Reading through a modern Italian version of Orlando furioso right now.
There is a wild scenario in Canto 27, where Discord and Pride, embodied as fairies/demons, enflame hatred among the Saracen warriors. One in particular is the story of the warrior Rodomonte, who is slated to battle the warrior Mandricardo for the love of Doralice. But they are so inflamed with hate for each other that they can’t even settle on battle terms. So their king, Agramante, decides that Doralice should choose. They both agree to this arrangement, but only because they are sure Doralice will choose them. Rodomonte, who has traveled widely engaging in various feats of bravery in her name, is certain that he is the more worthy, but is completely unaware that Mandricardo and Doralice are in love with each other. Doralice chooses Mandricardo and Rodomonte is humiliated.
Rodomonte declares that the decision is unjust and pulls his sword to settle things in his way, despite having given his word to submit to the process, by saying that his sword would decide the truth rather than feminine whims.
His king inveighs against him and he is doubly humiliated, so he lights off from the army camp.
In his mind, he goes through the list of “qualifications” by which he deems himself to merit the woman’s love. First he laments the inconstancy of female nature, then he boasts of his long devotion, proven through a thousand tests of strength, and he wonders how he could be considered inferior to this Mandricardo.
Rodomonte, steeped in the culture of knighthood, never stops to wonder if he is actually wrong about any of his beliefs. He never questions whether he has misunderstood things.
But even while declaring himself an honorable man, he refuses to accept terms he himself agreed to. Terms which he agreed to only because he thought they’d be to his advantage, not because he thought they were right. But why, when it comes to the love of Doralice, wouldn’t Doralice’s opinion have been considered the last word?
Men can of course do all kinds of things to try and woo the girl they want to impress, but Rodomonte is concerned only with himself. HE is impressed with his feats of bravery, and therefore SHE ought to love him. He never stops to wonder what her thoughts are, and what things she might be impressed with. And when she isn’t impressed with the same things he is, he blames her for inconstancy, rather than seeing his own selfishness.
The wildness of the scenario in Canto 27 is much more than just this story. 4 Saracen warriors return to camp to help their king in the battle, and spurred on by Discord and Pride, end up in 4 separate fights, each for some point of honor, and each demanding that his/her (yeah one of the warriors is a woman) fight be settled first. Watching how these unfold is wild, but I won’t go over it in this post.