Jerusalem Delivered - Book 03 - Part 04 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDBDEE AFGFGFGHH AIJIJIJKK IAIAIAIHH HLHLHLHH IHMHNHMII IIHIHIHHH IOHOHOHII AIIIIIIHH AIHIHIHHH AHIHIHI P AHHHHHHII AHHHHHHHH IHHHHHHHH IQIMIQIAA

XLVIA
Three times he strove to view Heaven's golden rayB
And raised him on his feeble elbow thriceC
And thrice he tumbled on the lowly layB
And three times closed again his dying eyesD
He speaks no word yet makes his signs to prayB
He sighs he faints he groans and then he diesD
Argantes proud to spoil the corpse disdainedE
But shook his sword with blood of Dudon stainedE
-
XLVIIA
And turning to the Christian knights he criedF
Lordlings behold this bloody reeking bladeG
Last night was given me by your noble guideF
Tell him what proof thereof this day is madeG
Needs must this please him well that is betideF
That I so well can use this martial tradeG
To whom so rare a gift he did presentH
Tell him the workman fits the instrumentH
-
XLVIIIA
If further proof thereof he long to seeI
Say it still thirsts and would his heart blood drinkJ
And if he haste not to encounter meI
Say I will find him when he least doth thinkJ
The Christians at his words enraged beI
But he to shun their ire doth safely shrinkJ
Under the shelter of the neighbor wallK
Well guarded with his troops and soldiers allK
-
XLIXI
Like storms of hail the stones fell down from highA
Cast from their bulwarks flankers ports and towersI
The shafts and quarries from their engines flyA
As thick as falling drops in April showersI
The French withdrew they list not press too nighA
The Saracens escaped all the powersI
But now Rinaldo from the earth upleaptH
Where by the leg his steed had long him keptH
L-
He came and breathed vengeance from his breastH
'Gainst him that noble Dudon late had slainL
And being come thus spoke he to the restH
Warriors why stand you gazing here in vainL
Pale death our valiant leader had opprestH
Come wreak his loss whom bootless you complainL
Those walls are weak they keep but cowards outH
No rampier can withstand a courage stoutH
-
LII
Of double iron brass or adamantH
Or if this wall were built of flaming fireM
Yet should the Pagan vile a fortress wantH
To shroud his coward head safe from mine ireN
Come follow then and bid base fear avauntH
The harder work deserves the greater hireM
And with that word close to the walls he startsI
Nor fears he arrows quarries stones or dartsI
-
LIII
Above the waves as Neptune lift his eyesI
To chide the winds that Trojan ships opprestH
And with his countenance calmed seas winds and skiesI
So looked Rinaldo when he shook his crestH
Before those walls each Pagan fears and fliesI
His dreadful sight or trembling stayed at leastH
Such dread his awful visage on them castH
So seem poor doves at goshawks' sight aghastH
-
LIIII
The herald Ligiere now from Godfrey cameO
To will them stay and calm their courage hotH
Retire quoth he Godfrey commands the sameO
To wreak your ire this season fitteth notH
Though loth Rinaldo stayed and stopped the flameO
That boiled in his hardy stomach hotH
His bridled fury grew thereby more fellI
So rivers stopped above their banks do swellI
-
LIVA
The hands retire not dangered by their foesI
In their retreat so wise were they and waryI
To murdered Dudon each lamenting goesI
From wonted use of ruth they list not varyI
Upon their friendly arms they soft imposeI
The noble burden of his corpse to carryI
Meanwhile Godfredo from a mountain greatH
Beheld the sacred city and her seatH
-
LVA
Hierusalem is seated on two hillsI
Of height unlike and turned side to sideH
The space between a gentle valley fillsI
From mount to mount expansed fair and wideH
Three sides are sure imbarred with crags and hillsI
The rest is easy scant to rise espiedH
But mighty bulwarks fence that plainer partH
So art helps nature nature strengtheneth artH
-
LVIA
The town is stored of troughs and cisterns madeH
To keep fresh water but the country seemsI
Devoid of grass unfit for ploughmen's tradeH
Not fertile moist with rivers wells and streamsI
There grow few trees to make the summer's shadeH
To shield the parched land from scorching beamsI
Save that a wood stands six miles from the town '-
With aged cedars dark and shadows brownP
-
LVIIA
By east among the dusty valleys glideH
The silver streams of Jordan's crystal floodH
By west the Midland Sea with bounders tiedH
Of sandy shores where Joppa whilom stoodH
By north Samaria stands and on that sideH
The golden calf was reared in Bethel woodH
Bethlem by south where Christ incarnate wasI
A pearl in steel a diamond set in brassI
-
LVIIIA
While thus the Duke on every side descriedH
The city's strength the walls and gates aboutH
And saw where least the same was fortifiedH
Where weakest seemed the walls to keep him outH
Ermina as he armed rode him spiedH
And thus bespake the heathen tyrant stoutH
See Godfrey there in purple clad and goldH
His stately port and princely look beholdH
-
LIXI
Well seems he born to be with honor crownedH
So well the lore he knows of regimentH
Peerless in fight in counsel grave and soundH
The double gift of glory excellentH
Among these armies is no warrior foundH
Graver in speech bolder in tournamentH
Raymond pardie in counsel match him mightH
Tancred and young Rinaldo like in fightH
-
LXI
To whom the king He likes me well thereforeQ
I knew him whilom in the court of FranceI
When I from Egypt went ambassadorM
I saw him there break many a sturdy lanceI
And yet his chin no sign of manhood boreQ
His youth was forward but with governanceI
His words his actions and his portance braveA
Of future virtue timely tokens gaveA

Torquato Tasso



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