side felt the deepest distress at hearing of the proposed combat. If
Rogero should fall she felt that no other man living was worthy of her
love; and if, on the other hand, Heaven should resolve to punish France
by the death of her chosen champion, Bradamante would have to deplore
her brother, so dear to her, and be no less completely severed from the
object of her affections.
While the fair lady gave herself up to these sad thoughts, the sage
enchantress, Melissa, suddenly appeared before her. "Fear not, my
daughter," said she, "I shall find a way to interrupt this combat which
so distresses you."
Meanwhile Rinaldo and Rogero prepared their weapons for the conflict.
Rinaldo had the choice, and decided that it should be on foot, and with
no weapons but the battle-axe and poniard. The place assigned was a
plain between the camp of Charlemagne and the walls of Arles.
Hardly had the dawn announced the day appointed for this memorable
combat, when heralds proceeded from both sides to mark the lists.
Erelong the African troops were seen to advance from the city, Agramant
at their head; his brilliant arms adorned in the Moorish fashion, his
horse a bay, with a white star on his forehead. Rogero marched at his
side, and some of the greatest warriors of the Saracen camp attended
him, bearing the various parts of his armor and weapons. Charlemagne,
on his part, proceeded from his intrenchments, ranged his troops in
semicircle, and stood surrounded by his peers and paladins. Some of
them bore portions of the armor of Rinaldo, the celebrated Ogier, the
Dane, bearing the helmet which Rinaldo took from Mambrino. Duke Namo of
Bavaria and Salomon of Bretagne bore two axes, of equal weight,
prepared for the occasion.
The terms of the combat were then sworn to with the utmost solemnity by
all parties. It was agreed that if from either part any attempt was
made to interrupt the battle both combatants should turn their arms
against the party which should be guilty of the interruption; and both
monarchs assented to the condition that in such case the champion of
the offending party should be discharged from his allegiance, and at
liberty to transfer his arms to the other side.
When all the preparations were concluded the monarchs and their
attendants retired each to his own side, and the champions were left
alone. The two warriors advanced with measured steps towards each
other, and met in the middle of the space. They attacked one another at
the same moment, and the air resounded with the blows they gave. Sparks
flew from their battle-axes, while the velocity with which they managed
their weapons astonished the beholders. Rogero, always remembering that
his antagonist was the brother of his betrothed, could not aim a deadly
wound; he strove only to ward off those levelled against himself.
Rinaldo, on the other hand, much as he esteemed Rogero, spared not his
blows, for he eagerly desired victory for his own sake, and for the
sake of his country and his faith.
The Saracens soon perceived that their champion fought feebly, and gave
not to Rinaldo such blows as he received from him. His disadvantage was
so marked that anxiety and shame were manifest on the countenance of
Agramant. Melissa, one of the most acute enchantresses that ever lived,
seized this moment to disguise herself under the form of Rodomont, that
rude and impetuous warrior, who had now for some time been absent from
the Saracen camp. Approaching Agramant, she said, "How could you, my
lord, have the imprudence of selecting a young man without experience
to oppose the most redoubtable warrior of France? Surely you must have
been regardless of the honor of your arms, and of the fate of your
empire! But it is not too late. Break without delay the agreement which
is sure to result in your ruin." So saying, she addressed the troops
who stood near, "Friends," said she, "follow me; under my guidance
every one of you will be a match for a score of those feeble
Christians." Agramant, delighted at seeing Rodomont once more at his
side, gave his consent, and the Saracens, at the instant, couched their
lances, set spurs to their steeds, and swept down upon the French.
Melissa, when she saw her work successful, disappeared.
Rinaldo and Rogero, seeing the truce broken, and the two armies engaged
in general conflict, stopped their battle; their martial fury ceased at
once, they joined hands, and resolved to act no more on either side
until it should be clearly ascertained which party had failed to
observe its oath. Both renewed their promise to abandon forever the
party which had been thus false and perjured.
Meanwhile, the Christians, after the first moment of surprise, met the
Saracens with courage redoubled by rage at the treachery of their foes.
