This task too was now completed according to the rules of the magic book. Without delay Orlando sounded the horn for the third trial. He sounded and sounded it again, but nothing happened; the day was about to end and the paladin thought he had been cheated.
When suddenly a little white dog came out barking. The brave warrior petted it, saying: "I endured all that trouble for this? Is this the prize that was supposed to arrive at the third blow of the horn?"
Indignant, he threw the horn on the ground, and was about to leave in fury. But that lady stepped forward, calling to him: "Knight, wait! You don't know your own good fortune!"
Orlando listened as she continued: "You should know that all the gold in the world, as much as there is in the mountains and rivers, all of it is distributed to the men by the fairy Morgana. It is from her that this little dog comes, to give you a blessed life, because thrice you sounded her horn, as nobody has ever been able to do."
Orlando listened as she continued: "Now Morgana has sent around the world an enchanted white deer of hers, with horns of gold. No one can chase that deer down, except for this little dog; and if you follow her, you will see that for six days she will chase him, and on the seventh day the deer will himself into a spring, and here will shed six times a day his golden antler ends."
Orlando listened as she continued: "This way you will be able to acquire a great treasure, and be forever content, if riches make a man happy. But perhaps you will even conquer the love of that fairy about whom I told you. It is Morgana I speak of, she of the beautiful face, more beautiful than the midday sun."
Responded Orlando to the lady: "I am not sorry to have endured so many trials, because knighthood itself is risk and hardship. But the longing for gold would have never made me bare my sword, because it never makes anyone happy. It is an appetite that can never be satisfied, an infinite road, and he who wants to reach its end will never arrive there. Because of this I do not wish to hunt your deer, and I'll leave this rich adventure to others. My lady waits for me, and I must go, because I never lost nobility and courtesy."
Orlando bid Leodilla jump on Baiardo's back, and she reluctantly did so. The two left, and while they go on their way, we must ask ourselves: who is this fairy Morgana? What does she want? Is there anything to fear?
