o 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.

Thus fell beneath the sword of the most illustrious paladin of France
the bravest warrior of the Saracen host. Orlando then, as if despising
his victory, leaped lightly to the ground, and ran to his dear friend
Florismart, embraced him, and bathed him with his tears. Florismart
still breathed. He could even command his voice to utter a few parting
words: "Dear friend, do not forget me,--give me your prayers,--and oh!
be a brother to Flordelis." He died in uttering her name.

After a few moments given to grief Orlando turned to look for his other
companion and his late foes. Oliver lay oppressed with the weight of
his horse, from which he had in vain struggled to liberate himself.
Orlando extricated him with difficulty; he then raised Sobrino from the
earth, and committed him to his squire, treating him as gently as if he
had been his own brother. For this terrible warrior was the most
generous of men to a fallen foe. He took Bayard and Brigliadoro, with
the arms of the conquered knights; their bodies and their other spoils
he remitted to their attendants.

But who can tell the grief of Flordelis when she saw the warriors
return, and found not Florismart as usual after absence hasten to her
side. She knew by the aspect of the others that her lord was slain. At
the thought, and before the question could pass her lips, she fell
senseless upon the ground. When life returned, and she learned the
truth of her worst fears, she bitterly upbraided herself that she had
let him depart without her. "I might have saved him by a single cry
when his enemy dealt him that treacherous blow, or I might have thrown
myself between and given my worthless life for his. Or if no more, I
might have heard his last words, I might have given him a last kiss."
So she lamented, and could not be comforted.

ROGERO AND BRADAMANTE

After the interruption of the combat with Rinaldo, as we have related,
Rogero was perplexed with doubts what course to take. The terms of the
treaty required him to abandon Agramant, who had broken it, and to
transfer his allegiance to Charlemagne; and his lov