Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
The War in Africa explained
Astolpho, guided by St.
What happens
Astolpho, guided by St. John, uses a magical plant to restore the sight of Senapus, king of Abyssinia, and secures an army to attack the Saracens in Africa. He captures the South wind in a bag to safely cross the desert, and miraculously creates horses from rocks to form a cavalry. Astolpho lays siege to Agramant's capital, Biserta. Meanwhile, Agramant proposes a single combat to decide the war, but the truce is broken by Melissa disguised as Rodomont, leading to a general battle. Orlando, still mad, swims to Africa and arrives at Astolpho's camp.
Themes in this chapter
Heroism and the Quest
Astolpho's quest to raise an army and Orlando's single combat embody the heroic ideal of chivalric adventure.
Fate and Free Will
The broken truce and Melissa's deception highlight the tension between predetermined outcomes and human choices.
Jealousy and Revenge
The Saracens' treachery and the ensuing battle are driven by pride and the desire for revenge.
Characters to notice
- Astolpho
Descends to earth with a phial, restores the king of Abyssinia's sight, captures the South wind, creates horses from rocks, and leads an army to besiege Biserta.
- Orlando
Challenges Gradasso and Agramant to single combat on Lampedusa, fights with Balisardo, and later, in his madness, swims across the strait to Africa and arrives at Astolpho's camp.
- Rinaldo of Montalban
Selected as champion for the Christians in the proposed single combat; the truce is broken during his fight with Rogero.
- King Agramant
Receives news of the invasion of his country, proposes single combat, and later breaks the truce after Melissa's intervention.
- Gradasso
Offers troops to Agramant, challenges Orlando, and fights him on Lampedusa wielding Durindana.
- Melissa
Disguises herself as Rodomont to incite the Saracens to break the truce, then disappears.
- Florismart
Chosen as one of Orlando's companions for the combat on Lampedusa; unhorses Sobrino and fights Gradasso.
- Oliver
Chosen as one of Orlando's companions; fights Agramant and is later wounded when his horse is killed.
Key passages
“Astolpho touched his eyes with the plant which he had brought from the terrestrial paradise, and restored their sight.”
Astolpho used the plant from paradise to heal the king's blindness.
Highlights the miraculous cure and the king's gratitude.
“The paladin, by the advice of St. John, had prepared himself with a leather bag, which he placed adroitly, with its mouth open, over the vent whence issues this terrible wind.”
Following St. John's advice, Astolpho captured the South wind in a bag.
Shows Astolpho's cleverness and the saint's guidance.
“These he set rolling down the mountain’s side, and, wonderful to relate, as they rolled they grew in size, made themselves bodies, legs, necks, and long faces.”
Astolpho rolled rocks down the mountain, and they miraculously transformed into horses.
Illustrates the magical creation of cavalry.
“Melissa, one of the most acute enchantresses that ever lived, seized this moment to disguise herself under the form of Rodomont.”
The enchantress Melissa took the opportunity to assume Rodomont's appearance.
Key moment of deception that breaks the truce.
