Commentary Par XVIII 39

This line makes it clear that the protagonist hears the names of the heroes spoken by his ancestor, who thus becomes, for a moment, the 'author' of this part of the poem, and thus of a crusading epic.  See C.Par.XVIII.51.  However, and as Iorio (Iori.1989.1), p. 474, reminds us, there is not a word about their battles; this text presents them as they are, now and forever, in the sight of God, literally sub specie aeternitatis, with all that violence behind them.