Orlando Furioso · Chapter
Canto XXXVII explained
Rogero and the two damsels encounter Ulania mourning after her mantle was shorn by Marganor.
What happens
Rogero and the two damsels encounter Ulania mourning after her mantle was shorn by Marganor. Marphisa takes fierce revenge on Marganor, and Ulania slays him. The canto also includes a lengthy defense of women's honor, recounting the story of Drusilla who avenges her husband Olindro by poisoning Tanacro.
Themes in this chapter
Gender and Power
The canto contains a lengthy defense of women's worth and a critique of male historians who diminish female achievements.
Betrayal and Deception
Tanacro betrays Olindro's hospitality, and Drusilla feigns love to deceive and poison Tanacro.
Honor and Reputation
Marphisa and Ulania seek to restore honor after Marganor's insult; Drusilla avenges her husband's murder.
Characters to notice
- Rogero
Attracted by lament and outcry, encounters Ulania and her mourning crew.
- Marphisa
Takes fierce revenge on Marganor for his foul scorn against Ulania.
- Ulany
Found mourning with her mantle shorn by Marganor; later slays Marganor.
- Marganor
Felon knight who shorn Ulania's mantle; slain by Ulania after Marphisa's revenge.
- Drusilla
Widow of Olindro who feigns love for Tanacro to poison him and avenge her husband.
- Tanacro
Son of Marganor, killed by Drusilla's poisoned wine during their wedding.
- Olindro
Lord of Lungavilla, husband of Drusilla, slain by Tanacro's ambush.
Key passages
“Lament and outcry loud of some that mourn, Attract Rogero and the damsels two. They find Ulania, with her mantle shorn By Marganor, amid her moaning crew.”
Rogero and the two ladies hear loud cries of grief and discover Ulania mourning, her cloak cut off by Marganor.
Opening of the canto sets the scene for Marphisa's revenge.
“Upon that felon knight, for his foul scorn, A fierce revenge Marphisa takes: a new Statute that maid does in the town obtain, And Marganor is by Ulania slain.”
Marphisa exacts a harsh revenge on Marganor for his insult, and a new law is established; Ulania then kills Marganor.
Marphisa's intervention leads to justice against Marganor.
“The widow that a husband's bed ascends, Ere she approach the bridegroom (said that fair), The spirit of the dead, whom she offends, Must soothe with solemn office, mass and prayer;”
Drusilla tells Tanacro that a widow must first perform a religious ceremony for her dead husband before remarrying.
Drusilla's feigned custom to set up the poisoning.
“She drank what sorted with her sex; nor more Than would effect the purpose which she sought: Then to the bridegroom, with a jocund eye, Handed the draught, who drained the goblet dry.”
Drusilla drank a harmless amount of the poisoned wine, then cheerfully gave the cup to Tanacro, who drank it all.
The moment of poisoning during the wedding ceremony.