Aswhenthemorningstar，escapedandfledFromgreedywaves，withdewybeamsupflies，OrastheQueenofLove，newbornandbredOftheOcean’sfruitfulfroth，didfirstarise：
SoventedshehergoldenlocksforthshedRoundpearlsandcrystalmoistthereinwhichlies：
Butwhenhereyesupontheknightsshecast，Shestart，andfeignedheroftheirsightaghast。
LXI
Andherfairlocks，thatinaknotweretiedHighonhercrown，she’ganatlargeunfold；
Whichfallinglongandthickandspreadingwide，Theivorysoftandwhitemantledingold：
Thusherfairskinthedamewouldclotheandhide，Andthatwhichhiditnolessfairwashold；
Thuscladinwavesandlocks，hereyesdivine，Fromthemashameddidsheturnandtwine。
LXII
Withalshesmiledandsheblushedwithal，Herblush，hersmilings，smilesherblushinggraced：
Overherfaceherambertressesfall，WhereunderLovehimselfinambushplaced：
Atlastshewarbledforthatreblesmall，Andwithsweetlookshersweetsongsinterlaced；
“OhhappymenIthathavethegrace，“quothshe，“Thisbliss，thisheaven，thisparadisetosee。
LXIII
“ThisistheplacewhereinyoumayassuageYoursorrowspast，hereisthatjoyandblissThatflourishedintheantiquegoldenage，Hereneedsnolaw，herenonedothaughtamiss：
PutoffthosearmsandfearnotMarshisrage，Yoursword，yourshield，yourhelmetneedlessis；
Thenconsecratethemheretoendlessrest，Youshalllove’schampionsbe，andsoldiersblest。
LXIV
“Thefieldsforcombatherearebedsofdown，Orheapedliliesundershadybrakes；
Butcomeandseeourqueenwithgoldencrown，Thatallherservantsblestandhappymakes，Shewilladmityougentlyforherown，Numberedwiththosethatofherjoypartakes：
ButfirstwithinthislakeyourdustandsweatWashoff，andatthattablesitandeat。“
LXV
Whilethusshesung，hersisterluredthemnighWithmanyagesturekindandlovingshow，Tomusic’ssoundasdamesincourtapplyTheircunningfeet，anddancenowswiftnowslow：
Butstilltheknightsunmovedpassedby，Thesevaindelightsforwickedcharmstheyknow，Norcouldtheirheavenlyvoiceorangel’slook，Surprisetheirhearts，ifeyeoreartheytook。
LXVI
Forifthatsweetnessoncebuttouchedtheirhearts，AndprofferedtheretokindleCupid’sfire，StraightarmedReasontohischargeupstarts，AndquenchethLust，andkillethfondDesire；
Thusscornedwerethedames，theirwilesandartsAndtothepalacegatestheknightsretire，Whileintheirstreamthedamselsdivedsad，Ashamed，disgraced，forthatrepulsetheyhad。
SIXTEENTHBOOK
THEARGUMENT。
ThesearcherspassthroughallthepalacebrightWhereinsweetprisonliesRinaldopent，Anddosomuch，thatfullofrageandspite，Withthemhegoessad，shamed，discontent：
WithplaintsandprayerstoretainherknightArmidastrives；hehears，butthencehewent，AndsheforlornherpalacegreatandfairDestroysforgrief，andfliesthencethroughtheair。
I
Thepalacegreatisbuildedrichandround，AndinthecentreoftheinmostholdThereliesagardensweet，onfertileground，Fairerthanthatwheregrewthetreesofgold：
ThecunningspriteshadbuildingsrearedaroundWithdoorsandentriesfalseathousandfold，Alabyrinththeymadethatfortressbrave，LikeDaedal’sprison，orPorsenna’sgrave。
II
Theknightspassedthroughthecastle’slargestgate，Thoughroundaboutanhundredportsthereshine，Thedoor-leavesframedofcarvedsilver-plate，Upontheirgoldenhingesturnandtwine。
Theystayedtoviewthisworkofwitandstate。
Theworkmanshipexcelledthesubstancefine，Foralltheshapesinthatrichmetalwrought，Savespeech，oflivingbodieswantednaught。
III
Alcidestheresattellingtales，andspunAmongthefeebletroopsofdamselsmild，HethatthefierygatesofhellhadwonAndheavenupheld；falseLovestoodbyandsmiled：
ArmedwithhisclubfairIoleforthrun，Hisclubwithbloodofmonstersfouldefiled，Andonherbackhislion’sskinhadshe，Tooroughabarkforsuchatendertree。
IV
Beyondwasmadeasea，whoseazurefloodThehoaryfrothcrushedfromthesurgesblue，WhereintwonaviesgreatwellrangedstoodOfwarlikeships，firefromtheirarmsoutflew，Thewatersburnedabouttheirvesselsgood，Suchflamesthegoldthereinenchasedthrew，CaesarhisRomanshence，theAsiankingsThenceAntonyandIndianprincesbrings。
V
TheCycladesseemedtoswimamidthemain，Andhillgainsthill，andmountgainstmountainsmote，Withsuchgreatfurymetthosearmiestwain；
Hereburntaship，theresunkabarkorboat，Heredartsandwild-fireflew，theredrownedorslainOfprincesdeadthebodiesfleetandfloat；
HereCaesarwins，andyonderconqueredbeenTheEasternships，therefledtheEgyptianqueen：
VI
Antoniusekehimselftoflightbetook，Theempirelosttowhichhewouldaspire，Yetflednothenorfightforfearforsook，Butfollowedher，drawnonbyfonddesire：
