“AndIthoughbredinMacon’sheathenishlore，Whichthouoppressestwiththypuissantmight，Yettrustthouwiltanhelplessmaidrestore，Andrepossessherinherfather’sright：
　　OthersintheirdistressdoaidimploreOfkinandfriends；butIinthissadplightInvokethyhelp，mykingdomtoinvade，Sodoththyvirtue，somyneedpersuade。
　　XLI
　　“IntheeIhope，thysuccorsIinvoke，TowinthecrownwhenceIamdispossest；
　　ForlikerenownawaitethonthestrokeTocastthehaughtydownorraisetheopprest；
　　Norgreaterglorybringsasceptrebroke，Thandothdeliveranceofamaiddistrest；
　　Andsincethoucanstatwillperformthething，Moreisthypraisetomake，thankillaking。
　　XLII
　　“Butifthouwould’stthysuccorsdueexcuse，BecauseinChristIhavenohopenortrust，Ahyetforvirtue’ssake，thyvirtueuse！
　　Whoscornethgoldbecauseitliesindust？
　　BewitnessHeaven，ifthoutograntrefuse，Thoudostforsakeamaidincausemostjust，Andforthoushaltatlargemyfortunesknow，Iwillmywrongsandtheirgreattreasonsshow。
　　XLIII
　　“PrinceArbilanthatreignedinhislifeOnfairDamascus，wasmynoblesire，Bornofmeanracehewas，yetgottowifeTheQueenChariclia，suchwasthefireOfherhotlove，butsoonthefatalknifeHadcutthethreadthatkepttheirjoysentire，Forsomishaphercruellothadcast，Mybirth，herdeath；myfirstday，washerlast。
　　XLIV
　　“AnderefiveyearswerefullycomeandgoneSincehisdearspousetohastydeathdidyield，Myfatheralsodied，consumedwithmoan，AndsoughthisloveamidtheElysianfields，Hiscrownandme，poororphan，leftalone，Mineunclegovernedinmytendereild；
　　Forwellhethought，ifmortalmenhavefaith，Inbrother’sbreasttruelovehismansionhath。
　　XLV
　　“Hetookthechargeofmeandofthecrown，AndwithkindshowsoflovesobroughttopassThatthroughDamascusgreatreportwasblownHowgood，howjust，howkindmineunclewas；
　　WhetherhekepthiswickedhateunknownAndhidtheserpentinthefloweringgrass，Onthattruefaithdidinhisbosomwon，Becausehemeanttomatchmewithhisson。
　　XLVI
　　“Whichson，withinshortwhile，didundertakeDegreeofknighthood，asbeseemedhimwell，Yetneverdurstheforhislady’ssakeBreakswordorlance，advanceinloftysell；
　　Asfairhewas，asCitherea’smake，Asproudashethatsignorisethhell，Infashionswayward，andinloveunkind，ForCupiddeignsnotwoundacurrishmind。
　　XLVII
　　“ThisparagonshouldQueenArmidawed，Agoodlyswaintobeaprincess’fere，Alovelypartnerofalady’sbed，Anobleheadagoldencrowntowear：
　　Hisglosingsirehiserranddailysaid，AndsugaredspeecheswhisperedinmineearTomakemetakethisdarlinginminearms，Butstilltheadderstoptherearsfromcharms。
　　XLVIII
　　“Atlastheleftmewithatroubledgrace，Throughwhichtransparentwashisinwardspite，MethoughtIreadthestoryinhisfaceOfthesemishapsthatonmesincehavelight，Sincethatfoulspiritshauntmyresting-place，Andghastlyvisionsbreakanysleepbynight，Grief，horror，fearmyfaintingsouldidkill，Forsomymindforeshowedmycomingill。
　　XLIX
　　“Threetimestheshapeofmydearmothercame，Pale，sad，dismayed，towarnmeinmydream，Alas，howfartransformedfromthesameWhoseeyesshoneerstlikeTitan’sgloriousbeam：
　　`Daughter，’shesays，`fly，fly，beholdthydameForeshowsthetreasonsofthywretchedeame，Whopoisongainstthyharmlesslifeprovides：’
　　Thissaid，toshapelessairunseensheglides。
　　L
　　“Butwhatavailhighwallsorbulwarksstrong，Wherefaintingcowardshavethepiecetoguard？
　　Mysextooweak，mineagewasalltoyoung，Toundertakealoneaworksohard，Towanderwildthedesertwoodsamong，Abanishedmaid，ofwontedeasedebarred，Sogrievousseemed，thatlieferweremydeath，AndtheretoexpirewherefirstIdrewmybreath。
　　LI
　　“IfeareddeadlyeviliflongIstayed，Andyettoflyhadneitherwillnorpower，Nordurstmyheartdeclareitwaxedafraid，LestsoIhastenmightmydyinghour：
