Orlando in Love, episode 25: Deceitful Origille The Paladin Orlando rides upon a quest in eastern lands. Angelica, the maid he loves, has~sent him into peril's way for _she_ does not love _him_ at all. Orlando rode both night & day, until he came forth from the forest. Outside the woods, on prairie land, he sees a knight with lance in hand. {Uldano} The knight stood sentinel upon~a marble bridge above a river. Over the stream's bank, from a pine, a damsel dangled by her hair. She made such sorry, sad laments she could have made the river grieve. She cried for help, she begged for mercy, filling the air with her loud screams. The Count's filled with compassion, and, to free her, he approached the pine. But that armed baron on the bridge shouted to him, "Don't move, sir knight! (R) You'll bring the world disgrace and shame by giving help to that depraved~one. Not ancient days or modern ones ever saw such a wicked maiden. "She now has just what she deserves: (R) hung by her hair and in the wind~while twisting lightly as a leaf; The way she twists now in the breeze, she used to twist her promises. "Her malice and her evil ways (R) have sentenced seven knights to death~already -- and yet more shall die. But I don't have to tell you this -- it's a long story -- just be gone! Do something else! Leave _her_ alone!" Orlando answered him, "In truth, I can't believe your cruelty. (L) I'll rescue her no matter what, and I don't think that you're so craven that you will interfere with me. If you've been hurt and need revenge, you should not get it from a girl." "This damsel," said the cavalier, (R) " was always cruel and merciless, so frivolous and whimsical that she's condemned here rightfully. "Perhaps, since you're a stranger, knight, (R) you don't know this realm's history, so pity makes you rescue her, though she's more cruel than any bear. Listen, please, and I'll tell you why both properly and lawfully this _beast_ was dangled from the pine. "Born in the region where I lived, she was more vain about her beauty than any *peacock* ever seen. Her name is Origille, and~the town of our birth, Bactria. "I loved her from my earliest~years -- my unlucky destiny. Now with disdain, now feigned concern, now promising, and now denying, she slowly kindled such a blaze~in me, I *burned* -- I was all flame. "Another young man loved her -- though~no more than I (impossible!) -- This knight's name was Locrino. and he wept constantly -- days, nights -- till he was on the verge of dying. "With pleasing words and wicked deeds she held us both within her net. In winter she seemed violets, then ice beneath the summer sun. Although we /knew/ we were deceived, it happened, as it often does, that neither thought _his_ love was lost: each man believed she loved _him_ most. "I often went to call on her, practicing words within my heart, But I could never get them out because, when brought before her, I~would be embarrassed, I'd forget -- I'd lose my senses and my voice and everything that I had ready. I sounded like a man who's dreaming. "_Love_ finally made me brave enough to speak to her such words as these: "'My sweet hope, if you believe that~I can endure what I cannot (R) and that my life will not succumb to flames that burn me to the bone, you must abandon such ideas, because without your help I'll die. This is no trick -- I swear it's true! "'You must believe, in your heart, (R) that~any /man/ will endure great pain -- more than he'd let a friend sustain. But then, to be deceived hurts more~than any torment, even death -- Yet any torture will be less than knowing all your hope is gone. God knows I hope for no one else. You are the woman I love most. "'I can no longer stand such anguish -- (R) deliver me from my distress. Help me, and it will bring you honor, since I will _live_ to do you service. If you don't soothe my pain, I'll perish, and you will lose a heart that's loyal.' "And these were not deceitful words; (C) indeed they came from my heart's root; But she, a woman worse than words, offered this false response to make~me more unhappy, saying to me: "'I *do* love you -- more than my eyes, and life itself. (L) If only I could give you proof~as easily as I can tell you that nothing moves me in my heart~but your desire, which I /would/ serve~if some way, some means, could be found. Then I'd stand ready, every hour -- provided we preserve our honor. "'But I can only see one way (L) (One, as I say, that would keep safe~_my_ name, and _your_ integrity) that we can find ourselves alone. "'Pernicious fortune, as you know, (L) caused deadly challenges between~the valiant boy who was my brother, and that _inhuman_ knight, Oringo. "'My young brother, I swear to you, (L) was killed _unjustly_, in the field, since he was not yet skilled with weapons, while /Oringo/ crossed swords often. And now, to set that great wrong right, my father searches for a knight, offering an immense reward; He's found one, or he'll find one soon. "'You must now _copy_ Orgino's arms,~insignia, and crest to wear. Then you'll leave town and find the site (L) where you must joust my father's knight. When you have jousted once, then let~yourself be captured. Don't resist. This is the only means by which~you'll fully satisfy your