“Alas，whydidnotHeaventhesemembersfrailWithlivelyforceandvigorstrengthensoThatIthissilkengownandslenderveilMightforabreastplateandanhelmforego？
　　Thenshouldnotheat，norcold，norrain，norhail，Norstormsthatfall，norblusteringwindsthatblowWithholdme，butIwouldbothdayandnight，Inpitchedfield，orprivatecombatfight。
　　LXXXIV
　　“Norhaddestthou，Argantes，firstbegunWithmydearlordthatfierceandcruelfight，ButItothatencounterwouldhaverun，Andhaplyta’enhimcaptivebymymight；
　　Yetshouldhefind，ourfuriouscombatdone，Histhraldomeasy，andhisbondagelight；
　　Forfetters，mineembracementsshouldheprove；
　　Fordiet，kissessweet；forkeeper，love。
　　LXXXV
　　“Orelsemytenderbosomopenedwide，Andheartthoughpiercedwithhiscruelblade，ThebloodyweaponinmywoundedsideMightcurethewoundwhichlovebeforehadmade；
　　ThenshouldmysoulinrestandquietslideDowntothevalleysoftheElysianshade，Andmymishaptheknightperchancewouldmove，Toshedsometearsuponhismurderedlove。
　　LXXXVI
　　“Alas！impossibleareallthesethings，Suchwishesvainafflictmywofulsprite，WhyyieldIthustoplaintsandsorrowings，Asifallhopeandhelpwereperishedquite？
　　Myheartdaresmuch，itsoarswithCupid’swings，WhyuseInotforoncethesearmorsbright？
　　Imaysustainawhilethisshieldaloft，ThoughIbetender，feeble，weakandsoft。
　　LXXXVII
　　“Love，strong，bold，mightynever-tiredlove，Suppliethforcetoallhisservantstrue；
　　Thefearfulstagshedothtobattlemove，Tilleachhishornsinothers’bloodimbrue；
　　YetmeannotIthehapsofwartoprove，AstratagemIhavedevisednew，Clorinda-likeinthisfairharnessdight，Iwillescapeoutofthetownthisnight。
　　LXXXVIII
　　“Iknowthementhathavethegatetoward，Ifshecommandarenotherwilldeny，InwhatsortelsecouldIbeguiletheguard？
　　Thiswayisonlyleft，thiswillItry：
　　Ogentlelove，inthisadventurehardThinehandmaidguide，assistandfortify！
　　Thetime，thehournowfittethbestthething，WhilestoutClorindatalkethwiththeking。“
　　LXXXIX
　　Resolvedthus，withoutdelayshewent，Asherstrongpassiondidherrashlyguide，Andthosebrightarms，downfromtherafterhent，Withinherclosetdidshecloselyhide；
　　Thatmightshedounseen，forshehadsentTherest，onsleevelesserrandsfromherside，Andnightherstealthsbroughttotheirwishedend，Night，patronessofthieves，andlovers’friend。
　　XC
　　Somesparklingfiresonheaven’sbrightvisageshone；
　　Hisazurerobetheorientbluenesslost，Whenshe，whosewitandreasonbothweregone，Calledforasquireshelovedandtrustedmost，Towhomandtoamaid，afaithfulone，Partofherwillshetold，howthatinpostShewoulddepartfromJuda’sking，andfeignedThatothercausehersuddenflightconstrained。
　　XCI
　　Thetrustysquireprovidedneedmentsmeet，Asfortheirjourneyfittingmostshouldbe；
　　Meanwhilehervesture，pendanttoherfeet，Erminiadoft，aserstdeterminedshe，StrippedtoherpetticoatthevirginsweetSoslenderwas，thatwonderwastosee；
　　Herhandmaidreadyathermistress’will，Toarmherhelped，thoughsimplewereherskill。
　　XCII
　　TheruggedsteeloppressedandoffendedHerdaintyneck，andlocksofshininggold；
　　Hertenderarmsofeeblewas，itbendedWhenthathugetargetitpresumedtohold，Theburnishedsteelbrightraysfaroffextended，Shefeignedcourage，andappearedbold；
　　FastbyhersideunseensmiledVenus’son，AsersthelaughedwhenAlcidesspun。
　　XCIII
