Twelve Paladins had the Emperor Charlemagne in his court; and the most wise and famous of them was Orlando.  It is of him I am about to speak, and of his friend Morgante, and of Gan the traitor, who beguiled him to his death in Roncesvalles, where he sounded his horn so mightily after the dolorous rout.

It was Easter, and Charles had all his court with him in Paris, making high feast and triumph.  There was Orlando, the first among them, and Ogier the Dane, and Astolfo the Englishman, and Ansuigi; and there came Angiolin of Bayonne, and Uliviero, and the gentle Berlinghieri; and there was also Avolio and Avino, and Otho of Normandy, and Richard, and the wise Namo, and the aged Salamon, and Walter of Monlione, and Baldwin who was the son of the wretched Gan.  The good emperor was too happy, and oftentimes fairly groaned for joy at seeing all his Paladins together.  Now Morgante, the only surviving brother, had a palace made, after giant’s fashion, of earth, and boughs, and shingles, in which he shut himself up at night.  Orlando knocked, and disturbed him from his sleep, so that he came staring to the door like a madman, for he had had a bewildering dream.

“Who knocks there?” quoth he.

“You will know too soon,” answered Orlando; “I am come to make you do penance for your sins, like your brothers.  Divine Providence has sent me to avenge the wrongs of the monks upon the whole set of you.  Doubt it not; for Passamonte and Alabastro are already as cold as a couple of pilasters.”.

“Noble knight,” said Morgante, “do me no ill; but if you are a Christian, tell me in courtesy who you are.”

“I will satisfy you of my faith,” replied Orlando; “I adore Christ; and if you please, you may adore him also.”

“I have had a strange vision,” replied Morgante, with a low voice was assailed by a dreadful serpent, and called upon Mahomet in vain; then I called upon your God who was crucified, and he succoured me, and I was delivered from the serpent; so I am disposed to become a Christian.”

“If you keep in this mind,” returned Orlando, “you shall worship the true God, and come with me and be my companion, and I will love you with perfect love.  Your idols are false and vain; the true God is the God of the Christians.  Deny the unjust and villanous worship of your Mahomet, and be baptised in the name of my God, who alone is worthy.”

“I am content,” said Morgante.

Then Orlando embraced him, and said, “I will lead you to the abbey.”

“Let us go quickly,” replied Morgante, for he was impatient to make his peace with the monks.

Orlando rejoiced, saying, “My good brother, and devout withal, you must ask pardon of the abbot; for God has enlightened you, and accepted you, and he would have you practise humility.”

“Yes,” said Morgante, “thanks to you, your God shall henceforth be my God.  Tell me your name, and afterwards dispose of me as you will.”  And he told him that he was Orlando.