Orlando Furioso Canto 17 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAA BCBCBCAA ADADADEE FAFAFAAA A A D G DHH A A A AA AA A A AI I I JJ A K K KAA AL M A NN M M MAA F OAOAAA ABA APP A A A A F F FAA A A A A A A Q

ARGUMENTA
Charles goes with his against King RodomontA
Gryphon in Norandino's tournamentA
Does mighty deeds Martano turns his frontA
Showing how recreant is his natural bentA
And next on Gryphon to bring down affrontA
Stole from the knight the arms in which he wentA
Hence by the kindly monarch much esteemedA
And Gryphon scorned whom he Martano deemedA
-
I-
God outraged by our rank iniquityA
Whenever crimes have past remission's boundA
That mercy may with justice mingled beA
Has monstrous and destructive tyrants crownedA
And gifted them with force and subtletyA
A sinful world to punish and confoundA
Marius and Sylla to this end were nursedA
Rome with two Neros and a Caius cursedA
-
II-
Domitian and the latter AntonineB
And lifted from the lowest rabble's leesC
To imperial place and puissance MaximineB
Hence Thebes to cruel Creon bent her kneesC
Mezentius ruled the subject AgilineB
Fattening his fields with blood To pests like theseC
Our Italy was given in later dayA
To Lombard Goth and Hun a bleeding preyA
-
III-
What shall I of fierce Attila what sayA
Of wicked Ezzeline and hundreds moreD
Whom because men still trod the crooked wayA
God sent them for their pain and torment soreD
Of this ourselves have made a clear assayA
As well as those who lived in days of yoreD
Consigned to ravening wolves ordained to keepE
Us his ill nurturing and unuseful sheepE
-
IV-
Who as if having more than served to fillF
Their hungry maw invite from foreign woodA
Beyond the mountain wolves of greedier willF
With them to be partakers of their foodA
The bones which Thrasymene and Trebbia fillF
And Cannae seem but few to what are strewedA
On fattened field and bank where on their wayA
Adda and Mella Ronco and Tarro strayA
-
V-
Now God permits that we should feel the spiteA
Of people who are haply worse than we-
For errors multiplied and infiniteA
And foul and pestilent iniquity-
The time will come we may such ill requite-
Upon their shores if we shall better be-
And their transgressions ever prove above-
The long endurance of AETERNAL LOVE-
-
VI-
The Christian people then God's placid front-
Must have disturbed with their excesses soreD
Since them with slaughter rape and rapine hunt-
Through all their quarters plundering Turk and MoorG
But the unsparing rage of Rodomont-
Proves worse than all the ills endured beforeD
I said that Charlemagne had made repairH
In search of him towards the city squareH
-
VII-
Charles by the way his people's butchery-
Beholds burnt palaces and ruined fanesA
And sees large portion of the city lie-
In unexampled wreck 'Ye coward trainsA
Whither in heartless panic would ye fly-
Will none his loss contemplate what remainsA
To you what place of refuge say is left-
If this from you so shamefully be reft-
-
VIII-
'Then shall one man alone a prisoned foe-
Who cannot scale the walls which round him spread-
Unscathed unquestioned from your city go-
When all are by his vengeful arm laid dead '-
Thus Charlemagne whose veins with anger glow-
And shame too strong to brook in fury said-
And to the spacious square made good his wayA
Where he beheld the foe his people slayA
-
IXA
Thither large portion of the populaceA
Climbing the palace roof had made resort-
For strongly walled and furnished was the placeA
With ammunition for their long support-
Rodomont mad with pride had in his chaceA
Of the scared burghers singly cleared the court-
He with one daring hand which scorned the world-
Brandished the sword his other wildfire hurled-
-
XA
And smote and thundered 'mid a fearful showerI
At the sublime and royal house's gate-
To their life's peril crumbling roof and towerI
Is tost by them that on the summit wait-
Nor any fears to ruin hall or bowerI
But wood and stone endure one common fate-
And marbled column slab and gilded beamJ
By sire and grandsire held in high esteemJ
-
XIA
Rodomont stands before the portal bright-
