Thusthoughtthetyrantinhistraitorousmind，Butdurstnotfollowwhathehaddecreed，Yetiftheinnocentssomemercyfind，Fromcowardice，nottruth，didthatproceed，HisnoblefoesdurstnothiscravenkindExasperatebysuchabloodydeed。
　　Forifheneed，whatgracecouldthenbegot，Ifthusofpeacehebrokeorloosedtheknot？
　　LXXXIX
　　Hisvillainhearthiscursedragerestrained，Tootherthoughtshebenthisfiercedesire，Thesuburbsfirstflatwiththeearthheplained，Andburnttheirbuildingswithdevouringfire，LothwasthewretchtheFrenchmanshouldhavegainedOrhelporease，byfindingaughtentire，Cedron，Bethsaida，andeachwateringelseEmpoisonedhe，bothfountains，springs，andwells。
　　XC
　　Sowarywisethischildofdarknesswas；
　　Thecity’sselfhestronglyfortifies，Threesidesbysiteitwelldefencedhas，That’sonlyweakthattothenorthwardlies；
　　Withmightybarsoflongenduringbrass，Thesteel-bounddoorsandirongatesheties，And，lastly，legionsarmedwellprovidesOfsubjectsborn，andhiredaidbesides。
　　SECONDBOOK
　　THEARGUMENT。
　　Ismenoconjures，buthischarmsarevain；
　　AladinewillkilltheChristiansinhisire：
　　SophroniaandOlindowouldbeslainTosavetherest，theKinggrantstheirdesire；
　　Clorindahearstheirfactandfortunesplain，Theirpardongetsandkeepsthemfromthefire：
　　Argantes，whenAletes’speechesareDespised，defiestheDuketomortalwar。
　　I
　　Whilethusthetyrantbendshisthoughtstoarms，Ismenogantoforehissightappear，IsmendeadboneslaidincoldgravesthatwarmsAndmakesthemspeak，smell，taste，touch，see，andhear；
　　Ismenwithterrorofhismightycharms，ThatmakesgreatDisindeepestHelltofear，Thatbindsandloosessoulscondemnedtowoe，Andsendsthedevilsonerrandstoandfro。
　　II
　　AChristianonce，Maconhenowadores，Norcouldhequitehiswontedfaithforsake，ButinhiswickedartsbothoftimploresHelpfromtheLord，andaidfromPlutoblack；
　　He，fromdeepcavesbyAcheron’sdarkshores，Wherecirclesvainandspellsheusedtomake，Toadvisehiskingintheseextremesiscome，AchitophelsocounselledAbsalom。
　　III
　　“Myliege，“hesays，“thecampfasthithermoves，Theaxeislaiduntothiscedar’sroot，Butletusworkasvaliantmenbehoves，Forboldestheartsgoodfortunehelpethout；
　　Yourprincelycareyourkinglywisdomproves，Wellhaveyoulabored，wellforeseenabout；
　　Ifeachperformhischargeanddutyso，Noughtbuthisgravehereconquershallyourfoe。
　　IV
　　“FromsurestcastleofmysecretcellIcome，partakerofyourgoodandill，Whatcounselsage，ormagic’ssacredspellMayprofitus，allthatperformIwill：
　　ThespritesimpurefromblissthatwhilomfellShalltoyourservicebow，constrainedbyskill；
　　Buthowwemustbeginthisenterprise，IwillyourHighnessthusinbriefadvise。
　　V
　　“WithintheChristian’schurchfromlightofskies，Anhiddenalterstands，faroutofsight，OnwhichtheimageconsecratedliesOfChrist’sdearmother，calledavirginbright，Anhundredlampsayeburnbeforehereyes，Sheinaslenderveiloftinseldight，OneverysidegreatplentydothbeholdOfofferingsbrought，myrrh，frankincenseandgold。
　　VI
　　“ThisidolwouldIhaveremovedawayFromthence，andbyyourprincelyhandtransport，InMacon’ssacredtemplesafeitlay，WhichthenIwillenchantinwondroussort，Thatwhiletheimageinthatchurchdothstay，Nostrengthofarmsshallwinthisnoblefort，Ofshakethispuissantwall，suchpassingmightHavespellsandcharms，iftheybesaidaright。“
　　VII
