Theodora decides to write about love, although, as with war, she claims to know little about it. She describes Bradamante, who took up knighthood because of her love for order and rules and who is mildly disgusted with the rest of the knights for their oafishness and lack of strict honor. However, she herself is highly disorganized and, having been raised a princess, unaccustomed to cleaning. Still, she keeps her armor in top shape as a way to show her superiority over the other knights in the camp. She sometimes falls in love with knights who hold a similar code, but if they lose themselves to their passions, she falls out of love.

Raimbaut sees Bradamante practicing with a bow and arrow and challenges her to an archery competition. Theodora wonders whether a woman can truly exist as an infatuated young man believes her to exist. Bradamante teases him, saying that if he ever hits a target, it is only by chance. At that moment, Agilulf walks by, and Bradamante gives him her bow and arrow, asking him to show Raimbaut how to use it. Agilulf hits the target with ease and walks off without saying a word. 

Some knights watching the exchange comment on how Bradamante is in love with Agilulf. Raimbaut hears, and a knight explains that she has had enough of normal men; she wants a man that does not exist. They make fun of the unlikely couple, and Bradamante disperses them with a whip. Raimbaut decides he does not want to speak to Agilulf or Bradamante, and walking with another young knight named Torrismund, he explains how he sometimes feels that he is exactly where he belongs and at other times feels distant. Torrismund tells him that there is no sense to anything they are doing: values, battles, even names are all meaningless. Still, Raimbaut thinks about how Bradamante saved him, and decides that he will try to win her favor.