Produced by Douglas B. Killings
Orlando Furioso
("Orlando Enraged")
By
Ludovico Ariosto
(1474-1533)
Translated by William Stewart Rose
This electronic edition was edited, proofed, and prepared byDouglas B. Killings (DeTroyes@AOL.COM), July, 1995. Additionalcorrections made September, 1995.
NOTE: Please let the preparer know of any textual errors that youfind; this edition has been proofed once, but I am findingadditional errors all the time.
INTRODUCTION:
This work is a continuation of the "Orlando Innamorato" of MatteoMaria Boiardo, which was left unfinished upon the author's deathin 1494. It begins more or less at the point where Boiardo leftit.
This is a brief synopsis of Boiardo's work, omitting most of thenumerous digressions and incidental episodes associated withthese events:
To the court of King Charlemagne comes Angelica (daughter to theking of Cathay, or India) and her brother Argalia. Angelica isthe most beautiful woman any of the Peers have ever seen, and allwant her. However, in order to take her as wife they must firstdefeat Argalia in combat. The two most stricken by her areOrlando and Ranaldo ("Rinaldo" in Rose).
When Argalia falls to the heathen knight Ferrau, Angelica flees— with Orlando and Ranaldo in hot pursuit. Along the way, bothAngelica and Ranaldo drink magic waters — Angelica is filledwith a burning love for Ranaldo, but Ranaldo is now indifferent.
Eventually, Orlando and Ranaldo arrive at Angelica's castle.
Others also gather at Angelica's castle, including Agricane, King
of Tartary; Sacripant, King of Circassia; Agramante, King of
Africa and Marfisa ("Marphisa" in Rose), an Asian warrior-Queen.
Except for Orlando and Ranaldo, all are heathen.
Meanwhile, France is threatened by heathen invaders. Led by King
Gradasso of Sericana (whose principal reason for going to war is
to obtain Orlando's sword, Durindana) and King Rodomonte of
Sarzia, a Holy War between Pagans and Christians ensues.
Ranaldo leaves Angelica's castle, and Angelica and a verylove-sick (but very chaste and proper) Orlando, set out forFrance in search of him. Again the same waters as before aredrunk from, but this time in reverse — Ranaldo now burns forAngelica, but Angelica is now indifferent. Ranaldo and Orlandonow begin to fight over her, but King Charlemagne (fearing theconsequences if his two best knights kill each other in combat)intervenes and promises Angelica to whichever of the two fightsthe best against the heathen; he leaves her in the care of DukeNamus. Orlando and Ranaldo arrive in Paris just in time torepulse an attack by Agramante.
Namus' camp is overrun by the heathen. Angelica escapes, withRanaldo in pursuit. Also in pursuit is Ferrau, who (because hehad defeated Argalia) considers Angelica his. It is at thispoint that the poem breaks off.
While the Orlando-Ranaldo-Angelica triangle is going on, thestories of other knights and their loves are mixed in. Mostimportant of these is that of the female knight Bradamante(sister of Ranaldo), who falls in love with a very noble heathenknight named Ruggiero ("Rogero" in Rose). Ruggiero, who is saidto be a descendent of Alexander the Great and Hector, also fallsin love with Bradamante, but because they are fighting onopposite sides it is felt that their love is hopeless.Nevertheless, it is prophecised that they