Orlando in Love, Episode 52: The Laughing River Worth more than treasure, more than strength, more than delight and high repute, are _friends_, companions who are true. For two whose love is mutual, the good seems greater, evil less, because they can reveal their hearts, and every rare or frequent care can be discussed with someone else. What use is wealth in pearls or gold, great power, or a noble rank, enjoyed _alone_, without a friend? Those who don't love are never loved, nor can they find felicity. Mandricard and Gradasso, two~bold pagan knights out of the east, have met and have become fast friends. Their travels take them towards France, the site now of a fearsome war. -- The emperor of Africa, with two-and-thirty vassal kings came cross the sea with all their troops to bring great harm to Charlemagne. A prophecy in Africa says this assault will win success -- /while/ young Ruggiero fights with them. Ruggiero's ancestry is great, descended straight from Trojan Hector, whose arms Ruggiero still displays. -- During the war, Ruggiero~met a knight whose skill astounded him. Ruggiero, always courteous, offered to give an escort to~this Christian knight, back to his camp. Imagine his surprise, though, when~that stranger took *her* helmet off! This warrior is a woman, who's~as beautiful as she is bold. These two had fallen fast in love -- but fell into an /ambush/, too. The brigands could not beat that pair, but, giving chase, they lost each other. -- The sun is hidden in the west before that difficult duel ends and the young man, in love, looks round~for his lost sweetheart. He's distressed,~and can't calm his anxiety, for nowhere does he see the lady~he cherishes. He calls, he searches. He found two barons by a cliff. These are Gradasso and Mandricard, although Ruggiero didn't know them. Hearing their trampling horses' hooves, Ruggiero gained a bit of hope, but when those barons spoke to him, saluting him with courtesy, such heartache seized upon his soul (since neither had his sweetheart's voice) he couldn't answer properly. -- "A villain he must surely be, [rude knight] who's stolen some dead baron's arms!" said Mandricard. To this, Ruggiero~answered, "I apologize. [young knight] Love holds a bridle on my heart, and Love confounds my faculties. I'm not the man I used to be. I beg your pardon for my fault." "If you've been struck by Love, good sir, [deep knight] make no excuse," Gradasso said, "Since that proves your gentility -- Love does not dwell in peasant hearts -- and if you need our services, we're both prepared to give you aid." He willingly invited them because he was alone out there, and didn't know the countryside. Therefore, the three together ride, and frequently they call and cry, searching the mountain on all sides,~all through the night -- but they found nothing. -- Dawn was already visible, a red light rising in the east, when, seeing Ruggiero's /shield,/ Mandricard~stared at it; then he declared: "Who's given you permission, knight, to bear _this_ blazon on /your/ shield? @ [indicate own shield] Its source is of such excellence, nobody measures up to it. I'll suffer you to wear it if~enough strength courses through your body to let you take the honor in~a _duel_ with me. _I_ earned -- *I* _own_ -- this!" Ruggiero said, "I hadn't noticed~that /this/ was your insignia, and truly _you_ are wrong to wear it unless we've common ancestors. I ask, I conjure, I implore~you to explain why this is so. Where did you win that ensign? How? What is your family? Your name?" He answered, "I believe my home~is a place distant from your roots. I'm Mandricard of Tartary, though my name still is little known. By strange luck and by force of arms I won this splendid shield in Asia. Why offer incense to the dead? Let him who's strongest bear the shield!" -- Ruggiero took the challenge and~circled his enemy, then stared, for his opponent had no blade. Ruggiero said, "You have no sword! How will we fight? I'm not prepared~to punch it out, so let me ask~what kind of contest we should have?" Mandricard said, "Never yet~did fortune fail a baron bold. If I'm not lazy, I'll get yours -- and I will win it with a club. I won't be seen with /any/ sword, until I've won the one I want. The paladin Orlando, has~_my_ blade. Its name is Durindan." Now Mandricard's friend entered in. Gradasso said, "You are deceived! You won't acquire so easily the sword of bold Orlando, since~you've come too late to this adventure! "*I* was the /first/ to join this quest! I led one-hundred-fifty thousand~soldiers to France from my home land. I've suffered many pains and hardships to win the sword named Durindan! "It seems the marketplace is open~to all, if you plan to compete. But I will wear you out. I'll beat~your head before your goal's achieved. Don't think you'll win that famous sword~by /chattering/. You must _fight_ *me!