Adreadfulthunder-clapatlastheheard，Theagedtreesandplantswell-nighthatrent；
　　Yetheardthenymphsandsirensafterward，Birds，winds，andwaters，singwithsweetconsent：
　　Whereatamazedhestayed，andwellpreparedForhisdefence，heedfulandslowforthwent：
　　Norinhiswayhispassageaughtwithstood，Exceptaquiet，still，transparentflood。
　　XX
　　Onthegreenbankswhichthatfairstreaminbound，Flowersandodorssweetlysmiledandsmelled，Whichreachingouthisstretchedarmsaround，Allthelargedesertinhisbosomheld，Andthroughthegroveonechannelpassagefound；
　　Thatinthewood；inthat，theforestdwelled：
　　Treescladthestreams；streamsgreenthosetreesayemadeAndsoexchangedtheirmoistureandtheirshade。
　　XXI
　　Theknightsomewaysoughtoutthefloodtopass，Andashesought，awondrousbridgeappeared，Abridgeofgold，ahugeandweightymass，Onarchesgreatofthatrichmetalreared；
　　Whenthroughthatgoldenwayheenteredwas，Downfellthebridge，swelledthestream，andwearedTheworkaway，norsignleftwhereitstood，Andofarivercalmbecameaflood。
　　XXII
　　Heturned，amazedtoseeittroubledso，Likesuddenbrooksincreasedwithmoltensnow，Thebillowsfiercethattossedtoandfro，Thewhirlpoolssuckeddowntotheirbosomslow；
　　Butonhewenttosearchforwondersmo，Throughthethicktreestherehighandbroadwhichgrow，Andinthatforesthugeanddesertwide，Themorehesought，morewondersstillhespied。
　　XXIII
　　Wheresohestepped，itseemedthejoyfulgroundRenewedtheverdureofherfloweryweed，Afountainhere，awellspringtherehefound；
　　Herebudtheroses，theretheliliesspreadTheagedwoodo’erandabouthimroundFlourishedwithblossomsnew，newleaves，newseed，Andontheboughsandbranchesofthosetreen，Thebarkwassoftened，andrenewedthegreen。
　　XXIV
　　Themannaoneachleafdidpearledlie，Thehoneystilledfromthetenderrind；
　　Againheheardthatwondrousharmony，Ofsongsandsweetcomplaintsofloverskind，Thehumanvoicessungatriplehigh，Towhichrespondthebirds，thestreams，thewind，Butyetunseenthosenymphs，thosesingerswere，Unseenthelutes，harps，violswhichtheybear。
　　XXV
　　Helooked，helistened，yethisthoughtsdeniedTothinkthattruewhichhebothheardandsee，Amyrtleinanampleplainhespied，Andthitherbyabeatenpathwenthe：
　　Themyrtlespreadhermightybrancheswide，Higherthanpineorpalmorcypresstree：
　　AndfaraboveallotherplantswasseenThatforest’sladyandthatdesert’squeen。
　　XXVI
　　UponthetreeshiseyesRinaldobent，。
　　Andthereamarvelgreatandstrangebegan；
　　Anagedoakbesidehimcleftandrent，Andfromhisfertilehollowwombforthran，Cladinrareweedsandstrangehabiliment，Anymph，forageabletogotoman，Anhundredplantsbeside，eveninhissight，Childedanhundrednymphs，sogreat，sodight。
　　XXVII
　　Suchasonstagesplay，suchasweseeTheDryadspaintedwhomwildSatyrslove，Whosearmshalf-naked，locksuntrussedbe，Withbuskinslacedontheirlegsabove，Andsilkenrobestuckedshortabovetheirknee；
　　Suchseemedthesylvandaughtersofthisgrove，Savethatinsteadofshaftsandboughsoftree，Sheborealute，aharp，orcitternshe。
　　XXVIII
