Chapter VII: Pulci and Boiardo

The Romantic Epic--Its Plebeian Origin--The Popular Poet's Standpoint--The Pulci Family--The Carolingian Cycle--Turpin--_Chanson de Roland_--Historical Basis--Growth of the Myth of Roland--Causes of its Popularity in Italy--Burlesque Elements--The _Morgante Maggiore_--Adventures in Paynimry--Roncesvalles--Episodes introduced by the Poet--Sources in Older Poems--The Treason of Gano--Pulci's Characters--His Artistic Purpose--His Levity and Humor--Margutte--Astarotte--Pulci's _bourgeois_ Spirit--Boiardo--His Life--Feudalism in Italy--Boiardo's Humor--His Enthusiasm for Knighthood--His Relation to Renaissance Art--Plot of the _Orlando Innamorato_--Angelica--Mechanism of the Poem--Creation of Characters--Orlando and Rinaldo--Ruggiero--Lesser Heroes--The Women--Love--Friendship--Courtesy--Orlando and Agricane at Albracca--Natural Delineation of Passions--Speed of Narration--Style of Versification--Classical and Medieval Legends--The Punishment of Rinaldo--The Tale of Narcissus--Treatment of Mythology--Treatment of Magic--Fate of the _Orlando Innamorato_ 425