　　Advisedthus，thekingimpatientFlewinhisfurytothehouseofGod，Theimagetook，withwordsunreverentAbusedtheprelates，whothatdeedforbode，Swiftwithhisprey，awaythetyrantwent，OfGod’ssharpjusticenaughthefearedtherod，Butinhischapelviletheimagelaid，Onwhichtheenchantercharmsandwitchcraftsaid。
　　VIII
　　WhenPhoebusnextunclosedhiswakefuleye，Uprosethesextonofthatplaceprofane，Andmissedtheimage，whereitusedtolie，Eachwherehesoughingrief，infear，invain；
　　Thentothekinghislosshegandescry，Whosoreenragedkilledhimforhispain；
　　Andstraightconceivedinhismaliciouswit，SomeChristianbadethisgreatoffencecommit。
　　IX
　　Butwhetherthiswereactofmortalhand，OrelsethePrinceofHeaven’seternalpleasure，Thatofhismercywouldthiswretchwithstand，Norletsovileachestholdsuchatreasure，Asyetconjecturehathnotfullyscanned；
　　Bygodlinessletusthisactionmeasure，AndtruthofpurestfaithwillfitlyproveThatthisraregracecamedownfromHeavenabove。
　　X
　　WithbusysearchthetyrantgantoinvadeEachhouse，eachhold，eachtempleandeachtentTothemthefaultorfaultyonebewrayedOrhid，hepromisedgiftsorpunishment，Hisidlecharmsthefalseenchantersaid，Butinthismazestillwanderedandmiswent，ForHeavendecreedtoconcealthesame，Tomakethemiscreantmoretofeelhisshame。
　　XI
　　ButwhentheangrykingdiscoverednotWhatguiltyhandthissacrilegehadwrought，HisirefulcourageboiledinvengeancehotAgainsttheChristians，whomhefaultersthought；
　　Allruth，compassion，mercyheforgot，Astafftobeatthatdoghelonghadsought，“Letthemalldie，“quothhe，“killgreatandsmall，Soshalltheoffenderperishsurewithal。
　　XII
　　“Tospillthewinewithpoisonmixedwithspares？
　　Slaythentherighteouswiththefaultyone，Destroythisfieldthatyieldethnaughtbuttares，Withthornsthisvineyardallisover-gone，Amongthesewretchesisnotone，thatcaresForus，ourlaws，orourreligion；
　　Up，up，dearsubjects，fireandweapontake，Burn，murder，killthesetraitorsformysake。“
　　XIII
　　ThisHerodthuswouldBethlem’sinfantskill，TheChristianssoonthisdirefulnewsreceave，Thetrumpofdeathsoundsintheirhearingshrill，Theirweapon，faith；theirfortress，wasthegrave；
　　Theyhadnocourage，time，device，orwill，Tofight，tofly，excuse，orpardoncrave，Butstoodpreparedtodie，yethelptheyfind，Whenceleasttheyhope，suchknotscanHeavenunbind。
　　XIV
　　Amongthemdwelt，herparents’joyandpleasure，Amaid，whosefruitwasripe，notover-yeared，Herbeautywashernotesteemedtreasure；
　　Thefieldoflovewithploughofvirtueeared，Herlaborgoodness；godlinessherleisure；
　　Herhousetheheavenbythisfullmoonayecleared，Forthere，fromlovers’eyeswithdrawn，aloneWithvirginbeamsthisspotlessCynthiashone。
　　XV
　　Butwhatavailedherresolutionchaste，Whosesoberestlookswerewhetstonestodesire？
　　Norloveconsentsthatbeauty’sfieldliewaste，HervisagesetOlindo’sheartonfire，Osubtlelove，athousandwilesthouhast，Byhumblesuit，byservice，orbyhire，Towinamaiden’shold，athingsoondone，Fornatureframedallwomentobewon。
　　XVI
　　Sophroniashe，Olindohighttheyouth，Bothoronetown，bothinonefaithweretaught，Shefair，hefullofbashfulnessandtruth，Lovedmuch，hopedlittle，anddesirednought，Hedurstnotspeakbysuittopurchaseruth，Shesawnot，markednot，wistnotwhathesought，Thusloved，thusservedhelong，butnotregarded，Unseen，unmarked，unpitied，unrewarded。
　　XVII
　　Tohercamemessageofthemurderment，Whereinherguiltlessfriendsshouldhopelessstarve，Shethatwasnoble，wise，asfairandgent，Casthowshemighttheirharmlesslivespreserve，Zealwasthespringwhenceflowedherhardiment，Frommaidenshameyetwasshelothtoswerve：
