Much of the tone of what he wrote was satirical, and he directed his wit gently against the confines of contemporary court life. At the same time the author was a path breaker who adopted influences not just from the classical past but also from medieval romances and epics and even from the language of the contemporary street. As a humanistically educated figure, Ariosto was able to read Greek and Latin, and his dramatic works and poetry bear the influence of that early training. Drama.īy the end of the fifteenth century Ferrara enjoyed an enviable reputation as the most cultivated court in Italy. Shortly before his death Ariosto also prepared a final edition of his Orlando for publication, lengthening the work to its present state. To further his career, Ariosto had earlier taken holy orders, but in 1528 he secretly married Alessandra Benucci and the two indulged their love for literature during Ariosto's final years. Although he dispensed these duties admirably, he disliked life outside the city, and he eventually returned to Ferrara. In Alfonso's employment Ariosto was given a position as a remote official in a mountainous region between Ferrara and Florence. Isabella D'Este, herself a duchess of Mantua, was one of Ariosto's trusted correspondents, and he kept her informed of the progress on his major epic poem, the Orlando furioso, or Mad Roland. Although Ariosto frequently complained about his employment with the D'Este family, he maintained good relations with Ippolito and Alfonso's sister, Isabella D'Este, one of the most cultivated court ladies of the Renaissance. The poet soon found employment with the cardinal's brother, Alfonso I, who was then ruler of the duchy of Ferrara. Ariosto stayed with the cardinal until 1517, when he was dismissed for refusing to follow his employer on a trip to Hungary. In this capacity he fulfilled a variety of roles, among them conducting diplomatic journeys to other courts in Italy. To deal with the financial responsibilities, he joined the court of Cardinal Ippolito D'Este, a prominent high-ranking church official and a member of the ruling house at Ferrara. By 1500 Ariosto's father's death brought new responsibilities to the young philosopher, who was now responsible for the other members of his family. Like many future poets and literary figures, Ariosto originally planned for a career in law, but during his student years he continued to embrace humanist studies, delivering the annual address that commenced the starting of the university's academic year in 1495. Born the son of a count and a scholar, Ariosto received instruction from the humanist Luca Ripa before attending the University of Ferrara in northern Italy. Humanist studies shaped this future poet's early life.
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