“Blessed Jesus be thanked,” said the giant, “for I have always heard you called a perfect knight; and as I said, I will follow you all my life long.”

And so conversing, they went together towards the abbey; and by the way Orlando talked with Morgante of the dead giants, and sought to comfort him, saying they had done the monks a thousand injuries, and “our Scripture says the good shall be rewarded and the evil punished, and we must submit to the will of God.  The doctors of our Church,” continued he, “are all agreed, that if those who are glorified in heaven were to feel pity for their miserable kindred who lie in such horrible confusion in hell, their beatitude would come to nothing; and this, you see, would plainly be unjust on the part of God.  But such is the firmness of their faith, that what appears good to him appears good to them.  Do what he may, they hold it to be done well, and that it is impossible for him to err; so that if their very fathers and mothers are suffering everlasting punishment, it does not disturb them an atom.  This is the custom, I assure you, in the choirs above."[2]

“A word to the wise,” said Morgante; “you shall see if I grieve for my brethren, and whether or no I submit to the will of God, and behave myself like an angel.  So dust to dust; and now let us enjoy ourselves.  I will cut off their hands, all four of them, and take them to these holy monks, that they may be sure they are dead, and not fear to go out alone into the desert.  They will then be certain also that the Lord has purified me, and taken me out of darkness, and assured to me the kingdom of heaven.”  So saying, the giant cut off the hands of his brethren, and left their bodies to the beasts and birds.

They went to the abbey, where the abbot was expecting Orlando in great anxiety; but the monks not knowing what had happened, ran to the abbot in great haste and alarm, saying, “Will you suffer this giant to come in?” And when the abbot saw the giant, he changed countenance.  Orlando, perceiving him thus disturbed, made haste and said, “Abbot, peace be with you!  The giant is a Christian; he believes in Christ, and has renounced his false prophet, Mahomet.”  And Morgante shewing the hands in proof of his faith, the abbot thanked Heaven with great contentment of mind.

The abbot did much honour to Morgante, comparing him with St. Paul; and they rested there many days.  One day, wandering over the house, they entered a room where the abbot kept a quantity of armour; and Morgante saw a bow which pleased him, and he fastened it on.  Now there was in the place a great scarcity of water; and Orlando said, like his good brother, “Morgante, I wish you would fetch us some water.”  “Command me as you please,” said he; and placing a great tub on his shoulders, he went towards a spring at which he had been accustomed to drink, at the foot of the mountain.  Having reached the spring, he suddenly heard a great noise in the forest.