Chapter 13

CHAPTER XIII.
ORLANDO MAD. ORLANDO, on the loss of Angelica, laid aside his crest and arms, and
arrayed himself in a suit of black armor, expressive of his despair.
In this guise he carried such slaughter among the ranks of the
infidels, that both armies were astonished at the achievements of
the stranger knight. Mandricardo, who had been absent from the battle,
heard the report of these achievements, and determined to test for
himself the valor of the knight so extolled. He it was who broke in
upon the conference of Zerbino and Isabella, and their benefactor
Orlando, as they stood occupied in mutual felicitations, after the
happy reunion of the lovers by the prowess of the paladin.
Mandricardo, after contemplating the group for a moment, addressed
himself to Orlando in these words: "Thou must be the man I seek. For
ten days and more I have been on thy track. The fame of thy exploits
has brought me hither, that I may measure my strength with thine.
Thy crest and shield prove thee the same who spread such slaughter
among our troops. But these marks are superfluous, and if I saw thee
among a hundred I should know thee by thy martial bearing to be the
man I seek."
"I respect thy courage," said Orlando; "such a design could not have
sprung up in any but a brave and generous mind. If the desire to see
me has brought thee hither, I would, if it were possible, show thee my
inmost soul. I will remove my visor, that you may satisfy your
curiosity; but when you have done so, I hope that you will also try
and see if my valor corresponds to my appearance."
"Come on," said the Saracen, "my first wish was to see and know
thee; I will now gratify my second."
Orlando, observing Mandricardo, was surprised to see no sword at his
side, nor mace at his saddle-bow. "And what weapon hast thou," said
he, "if thy lance fail thee?"
"Do not concern yourself about that," said Mandricardo; "I have made
many good knights give ground with no other weapon than you see.
Know that I have sworn an oath never to bear a sword until I win
back that famous Durindana that Orlando, the paladin, carries. That
sword belongs to the suit of armor which I wear; that only is wanting.
Without doubt it was stolen, but how it got into the hands of
Orlando I know not. But I will make him pay dearly for it when I
find him. I seek him the more anxiously that I may avenge with his
blood the death of King Agrican, my father, whom he treacherously
slew. I am sure he must have done it by treachery, for it was not in
his power to subdue in fair fight such a warrior as my father."
"Thou liest," cried Orlando; "and all who say so lie. I am
Orlando, whom you seek; yes, I am he who slew your father honorably.
Hold, here is the sword: you shall have it