Canto 28 : CANTO 28 ARGUMENT. To whatsoever evil tongue can tell Of womankind King Rodomont gives ear; Then journeys homeward; but that infidel Finds by the way a place he holds more dear. Here him new love inflames for Isabel; But so the wishes of the cavalier A friar impedes, who with that damsel wends, Him...
Canto 36 : CANTO 36 ARGUMENT. While with the fierce Marphisa at despite Duke Aymon's daughter wages fierce affray, One and the other host engage in fight. With Bradamant Rogero wends his way. With other war disturbs their great delight Marphisa bold; but when that martial may Has for her brother recognized...
Canto 2 : CANTO 2 ARGUMENT. A hermit parts, by means of hollow sprite, The two redoubted rivals' dangerous play; Rinaldo goes where Love and Hope invite, But is dispatched by Charles another way: Bradamont, seeking her devoted knight, The good Rogero, nigh becomes the prey Of Pinabel, who drops the damsel...
Canto 32 : CANTO 32 ARGUMENT. To her that does for her Rogero stay, Tidings are brought which irk the damsel sore, That fair Marphisa caused the youth's delay; She bent to slay her, grieving evermore, Departs, and overtakes, upon the way, Ullania with the three kings who rode before. These she o'ercomes...
Canto 21 : CANTO 21 ARGUMENT. Zerbino for Gabrina, who a heart Of asp appears to bear, contends. O'erthrown, The Fleming falls upon the other part, Through cause of that despised and odious crone, He wounded sore, and writhing with the smart, The beldam's treason to the prince makes known, Whose scorn...
Canto 6 : CANTO 6 ARGUMENT. Ariodantes has, a worthy meed, With his loved bride, the fief of Albany. Meantime Rogero, on the flying steed, Arrives in false Alcina's empery: There from a myrtle-tree her every deed, A human myrtle hears, and treachery, And thence would go; but they who first withdrew Him...
Canto 25 : CANTO 25 ARGUMENT. Rogero Richardetto from the pains Of fire preserves, doomed by Marsilius dead: He to Rogero afterwards explains Fully the cause while he to death was led. Them mournful Aldigier next entertains, And with them the ensuing morning sped, Vivian and Malagigi to set free; To Bertolagi...
Canto 24 : CANTO 24 ARGUMENT. Odorico's and Gabrina's guilt repaid, Youthful Zerbino sets at large the train; He in defence of good Orlando's blade, Is afterwards by Mandricardo slain. Isabel weeps; by Rodomont is made War on the Tartar king, and truce again, To succour Agramant and his array; Who...
Canto 20 : CANTO 20 ARGUMENT. Guido and his from that foul haunt retire, While all Astolpho chases with his horn, Who to all quarters of the town sets fire, Then roving singly round the world is borne. Marphisa, for Gabrina's cause, in ire Puts upon young Zerbino scathe and scorn, And makes him guardi...
Canto 34 : CANTO 34 ARGUMENT. In the infernal pit Astolpho hears Of Lydia's woe, by smoke well-nigh opprest. He mounts anew, and him his courser bears To the terrestrial paradise addrest. By John advised in all, to heaven he steers; Of some of his lost sense here repossest, Orlando's wasted wit as well he...
Canto 4 : CANTO 4 ARGUMENT. The old Atlantes suffers fatal wreck, Foiled by the ring, and young Rogero freed, Who soars in air till he appears a speck, Mounted upon the wizard's winged steed. Obediant to the royal Charles's beck, He who had followed Love's imperious lead, Rinaldo, disembarks on British l...
Canto 30 : CANTO 30 ARGUMENT. Great feats achieve Orlando by the way. The Tartar king is by Rogero slain: For whom fair Bradamant, his spouse, does stay, But Fate forbade, that he who wounded lay To her his plighted promise should maintain. He after boldly with the brethren made, Their lord Rinaldo in his...
Untitled : Orlando Furioso, Ludovico Ariosto's 16th century epic Italian poem, is a sequel to Orlando Innamorato, an earlier work by Matteo Maria Boiardo. The titular Orlando is very loosely based on Roland, a heroic knight in Charlemagne's court, with admixtures from Arthurian and other sources. Orlando is...
Canto 26 : CANTO 26 ARGUMENT. Of mighty matters, sculptured in a font, Does Malagigi to his comrades tell: On them come Mandricardo and Rodomont, And forthwith battle follows fierce and fell. Discord goes scattering quarrel and affront Amid the crew: but whither, forced by spell, Fair Doralice upon her...
Canto 38 : CANTO 38 ARGUMENT. To Arles the Child, to Charles Marphisa wends, To be baptized, with Bradamant for guide. Astolpho from the holy realm descends; Through whom with sight the Nubian is supplied: Agramant's land he with his troop offends; But he is of his Africk realm so wide, With Charles he...
Canto 8 : CANTO 8 ARGUMENT. Rogero flies; Astolpho with the rest, To their true shape Melissa does restore; Rinaldo levies knights and squadrons, pressed In aid of Charles assaulted by the Moor: Angelica, by ruffians found at rest, Is offered to a monster on the shore. Orlando, warned in visions of his ill...
