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Project Gutenberg Etext of Orlando Furioso, by Ludovico Ariosto(translated by William Stewart Rose)Orlando Furioso("Orlando Enraged")ByLudovico Ariosto (1474-1533)Translated by William Stewart RoseThis 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, both
 
Angelica 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, Kingof 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 KingGradasso of Sericana (whose principal reason for going to war isto 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 for France in search of him. Again the same waters as before aredrunk from, but this time in reverse -- Ranaldo now burns for Angelica, 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 shall wed and found thefamous Este line, who shall rise to become one of the major families of Medieval and Renaissance Italy (it is worth notingthat the Estes where the patrons of both Boiardo and Ariosto).Opposed to this prophecy is Atlantes, an African wizard who seeksto derail fate and keep Ruggiero from becoming a Christian. Bythe end of the poem, Ruggiero is imprisoned in Atlantes' castle.
 
However, Bradamante (who has decided to follow her heart) is inpursuit of her love, and is not too far away. It is theBradamante-Ruggiero story that eventually takes center stage inAriosto's work.Other characters of importance: Astolfo, a Peer and friend of Orlando, who is kidnaped by the evil witch Morgana and her sister Alcina; Mandricardo, a fierce but hot-headed heathen; and a youngknight named Brandimarte, who falls in love with (and wins theheart of) the beautiful Fiordelisa ("Flordelice" in Rose). Allplay major or semi-major roles in the events of Ariosto's poem.---DBK*****************************************************************CANTO 1ARGUMENTAngelica, whom pressing danger frights,Flies in disorder through the greenwood shade.Rinaldo's horse escapes: he, following, fightsFerrau, the Spaniard, in a forest glade.A second oath the haughty paynim plights,And keeps it better than the first he made.King Sacripant regains his long-lost treasure;But good Rinaldo mars his promised pleasure.IOF LOVES and LADIES, KNIGHTS and ARMS, I sing,Of COURTESIES, and many a DARING FEAT;And from those ancient days my story bring,When Moors from Afric passed in hostile fleet,And ravaged France, with Agramant their king,Flushed with his youthful rage and furious heat,Who on king Charles', the Roman emperor's headHad vowed due vengeance for Troyano dead.IIIn the same strain of Roland will I tellThings unattempted yet in prose or rhyme,On whom strange madness and rank fury fell,A man esteemed so wise in former time;If she, who to like cruel pass has wellNigh brought my feeble wit which fain would climb
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