“Mylord，notoneofusthereis，Igrant，Thatdarescutdownonebranchinyonderspring，Ithinktheredwellsaspriteineveryplant，TherekeepshiscourtgreatDisinfernalking，HehathaheartofhardenedadamantThatwithouttremblingdaresattemptthething，AndsensehewantethwhosohardyisToheartheforestthunder，roarandhiss。“
XXIV
Thissaid，Alcastotohiswordsgaveheed，AlcastoleaderoftheSwitzersgrim，Amanbothvoidofwitandvoidofdreed，Whofearednotlossoflifenorlossoflimb。
NosavagebeastsindesertswildthatfeedNoruglymonstercoulddisheartenhim，Norwhirlwind，thunder，earthquake，storm，oraughtThatinthisworldisstrangeorfearfulthought。
XXV
Heshookhishead，andsmilingthusgansay，“ThehardinesshaveIthatwoodtofell，AndthoseproudtreeslowinthedusttolayWhereinsuchgrislyfiendsandmonstersdwell；
Noroaringghostmycouragecandismay，Noshriekofbirds，beast’sroar，ordragon’syell；
ButthroughandthroughthatforestwillIwend，Althoughtodeepesthellthepathsdescend。“
XXVI
Thusboastedhe，andleavetogodesired，Andforwardwentwithjoyfulcheerandwill，Heviewedthewoodandthosethickshadesadmired，Heheardthewondrousnoiseandrumblingshrill；
Yetnotonefoottheaudaciousmanretired，Hescornedtheperil，pressingforwardstill，Tillontheforest’soutmostmargehestepped，Aflamingfirefromentrancetherehimkept。
XXVII
Thefireincreased，andbuiltastatelywallOfburningcoals，quicksparks，andembershot，Andwithbrightflamesthewoodenvironedall，ThattherenotreenortwistAlcastogot；
Thehigherstretchedtheflamesseemedbulwarkstall，Castlesandturretsfulloffieryshot，Withslingsandenginesstrongofeverysort；——
Whatmortalwightdurstscalesostrangeafort？
XXVIII
OhwhatstrangemonstersonthebattlementInloathsomeformsstoodtodefendtheplace？
Theirfrowninglooksupontheknighttheybent，Andthreateneddeathwithshot，withswordandmace：
Atlasthefled，andthoughbutslowhewent，Aslionsdowhomjollyhunterschase；
Yetfledthemanandwithsadfearwithdrew，Thoughfeartillthenheneverfeltnorknew。
XXIX
Thathehadfledlongtimeheneverwist，Butwhenfarrunhehaddiscoverdit，Himselfforwonderwithhishandheblist，Abittersorrowbythehearthimbit，Amazed，ashamed，disgraced，sad，silent，trist，Alonehewouldalldayindarknesssit，Nordursthelookonmanofworthorfame，Hispridelategreat，nowgreatermadehisshame。
XXX
Godfredocalledhim，buthefounddelaysAndcauseswhyheshouldhiscabinkeep，Atlengthperforcehecomes，butnaughthesays，Ortalkslikethosethatbabbleintheirsleep。
HisshamefacednesstoGodfreyplainbewraysHisflight，sodoeshissighsandsadnessdeep：
Whereatamazed，“Whatchanceisthis？“quothhe。
“Thesewitchcraftsstrangeornature’swondersbe。
XXXI
“ButifhiscourageanychampionmoveTotrythehazardofthisdreadfulspring，Igivehimleavetheadventuregreattoprove，Somenewshemayreportusofthething：“
Thissaid，hislordsattemptthecharmedgrove，Yetnothingbackbutfearandflighttheybring，Fortheminforcedwithtremblingtoretire，Thesight，thesound，themonstersandthefire。
XXXII
ThishappedwhenwofulTancredlefthisbedTolayinmarblecoldhismistressdear，Thelivelycolorfromhischeekwasfled，Hislimbswereweakhishelmortargetobear；
Nathlesswhenneedtohighattemptshimled，Nolaborwouldheshun，nodangerfear，Hisvalor，boldness，heartandcouragebrave，Tohisfaintbodystrengthandvigorgave。
XXXIII
Tothisexploitforthwenttheventurousknight，Fearless，yetheedful；silent，welladvised，Theterrorsofthatforest’sdreadfulsight，Storms，earthquakes，thunders，cries，healldespised：
Hefearednothing，yetamotionlight，Thatquicklyvanished，inhisheartarisedWhenlo，betweenhimandthecharmedwood，Afierycityhighasheavenupstood。
XXXIV
Theknightsteppedbackandtookasuddenpause，Andtohimself，“Whathelpthesearms？“quothhe，“Ifinthisfire，ormonster’sgapingjawsIheadlongcastmyself，whatbootsitme？
Forcommonprofit，ormycountry’scause，Tohazardlifebeforemenoneshouldbe：
ButthisexploitofnosuchweightIhold，Forittoloseaprinceorchampionbold。
XXXV
ButifIfly，whatwillthePaganssay？
IfIretire，whoshallcutdownthisspring？
Godfredowillattemptiteveryday。
Whatifsomeotherknightperformthething？
TheseflamesuprisentoforestallmywayPerchancemoreterrorfarthandangerbring。
Buthapwhatshall；“thissaid，heforwardstepped，Andthroughthefire，ohwondrousboldness，leapt！
XXXVI
Heboltedthrough，butneitherwarmthnorheat！
Hefelt，norsignoffireorscorchingflame；
Yetwisthenotinhisdismayedconceit，Ifthatwerefireornothroughwhichhecame；