Wellmightyouseewithinhistroubledlook，Striveandcontend，love，courage，shameandire；
Oftlookedheback，oftgazedheonthefight，Butofteneronhismistressandherflight。
VII
TheninthesecretcreeksoffruitfulNile，Castinherlap，hewouldsaddeathawait，AndinthepleasureofherlovelysmileSweetenthebitterstrokeofcursedfate：
AllthisdidartwithcurioushandcompileIntherichmetalofthatprincelygate。
Theknightsthesestoriesviewedfirstandlast，Whichseen，theyforwardpressed，andintheypassed：
VIII
AsthroughhischannelcrookedMeanderglidesWithturnsandtwines，androllsnowto，nowfro，WhosestreamsrunforththeretothesaltseasidesHerebackreturnandtotheirspringwardgo：
Suchcrookedpaths，suchwaysthispalacehides；
Yetallthemazetheirmapdescribedso，Thatthroughthelabyrinththeygotinfine，AsTheseusdidbyAriadne’sline。
IX
Whentheyhadpassedallthosetroubledways，Thegardensweetspreadforthhergreentoshow，Themovingcrystalfromthefountainsplays，Fairtrees，highplants，strangeherbsandfloweretsnew，Sunshinyhills，daleshidfromPhoebus’rays，Groves，arbors，mossycaves，atoncetheyview，Andthatwhichbeautymoat，mostwonderbrought，Nowhereappearedtheartwhichallthiswrought。
X
SowiththerudethepolishedmingledwasThatnaturalseemedallandeverypart，Naturewouldcraftincounterfeitingpass，Andimitateherimitatorart：
Mildwastheair，theskieswereclearasglass，Thetreesnowhirlwindfelt，nortempestsmart，Buterethefruitdropoff，theblossomcomes，Thissprings，thatfalls，thatripenethandthisblooms。
XI
Theleavesupontheself-sameboughdidhideBesidetheyoungtheoldandripenedfig，Herefruitwasgreen，thereripewithvermeilside，Theapplesnewandoldgrewononetwig，ThefruitfulvineherarmsspreadhighandwideThatbendedunderneaththeirclustersbig，Thegrapesweretenderhere，hard，youngandsour，Therepurpleripe，andnectarsweetforthpour。
XII
Thejoyousbirds，hidundergreenwoodshade，Sungmerrynotesoneverybranchandbough，ThewindthatintheleavesandwatersplayedWithmurmursweet，nowsung，andwhistlednow；
Ceasedthebirds，thewindloudanswermade，Andwhiletheysung，itrumbledsoftandlow；
Thuswereithaporcunning，chanceorart，Thewindinthisstrangemusicborehispart。
XIII
Withparty-coloredplumes’andpurplebill，Awondrousbirdamongtherestthereflew，Thatinplainspeechsunglove-laysloudandshrill，Herledenwaslikehumanlanguagetrue；
Somuchshetalked，andwithsuchwitandskill，Thatstrangeitseemedhowmuchgoodsheknew，Herfeatheredfellowsallstoodhushtohear，Dumbwasthewind，thewaterssilentwere。
XIV
“Thegentlybuddingrose，“quothshe，“behold，Thatfirstscantpeepingforthwithvirginbeams，Halfope，halfshut，herbeautiesdothupfoldIntheirdearleaves，andlessseen，fairerseems，Andafterspreadsthemforthmorebroadandbold，Thenlanguishethanddiesinlastextremes，Norseemsthesame，thatdeckedbedandbowerOfmanyaladylate，andparamour；
XV
“So，inthepassingofaday，dothpassThebudandblossomofthelifeofman，Nore’erdothflourishmore，butlikethegrassCutdown，becomethwithered，paleandwan：
OhgatherthentherosewhiletimethouhastShortistheday，donewhenitscantbegan，Gathertheroseoflove，whileyetthoumayest，Loving，beloved；embracing，beembraced。“
XVI
Heceased，andasapprovingallhespoke，Thechoirofbirdstheirheavenlytunesrenew，Theturtlessighed，andsighswithkissesbroke，Thefowlstoshadesunseenbypairswithdrew；
Itseemedthelaurelchaste，andstubbornoak，Andallthegentletreesonearththatgrew，Itseemedtheland，thesea，andheavenabove，Allbreathedoutfancysweet，andsighedoutlove。
XVII
Throughallthismusicrare，andstrongconsentOfstrangeallurements，sweetbovemeanandmeasure，Severe，firm，constant，stilltheknightsforthwent，Hardeningtheirheartsgainstfalseenticingpleasure，Twixtleafandleaftheirsightbeforetheysent，Andaftercreptthemselvesateaseandleisure，Tilltheybeheldthequeen，setwiththeirknightBesidesthelake，shadedwithboughsfromsight：
XVIII
Herbreastswerenaked，forthedaywashot，Herlocksunboundwavedinthewantonwind；
Somedealshesweat，tiredwiththegameyouwot，Hersweat-dropsbright，white，round，likepearlsofInd；
HerhumideyesafierysmileforthshotThatlikesunbeamsinsilverfountainsshined，O’erhimherlooksshehung，andhersoftbreastThepillowwas，whereheandlovetookrest。
XIX
Hishungryeyesuponherfacehefed，Andfeedingthemso，pinedhimselfaway；
Andshe，decliningoftendownherhead，Hislips，hischeeks，hiseyeskissed，ashelay，Wherewithhesighed，asifhissoulhadfledFromhisfrailbreasttohers，andtherewouldstayWithherbelovedsprite：thearmedpairThesefolliesallbeheldandthishotfare。