Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
The Invasion of France (Continued) explained
Mandricardo and Rogero dispute over the right to bear the symbol of the Trojan knight, but Gradasso intervenes claiming prior right to Durindana.
What happens
Mandricardo and Rogero dispute over the right to bear the symbol of the Trojan knight, but Gradasso intervenes claiming prior right to Durindana. Florismart and Flordelis broker a truce, leading the group to seek Orlando. A dwarf then diverts Gradasso and Rogero to rescue a lady from the enchanter Atlantes, who has built a castle to trap Rogero. Meanwhile, Rinaldo, after a vision and punishment by flower-scourging, drinks from the waters of Love and repents his past ingratitude toward Angelica, setting off to seek her. The narrative then returns to Orlando, who helps Angelica escape Albracca and travel to France. In the forest of Arden, Angelica drinks from the fountain of Disdain, and encounters Rinaldo, who now professes love, but she rejects him. Orlando and Rinaldo fight, but Charlemagne separates them and places Angelica under guard. After a Christian defeat, Angelica flees into the forest, where she encounters Sacripant lamenting his love for her. She reveals herself and asks for his aid. Sacripant is then overthrown by a white knight, later revealed to be Bradamante. Sacripant and Angelica continue on, but soon encounter a magnificent horse.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Transformation
Rinaldo's punishment and subsequent repentance after drinking from the waters of Love transforms his attitude toward Angelica from contempt to desperate longing.
Heroism and the Quest
Multiple knights embark on quests: Mandricardo and Gradasso seek Durindana, Rogero is drawn into a rescue mission, and Rinaldo sets out to find Angelica.
Fate and Free Will
Atlantes attempts to thwart destiny by trapping Rogero in an enchanted castle, but his efforts are ultimately in vain against the will of Heaven.
Characters to notice
- Mandricardo
Challenges Rogero over the right to bear the symbol of the Trojan knight; insists his oath prevents him from using a sword until he conquers Durindana.
- Rogero
Scruples about fighting Mandricardo due to his lack of a sword; later diverted by the dwarf to rescue a lady from the enchanter Atlantes.
- Gradasso
Vindicates his prior right to Durindana; quarrels with Mandricardo but later makes truce; accompanies the dwarf to rescue the lady.
- Rinaldo
Interrupted in combat with Rodomont; enters the forest of Arden, is punished by a vision of dancers, drinks from the waters of Love, repents his ingratitude to Angelica, and sets off to find her.
- Orlando
Held by passion for Angelica; helps her escape Albracca and travels to France; fights Rinaldo over Angelica; separated by Charlemagne.
- Angelica
Flees from Rinaldo and Orlando; drinks from the fountain of Disdain; escapes into the forest; encounters Sacripant and asks for his aid.
- Sacripant
Laments his love for Angelica; is overthrown by Bradamante in a joust; mounts Angelica's horse and rides away with her.
- Bradamante
Revealed as the white knight who overthrew Sacripant; described as a beautiful and brave lady.
Key passages
“Mandricardo, having completed his story, now turned to Rogero, and proposed that arms should decide which of the two was most worthy to bear the symbol of the Trojan knight.”
After finishing his tale, Mandricardo challenged Rogero to a duel to determine who deserved to carry the emblem of the Trojan hero.
Sets up the central conflict over the right to bear Hector's arms.
“Thinking to thwart the will of Heaven in this respect, he now put forth all his arts to entrap Rogero into his power.”
Believing he could oppose divine destiny, the enchanter used all his magic to capture Rogero.
Illustrates the theme of fate versus free will.
“Rinaldo, sore and faint, dragged himself toward a fountain which flowed nearby, and, being parched with thirst, drank greedily and almost unconsciously of the water, which was sweet to the taste, but bitter to the heart.”
Weak and injured, Rinaldo crawled to a nearby fountain and, driven by thirst, drank deeply of water that tasted sweet but left him with a bitter heart.
Describes Rinaldo's transformative drink from the waters of Love.
“Angelica by this time had recognized the stranger, and perceived that it was Sacripant, king of Circassia, one of the worthiest of her suitors.”
Angelica then realized the lamenting knight was Sacripant, the king of Circassia and one of her most noble admirers.
Introduces Sacripant's role in the ongoing narrative.
“The white knight, seeing his enemy in this condition, cared not to renew the combat, but, thinking he had done enough for glory, pursued his way through the forest.”
The knight in white, observing his foe dismounted, chose not to continue the fight, satisfied with his victory, and rode on through the woods.
Highlights Bradamante's chivalric restraint.
