in the heat of battle
Ranaldo is attempting in vain to make his cousin Orlando come to his senses and return to Carlo Magno's court. Orlando, however, is too far gone in love with the pagan enchantress Angelica, and will stop at nothing to defend her honor - and to please her.
Never in the world had there been an attack more fierce, says the poem; just to watch those two champions one sweated and trembled in fear. They had smashed each other's armor, tearing to pieces their iron-plated shirts and armbands, and now they were fighting with their flesh exposed.
The many strong blows to the head they dealt each other caused now one of them, and now the other to crumble, senseless, hanging off of his horse's mane. They would recover quickly and return to the fight, full of rage and shame. Just as now Ranaldo, blood coming out of every vein, life flowing from his chest, straightened up like a dragon and started anew into attack.
But Orlando, holding Durindana with both hands, rolling his fiery eyes and gritting his teeth, hissing in rage like a serpent, plunged a ruinous blow upon Ranaldo. It was a hit that would have undone not just Ranaldo but a whole mountain made of diamond, says the poem, if God had not wanted to keep Montalbano's paladin alive, deviating the sword so that it came down flat and not with the cutting edge.
Ranaldo fell as if he were dead, blood pouring from his ears and nose and mouth. All were decrying the mournful fact, and Marfisa was weeping for the noble paladin lying lifeless on his back; while Orlando returned, enraged as a savage beast and ready to deliver the final blow with both hands.
But he stopped and stood there unmoving, with his sword in the air. For Angelica had arrived and was holding Orlando back by the arm. Still hindering him, she spoke to the knight, her eyes laughing.
She said this to him: "Good Sir, this morning you swore to undertake a trial for me, one that I can command you to do whenever I want. Now the moment has arrived; you must set out at once toward the kingdom of Orcana. An enchantress rules over it; she has created an enchanted garden, and at the door to that garden she placed a giant dragon. The land has become sad and deserted because of that dragon: anyone who goes there is given to it as a meal. I want you to lift this thorn from my heart, with your boldness and your power. Go!" At that, everyone saw Orlando bow meekly to young Angelica and, without a word, ride off on his horse at great speed.