Book 13 Summary

One night, as Tancred grieves for Clorinda, Ismen goes into a nearby forest and casts several magic spells in an attempt to prevent Godfrey and his forces from using the trees to build a new siege tower. Later, the Crusaders attempt to do exactly that, but are repeatedly turned back by the apparent presence of evil spirits. One Crusader manages to get through, but then finds himself turned back by a blazing fire. Tancred, angry at himself for grieving so intensely and shirking his duty, goes into the forest and passes through the fire, only to encounter trees that speak to him and claim to be the imprisoned spirits of those Christians killed in battle. The "spirits," including Clorinda, claim that if he chops down the trees they will suffer and die all over again. Tancred tries to convince himself that what he...