Canto XLV explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Honor and Reputation

  Rogero's internal conflict between his love for Bradamant and his sworn promise to Leo drives the chapter, highlighting the primacy of honor over personal happiness.

• Love and Chivalry

  Rogero's despair and willingness to die for Bradamant, even as he gives her up, exemplifies the intertwining of love and chivalric sacrifice.

• Betrayal and Deception

  Rogero's disguise as Leo and the hidden identity in the combat underscore themes of deception, even as Rogero remains true to his word.

Characters to notice

• Rogero

  Disguised as Leo, fights Bradamant, then flees in despair to a dark wood, contemplating suicide.

• Bradamant

  Fights Rogero unknowingly, is awarded to Leo by Charlemagne.

• Leo

  Arranges the combat, receives Bradamant as bride, later searches for Rogero.

• Charlemagne

  Receives Leo's embassy, orders the combat, awards Bradamant to Leo.

• Melissa

  Mentioned as having knowledge of Rogero's whereabouts, reserved for later verse.

• Frontino

  Rogero's steed, left unharnessed in the wood as Rogero prepares to die.

Key passages

• “To die is he disposed; but how to die Cannot as yet the sorrowing lord decide: Sometimes he thinks his prowess to belie, And offer to her sword his naked side: For never death can come more happily Than if her hand the fatal faulchion guide: Then sees, except he wins the martial maid For that Greek prince, the debt remains unpaid.”

  Rogero is resolved to die, but cannot choose how; he considers letting Bradamant kill him, but remembers his promise to win her for Leo.

  Rogero's suicidal thoughts and the conflict between love and honor.

• “Rogero past the night before the day Wherein by him the battle should be done, Like that which felon spends, condemning to pay Life's forfeit with the next succeeding sun: He made his choice to combat in the fray All armed; because he would discovery shun: Nor barded steed he backed, nor lance he shook; Nor other weapon than his faulchion took.”

  Rogero spends the night before the battle like a condemned man, choosing to fight fully armed but without his lance or distinctive horse to avoid recognition.

  Rogero's preparation for the combat, emphasizing his desire for anonymity and his fatalistic mood.

• “Whereof should I complain, he said, wo is me! So of my every good at once forlorn? Ah! if I will not bear this injury Without revenge, against whom shall I turn? For I, besides myself, none other see That hath inflicted on me scathe and scorn. Then I to take revenge for all the harm Done to myself, against myself must arm.”

  Rogero laments that he has lost everything and can only take revenge on himself, since he is the one who caused his own suffering.

  Rogero's soliloquy in the wood, expressing his despair and self-directed anger.