unds, their
respective armies decree a six-days' truce and pledge themselves to
await the result of the duel.

The wounded Argantes has returned to Jerusalem, where Erminia uses her
magic balsams to heal his wounds, secretly wishing meanwhile that she
might lavish her care upon Tancred, whom she still loves. So ardent is
her desire to behold him, that she finally appropriates Clorinda's
armor and rides off to the Christian camp, sending a messenger ahead
to announce a lady is coming to heal Tancred if he will give her a
safe-conduct to his tent. Tancred immediately sends word the lady will
be welcome, but meanwhile the Christians, catching a glimpse of the
waiting Erminia, and mistaking her for Clorinda owing to her armor,
endeavor to capture her.

_Canto VII._ To escape from her pursuers, Erminia flees into a
trackless forest, where, after wandering some time, she meets a
shepherd, who gives her an asylum in his hut. There she turns
shepherdess, but does not forget Tancred, whose name she carves in
many a tree. Meantime the news spreads through the camp that Clorinda
has been seen and is even now closely pursued by a troop of
Christians. Hearing this Tancred, disregarding his wounds, sets out to
find her. While wandering thus in the forest, weakened by loss of
blood, he is captured by Armida, the enchantress, who detains him in a
dungeon, where he eats his heart out for shame because he will not be
able to respond when the trumpets sound for the renewal of his duel
with Argantes.

The moment having come for this battle and the Crusaders' champion
being absent, old Count Raymond volunteers to meet Argantes, and is
about to get the better of him, when an archer from the wall suddenly
discharges a shaft at him. Such treachery exasperates the Christians,
who, exclaiming the truce has been broken, precipitate themselves upon
their foes, and in the general battle which ensues many deeds of valor
are performed.

_Canto VIII._ During this battle a great storm arises, and the
Christians, who, notwithstanding their courage, have been worsted,
beat a retreat, finding on their return to camp that one of their
companions, defeated and mortally wounded, has despatched a messenger
to carry his sword to Rinaldo. The Italian force thereupon accuses
Godfrey of having done away with Rinaldo, but he not only succeeds in
refuting such an accusation, but sentences his chief detractor to
death.

_Canto IX._ Sultan Solyman of Nicae, w