Orlando Furioso Canto 21 Poem Rhyme Scheme

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Ludovico Ariosto

Orlando Furioso Canto 21 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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ARGUMENT	A
Zerbino for Gabrina who a heart	B
Of asp appears to bear contends O'erthrown	C
The Fleming falls upon the other part	B
Through cause of that despised and odious crone	C
He wounded sore and writhing with the smart	B
The beldam's treason to the prince makes known	C
Whose scorn and hatred hence derive new force	D
Towards loud cries Zerbino spurs his horse	D
	-
I	-
No cord I well believe is wound so tight	E
Round chest nor nails the plank so fastly hold	F
As Faith enwraps an honourable sprite	E
In its secure inextricable fold	F
Nor holy Faith it seems except in white	E
Was mantled over in the days of old	F
So by the ancient limner ever painted	G
As by one speck one single blemish tainted	H
	-
II	-
Faith should be kept unbroken evermore	I
With one or with a thousand men united	G
As well if given in grot or forest hoar	I
Remote from town and hamlet as if plighted	G
Amid a crowd of witnesses before	I
Tribunal and in act and deed recited	G
Nor needs the solemn sanction of an oath	J
It is sufficient that we pledge our troth	J
	-
III	-
And this maintains as it maintained should be	K
In each emprize the Scottish cavalier	L
And gives good proof of his fidelity	K
Quitting his road with that old crone to steer	L
Although this breeds the youth such misery	K
As 'twould to have Disease itself as near	L
Or even Death but with him heavier weighed	G
That his desire the promise he had made	G
	-
IV	-
Of him I told who felt at heart such load	G
Reflecting she beneath his charge must go	M
He spake no word and thus in silent mode	G
Both fared so sullen was Zerbino's woe	M
I said how vexed their silence as they rode	G
Was broke when Sol his hindmost wheels did show	M
By an adventurous errant cavalier	L
Who in mid pathway met the crone and peer	L
	-
V	-
The hag who the approaching warrior knew	C
Hermonides of Holland he was hight	G
That bore upon a field of sable hue	C
A bar of vermeil tint transversely dight	G
Did humbly now to good Zerbino sue	C
Her pride abased and look of haught despite	G
And him reminded of the promise made	G
When her Marphisa to his care conveyed	G
	-
VI	-
Because as foe to her and hers she knew	C
The knight they were encountering who had slain	C
Her only brother and her father true	C
And was advised the traitor would be fain	C
By her the remnant of her race to do	C
What he had perpetrated on the twain	C
'Woman while guarded by my arm he said	G
I will not thou shouldst any danger dread '	-
	-
VII	-
As nearer now the stranger knight espied	G
That face which was so hateful in his sight	G
With menacing and savage voice he cried	G
'Either with me prepare thyself to fight	G
Or arm thee not on that old woman's side	G
Who by my hand shall perish as is right	G
If thou contendest for her thou art slain	C
For such their portion is who wrong maintain '	-
	-
VIII	-
Him young Zerbino answered courteously	N
Twas sign of evil and ungenerous will	N
And corresponded not with chivalry	-
That he a woman should desire to kill	N
Yet if the knight persists he will not flee	-
But bids him well consider first how ill	N
'Twould sound that he a gentle knight and good	G
Should wish to dip his hand in woman's blood	G
	-
IX	C
This and yet more he vainly says nor stand	G
They idle long from word they pass to deed	G
And having compassed on the level land	G
Enough of ground encounter on the mead	G
Not fired in some rejoicing from the hand	G
Discharged so fast the whistling rockets speed	G
As the two coursers bear the cavaliers	C
To hurtle in mid space with rested spears	C
	-
X	C
Hermonides of Holland levelled low	N
And for the youth's left flank the stroke intended	G
But his weak lance was shivered by the blow	N
And little the opposing Scot offended	G
But vain was not the spear thrust of his foe	N
Who bored his opposite's good shield and rended	G
His shoulder by the lance pierced through and through	C
And good Hermonides on earth o'erthrew	C
