Palaces of Enchantment: the 1516 Orlando Furioso
David Quint
Palaces of Enchantment: the 1516 Orlando Furioso David Quint This essay re-examines relationship Ariosto’s (1516) to predecessor poem it continues and completes, Matteo Maria Boiardo’s Innamorato (1482–3; 1495). It focuses on enchanter Atlante, who, under name Atalante, already stood in for poet Boiardo Innamorato.1 Both Atalante shield Innamorato’s Carolingian heroes from their destined deaths by suspending them magic romance adventure, explicitly links this strategy his poem’s ultimate inability face up historical crises warfare raging outside late Quattrocento Italy threatening Este duchy Ferrara. Writing two three decades later history, among new political facts ground, Ariosto doubles down figure Atlante order make a critique as well continuation Innamorato. The (and through him Boiardo) detain protect palaces until halfway poem, canto 20, exact midpoint, its forty-canto version. enchantments successively vanish—and so, we shall see, does Cassandra’s pavilion-tapestry at [End Page 9] end Furioso. In making do announces that will confront Italian situation way could not or would do, he suggests just how much itself has been swept away foreign invasions peninsula began 1494.2 Built different magic, Gonzaga Mantua Ferrara near cantos 42–43 (38–39 1516), appear built last. They carry own message dynastic survival cultural hope. 1482–3 Canto 31 Book 2 concludes last book finished during lifetime. gave an ending two-book version published 1482–1483. is open whose external cause war broke out between Venice 1482. unfinished third also breaks off prospect war, case arrival Gauls, is, invading French troops Charles VIII 1494, which long calamitous train wars with domination over peninsula. died same year—the incomplete 3 was posthumously 1495—and did see extent disaster come. He appears have diagnosed problem, moment where forever, contrasting gran valore warrior heroine Bradamante lacks be able satisfy desire love-stricken Spanish princess Fiordespina (OI 3.25–26). Like itself, may lack virtù stand meet challenge history. 2, live complete, stages inside fiction larger continue real war. magician interrupts duel Ruggiero sixteen stanzas before book’s 2.31.34). special interest only Boiardo, but successor Ariosto, since pits poets’ double against each other: Orlando, hero inherited entire tradition, versus Ruggiero, largely 10] invention, who marry found dynasty Something give, appears, knights off. armed Balisarda, sword cuts enchantments. fay Falerina created weapon specifically kill 2.4.6–8), whose...
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