Act I. Hall of _Armide's_ palace at Damascus. _Phenice_ and _Sidonie

are praising the beauty of _Armide_. But she is depressed at her failure to vanquish the intrepid knight, _Renaud_, although all others have been vanquished by her. _Hidraot_, entering, expresses a desire to see _Armide_ married. The princess tells him that, should she ever yield to love, only a hero shall inspire it. People of Damascus enter to celebrate the victory won by _Armide's_ sorcery over the knights of Godfrey. In the midst of the festivities _Arontes_, who has had charge of the captive knights, appears and announces their rescue by a single warrior, none other than _Renaud_, upon whom _Armide_ now vows vengeance.