　　ThusrestlesswaitedI，unhappymaid，Whathandshouldfirstpluckupmyspringingflower，EvenasthewretchcondemnedtolosehislifeAwaitsthefallingofthemurderingknife。
　　LII
　　“Intheseextremes，forsomyfortunewouldPerchancepreservemetomyfurtherill，Oneofmynoblefather’sservantsold，Thatforhisgoodnessborehischildgoodwill，Withstoreoftearsthistreasonganunfold，Andsaid；myguardianwouldhispupilkill，Andthathimself，ifpromisemadebekept，ShouldgivemepoisondireerenextIslept。
　　LIII
　　“Andfurthertoldme，ifIwishedtolive，Imustconveymyselfbysecretflight，AndofferedthenallsuccourshecouldgiveToaidhismistress，banishedfromherright。
　　Hiswordsofcomfort，feartoexiledrive，Thedreadofdeath，madelesserdangerslight：
　　Soweconcluded，whentheshadowsdimObscuredtheearthIshoulddepartwithhim。
　　LIV
　　“Ofcloseescapestheagedpatroness，Blackerthanerst，hersablemantlespread，Whenwithtwotrustymaids，ingreatdistress，BothfrommineuncleandmyrealmIfled；
　　OftlookedIback，buthardlycouldsuppressThosestreamsoftears，mineeyesuncessantshed，ForwhenIlookedonmykingdomlost，Itwasagrief，adeath，anhellalmost。
　　LV
　　“Mysteedsdrewontheburdenofmylimbs，Butstillmylocks，mythoughts，drewbackasfast，Sofarethemen，thatfromtheheaven’sbrims，Farouttosea，bysuddenstormarecast；
　　Swifto’erthegrasstherollingchariotswims，Throughwaysunknown，allnight，alldaywehaste，Atlast，nightired，acastlestrongwefand，Theutmostborderofmynativeland。
　　LVI
　　“ThefortAronteswas，forsotheknightWascalled，thatmydeliverancethushadwrought，Butwhenthetyrantsaw，bymatureflightIhadescapedthetreasonsofhisthought，TherageincreasedinthecursedwightGainstme，andhim，thatmetosafetybrought，Andusaccused，wewouldhavepoisonedHim，butdescried，tosaveourliveswefled。
　　LVII
　　“Andthatinlieuofhisapprovedtruth，TopoisonhimIhiredhadmyguide，Thathedespatched，mineunbridledyouthMightrageatwill，innosubjectiontied，AndthateachnightIslept——Ofouluntruth！——
　　Minehonorlost，bythisArontes’side：
　　ButHeavenIpraysenddownrevengingfire，Whensobaseloveshallchangemychastedesire。
　　LVIII
　　“Notthathesittethonmyregalthrone，Northathethirsttodrinkmylukewarmblood，Sogrievethme，asthisdespitealone，Thatmyrenown，whicheverblamelessstood，Hathlostthelightwherewithitalwaysshone：
　　Withforgedlieshemakeshistalesogood，Andholdsmysubjects’heartsinsuchsuspense，Thatnonetakearmorfortheirqueen’sdefence。
　　LIX
　　“Andthoughhedomyregalthronepossess，Clothedinpurple，crownedwithburnishedgold；
　　Yetishishate，hisrancor，ne’ertheless，Sincenaughtassuagethmalicewhen’tisold：
　　HethreatstoburnArontes’forteress，Andmurderhimunlessheyieldthehold，Andmeandminethreatsnotwithwar，butdeath，Thuscauselesshatred，endlessisuneath。
　　LX
　　“Andsohetruststowashawaythestain，Andhidehisshamefulfactwithmineoffence，AndsaithhewillrestorethethroneagainTohislatehonoranddueexcellence，AndthereforewouldIshouldbealgatesslain，ForwhileIlive，hisrightisinsuspense，Thisisthecausemyguiltlesslifeissought，Foronmyruinishissafetywrought。
　　LXI
　　“Andletthetyranthavehisheart’sdesire，Lethimperformthecrueltyhemeant，MyguiltlessbloodmustquenchtheceaselessfireOnwhichmyendlesstearswerebootlessspent，Unlessthouhelp；tothee，renownedSire，Ifly，avirgin，orphan，innocent，Andletthesetearsthatonthyfeetdistil，Redeemthedropsofblood，hethirststospill。
　　LXII
　　“Bythesethygloriousfeet，thattreadsecureOnnecksoftyrants，bythyconquestsbrave，Bythatrighthand，andbythosetemplespureThouseek’sttofreefromMacon’slore，IcraveHelpforthissicknessnonebutthoucanstcure，MylifeandkingdomletthymercysaveFromdeathandruin：butinvainIprovethee，Ifright，iftruth，ifjusticecannotmovethee。