　　Andwantonlytheycasttheminaring，Andsunganddancedtomovehisweakersense，Rinaldoroundaboutenvironing，Ascentresarewiththeircircumference；
　　Thetreetheycompassedeke，andgantosing，Thatwoodsandstreamsadmiredtheirexcellence；
　　“Welcome，dearlord，welcometothissweetgrove，Welcomeourlady’shope，welcomeherlove。
　　XXIX
　　“Thoucom’sttocureourprincess，faintandsickForlove，forloveofthee，faint，sick，distressed；
　　Lateblack，latedreadfulwasthisforestthick，Fitdwellingforsadfolkwithgriefoppressed，SeewiththycominghowthebranchesquickRevivedare，andinnewblosomsdressed：“
　　Thiswastheirsong，andafter，fromitwentFirstasweetsound，andthenthemyrtlerent。
　　XXX
　　IfantiquetimesadmiredSilenusoldThatoftappearedsetonhislazyass，HowwouldtheywonderiftheyhadbeholdSuchsightsasfromthemyrtlehighdidpass？
　　Thencecamealadyfairwithlocksofgold，Thatlikeinshape，infaceandbeautywasTosweetArmide；RinaldothinkshespiesHergestures，smiles，andglancesofhereyes。
　　XXXI
　　Onhimasadandsmilinglookshecast，Whichtwentypassionsstrangeatoncebewrays：
　　“Andartthoucome，“quothshe，“returnedatlastToherfromwhombutlatethouran’stthyways？
　　Com’stthoutocomfortmeforsorrowspast？
　　Toeasemywidownightsandcarefuldays？
　　Orcomestthoutoworkmegriefandharm？
　　Whyniltthouspeak？——whynotthyfacedisarm？
　　XXXII
　　“Com’stthouafriendorfoe？IdidnotframeThatgoldenbridgetoentertainmyfoe，Noropenedflowersandfountainsasyoucame，Towelcomehimwithjoythatbringsmewoe：
　　Putoffthyhelm，rejoicemewiththeflameOfthybrighteyes，whencefirstmyfiresdidgrow。
　　Kissme，embraceme，ifyoufurtherventure，Lovekeepsthegate，thefortiseathtoenter。“
　　XXXIII
　　ThusasshewoossherollsherruefuleyesWithpiteouslook，andchangethofthercheer，Anhundredsighsfromherfalseheartupflies，Shesobs，shemourns，itisgreatruthtohear；
　　Thehardestbreastsweetpitymollifies，Whatstonyheartresistsawoman’stear？
　　Butyettheknight，wise，wary，notunkind，Drewforthhisswordandfromhercarelesstwined。
　　XXXIV
　　Towardthetreehemarched，shethitherstart，Beforehimstepped，embracedtheplantandcried，“Ah，neverdomesuchaspitefulpart，Tocutmytree，thisforest’sjoyandpride，Putupthysword，elsepiercetherewiththeheartOfthyforsakenanddespisedArmide；
　　Forthroughthisbreast，andthroughthisheartunkindTothisfairtreethyswordshallpassagefind。“
　　XXXV
　　Helifthisbrand，norcaredthoughoftsheprayed，Andsheherformtoothershapedidchange；
　　SuchmonstershugewhenmenindreamsarelaidOftintheiridlefanciesroamandrange：
　　Herbodyswelled，herfaceobscurewasmade，Vanishedhergarments，herfaceandvesturesstrange，Agiantessbeforehimhighshestands，LikeBriareusarmedwithanhundredhands。
　　XXXVI
　　Withfiftyswords，andfiftytargetsbright，Shethreateneddeath，sheroared，criedandfought，Eachothernymphinarmorlikewisedight，ACyclopsgreatbecame：hefearedthemnaught，Butonthemyrtlesmotewithallhismight，Thatgroanedlikelivingsoulstodeathnighbrought，TheskyseemedPluto’scourt，theairseemedhell，Thereinsuchmonstersroar，suchspiritsyell。
