Chapter 8

CHAPTER VIII.
BRADAMANTE AND ROGERO. BRADAMANTE, the knight of the white plume and shield, whose sudden
appearance and encounter with Sacripant we have already told, was in
quest of Rogero, from whom chance had separated her, almost at the
beginning of their acquaintance. After her encounter with Sacripant,
Bradamante pursued her way through the forest, in hopes of rejoining
Rogero, and arrived at last on the brink of a fair fountain.
This fountain flowed through a broad meadow. Ancient trees
overshadowed it, and travellers, attracted by the sweet murmur of
its waters, stopped there to cool themselves. Bradamante, casting
her eyes on all sides to enjoy the beauties of the spot, perceived,
under the shade of a tree, a knight reclining, who seemed to be
oppressed with the deepest grief.
Bradamante accosted him, and asked to be informed of the cause of
his distress. "Alas! my lord," said he, "I lament a young and charming
friend, my affianced wife, who has been torn from me by a villain,-
let me rather call him a demon,- who, on a winged horse, descended
from the air, seized her, and bore her screaming to his den. I have
pursued them over rocks and through ravines till my horse is no longer
able to bear me, and I now wait only for death." He added, that
already a vain attempt on his behalf had been made by two knights whom
chance had brought to the spot. Their names were Gradasso, king of
Sericane, and Rogero, the Moor. Both had been overcome by the wiles of
the enchanter, and were added to the number of the captives, whom he
held in an impregnable castle, situated on the height of the mountain.
At the mention of Rogero's name, Bradamante started with delight,
which was soon changed to an opposite sentiment when she heard that
her lover was a prisoner in the toils of the enchanter. "Sir
Knight," she said, "do not surrender yourself to despair; this day may
be more happy for you than you think, if you will only lead me to
the castle which enfolds her whom you deplore."
The knight responded, "After having lost all that made life dear
to me, I have no motive to avoid the dangers of the enterprise, and
I will do as you request; but I forewarn you of the perils you will
have to encounter. If you fall, impute it not to me."
Having thus spoken, they took their way to the castle, but were
overtaken by a messenger from the camp, who had been sent in quest
of Bradamante to summon her back to the army, where her presence was
needed to reassure her disheartened forces, and withstand the
advance of the Moors.
The mournful knight, whose name was Pinabel, thus became aware
that Bradamante was a scion of the house of Clermont, between which
and his own of Mayence there existed an ancient feud. From this moment