FLORANTE AT LAURA

The Florante at Laura is a shorter version of its original title, written in ancient
Tagalog: Pinagdaanang Buhay ni Florante at ni Laura sa Cahariang Albania. Quinuha sa
madlang “cuadro histórico” o pinturang nag sasabi sa mga nangyayari nang unang
panahón sa Imperio nang Grecia, at tinula nang isang matouain sa versong tagálog. (The
Life of Florante and Laura in the Kingdom of Albania: Culled from a publicly-displayed
“cuadro histórico” or historical painting which describes the events which were occurring
during ancient times in the empire of Greece, and penned by someone who enjoys
Tagalog verse).

This literary masterpiece was written during Balagtas’ imprisonment in Pandacan,

Manila (he used the pseudonym Francisco Baltazar). Florante at Laura was said to be the
outcome of Balagtas’ heartbroken situation after losing the woman that he loved the most
whom he referred to as Celia. Balagtas wholeheartedly dedicated this timeless book to
Celia (Maria Asuncion Rivera or M.A.R.), who was later married to Balagtas’ rival, Mariano
Capule, a rich and powerful man. It was Capule who made false charges against Balagtas
and used the power of money to put him in jail.

Dr. José Rizal (the Philippine National Hero) considers Florante at Laura to be the
best awit (form of Filipino poetry) in his time. It was written as a depiction of the country’s
situation during the rule of the Spaniards. Balagtas was playful with his use of mockery,
irony, paradox, satire, disdain; he sets all this up like chess pieces. The characters and
the setting used were of foreign origin but the nature, gesture and custom are undoubtedly
Filipino and the events in the story are similar to the real incidents during that period.
Florante and Laura is considered an Awit or a song in English. It has 399 stanzas and is
written in poetic form that has 4 lines per stanza and 12 syllables per line and each stanza
is full figures of speech.

CHARACTERS:

Major characters:

Florante
-Son of Duke Briseo and Princess Floresca; the main character of the SONG;
Laura’s love

Laura
-Daughter of King Liceo; Florante’s love

Aladin
-A Muslim prince and soldier; son of Sultan Ali-Adab; the man who saved Florante;
Flerida’s love

Flerida
-The woman who saved Laura; Aladin’s love

Count Adolfo
-A traitor; son of Count Sileno; very envious of Florante’s achievement

Menandro
-Florante’s classmate and faithful best friend; Florante’s right hand in the battle

Minor characters:

Duke Briseo
-Father of Florante; Princess Floresca’s husband; King Linceo’s adviser
 Princess Floresca
-Mother of Florante; wife of Duke Briseo, princess of Croton

King Linceo
-King of Albania; father of Laura

Antenor
-Florante’s reliable mentor while he was studying in Athens, Greece

Count Sileno
-Count Adolfo’s father; also from Albania

General Miramolin
-Headed the Persian troupes towards invading Albania

General Osmalic
-A Persian general who wanted to invade Kroton

Sultan Ali-Adab
-King of Persia; father of Aladin; who also desired Aladin’s love of his life, Flerida

Menalipo
-Florante’s cousin who saved him from a vulture that almost snatched him from his
cradle

King of Croton kingdom

-Princess Floresca’s father and the grandfather of Florante

STORY:

The story begins with a description of a dark, dangerous, deserted forest in the
kingdom of Albania, that is inhabited by serpents, basilisks, hyenas, and tigers. Deep in the
heart of the depressing jungle where the tangled growth of vines and thickets intertwined,
and the great canopy of heavy foliaged trees formed a roof over the dismal jungle clearing,
the moans and anguished cries of a forsaken man filled the savage stillness of the air. The
man is tied to a tree and is barely alive. He is Florante, the son of Duke Briseo and Princess
Floresca. He has blonde hair, fair smooth skin, and a face and body that is comparable to
that of Narcissus and Adonis.

Florante, while tied to a tree, questions the heavens for the suffering of the people of
Albania. Here he describes the treachery and suffering that are happening inside and
outside of the kingdom of Albania. Gone are the days of peace and and justice. Innocent
people have become victims of those who are hungry for power and money. Those who fought
to save the kingdom have suffered grievously. He mentions that Count Adolfo was said to
be behind the treachery with his plot to steal the crown from King Linceo and the wealth of
Duke Briseo. Florante begs heaven to save the kingdom of Albania.
The man tells the heavens that he can take whatever trial or challenge that may come his
way as long as Laura will always remember him. Aside from all that is happening to Albania,
he takes refuge in the memories of the times he shared with Laura. He mentions that he
would be pleased to see Laura crying over his dead body if Laura would betray him. With
this, he imagines Laura in the arms of Count Adolfo. This thought brings him to tears and
devastation which made him tired and cause him to pass out.
The man cries for Laura to save him, but she does not come. With this, the man thinks that
Count Adolfo has finally stolen Laura from him. He mentions that he will thank Count
Adolfo for all the hardship as long as he doesn’t take Laura from him. With too much to
bear, the man cries in despair and faintes.
 In another part of the forest comes Aladin, a Muslim soldier. He sits on a stump and
professes his love for a woman named Flerida. He talks about his overwhelming love for
Flerida and vows to kill for the sake of love. He says that no one can stand in his way nor is
there anyone who can take his love from him, not even his father. He also says that love can
make a person blind to the truth and make him forget about reason and honor.

