Florismart.  That brave paladin, neither in horse nor arms equal to his antagonist, could but parry and evade the blows of the terrible Durindana.  Orlando, eager to succor him, was delayed for a moment in securing and mounting the horse of the King Sobrino.  It was but an instant, and with sword upraised, he rushed upon Gradasso who, noways disconcerted at the onset of this second foe, shouted his defiance, and thrust at him with his sword, but, having miscalculated the distance, scarcely reached him, and failed to pierce his mail.  Orlando, in return, dealt him a blow with Balisardo, which wounded as it fell face, breast, and thigh, and, if he had been a little nearer, would have cleft him in twain.  Sobrino, by this time recovered from his swoon, though severely wounded, raised himself on his legs, and looked to see how he might aid his friends.  Observing Agramant hard pressed by Oliver, he thrust his sword into the bowels of the latter’s horse, which fell, and bore down his master, entangling his leg as he fell, so that Oliver could not extricate himself.  Florismart saw the danger of his friend, and ran upon Sobrino with his horse, overthrew him, and then turned to defend himself from Agramant.  They were not unequally matched, for though Agramant, mounted on Brigliadoro, had an advantage over Florismart, whose horse was but indifferent, yet Agramant had received a serious wound in his encounter with Oliver.

Nothing could exceed the fury of the encounter between Orlando and Gradasso.  Durindana, in the hands of Gradasso, clove asunder whatever it struck; but such was the skill of Orlando, who perfectly knew the danger to which he was exposed from a stroke of that weapon, it had not yet struck him in such a way as to inflict a wound.  Meanwhile, Gradasso was bleeding from many wounds, and his rage and incaution increased every moment.  In his desperation he lifted Durindana with both hands, and struck so terrible a blow full on the helmet of Orlando, that for a moment it stunned the paladin.  He dropped the reins, and his frightened horse scoured with him over the plain.  Gradasso turned to pursue him, but at that moment saw Florismart in the very act of striking a fatal blow at Agramant, whom he had unhorsed.  While Florismart was wholly intent upon completing his victory, Gradasso plunged his sword into his side.  Florismart fell from his horse, and bathed the plain with his blood.

Orlando recovered himself just in time to see the deed.  Whether rage or grief predominated in his breast, I cannot tell; but, seizing Balisardo with fury, his first blow fell upon Agramant, who was nearest to him, and smote his head from his shoulders.  At this sight Gradasso for the first time felt his courage sink, and a dark presentiment of death came over him.  He hardly stood on his defence when Orlando cast himself upon him, and gave him a fatal thrust.  The sword penetrated his ribs, and came out a palm’s breadth on the other side of his body.