Orlando was walking along while Leodilla, who had become silent and melancholy after the night we described, was on horseback. They were just exiting the wood when they ran into a woman who bowed courteously to the warrior. This lady had a white horn of great value slung across her shoulders and was carrying a little book in her hand.
"Knight," she began to speak, "today you have come upon the greatest fortune that has ever been dealt on earth!"
Orlando listened as she continued: "This book will teach you what you must know in order to confront the tremendous and horrible thing that will sprout from this horn when it is first blown. You will even have to make use of your sword! When you are done, blow the horn again; once more there will be a grave danger, and a second time the book will tell you what to do, if your soul is not timid."
Orlando listened as she continued: "Knight, this horn was created by a magic spell, and if the warrior who sounds it has a trembling heart, he will be brought forever to Lake Island as a prisoner. If you are not courageous, you should not even begin this endeavor. Because when you blow the horn for the third time you will have to endure a trial so adventurous that, if you survive it, you will be happy for a hundred years."
...Orlando, burning with enthusiasm, was already preparing himself for the glorious undertaking. His imagination aroused instantly at the thought of the adventures announced by the woman, he put the horn to his mouth and sounded it loudly for the first trial. He was ready never to stop until all the marvels this horn summoned had not appeared before his eyes.
