Fiordispina Innamorato
Fiordispina Innamorato
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Orlando Innamorato, by Boiardo, and Orlando Furioso, by Ariosto, are epic Italian renaissance poems about knights, war and love. Boiardo left Orlando Innamortato unfinished after his death, Ariosto continued the story. The last story that Boiardo wrote before his death is the beginning of Fiordispina’s story.
Fiordispina Innamortato is inspired by canto 25 of Orlando Furioso, written in 1532. Fiordispina is a Spanish princess, hunting in the woods and she sees a handsome knight sleeping. She falls in love instantly and bends down to kiss him. As she kisses the knight, the knight wakes up to reveal that she is Bradamante, a female knight. Fiordispina is dismayed and confused as to how she could be in love with a woman. She eventually gets over the shock and invites Bradamante to her castle to spend the night.
“So I will leave this hopeless love
Of simmering Fiordespina.
Some other time, if God permits,
I’ll tell you all there is to this tale”
Book III canto ix 26 Orlando Innamorato
Translation by Charles Stanly Ross
Was there ever grief like mine?
Love, have you ever shot such an arrow?
Other lovers can be relieved
Other lovers can pick the rose from the thorn.
Never have I known a woman
Who lost her heart to a woman.
Nymph never stirred a nymph.
To send pains that other lovers bend to
Should have been enough for you.
You wanted to see me agonize more,
But how sweet and pleasing the pain.
On earth, sky and sea am I alone
in such a strange wonder?
I think you wanted to make me sigh
To see if it could ever been done.
Even if Daedalus could fly to my aid
He could not untie this knot,
That Nature has so carefully tied.
No human has sway over Nature's plan.
Love may not stir in her,
But I can not let her go now
Nature and Love have plotted againist me
But I must go where cupid leads!
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