And here the lady ended her sad tale,
Which many times with weeping and with sighs
She'd interrupted; scarcely could it fail
To move Orlando, in whose heart there lies
No lame desire to make the good prevail.
Wasting no words (on action he relies)
He promised and upon his oath he swore
That he would do as she had asked, and more.

[...]

He gallops to Dordrecht and there he sees
A mighty army marshalled at the gate,
Such as a fearful ruler always is
In need of, and especially a new State,
And indicating also an unease
Occasioned by the rumour that a great
Armada had been sighted near at hand,
Led by Bireno's cousin from Zealand.

Orlando to the king at once sends word
To tell him that a passing cavalier
Desires to challenge him with lance and sword,
With this proviso: if the challenger
Should lose, she who his son, her spouse and lord,
Arbante, murdered, who's not far from there,
Shall be delivered up to him to pay
The forfeit of her life that very day.

And, for his part, the king must promise too,
If in the combat he should vanquished be,
To pay as penalty the rightful due,
And set his prisoner, Bireno, free.
The soldier with Orlando's message flew,
But, lacking honour and all chivalry,
Cimosco plans (and this is no exception)
To trick the brave Orlando by deception.