*" -- Provoked and angry, Mandricard~replied, "I know that talk is cheap! Stand ready now. Defend yourself!" While he spoke, from an elm tree in~the field he snapped a fat limb, stripped~its leaves, and went to fight with him. Gradasso set his sword down and~quickly broke off a pine-tree branch. They both let loose tremendous swings that beat dust from their armor's joints. Ruggiero could not help but laugh and, as he watched their deeds, exclaimed, "Though I see no one grinding grain, this game's for millers and their mules!" He tried to part them several times: They hammered more the more he said. -- Look here! A cavalier appeared, and by his side there was a maid. This knight is known as Brandymart, and his wise lady's Fiordiligi. Orlando is their friend, and he'd converted them to Christian faith. Ruggiero saw them come from far~and met them, and with pleasant words,~laughing, he told the reason why~those barons were engaged to fight. Ruggiero said, "I've tried, but I~am powerless to part those two. To win /Orlando's sword,/ which they~_don't_have_, and maybe /never will,/ they blindly beat themselves so much that I can hardly bear to watch. They are, though, from appearances, two leading lights of strength and skill! "But tell me, where do you come from? If I'm not wrong, it seems to me~I've known you in some other place: Agrramant's court, if I recall!" The knight responded, "Certainly,~I saw you when I left the East. [deep-, pagan knight] Biserta... yes, I met you there! I'm Brandymart; you are Ruggier!" The barons recognized each other, and they embraced immediately, and then decided, as they talked, to separate those clashing clubs. -- They worked at that awhile in vain because the champions so rage, no prayers nor reasons turn them round: They will not listen as they pound. But Brandymart insisted and~he told them, "If you want the sword~for which you're making such a fuss, I can conduct you to Orlando; /Then/ let your contest be resolved. Anger has made you lose your reins; You fight for nothing, fight in vain! "If you can _save_ Orlando from~enchantments he is trapped within, he won't shrink from a duel, and he~who wins will then own Durindan. "The world is full of wondrous things, but nothing stranger has been seen~than this one -- where I go to see~if I can set Orlando free." Mandricard and Gradasso listened. They left their battle willingly, imploring Brandymart that he~conduct them to Orlando -- quickly. He answered, "Let me make this clear: It's said a stream two leagues from here~is Laughing, though in truth it's sad; Enchantment keeps Orlando there." -- And now, I will relate to _you_ the story Brandymart then told: While riding through the forest, he,~Orlando, thirsty, found a stream. Dismounting, he tied up his horse, then bent down to the water's edge. There in the water was a wonder -- he couldn't take his eyes from it; Within, a hall of glass, where women~played upon instruments and danced. Beautiful maids were dancing there and singing songs of love together within the splendid, crystal palace inset with gold and precious gems. Orlando knew he _must_ find out~about this marvel, and he thought~no further, and he made no plans. He jumped into the water, armed~as he was. Soon he reached the bottom. -- The Count stood in the fairest field -- more blooms the earth has never seen -- and he proceeded toward the palace, feeling such great joy in his heart, his happiness made him _forget_~where he was from and why he'd come. Before him stands an open door, constructed out of gold and sapphires, through which Orlando goes, all smiles. Maids dance around him in a ring. These Naiads clothe him in fine garments. There he remained, unchained and free, captured by love's sweet magic charm, watching the waves reflect his face, his memory and sense all gone. The Naiads, happy past belief, care only to admire him. -- The Naiads live within the stream~like fish and there amuse themselves. They use their spells to do high deeds -- every plan that they try succeeds -- and often fall in love with knights. Spreading around the stream there was~a giant grove, made by their magic, containing every kind of tree, lifting their branches toward the sky, turning the air beneath to shade. A garden wall wound round this wood. The garden wall was formed of marble, yellow and red and white and blue, surmounted by a balcony with pillars made of glass and amber. -- "An African magician told me~all of this, so I have come, a desperate man, to set him free. I can't do it alone: Your aid,~I think, was heaven-sent to me, and I know you would cross the sea, to undertake so strange a deed!" Both barons have a great desire~to hasten to that river, but~Ruggiero asked, "What will *I* do? _I_ want no Count, no Durindan! Though I don't want to duel with you, can't I share in this splendid task?" "The number must, from what I hear,~be odd," responded Brandymart, "I'd like to bring you all along, but this enchantment won't allow it. I can't think of a better means~for choosing than a lottery, so here's three white stones and one black: @ Pick black, and find another quest." They each agreed to this and chose~stones -- and their fortunes -- in that contest. King Mandricard had picked the black, and therefore left in mortal grief. The