lance had struck him
between the eyes; but rock and iron are not more impenetrable than were
his scales. The knight, seeing the fruitlessness of the first blow,
prepared to give a second. The animal, beholding upon the water the
shadow of the great wings of the Hippogriff, abandoned his prey, and
turned to seize what seemed nearer. Rogero took the opportunity, and
dealt him furious blows on various parts of his body, taking care to
keep clear of his murderous teeth; but the scales resisted every
attack. The Orc beat the water with his tail till he raised a foam
which enveloped Rogero and his steed, so that the knight hardly knew
whether he was in the water or the air. He began to fear that the wings
of the Hippogriff would be so drenched with water that they would cease
to sustain him. At that moment Rogero bethought him of the magic shield
which hung at his saddle-bow; but the fear that Angelica would also be
blinded by its glare discouraged him from employing it. Then he
remembered the ring which Melissa had given him, the power of which he
had so lately proved. He hastened to Angelica and placed it on her
finger. Then, uncovering the buckler, he turned its bright disk full in
the face of the detestable Orc. The effect was instantaneous. The
monster, deprived of sense and motion, rolled over on the sea, and lay
floating on his back. Rogero would fain have tried the effect of his
lance on the now exposed parts, but Angelica implored him to lose no
time in delivering her from her chains before the monster should
revive. Rogero, moved with her entreaties, hastened to do so, and,
having unbound her, made her mount behind him on the Hippogriff. The
animal, spurning the earth, shot up into the air, and rapidly sped his
way through it. Rogero, to give time to the princess to rest after her
cruel agitations, soon sought the earth again, alighting on the shore
of Brittany. Near the shore a thick wood presented itself, which
resounded with the songs of birds. In the midst, a fountain of
transparent water bathed the turf of a little meadow. A gentle hill
rose near by. Rogero, making the Hippogriff alight in the meadow,
dismounted, and took Angelica from the horse.

When the first tumults of emotion had subsided Angelica, casting her
eyes downward, beheld the precious ring upon her finger, whose virtues
she was well acquainted with, for it was the very ring which the
Saracen Brunello had robbed her of. She drew it from her finger