Guido the Wild, brother and rival of Rinaldo, Griffon and Aquilant,
sons of Oliver, and numerous others whose names have already been
celebrated in our recitals, beat back the assailants, and at last,
after prodigious slaughter, forced them to take shelter within the
walls of Arles.
We will now return to Orlando, whom we last heard of as furiously mad,
and doing a thousand acts of violence in his senseless rage. One day he
came to the borders of a stream which intercepted his course. He swam
across it, for he could swim like an otter, and on the other side saw a
peasant watering his horse. He seized the animal, in spite of the
resistance of the peasant, and rode it with furious speed till he
arrived at the sea-coast, where Spain is divided from Africa by only a
narrow strait. At the moment of his arrival a vessel had just put off
to cross the strait. She was full of people who, with glass in hand,
seemed to be taking a merry farewell of the land, wafted by a favorable
breeze.
The frantic Orlando cried out to them to stop and take him in; but
they, having no desire to admit a madman to their company, paid him no
attention. The paladin thought this behavior very uncivil; and by force
of blows made his horse carry him into the water in pursuit of the
ship. The wretched animal soon had only his head above water; but as
Orlando urged him forward, nothing was left for the poor beast but
either to die or swim over to Africa.
Already Orlando had lost sight of the bark; distance and the swell of
the sea completely hid it from his sight. He continued to press his
horse forward, till at last it could struggle no more, and sunk beneath
him. Orlando, nowise concerned, stretched out his nervous arms, puffing
the salt water from before his mouth, and carried his head above the
waves. Fortunately they were not rough, scarce a breath of wind
agitated the surface; otherwise, the invincible Orlando would then have
met his death. But fortune, which it is said favors fools, delivered
him from this danger, and landed him safe on the shore of Ceuta. Here
he rambled along the shore till he came to where the black army of
Astolpho held its camp.
Now it happened, just before this time, that a vessel filled with
prisoners which Rodomont had taken at the bridge had arrived, and, not
knowing of the presence of the Abyssinian army, had sailed right into
port, where of course the prisoners and their captors changed places,
the former being set at liberty and received with all joy, the latter
sent to serve in the galleys. Astolpho thus found himself surrounded
with Christian knights, and he and his friends were exchanging
greetings and felicitations, when a noise was heard in the camp, and
seemed to increase every moment.
Astolpho and his friends seized their weapons, mounted their horses,
and rode to the quarter whence the noise proceeded. Imagine their
astonishment when they saw that the tumult was caused by a single man,
perfectly naked, and browned with dirt and exposure, but of a force and
fury so terrible that he overturned all that offered to lay hands on
him.
Astolpho, Dudon, Oliver, and Florimart gazed at him with amazement. It
was with difficulty they knew him. Astolpho, who had been warned of his
condition by his holy monitor, was the first to recognize him. As the
paladins closed round Orlando, the madman dealt one and another a blow
of his fist, which, if they had not been in armor, or he had had any
weapon, would probably have despatched them; as it was, Dudon and
Astolpho measured their length on the sand. But Florimart seized him
from behind, Sansonnet and another grasped his legs, and at last they
succeeded in securing him with ropes. They took him to the water-side
and washed him well, and then Astolpho, having first bandaged his mouth
so that he could not breathe except through his nose, brought the
precious phial, uncorked it, and placed it adroitly under his nostrils,
when the good Orlando took it all up in one breath. O marvellous
prodigy! The paladin recovered in an instant all his intelligence. He
felt like one who had awakened from a painful dream, in which he had
believed that monsters were about to tear him to pieces. He seemed
prostrated, silent, and abashed. Florismart, Oliver, and Astolpho stood
gazing upon him, while he turned his eyes around and on himself. He
seemed surprised to find himself naked, bound, and stretched on the
sea-shore. After a few moments he recognized his friends, and spoke to
them in a tone so tender that they hastened to unbind him, and to
supply him with garments. Then they exerted themselves to console him,
to diminish the weight with which his spirits were oppressed, and to
make him forget the wretched condition into which he had been sunk.
Orlando, in recovering his reason, found himself also delivered from
his insane attachment to the queen of Cathay. His heart felt now no
further influenced by the recollection of her than to be moved with an
ardent desire to retrieve his fame by some distinguished exploit.
