Orlando in Love, Episode 41: Reversals of Love The beautiful Angelica -- a fair princess from India -- is loved by _every_ man on earth... except for one: Rinaldo, bold. He, too, before, had loved the maid, but then he drank from Merlin's Fount which banishes all love away. Angelica had scorned all men, but _she_ drank from the Brook of Love, and lost her heart to fierce Rinaldo, the one man who does not love her. Rinaldo flees from her affections, and seeks to lose himself in war a fine pursuit, since pagan lords from Africa invade the coast. -- The Paladin Rinaldo fought~a terrible battle with his foe, the pagan Rodomont, who came~to ruin France with fire and sword. But battle swept the two apart, no victor clear between these knights. Rinaldo hears that Rodomont~now hunts for him in Arden Wood. Rinaldo sets out after him. He /thought/ he followed Rodomont, but he will never find him, for~the pagan lost the proper path. Rinaldo, riding on, passed by and he left Rodomont behind. But as he rode upon his way, something miraculous occurred: -- He saw a meadow full of flowers, red and white, and a _thousand_ hues, and in the field a naked youth~amused himself with festive songs. He seemed the lover of three maids~who danced around him -- unclothed too. Of sword or shield he showed no sign; His hair was blond, he had dark eyes. Whether he had a downy beard, or none at all, was hard to tell. The joyous, loving ladies, whom~I mentioned, carried baskets of~violets, roses, and more flowers. -- Enter Rinaldo Montalbano. When he was seen, they shouted, "Look! The traitor comes! The brute is here! Behold! The man who hates delight, despite himself has reached our snare!" They spoke, then with their baskets they~approached Rinaldo, and one maid~threw roses, one threw violets, one lilies, hyacinth -- with all~their force. Each blow dismayed his heart~and found the marrow of his bones, lighting a fire in every part, as if the leaves and flowers flamed. When the maid's baskets had been emptied, the naked youth approached Rinaldo with a long, leafy lily stem and hit the baron on his head. His magic helmet was no help, and like a little boy he fell. -- The three maids all wore garlands -- wreaths~of crimson roses and of white -- and they removed them, for they lacked~anything else with which to smite. Although Rinaldo begged for mercy, they whipped him till he grew exhausted. They circled round him on the meadow and flagellated him till noon. Not his thick hauberk, nor iron plates defended him from their assault. His body was one bruise beneath~his armor, burning with such flames that any soul condemned to hell~suffers, without a doubt, _less_ pain. Rinaldo almost perished from~anguish and fright and agony. He can't tell if they're gods or human. -- He was defenseless, his prayers useless, when all at once, and with no warning, the maiden's shoulders sprouted wings: The wings were crimson, white, and gold, with an eye pictured on each plume, not of a peacock, nor a bird, but of a gracious, lovely lady. They did not pause, but rose in flight. By turns they lifted to the sky. Alone, Rinaldo stayed behind~on the grass. Bitterly he cried, and his heart felt such great distress, his spirit gradually escaped till at last, gripped by agony, he stretched full length, as if he'd died. While thus among the flowers he lies believing that he soon will die, a lady, goddess-like, arrives, fairer than I can say in rhyme. -- She says, "My name is Pasite'a: I, of those three, attacked you first,~as you have seen. Now you will learn~that young man who unhorsed you was~the God of Love -- your enemy. I'm _Cupid's_ servant and companion. "You're wrong if you ignore his will, because in old and modern times that lord has never been opposed. "Now listen to what I propose to save you from a painful death. It's your sole chance to live in peace. "Love has a statuatory law that one who's loved, but does not love, must then love, but not be believed: Thus he feels the distress he gave. "No torture that you've undergone, no anguish that you can imagine, could balance with this on a scale: Heartache outweighs all other pain. You'll have to suffer from this law to free yourself from Love's contempt. "So you will know, you must now wander~through.this shade forest -- as you like -- until you find, beside a stream, a tall pine and green olive tree. From there a joyous river flows: Its water holds the remedy~to soothe the pain that pounds your heart." The lovely maiden said these words~then flew away, just like a bird. And rising, as she gained the sky, she vanished from Rinaldo's eye. -- He's miserable. What should he do? This is a difficult adventure. He ruminates, but can't accept~something this supernatural: Creatures that hurtle through the air, against whom armored strength fails; naked~beings who, with their flower petals -- lilies and roses -- beat his strength. He raised his aching body with~great effort from where he'd collapsed and painfully set on his way, searching the dense and shady woods. He found a tall pine by a stream~and, next to that, an olive tree. Its roots distill clear water, which tastes sweet, but to.the.heart is bitter, because Love's bitterness