOtho’sheart，Andcried，“ThesefoolsthusunderfootItread，Thisdarecontendwithmeinequalmart。“

Tancredforangershookhisnoblehead，Sowashegrievedwiththatunknightlypart；

Thefaultwashis，hewassoslowbefore，Withdoublevalorwouldhesalvethatsore。

XXXVII

Forwardhegallopedfast，andloudlycried：

“Villain，“quothhe，“thyconquestisthyshame，Whatpraise？whathonorshallthisfactbetide？

Whatgain？whatguerdonshallbefallthesame？

AmongtheArabianthievesthyfacegohide，Farfromresortofmenofworthandfame，Orelseinwoodsandmountainswild，bynight，Onsavagebeastsemploythysavagemight。“

XXXVIII

ThePaganpatienceneverknew，norused，Tremblingforire，hissandylockshetore，Ourfromhislipsflewsuchasoundconfused，Aslionsmakeindesertsthick，whichroar；

Oraswhencloudstogethercrushedandbruised，PourdownatempestbytheCaspianshore；

Sowashisspeechimperfect，stopped，andbroken，Heroaredandthunderedwhenheshouldhavespoken。

XXXIX

ButwhenwiththreatstheybothhadwhettedkeenTheireagerrage，theirfury，spiteandire，TheyturnedtheirsteedsandleftlargespacebetweenTomaketheirforcesgreater，’proachingnigher，Withtermsthatwarlikeandthatworthybeen：

OsacredMuse，myhaughtythoughtsinspire，AndmakeatrumpetofmyslenderquillTothunderoutthisfuriouscombatshrill。

XL

ThesesonsofMayorsbore，insteadofspears，Twoknottymasts，whichnonebuttheycouldlift，Eachfoamingsteedsofasthismasterbears，Thatneverbeast，bird，shaftflewhalfsoswift；

Suchwastheirfury，aswhenBoreastearsTheshatteredcragsfromTaurus’northernclift，Upontheirhelmstheirlanceslongtheybroke，Anduptoheavenflewsplinters，sparkandsmoke。

XLI

Theshockmadeallthetowersandturretsquake，Andwoodsandmountainsallnighhandresound；

YetcouldnotallthatforceandfuryshakeThevaliantchampions，northeirpersonswound；

Togetherhurtledboththeirsteeds，andbrakeEachother’sneck，theriderslayonground：

Butthey，greatmastersofwar’sdreadfulart，Pluckedforththeirswordsandsoonfromearthupstart。

XLII

Closeathissurestwardeachwarriorlieth，Hewiselyguideshishand，hisfoot，hiseye，Thisblowheproveth，thatdefencehetrieth，Hetraverseth，retireth，pressethnigh，Nowstrikesheout，andnowhefalsifieth，Thisblowhewardeth，thatheletsslipby，AndforadvantageoftheletssomepartDiscoveredseem；thusartdeludethart。

XLIII

ThePaganilldefencedwithswordortarge，Tancredi’sthigh，ashesupposed，espiedAndreachingforthgainstithisweaponlarge，Quitenakedtohisfoeleaveshisleft-side；

Tancredavoidethquickhisfuriouscharge，Andgavehimekeawounddeep，soreandwide；

Thatdone，himselfsafetohiswardretired，Hiscouragepraisedbyall，hisskilladmired。

XLIV

TheproudCircassiansawhisstreamingblood，Downfromhiswound，asfromafountain，running，Hesighedforrage，andtrembledashestood，Heblamedhisfortune，folly，wantofcunning；

Helifthisswordaloft，forirenighwood，Andforwardrushed：Tancredhisfuryshunning，WithasharpthrustoncemorethePaganhit，Tohisbroadshoulderwherehisarmisknit。

XLV

LikeasabearthroughpiercedwithadartWithinthesecretwoods，nofurtherflieth，Butbitesthesenselessweaponmadwithsmart，Seekingrevengetillunrevengedshedieth；

SomadArgantesfared，whenhisproudheartWounduponwound，andshameonshameespieth，Desireofvengeancesoo’ercamehissenses，Thatheforgotalldangers，alldefences。