With steel his head and bust secured in mailK
Like to a serpent issued into light-
Having cast off his slough diseased and staleK
Who more than ever joying in his might-
Renewed in youth and proud of polished scaleK
Darts his three tongues fire flashing from his eyesA
While every frighted beast before him fliesA
-
XIIA
Nor bulwark stone nor arbalest nor bowL
Nor what upon the paynim smote beside-
Sufficed to arrest the sanguinary foe-
Who broke and hewed and shook that portal wide-
And in his fury let such day light throughM
'Twas easy to espy and might be spied-
In visages o'ercast in death like sort-
That full of people was the palace court-
-
XIIIA
Through those fair chambers echoed shouts of dread-
And feminine lament from dame distrest-
And grieving through the house pale women fled-
Who wept afflicted sore and beat their breast-
And hugged the door post and the genial bed-
Too soon to be by stranger lords possest-
The matter in this state of peril hungN
When thither came the king his peers amongN
-
XIV-
Charles turned him round to these of vigorous hand-
Whom he had found in former peril trueM
'Are you not those that erst with me did stand-
'Gainst Agolant in Aspramont In youM
Is vigour now so spent he said the band-
Who him Troyano and Almontes slewM
With hundreds more that you now fear to faceA
One of that very blood that very raceA
-
XV-
'Why should I now in contest with the foe-
Less strength in you behold than them Your might-
Upon this hound pursued the monarch show-
This hound who preys on man A generous sprite-
The thought of death approach he fast or slow-
So that he dies but well holds cheap and light-
But where you are I doubt my fortune illF
For by your succour have I conquered still '-
-
XVI-
This said he spurred his courser couched his spearO
And charged the paynim nor of life less freeA
Sir Ogier joined the king in his careerO
Namus and Oliver and with the threeA
Avino Avolio Otho and BerlinghierA
For one without the rest I never seeA
And on the bosom flanks and on the front-
All smote together at King Rodomont-
-
XVII-
But let us sir for love of Heaven forego-
Of anger and of death the noisome loreA
And be it deemed that I have said enowB
For this while of that Saracen not moreA
Cruel than strong 'tis time in trace to go-
Of Gryphon left with Origille beforeA
Damascus' gate and him who with her cameP
The adulterer not the brother of the dameP
-
XVIII-
Of all the cities under eastern skiesA
Most wealthy populous and fairly dight-
'Tis said Damascus is which distant liesA
From Salem seven days' journey its fair site-
A fertile plain abundant fruits suppliesA
Winter and summer sojourn of delight-
Shading the city from the dawning day-
A mountain intercepts its early ray-
-
XIXA
Two crystal streams the wealthy city scower-
Whose currents parted into many a rillF
Infinite gardens never bare of flower-
Or stript of leaf with grateful murmur fillF
'Tis said the perfumed waters are of power-
So plenteously they swell to turn a millF
And that whoever wander through the streetsA
Scent issuing from each home a cloud of sweetsA
-
XXA
Then the high street gay signs of triumph wore-
Covered with showy cloths of different dye-
Which deck the walls while sylvan leaves in store-
And scented herbs upon the pavement lie-
Adorned is every window every door-
With carpeting and finest drapery-
But more with ladies fair and richly drest-
In costly jewels and in gorgeous vest-
-
XXIA
Within the city gates in frolic sport-
Many are seen to ply the festive danceA
And here the burghers of the better sort-
Upon their gay and well trapt coursers pranceA
A fairer show remains the sumptuous court-
Of barons bold and vassals who advanceA
Garnished with what could be procured of ore-
And pearl from Ind and Erythraean shore-
-
XXIIA
Forward Sir Gryphon pricked with his array-
SurveyingQ

Ludovico Ariosto



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about Orlando Furioso Canto 17 poem by Ludovico Ariosto


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 1 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets