Orlando Furioso · Chapter
Canto XXII explained
Astolpho destroys Atlantes' magic towers and frees the prisoners.
What happens
Astolpho destroys Atlantes' magic towers and frees the prisoners. Bradamant finds Rogero, and together they encounter a weeping woman who tells them of a youth condemned to be burned for love. They set out to rescue him but must first pass a castle where Pinnabel has imposed a shameful law. Bradamant recognizes Pinnabel as the traitor who once threw her into a tomb and pursues him through the forest. Meanwhile, Rogero faces three knights from the castle in single combat, using the enchanted shield as a last resort.
Themes in this chapter
Betrayal and Deception
Pinnabel's treachery against Bradamant is revealed; the weeping woman's story involves a youth who deceived the king by disguising himself to visit his lover.
Love and Chivalry
Rogero and Bradamant's love leads to his baptism and marriage; the condemned youth's love for the king's daughter drives the plot; knights are moved by pity to rescue the innocent.
Honor and Reputation
The knights from the castle are shamed by being forced to fight together against one; they insist on single combat to preserve their honor.
Characters to notice
- Astolpho
Destroys Atlantes' magic towers and frees the prisoners; travels from the Levant through Europe to France, then to England and back; loses his horse Rabican to a thief.
- Bradamant
Finds Rogero and accompanies him; hears the weeping woman's tale and resolves to save the condemned youth; recognizes Pinnabel as the traitor who threw her into a tomb and pursues him.
- Rogero
Agrees to be baptised and marry Bradamant; moved by the weeping woman's story, vows to save the youth; fights three knights from Pinnabel's castle, using the enchanted shield.
- Pinabel
The faithless Count of Poictiers who imposed a shameful law at his castle; recognized by Bradamant as the one who threw her into Merlin's tomb; flees from her vengeance.
- Sansonet
First knight to joust from Pinnabel's castle; unhorsed by Rogero.
- Guido
One of the three knights who come from the castle to fight Rogero; insists on single combat.
Key passages
“Astolpho wight Destroys, and frees his thralls from prison-cell.”
Astolpho destroys the magic towers and liberates the captives.
Opening summary of Astolpho's action.
“Bradamant finds Rogero, who in fight O'erthrows four barons from the warlike sell”
Bradamant meets Rogero, who defeats four barons in combat.
Summary of Bradamant and Rogero's reunion and Rogero's prowess.
“Loving a gentle lady and a gay, The daughter of Marsilius, king of Spain, And feigning, veiled in feminine array, The modest roll of eye and girlish strain, With her each night the amorous stripling lay”
A young man, in love with the king of Spain's daughter, disguised himself as a woman to visit her nightly.
The weeping woman's account of the condemned youth's deception.
“The faithless Maganzese, with whom she wended, Cast into Merlin's tomb the martial may”
The treacherous Pinnabel threw Bradamant into Merlin's tomb.
Recollection of Pinnabel's earlier betrayal of Bradamant.