Theodora explains that she writes as penance. While she must shun the physical world, she escapes into the worlds that she writes. She then describes the paladins’ banquet: Charlemagne creates a breach of etiquette when he enters before he is supposed to and samples all the food. The knights arrive, and Agilulf sits at the end of the table. The knights gorge themselves in an almost cartoonish chaos as Agilulf watches. Agilulf serves himself with meticulous detail and etiquette, although he does not actually eat. Other knights boast about their feats in battle, but Agilulf corrects and undermines their accounts. When one of the knights asks why he “must niggle so,” Agilulf claims that he is only interested in documented facts.

Torrismund then stands and contests Agilulf’s knighthood. Fifteen years prior, Agilulf had saved the virgin Sophronia, the king of Scotland’s daughter, from rape, and Agilulf was granted knighthood for this feat. However, Torrismund claims that she was no virgin at that time. As proof, Torrismund claims that he is Sophronia’s son, born before she was saved by Agilulf, and displays the medal of the royal house of Scotland. 

Charlemagne asks if Torrismund understands the gravity of his claims: first, he may be dismissed from the army, as he is not who he initially claimed to be, and second, it upsets Agilulf’s claim to knighthood. Torrismund explains that his mother became pregnant with him at thirteen years old and ran away to the countryside to give birth. She lived with her son in a cave until she was accosted by two brigands. Agilulf appeared and defeated the brigands, and he took her to the closest castle, that of Cornwall. The lordship of Cornwall adopted her son, and she joined a convent.

Agilulf accuses Torrismund of lying and leaves to find proof of Sophronia’s virginity. Charlemagne then asks who Torrismund’s father is. Torrismund claims that his father is of the Sacred Order of the Knights of the Holy Grail. Sophronia, he explained, liked to venture into some nearby woods, where one day she came upon the Knights of the Holy Grail. She enjoyed their company and soon became pregnant. Charlemagne tells Torrismund that if he can find the order and have them recognize him as their son, he will not lose his knighthood. Torrismund leaves to find the wood where his mother conceived him. Upon learning that Agilulf has left, Bradamante dons her armor, mounts her horse, and chases after him. In turn, Raimbaut leaves to chase after her.