　　LXIII
　　“Thouwhodostallthouwishest，atthywill，Andneverwillestaughtbutwhatisright，Preservethisguiltlessbloodtheyseektospill；
　　Thinebemykingdom，saveitwiththymight：
　　Amongthesecaptains，lords，andknightsofskill，Appointmeten，approvedmostinfight，Whowithassistanceofmyfriendsandkin，Mayservemykingdomlostagaintowin。
　　LXIV
　　“Forloaknight，thathadagatetoward，Amanofchiefesttrustabouthisking，HathpromisedsotobeguiletheguardThatmeandmineheundertakestobringSafe，wherethetyranthaplysleepethhardHecounselledmetoundertakethisthing，Ofthesesomelittlesuccortointreat，Whosenamealoneaccomplishcanthefeat。“
　　LXV
　　Thissaid，hisanswerdidthenymphattend，Herlooks，hersighs，hergesturesalldidprayhim：
　　ButGodfreywiselydidhisgrantsuspend，Hedoubtstheworst，andthatawhiledidstayhim，Heknows，whofearsnoGod，helovesnofriend，Hefearstheheathenfalsewouldthusbetrayhim：
　　Butyetsuchruthdweltinhisprincelymind，Thatgainsthiswisdom，pitymadehimkind。
　　LXVI
　　Besidesthekindnessofhisgentlethought，Readytocomforteachdistressedwight，Themaiden’sofferprofitwithitbrought；
　　ForiftheSyriankingdomwereherright，Thatwon，thewaywereeasy，whichhesought，TobringallAsiasubjecttohismight：
　　Theremightheraisemunition，armsandtreasureToworktheEgyptiankingandhisdispleasure。
　　LXVII
　　ThuswashisnobleheartlongtimebetwixtFearandremorse，notgrantingnordenying，Uponhiseyesthedameherlookingsfixed，Asifherlifeanddeathlayonhissaying，Sometearssheshed，withsighsandsobbingsmixed，Asifherhopesweredeadthroughhisdelaying；
　　Atlastherearnestsuitthedukedenayed，Butwithsweetwordsthuswouldcontentthemaid：
　　LXVIII
　　“IfnotinserviceofourGodwefought，Inmeanerquarrelifthisswordwereshaken，Wellmightthougatherinthygentlethought，Sofairaprincessshouldnotbeforsaken；
　　Butsincethesearmies，fromtheworld’sendbrought，Tofreethissacredtownhaveundertaken，Itwereunfitweturnedourstrengthaway，Andvictory，eveninhercoming，stay。
　　LXIX
　　“Ipromisethee，andonmyprincelywordTheburdenofthywishandhoperepose，ThatwhenthischosentempleoftheLord，HerholydoorsshalltohissaintsuncloseInrestandpeace；thenthisvictoriousswordShallexecuteduevengeanceonthyfoes；
　　ButifforpityofaworldlydameIleftthiswork，suchpityweremyshame。“
　　LXX
　　Atthistheprincessbenthereyestoground，Andstoodunmoved，thoughnotunmarked，aspace，ThesecretbleedingofherinwardwoundShedheavenlydewuponherangel’sface，“Poorwretch，“quothshe，“intearsandsorrowsdrowned，Deathbethypeace，thegravethyresting-place，Sincesuchthyhap，thatlestthoumercyfindThegentlestheartonearthisprovedunkind。
　　LXXI
　　“Wherenoneattends，whatbootsittocomplain？
　　Men’sfrowardheartsaremovedwithwomen’stearsAsmarblestonesarepiercedwithdropsofrain，Noplaintsfindpassagethroughunwillingears：
　　Thetyrant，haply，wouldhiswraithrestrainHeardhetheseprayersruthlessGodfreyhears，Yetnotthyfaultisthis，mychance，Isee，Hathmadeevenpity，pitilessinthee。
　　LXXII
　　“Soboththygoodness，andgoodhap，denayedme，Grief，sorrow，mischief，care，hathoverthrownme，Thestarthatruledmybirthdayhathbetrayedme，Mygeniusseeshischarge，butdaresnotownme，Ofqueen-likestate，myflighthathdisarrayedme，Myfatherdied，erehefiveyearshadknownme，Mykingdomlost，andlastlyrestethnow，Downwiththetreesithbrokeiseverybough。
　　LXXIII
　　“Andforthemodestloreofmaidenhood，Bidsmenotsojournwiththesearmedmen，OwhithershallIfly，whatsecretwoodShallhidemefromthetyrant？orwhatden，Whatrock，whatvault，whatcavecandomegood？
　　No，no，wheredeathissure，itresteththenToscornhispowerandbeitthereforeseen，Armidalived，anddied，bothlikeaqueen。“