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。