,
meeting Erminia there, induces her not only to reveal all the
Egyptians' plans (including a plot to slay Godfrey), but to go back
with him. While they journey along together to rejoin the Christian
forces, Erminia relates her adventures, saying that while she was
playing shepherdess, some freebooters seized her and carried her to
the Egyptian camp, where she was placed under Armida's protection. Her
story is just finished when they perceive what appears to be a
lifeless warrior. By the red cross on his armor the spy recognizes a
Christian, and further investigation enables him to identify Tancred.
Erminia--who has owned she loves him--now takes possession of him,
binds up his wounds with her hair (!), and vows she will nurse him
back to health.

_Canto XX._ Warned by his spy that the Egyptians mean to send sundry
of their number to mix, during the battle, with his body-guard and
kill him, Godfrey changes the ensigns of his men, and thus discovers
the conspirators, who are promptly put to death. Seeing the Egyptian
army advance, Godfrey, in a stirring speech, urges his men to do their
best for the Holy Sepulchre, and thereby stimulates them to fight so
bravely that many of them lose their lives. Among the slain are
Gildippe and her husband, who, having fought together side by side
throughout the campaign, die together and are buried in the same tomb.
The other party, however, is far more unfortunate, for the Saracens
lose the sultans Aladine and Solyman, the former slain by Godfrey and
the latter by Rinaldo.

Meantime Armida, wavering between love and hate, tries to shoot
Rinaldo, then flees, but, a little later, seeing him slay Solyman, she
tries to kill herself. It is at this moment that Rinaldo approaches
her, and offers to marry her provided she will be converted. Not only
does she now promise conversion and marriage, but accompanies Rinaldo
back to the camp.

The Crusaders having completely defeated their foes and secured
possession of Jerusalem, march, with solemn hymns of praise to the
Holy Sepulchre, where all kneel, thanking God for permitting them to
deliver it from the hands of the heathen. It is with these thanks that
the poem ends.

Thus conquer'd Godfrey; and as yet there glow'd
A flush of glory in the fulgent West,
To the freed City, the once loved abode
Of Christ, the pious chief and armies press'd:
Arm'd as he was, and in his sanguine vest,
With all his knights in solemn