of his vanished opponent, the Red Cross Knight is proclaimed victor,
and goes back to the castle to nurse the wounds he has received.

Meanwhile Duessa steals into the deserted lists, removes the pall of
cloud which envelops Sansjoi, and tenderly confides him to the Queen
of Night, who bears him down to Hades, where Aesculapius heals his
wounds. His victor, the Red Cross Knight, has not entirely recovered
from this duel, when the dwarf rushes into his presence to report that
while prowling around the castle he discovered a frightful dungeon,
where men and women are imprisoned. When he declares they are
sojourning in a wicked place, the Red Cross Knight springs out of bed
and, helped by his attendant, hastens away from a spot which now
inspires him with unspeakable horror.

They have barely issued from the castle walls before Georgos realizes
he has been the victim of some baleful spell, for he now perceives
that the building rests on a sand foundation and is tottering to its
fall, while the pomp which so dazzled him at first is merely outside
show and delusion. He is not aware, however, that Fidessa has beguiled
him, since he openly regrets she is not present to escape with him,
and he again bewails the fact that Una was not as pure as his fancy
painted!

Meanwhile, returning to the castle to rejoin her victim, Duessa finds
the Red Cross Knight gone, spurs after him, and on overtaking him
gently reproaches him for abandoning her in such a place! Then she
entices him to rest by a fountain, whose bewitched waters deprive the
drinker of all strength. She herself offers Georgos a draught from
this fountain, and, after he has drunk thereof, the giant Orgolio
spurs out of the forest and, attacking him with a mighty club, lays
him low and bears him off to his dungeon, to torture him the rest of
his life. Meantime Duessa humbly follows the giant, promising him her
love, while the dwarf, who has watched the encounter from afar,
sorrowfully collects his master's armor and, piling it hastily on his
steed, rides off in quest of help.

Meanwhile the real Una, on awakening in the hermitage to learn that
the Red Cross Knight and the dwarf have gone, rides after them as fast
as her little white ass can trot. Of course her attempt to overtake
her companions is vain, and after travelling a long distance she
dismounts in a forest to rest. Suddenly she is almost paralyzed with
fear, for a roaring lion bursts through the thicket to dev