“Asithathever，“thustheDukebegun，“Thycounselshowsthywisdomandthylove，Andwhatyouleftindoubtshallthusbedone，Wewilltheirforceinpitchedbattleprove；
　　Closedinthiswallandtrench，thefighttoshun，Dothillthiscampbeseem，andworsebehove，Butwetheirstrengthandmanhoodwillassay，Andtry，inopenfieldandopenday。
　　CXXXI
　　“Thefameofourgreatconqueststosustain，Orbideourlooksandthreats，theyarenotable，AndwhenthisarmyissubduedandslainThenisourempiresettled，firmandstable，Thetowershallyield，orbutresistinvain，Forfearheranchoris，despairhercable。“
　　Thusheconcludes，androllingdownthewestFastsetthestars，andcalledthemalltorest。
　　TWENTIETHBOOK
　　THEARGUMENT。
　　ThePaganhostarrives，andcruelfightMakeswiththeChristiansandtheirfaithfulpower；
　　TheSoldanlongsinfieldtoprovehismight，Withtheoldkingquitsthebesiegedtower；
　　Yetbothareslain，andineternalnightAfamoushandgiveseachhisfatalhour；
　　RinaldappeasedArmida；firstthefieldTheChristianswin，thenpraisetoGodtheyyield。
　　I
　　Thesuncalleduptheworldfromidlesleep，AndofthedaytenhoursweregoneandpastWhentheboldtroopthathadthetowertokeepEspiedasuddenmist，thatovercastTheearthwithmirksomecloudsanddarknessdeep，AndsawitwastheEgyptiancampatlastWhichraisedthedust，forhillsandvalleysbroadThathostdidoverspreadandoverload。
　　II
　　TherewithamerryshoutandjoyfulcryThePagansrearedfromtheirbesiegedhold；
　　ThecranesfromThracewithsucharumorfly，HishoaryfrostandsnowwhenHyemsoldPoursdown，andfasttowarmerregionshie，Fromthesharpwinds，fiercestormsandtempestscold；
　　Andquick，andreadythisnewhopeandaid，Theirhandstoshoot，theirtonguestothreatenmade。
　　III
　　Fromwhencetheirire，theirwrathandhardythreatProceeds，theFrenchwellknew，andplainespied，ForfromthewallsandportsthearmygreatTheysaw；herstrength，hernumber，pomp，andpride，Swelledtheirbreastswithvalor’snobleheat；
　　Battleandfighttheywished，“Arm，arm！“theycried；
　　TheyouthtogivethesignoffightallprayedTheirDuke，andweredispleasedbecausedelayedIV
　　Tillmorningnext，forherefusedtofight；
　　Theirhasteandheathebridled，butnotbrake，NoryetwithsuddenfrayorskirmishlightOfthesenewfoeswouldhevaintrialmake。
　　“Aftersomanywars，“hesays，“goodrightItis，thatoneday’srestatleastyoutake，“
　　ForthusinhisvainfoeshecherishwouldThehopewhichintheirstrengththeyhaveandhold。
　　V
　　ToseeAurora’sgentlebeamappear，Thesoldiersarmed，prestandreadylay，TheskieswereneverhalfsofairandclearAsinthebreakingofthatblessedday，Themerrymorningsmiled，andseemedtowearUponhersilvercrownsun’sgoldenray，AndwithoutcloudheavenhisredoubledlightBentdowntoseethisfield，thisfray，thisfight。
　　VI
　　Whenfirsthesawthedaybreakshowandshine，Godfreyhishostingoodarraybroughtout，AndtobesiegethetyrantAladineRaymondheleft，andallthefaithfulroutThatfromthetownswascomeofPalestineToserveandsuccortheirdelivererstout，AndwiththemleftahardytroopbesideOfGascoignsstrong，inarmswellproved，ofttried。
　　VII
　　SuchwasGodfredo’scountenance，suchhischeer，Thatfromhiseyesureconquestflamesandstreams，Heaven’sgraciousfavorsinhislooksappear，Andgreatandgoodlymorethanerstheseems；
　　Hisfaceandforeheadfullofnoblessewere，Andonhischeeksmiledyouth’spurplebeams，Andinhisgait，hisgrace，hisacts，hiseyes，Somewhat，farmorethanmortal，livesandlies。
　　VIII
　　HehadnotmarchedfarereheespiedOfhisproudfoesthemightyhostdrawnigh；
　　AhillatfirsthetookandfortifiedAthislefthandwhichstoodhisarmyby，BroadinthefrontbehindmorestraituptiedHisarmyreadystoodthefighttotry，AndtothemiddlewardwellarmedhebringsHisfootmenstrong，hishorsemenservedforwings。
　　IX
　　Totheleftwing，spreadunderneaththebentOfthesteephillthatsavedtheirflankandside，TheRobertstwain，twoleadersgood，hesent；
　　Hisbrotherhadthemiddlewardtoguide；
　　TotherightwinghimselfinpersonwentDown，wheretheplainwasdangerous，broadandwide，AndwherehisfoeswiththeirgreatnumberswouldPerchanceenvironroundhissquadronsbold。
　　X
　　ThereallhisLorrainersandmenofmight，Allhisbestarmedheplaced，andchosenbands，Andwiththosehorsesomefootmenarmedlight，Thatarcherswere，usedtothatservice，stands；
　　Theadventurersthen，inbattleandinfightWelltried，asquadronfamousthroughalllands，Ontherighthandheset，somedealaside，Rinaldowastheirleader，lordandguide。
　　XI
　　TowhomtheDuke，“IntheeourhopeislaidOfvictory，thoumusttheconquestgain，Behindthismightywing，sofardisplayed，Thouwiththynoblesquadroncloseremain；
