Chapter 7

CHAPTER VII.
THE INVASION OF FRANCE, CONTINUED. MANDRICARDO, having completed his story now turned to Rogero, and
proposed that arms should decide which of the two was most worthy to
bear the symbol of the Trojan knight.
Rogero felt no other objection to this proposal than the scruple
which arose on observing that his antagonist was without a sword.
Mandricardo insisted that this need be no impediment, since his oath
prevented him from using a sword until he should have achieved the
conquest of Durindana.
This was no sooner said than a new antagonist started up in
Gradasso, who now accompanied Mandricardo. Gradasso vindicated his
prior right to Durindana, to obtain which he had embarked (as was
related in the beginning) in that bold inroad upon France. A quarrel
was thus kindled between the kings of Tartary and Sericane. While
the dispute was raging, a knight arrived upon the ground,
accompanied by a damsel, to whom Rogero related the cause of the
strife. The knight was Florismart, and his companion Flordelis.
Florismart succeeded in bringing the two champions to accord, by
informing them that he could bring them to the presence of Orlando,
the master of Durindana.
Gradasso and Mandricardo readily made truce, in order to accompany
Florismart, nor would Rogero be left behind.
As they proceeded on their quest, they were met by a dwarf, who
entreated their assistance in behalf of his lady, who had been carried
off by an enchanter, mounted on a winged horse. However unwilling to
leave the question of the sword undecided, it was not possible for the
knights to resist this appeal. Two of their number, Gradasso and
Rogero, therefore accompanied the dwarf, Mandricardo persisted in
his search for Orlando, and, Florismart, with Flordelis, pursued their
way to the camp of Charlemagne.
Atlantes, the enchanter, who had brought up Rogero, and cherished
for him the warmest affection, knew by his art that his pupil was
destined to be severed from him, and converted to the Christian
faith through the influence of Bradamante, that royal maiden with whom
chance had brought him acquainted. Thinking to thwart the will of
Heaven in this respect, he now put forth all his arts to entrap Rogero
into his power. By the aid of his subservient demons, he reared a
castle on an inaccessible height, in the Pyrenean mountains, and, to
make it a pleasant abode to his pupil, contrived to entrap and
convey thither knights and damsels many a one, whom chance had brought
into the vicinity of his castle. Here, in a sort of sensual
paradise, they were but too willing to forget glory and duty, and to
pass their time in indolent enjoyment.
It was by the enchanter that the dwarf had now been sent to tempt
the knights into his