Canto 22 : CANTO 22 ARGUMENT. Atlantes' magic towers Astolpho wight Destroys, and frees his thralls from prison-cell. Bradamant finds Rogero, who in fight O'erthrows four barons from the warlike sell, When on their way to save an errant knight Doomed to devouring fire: the four who fell For impious Pinnabel...
Canto 14 : CANTO 14 ARGUMENT. Two squadrons lack of those which muster under King Agramant, by single Roland slain; Hence furious Mandricardo, full of wonder And envy, seeks the count by hill and plain: Next joys himself with Doralice; such plunder, Aided by heaven, his valiant arms obtain. Rinaldo comes...
Canto 10 : CANTO 10 ARGUMENT. Another love assails Bireno's breast, Who leaves one night Olympia on the shore. To Logistilla's holy realm addressed, Rogero goes, nor heeds Alcina more: Him, of that flying courser repossest, The hippogryph on airy voyage bore: Whence he the good Rinaldo's levy sees, And next...
Canto 18 : CANTO 18 ARGUMENT. Gryphon is venged. Sir Mandricardo goes In search of Argier's king. Charles wins the fight. Marphisa Norandino's men o'erthrows. Due pains Martano's cowardice requite. A favouring wind Marphisa's gallery blows, For France with Gryphon bound and many a knight. The field Medoro...
Canto 45 : CANTO 45 ARGUMENT. Young Leo doth from death Rogero free; For him Rogero Bradamant hath won, Making that maid appear less strong to be, Disguised in fight like Leo; and, that done, Straight in despite would slay himself; so he By sorrow, so by anguish is foredone. To hinder Leo of his destined wife...
Canto 41 : CANTO 41 ARGUMENT. His prisoners to the Child the Danish peer Consigns, who, homeward bound, are wrecked at sea; By swimming he escapes, and a sincere And faithful servant now of Christ is he. Meanwhile bold Brandimart, and Olivier, And Roland fiercely charge the hostile three. Sobrino is left...
Canto 16 : CANTO 16 ARGUMENT. Gryphon finds traitorous Origilla nigh Damascus city, with Martano vile. Slaughtered the Saracens and Christians lie By thousands and by thousands heaped this while; And if the Moor outside of Paris die, Within the Sarzan so destroys each pile, Such slaughter deals, that greater...
Canto 12 : CANTO 12 ARGUMENT. Orlando, full of rage, pursues a knight Who bears by force his lady-love away, And comes where old Atlantes, by his sleight Had raised a dome, Rogero there to stay. Here too Rogero comes; where getting sight Of his lost love, the County strives in fray With fierce Ferrau...
Canto 43 : CANTO 43 ARGUMENT. Rinaldo from his courteous landlord hears What folly had destroyed his every good; Next learns another story, as he steers Toward Ravenna with the falling flood: Then last arrives where, conqueror o'er his foes Orlando was, but in no joyful mood. He, that the Child a Christi...
Canto 13 : CANTO 13 ARGUMENT. The Count Orlando of the damsel bland Who loves Zerbino, hears the piteous woes. Next puts to death the felons with his hand Who pent her there. Duke Aymon's daughter goes, Seeking Rogero, where so large a band The old Atlantes' magic walls enclose. Her he impounds, deceived by...
Canto 17 : CANTO 17 ARGUMENT. Charles goes, with his, against King Rodomont. Gryphon in Norandino's tournament Does mighty deeds; Martano turns his front, Showing how recreant is his natural bent; And next, on Gryphon to bring down affront, Stole from the knight the arms in which he went; Hence by the kindly...
Canto 42 : CANTO 42 ARGUMENT. The victory with Count Orlando lies; But good Rinaldo and Bradamant at heart, (One for Angelica, the other sighs For young Rogero) suffer cruel smart. Him that in chase of the Indian damsel hies Disdain preserves; from thence does he depart Towards Italy, and is with courteous...
Canto 46 : CANTO 46 ARGUMENT. After long search for good Rogero made, Him Leon finds, and yields to him his prize: Informed of all--already with that maid He wives; already in her bosom lies: When thither he that Sarza's sceptre swayed To infect such bliss with impious venom hies, But falls in combat;...
Canto 11 : CANTO 11 ARGUMENT. Assisted by the magic ring she wears, Angelica evanishes from view. Next in a damsel, whom a giant bears Beneath his arm, his bride Rogero true Beholds. Orlando to the shore repairs, Where the fell orc so many damsels slew; Olympia frees, and spoils the beast of life: Her...
Canto 15 : CANTO 15 ARGUMENT. Round about Paris every where are spread The assailing hosts of Africa and Spain. Astolpho home by Logistilla sped, Binds first Caligorantes with his chain; Next from Orrilo's trunk divides the head; With whom Sir Aquilant had warred in vain, And Gryphon bold: next Sansonet...
