Orlando Furioso Canto 8 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDBCEE FGFGFHII JKJKJKCC LMNMNNNN JCNCNCNKK JNNNNNNO JPNPNPNQQ JFKFKFKNN FCNCNCNNN KJNJNJNKK KNRNRNRST KCNCNDNUU KNKNKNKKK KNJNJNJNN NTKSKTKKK NVWXYVWZA2 NTNTNTNNN NHB2HB2HB2KK NNNNNNNQQ KZNZNZNC2C2 KNKNKNKJJ KCKCKCKNN KKNKNKNTK

ARGUMENTA
Rogero flies Astolpho with the restB
To their true shape Melissa does restoreC
Rinaldo levies knights and squadrons pressedB
In aid of Charles assaulted by the MoorD
Angelica by ruffians found at restB
Is offered to a monster on the shoreC
Orlando warned in visions of his illE
Departs from Paris sore against his willE
-
I-
How many enchantresses among us ohF
How many enchanters are there though unknownG
Who for their love make man or woman glowF
Changing them into figures not their ownG
Nor this by help of spirits from belowF
Nor observation of the stars is doneH
But these on hearts with fraud and falsehood plotI
Binding them with indissoluble knotI
-
II-
Who with Angelica's or rather whoJ
Were fortified with Reason's ring would seeK
Each countenance exposed to open viewJ
Unchanged by art or by hypocrisyK
This now seems fair and good whose borrowed hueJ
Removed would haply foul and evil beK
Well was it for Rogero that he woreC
The virtuous ring which served the truth to exploreC
-
III-
Rogero still dissembling as I saidL
Armed to the gate on Rabican did rideM
Found the guard unprepared not let his bladeN
Amid that crowd hang idle at his sideM
He passed the bridge and broke the palisadeN
Some slain some maimed then t'wards the forest hiedN
But on that road small space had measured yetN
When he a servant of the fairy metN
-
IVJ
He on his fist a ravening falcon boreC
Which he made fly for pastime every dayN
Now on the champaign now upon the shoreC
Of neighbouring pool which teemed with certain preyN
And rode a hack which simple housings woreC
His faithful dog companion of his wayN
He marking well the haste with which he hiesK
Conjectures truly what Rogero fliesK
-
VJ
Towards him came the knave with semblance haughtN
Demanding whither in such haste he spedN
To him the good Rogero answers naughtN
He hence assured more clearly that he fledN
Within himself to stop the warrior thoughtN
And thus with his left arm extended saidN
'What if I suddenly thy purpose balkO
And thou find no defence against this hawk '-
-
VIJ
Then flies his bird who works so well his wingP
Rabican cannot distance him in flightN
The falconer from his back to ground did springP
And freed him from the bit which held him tightN
Who seemed an arrow parted from the stringP
And terrible to foe with kick and biteN
While with such haste behind the servant cameQ
He sped as moved by wind or rather flameQ
-
VIIJ
Nor will the falconer's dog appear more slowF
But hunts Rogero's courser as in chaceK
Of timid hare the pard is wont to goF
Not to stand fast the warrior deems disgraceK
And turns towards the swiftly footed foeF
Whom he sees wield a riding wand placeK
Of other arms to make his dog obeyN
Rogero scorns his faulchion to displayN
-
VIIIF
The servant made at him and smote him soreC
The dog his left foot worried while untiedN
From rein the lightened horse three times and moreC
Lashed from the croup nor missed his better sideN
The hawk oft wheeling with her talons toreC
The stripling and his horse so terrifiedN
The courser by the whizzing sound dismayedN
Little the guiding hand or spur obeyedN
-
IXK
Constrained at length his sword Rogero drewJ
To clear the rabble who his course delayN
And in the animals' or villain's viewJ
Did now its point and now its edge displayN
But with more hinderance and vexatious crewJ
Swarm here and there and wholly block the wayN
And that dishonour will ensue and lossK
Rogero sees if him they longer crossK
-
XK
He knew each little that he longer stayedN
Would bring the fay and followers on the trailR
Already drums were beat and trumpets brayedN
And larum bells rang loud in every valeR
An act too foul it seemed to use his bladeN
On dog and knave unfenced with arms or mailR
A better and shorter way it wereS
The buckler old Atlantes' work to bareT
-
XIK
He raised the crimson cloth in which he woreC
