Orlando in Love, Episode 28: The Bridge of Roses 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. He seeks, for her, a magic garden, created by a sorceress-queen, and guarded by a fearsome dragon. To please the fair Angelica, this garden must be smashed and wrecked. Along his way, Orlando met a knight and maid most strange to see. That knight stood guard before the maid, who dangled from a lofty tree. She hung from that tree by her hair, as punishment for many sins. Orlando does not listen to the knight, who tells him of her wrongs, but duels with him to free the maid. Orlando's strength is without match; quite soon, the lovely damsel's free. The damsel's name is /Origill./ A more deceitful maid than her, the wicked world had never seen. She woos Orlando with her wiles, and makes him fall in love with her. 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._ That knight could overcome all foes, except for one -- a pretty face. When Origille tired~of this burly baron's company, she tricked him with her subtle ways. She lured him into stepping off~his noble charger, /Brigliador,/ so he could climb a nearby rock. When he had walked away from there, the maiden rode off on *his* horse, leaving Orlando, stunned, on foot. For now, we'll leave Orlando there, in wonder that the maid is gone, and seek out those who search for /him/. Grifon & Aquilante, the~two noble sons of Oliver, have left Albraka's siege to seek Orlando, whose fate is unknown. The two knights rode so fast, that unbeknownst to them, they passed Orlando, leaving the Paladin behind. These two arrived beside a sea, and near its beach beheld a palace~surrounded by a flowering garden. The palace had a seaside porch that those two barons passed before, where maidens were engaged in dance, as minstrels and strange music played. Grifon, while passing, went to ask~two people, who held hawks and hounds, whose palace this was. One responded, "This place is called the Bridge of Roses (L) This sea is named the Caspian. "Where this fine park and palace sit (L) was once a forest, thick with firs, and a colossal highwayman stood on the bridge you see down there. Never across this border passed~a damsel or an errant knight who was not slaughtered by that giant. "But Polifern, a good knight, (L) and~later, due to his courage, king, destroyed that fearsome giant; Then~he cut the forest furiously and had this garden planted to~receive and welcome visitors. "He also changed the bridge's name. (L) It had been called Bridge Perilous; now it's known as the Bridge of Roses. "It is arranged and ordered (L) so~that every cavalier and maid~who passes will be entertained, in order that the good knight's fame be known worldwide: His courtly ways in every country merit praise. "You're not allowed to cross the bridge (L) unless you, on your honor, swear~you will remain for one full night. Before you leave, let me invite~you both to take your lodging here." Grifon replied, "This courtesy -- I'll swear! -- won't be denied by me: (R) as long as Aquilant agrees." Aquilant answered, "As you please," and they dismounted on the shore. Daring Grifon goes towards the palace, and Aquilante follows after. They reach the porch, but can't just rest: it is too beautiful and strange. Light-hearted maids and minstrels came~to greet and cheer those cavaliers. At once their armor was removed; and with confections, fruits, and cups~of gold, the knights refreshed themselves, and they joined in the dance as well. Behold! across the flowering field a woman came, on *Brigliador,* famous /Orlando's/ noble horse. Grifone stared with wonder when~he saw the steed the lady rode. Aquilant also was amazed. Both cavaliers stopped dancing, and~together they proceeded toward~the lady, and they questioned her, probing to learn how, by what means~she found the horse, and what became~of him who owned that valiant steed. The lady (Origille) answered everything those barons asked. As one who's false beyond belief, she had a knack for 'telling tales'. She said that on a bridge along~the plain, she found a baron, slain. He wore an overvest of green, a tall tree was his helmet's crest. Near the knight lay a giant, dead, sliced to the gorget by a blade. The cavalier had not been cut, but a large stroke had crushed his head. When Aquilante heard all this, his wish to seek amusement fled,~and he cried, "Who betrayed you, knight? (R) "I'm certain in an open fight no giant in the world's so strong he could have killed a knight like you." Grifon lamented too, and wept, and he was overwhelmed, distressed. Already night was drawing near, the sun was hidden by a hill, and those two barons, full of grief, were lodged, well cared for, in the palace. ...But that night... they are *seized* in bed and to a murky forest led, and in a castle they are locked, inside a dungeon's fearful depths. In irons almost constantly, they are kept hard for several days, till one day, when their jailor~takes them out -- their arms are bound in chains -- and with them, bound too, brings the maid~who'd ridden there on Brigliador. A captain, leading mounted men, salutes those barons in