other three, with Fiordiligi, continued traveling down the road until they reached the magic wood. -- In front of the gate stood a damsel, who seemed positioned as a sentry. She held a notice. @ On both sides~were giant letters and these lines: "Pride and the wish for fame and love find this path open to their will." That pair of lines was shown /outside/. Inside, however, one could read, "Pride and the search for love and honor, when they compel a person's soul, propel it forth with so much force it cannot then reverse its course." The sign was seen by them and read -- that is, the side that she revealed. The cavaliers, without suspicion,~entered, since no.one blocked the road, With.Fiordiligi, in they go, but they can't penetrate the grove -- It was so intricate in plan, its trees so huge in size, so dense -- and the gate at their back slammed closed. But Fiordiligi, versed in spells,~told them, "Don't be afraid of that. {pure} Through perils, every place one goes, a sword and virtue make a road. "Dismount from.your.steeds. Use your swords~to cut these trees and clear a path. If something strange and new arises, don't let it disconcert your minds. Courage will conquer everything, but wisdom has to be its guide." -- So spoke the lady, and those knights~dismounted, left their steeds behind. Ruggiero was the first to enter~the forest after they dismounted. A laurel tree stood in his path -- its dense limbs would not let him pass -- and so the baron seized his sword, and he prepared to cut the tree: @ After the lovely tree was cut -- a /maiden/ rose up from its trunk. Her tresses were like gold, and her~eyes were as lively as a star, but she seemed sad. She wept and spoke: "Baron, are you so cruel," she asked, {sultry} "That my misfortune pleases you? "If you abandon me like this, my legs will be entangled roots, my chest transmuted to a trunk, my arms extended into branches, this face made bark, and this blond hair~transformed to small limbs, twigs, and leaves. "The magic works this way: against~our will we were changed into trees and stay enclosed until some baron by skill and virtue sets us free. You will have liberated me~from this, if your compassion leads~you to escort me to the stream. If not, my former shape returns." -- The young Ruggiero, courteous, swore he would not abandon her until he saw that she'd reached safety. The damsel speaking -- lying -- sweetly, led the knight to the Laughing Stream. You must not wonder, here, that he~was taken in by her, deceived, for beauty tricks the wise and foolish. When she had led him to the stream, the fair nymph took him by the hand, and stole away his reason. There~flamed up within his heart the wish~to jump into the sparkling river. The maiden did not interfere, but linked her arm through his and leaped~into the clear waves of the stream. Down in the splendid crystal palace, those two were joyfully received. Orlando, and a lot of other~bewitch'd knights were gathered there, dancing among the Naiads, while~rich tambourines and reed flutes played. -- Gradasso was still in the forest but he had not yet found a path. His progress was impeded by -- among the other trees -- an ash. He chopped it with his sword. @ At once~a /charger/ issued from the trunk. Its coat was grey and dappled. Nature~never produced so fine a horse. The bridle in its mouth was gold; Its furnishings were rich, embellished~with jewels and pearls, a wealth of them. Gradasso did not understand this was intended to deceive, but very daringly he seized~the handsome bridle, and he leaped~(nobody stopped him) to the seat. That charger takes a sudden bound and never touches earth again, shoots through the air, and climbs as high~as people sometimes dream they fly. No war or duel has ever frightened~Gradasso in his life, but I~confess that he is terrified to find himself at such a height. That phantom carried him a hundred~feet in the air or maybe more, and the king frequently looked down, as this strange ride of his descended. After he'd traveled for some distance, he found himself above the river, and down came that enchanted steed and swiftly sank beneath the stream. Gradasso, deep within the stream, instantly had a change of heart, forgot all he had done and seen, and reveled with the Naiads there. They flirted in a festive dance~that /we/ don't do. While trumpets played, each kissed the one who's opposite; They couldn't keep their mouths closed and, as they danced, they forgot themselves. Those knights, in such festivities, with music -- songs and dances -- dally. -- Just Brandymart still struggles, he's~unable to traverse the grove, although he swings his sword -- high, low -- @ and cuts down trees. He is attacked~by many spells but never captured, since Fiordiligi counsels him. He chopped down over twenty trees, and from each, something new would spring, enormous birds with painted wings, fine palaces, and hills of treasure, but all their spells were nullified, since Brandymart just let them go~untouched. He left them all behind to cross the woods, to reach the stream. That baron reached the