Orlando Furioso · Chapter
Canto XXIX explained
Isabella, to preserve her chastity from the pagan king Rodomont, tricks him into believing she can make him invulnerable with a magical bath.
What happens
Isabella, to preserve her chastity from the pagan king Rodomont, tricks him into believing she can make him invulnerable with a magical bath. She anoints herself and bids him strike her neck with his sword; he does so, beheading her. Her soul ascends to heaven, and Rodomont, stricken with remorse, builds a bridge and tomb in her honor, where he challenges all passersby.
Themes in this chapter
Honor and Reputation
Isabella's sacrifice to preserve her chastity and her vow to Zerbino exemplifies the theme of honor, while Rodomont's later actions seek to restore his reputation through a monument.
Betrayal and Deception
Isabella deceives Rodomont with a false promise of invulnerability to protect her chastity, while Rodomont initially plans to betray his oath to her.
Love and Chivalry
Isabella's steadfast love for Zerbino and her chaste devotion contrast with Rodomont's fickle and violent passion, highlighting the tension between true love and lust.
Characters to notice
- Isabella
Isabella chooses death over dishonor, tricking Rodomont into beheading her to preserve her chastity and her vow to Zerbino.
- Rodomont
Rodomont, initially enraged against women, is swayed by Isabella's beauty but later, deceived by her ruse, kills her; he then builds a bridge and tomb in remorse.
- Zerbino
Zerbino is invoked by Isabella's severed head, which speaks his name as she dies, affirming her fidelity to him.
Key passages
“She cried unto that paynim, foul to see, Already threatening her with word and act, And now devoid of all that courtesy, Which he in the beginning did enact, 'If thou mine honour wilt ensure to me, Beyond suspicion, I, upon this pact, Will upon thee bestow what shall o'erpay, By much, that honour thou wouldst take away.'”
Isabella calls out to the ugly pagan king, who is now threatening her and has lost his earlier politeness, and offers him a gift far greater than the honor he wants to take, if he will guarantee her honor.
Isabella proposes a deal to Rodomont, offering a magical boon in exchange for her chastity.
“She washed, as said, and gladly did decline Her neck to that unthinking pagan's brand; Unthinking, and perhaps o'ercome by wine, Which neither helm, nor mail, nor shield withstand, That brutish man believed her, and, in sign Of faith, so struck with cruel steel and hand, That her fair head, erewhile Love's place of rest, He severed from the snowy neck and breast.”
Isabella bathed as she had described and willingly bent her neck to the pagan's sword; the brutish man, perhaps drunk and unthinking, believed her and struck off her head with his cruel hand.
Rodomont, deceived by Isabella's ruse and possibly intoxicated, beheads her, fulfilling her plan to die chaste.
“This made three bounds, and thence in accents clear Was heard a voice which spake Zerbino's name, To follow whom, escaping Sarza's peer, So rare a way was taken by the dame.”
The severed head bounced three times and then spoke clearly, calling Zerbino's name, showing that Isabella had taken this unusual path to follow him and escape Rodomont.
Isabella's head miraculously speaks Zerbino's name, affirming her devotion even in death.