Thesacredarmies，andthegodlyknight，ThatthegreatsepulchreofChristdidfree，Ising；muchwroughthisvalorandforesight，Andinthatgloriouswarmuchsufferedhe；
　　Invain’gainsthimdidHellopposehermight，InvaintheTurksandMoriansarmedbe：
　　Hissoldierswild，tobrawlsandmutiniesprest，Reducedhetopeace，soHeavenhimblest。
　　II
　　OheavenlyMuse，thatnotwithfadingbaysDeckestthybrowbytheHeliconianspring，Butsittestcrownedwithstars’immortalraysInHeaven，wherelegionsofbrightangelssing；
　　Inspirelifeinmywit，mythoughtsupraise，Myverseennoble，andforgivethething，IffictionslightImixwithtruthdivine，Andfilltheselineswithotherpraisethanthine。
　　III
　　Thitherthouknow’sttheworldisbestinclinedWhereluringParnassmosthissweetimparts，AndtruthconveyedinverseofgentlekindToreadperhapswillmovethedullesthearts：
　　Sowe，ifchildrenyoungdiseasedwefind，Anointwithsweetsthevessel’sforemostpartsTomakethemtastethepotionssharpwegive；
　　Theydrinkdeceived，andsodeceived，theylive。
　　IV
　　YenoblePrinces，thatprotectandsaveThePilgrimMuses，andtheirshipdefendFromrockofIgnoranceandError’swave，Yourgraciouseyesuponthislaborbend：
　　ToyouthesetalesofloveandconquestbraveIdedicate，toyouthisworkIsend：
　　MyMusehereaftershallperhapsunfoldYourfights，yourbattles，andyourcombatsbold。
　　V
　　ForiftheChristianPrinceseverstriveTowinfairGreeceoutofthetyrants’hands，AndthoseusurpingIsmaelitesdepriveOfwofulThrace，whichnowcaptivedstands，YoumustfromrealmsandseastheTurksforthdrive，AsGodfreychasedthemfromJuda’slands，Andinthislegend，allthatgloriousdeed，Read，whilstyouarmyou；armyou，whilstyouread。
　　VI
　　SixyearswererunsincefirstinmartialguiseTheChristianLordswarraidtheeasternland；
　　Nicebyassault，andAntiochbysurprise，Bothfair，bothrich，bothwon，bothconqueredstand，Andthisdefendedtheyinnoblestwise’GainstPersianknightsandmanyavaliantband；
　　Tortosawon，lestwintermightthemshend，Theydrewtoholds，andcomingspringattend。
　　VII
　　Thesullenseasonnowwascomeandgone，Thatforcedthemlateceasefromtheirnoblewar，WhenGodAlmightyformhisloftythrone，SetinthosepartsofHeaventhatpurestareAsfarabovetheclearstarseveryone，Asitishenceuptothehigheststar，Lookeddown，andallatoncethisworldbeheld，Eachland，eachcity，country，townandfield。
　　VIII
　　Allthingsheviewed，atlastinSyriastayedUpontheChristianLordshisgraciouseye，ThatwondrouslookwherewithheoftsurveyedMen’ssecretthoughtsthatmostconcealedlieHecastonpuissantGodfrey，thatassayedTodrivetheTurksfromSion’sbulwarkshigh，And，fullofzealandfaith，esteemedlightAllworldlyhonor，empire，treasure，might：
　　IX
　　InBaldwinnexthespiedanotherthought，Whomspiritsproudtovainambitionmove：
　　Tancredhesawhislife’sjoysetatnaught，Sowoe-begonewashewithpainsoflove：
　　BoemondtheconqueredfolkofAntiochbrought，ThegentleyokeofChristianruletoprove：
　　Hetaughtthemlaws，statutesandcustomsnew，Arts，crafts，obedience，andreligiontrue；
　　X
　　Andwithsuchcarehisbusyworkheplied，Thattonaughtelsehisactingthoughtshebent：
　　InyoungRinaldofiercedesireshespied，Andnobleheartofrestimpatient；
　　TowealthorsovereignpowerhenaughtappliedHiswits，butalltovirtueexcellent；
　　Patternsandrulesofskill，andcouragebold，HetookfromGuelpho，andhisfathersold。