Astolpho would gladly have yielded to him the chief command of the
army, but Orlando would not take from the friend to whom he owed so
much the glory of the campaign; but in everything the two paladins
acted in concert, and united their counsels. They proposed to make a
general assault on the city of Biserta, and were only waiting a
favorable moment, when their plan was interrupted by new events.
Agramant, after the bloody battle which followed the infraction of the
truce, found himself so weak that he saw it was in vain to attempt to
remain in France. So, in concert with Sobrino, the bravest and most
trusted of his chiefs, he embarked to return to his own country, having
previously sent off his few remaining troops in the same direction. The
vessel which carried Agramant and Sobrino approached the shore where
the army of Astolpho lay encamped before Biserta, and having discovered
this fact before it was too late, the king commanded the pilot to steer
eastward, with a view to seek protection of the King of Egypt. But the
weather becoming rough, he consented to the advice of his companions,
and sought harbor in an island which lies between Sicily and Africa.
There he found Gradasso, the warlike king of Sericane, who had come to
France to possess himself of the horse Bayard and the sword Durindana;
and having procured both these prizes was returning to his own country.
The two kings, who had been companions in arms under the walls of
Paris, embraced one another affectionately. Gradasso learned with
regret the reverses of Agramant, and offered him his troops and his
person. He strongly deprecated resorting to Egypt for aid. "Remember
the great Pompey," said he, "and shun that fatal shore. My plan," he
continued, "is this: I mean to challenge Orlando to single combat.
Possessed of such a sword and steed as mine, if he were made of steel
or bronze, he could not escape me. He being removed, there will be no
difficulty in driving back the Abyssinians. We will rouse against them
the Moslem nations from the other side of the Nile, the Arabians,
Persians, and Chaldeans, who will soon make Senapus recall his army to
defend his own territories."
Agramant approved this advice except in one particular. "It is for me,"
said he, "to combat Orlando; I cannot with honor devolve that duty on
another."
"Let us adopt a third course," said the aged warrior Sobrino. "I would
not willingly remain a simple spectator of such a contest. Let us send
three squires to the shore of Africa to challenge Orlando and any two
of his companions in arms to meet us three in this island of Lampedusa."
This counsel was adopted; the three squires sped on their way; and now
presented themselves, and rehearsed their message to the Christian
knights.
Orlando was delighted, and rewarded the squires with rich gifts. He had
already resolved to seek Gradasso and compel him to restore Durindana,
which he had learned was in his possession. For his two companions the
Count chose his faithful friend Florismart and his cousin Oliver.
The three warriors embarked, and sailing with a favorable wind, the
second morning showed them, on their right, the island where this
important battle was to be fought. Orlando and his two companions,
having landed, pitched their tent. Agramant had placed his opposite.
Next morning, as soon as Aurora brightened the edges of the horizon,
the warriors of both parties armed themselves and mounted their horses.
They took their positions, face to face, lowered their lances, placed
them in rest, clapped spurs to their horses, and flew to the charge.
Orlando met the charge of Gradasso. The paladin was unmoved, but his
horse could not sustain the terrible shock of Bayard. He recoiled,
staggered, and fell some paces behind. Orlando tried to raise him, but,
finding his efforts unavailing, seized his shield, and drew his famous
Balisardo. Meanwhile Agramant and the brave Oliver gained no advantage,
one or the other; but Florismart unhorsed the King Sobrino. Having
brought his foe to the ground, he would not pursue his victory, but
hastened to attack Gradasso, who had overthrown Orlando. Seeing him
thus engaged, Orlando would not interfere, but ran with sword upraised
upon Sobrino, and with one blow deprived him of sense and motion.
Believing him dead, he next turned to aid his beloved Florismart. That
brave paladin, neither in horse nor arms equal to his antagonist, could
but parry and evade the blows of the terrible Durindana. Orlando, eager
to succor him, was delayed for a moment in securing and mounting the
horse of the King Sobrino. It was but an instant, and with sword
upraised, he rushed upon Gradasso who, noways disconcerted at the onset
of this second foe, shouted his defiance, and thrust at him with his
sword, but, having miscalculated the distance, scarcely reached him,
and failed to pierce his mail. Orlando, in return, dealt him a blow
with Balisardo, which wounded as it fell face, breast, and thigh, and,
if he had been a little nearer, would have cleft him in twain. Sobrino,
by this time recovered from his swoon, though severely wounded, raised
himself on his legs, and looked to see how he might aid his friends.