wish. "'You will, of course be led back here (L) when captured by that cavalier. You will be bound; I'll be your guard. Don't be afraid of being hurt, since I will keep watch over you. "'And though my father's wrath may burn, (L) though he'll be eager and will rush~to seek harsh vengeance for his son, I have already figured out how~I can... spend time with you, and then make~it seem like you've escaped!' "That's what this liar said to me, (C) and quickly I took up her scheme. I didn't care about the dangers because to be alone with her I would have crossed a sea of flame. I changed out of /my/ clothes at once and donned _Oringo's_ signs and arms, "But then, as soon as I departed, she made my plight a mockery. She was perfidious and cruel; She was extremely fraudulent. When, as I said, I left her, she~summoned her *other* lover in. "This was Locrino, whom I mentioned. Like me, he loved this liar then, and with her words and promises, she tricked him, as she well knew how, saying that if he ever wished~his love to be appeased, he must~for one day be her champion and, for her, catch ~ or _kill_ Oringo. "She tells Locrino where to fight, a place that lies outside the city, And she arranged it so _he_ dressed~in counterfeit insignia two gold horns on a green shield, his crest and overvest the same -- the sign of still *another* knight. "That baron's name was /Ariant/ who wore gold horns as his device. /Ariant/ loved Origille too and sought to have her as his wife, and with her father he'd affirmed~a pact, so he could marry her. He had to beat Oringo first and bring him back alive or dead. "Therefore, to make our story short, this Ariante sallied to~the meadow where I waited, armed. A short fight later, I surrendered, thinking I would be brought to her: I hardly fought, and I was captured. "The young Locrino, at this time, happened to meet the _true_ Oringo. /They/ did not fight for their amusement: *Love* burned in this man, *Rage* in that. "Locrino took wounds in the chest, Oringo on his ribs and head, and they fought such a hard, fierce duel that both of them were almost dead. Oringo finally was caught, since hearts that love will conquer all. "The cruel, old father of this girl had set his foul heart on vengeance and neither day nor night would rest. He kept a vigil to see when~his knight would bring Oringo in. "He saw him coming with Oringo, who held no sword or weapon; captive. Shaking, pale, he approached him and~scarcely refrained from striking him, but after he'd conferred, he knew~by voice and looks /Locrino/ was~this champion, _not_ Ariant. "The old man knew Locrino loved~his daughter and had loved her long. Therefore, he said to him, 'I swear~if you give me your prisoner, (L) I'll offer you the one delight that you want most of all on earth. If it's true that you love my daughter, then I will grant you your desire.' "Locrino -- mad! -- at once agreed. (C) Though it dishonored him to yield~his prisoner, Love pricked so hard, he would have given half his heart. "They had just settled this exchange when *our* arrival caused confusion for Ariante brought me in, and we approached the mean old man. "The matter was completely clear: heraldic emblems had been switched. Oringo then reproached me, since~I had on his insignia. There was great strife among us four -- we almost came to drawing swords -- for Ariante likewise mourned~the signs Locrino had usurped. "Our realm has an explicit law that if one wears a shield or crest owned by another clan or knight, he'll be dishonered and defamed, and, if not pardoned, lose his head. Although the law is fierce and cruel since punishment exceeds the crime, the ancient custom's still retained. "Our case was brought before the king, who learning that the maiden was~the cause of everything we'd done -- she'd had us put the armor on and ride with someone else's signs -- consulting many points of law, ruled *all* of us had done great wrong. The verdict was we had to die. "Oringo, since he was renowned~yet killed her brother, who was young, and Ariante, who, to have~the lady's hand, like an assassin~had promised that senile old hound to kill the one he wanted slain. Locrino'd die, as well as I, for wearing someone else's sign. "Our penalty was capital, and we four had to swear an oath not to go out of Bactria's gates until the sentence could be served. The king had us draw lots to see who'd lead the wench to punishment, as she, the /cause/ of crimes for love, would suffer something worse than death. "Hung by her hair, as you can see, she's sporting in this windy tree, and so that she will stay alive, she's fed and given what she needs. "The first lot landed me the task of guarding this deceptive lass, and therefore, I have fought three days against each man who'd give her aid. "I have killed seven cavaliers whose names I will not try to list. Look at the arms of foreigners and the shields that those men used to bear till each one lost his luckless soul, trying to liberate this girl. I've hung the helmets, horns, and shields of all of them around her tree. "And if, by chance, I should be killed, Oringo, then Locrino, and~then Ariant will guard the bridge. Each one is stronger, fiercer than~*I* am, so, knight, I recommend~that you do not attempt to