Book 7 Summary

Soon after fleeing the Crusaders' camp, Erminia becomes lost and spends a lonely, cold, and hungry night in the woods. The following morning she comes across the humble home of a hospitable Old Man, who tells her how he used to be a warrior but left that life for one of peace and quiet in the forest. He, his wife and his sons welcome her into their family, and she happily moves into the life of a shepherdess.

Meanwhile, as Tancred searches in vain for Erminia, he encounters a patrolling knight who offers to give him shelter and rest. Tancred accepts, but when he comes to the castle where the knight is quartered, he (Tancred) discovers it belongs to Armida. He is challenged by one of the knights who left the Crusaders' camp earlier and who has betrayed the Crusaders' cause. The two...