“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。