Canto 40 : CANTO 40 ARGUMENT. To fly the royal Agramant is fain, And sees Biserta burning far away; But landing finds the royal Sericane, Who of his faith gives goodly warrant; they Defy Orlando, backed by champions twain; Whom bold Gradasso firmly trusts to slay. For seven kings' sake, fast prisoners...
Canto 44 : CANTO 44 ARGUMENT. Rinaldo his sister to the Child hath plight, And to Marseilles is with the warrior gone: And having crimsoned wide the field in fight, Therein arrives King Otho's valiant son. To Paris thence: where to that squadron bright Is mighty grace and wonderous honour done. The Child...
Canto 19 : CANTO 19 ARGUMENT. Medoro, by Angelica's quaint hand, Is healed, and weds, and bears her to Caty. At length Marphisa, with the chosen band, After long suffering, makes Laiazzi's bay. Guido the savage, bondsman in the land, Which impious women rule with civil sway, With Marphisa strives in single...
Canto 5 : CANTO 5 ARGUMENT. Lurcanio, by a false report abused, Deemed by Geneura's fault his brother dead, Weening the faithless duke, whom she refused, Was taken by the damsel to her bed; And her before the king and peers accused: But to the session Ariodantes led, Strives with his brother in disguise...
Canto 31 : CANTO 31 ARGUMENT. Rinaldo and Dudon fight; then friendship make, And to each other fitting honour pay. Agramant's host the united champions break, And scatter it, like chaff, in disarray. Brandimart wages war, for Roland's sake, With Rodomont, and loses in the fray. This while, for good Bayardo...
Canto 1 : CANTO 1 ARGUMENT. Angelica, whom pressing danger frights, Flies in disorder through the greenwood shade. Rinaldo's horse escapes: he, following, fights Ferrau, the Spaniard, in a forest glade. A second oath the haughty paynim plights, And keeps it better than the first he made. King Sacripant...
Canto 35 : CANTO 35 ARGUMENT. The apostle praises authors to the peer. Duke Aymon's martial daughter in affray, Conquers the giant monarch of Argier, And of the good Frontino makes a prey. She next from Arles defies her cavalier, And, while he marvels who would him assay, Grandonio and Ferrau she with her...
Canto 23 : CANTO 23 ARGUMENT. Astolpho soars in air. Upon account Of Pinnabel is prisoned Scotland's heir: By Roland freed, Frontino Rodomont Takes from Hippalca, trusted to her care. With Mandricardo strives Anglantes' count: Who, next, offended by his lady fair, Into the fury falls, so strange and fell...
Canto 9 : CANTO 9 ARGUMENT. So far Orlando wends, he comes to where He of old Proteus' hears the cruel use But feels such pity for Olympia fair, Wronged by Cymosco, who in prison mews Her plighted spouse, that ere he makes repair Further, he gives her hope to venge the abuse: He does so, and departs;...
Canto 39 : CANTO 39 ARGUMENT. Agramant breaks the pact, is overthrown, And forced fair France for Afric to forego. Meanwhile Astolpho in Biserta's town Having with numerous host besieged the foe, By hazard there arrives bold Milo's son, To whom the duke, instructed how to do, Restores his wits. At sea does...
Canto 27 : CANTO 27 ARGUMENT. By good Rogero and those paynims three Defeated, Charlemagne to Paris flies. Already all, throughout their chivalry, Are mad with spite and hatred; jars arise, And strife; and means to still their enmity Their sovereign is unable to devise. From him departs the monarch of Argier...
Canto 33 : CANTO 33 ARGUMENT. Bradamant sees in picture future fight There, where she gained admission by the spear. From combat cease, upon Bayardo's flight, Gradasso and Montalban's cavalier. While soaring through the world, the English knight Arrives in Nubia's distant realm, and here Driving the Harpies...
Canto 7 : CANTO 7 ARGUMENT. Rogero, as directed by the pair, The giantess Eriphila o'erthrows. That done, he to Alcina's labyrinth, where More than one knight is tied and prisoned, goes. To him Melissa sage the secret snare, And remedy for that grave evil shows. Whence he, by her advised, with downcast eye...
Canto 37 : CANTO 37 ARGUMENT. Lament and outcry loud of some that mourn, Attract Rogero and the damsels two. They find Ulania, with her mantle shorn By Marganor, amid her moaning crew. Upon that felon knight, for his foul scorn, A fierce revenge Marphisa takes: a new Statute that maid does in the town obt...
Canto 3 : CANTO 3 ARGUMENT. Restored to sense, the beauteous Bradamant Finds sage Melissa in the vaulted tomb, And hears from her of many a famous plant And warrior, who shall issue from her womb. Next, to release Rogero from the haunt Of old Atlantes, learns how from the groom, Brunello hight, his virtuous...
Canto 29 : CANTO 29 ARGUMENT. Isabel makes the paynim take her head, Rather than he his wicked will should gain; Who, having his unhappy error read, Seeks to appease his wounded spirit in vain. He builds a bridge, and strips those thither led; But falls from it with Roland the insane; Who thence, of him...