Florante At Laura Full Story Tagalog Version Bible
Florante at Laura is a classic Filipino epic poem written by Francisco Balagtas in the 19th century. It tells the story of Florante, a prince of Albania, and Laura, a princess of Crotona, who face various trials and tribulations in their love and in their homeland. The poem is considered as one of the masterpieces of Philippine literature and a reflection of the Filipino culture and values.
Florante At Laura Full Story Tagalog Version Bible
The poem is written in Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines, using the awit form, which consists of four-line stanzas with twelve syllables per line and an assonantal rhyme scheme. The poem has 399 stanzas and is divided into four parts: the introduction, the life of Florante, the life of Aladin, and the reunion of the lovers.
The Introduction
The poem begins with a scene in a dark forest near the Kosito River in Albania, where Florante is tied to a tree and lamenting his misfortunes. He recalls how he was betrayed by his childhood friend and rival Adolfo, who usurped the throne of Albania and kidnapped Laura, his beloved. He also remembers how his father, Duke Briseo, was killed by Adolfo's men and how his mother, Princess Floresca, died of grief. He curses his fate and wishes for death to end his sufferings.
Meanwhile, a Muslim warrior named Aladin wanders into the forest after escaping from his father, Sultan Ali-Adab, who disowned him for falling in love with Flerida, a Christian princess. He hears Florante's voice and decides to rescue him from two hungry lions that are about to devour him. He cuts the ropes that bind Florante and tends to his wounds. He then introduces himself as Aladin, the son of the sultan of Persia, and tells Florante that he is his enemy.
The Life of Florante
Florante thanks Aladin for saving his life and tells him his story. He says that he is the son of Duke Briseo and Princess Floresca, who were both loyal and virtuous rulers of Albania. He recounts how he was almost snatched by a vulture when he was a baby, but was saved by his cousin Menalipo, an archer from Epirus. He also narrates how he lost his diamond necklace to a hawk when he was a child.
He then relates how he was sent to Athens at the age of 11 to study under Antenor, a famous teacher. There he met Adolfo, a fellow Albanian who was jealous of his talents and popularity. Adolfo tried to kill him during a school play, but he was saved by Menandro, his best friend. He also received a letter from his father informing him of his mother's death.
He then describes how he returned to Albania with Menandro and became a general who helped Crotona fight against Persia. He fell in love with Laura, the daughter of King Linceo of Crotona, who reciprocated his feelings. He defeated Osmalik, the Persian general, in a duel and earned the admiration of everyone. However, he neglected his duties as a general and spent more time with Laura.
He then reports how he learned that Albania was invaded by Persia while he was away. He rushed back to his homeland and found it under Persian control. He fought bravely against the invaders and rescued Laura from being beheaded by Emir, the Persian leader. He also saved his father, King Linceo, and Adolfo from captivity. He was hailed as the defender of Albania and was betrothed to Laura.
The Life of Aladin
After hearing Florante's story, Aladin tells him his own story. He says that he is the son of Sultan Ali-Adab, who ruled Persia with cruelty and tyranny. He confesses that he was the one who led the Persian army that attacked Albania, but he did not know that Laura was Florante's beloved. He explains how he fell in love with Flerida, a Christian princess who was captured by his father during a raid.
He then reveals how he defied his father's wishes and converted to Christianity for Flerida's sake. He also helped Flerida escape from the palace and planned to elope with her. However, his father discovered their plot and ordered his men to capture them. He managed to flee, but Flerida was taken away by his father. He then wandered around the world, looking for Flerida and hoping to find her again.
The Reunion of the Lovers
As Florante and Aladin finish their stories, they hear two voices nearby. They approach the source of the sound and find Laura and Flerida talking to each other. They are overjoyed to see their lovers alive and well. Laura and Flerida tell them how they escaped from their captors and met each other in the forest.
Laura says that Adolfo forged a letter from King Linceo, ordering her to marry him. She refused to obey and was imprisoned by Adolfo, who usurped the throne of Albania. She was then brought to the forest by Adolfo, who tried to rape her. She was saved by Flerida, who shot Adolfo with an arrow and wounded him.
Flerida says that she was taken back to Persia by Sultan Ali-Adab, who wanted to marry her. She refused to marry him and was locked up in a tower. She managed to escape from the tower with the help of a maid and stole a horse from the stable. She rode across the desert until she reached Albania, where she encountered Laura in the forest.
The four lovers embrace each other and thank God for their reunion. They then decide to return to their respective kingdoms and restore peace and order. Florante and Laura become the king and queen of Albania, while Aladin and Flerida become the king and queen of Persia after Sultan Ali-Adab's death. They rule their lands with justice and wisdom, and maintain a friendly alliance with each other.
The poem ends with a moral lesson that true love conquers all adversities and that God rewards those who are faithful and virtuous.
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