The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-23

that she was the rightful heir of the throne of Damascus. but had been de- frauded out of her rights by wicked uncle, who now reigned in her place, and sought her death.
 She had fled to the Christians for succor. Would not Godfrey lend her some of his valiant knights to help her regain her throne? Damascus then should be a tribu- tary city to the Christian powers. Be loved of heaven," she cried as she told this tale to Godfrey, save me! My king dom wilt thou thus acquire. Let but 10 of these heroic champions leave the camp beneath my banner. Their renown spread through Damascus will revive my cause in that city and will cause my faithful people to rise and restore me to my crown She wept so and looked so very beautiful in her distress that many cham pions were ready to go in her cause.
 But Godfrey 6eared some snare-he had seen beautiful women weep before to gain their ends After he had captured Jerusa- lem, he said, he would attend to her most pitiful case, and not before But God frey's brother Eustace, being violently smitten with the charms of Armida-as were many others of the young knights prevailed upon the leader to allow 10 Of a company called the Adventures to go on the service of the enchantress. That brave champion, Rinaldo, Prince of the house of Este, at once asked to be made captain of the Adventures, a post now vacant because of the death of it's for mer captain, Dodun, who had been slain before the walls of the city. Gernando, a brother Of the King of Norway. also solicited the post, and he and Rinaldo had a quarrel over it, which ended by Rinaldo killing his rival in the face of the whole army. The indignant Godfrey declared he would severely punish Rinaldo, and that champion, to escape the wrath of the leader, fled the camp.
 Armida now departed with her 10 Ad- venturers, chosen by lot, and at night was secretly followed by Eustace and many others who had not been drawn in the lot, but who were infatuated by the wiles and charms of the soRseress
 With King Alkaline in Jerusalem was a celebrated pagan prince and war rior, Argantes by name, who, fretting at being obliged to stay behind walls instead of combating, as was his wont. in open field, sent herald to the Christian camp offering to fight in sim gle combat any knight among them The challenge was accepted, and Tan cred was assigned by Godfrey to act as the champion of Christendom The next day, in the presence of both ar mics, the champions met. They fought all day and when the night fell a her aid separated them. Both were wound ed, but 1t was agreed they should re- new the combat on the following day. Herminia from the walls had watched the light and had seen the man she loved wounded. That night, anxious 10 Know how badly Tancred had suf- Tered, she stole Clorinda's armour. and
 donning it, mounted horse and se- cretly rode forth toward the Christian camp, sending her squire before her to tell Tancred that lady was com
 ing to visit him.
 At once Tancred jumped to the con- clusion that 1t was Clorinda. Impa | tient of her arrival. he rode forth to 'i'SOe hCi, anu SdW, lnQeed, wearing Clorinda's arms. He could doubt no more; his wounds were all Forgotten, and he secured forth to wei come his beloved one But before he could reach her a patrol intercepted her. and Hermlna, in a panic, turned to flee. Unable to manage her horse she was carried far away over the plain and into the country beyond Tancred followed the fugitive as rap idly as he might, but lost her and him. self in the darkness of the night and the unfamiliar hills.
 Herminia by daylight came upon a shep- herds hut, and there she alighted and rested. There she determined to stay. employing herself in pastoral occupations until the storms of war should pass away. There at least she could think of Tam cred.