His body only, however, not a particle of his soul.  So dreadful was the blow which the paladin gave in return, that not only shield, but every bit of mail on the body of Agrican was broken in pieces, and three of his ribs cut asunder.

The Tartar, roaring like a lion, raised his sword with still greater vehemence than before, and dealt a blow on the paladin’s helmet, such as he had never yet received from mortal man.  For a moment it took away his senses.  His sight failed, his ears tingled, his frightened horse turned about to fly; and he was falling from the saddle, when the very action of falling threw his head upwards, and thus recalled his recollection.

“What a shame is this!” thought he; “how shall I ever again dare to face Angelica!  I have been fighting hour after hour with this man, and he is but one, and I call myself Orlando!  If the combat last any longer I will bury myself in a monastery, and never look on sword again.”

Orlando muttered with his lips closed and his teeth ground together; and you might have thought that fire instead of breath came out of his nose and mouth.  He raised his sword Durindana with both his hands, and sent it down so tremendously on Agrican’s shoulder that it cut through breastplate down to the very haunch, nay, crushed the saddle-bow, though it was made of bone and iron, and felled man and horse to the earth.  Agrican turned as white as ashes, and felt death upon him.  He called Orlando to come close to him, with a gentle voice, and said, as well as he could:  “I believe on Him who died on the cross.  Baptize me, I pray thee, with the fountain, before my senses are gone.  I have lived an evil life, but need not be rebellious to God in death also.  May He who came to save all the rest of the world save me!” And he shed tears, that great king, though he had been so lofty and fierce.

Orlando dismounted quickly, with his own face in tears.  He gathered the king tenderly in his arms, and took and laid him by the fountain, on a marble rim that it had, and then he wept in concert with him heartily, and asked his pardon, and so baptized him in the water of the fountain, and knelt and prayed to God for him with joined hands.

He then paused and looked at him; and when he perceived his countenance changed, and that his whole person was cold, he left him there on the marble rim of the fountain, all armed as he was, with the sword by his side, and the crown upon his head.

ADVENTURES OF RINALDO AND ORLANDO

We left Rinaldo when, having overcome the monster, he quitted the castle of Altaripa, and pursued his way on foot.  He soon met with a weeping damsel, who, being questioned as to the cause of her sorrow, told him she was in search of one to do battle to rescue her lover, who had been made prisoner by a vile enchantress, together with Orlando and many more.  The damsel was Flordelis, the lady-love of Florismart, and Rinaldo promised his assistance, trusting to accomplish the adventure either by valor or skill.  Flordelis insisted upon Rinaldo’s taking her horse, which he consented to do, on condition of her mounting behind him.