strikes.at~the.heart of one who drinks of.that~sweet water. Merlin built a fount~nearby expressly as a cure to end the malady this stream begins. I told about this on the day Rinaldo shunned Angelica after he'd sampled Merlin's fount. -- The baron had no memory~at present of that former time, but when he reached the riverside -- in anguish and in agony, since every welt still tortured him -- he soon lay down along the bank, and heedlessly, that valiant knight, who had a great thirst, deeply drank. After he drinks, he lifts his face, and all his former pain is gone, although his /thirst/ is not yet slaked: The more he drinks, the more he craves. He thanks God for his fortune, then, overjoyed, very satisfied, he gradually recalls to mind that he'd been there another time, when, sleeping in the flowering grass, he was roused by Angelica~dropping rose petals on his face. That time, he ran away from her; now, though, he bitterly repents. His heart is wounded: he's in love. -- Now he wants what's not in his power -- I mean, the fair maid -- in that bower. This time he would not be so fierce. Cursing his rude behaviour, the great affronts he'd shown the maid (and he remembers all there were), he calls himself cruel, pitiless. Hours before he'd hated her -- he loves her now more than himself, and feels so much affection that... he shall /return/ to India. He mounts Baiardo, who is saddled~and waiting not too far away. As he rode on, he saw a sight... which I'll come back to, presently. -- I must now tell you of the _maid_,~/Angelica/, and how _she_ fared. She travels in the company of /Count Orlando/, puissant knight. Orlando and Angelica, guided by fortune or by chance, came to the spot /in Arden Wood/~this day where _Merlin's Fountain_ stood. Now she, more weary than the Count, decided that she would dismount. The magic water that she drank cleansed her mind and transformed desire: She'd been consumed by passion's fire, but now love cannot rouse her heart. When she recalls the obstinate~contempt Rinaldo had long shown~for her, his handsome features seem~less sovereign in her esteem. And where she had, /innamorata,/ praised his nobility and worth, She now thinks that Rinaldo is~the vilest villain left on earth. Already it was time to go, now that the heat of day diminished, but just before they left that forest, they both beheld a baron bold. I guess that I should make this clear: /Rinaldo/ was that cavalier. -- I don't know how to tell in verse how fortunate he thought himself when he beheld the damsel who, he thinks, loves him as he loves her: He'd heard reports and he had seen~what she'd already done for him. He didn't recognize the /Count/, or he'd have spoken somewhere else. When he was near Angelica, he gave a pleasant little smile, and said, "Madam, I can't persist~in silence -- I must speak or die. "I am aware that my behavior~toward you, and my brutish manner, make me unworthy to be heard; But I know you're benign and kind, so though I've been deplorable, please pardon what I've done to scorn~your love, for those were _crazy_ acts that all my life I will regret. "I can't undo what has been done, as you know, my sweet, lovely one. I throw myself before you -- my~poor spirit understands that I~can't _earn_ the love of such a lady by any deed I might perform. I just request _this_: let me be~your _servant_ -- I won't ask for more." -- Orlando stood and heard these words -- he listened but did not endure~them patiently -- and said, "It hurts~that in this way, in front of me, you've shown the folly of your thoughts. I'd never have believed it of you~if I'd been told: upon my honor,~I would have sworn it was not true. "I want to love and honor you, but now, to do what's right, I can't. You crossed the sea to hinder me, and with no other reason than~to make me look like I'm a fool. You thought me slow and ignorant~in love -- I see now how you brood! -- but God knows this was not deserved." -- Rinaldo, when he sees this is~/Orlando/ that he's speaking with, feels paralyzed by two desires: to keep on talking, or to run. He finally said, "I never was~but what I'm now -- at _your_ command. To live in peace, I don't think I~need to /scorn/ everything *you* _like_! "Don't think this maid seems lovelier~to you than to the rest of us. Make yourself understand this: other~men want to love her, as you do. You're crazy if you want to fight with everyone in love with her because you'll have to fight the _world_. The man is *dirt* who does not love her! "If you can show the /document/ or state the _right_ that makes her yours, you can forbid my talking to her and you can order me away; But I would have my body drowned, my _soul_ torn out and tossed in flames, before I ceased to *love* her: If~you tell me to stop _that_, I _can't_." -- Orlando said, "She is... _not_ mine, though would she were, as I am hers, but I prefer to love _alone_, and for that I defy the *world* ~- the good and evil! You were not~courteous when you heard my thoughts. We're cousins, so I trusted you, but you betrayed me like a slave." Rinaldo said, "Well, there you are -- You're _always_ calling people names. By me you never were betrayed, and anyone who says so lies. Let