this way: "Today you have to suffer death, (R) unless God's mercy rescues you!" The maiden's visage pales with fear when she hears that she will be slain. The brothers never flinch. Each one~commends himself to what God wants. I'll let _them_ go, to find /Orlando,/ whom I left suffering, in pain, walking on foot along a plain: He'd lost his charger, Brigliador. The daring cavalier rebuked~himself, for having been so duped. He said, "I freed that damsel from~great torment and a wicked death, (L) and then she was discourteous~to me and led me to this pass. Let him be *damned* who ever trusts~a woman -- any! -- in this world. They're faithless when they're needed most, a _loyal_ one has not been found." As soon as he finished that speech, he slapped himself upon his mouth, @ scolding himself, "You worthless knight, who makes you speak in such a way? (L) Do you forget the gentle sight of her who put love in your heart, the beautiful Angelica? Her goodness, her example prove~that other women merit love." Orlando now sees, far away, standards and pennons on raised spears. Men move toward him on the plain, some riding horses, some on foot. Before the rest a captain leads two prisoners -- two cavaliers -- with both arms bound by iron chains. Orlando knew them instantly. One is Grifon, one Aquilant, and they are being led to die. A damsel, just in front of them,~rode Brigliadoro. She was tied. Her face pale, she's a sorry sight. Origill is that mournful maid, Orlando knew her right away. He doesn't make this known but goes~up to those men and asks their business. One with a beard of rusty brown, with stomach armor tightly girt,~said, "They are being taken to~the /dragon/ (R) that _consumes_ all those~who come as strangers to this land. "If you don't know, this realm's Orrgagn~a. (R) You are near Falerina's Garden, strangest thing ever in the world, constructed by the queen with spells. Do you go fearless through these parts? You will be captured miserably~for dragon-feed, like all the rest, if you don't get away, and fast." Orlando was quite overjoyed when he learned from this short discourse he'd reached the garden that he must~demolish -- for such was his quest. But then, the dog-faced soldier said, "What are you waiting for, you fool? (R) Once our commander's spotted you, you will be quickly caught and killed." He hadn't finished speaking when~the captain caught sight of the Count~and shouted, "Catch that rascal, quick! (L) It's his misfortune he came here. Return with him to prison, for~today the dragon will devour _these_ three who are about to perish. /Tomorrow/ _he_ will have his chance." The soldiers rush to catch the Count. All of them move, those villainous men. Orlando's not afraid of them; He sets his shield, draws Durindan. @ They feel no fear as they charge in -- they don't yet know his sovereign strength. Each would be first, each rushes, since~they prize the baron's armaments. But he was soon made known to them for when he joined with them in battle he cut first one man, then another, many men are missing limbs. A large man held the gonfalon: "Stand firm," he said, "Let no man stray. (L) "Stand firm, you men," he loudly yelled, but _he_ stayed back and far away. For all his yelling, no one stops, but madly all of them run off. Orlando still storms through their midst, sending arms, legs, and heads to earth. He hits a big man on his head~with both hands, swinging his sword hard. He _severs_ him below his belt: @ no wonder that the rest are scared. The captain led the fleeing throng -- his horse was faster than the others -- saying to his friend as he went, "This man will murder all of us (R) unless God gives us help -- and spurs! Woe to the one whom his sword meets! It slices men and arms like cheese!" Orlando did not follow him,~however, for those men were beaten. "Off, rabble!" he yelled after them, (L) and then turned, as he was, on foot, toward the prisoners. They wept,~hardly believing they'd escaped. The damsel, though, who knew the Count, turned pale, and her head hung down. She was, as I said, passing fair, and all things answer comeliness, so that embarrassment and fear did not conceal her loveliness. Seeing her splendid form, the Count~is topsy-turvy in his soul, recalls no injury or trick -- just worries that she might be hurt. What need I say? He liked her so, he freed her first, his nephews last. But she was fraudulent and false and seized -- as she knew how -- her chance. She kneeled; she wept; she sought a truce. Orlando did not want to keep~her any more in misery, but raised and kissed her, making peace. In this way, once more pacified, Orlando climbed back on his horse once he'd untied those two bold knights. Origill only watched /Grifon,/ since they'd been lit up by _Love's fire_ while they were held as prisoners. The fire burned in both of them, though they'd been kept in separate cells. You do not need to wonder that~she loved Grifon more than the Count. Orlando's face had bushy brows, and one eye had a little squint. Grifone's cheeks were white and red, and he showed little beard, or none. Although of greater strength and