This is the opening to Gianni Celati's prose retelling of the Orlando Innamorato.

Count Matteo Maria Boiardo da Scandiano's poem begins by telling the attendant lords to listen well to the tale from the reign of Carlo Magno, in which the famous paladin Orlando undergoes magnificent adventures and wondrous trials in his quest for love.

And this beautiful story, says the poem, is one that few know: the bishop Turpino, who wrote about all of the French paladins' endeavors, had kept it secret for fear that Orlando would take offense. In fact, in this story it is clear how this unconquerable warrior, for all his strength and his famous sword Durindana, was one day conquered and reduced to servility by Love.

Turpin's history begins in the Orient, where the powerful Gradasso, king of Sericana (in India), wished to come to France and defeat Carlo Magno and all his paladins. He had gotten it into his head to conquer count Orlando's sword Durindana, as well as famous paladin Ranaldo's horse Baiardo.

And like all great lords who want what they can't have, and sometimes even put their kingdoms at risk for it, this Gradasso was so determined to pursue his idea that he had recruited an immense army. With that army he was about to set sail, wishing to come here and destroy all that the sun sees and that the sea surrounds, the poem says.