us begin, if that's your wish: [ready to draw R] Anywhere that you choose, we'll fight. You may be thought the greatest knight -- to me, you're just another man." Orlando's nature, and his way, was not to use too many words, and so with his dark face disturbed, he drew his sword without delay. [draw L] He sighed and said, "It's a disgrace! What has brought us to such a place where one must kill and one must die? Let God behold and judge what's right!" -- After Rinaldo saw Orlando~was ready and prepared to duel -- he had drawn Durindana out -- in a flash he unsheathed Fusberta. @R Their duel, chaotic, now begins, with such destruction and such fire the earth is trembling on that site, and as they both attack and brawl, it seems the sky and forest fall. Rinaldo let Fusberta fly and hit Orlando on his shield, @R with which so great a racket split it seemed a thunderbolt had hit. The birds at that horrendous crack~fell down to earth, wise Turpin writes. The forest animals, I hear, fled screaming, overwhelmed with fear. Orlando hits with Durindan: @L He splits Rinaldo's hauberk plates, and in the forest, near and far, at that smash, every plant collapsed. The marble round the fountain quaked, and where the water had been clear, that sword-stroke made it dark, opaque: Neither knight noticed either stroke. Rather, their swings became still larger; such _ruin_ *never* had been heard. -- Angelica, who watched nearby, felt frightened, and her face turned pale. Her spirit would not let her stay, and in great fear she ran away and neither baron was aware, they fight so boldly, in such rage. The maiden turned from them and spurred~her horse with all her force to distance~herself as quickly as she could, not less than if she were pursued. When she had passed beyond the woods, she saw a nearby meadow, full~of people standing with their steeds,~erecting tents and making camp. The maid was curious to learn~why they were there and who they were. She found a baron standing by and made her inquiry politely. -- He answered, "My name's Oliver, and I've just come this instant with~Emperor Charles, the king of France, who's gathering his army here. "A Saracen has crossed the sea. He beat the vanguard of the French, and marches on towards Paris now, with massive armies following. "The most distressing thing is that~Rinaldo, who arrived last night~from Hungary with others, now~cannot be found, dead or alive. The whole court is disconsolate. "What's more, Orlando still is gone. He _brought_ the court its great renown: All of the world respects his power. "If I could see him just once more, I swear to God that then and there~I could be killed -- I would not care. I love him more than I love life." -- Angelica, when she understood~the wishes of that cavalier,~answered, "You are so courteous~I would, if silent, be remiss, and so I'll tell you openly~what you seek, and you will be pleased: Rinaldo and Orlando fight~together -- Arden Wood's the site." (gesture) When Oliver had heard her he -- happier than he'd ever been -- ran quickly to inform the camp, and I can tell you, none stood still. Charlemagne hurried to his horse. Some ride behind him, some before, but with him rides Angelica, who leads the king straight to the fountain. And as they rode he learned the reason those cavaliers clashed with so much fury. -- They reached the forest as they spoke: Arden, I mean, its trees and shade, and as they went they heard a _storm_~of mad and savage swings, of battle, and broken armor echoing as if the _sky_ were tumbling. Everyone hurried toward the noise from everywhere, by different paths; The battle still continued, as~nobody, great or little, has~the nerve to stop those cavaliers: All watch their great assault in fear. When Charlemagne at last arrived, they stopped their battle for a while, for though they had such fiery hearts that they paid /others/ no regard -~ or little -- they respected _him_~and separated for a time. -- King Charlemagne, his face benign, embraced them both and almost cried. All of the barons circled them and urged that pair to make a truce; King Charlemagne made several tries: he spoke bold words, he flattered~and he _ordered_ them; at times he *prayed* that peace between them should be made. They /would/ have made peace instantly, but each one wants Angelica. Till that is settled, their friends' prayers and Charlemagne's commands are useless. -- King Charles, bound to conciliate Rinaldo and Orlando both, promised that he would terminate~their argument to such effect that everyone would surely judge his legal balance true and just. He called Rinaldo, (gestures throughout) and he swore~he would not give the Count the maid -- on one condition: if he showed -- once and for all now, with his sword -- he, not the Count, deserved her more. That done, he called Orlando over, telling him surreptitiously Rinaldo'd never have that maid if he (the Count) fought well that day. That day, each of these men decided to prove himself the better knight. Ah, what unlucky Saracens -- what /ruin/ is, soon, to befall them! Soon, now, I will return to tell~the story of that battle, fell, and other fine, delightful stuff, but this, for /now/, should be enough.