Observing Agramant hard pressed by Oliver, he thrust his sword into the
bowels of the latter's horse, which fell, and bore down his master,
entangling his leg as he fell, so that Oliver could not extricate
himself. Florismart saw the danger of his friend, and ran upon Sobrino
with his horse, overthrew him, and then turned to defend himself from
Agramant. They were not unequally matched, for though Agramant, mounted
on Brigliadoro, had an advantage over Florismart, whose horse was but
indifferent, yet Agramant had received a serious wound in his encounter
with Oliver.
Nothing could exceed the fury of the encounter between Orlando and
Gradasso. Durindana, in the hands of Gradasso, clove asunder whatever
it struck; but such was the skill of Orlando, who perfectly knew the
danger to which he was exposed from a stroke of that weapon, it had not
yet struck him in such a way as to inflict a wound. Meanwhile, Gradasso
was bleeding from many wounds, and his rage and incaution increased
every moment. In his desperation he lifted Durindana with both hands,
and struck so terrible a blow full on the helmet of Orlando, that for a
moment it stunned the paladin. He dropped the reins, and his frightened
horse scoured with him over the plain. Gradasso turned to pursue him,
but at that moment saw Florismart in the very act of striking a fatal
blow at Agramant, whom he had unhorsed. While Florismart was wholly
intent upon completing his victory, Gradasso plunged his sword into his
side. Florismart fell from his horse, and bathed the plain with his
blood.
Orlando recovered himself just in time to see the deed. Whether rage or
grief predominated in his breast, I cannot tell; but, seizing Balisardo
with fury, his first blow fell upon Agramant, who was nearest to him,
and smote his head from his shoulders. At this sight Gradasso for the
first time felt his courage sink, and a dark presentiment of death came
over him. He hardly stood on his defence when Orlando cast himself upon
him, and gave him a fatal thrust. The sword penetrated his ribs, and
came out a palm's breadth on the other side of his body.
Thus fell beneath the sword of the most illustrious paladin of France
the bravest warrior of the Saracen host. Orlando then, as if despising
his victory, leaped lightly to the ground, and ran to his dear friend
Florismart, embraced him, and bathed him with his tears. Florismart
still breathed. He could even command his voice to utter a few parting
words: "Dear friend, do not forget me,--give me your prayers,--and oh!
be a brother to Flordelis." He died in uttering her name.
After a few moments given to grief Orlando turned to look for his other
companion and his late foes. Oliver lay oppressed with the weight of
his horse, from which he had in vain struggled to liberate himself.
Orlando extricated him with difficulty; he then raised Sobrino from the
earth, and committed him to his squire, treating him as gently as if he
had been his own brother. For this terrible warrior was the most
generous of men to a fallen foe. He took Bayard and Brigliadoro, with
the arms of the conquered knights; their bodies and their other spoils
he remitted to their attendants.
But who can tell the grief of Flordelis when she saw the warriors
return, and found not Florismart as usual after absence hasten to her
side. She knew by the aspect of the others that her lord was slain. At
the thought, and before the question could pass her lips, she fell
senseless upon the ground. When life returned, and she learned the
truth of her worst fears, she bitterly upbraided herself that she had
let him depart without her. "I might have saved him by a single cry
when his enemy dealt him that treacherous blow, or I might have thrown
myself between and given my worthless life for his. Or if no more, I
might have heard his last words, I might have given him a last kiss."
So she lamented, and could not be comforted.
ROGERO AND BRADAMANTE
After the interruption of the combat with Rinaldo, as we have related,
Rogero was perplexed with doubts what course to take. The terms of the
treaty required him to abandon Agramant, who had broken it, and to
transfer his allegiance to Charlemagne; and his love for Bradamante
called him in the same direction; but unwillingness to desert his
prince and leader in the hour of distress forbade this course.
