Of action and of human interest the poem has none; of artistic beauty little.

The sustained descriptive style wearies; and were not this the last work of Tasso, it would not be mentioned by posterity.
Tasso has already occupied us through two chapters.

Before passing onward I must, however, invite the reader to pause awhile and reconsider, even at the risk of retrospect and repetition, some of the salient features of his character.

And now I remember that of his personal appearance nothing has hitherto been said.

'Tasso was tall, well-proportioned, and of very fair complexion.