heir near kindred, and from that moment Marphisa devoted
herself to the care of her new-found and much-loved brother.

In those moments of seclusion Rogero informed his sister of what he had
learned of their parentage from old Atlantes. Rogero, their father, a
Christian knight, had won the heart of Galaciella, daughter of the
Sultan of Africa, and sister of King Agramant, converted her to the
Christian faith, and secretly married her. The Sultan, enraged at his
daughter's marriage, drove her husband into exile, and caused her with
her infant children, Rogero and Marphisa, to be placed in a boat and
committed to the winds and waves, to perish; from which fate they were
saved by Atlantes. On hearing this, Marphisa exclaimed, "How can you,
brother, leave our parents unavenged so long, and even submit to serve
the son of the tyrant who so wronged them?" Rogero replied that it was
but lately he had learned the full truth; that when he learned it he
was already embarked with Agramant, from whom he had received
knighthood, and that he only waited for a suitable opportunity when he
might with honor desert his standard, and at the same time return to
the faith of his fathers. Marphisa hailed this resolution with joy, and
declared her intention to join with him in embracing the Christian
faith.

We left Bradamante when, mounted on Rabican and armed with Astolpho's
lance, she rode forth, determined to learn the cause of Rogero's long
absence. One day, as she rode, she met a damsel, of visage and of
manners fair, but overcome with grief. It was Flordelis, who was
seeking far and near a champion capable of liberating and avenging her
lord. Flordelis marked the approaching warrior, and, judging from
appearances, thought she had found the champion she sought. "Are you,
Sir Knight," she said, "so daring and so kind as to take up my cause
against a fierce and cruel warrior who has made prisoner of my lord,
and forced me thus to be a wanderer and a suppliant?" Then she related
the events which had happened at the bridge. Bradamante, to whom noble
enterprises were always welcome, readily embraced this, and the rather
as in her gloomy forebodings she felt as if Rogero was forever lost to
her.

Next day the two arrived at the bridge. The sentry descried them
approaching, and gave notice to his lord, who thereupon donned his
armor and went forth to meet them. Here, as usual, he called on the
advancing warrior to yield his horse and arms a