The woman just... appeared, I suppose. The heathens hadn't pressed an assault for several days and we were enjoying a jongleur on the roof of the oriel. It was a fine, clear day and Rollie was flying his hawks while the ladies took turns feeding me pears (I don't normally care for fruits, but they were all so sweet and insistent - could I resist?). I was massaging an unguent into little Peppin's hump (ridiculous, but it makes his mother feel better). The singer (splendid voice) was singing the most remarkable song (it was about the troubles this Danish king was having with some monster, fascinating, of course I've always been enamoured of those old stories).

Samson had killed a dove and some gray feathers drifted down onto the roof. That's when I first saw her.

I was watching these feathers falling and one of them floated right down onto her head.

I gave a little start and Gisela spilled wine all down her front. Astolpho ....was it Astolpho? Yes. Astolpho must have seen her at about the same time because he drew his sword and stepped toward her. The jongleur kept right on playing. Of course, he was blind.

She was one of the most magnificent women I had ever seen. Her skin was extraordinary: a color somewhere between honey and cinnamon. She was very small, but well-proportioned, with hair down beyond her waist. (so black.)

Her rarest attribute were her eyes. Words could never...

She plucked the dove feather from her hair.

What beautiful teeth!

Greetings, great Lord Charles. Pardon my intrusion, but I could find no steward to announce me. I am Angelica, Princess of Cathay. I bring greetings from my father.

Peppin hiccupped. She turned towards Rollie.

You must be the knight Roland, of whom so much glory is told, she said, walking toward him (something odd about the way she spoke).

Samson landed on Roland's wrist, a bit of dove hanging from his beak.

That was the last time I ever saw Roland whole.