After professing his love for Flerida, the Muslim soldier hears a voice in the
forest. This voice talks about the brutal death of his loving father. The man talks about how
his father was beheaded and had his body thrown somewhere else. No one attempted to bury
his father’s remains for fear of Count Adolfo’s wrath. Even without seeing his father, the
man knew that the old man was thinking of him until the end of his life.

While tied to a tree, Florante was approached by two lingering lions. But the lions
did not seem to attack, thinking that the man might already be dead. Realizing the approach
of death, the man says his farewell to Albania, the land he wished to serve since he was a
child, and to Laura, whom he will forever love.

Upon hearing the man’s cries, Aladin set off to find the man. His timing was
impeccable because the lions were about to attack Florante. With a swift motion of his
weapon, the Muslim soldier killed the two lions. With his courage and precision in combat,
he was compared to Ares, the god of war.

After rescuing Florante, Aladin frees him and lays him down. Florante wakes up
delirious looking for Laura. The Muslim soldier does not respond and Florante goes back
to sleep. When he finally wakes up, Florante is surprised to see an enemy taking care of
him. Aladin told him that he wishes the man no harm and that the command of heaven to
help is what’s important. The man said that he did not want the soldier’s pity, what he needs
is death. Aladin yelled at him for speaking such nonsense.

Due to all that they have been through recently, Aladin and Florante decide to become
silent. When nightfall comes, Aladin carried Florante and rests on a flat rock. The Muslim
soldier feeds Florante and has him sleep on his lap. He watches over Florante because he is
still delirious and he is devastated every time the latter wakes up. In the morning, Florante
thanks Aladin for what he has done for him. The soldier asked Florante why he was so
devastated, and the latter willingly narrated his story.

The man tells the Muslim soldier that his name is Florante. Florante tells him that he
came from Albania and that he is the son of Duke Briseus, second in command of the
kingdom, and Princess Floresca of Croton. He proudly talks about his father saying what a
brave and kind man he was. He also emphasizes that there is no one who can outdo his father
in loving a child and in teaching him good manners. Florante also spoke of two accounts
when he almost died as a child. One was when he was almost caught by a vulture but was
rescued by his cousin Menalipo. The other was when someone attempted to take the
diamond that was on his chest.

Florante spoke about his happy childhood. When he was a child, he loved playing
outdoors and hunting. He realized that a child must not be raised with too much freedom
and security because life is tougher when one grows older. He also says that a child will have
difficulty in facing challenges if he is too pampered and safe as a child. Duke Briseus taught
him how to stand alone by sending him to Athens to study under Antenor.

Florante studies in Athens under Antenor. He becomes homesick and longs to be

with his parents again but he is comforted by Antenor. Adolfo, a boy from Albania and the
son of Duke Sileno, becomes his classmate. Adolfo is two years older than him and is admired
by everyone in school for his wisdom and kindness. Due to his intelligence, Florante was able
to learn the lessons about philosophy, astrology and mathematics in no time at all which
astonished his teachers. He even surpassed Adolfo in all aspect and became known all across
Athens. Everyone distrusted the kindness that Adolfo is showing. In a sporting competition,
Adolfo’s true color began to show which aroused the people’s suspicions.
 During a play performed by the students, Adolfo attempted to kill Florante but did
not succeed due to his classmate Menandro’s interference. After two months, Florante
received a letter from his father bringing bad news and summoning him to come home. It
was difficult for Florante to say his goodbyes to his classmates and his mentor,
Antenor. Before leaving, Antenor advised Florante not to be too trusting because there are
enemies all around us. Florante went home with his friend, Menandro. Upon arriving at
Albania, Florante cried when he saw his father. After he calmed down, Duke Briseus told
Florante about the death of Princess Floresca.

The emissary of Croton came to Albania with a letter asking for help in saving Croton
from the Persian invaders headed by General Osmalic. Florante pauses to praise Aladin,
saying that the general is only second to Aladin in combat skill. With this, Aladin smiles and
says that rumors are not necessarily true. Returning to his story, Florante said that he and
his father went to King Linceus to discuss how they could help Croton. King Linceus
appointed Florante to lead the army that will help save Croton.

