Gerusalemme Liberata

THE ARGUMENT.
God sends his angel to Tortosa,
Godfrey brings together the Christian Peers and Knights;
And all the distinguished Lords and Princes
Choose him as their Duke, to lead the battles and conflicts.
He gathers all his troops, whose strength is known,
And sends them to the fortress called Sion;
The old tyrant who rules over Judah’s land,
Prepares in fear and turmoil to stand against them.

I
I sing of the holy armies and the noble knight
Who freed the great tomb of Christ.
His courage and wisdom achieved much,
And in that glorious battle, he endured a lot;
Hell tried in vain to challenge him,
And the Turks and Moors were armed in vain:
He brought his unruly soldiers,
Who were ready for fights and rebellions,
Back to peace, so Heaven blessed him.

II
O heavenly Muse, who doesn’t wear fading laurels
Adorned on your head by the Helicon spring,
But sits crowned with the everlasting light of stars
In Heaven, where countless bright angels sing;
Inspire my creativity, elevate my thoughts,
Make my verse noble, and forgive me if
I blend some fictions with divine truth,
And fill these lines with praise beyond your own.

III
There, as you know, the world is most inviting
Where enchanting Parnassus shares its sweet gifts,
And truth expressed in soft verse
Might even stir the dullest hearts:
So we, if we find sickly young children,
Apply sweetness to the most visible parts
To help them taste the bitter potions we offer;
They drink deceived, and deceived, they live.

IV
You noble princes, who protect and save
The Pilgrim Muses, and defend their ship
From the rocks of Ignorance and the waves of Error,
I turn your gracious eyes to this effort:
To you, I dedicate these tales of love and brave conquests,
I send you this work:
My Muse may one day reveal
Your struggles, your battles, and your bold combats.

V
For if Christian leaders ever try
To rescue beautiful Greece from the tyrants’ grip,
And those usurping Ismaelites take away
Sad Thrace, which is now imprisoned,
You must drive the Turks from lands and seas,
Just as Godfrey chased them from Judea’s lands,
And in this story, all that glorious act,
Read while you prepare your weapons; arm yourselves as you read.

VI
Six years passed since the Christian Lords first marched in battle gear into the eastern lands;
They took Nice by force and caught Antioch off guard,
Both beautiful, both wealthy, both captured, both claimed,
And they defended these cities in the noblest way
Against Persian knights and many brave warriors;
After taking Tortosa, to avoid the harsh winter,
They retreated to strongholds and waited for the coming spring.

VII
The gloomy season had now come and gone,
Which made them finally stop their noble war,
When God Almighty from his high throne,
Set in the purest parts of Heaven
(As far above the clear stars as one
Is from here to the highest star),
Looked down, and all at once this world was seen,
Every land, every city, country, town, and field.

VIII
In the end, he focused on the Christian Lords in Syria,
With a kind gaze that often uncovered
The hidden thoughts in people's hearts.
He looked at the powerful Godfrey, who was trying
To push the Turks away from the high walls of Zion,
And, filled with passion and belief, considered
All worldly honor, power, riches, and strength as nothing:

IX
In Baldwin, he then noticed another idea,
Inspired by spirits driven by vain ambition:
He saw that Tancred's joy in life was ruined,
So heartbroken was he with the pains of love:
Boemond brought the conquered people of Antioch,
To experience the gentle rule of Christianity:
He taught them new laws, statutes, and customs,
Skills, trades, obedience, and true religion;

X
And with such focus, he diligently went about his work,
That he directed all his thoughts to nothing else:
In young Rinaldo, he noticed fierce desires,
And a noble heart that couldn’t find peace;
He didn’t use his talents for wealth or power,
But devoted everything to excellent virtue;
He learned patterns and rules of skill and bravery,
From Guelpho and his ancestors.

XI
So when the Lord found out and saw
The hidden secrets in each worthy's heart,
He called the gentle Gabriel from the angelic ranks,
Between God and the righteous souls of men
He is the ambassador, forever blessed,
Bringing the just commands of Heaven’s Eternal King,
Going up and down between the skies and earth.

XII
To whom the Lord said: “Find Godfredo,
And in my name ask him, why does he rest?
Why has he laid down his arms for ease and peace?
Why doesn’t he free distressed Jerusalem?
Let him gather his peers for counsel, and stir up every lesser mind;
For, as chief among them,
I choose him here; the earth will recognize him,
His former companions will now be his subjects.”

XIII
That said, the swift angel himself got ready
To carry out the task given to him correctly,
In the form of light and fair members revealed,
His pure spirit was visible to us,
Looking like a man in appearance and form,
But filled with heavenly majesty and power,
He seemed like a young boy about five years old,
And radiant beams decorated his golden hair.

XIV
He took a shining pair of silver wings,
Fringed with gold, tireless, quick, and light;
With these, he parts the winds, clouds, and the air,
And lifts himself over seas and land,
Dressed like this, he flew through beautiful spheres and circles,
And the pure skies were sliced with sacred feathers;
He first set his foot on Lebanon,
And shook his wings with the fresh dewdrops of May.

XV
Then the sacred messenger quickly rushed to the borders of Tortosa;
Above the eastern waves, the rising sun glowed red,
Though it was barely half visible;
Godfrey was still saying his morning prayers,
As he usually did, when the bright Titan appeared
As an angel in his divine form,
Whose glory completely overshadowed the sun’s light.

XVI
"Godfrey," he said, "look at this perfect time
For war, the moment you’ve been waiting for,
Now is the time; if you don’t let it pass,
To free Jerusalem from oppression and wrong:
You and your Lords should gather in council quickly;
Encourage the weak, and strengthen the strong,
The Lord of Hosts appoints you as their leader,
And they will happily accept you as their chief."

XVII
“I am a messenger from everlasting Jove,
In his name, I share his commands;
Oh, what strong hope of victory should inspire you,
What passion, what love should fill your heart!”
With that, he disappeared to the heights above,
Where clarity surpasses all else,
The Duke collapsed, his joints giving way,
Blinded by the light, overwhelmed with awe.

XVIII
But once he recovered, he thought more about
The man, his behavior, and his message;
If once he wanted, now he desperately
Wished to end that war, of which he was the Lord;
And he didn't let his chest swell with strange pride
Because Heaven had placed this responsibility on him,
But, wanting to please his great Creator,
His determination grew: just like fire intensifies a flame.

XIX
The captains quickly gathered from every tent,
He invited them to the meeting spot;
He sent letter after letter, message after message,
Combining polite requests with wise advice,
Everything that could boost noble courage,
Fanning the dormant spark of bravery;
He worked to lift their spirits and honor,
Some praised, some supported, some advised, all content.

XX
The captains and soldiers, everyone except Boemond, arrived,
And set up their tents, some in the fields outside,
Some made slender cabins from green branches,
Some were lodged around the streets of Tortosa,
All the notable leaders of the army
Gathered together, forming a serious and strong assembly;
Then Godfrey, after a moment of silence,
Raised his voice and spoke with royal elegance:

XXI
“Warriors, whom God Himself has chosen
To restore His true worship in Sion,
And still kept safe from danger, harm, and injury,
By many seas and countless unknown shores,
You have recently brought some rebellious provinces
To His faith, which had resisted for a long time:
And after great victories, you have set up
Trophies in honor of His cross and name.

XXII
“But we didn’t leave our homes for this,
And we didn’t march so far from our land:
Nor did we risk dangerous seas,
Facing the dangers of a war so far sought,
For empty glory or to gain a pointless reward,
And to claim lands that are wild and uncivilized:
Our victories were too small a prize,
To spill our blood and endanger our souls.”

XXIII
“But this was the purpose of our previous thought,—
To climb the noble wall of Sion’s fort,
To free the Christian people from bondage,
In which, sadly, they have long been enslaved,
To establish an empire in Palestine,
Where righteousness could reign forever,
And no one would be excluded, so that pilgrims
Could see Christ’s tomb and fulfill their vows.”

XXIV
"What’s been done up to now
Has been risky, bringing us little honor,
It won’t matter to our original plan if we avoid
The goal we set or remain stuck here.
What good is it to have started this,
Or to have Europe uplifted to conquer Asia,
If we know that our beginnings will lead to this ending,
Not kingdoms being built, but armies being defeated?"

XXV
“Not how we want, we create new empires
On weak foundations laid in earthly clay,
Where our faith and country represent only a few
Among the many strong Pagans around,
Where we can’t rely on untrustworthy Greece,
And Western help is far away:
Who builds like this, I think, builds in such a way,
As if his work were meant to be his tomb.

XXVI
“Turks and Persians defeated, Antioch taken,
These are glorious deeds, deserving of great praise,
By Heaven’s grace alone, not by our strength:
Those victories were won in remarkable ways.
If we stray from this chosen path now,
The God of Battles may no longer guide us,
I fear we’ll lose His kindness,
And become a laughingstock to the surrounding nations.

XXVII
"Let’s not misuse these blessings sent from above,
Or waste them in a disrespectful way,
But let the outcome match
The good beginnings of each venture;
This gentle time might inspire our courage,
Now every path is clear and open:
So what’s stopping us from surrounding
The great Jerusalem with brave squads?"

XXVIII
“Lords, I insist, and everyone listen up,
You times and ages, future, present, past,
Hear all you blessed ones sitting in the heavens,
The time for this achievement is rushing toward us:
The longer we delay, the worse the situation will be,
Our assurances will be clouded with doubt.
If we put off the siege, I can clearly see
That the Pagans will be supported from Egypt.”

XXIX
That said, the hermit Peter stood up and spoke,
To those great Lords gathered in discussion:
“At my request, this war was started,
In a secluded cell, where I once lived in silence,
What Godfrey wants, don’t question it,
There’s no room for doubt where the truth is clear and strong,
I trust your actions will match his words,
But there’s one more thing I’d like to teach you."

XXX
"These conflicts, unless I'm very mistaken,
And the disputes that often arise chaotically,
I blame your disobedience and poor management
Of actions wasted, due to lack of proper support,
I rightly refer this to a deeper issue,
A source of rebellion, conflict, oppression, and pain,
I mean the power given to different people,
In terms of thoughts, opinions, value, and status, uneven."

XXXI
"Where different lords share power,
Where decisions are based on favors, not fairness,
Where positions are wrongly bought and sold,
It's obvious that leadership will stray from goodness.
Let them support one united body,
Create a single leader to guide and direct the rest:
Give the royal power and scepter to one,
So that from now on, he may be your King and Sovereign."

XXXII
And with that, he stopped speaking. O gracious Muse,
What burning feelings stir in their hearts?
Infuse the hermit's words with divine grace,
So that his words may take root in their hearts;
Because of this, they chose a virtuous unity,
And all conflicts began to fade away;
The Princes and the crowd came to an agreement,
That Godfrey should be the leader of these wars.

XXXIII
They gave him this power, by his royal authority,
To command everything, to judge what’s right and wrong,
To impose laws on lands taken by force,
To wage war whenever and wherever he wants,
To keep everyone under control,
Their bravery guided by his expertise;
Once this was done, Rumor spread her wings,
And delivered the news to everyone’s ears.

XXXIV
She told the soldiers, who let him meet
And rightly deserved that royal spot.
Their first greetings and sweet cheers he received
With affection and gentle grace;
After their respects were shown with kind response,
He returned it with a calm and cheerful face,
He instructed his armies to, the next day,
Display their proud banners on those lovely fields.

XXXV
The golden sun rose from the silver waves,
And with its rays brightened every green,
As each warrior bold and brave got up,
Shining in polished steel and shiny armor,
With cheerful plumes decorating their helmets,
All gathered before their leader:
He cast his watchful gaze from the mountain
On every infantryman and on every knight.

XXXVI
My mind, the enemy of time, the opponent of forgetfulness,
True keeper of every significant thing,
Oh, let your virtuous power help me,
So that I can sing of every great leader and their troops,
Who became famous in this glorious war,
Forgot until now by time’s cruel fate:
This work, born from my cherished treasures,
Let all ages listen, may it never fade.

XXXVII
The French arrived first, fierce and brave,
Recently led by Hugo, brother of their King,
From France, the island surrounded by four rivers
With flowing streams coming down from their source,
But with Hugo dead, the fair golden lily,
Their usual banner they carry in front of them,
Under great Clotharius, a good leader,
And a bold knight born of royal blood.

XXXVIII
A thousand of them were dressed in strong armor,
Following them was another group,
That had the same number, skill, and training,
Ready to fight from a distance or charge up close,
All brave Normans led by Lord Robert,
The local Duke of that famous land,
Two bishops proudly carried their banners,
Named Reverend William and Good Ademare.

XXXIX
They sang their cheerful songs loud and clear
On happy mornings during the holy mass,
And wore terrible helmets high on their heads
When they determined to go to war with bravery:
The first four hundred horsemen assembled close
To Orange town and the lands surrounding it:
But Ademare brought out the Poggian youth,
In equal number, equally strong in tough challenges.

XL
Baldwin, his fair banner unfurling next,
Among his renowned Bulloigners,
His brother entrusted him with all his troops
When he became the commander on the field;
The Count Carinto quickly took over,
Serious in counsel, well skilled in the art of war;
He brought four hundred men, but Baldwin led
Three times that number, dressed in golden armor.

XLI
Guelpho next claimed the land and place he possessed,
Whose good fortune matched his great deeds,
From his Italian father, of the house of Est,
He could proudly share his noble lineage,
A German born blessed with rich possessions,
A worthy branch from the Guelph family tree.
Between the Rhine and Danube, the land he ruled
Where the Swabians and Rhaetians once reigned.

XLII
His mother’s legacy was this and true,
To which he added more through conquest won,
From there he brought in skilled men of great might
Who didn’t fear death or danger at all:
It was their custom to spend the night at feasts,
And to pass cold days in baths and warm houses.
Five thousand once, but now barely a third
Is left, such is the nature of war.

XLIII
The nation with curly hair and fair skin,
That lies between the seas and Arden Wood,
Where the Mosel flows and the Rhine covers the fields,
A rich soil for growing grain, great for grazing,
Their islanders with them, who often fix
Their earthen defenses against the ocean's waves,
The waves that, in other places, swallow ships and boats,
But there, drown cities, countries, towns, and towers;

XLIV
Both in one group, and just a thousand in total,
Under another fierce Robert, they charge ahead.
Then the English squad, strong and tall soldiers,
Led by William, the younger son of their king,
These archers are joined by
People from near the Northern Pole,
Who came from the lakes and ancient forests of Ireland,
Separated by the sea from the shores of Europe.

XLV
Next was Tancredi, and among them all,
Only Rinaldo was a prince of greater power,
His noble face shone with majesty,
His thoughts were lofty, and his heart was strong in battle,
No shameful vice tainted his worth,
His only flaw was love, born from careless sight,
Formed in the perilous world of daring actions,
And nurtured with grief, sorrows, misfortunes, and pains.

XLVI
Legend has it that on that fateful day,
When Christian swords were stained with Persian blood,
The fierce Prince Tancredi chased his cowardly foes
Through vast forests,
Until exhausted from the battle, the heat, and the journey,
He looked for a spot to rest his tired body,
And settled near a silver stream that flowed
Among wild herbs in the shade of the trees.

XLVII
He unexpectedly met a pagan girl,
Dressed in shining armor, except for her lovely face,
Her hair let down, creating a teasing trap,
To catch the sweet air as it cooled.
He fixed his longing gaze on her,
Sight, amazement; amazement, love; love caused his concern;
Oh love, oh amazement; love newly born, newly formed,
Now groaning, now armed, this champion became her captive.

XLVIII
The young woman put on her helmet, and worried that someone might come to help him as they fought,
Her bravery allowed her to challenge the knight;
Yet she fled from there, alone and unpursued,
And left her image imprinted in his heart;
Her lovely presence lingered in his thoughts,
He held on to her form, her movements, and her memory
And fueled love’s flame with that breeze.