　　XI
　　ThuswhentheLorddiscoveredhad，andseenThehiddensecretsofeachworthy’sbreast，OutofthehierarchiesofangelssheenThegentleGabrielcalledhefromtherest，’TwixtGodandsoulsofmenthatrighteousbeenAmbassadorishe，foreverblest，ThejustcommandsofHeaven’sEternalKing，’Twixtskiesandearth，heupanddowndothbring。
　　XII
　　TowhomtheLordthusspake：“Godfredofind，Andinmynameaskhim，whydothherest？
　　Whybehisarmstoeaseandpeaceresigned？
　　WhyfreeshenotJerusalemdistrest？
　　Hispeerstocounselcall，eachbasermindLethimstirup；for，chieftainoftherestIchoosehimhere，theearthshallhimallow，Hisfellowslateshallbehissubjectsnow。“
　　XIII
　　Thissaid，theangelswifthimselfpreparedToexecutethechargeimposedaright，Informofairymembersfairimbared，Hisspiritspureweresubjecttooursight，Liketoamaninshowandshapehefared，Butfullofheavenlymajestyandmight，Astriplingseemedhethrivefivewintersold，Andradiantbeamsadornedhislocksofgold。
　　XIV
　　Ofsilverwingshetookashiningpair，Fringedwithgold，unwearied，nimble，swift；
　　Withthesehepartsthewinds，theclouds，theair，Andoverseasandearthhimselfdothlift，Thuscladhecutthespheresandcirclesfair，Andthepureskieswithsacredfeathersclift；
　　OnLibanonatfirsthisfootheset，AndshookhiswingswithroryMaydewswet。
　　XV
　　ThentoTortosa’sconfinesswiftlyspedThesacredmessenger，withheadlongflight；
　　AbovetheeasternwaveappearedredTherisingsun，yetscantlyhalfinsight；
　　Godfreye’enthenhismorn-devotionssaid，Aswashiscustom，whenwithTitanbrightAppearedtheangelinhisshapedivine，WhosegloryfarobscuredPhoebus’shine。
　　XVI
　　“Godfrey，“quothhe，“beholdtheseasonfitTowar，forwhichthouwaitedhastsolong，Nowservesthetime，ifthouo’erslipnotit，TofreeJerusalemfromthrallandwrong：
　　ThouwiththyLordsincouncilquicklysit；
　　Comfortthefeeble，andconfirmthestrong，TheLordofHoststheirgeneraldothmakethee，Andfortheirchieftaintheyshallgladlytakethee。
　　XVII
　　“I，messengerfromeverlastingJove，Inhisgreatnamethushisbehestsdotell；
　　Oh，whatsurehopeofconquestoughttheemove，Whatzeal，whatloveshouldinthybosomdwell！“
　　Thissaid，hevanishedtothoseseatsabove，Inheightandclearnesswhichtherestexcel，DownfelltheDuke，hisjointsdissolvedasunder，Blindwiththelight，andstruckendeadwithwonder。
　　XVIII
　　Butwhenrecovered，heconsideredmore，Theman，hismanner，andhismessagesaid；
　　Ifersthewished，nowhelongedsoreToendthatwar，whereofheLordwasmade；
　　Norswelledhisbreastwithuncouthpridetherefore，ThatHeavenonhimabovethischargehadlaid，But，forhisgreatCreatorwouldthesame，Hiswillincreased：sofireaugmentethflame。
　　XIX
　　Thecaptainscalledforthwithfromeverytent，Untotherendezvoushetheminvites；
　　Letteronletter，postonposthesent，Entreatancefairwithcounselheunites，All，whatanoblecouragecouldaugment，Thesleepingsparkofvalorwhatincites，Heused，thatalltheirthoughtstohonorraised，Somepraised，somepaid，somecounselled，allpleased。
　　XX
　　Thecaptains，soldiers，all，saveBoemond，came，Andpitchedtheirtents，someinthefieldswithout，Someofgreenboughstheirslendercabinsframe，SomelodgedwereTortosa’sstreetsabout，OfallthehostthechiefofworthandnameAssembledbeen，asenategraveandstout；
