ing given chase to the Saracens till they were weary, and Orlando
gave joyful welcome to his cousin, and they told him how the
battle was won, and then Orlando knelt before Turpin, his face all
in tears, and begged remission of his sins, and confessed them,
and Turpin gave him absolution ; and suddenly a light came
down upon him from heaven like a rainbow, accompanied with a
sound of music, and an angel stood in the air blessing him, and
then ; upon which Orlando fixed his eyes on the hilt
of his sword as on a crucifix, and embraced it and said, “ Lord,
vouchsafe that I may look on this poor instrument as on the
symbol of the tree upon which Thou sufferedst thy unspeakable
martyrdom !
gave joyful welcome to his cousin, and they told him how the
battle was won, and then Orlando knelt before Turpin, his face all
in tears, and begged remission of his sins, and confessed them,
and Turpin gave him absolution ; and suddenly a light came
down upon him from heaven like a rainbow, accompanied with a
sound of music, and an angel stood in the air blessing him, and
then ; upon which Orlando fixed his eyes on the hilt
of his sword as on a crucifix, and embraced it and said, “ Lord,
vouchsafe that I may look on this poor instrument as on the
symbol of the tree upon which Thou sufferedst thy unspeakable
martyrdom !
Stories from the Italian Poets - 1846
