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| Marfisa | |
|---|---|
| Matter of France character | |
%2c_1822-27%2c_volta%2c_marfisa_02.jpg) Marfisa, detail from a fresco in theVilla Giustiniani Massimo [it] (Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1822–27) | |
| First appearance | Orlando Innamorato |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Title | Queen of India |
| Occupation | Warrioress |
| Relatives | Ruggiero (brother) |
| Religion | FirstMuslim, thenChristian |
Marfisa (also translated as "Marphisa") is a character in the Italian romanticepicsOrlando innamorato byMatteo Maria Boiardo andOrlando Furioso byLudovico Ariosto. She is the sister ofRuggiero but was separated from him in early childhood. She becomes queen of India and fights as awarrior for theSaracens, taking part in the siege of the fortress Albracca until her sword is stolen byBrunello. She falls in love with Ruggiero, unaware who he is untilAtlantes reveals their background. Learning that her parents were Christian, she converts to the faith and joins theEmperor Charlemagne's army against the Saracens.
Marphisa raised her face with haughty cheer,
And answered him: "Thy judgment wanders far;
I will concede thy sentence would be clear,
Concluding I am thine by right of war,
If either were my lord or cavalier
Of those, by thee unhorsed in bloody jar:
Nor theirs am I, nor other's, but my own,
Who wins me, wins me from myself alone.
Orlando Furioso (tr. byWilliam Stewart Rose,[1]), 26, 79
Italian playwrightCarlo Gozzi composed his workLa Marfisa Bizzara based on theeponymous character fromOrlando furioso.[1]
Media related toMarfisa at Wikimedia Commons