CANTO I.

Under the blow he retreated three steps,
And the weight of this strike is useless. original: "le poids est inutile" — despite the force of the Englishman's attack, it failed to land a decisive blow or unseat Albert.
Suddenly Albert seizes the slower arm
As it rises again, and toward the plain he pulls
His enemy, who is outraged by this insult.
A faint laugh then escapes from Blanche,
And hope brightens her brow.
The Englishman descends, the page takes his place;
The Englishman returns, the page whom he threatens
Springs upon him; he falls knocked over,
To the bottom of the mound he rolls, and in the plain
Stops at last, all dusty, out of breath,
And consoling his wounded pride.
Hiding her joy, and as proud as she is wise,
With a single look Blanche honors her page. In the tradition of courtly love, a lady's favorable look was often considered a greater prize than any physical trophy.

Meanwhile, Raoul from the nearby bridge
Was driving Oswal away: less strong but more rapid,
From all sides his intrepid skill
Strikes the Englishman who repels him in vain.
From the rapid blows raining down upon his head
Oswal at first fends off the storm;
But upon his arm the hard steel descends,