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。