　　ThenGodfrey，aftersilencekeptaspace，Liftuphisvoice，andspakewithprincelygrace：
　　XXI
　　“Warriors，whomGodhimselfelectedhathHisworshiptrueinSiontorestore，Andstillpreservedfromdanger，harmandscath，Bymanyaseaandmanyanunknownshore，YouhavesubjectedlatelytohisfaithSomeprovincesrebelliouslongbefore：
　　Andafterconquestsgreat，haveinthesameErectedtrophiestohiscrossandname。
　　XXII
　　“Butnotforthisourhomeswefirstforsook，Andfromournativesoilhavemarchedsofar：
　　Norustodangerousseashavewebetook，Exposedtohazardofsofarsoughtwar，Ofgloryvaintogainanidlesmook，Andlandspossessthatwildandbarbarousare：
　　Thatforourconquestsweretoomeanaprey，Toshedourbloods，toworkoursouls’decay。
　　XXIII
　　“Butthisthescopewasofourformerthought，——
　　OfSion’sforttoscalethenoblewall，TheChristianfolkfrombondagetohavebrought，Wherein，alas，theylonghavelivedthrall，InPalestineanempiretohavewrought，Wheregodlinessmightreignperpetual，Andnonebeleft，thatpilgrimsmightdenayToseeChrist’stomb，andpromisedvowstopay。
　　XXIV
　　“WhattothishoursuccessivelyisdoneWasfullofperil，toourhonorsmall，Naughttoourfirstdesignment，ifweshunThepurposedend，orhereliefixedall。
　　Whatbootsitustherewarestohavebegun，OrEuroperaisedtomakeproudAsiathrall，Ifourbeginningshavethisendingknown，Notkingdomsraised，butarmiesoverthrown？
　　XXV
　　“NotaswelisterectweempiresnewOnfrailfoundationslaidinearthlymould，WhereofourfaithandcountrybebutfewAmongthethousandsstoutofPagansbold，WherenaughtbehovesustrusttoGreeceuntrue，AndWesternaidwefarremovedbehold：
　　Whobuildeththus，methinks，sobuildethhe，Asifhisworkshouldhissepulchrebe。
　　XXVI
　　“Turks，Persiansconquered，Antiochiawon，Begloriousacts，andfullofgloriouspraise，ByHeaven’smeregrace，notbyourprowessdone：
　　Thoseconquestswereachievedbywondrousways，IfnowfromthatdirectedcoursewerunTheGodofBattlesthusbeforeuslays，Hislovingkindnessshallwelose，Idoubt，Andbeabywordtothelandsabout。
　　XXVII
　　“LetnottheseblessingsthensentfromaboveAbusedbe，orsplitinprofanewise，ButlettheissuecorrespondentproveTogoodbeginningsofeachenterprise；
　　Thegentleseasonmightourcouragemove，Noweverypassageplainandopenlies：
　　WhatletsusthenthegreatJerusalemWithvaliantsquadronsroundabouttohem？
　　XXVIII
　　“Lords，Iprotest，andhearkenalltoit，Yetimesandages，future，present，past，Hearallyeblessedintheheavensthatsit，Thetimeforthisachievementhastenethfast：
　　Thelongerrestworsewilltheseasonfit，Oursuretiesshallwithdoubtbeovercast。
　　IfweforslowthesiegeIwellforeseeFromEgyptwillthePaganssuccoredbe。“
　　XXIX
　　Thissaid，thehermitPeterroseandspake，WhosateincounselthosegreatLordsamong：
　　“Atmyrequestthiswarwasundertake，Inprivatecell，whoerstlivedclosedlong，WhatGodfreywills，ofthatnoquestionmake，Therecastnodoubtswheretruthisplainandstrong，Youracts，Itrust，willcorrespondhisspeech，YetonethingmoreIwouldyougladlyteach。
　　XXX
　　“Thesestrifes，unlessIfarmistakethething，Anddiscordsraisedoftindisorderedsort，YourdisobedienceandillmanagingOfactionslost，forwantofduesupport，ReferIjustlytoafurtherspring，Springofsedition，strife，oppression，tort，Imeancommandingpowertosundrygiven，Inthought，opinion，worth，estate，uneven。