He had not travelled far when he entered a wood, and there met with a hermit, who had long been retired from the world.  Rinaldo greeted him, and the hermit replied courteously, and asked him who he was and what was his purpose.  Rinaldo replied, “Sir, I have led a sinful life; many deeds of violence have I done, and many men have I slain, not always in a good cause, but often under the impulse of my own headstrong passions.  I have also been the cause of the death of many of my friends, who took my part, not because they thought me in the right, but only for love of me.  And now I come to make confession of all my sins, and to do penance for the rest of my life, if perhaps the mercy of God will forgive me.”  The hermit said, “Friend, I perceive you have fallen into great sins, and have broken the commandments of God, but his mercy is greater than your sins; and if you repent from your heart, and lead a new life, there is yet hope for you that he will forgive you what is past.”  So Rinaldo was comforted, and said, “Master, I will stay with you, and what you bid ane I will do.”  The hermit replied, “Roots and vegetables will be your food; shirt or shoes you may not wear; your lot must be poverty and want if you stay with me.”  Rinaldo replied, “I will cheerfully bear all this, and more.”  So he remained three whole years with the hermit, and after that his strength failed, and it seemed as if he was like to die.

One night the hermit had a dream, and heard a voice from heaven, which commanded him to say to his companion that he must without delay go to the Holy Land, and fight against the heathen.  The hermit, when he heard that voice, was glad, and calling Rinaldo, he said, “Friend, God’s angel has commanded me to say to you that you must without delay go to Jerusalem, and help our fellow-Christians in their struggle with the Infidels.”  Then said Rinaldo, “Ah! master, how can I do that?  It is over three years since I made a vow no more to ride a horse, nor take a sword or spear in my hand.”  The hermit answered, “Dear friend, obey God, and do what the angel commanded.”  “I will do so,” said Rinaldo, “and pray for me, my master, that God may guide me right.”  Then he departed, and went to the seaside, and took ship and came to Tripoli in Syria.

And as he went on his way his strength returned to him, till it was equal to what it was in his best days.  And though he never mounted a horse, nor took a sword in his hand, yet with his pilgrim’s staff he did good service in the armies of the Christians; and it pleased God that he escaped unhurt, though he was present in many battles, and his courage inspired the men with the same.  At last a truce was made with the Saracens, and Rinaldo, now old and infirm, wishing to see his native land again before he died, took ship and sailed for France.  When he arrived he shunned to go to the resorts of the great, and preferred to live among the humble folk, where he was unknown.  He did country work, and lived on