Within ten days the bridge was built, and the tower was in progress.  In a short time many knights, either seeking the shortest route, or tempted by a desire of adventure, had made the attempt to pass the bridge.  All, without exception, had lost either arms or life, or both; some falling before Rodomont’s lance, others precipitated into the river.  One day, as Rodomont stood urging his workmen, it chanced that Orlando in his furious mood came thither, and approached the bridge.  Rodomont halloed to him, “Halt, churl; presume not to set foot upon that bridge; it was not made for such as you!” Orlando took no notice, but pressed on.  Just then a gentle damsel rode up.  It was Flordelis, who was seeking her Florismart.  She saw Orlando, and, in spite of his strange appearance, recognized him.  Rodomont, not used to have his commands disobeyed, laid hands on the madman, and would have thrown him into the river, but to his astonishment found himself in the gripe of one not so easily disposed of.  “How can a fool have such strength?” he growled between his teeth.  Flordelis stopped to see the issue, where each of these two puissant warriors strove to throw the other from the bridge.  Orlando at last had strength enough to lift his foe with all his armor, and fling him over the side, but had not wit to clear himself from him, so both fell together.  High flashed the wave as they together smote its surface.  Here Orlando had the advantage; he was naked, and could swim like a fish.  He soon reached the bank, and, careless of praise or blame, stopped not to see what came of the adventure.  Rodomont, entangled with his armor, escaped with difficulty to the bank.  Meantime, Flordelis passed the bridge unchallenged.

After long wandering without success she returned to Paris, and there found the object of her search; for Florismart, after the fall of Albracca, had repaired thither.  The joy of meeting was clouded to Florismart by the news which Flordelis brought of Orlando’s wretched plight.  The last she had seen of him was when he fell with Rodomont into the stream.  Florismart, who loved Orlando like a brother, resolved to set out immediately, under the guidance of the lady, to find him, and bring him where he might receive the treatment suited to his case.  A few days brought them to the place where they found the Tartar king still guarding the bridge.  The usual challenge and defiance was made, and the knights rode to encounter one another on the bridge.  At the first encounter both horses were overthrown; and, having no space to regain their footing, fell with their riders into the water.  Rodomont, who knew the soundings of the stream, soon recovered the land; but Florismart was carried downward by the current, and landed at last on a bank of mud where his horse could hardly find footing.  Flordelis, who watched the battle from the bridge, seeing her lover in this piteous case, exclaimed aloud, “Ah!  Rodomont, for love of her whom dead you honor, have pity on me, who love this knight, and slay him not.  Let it suffice he yields his armor to the pile, and none more glorious will it bear than his.”  Her prayer, so well directed, touched the pagan’s heart, though hard to move, and he lent his aid to help the knight to land.  He kept him a prisoner, however, and added his armor to the pile.  Flordelis, with a heavy heart, went her way.