Embarking, therefore, for Africa, he took his way to rejoin the Saracen
army; but was arrested midway by a storm which drove the vessel on a
rock. The crew took to their boat, but that was quickly swamped in the
waves, and Rogero with the rest were compelled to swim for their lives.
Then while buffeting the waves Rogero bethought him of his sin in so
long delaying his Christian profession, and vowed in his heart that, if
he should live to reach the land, he would no longer delay to be
baptized. His vows were heard and answered; he succeeded in reaching
the shore, and was aided and relieved on landing by a pious hermit,
whose cell overlooked the sea. From him he received baptism, having
first passed some days with him, partaking his humble fare, and
receiving instruction in the doctrines of the Christian faith.
While these things were going on, Rinaldo, who had set out on his way
to seek Gradasso and recover Bayard from him, hearing on his way of the
great things which were doing in Africa, repaired thither to bear his
part in them. He arrived too late to do more than join his friends in
lamenting the loss of Florismart, and to rejoice with them in their
victory over the Pagan knights. On the death of their king the Africans
gave up the contest, Biserta submitted, and the Christian knights had
only to dismiss their forces, and return home. Astolpho took leave of
his Abyssinian army, and sent them back laden with spoil to their own
country, not forgetting to intrust to them the bag which held the
winds, by means of which they were enabled to cross the sandy desert
again without danger, and did not untie it till they reached their own
country.
Orlando now, with Oliver, who much needed the surgeon's care, and
Sobrino, to whom equal attention was shown, sailed in a swift vessel to
Sicily, bearing with him the body of Florismart, to be laid in
Christian earth. Rinaldo accompanied them, as did Sansonnet and the
other Christian leaders. Arrived at Sicily, the funeral was solemnized
with all the rites of religion, and with the profound grief of those
who had known Florismart, or had heard of his fame. Then they resumed
their course, steering for Marseilles. But Oliver's wound grew worse
instead of better, and his sufferings so distressed his friends that
they conferred together, not knowing what to do. Then said the pilot,
"We are not far from an isle where a holy hermit dwells alone in the
midst of the sea. It is said none seek his counsel or his aid in vain.
He hath wrought marvellous cures, and if you resort to that holy man
without doubt he can heal the knight." Orlando bade him steer thither,
and soon the bark was laid safely beside the lonely rock; the wounded
man was lowered into their boat, and carried by the crew to the
hermit's cell. It was the same hermit with whom Rogero had taken refuge
after his shipwreck, by whom he had been baptized, and with whom he was
now staying, absorbed in sacred studies and meditations.
The holy man received Orlando and the rest with kindness, and inquired
their errand; and being told that they had come for help for one who,
warring for the Christian faith, was brought to perilous pass by a sad
wound, he straightway undertook the cure. His applications were simple,
but they were seconded by his prayers. The paladin was soon relieved
from pain, and in a few days his foot was perfectly restored to
soundness. Sobrino, as soon as he perceived the holy monk perform that
wonder, cast aside his false prophet, and with contrite heart owned the
true God, and demanded baptism at his hands. The hermit granted his
request, and also by his prayers restored him to health, while all the
Christian knights rejoiced in his conversion almost as much as at the
restoration of Oliver. More than all Rogero felt joy and gratitude, and
daily grew in grace and faith.
Rogero was known by fame to all the Christian knights, but not even
Rinaldo knew him by sight, though he had proved his prowess in combat.
Sobrino made him known to them, and great was the joy of all when they
found one whose valor and courtesy were renowned through the world no
longer an enemy and unbeliever, but a convert and champion of the true
faith. All press about the knight; one grasps his hand, another locks
him fast in his embrace; but more than all the rest, Rinaldo cherished
him, for he more than any knew his worth.
It was not long before Rogero confided to his friend the hopes he
entertained of a union with his sister, and Rinaldo frankly gave his
sanction to the proposal. But causes unknown to the paladin were at
that very time interposing obstacles to its success.
The fame of the beauty and worth of Bradamante had reached the ears of
the Grecian Emperor, Constantine, and he had sent to Charlemagne to
demand the hand of his niece for Leo, his son, and the heir to his
dominions. Duke Aymon, her father, had only reserved his consent until
he should first have spoken with his son Rinaldo, now absent.