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 KKNKNKNTKARGUMENT | A |
Rogero flies Astolpho with the rest | B |
To their true shape Melissa does restore | C |
Rinaldo levies knights and squadrons pressed | B |
In aid of Charles assaulted by the Moor | D |
Angelica by ruffians found at rest | B |
Is offered to a monster on the shore | C |
Orlando warned in visions of his ill | E |
Departs from Paris sore against his will | E |
- | |
I | - |
How many enchantresses among us oh | F |
How many enchanters are there though unknown | G |
Who for their love make man or woman glow | F |
Changing them into figures not their own | G |
Nor this by help of spirits from below | F |
Nor observation of the stars is done | H |
But these on hearts with fraud and falsehood plot | I |
Binding them with indissoluble knot | I |
- | |
II | - |
Who with Angelica's or rather who | J |
Were fortified with Reason's ring would see | K |
Each countenance exposed to open view | J |
Unchanged by art or by hypocrisy | K |
This now seems fair and good whose borrowed hue | J |
Removed would haply foul and evil be | K |
Well was it for Rogero that he wore | C |
The virtuous ring which served the truth to explore | C |
- | |
III | - |
Rogero still dissembling as I said | L |
Armed to the gate on Rabican did ride | M |
Found the guard unprepared not let his blade | N |
Amid that crowd hang idle at his side | M |
He passed the bridge and broke the palisade | N |
Some slain some maimed then t'wards the forest hied | N |
But on that road small space had measured yet | N |
When he a servant of the fairy met | N |
- | |
IV | J |
He on his fist a ravening falcon bore | C |
Which he made fly for pastime every day | N |
Now on the champaign now upon the shore | C |
Of neighbouring pool which teemed with certain prey | N |
And rode a hack which simple housings wore | C |
His faithful dog companion of his way | N |
He marking well the haste with which he hies | K |
Conjectures truly what Rogero flies | K |
- | |
V | J |
Towards him came the knave with semblance haught | N |
Demanding whither in such haste he sped | N |
To him the good Rogero answers naught | N |
He hence assured more clearly that he fled | N |
Within himself to stop the warrior thought | N |
And thus with his left arm extended said | N |
'What if I suddenly thy purpose balk | O |
And thou find no defence against this hawk ' | - |
- | |
VI | J |
Then flies his bird who works so well his wing | P |
Rabican cannot distance him in flight | N |
The falconer from his back to ground did spring | P |
And freed him from the bit which held him tight | N |
Who seemed an arrow parted from the string | P |
And terrible to foe with kick and bite | N |
While with such haste behind the servant came | Q |
He sped as moved by wind or rather flame | Q |
- | |
VII | J |
Nor will the falconer's dog appear more slow | F |
But hunts Rogero's courser as in chace | K |
Of timid hare the pard is wont to go | F |
Not to stand fast the warrior deems disgrace | K |
And turns towards the swiftly footed foe | F |
Whom he sees wield a riding wand place | K |
Of other arms to make his dog obey | N |
Rogero scorns his faulchion to display | N |
- | |
VIII | F |
The servant made at him and smote him sore | C |
The dog his left foot worried while untied | N |
From rein the lightened horse three times and more | C |
Lashed from the croup nor missed his better side | N |
The hawk oft wheeling with her talons tore | C |
The stripling and his horse so terrified | N |
The courser by the whizzing sound dismayed | N |
Little the guiding hand or spur obeyed | N |
- | |
IX | K |
Constrained at length his sword Rogero drew | J |
To clear the rabble who his course delay | N |
And in the animals' or villain's view | J |
Did now its point and now its edge display | N |
But with more hinderance and vexatious crew | J |
Swarm here and there and wholly block the way | N |
And that dishonour will ensue and loss | K |
Rogero sees if him they longer cross | K |
- | |
X | K |
He knew each little that he longer stayed | N |
Would bring the fay and followers on the trail | R |
Already drums were beat and trumpets brayed | N |
And larum bells rang loud in every vale | R |
An act too foul it seemed to use his blade | N |
On dog and knave unfenced with arms or mail | R |
A better and shorter way it were | S |
The buckler old Atlantes' work to bare | T |
- | |
XI | K |
He raised the crimson cloth in which he wore | C |
The wondrous shield enclosed for many a day | N |
Its beams as proved a thousand times before | C |
Work as they wont when on the sight they play | N |
