Orlando Furioso Canto 3 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABABABCC ADADADAA EFEFEFGG HIHJHJKK LMLMLMHH ANANANAA ADADAD AOAOAOAA AHAHAHHH HAAAAAA H C C CAA PHPHPHAA HAQAQARSS HA A A AA HDHDHDDD MTMTMTSS U U U SS VHVHVHKK N N NWW HAAAAAAXX HAUAUN

ARGUMENTA
Restored to sense the beauteous BradamantA
Finds sage Melissa in the vaulted tombB
And hears from her of many a famous plantA
And warrior who shall issue from her wombB
Next to release Rogero from the hauntA
Of old Atlantes learns how from the groomB
Brunello hight his virtuous ring to takeC
And thus the knight's and others' fetters breakC
-
-
I-
Who will vouchsafe me voice that shall ascendA
As high as I would raise my noble themeD
Who will afford befitting words and lendA
Wings to my verse to soar the pitch I schemeD
Since fiercer fire for such illustrious endA
Than what was wont may well my song beseemD
For this fair portion to my lord is dueA
Which sings the sires from whom his lineage grewA
-
II-
Than whose fair line 'mid those by heavenly graceE
Chosen to minister this earth belowF
You see not Phoebus in your daily raceE
One that in peace or war doth fairer showF
Nor lineage that hath longer kept its placeE
And still shall keep it if the lights which glowF
Within me but aright inspire my soulG
While the blue heaven shall turn about the poleG
-
III-
But should I seek at full its worth to blazeH
Not mine were needful but that noble lyreI
Which sounded at your touch the thunderer's praiseH
What time the giants sank in penal fireJ
Yet should you instruments more fit to raiseH
The votive work bestow as I desireJ
All labour and all thought will I combineK
To shape and shadow forth the great designK
-
IV-
Till when this chisel may suffice to scaleL
The stone and give my lines a right directionM
And haply future study may availL
To bring the stubborn labour to perfectionM
Return we now to him to whom the mailL
Of hawberk shield and helm were small protectionM
I speak of Pinabel the MaganzezeH
Who hopes the damsel's death whose fall he seesH
-
V-
The wily traitor thought that damsel sweetA
Had perished on the darksome cavern's floorN
And with pale visages hurried his retreatA
From that through him contaminated doorN
And thence returning clomb into his seatA
Then like one who a wicked spirit boreN
To add another sin to evil deedA
Bore off with him the warlike virgin's steedA
-
VI-
Leave we sometime the wretch who while he layedA
Snares for another wrought his proper doomD
And turn we to the damsel he betrayedA
Who had nigh found at once her death and tombD
She after rising from the rock dismayedA
At her shrewd fall and gazing through the gloomD
Beheld and passed that inner door which gave-
Entrance to other and more spacious cave-
-
VII-
For the first cavern in a second endedA
Fashioned in form of church and large and squareO
With roof by cunning architect extendedA
On shafts of alabaster rich and rareO
The flame of a clear burning lamp ascendedA
Before the central altar and the glareO
Illuminating all the space aboutA
Shone through the gate and lit the cave withoutA
-
VIII-
Touched with the sanctifying thoughts which waitA
On worthy spirit in a holy placeH
She prays with eager lips and heart elateA
To the Disposer of all earthly graceH
And kneeling hears a secret wicket grateA
In the opposing wall whence face to faceH
A woman issuing forth the maid addressesH
Barefoot ungirt and with dishevelled tressesH
-
IXH
O generous Bradamant the matron criedA
Know thine arrival in this hallowed holdA
Was not unauthorized of heavenly guideA
And the prophetic ghost of Merlin toldA
Thou to this cave shouldst come by path untriedA
Which covers the renowned magician's mouldA
And here have I long time awaited thee-
To tell what is the heavens' pronounced decree-
-
XH
This is the ancient memorable cave-
Which Merlin that enchanter sage did makeC
Thou may'st have heard how that magician brave-
Was cheated by the Lady of the LakeC
Below beneath the cavern is the grave-
Which holds his bones where for that lady's sakeC
His limbs for such her will the wizard spreadA
Living he laid him there and lies there deadA
-
XI-
Yet lives the spirit of immortal strainP
Lodged in the enchanter's corpse till to the skiesH
The trumpet call it or to endless painP
As it with dove or raven's wing shall riseH
Yet lives the voice and thou shalt hear how plainP
From its sepulchral case of marble criesH
Since this has still the past and future taughtA
To every wight that has its counsel soughtA
-
XIIH
Long days have passed since I from distant landA
My course did to this cemetery steerQ
That in the solemn mysteries I scannedA
Merlin to me the truth should better clearQ
And having compassed the design I plannedA
A month beyond for thee have tarried hereR
Since Merlin still with certain knowledge summingS
Events prefixed this moment for thy comingS
-
XIIIH
The daughter of Duke Aymon stood aghastA
And silent listened to the speech while she-
Knew not sore marvelling at all that passedA
If 'twere a dream or a reality-
At length with modest brow and eyes down castA
Replied like one that was all modesty-
And is this wrought for me and have I meritA
Worthy the workings of prophetic spiritA
-
XIV-
And full of joy the adventure strange pursuesH
Moving with ready haste behind the dameD
Who brings her to the sepulchre which mewsH
The bones and spirit erst of Merlin's nameD
The tomb of hardest stone which masons useH
Shone smooth and lucid and as red as flameD
So that although no sun beam pierced the gloomD
Its splendour lit the subterraneous roomD
-
XV-
Whether it be the native operationM
O certain stones to shine like torch i' the darkT
Or whether force of spell or fumigationM
A guess that seems to come more near the markT
Or sign made under mystic constellationM
The blaze that came from the sepulchral arkT
Discovered sculpture colour gems and gildingS
And whatsoever else adorned the buildingS
-
XVI-
Scarcely had Bradamant above the sillU
Lifter her foot and trod the secret cave-
When the live spirit in clear tones that thrillU
Addressed the martial virgin from the grave-
May Fortune chaste and noble maid fulfilU
Thine every wish exclaimed the wizard brave-
Since from thy womb a princely race shall springS
Whose name through Italy and earth shall ringS
-
XVII-
The noble blood derived from ancient TroyV
Mingling in thee its two most glorious streamsH
Shall be the ornament and flower and joyV
Of every lineage on which Phoebus beamsH
Where genial stars lend warmth or cold annoyV
Where Indus Tagus Nile or Danube gleamsH
And in thy progeny and long drawn lineK
Shall marquises counts dukes and Caesers shineK
-
XVIII-
Captains and cavaliers shall spring from thee-
Who both by knightly lance and prudent loreN
Shall once again to widowed Italy-
Her ancient praise and fame in arms restoreN
And in her realms just lords shall seated be-
Such Numa and Augustus were of yoreN
Who with their government benign and sageW
Shall re create on earth the golden ageW
-
XIXH
Then that the will of Heaven be duly broughtA
To a fair end through thee in fitting dateA
Which from the first to bless thy love has wroughtA
And destined young Rogero for thy mateA
Let nothing interpose to break that thoughtA
But boldly tread the path perscribed by fateA
Nor let aught stay thee till the thief be thrownX
By thy good lance who keeps thee from thine ownX
-
XXH
Here Merlin ceased that for the solemn featA
Melissa might prepare with fitting spellU
To show bold Bradamant in aspect meetA
The heirs who her illustrious race should swellU
Hence many spriN

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 3 poem by Ludovico Ariosto


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 9 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