 |
Orlando Furioso
An epic poem in forty-six cantos, by Ariosto (digested by
Hoole into twenty-four books, but retained by Rose in the original
form). The subject is the siege of Paris by Agramant the Moor, when the
Saracens were overthrown. In the pagan army were two heroes- Rodomont,
called the Mars of Africa, and Rogero. The latter became a Christian
convert. The poem ends with a combat between these two, and the
overthrow of Rodomont.
The anachronisms of this poem are most marvellous. We have
Charlemagne and his paladins joined by King Edward of England, Richard
Earl of Warwick, Henry Duke of Clarence, and the Dukes of York and
Gloucester (bk. vi.). We have cannons employed by Cymosco, King of
Friza (bk. iv.), and also in the siege of Paris (bk. vi.). We have the
Moors established in Spain, whereas they were not invited over by the
Saracens for nearly 300 years after Charlemagne's death. In book xvii.
we have Prester John, who died 1202; in the last three Constantine the
Great, who died 337.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894 More on Orlando Furioso from Infoplease:
- Orlando Furioso - Orlando Furioso An epic poem in forty-six cantos, by Ariosto (digested by Hoole into twenty-four ...
- Ariosto: meaning and definitions - Ariosto: Definition and Pronunciation
- Ludovico Ariosto - Ariosto, Ludovico Ariosto, Ludovico , 1474–1533, Italian epic and lyric poet. As a youth he ...
- Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld - Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Julius , 1794–1872, German religious ...
- Sir John Harington - Harington, Sir John Harington, Sir John, 1560?–1612, English author. He spent most of his ...
|
|