bank, and his~face turned a vivid shade of pink. He changed his mind, prepared to jump, to sink into the stream of love, forgetting, due to that strong spell, about Orlando and all else. -- He /would/ have jumped if Fiordiligi hadn't been acting as his shield. Earlier, with her skill, she'd made~four garlands in the shape of crowns -- @ flowers and herbs picked in strange lands to free them from that magic. She~put one on Brandymart's head now @ and then explained precisely how~to save Orlando from that spell. Immediately that daring knight performs all that the lady asks. Into that stream, among the crowd~that dances, sings, and plays, he leaps,~and yet _he_ doesn't lose his mind,~unlike the others, for the crown~that Fiordiligi armed him with was fashioned out of magic roses. Arriving at the revelries, inside the gold and crystal palace, he set one garland on the Count, one on each of the other two, and the spell was made manifest~instantly to all four of them. They left those damsels, those delights, and that stream, which they now despised. Like gourds that swell above the earth, their helmets broke the water, crests~first, then their shoulders could be seen, and shortly they were on the bank, -- Behold! A _dwarf_ rode rapidly~before them and saw those cavaliers, "My lords," he cried out, "Listen, please! [nasal] My lords, if you love chivalry, if you defend what's right and just, avenge the biggest crime on earth, the greatest, strangest villainy!" Gradasso said, "Upon my faith, If I were not afraid that fraud~or magic might detain me, I~would willingly lend you my aid." The dwarf then takes an oath and _swears_~that this adventure's unenchanted. "And who'll convince me?" asks the Count. "I'm sorry I've believed so much. A bird that slips the noose will fear~for every limb that moves in wind, and I've been tricked till I don't trust not only others, but myself." Ruggiero said, "Opinions vary: Everyone likes his own ideas. Some people say one ought to fear~demonic works and magic spells, but if a good knight does his duty, he can on no account withdraw. He must face every strange adventure, and he must never, never fear. "Dwarf, usher me to sea, to flames, or show me how to fly through air. I'll follow you to any task~or place. Don't worry, I don't scare." -- Gradasso and the Count turned red~a little, hearing how he spoke, and Brandymart then told the dwarf, "Lead on; we all will follow after." The dwarf rode on a palfrey horse and ambled off across the plain. Gradasso, meanwhile, told the Count, "If this quest is sublime and strange and fortune gives me precedence, I'd like to use your Durindan -- It's really mine, since King Charles, when~I held him captive, promised it." "/He/ promised it? Then talk to _him!_" Orlando said, and lost his temper. "I'll say this clearly, understand? There is no cavalier so bold that I won't fight him for my sword. If you would really like a chance to win it in a duel of strength, look, here it is -- but watch your skin!" @ Gradasso answered, "On my faith, if there is any man on earth~who'll conquer me, you must be he. I fear _no_ man -- not you! -- in truth. Try your luck, if you want. Draw near!" Orlando flamed beyond belief,~saying, "Your /boasts/ don't cost too dear, but words are not the same as deeds, as by experience we'll see." -- While he spoke, he swung Durindan~with both hands, took a giant stroke, knocked that king's.crest in pieces down~to earth, and smashed his helmet's crown: The headpiece echoed like a bell. Gradasso's face was bent towards earth and blood-red at the nose and mouth. He'd lost a stirrup, his reins dangled. But that proud king -- now fiercer -- kept~challenging. His.face burned, it seemed, as with great strength, great insolence, he swung both hands and struck Orlando's~crest, and.he.sent the helmet's peak~flying down to the road below. Daring Orlando teetered, as~the grievous blow left him half-saddled. He looked just like a dying man. /His/ stirrups came loose, /his/ reins dangled, and his horse ran away with him. Gradasso chased him on his Arab to kill him, and gain Durindan. In history, truth must be told. He /would/ have overcome Orlando, but Brandymart could never bear to see the Count in danger, so~he followed after him. Gradasso~glanced his way, arched an eyebrow, and~exclaimed, "You look for trouble too? I've got enough! Want some? Come on!" -- But as he spoke, Orlando woke, and sword in hand, he charged Gradasso. At that, the valiant youth, Ruggiero, with civil speeches interposed to try to mend their rivalry, And the dwarf in the same way spoke, praying, for pity's sake, that they~continue on the quest he'd called. These two knew how to talk, to calm~those two; they quieted the brawl. Then the group judged it best to part, and each of them choose his own road. Gradasso and Ruggiero steered~where the dwarf pointed, to a tower. Brandymart and the Count Orlando traveled a path that led to Paris. As they depart their several ways, I'll leave off talking for a while. Come back again another day, and I'll resume, if you will smile.