　　XXXVII
　　Lightenedtheheavensabove，theearthbelowRoaredloud，thatthundered，andthisshook；
　　Blusteredthetempestsstrong，thewhirlwindsblow，Thebitterstormdrovehailstonesinhislook；
　　Butyethisarmgrewneitherweaknorslow，Norofthatfuryheedorcarehetook，Tilllowtoearththewoundedtreedownbended；
　　Thenfledthespiritsall，thecharmsallended。
　　XXXVIII
　　Theheavensgrewclear，theairwaxedcalmandstill，Thewoodreturnedtohiswontedstate，Ofwithcraftsfree，quitevoidofspiritsill；
　　Ofhorrorfull，buthorrorthereinnate；
　　HefurtherprovedifaughtwithstoodhiswillTocutthosetreesasdidthecharmsoflate，Andfindingnaughttostophim，smiled，andsaid，“Oshadowsvain！Ofools，ofshadesafraid！“
　　XXXIX
　　Fromthencehometothecampwardturnedtheknight，Thehermitcried，upstartingfromhisseat，“Nowofthewoodthecharmshavelosttheirmight，Thespritesareconquered，endedisthefeat，Seewherehecomes！“InglisteringwhitealldightAppearedtheman，bold，stately，highandgreat，Hiseagle’ssilverwingstoshinebegunWithwondroussplendorgainstthegoldensun。
　　XL
　　Thecampreceivedhimwithajoyfulcry，Acrythedalesandhillsaboutthatflied；
　　ThenGodfreywelcomedhimwithhonorshigh，Hisgloryquenchedallspite，allenvykilled：
　　“Toyonderdreadfulgrove，“quothhe，“wentI，Andfromthefearfulwood，asmeyouwilled，Havedriventhespritesaway，thitherletbeYourpeoplesent，thewayissafeandfree。“
　　XLI
　　Sentweretheworkmenthither，thencetheybroughtTimberenough，bygoodadviceselect，AndthoughbyskillessbuildersframedandwroughtTheirenginesrudeandramswerelateelect，YetnowthefortsandtowersfromwhencetheyfoughtWereframedbyacunningarchitect，William，ofalltheGenoeselordandguide，Whichlateruledalltheseasfromsidetoside；
　　XLII
　　Butforcedtoretirefromhimatlast，ThePaganfleettheseasmoistempirewon，HismenwithalltheirstuffandstoreinhasteHometothecampwiththeircommanderrun，Inskill，inwit，incunninghimsurpassedYetneverengineerbeneaththesun，Ofcarpentersanhundredlargehebrought，Thatwhattheirlorddevisedmadeandwrought。
　　XLIII
　　Thismanbeganwithwondrousarttomake，Notrams，notmightybrakes，notslingsalone，Wherewiththefirmandsolidwallstoshake，Tocastadart，orthrowashaftorstone；
　　Butframedofpinesandfirs，didundertakeTobuildafortresshuge，towhichwasnoneYeteverlike，whereofheclothedthesidesAgainsttheballsoffirewithrawbull’shides。
　　XLIV
　　Inmorticesandsocketsframedjust，Thebeams，thestudsandpuncheonsjoinedhefast；
　　Tobeatthecity’swall，beneathforthbrustAramwithhornedfront，aboutherwaistAbridgetheenginefromhersideoutthrust，Whichonthewallwhenneedshecast；
　　Andfromhertopaturretsmallupstood，Strong，surelyarmed，andbuildedoflikewood。
　　XLV
　　Setonanhundredwheelstherollingmass，Onthesmoothlandswentnimblyupanddown，Thoughfullofarmsandarmedmenitwas，Yetwithsmallpainsitran，asithadflown：
　　Wonderedthecampsoquicktoseeitpass，Theypraisedtheworkmenandtheirskillunknown，Andonthatdaytwotowerstheybuildedmore，LikethatwhichsweetClorindaburnedbefore。