*^  And  what  weapon  hast  thou,"  said  he,  '*  if  thy
lance  fail   thee  ?  ' '

*^  Do  not  concern  yourself  about  that,~"  said  Man-


ORLANDO    MAD.  I  23

dricardo  ;  **  I  have  made  many  good  knights  give
ground  with  no  other  weapon  than  you  see.  Know
that  I  have  sworn  an  oath  never  to  bear  a  sword  until
I  win  back  that  famous  Durindana  that  Orlando,  the
paladin,  carries.  That  sword  belongs  to  the  suit  of
armor  which  I  wear  ;  that  only  is  wanting.  With-
out doubt  it  was  stolen,  but  how  it  got  into  the  hands
of  Orlando  I  know  not.  But  I  will  make  him  pay
dearly  for  it  when  I  find  him.  I  seek  him  the  more
anxiously  that  I  may  avenge  with  his  blood  the  death
of  King  Agrican,  my  father,  whom  he  treacherously
slew.  I  am  sure  he  must  have  done  it  by  treachery,
for  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  subdue  in  fair  fight  such
a  warrior  as  my  father. ' '

^^  Thou  liest,"  cried  Orlando;  ^^  and  all  who  say
so  lie.  I  am  Orlando,  whom  you  seek  ;  yes,  I  am
he  who  slew  your  father  honorably.  Hold,  here  is
the  sword  :  you  shall  have  it  if  your  courage  avails  to
merit  it.  Though  it  belongs  to  me  by  right,  I  will
not  use  it  in  this  dispute.  See,  I  hang  it  on  this  tree  ;
you  shall  be  master  of  it,  if  you  bereave  me  of  life  ;
not  else."

At  these  words  Orlando  drew  Durindana,  and  hung
it  on  one  ot  the  branches  of  a  tree  near  by.