age, the Count's not to the lady's taste. She keeps her eyes fixed on Grifon, (L) and he, with passion, watches her, (R) with sympathetic looks, with love. His breast bursts with hot sighs for her, and they behaved so openly Orlando grew suspicious soon. To keep you from a longer tale, he told those knights to "move along," (L) saying that on that day he was~to do a deed beyond belief, and he'd no need of company -- indeed he'd sworn to work alone. What's more to say? They go away,~but don't depart without "good-bye"s, (R) and -- it's no lie -- at least three times the Count reminds them to "be off!" (L) Orlando from his saddle climbs -- Grifon and Aquilante gone -- and with the damsel speaks of love, though he's an awkward, ugly beau. Look here, a lady now arrives upon a white and ambling horse. When salutations were performed, she told the Count, "Unlucky you!" (R) "What fate~brought you to such misfortune? (R) Do~you know you are not even _two~miles_ from Orrgagn~a's garden gate? Run, quickly, run -- for God! -- poor man, since you are just as near to _death_ as you are to that magic wall, yet here you chat and think you're safe!" Orlando answered with a smile: "I must thank you sufficiently (L) because, from what you've said to me, I know you loathe my peril. But~understand this -- I will not flee. I *want* to go inside that garden. /Love/ sends me on this great adventure, and Love assures me I'll succeed. "If you can give advice or aid (L) I'll be extremely bound to you. I have not heard what I must do. I've found no man who's seen the place. No one can tell me where to go, and so I'd like to ask you -- please -- to tell me what I _need_ to know." The damsel, who was gracious, climbed~off her white palfrey to the field. The lady, having left her steed, addressed the Count, "Knight, do believe -- I'd join you in this garden, (R) but~I have been sent as messenger and cannot linger for a *day* -- the road _is long_ -- upon my way. "Listen to what I have to say: (R) You must be circumspect and brave. If you'd not have a dragon feast~on you -- as others were consumed -- then for three days you must be chaste: you can survive no other way. "The dragon's just the first test that~you'll find (R) at the initial gate. A book I'll let you have shows all~the garden: what's within the walls! It shows the dragon that devours~men, and it shows each prodigy, and it describes the palace where~the queen, a vile enchantress, lives. "She went inside there yesterday. (R) There she still hides, to fabricate~/a sword,/ with herb juice, charms, and roots, whose edge enchantments can't withstand. She only tends this project when~the moon turns and the world grows dark. "I'll tell you why she makes the sword (R) and takes such care to temper it. In Europe, there's a baron, named~Orlando, whose strength scares the world. The witch foresees her fate is dark: /he/ must *destroy* her garden park! "He is enchanted, it is said,~all over, (R) and cannot be harmed. He has fought _many_ warriors, and he killed every one; therefore~the damsel fabricates her sword so that the knight I've named will die -- And yet... she says she knows for certain {puzzled} her garden _will_ be razed by him! "What you _most_ need I have left out -- (R) I've lost time with so many words. None enters that enchanted spot~except _at sunrise._ Too much time~has gone its way since I've arrived. I'm sorry I _can't_ stay with you. Take the book, now. Attend to it. @ God give you luck! May He assist!" And saying this, the messenger~hands him the book, bids him farewell, then mounts her palfrey and rides off. The mighty knight gives her his thanks~warmly, then trudges tow'rds the field where he must wait until the morning. He's sorry that his /sport/ is spoiled, since for this task he must be chaste. Because that lady -- Origille -- whose life he'd saved, was still with him, longing and love hammered within, but he determined to refrain. The moon and stars were in the sky. Orlando stretched out on the grass, armed, with his shield beneath his head, the damsel by him at his side. Orlando slept. His snores were loud. The bold knight had no cares at all. That woman, though, a tricky sort, thinking /she/ would pursue _Grifon,_ wondered if she should _kill_ the Count, While her malicious mind mulled this, she softly sidled up to him, and from his side took Durindana. The Count _is_ covered by his armor. She is not certain what to do, not sure that she can pierce him through, so she decides to let him be. She catches grazing Brigliador and is not slow to mount that horse. Then, to get distance, she rides on, and with her she takes Durindan. Early next day, Orlando woke and learned about his sword and steed. Consider then, his wretchedness: he thought he'd die from his distress. He wished to enter, nonetheless,~Orrgagn~a's garden, and though he~had lost his horse and matchless blade, that daring knight was not afraid. Unarmed, on foot, Orlando still~is ready to make his attack. This was a marvelous adventure, and I'll reveal it all, in full, at the /next/ time, if God is pleased. Splendid assembly, stay in peace.