Astolʹpho (in Orlando Furioso)
.An English duke (son of Otho), who joined Charlemagne against the Saracens. He was carried on the back of a whale to Alciʹna’s isle; but when Alcina tired of him, she turned him into a myrtle. He was disenchanted by Melissa. Astolpho descended into the infernal regions, and his flight to the moon (book xviii.) is one of the best parts of the whole poem. (See Inferno.)
It came upon them like a blast from Astolpho’s horn—i.e. it produced a panic. Logistilla gave Astolpho a magic horn, and whatever man or beast heard its blast was seized with panic, and became an easy captive. (Orlando Furioso, book viii.)
