Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
The Tournament explained
During the Pentecost feast at Charlemagne's court, Angelica and her brother Argalia arrive with a challenge: any knight who can overthrow Argalia in a joust wins Angelica as a prize, while losers become prisoners.
What happens
During the Pentecost feast at Charlemagne's court, Angelica and her brother Argalia arrive with a challenge: any knight who can overthrow Argalia in a joust wins Angelica as a prize, while losers become prisoners. The paladins, enchanted by Angelica's beauty, eagerly accept. Malagigi discovers the plot but is captured by Angelica's magic ring. The jousting begins, with Astolpho and Ferrau both defeated. Ferrau attacks Argalia, but Angelica escapes using her ring. Astolpho acquires the enchanted lance and wins subsequent jousts. Rinaldo and Orlando pursue Angelica into the forest of Arden, where magical fountains alter their affections. Rinaldo later battles a giant and escapes imprisonment.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Transformation
Angelica's beauty instantly captivates all knights, altering their behavior and driving them to pursue her, while magical fountains in the forest transform their affections.
Hospitality and Its Violation
Angelica and Argalia are welcomed as guests at Charlemagne's court, but their true intent is to deceive and capture the Christian knights, violating the trust of hospitality.
Heroism and the Quest
The knights embark on a quest to win Angelica through jousting, and later pursue her into the forest, facing magical and physical challenges.
Characters to notice
- Charlemagne
Hosts the Pentecost tournament and is captivated by Angelica's beauty.
- Angelica
Arrives with her brother Argalia to challenge the knights; uses her enchanted ring to escape.
- Orlando
Falls in love with Angelica and insists on being first to joust; later pursues her into the forest.
- Rinaldo of Montalban
Blushes with desire for Angelica; chases her and later battles a giant.
- Astolpho
Draws first lot, is thrown, but later wins jousts using the enchanted lance.
- Ferrau
Saracen knight who is thrown but attacks Argalia; proposes marriage to Angelica.
- Malagigi
Discovers the plot through magic but is captured and imprisoned by Angelica.
- Grandonio
King from Spain who draws the third lot in the jousting.
Key passages
“High-minded lord, the renown of your worthiness, and of the valor of these your knights, which echoes from sea to sea, encourages me to hope that two pilgrims, who have come from the ends of the world to behold you, will not have encountered their fatigue in vain.”
Angelica flatters Charlemagne, saying his fame has spread far and wide, and she and her brother have traveled from distant lands to see him.
Angelica's speech is a formal and flattering address to gain the emperor's favor.
“Exquisite false creature! I will play thee such a trick for this, as will leave thee no cause to boast of thy visit.”
Malagigi mutters that Angelica is a beautiful liar and he will punish her for her deception.
Malagigi sees through Angelica's disguise and plots revenge.
“What are the emperor’s engagements to me?”
Ferrau declares he does not care about the rules of the tournament.
Ferrau's outburst shows his impulsive and violent nature.
