Orlando Furioso Author:Ariosto, Translated by Sir John Harington Ariosto's Orlando Furioso was the most influential narrative poem of the Italian Renaissance. First published in Ferrara in 1516, it had appeared in some 180 Italian editions, as well as in some forty in translation, by the end of the 16th century. Based on both the Carolingian and Arthurian raomances popular at the time, Orlando treats "of da... more »mes, of knights, of arams, of love's delight. of courtesies, of high attempts," when the Moors invaded the France of Charlemagne to avenge the death of their king.« less