XLIX
You could see his sickness in his eyes,
Their banks were full, the tide was high,
His help was far away, the pain was inside,
His hopes were shattered, his worries were overwhelming;
Eight hundred horses (coming from Champagne), he guesses,
Champagne, a place where wealth, comfort, and pleasure thrive,
Nature's beauty and pride, the Tyrrhenian Sea
There courts the hills, and the hills court the flat valleys.

L
Next came two hundred Greeks, seasoned in battle,
Not fully armored in steel or iron, though,
But each carried a sword at their side,
With bows and quivers slung over their shoulders,
Their horses trained for chase and riding,
Living simply, undeterred by long labor;
Ready to charge and pull back whenever needed,
Even when broken, scattered, or fleeing, they still fought.

LI
Tatine was their guide, and besides Tatine, none
Of all the Greeks joined the Christian group;
Oh sin, oh shame, oh Greece, cursed alone!
Didn’t this deadly war challenge your shores?
Yet you remain a passive bystander,
Happily watching which side won or lost:
Now if you become a wretched slave,
That’s no injustice, but God’s most righteous judgment.

LII
To be the last in line, but first in value and fame,
Fearless in battle, undaunted by injury or pain,
The noble group of adventurers arrived,
Causing fear to anyone walking on Asian soil:
Stop it, Orpheus, with your Minois, and Arthur, it’s a shame
To brag about Lancelot or your round table:
For those who ancient times crowned with laurel,
These far surpass you, him, and everyone else.

LIII
Dudon of Consa was their leader and guide,
And because of his value and lineage, they chose him,
As their captain, by their own choice,
Since he had accomplished the most and seen the most battles;
He was serious in age, appearance, and speech,
His hair was gray, but his bravery was youthful,
He carried the noble badge of honor and strength,
With old scars from serious wounds he had received in the past.

LIV
Then came Eustace, a well-respected man
For the sake of his brother Godfrey, and his own;
Gernando, the heir to the King of Norway,
Proud of his father’s title, scepter, and crown;
Roger of Balnavill and Engerlan,
Known as brave knights who were tried and true;
Also included in that warrior group
Were Rambald, Gentonio, and the two Gerrards.

LV
Ubaldo then, and powerful Rosimond,
The heir of Lancaster, took their place in rank;
Let no one forget Obizo from Tuscan land,
Deserving praise for many noble deeds;
Nor those three brothers, fierce Lombards afar,
Achilles, Sforza, and the tough Palamede;
Nor the shield of Otton that he won in battles,
Where a snake devours a naked child.

LVI
Guascher and Raiphe were as brave as they come.
Both Guidos were well-known,
They surpassed Germer and Eberard,
My Muse would be reluctant to forget them,
With his beloved Gildippe, poor Edward,
A loving couple, went to war among them,
Bound together by virtuous love,
They served together and died together.

LVII
In the school of love, everything is taught that we see,
There, this maid learned the fierce ways of battle,
Always by his side, she stayed as a loyal guard,
A true-love knot tied their lives together,
No one could be a danger to the other alone,
But each felt the pain of the other's hurt,
If one was wounded, the other felt the pain,
She lost her blood; he sacrificed his life for her.

LVIII
But among all these, Rinaldo stands out far above,
The star of his circle, the diamond in this ring,
The place where bravery meets gentle kindness:
A comet worthy of everyone’s admiration,
His age is less than his great accomplishments,
His success comes quickly as soon as he starts,
Armed like Mars, he could charm even shy Venus,
And if he’s unarmed, then God himself of Love.

LIX
Sophia, by the flowery bank of Adige, bore him,
Sophia the beautiful, wife of the great Bertoldo,
A perfect mother for that precious child, and before
The sweet little one was weaned from the breast,
Princess Maud took him, teaching him Virtue’s ways
She raised him to be fit for every noble deed,
Until he heard the sound of the golden trumpet,
That rings with glory, fame, and praise in his ears.

LX
And then, although he was barely fifteen years old,
He ran away alone, across many unfamiliar shores,
Over the Aegean Sea and through many Greek territories,
Until he reached the Christian camp;
A noble escape, daring, courageous, and bold,
Where a brave prince could justly take pride,
He served on the battlefield for three years, just as
A few golden hairs started to appear on his smooth chin.

LXI
The horsemen have passed, leaving their posts vacant
For the foot soldiers, with Reymond in front,
The lord of Toulouse, from lands near the Pyrenees
By Garound streams and worn by the salty sea,
He brought four thousand infantry, well-equipped, and skilled
They had all endured hardships and struggles,
Bold warriors led by a powerful guide
Like the old city of Troy defended by Ilion’s tower.

LXII
Next, Stephen of Amboise gathered five thousand men,
The people he pressed from Tours and Blois not long ago,
Unfit for tough challenges, uncertain when needed,
Yet fully equipped in tried armor,
The land seemed to mirror its people's nature,
The soil is gentle, smooth, soft, and delicate;
They charge boldly, but quickly fall back in doubt,
Like a fire made of straw, quickly lit, quickly burnt out.

LXIII
The third Alcasto marched, and with him
The bragging leader brought six thousand bold Swiss,
Their looks were daring, their faces serious,
They hold strong castles on the Alpine cliffs,
Their shares and plows broken, they transform that metal
Into armor designed for battle,
And with this group that once guided herds and flocks,
Now he threatened and defied kings and kingdoms.

LXIV
They raised the glorious flag up to Heaven,
With Peter’s keys and crown as symbols of honor,
Camillo led seven thousand brave men,
Formed in strong walls of iron:
In this quest and moment, eager
To restore the old glory of the Romans,
Or at least to show everyone with common sense,
That their hearts were like fertile land waiting to be cultivated.

LXV
But now every regiment had passed,
Each band, each troop, each person worth noting
When Godfrey gathered his lords for counsel,
And the Duke declared his royal intention:
“I want when day next brightens the sky,
Our prepared army to be ready and quick,
To march closely to Sion’s noble wall,
Unseen, unheard, or noticed at all.

LXVI
"Get ready for travel, strong and light,
Fierce in battle, ready for victory."
And with that word and warning, soon they were equipped,
Each soldier eager for the glory ahead,
Impatient for the bright morning,
Driven by their memory of honor:
But still, their leader felt a fear
In his heart, though he kept it hidden.

LXVII
For he was informed by a reliable spy,
That the King of Egypt was on his way,
And aiming to reach ancient Gaza,
A fortress located on the Syrian borders,
Nor does he think that a seasoned warrior
Will delay or pause in his journey,
For he knew him well to be a formidable enemy:
He then called for a herald and spoke to him like this:

LXVIII
“Get a fast little boat, as swift as an arrow from a bow,
And hurry, Henry, to the Greek sea,
There should arrive, as I've learned from letters
From someone who never reports anything falsely,
A brave young man who has all the good qualities,
To help us achieve this great victory,
He is the Prince of Denmark and brings with him
A group from under the Arctic star."

LXIX
“And I fear the clever Greek king
Will use some of his usual tricks
To block his way or mislead his forces
On an alternate path during his first journey.
My trusted herald and messenger,
Make sure we aren’t left without this support,
But send him on his way as quickly as possible
While still respecting his honor and our needs.

LXX
“Don’t return, but Legier, stay here,
And convince the Greek prince to help us,
Tell him his royal promise obligates him
To provide us support, as he agreed.”
Having said this and given his instructions,
The loyal herald took the letters, not delaying,
But hurried off to fulfill his lord’s command,
And so the Duke calmed his thoughts.

LXXI
Dawn opened her sparkling gates,
And like a bridegroom, the glorious sun stepped out,
When loud trumpets and shrill clarions sounded,
And everyone started to stir with determination,
Sweet music filled every heart ready for battle,
Soldiers happily rushed to gear up in groups;
Just as if their crops were threatened by drought,
Farmers rejoice when thunder signals rain.

LXXII
Some put on shirts of chain mail, some wore plate armor,
Some donned a breastplate, some a shiny corselet,
Some carried a halberd, and some wore a padded jacket,
So everyone quickly got ready in their armor,
Each soldier relied on his usual leader,
Their banners fluttered loosely in the wind,
They raised their royal standard toward Heaven,
The victorious cross over the fallen Pagans.

LXXIII
Meanwhile, the car marked with the lightning symbol
Was positioned high on the eastern hill,
And struck the shining armies as they stood,
With flickering beams that dazzled the amazed crowd,
Like Phaeton, it ignited both sea and land,
The sparks seemed to soar up to the skies,
The horses' neighing and the clattering of armor
Chased the echo over valleys and hills.

LXXIV
Their general carefully organized
To keep his men safe from ambush and traps,
He sent some lightly armed cavalry
To patrol the forests and woods nearby,
While his engineers worked hard
To clear the paths and make the roads smooth,
They filled in holes and flattened the rough ground,
And opened every narrow passage they found.

LXXV
They encounter no armies assembled by their enemy,
No towers protected by earthworks, moats, or walls,
No river, no forest, no mountain can delay
Their swift progress or halt their march at all;
Just as when the prince of rivers, Po,
Overflows his banks, he crashes down with a terrible roar
The moss-covered rocks and ancient trees,
And nothing can withstand his fury and his wrath.

LXXVI
The King of Tripoli locked up his men, supplies, and treasure in every stronghold,
He would sometimes be attacked by straggling troops,
But he didn’t want to anger them;
He calmed their fury with presents, gifts, and gold,
And led them through his land at a relaxed pace,
To keep his kingdom peaceful and calm, he accepted
Whatever terms Godfrey wanted to impose.

LXXVII
Those from Mount Seir, who live to the east
Of the Holy City, every one of them loyal,
Came down from the hill, both high and low,
And approached the Christian Duke in large groups,
Welcoming him and his with joy and a feast;
They smiled at him, and only at him they looked,
And became his guides, as faithful from that day
As Hesperus, who leads the sun on its path.

LXXVIII
They guide their armies safely along the sands
By secure paths they already know well,
As the armed ships ride on the crashing waves,
Coasting along the shore,
Which could supply the camp every day
With good supplies and plenty of food:
The islands of Greece sent in the right provisions,
And a supply of wine came from Scios and Crete.

LXXIX
Great Neptune mourned under the weight
Of ships, hulks, galleys, barks, and brigantines,
In all the middle-earth seas, there was no path
Where the Pagan could unfurl his bold sails,
The massive Armada spread wide and far,
From Venice, Genoa, and the towns around them,
From Holland, England, France, and Sicily sent,
And all heading towards Judea, ready and set.

LXXX
All these were brought together and connected
With the strongest bonds of love and friendship,
They set sail, loaded with everything needed
For the tasks to be done on land,
And when the time was right, they disembarked,
Then sailed along the coasts and islands of Asia;
They quickly made their way
To the place where Christ the Lord died for our sins.

LXXXI
The loud trumpet of iron-winged fame,
That mixes true loyalty with made-up lies,
Told the heathens how the Christians arrived,
How the conquering army moves toward them,
For every knight, it declares their worth and name,
Each troop, each group, each squadron it sees,
And threatens death with fire, sword, and slaughter
To those who captured Israel’s fairest daughter.

LXXXII
The fear of bad things is worse than the bad things we’re afraid of,
Since our current troubles bother us the most,
Every mind is alert and every ear
Is ready to hear new news, even if it doesn’t make us happy,
This secret gossip spreads all around
About the town, these Christians are going to ruin us,
The old king, who knew the evil that was coming,
Renewed his cursed thoughts in his deceitful heart.

LXXXIII
This old prince named Aladine,
Ruled with worry, a new ruler of this state,
Once a tyrant, but now his harsh ways
Have lessened somewhat over time,
He heard that the western lords were planning to undermine
His city’s walls and knock down his towers,
To his previous fears, he adds a new worry,
He fears betrayal from within and attack from without.

LXXXIV
Two nations live together in that town,
With different beliefs among the people there.
The smaller group has faith in Christ,
While the larger follows Termagent and Mahown.
But when this king conquered the area,
And brought it under his control,
He placed heavy burdens on the pagans,
And imposed even greater ones on the poor Christians.

LXXXV
His anger flared up with this new idea,
Weakening with age and time that it once bore,
This madness stirred in his cruel heart,
So that now he thirsts for blood more than ever?
Like a snake that's warmed by the fire,
Which lay harmless and frozen before,
A lion has reignited his fury,
Though he was known for his temper before.

LXXXVI
"I see," he said, "some empty hopes,
In these fake Christians, and some new satisfaction,
They believe our shared loss will be their advantage,
They laugh while we cry; they find joy as we mourn;
And maybe, through betrayal or deceit,
They secretly agree to kill us,
Or otherwise to bring us trouble and pain,
To open the gates, and let our enemy in.

LXXXVII
“But to prevent them from carrying out their evil plans,
Let’s eliminate this threat right in its home;
Let’s wipe out this people, young and old,
The helpless infants at their mothers’ breasts,
Burn down their homes, fill their holy temples
With the bodies of those who loved them most,
And on that grave they value so much,
Let’s sacrifice their priests as an offering.”

LXXXVIII
So the tyrant thought in his treacherous mind,
But he didn’t dare to carry out his plan,
Yet if the innocent find some mercy,
It came from cowardice, not from the truth,
His noble enemies wouldn't provoke his cowardice
By committing such a bloody act.
For if he had to, what good could come from it,
If he broke the peace or untied the knot?

LXXXIX
His wicked heart held back his cursed anger,
He redirected his fierce desire toward other thoughts,
First, he leveled the suburbs to the ground,
And set their buildings ablaze with consuming fire,
The miserable man hated that the Frenchman should have
Any help or relief by discovering anything intact,
Cedron, Bethsaida, and every other water source
He poisoned—both fountains, springs, and wells.

XC
This child of darkness was so cautious and clever;
He has strongly fortified the city itself,
Well defended on three sides by its location,
Only to the north does it remain vulnerable;
With powerful bars made of long-lasting brass,
He secures the steel-bound doors and iron gates,
And finally, he provides well-armed legions
Of born subjects and hired help as well.

THE ARGUMENT.
Ismeno tries to conjure something, but his magic is useless;
Aladine is furious and will kill the Christians:
Sophronia and Olindo are set to die
To save the others; the King agrees to their wish;
Clorinda hears their situation and outcomes clearly,
She secures their pardon and keeps them safe from danger:
Argantes, when he dismisses Aletes’ words,
Challenges the Duke to a fight to the death.

I
While the tyrant focuses on weapons,
Ismeno suddenly appears before him,
Ismen, dead bones resting in cold graves, that brings them to life
And gives them the ability to speak, smell, taste, touch, see, and hear;
Ismen, with the power of his terrifying magic,
That even makes the great Dis in the deepest Hell afraid,
That binds and frees souls doomed to suffer,
And sends the devils on errands back and forth.

II
A Christian once, now he worships Macon,
And he can't completely abandon his usual faith,
But in his wicked deeds, he often asks for
Help from the Lord and support from dark Pluto;
He has come from deep caves by the dark shores of Acheron,
Where he used to create futile circles and spells,
To advise his king in these extreme situations,
Just like Achitophel counseled Absalom.

III
"My lord," he says, "the camp is moving closer,
The axe is ready to cut down this cedar,
But let’s act like brave men should,
For the luckiest hearts often find fortune on their side;
Your royal concern shows your kingly wisdom,
You’ve done well to plan and prepare;
If everyone does their part and duty,
Nothing but the grave will conquer your enemy here."

IV
"From the safest corner of my hidden place
I come, sharing in your joys and troubles,
Whatever wise advice or magical power
Can help us, I will do it all:
The unclean spirits that once fell from grace
Will be forced to serve you through my skill;
But how we should start this mission,
I will briefly advise your Highness."

V
“Inside the Christian church beneath the sky’s light,
There’s a hidden altar, far from view,
Where the sacred image lies
Of Christ’s beloved mother, known as the shining virgin,
A hundred lamps always burn before her eyes,
She’s dressed in a delicate veil adorned with gold,
All around her there’s an abundance
Of offerings brought: myrrh, frankincense, and gold.

VI
“I would have taken this idol away
From here and transported it by your royal hand,
To rest safely in Macon’s holy temple,
Where I will cast enchantments in a remarkable way,
So that while the statue is in that church,
No military force can capture this great fortress,
Or shake this strong wall; such incredible power
Can come from spells and charms when they are spoken correctly.”

VII
After learning this, the king, feeling impatient,
Rushed in his anger to the house of God,
He grabbed the image and, with disrespectful words,
Cursed the church leaders who had warned against that act.
Quickly with his prize, the tyrant left,
Not fearing God’s strict justice at all,
But laid the image in his chapel,
On which the sorcerer cast his spells and witchcraft.

VIII
When Phoebus next opened his watchful eye,
Up got the sexton of that cursed place,
And noticed the image, where it used to be,
Everywhere he searched in grief, in fear, in vain;
Then he told the king about his loss,
Who, very angry, killed him for his trouble;
And right away, in his wicked mind,
He ordered some Christian to commit this terrible act.

IX
But whether this was done by a human hand,
Or if it was the eternal will of Heaven,
That, out of mercy, would not let this wretch,
Hold such a treasure in such a vile chest,
As speculation hasn’t fully figured out;
By virtue, let’s measure this action,
And the truth of purest faith will clearly show
That this rare grace came down from Heaven above.

X
With a frenzied search, the tyrant began to invade
Every house, every home, every temple, and every tent.
To them, the guilty or flawed person was revealed
Or hidden; he promised rewards or punishment.
His empty words, the deceitful enchanter claimed,
But in this confusion, he still wandered and stumbled,
For Heaven decided to keep it hidden,
To make the wrongdoer feel even more shame.

XI
But when the furious king found out not
Who was responsible for this outrage,
His anger surged with a burning desire for revenge
Against the Christians, whom he believed were to blame;
All sense of pity, compassion, and mercy vanished,
A means to punish them he had long desired,
“Let them all die,” he said, “kill the big and small,
That way, the guilty party will definitely pay.”

XII
“To pour out the wine mixed with poison?
Then kill the innocent along with the guilty,
Destroy this land that grows nothing but weeds,
This vineyard is completely overrun with thorns,
Among these wretches, not one cares
About us, our laws, or our faith;
Rise, rise, dear followers, take fire and weapons,
Burn, murder, kill these traitors for my sake.”

XIII
This Herod would kill the babies in Bethlehem,
The Christians quickly hear this terrible news,
The sound of death rings sharply in their ears,
Their weapon is faith; their fortress is the grave;
They had no courage, time, strategy, or desire,
To fight, to run away, seek excuses, or ask for mercy,
But stood ready to die, yet they find help,
From where they least expect, such ties can Heaven untie.

XIV
Among them lived, her parents’ joy and delight,
A young woman, whose time had come, not too old,
Her beauty was not her only treasure;
The field of love was cultivated with virtue;
Her work was goodness; her leisure was godliness;
Her home was heaven, lit by this bright full moon,
For there, away from the gaze of lovers, alone
With pure light, this flawless Cynthia shone.

XV
But what good was her pure resolve,
When her most serious looks fueled desire?
Love doesn’t let beauty go to waste,
Her face ignited Olindo’s heart,
Oh clever love, you have a thousand tricks,
Through humble requests, services, or pay,
To win a girl’s affection, an easy task,
Because nature made all women to be won.

XVI
Sophronia was she, Olindo was the young man,
Both from the same town, both taught the same faith,
She was beautiful, he was shy and honest,
Loved deeply, hoped little, and wanted nothing,
He didn't dare speak up to win her compassion,
She didn't see him, notice him, or know what he wanted,
Thus he loved, thus he served for a long time, but went unnoticed,
Unseen, unrecognized, unpitied, unappreciated.

XVII
She received news of the murder,
Where her innocent friends would hopelessly starve,
She who was noble, wise, beautiful, and kind,
Thought of ways to save their lives,
Her passion was the source of her bravery,
Still, she hesitated to abandon her modesty:
Yet her courage had taken such a strong grip,
That boldness, though shy; shame had made her brave.

XVIII
And off she went, to a shop full of goods
Loaded with rich items, but nothing on display,
A veil hid the light from her eyes,
The rose within her kept its sweetness hidden,
Each ornament she wore was placed just right,
By sheer chance, or perhaps careless design;
Because what people often overlook turns out to be the most intriguing,
So Beauty is supported by Nature, Heaven, and Love.

XIX
Everyone admired her as this noble woman approached,
Until she reached the presence of the king,
She wasn’t afraid of his swelling anger,
But faced his fierce rage with calm confidence,
“I’ve come,” she said, “but please calm your anger,
And hold back your unjust wrath against innocent souls—
I’m here to show you, and to bring you both,
The person whose actions have made your heart so angry.”

XX
Her daring confidence, and the bright light
That her sweet beauty cast upon his face,
Had left the prince in awe and shock,
Changed his mood, and lightened his gloomy grace,
That had made his eyes play with her gaze,
The king was caught in love’s strong grip;
But unpredictable beauty doesn't inspire desire,
A frown stops love, a smile creates it.

XXI
It was amazement, wonder, and delight,
Although not love, that stirred his cruel nature;
"Go ahead," he said, "explain the situation properly,
I’ll spare your people’s lives as payment."
Then she said, "Look at the one who stands before you,
This hand committed that supposed crime,
I took the image; that fault is mine,
Let me have the glory for that virtuous act."

XXII
This pure lamb offered her blood,
To save the rest of Christ’s chosen flock,
Oh, what a noble lie! Was there ever a truth so good?
Blessed be the lips that told such a tale:
The tyrant wood paused for a moment,
Holding back his natural wrath,
And said, “I’ll soon reveal what you’ll discover,
What help? What advice did you have in that trouble?”

XXIII
“My grand ambitions,” she replied to him, “envied
Another’s hand that could fulfill my lofty goals,
The desire for glory can’t share its space,
With my own self I plotted this alone.”
“Upon you alone,” the tyrant then responded,
“Will fall the consequences of my anger and rage.”
“It’s fair and true,” she said, “I agree to this,
The honor’s mine, and the punishment’s mine too.”

XXIV
The miserable person, now furious, asked where she had hidden the statue.
“Not hidden,” she replied, “but completely destroyed by fire.
The idol belongs to that eternal woman,
Because I’ve kept it safe from being betrayed.
My Lord, don’t ask about the thing that was stolen anymore,
Here’s the thief who laughs in the face of death for it.

XXV
“And yet this wasn’t theft; the sin was yours,
I returned what you wrongfully took.”
Hearing this, the tyrant began to grind his teeth out of rage,
His frown deepened, no pity showed; youth got no sympathy,
Fairness and grace couldn’t win him over;
Joy, comfort, and hope all abandoned the virgin;
Anger drowned out remorse, vengeance silenced mercy;
Love turned to hate, and beauty fell to death.

XXVI
Ta’en was the girl, and without mercy,
The king sentenced her, innocent, to the flames,
They tore off her veil and cloak by force,
And bound her delicate arms with twisted wire:
The silver dove was silent, while from her body
These hungry birds stripped off her fine clothing,
And for a moment, her spirit was confused,
Her once rich colors, now turned purest white.

XXVII
The news of this accident spread quickly,
People of all ages rushed to see;
Olindo also ran, filled with fear
That his lady might be involved in this situation;
But when he found her tied up, stripped of her clothes,
And horrible tormentors standing by,
He pushed through the crowd and burst in;
And he spoke to the king in anger and urgency:

XXXVIII
“Not at all, this sorrow won't take away
From me the honor of such a noble act,
She dared not, did not, could not convey
The weighty presence of that great idol,
What trick could she use to betray the guards?
What power to lift the goddess from her throne?
No, no, my Lord, she only follows my lead.”
Ah, this is how he loved, yet his love was cruel!

XXIX
He continued, “Where the shining glass,
Lets in the light through the side of your temple,
I slipped in through hidden paths,
And made a wide opening in that window,
So this reckless girl won’t take the glory if this happens,
These bonds are mine, these flames so pure are mine,
Oh glorious death, more glorious burial!”

XXX
Sophronia lifted her eyes from the ground,
And looked gently at her lover,
“Tell me, what madness? What crazy idea
Brings such a sweet child to death?
Is there not enough courage in me
To face the wrath of this wild tyrant?
Or has foolish love completely taken over your heart?
Would you not want to live, or let me die alone?”

XXXI
So the nymph spoke, but only to the wind,
She couldn't change his firmly held beliefs;
Oh miracle! Oh struggle of a strange kind!
Where love and virtue caused such conflict,
Where death was the reward assigned;
Their own neglect sought each other’s safety;
But this only made the king more furious,
Their fight only added fuel to his anger.

XXXII
He thinks, such guilty thoughts arise,
They disrespected his power, and so disrespected the pain,
“Nah, nah,” he said, “stop your arguing and doubt,
You both will win, and get what you deserve.”
With that, the guards grabbed the young man firmly,
And bound him too in a worthless chain;
Then back to back, they tied both to a stake,
Two innocent doves prepared for sacrifice.

XXXIII
By the pile of firewood, sticks, and hay,
The bellows lifted the newly-started flame,
When Olindo, in a mournful song,
Started too late to voice his useless complaints:
“Are these the bonds? Is this the day I hoped for,
To join me with this long-desired lady?
Is this the fire that should ignite our hearts?
Ah, what a cruel reward for lovers’ kind efforts!

XXXIV
“Kind lovers show much different flames and ties,
But our fate has thrown the unlucky dice,
Death has swapped its arrows back with love,
And Cupid now lets borrowed arrows loose.
Oh Hymen, tell me, what anger drives you
To lend your lights to shine on a tragedy?
Yet I'm satisfied to die for you,
Your flames, not mine, are my death and pain.

XXXV
"Yet my death would be happy, my ending blessed,
My sufferings light, full of sweet joy,
If I could just achieve this, that breast to breast
Your heart might receive my surrendered spirit;
And yours with it, dressed in heaven's pure attire,
Might take a united flight through clear skies."
Thus he complained, whom she gently rebuked,
And sweetly spoke to him, whom she loved so dearly:

XXXVI
“Very different cries, my dear friend, tears and sadness
The time, the place, and our situations demand;
Think about your sins, which man's old enemy shows
Before the judge who rewards each soul appropriately,
For His name's sake suffer, for no pain can hurt
Him whose sincere prayers rise to His throne:
Look at the heavens, direct your gaze there,
Send your looks, sighs, and tears for intercession.”

XXXVII
The Pagans shouted for God and for humanity,
The Christians mourned quietly in their sorrow,
Even the tyrant, who was typically unemotional, began
To feel his heart soften, just out of compassion,
But he wasn’t inclined to show pity or mercy; instead,
He hurried back home to his residence:
Sophronia, however, didn’t appear upset or discontented,
To everyone who saw her, but she grieved only for herself.

XXXVIII
The lovers stood in this sad way,
A brave warrior approached them unexpectedly,
Dressed in odd armor and a strange disguise,
From far-off lands, but newly arrived here,
A fierce tigress rests on his helmet,
The famous emblem Clorinda used to wear;
That always wins in every battle,
By which bright symbol that beautiful place was well known.

XXXIX
She looked down on the arts these foolish women practiced,
Another thought her superior nature supported,
Her high-born hands would not even touch
The delicate needle or fine thread,
She despised rooms, closets, and secret gossip,
And in open fields kept her virginity:
Her looks were proud, yet sweet, though strong and fierce,
Her mother was a dove, and thus an eagle emerged.

XL
When she was young, she skillfully rode
The spirited horse with its foamy bit,
To joust and compete, wrestle in the sand,
To leave Atlanta swift far behind,
Through wild forests and deserted lands
To hunt the lion, boar, or tough bear,
She often chased the rough satyrs, the fauns, and wild fairies,
She often pursued, often caught, and often charmed.

XLI
This vibrant lady arrived from Persia recently,
She had crossed paths with Christians again,
And in their bodies had opened many gates,
Through which their faithful souls departed,
Her eye initially showed her the plight
Of these poor souls, who were without hope or help,
Eager to know, as human nature is,
The reason for their deaths, she rushed to the fire.

XLII
The people filled her room, and from both of them
Her piercing eyes shot fiery glances,
Quietly she observed one, the other clearly,
The weaker body housed the nobler heart:
Yet she saw him mourn, as if his pain
Was grief and sorrow for someone else’s hurt,
And she kept silent, as if her eyes
Were mute speakers pleading with the heavens.

XLIII
Clorinda shifted from her fierce attitude to sadness,
A few silver tears painted her red cheeks;
She mourned for the one who stood there without speaking,
Her silence was more powerful than his complaints.
She approached an old man who seemed serious and kind,
“Please tell me, sir,” she said, “what cruel force
Would kill love’s queen and beauty’s king here?
What wrong or event leads them to this death?”

XLIV
So she asked, and he gave a brief answer,
But it revealed everything that had happened,
She was amazed by the situation, the courageous virgin,
That both were innocent of the alleged wrongdoing,
Her noble mind worked on how she might save them,
She relied on negotiation or combat for a solution.
Quickly, she ran to the fire and put it out,
And then she spoke to the officers and the crowd:

XLV
"Let none of you attempt this unpleasant task
Until I return from court. Don't worry
About facing any consequences for not hurrying."
To fulfill her wishes, the men prepare themselves,
Their hearts filled with fear at her commanding gaze;
She went to court to seek their pardon,
But on the way, she encountered the gracious king.

XLVI
“Sir King,” she said, “my name is Clorinda,
You might have heard of my reputation by now,
I’ve come to show my usual strength and skill,
And I will protect this land, this town, and you,
I consider all difficult challenges easy,
I strive for great deeds, but I also handle the small,
Whether it’s fighting in the field or defending this wall,
You can ask me to do anything, and I won’t refuse.”

XLVII
The king asked, “What distant land
From Asia's shores, or the shining rays of the sun,
O glorious virgin, does not tell of
Your fame, your honor, worth, renown, and praise?
Since I have your support on my side,
I don’t need to fear in my old age,
For I have more hope and trust in your help,
Than in entire armies of these brave soldiers.”

XLVIII
“Now, Godfrey is taking too long; I think he’s worried;
Your great courage keeps all our enemies in check;
For you, all actions seem unworthy,
Except those that involve the greatest danger:
So be our leader, Princess, Queen
Of all our forces: let your word be law.”
After saying this, the maiden lifted her veil,
And thanked him first, then began her story.

XLIX
"Great king, it may seem strange to ask for a reward for something that hasn’t happened yet;
But I hold your generous nature in such high regard,
That I dare to ask for your help to save this groom
And this innocent girl from danger,
Condemned to suffer your unjust sentence.
I don’t justify their actions, but I feel sorry for their young age,
And I come to you seeking mercy and compassion."

L
“Yet let me tell you this, Your Highness,
You criticize the Christians, but I disagree,
Don't be offended, I think you're mistaken,
With every shot, don't expect to hit the target,
Everything the enchanter convinced you of is
Against the teachings of the sacred Macon rite,
For mighty Mahomet commands us
To set no idols in his pure temple.

LI
"To him, then, deserves this wonder done,
Give him the praise and honor for the deed,
For the gods are so kind and watchful
That they prevent strange customs from entering their church:
Let Ismen battle with his squares and trigons,
His weapons being the staff, the glass, the ring;
But let us fight with blows like knights,
Our glory in arms, our honor lies in battles."

LII
The virgin kept silent when this was said;
And although he never intended to feel pity,
Still, since the king admired the noble maid,
He didn’t plan to deny her anything:
“I grant them life,” he said, “your promised help
Has earned them forgiveness from these Frenchmen:
Don’t ask what their offenses are,
Innocent, I release; guilty, I set them free.”

LIII
So they were set free, the happiest of people,
Olindo, may this act of yours be blessed,
A true testament to your great and heavenly spirit,
Where the sun, moon, and stars shine with love, faith, and virtue.
They moved on, leaving pale death behind,
To enjoy the joy of divine wedding rites,
With him she would have died, and she was content
To live with the one who would have burned with her.

LIV
The king, knowing that wicked thoughts are often suspect,
Thought too quickly that this tree of virtue flourished,
Oh blessed Lord! Why should this vicious Pharaoh,
Tyrannize over your true Hebrews?
To carry out his vile and malicious will,
He exiled them and all the faithful ones,
All who were strong in body and brave in spirit,
But left their wives and children behind as a promise.

LV
It’s tough when the innocent sheep
Have to leave their lambs with hungry wolves,
But the value of hard work helps her rest,
The best winds help drive salvation’s boat,
The Christians ran away, without a place to stay,
Some got lost in the big forests,
Some went to Emmaus to join the Christians,
And they hoped to reclaim their lost homes.

LVI
Emmaus is a small city, located
A little way from the walls of Sion,
A man who rises early in the morning
Can walk there before the third hour of the day.
Oh, when the Christian lord sees this town,
How joyful were their hearts? How fresh? How happy?
But since the sun was quickly moving west,
Their leader would rest there that night.

LVII
They quickly set up their canvas castles,
And build a city in just an hour.
Suddenly, disguised in unusual outfits,
Two bold barons approach the place;
Their appearance is kind, and their gestures are mild,
Peace in their hands, and friendship on their faces,
They come as ambassadors from the king of Egypt,
Accompanied by many squires and grooms.

LVIII
The first Aletes, born in a humble shed,
From lowly parents, a rose grew from a thorn,
That now spreads its branches over Egypt,
No plant in Pharaoh’s garden thrived higher;
With delightful stories, he fed his lord’s proud ears,
A flatterer, a sycophant, and a liar:
Curse be the wealth gained through so many sins,
Yet this is often the ladder by which men rise.

LIX
Argantes called that other knight,
A stranger who had just arrived in Egypt,
And there he rose to great honor,
Because he was brave and strong,
Courageous at heart, and restless in spirit,
Fierce, stern, wild, sharp as a blade,
Scorner of God, hardly a friend to himself,
And he sharpened his mind on the edge of his weapon.

LX
These two pleas made sure they would be heard,
And their fair request wasn't denied for long;
The noblemen quickly made their guard,
And brought them in to where their famous leader sat,
Whose royal appearance reflected his noble mind,
Where nobility, virtue, loyalty, and courage reside.
A slight courtesy gave Argantes confidence,
As if one prince greeted another.

LXI
Aletes placed his right hand over his heart,
Lowered his head, and averted his gaze,
Showing respect with elegant grace and skill,
For all that humble knowledge was clear to him;
He gently parted his serious lips,
From which pure eloquence poured out like a stream,
And this is what he said, while the sweetness of his words
Was cast upon the Christian lords:

LXII
“O only worthy one, whom everyone fears,
May the High God protect you with his heavenly shield,
And soften the hearts of all your peers,
So their stubbornness may give way to your kind rule:
These are the sheaves that honor’s harvest brings,
The seed is your brave deeds, the world the field,
Egypt is the place where your fame,
Value, justice, wisdom, and victories are piled high."

LXIII
“Our ruler keeps all this hidden
In the secret vault of his royal mind,
And hopes to remain in harmony for a long time,
With that great figure who performed such miracles,
And does not want to resist the incoming wave
Of offered love, since he isn’t educated
In your Christian faith, because, despite the differences,
The loving vine wraps around her elm.”

LXIV
“ So take in that strong hand
The priceless handle of this cup of love,
If not religion, then let virtue be the bond
That connects you to maintain this friendship:
But since our powerful king understands,
You intend to test your strength against the land of Judah,
He would want me to convey his thoughts and royal wishes first
Before this impending storm arrives.

LXV
“His point is this: he asks you to be happy
To take joy in the victories you’ve achieved,
Don’t mourn for your death or the fall of Sion,
Don’t disturb this land, don’t cause trouble for Judea,
Things done in haste will often be regretted:
Put down your weapons, don’t rely on uncertain fate,
For often what we least expect occurs;
He is your friend against everyone else in the world.”

LXVI
“True work in the vineyard of your Lord,
Before dawn, you complete the tasks at hand,
What armies fell, defeated by your sword?
What cities have you looted? What kingdoms have you gained?
All ears are stunned while tongues recount your deeds,
Hands tremble in fear, all feet run in terror,
And even if you don't bring any realms under your control,
Your praise and glory couldn't rise any higher.”

LXVII
“Your sign is placed in his Apogaeon,
And when it moves next, it must go down,
Chance is uncertain, fortune has two sides,
Smiling at first, but frowning in the end:
Beware that your honor isn't disgraced,
Be careful not to ruin what you think to fix,
For this is the foolishness of Fortune’s game,
Against the uncertain, the certain; much, against little to play.”

LXVIII
“Yet we still sail while the wind is in our favor,
Until we unexpectedly hit some hidden rock,
The sea of glory has no set boundaries,
Those who usually win every battle
Continue to fuel the fire that ignites your ambition
To bring more nations under your power;
This makes it easy for you to hold onto blessed peace,
Like summer flies that don’t fear the cold of winter.

LXIX
“They urge you to follow the path, now so clear
And easy, to enter Fortune’s gate,
And don’t put away that famous sword,
Until your kingdom and position are secure,
Until Macon’s sacred teachings fall and disappear,
Until all of sorrowful Asia lies in ruins.
I admit, there are sweet words, enticing promises,
But often the biggest hopes bring the biggest challenges.

LXX
“For, if your courage doesn’t blind your eyes,
If clouds of anger don’t hide the light of reason,
Then you may see this desperate undertaking.
The battlefield, soaked with the waters of danger;
High status, the place where misfortune lies,
Mars is most unfriendly when he seems the kindest,
Those who reach for high places face the hardest falls,
And the lowest tumbles follow the highest ambitions.

LXXI
“Tell me, if the powerful Prince of Egypt is getting ready for war against you,
What if the brave Turks and bold Persians join forces with Cassanoe’s heir?
Oh then, what sturdy marble pillar will support
The crumbling trophies of your glorious victories?
Can you trust the ruler of the Greek lands?
That reed will snap, and when it does, it will hurt you.”

LXXII
“The Greek faith is like that partially cut tree
By which people catch wild elephants in India,
A thousand times it has deceived you,
As steady as waves in the sea or leaves in the wind.
Will those who once denied you a free passage,
Grant free passage to everyone, by nature and habit,
Fight for you? Or do you rely on them
To shed their blood when they can barely spare their dust?”

LXXIII
"But maybe all your hope and trust is placed
In these strong troops that surround you;
Yet united enemies aren't easily scared
As when you first found their strength divided:
Besides, every hour your forces grow weaker
From hunger, loss, and sleeping on cold ground.
Meanwhile, the Turks are seeking help from our king,
So your support fades, and your troubles grow."

LXXIV
“Imagine there’s no weapon that can conquer your pride in bravery,
That no force can take you down,
Accept that no steel can harm or injure you,
And let it be that Heaven has granted you such luck:
But against Hunger, what shield can you offer?
What strength can stand firm? What trick can evade her fury?
Go ahead, shake your spear, and draw your fiery sword,
And see if hunger can be diminished.”

LXXV
“The people have ruined every pasture and plain,
Each field has been left in waste,
Their grain is stored in fenced towers
Before you came to invade this kingdom,
How will you support these horse and foot?
Where does your supply come from? Where is your food?
Are your ships assigned to bring it in?
Oh, may you live as long as the wind allows!”

LXXVI
“Maybe your fate controls the wind,
Releases or traps its gusts in a hidden cave,
The sea, I swear, is cruel and naturally deaf,
Will hear your call and calm its raging wave:
But if our warships are meant
To support those vessels that the Turks and Persians have,
Then tell me, what hope is left for your small fleet?
Can a flock of crows dare to face a flight of eagles?”

LXXVII
“My lord, you need to conquer in two ways,
If you want to earn glory from this venture:
Because if our fleet chases or captures your navy,
Your camp will perish without supplies;
And if you abandon the field on land,
Then hoping for victories at sea would be in vain.
Your ships won’t be able to recover what you’ve lost:
Once a horse is stolen, it’s too late to shut the door.”

LXXVIII
“In this situation, if you truly value the
Generosity of the Egyptian king,
Then let me say, this oversight
Doesn't suit you, someone with such virtues:
But may the heavens help guide my thoughts,
To kind ideas that bring peace and calm,
So that poor Asia can find relief from her troubles,
And you can enjoy your hard-won victories in peace.

LXXIX
“Neither you who take part in these adventures have,
A share in his glory, nor partners in his troubles,
Don’t let blind Fortune fool your minds,
To push him further into these fierce conflicts,
But like the sailor who escaped the waves,
Safeguarding his life by staying home,
So you all should stay,
It’s better to sit still, they say, than to rise just to fall.”

LXXX
So Aletes said this: and a murmur rose
That showed discontent among the Christian nobles,
Their angry gestures revealed their disapproval
Of how much his speech offended their noble ears.
Lord Godfrey glanced around three times,
To see the expressions on every warrior's face,
And finally settled on the Egyptian baron,
To whom the duke then replied:

LXXXI
“Ambassador, filled with both threats and compliments,
You've delivered your uncertain message wisely,
And if your ruler truly loves us like he claims,
Tell him he will reap a hundredfold,
But where your words hint at the impending storm
Of threatened war from the bold Pagans:
In response to that, I'll be clear, like my cousin is,
So there's no chance you'll misunderstand my meaning.

LXXXII
“Know that until now we have endured a lot of pain,
Across lands and seas, where storms and tempests rage,
To create a path that is easy, safe, and clear
That brings us to this ancient wall,
So we might gain a reward from Heaven,
And free this town from being held captive any longer;
Nor is it hard to spend our honors, kingdoms, lives, and possessions
For such a noble cause."

LXXXIII
“Neither the hope of praise nor the desire for worldly gain,
Drew us to pursue this venture,
May the Heavenly Father protect his holy flock
From the vile corruption of such a great evil:
But may our passion always help us resist that plague,
Let not those pleasures lead us into sin.
His grace, his mercy, and his mighty hand
Will keep us safe from harm by sea and land.

LXXXIV
“This is what drives our horses to run;
This is our safe place, protected from danger's waves;
This is our shelter, keeping us from harsh winds:
This is our guide, through forests, deserts, and woods;
This is our summer shade, our winter's warmth:
This is our wealth, our treasure, and our belongings:
This is our machine, towers that bring down foes,
Our spear that injures, our sword that defeats our enemies."

LXXXV
"Our courage, our hope, and our bravery come,
Not from the faith we have in shields or spears,
Not from the help that France or Greece can send,
We don't build our strength on such weak foundations:
He can protect us from the might of kings,
From the unpredictability of war that frightens weak hearts;
He can feed these hungry troops with manna,
And turn the seas into land if we need to cross."

LXXXVI
“But if our sins keep us from his help,
Let no mercy come from his high justice;
Yet if our deaths bring us some comfort,
To die where Christ was buried,
Then we could die without envying those who live;
We would die, not totally unavenged:
Neither Turks nor Christians, if we perish this way,
Have reason to celebrate or to complain too much.

LXXXVII
“Don’t think that we love wars and are drawn to conflict,
Or that we reject sweet peace or deny rest,
Don’t think we’re dismissing your sovereign’s friendship,
Just because we don’t want to linger in our victories:
It seems he wants to protect the Jews,
So ask him from us to put that thought aside,
And don’t deny us the chance to gain this town and realm,
So he can reign in peace, rest, and joy for many more days.”

LXXXVIII
After this was said, Argantes went wild with rage,
Shaking with anger, turning pale with fury,
He couldn't contain himself, his anger grew too strong,
And so, inflamed, he spoke to the wise captain:
“Whoever rejects peace will get a lot of war,
I thought my wisdom would calm your fury,
But it's clear how much you enjoy the battle,
Which shows you don't value our love and friendship.”

LXXXIX
That said, he took the front part of his cloak,
And began to fold and wrap it together;
Then he spoke again with a cruel and angry heart,
Like lions roaring when caught in a trap,
“You arrogant scorner of the ever-changing market,
I bring you both war and peace wrapped in this cloak,
Choose quickly one; you have no time to think;
If you choose peace, we rest; if you choose war, we fight.”

XC
With a fierce look and silent pride, he sparked
The soldiers to shout, "War, war," all at once,
They couldn't wait for their leader to speak,
But he was even more stirred by this,
He opened his lap and spread out his cloak:
“To mortal battles,” he said, “I challenge you;”
He said this with deep anger and hate,
And seemed ready to break down the gate of Janus' church.

XCI
It seemed like rage, conflict, and madness took flight
From his lap as he revealed the same;
His intense eyes swelled with anger’s poison,
And like Alecto’s fiery brand,
He looked like the massive Typhon released from hell
To shake heaven’s eternal structure again,
Or like the one who built the Tower of Babel,
Which threatens battle against the morning star.

XCII
Godfredo then said: “Leave, and tell your king to hurry up here, or else soon—
Because we’re ready for the war you bring—
Let him know we’re waiting for him on the banks of the Nile.”
He treated them to a feast,
And gave gifts to those vile Pagans;
Aletes received a fancy, colorful helmet,
Recently found at Nice among the conquered spoils.

XCIII
Holding a sword, its blade made of steel,
With a jeweled pommel, a gold hilt; expertly
Crafted, showcasing exquisite workmanship,
The artistry surpassed the material quality:
So beautiful, luxurious, and sharp, to see, to hold,
The Paynim was thrilled to possess it,
And said, “You'll see how I can use this gift
When we first meet on the battlefield.”

XCIV
So they said their goodbyes, and the angry knight
Talked to his companion on the way,
“You go during the day, but I’ll walk at night,
You head to Egypt, I'll stay in Sion,
You can share the answer you get correctly,
I'm not needed; I have nothing to add,
Among these weapons, I'll take my revenge;
Let Paris pursue romance, Hector preferred to fight.”

XCV
So, he who arrived late as a messenger
Leaves as an enemy, in action, in words, in thoughts,
The rules of nations or the rules of war,
Whether he breaks them or not, he doesn’t care,
So they parted ways, and before he wandered too far
The friendly starlight guided him to the walls:
Yet his bitter heart pondered that short journey,
Upset with every pause, tortured with every delay.

XCVI
Now the night spreads her starry blanket,
And calls every restless eye to sleep;
On soft beds of grass the animals lie down,
The fish sleep in the quiet deep,
Unheard are the serpent's hiss and the dragon's roar,
Birds stopped singing, and Philomen stopped weeping,
Only the sound of heaven's moving spheres,
Sings a lullaby to bring the world to rest.

XCVII
Yet neither sleep, nor comfort, nor dark shadows,
Could make the loyal camp or leader relax,
They craved to see the day, to hear the lark
Sing her hymns and blessed songs,
They longed to see the walls, the desired goal
To which their long journeys had been aimed;
Each heart listens, each eager eye watches
What light the eastern window first reveals.

THE ARGUMENT.
The camp at great Jerusalem arrives:
Clorinda challenges them to battle, and in the heart
Of fair Erminia, Tancred’s love comes alive,
He competes with her, not knowing she’s the one he loves most;
Argant strips the adventurers of their leader,
With grand ceremony, they lay their Lord in a coffin:
Godfrey orders the forest to be cut down,
And to build powerful machines to attack the town.

I
The purple morning left her red bed,
And put on her robes of bright vermilion,
Her golden hair crowned with red roses,
In Eden’s flower-filled gardens gathered new.
When through the camp a sharp murmur spread,
"Arm, arm!" they cried; "arm, arm!" the trumpets blew,
Their lively noise interrupts the joyful sound,
Like little bees buzzing before they swarm.

II
Their captain manages their bravery, directs their passion,
He holds back their eagerness with gentle guidance;
And yet it might be easier to halt the flow near Charybdis,
Or to calm the raging winds on high mountains,
Than to control the fierce desires of warrior hearts;
He still leads them, organizing their urgency,
For he knows that chaotic haste leads to waste.

III
Filled with thoughts, their feet were ready to fly,
They quickly marched, yet felt no weariness,
For eager minds make heavy loads feel light.
But when the rising sun was high above,
Jerusalem, look, came into view,
They saw Jerusalem, they spotted it,
Jerusalem, they greeted with joyful noise,
With cheerful shouts and sweet celebrations.

IV
Just like a group of cheerful sailors rowing
To discover some new land and country,
Through treacherous seas and under unfamiliar stars,
At the mercy of untrustworthy waves and a fickle sky,
As soon as the longed-for shore starts to appear,
They all greet it with a happy shout,
And each rushes to point out the land,
Completely forgetting their past struggles and dangers.

V
To the joy that their first glimpse created,
That pleased so much the hidden thoughts they had,
A deep regret quickly followed it,
With reverent fear and trembling it brought,
They barely dared to lift their weak eyes
To that town where Christ was sold and bought,
Where for our sins he suffered without fault,
There where he died and where he rose again.

VI
Gentle words, quiet voices, deep sobs, sweet sighs, salty tears
Rose from their hearts, blended with joy and pleasure;
For this is how the Lord is properly honored by those who fear him,
Fear is tied to devotion, joy is rooted in faith;
Their emotions create a sound like the hoarse sea waves crashing against hollow rocks;
Or like the wind in forests and shady groves,
Creating a soft murmur among the branches and leaves.

VII
Their bare feet walked on the dusty path,
Following the example of their passionate leader,
They quickly took off their scarves, crests, and colorful feathers,
Willingly setting them aside,
Their burning hearts eased their usual pride,
And warm tears ran down their wet cheeks,
Then they shared secret thoughts like this,
While each one privately blamed themselves.

VIII
“Flower of goodness, source of lasting happiness,
You well of life, whose streams were purple blood
That flowed here, to purify the lost souls
Of sinful people, look at this brutal flood,
That from my breaking heart pours out,
Accept these tears, O Lord so kind,
For no one more miserable with sin
Has ever had a more fitting time or greater reason to weep.”

IX
Meanwhile, the cautious watchman scanned the landscape,
From the heights of Sion’s towers, the hills and valleys,
And saw the dust that covered the fields and meadows,
Like when thick fog rolls up from marshy lowlands.
Finally, he spotted the shining shields,
And gleaming helmets ready for unstoppable violence,
The metal gleamed like lightning in the sky,
As man and horse were seen amid the dust.

X
Then he shouts loudly, “Oh, what a dust is rising!
Oh, how it glimmers with shining shields and weapons!
Get up, get up, to arms, for a brave heart doesn’t fear
The looming storm of death and danger ahead.
Look at your enemies;” then he goes on to say,
“Quick, quick, for wasting time only builds fear,
These terrible clouds of dust that are flying over there,
Hide your approaching enemies and obscure the sky.”

XI
The gentle children, and the old fathers,
The older women, and the pure maidens,
Who dared not wield a spear or hold a shield,
Devoutly placed themselves in their temples;
The others, with strong bodies and brave hearts,
Quickly put on their armor on daring chests,
Some to the walls, some to the gates prepared,
Their king, in the meantime, guides them all correctly.

XII
Everything in place, he quickly went up
To a high tower, with two openings in between,
So he could be close whenever needed,
And look out over the green fields and furrows.
There he took the lovely Erminia, whom
He had welcomed in his court
Since the Christians captured Antioch,
And killed her father, who had been the king.

XIII
Clorinda charged out against their enemies,
And many brave knights stood by her side,
Argantes, strong and steady, stood at the gate
To rescue her if anything went wrong:
With inspiring words, she rallied her warriors,
And encouraged them with bold speeches as they rode,
“Let’s create a foundation today,” she said,
“For the hopes of Asia with some courageous deed.”

XIV
While the brave virgin spoke to her people,
A Christian group came by,
Driving herds of cattle,
Since they had raided all the land that morning;
The fierce warrior wanted to save that prize,
And their commander picked her out,
A powerful warrior named Guardo,
But far too weak to compete with her in battle.

XV
They met, and Guardo lay low in the dust,
Between the two armies, down from his saddle he fell,
The Pagans shouted with joy, full of hope,
Believing that these good beginnings would lead to blessed endings:
The brave maid pressed on against the rest,
She shattered the helmet and pierced the armored chest,
Her men rode through the paths made by her sword,
They crossed the stream where she had discovered the crossing.

XVI
Soon the prey was back in their hands,
Little by little, the Frenchmen began to retreat,
Until they landed on a small hill at last,
Whose strength kept them safe from Clorinda’s anger:
When, like a storm that has been hidden
In watery clouds bursts out with sparkling fire,
With his strong squadron, Lord Tancredi arrived,
His heart filled with rage, his eyes burning with courage.

XVII
The spear that the brave warrior carried was huge,
And in his battle pride, he made it shake,
Like the winds toss tall cedars on ancient mountains:
The king, amazed by his courage, spoke
To the woman seated beside him,
Who felt her heart tremble with love’s intense heat,
“Well should you know,” he said, “every Christian knight,
Through long acquaintance, even when in armor.”

XVIII
“Tell me, who is that person who shows such greatness,
Who rides with such pride and strikes with such force?”
To this, the princess said nothing more or less,
Her heart filled with sighs, her eyes brimming with tears;
But she cleverly managed to hide her sighs and tears,
She masked her love and passion very well,
And tried to conceal her love and intense desire,
Until her heart overflowed with sighs and her eyes with tears:

XIX
Finally, she spoke, and with a clever trick
Her secret love hidden beneath a mask of hate:
“Sadly, I know that knight all too well,” she said,
“I recently witnessed his strength and bravery,
I realized it too late, when his power and might
Brought down the pillars of Cassanoe’s kingdom;
Oh, the wounds he inflicts! How fierce, how deadly!
No medicine can heal them, nor any magic spell.

XX
"His name is Tancred, O Macon, and I would wear
My servant before fate takes him from this life,
For I hold such spite against his cruel heart,
I would take it from him while he’s still alive."
So she said, and those who heard her complaints
Interpreted her wishes in a different way.
She sighed as well, but they misunderstood it all,
And thought she wanted to kill, when she really longed to kiss.

XXI
This moment, Clorinda pushed through the crowd
And aimed her spear at Tancredi, ready to fight,
Their lances shattered against their helmets,
He knocked off her gilded helmet from her head,
Breaking every strap and every tie,
And tossed her feathered crest down in the dust,
Her golden hair shone on her shoulders,
Like sunlight on alabaster rocks.

XXII
Her looks are fiery, her eyes flash with lightning,
Her anger is sweet; imagine how lovely her smile would be.
Tancred, what are you thinking about? What are you staring at?
Have you forgotten her in such a short time?
She is still the one whose beautiful face
The God of Love crafted in your heart,
The same one who left you by the cool stream,
Protected from the sun’s heat but burned by her beauty.

XXIII
The prince recognized her, even though he hadn’t noticed her painted shield
And gold helmet before,
She protected herself, and with her sharp axe
Attacked the knight; but he held back against her,
Instead, he proved himself against other enemies in the field,
Yet, for that, she didn’t hold back either,
But following him, she shouted, “Turn around,” angrily;
And just like that, she threatened to kill him twice.

XXIV
Not once does the baron raise his armed hand
To hit the maid, but looking into her eyes,
Where a noble Cupid seems ready to fight,
He makes no effort to block or escape her blows;
Instead, he gently says, “No strike from your strong hand
Can defeat Tancred, but your victory rests
In those beautiful eyes, which shoot fiery arrows,
That find no resting place except this heart.”

XXV
Finally determined, even though he doubted he’d find much favor,
Before he explained how deeply he loved,
Since sweet words resonate in women’s hearts,
And kind souls are swayed by humble requests:
“O you,” he said, “hold back your anger for a moment,
For if you really want to see my bravery tested,
Wouldn’t it be better to step away from this chaotic battle
And fight it out somewhere, just the two of us?”

XXVI
"So focused, let’s see how brave we are:"
Clorinda gladly accepted the challenge,
And rushing into the forest without her helmet,
Where the prince walked, lost in thought and sorrow,
And there the maiden boldly confronted him.
She landed one strike, which he blocked,
When he shouted, “Wait, before we test our strength,
First listen to some rules for the fight.”

XXVII
She stayed, and desperate love had made him brave;
“Since you won't give me a break from this fight,
Let the agreements be,” he said, “that you reveal
This wretched heart of mine, and tear it apart,
Given to you long ago, and if you, cruel,
Want me dead, then let me die, But stab this chest, so everyone can say,
The eagle made the turtle-dove its prey.

XXVIII
“Save me with your grace, or let your anger take me out,
Love has stripped my life of all defenses;
It’s an easy task to spill innocent blood,
So go ahead, and punish where there’s no offense.”
This is what the prince said, and he might have wanted
To say more, to touch her cruel heart.
But at that bad moment, a group of Pagans arrived
And the Christians who were chasing them too.

XXIX
The Pagans ran away from their brave enemies,
Whether out of fear or trickery, it doesn't matter to us,
A reckless soldier, indifferent to winning or losing,
Saw the girl's hair flying around her,
And as he moved in from behind,
He aimed to strike where she was defenseless:
But Tancred shouted, “Oh stop your cursed hand,”
And lifted his sword to block the blow.

XXX
But then the sharp steel found its mark,
Where her graceful neck met her noble head,
The wound was shallow, but through her golden hair
The purple drops spilled blood-red,
Like rubies set in blazing gold:
But Lord Tancredi, pale with rage like lead,
Charged at the villain, who tried to escape;
The pain was his, even though she took the hit.

XXXI
The villain soars, filled with rage and anger,
He chases, while she stands and reflects on them both,
But she has no wish to follow them,
She wouldn't want to stray too far,
But then she turns, fierce as blazing fire,
And unleashes her fury on her enemies,
She strikes them down from every side,
And now she flies, and now she changes direction again.

XXXII
Just like the swift dog by the Volga’s flowing river
Chasing the mastiff mutts across the plains,
Runs to seek refuge in a nearby woods,
And often turns again with his fearsome horn
Against the dogs covered in sweat and blood,
Who don't bite until the beast starts to flee;
Or like the Moors at their unusual game,
Defended, dodging the flying balls unscathed:

XXXIII
So Clorinda ran, and her enemies chased her,
Until they both reached the city wall,
When suddenly the Pagans renewed their fierce anger,
They circled around her, forming a ring,
And against the Christians’ backs and sides they displayed
Their ferocious bravery, ready to engage once more,
When down the hill, Argantes descended to fight,
Like an angry Mars coming to help the Trojan knight.

XXXIV
Furious, at the front of his ranks,
The brave warrior stepped forward in sturdy steel,
He struck the first down, who fell from his saddle,
The next lay on the ground beneath his steel,
Under the Saracen’s spear, the heroes shrank,
No breastplate could withstand that cursed weapon,
Once it broke, he drew his precious sword,
And whoever he hit, he knocked down, injured, or killed.

XXXV
Clorinda killed Ardelio, the old knight,
Whose advanced years made him reluctant to fight,
His age was filled with strength and power
He had two sons to protect his noble lineage,
The first, far from his father’s watchful eye,
Named Alicandro, lay wounded in the field,
And Poliphern, the younger, by his side,
If he hadn’t fought bravely, he surely would have died.

XXXVI
Tancred, determined to catch the villain who had harmed his one true love, finally gave up the pointless chase. He saw his brave troops struggling nearby and rode toward them, causing massive destruction. No horse could withstand his charge, and no knight could survive his blows. He struck down anyone he encountered, like thunder shattering tall trees on Lebanon.

XXXVII
Dudon brings his group of adventurers,
To help the worthy knight and his tired crew,
Before the rest, young Rinaldo throws
As fast as fresh lightning igniting new,
His silver eagle with her shining wings
In a blue field, fair Erminia recognized,
“Look there, sir King,” she says, “a knight as bold
And brave as the son of the old Peleus.”

XXXVIII
“He wins the prize in jousts and tournaments,
He has countless achievements, though he’s still young,
If six of Europe had sent him to war
Among these thousand strong Christian warriors,
Syria would be lost, the Orient would be lost,
And all the lands along the Southern Ocean,
All the kings of hot Africa would be conquered,
And everyone living by the unknown springs of the Nile.”

XXXIX
“His name is Rinaldo, and his strong fist
Breaks through stone walls when rams and engines can’t,
But look over here because I want you to see
The lord dressed in green and gold armor,
His name is Dudon, who leads the adventurers
Whose skill rarely lets them down,
Noble birth, serious years, and long experience in battle,
And a fearless heart make him famous everywhere.

XL
“Check out that big guy dressed all in brown,
Gernando called, the son of the King of Norway,
No knight is prouder than him on this ground,
His pride has overshadowed the praise his skills earned;
And that lovely couple in white, fully armed,
Is Edward and Gildippes, who started
To test the risks of fierce war because of love,
Famous for their combat, but even more for their love.”

XLI
As they talk about their enemies’ bravery,
The fighting rages on across the plain.
Tancred and young Rinaldo push through the crowd,
They smash the helmet and strike the sevenfold shield;
The troop led by Dudon doesn’t hold back either,
They charge in with full force:
Even Argantes fell with just one blow,
Defeated and bleeding, he lay low on the ground:

XLII
Nor had the braggart ever climbed higher,
But just then Rinaldo’s horse fell down,
And with the fall, it crushed his leg so hard,
That for a moment he had to stay put.
Meanwhile, the enemy troops were almost lost,
They fled quickly, relieved to have escaped,
Argantes and brave Clorinda along,
Used the bank and wall to help save the retreat.

XLIII
These escaped last and held back
The Christians’ fury, which chased them closely;<
They skillfully organized their scattered troops to safety,
And while the rest fled, they took the brunt of the attack;
Dudon pursued the victory he had earned,
And on Tigranes, he nobly shattered his spear,
Then with his sword, he knocked him down,
Just as gardeners cut off branches that grow too quickly.

XLIV
Algazar's breastplate, made with great skill,
Nor Corban's helmet, crafted with magic,
Could protect their wearers, for Lord Dudon's blade
Split Corban's head and stabbed Algazar's heart,
And their proud souls fell into the dark,
Leaving Amurath and Mahomet behind;
Not even strong Argantes felt safe,
He could neither escape nor fight with confidence.

XLV
The furious Pagan bit his lips in frustration,
He ran, he paused, he escaped, he turned back,
Until finally unnoticed, unobserved, unseen,
When Dudon had just killed Almansor,
He sheathed his sharp weapon at his side,
The worthy man collapsed on the dusty ground,
And lifted his weak eyes barely,
Burdened with heavy sleep, of a grim death.

XLVI
Three times he tried to catch a glimpse of Heaven’s golden light,
And pushed himself up on his weak elbow three times,
And three times he fell back onto the ground,
And three times shut his dying eyes once more,
He doesn’t say a word, yet gestures in prayer;
He sighs, he faints, he groans, and then he dies;
Argantes, proud to plunder the corpse, looked down on him,
But shook his sword stained with Dudon’s blood.

XLVII
And turning to the Christian knights, he shouted:
“Lords, look here, this bloody, steaming blade
Was given to me last night by your noble guide.
Let him know what proof of this has been made today,
He must be pleased with what has happened,
That I can skillfully handle this martial art,
To whom such a rare gift was given,
Tell him the craftsman suits the tool.”

XLVIII
“If he wants more proof,
Tell him it still craves and wants to drink his heart’s blood;
And if he doesn't hurry to face me,
Tell him I’ll find him when he least expects it.”
The Christians, angered by his words,
But he, to avoid their wrath, safely withdraws
Under the protection of the nearby wall,
Well-guarded by all his troops and soldiers.

XLIX
Like hailstorms, the stones rained down from above,
Launched from their walls, flanks, gates, and towers,
The arrows and boulders from their machines flew,
As thick as drops falling in April showers:
The French retreated, they didn’t want to get too close,
The Saracens escaped all the forces,
But now Rinaldo sprang up from the ground,
Where his horse had held him for so long;
L
He came and breathed vengeance from his chest
Against the one who recently killed noble Dudon;
And once he arrived, he spoke to the others,
“Warriors, why are you standing here in vain?
Pale death had overpowered our brave leader,
Come avenge his loss, for your complaints mean nothing.
Those walls are weak; they only keep cowards out.
No barrier can withstand true courage.”

LI
"Whether it's made of strong iron, brass, or unbreakable stone,
Or if this wall was built of raging fire,
Still, the cowardly Pagan would want a fortress
To hide his scared head from my anger;
So come on, and let’s leave behind our fear,
The tougher the job, the bigger the reward;"
And with that, he approaches the walls,
Unfazed by arrows, rocks, stones, or darts.

LII
Above the waves as Neptune raises his eyes
To scold the winds that troubled the Trojan ships,
And with his face calmed the seas, winds, and skies;
So looked Rinaldo, when he shook his crest
Before those walls, which every Pagan fears and flees
His terrifying sight, or at least makes them hesitate:
Such fear his formidable appearance inspired in them.
So do poor doves appear, startled by goshawks.

LIII
The messenger Ligiere now came from Godfrey,
To tell them to stay and cool their raging spirits;
"Back off," he said, "Godfrey commands you to do the same;
This isn’t the time to unleash your anger;"
Though unwilling, Rinaldo stayed and suppressed the fire,
That boiled in his brave gut;
His controlled fury only grew more intense,
Like rivers that swell above their banks when stopped.

LIV
The hands pull back, unthreatened by their enemies
In their retreat, so wise and cautious were they,
Everyone mourns for the slain Dudon,
Sticking to their usual sense of compassion.
They gently place
The noble weight of his body on their supportive arms:
Meanwhile Godfredo from a tall mountain
Watched over the sacred city and her seat.

LV
Jerusalem is set on two hills, Each one different in height and facing opposite ways. In between them lies a gentle valley, Spanning beautifully from one mountain to the other. Three sides are certainly blocked by rocks and hills, While the remaining side is easy, showing little elevation. But strong walls protect that flatter area, So art complements nature, and nature reinforces art.

LVI
The town is filled with troughs and cisterns, made
To hold fresh water, but the land looks
Empty of grass, unsuitable for farmers,
Not fertile, lacking rivers, wells, and streams;
There are few trees to provide shade in summer,
To protect the dry ground from the burning sun,
Except for a forest six miles from the town,
With old dark cedars and brown shadows.

LVII
To the east, through the dusty valleys, flow
The silver streams of Jordan’s clear waters;
To the west, the Mediterranean Sea, with borders marked
By sandy shores, where Joppa once stood;
To the north, Samaria stands, and on that side
The golden calf was set up in Bethel woods;
Bethlehem to the south, where Christ was born,
A pearl in steel, a diamond set in brass.

LVIII
While the Duke observed the city from all angles, noticing its defenses, walls, and gates, he identified the places that were less fortified, where the walls seemed weakest to keep him out. As he rode, fully armored, Ermina spotted him and addressed the fierce tyrant, saying, “Look at Godfrey over there, dressed in purple and gold, check out his impressive stature and royal appearance.”

LIX
"Well, it seems he was meant to be crowned with honor,
He knows the rules of the army so well,
Unmatched in battle, wise and serious in advice,
The rare gift of glory in abundance,
Among these armies, no warrior is
More serious in speech, braver in tournaments.
Raymond can hardly match him in counsel;
Tancred and young Rinaldo are like him in battle."

LX
The king said, “He likes me, so I know him well. I met him before at the court in France when I was an ambassador from Egypt. I saw him there break many strong lances, and yet he showed no signs of manhood on his chin. His youth was promising, but with maturity, he showed that his words, actions, and confident demeanor were all early signs of great potential.”

LXI
“Warnings, oh so true:” with that a pause
He sighed in sorrow, then said, “I wish to know
The man in red, who carries himself with such grace,
He seems like a worthy lord by his appearance,
How much he resembles Godfrey in the face,
How similar in build! but a bit shorter.”
“Baldwin,” she said, “that noble baron is named,
By birth his brother, and equal in strength.

LXII
“Next, look at the one who seems wise and insightful,
Whose silver hair shows he’s lived many years,
Raymond is his name, a man of remarkable intellect,
Lord of Toulouse, his wisdom is well-known;
What he predicts usually comes true,
His plans are always successful:
Riding next to him is the gentle
And noble Prince William, beloved son of the King of England.

LXIII
“With him is Guelpho, his noble partner,
In lineage, deeds, and bravery just like the rest,
I know him well, since I saw him recently,
By his broad shoulders and strong chest:
But my proud enemy who has completely ruined
My high status and oppressed Antioch,
I do not see, Boemond, who caused the death
Of my aged lord, my father, and my king.”

LXIV
They talked like this; meanwhile Godfredo went
Down to the troops that were in the valley,
And since he thought it was pointless work,
To attack the areas that led to the mountains,
He aimed his strength at the northern gate,
Set up camp there, and ranged his engines;
Everyone felt the force of his angry might,
Which stretches from those gates to the corner tower.

LXV
The town’s third section was this, or maybe a little less,
For which the duke displayed his glorious banners,
For that fortress was so vast,
That it couldn’t be surrounded
With a tight siege—nor do I think Babel’s king
Who once conquered it, led such an army—
But he kept all the routes, preventing his enemy
From entering or leaving the city.

LXVI
Next, he needed to dig the trenches deep,
To keep his camp safe during the night,
In case the city attacked his sleeping soldiers
With an unexpected assault.
Once that was done, he went to where lords and princes grieved
With serious complaints about the slain knight,
Where Dudon lay dead, slaughtered on the ground.
And all the soldiers sat around, mourning.

LXVII
His crying friends decorated the sad bier
With sorrowful flair, where they laid his body,
And when they saw the Boulogne prince approach,
Everyone felt fresh grief, and each new sorrow added;
But he, without any sign or change of expression,
Held back his tears within their sources,
He cast a sorrowful glance at the corpse for a while,
And finally spoke to it like this;

LXVIII
"We don't need to grieve for you, resting here,
The earth is your bed, not the sky your grave.
The heavens are the cradle and home for your soul,
There you live, for here your glory never fades:
Like a blessed Christian knight, you lived and died:
Now feast your eyes on your Redeemer, where,
Crowned with joy, your faith, zeal, and worthiness shine."

LXIX
"Our loss, not yours, causes these complaints and tears:
For when we lost you, our ship lost its mast,
Our chariot lost its wheels, our spears lost their tips,
The bird of victory lost its main feather:
But even though your death is far from our army,
Your greatest earthly support, now in heaven,
You will still gain its Divine help, so that he who
Sows godly sorrow will reap joy in abundance."

LXX
"For if our God, the Almighty Lord,
Sends down those armed angels to help us,
Like he did for his prophet at Dothan,
You will come down with them and defend
Our army well, and with your holy weapons
Break through Zion's fort, these gates and walls,
So that we can capture this stronghold and
Praise our Christ for you in these temples."

LXXI
He complained like this; but now the dark shadow
Called night had completely covered
The sun with a veil of double darkness;
Sleep eased his worries; rest brought complaints to bed:
All night the cautious duke was figuring out
How to best break down that high wall,
How to properly create his strong machines,
And where to get the right timber to build them.

LXXII
Up with the lark, the sorrowful duke got up,
A chief mourner at Dudon’s burial,
His friends built a sad pile of cypress wood
Under a hill overgrown with tall cedars,
Next to the hearse, a fruitful palm tree grows,
Made special since this great funeral,
Where they gently laid Dudon’s body in the ground,
The priest sang hymns, and the soldiers wept around.

LXXIII
Among the branches, they occasionally place
Flags and weapons as a testament to his glory,
Which he earned from pagan lords in battles,
Victorious in fights and lucky skirmishes:
They hung his shield in the hole below,
And there they wrote this couplet that says,
“This palm with outstretched arms covers
The fallen champion Dudon’s glorious body.”

LXXIV
This project, carefully planned,
Godfrey sent his carpenters and skilled workers
From the entire camp to an ancient forest,
With a suitable escort to keep them safe.
This forest was located in a deep valley,
Invisible and unknown to Christian eyes until
A Syrian informed the duke, who then sent
The selected workers to gather timber.

LXXV
And now the axe roared in the wild forest,
The echo sighed in the hidden groves,
The crying nymphs fled from their exiled homes,
Down fell the shady tops of trembling trees,
Down came the sacred palms, wild ashes,
The mourning cypress, evergreen holly,
The weeping fir, thick beech, and soaring pine,
The paired elm fell with its fruitful vine.

LXXVI
The shooter grew, the broad-leaved sycamore,
The barren plantain, and the walnut's sound,
The myrrh, which her foul sin still mourns,
The alder that owns all watery ground,
Sweet juniper, whose shadow hurts a lot,
Proud cedar, oak, the crowned king of forests;
Thus, the trees fell, and the deserts roared;
The beasts lost their caves, the birds their nests.

THE ARGUMENT.
Satan gathers all his demons and spirits,
And sends them out to bring trouble to the Christians,
False Hidraort calls for their help from hell,
And sends Armida to trap his enemy:
She shares her origins, her fate, and her downfall,
Seeks help, charms, and convinces the heroes so
That they agree to support her plan;
She wins them over with trickery, skill, beauty, and love.

I
While their work continued with fortunate speed,
And the rams raised their horned heads high,
The Ancient Enemy of man and humanity,
Cast a sidelong glare with his pale eyes;
And when he saw their efforts thriving,
He wept in anger and threatened severe misfortune.
He swallowed his curses and murmured to himself,
Like the wild bulls that softly bellow.

II
Finally deciding in his cursed mind
To find a way to stop their warlike actions,
He ordered his princes to be brought
Before the throne of his hellish seat.
Oh, fool! As if it were a trivial thing
To resist God or change His grand purpose,
Who thunders in wrath against His enemies,
Whose arrows are like hailstones, and coals of fire.

III
The gloomy trumpet sounded a terrifying blast,
And echoed across the lands and kingdoms below,
Through the vast emptiness it roared, and into deep hollows,
Filling the depths with horror, fear, and awe,
Not even the most frightening noise from storms could compare,
That crash down from the skies with hail and thunder,
Not even the howling winds are as loud,
Released from the earth's prisons by their King.

IV
The peers of Pluto's realm have gathered
In the palace of their furious King,
In hideous forms and shapes never seen before,
That bring fear, death, terror, and shock,
Some trample on the grass with ugly paws,
Some gnaw the snakes that hang from their shoulders,
And some stretch their forked tails high,
Tearing twinkling stars from the trembling sky.

V
There was Silenus' disgusting and repulsive path,
There were Sphinxes, Centaurs, and terrifying Gorgons,
There howling Scylla, wailing all around,
There serpents hiss, and seven-headed Hydras scream,
Chimera there spews fire and brimstone,
And blind Polyphemus supports hell,
Besides ten thousand monsters that live there
Deformed, unlike themselves, and nothing else.

VI
About their princes each took their usual seat
On thrones that were red-hot, made of burning brass,
Pluto in the middle raised his great trident,
Made of huge rusty iron,
The rocks on which the salty sea waves crash,
And the tops of Atlas, where the clouds pass by,
Compared to his massive size, molehills seem small,
So his rough face, his horns so raised.

VII
The arrogant tyrant glared from his high prison,
And with just a look made all his monsters shake,
His eyes, filled with rage and poison,
Seemed like two signals calling men to arms,
His tangled hair, spilling onto his chest,
Resembled brambles and thorns on rough mountains,
His open mouth, foaming with clotted blood,
Gaped like a wide whirlpool in the dark waters of the underworld.

VIII
And just like Mount Etna spews out sulfur,
With cliffs of fiery rocks, and flames and smoke,
From his mouth flew blazing coals everywhere,
Hot sparks and scents that choked both man and beast,
The grumbling porter dared not complain for fear;
The Furies were silent while their leader spoke,
And swift Cocytus held back his shrill murmur,
While the murderer thundered out his command:

IX
“You infernal powers, much more deserving to sit
Around the sun, from which you take your spawn,
With me who once flew through the skies,
Now tumbled headfirst into this empty lake;
Remember our former glory,
Our daring actions and the war we once waged
Against him who rules over the starry realm,
For which, like traitors, we’re condemned to lie here.

X
“And now instead of a clear and cheerful sky,
Of Titan’s brilliance, which is so glorious,
In this deep darkness, here we lie helpless,
Hopeless of ever regaining our former joy,
And more, which makes my sorrows multiply,
That sinful creature, man, has been chosen;
And instead of us, he must possess the heavens,
Vile man, made of clay, and born of dust."

XI
"And this wasn't enough; he also gave
His only Son, his beloved to be sacrificed,
To defeat hell, death, sin, and the grave,
And to save condemned man once more,
He broke our prisons and truly wanted to save
The souls who should suffer here in sorrow and pain,
And now in heaven, they live with him forever
Crowned with endless glory and lasting praise."

XII
“But why am I bringing up our past pains?
Fresh memories make our weakened sorrows feel stronger,
We were forcefully driven out by unfair arms
From the honors that rightfully belong to us.
But let’s stop talking about these troubles,
And focus our efforts against the wrongs we face now:
Ah! Don’t you see how he has tried
To bring all lands, all nations to his beliefs?

XIII
“Then, let’s just spend the day and night without a care,
Not worrying about what happens, what comes or goes,
Let Asia be subject to Christian power,
A prize for Zion from her conquering enemies,
Let her worship her Christ correctly once more,
Who chose her before all nations long ago;
On bronze tablets, he wrote his teachings,
And let all languages and lands recognize it.

XIV
“So all our sacred altars will belong to him,
Our holy idols will crumble to dust,
To him, the miserable sinner
Will pray, and offer incense, myrrh, and gold;
Our temples will lose their lavish decorations,
With bare walls and cold, empty pillars,
The tribute of souls will cease, and our fortunes,
Or Pluto will rule over desolate kingdoms.

XV
“Oh, has all your courage completely vanished,
The bold spirit that once filled your proud mind?
When we fought against the angels of Heaven,
Armed with bright fire and sharp weapons,
I admit we fell on the Phlegrean plain,
Yet our cause was just, even if our luck wasn’t;
For often fate helps those who are inferior,
We lost the battle, but we didn’t lose our spirit.”

XVI
“Go then, my strength, my hope, my spirit, go,
Stand against these western rebels with your power,
Pull up these weeds before they take over
The gentle garden of the Hebrew land,
Snuff out this spark before it ignites so
That Asia burns, consumed by the brand.
Use open force or secret cunning unseen;
For cleverness is a virtue against a defied foe.

XVII
"Among the knights and the heroes accompanying them,
Let some roam like outcasts on strange paths,
Let some meet their end in battle, while others
Interpret women’s yeses and noes as prophecies,
And suffer from foolish love, let some voice their complaints
Against Godfrey’s leadership, stirring up rebellions against him,
Turning each one’s sword against the heart of his friend,
Thus killing them all or ruining most of them."

XVIII
Before the tyrant finished speaking,
Lesser demons surged up with a terrifying shout,
And spread out across the world to roam,
Filling every country, river, stream, and coast,
The goblins, fairies, crazy fiends, and furies,
Gathered in flowery valleys and ancient mountains,
And beneath every quivering leaf they linger,
Fluttering between the solid ground and the sky.

XIX
About the world they spread far and wide,
Filling the minds of every wicked heart
With hidden mischief, anger, hate, and pride,
Wounding lost souls with sin’s toxic dart.
But tell me, my Muse, from where they first tried
To hurt the Christian leaders, and from what part,
You know of events that happened so long ago,
This modern age hears little truth or none.

XX
The town of Damascus and the surrounding lands
Were ruled by Hidraort, a wise and powerful wizard,
Well-versed in all the chaos
Of Pluto’s realm, even from a young age;
Yet he couldn't predict
The desired outcome of this war, nor foresee any success,
For neither the stars above, nor the forces of hell,
Nor talent, nor skill, nor magic, nor demon could reveal.

XXI
And yet he thought, — Oh, foolish pride of man,
Which decides what the future holds as you wish! —
That the French army was definitely heading for destruction,
Totally doomed by Heaven’s eternal judgment:
He believes that no force can resist or defeat
The power of Egypt, and so he hopes that some
Of both the spoils and glory of the battle
Would perhaps fall upon these Syrian people.

XXII
But because he valued the worth of the French,
And worried about the uncertain outcome of bloody war,
He, who was deceitful and cunning in conflict,
Thought about how he could annoy them from a distance:
And as he began to plan this out,—
As bad advisors are always nearby,—
Satan was there, ready before anyone needed him,
If they ever considered it, to push them to act.

XXIII
He advised him on the best way to hunt,
What spear to throw, what net to use, what effort to make,
He had a niece, a lovely and gentle woman,
Unique in her intelligence, blessed with beauty,
She could use her looks to deceive anyone,
Young, beautiful, and a master of tricks;
He shared the details of this venture with her,
And praised her, for she was both beautiful and smart:

XXIV
“My dear, who beneath this golden hair,
And natural glow of your beautiful complexion,
Hides serious thoughts, sharp wit, and ancient wisdom,
More skill than I, in all my false arts,
To you my important plan I must reveal,
This mission your cleverness must follow,
You weave to finish this web I start,
I will hold the distaff, you come and spin.

XXV
“Go to the Christians' camp and try out
All the clever tricks that women use in love,
Shed salty tears, sob, sigh, plead, and pray,
Wring your beautiful hands, cast your eyes above,
For mournful beauty is said to hold great power,
To soften even the toughest hearts with pity;
Look pale from fear, and blush sometimes from shame,
In seeming honesty, your lies will come together the quickest.

XXVI
“Use the bait, Lord Godfrey, if you can;
Set traps with your gaze, weave charming words;
For if he loves, then you’ve won the fight,
This planned war you can easily contest;
Otherwise, lead the other Lords to barren lands,
And keep them imprisoned far from their leader:”
So he taught her, and in conclusion, he said,
“All things are allowed for our lands and beliefs.”

XXVII
The lovely Armida took on this task,
A delicate matter, given her beauty, allure, and youth,
The sun had set below the horizon,
When she started her playful journey,
Dressed in silky clothing she hoped to endure,
And conquer knights in their battle gear,
The Syrians talked about their nighttime lady,
Some spoke well, some poorly, depending on their feelings for her.

XXVIII
A few days later, the nymph arrived at the place
Where the powerful Godfrey had set up his tents;
All the soldiers and knights stared at her unusual outfit and clear face:
Just like when a comet appears in the sky,
People are amazed by the brightness;
So they wondered and looked at each other,
Trying to figure out who she was and where she came from.

XXIX
Yet no one who has ever pledged their loyalty to Cupid
Has seen a face with such beautiful pride;
A shiny veil covered her golden hair,
Trying to hide what it simply couldn’t cover,
Like the golden sun behind a silver cloud,
Shining its rays in every direction,
The marble goddess, placed at Cnidos, naked
She appeared, whether she was undressed or in a dream.

XXX
The playful wind dances through her hair,
And curls up those growing treasures briefly;
Her cautious eye refuses to let its light shine,
But holds onto its aim where Cupid keeps his hold;
The rose and lily on her cheek try
To capture true beauty in the boldest way,
Her lips, where only a single rose blooms,
Still blush, because they’re always kissing while being closed.

XXXI
Her breasts, two gentle mounds covered in soft snow,
Sweet, smooth, and supple, soft and gently rounding,
Between them lies a milky valley below,
Where love, youth, joy, and purity are found,
Her breasts partly hidden, partly revealed,
So the flirtatious one was dressed, as if this view
Should delight the eye, while the rest awaits a touch.

XXXII
Just like how sunlight pierces through the Tagus river,
To search for the treasure of its springtime gold,
A love-filled thought pushed through her cloak,
And boldly wandered in her gentle heart;
It beheld the amazing beauty of young women,
And everything fed into longing with an advantage,
Oh no! What hope remains to extinguish his flame
That’s ignited by sight, fueled by desire.

XXXIII
So she passed by, admired, desired, and intrigued,
Among the troops that were camped there,
She smiled with joy, but hid it well,
Her eager gaze picked out her desired prey;
Virtue seemed to sit on all her movements,
She asked the way to the imperial tent:
And then she encountered a brave and charming knight,
Lord Godfrey's youngest brother, named Eustace.

XXXIV
This was the bird that first got caught in the trap,
He saw her beauty and hoped she'd be nice;
The throne of Cupid had a gentle climb,
His ship is ready to go with any breeze,
The damage he causes no wisdom can fix:
With respect, the nobleman bowed low,
And shared his intentions with the young woman,
For youth, experience, and nature had made him daring.

XXXV
“Lady, if you find it fitting to be so modest,
In whose sweet gaze such sacred beauty shines—
For never has Heaven granted such grace
To any daughter of Adam—
Please reveal your name, even though we feel unworthy,
Share your wishes, and tell us where you're from,
So I don’t learn too late
What respect is right for your noble status.”

XXXVI
“Sir Knight,” she said, “you praise me too much
You commend me far above what I deserve,
I’m a unfortunate girl, destined to suffer
And dead inside, living only in worry and pain,
A helpless virgin, indeed on the run,
Leaving behind my homeland and kingdom
To seek Duke Godfrey’s help, they say
That he holds great compassion in his heart.

XXXVII
“Then lead me to that great duke up ahead,
If you’re as polite as you seem, sir.”
“Sure,” he replied, “since we were born of the same mother,
We are brothers, so consider your luck
In meeting me, whose words hold more weight
In Godfrey’s ear than you might think:
I’ll offer my help, and I promise to support him too,
With everything his scepter or my sword can achieve.”

XXXVIII
He led her out easily after saying this,
Where Godfrey sat with his lords and peers,
She showed respect, then blushed, feeling uneasy
To speak, held back by secret wants and inner fears.
It seemed like a shy shame kept her quiet,
Finally, the polite duke encouraged her softly;
A hush fell, and she started her story,
They sat to listen, thus sang this nightingale:

XXXIX
“Victorious prince, whose respected name
Is so highly regarded among our Pagan kings,
That in the lands you conquer and tame
Your victory brings them some satisfaction;
Everyone knows your legendary fame,
The earth sings of your worth, your enemies, your praises,
And the wronged Pagans come to request your help,
Your virtue and power persuade them to do so.

XL
“And I thought raised in Macon’s wicked teachings,
Which you suppress with your powerful strength,
Yet I trust you will restore a helpless girl,
And put her back in her father’s position:
Others seek help in their distress from family and friends;
But I in this unfortunate situation
Call on your help to invade my kingdom,
So your virtue, so my need, compels me.

XLI
"In you I hope, your help I call on,
To win back the crown I've been removed from;
For like glory comes with the strike
To bring down the proud or lift the oppressed;
Nor does breaking a scepter bring greater glory,
Than freeing a troubled maiden;
And since you can achieve this at will,
Your praise is greater for saving than for killing a king.

XLII
“But if you want to excuse your help,
Because I have no hope or trust in Christ,
Yet for the sake of virtue, use your virtue!
Who scorns gold just because it’s lying in dust?
Heaven bear witness, if you refuse to grant this,
You abandon a girl for a cause that’s truly just,
And since you will learn all about my situation,
I will reveal my wrongs and their great betrayals.

XLIII
“Prince Arbilan, who ruled over beautiful Damascus, was my noble father. He came from humble beginnings but married Queen Chariclia, driven by her intense love. However, soon a tragic twist of fate severed the thread that held their happiness together, for misfortune had dealt her a cruel hand. My birth was her death; my first day was her last.”

XLIV
"Before five years passed since my beloved wife died so suddenly,
My father also passed away, overcome with sorrow,
And sought his love in the Elysian fields,
Leaving his crown and me, a poor orphan, all alone,
My uncle took charge during my early years;
For he believed that if mortal men have faith,
True love has a place in a brother's heart."

XLV
“He took responsibility for me and the crown,
And with gestures of love managed to make it known
That throughout Damascus there was a great reputation
For how good, how just, how kind my uncle was;
Whether he concealed his wicked hatred,
Hiding the serpent in the blooming grass,
With that true faith he had in his heart,
Because he intended to arrange my marriage with his son.

XLVI
"Which son soon took on
The title of knight, as suited him well,
Yet he never dared for his lady’s sake
To break sword or lance, or fight in grand style;
He was as beautiful as Cytherea’s creation,
As proud as one who rules over hell,
In his strange ways, and unkind in love,
For Cupid does not strike a mean-spirited mind."

XLVII
“This ideal man should Queen Armida marry,
A charming guy to be a princess’ partner,
A beautiful companion in a lady’s bed,
A noble head to wear a golden crown:
His flattering father daily spoke of this,
And sweet words whispered in my ear
To make me take this darling in my arms,
But still the snake blocked her ears from flattery.

XLVIII
"Finally, he left me with a troubled elegance,
Through which I could see his hidden resentment,
I thought I could read the story in his face
Of the misfortunes that have befallen me since,
Ever since those dark spirits invaded my peace,
And terrifying visions shattered my sleep at night,
Grief, horror, and fear slowly drained my soul,
For my mind predicted the trouble that was coming."

XLIX
"Three times the figure of my dear mother appeared,
Pale, sad, and troubled, to warn me in my dream,
Oh, how much she has changed from the one
Whose eyes once sparkled like the sun’s bright beam:
'Daughter,' she says, 'run, run, see your fate
Foretells the betrayals of your miserable life,
Who poisons your innocent life:'
With that, she vanishes into thin air."

L
"But what good are high walls or strong fortifications,
When frightened cowards hold the weapons to protect?
I'm too weak as a woman, and I'm too young,
To take on such a tough job all by myself,
To roam lost in the desolate woods,
A banished girl, denied the comfort I knew,
It seemed so painful that I'd rather die,
And there take my last breath where I first breathed life."

LI
“I was afraid of terrible danger if I stayed too long,
Yet I had neither the desire nor the ability to escape,
And my heart wouldn't admit that it was scared,
Fearing that it might bring my end even faster:
So I waited restlessly, an unhappy girl,
For which hand would be the first to take my budding flower,
Like a condemned person waiting to lose their life
For the strike of the executioner's blade.

LII
"In these tough times, since fate has kept me around to suffer more, One of my father's loyal old servants, Who always cared for me out of kindness, Began to reveal this betrayal with many tears, And said that my guardian wanted to kill his pupil, And that he himself, if his promise was kept, Would give me a deadly poison before I sleep next."

LIII
“And then he told me that if I wanted to survive,
I needed to escape secretly,
And he offered all the help he could provide
To support his mistress, who had been wrongfully exiled.
His comforting words made the fear of exile fade,
And the fear of death made smaller dangers seem less important:
So we agreed that when the shadows fell
And darkened the earth, I would leave with him.

LIV
“Of narrow escapes, the old patroness,
Darker than before, her black cloak spread,
When with two loyal maids, in deep trouble,
I fled from my uncle and my kingdom;
I often looked back, but could hardly hold back
The tears that flowed from my eyes without end,
For when I saw my lost kingdom,
It was a sorrow, a death, almost hell.”

LV
"My horses pulled the weight of my body,
But still my hair and thoughts held me back just as quickly,
So go the men who, from the edge of the sky,
Are suddenly thrown out to sea by a storm;
Swift over the grass, the rolling chariot glides,
Through unknown paths, we rush all night and day,
At last, nearly exhausted, we found a strong castle,
The farthest edge of my homeland."

LVI
"The fort Arontes was, for that’s what the knight
Was called, who had saved me,
But when the tyrant saw, after careful planning,
That I had escaped his treacherous schemes,
His rage grew in the cursed man
Against me and the one who brought me to safety,
And we were accused of trying to poison him,
But when discovered, we fled to save our lives."

LVII
"And instead of his proven honesty,
I hired my guide to poison him,
So that my wild youth
Could run free, unrestrained,
And every night I slept—O, what a lie!—
I lost my honor by this Arontes' side:
But I pray heaven sends down vengeful fire,
When such a low love alters my pure desire."

LVIII
“It's not that he's sitting on my royal throne,
Or that he desires to drink my cold blood,
What bothers me most is this insult alone,
That my reputation, which has always been pure,
Has lost the glow it used to have:
With fabricated lies he makes his story seem so convincing,
And keeps my subjects hanging in uncertainty,
So that no one prepares to defend their queen.”

LIX
“And even though he sits on my royal throne,
Dressed in purple, crowned with shiny gold;
His hate, his bitterness, still remains,
Since nothing eases old grudges when they’re bold:
He threatens to burn Arontes’ fortress,
And kill him unless he gives up the stronghold,
And instead of war, he threatens me and mine with death,
Thus baseless hatred is endless and hard to bear."

LX
“And so he hopes to wipe away the stain,
And hide his shameful truth with my offense,
And says he will restore the throne again
To his former honor and rightful excellence,
And that’s why he wants me dead,
Because while I’m alive, his claim is uncertain,
This is the reason my innocent life is at risk,
For my downfall is his safety built upon.

LXI
“And let the tyrant have what he wants,
Let him carry out the cruelty he intended,
My innocent blood must satisfy the never-ending fire
That consumed my endless tears in vain,
Unless you help; to you, esteemed Lord,
I turn, a pure, orphaned, innocent one,
And let these tears that fall at your feet,
Redeem the drops of blood he wants to shed.

LXII
"By your glorious feet that confidently walk
On the necks of tyrants, by your brave victories,
By that right hand, and by those pure temples,
You seek to free from Macon’s teachings, I ask
For help with this sickness that only you can heal.
Let your mercy save my life and kingdom
From death and destruction: but it would be useless to test you,
If right, if truth, if justice cannot persuade you."

LXIII
"You who do everything you want, at your will,
And never want anything but what is right,
Protect this innocent blood they want to spill;
Let my kingdom be yours, save it with your strength:
Among these leaders, lords, and skilled knights,
Choose me ten, the best fighters around,
Who with the help of my friends and family,
Can help win back my kingdom that I lost."

LXIV
"For look, a knight, who's in charge of a gate,
A man of highest trust around his king,
Has promised to trick the guard
So he can safely bring me and mine
Where the tyrant is likely sleeping soundly.
He advised me to take this on,
To seek a little help from these,
Whose name alone can make this happen."

LXV
That being said, the nymph listened to his reply,
Her expressions, her sighs, her movements all begged him:
But Godfrey wisely held off on his consent,
He feared the worst, and that kept him hesitating,
He knows that those who don’t fear God love no one,
He fears the deceitful heathen might betray him:
But still, there was such compassion in his noble heart,
That despite his wisdom, pity made him kind.

LXVI
Besides her kind and gentle thoughts,
Always ready to comfort anyone in distress,
The maiden's offer had its advantages;
Because if the Syrian kingdom was hers by right,
Then securing it would make achieving his goal easier,
To bring all of Asia under his control:
There he could gather weapons, armor, and treasure
To take action against the Egyptian king and his wrath.

LXVII
So for a long time, his noble heart was caught
Between fear and regret, neither granting nor refusing,
She fixed her gaze on him,
As if her life and death depended on his words,
She shed some tears, mixed with sighs and sobs,
As if her hopes were gone because of his hesitation;
Finally, the duke denied her urgent request,
But with gentle words, he tried to ease her pain:

LXVIII
“If we’re not fighting for our God,
If this sword is drawn for a lesser cause,
You might rightly think,
A princess as beautiful as this shouldn't be abandoned;
But since these armies have come from far and wide
To free this holy town,
It wouldn’t be right for us to divert our strength,
And delay victory, even if it’s on its way.

LXIX
"I promise you, and on my royal word
The weight of your wish and hope rests,
That when this chosen temple of the Lord,
Her holy doors open to his saints
In rest and peace; then this victorious sword
Shall bring proper revenge on your enemies;
But if for the sake of a worldly woman
I abandon this task, such pity would be my shame."

LXX
At this, the princess looked down at the ground,
And stood still, though not unnoticed, for a while,
The hidden pain of her heart
Dewy tears fell like heaven's rain on her angelic face,
“Poor soul,” she said, “drowned in tears and sorrows,
May death bring you peace, and the grave be your rest,
Since it's your fate that, unless you find mercy,
Even the kindest heart on earth has shown cruelty.

LXXI
"Why complain when no one is listening?
Men’s stubborn hearts are swayed by women’s tears
Like marble stone is worn down by raindrops.
No cries get through to those who don’t want to hear:
The tyrant, perhaps, would hold back his anger
If he heard these pleas that ruthless Godfrey hears,
Yet this isn't your fault, I see my fate,
Has made even pity, heartless in you."

LXXII
“So both your kindness and good luck have failed me,
Grief, sorrow, trouble, and worry have brought me down,
The star that governed my birth has betrayed me,
My spirit knows its task but doesn’t recognize me,
Of queen-like status, my journey has thrown me off,
My father died before he had even known me for five years,
My kingdom lost, and now finally I have no peace,
Down with the tree since every branch has broken.”

LXXIII
“And for the simple knowledge of being a maiden,
It tells me not to stay with these armed men,
Oh, where should I escape, which hidden woods
Will shield me from the tyrant? Or what lair,
What rock, what vault, what cave can help me?
No, no, where death is certain, it’s better then
To defy his power and make it known,
Armida lived and died, both like a queen.”

LXXIV
With that, she looked like a proud disdain
Ignited anger in her noble mind,
The way she came, she turned back again,
With a sad gesture but a disdainful kind,
A storm raged down her cheeks in a rush,
With tears of sorrow and sighs of anger's wind;
The drops wash the ground where she walks,
And it seems as if she's stepping on pearls or crystal beads.

LXXV
Her cheeks where this flowing nectar landed,
Stilled through the glass of her sparkling eyes,
Resembled the white and red roses well,
That glisten when the fresh May dew lies
When the beautiful morning blushes awake,
And breathes sweetness from an open paradise;
So sighed, so mourned, so wept this lovely queen,
And in each drop bathed an unseen grace.

LXXVI
Three times twenty Cupids flew quietly
To gather up this liquid before it spills,
And from each drop, they forged a new arrow,
Otherwise, they’d grab the crystal ball as it came,
And shoot it at defiant hearts like wildfire.
Oh, amazing love! You gain from everything;
For whether she sits in tears or stands with a smile,
She draws your bow or ignites your flame.

LXXVII
This fake complaint brought real tears
From many eyes and touched everyone’s heart;
Each person sympathizes with her and hears,
And wants to help her deal with the pain:
If Godfrey doesn't help her, everyone swears
That some mother tiger raised him in the harshest place
Amid the rough cliffs of the high Alps:
It's a tough heart that beauty doesn't soften.

LXXVIII
But cheerful Eustace, whose heart was ignited
By love and compassion, stepped forward boldly
While others whispered quietly on the side,
And approached the duke with confidence:
“Brother and lord,” he said, “you’ve stuck to your initial plan
For too long; please consider our ideas and let this young woman help us:
Gratitude feels less meaningful when kindness is postponed.

LXXIX
“Don’t think that Eustace’s words are trying
To pull these forces away from this current war,
Or that I want you to lift your armies
From Sion’s walls; my message doesn’t go that far:
But we who risk everything for fame and praise,
Who aren’t tied to any cost or duty,
From our group, we can spare ten
To help her, who can’t be weakened by anything.”

LXXX
“And know, they will fight in God’s great service,
To save and protect innocent virgins:
The rewards will be cherished in Heaven’s eyes,
When we take them from a tyrant’s hateful head:
And I didn’t seem eager for this lady’s sake,
Hoping for gain or profit in the end;
But because I know he wields unworthy arms,
To support a maiden’s cause who wants to escape or is afraid.

LXXXI
“Ah! Let it not be said in France,
Or anywhere else where courtesy is valued,
That we abandoned such a noble cause,
Out of doubt or fear that might come from battle;
Otherwise, here I surrender both sword and lance,
And swear to never again take up this warrior’s role;
For he does not deserve to be called a knight,
Who wields a dull sword in a lady’s honor.”

LXXXII
So he spoke, and with a mixed response,
The others agreed with what the brave one said,
Their leader surrounded by his knights,
With humble grace, they earnestly pleaded:
“I give in,” he said, “if it turns out well,
What I’ve agreed to, let her have your support:
You all deserve the gratitude, since you face the risk,
If anything goes wrong, as I greatly fear.”

LXXXIII
“But if my words can get through to you,
Oh, then cool down this misguided passion!”
He said this much, but they, blinded by desire,
Accepted his offer and disregarded his advice.
What beauty can't achieve, a man's soft heart
Is easy to sway with complaints and displays of sorrow:
Her lips released a stream of sweetened words,
That ensnared most of the Christian leaders.

LXXXIV
Eustace remembered her and spoke to her like this:
“Most cherished of beauty, put those sorrows aside,
For we will help you in whatever way you need or want:”
With that, she brightened her sad expression,
And smiled with joy, so much that Phoebus blushed to see,
And if she had chosen to take off her veil,
The God himself would have fallen in love again.

LXXXV
With that, she broke the silence again,
And thanked the knight warmly with few words,
She said she would stay his humble servant,
As long as it didn't go against honor's rules.
Her humble gestures made the rest clear,
Silent eloquence, convincing more than words:
This is how women know to act, and how they do it,
To charm the brave and outsmart the wise.

LXXXVI
And when she realized her plan was making
Some good progress quickly,
She decided to take advantage of the moment,
For every action has its perfect timing:
Medea or the deceitful Circe didn’t change
The forms of men as much as her gaze transformed
Their hearts, and with her siren’s voice
In desire, she immersed their minds and hearts in love.

LXXXVII
She used all the clever tricks that sly women know,
Constantly trying to catch a new lover.
No one understood the true nature of her unsteady intentions,
Because she changed her thoughts and looks with the moment,
She lowered her modest eyes at some,
While her wandering glances flew to others,
And while she played her playful game like this,
She pushed the slow ones forward and pulled back the eager ones.

LXXXVIII
If some, thinking they’d never win her over,
Held back from loving because they feared to approach her,
She started to smile gently at them,
As if to say she’s kind if you have the courage to try.
This passionate aura shone on every heart,
Everyone tried to serve, please, woo, and love her,
And in the hearts that were pure and shy,
Her intense gaze melted their fear away.

LXXXIX
Those who bravely tried to boldly touch
The softness of her delicate skin,
She looked at shyly, as if she didn’t want to play,
And acted like valuable things were hard to get;
Yet she always balanced her proud looks,
So that her outer disdain revealed grace within:
Thus, with false hope, she ignited their longing hearts,
Because the hardest things to get are the most desired.

XC
Sometimes she walked alone in secret where,
To think about her unhappiness,
Tears sat beneath her eyelids,
Not released, although coming from deep sadness,
And with this skill, she nearly trapped a thousand souls
In the snares of foolish pity and love,
And kept them as prisoners, showing that
Blind pity leads to unrequited love.

XCI
Sometimes, as if her hope had broken free
From the chains of sorrow that held her thoughts captive,
She looked at her followers with joy and happiness,
In that misleading knowledge she had been schooled;
Not even glorious Titan, in all his shining light,
Could enhance the brilliance of her smiling face:
For when she wanted to uplift her beauty,
She smiled away the clouds of sadness and pain.

XCII
Her double charm of smiles and sweet words,
Lulled their senses into a peaceful sleep,
Reason helps fight against those attacks,
Wisdom offers no defense from those sweet offenses;
Cupid’s deep rivers have their shallow crossings,
His sorrows bring joy; his losses, rewards;
He causes the hurt, and heals us from the pain:
Achilles’ lance that wounds and heals again.

XCIII
While she tormented them between frost and fire,
Between joy and sorrow, between hope and constant fear,
The cunning enchantress felt her getting closer,
These were her flocks that wore golden fleeces:
But if someone dared to express his desire,
And by complaining made his troubles clear,
He struggled to move hard rocks with his pleas,
She hadn't yet learned the notes of love.

XCIV
She lowered her shy eyes to the ground,
And put on the attire of modesty,
Tears streamed down from her eyes,
Upon the smooth surface of her face;
Like honey dripping on blooming flowers
When the sun chases the bright red dawn;
Her expression was filled with anger and shame;
Yet you could see pity clearly beneath it all.

XCV
If she sensed from his cheerful demeanor,
That anyone might expose his love by talking,
Sometimes she listened, sometimes turned away,
And played hard to get all day long:
So all her suitors were kindly tricked,
Their serious requests received neither yes nor no;
But like tired hunters, they end up suffering,
That chase all day, and lose the hare at night.

XCVI
These were the skills that captivated
A thousand young and lively knights;
These were the weapons with which love defeated
Their weak hearts in reckless battles:
Is it any surprise that Achilles was led astray,
Or that great Hercules was entranced by the sight of their ladies,
Since these true champions of the Lord above
Were enslaved by beauty, willing slaves to knowledge.

THE ARGUMENT.
Gernando mocks Rinaldo for wanting
To take control of the position he seeks and works hard for,
And insults him so much that in his anger
The wronged knight ends his enemy's life:
Far from the camp, the killer retreats,
Not allowing himself to be shackled or bound:
Armide leaves satisfied, and from the seas
Godfrey hears news that troubles him and his.

I
While Armida misled the knights
In wandering through the lies of false love,
And thought, besides the champions she promised,
To rally the other lords to her side,
In Godfrey’s mind a strong debate arose
About who was best fit to take on this challenge;
For all the heroes of the adventure’s group
Were equal in birth, power, and strength.

II
But first the prince, with serious advice, decided
They should choose a knight on their own terms,
So that Lord Dudon could take charge,
And take protection over that glorious group;
So no one would be upset or unhappy with the decision,
Nor blame the one responsible for their new control:
Also, Godfredo demonstrated through this plan,
How much he valued that leadership.

III
He then called the important people and said to them:
“Lords, you know I obeyed your wishes,
And allowed you to pursue this lady,
To take her kingdom and defeat that tyrant:
But now I want to make it clear to you again,
That following her might bring you trouble;
So hold back and reconsider this reckless idea,
Because death can come unexpectedly, and danger lurks where you don't look.”

IV
“But if avoiding these dangers, which you've gone so far to escape,
Seems shameful given the position you hold;
If serious advice and wise guidance are
Considered obstacles to your bold courage;
Then know, I do not deny anyone against their will,
Nor do I take back what I previously granted;
But he is mine by right, as it should be,
Sweet, easy, pleasant, gentle, meek, and light.

V
“So go or stay, whatever you prefer,
I give you the freedom to take on this mission;
But first, in Dudon’s place, now laid to rest,
Choose another strong and wise leader;
Then select ten among the best,
But let no more try this difficult task,
In this I’m satisfied with what I’ve given you,
For forced power is just a glorious slave.”

VI
So Godfrey said, and his brother responded,
Speaking for himself and all his friends:
“My lord, just as it suits you to take
These wise pauses and express these doubts and fears,
It’s our role to step up first;
Courage and quick action are right for our strength and age;
And approaching this with such serious consideration,
Would be wise for you, but cowardly for us.

VII
"Since then the task is simple, without danger,
All ready for battle and in tough fight,
Allow the chosen ten to leave
And help the lady:" thus the knight planned,
To make people believe the sun of honor shone
Where Cupid's lamp provided the light:
The others see his trick, and they agree,
And call that knighthood which was just childish love.

VIII
But loving Eustace, who looked on with jealousy,
Saw the qualities of Sophia’s esteemed child,
And secretly envied his handsome form,
Along with the virtues he held within,
And since he wanted no one else in love,
He filled his mouth with carefully crafted words,
Luring his rival to listen to him;
Thus, with clever trickery, he lured the knight in:

IX
“Of great Bertoldo, you are the greater heir,
You star of knighthood, flower of chivalry,
Tell me, who will now lead this fine squadron,
Since our recent guide lies cold in marble?
I, who could compare with famous Dudon
In everything but age, gray hair, and seriousness,
To whom should I, Duke Godfrey’s brother, bow,
Except to you, the shield of the Christian army?

X
"You, who were born into greatness, stand among the best. Your actions set you apart, admired by me and everyone before; Not only do you excel in battle, but I also hold Godfrey’s worthy self in little regard; I’m compelled to obey you; Let your eagle soar high before these great figures; You might think this honor is insignificant, Whose day of glory has never seen darkness."

XI
"But you can use this opportunity to show off
The expanding wings of your everlasting fame;
I'll make it happen if you don't object,
And shape their desires to align with yours:
But since I’m not quite sure which way
To direct my efforts, or how to apply them,
Please let me choose freely
To help Armida, or stay here with you."

XII
This final request, since love is harmful to conceal,
Brought a flush of crimson to his cheeks;
Rinaldo quickly noticed his emotions,
And with a soft smile turned his head away,
And because weak Cupid was too blind
To hit him right, the passion in him was gone;
So he had no fear of rivals,
And he didn’t care about the journey or the girl.

XIII
But he often thought about Dudon’s great skills, his death, and burial,
And how Argantes proudly displayed his feathers,
Celebrating his luck due to that honorable defeat;
Moreover, the knight’s kind words and gentle praises
Rightly honored him and made his heart glad, for he understood,
Even though he praised him a lot, all his words were genuine.

XIV
"High honor degrees to hold," he said, "I would first earn them and desire them;
And if my courage was as you’ve described,
I would aim for a higher place because of it.
But if you want to raise me to the honors I deserve,
I won't refuse the reward for my efforts;
And it makes me happy that my strength and skills
Are praised by such a brave knight."

XV
"I neither chase it nor turn it down,
If I get it, the credit and thanks are yours."
Eustace, saying this, hurried off quickly
To see which way his friends' feelings lean:
But Prince Gernando wanted the position,
Even though Armida tried to bring him down,
All her efforts were in vain against him,
His pride was so great, there was no room for love.

XVI
Gernando was the son of the King of Norway,
Who had to oversee many kingdoms and lands,
And for his elders, he had won lands and crowns.
His heart was filled with endless pride:
He bragged more about what he had achieved
Than all the great deeds of his ancestors combined;
Yet his ancestors, before him,
Were famous in war and peace for five hundred years.