Senseless the falconer tumbles on the moor | D |
Drop dog and hackney drop the pinions gay | N |
Which poised in air the bird no longer keep | U |
Then glad Rogero leaves a prey to sleep | U |
- | |
XII | K |
In the mean time Alcina who had heard | N |
How he had forced the gate and in the press | K |
Slaughtered a mighty number of her guard | N |
Remained nigh dead o'erwhelmed with her distress | K |
She tore her vesture and her visage marred | N |
And cursed her want of wit and wariness | K |
Then made forthwith her meiny sound to arms | K |
And round herself arrayed her martial swarms | K |
- | |
XIII | K |
Divided next one squadron by the way | N |
Rogero took she sent the bands were two | J |
She at the port embarked the next array | N |
And straight to sea dispatched the warlike crew | J |
With this good squadron went the desperate fay | N |
And darked by loosened sails the billows grew | J |
For so desire upon her bosom preyed | N |
Of troops she left her city unpurveyed | N |
- | |
XIV | N |
Without a guard she left her palace there | T |
Which to Melissa prompt her time to seize | K |
To loose her vassals that in misery were | S |
Afforded all convenience and full ease | K |
To range at leisure through the palace fair | T |
And so examine all her witcheries | K |
To raze the seal burn images and loose | K |
Or cancel hag knot rhomb or magic noose | K |
- | |
XV | N |
Thence through the fields fast hurrying from that dome | V |
The former lovers changed a mighty train | W |
Some into rock or tree to fountain some | X |
Or beast she made assume their shapes again | Y |
And these when they anew are free to roam | V |
Follow Rogero's footsteps to the reign | W |
Of Logistilla's sage and from that bourn | Z |
To Scythia Persia Greece and Ind return | A2 |
- | |
XVI | N |
They to their several homes dispatched repair | T |
Bound by a debt which never can be paid | N |
The English duke above the rest her care | T |
Of these was first in human form arrayed | N |
For much his kindred and the courteous prayer | T |
Of good Rogero with Melissa weighed | N |
Beside his prayers the ring Rogero gave | N |
That him she by its aid might better save | N |
- | |
XVII | N |
Thus by Rogero's suit the enchantress won | H |
To his first shape transformed the youthful peer | B2 |
But good Melissa deemed that nought was done | H |
Save she restored his armour and that spear | B2 |
Of gold which whensoe'er at tilt he run | H |
At the first touch unseated cavalier | B2 |
Once Argalia's next Astolpho's lance | K |
And source of mighty fame to both in France | K |
- | |
XVIII | N |
The sage Melissa found this spear of gold | N |
Which now Alcina's magic palace graced | N |
And other armour of the warrior bold | N |
Of which he was in that ill dome uncased | N |
She climbed the courser of the wizard old | N |
And on the croup at ease Astolpho placed | N |
And thus an hour before Rogero came | Q |
Repaired to Logistilla knight and dame | Q |
- | |
XIX | K |
Meantime through rugged rocks and shagged with thorn | Z |
Rogero wends to seek the sober fay | N |
From cliff to cliff from path to path forlorn | Z |
A rugged lone inhospitable way | N |
Till he with labour huge oppressed and worn | Z |
Issued at noon upon a beach that lay | N |
'Twixt sea and mountain open to the south | C2 |
Deserted barren bare and parched with drouth | C2 |
- | |
XX | K |
The sunbeams on the neighbouring mountain beat | N |
And glare reflected from the glowing mass | K |
So fiercely sand and air both boil with heat | N |
In mode that might have more than melted glass | K |
The birds are silent in their dim retreat | N |
Nor any note is heard in wood or grass | K |
Save the bough perched Cicala's wearying cry | J |
Which deafens hill and dale and sea and sky | J |
- | |
XXI | K |
The heat and thirst and labour which he bore | C |
By that drear sandy way beside the sea | K |
Along the unhabited and sunny shore | C |
Were to Rogero grievous company | K |
Bur for I may not still pursue this lore | C |
Nor should you busied with one matter be | K |
Rogero I abandon in this heat | N |
For Scotland to pursue Rinaldo's beat | N |
- | |
XXII | K |
By king by daughter and by all degrees | K |
To Sir Rinaldo was large welcome paid | N |
And next the warrior at his better ease | K |
The occasion of his embassy displayed | N |
That he from thence and England subsidies | K |
Of men was seeking for his monarch's aid | N |
In Charles's name and added in his care | T |
The justest reasons to support his | K |
Ludovico Ariosto
(1)
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