Orlando Furioso, Canto 39 summary

What happens

1. Melissa impersonates Rodomonte and persuades Agramante to break the pact, so Ruggiero and Rinaldo suspend their duel.
2. Bradamante and Marfisa devastate the African ranks as Agramante struggles to prevent a retreat.
3. Astolfo defeats African defenders, exchanges Bucifar for Dudone, creates ships from leaves, and welcomes rescued Christian prisoners.
4. Fiordiligi identifies the rampaging Orlando; his companions restrain him, and Astolfo restores his reason through a vessel containing his wits.
5. Brandimarte postpones returning to his kingdom, Orlando joins the siege, and Agramante escapes while abandoning troops outside closed gates.
6. Agramante sails toward Africa without lookouts, and Dudone’s fleet attacks his unsuspecting ships in darkness.

In this canto

What to notice

Astolfo redirects the knights from grief toward action. Their effort to restrain Orlando makes his recovery possible.

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