XLVI

Unitingforceextreme，withendlesswrath，Supportingbothwithyouthandstrengthuntired，Histhunderingblowssofastabouthelayeth，Thatskiesandearththeflyingsparklesfired；

Hisfoetostrikeoneblownoleisurehath，Scantlyhebreathed，thoughheoftdesired，Hiswarlikeskillandcunningallwaswaste，SuchwasArgantes’force，andsuchhishaste。

XLVII

LongtimeTancredihadinvainattendedWhenthishugestormshouldoverblowandpass，Someblowshismightytargetwelldefended，Somefellbeside，andwoundeddeepthegrass；

Butwhenhesawthetempestneverended，NorthatthePaynim’sforceaughtweakerwas，Hehighadvancedhiscuttingswordatlength，Andragetorageopposed，andstrengthtostrength。

XLVIII

Wrathborethesway，bothartandreasonfail，Furynewforce，andcouragenewsupplies，Theirarmorsforgedwereofmetalfrail，Oneverysidethereof，hugecantelsflies，Thelandwasstrewedallwithplateandmail。

That，ontheearth；onthat，theirwarmbloodlies。

AndateachrushandeveryblowtheysmoteThunderthenoise，thesparks，seemedlightninghot。

XLIX

TheChristianpeopleandthePagansgazed，Onthisfiercecombatwishingofttheend，Twixthopeandfeartheystoodlongtimeamazed，Toseetheknightsassail，andekedefend，Yetneithersigntheymade，nornoisetheyraised，Butfortheissueofthefightattend，Andstoodasstill，aslifeandsensetheywanted，Savethattheirheartswithintheirbosomspanted。

L

Nowweretheytiredboth，andwell-nighspent，Theirblowsshowgreaterwillthanpowertowound；

ButNighthergentledaughterDarkness，sent，Withfriendlyshadetooverspreadtheground，Twoheraldstothefightingchampionswent，Topartthefray，aslawsofarmsthemboundAridensborninFrance，andwisePindore，Themanthatbroughtthechallengeproudbefore。

LI

Thesementheirsceptresinterpose，betweenThedoubtfulhazardsofuncertainfight；

Forsuchtheirprivilegehatheverbeen，Thelawofnationsdothdefendtheirright；

Pindorebegan，“Stay，stay，youwarriorskeen，Equalyourhonor，equalisyourmight；

Forbearthiscombat，sowedeemitbest，Givenightherdue，andgrantyourpersonsrest。

LII

“Mangoethforthtolaborwiththesun，Butwiththenight，allcreaturesdrawtosleep，NoryetofhiddenpraiseindarknesswonThevaliantheartofnobleknighttakeskeep：“

Argantesansweredhim，“ThefightbegunNowtoforbear，dothwoundmyheartrightdeep：

YetwillIstay，sothatthisChristianswear，Beforeyouboth，againtomeetmehere。“

LIII

“Iswear，“quothTancred，“butswearthoulikewiseTomakereturnthyprisonerekewiththee；

Elseforachievementofthisenterprise，Noneothertimebutthisexpectofme；“

Thussworetheyboth；theheraldsbothdevise，Whattimeforthisexploitshouldfittestbe：

Andfortheirwoundsofrestandcurehadneed，Tomeetagainthesixthdaywasdecreed。

LIV

ThisfightwasdeepimprintedintheirheartsThatsawthisbloodyfraytoendingbrought，Anhorrorgreatpossessedtheirweakerparts，Whichmadethemshrinkwhoontheircombatthought：

MuchspeechwasofthepraiseandhighdesartsOfthesebravechampionsthatsonoblyfought；

Butwhichforknightlyworthwasmostypraised，Ofthatwasdoubtanddisputationraised。

LV

Alllongtoseethemendthisdoubtfulfray，Andastheyfavor，sotheywishsuccess，Thesehopetruevirtueshallobtaintheday，Thosetrustonfury，strengthandhardiness；

ButonErminiamostthisburdenlay，Whoselookshertroubleandherfearexpress；

Foronthisdangerouscombat’sdoubtfulendHerjoy，hercomfort，hopeandlifedepend。