Ariosto’s famous epic poem is a lively, rambling, serial escapade from one humorous, ironic, sometimes ribald tall-tale to another. One example is the story of Duke Astolfo, Orlando’s cousin, who flew to the Moon in a chariot pulled by winged horses. On this second Earth, Astolfo discovered valleys, mountains and forests. He journeyed to one mountain which held jar after jar of human brains. Astolfo was surprised to find that the jars of some of the most prominent men on Earth contained surprisingly large brains, while his own jar held only a tiny brain. Then he realized that those who have lost their minds here on Earth may yet find them again on the Moon. To aid his cousin, Astolfo returned to Earth, taking with him the very large jar containing the mighty, lost brain of Orlando.