Episode 19, Leodilla's Tale While riding through an eastern wood, the Count Orlando, best of knights, had come upon three giants, who were carrying off a maiden fair. Orlando drew his sword at once, and made quick work of all three giants. Their size might seem a great advantage, but courage is not sold by the yard. Having rescued the hapless maiden, Orlando asked her, courteously, her name, and what her station was, and how she'd fallen in this plight. The lady (Leodilla named) began to tell to him her tale: "Nobody can ever guess what will bring the most happiness. I was the daughter of a king, beautiful, happy, rich in things - yet all my troubles came from this. I'll explain it all to you, so you'll learn, from the life I led, no one is happy till they're dead. "My father (who is emperor over the Islands Far Away) has gathered together so much treasure, no horde in all the world holds more. I was heir to all of this. "The news had spread both far and wide of my old father's massive wealth. The tidings of my lovely face had led two lovers to seek my hand: "One was an /old/ man - over *sixty* and Folderico was his name. The other one, Ordauro called, was blond, and handsome from head to toe. "Each man was rich, of noble blood, but Folderico was thought wise, a prophet of such subtle ways, he was compared to high Macon. Ordauro had more manly force, for he was big and strong of limb. "I never took advice back then: I spurned the old and chose the young. The choice, however, was not mine /alone/ - my father played a role. "Modesty bridled my desire that would have let that handsome Ordauro 'board my ship' without delay I was certain that my skill could quickly get my wishes filled, could make Ordauro mine indeed. In this thought, though, I was deceived... "The age-old proverbs used to claim that women succeed by wily ways -- King Solomon himself said this, although it is not true these days. When I had lost my hopes, I learned at my expense, to my regret, that trusting in my wicked tricks cost me both what I had /and/ wished. "Making my face look very red, trying to make my eyes seem modest, speaking so that I seemed to weep, I kneeled before my father, and I said: "'If I'm you're daughter, sire, (L) if I have always done your will, which has, of course, preceded mine, then don't deny me one last gift. "'Accept no man to be my husband (L) who has not run a race with me, and let it be confirmed by law that I will wed the one who beats me; But let the vanquished know that he must lose his life as penalty, and let this be proclaimed and clear, one who won't race can't ask for me.' "Though what I asked was hard and cruel, my father could not tell me no. He had it written and proclaimed so that all of the world would know. "I celebrated, confident I'd have the husband of my choice because I run with so much speed, few /beasts/ can keep ahead of me. I well recall how, in the field, I'd run and catch a deer, by hand. "Ordauro, that supreme young baron, and Folderico were to come. The one was very old and gray; the other had an angel's face. Imagine, knight, how such a one could catch the fancy of a girl. The young man had me in his thrall; I did not like the old at all. "No longer was the day delayed. Upon a mule, the old man came, made weary by a heavy weight, a large purse hanging on his left. The young man comes in festive joy upon a horse he'd dressed in gold and jumps to earth, prepared to run. "Fingers were aimed at Folderico. Men said 'The sage has lost his head. (L) His cleverness can't help him here. He /was/ thought wisest in the world, but he's out of his mind with love.' The crowd of watchers stood around, just waiting for the count of three. "Old Folderico wore his purse, he was the one I'd race with first. The signal came, and off I went, as Folderico raced in front. To have some fun, I /let/ him go, but when he saw that I /would/ pass, he quickly drew out from his purse a polished apple, made of gold, and threw it on the ground, behind. "Enchanted by that gilded fruit, I chased it, leaving my pursuit. That metal is so beautiful it leads most of the world astray. The slippery, round apple rolled, and I had trouble catching hold. "When I /had/ scooped up the apple, he threw *another* in my path, but he was getting tired now. I seized the apple and caught up. I reached him as we neared the finish of that exhausting, painful race. "The white tents were already close, where, the