Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
Astolpho in Abyssinia explained
Astolpho, riding the Hippogriff, arrives in Abyssinia and helps King Senapus, who is plagued by Harpies.
What happens
Astolpho, riding the Hippogriff, arrives in Abyssinia and helps King Senapus, who is plagued by Harpies. He drives them away with his horn and seals them in a cave. Then he ascends to the terrestrial paradise, where he meets St. John, Enoch, and Elijah. St. John tells him of Orlando's madness and takes him to the moon in a chariot to retrieve Orlando's lost sense, which is stored in a vial among many other lost things.
Themes in this chapter
Hubris and Divine Retribution
King Senapus is punished with Harpies and blindness for his youthful attempt to invade the terrestrial paradise, illustrating the theme of pride leading to divine retribution.
Heroism and the Quest
Astolpho embarks on a heroic quest to aid King Senapus, defeat the Harpies, and journey to the moon to restore Orlando's reason.
Mortality and Immortality
The terrestrial paradise is a realm of eternal spring where Enoch and Elijah dwell without dying, contrasting with mortal struggles on earth.
Characters to notice
- Astolpho
The adventurous paladin who rides the Hippogriff, aids King Senapus, and journeys to the terrestrial paradise and the moon.
- Orlando
Mentioned as having lost his reason due to love for a Saracen princess; his sense is stored in a vial on the moon.
- St. John
The Apostle who welcomes Astolpho to the terrestrial paradise, instructs him, and takes him to the moon in Elijah's chariot.
- Enoch
One of the three holy inhabitants of the terrestrial paradise who receives Astolpho.
- Elijah
One of the three holy inhabitants; his chariot is used for the journey to the moon.
- King Senapus
The wealthy but afflicted king of Abyssinia, plagued by Harpies and blind, whom Astolpho helps.
Key passages
“desire seized him of ascending the mountain which towered above him. The Hippogriff bore him swiftly upwards, and landed him on the top of the mountain, which he found to be an extensive plain.”
Astolpho felt a strong urge to climb the towering mountain, and the Hippogriff carried him quickly to the top, where he discovered a vast plain.
Astolpho's ascent to the terrestrial paradise.
“I am prepared to impart the needed counsels; but before I begin let me welcome you to our sojourn. I doubt not your long fast and distant journey have given you a good appetite.”
St. John says he is ready to give advice but first welcomes Astolpho, assuming he is hungry after his long journey.
St. John's greeting to Astolpho in the terrestrial paradise.
“The duration of his punishment has been fixed at three months, and that time having nearly expired, you have been brought hither to learn from us the means by which the reason of Orlando may be restored.”
Orlando's madness is set to last three months, and since that time is almost up, Astolpho has been brought here to learn how to restore his reason.
St. John explains the purpose of Astolpho's journey.
“Among the rest, he observed a great mountain of blown bladders, from which issued indistinct noises. The saint told him these were the dynasties of Assyrian and Persian kings, once the wonder of the earth, of which now scarce the name remains.”
Astolpho saw a huge pile of inflated bladders making muffled sounds, which St. John explained were the once-great Assyrian and Persian empires, now nearly forgotten.
A metaphor for the fleeting nature of earthly power.