　　Yethadhercourageta’ensosureahold，Thatboldness，shamefaced；shamehadmadeherbold。
　　XVIII
　　Andforthshewent，ashopformerchandiseFullofrichstuff，butnoneforsaleexposed，Aveilobscuredthesunshineofhereyes，Therosewithinherselfhersweetnessclosed，Eachornamentaboutherseemlylies，Bycuriouschance，orcarelessart，composed；
　　Forwhatthemostneglects，mostcuriousprove，SoBeauty’shelpedbyNature，Heaven，andLove。
　　XIX
　　Admiredofall，onwentthisnoblemaid，Untilthepresenceofthekingshegained，Norforheswelledwithirewassheafraid，Buthisfiercewrathwithfearlessgracesustained，“Icome，“quothshe，“butbethineangerstayed，Andcauselessrage’gainstfaultlesssoulsrestrained——
　　Icometoshowthee，andtobringtheeboth，Thewightwhosefacthathmadethyheartsowroth。“
　　XX
　　Hermolestboldness，andthatlightningrayWhichhersweetbeautystreamedonhisface，Hadstrucktheprincewithwonderanddismay，Changedhischeer，andclearedhismoodygrace，Thathadhereyesdisposedtheirlookstoplay，Thekinghadsnaredbeeninlove’sstronglace；
　　Butwaywardbeautydothnotfancymove，Afrownforbids，asmileengenderethlove。
　　XXI
　　Itwasamazement，wonderanddelight，Althoughnotlove，thatmovedhiscruelsense；
　　“Tellon，“quothhe，“unfoldthechancearight，Thypeople’slivesIgrantforrecompense。“
　　Thenshe，“Beholdthefaulterhereinsight，Thishandcommittedthatsupposedoffence，Itooktheimage，minethatfault，thatfact，Minebethegloryofthatvirtuousact。“
　　XXII
　　Thisspotlesslambthusofferedupherblood，TosavetherestofChrist’sselectedfold，Onoblelie！wasevertruthsogood？
　　Blestbethelipsthatsuchaleasingtold：
　　Thoughtfulawhileremainedthetyrantwood，Hisnativewrathheganaspacewithhold，Andsaid，“ThatthoudiscoversoonIwill，Whataid？whatcounselhad’stthouinthatill？“
　　XXIII
　　“Myloftythoughts，“sheansweredhim，“enviedAnother’shandshouldworkmyhighdesire，Thethirstofglorycannopartnerbide，WithmineownselfIdidaloneconspire。“
　　“Ontheealone，“thetyrantthenreplied，“Shallfallthevengeanceofmywrathandire。“
　　“`Tisjustandright，“quothshe，“Iyieldconsent，Minebethehonor，minethepunishment。“
　　XXIV
　　Thewretchofnewenragedatthesame，Askedwhereshehidtheimagesoconveyed：
　　“Nothid，“quothshe，“butquiteconsumedwithflame，Theidolisofthateternalmaid，ForsoatleastIhavepreservedthesame，Withhandsprofanefrombeingeftbetrayed。
　　MyLord，thethingthusstolendemandnomore，Hereseethethiefthatscornethdeaththerefor。
　　XXV
　　“Andyetnotheftwasthis，yourswasthesin，Ibroughtagainwhatyouunjustlytook。“
　　Thisheard，thetyrantdidforragebeginTowhethisteeth，andbendhisfrowninglook，Nopity，youth；fairness，nogracecouldwin；
　　Joy，comfort，hope，thevirginallforsook；
　　Wrathkilledremorse，vengeancestoppedmercy’sbreathLove’sthralltohate，andbeauty’sslavetodeath。
　　XXVI
　　Ta’enwasthedamsel，andwithoutremorse，Thekingcondemnedherguiltlesstothefire，Herveilandmantlepluckedtheyoffbyforce，Andboundhertenderarmsintwistedwire：
　　Dumbwasthesilverdove，whilefromhercorseThesehungrykitespluckedoffherrichattire，Andforsomedealperplexedwashersprite，Herdamasklate，nowchangedtopurestwhite。
　　XXVII
　　Thenewsofthismishapspreadfarandnear，Thepeopleran，bothyoungandold，togaze；
　　Olindoalsoran，andgantofearHisladywassomepartnerinthiscase；
　　Butwhenhefoundherbound，striptfromhergear，Andviletormentorsreadysawinplace，Hebrokethethrong，andintopresencebrast；
　　Andthusbespakethekinginrageandhaste：