　　Oh，withwhatlabordidhershouldersbearThatheavyburthen，andhowslowshewent！
　　Hermaid，toseethatallthecoastswereclear，Beforehermistress，throughthestreetswassent；
　　Lovegavehercourage，loveexiledfear，Lovetohertiredlimbsnewvigorlent，Tillsheapproachedwherethesquireabode，Theretooktheyhorseforthwithandforwardrode。
　　XCIV
　　Disguisedtheywent，andbyunusedways，Andsecretpathstheystroveunseentogone，Untilthewatchtheymeet，whichsoreaffraysTheirsoldiersnew，whenswordsandweaponsshoneYetnonetostoptheirjourneyonceessays，Butplaceandpassageyieldedeveryone；
　　Forthatwhilearmor，andthathelmetbright，Wereknownandfeared，inthedarkestnight。
　　XCV
　　Erminia，thoughsomedealsheweredismayed，Yetwentsheon，andgoodlycountenancebore，Shedoubtedlestherpurposewerebewrayed，Hertoomuchboldnesssherepentedsore；
　　Butnowthegateherfearandpassagestayed，Theheedlessportershebeguiledtherefore，“IamClorinda，opethegate，“shecried，“Whereasthekingcommands，thislateIride。“
　　XCVI
　　Herwoman’svoiceandtermsallframedbeen，Mostlikethespeechesoftheprincessstout，WhowouldhavethoughtonhorsebacktohaveseenThatfeebledamselarmedroundabout？
　　Theporterherobeyed，andshe，betweenHertrustysquireandmaiden，salliedout，Andthroughthesecretdalestheysilentpass，Wheredangerleast，leastfear，leastperilwas。
　　XCVII
　　ButwhenthesefairadventurersenteredwereDeepinavale，Erminiastayedherhaste，Toberecalledshehadnocausetofear，Thisforemosthazardhadshetrimlypast；
　　Butdangersnew，toforeunseen，appear，Newperilsshedescried，newdoubtsshecast。
　　Thewaythatherdesiretoquietbrought，Moredifficultnowseemedthanerstshethought。
　　XCVIII
　　Armedtorideamongherangryfoes，Shenowperceiveditweregreatoversight，Yetwouldshenot，shethought，herselfdisclose，Untilshecamebeforeherchosenknight，TohimshepurposedtopresenttherosePure，spotless，clean，untouchedofmortalwight，Shestayedtherefore，andinherthoughtsmorewise，Shecalledhersquire，whomthussheganadvise。
　　XCIX
　　“Thoumust，“quothshe，“bemineambassador，Bewise，becareful，true，anddiligent，Gotothecamp，presentthyselfbeforeThePrinceTancredi，woundedinhistent；
　　Tellhimthymistresscomestocarehissore，IfhetograntherpeaceandrestconsentGainstwhomfiercelovesuchcruelwarhathraised，Soshallhiswoundsbecured，hertormentseased。
　　C
　　“Andsay，inhimsuchhopeandtrustshehath，Thatinhispowersshefearsnoshamenorscorn，Tellhimthusmuch，andwhatso’erhesaith，Unfoldnomore，butmakeaquickreturn，I，forthisplaceisfreefromharmandscath，Withinthisvalleywillmeanwhilesojourn。“
　　Thusspaketheprincess：andherservanttrueToexecutethechargeimposed，flew；
　　CI
　　Andwasreceived，hesodiscreetlywrought，Firstofthewatchthatguardedintheirplace，Beforethewoundedprincethenwashebrought，Whoheardhismessagekind，withgentlegrace，Whichtold，helefthimtossinginhisthoughtAthousanddoubts，andturnedhisspeedypaceTobringhisladyandhismistressword，Shemightbewelcometothatcourteouslord。
　　CII
　　Butshe，impatient，towhosedesireGrievousandharmfulseemedeachlittlestay，Recountshissteps，andthinks，nowdrawshenigher，Nowentersin，nowspeaks，nowcomeshisway；
　　Andthatwhichgrievedhermost，thecarefulsquireLessspeedyseemedthane’erbeforethatday；
　　Lastlysheforwardrodewithlovetoguide，UntiltheChristiantentsathandshespied。