Foratfirsttouchvanishedthosemonstersgreat，AndintheirsteadthecloudsblacknightdidframeAndhideousstormsandshowersofhailandrain；
Yetstormsandtempestsvanishedstraightagain。
XXXVII
AmazedbutnotafraidthechampiongoodStoodstill，butwhenthetempestpassedhespied，Heenteredboldlythatforbiddenwood，Andoftheforestallthesecretseyed，InallhiswalknospriteorphantasmstoodThatstoppedhiswayorpassagefreedenied，Savethatthegrowingtreessothickwereset，Thatofthissight，andpassageofttheylet。
XXXVIII
Atlengthafairandspaciousgreenhespied，Likecalmestwaters，plain，likevelvet，soft，Whereinacypresscladinsummer’spride，Pyramid-wise，liftuphistopsaloft；
Inwhosesmoothbarkupontheevenestside，Strangecharactershefound，andviewedthemoft，LikethosewhichpriestsofEgypterstinsteadOflettersused，whichnonebuttheycouldread。
XXXIX
Mongstthemhepickedoutthesewordsatlast，WritintheSyriactongue，whichwellhecould，“Ohhardyknight，whothroughthesewoodshastpassed：
WhereDeathhispalaceandhiscourtdothhold！
Ohtroublenotthesesoulsinquietplaced，Ohbenotcruelasthyheartisbold，Pardontheseghostsdeprivedofheavenlylight，Withspiritsdeadwhyshouldmenlivingfight？“
XL
Thisfoundhegraveninthetenderrind，Andwhilehemusedonthisuncouthwrit，HimthoughtheheardthesoftlywhistlingwindHisblastsamidtheleavesandbranchesknitAndframeasoundlikespeechofhumankind，Butfullofsorrowgriefandwoewasit，WherebyhisgentlethoughtsallfilledwereWithpity，sadness，grief，compassion，fear。
XLI
Hedrewhisswordatlast，andgavethetreeAmightyblow，thatmadeagapingwound，OutoftheriftredstreamshetricklingseeThatallbebledtheverdantplainaround，Hishairstartup，yetonceagainstrokehe，HenouldgiveovertilltheendhefoundOfthisadventure，whenwithplaintandmoan，Asfromsomehollowgrave，heheardonegroan。
XLII
“Enough，enough！“thevoicelamentingsaid，“Tancred，thouhastmehurt，thoudidstmedriveOutofthebodyofanoblemaidWhowithmelived，whomlateIkeptonlive，Andnowwithinthiswofulcypresslaid，Mytenderrindthyweaponsharpdothrive，Cruel，is’tnotenoughthyfoestokill，Butintheirgraveswiltthoutormentthemstill？
XLIII
“IwasClorinda，nowimprisonedhere，YetnotalonewithinthisplantIdwell，ForeveryPaganlordandChristianpeer，Beforethecity’swallslastdaythatfell，InbodiesneworgravesIwotnotclear，Butheretheyareconfinedbymagic’sspell，Sothateachtreehathlife，andsenseeachbough，Amurdererifthoucutonetwistartthou。“
XLIV
AsthesickmanthatinhissleepdothseeSomeuglydragon，orsomechimeranew，Thoughhesuspect，orhalfpersuadedbe，Itisanidledream，nomonstertrue，Yetstillhefears，hequakes，andstrivestoflee，Sofearfulisthatwondrousformtoview；
Sofearedtheknight，yethebothknewandthoughtAllwereillusionsfalsebywitchcraftwrought：
XLV
Butcoldandtremblingwaxedhisfrozenheart，Suchstrangeeffects，suchpassionsittorment，Outofhisfeeblehandhisweaponstart，Himselfoutofhiswitsnigh，afterwent：
Woundedhesaw，hethought，forpainandsmart，Hisladyweep，complain，mourn，andlament，Norcouldhesufferherdearbloodtosee，Orhearhersighsthatdeepfarfetchedbe。
XLVI
Thushisfierceheartwhichdeathhadscornedoft，Whomnostrangeshapeormonstercoulddismay，Withfeignedshowsoftenderlovemadesoft，Aspiritfalsedidwithvainplaintsbetray；
Awhirlingwindhisswordheavedupaloft，Andthroughtheforestbareitquiteaway。
O’ercomeretiredtheprince，andashecame，Hisswordhefound，andrepossessedthesame，XLVII
Yetnouldreturn，hehadnomindtotryHiscouragefurtherinthoseforestsgreen；
ButwhentoGodfrey’stentheproachednigh，Hisspiritswaked，histhoughtscomposedbeen，“MyLord。“quothhe，“awitnesstrueamI
Ofwondersstrange，believeitscantthoughseen，Whatofthefire，theshades，thedreadfulsoundYouheard，alltruebyproofmyselfhavefound；
XLVIII
“Aburningfire，soarethosedesertscharmed，Builtlikeabattledwalltoheavenwasreared；
Whereonwithdartsanddreadfulweaponsarmed，Ofmonstersfoulmis-shapedwholebandsappeared；
ButthroughthemallIpassed，unhurt，unharmed，NoflameorthreatenedblowIfeltorfeared，ThenrainandnightIfound，butstraightagainToday，thenight，tosunshineturnedtherain。
XLIX
“Whatwouldyoumore？eachtreethroughallthatwoodHathsense，hathlife，hathspeech，likehumankind，IheardtheirwordsasinthatgroveIstood，Thatmournfulvoicestill，stillIbearinmind：
And，astheywereofflesh，thepurplebloodAteveryblowstreamsfromthewoundedrind；
No，no，notI，noranyelse，Itrow，Hathpowertocutoneleaf，onebranch，onebough。“