race done, one could repose. I told myself, 'I must be sure to turn back now for nothing else. I won't swerve one inch for the world -- I want no husband who is *old*.' "I looked to race the young one next, and let /him/ get ahead of me. I'd leave this ancient, gray-haired brute a view of my posterior. It seemed a thousand years until Ordauro could contend and I could kiss him: I would lose, I'd yield. That's what I said within my heart. "I raced, my hopes almost fulfilled, when that old, /treacherous/ criminal threw the third apple from his purse. It's splendor was so dazzling that although the race had no time left, I ran to snatch that globe, and so I never again caught Folderico. "Panting hard, he reached the tents where his retainers celebrated. The people who had gathered shouted, 'The wily fox has shown his tricks!' "Now you can guess just how I felt, how I wept tears of /blood/ in rage. I told my heart 'If he's a fox, by God, I'll turn him to a goat!' "No jousting knight was ever seen to enter any tournament wearing a helmet crest so high as the huge horns I'll hang on his head. He'll waste his time in guarding me. His foresight won't be any use. If he had an eye for every finger, I'll still betray him -- easily! "I made and carried out my plan... Next time you hear about some trick that's played upon an aging husband, /believe/ it -- do not ask for proof. "I've heard of many in this world deceived in strange and different ways, so I don't hide myself in shame because I double-crossed my husband. Instead, in my mind, I *rejoice* whenever I remember how I duped that ancient, gray-haired man, whom all the world considered wise. "As I was telling you before, that old man blundered, marrying me. I railed at heaven, I cursed Fortune, but he would be the sadder one. The grief he'd feel would be unending. With all his wisdom, he'd not known what young girls do to elder men, who ought to take /old/ wives, or /none/. "He carried me off solemnly, in glory, with triumphal pomp, to Altamura's citadel, where he stored his enormous wealth. Jealous, even before we'd met, he locked me in that fortress, in a chamber worse than any prison. "I stayed there, far from all delight, watching the meadowlands and sea, locked in a tower that had been built along an empty ocean beach. No one alive could climb its walls unless he had some wings to fly, and one could enter only by a narrow path that scaled one side. "Within this ringed and mighty fortress, I was a well-kept prisoner. I called out night and day for /death/, hoping for nothing but an end to misery, to my distress. I'd been provided with a wealth of jewels and gold and all delights -- except the pleasures had in /bed/: I wanted better ones, and more. "The old man, who suspected, wore his keys at all times on his belt. He became *so* jealous, he would not have been believed, if seen. When entering my chamber, he would sweep his clothing free of fleas, chasing each insect out the door, and he'd stay in a sulk all day if he should find a fly with me: Greatly tormented, he would ask 'Is that a male or female fly? (R) Out it goes, if you don't reply!' "Although I never hoped for help while guarded - and with such suspicion! - Ordauro, that bold, handsome boy, often came to the citadel. He used all stratagems and skills but never saw more than the castle. Yet Love, which always gives one hope, gave him new plans and made him bold. "Ordauro was a man with money -- without which, brains aren't worth a bean -- with lots of silver, lots of gold, and so, he bought a palace, close to where I stayed with Folderico, a little less than two miles off. "No need to wonder that my husband grew even more preoccupied. He was suspicious of the air that blew, the light that was reflected off of young Ordauro's castle. "With diligence and care and cunning, he had each nook and cranny filled. He never left the citadel and if he saw a cloud or bird, was positive it was Ordauro. "At times, dispirited, he'd climb my tower and find me alone. He'd say 'You're playing tricks, I fear -- (R) I do not know /what/ flies up here! But though I feel the shame, the harm, I do not dare to say a word, since these days they call one who guards his /own/ a jealous lunatic!' "Ordauro did not waste his time, but skillfully and lovingly he built a passage underground, hidden, unknown to all but him. One night... through this dark, close tunnel he entered Altamura's walls. "Ordauro