skirmish rose, but not so far but that he could see distinctly, from an elevated position which he held, how the changed battle was all the work of one man, and could not choose but admire the bravery and prowess with which it was done.  He knew by the blazonry displayed that the champion was not of the Bulgarian army, though he furnished aid to them.  Although he suffered by his valor, the prince could not wish him ill, for his admiration surpassed his resentment.  By this time the Greeks had regained the river, and crossing it by fording or swimming, some made their escape, leaving many more prisoners in the hands of the Bulgarians.  Rogero, learning from some of the captives that Leo was at a point some distance down the river, rode thither with a view to meet him, but arrived not before the Greek prince had retired beyond the stream, and broken up the bridge.  Day was spent, and Rogero, wearied, looked round for a shelter for the night.  He found it in a cottage, where he soon yielded himself to repose.  It so happened, a knight who had narrowly escaped Rogero’s sword in the late battle also found shelter in the same cottage, and, recognizing the armor of the unknown knight, easily found means of securing him as he slept, and next morning carried him in chains and delivered him to the Emperor.  By him he was in turn delivered to his sister Theodora, mother of the young knight, the first victim of Rogero’s spear.  By her he was cast into a dungeon, till her ingenuity could devise a death sufficiently painful to satiate her revenge.

Bradamante, meanwhile, to escape her father’s and mother’s importunity, had begged a boon of Charlemagne, which the monarch pledged his royal word to grant; it was that she should not be compelled to marry any one unless he should first vanquish her in single combat.  The Emperor therefore proclaimed a tournament in these words:  “He that would wed Duke Aymon’s daughter must contend with the sword against that dame, from the sun’s rise to his setting; and if, in that time, he is not overcome the lady shall be his.”

Duke Aymon and the Lady Beatrice, though much incensed at the course things had taken, brought their daughter to court, to await the day appointed for the tournament.  Bradamante, not finding there him whom her heart required, distressed herself with doubts what could be the cause of his absence.  Of all fancies, the most painful one was that he had gone away to learn to forget her, knowing her father’s and her mother’s opposition to their union, and despairing to contend against them.  But oh, how much worse would be the maiden’s woe, if it were known to her what her betrothed was then enduring!