Chapter 1

Lionel and Perdita arrive in Athens, where most people believe that Raymond is dead and are mourning him, much to Perdita’s alarm. However, Lionel discovers that Raymond is still alive, and a prisoner of the Turks, who eventually agree to release him because they believe he is close to death and do not want him to die in their captivity.

Raymond arrives in Athens from Constantinople, weakened and exhausted by his ordeal. When he has rested, however, he is determined to resume his command. Perdita, who loves him as before and has nursed him devotedly, agrees to this on the condition that she will accompany him. Raymond, Lionel, and Perdita travel to join the Greek camp at Kishan, where Perdita stays. Lionel, however, decides to advance to Rodosto with the army and fight alongside Raymond for the Greek cause.

Early in the battle, the Greek commander-in-chief, Argyropylo, is seriously wounded, and Raymond takes his place. Lionel is dispatched to a distant part of the battlefield, where he comes upon a dying woman, dressed as a soldier. This is Evadne, who calls down curses upon Raymond for his desertion of her as she dies. Lionel covers her corpse with flags and returns to Rodosto.

Chapter 2

Having won the Battle of Rodosto, Raymond quickly leads the Greek army to Turkey and besieges Constantinople. He tells Lionel that he feels confident of success and that, after his triumph, he will stay in Greece. However, he is melancholy and dissatisfied. He says that he does not enjoy war and is perturbed by the story of Evadne’s death and her dying curse, which he thinks will come true. He tells Lionel that he believes he will die soon and entrusts Perdita and their daughter, Clara, to Lionel’s care.

As Raymond continues the siege, Constantinople is ravaged by a plague, and the Turkish troops abandon the city. The Greek soldiers are similarly panic-stricken and believe there is a curse on the city, but Raymond is unimpressed, declaring that Constantinople is subject to plagues every year, and there is nothing unusual about this one. He enters the city himself, determined to claim victory and plant the Greek flag there. There are fires throughout the city, but these are largely quenched by rain, and Lionel finally goes in search of Raymond. He makes no progress and, after many hours of searching, is so tired that he falls asleep on the steps of a ruined building.

Chapter 3

Lionel wakes during the night and returns to Perdita in her palace outside the city. Lionel praises Raymond, saying that, though he must by this time be dead, his fame and his accomplishments will be immortal. When Lionel returns to Constantinople, he finds Raymond’s dog among the ruins, and the dog leads him to Raymond’s corpse. Lionel takes the corpse from the city and places it in the Greek cemetery nearby. Perdita, however, insists that her husband should be buried at Hymettus, near Athens, since he himself had expressed the wish that this should be his final resting place. They therefore make the journey to Athens and bury Raymond there.

Lionel prepares to return to England, assuming that Perdita will accompany him. She, however, elects to remain in Greece, in a cottage close to Raymond’s tomb, which she believes will become a cynosure and a place of pilgrimage. Lionel attempts to argue with her, but she is obdurate, so he drugs her with laudanum in order to take her on the ship without her consent. When she finds that she is being transported to England against her will,...