was quite unexpected; I'd never known his plan, and yet I turned a kinder face tow'rds him than any Folderico'd seen. I still think I'm in Paradise when I remember how I kissed him and how he kissed me on the mouth. That sweetness still affects my heart. "I swear to you - I tell the truth - that I was still a virgin then, since Folderico had no strength, {contemptuously} and I was young and innocent. He'd fooled me with his silly lies, and cheerfully confided _this_ was the extent of love's delights: to have my breasts /caressed/, or *kiss*! "I learned then, those were empty words, with pleasure that my heart still holds. We started playing, hand to hand, Ordauro of great strength, impatient. It seemed quite /strange/ to me at first, as if I chewed a bitter apple, but by the end it felt *so* sweet, I thought I'd *die*, and I... dissolved. "From then, I cared for nothing else. Let others search for power or wealth or seek renown throughout the world; The smart ones want their pleasure first, to live delightful, happy lives. May those who work for fame or things ignore this -- and the loss be theirs! "We many times renewed our game, and every day the pleasure grew, but being trapped inside that room was getting on my nerves at last, and pleasure always went too fast because that cursed, suspicious man so often came to check on me, he was a frequent interruption. "So in the end we made a plan to run away, no matter what. But that was not done easily, because that old man often climbed the castle stairs to where I was, giving us little time to leave. "But Love provided us the means, for Love makes hearts astute and keen. Ordauro asked old Folderico to come and visit at his palace. To ease suspicion from his thoughts, Ordauro convinced him he had married. "The old man locked his castle tightly, so that I could not get away, and full of dread -- he knew not why -- went where the banquet had been laid. Before he got there, I came through the tunnel hidden underground. I was then dressed in clothes and jewels that would befit a brand-new bride. "When Folderico first saw me, he looked like he would die of grief. He screamed 'Its just as I suspected! (R) Heavenly God, what misery! Unfortunate, poor Folderico, outsmarted, finally, by a girl! Let old men *hang* at my expense, if they think they can watch their wives!' "While he cries out these words, inflamed by acrimony and by shame, Ordauro shows him pity, but /pretends/ he does not understand. He swears upon the sun and moon (L) that he's been wrongfully maligned, that in the past, and always, he has shown him honor and respect. "'Is *this* your /honor/? your /respect/? (R) You take my treasure, my good wife, and then to torture me some more you trick me into coming here-- Scoundrel! Deceiver! Traitor! Thief! -- so I may see my troubles fully, witness my sorrow, die in grief!' "Ordauro looked as if amazed, and said 'O God who rules bright heaven, (L) why have you taken this man's wits? He had such wisdom, was so prudent! His senses also are undone -- it seems he has no eyes, no vision. Hear, Folderico! See! This wife, whom you take to be yours, is mine. "'She's daughter to the emperor who rules the Islands Far Away. Perhaps her looks play tricks on you, (L) since, as I understand, the /twins/ are so alike of face and limb their mother, when she'd borne them, and their father, seeing them the morning after, could not distinguish them. "'Take a good look, judge for yourself, (L) before you grieve too much, and wrongly. Your anger far exceeds what's right.' "The old man said 'Don't sell me leaves! (R) I can see -- for I am *not* blind! -- this lady truly is my wife. Yet I'll not act the stubborn fool, I'll go home, but I'll be back soon. "'If I don't see her in her tower, (R) don't think that we will live in peace. Through every kingdom, every region, by the true God, I'll follow you. But if I /find/ her, by Macon I'm sorry I've offended you. Watch her, so that she does not move till I return and see the proof.' "So saying, very rapidly he trotted off towards his castle. But I had greater speed than he, and waited in the citadel, leaning my head upon my arms to show my mood was melancholy. "When he arrived and saw me, he marveled and cried out at once. 