　　AndwhenthePaganswouldourbacksinvade，Assailthemthen，andmaketheironsetvain；
　　ForifIguessaright，theyhaveinmindTocompassus，andchargeourtroopsbehind。“
　　XII
　　Thenthroughhishost，thattooksolargeascope，Herode，andviewedthemall，bothhorseandfoot；
　　Hisfacewasbare，hishelmunclosedandope，Lightenedhiseyes，hislooksbrightfireshotout；
　　Hecheersthefearful，comfortsthemthathope，Andtotheboldrecountshisboastingstout，Andtothevalianthisadventureshard，Thesebidshelookforpraise，thoseforreward。
　　XIII
　　AtlasthestayedwhereofhissquadronsboldAndnoblesttroopsassembledwasbestpart；
　　Therefromarisingbankhiswillhetold，Andallthatheardhisspeechthereattookheart：
　　AndasthemountainsnowfrommountainscoldRunsdowninstreamswitheloquenceandart，Sofromhislipshiswordsandspeechesfell，Shrill，speedy，pleasant，sweet，andplacedwell。
　　XIV
　　“Myhardyhost，youconquerorsoftheEast，YouscourgewherewithChristwhipshisheathenfone，Ofvictorybeholdthelatestfeast，Seethelastdayforwhichyouwishedalone；
　　NotwithoutcausetheSaracensmostandleastOurgraciousLordhathgatheredhereinone，Forallyourfoesandhisassembledare，Thatoneday’sfightmayendsevenyearsofwar。
　　XV
　　“Thisfightshallbringusmanyvictories，Thedangernone，thelaborwillbesmall，LetnotthenumberofyourenemiesDismayyourhearts，grantfearnoplaceatall；
　　Forstrifeanddiscordthroughtheirarmyflies，Theirbandsillrankedthemselvesentangleshall，Andfewofthemtostrikeorfightshallcome，Forsomewantstrength，someheart，someelbow-room。
　　XVI
　　“Thishost，withwhomyoumustencounternow，Aremenhalfnaked，withoutstrengthorskill，Fromidleness，orfollowingtheplough，Latepressedforthtowaragainsttheirwill，Theirswordsareblunt，shieldsthin，soonpiercedthrough，Theirbannersshake，theirbearersshrink，forillTheirleadersheard，obeyed，orfollowedbe，Theirloss，theirflight，theirdeathIwillforesee。
　　XVII
　　“Theircaptaincladinpurple，armedingold，Thatseemssofierce，sohardy，stoutandstrong，TheMoorsorweakArabiansvanquishcould，Yetcanhenotresistyourvalorslong。
　　Whatcanhedo，thoughwise，thoughsage，thoughbold，Inthatconfusion，trouble，thrustandthrong？
　　Illknownheis，andworseheknowshishost，Strangelordsillfearedare，illobeyedofmost。
　　XVIII
　　“ButIamcaptainofthischosencrew，WithwhomIofthaveconquered，triumphedoft，YourlandsandlineageslongsinceIknew，Eachknightobeysmyrule，mild，easy，soft，Iknoweachsword，eachdart，eachshaftIview，Althoughthequarrelflyinskiesaloft，WhetherthesameofIrelandbe，orFrance，Andfromwhatbowitcomes，whathandperchance。
　　XIX
　　“Iaskaneasyandausualthing，Asyouhaveoft，thisday，sowinthefield，Letzealandhonorbeyourvirtue’ssting，Yourlives，myfame，Christ’sfaithdefendandshield，ToearththesePagansslainandwoundedbring，Treadontheirnecks，makethemalldieoryield，——
　　WhatneedImoreexhortyou？fromyoureyesIseehowvictory，howconquestflies。“
　　XX
　　Uponthecaptain，whenhisspeechwasdone，Itseemedalampandgoldenlightdowncame，Asfromnight’sazuremantleoftdothrunOrfall，aslidingstar，orshiningflame；
　　ButfromthebosomoftheburningsunProceededthis，andgarland-wisethesameGodfredo’snobleheadencompassedround，And，assomethought，foreshowedheshouldbecrowned。
　　XXI
　　Perchance，ifman’sproudthoughtorsaucytongueHaveleavetojudgeorguessatheavenlythings，Thiswastheangelwhichhadkepthimlong，Thatnowcamedown，andhidhimwithhiswings。
　　WhilethustheDukebespeakshisarmiesstrong，Andeverytroopandbandinorderbrings。
　　LordEmirenhishostdisposedwell，Andwithboldwordswhetontheircouragefell；
　　XXII
　　Themanbroughtforthhisarmygreatwithspeed，Inordergood，hisfoesathandhespied，Likethenewmoonhishosttwohornsdidspreed，Inmidstthefoot，thehorsewereoneachside，Therightwingkeptheforhimselftolead，GreatAltamorereceivedthelefttoguide，ThemiddlewardledMuleassesproud，AndinthatbattlefairArmidastood。
　　XXIII
　　OntherightquarterstoodtheIndiangrim，WithTisipherneandalltheking’sownband；
　　ButwhentheleftwingspreadhersquadronstrimO’erthelargeplain，didAltamorostand，WithAfricanandPersiankingswithhim，AndtwothatcamefromMeroe’shotsand，Andallhiscrossbowsandhisslingsheplaced，Whereroombestservedtoshoot，tothrow，tocast。
　　XXIV
　　ThusEmirenhishostputinarray，Androdefrombandtoband，fromranktorank，Histruchmennow，andnowhimself，dothsay，Whatspoilhisfolkshallgain，whatpraise，whatthank。
　　Tohimthatfeared，“Lookup，oursistheday，“
　　Hesays，“Vilefeartoboldheartsneversank，Howdarethoneagainstanhundredfight？
　　Ourcry，ourshade，willputthemalltoflight。“