	-
XI	C
Thinking him slain who only lay amazed	G
By pity prest Zerbino leapt to ground	G
And from his deathlike face the vizor raised	G
And he as wakened out of sleep profound	G
In silence hard upon Zerbino gazed	G
Then cried 'It does not me in truth confound	G
To think that I am overthrown by thee	C
Who seem'st the flower of errant chivalry	C
	-
XII	C
'But it with reason grieves me this is done	C
Upon account of a false woman's spite	G
Whose wicked cause I know not why you own	C
An office ill according with your might	G
And when to you the occasion shall be known	C
Which urges me her wickedness to quite	G
Whene'er you think on it you will repent	G
How she by you was saved and I was shent	G
	-
XIII	C
'And if enough of breath although I fear	C
The contrary is left me to expound	G
Her evil actions I shall make appear	C
She in all guilt transgresses every bound	G
I had a brother once the youthful peer	C
Set out from Holland's isle our natal ground	G
To serve Heraclius 'mid his knights arrayed	G
Who then the Grecian empire's sceptre swayed	G
	-
XIV	N
'Brother in arms and bosom friend installed	G
Here was he by a baron of that court	G
Who in a pleasant site and strongly walled	G
On Servia's distant frontier had a fort	G
Argaeus he of whom I tell was called	G
Husband of that ill hag whom in such sort	G
He loved as passed all mean and misbecame	O
One of his worth and honourable fame	O
	-
XV	N
'But she more volatile than leaf when breeze	C
Of autumn most its natural moisture dries	C
And strips the fluttering foliage from the trees	C
Which blown about before its fury flies	C
Changes her humour and her husband sees	C
Whom she some time had loved with other eyes	C
And in her every wish and every thought	G
Schemes how my brother's love may best be bought	G
	-
XVI	N
'But not Acroceraunus fronts the brine	C
Ill famed against whose base the billow heaves	C
Nor against Boreas stands the mountain pine	C
That has a hundred times renewed its leaves	C
And towering high on Alp or Apennine	C
With its fast root the rock as deeply cleaves	C
So firmly as the youth resists the will	N
Of that foul woman sink of every ill	N
	-
XVII	N
'Now as it oft befalls a cavalier	C
Who seeks and finds adventure high and low	N
It happened that my gentle brother near	C
His comrade's fort was wounded by a foe	N
Where often uninvited by the peer	C
He guested was his host with him or no	N
And thither he resorted from the field	G
There to repose until his wounds were healed	G
	-
XVIII	N
'While there he wounded lay upon some need	G
It chanced Argaeus was compelled to ride	G
Quickly that wanton from his presence freed	G
As was her use my brother's fealty tried	G
But he as one unstained in thought and deed	G
So fell a goad no longer would abide	G
And to preserve his faith as lures increased	G
Of many evils chose what seemed the least	G
	-
XIX	C
'To break communion with the cavalier	C
To him of many seemed the lightest ill	N
And go so far that wanton should not hear	C
More of his name this purpose to fulfil	N
Was honester though quitting one so dear	C
Was hard than to content her evil will	N
Of her foul wishes to her lord impart	G
Who cherished her as fondly as his heart	G
	-
XX	C
'And though yet smarting with his wounds and pined	G
He dons his arms and from the tower departs	C
And wanders thence with firm and constant mind	G
Ne'er to return again into those parts	C
But nought availed the purpose he designed	G
His projects Fortune baffled with new arts	C
This while behold the castellain returned	G
And bathed in bitter tears the wife discerned	G
	-
XXI	C
'And with flushed face and hair in disarray	C
He asks of her what had disturbed her mood	G
Who ere she in reply a word will say	C
Is vainly more than once to answer wooed	G
And all the while is thinking in what way	C
The knight can best with vengeance be pursued	G
And well it suited with her fickle vein	C
Lightly to change her love into disdain	C
	-
XXII	C
' Ah why should I conceal in fine she cried	G
The fault committed while you were away	C
For though I it from all the world should hide	G
This would my conscience to myse	C