'Who'd credit such a miracle, (R) or think that nature could perform it? These sisters are so similar in looks, proportion and behaviour... "'Suspicion yet assails my heart, (R) and, though there seems no cause, I fear. I still believe (indeed, I'd swear!) that this *is* the lady over there.' "He said to me, 'I conjure you,' (R) 'on any good you hope to have: were you outside these walls today? Who took you? Who unlocked the gates? Tell me the truth, and you may rest assured that I won't punish you. Tell me /lies/, and when they're discovered I'll give you nothing else but trouble. "Don't ask me, now, how hard I swore on every planet in the heavens-- when it's for good, God does not mind; he laughs at lovers' little lies! I did not hesitate to swear upon the holy al-Koran that since I'd first come to that fortress at no time had I ventured forth. "That man, not knowing what to say, went back out, bolting all the doors. Myself, I did not stay to sleep, but hurried through the hidden tunnel. I reached Ordauro's palace first, and wore my other clothes once more (R) "'Heaven,' he swore, 'and God could never make this the girl I left up there!' Thus, after several more occasions where he was shown me in this way, he gave up his suspicions -- called me 'sister-in-law,' the silly fool. "From there, it was an easy thing to run away, and one fine day Ordauro wrote to Folderico, saying the sea air bothered him. (L) He claimed that he'd not spent a healthy /hour/ since he'd settled there, and so, he said, the next day he would travel back where he belonged, a country three day's journey off. "Now Folderico was not asked, but by himself he volunteered to escort us beyond the border. He rode about six miles with us, then hurried to return at once. "I cannot say for certain that he was amazed to see me gone, but I believe he cursed high heaven and tore his graying whiskers out. He vowed to catch me or to perish, and he set out to follow us. Without the strength or daring to take me by /force/ from my young man, he came behind us full of craft, of which that villain had excess. "As for us, we were quite content, Ordauro, that sweet squire, and I, riding along without a care. I'd guess we were a group of thirty. The rest were serving girls and grooms, all ambling slowly, all unarmed. "We'd already passed a day, riding without impediment, and by my side Ordauro sang. He wore all of his armament, his plate and mail and belted sword, though his lance, his fine silver shield, and his helm (with a truly sumptuous crest) were carried by a nearby groom. "Just then, we saw along the road a young man riding on a steed. He galloped, shouting, 'Woe is me! (R) Help me by God! Help, by Macon!' At his back was a murderer-- or so that scoundrel seemed to be-- riding full tilt along the field, after that man, with lance in hand. "Across the shadow-covered forest, the two of them *raced*, wildly. Ordauro sympathized, of course, and, sorry for the young man, he commenced pursuit immediately. The other two were fast as birds. They wore no armor, their steeds bore light loads, and they moved rapidly. Ordauro rode a steed so laden with plate and chain mail that it strained. "Ordauro, one without suspicion, would suffer more than just fatigue, because, as I soon learned, this was a trick of that old Folderico. He'd sent the young man and the 'thief', to draw Ordauro far from us. "When he had ridden far from us, so far that he was hardly seen, the false old man revealed himself, in league with twenty armored men. Our people were afraid and fled into the woods, some here, some there, but nobody defended, so the old man captured me at once. I think you can imagine, knight, how mournful I was at that moment. "The old man led me stealthily along a path flanked by thorn trees, where no one ever used to go. He made us cross a hundred thickets, scared we'd be followed by Ordauro, until we reached a gloomy valley. "I'd been his captive for /two days/ while we rode through that valley's shades, and I had never ceased to scream, no matter how he tried to soothe me. "Suddenly, three giants emerged from the woods, all armed with heavy clubs. One approached and shouted loudly, 'Throw down your weapons, or you'll die.'" After the maid related this to Count Orlando, she went on because she wanted him to hear just how those giants captured her, and how the old man tried to help, but then, with all his men, he'd died. She wanted to tell him all that happened, before he came to rescue her, but -- something new had just appeared that cut the maiden's story short. Just what they saw, along their way, I'll tell to you... another day.