　　CIII
　　Investedinherstarryveil，thenightInherkindarmsembracedallthisround，ThesilvermoonformseauprisingbrightSpreadfrostypearluponthecandidground：
　　AndCynthia-likeforbeauty’sgloriouslightThelove-sicknymphthrewglitteringbeamsaround，AndcounsellorsofheroldloveshemadeThosevalleysdumb，thatsilence，andthatshade。
　　CIV
　　Beholdingthenthecamp，quothshe，“OfairAndcastle-likepavilions，richlywrought！
　　Fromyouhowsweetmethinkethblowstheair，Howcomfortsitmyheart，mysoul，mythought？
　　Throughheaven’sfairfacefromgulfofsaddespairMytossedbarktoportwell-nighisbrought：
　　InyouIseekredressforallmyharms，Rest，midstyourweapons；peace，amongstyourarms。
　　CV
　　“Receiveme，then，andletmemercyfind，AsgentleloveassurethmeIshall，AmongyouhadIentertainmentkindWhenfirstIwasthePrinceTancredi’sthrall：
　　Icovetnot，ledbyambitionblindYoushouldmeinmyfather’sthroneinstall，MightIbutserveinyoumylordsodear，Thatmycontent，myjoy，mycomfortwere。“
　　CVI
　　Thusparleyedshe，poorsoul，andneverfearedThesuddenblowofFortune’scruelspite，ShestoodwherePhoebe’ssplendentbeamappearedUponhersilverarmordoublebright，TheplaceaboutherroundsheshiningclearedWiththatpurewhitewhereinthenymphwasdight：
　　Thetigressgreat，thatonherhelmetlaid，Borewitnesswhereshewent，andwhereshestayed。
　　CVII
　　Soasherfortunewould，aChristianbandTheirsecretambushtherehadcloselyframed，LedbytwobrothersofItalialand，YoungPoliphernandAlicandronamed，ThesewiththeirforceswatchedtowithstandThosethatbroughtvictualstotheirfoesuntamed，Andkeptthatpassage；themErminiaspied，Andfledasfastasherswiftsteedcouldride。
　　CVIII
　　ButPoliphern，beforewhosewateryeyes，HisagedfatherstrongClorindaslew，Whenthatbrightshieldandsilverhelmhespies，Thechampionesshethoughthesawandknew；
　　UponhishiddenmatesforaidhecriesGainsthissupposedfoe，andforthheflew，Ashewasrash，andheedlessinhiswrath，Bendinghislance，“Thouartbutdead，“hesaith。
　　CIX
　　AswhenachasedhindhercoursedothbendToseekbysoiltofindsomeeaseorgoad；
　　Whetherfromcraggyrockthespringdescend，Orsoftlyglidewithintheshadywood；
　　Iftherethedogsshemeet，wherelateshewendTocomfortherweaklimbsincoolingflood，Againshefliesswiftasshefledatfirst，Forgettingweakness，wearinessandthirst。
　　CX
　　Soshe，thatthoughttorestherwearysprite，AndquenchtheendlessthirstofardentloveWithdearembracementsofherlordandknight，Butsuchasmarriageritesshouldfirstapprove，Whenshebeheldherfoe，withweaponbrightThreateningherdeath，histrustycoursermove，Herlove，herlord，herselfabandoned，Shespurredherspeedysteed，andswiftshefled。
　　CXI
　　Erminiafled，scantlythetendergrassHerPegasuswithhislightfootstepsbent，Hermaiden’sbeastforspeeddidlikewisepass；
　　Yetdiversways，suchwastheirfear，theywent：
　　Thesquirewhoalltoolatereturned，alas。
　　WithtardynewsfromPrinceTancredi’stent，Fledlikewise，whenhesawhismistressgone，Itbootednottosojourntherealone。
　　CXII
　　ButAlicandrowiserthantherest，WhothissupposedClorindasawlikewise，Tofollowheryetwashenothingpressed，Butinhisambushstillandclosehelies，AmessengertoGodfreyheaddressed，Thatshouldhimofthisaccidentadvise，HowthathisbrotherchasedwithnakedbladeClorinda’sself，orelseClorinda’sshade。