The image is Lazzarini's "Rinaldo & Armida": In Tasso's epic "Jerusalem Delivered", Rinaldo is a fierce, honorable and handsome warrior. Armida has been sent to stop the Christians from completing their mission and is about to murder the sleeping soldier, but instead she falls in love. She creates an enchanted garden where she holds him a lovesick prisoner (here shown as bewitched by his own image). His companions Carlo and Ubaldo (visible in the bushes, top-right) rescue Rinaldo by holding a diamond shield (lo scudo adamantino) to Rinaldo's face so that he sees himself in his weakened state, thus breaking Armida's spell.
Byron's comic epic is also, in part, about the (self-) deceptions of love. He references this episode from Tasso in Canto I.lxxi
Byron's comic epic is also, in part, about the (self-) deceptions of love. He references this episode from Tasso in Canto I.lxxi
