“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。“