pass. All those who do not halt at this~bridge battle me -- they have no choice." Orlando listened to the knight whose story had gone on so long, but still the maiden on that high~pine weeps and says the baron lies. "He is so fierce and bad," she cries, (L) " he tortures me because he's evil. He cruelly hangs me from a tree, since I'm defenceless, and a lady. "The seven knights by _treachery_, (L) not by his power, have been killed, and to make other men /afraid,/ those shields and helmets are displayed." That's what the woman said, while wailing, begging the Count to save her life, praying for mercy and to God that he not leave her to such cruelty. Orlando did not stop to think, since pity prompted him to action. He told the knight to cut her down or he would have to fight at once; So, after trading challenges, those barons wheeled their steeds around -- then cruelly charged, and when they met Orlando knocked him to the ground. After the knight fell on the field, Orlando hurried tow'rds the pine, But in a tower on the bridge~was an old dwarf with a giant horn, and when he sounded it, another~knight appeared upon the field. This knight threatens to kill Orlando if he won't stay far from the maid. Orlando's lance was still intact. He turns and sets it at his side and strikes that baron with such force he makes his head crash on the ground. But ~ a _new_ battle looms: the dwarf~sounds his horn loudly, and a third~armed kight arrives, but like the others, he was laid out along the meadow. Again the dwarf blasts from the tower, and a fourth knight comes into view. Orlando spurs at him. He jousted~and stretched him flat along the ground. He leaves them all behind for dead and rides with ease across the bridge, reaches the pine, dismounts, and climbs~the tree trunk to untie the girl. Down through the branches, in his arms, he brought that maid, who asked -- since~he'd saved her from that predicament -- if he would ~ carry her away. Harsh punishment would be her fate if she were left behind and found. Orlando calms her, he assures her puts her behind him, and they ride. Her beauty was extreme, but she~was false, malicious, full of lies. She had a ready stock of tears ever on tap, an endless spring. She never kept her promises but always showed her sweetest face. If she could love a thousand men~a day, her smiles would fool each one. I said Orlando carries her~with him. They'd left the area~when, speaking with her honeyed words, she slowly lit him with desire. It creeps up on him; he turns _often_~to see her, taking further fire, and such new pleasure fills his heart his /former/ love is soon _forgotten._ The woman knows at once, for she~was one whose sharpness passed belief. Orlando is alight with love, and she takes care to stoke him more. With smooth words and a smiling face, she heartens him to talk with her; Orlando, who's not used to this, speaks about love as if he's dreaming. The sunset seems a thousand years -- darkness will leave him less embarrassed. He hopes to do the deed, although~he does not know the words to say. Only the wait upsets him, and~he curses, silently, the day, longer than others, so it seems, He's sure the night will never come. And so they slowly rode along, talking of many things, until~in a field they came to a rock inscribed with letters made of _gold_: Thirty steps, leading to the top, were carved with faultless workmanship. Along those stairs one reached the summit~of that rock, which looked like fire. The maiden told him, "Be assured, (L) if you're as skillful as you seem, a strange adventure -- very great -- awaits for you within that rock. Ascend those steps and climb that height. The stone is open, like a fountain. Lean in, and look down deep inside: you will see hell and paradise." Orlando gives it no more thought -- he thinks he'll see God and the devil -- and leaves his charger with the damsel so he can climb the steps of stone. She, when she sees him reach the top, _laughs_ and cries out, "Oh, cavalier! (L) I don't know if you're used to walking, but that's what you will have to do. I'm going this-a-way! Godspeed!" @ So saying, that malicious maid~turns and rides off across the plain upon Orlando's noble steed. The Count, his mind a blank, remains. He calls himself a senseless dunce, though anyone can be deceived since those one loves, one _will_ believe. Still, he accused himself alone, calling himself a stupid fool. The maid had fooled him utterly; there's nothing here but an old tomb. He climbs down from the rock in grief {Nino's Tomb} and goes /on foot/ along the plain, since he has lost his wondrous steed. Then, in the darkness of the evening, not far ahead of him, he sees~several travelers, a group~that gradually approaches him. Later I'll tell you everything -- who met him, when he crossed their path -- and it will please and pass the time, though I'll not tell it for a while.~*Now,* for a while, I must abandon~tales relating deeds of love, and speak of more important matters. I will sing of the new Ruggiero, blessed with all virtues and outshining~every man the world has known.~My lords, I will expect your presence, another time, another place, so I may _please_ you with these events, if God, as always, grants me grace. Here Ends Book One