During their visit to King Linceus, Florante saw Laura, the daughter of the king. He
was mermerized by Laura’s beauty. He became speechless and stuttered a lot in the presence
of Laura. After talking about Laura, Florante’s mind drifts toward horrible thoughts about
Laura’s unfaithfulness.

Before setting off to war, King Linceus threw a feast for Florante. The celebration lasted for
three days and within this period, he did not get to see Laura. The day before he set of to
war, Florante saw Laura and he professed his love. Laura did not give him a straight answer,
instead she cried and Florante took this as a sign of Laura’s reciprocation of his feelings.
General Osmalic and Florante finally meet and they battled for five hours until Florante was
able to defeat the general.

Florante was able to save Croton from the hands of the enemy with the help of
Menandro and his troupes. The people rejoiced their victory especially when they learned
that Florante is the king’s grandson. But Florante and the king did not rejoice with them
for they remembered Princess Floresca and mourned for her death. Five months had passed
when Florante decided to return to Albania to be with Laura again. On his journey back,
Florante became weary when he saw the Muslim flag swaying in Albania.

Florante hid on the outskirts at the foot of the mountain to observe what is
happening. He saw a woman tied and blindfolded who is about to be beheaded. He
remembered Laura and hastily went to rescue the woman. He fought the Muslims and
rescued the woman who happened to be Laura herself. Laura told Florante about that
Albania had been conquered. They went back and redeemed the country from the
invaders. Florante freed the captives including King Linceus, Duke Briseus, and Count
Adolfo. The king honored Florante for his bravery and Florante won Laura’s
affection. With the victory of Florante, Adolfo’s hatred and envy deepened and he planned
to take revenge against Florante.

A few months have passed since Albania was last invaded when the Persian army,
headed by Miramolin disturbed its peace. But the Turkish invaders did not succeed because
Florante had defeated him. After this, Florante successfully won many battles which earned
him the respect of thirteen kings. One day, while Florante was in the middle of a war, he
received a letter ordering him to return immediately to Albania. He left the war under the
command of Menandro and set off to return to Albania. Upon arriving, he was surprised to
be welcomed by 30,000 soldiers who abducted him. Here he learned that Adolfo had ordered
for his father, Duke Briseus, and King Linceus to be beheaded. He also learned that Laura
was engaged to Count Adolfo. Florante was imprisoned for 18 days then was transferred to
the forest where he was tied to an Acacia tree. He had been in the forest for two days when
the Muslim soldier found and rescued him.

After Florante narrated his story, the Muslim soldier introduces himself as Aladdin,
son of Sultan Ali-Adab of Persia. Aladdin tells Florante that he will tell his own story in due
time because he needs some time to collect himself.
 After wandering around the forest for five months, Aladin begins to narrate his
story. He says that his father is the root of all his suffering. His father became his rival for
his love, Flerida. In order to succeed, Sultan Ali-Adab plotted a scheme to behead Aladin by
framing him as the cause of the downfall of the Persian invaders that resulted to Florante’s
victory in Albania. On the night before Aladin’s execution, Sultan Ali-Adab forgave Aladin
on the condition that he would flee Persia and never return. Aladin agreed but could not
accept the idea of Flerida in the arms of another man. Since then, Aladin has been a
wanderer of the forest for six years. He suddenly stops his story when they heard voices in
the forest.

The two men heard voices. One of the women narrated the story she heard about the
danger that her lover was in. She begged the Sultan not to push through with his beheading
in exchange for her agreement to marry him. The Sultan agreed and her lover was set free,
leaving without saying goodbye. One night, while everyone was busy with the wedding
preparations, the woman who happens to be Flerida, disguised herself as a soldier and
escaped. She wandered the forest hoping to find her love. Here in the forest is where the two
women met when Flerida saved Laura who was about to be assaulted by a man. They stop
talking when they hear footsteps approaching and were surprised to see Florante and
Aladdin.

Laura narrates her story. It began when Florante left to battle the Persian
invaders. Adolfo ordered that the king and his loyal servants be beheaded. Adolfo took over
the throne and forced Laura to marry him. It took five months for him to court Laura but
she did not waver in her decision not to marry him. After Florante was sent to die in the
forest, Menandro and his men returned to Albania and overthrew Adolfo from the
throne. Adolfo would not accept defeat; instead he took Laura and his men to the
forest. Here Adolfo saw no escape and decided to rape Laura right there. Upon hearing a
woman’s cry for help, Flerida came to the rescue and killed Adolfo with an arrow.
Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Menandro and his troupe. Upon seeing
Florante, he rejoices to see his friend.

The two couples return to Albania where they are warmly welcomed. Flerida and
Aladdin agree to be baptized as Christians. Both couples are wed and Florante and Laura
rule over Albania with justice, peace, and harmony. When Sultan Ali-Adab dies, Aladdin
and Flerida return to Persia and they rule over the people happily.