Parlor Press: Trufaldino, the Evil King of Baghdad

Trufaldino: The Evil King of Baghdad
. . . continued

The full text of Boiardo's newly translated Orlando Innamorato will be published by Parlor Press in August 2003 in a new translation with an introduction and notes by Charles Stanley Ross, the book will appear in print and ebook versions. If you would like to be notified of its availablity, please let us know. Email editor@parlorpress.com or sign our guestbook.

Later Boiardo develops the back story of Trufaldino’s evil ways: It starts when Ranaldo defeats two gryphons that guard the entrance to a cave, like something in the Arabian Nights:

This door was glazed with bright enamel,
adorned with pearls and emeralds:
No human eye had ever seen
such wealth residing in one thing.
A woman hung inside the doorway
beneath these words in gold engraved:
"Who passes here will not live long
unless he swears to right my wrong!

"But if he swears to take revenge,
for I was mightily betrayed,
he'll have that able steed to ride--
its speed is faster than the wind!"
Ranaldo did not stand to think
but swore to God and took an oath
that he would use his strength and life
avenging her who’d wrongly died.

He then went in and saw that charger,
tethered and tied with golden chain,
fitted with what a steed requires,
draped in a white silk parament.
The horse was black as coal, except
for a white dappling near its tail,
a line of white between its eyes,
and white along its left hind hoof.

No horse on earth could equal it--
and I do not omit Baiardo
sung of throughout the world today,
who was so strong and quick and bold.
But this steed was so very fast
it could surpass slung stones or darts
or arrows, even birds on wing
or any other nimble thing.

Ranaldo was well pleased that he
had happened on this high adventure.
Written in blood instead of ink
a book was locked along a chain
and it declared to one who read
the history and mystery
of that dead damsel on the door,
the means and agent of her murder.

The book described how Trufaldino—
Baghdad's accursed and treacherous king—
reigned in a realm beside a count
of perfect virtue, brave and bold,
with every commendation—so
the wicked ruler hated him.
The baron's name was Orrisello.
He had a castle: Falcon Hill.

He also had a sister who
brought honor to all other ladies.
Her looks were fair; she had face
of delicate beauty, and the grace
that gives a woman rare perfection.
The lady loved a cavalier
of noble birth and famous daring
and handsomeness beyond compare.

The sun had never seen a pair
of lovers like them anywhere
so admirable, so justly praised.
One will united them, one love
that grew each hour every day.
Now Trufaldin, by force or war,
could never capture Falcon Hill—
its strength made it unconquerable.

Along a hard and awful rock,
a mile high, on a narrow path,
one wound to its enormous walls.
None could approach it easily
because a dark moat, wide and deep,
made a full ring around its keep,
and triple-towered barbicans
guarded the gates where one could enter.

This castle was well fortified
for Orrisello’s safety, for
King Trufaldino hated him
and had attacked it many times.
Each time he’d been repulsed, disgraced,
but then that brutal ruler learned
the sister of the count longed for
Polindo over every other.

Polindo was the cavalier
and Albarosa was the woman
of whom I spoke before, the pair
who loved each other with such passion.
Now that innamorato knight
from time to time rode for adventure.
Polindo searched the kingdom's corners
and stopped in Trufaldino's court.

That king, who was an evil traitor,
well able to dissimulate,
honored Polindo, and he paid
respect with courtly speech, rich gifts,
and promised him his help and aid
in making Albarosa his.
Love is unusual, it's true;
afraid of men, it trusts them too.

Who but Polindo would believe
this man, whom everybody knew
was so perfidious and cruel?
The knight ignored their judgment, scoffed,
and rushed to take the help he offered,
since he could not foresee the hour
when he would hold fair Albarosa.
Nothing stopped him from taking action.

She, Albarosa, would not let
anyone in the fortress, but
she made a promise to Polindo:
At night she would depart, unknown,
climb down the cliff into the field,
and leave with him. She'd do his will
and she'd obey him all her life.
He told her she would be his wife.

They carried out their enterprise;
and Trufaldin had given them
a fortress for a honeymoon
a day away from Falcon Hill.
Here the knight, free from every care,
brought the young girl he loved. They entered,
had great fun, dined, and laughed together,
but Trufaldino then appeared.

Uncertain Fortune, never still,
never lets pleasure last for long.
There was a tunnel underground
that led inside the citadel.
The rogue had known of it: That's why
he'd wished to make the castle theirs.
The couple, lit with love, were dining
when they were captured by surprise.

Polindo hoped the king would spare
the maiden, so he did not dare
say anything or curse that traitor
but only gnawed himself in anger.
The king told Albarosa to write
her brother, telling him to come,
to say Polindo had led her
into a forest passing measure;

that he confined her there by force,
guarded by three of his retainers;
that if he came in secret, he
could snare Polindo and those men;
and that she'd tell him later on
why she had left. He should not wonder:
She would inform him how her plan
saved him from Trufaldino's hand.

The lady said she'd die before
she'd help him to betray her brother,
and neither threats or soothing lies
could make her take his pen to write.
The king then quickly ordered brought
a harsh, inhuman instrument
of torture--burning tongs for flaying
limbs--and he gripped the maiden's face.

He plucked her face with burning pincers.
She did not scream or say a word
and would not do what he requested.
Much more the fiery torment cooked
Polindo, who was standing by.
Although he had a fearsome heart,
and he was surely very brave,
he fell in anguish to the earth.

The book recounted all these things
more graphically, with other words,
and there were tragic deeds, and there
were also gentle conversations
such as two souls in love exchange.
It said Polindo grieved much more
for Albarosa than himself
as she for him, whom she wished well.

The knight read that cruel chronicle,
and his eyes overflowed, tears fell;
his features were distorted, for
this business was intolerable.
Once more upon the book he swore
that he'd avenge this sad affair,
and then the great knight left the cavern
on the horse known as Rabicano.

Title Page | Introduction | Start | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | End