Clorinda

[Loxuru]

Sofronia takes the blame for the stealing of the icon from the mosque. Old artwork showing that scene.

Sofronia is condemned to the pyre by King Aladine :

As the verdict is spoken, guards grab her, strip her and tie her.

Subsequently, she is brought to the pyre:


As Sofronia is tied to the stake, her lover Olindo tries to save her by taking the blame of the crime, but King Aladine condemns him to the pyre too.


But Clorinda intervenes for their rescue. On the #8 she begs on her knees to the king, in most depictions however, she sits on her horse and looks down on Aladine. In fact she takes advantage of her knowledge, that the king has violated rules of Islam by putting a depiction of a human (the Virgin Mary) in a mosque. Meanwhile, she offers to fight for him, against the crusaders, an offer he cannot refuse, knowing her reputation as a warrior.

 

[Eulalia]

Wow - that's been a long interlude, but it's good to be back with Tasso!

 

[Loxuru]

Wow - that's been a long interlude, but it's good to be back with Tasso!

Through the ages, there has been a huge production of artwork based on the poem. But it takes some time to find them.

Meanwhile, a humorist comic strip version of the poem, also related to the condemnation of Sofronia and Olindo :



Frame 1 :
Bearded man : "Where are you going?"
Man with black hair : "I am going to sell nuts at the burning of Sofronia and Olindo, those two lovers, who have denounced themselves, to save the other Christians from death!"

Frame 2:
Clorinda : "It's a scadal!"
Man with black hair : "The condemnation of these two poor innocents?"

Frame 3:
Clorinda : "No! The price of your nuts!"

Notice that the cartoonist has given Clorinda pale hair. In the poem, it is revealed that Clorinda was born from black parents (the King and Queen of Ethiopia), but she had a white skin and blonde hair. The king of Ethopia, suspecting his wife of adultry, outcast the child, but in fact, Clorinda had albinism.

 

[Eulalia]

Through the ages, there has been a huge production of artwork based on the poem. But it takes some time to find them.

Meanwhile, a humorist comic strip version of the poem, also related to the condemnation of Sofronia and Olindo :

View attachment 1209680

Frame 1 :
Bearded man : "Where are you going?"
Man with black hair : "I am going to sell nuts at the burning of Sofronia and Olindo, those two lovers, who have denounced themselves, to save the other Christians from death!"

Frame 2:
Clorinda : "It's a scadal!"
Man with black hair : "The condemnation of these two poor innocents?"

Frame 3:
Clorinda : "No! The price of your nuts!"

Notice that the cartoonist has given Clorinda pale hair. In the poem, it is revealed that Clorinda was born from black parents (the King and Queen of Ethiopia), but she had a white skin and blonde hair. The king of Ethopia, suspecting his wife of adultry, outcast the child, but in fact, Clorinda had albinism.

I understood the dialogue, but not Clorinda's colouring.

 

[Loxuru]

I understood the dialogue, but not Clorinda's colouring.

Clorinda learns about her past, only just before the fatal night sortie where the Saracens plan to burn the Crusader's siege tower. Clorinda's past is then revealed by her eunuch servant, who also tells her that her parents were Christians.


Whas it going through her head, when she started the mission?


And during her combat with Tancred?