Orlando Furioso Canto 21 Poem Rhyme Scheme

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 50 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

A Simple Gift Of Clarity
by Michael Mcguire
Ring Of Fire
by N. Khanyile
A Disturbing Dream
by Marlon Pitter
Crab Lice
by Marlon Pitter
Biography Of The Anonymous
by Gilbert Sordebabari
Lost In Search Of A Saved Child
by Michael Mcguire
Dark Lens
by Gilbert Sordebabari
The Ship
by Pieter Sanders
Rose Bush
by Aubrie J Chellman
Between Condemning Bad Acts And Doing Bad Things, Which One Is Worse?
by Marlon Pitter

Popular Poets

1. Emily Dickinson(2415 poems)
2. Madison Julius Cawein(1231 poems)
3. Ella Wheeler Wilcox(1136 poems)
4. William Wordsworth(1016 poems)
5. Robert Burns(986 poems)
6. Edgar Albert Guest(945 poems)
7. Thomas Moore(849 poems)
8. Robert Service(831 poems)

Ludovico Ariosto

Orlando Furioso Canto 21 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

About Orlando Furioso Canto 21

Write your comment about Orlando Furioso Canto 21 poem by Ludovico Ariosto

Recent Interactions*

New Poems

Popular Poets

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