The wondrous shield enclosed for many a dayN
Its beams as proved a thousand times beforeC
Work as they wont when on the sight they playN
Senseless the falconer tumbles on the moorD
Drop dog and hackney drop the pinions gayN
Which poised in air the bird no longer keepU
Then glad Rogero leaves a prey to sleepU
-
XIIK
In the mean time Alcina who had heardN
How he had forced the gate and in the pressK
Slaughtered a mighty number of her guardN
Remained nigh dead o'erwhelmed with her distressK
She tore her vesture and her visage marredN
And cursed her want of wit and warinessK
Then made forthwith her meiny sound to armsK
And round herself arrayed her martial swarmsK
-
XIIIK
Divided next one squadron by the wayN
Rogero took she sent the bands were twoJ
She at the port embarked the next arrayN
And straight to sea dispatched the warlike crewJ
With this good squadron went the desperate fayN
And darked by loosened sails the billows grewJ
For so desire upon her bosom preyedN
Of troops she left her city unpurveyedN
-
XIVN
Without a guard she left her palace thereT
Which to Melissa prompt her time to seizeK
To loose her vassals that in misery wereS
Afforded all convenience and full easeK
To range at leisure through the palace fairT
And so examine all her witcheriesK
To raze the seal burn images and looseK
Or cancel hag knot rhomb or magic nooseK
-
XVN
Thence through the fields fast hurrying from that domeV
The former lovers changed a mighty trainW
Some into rock or tree to fountain someX
Or beast she made assume their shapes againY
And these when they anew are free to roamV
Follow Rogero's footsteps to the reignW
Of Logistilla's sage and from that bournZ
To Scythia Persia Greece and Ind returnA2
-
XVIN
They to their several homes dispatched repairT
Bound by a debt which never can be paidN
The English duke above the rest her careT
Of these was first in human form arrayedN
For much his kindred and the courteous prayerT
Of good Rogero with Melissa weighedN
Beside his prayers the ring Rogero gaveN
That him she by its aid might better saveN
-
XVIIN
Thus by Rogero's suit the enchantress wonH
To his first shape transformed the youthful peerB2
But good Melissa deemed that nought was doneH
Save she restored his armour and that spearB2
Of gold which whensoe'er at tilt he runH
At the first touch unseated cavalierB2
Once Argalia's next Astolpho's lanceK
And source of mighty fame to both in FranceK
-
XVIIIN
The sage Melissa found this spear of goldN
Which now Alcina's magic palace gracedN
And other armour of the warrior boldN
Of which he was in that ill dome uncasedN
She climbed the courser of the wizard oldN
And on the croup at ease Astolpho placedN
And thus an hour before Rogero cameQ
Repaired to Logistilla knight and dameQ
-
XIXK
Meantime through rugged rocks and shagged with thornZ
Rogero wends to seek the sober fayN
From cliff to cliff from path to path forlornZ
A rugged lone inhospitable wayN
Till he with labour huge oppressed and wornZ
Issued at noon upon a beach that layN
'Twixt sea and mountain open to the southC2
Deserted barren bare and parched with drouthC2
-
XXK
The sunbeams on the neighbouring mountain beatN
And glare reflected from the glowing massK
So fiercely sand and air both boil with heatN
In mode that might have more than melted glassK
The birds are silent in their dim retreatN
Nor any note is heard in wood or grassK
Save the bough perched Cicala's wearying cryJ
Which deafens hill and dale and sea and skyJ
-
XXIK
The heat and thirst and labour which he boreC
By that drear sandy way beside the seaK
Along the unhabited and sunny shoreC
Were to Rogero grievous companyK
Bur for I may not still pursue this loreC
Nor should you busied with one matter beK
Rogero I abandon in this heatN
For Scotland to pursue Rinaldo's beatN
-
XXIIK
By king by daughter and by all degreesK
To Sir Rinaldo was large welcome paidN
And next the warrior at his better easeK
The occasion of his embassy displayedN
That he from thence and England subsidiesK
Of men was seeking for his monarch's aidN
In Charles's name and added in his careT
The justest reasons to support hisK

Ludovico Ariosto



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